EP3645408B1 - Palettenschutzvorrichtung - Google Patents

Palettenschutzvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3645408B1
EP3645408B1 EP18749474.5A EP18749474A EP3645408B1 EP 3645408 B1 EP3645408 B1 EP 3645408B1 EP 18749474 A EP18749474 A EP 18749474A EP 3645408 B1 EP3645408 B1 EP 3645408B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pallet
faceplate
protector
opening
gripping structures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP18749474.5A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3645408A1 (de
Inventor
Jenkinson ARTHUR
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Upall Ltd
Original Assignee
Upall Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP3645408A1 publication Critical patent/EP3645408A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3645408B1 publication Critical patent/EP3645408B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D19/0004—Rigid pallets without side walls
    • B65D19/0053—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element
    • B65D19/0077—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
    • B65D19/0089—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces the base surface being made of more than one element
    • B65D19/0093—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces the base surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
    • B65D19/0095—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces the base surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D19/38—Details or accessories
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00029—Wood
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00049—Materials for the base surface
    • B65D2519/00064—Wood
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00084—Materials for the non-integral separating spacer
    • B65D2519/00099—Wood
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00119—Materials for the construction of the reinforcements
    • B65D2519/00139—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00263—Overall construction of the pallet
    • B65D2519/00273—Overall construction of the pallet made of more than one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00293—Overall construction of the load supporting surface made of more than one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00323—Overall construction of the base surface made of more than one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00328—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base
    • B65D2519/00333—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base contact surface having a stringer-like shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00368—Overall construction of the non-integral separating spacer
    • B65D2519/00373—Overall construction of the non-integral separating spacer whereby at least one spacer is made of one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00398—Overall construction reinforcements
    • B65D2519/00432—Non-integral, e.g. inserts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00398—Overall construction reinforcements
    • B65D2519/00432—Non-integral, e.g. inserts
    • B65D2519/00442—Non-integral, e.g. inserts on the base surface
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00776—Accessories for manipulating the pallet
    • B65D2519/00796—Guiding means for fork-lift

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pallet protector, a pallet fitted with a pallet protector and a method of fitting a pallet protector to a pallet.
  • Wooden pallets are widely used for the transport of goods.
  • pallet protectors typically comprise a faceplate and one is fastened to each side face of a pallet to protect it from damage.
  • WO2013/019276 discloses moulded plastics pallet protectors comprising a faceplate defining openings corresponding to tine accepting openings in a pallet to which the protector is to be fitted. At least top and side walls extend back from the openings of the pallet protector and are received into the openings in a pallet when the protector is fitted to a pallet. This is achieved by offering the protector up to a pallet so that the top and sidewalls extend into the openings in the pallet and then securing the protector to the pallet with screws.
  • top and side walls whilst intended to protect the pallet, can, for some types of pallet reduce the size of the openings in the pallet below an acceptable size.
  • the outside dimensions of the walls must reflect the minimum possible size of openings in the pallet. This exacerbates the problem of reducing the opening size and for many pallets means that there is some clearance between the outside of the walls and the pallet. This allows movement between the protector and pallet which can make it difficult to correctly align the two before the protector is fastened to the pallet. It also means that, where the top wall does not contact the inside of the opening into the pallet when the protector is fitted the protector could shift when the pallet is lifted with a forklift as significant load may be transferred from the protector to the pallet via the protector.
  • DE10139551A1 discloses façade elements having clamping clips, which can embrace the outer sides of the corner base blocks at both ends of the narrow side of a pallet.
  • the clamping clips are folded at right angles from a band-shaped facade surface at both ends.
  • the facade element is made of a sheet metal strip of about 1.5 mm thickness, whose width corresponds to the height of the narrow side surface of the pallet.
  • the facade element is attached to the pallet not only by the clamping force of the spring clips to the corner base blocks but also via the positive engagement of the ends of the clamping clips being arranged such that they protrude toward each other in order to engage behind the corner base blocks.
