DE20012639U1 - Load securing for Euro pallets - Google Patents

Description

Dipl.-Chem. EL FRITZ 00/242

Dr. Dipl.-Phys. R. BASFELD July 19, 2000/HZ/Rh/We

Dipl.-Phys. E. HARAZIM Patent attorneys

M. HOFFMANN

Lawyer

Ostentor 9 59757 Arnsberg

Mister

Franz Andreas Kaiser

Kranenberg la

59846 Sundern-Hachen

'Load securing for Euro pallets ¹¹

The present invention relates to a load securing device for Euro pallets for fixing piece goods stacked on the loading surface of the Euro pallet.

As flat load carriers with standardized dimensions, Euro pallets are widely used in the shipping and storage of general cargo in trade and industry. The continuous, flat loading area of the pallets is particularly versatile for loading any type of general cargo. To make optimal use of the available loading space, goods packed in stackable boxes are often stacked in a cuboid shape on a Euro pallet. In order to hold the stacked goods together on the pallet, the attachment of load securing devices is well known. For transporting fully loaded Euro pallets, this can be, for example, wrapped or shrunk film covers, tensioning straps and belts, safety nets or disposable boxes or crates attached to the loading area of the Euro pallet. As pure transport securing for the load, these 0 known devices certainly fulfill their function.

Euro pallets loaded with small items are increasingly being used as goods carriers in central order picking warehouses, often high-bay warehouses. The special feature of this use is that, depending on the delivery of the corresponding goods, individual items of cargo are removed from the Euro pallet over a longer period of time, while the remaining items remain on the now only partially filled Euro pallet, for example in a number of goods boxes stacked in one or more layers. When handling in the warehouse, however, it must be ensured in any case that the goods are still secured against falling off the pallet even when only partially filled. Load securing devices made of film, tensioning straps 5 or the like cannot guarantee this, as they usually lose their stability after being opened. Other solutions, such as outer boxes attached to Euro pallets, are also suitable for such use.

disadvantageous. A design as disposable outer packaging leads to a considerable amount of packaging waste and often does not guarantee sufficient stability of the safety device. The attachment of rigid frames or boxes to the Euro pallets has the disadvantage that they take up a considerable amount of storage space even when empty.

In view of this, the invention is based on the task of providing a load securing device for Euro pallets which has improved functionality compared to the previously known load securing devices. In particular, loads stacked on the loading surface of the pallet should be adequately secured even when the pallet is partially unloaded, but less effort should be required for the provision and storage of the securing devices than with the known reusable securing devices.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes that the load securing device has a base frame which can be attached to the loading surface of the Euro pallet, to which side frames are hinged on opposite sides, which can be either erected vertically or pivoted in lying on the base frame.

According to the invention, it is a reusable load securing device that can be fixed to the loading area of a Euro pallet if required. A special feature of the invention 0 are the foldable on the opposite long sides of the

Side walls hinged to the base frame, which are also preferably designed as a frame construction. This creates a folding or folding construction, which in practice offers particular advantages, as explained below. 35

The base frame of the device according to the invention is rectangular and adapted to the dimensions of the loading area of a Euro pallet. It is placed flat on the loading area

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placed and secured against lateral displacement, as will be explained further below. In use, the side parts, which are preferably also designed as rectangular frames, are erected vertically so that the loading area of the pallet located between them can be completely stacked with small items, for example goods contained in boxes. The load is therefore already secured on the sides where the side frames are located. The still open front and rear sides of this frame construction, which is essentially U-shaped when viewed from the front and consists of side and base frames, can easily be provided with detachably attached safety braces or straps or the like so that the load is also secured against falling off the pallet in these directions. The items stored in this essentially cuboid-shaped framework or cage, which is open at the top, can be easily removed. The stability of the frame construction ¹ is independent of the loading state, so that the remaining items are still adequately secured even if the Euro pallet is partially emptied. This is a significant advantage over disposable load securing. In addition, when using the load securing device according to the invention, no packaging waste is generated through outer packaging and the like.

