DE29619758U1 - Reusable transport pack for technical devices - Google Patents

Description

EUROPEfN,^ _T ^ ^ ^ _##

DiPL.-PHYS. DR. 'WALTHER JUNIUS Hannover

WOLFSTRASSE 24 TEL. (OSIl) 834530

30S19 HANOVER FAX. (0511) 842124

23 October 1996 My file:1361

Stucki plastics plant and tool construction GmbH
Schötmarsche Strasse 22, 32079 Bad Salzuflen

Reusable transport packaging for technical devices

The invention relates to a reusable transport package for technical devices, consisting of a pallet, a lid and four supports arranged in the corners, which can be plugged together after the technical device has been placed on the pallet and are held together and secured in this plugged-together state by a band wrapping around the pallet and the lid.

Such a transport packaging is known from DE 43 44 339 A1. In this, the supports are telescopic rods whose length can be adjusted to the respective device and which are inserted between the pallet forming the bottom of the packaging and the lid. These supports are intended to absorb vertical forces arising from devices stacked above and packaged in the same way and to transfer them to the bottom pallet without these forces being absorbed by the packaged device. This is only partially successful with this packaging. As soon as lateral, horizontal force components occur, as can occur both when stacking on top of one another and during transport,

- 2 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

, these must be caught by the device itself. This can lead to damage to the packaged device.

This is no longer the case if the supports have an angular cross-section and are inserted into slots arranged at the corners of the pallet and the lid, as is known from DE 94 16 778 IM. This is because forces acting on the packaging from the side are absorbed by the supporting effect of the angle profiles forming the supports. The disadvantage of this packaging, as well as the packaging described above, is the considerable length of the supports, which makes it difficult to pack the parts of this packaging together for empty transport back to the device manufacturer and for further use. This is because the long supports, when stored between the pallet and the lid, extend beyond the edge of the pallet and the lid. This not only makes return transport more difficult, but also makes it difficult to pack the packaging securely for return transport, as the supports have to be attached in a special way between the pallet and the lid.

Another packaging for technical devices equipped with corner brackets, a pallet and a lid is known from DE 295 09 038. This has the same disadvantages.

Another similar type of packaging is known from DE 43 43 978. However, here large-area supports are used as supports arranged at the corners of the packaging.

- 3 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

Cover trays are used that cover both sides of the packaged device. This is complex and expensive. These also extend far beyond the pallet and the lid.

The invention avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. The object of the invention is to design the packaging using simple means so that the corner brackets of the packaging serving as supports can be easily accommodated between the pallet and the lid during empty transport back to the device manufacturer without protruding.

The invention consists in that the supports are divided and consist of a part that is firmly connected to the lid (or the pallet) and another free part that can be inserted between the pallet and the part of the support that is firmly connected to the lid (or the lid and the part that is firmly connected to the pallet), whereby the free part of the supports can be inserted with one end into the pallet (or the lid) and with its other end into the part that is firmly connected to the lid (or the pallet).

In this way, for empty transport, in which the free parts of the supports are removed from the space between the pallet and the lid, a space is created between the pallet and the lid that is suitable for accommodating the free parts of the supports.

- 4 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

To ensure that the free parts of the supports do not protrude from this space, it is advisable for the free part of the supports to have a length that is shorter than the diagonal of the pallet surface or the bottom surface of the lid.

If the reusable transport packaging requires longer supports due to the height of the technical equipment to be packaged, it is advisable for the free part of the supports to be positioned diagonally between the pallet surface and the bottom surface of the lid during empty transport.

In order to protect the packaged device, it is advantageous that the supports (3) form a right angle in cross-section.

In order to be able to adapt this reusable transport packaging to technical devices of different heights, it is possible to arrange a ring between the pallet and the lid that encloses the technical device and is inserted between the two parts of the supports.

Such a ring can be easily made

be made of two parallel

extending walls, which are connected to each other by ribs.

For the accommodation of the supports of this reusable transport packaging, it may also be useful to have

1 "i;. 1

- 5 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

a wall is arranged between the lid (or the pallet) and the support parts attached to it, closing the free space between the attached support parts

The fastening of the supports of this reusable transport packaging can be easily released in such a way that the free parts of the supports have a projection at their end facing the fixed part of the supports and/or the pallet or the lid that is set back from their outer surface and that engages in recesses in the fixed part of the supports or the ring and the pallet or the lid.