  • CA1287806C discloses a pallet protector comprising a faceplate and openings that overlie the openings of the pallet.
  • the pallet protectors are fitted to the pallet by arms which protrude under the pallet from the faceplate, with the arms being fastened to the blocks of the pallet by a suitable fastening means.
  • Embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of these problems.
  • a pallet protector comprising a faceplate which defines one or more openings intended, in use, to overlie one or more corresponding openings in a pallet.
  • the pallet protector comprises two or more gripping structures extending from the faceplate adjacent respective opposite sides of the or each opening and arranged resiliently to grip the pallet, thereby to help retain the protector relative to the pallet, and the faceplate is resiliently flexible and arranged so that bending the faceplate causes two gripping structures to move together or apart to facilitate fitting the protector to the pallet, and releasing the faceplate allows it to return towards its original configuration, causing the gripping structures to move apart or together thereby to establish a grip on the pallet to which the protector has been fitted.
  • Provision of resilient gripping structures greatly facilitates fitment of the protector to a pallet since they will grip the pallet whilst allowing for variations in the actual dimensions of the pallet within manufacturing tolerances. This facilitates location of the protector before any fasteners are fitted. Also, the resilient, gripping, nature of the structures means that the protector need contact fewer surfaces of a pallet than prior protectors to adequately locate the protector. This allows for protector designs which minimise intrusion into openings of the pallet.
  • the faceplate may comprise a substantially planar rear face intended, in use, to lie adjacent and/or contact a pallet.
  • the faceplate may also comprise a substantially planar front face substantially parallel to the rear face.
  • the outer edge of the faceplate may correspond in shape to the outer edge of a side face of a pallet to which it is to be fitted.
  • the gripping structures may extend from the rear face and may comprise a first part which extends substantially perpendicularly from the rear face and a second part which extends from an end of the first part at an oblique angle to the first part.
  • the angle may lie in the range 20 to 70 degrees or 30 to 60 degrees.
  • the first part may be intended to lie adjacent but spaced from an edge to an opening in a pallet and the second part to extend into contact with that edge.
  • the first part may comprise a wall.
  • the second part may comprise a plurality of fingers.
  • Two gripping structures may be arranged, in use, to contact opposite sides respectively of a part of a pallet, such as a block which lies between two openings into the pallet, thereby to grip the part between the two structures.
  • the two gripping structures may form an inner pair of gripping structures.
  • Two gripping structures may be arranged, in use, to contact respective spaced apart opposed surfaces of parts of a pallet, such as adjacent, spaced apart blocks at either side of an opening into a pallet or spaced apart blocks which define sides to different openings in the pallet, thereby to grip the pallet.
  • the gripping structures may be disposed adjacent respective opposite lateral sides of the or each opening.
  • the or each opening may be substantially rectangular. It may be defined by edges on all four sides, or on three sides.
  • Corner locating structures may extend from the faceplate at, at least, some corners of the openings thereby to facilitate location of the protector on a pallet.
  • the corner locating structures may be at least substantially separate from the gripping structures thereby to allow the two to move relative to each other.
  • the pallet protector may be formed in one piece from a resilient plastics material, for example by injection moulding.
  • the ability of the gripping structures to resiliently grip may arise from the inherent resilience of the material from which the protector is formed.
  • the pallet may comprise one or more blocks and each gripping means of the or each protector may contact a block.
  • each gripping means comprises a first part extending from the faceplate and a second part extending from the first part to a free end, at least part of the second part may contact a block and the first part may be spaced from the block.
  • the pallet may define at least one elongate substantially rectangular tine accepting opening with the short sides of the rectangle forming lateral sides of the opening and the faceplate of the protector may define at least one corresponding rectangular opening to that in the pallet.
