EP0352209A1 - Composite box pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite box pallet intended for the transportation and storage of various articles. It will be applied, in particular, in the field of packaging. The composite box pallet (1) is formed by: - a receptacle (2), in particular paralellelepipedic shape, defining the lateral walls (4 to 7) and the bottom (8) of the box, - at least two independent support shoes (3), capable of lifting the bottom (8) of the receptacle (2) from the plane in which the box is placed, - means (9) for fixing the support shoes (3) to the bottom (8) of the receptacle 2, externally to the latter. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a composite pallet box, intended in particular in the field of packaging to facilitate the transport and storage of goods.

In the field of packaging, it is known to use pallet boxes made of various materials which allow the handling and storage of more or less heavy, fragile or bulky objects, with ease by the use of forklift trucks.

For this, the bottom of the box is raised to allow the introduction of forks of all types of lifting equipment, such as manual trolleys, pallet trucks, stackers, ferries or others.

Thus, it is known boxes formed by a container itself which allows to receive the objects, as well as support pads reported at the bottom of the container, allowing the grip of the pallet box by means of said trolleys. Such cases are made of different materials such as cardboard, wood, metal or by combining these different materials.

To reduce the cost of packaging, it has been sought to find a compromise between mechanical strength and production cost, and it is common to find realizations of pallet boxes whose container is made of cardboard or light laminate and whose the support pads are made of wood or molded material.

Such embodiments are generally advantageous but are not without posing certain manufacturing problems originating especially from the assembly of the container and the support pads.

A first known embodiment consists, from a traditional pallet, of fixing by nailing or stapling a container of the "American box" type. In this case, the nails or staples are driven from the inside of the container, crossing the bottom of the cardboard box and penetrating into the material of the pallet.

The resistance of such a pallet box is given by the rigidity of the bottom pallet but nevertheless, it is constant to see the cardboard box tearing off at the level of nails or staples.

In addition, the assembly of the box on the pallet is delicate because, in the case of pallet boxes of relatively large dimensions, the worker must be placed in the interior volume of the cardboard box to nail or staple it on the pallet .

This is why other types of pallet boxes have been developed which do not require nailing or stapling of the elements.

For example, there is known a container formed of an "American box" of cardboard having at least four lateral flanks, which constitute the side walls of the container, extended by internal flaps and external flaps to constitute the bottom.

To raise the bottom from the ground, skates are used, of the type used on traditional pallets but suitable for the outer flaps of the bottom. Also, the support pads generally have one or more housings allowing the insertion of a corresponding outer flap, transversely to said flaps, so as to slide the support pad between the outer flap or flaps and the inner flaps.

Some of these embodiments give good results when the cardboard used has sufficient rigidity and adequate shaping. However, the complexity of cutting the cardboard flank results in high tool costs and the resulting manufacturing cost is relatively high. In addition, it is necessary to make pads also suitable for cutting cardboard.

The purpose of this is to provide a composite pallet box, intended for the transport and storage of various objects, which overcomes the drawbacks of the above techniques by allowing the pallet box to be produced from simple and inexpensive elements in order to lower the cost price of packaging.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a composite pallet box which, despite its structure, has a very high mechanical resistance even allowing stacking.

Indeed, the present invention provides a composite pallet box formed on the basis of a strong cardboard container or light laminate, and wooden or similar support pads, reported at the bottom, which has a resistance quite comparable to pallet boxes made entirely of wood but whose cost is significantly reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite pallet box which, by its structure, is foldable and removable and which, due to its low cost and assembly, can be considered in "disposable" use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows, which is however only given for information and which is not intended to limit it.

