EP0183140B1 - Rectangular transport pallet to be made of two interconnectible carton blanks - Google Patents

Abstract

A corrugated cardboard pallet (1) is constructed essentially from two flat, rectangular blanks (2, 3), the first blank (2) of which forms two outer edge supports (21), which are open at the top, and a central likewise open bearing groove (22), while the second blank (3) has the form of a downwardly open U with a main surface (34) and two outer spacer portions (31) which engage in the edge supports (21) and have the same height as the latter. Loading grooves (41) and loading openings (42) are constructed on the pallet so that a device can be driven under it from all sides. In order to achieve a sufficient pallet stability for the most varied loading cases, in addition to the gluing of their main surfaces, the blanks are connected to one another positively by fixable support webs (32) and support tabs (28) and support flaps (36). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a rectangular, accessible transport pallet that can be produced from at least two interconnectable corrugated cardboard blanks, in which the blanks can be at least partially connected to one another, and are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the directions of their corrugations intersect, the first blank is foldable and shaped along a pair of opposite pallet edges extending, support beam-like edge girders, which are essentially open on their side facing the other, second blank and can be inserted into the supporting elements, and between the two edge girders has at least one inner, support beam-like support channel, on the second cut in the Substantially over its entire length along its edges assigned to the opposite supporting beam-like edge girders, bendable spacing sections corresponding to the pallet height are arranged and the supporting elements are arranged opposite one carrier surface of the pallet-forming main surface of the second blank are deformable.

The main purpose of such pallets made of corrugated cardboard is to replace the previously usual wood or plastic pallets, which on the one hand have a favorable carrying capacity, but on the other hand are also quite heavy, cause high production costs and are prone to theft, with a much lighter, advantageously recyclable product , which offers sufficient strength at least for normal load cases when transporting bulk goods.

To achieve this purpose, a number of designs have already become known which generally have the obvious advantages of the product corrugated cardboard (lower weight and material costs), but are in need of improvement with regard to stability and, above all, the cost of materials and their method of manufacture.

In a known corrugated cardboard pallet of the type described in the introduction (DE-AS 11 07 499), a flat and undeformed corrugated cardboard pallet, which forms the second blank and determines the surface of the pallet, is connected practically in a flat manner to the first, three carrier bars defining blank by covering flat parts directed against the second blank between the three support bars and a foldable edge flange on the outer spars of the first blank with glue and pressing the second blank onto the first. An exclusively non-positive connection is thus provided between the two blanks. In order to achieve a reasonably satisfactory load capacity (load from cargo), the support elements in the form of upright reinforcement pieces are inserted into the hollow interiors of the support bars, which are folded in a zigzag pattern and thus extend between opposite walls of the interior of the support bar. These reinforcement pieces are held at their ends in the support bars by means of tabs and preferably have a somewhat greater height than the support bars, so that their upper edges are slightly compressed when the second blank (upper part) is pressed on, i.e. be deformed. The known pallet thus requires a total of five material blanks and high forces when the blanks are pressed together to deform the reinforcements, these forces easily leading to deformations of the shaft material of the first and second blanks and impairing their load-bearing capacity. This range offers only insufficient resistance to lateral deformation forces (shear, bending and torsional stresses), so that it is unable to cope with the stresses that occur in practice, especially during the usual careless handling in the factory with forklifts and similar equipment. In addition, undercarriage is only possible in the direction of the support bars.

In another known pallet of a similar type (US Pat. No. 3,952,672), an arrangement of two blanks is provided such that the first blank, which carries the edge supports along a pair of its side edges as square closed tubes folded by winding and essentially U- shaped cross section is surrounded by the second blank, the waves in both parts being orthogonal to each other (crossing wave). The second blank surrounds the first in the manner of a foldable envelope or wrap which is open along the sides of the tubular edge supports of the first blank and which forms a closed lower surface and a halved surface in the pallet. Support webs extend downward from the edges of the two surface halves of the second blank, which engage in corresponding slots in the tubular edge supports of the first blank. In order to be able to hold the latter in position for the purpose of perfect assembly, they are fixed by means of holding tabs which extend in the direction of the edge supports on the first blank and which, in the raw state of the blank, project beyond the later pallet edges. This known pallet has a double-layer, closed-surface bottom surface, while the carrying or surface receiving the stacked goods, with the exception of the support areas of the tubular edge supports, is single-layer. This means that the load-bearing capacity of this pallet is quite large in the floor area, whereas the load-bearing capacity is greatly reduced, especially in the middle area of the surface, especially since there is no cross shaft here. Above all, however, the cost of materials for such a pallet is extraordinarily high, since both blanks are more than twice as much due to the winding folding of the side areas during the first blank with the additional retaining tabs for the tubular edge supports and the formation of the upper and lower surface on the second blank Require footprint of the finished range of raw material. This is unacceptable in view of the increasing raw material prices and the desire to lower transportation costs, apart from the fact that the assembly of this known pallet requires a large number of complicated folding and plugging operations and is therefore very complex.

