DK3197789T3

DK3197789T3 - Pallet of plastic

Info

Publication number: DK3197789T3
Application number: DK15763240.7T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Thomas Walther
Original assignee: Aldi Sued Dienstleistungs Gmbh & Co Ohg
Priority date: 2014-09-25
Filing date: 2015-08-31
Publication date: 2019-04-01
Also published as: EP3197789B1; HUE043100T2; EP3197789A1; PT3197789T; ES2715123T3; PL3197789T3; WO2016045910A1; DE102014219398A1; SI3197789T1

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a pallet made of plastic according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Pallets made of plastic have long been known from the prior art. They may be considered to be a development of, or alternative to known wood pallets. They are used to transport piece goods between various transport means by means of industrial trucks. In the field of food markets pallets are used increasingly to offer goods directly in sales areas. It is additionally known to use pallets in reusable systems. Pallets made of plastic are attributed a certain significance since they are lighter than wood pallets and are easier to clean on account of their smooth surfaces. They are also insensitive to weather effects and are relatively resistant to wear, such that they can be used for example in the field of food retail preferably for direct sale in sales areas. Due to their positive properties they are often used in reusable systems within companies .

[0003] It has been found, however, that plastic pallets in some circumstances are disadvantageous compared to wood pallets, in particular if they are not handled correctly.

[0004] It has become common practice in the case of pallets for example to move them using the loading tools of industrial trucks by placing the tools laterally against the runners of the pallet. Thus, pallets not set down precisely can be correctly positioned in retrospect without having to lift the pallet again and shunt it in a complex manner, using the industrial truck.

[0005] Here, wood pallets are advantageous since wood as material is resilient at least to a certain extent. A pressure point formed in the word by the loading tool of the industrial truck is flexible to a limited extent. The irregular surface structure of the word, in addition to colour variations, also means that damage to runners caused by positioning processes of this kind are less noticeable.

[0006] By contrast, lateral stress marks and scratches or also indented points in the plastic runners of plastic pallets alone are easily visible on account of the uniform surface structure.

[0007] In addition, if the pallet is approached imprecisely, the loading tool of the industrial truck will strike against the runners and damage them. Damage of this kind often results in the runners and therefore the pallet being made unusable.

[0008] Wood pallets can be repaired often on account of their structure, since damaged parts can be exchanged relatively easily.

[0009] Equivalent damage to plastic pallets generally means that not only is the runner damaged, but also that the pallet deck is damaged due to the connection between runner and pallet, such that damage of this kind makes the pallet unusable as a whole.

[0010] Within the scope of the teaching according to GB 2 426 237 A, a pallet is already described in which the runners are connected to the associated pallet deck along a separation point. To this end, the runners each have latching protrusions, which engage in receptacles in the pallet deck.

[0011] The generic teaching according to US 5 735 431 proceeds similarly. In this case as well, latching protrusions engaging in receptacles are provided. In addition, associated plug-in receptacles are provided, however these are arranged as a whole in one plane. The assembly therefore is not always easily implemented.

[0012] The object of the invention is therefore to create a pallet, the pallet deck of which remains undamaged in the event that the runners are handled improperly. In addition, following the controlled separation of pallet deck and runner, the damaged runner should be easily exchanged and replaced for a new runner.

[0013] This object is achieved in the case of a generic pallet made of plastic within the scope of the invention in that the plug-in receptacles for the first support and the second support with their lower side insertion openings terminate with the lower side of the pallet deck, while the plug-in receptacle for the central support projects relative to the pallet lower side.

[0014] The latching recess is advantageously an aperture. The key advantage of the pallet according to the invention is considered to be the fact that the design of the plastic pallet, in particular the runner thereof, has the separation point according to the claim. The separation point makes it possible, in the event of a defined overload, to ensure a controlled separation in order to prevent damage to the pallet deck resulting from damage to the runner or deformation thereof.

