EP0228971B1 - Collapsible palletised container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a new folding packaging of the pallet box type, that is to say comprising a cardboard container, corrugated cardboard or the like, generally of rectangular shape, the bottom of which is usually made up of flaps adjoining the side walls. , is fixed on a wooden pallet or similar. The container can be opened at its upper part and then be capped with a lid. It may also include, as at its base, flaps adjoining the side walls, which are folded down after filling and made integral with each other, the container then being of the type of so-called American boxes.

Such pallet boxes are being used more and more for the packaging and transport of multiple goods, because they are easy to manufacture, of moderate cost, and can be produced with large dimensions, the pallet of which they are provided which are suitable for easy handling using transport or lifting trolleys.

In order to facilitate their storage before use in a small volume, it has been proposed to fold the packaging body flat on the pallet, but pallet boxes of this type generally require, after assembly, the use of vertical beams in wood, known as "candles" in the art, to ensure their satisfactory behavior, and this increases their manufacturing cost and complicates the assembly operations.

It was also proposed (see French patent ^No. 2,054,841) to equip the base of the container of two fixed half-pallets, respectively, on the flaps forming the outer part of the bottom and adjacent to two opposite side walls, which allows the container to be folded flat with the walls applied against each other, as well as the flaps forming the bottom, and with the half-pallets arranged on either side of the flattened packaging, outside of it.

This packaging is particularly simple, but its formatting by the user is impractical, since nothing is provided for securing together the half-pallets in the assembled position of the packaging, if not wires or strips, passing over the cover and below the bottom.

The present invention is concerned with this latter type of packaging, the bottom of which is equipped with half-pallets, and it aims to remedy the drawbacks of the known technique, by proposing a pallet box which can be delivered folded flat to the user and be easily folded by the user.

The invention also aims to propose a pallet box of this type, the half-pallets of which equip the bottom are joined by an articulation member, even in the folded position, and thus remain integral with each other in position. climb.

The invention also aims to propose a pallet box of this type, in which a plastic bag, integral with the corrugated cardboard container and intended to receive the contents of the pallet box, can be delivered to users pre-assembled with the container and with the half-pallets.

It is known, in fact, that pallet boxes are frequently used to package loose particulate matter, such as granular polymers or the like. The volume of packaged materials can be very large and their weight often exceeds one tonne. In order to facilitate their packaging, these materials are generally housed in a polyethylene or similar bag inside the pallet box.

Such plastics, however, adhere poorly to corrugated cardboard and it is feared that the bags stuck inside the container will come apart from it, when the pallet box is folded flat to be delivered to users, then volume-edited by them.

The present invention overcomes this drawback.

To this end, the invention relates to a pallet box of the type comprising a container of corrugated cardboard or the like, the external part of the bottom of which comprises two adjoining flaps by a fold line with two opposite parallel walls and on each of which is fixed a wooden half-pallet or the like, characterized in that each of the walls to which the flaps carrying the half-pallets are not contiguous is divided into two equal parts by a fold line parallel to the vertical edges of the container and suitable for allowing folding between the walls adjoining the flaps, and in that the flaps carrying the half-pallets are assembled together so as to form a hinge or are joined by at least one element of cardboard or the like forming a hinge, which is fixed to said flaps and which comprises a fold line arranged along the connection plane of said half-pallets.

It will thus be possible, due to the vertical fold lines of the walls of the container not adjoining the flaps carrying the half-pallets, to effect an "accordion" fold of these walls of the container in order to fold the latter flat, with the flaps carrying the half-pallets arranged in the extension of the side walls to which they are attached.

Conversely, it suffices to separate from one another the walls to which the flaps carrying the half-pallets are attached, by exerting a traction on these walls or on these half-pallets so that the pallet box is itself shaped, the flaps carrying the half-pallets straightening perpendicular to the adjoining walls, due to the hinge element which joins them.

It is therefore possible for the manufacturer to deliver the folded Pallet boxes to the users and for them to store them thus, occupying only a very small volume, to format them in a simple way, without using any accessory. whether for mounting or during their use.

It will also be noted that the part of the bottom of the pallet box constituted by the flaps carrying the half-pallets locks in the assembled position the body of the container and that the resistance to the vertical compression of the latter is in no way weakened by the presence of the fold lines of the walls not contiguous to the flaps carrying the half-pallets.

Of course, these walls may themselves have flaps at their base, which will be arranged inside the container and applied against the internal face of the flaps carrying the half-pallets. These flaps will also have fold lines arranged in the same plane as the fold lines of the walls on which they are articulated and, to fold the pallet box flat, it will suffice to apply said flaps against the adjoining walls so that they can themselves undergo an accordion folding.

In an advantageous variant, the external flaps of the bottom of the container are no longer joined by a hinge element, but are assembled so as to form themselves a hinge and can pinch the bottom of a plastic bag between them.

