EP2814745B1 - Multipart transport pallet - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a transport pallet made of plastic according to the preamble of claim 1.

Plastic transport pallets are commonly used for the transport of staple goods and the like. These transport pallets can be present in different sizes, although, however, due to standardization, the dimensions are specified in so-called Euro pallets. This is provided for reasons of transport simplicity, so that even transport pallets from different manufacturers can be readily used compatible with other pallets.

Plastic transport pallets are often constructed in two parts and have a cover plate, which forms the actual support surface for the goods to be absorbed, and a bottom part, which forms the footprint of the transport pallet. The cover plate and the bottom part are by several support elements over the circumference but also in central areas of the pallet connected to each other, wherein the support elements are either formed separately and / or formed on the cover plate or the bottom part. To form the pallet, the individual parts of the pallet, so cover plate and bottom bar with the support elements by welding or gluing are firmly connected. But there are also pallets in which the cover plate is firmly locked to the bottom bar by latching members ( DE 10 2006 027 451 A1 ) in order to achieve a bond between the cover plate and the bottom part to form the transport pallet. Such snap-in connections, which are usually formed of a plurality of locking lugs and complementary recesses have tolerances due to a certain flexibility, which can be avoided to some extent damage to the pallet in the area of the support feet against lateral collision forces, such as arise when handling the pallet with a forklift can. In case of excessive loads, the locking lugs can tear, which can lead to destruction of the support member elements, which in the simplest case requires a replacement of a support leg, but can also lead to damage formed with the locking lugs engagement members, so that expensive repairs are required.

Finally, pallets are also known in which the cover plate is firmly connected to the bottom strip by bayonet pins ( DE 10 2008 047 856 A1 ), whereby a stable bond can be achieved. In the case of excessive loads when handling the pallets by means of a forklift under heavy load, the pallet, in particular in the area of the support members, may be damaged.

The handling of the pallets, in particular the loaded pallets with goods, is usually done by forklift or the like lifting elements. For this purpose, the pallets are circumferentially provided with corresponding openings for the engagement of the forks of forklifts or other engagement elements, usually forming the adjacent support elements between them these engagement openings for the forks and the like.

Increasingly, special lift trucks are used for the transport of such pallets, which are also forklifts, but which are provided with an additional height-adjustable mast lift. These elevators have a Radarmhubelement in the lower part, which is separate from the overlying Masthubelement. With these lift trucks Improve stacking and it simplifies, for example, the removal of half pallets of Euro pallets. Such lift trucks with separate Radarmhub and mast lift are made for example by the company Jungheinreich, but are also available from other manufacturers.

In the case of improper use of such forklifts, however, it can occur that upon engagement of both the Radarmhubelements in the engagement opening as well as the Masthubelements in the engagement opening when moving apart the lifting elements, the cover plate is braced against the bottom part, resulting in a deformation of the pallet and even to a separation the cover plate from the bottom part can lead by tearing in the region of the support elements.

In connection with pallets with support feet and arranged on the support legs runners, it is already known to provide predetermined breaking points in order to avoid damage to the pallet when handling the forklift. This is achieved in that the support feet are sleeve-shaped, at the upper end, which faces the cover plate of the pallet, a preferably glued with the cover plate locking piece is used, which engages with laterally projecting locking lugs in corresponding recesses on the inner wall of the sleeve-shaped support leg , As a result, a certain flexibility of the support feet against lateral collision forces is to be achieved, wherein the locking connection can act as a predetermined breaking point in extreme collisions. That is, the locking piece can then be detached from the support legs, so that then, if necessary, a new support leg can be used. That is, the catch can be levered out at great forces, if for example a wrong handling takes place via a forklift, so that the locking is released.

Furthermore, it is off US Pat. No. 4,062,300 a transport pallet known whose cover plate and bottom part are connected to each other by spring-loaded locking pin, wherein the closure pin are each formed with a predetermined breaking point. This pallet has all the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Incidentally, it is known in constructed from individual components pallets to use bayonet pins as connecting members, such as for the attachment replaceable support skids to the support feet according to DE 10 2008 047 856 A1 ,

The object of the invention is to provide a transport pallet, which is simple and robust and avoids improper use of such trucks in a safe way deformation, deformation and destruction of the pallet.