A significant advantage of the device according to the invention over rigid boxes or crates is that the side frames can be folded flat against the base frame when not in use. In this folded state, the load securing device according to the invention is as flat as the frame profiles of the base and side frames placed on top of each other. In practice, this results in smaller dimensions than for the Euro pallet itself. After the Euro pallet has been completely emptied, it can be returned to the manufacturer or supplier with little transport effort either together with the load securing device. Alternatively, the load securing device can be stored at the respective storage location.

remain and be reused on another fully or partially loaded Euro pallet. If the load securing device remains unused in the meantime, this can also be accepted, as it takes up little storage space when folded.

The handling of the inventive

The load securing device is particularly simple and is limited to placing the base frame on a Euro pallet and raising or folding the side frames. The pivoting or folding construction has the particular advantage that the essential functional elements remain connected to one another in every state of use and therefore cannot be lost, which is often the case with modular plug-in frames and the like.

Compared to collapsible lattice boxes and the like, the invention has the particular advantage that it is compatible with the particularly widespread Euro pallet system and can therefore be introduced across the board without any problems and with little effort. In contrast, other systems with special folding containers and the like are generally rejected because it is unlikely that they will be introduced as standard across the board. In this respect, the invention takes advantage of the international popularity of the Euro pallet as a load carrier.

0 For installation, the base frame is preferably placed on the loading surface of the Euro pallet and overlaps it with support surfaces on the sides in a form-fitting manner. In this version, the base frame has horizontal support surfaces which rest on the top of the Euro pallet and edges which protrude downwards at the sides and protrude over the edge of the loading surface so that they form stops with respect to the side edges of the pallet, whereby the base frame and thus the load securing device on the loading surface

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the Euro pallet is fixed securely in place. This design has the advantage that the load securing device only needs to be placed or plugged onto a Euro pallet from above with the base frame and no further fastening measures are required.

However, in order to permanently attach the load securing device according to the invention to a Euro pallet, it can also be attached using appropriate fastening elements. For this purpose, the base frame can be provided with fastening holes for attaching fastening elements. In practice, through holes can be arranged in the area in which the profiles forming the base frame rest on the top of the Euro pallet, through which fastening screws can be screwed into the Euro pallet.

The aforementioned embodiment with the lateral support surfaces is preferably implemented in that the base frame is formed from at least partially circumferential angle profiles which can be placed on the Euro pallet, enclosing the upper edge. In this embodiment, the base frame is preferably formed from interconnected L-profiles, with one profile leg lying horizontally with respect to the frame plane and the other profile leg standing vertically downwards on the outer edge. This profile construction, for example from welded steel profiles, is stable, inexpensive to manufacture and enables the base frame to be fixed simply by placing or plugging it onto the Euro pallet. In its rectangular shape, the base frame has the dimensions of a Euro pallet, but only protrudes by the material thickness of the angle profile, i.e. a few mm, which is negligible in view of the overall dimensions.

The side frames are mounted on the base frame on swivel hinges, which are mounted on the top of the

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base frame are arranged in the corner areas, i.e. within the loading area of the Euro pallet. The hinge axes are therefore above the base frame parallel to the outer edges to which the side frames are hinged. This arrangement of the hinges has the advantage that the side frames or hinge parts do not protrude laterally beyond the base frame either when the side parts are erected or folded. The hinge axes are preferably mounted at a distance from the frame plane, approximately half the profile width, in hinge pins which are attached, for example welded, to the top of the frame profiles of the base frame. This results in the particularly advantageous possibility of the side frames being able to be pivoted in parallel on the top of the base frame.

When folded up, the load securing device is practically only as high as the height of the base frame profile plus the height of a side frame profile.

0 To ensure that the side frames do not come into conflict with one another when folded together, they are preferably dimensioned so that they can be laid flat inside one another. This can be achieved simply by making the outer width of one side frame smaller than the clear width between the profiles of the other side frame, so that they can be easily folded together in one plane and, in this folded state, are only as high as the side frame profile itself.

0 To secure the load, it is advantageous that the hinges of the side frames have a swivel path limiter so that the side frames can only be swiveled vertically from the base frame. The swivel path limiter of the hinges is implemented, for example, by a stop against which the side frames come to rest when they are in the upright position and which prevents the side frames from being folded outwards in relation to the loading area. Such a

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Limiting the swivel path of the side frames could also be achieved by means of diagonally mounted cross members. However, limiting the swivel path of the hinges has the particular advantage that it is not necessary to install such additional protection when setting up the load securing system, thus increasing handling safety.

