EP2322443A1 - Height-adjustable transport container - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a) with hinged support elements (15, 16) that are connected with the side wall part, so that the elements form a support in a hinged position, which enlarges a support space of a crate. The elements are mounted on respective upper sides of the wall parts and are held by guides attached to the parts in the hinged position, and the elements are integrated in the hinged position in the walls such that the elements are not protruding over the thickness of the wall parts.

Description

The present invention relates to a transport container system, in particular for general cargo, which has a stackable transport container, preferably a tray. The stackable transport container is foldable or non-hinged. Such climbs are known and are used in particular for the transport of general cargo such as fruits and vegetables. For the purposes of this invention, unit load should be understood to mean a unit of goods to be transported consisting of individual pieces with a size of at least 0.5-1.0 cm.

The already known non-hinged and foldable transport containers, especially trays, for fruits and vegetables are made of cardboard, wood or plastic. The folding transport containers are characterized in that their side walls are movable against the inner bottom surface of the transport container, whereby a volume reduction of the transport container is achieved in the empty state. In the unfolded state, the side wall parts are at a 90 ° angle to the inner bottom surface and are detachably connected to each other by various means. While the bottom surface of the transport container has a defined size, to achieve different transport volumes container with different height side wall parts, wherein two or four side wall parts have the same height. Furthermore, the side wall parts on the top surface facing away from the bottom surface on a profile or a device, whereby the transport containers are stackable. To increase the stability of the transport container, in particular with regard to their stackability, these preferably have corner stiffeners. The known transport containers have a maximum capacity, which is determined by the size of the bottom surface and the height of the side wall parts. If larger capacity is required, the transport containers must be provided with other, higher side wall parts. Thus, a rapid adaptation of the capacity of the transport container to changing demands of consumers is only partially guaranteed.

The size of a given variety of fruits and vegetables varies from harvest season to harvest season, depending on various factors, for example during the growth phase. The size of the fruit or vegetable to be packaged is determined by European Community regulations. A known problem in the transport of general cargo such as fruits and vegetables results from the varying size of the cargo to be transported for the optimal filling of transport containers. In order to be able to accommodate varying requirements of the piece goods, the transport containers, in particular trays, are machined in certain sizes, which can also be determined by the production plant or determined by the choice of production parameters. It is therefore not possible to quickly change the size of the transport containers and thus their capacity in large numbers in terms of a dependent on the size of the piece optimum filling without large logistics transport problems or a costly conversion of the production and associated high costs.

The above-mentioned problem occurs in particular with the known transport containers when relatively easy to produce cardboard packaging for the transport of general cargo such as fruits and vegetables are replaced by more environmentally friendly, but more expensive to produce reusable plastic or a similar material suitable for use. An optimal adaptation of the transport container to the size of the cargo to be transported turns out to be particularly complex and difficult in the known, made of plastic reusable containers. In order to achieve maximum utilization of transport devices, the transport containers are stackable, so that a large number of these containers can be transported in containers, on loading areas, in freight cars or similar transport devices. The piece goods to be transported must not protrude beyond the upper edge of the transport container, because then the transport container would not be stackable or the cargo would be damaged. This results in that the capacity of the known transport container can not be used optimally in many cases.

Applicant's reusable transport containers, known in technical jargon as so-called "round trip containers", exist in at least ten different embodiments which differ in the height of the side wall parts. The height of the sidewall portions varies from 8 to 28 cm, preferably heights of 8, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 23 cm are used. The bases of these transport containers are preferably rectangular and preferably have an outer dimension of 600 mm x 400 mm. Thus, they correspond roughly to an integer divisor of the basic size of standardized EURO and US pallets. But also transport containers of other sizes such as 400 x 300 mm are used.

NL 93 00 986 describes a container which has at least one bottom and one wall element. In this case, projections are provided on the wall element and recesses on the bottom element, by means of which the wall element can be connected to the floor element. NL 93 00 986 further shows how a circumferential one-piece frame can be placed on a container, so that its volume, which is limited by the conversion element and the bottom element is increased.

