DE4447737C2 - Transport and/or storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

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Description

The invention is directed to a transport and / or storage container from a stable sub-floor with a rectangular base, on the other Several feet are arranged on the circumferential edge, and from a container jacket with several vertical side walls, the upper edge at least one Side wall as a flat, from about vertically upward guide element elements is at least partially bordered support surface is formed.

Such containers are mostly made of metal and are used for storage and the transport of light to medium-weight objects. Particular disadvantages such transport and / or storage containers show up when used in larger warehouses. Because although such containers often with relatively light Objects are filled, they generally cannot be stacked peln, since even small impacts against the lower container, for example when accidental collision with a forklift, causing the truck to fall set container could lead. Because conventional containers made from this Reason set up on the ground even in high warehouses their space is very large and the utilization of a front existing storage space very unfavorable.

The CH-PS 622 472 is a pallet that can be assembled from several parts previously known frame that is suitable for placement on a flat pallet. Here are two adjacent posts of the frame with the lie in between wall formed in one piece, while the two remaining walls can be releasably inserted between the two posts and then the Complete and stabilize the frame and finally on the pallet fix. Around two such containers formed from pallets and mounting frames To be able to stack on top of each other are the vertical posts of the frame their outward-facing vertical edge with one out of two each facing beads formed catch corner, which the relevant Au  grips the outer edge of the foot of a container to be stacked and thereby fi xiert. This mechanism allows the loading of the same size Be container, when using containers of different sizes there is no fixation option speed for the upper one completely, so that it comes down even with slight impacts threatens to fall.

The arrangement according to US Pat. No. 3,177,823 cannot improve here either bring. Here are the top edges of two opposite sides each formed a cross-sectionally U-shaped profile and serve to place egg rail-like base of a container to be stacked on it. The same Large containers can thereby move sideways before slipping be preserved; a shift in the direction of the profiled upper edges no resistance against it, so that a stacked container with, for example, half the base area in the event of an impact in the longitudinal direction of the U-profiles can slip off.

This results from these disadvantages of the prior art Problem initiating invention to create a way in which not only identical containers are stackable, but where, for example Containers with a smaller footprint can be placed on a larger container can be put on.

To solve this problem, the invention provides a generic Transport and / or storage container before that designed as a support surface The upper edge of a side wall has an approximately U-shaped profile, whose middle leg is slightly wider than a pedestal, and that approximately in the Support surfaces near the center of the top edges of the two adjacent walls for mounting a container with a rectangular but smaller base Are formed on the surface, the vertical edges towards the outside of the container exhibit.  

To adapt to different transport and / or storage quantities Containers according to the invention manufactured in various sizes and available Accordingly, there is a need for many users to invent stack appropriate containers of different sizes on top of each other. To do this enable, is one side length of the containers to be stacked on top of each other identical, while the other side length is different in the small for example, half the size of a standard container. When the containers are aligned so that their sides of equal length are parallel are oriented towards each other, the smaller container can therefore be sized put on. Here, at least two of the feet of the smaller Be sit in a central area of the longer upper edges of the lower container on. For this reason, this area must be in designated areas edges (additional) support surfaces may be provided. Provided the footprint of the smaller container is about half the size of the larger container, two smaller containers can be placed side by side on a larger one. In such a case, two additional support surfaces on each of the two Upper edges of the larger container may be arranged, each of which is close the middle of the relevant upper edge.

Since the feet of the smaller containers generally do not have theirs Protruding the base surface is a border of the support surface on the container surface outside makes sense. These borders also stabilize the additional ones Support surfaces placed on the feet of the smaller container and reduce there by the risk of falling.

Further advantages result from the fact that the support surfaces for the interior of the container have no boundary towards the room. Even the feet of the smaller containers will generally have an elongated cross-section around the surfaces reduce pressure within the contact area. To Be invention Longitudinally, being able to easily drive under containers with a forklift truck axes of the base cross sections parallel to the side walls of the container oriented so that the on the additional support surfaces of the lower container  placed feet perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the relevant upper edge run. For this reason, these feet protrude towards the container nenraum beyond the relevant support surface. Therefore no one is allowed here There should be borders, which would otherwise involve placing a pedestal on would make the support surface impossible.

