EP0741084A1 - Paperboard pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet consists of an outer member made from a cardboard panel folded to form of a hollow rectangular shape with upper (4) and lower flat surfaces. Both surfaces are connected by solid vertical sides (6), and an inner member. The inner member is also made from folded cardboard and has upper and lower surfaces and vertical walls (17,18) which lie parallel to those of the outer member. The inner vertical walls of the inner member can be connected to its upper surface by a system of tabs and slots. The ends of the pallet can be left open (8), and its side walls (11) can have additional apertures for handling equipment.

Description

The present invention relates to a cardboard pallet.

Traditionally, the pallets for transporting loads were made of wood. These pallets are presented as square or rectangular platforms, often made up of two parallel floors separated by bracing blocks leaving, on the four sides of the pallet, or sometimes only on two opposite sides, empty spaces allowing the access to the forks or arms of the lifting devices.

Wooden pallets have various drawbacks linked, in particular, to the organic nature of the woody material.

Various types of pallets made entirely of cardboard are therefore already known. These are generally platforms made up of a flat plate raised on a certain number of load-bearing elements added by gluing or other fixing method. These pallets can thus have entries on their four faces. On the other hand, these pallets have great fragility due to the bending and deformation of the flat plate under the action of point loads, the danger of tearing of the load-bearing elements during handling and during shifting on the ground, or else during storage or stacking. These pallets are expensive because their production requires connecting a large number of load-bearing elements to the flat plate forming the platform.

Rigid cardboard pallets are also known in which a flat plate rests on linear elements of cardboard, generally three in number, which improves flexural rigidity in at least one of the directions. However, the continuity of the linear elements glued under the platform limits the entrances to two opposite faces instead of allowing free access from the four sides. In addition, the load-bearing elements must be filled with filling materials making it possible to maintain the cross section of these elements during lateral forces and to prevent their deformation or collapse, which makes the pallet more expensive and complicated to manufacture.

In general, cardboard pallets have relatively limited performance and remain confined to specific areas of use.

The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a cardboard pallet, economical, light and easy to manufacture, and which has great rigidity and resistance to bending.

Another objective of the invention is to produce such a pallet which, despite its light nature, has significant resistance in the event of untimely handling or shifting on uneven ground.

Another objective of the invention is to produce such a pallet having four lateral inlets so that it can be accessible from all sides.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide such a pallet capable of being supported by all industrial handling and lifting machines, such as forklifts, forklifts, and even pallet trucks, and which is also movable on roller conveyors in all directions.

The subject of the invention is a corrugated cardboard pallet comprising a first external element formed by folding a cardboard to obtain a rectangular or square tubular section delimiting two lower parallel platforms, respectively upper, joined together by two opposite perpendicular solid faces, the other two faces being preferably open, and at least one second element, internal, also folded back to form a tubular section defining two lower walls, respectively upper, in contact with the internal surfaces of the lower and upper platforms respectively, said two walls being connected by two solid lateral faces which are perpendicular to them and which extend parallel to the two solid lateral faces which connect the two platforms of the first element, the two other faces of said second element, preferably remaining open, opening into the open faces of the first element, at least one of said two elements, preferably the external element, having foldable and stackable tabs, when the carton is folded , to form connecting elements in planes perpendicular to the solid faces of the two elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the internal element is again folded again in the vicinity of its two edges parallel to the solid faces, so that said edges come to extend perpendicular to the planes of the platforms and along a median axis of the pallet, to form a central spacer parallel to the solid faces of the first and second elements. Advantageously, these edges may have extensions of low height, intended to penetrate elongated slots provided in the second element and thus immobilize the spacer formed by the two extreme sides in the center of said first element.

Preferably, the dimensions of the two elements are such that the solid faces of the second element, which extend parallel to the two solid faces of the first element, are spaced a certain distance from the latter in order to form intermediate spacers.

Connection means perpendicular to the direction braces formed by the aforementioned faces, are advantageously formed by tongues of the first element, and preferably by tongues extending the two solid faces at their two ends, so as to be folded down in the plane of the two open faces to close them over a short distance, these tabs being superimposed on adjacent tabs of the upper and / or lower platforms.

A pallet thus produced has, on its non-solid faces, two openings through which the fork or other part of a lifting device can penetrate inside the internal element. The pallet thus produced has great rigidity because the lower and upper platforms are doubled by the adjacent walls of the internal element and, in a plane parallel to the openings, the pallet has at least four and preferably five braces perpendicular to the plane platforms.