DE 103 26 574 A1 describes a transport container, in particular for the transport of general cargo such as fruits and vegetables, with a hinged or non-hinged, stackable crate, which has a bottom part and four side wall parts, which are structured pressure stable or stable load. To increase the capacity of the transport container, a form-conforming to the side wall parts essay is provided, which is placed on top of the side wall portions of the crate. The attachment is designed so that it forms a self-contained frame, which is collapsible over its diagonal corners. The collapsible attachment preferably consists of cardboard and is disposed of after use. For placing and for removing the essay, the side wall parts of the crate and the side wall parts of the attachment are releasably locked together.

US 2004/0222222 A1 describes a collapsible transport container whose height is adjustable. The transport container has a base, which also forms the bottom surface of the transport container. The transport container further includes an opposing pair of long sidewalls and an opposing pair of short sidewalls, on each of which sidewalls extension walls are disposed. The short and long side walls can be laid flat with the extension walls on the base, so that the transport container occupies a minimal volume when empty. The short side walls and the long side walls can be brought into a position perpendicular to the floor surface in which they are locked together via locking elements which are attached to the short side walls. If necessary, from the long side walls long extension walls and the short side walls short extension walls can be opened so that they form in a first embodiment, an extension of the short side walls and the long side walls upwards. Here are the folded-extension walls over other locking elements, which are located in the short extension walls, locked into a frame.

Thus, the article can be removed and disposed of at the place of delivery. The reusable crate is folded after its emptying and cleaning, for example, and stacked a re-use available, with the re-use either no essays, essays of a different height or the same essays but needed in a different amount. Therefore, in most cases it makes more sense to dispose the crates separately from the essays. This results in multiple costs, on the one hand for the production of the essays and on the other for the separate allocation of crates and essays, the increased cost arises both at the filling of the crates and the crate manufacturer. Even at the emptying of the crates with essays additional costs arise due to the disposal of cardboard attachments.

Starting from the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tray with a device for increasing the volume of the volume, in which the device is used as needed and when not in use, without affecting the dimensions of the crate, neither during transport nor during use Steige is disturbing.

The object of the invention is achieved by a transport container system according to claim 1.

Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

A transport container system according to the invention is characterized by a stackable transport container, in particular a tray, which is constructed from a bottom part and four side wall parts, which are structured in a shape-stable and pressure-stable manner. In this case, the stackable crate is preferably hinged, ie collapsible, but may also be non-hinged. Furthermore, the transport container system according to the invention comprises each side wall part of an attachment element, so that the four attachment elements of the individual side wall parts together allow an increase in the capacity of the crate. For this purpose, the attachment elements are such folding or pivoting and / or slidably connected to the respective side wall parts, that the attachment elements in Demand can be brought into a raised or elevated position in which they sit or are supported, for example, on an upper side or upper bearing surface of the respective side wall part. The side wall parts further include guides that hold the attachment elements in the unfolded or raised position. In the retracted or integrated position, the attachment elements can be folded or inserted into the side wall part in such a way that the attachment elements do not protrude substantially beyond the thickness or height of the side wall parts.

By folding or pivoting and / or sliding arrangement of attachment elements in the side wall parts a variable and optimal adaptation of the transport container is achieved to the transported cargo, since the attachment elements depending on the needs and on or pushed or pushed out or can be swiveled. A logistical or additional transport effort for additional parts - as in the prior art - is therefore eliminated.

A particular advantage of the invention results when the side wall parts of the stackable crates are also hinged. In this case, the side wall parts with respect to a bottom part of an upright position in which the side wall parts are substantially perpendicular to the bottom part, foldable into a lying position in which the side wall parts are substantially parallel to the bottom part. Preferably, the dimensions of the side wall parts and the attachment elements are selected so that the attachment elements are integrated into the side wall parts such that they do not protrude in the integrated state or not significantly beyond the dimensions of the side wall parts. Here, "not essential" means that the attachment elements can at most extend beyond the dimensions of the side wall parts only so far that a substantially parallel storage of the side wall parts to the bottom part for all side wall parts is possible in order not to adversely affect a lightweight, compact stackability of the collapsed crates , This also includes that necessary for setting up and folding Aufstellmechanismen so integrate into the side wall parts that they do not protrude beyond this in the thickness direction of the side wall parts.

