EP2961661B1 - Foldable container - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a hinged container, the side walls are folded outwards in a flat unfolded state.

State of the art

Such a container is made, for example US 5,746,342 known. There is disclosed a hinged container for bottles, the sides of which are folded in a first state from the bottom to the outside and are brought by setting the side walls by means of hinges along the bottom edges in a usable final state. At the lateral end edges of the side walls latches are attached, which allow attachment of the right angles to each other side walls. The latches are made of resilient elements for locking the side walls in their upright position. The sidewalls each have flat members at their lower edges which prevent inward flaps of the sidewalls. In the region of the bottom of the container projections and on the inside of which recesses are arranged on the outside, which engage in a stack of unfolded containers in one another.

In US 2011/0108558 discloses a collapsible container disclosed with arranged at the edges of the side walls dovetail-shaped locking elements which engage for attachment in an upright position with corresponding elements on the adjacent longitudinal sides.

Storage and transport containers are preferably installed in a variety of rows and stacking levels. Recently, such containers are increasingly being moved only by robots. In such an installation eliminates the use of forklifts or even manual work, which also the space for access to individual stacks of containers is no longer necessary. The stacks of containers can therefore be stacked and lined up in completely filled volumes. In order to guarantee the stability of such stacks as well as to ensure a correct gripping and moving and repositioning of containers by robots, an accurate and correctly aligned stacking of such containers is necessary.

Description of the invention

This is where the invention starts. It is a hinged container disclosed with a bottom and four movably connected to the bottom side walls, which can be stacked and transported in a flat, outwardly unfolded state and is folded before use as a container by the side walls pivoted from the outside inwards and placed in a vertical position and locked together. The side walls each have an outer and inner surface and two lateral edges and an upper edge and lower edge, wherein the outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the side walls come to stand in their vertical final state on the outside or in the interior of the container and the upper edge along the open end of the container runs. In addition, the container has hinges at the lower edges of the side walls, by means of which the side walls can be folded upwards from a horizontal position and from a floor-level alignment and brought into a vertical position. The lateral end edges have locking elements for fastening the folded-up, mutually perpendicular side walls. According to the invention, the container at the lateral edges of at least two opposite Side walls step-shaped end edges on consisting of a cantilevered from the inner surface of the side wall cantilever and a vertically projecting from the inner surface of the side wall edge, wherein the protruding edge (5) hin hin to the interior of the container and arranged on this protruding edge one or more protruding locking elements are that point to the inner surface of the sidewall. In addition, the container has a plurality of first ribs extending perpendicularly from the overhanging cantilever of the sidewall and projecting perpendicularly from the side edges of the sidewall, some of the first ribs being located adjacent to or between the latching members and stacked in the container unfolded state next to or between the locking elements engage.
The container also has one or more second ribs extending perpendicularly from the overhanging cantilever and toward the interior of the container.
Further of the first ribs on the side edges of the side wall are arranged close to and offset from the second ribs, so that the further first ribs engage in the second ribs in a stacking of containers in the unfolded state. In addition, the first ribs taper towards the outer surface of the side wall.
When a first container is stacked in its unfolded, flat state on another second container, the plurality of first ribs of the first container adjacent to the locking element or between two locking devices of the second container, so that the two containers are locked in position and relative to each other can not slip. The ribs thus allow a correct, vertical stacking of multiple containers that come to lie exactly aligned with each other.
On the one hand, the ribs abut the edge projecting from the cantilever arm, which prevents slippage in the direction parallel to the upper edge of the side wall. On the other hand, the ribs abut the locking elements, which prevents slippage in the transverse direction or the direction parallel to the protruding edge or the lateral edge of the side wall.

By a fixed stacking the container walls are better protected during transport against deformation and other stresses, so that when folding the container for use as a finished container, the side walls are as straight as possible and the folding and locking can be performed as perfectly as possible.
The adjusted, vertical orientation of the stack of flat containers also allows the reliable correct gripping of containers by means of a robot. The folding and locking is also possible due to the integrity of the side walls by means of a robot.

