DE9219061U1 - Push-in container box - Google Patents

Description

1. Apotheker Fasching KG, 80335 Munich, DE

2. Roman Mayer, Raiffeisenstr. 6, 86167 Augsburg, Germany

Insert container box

The invention relates to a plastic insert container box, which consists of a container box element and a foldable, removable lid and can be stacked both with the lid closed and empty without a lid, whereby in the latter case the folded lid is accommodated in a storage space remaining above the base surface of the associated container box element.

Such reusable boxes are used for the packaging, internal transport, storage, order picking and shipping or external transport of goods by both manufacturers and wholesalers, as well as for the storage, provision and display of goods in sales and delivery rooms.

Known insert container boxes, if they are thin-walled, do not have the dimensional stability required to fulfill the above-mentioned tasks. If the insert container boxes offer sufficient dimensional stability, this is achieved by using a relatively thick wall and thus at the expense of the weight of the box, which leads to high freight costs.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a plug-in container box which offers high dimensional stability with the smallest possible wall thickness and thus the lowest possible weight.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the side walls of the container box element are drawn in in three stages from the box edge to the box bottom and in that two horizontally running receiving strips are provided on the side walls on the outside.

Advantageously, vertical reinforcement panels are arranged inside the corner areas of the container box element, whereby in addition to the effect of the multi-stage design of the side walls and the formation of the two support strips, the box is further stiffened and a higher load can be absorbed when the boxes are stacked.

It is advisable to design the three stepped surface sections so that they each have approximately the same wall height. It is also advantageous to design one support strip in the form of an edge support strip as the end edge of the container box element and to provide the second support strip as a side support strip at the height of the step between the upper and middle surface sections of the side walls. When empty container box elements are stacked, the side support strip of the upper container box element rests on the edge support strip of the lower container box element. In this way, a container box element is inserted into a container box element below it to approximately two thirds of its side wall height, thus achieving a volume-saving stacking of empty insert container boxes. The removed and folded lid in the stacked container can be stored in the remaining storage space above the box base of the associated container box element.

In addition, goods, accessories or outer packaging can be transported back in the remaining storage space. The described design of the two surrounding receiving strips also makes it possible to accommodate several container box elements stacked one inside the other, since there is a sufficiently large gap between each two side and edge receiving strips lying on top of one another to insert a corresponding receiving device. This picking up of stacked container box elements can be done from all four sides, e.g. with a forklift truck, or from above, e.g. with a gripping device. It is therefore not necessary to pick up all stacked container box elements at once. This preferred embodiment therefore leads to very good logistical handling options for the insert container box.

It is advantageous to provide largely matching profiles for the underside of the side support strip and the top of the edge support strip so that when empty container box elements are stacked, a sealing effect is achieved between the side support strips and edge support strips lying on top of one another. In this way, all stacked container box elements are sealed against splash water and dust, with the exception of the topmost container box element of the container, whereby the topmost container box element can be sealed by closing it with the associated lid.

It is also advantageous to provide the smallest possible side angle for the side walls, which are drawn in three stages from the box edge to the box bottom, and to form the step transitions smoothly. In this way, a large internal volume is achieved in relation to the external dimensions. The three-stage design of the

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Despite the small side angle, the side walls hardly lead to a noticeable vacuum formation when removing a container box element that is inserted into another, and thus good handling is guaranteed. Due to the small side angle, even goods stacked in multiple layers in the container box element have little freedom of movement in relation to the inner walls. As the goods can practically not slip inside the box, automatic filling with goods or automatic emptying of the box is possible with the help of appropriate devices. On the other hand, the three-stage recessed design of the container box element offers sufficient space for the fingertips between goods stacked in multiple layers in the container box element and the inner walls, so that the box can be filled or emptied manually from above. Soft-formed transitions between the steps of the side walls reduce the risk of injury to staff when filling manually and enable goods to be safely inserted when filling automatically, as they cannot get caught on the step transitions. In addition, soft transitions make it easier to clean the side walls of the container box element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one or more removable side wall inserts are provided so that the insert container box is better suited to the presentation of goods in sales and distribution rooms. The formation of a side wall insert is possible on each of the four side walls of the container box element. The side wall insert can be connected in a form-fitting manner to the side wall of the container box element, whereby the contents of the box are protected from splash water and dust. Furthermore, the side wall insert can be locked in a force-fitting manner to the side wall so that the force transmission between the container box element and the receiving strips of the

