EP1813543A1 - Container made from synthetic material equipped with a shield - Google Patents

Abstract

Container comprising a plastic body (3) with a pair of openings (318) giving access to recesses (319) for receiving the forks of a fork-lift truck comprises a metal shield (5) that covers the side of the body in the vicinity of the openings. An independent claim is also included for producing a container as above by molding the plastic body, making a metal blank with fold lines that can be superposed on the edges of the openings in the body, cutting out foldable wings in the blank, fixing the blank to the body so that the fold lines are superposed on the edges of the openings, and folding the wings onto the insides of the recesses.

Description

The present invention relates to a container, of the type comprising a body made of synthetic material, this body comprising, on at least one side, a pair of juxtaposed orifices, each orifice giving access to a receiving housing of an arm of fork of handling equipment.

It is known to use containers made of synthetic material to transport various products and to move such containers using forklift trucks. The forklifts of the industrial trucks engage in openings in the body of the containers to lift or push them from one storage site to another. During these operations, the forks of the trolleys, which are usually metal, tend to damage the synthetic material constituting the periphery and the interior of the forks receiving the forks. Because of these damages, the life of the containers is relatively low.

It is this disadvantage that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a container made of synthetic material able to withstand shocks and repeated contacts between forklift trucks and the body of the container.

To this end, the invention relates to a container of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the body comprises a bottom and four sides, each side having a pair of orifices and being equipped with a metal shield integral with the body and covering the side near the orifices.

Thanks to the invention, the parts of the sides of the container body located in the vicinity of the forks receiving the forks are protected from shocks, since the metal shield is a mechanical protection against these shocks. In addition, such a metal shield reinforces the structure of the container and, with a suitable configuration, guide the forks of the trucks to the inside of the orifices.

• chaque bouclier est constitué d'une seule pièce et comporte des ailes rabattables vers l'intérieur des logements et aptes à recouvrir au moins les faces internes supérieures et/ou latérales des logements ;
• chaque orifice d'une paire d'orifices est de section globalement rectangulaire et chaque bouclier comporte, pour chaque orifice, une aile rabattable sur la face interne supérieure du logement auquel donne accès l'orifice, ainsi que deux ailes rabattables sur les faces internes latérales du logement ;
• chaque bouclier est fixé sur le corps par rivetage ou par vissage ;
• le corps est pourvu d'au moins deux montants s'élevant à partir du corps et encadrant un côté du corps, le conteneur comportant au moins un té de gerbage constitué d'une barre centrale et de deux ailes agencées globalement selon une forme de « T », le té étant articulé sur le côté précité en étant mobile entre une position basse dans laquelle sa barre centrale est sensiblement parallèle au fond du corps et une position haute dans laquelle sa barre centrale est sensiblement perpendiculaire au fond, alors que les ailes s'étendent parallèlement au côté et s'appuient sur les montants dans la position haute du té ;
• la portion du corps située sous chaque montant a une forme complémentaire de chaque montant ;
• au moins un organe de retenue de pièces logées dans le corps est solidaire du corps, l'organe comprenant une barre principale et deux pattes orientées dans le même sens, selon une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à la barre principale, les pattes étant articulées sur deux côtés opposés du corps, de telle façon que l'organe de retenue est mobile entre une position basse dans laquelle les pattes sont sensiblement parallèles au fond du corps et une position haute dans laquelle les pattes sont sensiblement inclinées par rapport au fond.

