EP0789660B1 - Transport container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plastic transport box for the simultaneous Transport of a variety of disc-shaped elements, especially can lids for the food industry, with and from a floor towering side walls and with subdivisions of the box interior in several storage troughs for stacks of vertically next to each other disc-shaped elements in which the bearing troughs of stack support devices be delimited on two opposite sides, the stack support devices Grip openings for inserting gripping elements for the Introducing and removing the stack in and out of the storage troughs, and at which the stack support devices have webs which are perpendicular to a the side walls stand and extend to the edge of the storage trough, wherein the webs between them have empty spaces as engagement openings. On such a transport box is known from EP-0613829 -

Plastic transport boxes are known in many embodiments. With for example, bottles are transported, such as in the EP 0 231 008 B1 or in EP 0 539 689 A1. Also transport boxes with a free interior are known, for example from the EP 0 371 565 A1 and EP 0 612 666 A1.

Plastic transport boxes have not yet been used in practice for example for can lids as they are processed in the food industry. These can lids are traditionally sold in quantities of approximately 150 or in similar orders combined into a stack, this stack is then wrapped with paper that is as dust and waterproof as possible and wrapped and several of these stacks then in wire mesh boxes or large boxes piled up. These large containers with the stacks inside are then, for example, a fish or meat or animal feed processing Operation supplied, the otherwise delivered cans of fish or meat or animal feed with appropriate additives (sauces) and then the cans closes with the prepared can lids.

It is very disadvantageous here that the can lid is unwound from the paper and difficult to handle until they close the locking mechanisms can be supplied. It should be noted that if possible should be worked hygienically and in contact with the Inside of the can lid should be avoided. This is when unpacking out of paper, however, difficult. In addition, there is always Risk of a stack or part of it being fiddly to handle falls and is therefore completely unusable for hygienic reasons becomes. Attention should be drawn to the stricter legal requirements Regulations. Uncoordinated handling can also result in mechanical Damage to the can lids and paint damage are not excluded become.

It would be desirable to have improved transport options for the can lids to find.

From EP 0 613 829 A1 mentioned above is a proposal for a transport box for round Can lid known. It has nine storage troughs arranged parallel to each other into which small and round can lids are inserted in stacks can. To allow an intervention for gripping elements, are on the walls Spacers arranged that directly abut the can lid prevent the side panels. Such transport boxes are in their size and limited in the number of stackable round can lids, since these stacks after being removed by the gripping elements only by pressing them together must be kept. For heavy, intricately shaped and non-circular can lids such transport boxes are not suitable.

In a development developed by the applicant, a Transport box made of plastic thought as in the international design DM / 025 670 is published. This transport box exists made of plastic and can have four stacks of disc-shaped elements, for example Can lids for fish cans, at the same time, take that with it placed vertically next to each other.

These stacks are shorter than those from EP 0 613 829 A1, but the total volume is nevertheless and the total weight of the transportable disk-shaped Elements significantly larger.

A disadvantage of this published embodiment is that it is not yet secure Hold the can lid and its still difficult to remove now from the transport box.

In contrast, the object of the invention is a plastic transport box propose for disc-shaped elements that meet the practical requirements corresponds here.

This object is achieved in that a total of four storage troughs in one Arrangement of two rows of two storage troughs are provided, and that in the middle of the transport box, a towering stacking device for all four support troughs supporting column is provided.

With the engaging openings (a single engaging opening may also come here into consideration) it becomes possible to grasp the stack of lids from both eyes, while the stack support means ensure that the disc-shaped Elements, in particular the can lids, stand vertically next to each other, do not fall over or tip over (this prevents damage to the paintwork and other mechanical Damage) and so remain in a position that is about is suitable for an automatic gripping system. This automatic gripper (you can also imagine an operator here) now with appropriate gripping arms (the user's two hands) on the left and to the right of the stack into the engaging holes and then pushes both Pages on the stack, whereby the individual disc-shaped elements are pressed together become. Through this process, they lift each other slightly from the support devices on both sides as the longitudinal extension of the stack is somewhat reduced by pressing them together. On this way the stack can be held securely between the two gripper arms now removed upwards from the storage well and the entire transport box and for example in a lid feeder for closing Fish and meat cans are used.

This creates a hygienically perfect transport option for disc-shaped ones Elements that are reusable and therefore environmentally friendly. At the same time further packaging for the elements becomes superfluous.

The provision of a total of four storage troughs in an arrangement of two Rows of two storage troughs are particularly advantageous. It enables one Particularly favorable space distribution for stacks that are easy to grasp by gripping arms and still include transport boxes that can be easily transported by people Content. In the middle of the transport box is a towering, as Stacking support is provided for all four support troughs.