[0015] Here, the separation point is located in the boundary region between pallet deck and runner, such that the overloading sheer force separates the runner in a controlled manner from the pallet deck. Furthermore, the separation point is formed as a plug-in connection. Because the separation point is formed by a plug-in connection, it makes it possible, following controlled separation of the pallet deck and runner, to exchange the damaged runner and replace it for a new runner. In this way, the pallet can be repaired easily and quickly once damage has been sustained.

[0016] In accordance with the invention the plug-in connection is secured by a latching connection, so as to ensure a particularly repair-friendly connection between the runner and pallet deck. In addition, the plug-in connection is formed in the boundary region between runner and pallet deck, and the runner is arranged on the pallet deck.

[0017] The separation point provided to protect against overload or damage of the pallet deck thus corresponds to the standard connection between runner and pallet, such that the overload protection is integrated in the connection means connecting the runner and pallet deck.

[0018] Further advantages of the invention and improved understanding thereof shall become clear from the following description of an exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a pallet according to the invention in a perspective overall view;

Figure 2 shows the pallet according to the invention according to Figure 1 with detached runner;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail according to the detail circle C in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail according to the detail circle B in Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows an illustration of a longitudinal section through a runner; and

Figure 6 shows an illustration according to the detail circle E in Figure 5.

[0019] The figures denote a pallet according to the invention as a whole by reference sign 10, which is shown in its entirety in Figure 1.

[0020] The pallet 10 comprises a pallet deck 11 with an upper side, which provides a receiving surface 12 for goods to be transported. The lower side 13 of the pallet deck 11 carries a total of three runners 14, which are arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to one another. A first runner 14 is arranged to the outer left on the pallet deck, a second runner 14 is arranged to the outer right on the pallet deck, and the third runner 14 is arranged centrally beneath the pallet deck and has the same distance from the left runner 14 and from the right runner 14. As a result of this division by the three runners, two channels 15 are formed between the runners 14, and the lifting tools of an industrial truck, for example the prongs of the fork of a fork lift truck can be introduced into said channels.

[0021] In the direction of insertion of the tool of an industrial truck into the channels 15, each runner 14 has a first support 16 arranged at the front and a second support 17 arranged to the rear in the insertion direction. A central support 18 is arranged between the first support 16 and the second support 17. The central support 18 has the same distance from the first support 16 and from the second support 17 of each runner 14.

[0022] Each runner 14 is arranged on the lower side 13 of the pallet deck 11 via its supports 16, 17 and 18, such that each runner 14 forms two tunnels 19, which are formed one between the supports 16, 17 and one between the supports 17, 18, and also the pallet deck 11 and a lower runner strut 20. The tunnels 19 of the three runners 14 are arranged successively in line with one another such that the lifting tool of an industrial truck can also approach the pallet 10 from the side, transversely to the orientation of the channels 15.

[0023] As is shown with reference to the example of the right-hand runner 14 in Figure 2, the runners 14 can be separated from the pallet deck. The supports 16, 17 and 18 each have a plug-in extension 21, which can be inserted into corresponding plug-in receptacles 22 in the pallet deck. The plug-in receptacle 22 can be seen in particular in the sectional illustration according to Figure 5. The plug-in receptacles 22 of the first support 16 and the second support 17 terminate with their lower side insertion opening in line with the lower side 13 of the pallet deck 11. The situation is different in the case of the plug-in receptacle 22 for the central support 18. This projects relative to the pallet under side 13.

[0024] The first support 16 and the second support 17, on their plug-in extensions 21, each have latching protrusions 23 directed towards the outer side of the pallet 10. The corresponding plug-in receptacles 22 are provided with an outwardly directed latching recess 24 of complementary shape and arrangement, said latching recesses being formed in the present, preferred exemplary embodiment by an aperture which makes it possible to act on the latching protrusion 23 with a release tool.