An advantageous development of the invention results from the fact that the support surfaces run perpendicular to the top edge of the side wall in question the sides inclined, diverging upwards away from the supporting surface dung. These are the inclined surfaces Feet of the smaller container to be put on during its lowering centered support surface concerned, so that stacking on top of each other facilitated becomes.

It is within the scope of the invention that the support surfaces are approximately square Have floor space. The width of a pedestal should not be greater than the width of the top edge of a side surface so that it is between the two vertical legs of the U-profile fits. Now there is one Stand perpendicular to the relevant upper edge, so the two must also the vertical legs of the U-profile approximately perpendicular sides of the support surface Correspond to the width of the base, so that a total of approximately square Cross-section of the support surfaces is created.

Additional features, details, and advantages are provided based on the invention derive from the following description of an embodiment of the invention as well as the drawing. Here show:

FIG. 1 shows a transport invention and / or storage container in via spectral positivist view;

Fig. 2 shows the detail II from Fig. 1 in front view,

Fig. 3 shows the detail III from Fig. 1 in a slightly different, perspective view,

Fig. 4 is a section through the Fig. 3 along the line IV-IV,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of detail V of Fig. 1 with the inwardly folded rear wall of the container,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of detail III of Fig. 1 with the inwardly folded and defined on the rear wall of the front wall of the container,

Fig. 7 is a view of detail V from Fig. 1 in a different Perspecti ve with inwardly folded and defined on the front wall of the transverse wall,

Fig. 8 is a view of the Fig. 7 in the direction VIII, wherein a piled container is indicated by dash-dotted lines,

Fig. 9 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 of a container according to the invention, which is prepared for stacking a container with approximately half the base area, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the detail X from FIG. 9 in the front view.

In Fig. 1, a container 1 for transporting and / or storing light to medium-weight objects is shown. For reasons of stability, all parts of the container 1 are made of metal.

The container 1 consists of a rectangular underbody 2 with two short peripheral sides 3 and two long peripheral sides 4 . There is a side wall 5 , 6 , 7 above the peripheral sides 3 , 4 of the underbody 2 . According to the usual loading direction, one of the two side walls parallel to the longitudinal sides 4 of the underbody 2 is referred to below as the front wall 5 , the other as the rear wall 6 , while the remaining two side walls are formed by the transverse walls 7 .

All side walls 5-7 are formed from a rectangular frame 8 , the inner, window-like recess 9 of a coarse-mesh grid 10 from vertical bars 11 and from horizontal bars 12 are so ver closed that a falling through of larger objects is excluded.

The front wall 5 is detachably attached to the container 1 . For this purpose, two releasable connections are provided between the vertical edges 13 of the frame 8 of the front wall 5 and the adjacent vertical edges 14 of the transverse walls 7 . The two connections in the upper region of the container 1 are shown enlarged in FIG. 2. A horizontal tab 15 is welded to the vertical edge 14 of the transverse wall 7 in such a way that its longitudinal axis is oriented in the direction of the vertical edge 13 of the front wall 5 . Approximately at the same height is on the vertical edge 13 of the frame 8 of the front wall 5 ei ne further tab 16 welded, which wall 5 partially covers the tab 15 in the suspended state. While there is a vertical bore 17 in the tab 15 , there is a peg-like extension 19 with a vertical longitudinal axis on the underside 18 of the tab 16 , the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore 17 . By hooking the pin 19 into the bore 17 , the front wall 5 can be connected to the transverse walls 7 in the region of its upper corners.

