EP0456529A1 - Stackable loading-pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

1) Stackable loading-pallet constituted by two superimposed loading trays (11, 12) of generally rectangular shape, separated by spacers (13) which delimit longitudinal and transverse traversing openings (15, 16) for the purpose of defining at least two longitudinally and transversely spaced housings for receiving the forks of a handling machine, in which the first tray (11) delimits the bottom of a cavity (20) with divergent edges (21) for the fitting-in of a peripheral rib (22) formed around the second tray (12) of an adjacent pallet, characterised in that the peripheral rib (22) of the second tray (12) and the divergent edges (21) of the first tray (11) are provided with chamfers (23) formed on a belt around the loading trays (11, 12) for the purpose of facilitating the centring, stacking and locking together of the stacked pallets. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to loading trays of the stackable pallet type.

The loading platforms called pallets and designed essentially to allow the handling of loads by a forklift are universally used for example for the handling of unitary or assembled products.

The pallets are generally in the form of a grating made of wooden boards mounted on squared blocks constituting the support feet of the pallet and defining between them passages for the arms of the forks of handling equipment. The disadvantages resulting from the use of wood as a constituent material, as regards its brittleness, its excessive weight and its hygrometric affinities resulting in accelerated decay and cleaning difficulties, have already led to the creation of plastic pallets or metal as described in publication FR-A 2,513,214.

These pallets have the disadvantage of constituting unitary structures with the related problems concerning the storage volume of empty pallets and, consequently, difficulties in handling the pallets freed of their load.

The publication FR-A 2,531,406 describes a stackable container capable of being stacked in stacks in which slots and combined notches interpenetrate when the containers are stacked, but which prohibit self-positioning of the containers relative to one another.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these various drawbacks by proposing a stackable and juxtaposed pallet empty with another pallet, making it possible to constitute pallets having the qualities of robustness and flexibility of use, superior to those of unitary pallets generally. employed.

The object of the invention is also to provide such a stable assembly of pallets capable of being handled by a forklift, without risk of damage to any of these pallets.

Another object of the invention is to propose a dismountable pallet assembly of low unit cost with stacking possibilities allowing space saving of a set of empty pallets from a pallet stock.

The invention also relates to a self-adjusting stackable loading pallet which promotes the constitution of particularly stable batteries.

The invention relates more particularly to a pallet which comprises two superimposed loading trays, of generally rectangular shape by spacers which delimit longitudinal and transverse through openings in order to define at least two housings longitudinally or transversely spaced to receive the forks of a handling machine and allow the engagement of said forks.

According to the invention, the first plate delimits the bottom of a cavity with divergent edges for the embedding of a rib formed around the second plate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, transverse slide-shaped recesses allow the forks to pass, these being provided on their lateral sides with projecting parts intended to facilitate the engagement and the guiding of the forks while ensuring the stability of the palette.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the assembly of removable pallets comprises, in addition, a second workpiece support element, substantially of the same dimension as the loading plate capable of being placed and loaded on said plate and being covered, if necessary, by another built-in pallet.

The stacking of such pallets makes it possible to produce a traditional structure with pallets provided, where appropriate, with intermediate supports furnished with conditioned parts, the number of which may vary according to the dimensions of the pallets, these can be stacked with intermediate supports of variable dimensions and shapes, as required, to receive different parts on the total surface of the loading platform.

Such a pallet being advantageously made of plastic, its constituent parts having dimensions, allow the use of plastic injection molds or a rotational molding process.

• La figure 1 représente, en perspective, une forme de réalisation de la palette selon la présente invention,
• La figure 2 représente, en perspective, une autre forme de réalisation de la palette,
• La figure 3 est une représentation avec demi-vue en coupe d'un empilage de palettes,
• La figure 4 est une représentation avec demi-vue en coupe d'un autre mode d'empilage de palettes,
• La figure 5 est une vue, en perspective, d'une palette avec ses intercalaires de rangement des pièces sur un plateau de chargement.
• La figure 6 est une vue en plan d'une variante de réalisation de la palette.
• La figure 7 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 6 d'une variante de réalisation de la palette en deux parties assemblées.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of embodiments given by way of illustration, but in no way limiting, made in relation to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents, in perspective, an embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 represents, in perspective, another embodiment of the pallet,
• FIG. 3 is a representation with half-section view of a stack of pallets,
• FIG. 4 is a representation with half-section view of another method of stacking pallets,
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pallet with its dividers for storing the parts on a loading tray.
• Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the pallet.
• Figure 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII of Figure 6 of an alternative embodiment of the pallet in two assembled parts.

