EP2394922A1 - Plastic pallet, able to adopt a nested position and a stacked position - Google Patents

Abstract

The loading pallet (1) has front feet (30, 40), intermediate feet (50, 60) and rear feet (70, 80) supporting a plate, where each foot is realized under a form of hollow hull. The feet are engaged in interior volume of hollow feet (1030-1080) of a lower identical pallet (1001) in an embedding position. The feet are supported near an opening (1081) of complementary hollow feet of the lower identical pallet in another embedding position.

Description

The invention relates to a plastic handling pallet, capable of adopting a nesting position and a stacking position.

Handling pallets are traditionally made of wood. Handling pallets made of plastic, generally obtained by molding, are also known. This type of pallet is for example described in French patents 2,070,367 , 2,172,412 and 2,259,023 , or in the European patent application 1,190,953 .

The present invention relates more particularly to a pallet comprising a plate, of the solid or perforated type, which rests on different hollow feet. These are made in the form of shells, whose peripheral walls are closed, two adjacent feet are also not connected by a sole.

Such a pallet lends itself to a stacking operation, in which the feet of the upper pallet are embedded in the interior volume of the feet of the lower pallet. An example of such a pallet is, among others, that marketed by the applicant under the reference SF 800 UL.

The invention aims to provide such a pallet, which can also adopt a so-called stacked position, allowing its stacking. In this configuration, the pallets are arranged one above the other, without however that their feet do not fit each other.

Publications are already known in which handling crates have two distinct positions, in particular by rotating a quarter of a turn. In this respect, mention may be made in particular of European patent applications 0 292 787 and 0 680 886 as well as US Patent 3,430,806. However, these solutions can not be adapted immediately to pallets, as targeted by the invention.

This being said, the invention aims to provide a plastic pallet equipped with hollow feet which, while having a simple structure, is likely to have two distinct positions of interlocking and stacking. It also aims to propose such a palette, which can adopt one or the other of these positions by means of a very intuitive manipulation of the operator.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a handling pallet made of plastic material, comprising a plate and feet supporting this plate, each leg being made in the form of a hollow shell, this pallet having a first so-called interlocking position. of the pallet, in which the hollow feet of this pallet are adapted to fit into the interior volume of the same hollow feet of an identical pallet, called lower, characterized in that this pallet also has a second position, called stacking, wherein the hollow feet of the pallet are adapted to bear in the vicinity of the outlet of other hollow feet, said complementary, the lower pallet.

The idea underlying the invention is to provide the palette of feet, whose shape is specific. This allows both a conventional nesting, when the feet of a given pallet cooperate with the same feet of another identical palette, but also a stack when these same feet cooperate with different feet of the other pallet.

In addition, the passage between these two positions is particularly convenient and intuitive to implement. Finally, the palette of the invention keeps a simple structure, since it does not in particular use of mobile elements, retractable or removable type.

• le débouché de chaque pied creux est bordé par au moins une paroi mince, les pieds creux de cette palette étant propres à venir en appui contre la ou chaque paroi mince bordant le débouché des pieds creux complémentaires de la palette inférieure, dans la position d'empilage.
• l'ensemble formé par le débouché et la ou chaque paroi mince est rectangulaire.
• le débouché de chaque pied est symétrique, par rapport à cet axe médian, du débouché du pied qui lui est complémentaire.
• le débouché est symétrique par rapport à son centre, mais n'est pas symétrique par rapport à son axe médian.
• le débouché comprend un rectangle de base, prolongé par deux saillies rectangulaires, de sorte que ce débouché présente une forme de S.
• le débouché présente une forme de L.
• le débouché présente une forme de T.
• le débouché présente une forme de U
• le débouché présente une forme de E.
• chaque pied possède une section transversale de forme sensiblement constante, depuis son débouché jusqu'à son fond.
• le passage de la position d'emboîtement, ou d'empilement, à la position d'empilement, ou d'emboîtement, est propre à être réalisé par rotation de la palette d'un demi-tour, autour d'un axe perpendiculaire au plan du plateau.
• chaque pied creux est une coque dont les parois latérales sont sensiblement fermées.
• deux pieds adjacents sont indépendants, sans être reliés mutuellement par une semelle.

The palette of the invention may have the following advantageous characteristics:

• the outlet of each hollow foot is bordered by at least one thin wall, the hollow feet of this pallet being adapted to bear against the or each thin wall bordering the outlet of the complementary hollow feet of the lower pallet, in the position of stacking.
• the assembly formed by the outlet and the or each thin wall is rectangular.
• the outlet of each foot is symmetrical, with respect to this median axis, of the opening of the foot which is complementary to it.
• the outlet is symmetrical with respect to its center, but is not symmetrical with respect to its median axis.
• the outlet includes a basic rectangle, extended by two rectangular projections, so that this outlet has an S shape.
• the outlet has an L shape.
• the outlet has a T shape.
• the outlet has a U shape
• the outlet has an E shape.
• each foot has a cross section of substantially constant shape, from its opening to its bottom.
• the passage from the nesting position, or stacking, to the stacking position, or nesting position, is adapted to be achieved by rotating the pallet by a half-turn, about an axis perpendicular to the plan of the plateau.
• each hollow foot is a shell whose side walls are substantially closed.
• two adjacent feet are independent, without being interconnected by a sole.

• Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en perspective, sous deux angles différents, d'une palette de manutention selon l'invention ;
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessus de cette palette ;
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique de dessus, illustrant de façon plus précise deux pieds, dits complémentaires, de cette palette ;
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective, illustrant l'emboîtement de deux palettes, conformes aux figures 1 à 4 ;
• La figure 6 est une vue en perspective, illustrant l'empilage de ces deux palettes ;
• La figure 7 est une vue schématique de dessus, illustrant la coopération de deux pieds de ces palettes, dans la position d'empilage ;
• La figure 8 est une vue en perspective, avec coupe longitudinale, illustrant la coopération de ces deux pieds ;
• Les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues schématiques en perspective illustrant la coopération, respectivement dans la position d'emboîtement et dans la position d'empilage, de deux pieds appartenant à des palettes conformes à un second mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Les figures 11 et 12 sont des vues schématiques en perspective illustrant la coopération, respectivement dans la position d'emboîtement et dans la position d'empilage, de deux pieds appartenant à des palettes conformes à un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Les figures 13 et 14 sont des vues schématiques en perspective illustrant la coopération, respectivement dans la position d'emboîtement et dans la position d'empilage, de deux pieds appartenant à des palettes conformes à un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Les figures 15 et 16 sont des vues schématiques en perspective illustrant la coopération, respectivement dans la position d'emboîtement et dans la position d'empilage, de deux pieds appartenant à des palettes conformes à un cinquième mode de réalisation de l'invention ; et
• Les figures 17 et 18 sont des vues schématiques en perspective illustrant la coopération, respectivement dans la position d'emboîtement et dans la position d'empilage, de deux pieds appartenant à des palettes conformes à un sixième mode de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description given below, given by way of non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• The figures 1 and 2 are views in perspective, from two different angles, of a handling pallet according to the invention;
• The figure 3 is a top view of this palette;
• The figure 4 is a schematic view from above, illustrating more precisely two feet, said complementary, of this pallet;
• The figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the interlocking of two pallets, in accordance with Figures 1 to 4 ;
• The figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the stacking of these two pallets;
• The figure 7 is a schematic view from above, illustrating the cooperation of two feet of these pallets, in the stacking position;
• The figure 8 is a perspective view, with longitudinal section, illustrating the cooperation of these two feet;
• The Figures 9 and 10 are schematic perspective views illustrating the cooperation, respectively in the nesting position and in the stacking position, of two feet belonging to pallets according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• The Figures 11 and 12 are schematic perspective views illustrating the cooperation, respectively in the nesting position and in the stacking position, of two feet belonging to pallets according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• The Figures 13 and 14 are schematic perspective views illustrating the cooperation, respectively in the nesting position and in the stacking position, of two feet belonging to pallets according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
• The Figures 15 and 16 are schematic perspective views illustrating the cooperation, respectively in the nesting position and in the stacking position, of two feet belonging to pallets according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and
• The Figures 17 and 18 are schematic perspective views illustrating the cooperation, respectively in the nesting position and in the stacking position, of two feet belonging to pallets according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

The handling pallet 1 according to a first variant of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the Figures 1 to 7 is made of plastic, for example high density polyethylene or polypropylene and, in general, any injectable plastic material. It is formed by any suitable method, in particular by high pressure or low pressure plastic injection. For purely illustrative purposes, it has a length of 800 mm, a width of 600 mm and a height of about 130 mm, these dimensions may vary depending on the need.

This pallet firstly comprises peripheral enclosure walls, forming generally a rectangle in plan view. We design thus by 10 and 10 'the longitudinal walls and by 12 and 12' the front walls respectively "front" and "back" respectively corresponding to the long sides and short sides of this rectangle.

The pallet is also provided with a goods receiving tray, which consists of a mesh of material 14. However, it can be provided that this tray is full, or partially openwork, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The pallet further comprises different feet, divided into three rows, having two feet each. With reference to the figure 1 there are front feet 30 and 40, intermediate feet 50 and 60, and rear legs 70 and 80.

The different feet described above are made in the form of hollow hulls, whose peripheral walls are substantially closed. In the illustrated example, these walls are solid, however, it can be expected that they are entirely or partially openwork. In addition, the bottom of these feet may be substantially closed, or all or part openwork so as to promote the flow of washing water, and to avoid any retention of liquid.