In order to achieve a long service life and low empty transport weights, this reusable transport packaging can be manufactured in such a way that the pallet, the lid, the ring and/or the supports are each made in one piece from plastic.

For the attachment of the free support parts, it is advisable that the top of the pallet (or the bottom of the lid on its edge in the corners) has recesses for inserting the projections on the free parts of the supports.

In order to achieve the required static stability, it may be advisable for the walls of the supports to be provided with reinforcing ribs between the front projections. It is advantageous if the walls of the supports are smooth on the outside and

- 6 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

are provided with reinforcing ribs on their inside.

This reusable transport packaging is held together by at least one strap both during transport of equipment and during transport of empty goods. It is advisable to use this strap again and again. In order to make this possible in a simple manner both during transport of equipment and during transport of empty goods, it is advantageous for the strap that wraps around the transport packaging to have a plug-in coupling consisting of two parts that can be pushed together at the end, one of which has a double part arranged in the middle of the strap, or for the circumference of the transport packaging containing the technical device to be transported to be an integer multiple of the circumference of the transport packaging assembled as empty goods.

The essence of the invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. They show:

Fig.1 a perspective view of the packaging assembled for the transport of a technical device.

Fig.2 the individual parts of this transport package.

Fig.3 a perspective view of the empty packaging assembled for return transport.

Fig.4 a perspective view of the empty packaging assembled for return transport with supports stored.

- 7 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

Fig.5 the individual parts of a modified transport package.

Fig.6 is a perspective view of the packaging in Fig.5 assembled for the transport of a technical device.

Fig.7 is a perspective view of the empty packaging of Fig.5 assembled for return transport.

Fig.8 the individual parts of another modified transport package.

Fig.9 the individual parts of another transport package provided with a peripheral ring.

The reusable transport packaging for technical devices shown in Fig.1-4 consists of a pallet 1, a lid 2 and angle-shaped supports 3 arranged in the four corners. The supports 3 have a right angle in cross-section. These components of the transport packaging can be put together after the technical device has been placed on the pallet 1. They are held together and secured in the put-together state shown in Fig.1 by two straps (not shown) that wrap around the pallet 1 and the lid 2. Grooves 4 are formed in the lid 2 so that these straps can be attached in a suitable place and so that they cannot slip off during transport.

The supports are split. In Fig.1-7 they consist of a part 3A which is firmly connected to the cover 2

- 8 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

and a further free part 3B which can be inserted between the pallet 1 and the part 3A of the support 3 which is firmly connected to the cover 2, in that the free part 3B of the support 3 can be inserted with one end into the pallet 1 and with its other end into the part 3A of the support 3 which is firmly connected to the cover 2.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the supports 3 consist of a part 3A which is firmly connected to the pallet 1, and a further free part 3B ₅ which can be inserted between the part 3A of the support 3 firmly connected to the pallet and the cover 2, in that the free part 3Bd of the supports 3 can be inserted with its one end into the cover 2 and with its other end into the part firmly connected to the pallet 1.

In this reusable transport packaging, the free parts 3B of the supports 3 have at their ends or front sides a projection 5 set back from their outer surface, which engages in recesses 6 of the fixed part 3A of the supports 3 and the pallet (1).

In this reusable transport packaging, the free part 3B of the supports 3 has a length that is shorter than the diagonal of the pallet surface or the bottom surface of the lid. This makes it possible for the free part 3B of the supports 3 to be stored diagonally between the pallet surface and the bottom surface of the lid during empty transport, as shown in Fig. 4.

- 9 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

In the embodiment of Fig. 5-7, a wall 7 is arranged between the support parts 3A attached to the lid 2, closing the free space between these support parts 3A. This creates a closed space for storing the free support parts 3B during empty transport of this packaging.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9, a ring 8 enclosing the technical device (not shown) is arranged between the pallet 1 and the lid 2. This ring serves on the one hand to better protect the device, and on the other hand to adapt existing parts of the device packaging to the respective height of the device. The supports 3 are also not manufactured continuously from the pallet 1 to the lid 2, but are each divided into two shorter support parts 3A, 3ß, of which one support part 3A is firmly connected to the lid 2. The free support parts 3B of the supports 3 can be inserted into the ring 5 at one end, and they can be inserted into the pallet 1 at their other end.

