EP0585832A1 - Fixing of goods on a pallet or the like by means of straps or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A strap magazine (19) with an automatic inertia-reel device (20) is mounted next to a support block (14) of the pallet. The strap can be pulled freely out of said device via a clamping device (23) and the clamping device engages only after separate actuation, for example by jerking. On the opposite side (24) of the pallet, the end (31) of the strap (18) is hooked into a hooking and tensioning device (25). The system thus provides automatic reuse of the straps together with the pallets. <IMAGE>

Description

Goods to be transported are usually fastened to largely standardized pallets by means of straps (steel straps or plastic straps) which are stretched around the pallet and the goods by hand or by automatic devices and then connected to one another by crimp fasteners or welded fasteners. In any case, these straps must be cut open at the destination and disposed of.

From US-A-1 090 696 a fastening for goods on a pallet-like base frame has become known, in whose footrest, which is designed as a sheet metal tube, a shaft is included, which serves as a winding device for two belts or belts and causes self-winding via a spring . Both tapes are wrapped or unwound by the shaft at the same time. The end of the two bands is coupled by a common connecting piece which can be hung in a keyhole-like fastening.

GB-PS 1 361 066 relates to a pallet, in the supports of which hollow chambers are arranged, from which a wound tape can be pulled off. However, this is not intended for rewinding, but is replaced by a new roll after one use.

From DE-A 25 16 122 a self-winding belt has become known, which is incorporated into the supports of a pallet. The ends of the straps are equipped with belt buckles.

The object of the invention is to propose a fastening of goods on pallets by means of tension belts or the like, which is effective and easy to use with multiple uses.

This object is achieved by claim 1. This tension belt magazine holds the tension belt, which includes all types of belts, tapes, ropes or the like, in a reusable manner.

It can be attached below the pallet level on which the goods are placed, preferably on one of the stiffening and support elements running below the pallet level, which usually consist of blocks or struts on the pallets, which are usually made of wood. However, it would also be possible to integrate tension belt magazines directly into these stiffening and support elements, for example by building the tension belt magazine so stably that it can serve as one of the support blocks.

The tension belt wound in the tension belt magazine is therefore always present on the pallet and remains on it even when it is returned.

The lashing strap comes back with the pallet and can, for example, tighten a pallet cover provided for some shipments on the return transport. It is also possible to make a stack out of pallets using the integrated tensioning belts, several pallets being clamped as transport goods on the lower pallet.

The locking means can be designed in a conventional manner and z. B. initiate the lock on a short strong train. Such locking devices are such. B. known in seat belt systems of cars. So it would be possible for the packer to pull the tensioning belt out of the reel device of the magazine, which is also designed in the usual way, against a rewinding spring and, just before he hooks the belt in on the opposite side, to initiate the locking by a short pull on the belt. The remaining lots can then be tensioned by any tensioning device, for example in the manner of a ski tensioner with toggle action or the like.

On the side of the pallet opposite the tension belt magazine, a hanging device can be provided, for example an eyelet or the like, into which one end of the tension belt is hooked. However, it is also possible, for ergonomic reasons, under certain circumstances that a piece of a belt or another extension is provided on it, which brings the tensioning device to an approximately more convenient height.

Tension belt magazine and tensioning device can also be arranged on the same side of the pallet and preferably combined with one another in one structural unit.

According to the invention, it is also possible to simply retrofit existing pallets. For this purpose, for example, several tension belt magazines can be preassembled next to one another on a mounting plate, which in turn is then screwed onto an end face of the pallet. Although the direct attachment of the tension belt magazine to the pallet is preferred, it would also be possible in certain applications and retrofits to connect the tension belt magazine to the pallet only by means of the belt, which is pulled under the pallet transport level, for example.

In order to absorb the sometimes considerable tensioning forces, it would also be conceivable to connect the tensioning belt magazine to the hooking device provided at the other end of the pallet by means of a connecting means running below the pallet level, for example a steel band, in order to obtain a complete tension connection . It is also possible to have the fastening carried out by a fully or semi-automatic pallet strapping device. This can be provided with grippers for pulling out the tensioning belt from tensioning belt magazines and for guiding them around the pallet, and optionally also for hanging and tensioning the tensioning belt.