In another known pallet of a similar design (US Pat. No. 3,911,834), the second blank is no longer wrapped around the first blank from the bottom, but rather has the shape of a partial wrap with edge adhesive flaps. Nevertheless, the material and

Assembly effort is still relatively high, and for the purpose of achieving sufficient strength in the central area of the pallet, which is decisive for the load-bearing capacity, U-shaped supporting parts may have to be inserted in the center parallel to the edge supports of the side edges, as shown in an optional embodiment of that known construction , which means additional material and manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, from US-A-4 185 565 a corrugated cardboard pallet is known according to the features mentioned above. With this pallet, the two blanks are only in the edge areas via spacer sections in the form of flaps of the upper blank part with side walls of channels of the lower blank part and with the aid of support elements, here formed by box-shaped tongue elements and adhesive bonds, also of the upper blank part with corresponding counter surfaces attached to the channels and the corresponding parts of the surfaces on the lower part of the blank. This pallet can only be driven under in one direction. Above all, the buckling strength and the torsional stiffness, and thus the overall strength, remain inadequate in the known pallet because there is no connection between the upper and lower part in the main carrying area. The box-shaped connecting elements only remain connected to the actual support plate along a single crease line in the edge area. This already very fragile edge area is further weakened by the adhesive tabs. All forces are transferred here, especially in the central area of the pallet, where the greatest moments occur, for example, when bumping from the side, solely via the fold lines from the upper part to the lower part and vice versa. The assembly turns out to be relatively unfavorable for these edge connecting elements, which cannot be fastened to one another and have their only counter bearing in the channels. The punching out of the internal cutting lines of the flaps must be carried out extremely precisely in order not to weaken the stamping Create fold line. In the length of the pallet there is a waste that goes beyond the actual usable length practically around the height of the side flaps. A connection between the upper and lower part the interior of the pallet to achieve sufficient torsional rigidity is completely absent.

The invention is based on the object to provide a material-saving, easy to assemble as well as torsion-resistant and kink-resistant, in various directions accessible under the range described in the flat state, i.e. a convenient form of space, delivered by the corrugated cardboard processor to the user and in this in a simple and can be erected quickly and reliably in a cost-effective manner, in particular by machine, in large numbers.

• a) die Stützelemente in Form von Stützstegen ausgebildet und aus der geschlossenen Fläche wenigstens eines der Zuschnitte herausklappbar sind und klemmend in entsprechende Ausnehmungen in dem jeweils anderen Zuschnitt einrasten und
• b) die Palette allseitig unterfahrbar ist, wozu die Randträger, die innere Tragrinne sowie die sich in den Randträgern erstreckenden Distanzabschnitte Ausnehmungen zur Ausbildung von Ladeöffnungen aufweisen, wobei die Ausnehmungen in den Außenflächen der Randträger als Durchbrüche sowie in den Randträgerinnenflächen und in der Tragrinne als mit den Durchbrüchen fluchtende Öffnungen vorgesehen sind, während sich, mit Durchbrüchen und Öffnungen fluchtend, in den Distanzabschnitten Fenster befinden, die mindestens teilweise durch freigestanzte, schwenkbar angelenkte Stützklappen bestimmt sind.

This object is achieved in that

• a) the support elements are designed in the form of support webs and can be folded out of the closed surface of at least one of the blanks and snap into corresponding recesses in the other blank and
• b) the pallet can be driven under on all sides, for which purpose the edge girders, the inner support channel and the spacer sections extending in the edge girders have recesses for the formation of loading openings, the recesses in the outer surfaces of the edge girders as openings and in the edge carrier inner surfaces and in the carrier groove as with the openings are aligned with openings, while, aligned with openings and openings, there are windows in the spacing sections which are at least partially determined by punched-out, pivotably hinged support flaps.

This makes it possible to unfold a pallet from just two blanks, which requires a minimum of material, by essentially reducing the length and the width of the blank part carrying the supporting beam-like edge girders (neglecting the material thickness and possible material additions for the folding deformations) corresponds to the width of the finished pallet plus twice the pallet height, multiplied by the number of support bars, while the other cut also corresponds in length to the length of the finished pallet and its width is only about twice the pallet height wider than the width of the finished pallet needs to be. The support webs can be punched out of these, articulated on one side foldable via crease lines, without significant weakening of the main supporting surfaces of the blanks, in such a way that they engage in corresponding recesses on the other blank by means of fastening lugs. This results in blanks that can be produced largely without waste, which result in a range of high torsional stiffness and kink resistance that can be positively connected in the main areas between the two blanks, through the edge supports or support channel of one blank with the spacer sections of the other blank and also via the supporting webs. The shape of the blanks is provided in such a way that no undercuts occur in spite of the box profiles of the edge supports and support channel, which determine the strength, so that the blanks can be produced and largely prepared on conventional corrugated cardboard processing systems so that they are flat, transport-friendly Can be delivered in a state that can be continuously erected and assembled by the user (consumer) using simple mechanical means. The ease of transport results from the rectangular basic shape of both blanks without connecting tabs or the like which are outstanding over their contours.

In order to ensure proper handling of the pallet in all conceivable transport situations, it is provided that the pallet can optionally be driven under on all sides and that the edge girders, the inner support channel and those extending into the edge girders Spacer sections have recesses to form loading openings. As will be shown below, these loading openings can be realized without impairing the load capacity of the pallet and can even be used for further stabilization measures.