The collapsed attachment elements may not or not significantly protrude beyond the thickness of the side wall parts in the upright position of the side wall parts, so that the outer dimensions of the crate are not or not significantly increased. Preferably, the outer dimensions of the crate are 600 mm x 400 mm, which is one fourth of the base of a standardized Euro pallet. However, the invention is also applicable to smaller crates, such as crates with 400 x 300 mm dimension.

For stacking the crates, the upper sides of the side wall parts have a special profile, which supports the corresponding peripheral areas on an underside of the bottom part, and thus ensures the stackability of the crates slip-proof. Thus, even in the extended or raised state of the attachment elements a slip-proof stacking is possible, the tops of the attachment elements in the areas in which they touch the bottom of the bottom part of an overlying crate, the profile "mimic". In other words, the attachment elements have on their upper sides substantially the same profile as the upper sides of the side wall parts or as the inverted profile of the peripheral edge on the undersides of the bottom part.

Preferably, a simple slip-proof stackability is achieved by special design of the corner regions of adjacent side wall parts in climbing this type. In order to ensure slip-proof stackability even when the attachment elements are set up, at least partial areas of these corner areas must be reproduced by the attachment elements. For this purpose, however, it is not necessary, even if this is encompassed by the idea of the invention, that two adjacent attachment elements touch one another in the corner regions or even be connected / latched to one another. Although an embodiment of the attachment elements for complete simulation of the corner regions of the side wall parts is possible, it is sufficient in most cases for stability or slip resistance reasons, only to reproduce portions of these corner areas and to dispense with a connection of the attachment elements in the corner areas.

For a stable and reliable stackability, however, it is necessary to fix the attachment elements in their unfolded position. In this case, the attachment elements can be supported for example in the direction of gravity directly on the upper sides of the side wall parts, wherein guides in directions which are perpendicular to gravity in a plane, can be accomplished by recesses in the side wall parts and / or by the articulated receiving the attachment elements on the side wall parts , Preferably, the recesses in the side wall parts are designed so that no additional slides are necessary for their production in the injection molding process. For example, an unfolding of the attachment elements by a 180 ° rotation take place in such a way that the attachment element in its swung-up position in the direction of swiveling up directly is supported on a stop on the side wall part and a reverse rotation by locking lugs, which receive a web or a guide rod of the attachment element, is prevented. At the same time the freedom of movement of the attachment element in the direction of the axis of rotation is prevented by appropriately designed support walls, stops and recesses.

In order to continue to achieve a good stackability with open attachment elements, it is obvious that the tops of the attachment elements must lie in a common plane parallel to the bottom part. It is irrelevant whether the side wall parts have the same height, as this can be compensated by different heights of the attachment elements. Although it is normally assumed that both the tops of the sidewall portions and the tops of the tops, i. the respective bearing surfaces are arranged for a arranged above the crate bottom part of another tray, each in a common plane parallel to the bottom part, the invention also includes embodiments of transport containers, in which the tops / bearing surfaces of both the side wall parts and the attachment elements not are each arranged in a common, parallel to the bottom part surface. For example, climbs are conceivable whose shorter side walls, i. the end walls, solely for the support and guidance of the above parked cramps provide. If e.g. a crate is used whose height of the end walls is half the length of the crate, and the crimping of the crate is carried out so that opposite sidewall portions are in a plane in the lying position, i. the collapsed side wall parts do not overlap, so the heights of the long side wall parts amount to a maximum of half the width of the crate and are therefore, starting from a rectangular crate, lower than the end walls.

To compensate for the height ratio attachment elements can be provided here on the longitudinal side wall parts. As with the crates, whose side wall parts all have the same height, even such a crate can be increased by appropriately adapted attachment elements in their capacity.