[0025] As can be seen from Figure 2 and Figure 4, the runner 14 is positioned on the lower side 13 of the pallet deck 11 in the region of the plug-in receptacles 22, into which the plug-in extensions 21 of the runners 14 are inserted. Here, the latching protrusion 23 is firstly displaced inwardly by a wall forming the plug-in receptacle 22 and, on account of the resilience of the material of the plug-in extension 21, protrudes into said wall when the latching recess 24 is reached. This then results in the latching arrangement of the runner 14 on the pallet deck 11 shown in particular in Figure 3 and in the sectional view of the latching connection according to figure 6.

[0026] The key advantage of the pallet 10 proposed in accordance with the invention lies in the above-described arrangement of the runner 14 on the pallet deck 11. The plug-in connections not only form a simple, particularly comfortable possibility for fastening the runner 14 to the pallet deck 11; they also have the considerable advantage compared to an integrally bonded connection of offering a defined separation point. If, during use of the pallets 10, the pallet 10 or runners 14 is/are damaged by maloperation of the industrial trucks, this leads in the event of material overload to a defined separation between pallet 10 and runner 14, such that the pallet deck 11 is not affected. A classic case of such damage occurring is for example when the lifting tool of an industrial truck contacts one of the supports 16, 17, 18 of the pallet runner 14 and deforms it. Previous connections between the pallet deck 11 and runner 14 meant that the pallet deck 11 itself was also affected and deformed in turn. The defined separation point provided by the plug-in connection means that the runner 14 separates from the pallet deck 11 in the event of overload, and the pallet deck is not affected by damage to the runner 14. An additional advantage is that a damaged runner 14 can be easily exchanged due to the latching connection. Intact runners 14, which have become worn as a result of use and can no longer satisfy optical requirements, also can be easily exchanged by releasing the latching connection and fitting a new runner 14.

List of reference signs: [0027] 10 pallet 11 pallet deck 12 receiving surface 13 lower side 14 runner 15 channel 16 first support 17 second support 18 middle support 19 tunnel 20 lower runner strut 21 plug-in extension 22 plug-in receptacle 23 latching protrusion 24 latching recess

Claims

1. A pallet (10) of plastic, with a pallet deck (11), the upper side of which has a receiving surface (12) for items to be transported and on whose underside (13) there are mounted (14) arranged in parallel with each other and at a distance from each other, which constitute channels (15) for insertion of a forklift lifting tool and provide a distance between the pallet tire (11) and a contact surface, each of which (14) in the lifting tool's direction of introduction into the channels ( 15) the front support member has a first support member (16) and in the direction of introduction lies a second support member (17) and a middle support member (18) is arranged between the first support member (16) and the second support member (17), - each member (14) has a separation point along which the member (14) divides in a controlled manner when an overloading shear force occurs, furthermore - the separation site is in the boundary region between pallet tire (11) and coil (14) so that the overload shear force separates the coil (14) from the pallet tire in a controlled manner, furthermore - the separation site is formed by a plug connection, each supporting element (16, 17, 18) having a plug extension. (21), which can be slid into a corresponding insertion recess (22) of the pallet deck (11), furthermore - the insertion connection is secured by a locking connection, the first supporting element (16) and the second supporting element (17) at their insertion continuation counters (21) have locking projections (23), each oriented towards the outside of the pallet (10), and wherein - the respective insertion recess (22) corresponding to the locking projection (23) is provided with an outwardly shaped molding member. location complementary locking recess (24), which enables a release tool to be applied to the locking projection (23), characterized in that - the insertion recesses (22) for the first supporting element (16) and the duct a support element (17) with its insertion opening on the underside aligns with the underside (13) of the pallet tire (11), while the insertion receptacle (22) for the middle support element (18) protrudes with respect to the underside (13) of the pallet tire.

Pallet (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking recess (24) is formed by a breakthrough.

Pallet (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insertion connections of the first and second support members (16, 17) are each provided on the joint ends and the insertion connection of the center support element (18) is in the middle of the middle.