  • the gripping structures may be disposed adjacent the short sides of the opening in the faceplate and enter the opening in the pallet. They may only enter the or each opening in the pallet adjacent the short sides of the or each opening.
  • the pallet protector may not enter the or each opening in the pallet adjacent the majority of the length of any of the longer sides of the or each opening so as to minimise any reduction in the available height over which the opening may be accessed.
  • Some, all, or substantially all, of the outside edges of the pallet protector may be sized and shaped to extend substantially parallel to, but slightly inset from, the corresponding outside edges of the face of the pallet to which the protector is fitted.
  • the method may comprise the steps of flexing the faceplate so that a part of a rear face of the faceplate disposed between two gripping structures adopts a convex configuration thereby to separate the two gripping structures, offering the protector up to a pallet so that the structures lie either side of a part of the pallet, such as a block, and allowing the faceplate to return towards its original configuration so that the gripping structures grip the part of the part of the pallet.
  • the method may comprise the steps of flexing the faceplate so that a part of a rear face of the faceplate disposed between two gripping structures adopts a concave configuration thereby to move the two gripping structures towards each other, offering the protector up to a pallet so that the structures lie between spaced apart opposed surfaces of parts of the pallet, such as sides of blocks, and allowing the faceplate to return towards its original configuration so that the gripping structures are urged into contact with the two surfaces, thereby to grip the pallet.
  • the faceplate may be flexed so that a part of the faceplate adopts a convex configuration and another part of the faceplate adopts a concave configuration at the same time.
  • the faceplate comprises an inner and an outer pair of gripping structures it is flexed into a one and a half wave configuration so that the rear face is convex between the inner pair of gripping structures and concave between the outer and inner pairs of structures.
  • top, bottom, front, rear and like terms are used to refer to the articles in the orientation shown in the accompanying drawings, which is the orientation in which they are normally intended to be used, but should not be taken to be otherwise limiting.
  • figure 1 shows a wooden pallet 1.
  • the actual type of pallet illustrated is a standard, rectangular European flat wood pallet, with four entries and nominal dimensions 800mm x 1200mm.
  • the pallet 1 is formed from three elongate, substantially parallel and evenly spaced apart base boards 2 of about 1200mm in length. The upright and top corners of the long edges of the board are chamfered.
  • Each base board 2 supports three blocks 3, two end blocks, one positioned at each opposite end, and a centre block mid-way along the length of the board.
  • the blocks 3 have a generally rectangular cuboidal shape with their upright corners chamfered.
  • Three elongate boards known as stringers 4 extend substantially at right angles to the base boards, each supported on three blocks 3, one on each of the three base boards 2.
  • the stringers are about 800mm in length.
  • Five top boards 5 are supported on the stingers 4 extending substantially at right angles to the stringers and evenly spaced across the stringers from one end to the other.
  • the various components of the pallet 1 are secured together by way of fasteners. Pallets of this type are well known and so will not be described in any further detail.
  • Protectors for the side faces of the pallet 1 are shown in figures 2 to 7 .
  • Both types of protector are resiliently flexible and moulded in one piece from a plastics material.
  • a suitable material is polypropylene copolymer, such as that sold under the name PP PHC27 by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.
  • the first type of protector 6 comprises an elongate, substantially rectangular faceplate.
  • the outline shape of the faceplate corresponds to the nominal outline shape of the planar portion of the 1200mm side of the pallet, save that the corners are curved.
  • the protector is sized so that its outside edges lie within the corresponding edges of a pallet, i.e. its dimensions are less than the minimum permitted corresponding dimensions of the pallet. This reduces the risk of the protector being prised away from a pallet to which it is fitted, such as by contact with a fork of a fork lift vehicle or by adjacent pallets rubbing together.
  • the rear face 9 is substantially flat.
  • the front face 8 is substantially parallel to the rear face 9 save that at its outside edges the front face curves smoothly through 90 degrees to form a side edge which meets the rear face 9 substantially at right angles to the rear face.