To stabilize the load securing device according to the invention, a cross brace can be attached between the side frames in the erected state at a distance from the base frame, and preferably detachably. This cross brace can be attached between the vertical side frames on at least one of the initially still open front and rear sides of the U-shaped base frame, side frame construction, preferably in the upper area parallel to the base frame. This cross brace has a load securing function on the one hand by holding the load stacked on the Euro pallet laterally. On the other hand, it serves to stabilize the side frames against each other. This applies in particular to the previously mentioned embodiment in which the side frames cannot be pivoted outwards beyond the vertical due to a limited pivot path. The cross brace makes the entire arrangement particularly stable and secures it against lateral shearing without additional stabilizing diagonals or crosses.

The rigid design and detachable attachment of the 0 cross brace can in principle be done in any way. However, it is particularly advantageous that it can be assembled from brace parts that are pivotally connected to the side parts and can be connected to one another in a shear-resistant manner. These side parts are, for example, flat steel profile sections that are pivoted to the frame profile in the upper area around a pivot axis parallel to the hinge axis of the side frame, for example by screwing or riveting. This construction has the particular advantage that all

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The elements of the load securing system, including the cross brace, remain permanently connected to one another. During assembly, it is only necessary to ensure that the brace parts are firmly connected to one another to form the rigid cross brace.

An easy-to-use, yet secure and shear-resistant connection option provides that the strut parts have permanently attached locking elements that can be pivoted into one another sideways and locked in a shear-resistant manner. This is preferably a combination of locking pins that protrude laterally and locking slots that run transversely to the length of the strut parts and are open at the bottom, into which the locking pins can be pivoted. This pivoting preferably takes place through a mutual, top-down pivoting movement of the strut parts attached to the side parts. The fact that the locking mechanism engages from above when pivoting together means that a further load on the cross strut from above, as will often occur in practical operation, presses it into the locked state, but under no circumstances can it be released. A particular advantage of the permanently attached locking elements is that they cannot be accidentally lost, so that the safety of the load securing cannot be compromised. As an alternative to the described interlocking locking arrangement, other types, such as plug connections, may be provided, if necessary with additional securing elements.

A particularly advantageous variant of the previously described interlocking locking mechanism provides that the strut parts each have two locking pins or locking slots arranged at a distance from one another, alternately on the upper and lower edges, which can be brought into engagement with one another. This arrangement enables the two strut parts to be connected to one another by crossing over between the locking elements.

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and subsequent pivoting in only one direction can bring the interlocking locking engagement. This means that the strut parts in the load securing device according to the invention can only be locked together by a pivoting movement of the strut parts from top to bottom and in this state they block each other with regard to further pivoting downwards. This makes this arrangement particularly safe. In detail, this arrangement can be achieved in that one side strut has a locking pin on its outer end on its upper edge which can engage from above in a locking slot in the second strut part, also on the upper edge at a distance from the end of the strut part, while this second strut has a locking slot on the underside at its front end which can be brought into engagement with a locking pin formed on the first strut part at a distance from the end of the strut on the lower edge.

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The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. In detail, 5

Fig. 1 an inventive

Load securing device in built-up

Condition;

Fig. 2 the load securing device according to Fig. 1 in

folded state;

Fig. 3, 4 the load securing device according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively in partially erected states;

Fig. 5 a detailed view of the cross brace of the

Load securing device according to Fig. 1 to 4.

In the drawings in Fig. 1 to 4, the load securing device according to the invention is provided as a whole with the reference number 1. Fig. 1 shows this in the assembled operating state above a Euro pallet 2, with the arrows indicating how the load securing device 1 can be placed on the Euro pallet 2.

The base frame 3 of the load securing device 1 is formed from longitudinal profiles 3a and transverse profiles 3b arranged in a rectangle and welded together, which run lengthways and crossways with respect to the Euro pallet 2. These profiles 3a and 3b are designed as steel angle profiles with an L-shaped cross section, with one profile leg lying parallel to the surface of the Euro pallet 2 and the other protruding downwards on the outside. The dimensions of the base frame 3 are selected so that the outer profile legs of the angle profiles 3a and 3b can be placed on the Euro pallet 2 from above, so that they form a positive fit on the loading surface as support surfaces on the sides.

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overlap. The inner profile legs, which are parallel to the upper side, rest on the loading surface of the Euro pallet 2 from above when in place.