In the middle of the transport box are four storage troughs with one corner each together and it becomes possible to have a single support column for all four storage troughs to be provided, which also have the corresponding lateral extensions can support four stacks each.

The provision of the support column has the further advantage that it can be used at the same time Support the next transport box above it can be used can by adapting their height to the bottom of the box above.

It is particularly preferred if holes are provided in the bottom of the transport box are, whose diameter is significantly smaller than the dimensions of the are transporting disc-shaped elements.

The provision of such holes leads to the fact that the transport boxes are very good can be cleaned. The plastic boxes can be hosed down, Water can run freely through these holes. Since the holes are very much are smaller than the disc-shaped elements to be transported (the can lid), can't get into these holes or get into them wedge them. The holes are not in the side walls either, but used exclusively in the floor. This has the advantage that when stacked Transport boxes in which contain the disc-shaped elements are, the transport boxes shield each other and not from Dust, food residues or similar penetrate through the holes can. The holes are only and exclusively during the cleaning process accessible.

A completely closed cover plate can be used with the plastic industrial pallet Hermetically seal 55 trays (the transport boxes according to the invention).

In a transport box (tray) with dimensions of typically 600 mm Find length, 400 mm width and 100 to 250 mm height (depending on the type of cover) about 300 to 1000 can lid space; the containers would be at one Empty weight of 1.5 to 3.0 kg well and easily transportable and also comfortably filled be manageable.

An internal division of transport boxes for different is also conceivable shaped and differently sized disc-shaped elements, as occasionally is also needed. Other embodiments are possible, just with regard to the different requirements for the transportation of various disc-shaped elements. With can lids alone, diverse Types are taken into account, such as Dingley, 210 x 80 mm, 150 x 54 mm -, Euro and cod lids.

It is generally preferred that several transport boxes are stackable one on top of the other and the side walls have an upper edge and a lower edge Have edge training of the type that both when two are stacked Transport boxes form a labyrinth seal.

Due to the stackability and the resulting labyrinth seal, the The contents of the transport boxes, i.e. the disc-shaped elements, are particularly good protected against dirt and other undesirable external influences. At the same time, the edge formations support the transport boxes above them from.

Stackability in another context is already from the EP 0 371 565 A1, but the measures provided there have none protective effects against external influences, which is also not intended there is.

It is particularly preferred if the upper edge formation with a Z-shape cantilevered edge and the lower edge formation in the form of a downward open U are provided in cross section.

The labyrinth seal that forms when two boxes are placed on top of each other has proven to be particularly reliable, but at the same time special inexpensive manufacture of the transport boxes and a proportionate easy formability from the tools used for production.

It is also preferred if the lower stack edge has a circumferential nose and the upper stack edge have a corresponding recess.

Another preferred feature is that the round surfaces of the Storage troughs are supported by additional ribs. It must be taken into account that the storage troughs down the disc-shaped elements wear and only in the area in which these disc-shaped elements lie on. Since the disc-shaped elements are usually oval Have outlines, it is sufficient that the bearing troughs with appropriate round Areas for receiving the corresponding round contour parts of the disk-shaped Elements are equipped. Since these round surfaces of the Bearing troughs alone carry the disc-shaped elements, it is preferred these round surfaces accordingly by the provision of additional ribs to be supported on the underside of the bottom of the transport case. These additional ribs are easy to provide in mold making and do not interfere with the shaping of the transport box. It is also preferred if the support column (s) in the middle of the transport box with additional cross ribs are supported.

These support columns are also exposed to higher loads Ribs have proven useful for this.

It is also preferred if a card pocket insert is provided. This is particularly easy to implement if it has two vertical ones arranged parallel to and in front of a side wall, in particular an end wall, each has a groove-forming webs with the side wall. The webs are preferably cranked and have an angle of 30 ° in their cranking on. A card pocket for exchangeable, labeled or labelable Insert cards made of paper, cardboard or plastic it is immediately recognizable from the outside what type or batch of lids in which Transport box is included. The transport box does not have to be lifted for this or removed from several stacked transport boxes are protected so that the lid contained in the transport box is still protected stay. The identification cards (tray cards) are particularly light in insert the card slot when it is cranked, especially at an angle of 30 °. This makes it easier to insert the card and be taken out, as they are also easier with your finger to grasp and bend.

If the grooves formed by the webs are also not closed at the bottom they allow the cards to be inserted up to a stop below the bottom edge of the web. This will drain the water and blow it out effectively supports the undercut when cleaning.