Tensioning is particularly simple and can be used in particular in the case of such automatic devices if at least two tension belts of a pallet are connected at their ends by means of a connecting piece which is to be gripped jointly by the gripper and then hung on a suspension device.

The locking means can preferably be adjustable into a roll-out position and a locking position, the tensioning belt preferably being locked against winding in the roll-out position is and / or secured in the blocking position against rolling out, can be tensioned by rolling in via the tensioning device and / or can be automatically rolled in by the self-winding device. So there are two positions, preferably manually or automatically adjustable. In the roll-out position, the packer can pull out the belt and, for example, pass over or throw the goods stacked on the pallet to the side opposite the tension belt magazine. After he has done this, for example, with all magazines, he can then go around to the other side, possibly tighten as much belt as is required, and hang the belt on a snap lock. The belt is secured against rolling back automatically. The belt can then be tensioned by adjusting the locking position. The belt is tensioned either manually or by an automatic drive by rolling it into the magazine and is then secured against rolling out. This position can also be assumed when the self-winding device takes effect to retract the belt after it has been released and released.

The locking means preferably have two oppositely acting, switchable locking mechanism, for. B. locking wheels with spring-loaded latches, between which is switched by means of a manually displaceable switching pin. Such a switching pin can also be made automatically when packing or unloading z. B. is carried out by a pallet strapping device or another automatic device.

To attack such an automatic device, a handle can be provided, which can also be operated manually, for example in the form of a rotary knob with gripping surfaces similar to a wing nut.

In the tension belt magazine, a holder for a fastener attached to the end of the belt, preferably a self-engaging snap fastener in the manner of a motor vehicle safety belt lock, can be provided. The loose fastener is securely guided in this holder and can be easily gripped to pull out the belt.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Palette mit einem Befestigungssystem,

Fig. 2

eine auseinandergezogene Darstellung (Explosionsdarstellung) einer Palette und einer Montageplatte mit Spanngurtmagazinen,

Fig. 3

eine Schrägansicht einer Umgurtungseinrichtung,

Fig 4

einen vertikalen Schnitt durch ein Spanngurtmagazin,

Fig. 5

einen Detailschnitt in einer anderen Ebene,

Fig. 6

einen Vertikalschnitt durch das Spanngurtmagazin,

Fig. 7

einen Horizontalschnitt in einer anderen Ebene

Fig. 8

eine Frontansicht auf das Spanngurtmagazin, von einer Außenseite der Palette her gesehen mit der Befestigung an der Palette

Fig. 9

eine Ansicht eines Spanngurtschlosses an einer Palette und

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt durch das Spanngurtschloß.

These and further features emerge from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, the individual features being realized individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other areas, for example in the case of other pallet-like transport aids be and can represent advantageous and protectable designs for which protection is claimed here. Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a pallet with a fastening system,

Fig. 2

an exploded view (exploded view) of a pallet and a mounting plate with tension belt magazines,

Fig. 3

an oblique view of a belting device,

Fig. 4

a vertical section through a tension belt magazine,

Fig. 5

a detail cut in another level,

Fig. 6

a vertical section through the tension belt magazine,

Fig. 7

a horizontal section in another plane

Fig. 8

a front view of the tension belt magazine, seen from an outside of the pallet with the attachment to the pallet

Fig. 9

a view of a tension belt buckle on a pallet and

Fig. 10

a section through the tension belt buckle.

1 shows a pallet 11 for the transport of goods, which consists of cover boards 12 arranged parallel to one another, three transverse boards 13 running vertically thereto, connecting blocks 14 and lower floor boards 15 running parallel to the cover boards 12.

The passages 16 provided for the engagement of the forks of lift trucks etc. are formed between the cover board 12, the blocks 14 and the floor boards 15.

Goods 17 are stacked on the pallet and fastened with several tension belts 18. Each tensioning belt is contained in a tensioning belt magazine 19 which, as shown in FIG. 1, is attached laterally next to a block 14. It includes a take-up mechanism 20 with a spring return similar to a blind belt retractor. The tension belt magazine 19 is designed to contain the length of the tension belt necessary for strapping a pallet. For example, the length can be approx. 6 m with a pallet base area of 1.2 mx 1 m and a maximum packing height of 2 m.