On each cross-section 3b of the base frame 3, a side frame 4a or 4b is pivotably mounted on pivot hinges 5. The pivot axis of these pivot hinges 5 is parallel to the extension of the cross-sections 3b above the upper leg. A special feature of these pivot hinges 5 is that the side frames 4a and 4b can only be pivoted inwards, i.e. against each other, but not outwards beyond the vertical with respect to the base frame 3. In practice, this pivoting path limitation to 90° is achieved by stop edges or the like.

The side frames 4a and 4b are each formed from two corner posts 6, which consist, for example, of square steel tubes and are connected to one another by externally welded sheets or angles 7 0.

A special feature of the side frames 4a and 4b is that the side frame 4b is narrower than the side frame 4a by the profile width of the corner posts. This makes it possible for the side frame 4b to lie between the corner posts 6 within the side frame 4a in the folded state, i.e. parallel to the frame surface of the base frame 3 as shown in Fig. 3, i.e. that the side frames 4a and 4b can be laid flat within one another within the profile height of the corner posts 6 0. The sheets or angles 7 are expediently arranged offset from one another so that they do not hinder one another when folded.

In the upper area of the rear corner posts of the side frames 4a and 4b, a cross brace 8 is attached at a distance from the base frame 3. This is formed from two brace parts 8a and 8b, which are designed as flat iron, for example. At their outer ends, these brace parts 8a and 8b are provided with

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Hinge bolts are pivotably connected to the corner posts 6 of the side frames 4a and 4b in such a way that the strut parts 8a and 8b can be pivoted in parallel to the corner posts 6. A special feature is that the strut part 8a is attached to the inside of the side frame 4a and the strut part 8b is attached to the outside of the side frame 4b, which has the advantage that the strut parts 8a and 8b cannot come into conflict with one another in the folded state according to Fig. 3 or Fig. 2 and, in the assembled state according to Fig. 1, the cross strut 8 runs practically parallel to the rear longitudinal profile 3a, i.e. to the rear edge of the Euro pallet 2.

The pivotability of the strut parts 8a and 8b on the corner posts 6 is particularly clearly visible in Fig. 4.

For the shear-resistant connection of the strut parts 8a and 8b to one another, the strut part 8b is provided with locking slots 9 and the strut part 8a with corresponding locking pins 10. The arrangement of these locking elements 9, 10 is particularly clear from Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 or, in the assembled state, also from Fig. 1. The locking slots 9 and the locking pins 10 are arranged alternately on the upper and lower edges at a distance from one another in the end region of the strut parts 8a and 8b.

To connect them, these strut parts 8a and 8b are first pivoted upwards from the erected side frames 4a and 4b as far as is indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 4. It is only necessary to ensure that they cross over in the area between the locking slots 9 and the control pins 10. A subsequent downward pivoting, as shown in Fig. 5, then automatically leads to the lower locking pin 10 being pivoted from below into the corresponding locking slot 9 and the upper locking pin 10 being pivoted from above into the locking slot that is open at the top. This interlocking leads to the strut parts 8a and 8b not crossing over the

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Fig. 1 shown, straight end position can be pivoted downwards. This creates a shear-resistant connection that does not require any additional connecting parts that could get lost.

In the pivoted-in position, the strut parts 8a and 8b lock together due to their own weight. A further load from above, as often occurs in practical operation, means that the connecting parts lock together even more firmly and cannot come loose under any circumstances, which is particularly advantageous for practical use.

The disassembly of the assembled cross brace 8 can be carried out simply by pivoting out the brace parts 8a and 8b in the reverse order, whereby the locking pins are first pivoted upwards, as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 5 and Fig. 4, so that they are pivoted out of the locking slots 9 again to release the connection between the brace parts 8a and 8b.

Subsequently, the strut parts 8a and 8b can be pivoted back against the corner posts so that the side frames 4a and 4b can be brought into the folded state shown in Fig. 2.

The connecting beams 7 of the side frames 4a and 4b can be provided with fastening openings 11 in order to hang safety elements, for example elastic tensioning straps, between the erected side frames 4a and 4b. These are not shown in detail. However, it is obvious that such tensioning straps can be hung at different distances from the crossbar 8 due to the arrangement of the openings 11, depending on how much cargo is still contained on the pallet 2. This cargo can be formed, for example, by upright boxes. These are secured against falling down at the back by the crossbar 8, at the front by the elastic tensioning straps and at the sides by the side frames 4a and 4b.