While there is enough space in the longitudinal direction of the pallet between the edge supports and the inner support channel for the forks of a forklift truck so that the pallet can be picked up in the longitudinal direction by a forklift truck, for the purpose of the desired underrunability also in the transverse direction in the invention the edge supports, the inner support trough and the spacer sections are provided with recesses for the fork of a forklift or lift truck, provided that openings are provided in the outer surfaces of the edge supports and openings are aligned with the openings in the edge support inner surfaces and in the support trough, while, with Breakthroughs and openings in alignment, which are at least partially determined by punched-out support flaps articulated about vertical axes, the width of which essentially corresponds to the inner width of the channel-shaped edge girders and which can be folded into the latter as well as therein are lockable. In this way, the weakening in the side surfaces, which is required for the purpose of forming forklift openings, is practically compensated again by not simply cutting out the windows, but instead using the punched-out parts for supporting purposes in relation to the other blank part, the supporting flaps preferably being used extend over the entire height of the edge beams and thus have a vertical support.

It is known per se to connect the top and bottom surfaces of corrugated cardboard pallets to one another by means of punched support webs which are folded out of the surfaces (US Pat. No. 2,908,464), but in this known pallet the force transmission takes place exclusively linearly via the support webs , which are also to be connected to each other by a relatively complicated reciprocal toothing system, which causes considerable difficulties in assembling the pallet surrender. In addition, this known palette is completely free and open in the edge area and is not particularly supported, so that it has only a low edge strength.

Although the arrangement of two or more inner, support beam-like support channels can be useful for extreme load cases, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is completely sufficient for normal loads, the inner support channel is more central, third (DE-AS 11 07 499) Carrying spar provided and practically forms the central axis of the pallet.

The support webs can preferably be arranged on the second blank carrying the spacer webs and engage in the open edge girders and, if appropriate, the inner support channel. In this case, the support webs can expediently be arranged on corresponding positions on the edge supports or the support channel and essentially correspond in width to that of the edge support or support channel, so that they have the box shape of the edge support or support channel both vertically and horizontally support and thus contribute significantly to the high rigidity of the pallet.

Advantageously, the forklift openings can extend downward from the upper edges of the inner edge surfaces or the support channel and can be cut out (punched) on three sides from the main surface of the blank such that the cut-out parts serve as tongues in the plane of the connection with the other blank Main area between the edge beams or the support channel remain. Thus, the punched-out part extends with the folded edge support or folded support channel beyond the creases required for folding into an area above the respective channel and thus extends the area, which results in a significantly increased stiffness.

So that the recesses can be used even better to increase the overall pallet production and the parts to be cut free for their production can also perform a vertical support function in addition to a horizontal holding function for the edge supports and support channel, it is furthermore provided that the openings in the outer surfaces of the edge supports are at least partly by punched-out, pivotally articulated support straps are determined, the width of which essentially corresponds to the inner width of the edge girders and which can be folded into the latter and can be positively locked with the inner surfaces. It is advantageous if the support tabs can be non-positively and / or positively connected to the support flaps, which results in an even more intensive connection between the two blanks and a significant increase in the diagonal stiffness. The connection can be done by gluing, stapling, hooking or similar conventional measures. In addition, to stabilize the position, the interconnected support straps and support flaps can be locked by support webs of the second blank which are arranged in this area and can be folded into the edge supports.

In order to use any type of charger or floor conveyor, such as a forklift or pallet truck, to comfortably and without too much precision, as is required, for example, in the case of a known pallet that can be driven under on four sides and has slot-like openings for receiving a transport fork (US Pat ) to be able to drive underneath, it is also expediently proposed that the recesses or the openings, openings, windows, support straps and / or support flaps extend essentially over the entire height of the pallet.

Instead of simple, straight-line spacer sections, in another advantageous embodiment of the invention which is intended for an even higher load-bearing capacity, they can be designed as box-shaped support elements which fit into the channel-shaped edge girders and thus have a higher section modulus. In this embodiment, it is expedient that the support webs provided in the area of the box-shaped support elements engage in recesses in the bottom surface of the support elements and thus additionally stabilize them. The loading openings can be designed in a corresponding manner, as set out above.

To increase the strength or rigidity of the finished pallet, the waves of the material in the blank comprising the edge supports and the support channel can preferably run in the transverse direction of the pallet and in the other blank carrying the spacer sections in the longitudinal direction. This results in particularly favorable strength conditions with regard to the support webs, in which the wave course is vertical, and in the horizontal support webs, which are supported with a horizontal shaft against the inner wall of the support channel and thus contribute to increasing the transverse rigidity. The transverse course of the shaft in the cross-section comprising the edge girders and the support channel in turn results in an optimal load-bearing capacity of the edge supports and the support channel as well as the support tabs in the vertical direction and the possibility of absorbing high belt moments in the main surface.

In an advantageous development of the invention, predetermined breaking points of a defined width can be provided on at least one of the blanks, preferably on the second blank and in the area of the windows or loading openings. This can cause damage that otherwise occurs when strapping the goods stacked on the pallet can be largely avoided with metal or plastic tape by pulling it onto the pallet, because when the fastening or holding tapes are placed at the predetermined breaking points, these areas are raised to the defined width when the cargo is moved inwards and also as edge protection for the cargo serve without further tearing of the pallet outside the predetermined breaking points.