In an alternative embodiment, the bottom with the storage recesses is in the Sidewalls can be snapped in and replaced. This makes it possible to only in Smaller quantities of transport boxes provided one and the same Sidewall construction with different inserts and also to be cleaned separately.

Various plastics are used as the material for the box, including also polystyrene, into consideration.

Fig. 1

einen senkrechten Schnitt durch eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform;

Fig 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Ausführungsform aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer anderen Ausführungsform (jedoch mit nicht dargestellten mittleren Stützsäule);

Fig. 4

einen senkrechten Schnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform;

Fig. 5

einen senkrechten Schnitt durch die Ausführungsform aus Fig. 4, jedoch senkrecht zum Schnitt in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6

eine Draufsicht auf die Ausführungsform aus Fig. 4;

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt ähnlich Fig. 4 durch eine vierte Ausführungsform;

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt ähnlich Fig. 5 durch die Ausführungsform aus Fig. 7;

Fig. 9

eine Draufsicht auf die Ausführungsform aus Fig. 7; und

Fig. 10

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung eines Details.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a vertical section through a preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2

a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of another embodiment (but with a central support column, not shown);

Fig. 4

a vertical section through a third embodiment;

Fig. 5

a vertical section through the embodiment of Figure 4, but perpendicular to the section in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6

a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7

a section similar to Figure 4 through a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 8

a section similar to Figure 5 through the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9

a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10

an enlarged sectional view of a detail.

A transport box 10 is made of plastic. It has a bottom 11 and from this towering side walls 12.

Its outline is essentially rectangular with rounded corners, between the side walls 12 is a box interior. This box interior is divided into several storage troughs 13.

The storage troughs 13 are supported by two stack supports 14 Pages limited. The stack support devices 14 have engaging openings 15, as can be seen in particular from above in FIG.

FIG. 2 also shows that the stack support devices 14 each have webs, as far as it is the stack support devices that are adjacent to a side wall 12 are. The webs 16 are perpendicular of the respective side wall 12 and extend to the edge of the storage trough 13, with 16 spaces between the webs, which are the engaging openings 15 form.

The stack support devices 14 not adjoining side walls 12 have on the other hand, support columns 20. The support columns 20 (shown in FIG. 3 Embodiment several support columns 20) protrude from the floor 11 to the height of the side walls 12 and directly adjoin the bearing recess 13; by doing An embodiment shown in FIG. 2 can also be a single support column 20 border on all four storage troughs 13, which are currently in the area of this Support column, which then forms the lead of the transport box 10, encounter.

In the storage troughs 13 disc-shaped elements 30 can be done vertically juxtaposed arrangements can be accommodated as a stack. This is indicated in Figure 1 in that two transport boxes 10 are stacked are, of which the upper one is only indicated by dashed lines, a disc-shaped element 30 being indicated in its arrangement is. It is a stylized, a lid for one Fish bowl (not shown) forming metal disc.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 arranges the stacks differently than Embodiments 1 and 2. Here are the disc-shaped elements (the Can lid) with their longest transverse extension parallel to the longest Side of the transport box, unlike in Figure 1.

It is also shown that in this case the stack support devices 14 in the Center of the transport box 10 can have several columns, these Columns can also be relatively wide as long as there is enough between them there are large empty spaces for the engagement openings 15.

Stacking devices adjacent to the side walls 12 must also be used not in the form of webs, but can also be in the form of similarly trained ones Adjacent columns directly to the side wall 12.

Figures 4 to 10 show additional details of further embodiments the invention. For the general structure, see the description of the figures referred to Figures 1 to 3.

One can see in FIGS. 4 to 6 an embodiment which is different from one another shaped structure of the slices to be transported (cover) is adapted. Here, too, two trays (transport boxes 10) are placed one above the other, with in Figures 4 and 5 each in the left area well the dustproof closure by the interlocking edge formation can be seen, which is also a stable A large number of trays can be stacked on top of each other.

The stack support devices 14 can be seen here in particular in FIG. 5, where the edge-side lids of a stack of lids can be seen, which oppose each other support a stack support 14 adjacent to a side wall 12. This stack support device lies outside the image plane in FIG. 4; in FIG. 5 in conjunction with FIG. 6 is the design of the stack support devices 14 however shown; in contrast to the exemplary embodiments Figures 1 to 3 are not several finger or web-like extensions here recognizable from the side wall 12 into the interior of the tray, but only two per disc-shaped element (can lid), each of which has its longitudinal edge stable seize. FIG. 4 shows the top edge of these stack support devices from the sectional view there 14 shown relative to the outlined outline of the lid.