In the present invention, it is irrelevant whether the attachment elements can be unfolded from a folded-in position from an inner side facing the ascending opening or from an outer side facing away from the ascending opening. In both cases, it must be ensured that after unfolding the attachment elements these are fixed in their unfolded position so that a stackability is ensured and in the folded position, the outer dimensions of the bottom part in the longitudinal and width direction are not exceeded.

The attachment elements can be made of the same material as the side wall parts or else of different material. The same applies to the coloring, for example, the attachment elements in a different color are well used for the application of logos or other information for advertising purposes.

In summary, it can be stated that with the invention a flexible possibility is provided, as the capacity of a crate, in particular for the transport of vegetables and fruits, can be varied quickly and easily. For this purpose, according to the invention attachment elements are provided which are integrated in a folded position in the side wall parts of a tray and in an unfolded position, the capacity, depending on the height of the attachment element, enlarge and thereby ensure the stackability of the crates. Through the use of different height attachment elements for a type of pit individually adapted solutions can be achieved.

By also suitable pivoting or folding mechanisms or combinations of rotary or sliding joints, the attachment elements can be locked, for example, in different heights, whereby a further flexible adaptation of the capacity of the volume to be transported is made possible. A rotary-sliding joint according to the invention is a joint which allows both a rotation and simultaneously or subsequently a translation of the attachment element.

Furthermore, it does not depend on the number of used hinged connections of the attachment element to the side wall parts in the execution of the inventive concept, but only that a variable adaptation of the capacity of the crates to the goods to be transported can be achieved by the attachment elements and this adjustment reversible and can be made repeatable or variably adjustable, the devices for this purpose are captively connected to the tray.

Although the attachment elements according to the concept of the invention are captively connected to the tray or to the side wall parts of the tray, this does not mean that they can not be disassembled and reassembled. This may preferably be via a suitable latching respectively. This is advantageous in particular when a damaged attachment element has to be replaced.

The attachment elements according to the invention can be used both for crates, the side wall parts of which overlap in the folded state, as well as for those crates, in which the folded side wall parts do not overlap. In the case in which the side wall parts overlap, and regardless of whether the attachment elements are folded or unfolded, the stack height of the folded empty crates increases and their stackability deteriorates. This type of climbing should also be covered by the transport container system according to the invention.

Figur 1

schematisch eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Steige mit einem eingeklappten Aufsatzelement auf einer Längsseite der Steige und einem aufgeklappten Aufsatzelement auf einer Stirnseite der Steige;

Figur 2

schematisch eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Aufstell-mechanismus für die Aufsatzelemente aus Figur 1;

Figur 3

schematisch eine analoge Darstellung der Figur 2, jedoch mit einem Drehgelenk als Aufstellmechanismus;

Figur 4

schematisch eine analoge Darstellung der Figur 2, jedoch mit einem Schiebegelenk zum Aufstellen und Absenken der Aufsatzelemente;

By way of example, some embodiments of the crate according to the invention will now be described with reference to the figures, the same reference numerals being used for parts having the same functionality. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments fall within the spirit of the invention. Showing:

FIG. 1

schematically a perspective view of a crate according to the invention with a folded attachment element on a longitudinal side of the crate and an unfolded attachment element on an end face of the crate;

FIG. 2

schematically an enlarged view of the erection mechanism for the attachment elements FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3

schematically an analog representation of FIG. 2 , but with a hinge as Aufstellmechanismus;

FIG. 4

schematically an analog representation of FIG. 2 , but with a sliding joint for setting up and lowering the attachment elements;

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a transport container 10 according to the invention FIG. 1 illustrated transport container 10 comprises a hinged tray 10 with a bottom part 13 and attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a, which are captively attached to the side wall parts 11, 11 a, 12, 12 a. How out FIG. 1 shows, the attachment element 15 is integrated in a recess 33 of the side wall portion 11 on the longer side of the tray 10 and closes with this substantially in Thickness direction flush, ie the lancing element 15 is, if at all, only slightly in the thickness direction over the side wall portion 11 addition. As the Ausatzelement 15 in the side wall 11 of FIG. 1 is received, so are the attachment elements 15a, 16 and 16a in their respective side walls 11 a, 12 and 12 a integrated.

