DE29710031U1 - Transport and storage container for transporting and providing flat, preferably round objects - Google Patents

Description

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I.V.E. AG (i.G.)

Society for Innovative Packaging Development

Zwinglistrasse 41

CH-9000 St. Gallen

Hanau, 09.06.1997

UTILITY MODEL REGISTRATION

"Transport and storage containers for transporting and storing flat, preferably round, objects"

The present invention relates to a transport and storage container for transporting and providing flat, preferably round, objects, in particular motor vehicle steering wheels, which has a container base housing with a base plate, two end side walls and one long side wall and a lid pivotably attached to one long side wall, wherein strips with grooves are arranged in the container, in which the objects are held in rows spaced apart from one another vertically or upright.

Transport containers of the type mentioned above are used in a wide variety of ways to transport a wide variety of objects. Often such objects are finished and must be stored carefully so that they are not damaged during transport. In addition, it is often necessary to transport objects, such as accessories, from the manufacturing plant to the assembly site in order to remove the objects from the transport container immediately for assembly, for example at an assembly line. A special

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Flat, round objects, especially vehicle steering wheels, pose a problem here, especially if they are equipped with impact protection or an airbag. Containers in which such steering wheels are held must, on the one hand, meet high safety requirements during transport, but on the other hand they must ensure that they can be easily removed from the assembly line. In order to fill a transport container with standard dimensions, it is necessary, for example, to arrange steering wheels in several rows in order to make full use of the volume of the transport container. In order to stack such vehicle steering wheels, strips and padding parts are required that keep the steering wheels spaced apart from one another. To remove the steering wheels from the transport container or, conversely, to insert the steering wheels into the transport container during production, various padding and spacer parts, such as strips with grooves, must be removed from or inserted into the container. As a result, such a transport container consists of a large number of individual parts that must be stored, unless they are disposable parts that would be difficult to dispose of afterwards. These parts are then placed back in the container after the items have been removed from the assembly line in order to send them back to the manufacturer of the accessories. It is almost inevitable that individual parts, such as strips in which the items are inserted, are lost during transport or are damaged due to improper handling, so that they have to be replaced.

Based on the state of the art mentioned at the beginning and the associated problems, as described above, the present invention is based on the object of developing a transport and storage container of the known type in such a way that, on the one hand, safe transport of the objects is ensured, and, on the other hand, simple removal of the objects is made possible without having to handle a large number of individual parts.

The object is achieved according to the invention in a transport and storage container of the type mentioned at the outset in that the objects are arranged in four rows which are aligned parallel to the base plate of the basic housing, with two lower rows and two upper rows,

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that the container wall opposite the base plate is assigned to the lid and the other longitudinal side wall is designed to be removable,

that each row of objects is assigned two lower strips spaced apart from one another and an upper strip, with the upper strip being located approximately above the rear, lower strip as seen from the long side wall associated with the lid,

that the lower front bar associated with the upper, front row is guided so that it can be moved from its basic position to a rear position when the row is not occupied by objects,

that the lower, rear bar associated with the upper, front row is guided so that it can be moved from its basic position to a front position when the row is not occupied by objects,

that the upper bar associated with the upper, front row is guided so that it can be moved from its basic position to a front position when the row is not occupied by objects, and

that the lower, front bar assigned to the upper, rear row is guided so that it can be moved from its basic position to a rear position.

The essence of the invention is that, on the one hand, the flat, disc-shaped parts, for example vehicle steering wheels, are arranged in four rows with two lower rows and two upper rows, and certain strips, which are assigned to the rows and in which the steering wheels rest or are supported on their upper side, are guided and movable in such a way that they free up respective positions or areas of the transport and storage container so that the objects in the individual rows are easily accessible. Because the individual strips are guided and movable, they remain on the transport and storage container and do not have to be removed from the container. After such a container is completely empty, it can be returned to the supplier of the accessories without any further measures in order to be refilled with objects, for example vehicle steering wheels.

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fill. Such a transport and storage container can be built extremely stably, i.e. with solid bars in which the individual parts are held, as these bars are components of the transport and storage container and therefore cannot be removed from the container by an assembly line. Due to the defined guidance of these bars in the container into the various positions, they can be moved without great effort. As the bars are fixed components of the container, they also stiffen the container during transport, which is why they can be designed to be suitably stable.

Due to the defined mobility of various strips, as stated above, the respective strips assigned to a row of objects (vehicle steering wheels) can be moved into a first position in which the respective objects are held, and into a second position in which they assume a position so that the next row of objects is easily accessible. With the arrangement of the strips according to the invention, the upper, front row of objects is first removed, then the lower, front row is emptied, followed by the removal of the objects from the rear, upper row, until the last remaining row, i.e. the lower, rear row of objects, is then removed. The respective handling of the strips in which the objects are supported is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

In a preferred development of the transport and storage container, the bar assigned to the lower, front row is attached to the lower, rear bar assigned to the upper, front row and can be moved together with it in a guided manner. This reduces the mechanism required to move these two bars into different positions.