It is understood that the platforms are perfectly smooth and do not present any obstacle to the shifting.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is possible to make, at each of the solid faces of the first and second elements, cuts, preferably in the form of an H , namely two cuts per face, the cuts of the external element being aligned with those of the internal element, which forms, for each of the solid faces, two openings initially closed by two flaps, openings whose spacing corresponding to the distance between the centers of the fingers or arms of the fork of a lifting machine . When the lifting device successively enters the openings of the external face of the first envelope and then of the adjacent face of the second element, it spreads the flaps thus formed inward and these flaps then form bracing elements perpendicular to said faces, or in any case oblique to them, which further increases the rigidity and the lift of the assembly.

If you want the pallet to be able to be used with pallet trucks, you can advantageously make corresponding cuts in the boxes. In this case, the cardboard forming the first element or external element has such cutouts in the vicinity of these two extreme edges while the cardboard forming the second element has cutouts in its more central part, so that after folding of the first element around the second, the different cuts are vertically aligned.

This produces a cardboard pallet with a surprising sum of advantages. The pallet is very easy to produce, first in the factory, by cutting and pre-imprinting corrugated cardboard sheets. The first and second elements in the unfolded state, can be stacked and delivered to the user in the form of stacks, preferably a stack of first elements and a stack of second elements. The user can manufacture these pallets either using machines or manually, by simply folding the second element, which retains its shape, in particular when it has two central folded edges forming the central spacer and the short extensions of which are take in the slots provided in the central panel of this second element, the first element then being folded around the second element and being joined there by a simple means such as gluing or stapling.

The manufacture and implementation of these pallets is therefore particularly easy and inexpensive. We have eliminated any load-bearing stud or load-bearing beam, as well as the need to position and fix or glue such elements.

The pallets have remarkable rigidity and resistance to bending, which allow them, although they are made of corrugated cardboard, with the corrugations arranged in the vertical direction for the solid faces, to withstand extremely heavy loads exceeding one ton.

Depending on the desired performance and the dimensions of the pallets, we will use corrugated cardboard of suitable performance, generally double double or double sided.

Despite the very high rigidity, the pallets are accessible on all four sides.

They have continuous lower / upper platforms, offering no obstacle to skidding. These surfaces also allow transport on conveyors or any system. The simple production of cutouts allows the use of pallet trucks.

• La figure 1 représente une vue à plat du premier élément d'une palette selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente une vue à plat du second élément de cette palette.
• La figure 3 représente une vue en section de cette palette.
• La figure 4 représente une vue en perspective de la palette.

Other characteristic advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example, and referring to the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a flat view of the first element of a pallet according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents a flat view of the second element of this palette.
• Figure 3 shows a sectional view of this palette.
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the pallet.

The external element is shown in FIG. 1. This element is cut from a double double corrugated cardboard plate, in which the corrugations are arranged in the direction of the greatest length of the element. This element 1 has a generally rectangular shape with two short sides, the undulations being parallel to the sides. Element 2, shown in FIG. 2, is also produced by cutting a carton with the corrugations in the same direction. Element 1 comprises four pre-impressions or fold lines 3, delimiting a central panel 4, two extreme lateral panels 5 and, each time between two close lines 3, panels 6 which will form the solid faces of the first element 1. The sides 6 are extended, on both sides, by tabs 7 arranged each time between two tabs 8 connecting to the sides 4 respectively 5. Pre-impressions 9 will allow easy folding of these different tabs. Two H- shaped slots 10 are formed in the zones 6 so that the central bars of the two slots 10 in the same zone 6 are spaced apart from the pitch of the arms of a fork of a lifting machine. These H- shaped cutouts thus form two small flaps 11 which can be easily folded thanks to pre-impressions 12.

Finally, four substantially rectangular cuts 13 are made in the two end faces 5.

The internal element 2 has, for its part, six transverse pre-impressions 14, which will delimit a central panel 15, two lateral panels 16, two panels 17 located between the internal groups of pre-impression 14 and whose width is slightly less than the width of the panels 6, and which will form the two solid faces of the second element, and finally two end panels 18 forming foldable edges. The edges of these two edges each have three extensions of low height 19 which will cooperate with three slots 20 made in the median axis of the element 2. T- shaped cuts 21 are made at the bottom of the forks in the edges 18 so as to form foldable flaps 22 around pre-impressions 23.

Finally, four cutouts 24, similar to the cutouts 13, are provided in the central panel 15 as well as in the two zones 17. Therefore, the faces 17 do not have cutouts in H similar to the cutouts 10, but it is understood that such cuts would be present if the cuts 13 were not made.

To mount a pallet according to the invention, we start by folding the element 2 around the different fold lines 14 to obtain the section shown in Figure 3 in which the two solid edges 17 are arranged perpendicular to the central panel 15, this which brings the two sides 16 to be parallel to this central panel while the two edges 18 are again folded at right angles to so that their extensions 19, which overlap two by two, penetrate into the slots 20. This folding is sufficient to ensure the stability of the element thus folded, but it is obviously possible to make a bonding to maintain it if desired . The tubular element with its central core formed by the two walls 18, which is thus produced, is then centered on the element 1 so that one of the lower or upper bases of the element 2 rests on the central pan 4 The element 1 is then folded back so that the two end faces 5 are applied to the other base of the element 2. The pallet then remains held in this position, either by bonding the sides to each other, either by stapling or any other means of rapid fixing.