In the folded-down position of the attachment parts 15, 15a, 16 and 16a and the folded-up side wall parts 11, 11a, 12 and 12a, the upper contact surfaces 23, 23a, 24 and 24a of the side wall parts 15, 15a, 16 and 16a serve as a support for an above them 10. In the raised position of the attachment elements 15, 15, 16 and 16a, the upper contact surfaces 25, 25a, 26 and 26a of the attachment parts 15, 15a, 16 and 16a assume the function of support surfaces for the bottom part 13 of a parked on the crate 10 further crates 10.

In the unfolded position, as by the attachment element 16 in the FIG. 1 is shown, the respective attachment element extends its associated side wall in the sidewall height direction and the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a increase the overall height of the crate 10 in the unfolded state. The attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a are supported in the sidewall height direction on the upper contact surfaces 25, 25a, 26 and 26a and via clearance cams 22 (FIG. FIG. 2 ) on the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12, 12a. Perpendicular to the height direction of the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12, 12a, the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a are held in sliding slide-in slots 20 of a pivot-and-slide joint 17 in directions parallel to the bottom part 13 via sliding guide surfaces 19. In addition to the support in the horizontal direction through the guide slots 20, guide projections 28, which are preferably arranged on end regions of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a, engage in recesses 27 and reinforce the lateral support of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a under load Parallel to the bottom surface 13. Preferably, 28 paragraphs are arranged on the guide extensions which are supported simultaneously in the vertical direction on the side walls 11, 11a, 12 and 12a or on the upper bearing surfaces 25, 25a, 26 and 26a.

The FIGS. 1 and 2 show further that the rotary-sliding joint 17 is arranged in a recess of the side wall parts so that it is flush in the thickness direction with the side wall part. In this case, the rotary-sliding joint 17 is arranged such that the joint extensions 31 both in the unfolded position and in the folded down Position of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a approximately parallel to the respective side wall parts 11, 11a, 12 and 12a come to rest.

If the attachment element 16, such as in the FIG. 1 shown transferred from the upwardly pivoted position to the retracted position, the attachment element 16 must first be removed in sidewall height direction from the bottom part 13, so that the guide projections 28 out of engagement of the recesses 27 and the sliding guide surfaces 19 are released from the sliding guide slots 20 , If the guides are free, the attachment element 16 can be folded down in the direction of the side wall part in which it is to be integrated. Simultaneously with the rotational movement through 180 °, a translatory movement must take place, so that the sliding guide surfaces 19 do not rest on the outer surfaces of the sliding guide slot 20. This translational movement takes place in the direction of the bottom part. After complete completion of the rotary and sliding movements, the attachment element 16 dips into a receptacle 34 of the side wall part 12. In its end position, the attachment element essentially closes off with the thickness of the side wall part. Just as the attachment element 16 can be integrated into the receptacle 34 of the side wall 12, the side part 15, which is in FIG. 1 is shown, integrated into the receptacle 33 of the side wall 15. Similarly, the attachment elements 15a and 16a, the in FIG. 1 are not visible, in the receptacles 33a and 34a (also not visible) of their respective side walls 15a and 16a are received.

As FIG. 1 shows, two upper contact surfaces 23 are formed on the side wall 11 in the transition region to the adjacent side walls 12 and 12a. These determine together with upper contact surfaces 23a, 24 and 24a of the other side parts 11a, 12 and 12a, the height level of the respective corner regions and thus the transport volume of the crate 10 with folded-over attachment elements. Like also in FIG. 1 shown, the bottom part 13 in the corner regions on recesses into which the elevated corner regions of the side walls / attachment elements are received in a stacking of trays 10. As a result, a non-slip connection of stacked crates 10 is achieved.