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Through-hole fastening holes 12 are provided in the upper profile legs of the longitudinal profiles 3a or the transverse profiles 3b resting on the loading surface of the Euro pallet 2. Fastening screws 13 can be screwed into the Euro pallet 2, as indicated in Fig. 1. This results in a secure fixation of the load securing device 1 according to the invention, which can also be released again relatively easily if necessary.

Thanks to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the load securing device 1 shown can be folded flat, as shown in Fig. 2, wherein it is only as high as the superimposed profiles 3a and 3b of the base frame and the corner posts 6 of the side frames 4a and 4b. To assemble, the load securing device 1 is first in the folded state, as shown in Fig. 2, with the base frame 3 simply placed on the loading area of a Euro pallet 2, as indicated in Fig. 1. Then only the side frames 4a and 4b are erected, as indicated in Fig. 3, until they come into the vertical position, where they can no longer be pivoted further outwards due to the pivoting path limitation of the pivoting hinges 5. The strut parts are then pivoted into one another, as shown in Fig. 4, until the locking pins engage in the locking slots 9, thus forming a shear-resistant connection of the cross strut 8. The loading with a variable number of boxes or other loads can be secured by securing elements which are hooked into the fastening openings between the side frames 4a and 4b, for example elastic tensioning straps. A particular advantage of this design according to the invention is that the base frame 3 and the side frames 4a and 4b together with the side parts 8a and 8b of the cross strut 8 are connected to one another in a captive manner, so that no individual parts can be lost even in rough operation, whereby the load securing device 1 is complete and usable at all times.

Claims (15)

1. Load securing device for Euro pallets for securing piece goods stacked on the loading surface of the Euro pallet, characterized by a base frame ( 3 ) which can be attached to the loading surface of the Euro pallet ( 2 ), to which side frames ( 4 a, 4 b) are hinged on opposite sides, which can be either erected vertically or pivoted in lying on the base frame ( 3 ). 2. Load securing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base frame ( 3 ) can be placed on the loading surface of the Euro pallet ( 2 ) and overlaps the latter with support surfaces in a laterally shift-proof manner. 3. Load securing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the base frame ( 3 ) is formed from at least partially circumferential angle profiles ( 3a , 3b ) which can be placed on the Euro pallet ( 2 ) so as to encompass the upper edge. 4. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base frame ( 3 ) and the side frames ( 4a , 4b ) are formed from steel profiles ( 3a , 3b , 6 , 7 ). 5. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base and side frames ( 3 , 4a , 4b ) are designed as welded constructions. 6. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the side frames ( 4 a, 4 b) are mounted on pivot hinges ( 5 ) which are arranged on the upper side of the base frame ( 3 ) in the corner regions. 7. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side frames ( 4 a, 4 b) can be pivoted in parallel to rest on the upper side of the base frame ( 3 ). 8. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the side frames ( 4 a, 4 b) can be laid flat one inside the other. 9. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the hinges ( 5 ) of the side frames ( 4a , 4b ) have a pivoting path limitation, so that the side frames ( 4a , 4b ) can only be pivoted from the base frame ( 3 ) up to the vertical. 10. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a cross brace ( 8 ) can be detachably attached between the side frames ( 4a , 4b ) in the erected state at a distance from the base frame ( 3 ). 11. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cross strut ( 8 ) can be assembled from strut parts ( 8a , 8b) which are pivotably connected to the side frame ( 4a , 4b ) and can be connected to one another in a shear-resistant manner. 12. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the strut parts ( 8 a, 8 b) have fixedly attached locking elements ( 9 , 10 ) which can be pivoted laterally into one another and can be locked together in a shear-resistant manner. 13. Load securing device according to claim 12, characterized in that the strut parts ( 8 a, 8 b) each have two locking pins ( 10 ) or locking slots ( 9 ) which are formed at a distance from one another and alternately on the upper and lower edges and which can be brought into engagement with one another. 14. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that securing elements (elastic tensioning straps) can be suspended from the longitudinal and/or transverse beams ( 7 ) of the side frames ( 4a , 4b ). 15. Load securing device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the base frame ( 3 ) is provided with fastening holes ( 12 ) for attaching fastening elements ( 13 ).