removable side wall insert. The locking device is designed so that it can also be operated automatically. For faster visual inspection of the contents of the box, the side wall insert can also have a viewing window made of transparent plastic.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to either make the profile of the edge support strip U-shaped and to provide the top of the side support strip with a suitable groove or to form a slope on the top of the side support strip that slopes down towards the middle of the box and interacts with the underside of the edge support strip so that a removed side wall insert can be hooked onto the outside of a closed side wall of the container box element with the edge support strip in the groove or on the slope of the side support strip on the container side. This hanging device can also be combined with a clamping device for better fixing of the hooked side wall insert. Since the side support strip is designed all the way around, a right-handed person can hook the side wall insert on the right and a left-handed person on the left. In addition, several stops can be arranged all the way around the side support strip so that a hooked side wall insert is securely fixed even when the container box element is at an angle, e.g. when presenting goods.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in that the lid has two lid halves that can be folded so that at least the two upper sides of the lid halves can abut one another. The folded upper sides of the lid halves can then be locked together. For this purpose, at least one lid locking lug can be formed on the upper side of one lid half, which

Locking mechanism engages in a matching recess in the other half of the lid. In addition, four locking cams can be arranged on the four corners of the top of the lid, which are designed alternately as single or double cams, so that a single cam engages in a double cam to lock the folded lid halves together. In this form, the folded lids can be stowed on the floor of the corresponding box when empty container box elements are stacked, without affecting the stacking of the container box elements.

'*■'-" It is expedient to provide clamping strips at least on the two opposite edges of the lid parallel to the folding axis, and to form clamping grooves at least on the two matching opposite edges of the container box element, which cooperate with the clamping strips of the lid. In this way, the lid, folded together and locked with the top sides, can be fastened with the clamping strips of one lid half in the associated clamping grooves of the container box element, the lid then covering half the opening of the container box element.

The described design of the container box edge with α clamping grooves at least on the two edges parallel to the lid folding axis, whereby the clamping grooves arranged on these two edges are oriented towards the middle of the box, and the matching clamping strips on the lid edges leads to an advantageous folding method when closing the box. First, the opposite clamping strips of the lid, parallel to the folding axis, are placed on the corresponding clamping grooves on the box edge, whereby the lid is folded in a gable-like manner, and then the lid is pressed down in the area of the hinges until it lies flat on the box edge. This simple laying and

Pressing the lid shut is a very convenient and simple way of closing it. It also reduces the risk of injury to the operating personnel when closing the insert container box. The clamping strips and the associated clamping grooves on the edges of the lid and the container box element can be designed in the form of several short pieces that snap into each other. In addition to fixing by snapping the clamping strips of the lid into the clamping grooves on the edge of the box, locking fingers can be provided in the area of the hinges on the lid, which snap into corresponding recesses on the edge of the box. The design of all-round sealing edges between the lid and the edge of the box offers protection against splash water and dust, so that the insert container box does not have to be additionally sealed in a protective film.

A sealing device can also be provided between the lid and the edge of the box, which is then advantageously designed in the area of the lid hinges. If the side wall inserts are designed accordingly, such a security device is effective for both the side wall inserts and the lid and protects against unauthorized access to the contents of the goods. The insert container box can also be secured by a gripping strap, which advantageously runs along the lid hinges.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in providing limiting strips on the top of the lid, which, together with corresponding recesses in the base of the container box element, prevent the boxes from slipping, when they are stacked with the lid closed.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to attach labelling surfaces to the side walls of the container box element, which have a wave-shaped surface, which allows easy

This makes it possible to remove the adhesive labels. In addition, shipping documents or coding boards can be attached to the outside of the container box element between the edge and side mounting strips. Appropriate retaining bars can be provided between and on the mounting strips to hold them.