For insertion into the pallet 1 and the ring 8, the support parts 3A, 3B have a projection 5 at their ends facing the ring 8 and the pallet 1, which is set back from their outer surface and engages in recesses 7 in the ring 8 and the pallet 1.

The ring 8 consists of two parallel walls 8A, 8B, which are connected by ribs 8C.

- 10 - 23 October 1996

My file:1361

are connected to one another. As a result, the recesses required for inserting the projections 6 into the supports 3 have been created automatically.

It is particularly advantageous if the pallet 1, the lid 2, the ring 8 and/or the supports 3 are each made in one piece from plastic.

To achieve greater stability, the reusable transport packaging can be designed in such a way that the walls of the supports are profiled in cross-section, preferably wave-shaped, preferably in sinusoidal, trapezoidal or rectangular wave patterns.

4 ■&khgr;*

23 October 1996 My file:1361

List of reference symbols

1 palette 2 Lid 3 support 3A fixed support part 3B free support part 4 Groove 5 head Start 6 Recess 7 Wall 8th ring 8A Outer wall of the ring 8B Inner wall of the ring 8C rib

Claims (15)

- 1 - October 23, 1996 My file:1361 [ &Lgr; T I--* CLAIMS 1. Reusable transport packaging for technical devices,
consisting of a pallet, a lid and four supports arranged in the corners, which can be plugged together after the technical device has been placed on the pallet and are held together and secured in this plugged-together state by a strap that wraps around the pallet and the lid,
characterized, that the supports (3) are divided and consist of a part (3A) which is firmly connected to the cover (2) (or the pallet (1)) and another free part (3A) which can be inserted between the pallet and the part (3A) firmly connected to the cover (2) (or the cover (2) and the part (3A) firmly connected to the pallet (1)) of the support (3), in that the free part (3B) of the supports (3) can be inserted with its one end into the pallet (1) (or the cover (2)) and with its other end into the part (3A) of the support (3) that is firmly connected to the cover (2) (or the pallet (1)). 2. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the free part (3B) of the supports (3) has a length which is shorter than the diagonal of the pallet - 2 - 23 October 1996 My file:1361 ten surface or the underside of the lid. 3. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that that the free part (3B) of the supports (3) is positioned diagonally between the pallet surface and the underside of the lid during empty transport. 4. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that that the supports (3) form a right angle in cross-section. 5. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that that a ring (8) enclosing the technical device is arranged between the pallet (1) and the cover (2), which ring is inserted between the two parts (3A, 3B) of the supports (3). 6. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that that between the cover (2) (or the pallet (1)) and the support parts (3A) attached thereto there is a wall (7) closing the free space between the attached support parts (3A). 7. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that that the free parts (3B) of the supports (3) are connected to the fixed part (3A) of the supports (3) and/or the - 3 - 23 October 1996 My file:1361 The end facing the pallet (1) or the cover (2) has a projection (5) set back from its outer surface, which engages in recesses (6) in the fixed part (3A) of the supports (3) or the ring (8) and the pallet (1) or the cover (2). 8. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 5,
characterized, that the ring (8) is formed from two walls (8A, 8B) running parallel to one another, which are connected to one another by ribs (8C). 9. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the pallet (1), the lid (2), the ring (8) and/or the supports (3) are each made in one piece from plastic. 10. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the top of the pallet (1) (or the bottom of the lid (2)) has recesses (6) on its edge in the corners for inserting the projections (5) on the free parts (3B) of the supports (3). 11. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the walls of the supports (3) between the front projections are provided with reinforcing ribs. 4 - 23.October 1995 My file:1361 hen are. 12. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the walls of the supports are profiled in cross-section, preferably wave-shaped, preferably in sinusoidal, trapezoidal or rectangular wave patterns. 13. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the walls of the supports (3) are smooth on their outside and provided with reinforcing ribs on their inside. 14. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the strap that wraps around the transport package has a plug-in coupling consisting of two parts that are pushed together at the ends, one of which has a double part arranged centrally on the strap. 15. Reusable transport packaging according to claim 1,
characterized, that the volume of the transport packaging containing the technical equipment to be transported is an integer multiple of the volume of the transport packaging assembled as empty packaging.