The pallet then has the appearance shown in FIG. 4, in which the tongues or tabs 7 and 8 have not yet been folded down. The tabs 7 and 8 are then folded down, for example first a tab 8 then the tab 7 then the other tab 8, these different tabs being glued. This gives the assurance of transverse stability.

The two non-solid faces present, form two openings arranged on either side of the central core 18 through which the fingers of a handling or lifting machine can penetrate. On the other two full faces 6, it is also possible to approach the lifting machine, the fingers of which push the flaps 11 delimited by the cutouts 10, so that the fingers can penetrate the pallet, pass through the corresponding parts of the cutouts 24 of the internal element then the cutouts 21 whose flaps 22 open at the level of the central core 18 then again, if the machine penetrates sufficiently far, the tabs of the second edge 17 of the internal element 2. All these flaps 11 and 18 then come to be arranged transversely in the interval between the two horizontal platforms delimited and formed by the panels 4, 5 and further ensure an increase in rigidity, the corrugations of the cardboard being aligned vertically at the level of the different internal faces and edges and of the pallet.

To center the element 2 in the element 1, suitable parts of the element 1 can be used for locating, for example the cutouts 13, or even the flaps 7 which, once folded down, can advantageously leave a adjusted space for internal element 2.

An extremely light cardboard pallet was thus created, made with great simplicity by cutting and pre-imprinting operations on flat cardboard, which can be done with extremely simple tools. The pallet forms a self-supporting structure having a plurality of internal ribs obtained by simple folding operations, further reinforced during the introduction of a lifting machine. Finally, cutouts such as 13 and 24, which overlap if they are present, allow the passage of the casters of pallet stackers.

Furthermore, the platforms produced by the panels 5 and 16 are doubled, over most of their area, by the corresponding panels of the internal element. They are perfectly flat and offer no resistance to slipping and can be processed on belts, conveyors or any other handling device.

You can, of course, make various changes. Thus, one can imagine using two central elements arranged side by side, or even to provide more legs and ribs. However, the embodiment which has been exposed makes it possible to satisfy the palletizing needs in the vast majority of cases.

Claims (11)

Corrugated cardboard pallet comprising a first external element (1), formed by folding a cardboard to obtain a rectangular or square tubular section delimiting two lower parallel platforms (5), respectively upper (4), joined together by two full opposite perpendicular faces (6), and at least one second element (2), internal, also made of folded cardboard to form a tubular section defining two lower walls (16), respectively upper (15), in contact with the internal surfaces of the lower platforms (5), respectively upper (4), said two walls being connected by two solid lateral faces (17) which are perpendicular to them and which extend parallel to the two solid lateral faces (16) which connect the two plates -forms of the first element (1), at least one of said two elements (12), having folding and stackable tabs, when the cardboard is folded, to form r connecting elements in planes perpendicular to the solid faces of the two elements. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that two opposite faces of the elements (1, 2) are open. Pallet according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the internal element (2) is again folded again in the vicinity of its two edges (18) parallel to the solid faces, so that said edges come extend perpendicular to the planes of the platforms (4, 5) and along a median axis of the pallet, to form a central spacer parallel to the solid faces of the first and second elements. Pallet according to claim 3, characterized in that these edges have extensions of low height, intended to penetrate into elongated slots (20) provided in the second element and thus immobilize the spacer in the center of said first element (1). Pallet according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the solid faces (17) of the second element (2), which extend parallel to the two solid faces (16) of the first element (1), are spaced from a certain distance from the latter in order to form intermediate spacers. Pallet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means perpendicular to the direction of the bracing formed by the solid faces (6, 7), are formed by tongues (7) of the first element. Pallet according to claim 6, characterized in that the said tongues (7) extend the two solid faces (6) at their two ends, so as to be folded down in the plane of the two open faces to close them over a short distance, these tongues coming to be superimposed on adjacent tongues (8) of the upper (4) and / or lower (5) platforms. Pallet according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has, on each of the solid faces (6, 17), cuts (10, 24), namely two cuts per side, the cuts of the external element being aligned with those of the internal element, which forms, for each of the solid faces, two openings. Pallet according to claim 8, characterized in that cutouts (21) aligned with said cutouts (10, 24) are present in the central spacer (18). Pallet according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said cutouts (10, 21) have H or T shapes to form flaps (11, 22) foldable to increase the bracing. Pallet according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that aligned cutouts (13, 24) are made in one of the platforms (5) and the adjacent wall (16) of the second element (2) for receive a pallet truck.

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