In order to achieve the very low weight tolerances required for check weighing during automated filling and emptying of goods in the box according to the invention, corresponding trim weight elements can be attached to both the lid and the container box element.

Furthermore, for automated handling of the insert container box, a transponder can be inserted, for example, into the edge receiving strip of the container box element, so that it is protected by the plastic surrounding it and can still be replaced.

The materials that are best suited for the insert container box are impact-resistant, dimensionally stable, weather-resistant, temperature-resistant, acid- and alkali-resistant, and recyclable plastics. Because the box is used multiple times, the material must have a long service life.

The following figures show an example embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 Insert container box with closed lid in front view in section;

Fig. 2 Insert container box with lid not yet completely closed in front view in section;

Fig. 3 three container box elements without lids stacked in side view in section;

Fig. 4 three container box elements without lids stacked in front view in section;

Fig. 5 Container box element with closed side wall insert in side view;

Fig. 6 enlarged section of a container box element with closed side wall insert in side view;

Fig.7

and Fig. 8 Container box element with laterally attached side wall insert in side view in section;

Fig. 9 Lid locking mechanism for both closed lid and half-open lid in the front view in section.

Fig. 1 shows the container box element 1 with three surface sections 9 of the side wall that are drawn in evenly in steps from the edge of the box to the bottom of the box, each of which has approximately the same wall height. The edge support strip 2 and the side support strip 3 are shown, which run horizontally around the outside of the container box element 1. The closed lid 20 with the two lid halves 22 and the two film hinges 21 is also shown. Locking cams 29 are arranged at the corners of the lid, which serve to lock the folded top sides of the lid halves together.

Fig. 2 shows the container box element 1, with the lid 20 not yet completely closed. It can be seen that the hinged lid when closing the container box element

on the outer edges with the clamping strips 23 is snapped into the corresponding clamping grooves 5 of the box edge (see Fig. 9) and then the lid is brought into the horizontal position by pressure from above on the area of the film hinges 21.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show three empty container box elements that are stacked on top of each other without a lid. The side support strip 3 of each container box element rests on the edge support strip 2 of the container box element below it. It can be seen that the profiles of the undersides of the side support strips 3 and the tops of the edge support strips 2 are coordinated with each other in such a way that a sealing effect against dust and splash water is created between two support strips lying on top of each other. As can be seen from Fig. 3, all inner surfaces of the container box elements in the stack are sealed with the exception of the topmost container box element. Furthermore, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the storage spaces 8 that are created between two empty stacked container box elements and into which the folded lid can be placed. Fig. 3 also shows the areas for the labeling fields 10, which remain visible even when the container box elements 1 are stacked one inside the other.

Fig. 5 shows the container box element with closed side wall insert 30. In the corner areas of the container box element, vertical reinforcement panels 4 are provided inside. Clamping grooves 5 are provided on the box edge of the container box element 1, which serve to lock the lid edges, which are parallel to the folding axis. Locking bolts 31 are provided to lock the side wall insert 30, which also

can be automatically moved into the locking or unlocking position using compressed air. Clamps 33 are also provided on the side wall insert for additional fixation in the container box element. The locking lugs 32 serve to better fix a side wall insert that is hung on the outside of the container box element (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8).

In Fig. 6, a stop 12 can be seen which prevents a side wall insert 30 (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8) suspended on the outside of the side support bar 3 from slipping off when the container box element is in an inclined position. A '»■' holder 13 for a transponder is also shown.

Fig. 7 shows a removed side wall insert 30, which is hooked into the corresponding groove 6 on the top side of the side receiving strip of the container box element with the edge receiving strip 2, which has a U-shaped profile, whereby the side wall insert is additionally fixed by the locking lugs 32.

In Fig. 8, in contrast to Fig. 7, a slope 11 (instead of a groove 6) sloping towards the center of the box is provided on the upper side of the side support strip 3, onto which the ,~Vi side wall insert 30 can be hung.