This object is achieved by the features contained in the characterizing part of claim 1, wherein for further developments of the invention are characterized by the features contained in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the cover plate to the bottom part by separate closure elements, namely closure pin, connected to each other, each of which is conveniently arranged in a support member and provided as a clamping element with a predetermined breaking point. In an improper use of forklifts, especially those with two mutually movable lifting elements, it would come with a corresponding tension of the components of the pallet, so cover plate, bottom parts and the support elements to tear off the closure elements and their destruction, without thereby affecting the other components Pallet to be damaged. As a result, the pallet elements can be easily reused by the cover plate is connected to the bottom plate by new fasteners.

Conveniently, each closure element is designed as a clamping element, which connects the cover plate and the bottom part by clamping firmly together. In particular, the closure element is designed as a bayonet closure part, resulting in a simple attachment of the pallet elements and it only needs the bayonet pins inserted into the corresponding receptacles and twisted, so that the cover plate and the bottom plate are clamped together and thus a stable Composite of the pallet is achieved.

It is expedient that each of the cover plate and the bottom part at a distance from each other holding and interconnecting support elements is formed with at least one closure element.

As an alternative to the bayonet closure, the closure element can also be designed as a bolt with a screw thread, which can be screwed into a corresponding screw thread opening on the cover plate.

The locking bolts are inserted from below, so from the bottom of the bottom bar upwards. Conveniently, the bolt is formed with a widening, so that a bolt portion is formed with a relation to the bolt diameter enlarged diameter, wherein at the opposite end of the bolt bayonet closure or the screw cap is provided. This results in a corresponding stop when operating the bayonet closure or screw thread to bring about the tension between the components to form the pallet.

Figur 1

einen Eckteil einer Transportpalette in aufgelöster Darstellung mit einem gelösten Verschlusselement,

Figur 2

eine Ansicht durch einen Teil der in Figur 1 dargestellten Palette zur besseren Darstellung des Verschlusselements in seiner Verschlussstellung sowie

Figur 3

eine Schnittansicht durch einen Teil der Transportpalette zur Darstellung des Stützelements und des Verschlusselements in seiner Spannstellung.

Fig. 4.

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des Bajonett-Verschlussteils mit zwei gegenüberliegend angeordneten schraubgewindeartigen Abschnitten sowie

Fig. 5

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Kopfteils einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Bajonett-Bolzens mit seinem unteren aufgeweiteten Kopfteil.

Conveniently, the closure elements are made of plastic and indeed bolt-like, wherein the bolts are in turn preferably formed hollow. The predetermined breaking point can be formed in a simple manner, for example by a circumferential groove, in particular a V-shaped notch. In particular, by the depth of the groove and the consequent weakening of the material of the closure element or the wall thickness of preferably designed as a hollow bolt closure element can be determined with simple measures, the sensitivity of the predetermined breaking position, ie determine from which force introduced it comes to breaking the closure elements. However, the formation of the predetermined breaking point as a groove or indentation is not mandatory, but the predetermined breaking point can also be configured differently, such as by the fact that over the circumference spaced openings or similar perforations or material weakenings are provided. Expediently, opposite ends of the bolt engaging elements for a rotary tool are provided on the bayonet closure or the screw thread, so that the bolts can be screwed in with a suitable tool in a simple manner. For this purpose, it is expedient that the flared bolt portion having an inner wall and outer wall defining an annular chamber between them, wherein within the annular chamber spaced ribs are defined within radial webs which connect the inner wall to the outer wall and corresponding abutment surfaces for engagement of the rotary tool Turning the bolt to build up the tension. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Show in it

FIG. 1

a corner part of a transport pallet in an exploded view with a released closure element,

FIG. 2

a view through part of the FIG. 1 shown pallet for better representation of the closure element in its closed position and

FIG. 3

a sectional view through a part of the transport pallet for illustrating the support member and the closure element in its clamping position.

