DE9108561U1 - Pressed plastic pallet - Google Patents

Description

Mauser-Werke GmbH - 1 - _{G g73 a}

10.U7.91

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a plastic pallet for transporting and storing goods, with a flat, continuously closed top plate, which is provided with ribbing on its underside, with spacers aligned at right angles to the top plate, which are arranged in the center, in the corner areas and in the middle of each outer edge of the pallet, and with a base part, which is firmly connected to the top plate via the spacers, with free spaces being cut out between the top plate and the base part or between the spacers, into which the forks of a forklift truck can be inserted, thus making the pallet transportable.

Pallets made of plastic are available in many different forms. These pallets are usually provided with numerous holes and recesses and pronounced ribbing to save plastic material.

A generic plastic pallet with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known, for example, from EP-A-0 400 640. This known pallet has a flat, completely closed top plate, which is provided with numerous spacers on its underside. Three runners are attached to the spacers in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, at the edge and in the middle as a base part. A major focus is on the design of the plug connections of this plastic pallet consisting of several parts. This pallet does have good flexural rigidity in the longitudinal direction of the runners, but not in the transverse direction.

The object of the invention is to eliminate these disadvantages and to provide a torsion-resistant plastic pallet that has a high load-bearing capacity under static and dynamic loads.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the base part of the pallet is designed as a flat, continuous thin base plate with openings/recesses arranged within the base plate. The continuous base plate enables the production of a closed box construction of the pallet with high torsional rigidity or bending rigidity in the longitudinal and transverse directions. To complete the closed box construction, it is expediently provided that the pallet has a largely closed continuous side wall on the outside between the top plate and the bottom plate. Only for the engagement of the forks of a forklift truck or a lifting roller carriage are two separate, spaced-apart recesses provided in the side walls, so that the pallet can be used as a conventional four-way pallet.

According to a feature of the invention, it is provided that the base plate consists of two identical parts and these parts as well as the top plate are manufactured in one piece with the molded ribbing, with the molded spacers and with the molded side walls using a cost-effective pressing process. Because the base plate consists of two identical parts, only a smaller press mold is required. The two parts of the base plate are expediently welded firmly to the top plate via the spacers or the side walls; this welding is preferably carried out using the known mirror welding process.

In order to avoid damage to the sharp corners of the pallet, which are most at risk during use, it is advisable to have the corners bevelled slightly at an angle of approximately 45°, or to have a corresponding bevel running in a vertical plane.

In a special version as a Euro pallet with dimensions of 1000 x 1200 x 145 mm, this pallet has a load capacity of over 2,500 kg under dynamic load and around 15,000 kg under static load. A particular advantage of the plastic pallet according to the invention is that the base plate is very thin, e.g. only about 8 mm thick. The recesses in the side walls are flattened or rounded at the corners to make it easier to insert the forks of a forklift truck or the guide rails (support arms) of a lifting roller carriage, as is the edge of the base plate. The insertion height of these recesses in the side walls is approx. 90 mm, so that this plastic pallet is particularly suitable for the use of lifting roller carriages. The openings or recesses arranged in the base plate are only intended for the rollers of a lifting roller carriage to pass through when the pallet is slightly raised. .

For use in the chemical industry, e.g. in high-bay warehouses or for holding small containers, the pallet is designed as a so-called chemical pallet with a length of 1,200 mm and a width of just 800 mm.

In a slightly modified form, the pallet is designed as a base frame for a pallet container with a groove formed all the way around the flat surface of the top plate in the outer peripheral area to accommodate the lower edge of the outer support shell of the pallet.

ten container. This advantageously provides the support casing of the pallet container with uninterrupted circumferential fixation in the radial direction to prevent the inner container or support casing from bulging when filled. To support the inner container made of thin-walled plastic, a circumferential support strip with an almost triangular cross-section protruding from the surface of the pallet can be expediently provided on the inside of the groove. On the side facing the plastic inner container, the support strip is convexly rounded or molded in to match the curvature of the inner container.

The invention is explained and described in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
Figure 1 a plastic pallet according to the invention

in perspective view from above, Figure 2 a side view of the plastic pallet

according to Fig. 1,
Figure 3 is a plan view of the subfloor or the

Base plate of the plastic pallet according to

Fig.1,
Figure 4 in perspective view the underside

the pallet according to Fig. 1, whereby in the front

Area where the base plate is partially broken away (cut), Figure 5 in perspective view another

Embodiment of the inventive

plastic pallet,

Figure 6 is a side view of the pallet according to Fig. 5, Figure 7 is a top view of the pallet according to Fig. 5, Figure 8 is a side view of the pallet according to Fig. 5

with molded-in discharge channel, Figure 9 a plan view of the underbody or the

Base plate of the pallet according to Fig. 5 and

- 5 Figure 10 in perspective view the underside

the pallet according to Fig. 5 with the base plate broken away (cut) in the front area.