According to the invention, the at least one locking element is arranged on the protruding edge of the side wall and the plurality of first ribs on the lateral edges of the side wall and thus on that surface which faces away from the surface of the side wall with the locking element. It thus extends away from the locking element. The rib is arranged in particular in an area adjacent to a locking element or in the area between two locking elements.
In one embodiment of the invention, locking elements are disposed on the protruding edge and extend parallel to the inner surface of the side wall, the one or more ribs being disposed on the opposite outer surface of the side wall and having a length and width equal to or approximately equal to the length and width directions. Have the extent of a locking element.

According to the invention, in addition to the above-described first ribs, one or more second ribs are arranged on the overhanging cantilever arm and toward the interior of the container, and one or more further first ribs are arranged on the lateral edges of the side wall. In particular, the second ribs on the overhanging cantilever and the other first ribs on the lateral edges of the side wall are arranged close to each other but offset from one another. They are conveniently arranged so close to each other, so that in a stacking the ribs of two Container easily interlock, the range of motion or possible slippage of the container is minimized relative to each other as possible.
In one embodiment of the invention, the ribs on the lateral edges of the side wall are tapered towards the end edge of the side wall. They are for example made beveled or have a rounded or square recess.

In a stacking of unfolded containers of this embodiment, the ribs on the inner surface between the ribs on the lateral edges of the side wall engage, so that slippage in the direction parallel to the edge of the side wall is impossible.

In one embodiment of the hinged container according to the invention, the hinges are designed for pivoting the side walls of the container with a pivoting area for setting the side walls in a position of up to 10 ° beyond the vertical position into the interior of the container.

This also allows a production of the container made of solid, rigid plastic and the installation of the container by hand or by means of a robot. By the side walls can swing beyond the vertical position, a hooking and locking of the right-angled and fixed side walls in their rigid shape is made possible. As such, the containers can also be picked up by a robot, collapsed and locked, and thus brought into the usable final state.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which the invention with reference to an embodiment shown in the schematic drawings is explained in more detail.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht eines einsatzbereiten Behälters gemäss der Erfindung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht von zwei nach aussen aufgeklappten Behältern gemäss der Erfindung, die aufeinander gestapelt sind.
• Fig. 3a zeigt zwei nach aussen aufgeklappte Behälter, die aufeinander gestapelt sind und insbesondere eine Detailansicht von oben der Seitenwand des oberen Behälters mit den erfindungsgemässen Rippen im Bereich der Verriegelungselemente.
• Fig. 3b zeigt eine nähere Ansicht der Rippen von oben des oberen Behälters aus Fig. 3a.
• Fig. 3c zeigt eine Perspektivansicht der Rippen an den seitlichen Rändern von unten gemäss der Pfeilrichtung A in Figur 3b.
• Fig. 3d zeigt eine Schnittansicht des nach aussen geklappten Behälters gemäss B-B in Figur 3b sowie einen weiteren identischen darauf gestapelten Behälter und insbesondere das Ineinandergreifen der Rippen der beiden übereinander gestapelten Behälter.
• Fig. 4a zeigt den erfindungsgemässen Behälter während des Hochklappens der Seitenwände in eine Position über die Vertikale hinaus.
• Fig. 4b zeigt einen Schnitt gemäss C-C in Figur 4a, insbesondere des Scharnierbereichs in der Schrägstellung von Fig. 4a.

