EP1275587A2 - Plastic container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container has a polygonal and generally planar floor panel having a plurality of edges, an upper face, and a lower face. Respective side walls extend upward from the edges of the floor panel and a plurality of ribs extend downward from the lower face of the floor panel adjacent the edge. An annular floor strip fixed to the ribs forms therewith an annular array of pockets having horizontally outwardly open mouths. In accordance with the invention closure strips engaged over the mouths horizontally close the pockets and are fixed permanently to the mouths of the pockets. The floor panel, side walls, ribs, and floor strip are unitarily formed of plastic.

Description

The invention relates to a container made of plastic, in particular storage and Transport box, which is ribbed on the bottom surface of its bottom, which on the one hand form a soil center field and on the other hand run all the way along of the bottom edge extending flat webs forming an outer rim wear.

A container or box has become known from DE 43 38 063 A1 a flat surface on the underside by flat webs as Runner spaced by stiffening ribs running across the bottom edge are supported below the floor level, is formed. The between the bottom underside, the flat top and the cross ribs Open spaces are always open, i. H. neither on the outside of the bridge nor on the Bridge inside supported by a final vertical wall. The the flat webs supporting stiffening ribs are here without connection to the longitudinal and transverse stiffening ribs of the floor central field. The in the edge area frame-like circumferential flat webs, so that the container in Edge area is provided with a quasi double floor, put one on roller tracks or the like well-functioning skirting board.

Such a tread provided by flat webs is also from the DE 39 09 022 C2 known. However, there is no continuous open space there or tunnel but rather one-sided either inwards or outwards Open pockets are formed, for which purpose on the inner or on the outer end edge an end wall or rib connected to the bottom surface is provided is. This version with only one-sided opening of the tread and in cross section This enables C-shaped pockets due to the hollow chamber or sandwich construction a composite that gives the container a high torsional rigidity there and also occur when loaded with heavy industrial goods Resists deflection without any major influence on the tread. A major disadvantage, however, is that in particular in the corners the bags accumulate dirt and insufficient cleaning water can drain off.

The invention has for its object a generic, in one piece Plastic to create containers made by injection molding, which is both a has particularly high stability as well as on any type of roller or roller conveyor has excellent running properties and also a large one Offers protection against dirt and is easy and effective to clean is.

This object is achieved in that the vertical spaces between the tread flat webs and the bottom surface of the floor at the inner and / or outer front flat web edges with plate elements are closed. The tread can thus be easily completely closed Hollow chamber profile, which is also available from the already existing the flat webs on the bottom of the container cross ribs another Support is provided with a correspondingly increased stiffness and stability. This is irrespective of whether a container with initially tunnel-like passages or one-sided open pockets with the plate elements closed on the side becomes. Furthermore, is achieved by the completely closed tread that there are no more dirty corners and no bacteria can penetrate, so that such a container also meets hygiene requirements, for example in the food industry justice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the plate elements as swivel flaps are molded onto the flat web edge. The plate elements can be injection molded in one go with the container production and then all you need is the quasi-existing film hinge pivoted into its position closing the side of the tread to become.

According to an alternative, external or separate plate elements can also be used provide and insert into the vertical clearances with locking brackets. It understands themselves that such a locking bracket on the film hinge distal end can be provided with pivotable plate elements.

According to a particularly advantageous proposal of the invention, the plate elements welded to the tread flat webs and / or the floor. Compared For example, a rivet attachment or an exclusive locking The welding process ensures that the hollow chamber tread is leakproof reached.

The goal of high tightness when welding the panel elements to all sides Closing the rim is preferably further supported by that the bottom of the plate element on its inner surface with a contact edge overlapped upwards. It can be used to define a welded joint achieve favorable stop positioning.

If according to an advantageous development of the invention in the area of the contact edge a recess is formed, welding can be carried out without reworking perform because melted material in this one melt pocket available deepening can expire.

Further expedient embodiments of the invention provide that the transition from the tread flat webs to the panel elements with a radius is provided or the tread flat webs in the transition to the plate elements are formed with an inclined slope. These measures, either inside and / or provided on the outside of the flat webs, promote start-up behavior and the smooth running of a container that is also loaded with very heavy goods Roller or roller conveyors.