The reference number 10 in Figure 1 designates a rectangular plastic pallet which has a completely closed, unbroken smooth or flat upper plate 12. To ensure good slip resistance, the surface of the upper plate 12 can be roughened, ie provided with a groove or grained.

The corners of the pallet 10 are bevelled slightly (approx. 20 - 30 mm).

The outer side walls 24, which run perpendicularly to the top plate 12 and base plate 20, are also - as can be seen from Figure 2 - completely smooth and flat; they each have two separate or appropriately spaced recesses 26 for the engagement of the forks of a forklift truck or the support arms of a lifting roller carriage.

The four-way pallet or double-deck pallet, which is designed in a torsion-resistant box construction, preferably has dimensions of approx. 1000 x 1200 x 145 mm as a Euro pallet. Length/width dimensions of approx. 1200 x 800 mm are intended as a chemical pallet.

From Figure 3 it is clear that the base part is also designed as a flat, continuous thin base plate 20 and that only within the base plate 20 are four essentially rectangular openings or recesses 22 provided to allow the rollers of a lifting truck to pass through. The plastic pallet according to the invention is intended to be particularly suitable for the use of lifting roller trucks in warehouses or shelving systems. Therefore, the base plate 20 is also

comparatively thin (approx. only 8 mm thick) with a strongly bevelled entrance edge.

The perspective (isometric) view of the plastic pallet 10 in Figure 4 shows the right-angled ribbing 14 on the underside of the top plate 12 (top base/upper part). This also makes it clear that the flat base plate 20 consists of two identical parts 28 that lie flush (closed) against one another along a central separating seam.

A number of spacers 16 are arranged protruding from the ribbing 14 on the underside of the top plate 12, which are arranged in the center of the pallet, in its corner areas and in the middle of each outer edge (side wall) of the pallet. However, the ribbing between the spacers could also be designed at an angle of 45.

According to the invention, the top plate 12 is made in one piece with ribbing 14 with the spacers 16 and with all side walls 24 in one operation in one piece using the pressing process, just like the two parts 28 of the base plate 20. The three parts of the pallet are then firmly and permanently connected or welded together - preferably using the mirror welding process. This creates the torsion- and bend-resistant box shape of the plastic pallet according to the invention with an extremely thin beam.

Another embodiment of the plastic pallet according to the invention is shown in Figure 5. This special plastic pallet 32 is designed as a base frame for a pallet container with an inner thin-walled plastic container (e.g. 1000 1 capacity) and a supporting casing firmly enclosing it (e.g. made of sheet metal, steel wire mesh or preferably a wound and

To accommodate the lower edge of the support casing of the pallet container, a groove 36 (e.g. 8 mm wide) is formed or pressed into the flat surface 34 of the pallet 32 around the circumference. This groove 36 gives the support casing of the pallet container a firm fit and secure fixation against radial forces such as bulging outwards on the straight side edges and inwards indentation in the corner areas.

Furthermore, for the advantageous support of the lower edge of the inner plastic container, a circumferential strip 38 with an almost triangular cross-section protruding from the surface 34 of the pallet 32 is formed on the inside of the groove 36. Small rectangular recesses with core holes for threaded screws are preferably provided in the corner areas of the pallet; retaining clips are inserted into these recesses and the support casing can thus be firmly fastened or screwed to the pallet 32 against the effect of axial tensile forces. A straight groove 40 is formed in the middle of the pallet 32, deepening towards the front outer edge of the pallet.

A correspondingly formed outlet channel in the bottom of the thin-walled plastic container arranged on top of it engages in this channel 40, which leads to the side outlet valve on the bottom of the plastic container and ensures that the container is completely emptied. The upper deck of the pallet 32 can expediently be provided with embossed inserts in one or more corner areas on the bevel 30, each at the same point. Customer-specific imprints such as the date of manufacture, company logo, approval number, customer logo, etc. can then be molded in there.

From the side view in Figure 6, the vertical

- 8 Level bevel 30 of the corner areas clearly visible.

In the top view of the plastic pallet 32 according to Figure 7, the course of the molded groove 36 with the support strip 38 adjoining it on the inside can be seen more clearly.

