EP2463207A1 - Pallet with hinged corner posts - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet (2) has a frame comprising a post (4a) deployed between a storage position on a base (3) and a utilization position in which the post is erected on the base. A flexible winding element (10) is assembled with the post in an integral manner, and extended perpendicular to the base in the utilization position to retain goods stored on the pallet. The base has housing (6) to receive the post in the storage position and an orifice to receive the post in the utilization position. The base is made of thermoformed plastic material, and the post is made of metal or composite material. The flexible winding element is chosen from a plastic material or textile fiber net, a fabric and a film. An independent claim is also included for a method for palletization of the pallet.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of handling pallets, and more particularly to double skin thermoformed pallets.

A double skin thermoformed pallet is generally formed from two sheets of a plastic material and is generally shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped.

Several types of such pallets are known and they have applications in many technical sectors. The best known is the wooden pallet on which goods are arranged.

A disadvantage of existing pallets is the difficulty to maintain and wrap goods placed on such pallets. The existing method, known as palletizing, for packing goods placed on a pallet, for example of wood, for storage and / or transport, is to surround the goods with a transparent plastic extensible film. This process involves difficulties and wastes time because it takes several turns for the plastic film to pack the goods and it takes either an operator to turn around the pallet or an expensive machine rotating the pallet while packing the goods. with the plastic film and dedicated only to such an application. In addition, another disadvantage of such a palletizing film is that it serves only once, requiring large amounts of film, thus generating costs and waste in large numbers.

The object of the invention is to obtain a pallet allowing very simply and quickly to palletize goods without requiring the use of a specific machine or plastic film tedious to set up and not reusable.

The invention achieves these objectives, by providing a storage pallet comprising a base and a frame adapted to be deployed on the base, said frame comprising at least one amount arranged to be deployed between a storage position on the base and a position of use in which said upright is erected on the base of the pallet, said pallet being characterized in that it comprises a flexible winding element mounted integral with the upright and arranged to be extended substantially perpendicular to the base in position d use of the amount so as to retain goods stored on the pallet.

The palletizing is thus easy and fast to implement by a single operator and without a specific machine. It can also be done a plurality of times with the same winding element, reusable a large number of times. In addition, the goods may be visible or identifiable on the pallet after palletizing.

In addition, the frames of the pallet are foldable flat on or in the pallet, allowing easy empty storage of the pallet, or even use without the frames of the pallet. Several pallets can thus be stacked or stacked on each other in particular in the storage position.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pallet further comprises winding means, the winding element being arranged to be wound on the winding means, the amount being configured so that the winding element is able to be unwound between a wound position and a unwound position when the amount is in the use position.

According to one aspect of the invention, the armature comprises at least one amount that can be deployed between a storage position and a position of use, said post comprising means for holding the winding element in an unwound position. This allows in particular to maintain the winding element when wrapping goods on the pallet. When the winding means, the winding element and the holding means are on the same amount, this allows in particular to use only one amount on the pallet. Thus, the winding element of the amount can wrap the goods and then be hooked to the same amount after going around the goods.

According to one aspect of the invention, the winding element further comprises hooking means able to maintain the winding element in a unwound position. This allows in particular to hang the winding element is by engaging on the means for maintaining an amount, or by engaging directly on the goods. These hooking means may for example be hooks, an extruded plastic profile, a self-gripping strip, etc.

According to one aspect of the invention, the attachment means of the winding element are able to engage with the means for holding an amount in an unrolled position. This allows to hang the element on an amount of the pallet, making the attachment and therefore the solid palletization.

According to one aspect of the invention, the base of the pallet further comprises at least one housing and is configured so that said housing is adapted to receive an amount in the storage position. This allows storing the amount (s) on or in the pallet in storage position, when the amounts are folded. This allows more, when the housing (s) are of sufficient depth to accommodate the or the amount (s) entirely to obtain a pallet of parallelepiped shape including the amounts, which facilitates the storage of the pallet, including its stack with other pallets, for example of the same type.