In order for such a non-slip connection with unfolded attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a also to be possible, upper support surfaces 25, 25a, 26 and 26a are formed on the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a. These upper bearing surfaces 25, 25a, 26 and 26a on the attachment elements perform the same function as the upper bearing surfaces 23, 23 a, 24 and 24 a on the side wall parts and determine when opened attachment elements, the increased transport volume of the crate 10th

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the erected attachment element 16 of FIG. 1 , wherein only the left end portion of the respective end face of the tray 10 is shown. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary erection mechanism for the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a with reference to the raised attachment element 16. It can be seen that sliding guide surfaces 19, which are formed on both sides of the joint extension 31 engage in erected position of the attachment element 16 in sliding guide slots 20, so that the attachment member 16 in horizontal directions, ie in directions parallel to the bottom surface 13, thereby held and guided in the vertical direction. In FIG. 2 For reasons of clarity, only one sliding guide slot 20 is shown. A second, not shown, sliding guide slot 20 is arranged axially symmetrical to the center line of the joint extension 31 and leads / holds the second sliding guide surface 19. Each two such sliding guide slots 20 are provided for each rotary sliding joint 17.

An additional, but not required, lateral guide receives the attachment element by engaging guide extensions 28 in recesses 27, both of which are preferably designed to support the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a in the direction of folding, i. their dimensions in the sidewall thickness direction are smaller than the thickness of the sidewall parts.

In the FIG. 2 and 3 recesses 27 shown are introduced into the side wall parts such that their shape, for example in an injection mold, no slide is necessary. However, recesses 27 in the form of blind holes are also conceivable, into which the guide extensions 28 can submerge, since when erecting or folding down the attachment elements the rotary-sliding joint permits a height-spaced intermediate position of the attachment elements from the side wall parts, in which the guide extensions 28 out of engagement of the recesses 27 are. However, the formation of blind holes in the upper end surfaces of the side wall parts usually requires a higher manufacturing cost of the side wall parts.

Another slider-free design of the recesses 27 in the side wall parts leaves the openings of the recesses 27 not as in the Figures 2 and 3 shown in the direction in which the attachment element is folded, but arranges the opening of the recesses 27 so that it comes to rest on the opposite side of the receptacles 33, 33a, 34 and 34a in the side wall portions 11, 11a, 12 and 12a for the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a, as exemplified in FIG. 1 is shown on the side wall part 12a. The guide extension 28 on the attachment element 16a is designed accordingly so that it engages in the recess 28 when the attachment element is set up. As a result, a stop against a folding is achieved in particular, which can only be put out of action by the fact that the attachment element is removed in the height direction of its associated side wall part. Regardless of the embodiment, the receptacles 27, of which preferably at least one side wall part 11, 11a, 12 and 12a formed on the opposite side of the receptacles 33, 33a, 34 and 34a in the side wall parts stabilize the attachment elements in their erected position. Preferably, two recesses 27 are each formed on the side facing away from the receptacles 33, 33a, 34 and 34a side of the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12 and 12a in its end regions. Accordingly, corresponding guide extensions 28 are formed on the attachment elements 11, 11a, 12 and 12a at the two end regions.

If the attachment element 16 of the FIG. 2 Removed in a vertical direction from the side wall portion 12, both the sliding guide surfaces 19 and the guide extensions 28 are disengaged and the attachment element 16 can, as in this embodiment, preferably be folded to an outside of the transport box 10 about the pivot pin 18. Since the sliding guide surfaces 19 abut against the outer sides of the slide guide slots 20 by about 180 ° before completion of rotation, the attachment member 16 guided by the pivot pins 18 must move within the slide guide slots 20 toward the base member 13 in an outwardly pivoted position of the attachment member be moved translationally until the depth of the sliding guide slots 20 springs back and the rotation can be completed by about 180 °. For this purpose, 18 recesses are provided on the sliding guide surfaces in the transition region to the pivot pin, which allow such a sliding movement.