Figure 8 shows the side view of the plastic pallet 32 with the channel 40 opening into the front; in Figure 9 , the bottom view of the pallet 32 shows that the bottom plate 20 here also consists of two identical parts 28; this has advantages in terms of manufacturing technology. The bottom plate could of course also be made as a one-piece plate.

Finally, Figure 10 shows another perspective view of the pallet 32 from the bottom side, with part of the bottom plate 28 broken away to better illustrate the ribbing 14 on the underside of the top plate. This also makes the spacers 16 in the middle, in the corner areas and on the outer edges of the pallet clearly visible.

The base plate 20 or the base plate sections 28 are solid in themselves, but thin with a plate thickness of between about 6 mm and 12 mm, preferably about 8 mm. The base plate 20 is made of the same material (plastic material) as the top plate. To increase the material strength and the modulus of elasticity, the base plate can also be equipped with suitable fillers, such as incorporated fiber material, fabric mats, pieces of wire as tension anchors or similar.

It is expediently provided that the plastic pallet 10 or 32 according to the invention consists entirely of recycled plastic material (recycled PE). Such a pallet weighs approx. 25 kg and is preferably colored black. This is a good option for

Recycled canister or drum material (e.g. high-molecular low-pressure PE) that can no longer be used to manufacture containers due to contamination can be put to a new, useful use.

Mauser-Werke GmbH " ¹⁴ G 973 a

10.07.91

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

10 palette 12 Top plate 14 Ribbing 16 Spacers 18 Bottom part 20 Base plate 22 Recess (20) 24 Side wall 26 Recess (24) 28 Parts (20) 30 Bevel (10) 32 palette 34 Surface (32) 36 Groove (32) 38 Bar (32) 40 Gutter (32)

Claims (1)

Mauser-Werke GmbH ¹⁰ G 973 a 10.07.91 -PAWNTANSP RÜCHE 1.) Plastic pallet (10) for transport and storage of goods, with a flat, continuously closed top plate (12) which is provided with ribbing (14) on its underside, with spacers (16) aligned at right angles to the top plate (12) and arranged in the centre, in the corner areas and in the middle of each outer edge of the pallet, and with at least one base part which is firmly connected to the upper plate (12) via the spacers (16), wherein between the upper plate (12) and the base part or between the spacers (16) there are free spaces into which the forks of a forklift truck can be inserted and the pallet (10) is thus designed to be transportable, characterized in that the base part is designed as a flat, continuous thin base plate (20) with openings/recesses (22) arranged within the base plate (20). 2.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the pallet (10) has a continuous side wall (24) on the outside between the top plate (12) and the bottom plate (20), each with two separate recesses (26) for the engagement of the forks of the forklift truck or of a lifting roller carriage. - 11 3.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base plate (20) consists of two identical parts (28) and these parts (28) as well as the top plate (12) are manufactured in one piece with ribbing (14), with spacers (16) and with side walls (24) by pressing. 4.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the two parts (28) of the base plate (20) are firmly welded to the top plate (12) via the spacers (16) or the side walls (24), preferably by the mirror welding process. 5.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the corners of the pallet (10) are bevelled at an angle of approximately 45° or have a bevel (30) running in a vertical plane. 6.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized by a design as a so-called Euro pallet with length/width dimensions of 1200 x 1000 mm. 7.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized by a design as a so-called chemical pallet with length/width dimensions of 1200 x 800 mm. 8.) Plastic pallet according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the pallet (32) in the form of a base frame for a pallet container has a groove (36) formed in the flat surface (34) running around the circumference. to accommodate the lower edge of the outer support shell of the pallet container. 9.) Plastic pallet according to claim 8, characterized in that on the inside of the groove (36) there is provided a circumferential strip (32) with an almost triangular cross-section protruding from the surface (34) of the pallet (32). 10.) Plastic pallet according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a straight groove (40) is formed in the middle of the pallet (32) and deepens towards the outer edge of the pallet (32). 11.) Plastic pallet according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the base plate sections (28) and the top plate (12) consist entirely of reclaimed plastic material (recycled plastic). 12.) Plastic pallet according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the base plate (20) or the base plate parts (28) are solid in themselves, but thin with a plate thickness of about 6 mm to 12 mm, preferably about 8 mm. 13.) Plastic pallet according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the base plate (20) is made of the same material (plastic material) as the top plate (12). but is additionally provided with a suitable filler or fiber material to increase the material strength and the ε-modulus.