According to other advantageous features of the invention:

• each shield consists of a single piece and has wings foldable towards the interior of the housing and able to cover at least the upper and / or lateral internal faces of the housing;
• each orifice of a pair of orifices is of generally rectangular section and each shield comprises, for each orifice, a folding flap on the upper inner face of the housing to which the orifice gives access, and two flaps foldable on the lateral internal faces housing;
• each shield is attached to the body by riveting or screwing;
• the body is provided with at least two uprights rising from the body and flanking one side of the body, the container comprising at least one stacking tee consisting of a central bar and two wings arranged globally in a shape of " T ", the tee being articulated on the aforementioned side being movable between a low position in which its central bar is substantially parallel to the bottom of the body and a high position in which its central bar is substantially perpendicular to the bottom, while the wings are extend parallel to the side and rest on the uprights in the high position of the tee;
• the portion of the body under each amount has a shape complementary to each amount;
• at least one piece retaining member housed in the body is integral with the body, the member comprising a main bar and two legs oriented in the same direction, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main bar, the tabs being articulated on two opposite sides of the body, so that the retaining member is movable between a low position in which the tabs are substantially parallel to the bottom of the body and a high position in which the legs are substantially inclined relative to the bottom.

• mouler un corps en matériau synthétique en ménageant, sur chacun de ses côtés, une paire d'orifices juxtaposés donnant accès chacun à un logement de réception d'un bras de fourche d'appareil de manutention ;
• pour chaque côté du corps, ménager dans un flan métallique des lignes de pliage aptes à se superposer aux bords des orifices de la paire d'orifices correspondante ;
• couper le flan de manière à définir les ailes rabattables destinées à recouvrir les faces des logements auxquels donnent accès les orifices ;
• fixer le flan sur le corps en superposant les lignes de pliages aux bords ; et
• rabattre les ailes vers l'intérieur des logements de manière à les mettre en contact avec les faces internes des logements.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing and mounting a container as described above, comprising a folding wing shield. This method comprises steps of:

• molding a body of synthetic material by providing, on each of its sides, a pair of juxtaposed orifices giving access each to a receiving housing of a forks arm forklift;
• for each side of the body, to provide in a metal blank fold lines able to be superimposed on the edges of the orifices of the corresponding pair of orifices;
• cut the blank so as to define the folding wings intended to cover the faces of the housing to which access the orifices;
• fix the blank on the body by superimposing the fold lines at the edges; and
• fold the wings towards the interior of the housings so as to put them in contact with the internal faces of the housings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un conteneur conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en élévation selon la flèche II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en plan d'un flan de tôle destiné à constituer un bouclier pour le conteneur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue à plus grande échelle du détail V de la figure 1, un té de gerbage du conteneur étant représenté en position surélevée par rapport aux montants du conteneur ;
• la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, un té de gerbage étant représenté en position haute, en appui sur les montants du conteneur ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective à plus grande échelle d'une bride de verrouillage du conteneur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 1 mais à plus petite échelle de deux conteneurs conformes à l'invention, gerbés avec leurs tés en position basse ;
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue à la figure 8 de deux conteneurs conformes à l'invention, gerbés avec leurs tés en position haute.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of an embodiment of a container according to the invention, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial elevational view along the arrow II of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a section along the line III-III of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of a sheet blank intended to constitute a shield for the container of FIG. 1;
• Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the detail V of Figure 1, a stacking tee of the container being shown in an elevated position relative to the amounts of the container;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, a stacking tee being shown in the upper position, bearing on the amounts of the container;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a locking flange of the container of Figure 1;
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 but on a smaller scale of two containers according to the invention, stacked with their tees in the lower position;
• Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 of two containers according to the invention, stacked with their tees in the high position.

The container 1 according to the invention, shown in Figure 1, comprises a body 3 of synthetic material, for example high density polyethylene. The body 3 comprises a bottom 311 of rectangular section and four sides substantially perpendicular to the bottom 311, namely two longitudinal sides 313 rising from the lengths of the bottom 311 and two transverse sides 315 rising from the widths of the bottom 311 The bottom 311 has on its upper face 311A unrepresented reliefs, additional parts to be housed and transported in the container 1. The container 1 may, for example, be intended for the transport of spare parts of motor vehicles. The reliefs are then designed to accommodate as precisely as possible these spare parts.

The body 3 is made by rotational molding of high density polyethylene, the reliefs being directly made by rotational molding on the bottom 311 of the body 3. The bottom 311 of the body 3 further comprises drainage holes for water or runoff liquid also not shown.