Starting from a container with a pocket design that is open on one side it is recommended that the tread flat webs be designed with a slope are provided in a radius on the inner rim side End wall merges. Of course, it is alternatively possible to use only one Slant or only a radius should be provided. In any case, the running properties of the container improved.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the flat webs of the running ring in one piece with a covering the floor center field Floor are formed. In this way it becomes a full-surface double floor reached that after the lateral closure by means of the invention Plate elements in total a closed hollow-space double floor provides.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover can be in the area lower the midfield. This bombing in the middle of the raised floor the tread appears more clearly.

If the cover base is supported by a central longitudinal rib, the particularly high stability that has already been achieved will be further promoted.

When the container is designed with a raised floor, the invention is used suggested that starting from the inner floor surface to the outer surface of the cover bottom are formed with continuously closed water drainage channels are. The cleaning and getting into the container in case of fire Extinguishing water that is sprayed on from above and otherwise only when completely filled of the container with water by overflowing from top to bottom could flow smoothly and directly. Dirt corners that are almost unclean are no longer available and the proportion of drag water becomes clear reduced. The water drainage canals are particularly cheap in the intersection area the cross ribs with the longitudinal rib.

According to a further proposal of the invention are bridged between mutually opposite tread flat webs floor posts. This contributes to increasing soil stability, especially in the area of the central soil field, and can be further advantageous by dividing the floor uprights Rib favored.

An embodiment of the invention provides that the floor uprights compared to the Lowered tread flats and connected to them via a slope are. The lowering or crowning gives a certain degree of freedom, if if the container is very heavily loaded in the middle, it will bend a little should. The slope in the transition area from the floor uprights to The tread in turn serves to improve the start-up behavior of the container.

Fig. 1

einen Kunststoff-Behälter von unten her gesehen;

Fig. 2

den Behälter nach Fig. 1 als Teilansicht entlang der Linie II-II geschnitten;

Fig. 3

eine der Ansicht nach Fig. 2 entsprechende Schnitt-Darstellung mit einer demgegenüber anderen Ausbildung eines den Laufkranz seitlich verschließenden Plattenelementes:

Fig. 4

eine mit Fig. 2 vergleichbare Darstellung mit einem demgegenüber wiederum anderen Plattenelement und Dichtkanten-Ausbildung, wie als Einzelheit "Y" vergrößert verdeutlicht;

Fig. 5

eine der Fig. 4 entsprechende Darstellung mit demgegenüber im Bereich der Dichtkante zusätzlich noch ausgebildeter Schmelzetasche, wie als Einzelheit "X" zusätzlich vergrößert verdeutlicht;

Fig. 6

eine Teilansicht wie gemäß Fig. 2 mit seitlich durch das Plattenelement verschlossenem Laufkranz;

Fig. 7

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 6 mit demgegenüber im Übergang vom Laufkranz-Flachsteg zum Plattenelement anders ausgebildeter Anlaufhilfe;

Fig. 8

eine Abwandlung der Fig. 2 mit demgegenüber am kasteninnenseitigen Laufkranzende ausgebildeter Anlaufhilfe;

Fig. 9

eine andere Ausführung eines Kunststoff-Behälters mit doppelter Bodenanordnung von unten her gesehen;

Fig.10

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie X-X von Fig. 9;

Fig.11

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie XI-XI von Fig. 9 mit demgegenüber allerdings mit einer Bombierung ausgeführtem Abdeckboden;

Fig.12

einen Querschnitt des Behälters nach Fig. 9 mit demgegenüber im Kreuzungsbereich von der Längsrippe mit den Querrippen ausgebildeten Wasserablaufkanälen;

Fig.13

eine weitere Ausführung eines Kunststoffbehälters mit im Bodenmittelfeld außerdem vorgesehenen Bodenholmen, von unten her gesehen;

Fig.14

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie XIV-XIV von Fig. 13; und

Fig.15

eine der Darstellung nach Fig. 14 entsprechende Ansicht, demgegenüber hier allerdings ohne Querrippe im Bodenholm.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

seen a plastic container from below;

Fig. 2

the container of Figure 1 cut as a partial view along the line II-II.