Although the use of single-layer corrugated cardboard is possible with only low load specifications and requirements, especially if the structure and structure thereof are appropriate, the blanks can preferably consist of multi-layer, preferably two-layer corrugated cardboard. With this choice of material, you will have to balance the strength requirements of the pallet with the weight and cost of the corrugated cardboard material used for it.

The transport pallet according to the invention is preferably produced semi-automatically or fully automatically, since manual erection does not result in the weight of the blanks for the usually required pallet sizes, because of the bulkiness of the blanks and with regard to the necessary folding forces or the restoring forces resulting from the material Comes into consideration. In an advantageous semi-automatic manufacturing process, the first blank having the edge carriers can be pre-broken in stages in a folding and pressing station, first the first edge carrier, then the support channel and finally the second edge carrier being pre-broken, and its surfaces directed against the other, second blank can are sprayed with glue while at the same time breaking the spacer sections of the second blank, whereupon the latter is then placed on the first blank or inserted with the spacer sections into the edge girders, as well as pressure from above and laterally on the parts supported according to the shape of the edge girders and support channel can be exercised. With such a semi-automatic The process thus involves the blank comprising the edge girders and support channel being broken in three stages and then provided with the adhesive at all required points, while at the same time the other blank is being pre-crushed, so that the time required for the assembly can be kept relatively short and only one for this manufacturing process , two people are required.

After the glued, folded pallet has been removed from the folding and pressing station, the supporting webs and, if appropriate, the supporting flaps and flaps, the latter preferably being pressed into their locked supporting position by means of gluing, stapling, hooking or the like, can advantageously be pressed, which can be done manually or automatically on another machine station.

For the assembly of a transport pallet of the type described above, a system is advantageously proposed in which a first erection station is used to gradually break the first blank, which has the edge girders and the support channel, and to apply glue to this pre-broken blank, to pre-break the spacer sections of the other, second blank and a second erection station is provided for the folded joining of the two blanks.

Such a system can be comfortably operated by one or two people, the first and second erection stations being semi-automatic machine units. These can be produced with a reasonable amount of design effort and make a significant contribution to the economic realization of the object on which the invention is based.

In order to make the processing of the blanks simple and still meet all the requirements for accuracy, the first erection station can be equipped with stops, alignment strips or similar positioning elements Troughs for receiving the to be folded or folded edge supports and support trough of the first blank equipped support table and a press ram over one of the troughs, preferably the central trough. The press ram is preferably provided in such a way that it interacts with press elements which can be swiveled in laterally as a counter-form for overpressing the preliminary break, as a result of which the restoring forces of the material used can be effectively prevented.

The second erection station can advantageously include form-changeable supports for receiving the pre-folded blank on the second erection station, wherein these supports can be movable from an essentially trapezoidal starting position into an essentially rectangular press position. So that the second erection station is designed so that the pre-folded on the first erection station can be accommodated comfortably, its regression is taken into account due to the restoring forces, but at the same time it can be deformed into the position required for the finished pallet. To enable the other blank to be joined together on this second erection station, the latter can comprise a glue slide which can be moved in one of its main directions, preferably its longitudinal direction, above the supports, this glue slide acting vertically in accordance with the placement position of the blank and thus the position of the adhesive surfaces inner glue nozzles for the adhesive surfaces of the blank and inclined to act outer glue nozzles for the inner sides of the outer walls of the edge supports and the support tabs thereof. For joining together with the other, second cut after gluing, in a preferred further embodiment of the system above the supports, a pressure stamp designed as a flat plate is provided, which can be moved from its rest position into a working position directly above the support moved in a rectangular press position, while still lateral pressure plates of the supports in a vertical position and thus in a surrounding the pallet from the side of the edge beams horizontal press position are movable. In order to enable the other blank to be pre-crushed with respect to its spacer sections in a simple, easy-to-assemble manner immediately before joining the two blank sections, a pre-crushing device for the spacer sections can be arranged on the side of a frame of the second erection station.

The overall advantages that can be achieved with the invention consist in the fact that a pallet is formed from essentially two blanks, the formation of which is extremely machine-friendly with respect to the folding operations to be carried out and their processing is thus possible on a continuously operating machine. The cuts do not form any undercuts, and they can be unfolded in only one direction. The sheet-like connection of the two blanks in combination with the box-shaped support bars and the support webs as well as other support elements and flaps results in a high torsional rigidity and thus a load capacity, which such pallets are particularly suitable as disposable pallets, which only need to be erected by the loader makes, although multiple use is also possible.

Fig. 1

eine für das Beladen fertige Palette,

Fig. 2

einen ersten Zuschnitt zum Aufbau der Palette im aufgefalteten Zustand,

Fig. 3

eine erste Ausführungsform eines zweiten Zuschnitts, ebenfalls im aufgefalteten Zustand,

Fig. 4

eine zweite Ausführungsform des zweiten Zuschnitts im aufgefalteten Zustand

Fig. 5

eine Vorderansicht einer Anlage zur Konfektionierung der erfindungsgemäßen Palette,

Fig. 6

eine Daraufsicht auf die Anlage der Fig. 5 und

Fig. 7

einen schematischen Ablauf der Palettenkonfektionierung.