The example of a pallet 10 represented in FIG. 1 generally comprises two loading trays 11, 12 superimposed of generally rectangular shape separated by spacers 13 constituted by partitions connecting the opposite loading trays 11, 12. These partitions provide, if necessary, the guidance and positioning of the forks not shown, of a forklift or of a pallet translation device.

To this end, the pallet has passages 15, 16 which open on the opposite lateral flanks thereof and mortises 17 which favor the passage of the forks of the translation device. The passages 15, 16 define, in this way, housings forks of handling machines.

According to the invention, the first plate 11 delimits the bottom of a cavity 20 with divergent edges 21.

The second plate 12 is surrounded by a peripheral rib 22 whose configuration corresponds to the conditions of embedding in a cavity such as 20 of an adjacent pallet.

In order to facilitate the centering and stacking of the pallets as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the diverging edges 21 of the first plate 11 constitute a peripheral belt and are formed with chamfers 23.

Furthermore, additional locking can be sought between the pallet 10 and an intermediate plate 24 intended to receive the members such as 25 constituting the load.

To this end, the plate 11 carries a certain number of mortises 26, in which pins 27 can be engaged carried by the base of the intermediate plate 24.

According to another characteristic of the pallet, the belt formed by the edges 21 is directly limited by the sides 30 of the pallet at the level of the first plate 11 and by a lateral support edge 31 at the level of the second plate 12.

The empty pallets as shown in Figure 1 can, in this way, be stacked according to the configurations shown in Figures 3 or 4 depending on the desired storage.

FIG. 5 also shows a molded configuration of intermediate plate 34, the surface of which is formed by cells for immobilizing the members 25.

The intermediate plate 34 can, in turn, receive a cover 35 with cells necessary to protect the transported parts, which is assembled edge to edge with the plate 34.

This constructive measure allows the staged storage of protected parts on the same pallet 10.

According to one embodiment of the pallet, it can be obtained by direct molding with a median joint plane or by rotational molding being, of course, that any other manufacturing process can be envisaged.

According to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pallet is constituted by a first plate 41 and by a second plate 42 manufactured separately by rotational molding and therefore have a hollow double wall structure which can advantageously receive a stiffening product. such as injected foam and stiffening chimneys 43.

The two plates have mutual centering zones constituted by ribs 47 and mortises 46. The connection of the plates 41, 42 is carried out by a set of screws 45 mounted on a plate 41 or 42 and nuts 46 inserted in the another plate 42 or 41 at the time of molding.

This makes it possible to reduce the costs of replacing the pallet by limiting the replacement to the only tray damaged as a result of dividing the pallet into two parts.

The stiffening chimneys 43 ensure, if necessary, the centering and positioning of spacers such as 24.

The other functional elements of the plates 41, 42 correspond to those of the plates 11 and 12 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

Claims (7)

1 °) Stackable loading pallet constituted by two trays (11, 12, 41, 42) of superimposed loading of generally rectangular shape, separated by spacers (13) which delimit transverse openings (15, 16) longitudinal and transverse in the aim of defining at least two housings longitudinally and transversely spaced for receiving the forks of a handling machine, in which the first plate (11, 41) delimits the bottom of a cavity (20) with edges (21) divergent for the embedding of a peripheral rib (22) formed around the second plate (12, 42) of an adjacent pallet, characterized in that the peripheral rib (22) of the second plate (12, 42) and the diverging edges ( 21) of the first plate (11, 41) are provided with chamfers (23) formed on a belt of the loading plates (11, 12, 41, 42) in order to facilitate the centering, stacking and locking of the pallets stacked. 2 °) Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the belts of the loading platforms are respectively limited by the sides (30) of the pallet and by a lateral edge (31) of support. 3 °) Pallet according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and the second plate (11, 12, 41, 42) and their lateral edges are obtained by molding and receive spacers (24, 34) functional recessed on one or the other coin receiving tray. 4 °) Pallet according to claim 3, characterized in that the interlayer (24, 34) has a surface for receiving and immobilizing loaded parts. 5 °) Pallet according to claim 4, characterized in that the interlayer (24) is recessed in the cavity of one of the plates (11, 12, 41, 42) to be covered by a cover (35). 6 °) Pallet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first and the second plate (41, 42) carry connecting means (45, 46) intended for the division of the pallet in view the replacement of one or the other plate. 7 °) Pallet according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and the second plate have a hollow structure with centering stiffening zones (43) of built-in functional interleaves for receiving parts.

Images