The connection 15-19 is in the suspended state of the front wall 5 very inflexible, since the front wall 5 can carry out no movement with the exception of vertical lifting. In order to be able to fold the container 1 in an empty state to save space, the front wall 5 and the other side walls 6 , 7 can also be folded inwards. Therefore, in the lower region of the container 1, more flexible connections between the front wall and the other elements of the container 1 are provided. Such a connection can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The underbody panel 2 is attached to a rectangular frame 20 made of rectangular hollow profiles 21 . In the area of the lower corners 22 , 23 of the container 1 , a vertical angle profile 25 is welded to the outer sides 24 of two rectangular hollow profiles 21 which abut one another at right angles, in which the foldable transverse walls 7 are mounted under which. The front wall 5 is also suspended in its lower area on the two adjacent angle profiles 25 . For this purpose, the horizontal lower edge 26 of the frame 8 of the front wall 5 over the in the area of the vertical angle profile 25 inwards verver, vertical edge 27 of the frame 8 in the form of a horizontal, zapfenarti gene extension 28 extended. This horizontal pin 28 is located in a hung front wall 5 in a vertical slot 29 which is arranged within the vertic len angle profile 25 . The slot 29 is formed by the front leg 30 of the vertical angle profile 25 on the one hand and by a vertical plate 31 on the other hand, which is arranged at a distance behind the front angle 30 , which speaks about the thickness of the frame 8 of the front wall 5 ent. In addition, the slot 29 is limited at its lower end by the Bo denplatte 2 , on which the lower edge of the front wall 5 is seated in the suspended state.

In order to be able to fold the front wall 5 like the other side walls 6 , 7 inwards, the extension 28 as well as the entire lower edge 26 of the front wall 5 is designed as a hollow profile with a round cross section. Usually, when the container 1 is put together , the rear wall 6 is first folded down and then the front wall 5 , so that it rests on the rear wall 6 . For this reason, the lower edge 26 and thus also the projections 28 aligned therewith move upward by approximately the thickness of the frame 8 of the rear wall 6 , which is shown in FIG. 6. So that the cone-like extensions 28 cannot detach themselves from their slots 29 even in the case of a shock, these are limited at the top by means of a horizontal end plate 32 . The distance of the plate 32 from the underbody 2 and thus the height of the slot 29 corresponds approximately to the sum of the diameter of the extension 28 and the thickness of the frame 8 of the rear wall 6th

In order to detach the front wall 5 from the container 1 , the extensions 28 must be moved out of the slots 29 in question. Because of the upper end plates 32 , this is not possible by a pure lifting movement. Therefore, an approximately rectangular recess 33 is formed in the area of the slots 29 on the front legs 30 of the vertical win kelprofile 25 . This extends from the inner edge 34 of the front leg 30 of the two front lying angle profiles 25 in the form of a horizontal slot in the direction of the outer corner edge 35 of the same. The (horizontal) slot depth corresponds approximately to the length of the extension 28 , while the (vertical) slot width te is slightly larger than the diameter of the extension 28 . The (horizontal) center line of the slot-like recess 33 is located approximately halfway up the slot 29 . In order to unhook the front wall 5 , it must first be raised to such an extent that the extensions 28 are approximately at the level of the slot-like recesses 33 . These extensions 28 can then be removed from the slots 29 by a horizontal movement of the front wall 5 .

So that the front wall 5, however, neither in the suspended position. Fig. 3 still in the folded position. 6 to accidentally disengage from the slots 29., Is the distance between the lower edge 36 to the bottom plate 2 as well as the distance of the upper edge 37 of the horizontal end plate 32 in each case greater than half the diameter of the respective extension 28th

Of FIG. 1 it can be seen that a base is located beneath each gusset 21, 23 38. FIGS. 3 and 4 show particularly clearly that each pedestal 38 is formed from a bent to an approximately U-shaped bracket flat iron. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the longitudinal axis of the stirrup-like feet 38 is located vertically below a respective transverse wall 7 . When the transverse wall 7 is folded inwards, the base 38 sits on conventional lower containers 39 on the lower edge 39 of the transverse wall 7 of the container 1 located underneath, so that overall there is a large stack height. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 serves to reduce this stack height.

Fig. 5 shows the rear, left corner 23 of the container 1 of Fig. 1. The lower edge 40 of the rear wall 6 has on its outer end faces a coaxial screw 41 , which has a vertical slot 42 in the side leg 43 of the vertical angle section 25th enforced (see Fig. 8). Thereby, the rear wall is supported liftably in a limited extent 6, thus arranged in the upper region of connection elements to the lateral walls 7 of the eyelet and tenon joint 15 - 19 correspond, can be solved. The rear wall 6 can then be folded inwards and placed on the underbody 2 , as shown in FIG. 5.