After completion of the sliding movement, the attachment element 16 can be pivoted into the receptacle 34 of the side wall part 12. In FIG. 1 is the example of the attachment element 15 and the receptacle 33 in the side wall portion 11, the integrated into the side wall 11 position of the attachment element 15 is shown.

In another embodiment, the rotary-slide joints 17 are formed as pure pivots 17a, wherein, for example, a detent 21 holds the attachment element 16 in the pivoted-up position. Each hinge 17a a detent 21 is provided and attached to the side wall portion, as exemplified in FIG. 3 shown. On each side of the tray 10 at least two hinges 17a are provided for setting up the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a and a corresponding number of locking lugs.

The embodiment in FIG. 3 shows the locking lugs 21 formed on the side wall 12, but this is only one example of such fixing for the attachment elements in their erected position. There are also all kinds of locking, clamping, screw, bayonet, Velcro, Adhäsionsverbindungen or the like for temporary locking conceivable that fix the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a in their respective positions so that they at any time from the unfolded position in the folded position and vice versa are transferred, wherein the attachment elements are locked at least in the unfolded position. It is irrelevant whether the male or female parts of the applied locking devices are provided on the side walls or on the attachment elements, as long as each one of the two locking parts on the side wall and the associated other locking part is attached to the attachment element.

Preferably, however, the locking devices are designed so that they do not protrude in the thickness direction of the side wall parts or not significantly beyond the side wall parts.

Also, the formation of the rotary joint, which rotates about the pivot pin 18, is only an example and it can also find other hinges application, which have a rotation axis parallel to the bottom surface 13.

In side wall height direction, the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a, as in the previous embodiment, supported by spacer cam 22, wherein the number of spacer cams 22 per side of the crate is variable.

To improve the lateral guidance, ie in the side wall part thickness direction, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown, recesses 27 and guide extensions 28 provided. Preferably, the receptacles 27 on the side wall parts formed and the extensions 28 on the attachment parts 15, 15a, 16 and 16a, wherein a reverse arrangement is possible. Further, the guide extensions 28 may for example also be mounted in the height direction of the side wall parts displaceable either on the side wall parts or the attachment elements to be inserted into recesses 27, which are formed on the other part. As a result, for example, a Abklappblockierung the attachment elements can be achieved.

To return the attachment element in non-blocked locking back to its retracted position, must be overcome to trigger the reverse rotation in this embodiment, only the resistance of the holding or latching elements 21. The holding elements 21 are embodied for example as latching lugs 21, which on the one hand enable and ensure the upright position of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16a, 16a by elastic deformation, and on the other hand, for example, by a jerkily applied force, release the attachment elements again, thus they can be pivoted into the corresponding receptacles of the associated side wall. In this position, the attachment elements may be replaced by suitable means, e.g. by snapping, clamping or hooking with hook and loop fasteners, etc., also be fixed so that the attachment elements are not loosely in the folded state in their respective recordings and interfere with the handling of the crates 10, neither with raised sidewall parts nor with folded sidewall parts.

In a further embodiment, the in FIG. 4 is shown, a purely translational movement brings the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a of their integrated into the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12, 12a position in the position in which they increase the capacity of the transport container 10. This can be accomplished, for example, by a sliding guide 17b, in which the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a can be locked in the sliding guide slots 20 in various positions by, for example, latching elements 21 formed on the articulation extensions 31. For lowering the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a into the integrated position in the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12, 12a, only the locking elements 21 on the guide rods 31 must therefore be disengaged from the clearances 32 of the sliding guide slots 20 and the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a can be lowered.

In this embodiment, the tops 25, 25a, 26 and 26a of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a serve in both the lowered position and the raised position Position with folded-up side wall parts 11, 11a, 12 and 12a as bearing surfaces 25, 25a, 26 and 26a for the bottom part 13 of a parked above the crate 10 further crate 10th

Suitably, the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a of the third embodiment, as in FIG FIG. 4 In the position integrated in the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12, 12a, tasks of the side wall parts are shown, so that in this position preferably the top sides 25, 25a, 26, 26a of the top elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a are the top sides 23, 23a, 24, 24a of the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12 and 12a of the previous embodiments correspond.