Fig. 4.

an enlarged view of the bayonet closure part with two oppositely arranged screw thread-like sections as well

Fig. 5

an enlarged view of the head portion of another embodiment of a bayonet pin with its lower flared headboard.

FIG. 1 shows a transport pallet in an exploded view and only a corner portion of a transport pallet made of plastic, which is made in a conventional manner by injection molding, extrusion or the like. Here, 1 denotes the cover plate, which forms the support surface 2 of the transport pallet with its upper main surface. Below the cover plate 1 is the bottom part 3 of the pallet, which is formed here by parallel and perpendicular to each other runners 4, which form the contact surfaces for the bottom part 3.

The upper cover plate 1 and the underlying bottom part 3 are arranged at a distance from each other by means of generally designated 5 support elements, which may be of different design and construction. In the illustrated embodiment, the support elements 5 are formed by formed on the underside of the cover plate 1, downwardly projecting and circumferentially formed support member portions 5a, formed by at the top of the bottom part 3 and upwardly directed support member sections 5b, which are also formed circumferentially, and by an outside above set support sleeve 5c formed. The lower support member portion 5b has an inner wall 6 and an outer wall 7 which are different from each other The sleeve 5c is located on the outer wall 7 in the assembled position. The support element section 5a formed on the upper cover plate 1 lies on the inner wall 6 and the upper end face 8 of the sleeve 5c bears against an upper shoulder 9 of the cover plate 1, so that a stable support composite results.

FIG. 1 also shows a closure element 11, which is here formed by a bolt 12 which is annularly widened at its lower free end and a bolt portion 13 with a larger diameter than the pin 12 forms. At the opposite end of the otherwise hollow trained and made of plastic bolt 12 is a bayonet closure member 14 which is here formed by two oppositely disposed, extending over a partial circumference of the bolt and outwardly projecting screw threaded portions 15, of which, however, only one Screw threaded portion 15 in FIG. 1 is shown. The not shown lies exactly on the opposite side of the locking bolt, which is not apparent in this figure representation.

FIG. 2 shows the bolt-like closure element 11 in the mounted position. For this purpose, the bolt 12 is inserted from the bottom of the bottom part 3 forth in the support leg, which he expediently passes through completely, but this is not mandatory. The bolt is behind FIG. 2 in a formed inside the support member portion 5b sleeve 17 is inserted, according to FIG. 2 is connected via radial webs 18 with the inner wall 6 of the support member section 5b. The bolt extends through the sleeve 5c upwards into a sleeve-like receiving opening 19 of the upper cover plate or of the support element section 5a, wherein the opening also on the support surface 2 of the cover plate 1 in FIG. 1 is apparent. In the opening 19 complementary to the bayonet closure part 11 arranged shoulders 21 are provided which extend only over a partial circumference of the opening 19 and form the bayonet closure proper with the bayonet closure part 11 and the two screw thread sections 15 described here.

Since both the screw portions 15 of the bayonet closure member 14 as well as the cooperating counter-shoulders 21 are arranged at such a distance from each other that the bolt can be performed with the bayonet closure member 14, needs after the Insertion of the locking pin 12 of this only to be rotated, so that the Bayonett surfaces braced with each other.

Since the head portion formed on the locking pin 12 bolt portion 13 also bears against a counter shoulder 23 in an opening 24 of the bottom part 3, it comes with increasing rotation of the bolt 12 to a corresponding tension and thus to a solid composite of the upper cover plate 1 with the lower bottom part. 3 ,

As can be seen very clearly from the figures, the hollow pin 12 is formed with a predetermined breaking point 25, which is suitably formed, is formed here by a V-shaped, groove-like circumferential notch. In particular, by the depth of the notch and the consequent weakening of the material of the bayonet pin, the breaking force at the predetermined breaking point is determined, so that a corresponding adjustment is possible, from which force between the cover plate and the bottom portion of the intended breaking occurs. To FIG. 2 and 3 the predetermined breaking point is expediently formed at the upper end of the bolt 12, in particular on the cover plate or just below the bayonet element 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, each support element 5 has at least one receptacle for a bolt-like closure element 11. Optionally, two shots may be provided, as in FIG. 1 for the corner-side support element 5 is indicated.