In this variant, the external flaps of the bottom of the container can be assembled together in a strip, so as to form a corner dihedral parallel to the fold lines by which these flaps are connected to the walls to which they are contiguous, the distance separating the dihedral edge of said fold lines being equal to half the distance separating said walls after the pallet box has been placed in volume.

The dihedral formed by said flaps thus constitutes a hinge allowing the bottom of the container to be folded flat between the half-pallets on which these flaps are fixed, without the need to use an additional element forming a hinge.

A plastic bag, intended to internally double the container, can be pinched by its bottom between the assembled parts of said flaps, thus being made integral with these.

In this embodiment of the invention, the external flaps may be assembled by any means known in the art, but they will preferably be assembled by gluing, if the bottom of a plastic bag must be pinched between them, so not to weaken this bag. Because of this method of assembling the bag - or the "bag", as we say in the art - and the container, the risks of accidental detachment of these elements are practically negligible.

The flaps may be assembled in a strip, in the vicinity of their edge parallel to their line of connection to the adjoining wall, and the assembled parts of said flaps may also be delimited along the edge of said dihedron by parallel fold lines. to these connection lines, so that after the pallet box has been placed in volume, the assembled part of said flaps can be pinched between the half-pallets.

The external flaps of the bottom may or may not be doubled inside internal flaps adjoining the other walls and having fold lines parallel to the vertical edges of the container, in line with the fold lines of the walls to which these flaps are attached, as mentioned above. In the case where a plastic bag is secured to the bottom of the container, these internal flaps must be small, if they exist, in order to allow the bag to be positioned in the assembled position of the pallet box. Alternatively, a slot may be made in the middle part of these flaps, perpendicular to the adjoining walls to allow passage to this bag.

The accompanying drawings, which are not limiting, illustrate such a form of implementation of the invention. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first pallet box according to the invention, in which the outer flaps of the bottom of the container are joined by a hinge element;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pallet box of Figure 1 folded flat;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the volume of this pallet box;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the pallet box according to the invention, in the assembled position, in which the external flaps of the bottom of the container are assembled together so as to form a hinge;

FIG. 6 illustrates the folding of the corrugated cardboard container of this pallet box;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the container of another pallet box according to the invention.

The pallet box shown in Figures 1 to 4 is of a type known per se, comprising a container 1 of corrugated cardboard, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, resting at its base on a wooden pallet or the like, consisting of two half -palettes 2.

Container 1 includes:
- On the one hand, two longitudinal walls 3, at the base of which are articulated by a fold line two flaps 4, which constitute the external part of the bottom of the container, and on which are fixed, by gluing, stapling or the like half pallets 2;
- On the other hand, two transverse walls 5, at the base of which are articulated by a fold line two flaps 6, which, after assembly of the pallet box, are folded back inside the container against the flaps 4, for constitute the interior part of the bottom.

In the case of the drawing, the walls 3 and 5 also have, at their upper part, flaps, respectively 7 and 8, which, after filling the container, are folded down and assembled together to ensure the closing of the pallet box, but it could also include a cover or be equipped with another closure mode.

According to the invention, the transverse walls 5 are provided, along the longitudinal longitudinal plane of the container, with a fold line 9, parallel to the vertical edges of the pallet box, which extends, on the flaps 6 and 8, by a fold line, respectively 10 and 11. Furthermore, the flaps 4 adjoining the longitudinal walls 3 are joined by a strip 12 of cardboard or the like, glued against their internal or external face and provided, along the median longitudinal plane of the pallet box, with a fold line 13, which allows this strip 12 to play the role articulation or hinge between the flaps 4.

As can be clearly seen in the drawings, it is also possible, after having folded down the flaps 7 and 8 outside the corresponding walls and applied the flaps 6 against the internal face of the transverse walls 5, to fold the box flat. pallet, by folding around the lines 9, 10, 11, 13, of its median longitudinal plane, bringing the half-pallets 2 in the extension of the longitudinal walls 3.

The pallet box can thus be delivered flat to users and be stored in this very small volume.

To shape it, it suffices, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, to fold down the half-pallets, or to move aside the longitudinal walls 3, so that the transverse walls 5 unfold on their own and are placed in a position perpendicular to the half-pallets and to the longitudinal walls 3. It will then suffice for the user to fold the flaps 6 adjoining the transverse walls 5 against the flaps 4 adjoining the longitudinal walls 3, to obtain a perfectly pallet box stable, ready to receive the objects or materials which must be conditioned there.

Note that there is a self-locking of the body in the assembled and full position.

Figures 5 to 7 show variants of the pallet box according to the invention in which the corrugated container is normally equipped inside a plastic bag, but, for clarity, this bag does not has not been shown in the drawings.

The pallet box of FIG. 5 comprises a container 1ʹ of corrugated cardboard, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, resting by its base on a wooden pallet or the like, consisting of two half-pallets 2ʹ.