According to the present invention, the composite pallet box, intended for the transport and storage of various objects, consisting of a container, in particular a parallelepiped, defining the side walls and the bottom of the box, as well as at least two support pads independent, able to raise the bottom of the container from the plane of the box, is characterized in that it has means for securing the support pads on the bottom of the container outside thereof.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the support pads are secured to the outer bottom of the container by gluing or by welding.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of folding the container which makes it possible to reinforce the stability and the resistance of the pallet box.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective de dessous d'une caisse palette réalisée selon la présente invention.
• Les figures 2a et 2b montrent le conteneur constituant le contenant de la caisse palette de la présente invention, telle que représentée à la figure 1, et précise les étapes de pliage spécifiques de son fond.
• La figure 3 montre un mode de réalisation de patins support destinés à la caisse palette de la présente invention.
• La figure 4 montre un autre mode de réalisation de patins support.
• La figure 5 montre une vue en plan de la bande à plat permettant la réalisation du conteneur de la caisse palette dans un mode de réalisation de la présente invention.
• La figure 6 montre une vue illustrant notamment l'association du fond du conteneur et des patins support selon un premier mode de réalisation.
• La figure 7 montre une vue illustrant notamment l'association du fond du conteneur et des patins support selon un second mode de réalisation.
• La figure 8 montre une vue illustrant notamment l'association du fond du conteneur et des patins support selon un troisième mode de réalisation.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by the accompanying drawings which form an integral part thereof.

• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view from below of a pallet box produced according to the present invention.
• Figures 2a and 2b show the container constituting the container of the pallet box of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, and specifies the specific folding steps of its bottom.
• FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of support pads intended for the pallet box of the present invention.
• Figure 4 shows another embodiment of support pads.
• FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the flat strip enabling the container for the pallet box to be produced in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 shows a view illustrating in particular the association of the bottom of the container and the support pads according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 7 shows a view illustrating in particular the association of the bottom of the container and the support pads according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 8 shows a view illustrating in particular the association of the bottom of the container and the support pads according to a third embodiment.

The present invention relates to a composite pallet box, intended for the transport and storage of materials or various objects.

Its structure will make it a single-use pallet box, it will in particular be made from a basic material of strong cardboard or light laminate to constitute the container and from wooden support pads or molded material to form the heightening from the bottom of the container. Thus, we will arrive at a very interesting compromise between mechanical strength and cost.

FIG. 1 generally shows a composite pallet box 1 essentially formed by a container 2, in particular a parallelepiped, and support pads 3 attached at the bottom of the container 2.

Figure 2 shows in detail the embodiment of the container 2 and its folding mode.

The container 2 is traditionally of parallelepipedal shape defining the side walls 4 to 7 and the bottom 8 of the container, which may be recalled, is spaced from the laying plane and in particular from the ground by the support pads 3. However, other volume shapes could be considered.

In this regard, the support pads are independent and joined directly to the container 2 by means of fastening means 9 for the support pads on the bottom of the container outside thereof, as for example illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 to 8. These means will be described in more detail later.

As regards the constitution of the container 2, as shown in FIG. 5, it is formed by cutting and folding a strip 10, flat, rectangular, of cardboard or of light laminated material.

This container is for example of the "American box" type and has four lateral flanks 4, 5, 6, 7 forming the side walls of the container, extended by lower flaps 11 to 14 capable to build up the fund.

It should be noted that the container may also have a similar structure at the level of the upper opening in order to fully protect the goods contained. In this case, the sides will be fitted with four upper flaps 15, 16, 17, 18.

Nevertheless, one could consider a version, without upper flap, with independent cover.

Thus, the bottom 8 of said container 2 has a rectangular section when the strip is wound on itself and secured together in particular by means of the tongue 19. On this subject, in FIG. 5, the fold lines are represented by mixed lines.

Two large sides 5 and 7 and two smaller 4 and 6 are therefore defined, extended respectively by two large flaps 12 and 14 at least capable of closing said bottom 8 by folding, as well as by two other smaller flaps 11, 13 .

More specifically, the dimensions of the large flaps 12, 14 are provided, such that when they are folded back to form their bottom 8, their ends 32, 34 are substantially in contact without creating a gap between them. Such an arrangement will be particularly advantageous for the content because or will have a flat interior bottom. On the other hand, the dimensions of the small flaps 11, 13 depending on those of the large flaps 12, 14, in the case of a rectangular bottom 8, their ends 32, 35 will not be contiguous, as shown particularly in FIG. 2b.