After insertion of the bolt 12 from the bottom of the bottom strip 3 ago in the corresponding receptacle in the respective support element and after appropriate rotation of the bolt, the tension on the bayonet closure, so that the cover plate 1 is firmly connected to the bottom part 3 to the pallet. Since at least one locking pin 12 is provided for each support element or each support foot, there is a stable composite of the pallet over the circumference, but certainly at excessive load, such as improper forklift operation, especially when using a lift truck with a Radarmhub and a mast lift Damage to the cover plate, the bottom strip 3 and the support elements 5 is avoided, since then tear before deformation of these components, first the bolt at the predetermined breaking point. Thus, the components of the pallet can then be readily reassembled by inserting corresponding locking pin 12 to the transport pallet.

In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the bolt 12 is provided at its upper end with a screw thread instead of a bayonet lock and can be screwed into a corresponding screw thread opening of the cover plate 1. Also thereby cover plate 1 and bottom part 3 are clamped together. If there is an excessive load and a fracture of a bolt at the intended breaking point, then the bolt can be unscrewed and the composite of the pallet can be accomplished by another bolt.

The flared bolt portion 13 is, as best of the Figures 2 and 3 emerges provided with an inner wall and an outer wall, which form an annular chamber 27 between them. In the annular chamber 27 radial webs can be arranged at a distance from each other and in particular in the form of ribs extending from the inner wall to the outer wall and can serve as attack surfaces for a suitable rotary tool, so that the bolt are screwed and unscrewed easily with the help of the tool can.

FIG. 4 clearly shows two opposite screw thread-like portions 15 on the outer circumference of the bolt 12, which are formed with a corresponding pitch and with the formed on the cover plate 1 shoulders 21 cooperate, so that when screwing the bolt 12 in the closing direction, the screw-thread-like projections 15 are clamped with the shoulders and thus the cover plate 1 is locked to the bottom part 3. If the bolt 12 is rotated in the opposite direction, the unlocking takes place.

However, in order to lock the bolt 12 in its closed position itself expediently, a locking device generally indicated at 30 is provided according to FIG FIG. 5 intended. In the in FIG. 5 illustrated embodiment, this is formed at the head end of the closure element 11. For this purpose, arranged on the front shoulder 31 of the widened head portion 32 of the closure element 11 distributed over the circumference arranged locking bolt 33 which cooperate with a formed on the pallet teeth 34 which is formed here on a sleeve part 35 of the bottom part or the bottom bar 3, which sleeve part 35 receives the bolt 12 of the closure element 11. The bars and the teeth are here formed so that upon rotation of the closure member 11 in the closed position for locking the cover plate with the bottom part or the bottom bar preferably automatically as a result of engagement of the latch 33 in the teeth 34, a counter to the closing movement acting barrier occurs. This has the consequence that when closing the bayonet bolt the locking between cover plate and bottom part or bottom bar 3 accomplished, but blocked in the opposite direction of the bayonet lock and can not be solved independently.

In the illustrated embodiment, for this purpose, the latch 33 are provided with a sloping edge 36 and has the teeth 34 distributed over the circumference a preferably radially inwardly stationary locking shoulder 37, to which a further inclined surface 38 connects. During closing movement, the inclined surface 36 of the bolt passes over the inclined surface 38 of the toothing, whereas in the opposite direction of rotation opening of the bayonet lock is prevented by the locking surface on each latch 33 with a locking shoulder 37 of the toothing 34 engages and thus rotate in the unlocked position Purpose of opening the bayonet lock is blocked and prevented. Of course, other embodiments are possible instead of the illustrated embodiment. For example, a bolt would already suffice, but several latches arranged distributed over the circumference, in particular four latches, are expedient, as in the illustrated embodiment. Optionally, a ratchet-like ratchet mechanism could be used.

