DE1948503A1 - Stackable container - Google Patents

Description

Stackable Container The invention relates to a stackable container Container, especially for the food industry, which one upwards has an open container tray that extends to at least three, preferably four or six, stands arranged on the outside and which are in the area of the container opening has an outwardly protruding edge beyond the container wall. Such containers are mainly used in the meat processing industry, but also in other companies used in the food industry and in large kitchens. You also need such containers in numerous other plants and industries, such as e.g. in the chemical industry. Meat and other foods can be stored in these containers. Chemicals and any other goods temporarily stored or transported will.

In a known container of this type, the container trough has in the area of your floor four feet, each of which partly directly on the floor and partially on the lower edge portion of the side wall facing the floor are firmly attached. If you stack several of these well-known containers on top of each other, so the feet of the respective upper container stand up with their standing surfaces the edge of the lower container protruding outward beyond the container wall, whereby the feet are prevented from doing so by safety cams or catch corners, to slide off the relevant edge portion of the lower container.

These known containers have the disadvantage that when, for example two containers are stacked on top of each other, the container wall of the lower container take the entire weight of the upper container including its load and must be transferred to the feet of the lower container. If there are more than two on top of each other stacked containers, this weight quadruples according to the number of containers, so that especially the lowest 'container is exposed to a very high load.

In order to withstand such a load it is necessary that the known containers have a container tray with a particularly thick wall, so that permanent deformations are avoided as far as possible. Such thick walls However, the result is that the weight of the container is correspondingly large and so the load on the lower containers increases accordingly when stacking. In addition, in addition to the container load, a high container weight must be uneconomical be transported, so that the transport and other facilities for the container must be interpreted accordingly stronger.

This and the greater expenditure of materials in the manufacture of the container trays requires significantly higher purchase prices and higher costs during the Operation. In addition, such heavy containers are significantly more difficult to handle, which is noticeable on many occasions, but especially when cleaning them power.

For the aforementioned reasons, the wall thickness of such containers limited towards the top, which has the consequence that the permissible stress the container pan is relatively low.

It is therefore both known containers depending on the weight of the. charge at most possible to stack two or three containers on top of each other, otherwise permanent deformations, especially of the bottom container, can be expected got to. For this reason, the known containers can be used with the available Only partially utilize storage space, in particular a storage space of great height. Consequently the required storage space must be correspondingly larger because of the low stacking height be measured if you want to accommodate a certain amount of cargo. -A However, such larger storage space is not available in most companies, sondenes'ist as a rule, -.

that even the available storage space is usually not even available sufficient. There are therefore more containers on top of each other stacked than is permissible, so that then at least the lowest container of such a Stack is stressed far beyond the permissible level. The consequences of this are permanent deformations, especially of the container wall or the container bottom in the Area of the starid feet. These are pressed into the interior of the container, naturally the position and arrangement of the feet on the container wall changes.

This means that the standing surfaces of the feet are in a different position ingestion so that it is no longer correctly placed on the edge of another container can be put on - and especially no longer through the existing safety cams or secure catch corners in the required manner against slipping off the edge of the container permit. Thus it is either no longer possible at all, the deformed in question Place container on top of another or stand on top of the lower container is so unsafe that the entire stack is a great danger to everyone in the Represents proximity to people who are present. Even if you make an effort, already withdrawing deformed containers from circulation still runs the risk of such a stack overturns. Such an overturning threatens especially when Too many containers have been stacked on top of one another in an unacceptable manner, so that the bottom container is overused and suddenly immediately after the Placing the top container so deformed that the entire stack tilts and overturned.