Thereupon, the front wall 5 is likewise unhooked from the eyelet-like bores 17 and pivoted inward about its lower edge 26 , so that it rests approximately parallel to the underbody 2 on the folded rear wall 6 . In this state, the transverse walls 7 are held in their vertical position by welded latches 44 on the vertical edges 14 . For this purpose, the locking lugs 44 engage in wedge-shaped notches 45 in the upper edge 46 of the legs 30 , 47 of the vertical angle profiles 25 which are respectively arranged at the front or at the rear of the container 1 . By slightly lifting the transverse walls 7 , the locking lugs 44 can be released from the notches 45 , so that the transverse walls 7 can be pivoted inward about their lower edges 39 .

This is made possible by the fact that coaxial screws 49 are inserted into the end faces 48 of the lower edges 39 of the transverse walls 7 , the shafts 50 of which each have a slot-shaped recess 51 in the legs 30 , 47 of the vertical angle profiles located in the front or rear of the container 1 25 by gripping and thereby rotatably mounted in it. The longitudinal axes of the slot-shaped recesses 51 run in their outer region approximately parallel to an edge 53 of the notch 45 , so that the detents 44 can be lifted out of the notches 45 .

So that the lower edges 39 of the folded side walls 7 are not in the way of the feet 38 of a stacked container 1 , the transverse walls 7 can be displaced in addition to their pivoting movement towards the center of the container. This is made possible by the course of the slot-shaped recesses 51 in the vertical angle profiles 25 . The slot-shaped recesses 51 extend at an inclined angle upwards, but at the same time also towards the middle of the container. When moving along the slots 51 , the transverse wall 7 is thus raised on the one hand, but on the other hand moved towards the interior of the container. In order to ensure a stable end position of the lower edges 39 in the area 54 of the slot-shaped recess 51 facing the center of the container, the longitudinal axis de ren in this region 54 extends downward towards the center of the container. When the transverse wall 7 is shifted inwards, it must therefore first be raised until it has reached the apex of the slot 51 and now slides into the area 54 of the slots 51 facing the center of the container due to its own weight. In this position, the transverse wall 7 can easily be placed on the folded front wall 5 .

Between the side legs 43 of the vertical angle profiles 25 and the inwardly moved lower edge 39 of the transverse walls 7 , a gap has now arisen into which the bow-like feet 38 of another container 1 can be immersed. So that such a stacked container 1 can be placed in a defined manner, 25 horizontal support surfaces 57 are arranged on the inner sides 56 of all four vertical angle irons. To reduce the construction effort, the support surfaces 57 of the two front angle profiles 24 are identical to the horizontal end plates 32 for the vertical slots 29 .

In addition, on the underside of the vertical angle profiles 25 circumferential, outwardly projecting edges 58 are present, which come to rest when stacked on a folded container 1 at the upper edges 46 of its vertical win profile 25 and thereby stack the containers 1 according to the invention in an orderly manner collapsed condition.

The stackability of the described container 1 in the opened state, the other features shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The biggest problem when stacking several containers 1 on top of one another is to give the feet 38 of the stacked container 1 sufficient lateral support so that the upper container 1 can not slip off even in the event of impacts. For this purpose, the upper edges 59 , 60 of the front and rear walls 5 , 6 on the one hand and the transverse walls 7 on the other hand form ge from cross-sectional U-shaped profiles. The width of the middle leg 61 of the U-shaped profiled upper edges 59 , 60 is slightly larger than the width of the flat iron bent to bracket-like feet 38 , so that the feet 38 find space between the two vertical outer legs 62 , 63 of the U-profile. The feet 38 of a container can thus be placed on the upper edges 59 , 60 of a lower container 1 such that they are gripped and guided laterally by the vertical legs 62 , 63 of the U-profiles. The lateral sliding down of a stacked container 1 is thus made impossible. So that in the U-shaped profiled upper edges 59 , 60 inserted feet 38 can not slip over the end faces 64 of the U-profile forth, the container front and rear 5 , 6 are pulled out gene upper edges 60 of the transverse walls 7 by a vertical end plate 65 closed.