A simple mechanism for arranging the individual strips in a guided, movable manner is achieved if they can be pivoted into different positions. To do this, the strips are preferably held by means of arms that are pivoted with their free ends in the area of the respective pivot axis. These arms can be attached to the ends of the strips.

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In a design with a pivoting arrangement of different strips, the pivot axis of the lower strip(s) assigned to the upper, front row and/or the pivot axis of the lower, front strip assigned to the rear, upper row is arranged approximately in the middle between the rear and front strips. This arrangement results in sufficiently large lever arms to pivot the strips into their different positions in such a way that the respective still occupied rows below these strips or behind these strips are easily accessible. For this reason, the pivot axis of the upper strip assigned to the upper, front row should be arranged approximately above the lower, front strip.

As an alternative to the pivoting arrangement of the strips, these can be guided in corresponding rails on the container side walls, which can be either straight rails or appropriately curved rails in order to move the respective strip into a position that releases the objects in an area of the container where the strips are positioned in such a way that they do not interfere with the removal of objects in rows below or behind them.

The individual strips should be lockable in their basic position, i.e. in the position in which they fix objects that are inserted into the container, so that the objects are fixed in the strips during transport. The locks can then be released to remove the objects and then move the strips into the corresponding release position. Preferably, the locking should be done using spring-loaded locking elements.

As can be seen from the above explanation, the transport container can also be seen as a safety container that can withstand strong external influences during transport. In order to give the container additional strength when the lid is closed, several tabs are provided on the lid, which grip behind the inside of the side walls of the base housing when the container is closed. This is especially true when steering wheels are transported in such a container that have an integrated so-called airbag that is mounted ready for use in the respective steering wheels.

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So that the objects, in particular those in the two lower rows, can be easily removed from the container, one of the long side walls of the container base is designed in such a way that it can be opened. This side is the long side that is opposite the one to which the lid of the container is pivotally attached. To remove the objects, the lid is opened by pivoting it backwards, as seen from the operator's position. The long side wall that faces the operator is then opened so that the lower rows of objects arranged in the container are also easily accessible. To simplify this opening of the long side wall, the long side wall that faces the user is assigned to the lid in another embodiment of the transport and storage container. This means that when the lid is opened, the long side wall, as part of the lid, is opened at the same time and protrudes upwards, so that the container is immediately ready for the removal of the objects stored in it, without any special handling being required to open the long side wall.

Further details and features of the invention emerge from the following description of an embodiment based on the drawing. In the drawing shows

Figure 1 is a plan view of the long side of a transport and storage container according to the invention with the lid open,

Figures 2A to 2D are side views of the transport and storage container on the left front side wall, but with the long side wall removed in these figures to reveal the view of the round objects arranged therein, for example steering wheels, with Figure 2A showing the completely filled container, while Figures 2B, 2C and 2D each show the container with a further row of objects removed and show the differently pivoted strips so that the next row of objects is accessible.

The transport and storage container, as can be seen in the longitudinal side view in Figure 1 and in the side views of the front according to Figures 2A to 2D,

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has a container base housing 1 with a base plate 2, two front side walls 3 and a rear longitudinal side wall 4. A lid 6 is attached to the rear longitudinal side wall 4 so that it can pivot about a pivot axis 5. The front longitudinal side wall 7 of the transport and storage container is assigned to the lid 6, so that when the container is open, as shown in the figures, the container is open on the front longitudinal side and on the upper side and the interior is freely accessible.

As can be seen in Figures 2A to 2C, four rows of round objects, each indicated by the broken line 8, are inserted into the container, which are grouped in two rows one above the other. In the figures, the lower, front row is designated by the reference number 9, the lower rear row by the reference number 10, the upper front row by the reference number 11 and the upper rear row by the reference number 12 (see Figure 2A).

The round objects, which are referred to in the further description as vehicle steering wheels 8, are supported in their position in the container by strips provided with grooves 13. The lower strips assigned to the lower rows 9 and 10 of the vehicle steering wheels 8 are designated with the reference number 14, with each row 9, 10 being assigned a front and a rear strip 14, which support the individual vehicle steering wheels 8 on their circumference. The lower rows 9 and 10 are each assigned a further upper, rear strip 16, 15 provided with grooves 13, which support the vehicle steering wheels assigned to the lower rows 9, 10 on their rear peripheral edge, as seen from the front long side of the container 1. Corresponding to the lower rows 9, 10, the upper, front row 11 is assigned a lower, front bar 17, a lower, rear bar 18, the upper, rear row 12 is assigned a lower, front bar 19 and a lower, rear bar 20. At the top, the upper, front row 11 is supported with an upper, rear bar 21 and the upper, rear row 12 is supported with an upper, rear bar 22. In addition, to support the vehicle steering wheels 8 of the two upper rows 11 and 12, two bars 23 are attached to the inside of the cover 6, which, when the cover is closed, correspond to a position above the respective front, lower bars 17 and 19 and support the vehicle steering wheels on their upper, front side.