The invention is based on the task of a stackable container to create, which does not adhere to the disadvantages discussed above, but rather the With the lowest possible dead weight, it is particularly highly resilient and also when loaded State can be stacked in large numbers on top of one another. This object is achieved according to the invention solved in that the container edge, preferably in the area of the standing surfaces of the Feet of a second container placed on top, with support bars that are sufficiently kinky is supported, which with the container feet without a force-transmitting intermediate arrangement the container wall are firmly connected in a force-transmitting manner. This achieves that the wall the container pan no longer as a force-transmitting Component is used between the attached containers and the feet and thus no longer from the upper containers or

whose cargo can be charged. The weight of the top container and their loads are placed directly on the feet of the lower container via the support bars transferred so that the container tray is only burdened by its own load will. As a result, the wall of the container trough in the inventive Container be made much thinner than in the known container, whereby first of all, the weight of the container is significantly reduced. this means a lower load on the lower> containers within a container stack and significantly less effort when transporting the container. Both the transport facilities as well as all other facilities provided for the container can be lighter be trained. The lower weight of the container is therefore essential economical advantages. Due to the thinner wall thickness of the container tray also achieved a considerable saving in material, in particular because of this is important because, depending on the type of cargo, the container tray in all Usually made of high quality and therefore expensive material such as stainless steel. Furthermore, the containers according to the invention are due to their lower weight Much better in handling, which is mainly for the mostly done by hand Purification matters.

Another major advantage of the container according to the invention lies in the fact that this is able to withstand extremely high stresses, in particular such as occur when several such containers are stacked on top of one another. at the container according to the invention it is possible, depending on the weight of the load approximately Stack six to eight containers on top of each other without removing the bottom container Permanent deformation suffers.

This makes it possible to use existing storage space with a small storage area, However, large storage height to be used to a large extent, so that in many cases not only gets by with the existing storage space, but not even the entire existing one storage area needed, so that part of the same may still be can be used for other purposes. Due to the high load capacity of the invention Containers do not suffer any permanent deformation even if they are stacked several times on top of one another so that the container wear is extremely low, because no permanent deformation occur, it is also ensured that the containers always stand firmly on top of one another. Overturning the stack of containers is not possible. The existing security hooks or catch corners always interlock perfectly, which means that the Stack guaranteed. Also suddenly occurring deformations due to overuse especially the bottom container when stacked are practically hardly any more possible because the container according to the invention is so stable that under normal Operating conditions 6 to 8 containers can be stacked on top of each other and yet no overuse occurs. This great stability is special without one thick container wall is achieved, as this is only used by its own cargo. The container tray can therefore also be made of less rigid materials, such as aluminum or plastics.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support bars are arranged on the outside of the container trough and run approximately parallel to the associated one Container wall. This has the advantage that the support bars the free interior of the Do not reduce the tank pan and that, moreover, no poorly accessible and therefore difficult to clean dirty corners are created in the container interior.

It has also proven advantageous to preferably use the support bars by welding to connect the rest to the container wall. Here are the container walls additionally supported by the support bars, so that the support bars not only bear the weight Pick up additional containers and their loads, but auoh at least partly the forces to which the container wall is exposed by its own cargo is. This means that the membrane wall can be particularly thin and made of less rigid material educated will.

It is also useful if the support bars follow the container tray protrude below and the lower end sections of the support bars as feet of the container are trained. In this embodiment of the invention, the occurring Forces without additional diversion via various components directly from the container edge transferred to the feet of the container. It also increases the training the container is simple and the production is much cheaper.

It has proven to be advantageous to use the standing surfaces of the feet Each container in the radial direction wholly or partially outside the area to arrange the edge of the container and with stacked containers de standing areas of the Feet of the upper container on special support surfaces of the respective lower container to rest, with the contact surfaces in the area of the container edge each Container are arranged and this edge of the container according to the standing areas of the feet protrude outward in the radial direction. This achieves that the standing surfaces of the feet in the radial direction outside the opening of the container placed on the inside of the container. This has the advantage that the standing areas When stacking the containers on top of each other, do not place the feet in the area of the container opening arrive, so that the dirt particles inevitably adhering to the standing surfaces when or after the upper container is placed in the interior of the lower one Can fall into the container. For the same reason, it is also advisable to use the StandliSS3e of every container and thus also its standing surfaces in a radial direction to be arranged completely outside the area of the container edge and when stacked Contain the feet of the upper container each outside over the outer edge of the lower container, the support bars of the upper container rest with their lower end faces on the container edge of the lower container. With this embodiment of the invention it is practically impossible for dirt particles to come of the standing surfaces of the feet when the containers are stacked on top of each other in the interior of each lower container can fall into it. In addition, here remain with the exception of the bottom container relieves the container feet when the containers are stacked on top of one another, because the forces are transmitted directly from the support bars to the container edge and from there again be transferred to the support bars of the container below. Further serve the carrying feet in this embodiment as guide strips, so that a radial Displacement of the stacked containers and thus slipping of the support bars from the container edges neither inwards nor outwards is possible. This guarantees a firm stand of the entire stack of containers.