Brief description of the figures:

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a container ready for use according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of two outwardly unfolded containers according to the invention, which are stacked on each other.
• Fig. 3a shows two outwardly unfolded containers, which are stacked on each other and in particular a detailed view from above of the side wall of the upper container with the inventive ribs in the region of the locking elements.
• Fig. 3b shows a closer view of the ribs from the top of the upper container Fig. 3a ,
• Fig. 3c shows a perspective view of the ribs at the lateral edges from below according to the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3b ,
• Fig. 3d shows a sectional view of the outwardly folded container according to BB in FIG. 3b and another identical container stacked thereon and, in particular, the intermeshing of the ribs of the two stacked containers.
• Fig. 4a shows the inventive container during the folding of the side walls in a position beyond the vertical addition.
• Fig. 4b shows a section according to CC in FIG. 4a , in particular of the hinge area in the inclined position of Fig. 4a ,

In the figures, the same reference numerals have been used for the same elements and first explanations apply to all figures, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Embodiments of the invention

FIG. 1 shows the finished, ready for use inventive container 1 with a bottom 2 and folded up side walls 3 and 2, of which the walls 3 are referred to herein as short side walls and the walls 4 as long side walls, with the same length walls are quite possible. To volume during to be able to save on transport, the inventive container can be folded out into the shape as in FIG. 2 shown, with all the side walls are folded outwards and form a surface with the ground. In this form can be as many containers 1 stack, as shown here with two containers, with side walls 4 on side walls 4 'and side walls 3 and side walls 3' are.
According to the invention, as FIG. 3a 2, the short side walls 4 of the container 1 have projecting, step-shaped end edges 5 respectively projecting from the inner surface 6 of the side wall 4, in the illustrated embodiment extending first from the side wall 4 in the manner of an overhanging cantilever 5a and then vertically extend from the inner surface 6 and the end of the cantilever 5a. The end edges 5 thus have a cross section in the manner of a step. The inner surface of a side wall is in each case that surface which faces the interior of the container when the container is folded. Accordingly, the outer surfaces of the side surfaces are those surfaces of the side walls that face outwardly when the container is folded. At the end edges 5 locking elements 7 are arranged, which point to the inner surface 6 of the side wall. They allow a locking of the short side walls 4 with the long side walls 3 with corresponding elements 7 'by the side walls 3 and 4 are brought into the vertical. When stacked, the unfolded containers can be stacked, thanks to the stepped design of the end edges, whereby the side walls of a container of a certain thickness can be placed between the end edges of the side walls of an underlying container, as in FIG FIG. 3a shown.
FIGS. 3b and c show the short side wall 4 of a container 1 in a closer view, in particular at both end edges 5 of a side wall 4 each one or more (second) ribs 8, wherein the ribs 8 extend perpendicularly from the end edge 5 to the inner surface 6 of the side wall 4 and facing each other , In the outer surface 6a of the side wall 4, more precisely on the lateral edges of the side wall, one or more (first) ribs 9 are also arranged, which extend away from the underside of the cantilever 5a of the end edge 5. The ribs 9 are in particular chamfered or executed with a rounded recess, as in Figure 3c shown.
3d figure shows in a cross section the stacking of two containers with side walls 4 and 4 ', wherein the (second) ribs 8 and the (first) ribs 9 at the end edges 5 and 5' interlock. The stacking of the containers is made possible by virtue of the cantilevered cantilever arms 5a of the end edges 5, in that the containers can be placed inside each other in the manner of a stack of chairs. The ribs 8 and 9 cause in a stacking in this way a fixation of the relative position of containers and thus prevent slippage of the stack parallel to the end edge 5 of the side wall 4. This guarantees a correct stacking and handling of the container from the stack by a Robot allows.
Further ribs 10 are arranged on the underside of the cantilever of the end edges 5, 5 'at the level of the latches 7. When stacking two containers, these engage between the latches 7. These cause an additional fixation of the container in the stack and prevent relative slippage in the longitudinal direction of the container, ie parallel to the long side walls 3, 3 '.
Due to the protruding from the surfaces 6 of the side walls 4 end edges 5, 5 'also results in a fixation of the relative position of stacked containers in the transverse direction or the direction parallel to the short side wall 4, 4'.