At the exit of the tension belt 18 from a slot 21 in a mounting plate 22 to be explained later, locking, locking or clamping means are provided schematically. Such devices can be operated manually to tighten the belt. However, it can preferably be actuated automatically, for example by a brief sharp jerk on the belt. In this case, when the packer stands on the side 24 of the pallet opposite the tensioning belt magazine, the tensioning belt which has been pulled out and placed over the packaged goods can be locked, hooked and tensioned with a short jerk.

The locking / clamping device could also be provided outside the tensioning belt magazine itself and usually work with tensioning jaws or the like.

On the opposite side 24, a suspension and tensioning device 25 is provided on the block 14 on a mounting plate 26. It is designed in the manner of a ski tensioner and contains a lever 27 which is provided with barbs 28 on its inside. In this a ring or bracket 29 can be hung, while the lever 28 z. B. is pivoted into the horizontal. By pressing the lever 28 down, the tension can take place. Since the movement occurs beyond the dead center, the device is self-locking.

All possible types of hooking and tensioning devices are possible. It is also possible to separate the two functions (hanging and tensioning) from one another and, for example, to provide a tensioning device 30, as indicated, in the belt itself or in the tensioning belt magazine. The clamping device shown can also be re-tensioned due to the multiple configurations, but this could also be done continuously by other means, for. B. via a manual Rolling the belt into the magazine with subsequent clamping.

The bracket attached to the end 31 of the tension belt 18 can also, as can be seen later in FIG. 3, be combined with an adjacent tension belt to form a unit, in which case only one tensioning device is required for several belts.

To secure the transport, for example, a wire safety bracket can prevent the clamping device from being opened accidentally.

To release the tension belt, the lever is pivoted up again, the ring or bracket is released and the belt is automatically pulled over the material and automatically brought into the tension belt magazine 19 under the action of the winding mechanism 20. The bracket prevents the belt end from being pulled in. In this form, the pallet is ready for return transport.

2 shows a pallet and a mounting plate unit 22 which consist of individual plates which cover the blocks 14 of a pallet and which can be fastened to the blocks 14 by means of wood screws screwed through screw holes 32. The mounting plates also cover the front side of tension belt magazines 19 attached to them. These are each provided on the inside of the blocks 14 facing the through openings 16, ie one tension belt magazine on the inside of a corner block and one tension belt magazine on both sides of an edge center block. The free passage for the forklift truck is ensured by cutouts 33 between the individual mounting plates and the tensioning belts 18 pass through the slots 21 in the mounting plate.

Such a unit can be prefabricated and placed on the standardized pallets and fastened by screws.

3 shows a strapping device for pallets, on which pallets can be strapped largely automatically with the straps provided in the tension belt magazine 19.

The device has a horizontal conveyor track 35 which is equipped with partially driven rollers 36. Two portals 37 extend over the conveyor track, under which fully loaded pallets 11 can be transported.

On the portals, grippers 38 are guided so that they run on a U-shaped path from one side of the pallet, over them and down on the other side. The gripper 38 is designed such that, as shown in FIG. 3 on the right portal, it grips tension belts, in the example shown two tension belts each on a yoke-like connecting piece 39. The gripper 38 thus pulls both tension belts together out of their magazines 19th out, guides them around the packaged goods and automatically hangs them on the other side in a corresponding hanging and tensioning device. Corresponding actuations for a tensioning device can then be provided on the back, which can also be formed, for example, by a spindle-adjustable hanging eye. In Fig. 3 the strapping process is shown only on the right side, while it is shown on the left side that the connecting piece 39 lies in the retracted state of the tensioning belt so that it does not prevent the passage of a stacking fork.

The tension belt magazine 19 shown in FIG. 4 has a housing 40 which can be made, for example, of plastic, but also of sheet metal. A shaft 41 of the winding mechanism 20 is mounted in it. There is a hub 42 on the shaft, on which the tension belt 18 is wound. By an intermediate wall 43 of the housing separated from the winding space containing the tension belt 18, a spiral spring 44 is provided, which is attached with its inner end to the shaft 41, while its outer end is fixed to the housing.

A space 46 defines a space 46 in the housing, in which two ratchet wheels 47, 48 with sawtooth-like toothing, non-rotatably connected to the shaft, are mounted.