Advantage of the embodiment of FIG. 4 is that with the simplest means a variable height fixing of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16, 16a is possible. Such height variable fixing is particularly advantageous if the cargo, which is to be transported in the transport containers 10, varies greatly in size.

As shown in the embodiments, several ways of attachment of attachment elements on Seitenwanteilen 11, 11 a, 12, 12 a possible, which also not listed embodiments are also included in the inventive idea, as long as in its position changeable attachment elements such on a transport container, in particular a tray 10 are mounted so that they define different transport volumes of the transport container in different positions and are mounted captive on the transport container. In this case, the footprints 23, 23a, 24 and 24a of the side wall parts 11, 11a, 12, 12a or the footprints 25, 25a 26 and 26a of the attachment elements 15, 15a, 16 and 16a arranged in sidewall height direction of the bottom part 13 that the capacity of the transport container is increased or decreased.

The attachment elements 15, 15 a, 16, 16 a of the side wall parts 11, 11 a, 12, 12 a both in the erected and in the sidewall accommodated position in the respective side wall parts 11, 11 a, 12, 12 a only with increased effort be removed from the side panels.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Transport container, crate

11/11

Sidewall part, long

12/12

Sidewall part, short

13

the bottom part

14/14

handle recess

15/15

Attachment element, long

16/16

Attachment element, short

17

Rotary-sliding joint

17a

Rotary joint

17b

sliding guide

18

pivot

19

Sliding guide surface

20

Sliding guide slot

21

locking lug

22

spacer lugs

23/23

upper contact patch, long

24 / 24a

upper footprint, short

25 / 25a

upper contact patch, long

26/26

upper footprint, short

27

recesses

28

Guide extensions

31

Articular process

33/33

Recording attachment element, long

34/34

Recording attachment element, short

Claims (12)

Transport container system, in particular for the transport of general cargo, such as fruit or vegetables, with: a stackable tray (10) whose bottom part (13) and four side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a) are structured in a shape-stable and pressure-stable manner, each sidewall member (11, 11a, 12, 12a) having a slidable attachment member (16) connected to the sidewall member interposed between a lowered position integrated in the sidewall member (11, 11a, 12, 12a) and a raised position for enlargement the capacity of the crate is movable, wherein a sliding guide (17b) is provided, which allows a translational movement of the attachment element (16) between the lowered position and the raised position, wherein upper sides (25, 25a, 26, 26a) of the attachment elements (16) both in the lowered position and in the raised position with folded-up side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a) as bearing surfaces (25, 25a, 26, 26a) for a bottom part (13) of a above the crate (10) parked further crate (10) are effective, and wherein the attachment elements (16) project at least not substantially beyond the thickness of the side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a). A system according to claim 1, wherein the side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a), together with the attachment elements (16), lie from a substantially lying position on the bottom part (13) to an upright position, substantially perpendicular to the bottom part (13 ), and vice versa are hinged, wherein in the upright position adjacent side wall parts are latched together. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the trays (10) are stackable with attachment elements (16) in the lowered position. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the trays (10) are stackable with attachment members (16) in the raised position. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each attachment element is slidably mounted on at least one location on the respective side wall part. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the attachment elements (16) are detachably attached to the side wall portions (11, 11a, 12, 12a). System according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the attachment elements (16) of a tray (10) contact areas (25, 25a 26, 26a) which are substantially conforming to corresponding areas of an underside of the bottom part (13) of the crate (10 ) are. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the contact surfaces (25, 25a 26, 26a) of raised support elements (16) of a tray (10) lie substantially in a common plane parallel to the base (13). The system of claim 8, wherein the trays (10) have different sidewall heights. A system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the attachment elements (16) have different heights. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the attachment elements (16) are made of the same material as the side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a). A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the side wall parts (11, 11a, 12, 12a) and the attachment elements (16) are made of different material.

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