Two adjacent feet are independent, ie they are not connected by a bottom flange. In addition, the bottom of the feet is advantageously ribbed, in order to benefit from an additional support zone during the interlocking of the pallets between them.

As will be seen in what follows, the pallet has a stacking position in which each foot cooperates with a complementary foot of another pallet, which corresponds to a rotation of a half-turn of the pallet. In other words, the respective feet 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 then cooperate with those 1080, 1070, 1060, 1050, 1040 and 1030 of an identical pallet, as will be more clearly illustrated with reference to the figures 6 and following.

The figure 4 illustrates more particularly two feet 30 and 80 for mutually cooperating in this stacking position. The hollow foot 30 has an outlet 31, at the periphery of which are provided two thin walls 32 and 33.

The assembly formed by this outlet and these two walls, defines a main rectangle R. The outlet 31 is formed by a base rectangle r , smaller than that R, and two projections 34 and 35, also rectangular. The latter are provided on both sides of a median axis A of this outlet.

Thus, the outlet 31 has about one S shape. It is symmetrical with respect to its center C, namely that its shape is unchanged by a rotation of a half-turn. Finally, the two walls 32 and 33 are also placed on either side of this axis A.

Each of these feet has a substantially solid bottom 36 to 86, the pallet resting on these different funds in its normal position of use. Each foot is slightly tapered, ie its dimensions diminish towards its bottom, to promote nesting.

However, the shape of this foot, according to a cross section, is substantially invariant over its entire height, from its opening to its bottom. We thus note r 'the basic rectangle of this bottom 36, as well as 37 and 38 the two projections which prolong it (see in particular figure 2 ).

Returning to figure 4 , the outlet 81 of the hollow foot 80, complementary to that 30, is also formed by the basic rectangle r and two projections 84 and 85. In addition, there are also two thin walls 82 and 83. In contrast, in top view these projections and walls are inverted, that is, the hollow foot 80 is symmetrical with that 30, with respect to the axis A.

In general, two complementary feet, intended to cooperate mutually during stacking, are symmetrical to each other with respect to this median axis. Thus foot 40, which is identical to that 30, is symmetrical with that 70, while foot 50, which is also identical to that 30, is symmetrical with that 60.

The figure 5 illustrates the nesting of the pallet 1, described above, with an identical pallet 1001, called lower. For the latter, we will use each time the same reference numbers, increased by 1000, for mechanical elements similar to those of the pallet 1.

In this interlocking configuration, the same feet of the two pallets cooperate in the usual way, so that the feet 30 to 80 of the upper pallet 1 are embedded in the interior of the same feet 1030 to 1080 of the lower pallet 1001. Note that this interlocking is not hindered by the walls 32 and 33, because of their small thickness, as well as thanks to the shape of the feet. Note also that this thickness can vary, since it is the angle of the foot that determines the height of the pallet and the shape of the support of the foot with the ground. Thus, if we change this angle without changing this height, the two feet may collide or even move away from each other.

The figure 6 now illustrates the stacking of these pallets, for which the upper pallet 1 was rotated by a half turn relative to the figure 5 . Under these conditions, the feet 30 to 80 now cooperate with those 1080 to 1030. We will more particularly describe, with Figures 7 and 8 , stacking between the feet 30 and 1080, it being understood that the other pairs of feet cooperate in a similar manner.

Once the pallet 1 returned, the bottom 36 of the foot 30 does not penetrate into the interior of the complementary hollow foot 1080. Indeed, its two projections 37 and 38 bear against the respective walls 1082 and 1083, adjacent to the outlet 1081 of this foot 1080. Therefore the pallet 1 is no longer nested, but stacked or stacked on the pallet 1001.

Note that the above embodiment has specific advantages, particularly in terms of rigidity. Indeed, the central symmetry of the shape of the different feet allows a good distribution of constraints. In addition, this embodiment provides a satisfactory ease of realization, insofar as the pallet can be made from molds, whose machining is relatively easy.

In what follows, we will now present different embodiments, with respect to the profile of each foot. As these variants are presented, the reference numbers used for the same mechanical elements will be increased by 100 each time.

To the Figures 9 and 10 , the pallet has a foot 130 of L-shaped section, the outlet 131 is bordered by a single wall 132, this outlet and this wall defining a rectangle. In the nesting position ( figure 9 ), the foot 130 enters the identical hollow foot 1130 of the lower pallet whereas, in the stacking position ( figure 10 ), the bottom 136 of this foot bears against the wall 1182 of the complementary foot 1180.