To allow a better squaring of the bottom and allow the cooperation of the bottom thus formed with the support pads 3 in order to increase the rigidity of the assembly carried out, the large flaps 12, 14 are folded towards the inside of the container 2 then that the small flaps 11, 13 are directed towards the outside of the container as illustrated in particular in FIG. 2b.

in addition, as shown particularly in FIG. 5, the side walls 4, 5, 6, 7 and the lower flaps 11, 12, 13, 14 are arranged on either side of the fold lines of the bottom respectively 20, 21 , 22, 23. However, the fold lines 21, 23 of the large flaps 12, 14 are offset from the fold lines 20, 22 of the small flaps 11, 13 to allow the extra thickness due to the folding and arrange the flaps 11 to 14 parallel between them without distorting the bottom of the container.

Such an arrangement will be advantageous for promoting the attachment 9 of the support pads 3 to the bottom 8 of the container, outside of it, in particular at the lower corners of said container.

This offset distance, marked "e" in FIG. 5, corresponds substantially to the thickness "e" of the strip 10 of material forming the container.

The container as such being formed, it can be secured to the independent support pads 3. For this, according to the present invention, the support pads 3 are advantageously arranged such that their longitudinal axis 24 is substantially parallel to the fold line 21 or 23 of the large flaps 12 or 14.

Figures 3 and 4 show by way of example different embodiments of support pads.

Each support shoe 3 is constituted at least by two studs 25, 26 joined together by at least one spar 27.

According to the embodiments and according to the desired resistances, it will also be possible to envisage forming each support pad 3 by at least two studs 25, 26 joined together by two beams 27, 28 then defining a central access space for the forks of the carriages the elements considered 25-28.

In another embodiment, whether there are one or two side members, a third intermediate stud 29 may be provided, then defining two access spaces on either side of the latter.

Figures 6 to 8 show different embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows a container 2 arranged on support pads 3 such as for example those illustrated in FIG. 3.

The securing means 9 advantageously take the form of a coating of adhesive capable of directly bonding one of the faces of the support pad, in this case the upper face of the spar 28, and the outer face of the bottom of the container, in particular the outer face of the small lower flaps 11, 13.

However, in the case of Figure 6, it should be noted that the attachment of the support pads on the bottom is partial because it there remains a gap 30 between the two ends of the flaps 11 and 13.

In this case, to reinforce the connection, the spar 28 will be provided with a width greater than the spar 27 as shown in particular in FIG. 3.

For example, good results have been obtained by bonding the support pads and the container with glue of the "glue" type. This glue can be affixed either on the flaps of the container or on the pads.

In addition, in order to protect it, advantageously use a silicone non-stick sheet which will be removed during assembly of the pallet box. These same provisions are applicable to the thickness take-up block 31.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment in which the shoe is formed according to FIG. 4. In this case, the securing means 9, in particular the adhesive coatings, are deposited on each upper face of the studs 25, 29, 26. Given the gap 30 between the two flaps 11 and 13, the central stud 29 will have an additional thickness in order to come into contact with the face of the large lower flaps 12, 14.

To overcome this difference between the studs 25, 26, 29, FIG. 8 proposes a variant in which a thickness take-up shim 31 is notably arranged in the space 30, between the two small flaps 11, 13, substantially parallel to these, and advantageously glued transversely to the two large flaps 12, 14, outside thereof, as shown in dotted lines for example in FIG. 2b.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the resistance of the base and its squareness are increased during the positioning of the support pads 3, since there is advantageously a relative securing of the small and large flaps 11-14 between them , the studs 25, 26 being fixed on the small flaps 11, 13 while the stud 29 is secured to the or / and the large flaps 11, 14.