In addition, it is possible with the container according to the invention, to allow the feet of each container to be inclined in the vertical direction, in such a way that the stand surfaces of the feet protrude further outwards in the radial direction, than the upper end portions of the feet connected to the support bars. Herewith lets achieve that the standing surfaces of the feet on the container edge of each Lower container fully or partially rest and that, if necessary, the feet each container is also arranged completely outside the area of the container edge are.

According to a further advantageous feature of the invention is the edge Each container has guide rails on its outer surface for guiding and fixing the feet of an attached second container provided in the radial direction. Such guide strips facilitate the stacking of the individual containers, by placing them exactly in the intended position when stacking one on top of the other in the radial direction Bring position to the respective lower container. It is advisable if the Guide rails have side surfaces that are inclined to the feet, in such a way that the upper marginal edges of the side surfaces are furthest from the feet are removed and the lower edges are in direct contact with the feet. Expediently, a further feature of the invention arranges the guide strips while in the area of the corners of the container edge, so that they are used as a reinforcement of the Corners of the same serve. The corners of the container randes will be during of the company exposed to special stresses, especially shock loads, so that it is advantageous to reduce wear if the corners are on be reinforced this way.

Furthermore, it is advisable to train the container edge so that the upper surface of the container edge facing away from the bottom in the radial direction from the inside runs inclined outwards towards the ground. This has the advantage that dirt particles, that get on the edge of the container always have the tendency to move towards the outside of the container to fold down along the edge of the container and thus not into the interior of the container arrive so that the cargo is not contaminated. Votalllem for the food industry and the chemical industry is of particular concern. that the cargo is not becomes contaminated.

It is also advantageous if the container is below the floor the container trough is designed essentially in the manner of a pallet known per se is, especially if the feet in the area of their standing surfaces by means of skid-like Connecting bars are connected. Such a design of the lower container part Above all, it enables the containers to be transported safely, and at the same time Way, as is the case with the known transport pallets. The containers can With such a training, conveniently with lift trucks or fork lift trucks and with fork lift trucks transported and stacked. In addition, these containers can be moved over roller tables and guide them through flow racks, as is also the case with transport pallets. As a rule, the same containers are used for transporting the containers according to the invention Devices, flow racks and runways are used as for the known transport pallets.

As a result, there is also a mixed transport or a mixed one Storage, where pallets and containers according to the invention are optionally used, quite possible. It is therefore also advisable to choose the container dimensions so that that they correspond to the dimensions of the standardized transport pallets. Basically However, it is also possible to choose any other dimensional ratios.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the has Container below the bottom of the container tray box-like beams, their arrangement and dimensions of an engagement of the fork of a fork lift truck od. The like. In this allowed. The advantage of this embodiment is that the fork of the transport device is reliably guided and held inside the box-like girder, so that tilting, tilting, rotating or slipping of the container on the fork during transport is not to be feared. The transport is therefore safe and Accidents are largely avoided. The box-like beams make that Operating personnel forced to the fork of the transport device exactly according to the instructions to be placed under the container so that the container does not slip off the fork of the transport device can no longer occur. Here it is advisable to use the box-like To let the beams protrude laterally beyond the container wall and the protruding End sections to avoid dirty corners by means of roof-like arranged or trained support ribs on the container wall. Laterally protruding box-like beams make it much easier to insert the fork of the transport device and thus enable the container transport to run smoothly and quickly.

The roof-like arrangement and design of the support ribs facilitates the cleaning of the containers, which is mainly in the food industry and in the chemical industry is of particular importance.