Fig. 3

2 shows a sectional view corresponding to the view according to FIG. 2 with a different design of a plate element closing the tread laterally:

Fig. 4

a representation comparable to FIG. 2, with a plate element and sealing edge configuration which is in turn different, as illustrated as a detail "Y";

Fig. 5

4 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 4 with a melt pocket additionally formed in the area of the sealing edge, as additionally illustrated as detail "X";

Fig. 6

a partial view as shown in Figure 2 with laterally closed by the plate member tread.

Fig. 7

a representation as in Figure 6, in contrast, in the transition from the tread flat web to the plate element differently designed starting aid.

Fig. 8

a modification of FIG. 2 with the starting aid formed on the inside of the tread end on the inside of the box;

Fig. 9

another embodiment of a plastic container with a double bottom arrangement seen from below;

Figure 10

a section along the line XX of Fig. 9;

Figure 11

a section along the line XI-XI of Figure 9 with, however, with a crown made cover bottom.

Figure 12

9 shows a cross section of the container according to FIG. 9 with water drainage channels formed in the crossover area by the longitudinal rib with the transverse ribs;

Figure 13

a further embodiment of a plastic container with floor spars also provided in the floor central field, seen from below;

Figure 14

a section along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13; and

Figure 15

14 is a view corresponding to that shown in FIG. 14, but here without a transverse rib in the floor strut.

From a well-known storage and transport box 1 or 100 or 200, which is a substantially rectangular design with a bottom, two rectangular of which towering transverse walls 2 and two also at right angles thereof protruding longitudinal walls 3 (see e.g. Fig. 2), is in the figures largely shown only its floor design. The one on the inside Container bottom 5 having top side 4 (see FIGS. 2 to 8 and 10 to 12 and 14, 15) has according to FIGS. 1, 9 and 13 on its bottom underside Longitudinal and several transverse ribs 6 and 7, which define a floor center panel 8. This is bordered like a frame by flat webs 9a and 9b, respectively via connecting ribs 10 to the lower surface 11 (see e.g. FIG. 2) of the base 5 are connected. Which form a suspended second floor as a tread Laukranz flat webs 9a, 9b are on the inside facing the container means Front edge 12 through a from there to the lower surface 11 of the bottom 5 extending vertical rib or end wall 13 in cooperation with two adjacent connecting ribs 10, the bottom 5 and the flat webs 9a and 9b in a sandwich-like hollow chamber construction, initially on one side pockets 14 open to the outside (cf. e.g. FIGS. 2 to 8) are carried.

So that the rim formed by the flat webs 9a, 9b is completely closed becomes, the vertical space 15 between the bottom 5 or its lower surface 11 and the flat webs 9a, 9b on their outer end edges 16 by plate elements 17 closed, which is injected immediately during the manufacture of the container and then from their horizontal orientation shown in Fig. 1 around the film hinge formed on the outer end edge 16 only still need to be pivoted into the vertical space 15, such as shown in Fig. 2. The plate elements can be in this closed position 17 preferably weld tightly to the bottom of the container. As alternatively illustrated with the plate element 17a in FIG. 2, can also be realize a locking connection, for which purpose the plate elements 17a on their free, end distant from the firm hinge at the front edge 16 with latching hooks 18 are provided, which engage in complementary recesses on the bottom. at 3, separate plate elements 17b with latching hooks 18 are used used to completely close the pockets 14 in the vertical space 15.

To achieve optimal tightness when welding the panel elements 17 is the bottom 5 according to FIG. 4 with a plate element 17 on its inner surface upwardly overlapping contact edge 19 is formed. If there, i.e. in the region of the contact edge 19 there is also a depression 20 shown in FIG. 5 is provided, a melt pocket can be realized in the melted Material can run.

6 to 8 are various designs of the transition from the Flat webs 9a, 9b to the plate elements completely closing the running ring or the inner rib or end wall 13 shown, the start and Improve the running behavior of the container 1 on a roller or roller conveyor. These measures consist of a starting radius 21 (see FIG. 6), a starting slope 22 (see FIG. 7) or a combination of a run-up slope 22 and a starting radius 21, as in FIG. 9, as an example for the inner tread side shown, is trained.

