EP0513786A2 - Device for the transport and the presentation of merchandise packages, particularly packages stacked in blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the transport and the presentation of individual and multiple merchandise packages, particularly packages stacked in blocks on a carrier, such as a pallet or the like, which device consists of a pair of crossed linkages (1), the free ends of the individual rods (2, 3) being constructed in the form of connection elements (4) for connectors (5) between the two crossed linkages (1). For the said purpose and according to the invention, the individual rods (2, 3) are constructed so as to be variable in length or position relative to the cross centre (Z), and so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the cross centre (Z) into different positions and so as to be fixable relative to one another in terms of their length (L) and in terms of their position. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for transporting and installing, in particular in a block on a carrier, such as a pallet or the like. Single and multiple packaging of goods according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device is known from US-A-1 491 801. This is a light, variable-length frame that is designed to hold or slip fabrics, such as mosquito nets. Apart from its variability in length, this frame can be folded up in that the individual rods of the cross rods are pivotally assigned to one another in the center and reach through an expansion limiting bracket, with which the frame is held in the opened use position. Racks according to DE-A-820 996 and EP-A-0 120 065 are also intended for light loads.

Especially for the supply of supermarkets, it is common today to deliver and set up goods in individual packs combined in a block, whereby the delivery usually takes place in large cardboard boxes with a capacity of approx. 1 m³, which in turn are loaded, unloaded and, standing on pallets usually remaining on the pallets to be placed in the market. The cardboard boxes are partially designed so that they do not have to be completely removed for presentation and access to the goods. In any case, considering the generally extensive range of goods and the sales in the supermarkets, there are enormous amounts of cardboard waste that must be disposed of in any way, quite apart from the fact that these cardboard boxes are intended for single use and by the goods producer for each Delivery must be purchased again. In addition, there is often a wish among supermarket operators to set up blocks of goods of the type mentioned in a way that is more visible and accessible, that is, for which, as a rule, unless other aids are available, several pallets that are no longer required are often stacked on top of one another. Because of of the loads to be picked up, the cardboard boxes that are no longer required and often damaged can generally no longer be used.

Racks of the type mentioned above are not suitable for such transport, loading and installation problems. Apart from the fact that these frames are only intended for light loads, the frame according to US-A-1 491 801 can only be used in the open-closed position. The frame according to DE-A-820 996 merely represents a kind of "silent servant" and does not enclose any space in which something can be accommodated, and in the frame according to EP-A 0 120 065 the interior enclosed by the frame is made of diagonal bars penetrated.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a reusable device that is suitable both for transport and for the base installation of individual packs of goods stacked in particular in the block, with the proviso that such a device can be adapted to different block sizes should be.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a device which is designed according to the features stated in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims.

The production costs for such a device, with which different volumes can be enclosed according to width and height, are not comparable with the production costs for a one-way cardboard box, but the higher production costs are quickly amortized because the device can be used again and again and subsequent costs for disposal do not apply, quite apart from the fact that such a reusable device is no longer an environmental burden. Due to the adjustability of the device, it can easily be made available to various goods suppliers and thus also thought of renting a device, which is then associated with a high degree of utilization of such devices.

The length of the individual rods can be adjusted, for example, by designing them in the form of telescopic tubes, which generally only have to be constructed in two parts in view of the common dimensions of goods blocks, with suitable fixing or Locking elements are available. The adjustability of the individual rods in their longitudinal extent can also be achieved in another way, which will be explained in more detail.

With regard to the angular adjustment of the individual rods forming the cross rods to one another, an advantageous embodiment consists, for example, in that the intersection center is formed from two disks, on each of which a pair of the individual rods are fixedly arranged radially in diameter. Since these discs can be rotated relative to one another, the cross linkage can be adjusted on both sides with respect to the center of the intersection. With a middle position to each other (all four angles of the bars to each other (all four angles of the bars to each other are 90 °), the two crossing bars, for example the area of a square, take up a position. When the bars rotate around the center, take them the cross-ply surfaces of rectangles.

In order to keep the manufacturing outlay for the formation of the crossing center as low as possible, these can be formed, for example, in the form of shells which are rotatably seated on a guide sleeve, which will be explained in more detail next. Since the shells are essentially identical in shape, they can be shaped with a multiple deep-drawing process using the same molding tool, it being possible without further ado to provide the contact surfaces of the disks or the shells with radially oriented latching shapes which ensure that the shells cannot adjust under load.

Appropriately, the connectors for the two cross rods are also variable in length and fixable, for example. On the same principle as the individual rods, so that also in this respect the device can be adapted to certain block sizes.

The device according to the invention, advantageous developments and practical embodiments are explained in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments.