Each of the locking wheels 47, 48 works together with a locking pawl 49, 50, each of which is resiliently movable against the locking wheel by a leaf spring 51. The ratchet wheels are aligned in the opposite direction in their locking direction and work together with correspondingly aligned latches. Thus, the combination of ratchet wheel 47 with pawl 49 shown in FIG. 4 allows a counterclockwise rotation and the combination 48, 50 shown in FIG. 5 allows a clockwise rotation.

The latches 49, 50 are switchable by a common actuator 52 in the form of a displaceable rod, which can be actuated via a switching pin 53 through a housing slot, so that in each case one of the two pawls is in engagement with a ratchet wheel.

The displacement of the actuating rod 52 actuates the latches, which have a switching cam surface on their inside 53 carry, by a locking pin 54 so that alternately one of the two pawls is held out of engagement with the associated ratchet wheel, while the other can rotate about the common axis 55, which also guides the actuator 52 by means of a slot 56.

In parallel to the ratchet wheels 47, 48, a drive gear 57 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the shaft 41 and is in engagement with a drive pinion 58. This is mounted on a shaft 59 which is rotatably mounted in the housing parallel to the shaft 41. At the end of the shaft 59 protruding from the device there is a handle 60, in the form of a handle designed, for example, like a window olive, which, however, can also be gripped by a coupling member of an automatic tensioning device. It is also possible to provide a ratchet instead of the handle shown, which also enables a longer operating lever arm.

The tensioning device 61 formed from the drive 57, 58 of its actuation 60, the shaft 41, etc. allows the shaft 41 to be rotated by turning the handle 60 and thus to tension the belt 18.

For easier actuation and to avoid damage when retracting a stacker fork, all operating elements, such as the handle 60 and the actuating member 52, can be arranged on the front of the housing 40 (left in FIG. 6) and / or be directly accessible from there.

The housing 40 is essentially rectangular and designed so that it can be screwed to a block 14 of a pallet by means of a side mounting plate 22. It is also possible to provide additional mounting surfaces or also form support webs on the housing, which from the outside on parts of the pallet, eg B. blocks or the pallet boards. The housing can, for example, be assembled from four shell-like plastic bodies by means of two screws in each of the four corners.

6 and 8 show that a holder 69 for a closure part 61 of a belt buckle 63 is provided on the outside of the housing facing the outside. It consists of a flat metal part, at one end of which the belt 18 is fastened, while in the region of the other end a latching recess 65 in the form of a cutout is provided, into which a bolt 64 of the belt buckle 63 can engage (FIGS. 9 and 10) . A more detailed description of this belt buckle can be dispensed with, since it can be designed like a conventional belt buckle of a seat belt for motor vehicles or airplanes. It is connected to the pallet by means of screws 66 on corresponding mounting plates and, as shown in FIG. 10, is designed so that it runs obliquely downward from the outside of the pallet. As a result, the opening 67 is easily accessible from the outside and above, without the belt buckle protruding beyond the outer edge of the pallet.

A provided on the fastener 61 handle 68 facilitates grasping by hand and the automatic removal of the buckle from the dovetail-shaped bracket 69. The fastener 61 is securely and firmly stored in the wound state of the belt, but still easy to grasp and to the top of the Pull out the bracket to unwind the belt.

The attachment works as follows: In the state shown, the belt 18 is wound up in the tension belt magazine 19, under the effect of the pre-tensioned, however largely unwound spiral spring 44. In the idle state, the tensioning belt magazine is in a locking position (FIG. 4) in which the locking means 70 formed by the ratchet wheels and pawls and their actuating means 52 etc. are only rotated in the winding direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) ) and block in the opposite direction. This is done in that the actuator 52 is displaced to the left by means of the pin 53, so that the locking pin 54 releases the pawl 49, while at the same time the pawl 50 is blocked in an ineffective position (FIG. 5, dash-dotted representation of the pawl).

The position that the tension belt magazine assumes when the pallet is in use or, for example, on the return transport.

When the pallet is put into use and loaded with goods, the roll-out position is set by moving the actuating member 52 to the right (FIG. 5). The pawl 50, released by the locking pin 54, engages in the ratchet wheel 48, while the pawl 49 is blocked in an inactive position.

If the closure part 61 is now pulled up out of its holder, the belt 18 rolls off its supply roll 71, the pawl 50 jumping over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 48. If the train on the belt is interrupted, for example if the packer has thrown the belt over the goods to be transported to the other side, the pawl 50 locks the belt reel 71 against rolling back, even though it unwinds the coil spring 44 further and stores a corresponding reversing force Has.