Fig. 9 shows a lid 20, the lid halves of which are folded together with the top sides and are held together by a lid locking lug 25, which is engaged in a corresponding recess 28. The lid is locked to the container box edge by the locking of the clamping strips 23 in the corresponding clamping grooves 5. In this way, half of the opening area of the container box element is closed by the lid. As can be seen from the

As can be seen in the figure, the hinged lid has a hinge bar 26 and two film hinges 21. Furthermore, a water-repellent edge 27 is formed.

Also shown in Fig. 9 is the lid in the position in which it completely closes the container box element. The locking finger 24 also engages in a corresponding recess in the container box element.

Claims (16)

Protection claims 1. Plastic insert container box made of a container box element (1) and a foldable removable lid (20) and can be stacked both with the lid closed and empty without the lid, in the latter case the folded lid is accommodated in a storage space (8) remaining above the bottom surface of the associated container box element, characterized in that the side walls of the container box element are drawn in in three stages from the box edge to the box bottom, and that - two externally horizontally running receiving strips (2, 3) are provided on the side walls. 2. Insertable container box according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls of the container box element, which are drawn in in three stages from the box edge to the box bottom, have a very small side angle. 3. Insert container box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transitions between the surface sections (9) of the side wall which are drawn in step-like from the box edge to the box bottom are soft-formed. 4. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that vertical reinforcement panels (4) are arranged inside in the corner areas of the container box element. 5. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the three stepped surface sections (9) of the side walls each have approximately the same height, that one receiving strip forms the edge of the box as an edge receiving strip (2) and that the other receiving strip is designed as a side receiving strip (3) at the level of the step between the upper and the middle surface section of the side walls, so that when empty container box elements are stacked without a lid, the side receiving strip (3) of the upper *·■■=■-" container box element on the edge support strip (2) of the lower container box element. 6. Insert container box according to claim 5, characterized in that the profile of the underside of the side support strip (3) largely corresponds to the profile of the top of the edge support strip (2). 7. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one removable side wall insert (30) ^;- is provided. 8. Insert container box according to claim 7, characterized in that the side wall insert (30) can be connected in a form-fitting manner to the side wall of the container box element (1) and can be locked in a force-fitting manner. 9. Insert container box according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the side wall insert (30) has a viewing window made of transparent plastic. 10. Insertable container box according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the profile of the edge receiving strip (2) is U-shaped and the top of the side receiving strip (3) has a matching groove (6) so that a removed side wall insert (30) can be hooked onto a closed side wall of the container box element on the outside with its edge receiving strip into the groove of the side receiving strip on the container side. 11. Insertable container box according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the top of the side receiving strip (3) has a slope (11) sloping towards the center of the box, so that a removed side wall insert (30) can be hooked onto a closed side wall of the container box element on the outside with its edge receiving strip in this slope of the container-side side receiving strip. 12. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lid (20) has two lid halves (22) which can be folded so that the two upper sides of the lid halves abut one another. 13. Insert container box according to claim 12, characterized in that on one lid half on the top a lid locking lug (25) is formed, for which on the other lid half on the top a corresponding recess (28) is provided, and that four locking cams (29) are designed on the four corners of the lid on the top, which are alternately designed as single or double cams that can be plugged into one another, so that the top sides of the lid can be locked together when folded together. 14. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that clamping strips (23) are formed on the two opposite edges of the lid parallel to the folding axis, which clamping strips interact with matching clamping grooves (5) on the two associated edges of the container box element, the clamping grooves being oriented towards the interior of the box, so that the lid, after the two opposite clamping strips of the lid parallel to the folding axis have snapped into the associated clamping grooves on the container edges, can be opened from a gable-like position by pressing down the Lid hinge area can be closed with the container box element. 15. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that for locking the lid to the box edge, locking fingers (24) are arranged on both sides of the lid edge in the area of the hinge web (26), for which corresponding recesses are provided on the box edge. 16. Insert container box according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that labeling fields (10) are provided on the outside of the container box element on the surface section between the edge receiving strip (2) and the side receiving strip (3).