According to one aspect of the invention, the base further comprises at least one orifice and is configured so that said orifice is adapted to receive an amount in the position of use. This makes it possible to insert an amount and better maintain it in the use position of the pallet, especially when several pallets are stacked one above the other.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pallet further comprises at least one element for fixing an amount to the pallet, said fastening element comprising a pivot connection and being configured so that said pivot connection is capable of allowing the tilting said amount between a storage position and a position of use. This keeps the amount fixed to the pallet and tilt the amount on the pallet between a storage position and a position of use.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pallet further comprises at least one element for fixing an amount to the pallet, said fixing element comprising an axis and being configured so that said axis is able to allow the tilting, around of the axis, said amount between a storage position and a position of use. This keeps the amount fixed to the pallet and tilt the amount on the pallet between a storage position and a position of use. An ax is easier to assemble and disassemble when the amount needs to be mounted or changed.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pallet is formed of two plastic plates thermoformed double skin. The advantages of a plastic material include lightness, strength and strength. This technology makes it possible to obtain products lightweight, with good mechanical properties and good impact resistance. An advantage of thermoforming is that shapes can easily be given to the material. For example, housings and orifices can easily be arranged in the material during its manufacture. Other advantages are the inexpensive tooling and the ease of changing the tooling according to the needs.

According to one aspect of the invention, at least one post is made of metal or composite material. This allows the amount to be strong and resistant. This also implies good mechanical properties to compression, especially when pallets are stacked on each other.

According to one aspect of the invention, the pallet is able to be stacked, in storage position, with a second pallet. This allows in particular to facilitate the stacking of a plurality of pallets in pallets storage position, that is to say when they are folded.

According to one aspect of the invention, the frame of the pallet comprises four uprights and the pallet is able to be stacked, in use position, with a second pallet. This allows in particular to facilitate the stacking of a plurality of pallets in the position of use of the pallets, that is to say when the amounts thereof are unfolded.

• on déploie le montant d'une position de rangement à une position d'utilisation, ledit montant étant dressé sur la palette dans ladite position d'utilisation,
• on étend l'élément d'enroulement souple sensiblement perpendiculairement au socle de sorte à retenir des marchandises stockées sur la palette.

The invention also relates to a method of palletizing a pallet, as defined above, comprising the steps according to which:

• the amount of a storage position is deployed at a position of use, said amount being erected on the pallet in said position of use,
• the flexible winding element is extended substantially perpendicular to the base so as to retain goods stored on the pallet.

This makes it possible to quickly assemble the crate in the use position and to proceed to an easy and fast palletizing of the goods. In addition, since the winding element, for example a net, is reusable, the palletizing process can be applied to many different goods installed in turn on the pallet.

According to one aspect of the invention, the amount further comprises means for winding the winding element on the amount and the method comprises in in addition to a step according to which, when extending the flexible winding element, it is unrolled between a wound position and a unwound position.

According to one aspect of the invention, the armature of the pallet comprises at least one amount that can be deployed between a storage position and a position of use and comprising means for holding the flexible winding element in a position extended, said method further comprising a step of attaching the winding member in an extended position to the holding means.

The base and the frame comprising the or the amounts form a single block and pack and solidarity.