The body 3 comprises four uprights 314 which rise from each of its corners. The portion 314A of the body 3, located below each upright 314, is shaped to have a shape complementary to the outer shape of each upright 314. In this way, several containers 1 are able to be stacked, when are empty, by interlocking their uprights 314, as shown in FIG. 8.

On the other hand, the body 3 comprises, on each of the four sides 313 and 315, a pair of orifices 318 juxtaposed, each orifice 318 giving access to a housing 319 formed in the body 3 and adapted to receive an arm of a fork of handling trolley.

Each side 313 or 315 is equipped with a shield 5 consisting of a steel plate. Each shield 5 has a main portion 51 which extends against the side 313 or 315 concerned around the orifices 318, so as to protect the outer surface 313E or 315E of the body 3 located in the vicinity of the upper and lateral areas of the orifices 318.

Each shield 5 also comprises, for each orifice 318, three folding wings which are able to engage from the surfaces 313E or 315E inwards of the housing 319 adjacent and, thus, to protect the entrance to the orifice 318. More specifically, two lateral wings 53 and 53 ', visible in Figures 2 to 4, are adapted to cover the side faces 319A of each housing 319. These wings 53 and 53 'are of substantially rectangular shape, with a width slightly smaller than the height of each orifice 318 and a length substantially equivalent to half the length of each orifice 318. As shown in FIG. 319B of each housing 319 is partially covered by a third wing 54 of substantially rectangular shape, with a length substantially equivalent to the length of each orifice 318 and a width of the order of a few centimeters.

The shield profile shown in Figures 2 to 4 corresponds to a shield installed on a longitudinal side 313 of the body 3. The shields 5 installed on the transverse sides 315 have a similar profile, but their shape is adapted to facilitate their implementation on the sides 315.

In the embodiment described, the four shields 5 are fixed on each side 313 or 315 of the body 3 by riveting by means of stampings 55. In a variant, the attachment of each shield 5 can be made by screwing.

The flat configuration of the shield 5 shown in FIG. 4 is obtained from a substantially plane steel blank, in which are formed fold lines 531, 531 'and 541 able to be superimposed on the side edges 318A and upper 318B. orifices 318. The outline of the wings 53, 53 'and 54, as well as the general contour of the shield 5, are cut out of the steel blank. The blank thus prepared is then applied to each side 313 or 315 of the body 3 so as to superpose the folding lines 531, 531 'and 541 on the edges 318A and 318B of the orifices 318. After fixing the blank on the body 3, the wings 53, 53 'and 54 are folded and fixed against, respectively, the side faces 319A and 319B upper housing 319.

Alternatively, each shield 5 may be made of another metallic material having good impact resistance.

The presence of the four shields 5 on the container 1 according to the invention makes it possible to preserve the zones of the body 3 located in the vicinity of the orifices 318 against any damage due to shocks or repeated contacts with forks of handling equipment, while strengthening the structure of rotomolded body 3. In addition, the presence of the wings 53, 53 'and 54, folded from the outer surface 313E or 315E of the body 3 towards the inside of the housings 319, ensures a function of guiding the forks of the handling equipment towards the inside of these housing.

The container 1 shown in Figure 1 also comprises two stacking tees 7, each tee 7 consisting of a central bar 71 and two wings 73, arranged generally in a shape of "T". Each wing 73 is provided at its distal end 731 with an anchoring loop 75 on an upright 314 of the body 3. The wings 73 of each tee 7 form a receiving zone 733 of another container, substantially perpendicular to the bar central 71 and separated from each of the distal ends 731 by an inclined pan 735, the corresponding distal end 731 to the receiving zone 733, towards the central bar 71.

Each of the tees 7 is articulated on a transverse side 315 of the body 3. Each tee 7 is movable between a low position in which the central bar 71 is substantially parallel to the bottom 311, and a high position in which the central bar 71 is substantially perpendicular at bottom 311, while the wings 73 extend parallel to the transverse side 315 on which the tee 7 is hinged and rest on the uprights 314 flanking this side 315.