In the drawing, the invention is based on two exemplary embodiments illustrated. 1 shows a stackable container according to the invention the support bars formed feet in the side view; Fig. 2 shows the container according to Fig. 1 in plan view; 3 shows a section along the line III - III of FIG. 1; 4 shows another embodiment of the container according to the invention with the edges of the feet encompassing the edge of the container in the side view; Fig. 5 shows the container according to FIG. 4 in plan view; 6 shows the container according to FIGS. 4 and 5 in a side view, partially in section along the line VI - VI in FIG. 4.

In Fig. 1, 1 denotes the tub of a container, which consists of a bottom part la and a wall part lb, which are welded together are connected. The container trough 1, which is open at the top, has in the area of its opening a circumferential edge 2 protruding outward beyond the container wall 1b.

This is designed as a square tube and trough with the container 1 firmly welded.

In the area of its four corners, the container has a support bar 3. These support bars 3 are arranged on the outside of the container trough 1 and embrace - As can be seen in particular in Fig. 2 - the corners of the container tray 1. The Support struts 3 are firmly welded to the container tray 1 and to the edge 2 thereof. You thus support the container edge 2, so that this is further attached Container can be heavily loaded. The upper end faces of the support bars 3 are denoted by 4. They form special support surfaces for a container of the same type, in a manner not shown on the illustrated in the drawing container can be put on. Here are the designated with 5 standing areas of the support spars 3 of the not shown, but designed in the same way The upper container is placed on the support surfaces 4. In Figs. 1 and 2 are clear Recognize locking cams 6, which engage in holes 7 of the feet 3a. As a result, the stacked containers are fixed in the radial direction and secured.

The feet 3a of the container are longitudinally along the container connected to one another by means of runner-like connecting struts 8. This gets the container below its bottom la a training that the known transport pallets duck speaks. The runner-like connecting bars 8 form together on their underside with the standing surfaces 5 of the feet 3a a smooth, flat surface, so that the container can be moved over roller tracks or through flow racks.

For draining liquid cargo or for cleaning purposes the container tub 1 has a drain port 9, which in the usual way with a Stopper or a drain cock can be closed.

Furthermore, the container according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has two additional feet 10, which are arranged in the middle area of the container between two support bars 3 are. The two additional feet 10 are - as FIG. 3 shows in particular - In the area of the bottom la of the container trough 1 welded to this.

The additional feet are supported by their lower end section 10 on the associated connecting bars 8. In principle, however, it is too with these additional feet 10 possible to train them as support bars, However, this is only necessary if the container is for particularly heavy loads are provided. On the other hand, the additional feet 10 can also be omitted.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6 is one Container> which is essentially the same as the container 1 to 3 is formed. Compared to the latter container is different sioh the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6 mainly in that on the lower End sections of the support bars 3 special feet 3b are provided.

The feet 3b grip around the outside of the stacked containers outer marginal edges of each lower container. So that the standing surfaces 5 of the Feet 3b, with the exception of the lowest one, completely with all other containers in the stack are free. The lower end faces, labeled 5a, of the support struts 3 are at rest on the container edge 2 of the respective lower container. The. Stand feet 3b are also held by guide strips 11 in the area of the corners of the container edge 2 are arranged and at the same time serve as reinforcement of the corners. In particular In Fig. 4 it is shown that the guide strips 11 have side surfaces lia which run inclined to the feet 3b, in such a way that when stacked on top of each other Contain the upper marginal edges of the side surfaces 11a furthest from the feet 3b are removed and the lower marginal edges are in direct contact with the feet 3b. The side surfaces 11a thus guide the upper container when a container is placed on it, so that it comes to stand exactly on the lower container. Same job meet the feet 3b due to their inclination in the vertical direction. A side Moving the container against each other is because of the guide strips 11 and the Feet 3b- not possible, so that in the present AusftIhrungsbeispiel the special support surfaces 4 and their locking cams 6 are omitted. Furthermore are in the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6, the runner-like connecting struts 8 and the additional feet 10 omitted in the middle length area of the container been. However, they can also be provided in this embodiment.

In contrast, the container according to FIGS. 4 to 6 has box-like Beams 12, which are open at the front and on the one hand to guide the fork one Fork lift truck or fork lift truck serve and on the other hand as a reinforcement of the Container bottom are provided. These box-like beams can also be tortured will. They protrude laterally beyond the container wall lb and are by means of roof-like arranged and designed support ribs 12a on the container wall 1b supported.