Further training options, expediencies and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the highly schematic drawing. The drawing shows a perspective view

Fig. 1

a pallet ready for loading,

Fig. 2

a first cut for the construction of the pallet in the unfolded state,

Fig. 3

a first embodiment of a second blank, also in the unfolded state,

Fig. 4

a second embodiment of the second blank in the unfolded state

Fig. 5

2 shows a front view of a system for the assembly of the pallet according to the invention,

Fig. 6

a plan view of the system of FIGS. 5 and

Fig. 7

a schematic flow of pallet assembly.

A pallet 1 constructed according to the invention from corrugated cardboard (FIG. 1) essentially comprises a first blank 2 and a second blank 3, both consisting of corrugated cardboard and provided in such a way that their corrugation directions (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are in the finished pallet Cross 1. The first blank 2 forms the base, especially with respect to the main or loading surface of the pallet, and the second blank 3 forms the top layer. In order to be able to easily drive under the pallet from its four sides with a floor conveyor such as a forklift or a similar loading and / or transport device, there are loaders 41 and loading openings 42 in the longitudinal or transverse direction - known per se from conventional pallets educated.

The details of function and structure of the relevant structural details can best be found in the individual representations of cuts 2 and 3 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and 4.

The first blank 2 can be unfolded from a substantially rectangular corrugated cardboard blank into the shape shown in FIG. 2, with sufficiently well-known folding and folding lines, for example crease lines (dashed or shown in thin lines), being provided for the folding at corresponding folding points, such as they are common in the corrugated cardboard industry. Along its longitudinal edges, support beam-like edge supports 21 are formed on the first blank, which have a U-shaped or channel-like shape have and determine outer surfaces 21a and inner surfaces 21i. Between the two edge supports, here centrally arranged, a support channel 22 constructed in a similar manner, which is also designed and acts in the manner of a support beam, is provided. Between the edge supports 21 and the support trough 22 are the rectangular passages or loaders 41, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the blank and thus the finished pallet, into which the forks of a forklift truck, pallet truck or the like. can intervene for the purpose of lifting and / or transporting the pallet 1. Correspondingly, openings 24 are made in the outer surfaces 21a in the direction of the width of the pallet, and openings 25 are made in the inner surfaces 21i and in the side walls of the support channel 22. Openings 24 and openings 25 together form the loading openings 42. The openings 24 are recesses delimited by support tabs 28, the width of these support tabs corresponding to the width of the edge supports 21 and having lugs 29 on their free vertical edges with respect to a vertical pivot axis (not designated) which enter into slot-shaped recesses 23 in can snap the inner surfaces 21i. The openings 25 are formed by three-sided punching of tongues 26, which remain firmly connected on one side with the cutting material and extend from the folding or crease lines provided for the edge support 21 or the support channel 22 such that these tongues when folding the edge support and support channel 26 form an extension of the main surface of the unfolded blank 2, which main surface forms an adhesive surface 27, beyond the fold lines. In the region of the support channel 22, the tongues 26 and thus the openings 25 are dimensioned such that the tongues 26 practically cover the entire support channel 22 and mutually opposing tongues 26 butt, so that a quasi-closed surface is created in this area. The protrusion of the tongues 26 over the fold lines for the edge girders and the support channel contributes significantly to an increase in the load-bearing capacity, in particular the resistance to buckling and torsion. In order not to hinder the folding in of the outer support tabs 28, the tongues 26 located above the edge supports are provided with a circular recess 26a corresponding to the pivoting radius of the support tabs 28.

The function of the adhesive surface 27 and of slot-shaped recesses 23 on the bottom and in the inner surfaces 21i of the edge supports 21 or the support channel 22 becomes clear in connection with the description of the second blank 3.

The second blank 3 also consists of a stamped blank which is rectangular in its outer contours and, corresponding to the edge supports 21 of the first blank, has angled foldable spacer sections 31 along its longitudinal edges, the height of which, in conjunction with the corresponding outer surfaces 21a of the edge supports 21, essentially corresponds to the height of the pallet 1 certainly. These spacer sections 31 abut against the outer surfaces 21a when the pallet is assembled. The second blank 3, as can be seen from FIG. 3, essentially forms the shape of a flat, inverted U in the unfolded state, the legs of which are determined by the spacing sections 31 and the web of which forms a main surface 34, which is the area connection with the first blank 2 serves. At locations which correspond to the openings 24 or openings 25 of the first blank 2, windows 35 are provided in the spacer sections 31 by pre-punching during the manufacture of the blank, which are initially closed by support flaps 36 stamped free on three sides and articulated via one-sided fold lines. When assembling the pallet, these flaps 36 are opened and connected to the support tabs 28, for example by gluing or stapling, and locked in the slots 23. In order to use the support flaps 34 to increase the strength and load-bearing capacity of the pallet, they are designed as horizontal support webs, and their width is dimensioned such that they extend over the entire width of the edge supports 21 and into the slot-shaped recesses 23 provided in the inner surfaces 21i Help can be provided by noses 33 provided on them. It is one positive and non-positive locking of these horizontal support webs 36 together with the support brackets 28 is possible, so that these parts significantly increase the rigidity of the edge girders, in particular their transverse rigidity and thus the torsional strength of the entire range. Furthermore, vertical support webs 32 which are hinged on one side and are cut free on three sides are punched out of the surface of the second blank 3, the height of which corresponds to that of the spacer sections 31 and the tabs 33 on their free edges opposite the fold lines correspond to the tabs 33 of the support flaps (horizontal support webs) 36 wear. The width of the vertical support webs 32 corresponds essentially to the width of the edge supports 21 or the support channel 22, and the support webs 32 are arranged at the positions of that channel corresponding points of the second blank 3, so that the support webs 32 are folded into the channels and their Lugs 33 can engage in the slot-shaped recesses 23. The support webs 32 can lie tightly against the side walls of the grooves of the edge supports 21 or the central support beam 22, although their main direction of loading is the vertical. It should be noted in this connection that in the second blank 3, the corrugation direction of the corrugated cardboard runs in the longitudinal direction of the blank, so that the wave course in the vertical support webs 32 is vertical and in the horizontal support webs 36 horizontally, which results in corresponding, optimal load conditions . In the first blank 2, on the other hand, the shaft runs in the transverse direction, which means that the edge supports 21 and the support channel 22 and the support brackets 28 can be loaded vertically, and high bending moments in the main surface 27 with the tongues 26 can be absorbed.