• La figure 1, représente une palette en position de rangement avec des montants repliés.
• La figure 2, représente une palette en position d'utilisation avec quatre montants dressés dans laquelle des éléments d'enroulement sont déroulés, et accrochés, sur trois côtés du parallélépipède formé par le socle et les montants.
• La figure 3 représente une palette en position d'utilisation avec quatre montants dressés dans laquelle des éléments d'enroulement sont déroulés, et accrochés, sur quatre côtés du parallélépipède formé par le socle et les montants.
• La figure 4 représente une palette en position de rangement avec des montants repliés.
• La figure 5 représente une palette en position d'utilisation avec deux montants dressés dans laquelle des éléments d'enroulement sont déroulés, et accrochés, sur quatre côtés du parallélépipède formé par le socle et les montants.
• La figure 6 représente la base d'un montant basculant entre une position de rangement et une position d'utilisation.
• La figure 7 représente une vue en perspective d'une palette selon l'invention en position de rangement avec des montants repliés.
• La figure 8 représente une vue en perspective de la palette de la figure 7 dans les montants sont dépliés, dressés sur le socle et définissant substantiellement un parallélépipède rectangle.
• La figure 9 représente une vue en perspective de la palette de la figure 8 dont un élément enrouleur souple a été déroulé sur deux faces latérales du parallélépipède.
• La figure 10 représente une vue en perspective de la palette de la figure 9 dont deux éléments enrouleurs souple ont été déroulés sur les quatre faces latérales du parallélépipède, deux à deux.
• La figure 11 représente une vue en perspective de deux palettes de la figure 7 dont les montants sont repliés en position de rangement et empilées l'une sur l'autre.
• La figure 12 représente une vue en perspective de deux palettes de la figure 10 dont les montants sont dépliés en position d'utilisation et empilées l'une sur l'autre.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• The figure 1 , represents a pallet in storage position with folded amounts.
• The figure 2 , represents a pallet in the position of use with four erected uprights in which winding elements are unwound, and hung on three sides of the parallelepiped formed by the base and the uprights.
• The figure 3 represents a pallet in the position of use with four erected uprights in which winding elements are unwound, and hung on four sides of the parallelepiped formed by the base and the uprights.
• The figure 4 represents a pallet in storage position with folded amounts.
• The figure 5 represents a pallet in the position of use with two erected uprights in which winding elements are unwound, and hung on four sides of the parallelepiped formed by the base and the uprights.
• The figure 6 represents the base of an amount tilting between a storage position and a position of use.
• The figure 7 represents a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention in storage position with folded amounts.
• The figure 8 represents a perspective view of the palette of the figure 7 in the uprights are unfolded, erected on the base and substantially defining a rectangular parallelepiped.
• The figure 9 represents a perspective view of the palette of the figure 8 a flexible winding element has been unwound on two lateral faces of the parallelepiped.
• The figure 10 represents a perspective view of the palette of the figure 9 of which two flexible winding elements were unwound on the four lateral faces of the parallelepiped, two by two.
• The figure 11 represents a perspective view of two pallets of the figure 7 whose amounts are folded in the storage position and stacked one on the other.
• The figure 12 represents a perspective view of two pallets of the figure 10 whose amounts are unfolded in the use position and stacked one on the other.

To the Figures 1 to 3 , 4 to 6 and 7 to 12 there is shown a storage pallet 2 respectively according to three embodiments of the invention.

The storage pallet 2 comprises a base 3 and a frame. The armature is able to be deployed on the base 3 and comprises at least one upright 4a that can be deployed between a storage position, folded on the base 3, and a position of use in which said upright 4a is erected on the base .

The storage pallet 2 comprises a flexible winding element 10 mounted integral with the upright 4a and arranged to be extended substantially perpendicularly to the base 3 in the position of use of the upright 4a so as to retain goods stored on the pallet 2. Flexible winding element 10 can be, for example, in the form of a net secured to the upright 4a or a web, for example, plastic, integral with the amount 4a.

Thus, when the amount 4a is deployed in the use position, raised on the base 3, perpendicularly thereto, the winding element 10 can be extended by an operator so as to wrap goods stored on the pallet 2 By extension is meant here that the winding element 10 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the base 3 so as to close at least in part at least one side of a parallelepiped having the base 3 for base and whose height is defined by the height of the winding element 10. Once extended, the winding element 10 can be fixed either to a second upright 4b of the pallet, or to the same upright amount 4a, 4b which it is secured, or on goods stored on the pallet as described below.

In the embodiments of the present invention illustrated by the Figures 1 to 12 , the upright 4a further comprises winding means 14, the winding element 10 being furthermore capable of being wound on the winding means 14 themselves or on the upright 4a by the winding means 14 The amount 4a is thus configured so that the winding element 10 is able to be unwound between a wound position and a unwound position when the amount 4a is in the use position.

The winding element 10 can be fixed on the winding means 14 of a post 4a. The winding means 14 may for example be formed of a roller, for example plastic or metal, mounted on or in the amount 4a and for example provided with a return spring for unwinding and winding the winding element 10 on the roll.