The container 1ʹ comprises:
- On the one hand, two longitudinal walls 3ʹ, at the base of which are articulated by a fold line two flaps 4ʹ, which constitute the external part of the bottom of the container, and on which are fixed, by gluing, stapling or the like 2ʹ half-pallets;
- on the other hand, two transverse walls 5ʹ, at the base of which are articulated by a fold line two flaps 6ʹ, which, after assembly of the pallet box, are folded back inside the container against the flaps 4ʹ, for constitute the interior part of the bottom.

According to the invention, the flaps 4ʹ are assembled by gluing, along a strip 8ʹ, in the vicinity of their edge parallel to their line of connection to the wall 3ʹ, so as to form a dihedral edge parallel to this line of connection , the strip 8ʹ being intended to be housed between the half-pallets 2ʹ, by being pinched between them, after the volume of the pallet box. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 6, the dihedral formed by the flaps 4ʹ constitutes a hinge between the walls 3ʹ and allows the container 1ʹ to be folded flat between the half-pallets 2ʹ, the transverse walls 5ʹ being simultaneously folded accordion around a 9ʹ fold line. The distance between the edge of the dihedral formed by the flaps 4ʹ of the line connecting these flaps to the walls 3ʹ is equal to half the distance separating the walls 3ʹ after the container 1ʹ has been placed in volume, so that the flaps 4ʹ thus constitute the bottom of the mounted container.

A plastic bag (not shown), intended to receive the articles or materials housed in the container 1ʹ, can be pinched between the assembled parts of the flaps 4ʹ, thus being perfectly secured to the container, with which it can be delivered pre-assembled to users. In this case, so that the bag can be unfolded easily inside the container 1ʹ, after volume setting thereof, the internal flaps 6ʹ adjoining the transverse walls 5ʹ have a slot 10ʹ, in their middle part, perpendicular to the 5ʹ walls, to allow passage to said bag.

As a variant, the walls 5ʹ may be devoid of internal flaps or include flaps 11ʹ of very small dimensions which do not form an obstacle to the plastic bag, as shown in FIG. 7.

The invention therefore provides users with a new packaging that is simple and easy to assemble, which nonetheless exhibits excellent mechanical strength and perfect stability.

Naturally, it would not go beyond the scope of the invention to produce a pallet box of this type, the container of which would have a shape other than a parallelepiped, that of an octagonal prism, for example.

Claims (9)

1. A box pallet of the type comprising a container (1) of corrugated cardboard or the like, the outer part of the base of which comprises two flaps (4) adjoining by fold lines two opposing parallel walls (3) and to each of which there is fixed a half-pallet (2) of wood or the like, characterized in that each of the walls (5) not adjoined by the flaps carrying the half-pallets is divided into two equal parts by a fold line (9) parallel with the vertical edges of the container and capable of allowing folding between the walls (3) adjoining the flaps (4), and in that the flaps (4) carrying the half-pallets are assembled in such a way as to form a hinge or are connected by at least one member (12) of cardboard or the like forming a hinge, which is fixed to said flaps and which comprises a fold line (13) arranged in accordance with the plane of connection of said half-pallets.
2. A box pallet according to claim 1, in which the side walls (5) not adjoining the flaps (4) carrying said half-pallets (2) themselves comprise, at their lower parts, flaps (6) which, when the box pallet is in the assembled position, are applied to the inside of the latter against said flaps carrying the half-pallets, characterized in that said flaps (6) comprise a fold line (10) arranged to extend the fold line (9) of the walls (5) which they adjoin, in the plane connecting the opposing fold lines (9).
3. A box pallet according to either one of claims 1 and 2, in which the side walls (5) not adjoining the flaps (4) carrying said half-pallets (2) themselves comprise, at their upper parts, flaps (8) which may be folded back to be parallel with said half-pallets in the assembled position, characterized in that said flaps (8) comprise a fold line (11) arranged to extend the fold line (9) of the walls (5) which they adjoin, in the plane connecting the opposing fold lines (9).
4. A box pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer flaps (4') of the base of the container (1') are assembled along a strip (8'), in such a way as to form a dihedral edge parallel with the fold lines by which these flaps (4') are connected to the walls (3') which they adjoin and in that the distance separating the edge of the dihedron from said fold lines is equal to half the distance separating said walls (3') after assembly of the box pallet.
5. A box pallet according to claim 4, characterized in that a bag of plastics material is gripped at the bottom between the assembled parts of said outer flaps (4').
6. A box pallet according to either one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the assembled parts of said flaps (4') have, at the level of the edge of said dihedron, fold lines parallel to the lines connecting said flaps (4') to the adjoining walls (3').
7. A box pallet according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the assembled part of said flaps (4'), after the box pallet has been put into shape, is gripped between the two half-pallets (2').
8. A box pallet according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it does not comprise any inner flaps or in that these flaps (11') are very small.
9. A box pallet according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that any inner flaps (6') which it does comprise have in their median part a slit (10') perpendicular to the adjoining wall (5').

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