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These strips 23 do not necessarily have to be provided with grooves; continuous cushions may be sufficient.

The strips 23, as can be seen in the top view in Figure 1, can be designed as metal supports that are covered with a soft coating, for example made of rubber or foam. While the respective grooves 13 serve to accommodate the steering wheels 8, as indicated in Figure 1 in the middle at the bottom by the dot-dash line, the recesses 24 are dimensioned according to the length of the hub 36 of the steering wheel 8. Completely assembled vehicle steering wheels 8, including hub 36 and in particular also with built-in impact protection or airbag, can therefore be inserted into the strips.

The transport and storage container is loaded for transporting the vehicle steering wheels 8 from the manufacturing plant for the vehicle steering wheels to the assembly line for the motor vehicles as shown in Figure 2A, namely with four rows of vehicle steering wheels 9, 10, 11 and 12. At an assembly line or another removal point, the container is put down and the lid 6 is opened so that the interior of the container is freely accessible from the front long side and from the top.

After the container has been prepared as shown in Figure 2A, the vehicle steering wheels 8 of the upper, front row 11 can be removed. After the row 11 has been emptied, the lower front bar 17 associated with the upper, front row 11, which is arranged to be pivotable, is pivoted in the direction of arrow 25 (see Figure 2A) into a rear position, as shown in Figure 2B. In this position of the bar 17, the vehicle steering wheels 8 of the lower, front row are easily accessible and can be removed one after the other. For the pivotable arrangement of the bar 17, arms 26 are attached to both ends thereof, which are articulated with their pivot axis 27 approximately in the middle of the distance between the front bar 17 and the rear bar 18.

After the lower, front row 9 of the vehicle steering wheels 8 has been removed from the container, the bar 17 is pivoted back into its basic position (see Figure 2C) in order to then move the upper bar 21 associated with the upper, front row 11, which is arranged approximately above the lower, rear bar 18, forwards.

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This bar 21 is also arranged on arms 26, although these arms have a length such that their ends can be swiveled forwards and downwards about a swivel axis 27, corresponding to the swivel arrow 28, approximately above the front, lower bar 17. In this position of the bar 21, the vehicle steering wheels 8 of the rear, upper row 12 are easily accessible. To remove these vehicle steering wheels 8 of the rear row 12, the bar 21, which is swiveled downwards and forwards, can simultaneously serve as a support for the person removing the steering wheels 8 of the rear row 12. For this purpose, a locking mechanism for the bar 21 can be provided in order to fix it in the position as shown in Figure 2C.

After the vehicle steering wheels 8 have been removed from the rear, upper row 12, the lower, front bar 19 associated with the rear, upper row 12, which is also held pivotably on arms 26 at its ends, is pivoted in the direction of the pivot arrow 29 into a rear position about the pivot axis 30, as shown in Figure 2B. The pivot axis 30 of the arms 26 is positioned approximately in the middle between the rear bar 20 and the front bar 19. In addition, the lower, rear bar 18 associated with the front, upper row 11, which is also held pivotably on arms 26 about a pivot axis 31 in the direction of the pivot arrow 35, is pivoted into a front position, as shown in Figure 2D. As can be seen in Figure 2B, the upper, rear bar 16 associated with the front, lower row 9 is attached to the underside of the bar 18, so that it is pivoted upwards at the same time. With the orientation of the bars as shown in Figure 2B, the vehicle steering wheels 8 of the lower, rear row 10 can be removed between the upwardly pivoted bars 19 and 16 or 18.

As can be seen from the description of the unloading process according to the sequence of Figures 2A to 2D, the strips remain part of the container in every phase of removal, so that after removing all vehicle steering wheels 8, only the lid 6 needs to be closed in order to send it back to the manufacturing plant for the vehicle steering wheels 8.

For loading the transport and storage container as described above with the vehicle steering wheels 8 or other corresponding objects,

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the loading process is started by positioning the individual strips as shown in Figure 2D, whereby after the lower rear row 10 has been occupied, the rear upper row 12 (Figure 2C) is loaded, followed by the loading of the lower front row 9 (Figure 2B). Finally, the upper front row 11 is loaded, so that the container, filled with vehicle steering wheels 8, is ready for shipping.

A piston-cylinder arrangement 32 can be provided on the lid 6 of the container in order to hold the lid 6 securely in the open position.