The winding element 10 is flexible and can be, for example, a textile fiber or plastic net, a fabric, a film, etc. The winding element is arranged to be wrapped around the amount (s) 4a in use position so as to wrap goods stored on the pallet (2).

The winding element 10 may further comprise hooking means 12 capable of holding the winding element 10 in an unwound position. This allows in particular to hang the winding element either by engaging on the means for maintaining an amount (as described below), or by engaging directly on the goods. These hooking means may for example be hooks, an extruded plastic profile, a self-gripping strip, etc.

The attachment means 12 of the winding element 10 may be able to engage with the holding means (as described below) of an amount in an unwound position. The attachment means may be an L-shaped plate, hooks, magnets, etc.

In a particular embodiment, the winding element 10 may not include hooking means 12. In this case, it may be maintained by holding means 16 of an amount (4a, 4b) which would have for example a pinch or clamping function such as a clip or an elastic.

• des moyens de pincement de l'élément d'enroulement 10, par exemple un clip, ou,
• une rainure apte à recevoir des moyens d'accrochages (décrits ci-dessous) de l'élément d'enroulement 10 tels que par exemple une plaque d'accrochage en forme de L (comme décrit sur les figures 2, 3, 5 et 6.
• des orifices aptes à recevoir des moyens d'accrochages de l'élément d'enroulement 10 tels que des crochets ;
• une portion aimantée apte à recevoir des moyens d'accrochages de l'élément d'enroulement 10 tels que des aimants.

The armature may comprise at least one upright 4b that can be deployed between a storage position and a position of use and comprising means 16 for holding the winding element 10 in an unwound position. The amount can be for example metal or plastic. The holding means may, for example, be:

• means for clamping the winding element 10, for example a clip, or,
• a groove adapted to receive hooking means (described below) of the winding element 10 such as for example an L-shaped catching plate (as described in FIGS. figures 2 , 3 , 5 and 6 .
• orifices adapted to receive hooking means of the winding element 10 such as hooks;
• a magnetized portion adapted to receive means for clipping the winding element 10 such as magnets.

The same amount (4a, 4b) of the armature may comprise both winding means 14 and a winding element 10, and holding means 16 of the winding element 10 in an unwound position.

In the storage position, the amount (s) (4a, 4b) are folded or stored on or in the base 3 of the pallet 2, for example in housings 6.

The Figures 1 to 6 describe a pallet according to a first embodiment.

The figure 1 describes a pallet 2 comprising a base 3. On the figure 1 , the base comprises four housings 6 receiving four uprights (4a, 4b) in the storage position folded or stored in the base 3.

In the position of use, the amount (s) (4a, 4b) are erected on the base 3 of the pallet 2 as described on the figures 2 , 3 and 5 .

The figure 2 discloses a pallet 2 comprising a base 3 on which are unfolded or erected four uprights (4a, 4b) bar-shaped. On the figure 2 at least three uprights (4a, 4b) each comprise winding means 14 and a winding element 10 unwound and hooked on holding means 16 of three other uprights (4a, 4b).

The four uprights (4a, 4b) of the pallet 2 have here been deployed in the position of use, raised substantially vertically on the pallet, then the flexible winding elements 10 of three of the four uprights 4a have been unwound, between a position wound and an unwound position, substantially perpendicular to the base until their attachment by holding means 16 on the adjacent amount 4b associated to close the three corresponding faces of the frame so as to retain goods later stored on the pallet 2 .

The figure 3 discloses a pallet 2 comprising a base 3 on which are unfolded or erected four uprights (4a, 4b) bar-shaped. On the figure 3 , the four uprights (4a, 4b) each comprise winding means 14 and a winding element 10 unwound and hooked on holding means 16 of four other uprights (4a, 4b).

The figures 4 and 5 describe a pallet according to a second embodiment.