Claims (13)

1. A transport pallet made from plastic material comprising a cover plate (1) forming a support plate (2) for the goods to be received, and a base element (3) as well as support elements (5) between the cover plate (1) and the base element (3), wherein the support elements (5) are formed separately or as a part of the cover plate (1) and/or the base element (3) and connect the cover plate and the base element with one another at a distance from one another and form openings between one another for the engagement of lifting elements, in particular for the engagement of fork prongs of a forklift, wherein the cover plate (1) is connected with the base element (3) by closure bolts (12) which are respectively formed with a rated breaking point (25), wherein at least one respective closure bolt (12) is arranged in a respective support element (5), and wherein each closure bolt (12) is configured as a tension element connecting the cover plate (1) and the base element (3) with one another through tensioning,
   characterized in that
   the locking bolts (12) are configured as bayonet bolts with bayonet-like engagement elements (15) or as stud bolts which are inserted from below, i.e. from the bottom side of the base element to the top, wherein the rated breaking point (25) is configured proximal to or in a portion of the cover plate (1), i.e. within a sleeve-like receiving opening (19) of the upper cover plate (1) or a portion of the support element (5a), respectively, which is formed at the bottom side of the cover plate (1) and protrudes downwards.
2. The pallet according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the rated breaking point (25) is formed by a groove, in particular a V-shaped or groove-shaped notch, which is preferably provided at the outer circumference of the bolt (12).
3. The pallet according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the groove or notch extends along the complete circumference of the closure bolt (12).
4. The pallet according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the closure bolt (12) is configured hollow.
5. The pallet according to one of the preceding claims
   characterized in that
   the closure bolt (12) is made from plastic material.
6. The pallet according to one of the preceding claims
   characterized in that
   the closure bolt (12) is configured at one end with a bayonet closure element (14), i.e. it includes at least one screw thread shaped section (15), preferably two or more screw thread sections (15) distributed over the circumference of the bolt, and wherein the bolt is expanded at its other end (13), wherein the bayonet closure element (14) interacts with at least one complementary opposite surface (21) at the cover plate (1) for forming a bayonet closure and the opposite expanded end (13) of the bolt contacts a contact shoulder (23) of the bottom element (3) so that closing the bayonet closure by rotating the bolt firmly clamps the cover plate (1) to the base element (3)
7. The pallet according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the closure bolt (12) has a screw thread at one end and is expanded at its other end (13), and that a complementary screw opening for the screw thread at the bolt (12) is provided at the cover plate (1) and that the opposite expanded end (13) of the bolt contacts a contact shoulder (23) of the base element (3) so that screwing in the threaded bolt (12) firmly clamps the cover plate (1) with the base element (3).
8. The pallet according to claim 6 or 7
   characterized in that
   the closure bolts (12) are provided with the rated breaking point (25) between the expansion (13) and the bayonet closure element (14) or screw thread, respectively.
9. The pallet according to one of the claims 6 through 8,
   characterized in that
   the closure bolt (12) has an expansion (13) configured in the kind of a bolt section with an enlarged diameter, which expansion is configured as an engagement element for a rotating tool.
10. The pallet according to claim 9,
    characterized in that
    the engagement element is configured with one or plural radial rib(s) for the engagement of the rotating tool.
11. The pallet according to one of the preceding claims
    characterized in that
    the closure bolt (12) is provided with a fixation lock (30) that is advantageously self acting and operates against a locking or closure movement of the closure bolt (12).
12. The pallet according to claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the fixation lock includes at least one bar (33) provided at the bayonet bolt, which bar interacts with a teething (34) provided at the pallet.
13. The pallet according to claim 12,
    characterized in that
    at least one, preferably plural, in particular preferably four bars (33) are provided that are distributed over the circumference of the bayonet bolt, which are preferably provided at an annular face shoulder (31) of the head element (32) of the closure element (11) and each locking bar (33) has a slanted ramp surface (36) and the teething is provided with a plurality of locking shoulders (37) and slanted flanks (38), so that the bar or bars (33) engage(s) the locking shoulder or shoulders (37) during a rotation of the closure element (11) in the sense of unlocking the bayonet closure so that a disengagement of the closure bolt (12) is blocked.

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