As can be seen from the figures, the inner support webs 32 on the edge are somewhat narrower than the others, so that a sufficient edge web (not designated) remains above the window 35 to delimit the same.

A variant of the second blank 3 is shown in FIG. 4. There, the spacer sections 31 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 are formed by box-shaped, rectangularly folded support elements 37, which therefore have a higher section modulus than the straight-spaced spacer sections 31. The width of these box-shaped support elements 37 corresponds to the internal dimensions of the edge supports 21, so that the support elements 37 can easily be inserted into the edge supports. If the support elements 37 run continuously over the entire length of the second blank 3, the tongues 26 need not be formed in the region of the outer edge supports of the first blank 2. But it is also possible to provide recesses similar to the windows 35 along the inner wall of the support elements 37 over the entire height of the inner wall, so that the support elements can be inserted over the tongues 26 into the edge supports 21, the horizontal support webs then on this side 36 of FIG. 3 corresponding support webs can be provided and the support webs in the outer wall of the support elements 37 can be dispensed with. To lock the support webs 32, slots 38 are arranged in the bottom of the box-shaped support elements 37. A design corresponding to FIG. 3 can be provided for the windows not shown here in detail.

The two blanks 2 and 3, provided with the necessary punchings and folding lines, can be delivered to the user in a flat state by the corrugated cardboard manufacturer, so that there is a minimal transport volume for this transport and the parts can be stored in a space-saving manner until they are used. At the user, the parts prepared in this way are then erected, for example, on a semi-automatic erecting device, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, according to the diagram in FIG. 7 into the shapes shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and 4, respectively. These are put together in pairs, so that the final shape of the pallet 1 results.

5 and 6, two erection stations 5 and 6 can be seen, in addition to which, advantageously in the vicinity of the respective first processing station, are the first blanks 2 and second blanks 3 delivered on pallets by the corrugated cardboard producer.

The first erection station 5 serves for the gradual pre-breaking of the first blank 2 in the order of the stages I, II and III shown in FIG. 7, namely in accordance with the crease lines, which in the initial stage I and in the left part of the stage II as solid lines 20 shown and are attached by the corrugated cardboard producer. For the purpose of this preliminary breaking, the first erection station 5 comprises, on a frame 50, a support table 51 which is equipped with stops, straightening strips or similar positioning elements (not shown here) and with channels 52. The latter also serve to align and accommodate the edge girders of the first blank 2 which are to be folded or folded step by step in accordance with I, II and III (FIG. 7). To break the blank open, there is a suitable means on the frame 50 above the central groove 52 Press stamp 53 stored, which can be seen here in its rest position. From this it is lowered in the direction of the groove 52 when the blank 2 is aligned in the correct position for the preliminary breaking of one of the edge supports or the support groove on the support table 51. Placing the blanks 2 and aligning them on the support table 51 and moving them step by step after breaking the individual three steps is done by hand, so that this erection station works semi-automatically. - In order to keep the restoring forces, which are very considerable, especially in the case of corrugated cardboard, as low as possible, after the press ram 53 engages, the rectangular shape produced by this can be overpressed, as can be seen, for example, in stage II in FIG. 7 press elements, not shown here, which can be pivoted in laterally, are brought about. This takes place as long as the rectangularly shaped part is still in the central groove 52. The rectangular shaped part compressed into a trapezoid that tapers from the bottom up. As a result of the restoring forces, after removal from the central groove 52, this trapezium still assumes the shape of a trapezoid that widens upward, which can be seen in particular in stage III of FIG. 7.