The figure 4 discloses a pallet 2 comprising a base 3 on which are unfolded, in use position, two uprights (4a, 4b) U-shaped inverted and mounted on two opposite sides of the base 3. On the figure 4 for each of the two uprights (4a, 4b) folded over the base 3, a winding element 10 of an upright (4a, 4b) is hooked, in uncoiled position, on holding means 16 of the same amount (4a , 4b).

First blocking means 18 make it possible to block the uprights (4a, 4b) in the position of use, in particular to prevent them from falling on the base 3.

Second locking means can be used to lock the uprights on the base when in a storage position.

The figure 5 describes the palette of the figure 4 , that is to say a pallet 2 comprising a base 3, the two uprights (4a, 4b) inverted U-shaped are unfolded and erected on two opposite sides of the base 3, in the use position. Each of the two U-shaped uprights here has a net stretched inside the U so as to close one side of the parallelepiped formed by the base 3 are the uprights (4a, 4b). The other two sides of the parallelepiped are closed by each of the flexible winding elements 10 of each upright (4a, 4b) which, once unwound on the two other parallelepiped faces, hook on the holding means 16 of the opposite amount .

The figure 6 illustrates a base of an upright (4a, 4b) tilting between a storage position and a position of use. The holding element 10 of the upright (4a, 4b) is hooked on the holding means 16 of said same upright (4a, 4b). Blocking means 18 in the position of use of the upright (4a, 4b) make it possible to maintain or block the upright (4a, 4b) when the upright is unfolded in the position of use.

In one embodiment of the invention, the uprights (4a, 4b) are fixed on the base 3 by means of fixing elements forming a pivot connection such as for example a hinge or an axis mounted on the base 3.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the bases of the uprights (4a, 4b) can be tilted, in the position of use, in orifices arranged in the base 3.

The pallet 2 is able to be stacked, in the storage position, with a second pallet.

Orifices may be created under the base 3 to accommodate the ends of the uprights, in the use position, of a second pallet 2 when a first pallet 2 is stacked on said second pallet 2. This allows in particular to ensure a stable stack .

The two uprights (4a, 4b) in inverted U of the pallet 2 were here deployed in the position of use, raised substantially vertically on the pallet, then the flexible winding elements 10 of each of the two uprights 4a were unwound, between a wound position and an unwound position, substantially perpendicularly to the base until they are secured by holding means 16 to the associated counterbalance 4b to close the two opposite corresponding faces of the frame so as to retain subsequently stored goods on the pallet 2.

The Figures 7 to 12 describe a pallet according to a third embodiment.

The figure 7 describes a pallet 2 in storage position. The pallet 2 comprises a base 3 on which rest on the top of the base 3, folded into housing 6 shaped gutters, four uprights. Two uprights (4a, 4b) are arranged along two opposite edges of the base 3 while two other uprights 5 are located parallel to the uprights (4a, 4b) towards the center of the base. The uprights 5 each comprise a guide 8. The guide 8 serves to guide the winding element 10 when it surrounds the uprights of the pallet 2. Each upright is mounted integral with the base 3 by means of a fastening element 20 comprising a pivot connection 21. The pivot connection 21 allows the upright to swing between a storage position, folded on the base, and a position of use, here unfolded vertical.

The figure 8 describes palette 2 of the figure 7 in position of use. The four uprights are unfolded, vertical.

The figure 9 describes palette 2 of the figure 8 in the use position, in which a winding element 10 of an upright (4a, 4b) has been unwound from the winding means 14 of said upright (4a, 4b) and is held by the holding means 16 of the second upright (4a, 4b) of the pallet 2. The guide 8 of one of the two uprights 5, on which the winding element 10 is unwound, allows in particular to guide the winding element 10 so that it- it forms vertical side walls corresponding to the vertical planes of the edges of the base 3.

The figure 10 describes a pallet 2 whose walls are completely closed by one or more winding elements 10. A single winding element of an amount (4a, 4b) can be unrolled around the four uprights of the pallet or each element of winding of the two uprights (4a, 4b) is unwound on two sides of the frame to close the pallet 2.

The figure 11 describes a pallet 2 stacked, in storage position, with a second pallet 2 of the same type. This facilitates the stacking of the pallets in the storage position.