In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, it should be noted that the thickness take-up wedge 31 will have a complementary effect with respect to the rigidity and the squaring of the bottom because it will allow them to be held together the large flaps 12, 14 and thus have a perfectly rigid realization of resistance important mechanics.

Naturally, other embodiments of the present invention can be envisaged, without however departing from the scope of the present invention.

In particular, with regard to the securing means 9, it would be conceivable to provide them in the form of welds, the said support pads 3 and the said container 2 then being made of compatible materials capable of being welded together.

On the other hand, as shown in Figures 1, 6, 7, 8, the support pads 3 are arranged in the direction of the length of the body, in other words their length corresponds substantially to the length of the long sides 5, 7 of the container.

However, it could be envisaged to arrange the pads in the direction of the short sides, that is to say such that their longitudinal axis 24 is substantially parallel to the fold line 20 or 22 of the small flaps 11 or 13.

In this case, according to the present invention, the large flaps are always folded as they form the interior bottom of the body 2, the end pads are then entirely fixed on the small flaps.

To increase the rigidity and the squareness, the small flaps will advantageously be joined to the large flaps by means of an adhesive coating, or a double-sided adhesive, or any other similar means.

In such an arrangement, three skates will advantageously be used and the third glued glue will be placed in the median axis of the long side using an intermediate shim as described in the previous assemblies, or by making a skate whose studs are higher than the other two to take account of the extra thickness caused by the small flaps. The skate will then be secured in the axis of this thickness take-up wedge.

Claims (10)

1. Composite pallet box (1), intended for the transport and storage of various objects, consisting of a container (2), in particular parallelepiped, defining the side walls (4-7) and the bottom (8) of the box , as well as at least two independent support skids (3), capable of raising the bottom (8) of the container (2) from the box laying plane, characterized in that it has fastening means (9) support pads (3) on the bottom (8) of the container (2) outside thereof. 2. Pallet box according to claim 1, characterized in that the said securing means (9) are in the form of an adhesive coating capable of bonding one of the faces of the support pad (3) and the outer face of the bottom (8) of the container. 3. Pallet box according to claim 1, characterized in that the said securing means (9) are in the form of welds, the said support pads (3) and the said container (2) being made of materials capable of be welded together. 4. Pallet box according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (2) is formed by cutting and folding a strip (10) flat rectangular of cardboard or light laminated material, the bottom (8) of said container (2) having a rectangular section, the walls (4 to 7) of said container (2) being respectively extended by two large flaps (12, 14) at least capable of closing said bottom (8) by folding, as well as by two other smaller flaps (11, 13), the large flaps (12, 14) being folded towards the inside of the container (2) and the small flaps (11, 13) being directed towards the outside of the container (2) . 5. Pallet box according to claim 4, characterized in that the side walls (4 to 7), and the lower flaps (11 to 14) are arranged on either side of the fold lines (20 to 23) of the bottom (8), the fold lines (21, 23) of the large flaps (12, 14) and those (20, 22) of the small flaps (11, 13) being offset to admit the extra thickness due to folding and arrange the flaps (11 to 14) parallel to each other without deforming the bottom. 6. Pallet box according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the container (2) comprises a thickness take-up shim (31) disposed between the two small flaps (11, 13) substantially parallel to these and secured to the large flaps (12, 14) externally to these. 7. Pallet box according to claim 1, characterized in that each support shoe (3) consists of at least two studs (25, 26) joined together by at least one spar (27). 8. Pallet box according to claim 7, characterized in that each support shoe (3) consists of three studs (25, 26, 29) joined together by two beams (27, 28) defining an access space between the five elements considered (25-29). 9. Pallet box according to claim 4, characterized in that the support pads (3) are arranged such that their longitudinal axis (24) is substantially parallel to the fold line (21, 23) of the large flaps (12, 14 ). 10. Pallet box according to claim 4, characterized in that the support pads (3) are arranged such that their longitudinal axis (24) is substantially parallel to the fold line (20, 22) of the small flap (11, 13 ), the latter being secured to the large flaps (21, 23) independently of said support pads.

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