It shows schematically
The device according to the invention, advantageous developments and practical embodiments are explained in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1

ein Kreuzgestänge in Ansicht;

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch eine mögliche und bevorzugte Ausführungsform des Kreuzungszentrums;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Kreusungszentrum gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

eine Ausführungsform einer Einzelstange;

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt durch das Kreuzungszentrum längs Linie V-V in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

in Ansicht und teilweise im Schnitt längs Linie VI-VI in Fig. 1 die Zusammenstellung zweier Kreuzungsgestelle zur Verwendung als Blocksockel;

Fig. 7

perspektivisch die Vorrichtung zur Verwendung als Blocktransportgestell;

Fig. 8

ebenfalls perspektivisch die Vorrichtung in Verwendung als Sockel für einen aufgesetzten Warenblock;

Fig.9,10

weitere konstruktive Ausführungsformen der Kreuzgestänge;

Fig.11,12

eine Ausführungsform der unabhängigen Lösung und

Fig. 13

eine besondere Ausführungsform der Verbinder als Verwahr- und Transportbehälter für die Vorrichtung.

It shows schematically

Fig. 1

a cross rod in view;

Fig. 2

a section through a possible and preferred embodiment of the crossing center;

Fig. 3

a plan view of the intersection center of FIG. 2;

Fig. 4

an embodiment of a single rod;

Fig. 5

a section through the intersection along line VV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

in view and partly in section along line VI-VI in Figure 1, the compilation of two crossing frames for use as a block base.

Fig. 7

in perspective the device for use as a block transport frame;

Fig. 8

also in perspective the device in use as a base for an attached block of goods;

Fig. 9,10

further constructive embodiments of the cross rods;

Fig. 11.12

an embodiment of the independent solution and

Fig. 13

a special embodiment of the connector as a storage and transport container for the device.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 to 4, the device is formed from at least one pair of cross rods 1 (only one cross rod is shown in FIG. 1!), The individual rods 2, 3 of which are variable in length and rotatable relative to one another about the intersection center Z. Each individual rod 2, 3 is formed from two parts which are radially aligned with each other at the intersection center Z in the direction of diameter of the intersection center in the longitudinal direction. The two parts of the individual rods 2, 3 are, as illustrated in FIG. 4, telescopic, whereby it is sufficient to form these individual rod parts in two parts, taking into account the common dimensions of product blocks, as mentioned. For the purpose of fixing differently set lengths L, the two pipe parts, as shown, and in the simplest embodiment can be perforated accordingly, so that fixing with pins or the like of the two pipe parts to one another is possible in the simplest way. Other embodiments of fixing elements are also possible, for example in the form of spring-loaded, resettable cams, tooth slots or the like which can be engaged in corresponding holes in the other tube. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, the connecting elements 4 are for connectors 5 (see FIG. 7 , 8) formed, for example, as insertion eyes 13, which can be manufactured in the simplest manner, for example, by attaching the pipe end. The connecting element 4 can, however, as will be explained later, simply be formed by the open tube end.

With regard to the intersection center Z, reference is made to FIGS. 2, 3, which represent a particularly simple, expedient, easy to manufacture and safe embodiment. After this, the intersection center Z is formed from two disks 6, 6 'on which a pair of the individual rods 2 and 3 are fixedly arranged radially in diameter, the disks 6, 6 'being in the form of shells 6'', as shown, and being associated with one another. These two shells 6 ″ are rotatably seated on a guide sleeve 7. One disc 6 is provided with at least one arch slot 8 and the other disc 6 ′ is provided with a pin 10 through the slot 8 with a clamping screw 9. As a result, one disk can be adjusted by an angle α with respect to the other 10 depending on the length of the arch slot. After setting the desired crossing position of the rod 2, 3 to each other, the clamping screw 9 is tightened. In order to additionally secure this position and to be able to do justice to all load cases, the contact surfaces 11 of the disks 6, 6 'are provided with radially oriented locking shapes 12 (FIGS. 3, 5).

Since the cross rods, as can be seen from Fig. 7, as flat as possible, i.e. with their two individual rods 2, 3 should rest against the goods block WB, an advantageous embodiment is that the individual rods 3 of the disc 6 'remote from the system extend with the greater part of their length L in the same plane E as the individual rods 2 of the disc 6 on the system side (see Fig. 2, 6). With this enclosing function, the connector 5 'arranged between the two intersection centers Z is naturally omitted, which, for reasons of stability, may only be arranged if the device is to serve as a base for a goods block WB (FIG. 8). Such a connector 5 ', like the other connectors 5 to be connected to the ends of the rods 2, 3, is designed to be correspondingly variable in length.

A design of the connector 5 is also possible in the sense of FIG. 6, the representation of which speaks for itself and requires no further explanation.

An advantageous further development consists in that at least at the ends of the individual rods 2, 3 and / or the connector 5 suspension eyes or suspension openings 13 are arranged. This makes it possible to have 13 further cross connections in these openings connect or anchor advertising surface coverings in it.

In order to ensure that no individual packs or other packaging units can fall out of the block of goods WB enclosed by the device, for example during transport movements, an advantageous further development consists in the fact that in sectors S between the individual bars 2, 3 and / or the areas B between two in each case Connectors 5 elastic strands 14, which can optionally also be network-shaped, are arranged tensioned (Fig. 7).