In the section in Figure 4 and also in Figure 7 relating to a fourth embodiment is also shown on the left margin, like a special one practical and useful recognition of the tray content (e.g., for example Type or printing of the can lid) can be guaranteed from the outside. This is shown enlarged in Figure 10. Protected by upper and lower to the outside protruding parts of the transport container 10, that is, the tray, there is a card pocket insert 40 provided. This card pocket insert 40 is on the edge connected to the tray main body outside the image plane, top to the outside cranked and cut free at the bottom. An identification card can be from can be inserted slightly behind the crank 41 at the top. It is from the outside read through a corresponding window in the card slot area (outside of the cutting plane in Fig. 10), but at the same time through this Card insertion device is held, but is again with manual access easy to pull out and replace. The cleaning is also through the lower edge 42 cut off at the bottom and thus left free ensures that the cleaning water can easily escape, which in about Form of a jet of water is directed from outside to this area.

The embodiment of Figures 7 to 9 shows that even upright disc-shaped Elements used in the embodiments of the trays provided for this purpose can be. The top edge of the tray only needs to be dimensioned as high be that the can lid can be completely accommodated in it.

Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to that from FIGS. 4 to 6.

Figure 10 also shows that in a preferred embodiment the bottom 11 is provided with a step shoulder 43 in the area of the storage troughs 13.

This step 43 can be in shape and arrangement to the respective type of cover be adapted to be spent with the transport box 10. The advantage of this embodiment is that the cover is placed in such a targeted manner can be prevented and thus the paint abrasion of the lid surfaces becomes.

Claims (15)

1. Transport box (10) made of plastic material for simultaneously transporting a plurality of disc-shaped elements (30), in particular tin lids for the food industry, having a base (11) and side walls (12) projecting upwards from said base as well as partitioning of the box interior into a plurality of storage troughs (13) for stacks of disc-shaped elements (30) which are positioned vertically adjacent to one another,
   in which the storage troughs (13) are delimited by stack supporting devices (14) at two opposing sides, the stack supporting devices (14) having engagement openings (15) for introducing gripping elements used to insert and remove the stacks into and from the storage troughs (13), and
   in which the stack supporting devices have webs (16) which are perpendicular to one of the side walls (12) and extend up to the edge of the storage trough (13), the webs (16) having between them spaces serving as engagement openings (15),
   characterized in that
   a total of four storage troughs (13) are provided in an arrangement of two rows each comprising two storage troughs, and in that an upward projecting supporting column serving as a stack supporting device (14) for all four storage troughs (13) is provided in the middle of the storage box.
2. Transport box according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the stack supporting devices (14) at their sides not adjacent to side walls (12) comprise supporting columns (20) which project upwards from the base (11) to the height of the side walls (12) and are immediately adjacent to the storage trough (13) .
3. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   holes, the diameters of which are much smaller than the dimensions of the disc-shaped elements (30) to be transported, are provided in the base (11).
4. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a plurality of transport boxes are stackable one on top of the other and the side walls (12), in particular the end walls, have a top edge construction and a bottom edge construction such that both form a labyrinth seal when two transport boxes are placed one on top of the other.
5. Transport box according to claim 4,
   characterized in that,
   in cross section, the top edge construction is Z-shaped with a projecting edge and the bottom edge construction is provided in the shape of an inverted U.
6. Transport box according to claim 5,
   characterized in that,
   the bottom stack edge has a circumferential lug and the top stack edge has a corresponding recess.
7. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the storage troughs (13) have round surfaces which are supported by additional ribs.
8. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the base (11) in the region of the storage troughs (13) is provided with a stepped shoulder (43).
9. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   supporting columns in the middle of the transport box are supported by additional transverse ribs.
10. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    a card pocket insert (40) is provided.
11. Transport box according to claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the card pocket insert (40) comprises two vertically extending webs disposed parallel to and in front of a side wall, in particular an end wall, and in each case forming with the side wall a groove.
12. Transport box according to claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the webs of the card pocket insert (40) are elbowed.
13. Transport box according to claim 12,
    characterized in that
    the webs of the card pocket insert (40) are bent in their elbow through an angle of 30°.
14. Transport box according to one of claims 11 to 13,
    characterized in that
    grooves formed by the webs of the card pocket insert (40) are not closed at the bottom and allow cards to be inserted as far as a stop below the bottom end of the webs.
15. Transport box according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the base (11) with the storage troughs (13) is latchable into the side walls (12) and exchangeable.

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