The packer can therefore go to the other side of the pallet without having to hold the belt and insert the closure part 61 into the belt buckle 63, where it automatically engages in the manner of a snap lock. After that, the belt is already attached, but mostly not yet tensioned. For this purpose, the clamping device 62 is actuated by rotating the handle 60 clockwise (FIG. 4). For this purpose, however, the locking position is switched on again beforehand by moving the actuating member 52 on the pin 53. The belt is then locked against unwinding and can be tensioned by rolling it into the magazine. Due to the quite large reduction via the pinion 58 and the much larger drive gear 57, the necessary clamping forces can be applied at this tension. They could also be applied, for example, via an automatic tensioning device designed in the manner of a torque wrench, which is automatically brought up to the handle and, due to the shape of the handle, automatically grips it and centers it. After the tensioning no further securing is necessary and the tensioning process is finished.

Before the pallet is unloaded, the belt only needs to be released by pressing a release button 72 on the belt buckle at its end, without the tension having to be released beforehand. It then automatically rolls into the housing under the action of the spiral spring 44 drawn up by the rolling out, and in doing so also automatically introduces its closure part 61 into the holder 69. The belt is again in its locked position secured against rolling out and completely stowed.

It can be seen that this creates a relatively simple to manufacture and easy-to-use clamping device that can be reused as often as required and a pallet a self-tensioning unit. Numerous modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. It is also possible, for example, to switch between the coasting and locking positions automatically instead of manually, either by a mechanical tensioning drive or by certain activities. For example, the switchover from the roll-out to the locked position could be done by completely pulling the belt off the reel. When packaging goods that are always of a certain size, this would be particularly useful because the belt length can then be measured to the required length and only a relatively small excess length of the belt must be present. The tensioning of the belt is also relatively easy because, during the tensioning process, the belt is usually largely unwound from the winding 71, so that the translation for a winding diameter that is not much larger than the relatively small diameter of the hub 42, for tensioning very much is cheap.

Claims (13)

Fastening of goods (17) on pallets (11) or the like by means of tension belts (18) or the like with at least one tension belt magazine (19) provided on the pallet (11), which has a self-winding device (20) and an integrated tensioning device (62 ) and locking means (70). Fastening according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tensioning belt magazine can be attached below the pallet level to which the goods (17) are applied, preferably stiffening and supporting elements (14) such as blocks or struts running below the pallet level. Fastening according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking means (23) can be actuated by an increased or rapid pull of the tension belt (18). Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a hanging device (25), one part (29) of which is attached to one end of the tension belt (18) and the other part of which is attached to the pallet (11) or to a belt section attached to the pallet. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a tensioning device (62) for the tensioning belt (18), which is preferably arranged on the pallet (11). Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several tensioning belt magazines (19) assigned to a pallet (11) are arranged on a mounting base (22), by means of which they can be mounted together on the pallet (11). Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by connecting means between the tension belt magazines (19) and the fastening of the tension belt on the side (24) of the pallet (11) opposite the tension belt. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a pallet strapping device, which preferably has automatically actuable grippers (38) for pulling out the tensioning belt (18) from tensioning belt magazines (19) and for guiding it around the pallet and optionally for hanging and tensioning the Tension belt (18) is provided. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two tension belts (18) of a pallet (11) are connected at their ends (31) by means of a connecting piece (39) which can be attached together to a suspension device. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be set into a roll-out position and a blocking position by the locking means (70), the tensioning belt (18) preferably being blocked against winding up in the roll-out position and / or against rolling out in the blocking position secured, can be tensioned by means of the tensioning device (61) by rolling in and / or can be automatically rolled in by the self-winding device. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means (70) contain two oppositely acting, switchable ratchets, preferably ratchet wheels (47, 48) with spring-loaded latches (49, 50), which are actuated by a common actuating member (52), preferably a manually displaceable shift rod, are switchable. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a handle (60) is provided on the tensioning device (61), which is preferably also designed as a coupling means which can be detected by a mechanical tensioning drive. Fastening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tension belt magazine (19) has a holder (69) for a closure part (61) attached to the end of the belt (18), which preferably forms a self-engaging snap closure attached to the pallet (11) heard, has.

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