In particular for transport processes, the connectors 5 or a part of the connectors can be designed in the form of a bottom or top shell 15, as is also indicated in FIG. 7. The ends of the individual rods 2, 3 are then inserted into the corner regions 16, which further increases the stability of the device. In such a bottom and / or top shell 15, connection elements for the relevant ends of the rods 2, 3 can also be provided with a certain position grid spacing, so that different crossing positions of the device can also be taken into account in this regard. In addition, it is expedient and advantageous to design the bottom and top shells 15 so that, when folded, they form a flat housing in which all the individual parts belonging to the device can be accommodated.

With a corresponding design of the connection elements 4, it would also be possible to occupy the free areas F (FIG. 8) between the two cross rods 1 with corresponding cross rods.

Other possible embodiments of the cross rod are illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10, the two-part individual rods 2, 3 being assigned tangentially to the intersection center Z and the rods being adjustable in their direction of extension, which can be effected, for example, by means of a central pinion 17 in the engage correspondingly toothed sections of rods 2, 3. To fix the rod position only the pinion 17 has to be fixed are, while to fix the angular position of the rods 2, 3 according to FIG. 10, guide shells 19 are to be fixed in a suitable manner.

An embodiment that is independent of the above-described embodiment is illustrated in a highly schematic manner in FIGS. 11, 12. Here, the cross linkage is replaced by a scissor lattice 18. Two opposing scissor grids 18 are detachably connected to the connectors 5 (left in FIG. 11), but it is also possible to use corresponding scissor grids 18 instead of the connector 5 (right in FIG. 11). In this embodiment, it would also be possible to design the individual rods 18 'to be variable in length, but this effort will generally not be necessary, since with such movable scissor lattices 18 goods block enclosing cages can be infinitely variable with different heights H and, depending on this, different cross sections Q let form.

Suitable fixing elements, such as brackets, variable-length connectors 5 '(indicated by dash-dotted lines) or the like, which are connected in a suitable manner to the scissor bars 18, can readily be provided for fixing the position of such a "cage".

Also for such a scissor-lattice-like design of the device, it is expedient to design the connectors 5 'in the form of shells, in order then to be able to use these shells as storage and transport containers for the scissor-grids. In order to take account of the given adjustability of the device in this regard as well, it is readily possible to design the shells with a variable insert cross section, for example, in two parts and variable in length or width.

Claims (11)

Device for transporting and setting up, in particular in a block on a carrier, such as a pallet or the like. Single and multiple packs of goods stacked, consisting of a pair of cross rods (1), the free ends of the individual rods (2, 3) being in shape of connecting elements (4) for connectors (5) are formed between the two cross rods (1),
characterized,
that the individual rods (2, 3) with respect to the intersection center (Z) are variable in length or position and rotatable relative to one another about the intersection center (Z) in different positions both with respect to their length (L) and with respect to their position relative to one another . Device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the crossing center (Z) is formed from two disks (6, 6 '), on each of which a pair of the individual rods (2 or 3) is arranged radially in diameter, and

that the disks (6, 6 ') are in the form of shells (6'') and are arranged rotatably on a guide sleeve (7) the individual rods (3) of the disc (6 ') remote from the system with the greater part of their length (L) extend in the same plane (E) as the individual rods (2) of the disc (6) on the system side and the one disc ( 6) is provided with at least one arch slot (8) and the other disc (6 ') with a pin (10) passing through the slot (8) with a tensioning screw (9). Device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the individual rods (2, 3) are assigned tangentially to the intersection center (Z) and adjustable in relation to this. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that an actuator, such as pinion, worm gear or the like, is arranged in the center of intersection (Z), with which the corresponding toothed individual rods (2, 3) are tangentially engaged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the connecting elements (4) at the ends of the individual rods (2, 3) and / or the connector (5) are designed in the form of hanging eyes or openings (13). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that in the sectors (S) between the individual rods (2, 3) and / or the areas (B) between two connectors (5) elastic strands (14) are arranged braced. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that the connector (5) or part of the connector in the form of bottom or cover shells (15) and in the corner regions (16) the ends of the individual rods (2, 3) are used. Device for transporting and setting up, in particular in a block on a carrier, such as a pallet or the like. Single and multiple packs of goods stacked, consisting of a pair of cross rods (1), the free ends of the individual rods (2, 3) being in shape of connecting elements (4) for connectors (5) between the two cross rods (1) are formed,
characterized,
that the cross linkage (1) is designed in the form of at least one pair of accordion-like scissor grids (18) which are adjustable in themselves and can be fixed in different positions, and the scissor grids (18) which are opposite one another are connected to one another with connectors (5). Apparatus according to claim 8
characterized,
that the connectors (5) are detachably connected to the scissor grids (18). Device according to claims 8 and 9,
characterized,
that the connectors (5) are also designed as scissor grids (18). Device according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
that the connectors (5) designed as shells are designed in the form of a storage and transport container for the individual parts of the device.

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