The joining of the pre-broken first blank 2 with a correspondingly pre-broken second blank 3 takes place in the second erection station 6. On a frame 60 thereof, on the one hand, recognizable on the right, a pre-breaking device 64 is provided for the spacer sections 31 of the second blank 3, while on the frame form-changeable supports 61 and side pressure plates 611 cooperating with them, which can be moved by means of pressure cylinders 612 according to the arrows E, are arranged. The shape-changing pads 61 are movable from a trapezoidal starting position A shown in solid lines, which corresponds to the shape of the pre-cuts of the blank 2 in stage III, into a rectangular press layer B shown in dashed lines, with the purpose of holding or pressing during Assembling the blanks, the side pressure plates 611 are moved according to arrow E into the position also shown in broken lines. However, before this movement takes place from the trapezoidal starting position A into the pressing position B, the blank 2 placed in the supports 61 is sprayed with glue. For this purpose, a glue carriage 62, which can be filled from a glue container 7 arranged near the second erection station 6, is arranged on the frame 60 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow L (FIG. 6). The glue slide 62 comprises inner glue nozzles 621 and outer glue nozzles 622. The inner glue nozzles 621 are used for spraying glue on the main surfaces 27 of the blank 2, the outer, inclined glue nozzles 622 for applying glue to the inner sides of the outer surfaces 21a of the edge supports 21, including the support tabs 28.

When the glue is applied, the direction is from above the arrow F (FIG. 7), the second blank 3 which has been broken open with respect to its spacing sections 31. The blanks 2 are then pressed by means of the supports 61 into the pressing position B according to the arrows D in stage III according to FIG. 7. By moving down a pressure ram 63 and placing the side pressure plates 611 against the outer sides of the spacer sections 31, the two blanks are pressed together, so that they result in the pallet recognizable in FIG. 7. Subsequently, the support webs can still be pressed into their locked support position in order to ultimately produce the finished pallet 1 according to FIG. 1. This pressing in of the support webs can either take place at the second erection station, but it is equally possible to provide automatic folding elements for this, which work with the required precision. If necessary, a further machine station can be provided for this.

The main surfaces lying against one another (surface of the first blank 2 and lower surface of the second blank 3) can be provided with glue in the form of points, lines or planes and thus glued to one another. This results in an extremely stable pallet 1, which has a high degree of buckling and torsional rigidity, as a result of the two-dimensional gluing, the support by means of the supporting webs and the suitable seat in connection with the cross-shaft arrangement of the two blanks.

On the second blank 3, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, predetermined breaking points 80 defined by perforations can be formed in the edge region above the windows 35. These predetermined breaking points 80 tear in a conventional manner when the loaded pallet is strapped, if the load does not protrude beyond the edge of the pallet, and form an edge protection. The strapping is passed through the loading openings 42.

Of course, it is possible and conceivable to vary the number of support webs and their arrangement on the blanks. Additional locking elements can also be provided between the two blanks. Of course, instead of gluing, the two blanks can be fastened to one another by means of staples, as long as a sufficiently intimate connection between the two blanks is achieved and the cross-shaft connection is effective.

Although the invention is described in connection with the material corrugated cardboard, other similar, similarly made foldable material of similar advantages (low weight, low material costs), which has predetermined different loading directions, such as cardboard, in which the fiber direction is also suitable for such pallets different loading criteria similar to the corrugation of corrugated cardboard.

It is of course also possible to add additional measures such as coating e.g. with shellac, water glass, PE, acrylic resin or the like. to make it particularly resistant to environmental, especially weather, so that the pallets can be stored outdoors.

Claims (24)

1. Rectangular drive-under transport pallet (1), which can be manufactured from at least two inter-connectable corrugated-board blanks (2, 3) and in which the blanks are interconnectable at least partially over their surfaces as well as arranged in relation to one another in such a manner that the directions of their corrugations cross, the first blank (2) has foldably formed bearing-spar-like edge supports (21) which extend along a pair of opposite pallet edges, are essentially open on their side facing towards the other, second blank (3) and into which support elements (32) can be inserted, and, between the two edge supports, at least one inner bearing-spar-like support channel (22), bendable distance sections (31) corresponding to the pallet height are arranged on the second blank (3), which essentially extend over its entire length along its edges which are assigned to the opposite bearing-spar-like edge supports (21), and the support elements are deformable in relation to a main surface (24) of the second blank, which forms a bearing surface of the pallet, characterised in that

   a) the support elements are designed in the form of support webs (32), can be folded out of the closed surface of at least one of the blanks and engage in a clamping manner in corresponding recesses (23) in the respective other blank (2 or 3), and