When the container 1 is empty, the tees 7 are in the low position. As soon as the two tees 7 are in the low position, a container homologous to the container 1 can be stacked on it by mutual interlocking of the uprights 314 of the two containers, as represented in FIG. 8.

Prior to the loading on the face 311A of the body 3 of parts intended to be transported in the container 1, each of the stacking tees 7 is moved from its lower position to its upper position, by a tilting around an axis directed parallel to the sides transverse 315 of the body 3.

Each tee 7 has an oblong slot 711 formed in the central bar 71, parallel to the axis of this central bar. For each tee 7, a rod 316 integral with the body 3 is able to slide in the oblong slot 711. The sliding of the rod 316 in the oblong slot 711 makes it possible to raise each tee 7, in the vicinity of its upper position, with respect to the 314, as shown in Figure 5. The distal ends 731 can thus be brought to cap the upper portion 314B of the uprights 314, without risk of blocking the ends 731 by the uprights 314 during the tilting of the tees 7 from their low position towards their high position.

Alternatively and according to an embodiment not shown in the figures, an oblong slot 711 may be formed in the body 3 while the corresponding rod 316 is integral with the central bar 71 of each tee 7.

The uprights 314 are equipped, at their upper part 314B, with relief shapes 314C intended to receive the anchoring loops 75. When the two tees 7 of the container 1 are in the up position, visible in Figure 6, the two receiving areas 733 are able to receive together the bottom of a container, homologous or not to the container 1, stacked on the container 1, as shown in FIG. 9. The presence of the inclined faces 735, which surround each receiving zone 733, makes it possible to guide and maintain the positioning of the stacked container on the container 1. In addition, the anchoring of the loops 75 on the uprights 314 and the support inclined faces 735 against the lateral faces 314D of the uprights 314 make it possible to maintain the spacing of the uprights 314 when stacking the containers in the high position of the tees 7.

Each tee 7 also comprises a load transfer bracket 713 fixed on the central bar 71 and adapted to bear on a support 312 formed at the transverse side 315 on which is articulated the tee 7. When switching each tee 7 between its low position and its high position, the sliding of the rod 316 in the oblong slot 711 raises each bracket 713 relative to the corresponding support 312. Thus, for each tee 7, the bracket 713 is positioned above the corresponding support 312 and, simultaneously with the positioning of the distal ends 731 on the uprights 314, the bracket 713 bears on the support 312. The presence of the brackets load transfer 713 makes it possible to distribute the weight of one or more containers, stacked in the position of FIG. 9 on the container 1, on the uprights 314 and on the transverse sides 315 of the body 3.

Furthermore, the container 1 comprises two flanges 9 for retaining pieces housed in the body 3. Each flange 9 comprises a main bar 91, extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal sides 313 of the body 3 and two tabs 93 bent, oriented in the same direction, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bar 91. Each tab 93 of a flange 9 is articulated on a transverse side 315 of the body 3 by means of a pin 95 formed on the tab 93 and adapted to be inserted into a well overmolded in the body 3. Each leg 93 is furthermore fixed to a tension spring 97 disposed between the lug 93 and the transverse side 315 on which it is hinged. The two springs 97 associated with each flange 9 thus exert on it an elastic return force towards the bottom 311 of the body 3. Alternatively, the tension springs 97 may be replaced by gas cylinders or flat springs.

Each retaining flange 9 is movable between a low position in which the tabs 93 are substantially parallel to the bottom 311 and a high position in which the tabs 93 are substantially inclined, or even perpendicular to the bottom 311.

When the container 1 is empty, each flange 9 is disposed in its lower position, to allow a container homologous to the container 1 to be stacked on the container 1 by interlocking the uprights 314 of these containers, as shown in FIG. 8.