The container is suitable as a high-security transport container, which is preferably made of steel with a framework of square tubes and an external steel paneling, as shown in the figures. In addition, tabs 33 can be provided on the lid 6, in particular also on the upper longitudinal side wall 7, which is pivoted with the lid 6, which are indicated in Figure 1, but not in Figures 2A to 2D, and which engage behind the front side walls 3 on the inside. This ensures that, under strong external forces, the lid 6 and the longitudinal side wall 7 remain fixed between the front side walls 3 when the lid is closed. With a correspondingly strong locking mechanism of the lid 6 or the longitudinal side wall 7, the steering wheels 8 can be transported safely, in particular even if operational impact devices or airbags are already mounted in the steering wheels.

The individual strips, which are arranged in a pivotable manner in the transport and storage container, can be fixed in the respective positions, in particular in the positions in which they accommodate the vehicle steering wheels 8, by means of spring-loaded locking elements, which are shown in Figure 1 on the upper strip 21 and are designated by the reference number 34.

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Claims (14)

-1 - I.V.E. AG (i.G.) Society for Innovative Packaging Development Zwinglistrasse 41 CH-9000 St. Gallen Hanau, 09.06.1997 UTILITY MODEL REGISTRATION "Transport and storage containers for transporting and providing
flat, preferably round, objects" Protection claims 1. Transport and storage containers for transporting and providing flat, preferably round, objects, in particular motor vehicle steering wheels,
which comprises a container base housing with a base plate, two end walls and one longitudinal side wall and a
pivotally mounted lid, wherein strips with grooves are arranged in the container in which the objects are spaced apart in rows
are held vertically or upright, characterized in that that the objects (8) are arranged in four rows (9, 10, 11, 12) which are aligned parallel to the base plate (2) of the base housing (1), with two lower rows (9, 10) and two upper rows (11, 12), 1771AAVE/970215 -2- that the container wall opposite the base plate (2) is assigned to the lid (6) and the other longitudinal side wall (7) is designed to be removable, that each row (9,10,11,12) of objects (8) is assigned two lower, spaced-apart strips (14; 17,18; 19, 20) and an upper strip (15,16, 20, 21), the upper strip being located approximately above the rear, lower strip (14, 16, 20) as seen from the longitudinal side wall assigned to the lid, that the lower, front bar (17) associated with the upper, front row (11) is guided so that it can be moved (25) in such a way that it can be moved from its basic position to a rear position when the row (11) is not occupied by objects (8), that the lower, rear bar (18) associated with the upper, front row (11) is guided so that it can be moved (35) in such a way that it can be moved from its basic position to a front position when the row (11) is not occupied by objects (8), that the upper bar (21) associated with the upper, front row (11) is guided so that it can be moved (28) in such a way that it can be moved from its basic position to a front position when the row (11) is not occupied by objects (8), and that the lower, front bar (19) assigned to the upper, rear row (12) is guided so that it can be moved (25) from its basic position into a rear position. 2. Transport and storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper bar (16) assigned to the lower, front row (9) is guided so that it can be moved from its basic position into a front position when the row (9) is not occupied by objects (8). 3. Transport and storage container according to claim 2, characterized in that the bar (16) assigned to the lower, front row (9) is attached to the lower, rear bar (18) assigned to the upper, front row (11) and is movable together with it. 1771AAVE/970215 -3- 4. Transport and storage container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guided movable strip(s) (16, 17, 18, 19, 21) can be pivoted into the different positions. 5. Transport and storage container according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot axis (27, 30, 31) of the lower strip(s) (17, 18) assigned to the upper, front row (11) and/or the lower, front strip (19) assigned to the rear, upper row (12) is (are) arranged approximately in the middle between the respective rear and front strips (17, 18; 19, 20). 6. Transport and storage container according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pivot axis (27) of the upper bar (21) associated with the upper, front row (11) is arranged above the lower, front bar. 7. Transport and storage container according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the pivotable strips (16, 17, 18, 19, 21) are held by means of arms (26) which are pivotably held with their free ends in the region of the respective pivot axis (27, 30, 31). 8. Transport and storage container according to claim 7, characterized in that an arm (26) is arranged at each end of a strip (16, 17, 18, 19, 21). 9. Transport and storage container according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the strip(s) (16, 17, 18, 19, 21) are guided in rails. 10. Transport and storage container according to claim 9, characterized in that the strips (16, 17, 18, 19, 21) are guided in rails at their ends. 11. Transport and storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the guided movable strips can be locked at least in their basic position. 12. Transport and storage container according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking is carried out by means of spring-loaded locking elements (34). Y771MVEJ970215 13. Transport and storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that several tabs are provided on the lid (6, 7) which, when the container is closed, engage behind the inside of the side walls (3). 14. Transport and storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the other longitudinal side wall (7) is associated with the lid (6) and forms a part of the latter. 1771A/IVE/970215