Claims (14)

Patent claims = 1. Stackable container, especially for food ustrie, which has a container trough open at the top, which on at least three, preferably four or six, feet arranged on the outside stands and which in the area of the container opening one to the outside over the container wall has a protruding edge, which does not indicate that. the container edge (2), preferably in the area of the standing surfaces (5, 5a) of the feet (3a, 3b) of an attached second container, is supported by sufficiently kink-resistant support bars (3), which with the container feet (3a, 3b) without a force-transmitting intermediate arrangement of the container wall (lb, lc) are firmly connected in a force-transmitting manner. 2. The container of claim 1, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h fl e t that the support bars (3) are arranged on the outside of the container trough (1) and run approximately parallel to the associated container wall (lb). 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i hn e t that the support bars (3), preferably by welding, firmly to the container wall (lb) are connected. 4. Container according to claim 1 or one of the following, d a d u r o h g e k e n n n e i c h n e t that the support bars (3) the container tray (1) after protrude below and the lower end section of the support bars (3) as feet (3a) of the container are formed. 5. A container according to claim 1 or one of the following, d a d u r c h g e k e n n n z e-i c h n e t that the standing surfaces (5) of the standing feet (3a) each Container in the radial direction wholly or partially outside the area of the container edge (2) are arranged and that the standing surfaces (5) of the feet when the containers are stacked (3a) of the upper container on special support surfaces (4) of the lower one The container, whereby the contact surfaces (4) in the area of the container edge (2) Each container are arranged and this the container edge (2) according to the Stand surfaces (5) of the feet (3a) protrude outward in the radial direction. 6. Container according to claim 1 or one of claims 2 to 4, d a D u r h e k e nn z e i c h n ~ e t> that the feet (3b) of each container and thus also their standing surfaces (5) in the radial direction completely outside of the Area of the container edge (2) are arranged and the stacked containers Feet (3b) of the upper container Each outside over the outer edge of the grab the lower container, the support bars (3) of the upper container with their lower end faces (5a) rest on the container edge (2) of the lower container. 7. Container according to claim 1 or one of the following, d a d u r c it is noted that the feet (3b) of each container in vertical Direction run inclined, such that the standing surfaces (5) of the feet (3b) in radial Project further outward in the direction than the upper ones connected to the support bars (3) End sections of the feet (3b). 8. A container according to claim 6 or 7, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t> that the edge (2) of each container on its outer surface with joining strips (11) for guiding and fixing the feet (3b) of an attached second container is provided in the radial direction 9. Container according to claim 8, d a d u r o h e k e n nz e i c h n e t that the guide strips side surfaces (Ila) have inclined to the feet (3b), such that the upper Edge edges of the side surfaces (lla) furthest away from the feet (3, b) and the lower edges are in direct contact with the feet (3b). 10. The container of claim 8 or 9, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the guide strips (11) in the area of the corners of the container edge (2) are arranged and serve as reinforcement of the corners of the same. 11. The container of claim 1 or one of the following, d a d u r c h e k e k e n n n e n n e t i n e t that the upper surface facing away from the floor of the Container edge (2) inclined in the radial direction from the inside outwards towards the bottom forsakes. 12. The container of claim 1 or one of the following, d a d u r c h g e k e k e n n n n e i n e t that the container is below the bottom (ia) of the Container trough (1) designed essentially in the manner of a pallet known per se is, in particular the feet (3a) in the area of their standing surfaces (5) by means of runner-like Connecting bars (8) are connected. 13. Container according to claim 1 or one of the following, d a d u r c h g e k e k e n n n e i c h n e t that the container is below the bottom (la) of the Container trough (1) has box-like beams (12), their arrangement and dimensions the fork of a forklift truck or the like is allowed to intervene in this. 14. The container of claim 13, d a d u r c h g e -k e n n z e i c h n e t that the box-like beams (12) laterally over the container wall (lb) protrude, the protruding end sections to avoid dirt corners by means of roof-like arranged or designed support ribs on the container wall (lb) are supported.