The figure 12 describes a pallet 2 stacked, in use position, with a second pallet 2 of the same type. The frame of the pallet 2 comprises four uprights and the pallet 2 is able to be stacked, in the use position, with a second pallet 4. This facilitates the stacking of the pallets in the use position.

The ability to stack or stack the pallets on each other as well in storage position as use has a logistical advantage because the pallet is stackable in all positions (storage or use).

The four uprights (4a, 4b) of the pallet 2 have here been deployed in the position of use, raised substantially vertically on the pallet, and the flexible winding elements 10 of two of the four uprights 4a have been unwound, between a position wound and an unwound position, substantially perpendicularly to the base and around the guides 8 of the uprights 5 to their attachment by holding means 16 on the opposite amount 4b associated to close two by two the four corresponding faces of the frame so to be able to hold goods later stored on pallet 2.

Claims (15)

Storage pallet comprising a base (3) and an armature capable of being deployed on the base (3), said armature comprising at least one post (4a) arranged to be deployed between a storage position on the base and a position of use in which said upright (4a) is raised on the base (3) of the pallet (2), said pallet being characterized in that it comprises a flexible winding element (10) mounted integral with the upright (4a) and arranged to be extended substantially perpendicularly to the base (3) in the position of use of the upright (4a) so as to retain goods stored on the pallet (2). Pallet according to claim 1, said pallet further comprising winding means (14), the winding element (10) being arranged to be wound on the winding means (14), the post (4a) being configured so that the winding element (10) is able to be unwound between a wound position and a unwound position when the post (4a) is in the use position. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the armature comprises at least one upright (4b) deployable between a storage position and a use position, said upright (4b) comprising holding means (16). ) of the winding element (10) in an unwound position. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winding element (10) further comprises hooking means (12) able to hold the winding element (10) in an unwound position. Pallet according to claim 4, wherein the attachment means (12) of the winding element (10) are able to engage with the means (16) for holding a post (4a, 4b) in an unrolled position. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (3) further comprises at least one housing (6) and is configured so that said housing (6) is adapted to receive a post (4a, 4b) in storage position. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, the base (3) further comprising at least one orifice (7) and being configured so that said orifice (7) is able to receive a post (4a, 4b) in position d 'use. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, the pallet (2) further comprising at least one element for fastening a post (4a, 4b) to the pallet (2), said fastening element comprising a link pivot and being configured so that said pivot connection is adapted to allow the tilting of said upright (4a, 4b) between a storage position and a position of use. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (3) is formed of a thermoformed plastic material. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one upright (4a, 4b) is made of metal or composite material. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, said pallet being able to be stacked, in storage position, with a second pallet. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims, the frame of said pallet comprising four uprights, the pallet being able to be stacked, in use position, with a second pallet. A method of palletizing a pallet (2), according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a base (3) and a frame adapted to be deployed on the base (3), said frame comprising at least one upright (4a , 4b) arranged to be deployed between a storage position on the base and a position of use in which said upright (4a, 4b) is raised on the base (3) of the pallet (2), the pallet (2) comprising a flexible winding element (10) mounted integral with the upright (4a) and arranged to be extended substantially perpendicularly to the base (3) in the position of use of the upright (4a) so as to retain goods stored on the pallet ( 2), said method being characterized by comprising the steps of: the post (4a, 4b) is unfolded from a storage position to a position of use, said post (4a, 4b) being raised on the pallet (2) in said position of use, - The flexible winding element (10) is extended substantially perpendicularly to the base so as to retain goods stored on the pallet. A method according to claim 13, the post (4a, 4b) comprising winding means 14 of the winding element (10) on the post (4a, 4b), said method comprising a step according to which, when extending the flexible winding element (10) is unrolled between a wound position and an unwound position. Method according to one of claims 13 and 14, the armature of the pallet (2) comprising at least one upright (4a, 4b) deployable between a storage position and a position of use and comprising holding means (16) of the flexible winding member (10) in an extended position, said method further comprising a step of fastening the winding member (10) in an extended position with the holding means (16).

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