The container 100 according to FIGS. 9 to 12 has a full-surface double floor on, i.e. The flat webs 9a, 9b of the running ring are in one piece with the floor central field 8 covering bottom 23 formed. Here, too, it is completely closed System again achieved in that at the outer end edges 16th molded plate elements 17 after swiveling with the inner bottom 5 are welded. The cover 23 is according to FIG. 4 by a crown 24 somewhat lowered compared to the running ring 9a, 9b and also by a centrally arranged longitudinal rib 25 is additionally supported, in this case the end walls 13, which otherwise limit the pockets 14 inwards, are eliminated can. As shown in Fig. 12, the container 100 is with water drainage channels 26 provided, starting from the top 4 of the inner bottom 5 to are continuously circumferentially closed to the outer surface of the cover base 23.

Another construction of a plastic container 200 is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 shown. Here are in the middle 8 of the soil as a bridge between each other opposite tread flat webs 9b two next to each other at a distance arranged floor spars 27 provided. These go all the way into the Pockets 14 of the tread over and are like all other pockets that are unchanged still have the inner end walls or ribs 13, after pivoting the plate member 17 and welding it with the bottom 5 (see FIGS. 14 and 15) closed laterally to the outside. The floor pillars 27 are in the area of the central floor panel 8 opposite the tread flat webs 9a, 9b lowered and go with a slope 28 in the crown 24 about. 14, the floor uprights 27 are divided by a rib 29, i.e. they are not always open in this design variant.

No matter how the underbody ribbing or the floor construction at all is carried out, so it is common to all construction methods that by the with the inner Floor elements welded to the floor or inserted into the vertical free spaces the existing hollow chambers are completely closed to the outside.

Claims (16)

Containers made of plastic, in particular storage and transport boxes, which are provided with ribs on the lower surface of their base, which on the one hand form a central floor area and on the other hand carry flat webs which run all the way along the bottom edge and form an outer rim,
characterized in that the vertical clearances (15) between the tread flat webs (9a, 9b) and the lower surface (11) of the base (5) on the inner and / or outer end flat web edges (12) with plate elements (17; 17a, 17b) are closed. Container according to claim 1,
characterized in that the plate elements (17) are designed as swivel flaps molded onto the flat web edge (16). Container according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the plate elements (17b) with latching brackets (18) are inserted into the vertical free spaces (15). Container according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the plate elements (17; 17a, 17b) are welded to the tread flat webs (9a, 9b) and / or the floor (5). Container according to claim 4,
characterized in that the bottom (5) overlaps the plate element (17) on its inner surface with a contact edge (19) upwards. Container according to claim 5,
characterized in that a recess (20) is formed in the region of the contact edge (19). Container according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the transition from the tread flat webs (9a, 9b) to the plate elements (17; 17a, 17b) is provided with a radius (21). Container according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the tread flat webs (9a, 9b) are formed with an inclined bevel (22) in the transition to the plate elements (17; 17a, 17b). Container according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the tread flat webs (9a, 9b) are formed with a bevel (22) which merges into a radius (21) of an end wall (13) provided on the inner tread side. Container according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that the flat webs (9a, 9b) of the running ring are formed in one piece with a floor (23) covering the central floor panel (8). Container according to claim 10,
characterized in that the cover base (23) is lowered in the region of the central field (8). Container according to claim 10 or 11,
characterized in that the cover base (23) is supported by a centrally arranged longitudinal rib (25). Container according to one of claims 10 to 12,
characterized in that, starting from the inner floor surface (4) to the outer surface of the cover floor (23), continuously circumferential water drainage channels (26) are formed. Container according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that floor spars (27) are formed as bridges between opposing tread flat webs (9a, 9b). Container according to claim 14,
marked by
a rib (29) dividing the floor uprights (27). A container according to claim 14 or 15,
characterized in that the floor uprights (27) are lowered relative to the tread flat webs (9a, 9b) and are connected to them via a slope (28).

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