Before parts intended to be transported in the container 1, are placed on the face 311A of the body 3, the flanges 9 are moved from their low position to their high position retaining these parts. They are then released and, under the action of the springs 97, they are pressed by their respective main bars 91 on the upper parts of the parts to be transported. In this position, each flange 9 holds in place the parts housed in the body 3, thanks to the action of the springs 97 directed towards the bottom 311. Moreover, during the transport of the parts in the container 1, each spring 97 is able to unfold more or less in order to adapt the force exerted on the flange 9 corresponding to shocks or vibrations occurring during transport. Thus, the pressure exerted by the flanges 9 on the transported parts is substantially constant during transport.

A container 1 according to the invention is therefore able, thanks to the presence of the shields 5, to withstand damage due to the action of forks of handling equipment on the body 3 of the container. Such a container 1 has, moreover, several additional advantageous characteristics. The container 1 is stacked empty, in the low position of the tees and retaining flanges, by interlocking its amounts 314 with the amounts of a homologous container. The container 1 is also stackable to the full, when the tees 7 and the flanges 9 are in the up position. Finally, the presence of the retaining flanges 9 ensures the maintenance of parts to be transported in the container 1.

Claims (8)

Container (1) comprising a body (3) made of synthetic material, the body comprising, on at least one side (313, 315), a pair of orifices (318) juxtaposed, each orifice (318) giving access to a housing ( 319), characterized in that the body (3) comprises a bottom (311) and four sides (313, 315), each of said sides comprising a pair of orifices (318) and being equipped with a metal shield (5) integral with the body and covering said side (313, 315) in the vicinity of said orifices. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that each shield (5) consists of a single piece and comprises wings (53, 53 ', 54) foldable inwardly of said housings (319) and able to cover at least the upper (319B) and / or lateral (319A) internal faces of said housings. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that each orifice (318) of a pair of orifices is of generally rectangular section and in that each shield (5) comprises, for each orifice, a wing (54) folding on the upper inner face (319B) of the housing (319) to which access said orifice, and two wings (53, 53 ') foldable on the inner side faces (319A) of said housing. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each shield (5) is fixed on the body (3) by riveting or screwing. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (3) is provided with at least two uprights (314) rising from the body and flanking a side (315) of the body, the container comprising at least one stacking tee (7) consisting of a central bar (71) and two wings (73) arranged generally in a "T" shape, the tee (7) being hinged on said side (315) by being movable between a low position in which its central bar (71) is substantially parallel to the bottom (311) of the body and a high position in which its central bar (71) is substantially perpendicular to the bottom (311), while the wings ( 73) extend parallel to said side (315) and rest on said uprights (314) in said upper position of the tee (7). Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the portion (314A) of the body (3) located under each upright (314) has a shape complementary to each upright (314). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one member (9) for retaining pieces housed in the body (3) is integral with the body, said member (9) comprising a main bar (91) and two legs (93) oriented in the same direction, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main bar (91), the tabs (93) being articulated on two opposite sides (315) of the body, so that the member ( 9) is movable between a low position in which the tabs (93) are substantially parallel to the bottom (311) of the body and a high position in which the tabs (93) are substantially inclined relative to the bottom (311). A method of manufacturing and mounting a container (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting of: - Molding a body (3) of synthetic material by providing, on each of its sides (313, 315), a pair of orifices (318) juxtaposed each giving access to a housing (319) for receiving a fork of a handling device; - For each side (313, 315), fit in a metal blank fold lines (531, 531 ', 541) able to be superimposed on the edges (318A, 318B) of the orifices (318) of the corresponding pair of orifices ; - Cut the blank so as to define the wings (53, 53 ', 54) folding intended to cover the faces (319A, 319B) of the housing (319) to which access the holes (318); - Fix the blank on the body (3) by superimposing the fold lines (531, 531 ', 541) at said edges; and - Fold the wings (53, 53 ', 54) inwardly of said housing (319) so as to bring them into contact with the inner faces of said housing.

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