FIG. 4 shows the container 1 when folding the side walls 3 and 4. To enable a lock, even in the case of the use of rigid materials of the container, which are not flexible, hinges on the bottom 2 and long side walls 3 are designed so that a pivoting the long side walls 3 both in the vertical and beyond the vertical out to the interior of the container by an angle alpha of, for example, 5 ° to 10 °. For this purpose, the bottom 2 in the region of the hinges 11 on an extension 12 which projects perpendicularly from its surface. The long side wall 3 then encounters this extension, whereby the angular position is set relative to the vertical. As a result, this installation of the side walls and locking in this angular position can also be performed by a robot. The long side walls are first brought into this angular position relative to the vertical. The short side walls 4 are then in the vertical and the long side walls finally brought back to the vertical and locked there with the short side walls.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

container

2

ground

3

long side wall of first tank

3 '

long sidewall of second tank

4

short side wall of first container

4 '

short sidewall of second tank

5.5 '

End edge of short side wall 4 or 4 '

5a, 5'a

overhanging cantilever

6

Inner surface of short side wall 4

6a

Outside surface of short side wall 4

7,7 '

Locking element on short side wall 4 and 4 '

8,8 '

Ribs on short side wall 4 and 4 ', on the inner surface

9.9 '

Rib on short side wall 4 or 4 ', on the outer surface

10

Rib at the bottom of the end edge

11

hinge

12

Extension on the ground 2

13

upper edge of the side wall 3, 4

14

lower edge of the side wall 3, 4

Claims (5)

1. A foldable container (1), comprising a base (2) and four side walls (3, 4) movably connected to the base, which can be stacked and transported in a flat, outwardly unfolded state, in that the side walls can be pivoted inwards from the outside, wherein the side walls (3, 4) each have an outer and inner surface (6, 6a) as well as two lateral edges and an upper edge (13) and a bottom edge (14), wherein hinges (11) are respectively arranged at the bottom edge (14) of the side walls (3, 4), by means of which the side walls (3, 4) can be folded up from a planar alignment with the base (2) and from a horizontal position, and the lateral edges of the side walls (3, 4) comprise locking elements (7, 7') for the fastening of the side walls (3, 4) when folded up and disposed at right angles to one another,
   characterized in that
   the container, on the lateral edges of at least two opposing side walls (3, 4), comprises a step-shaped end edge which consists of a cantilever arm (5a) which overhangs from the inner surface (6) of the side wall (4) and an edge (5) standing perpendicularly in relation to the inner surface (6) of the side wall (4) and protrudes perpendicularly from the free end of the cantilever arm (5a), wherein the protruding edge (5) of the step-shaped end edge is directed towards the interior of the container (1), and one or more protruding locking elements (7, 7') are arranged on said protruding edge (5), which elements face the inner surface of the side wall, and the container (1) has a plurality of first ribs (9, 9', 10, 10') extending vertically from the overhanging cantilever arm (5a) of the side wall (4) and projecting perpendicularly from the lateral edges of the side wall (4), wherein some of the first ribs (10, 10') are arranged in the region adjacent to or between the locking elements (7, 7'), and engage between or adjacent to the locking elements (7, 7') when the containers (1) are stacked in the folded-up state, and the container (1) comprises one or more second ribs (8, 8') which extend perpendicularly away from the overhanging cantilever arm (5a) and towards the interior of the container (1), wherein further of the first ribs (9, 9') are arranged on the lateral edges of the side wall close to and offset to the second ribs (8, 8'), and, when the containers (1) are stacked, engage into the second ribs (8, 8') in the folded-up state, and the first ribs (9, 10) taper towards the end of the edge (5a) of the side wall (4).
2. A foldable container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more locking elements (7) are arranged on the protruding edge (5) and extend parallel to the inner surface (6) of the side wall (4), wherein the one or more ribs (10) have a length and width equal to or approximately equal to the length and width dimension of a locking element (7).
3. A foldable container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the tapering ribs (9, 10) are formed in a bevelled manner or have a rounded or angular recess.
4. A foldable container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the hinges (11) of the container (1) are designed for pivoting the side walls (3, 4) with a pivoting range for erecting the side walls into a position of up to 10° beyond the vertical position into the interior of the container (1).
5. A foldable container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a protruding projection (12) is arranged on the base (2) along the hinges (11).

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