The U-profiles enable the stacking of identical containers ter 1 . However, as shown in FIG. 9, different containers can also be stacked one on top of the other, provided that at least one side length - here the length of the shorter side 3 - matches. The length of the other side 66 of a stackable container 67 is preferably half the length of the relevant side 4 of the lower container 1 .

The feet 68 of the smaller container 67 are also bent from a flat iron to an approximately U-shaped bracket, the longitudinal axes of the stand 69 surfaces 69 all feet 68 of the smaller container 67 are parallel to the edges 3 of the underbody 70 . When stacking on an approximately twice the size of the container 1 , the container 67 is expediently placed so that the feet 68 engage on one of its two transverse sides 3 in the U-profile of the upper edge 60 of a transverse wall 7 . Due to the shortened length of the side 66 of the container 67 to be stacked there are two other feet 68 near the center of the upper edges 59 of the front and rear walls 5 , 6 of the lower container 1 . For this reason, special support surfaces 71 are formed at these points in the U-shaped profile of the upper edges 59 , which are enlarged in FIG. 10 as shown.

In the area of the support surfaces 71 , the outer leg 63 of the upper edge 59 facing the interior of the container is interrupted in order to make room for the base 68 of a container 67 to be fitted. Because the longitudinal axis of the base 69 of the relevant base 68 runs parallel to the upper edge 60 of the right transverse wall 7 in FIG. 9 of the lower container 1 and accordingly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the upper edge 59 of the front wall 5 or - as shown in FIG. 10 - the rear wall 6 . Therefore, the width of the middle leg 61 of the relevant upper edge 59 is not sufficient to accommodate the base 68 of the container 67 .

So that the upper edges 59 of the frame 8 of the front and rear walls 5 , 6 do not bend under the weight of one or more attached containers 67 , they are supported in the middle by a vertical post 72 , 73 , which is located on the lower edge 26 , 40 of the wall 5 , 6 in question and thus transfers the weight on the upper edges 59 directly to the stiffening rectangular hollow profile 21 of the frame 20 on the underbody 2 of the container 1 .

The boundary surfaces 74 of the support regions 71 facing the respective post 72 , 73 are inclined to converge upwards towards the center of the container. This feature has the purpose of making an automatic centering of the same when placing a container 67 on it . If the-set-up Behäl ter 67 not det when lowering 75 exactly vertically above the support surface 71 befin, but seated in the region of the inclined boundary face 74, it slides along the surface 74 downward and shifts it to the notwendi ge measure to the support surface 71 towards .

Claims (5)

1. Transport and / or storage container, consisting of a load-bearing sub-floor ( 2 ) with a rectangular base, on the peripheral edge ( 3 , 4 ) of which several feet ( 38 ) are arranged, and of a container jacket with a plurality of vertical side walls ( 5-7 ), the upper edge ( 59 , 60 ) of at least one side wall ( 5 , 6 , 7 ) being designed as a flat support surface ( 61 , 71 ) which is at least partially surrounded by guide elements pointing vertically upwards, characterized in that a support surface ( 61 ) formed upper edge ( 60 ) of a side wall ( 7 ) has an approximately U-shaped profile in cross section, the central leg ( 61 ) of which is slightly wider than a pedestal ( 38 ), and that approximately in the vicinity of the center of the upper edges ( 59 ) of the two adjacent walls (5, 6) support surfaces (71) for mounting (75) of a container (67) are integrally formed with likewise rectangular, but a smaller surface area (70) to the container lteraußenseite toward have approximately vertical boundaries. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting surfaces ( 71 ) have no border towards the container interior. 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper edges ( 59 , 60 ) of all four walls ( 5-7 ) are formed from cross-sectionally U-shaped profiles. 4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the support surfaces ( 71 ) on their perpendicular to the upper edge ( 59 ) of the relevant side wall ( 5 , 6 ) extending sides inclined upwards away from the support surface ( 71 ) diverging edges ( 74 ) exhibit. 5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support surfaces ( 71 ) have approximately square bases.