To the Figures 11 and 12 , the pallet has a foot 230 of T-shaped section, the outlet 231 is bordered by two walls 232 and 233, this outlet and these walls defining a rectangle. In the nesting position ( figure 11 ), the foot 230 enters the identical hollow foot 1230 of the lower pallet whereas, in the stacking position ( figure 12 ), the bottom 236 of this foot bears against the walls 1282 and 1283 of the complementary leg 1280.

To the Figures 13 and 14 , the pallet has a foot 330 of U-shaped section or C, the outlet 331 is bordered by a single wall 332, this outlet and this wall defining a rectangle. In the nesting position ( figure 13 ), the foot 330 enters the identical hollow foot 1330 of the lower pallet whereas, in the stacking position ( figure 14 ), the bottom 336 of this foot bears against the wall 1382 of the complementary foot 1380.

To the Figures 15 and 16 , the pallet has a foot 430 of E or W-shaped section, the outlet 431 is bordered by two walls 432 and 433, this outlet and these walls defining a rectangle. In the nesting position ( figure 15 ), the foot 430 enters the identical hollow foot 1430 of the lower pallet whereas, in the stacking position ( figure 16 ), the bottom 436 of this foot bears against the walls 1482 and 1483 of the complementary foot 1480.

To the Figures 17 and 18 , the palette has a 530 foot complex profile. Its outlet 531 has the overall shape of a U 531 ', the soul is extended by an additional branch 531. This outlet is bordered by three walls 532, 533 and 533', this outlet and these walls defining a rectangle.

In the nesting position ( figure 17 ), the foot 530 enters the identical hollow foot 1530 of the lower pallet. Moreover, in the stacking position ( figure 18 ), the bottom 536 of this foot bears against the walls 1582, 1583 and 1583 'of the complementary foot 1580.

In the different alternative embodiments presented to the Figures 9 to 18 as in the first mode, the outlet of each foot is symmetrical, with respect to a median axis, of the outlet of the foot which is complementary to it. In contrast, in these alternative modes, unlike the first mode, this outlet does not have a central symmetry.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Thus, it can be provided to use feet, whose cross section has different shapes from those described above. The skilled person can thus find any suitable form, allowing the stacking of the pallets by a half-turn.

In addition, the invention finds application to pallets having a different number of feet, compared to those described above. Thus one can predict either two rows or more than three rows. In addition, each row may have more than two feet.

Claims (14)

Pallet (1) of plastic handling, comprising a plate (14) and feet (30-80, 1030-1080; 130, 1130, 1180; 230, 1230, 1280; 330, 1330, 1380; 430, 1430, 1480, 530, 1530, 1580) supporting this plate, each foot being made in the form of a hollow shell, this pallet having a first so-called nesting position of the pallet, in which the hollow feet (30-80) of this pallet (1) are adapted to be embedded in the interior volume of the same hollow feet (1030-1080) of an identical pallet (1001), called lower, characterized in that this pallet (1) also has a second position , said stacking, wherein the hollow feet (30-80) of this pallet (1) are adapted to bear in the vicinity of the outlet (1081) other hollow feet (1080-1030), said complementary, of the lower palette. Plastic handling pallet according to claim 1 wherein the outlet (31, 1081; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) of each hollow foot is bordered by at least one thin wall (32, 33, 1082, 1083; 132, 232, 233, 332, 432, 433, 532, 533, 533 '), the hollow feet (30) of this pallet (1) being able to bear against the or each thin wall (1082, 1083), bordering the outlet of the complementary hollow feet of the lower pallet (1001), in the stacking position. Plastic handling pallet according to claim 2, wherein the assembly formed by the outlet (31, 1081; 131; 231; 331; 431; 531) and the or each thin wall (32, 33, 1082, 1083; 132, 232, 233, 332, 432, 433, 532, 533, 533 ') is rectangular. Plastic handling pallet according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the outlet (31) of each foot (30) is symmetrical, with respect to a median axis (A), of the outlet (81) of the foot ( 80) which is complementary to it. Plastic handling pallet according to one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the outlet (31, 81) is symmetrical by relative to its center (C), but is not symmetrical with respect to its median axis (A). Plastic handling pallet according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the outlet (31, 81) comprises a base rectangle (r), extended by two rectangular projections (34, 35, 84, 85), so that outlet has a shape of S. Plastic handling pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outlet (131) has an L shape. Plastic handling pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outlet (231) has a T-shape. Plastic handling pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outlet (331) has a shape of U. Plastic handling pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the outlet (431) has an E-shape. Plastic handling pallet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each foot has a cross section of substantially constant shape, from its opening to its bottom. Plastic handling pallet according to one of the preceding claims, in which the passage from the interlocking or stacking position to the stacking or interlocking position is suitable for being made by rotation of the palette of a half-turn, around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the plateau. Plastic handling pallet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each hollow foot is a shell whose side walls are substantially closed. Plastic handling pallet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two adjacent legs are independent, without being interconnected by a sole.

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