   b) the pallet (1) is drive-under on all sides, to which end the edge supports (21), the inner support channel (22) and the distance sections (31), which extend in the edge supports, have recesses (24, 25, 35) for the formation of loading openings (42), the recesses being provided in the external surfaces (21a) of the edge supports (21) in the form of perforations (24) and in the internal surfaces (21i) of the edge supports and in the support channel (22) in the form of openings (25) which align with the perforations (24), while in the distance sections (31) there are windows (35) which align with perforations (24) and openings (25) and which are at least partially defined by punched-free, pivotably articulated support flaps (36).
2. Transport pallet according to Claim 1, characterised in that the support webs (32) are arranged on the blank (3) which bears the distance sections (31) and engage in the open edge supports (21) and, if applicable, the inner support channel (22).
3. Transport pallet according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the support webs (32) are arranged in positions corresponding to the edge supports (21) and the support channel (22) respectively and essentially correspond in their width to that of the edge supports (21) and the support channel (22) respectively.
4. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support flaps (36) are pivotably articulated about vertical axes, their width essentially corresponds to the internal width of the channel-shaped edge supports (21) and they can be folded into the latter and positively locked therein.
5. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the openings (25) extend downwards from the upper edges of the edge support internal surfaces (21i) and of the support channel (22) respectively and are cut (punched) free from the main surface (27) of the blank (2) on three sides in such a manner that the cut-free parts remain in the form of tongues (26) in the plane of the main surface (27), which serves for the connection to the other blank (3), between the edge supports (21) and the support channel (22) respectively.
6. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the perforations (24) in the external surfaces (21a) of the edge supports (21) are at least partially defined by punched-free support tabs (28) which are pivotably articulated about vertical axes and the width of which essentially corresponds to the internal width of the edge supports (21) and which can be folded into the latter and positively locked with the internal surfaces (21i).
7. Transport pallet according to Claim 6, characterised in that the support tabs (28) can be connected non-positively and/or positively to the support flaps (36).
8. Transport pallet according to Claim 7, characterised in that the interconnected support tabs (28) and support flaps (36) can be locked by support webs (32) of the second blank (3), which are arranged in this region and can be folded into the edge supports (21).
9. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the recesses, that is to say the perforations (24), openings (25), windows (35), support tabs (28) and/or support flaps (36) essentially extend over the entire height of the pallet (1).
10. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the distance sections are designed as box-type support elements (37) which fit into the channel-shaped edge supports (21).
11. Transport pallet according to Claim 10, characterised in that the support webs (32) provided in the region of the box-type support elements (37) engage in recesses (38) in the bottom surface of the support elements (37).
12. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the corrugations of the material run in the transverse direction of the pallet (1) in the blank comprising the edge supports (21) and the support channel (22) and in the longitudinal direction in the other blank (3) which bears the distance sections (31).
13. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that, on at least one of the blanks (2, 3), preferably on the second blank (3) and in the region of the windows (35) or loading openings (42), predetermined breaking points (80) of defined width are provided.
14. Transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the blanks (2, 3) consist of multi-ply, preferably double-ply corrugated board.
15. Procedure for manufacturing a transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the first blank (2), which has the edge supports (21), is prefolded stepwise in a folding and pressing station, the first edge support (21) being prefolded first, then the support channel (22) and finally the second edge support (21), and in that its surfaces (21, 26, 27) which face towards the other, second blank (3) are sprayed with glue, in that the distance sections (31) of the second blank (3) are prefolded at the same time, in that subsequently the latter is placed on the first blank (2), that is to say is inserted with the distance sections (31) into the edge supports (21), and a pressure force is exerted from above and laterally on the parts which are supported according to the shape of the edge supports and support channel, and in that, after removal of the folded, bonded pallet (1) from the folding and pressing station, the support webs (32) and possibly the support tabs (28) and flaps (36), the latter preferably with mutual connection by means of gluing, tacking, inter-locking or the like, are pressed into their detained support position.
16. Installation for fabrication of a transport pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterised in that, for the stepwise prefolding of the first blank (2), which has the edge supports (21) and the support channel (22), a first erecting station (5) is provided, and for the application of glue to this thus prefolded blank, for the prefolding of the distance sections (31) of the other, second blank (3) and for the folded assembly of the two blanks (2, 3), a second erecting station (6) is provided.
17. Installation according to Claim 16, characterised in that the first and second erecting stations are semi-automatically operating machine units (5, 6).
18. Installation according to Claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the first erecting station (5) is a supporting table (51) equipped with stops, guide strips or similar positioning elements and with channels (52) to receive the edge supports (21) and support channel (22), to be folded or folded, of the first blank (2), and comprises a press ram (53) above one of the channels (52), preferably the central channel.
19. Installation according to Claim 18, characterised in that the press ram (53) interacts with pressing elements, which can be pivoted in laterally, as counter-form for the overpressing of the prefolding.
20. Installation according to one of Claims 16 to 19, characterised in that the second erecting station (6) comprises supports (61) of variable shape to receive the blank (2) prefolded on the first erecting station (5), these supports being movable from an essentially trapezoidal starting position (A) into an essentially rectangular pressing position (B).
21. Installation according to Claim 20, characterised in that the second erecting station (6) comprises a gluing slide (62) above the supports (61), which gluing slide is movable in one of its main directions, preferably its longitudinal direction (L).
22. Installation according to Claim 21, characterised in that the gluing slide (62) comprises vertically acting inner gluing nozzles (621) for the sticking surfaces (27) of the blank (2) and, acting at an angle to these, outer gluing nozzles (622) for the internal sides of the external walls of the edge supports (21) of the same blank.
23. Installation according to one of Claims 20 and 22, characterised in that, above the supports (61), a press ram (63), designed as a plane plate, is provided, which is movable out of its rest position into a working position directly above the support (61) which has been moved into the rectangular pressing position, and in that lateral pressing plates (611) of the supports (61) can be moved into a vertical position and thus into a horizontal pressing position surrounding the pallet (1) from the side of the edge supports (21).
24. Installation according to one of Claims 16 to 23, characterised in that, on a frame (60) of the second erecting station, a prefolding device (64) for the distance sections (31) of the other blank (3) is arranged laterally.

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