  • Three rectangular openings are formed in the faceplate, two substantially identical larger openings 10 and one smaller opening 11 positioned between them.
  • the edges of the openings are substantially parallel with the corresponding outside edges of the faceplate.
  • the larger openings 10 are sized and positioned so that when the protector is fitted to the pallet the side edges of the openings lie substantially parallel to, but just inside, the side edges of the openings in the side of the pallet defined by the blocks and the top and bottom edges of the openings in the protector lie substantially flush with the top and bottom edges of the openings in the pallet defined by the top and base boards respectively.
  • the larger openings 10 permit the tines of a fork-lift truck or other lifting apparatus to be inserted through the protector into the pallet.
  • the smaller opening 11 is sized and positioned to overlie the central block 3 on the face of the pallet, enabling any indicia or other markings on the block to be viewed through the opening.
  • the protector is substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis extending through the centre of the smaller opening 11.
  • the top edge 12 of the larger openings 10 is substantially straight and meets the front and rear races of the faceplate with radiused curves so the edge has a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the faceplate.
  • the bottom edge of the larger openings 10 has a central angled section 13, which extends over about half the length of the edge, bounded by substantially straight sections 14.
  • a rearwardly projecting rectangular ledge 15 extends substantially at right angles from the rear face 9 of the faceplate adjacent the straight sections 14 of the bottom edge, thus providing an edge with a greater depth than the top edge 12.
  • Right angle triangular struts 16 extend between the underside of the ledge 15 and the rear face 9 to support the ledge 15. The depth of the ledge is about 5% of the height of the larger openings 10.
  • a rectangular strip of the faceplate parallel to its edge is angled away from the front face 8 of the faceplate so that the free end of the edge of the faceplate is in line with the free edge of the ledge 15, and the underside of the angled portion lies in the plane of the edges of the struts 16.
  • the lower edge of the larger rectangular openings has a depth greater than the thickness of the faceplate and a central chamfered region.
  • the central chamfered/angled region facilitates lead wheels of pallet jacks riding smoothly over the edge of the pallet base boards.
  • the substantially straight sections either side of the central chamfered/angled region provide a greater depth of faceplate which both strengthens this part of the faceplate and provides a larger surface area in which apertures 23 can be formed for accepting fasteners 24 (discussed further below).
  • each straight section of the lower edge remote from the chamfered region there is a slight step up 17 in the edge as it approaches the corner of the opening 10.
  • a wall Extending back from the stepped portion of the lower edge, substantially at right angles to the rear face 9 of the faceplate, is a wall.
  • the wall extends along the stepped portion of the lower edge, around the corner of the opening and up the side edge of the opening, but less then it extends along the stepped portion so that it is in part arcuate and in part straight.
  • the concave surface of the arcuate part of the wall is flush with the inside edge of the opening.
  • the wall forms a corner locator 18, the function of which is described further below.
  • a corner locator 19 also extends substantially perpendicularly away from the rear face 9 of the faceplate at each of the corners between the side and top edges 12 of the larger openings 10.
  • Each of these corner locators 19 is formed by an arcuate wall which is symmetric about the corner, with its concave surface flush with the inside edges of the opening.
  • a sidewall 20 Extending substantially at right angles from the rear face 9 of the faceplate adjacent and flush with each side edge of each larger opening is a sidewall 20 which is substantially trapezoidal in shape.
  • the sidewalls each extend over a major part of the length of each side edge between but spaced apart from the walls forming the corner locators 18, 19 so that there is an elongate gap extending between the sidewalls and corner locators which increases in width away from the rear face 9 of the faceplate. This facilitates independent movement of the sidewalls relative to the corner locators.
  • the sidewalls are approximately the same height as the corner locators.
  • Extending from the free end of each sidewall 20 are five substantially trapezoidal fingers 21.
  • the fingers 21 are generally planar, of approximately the same thickness as the sidewall 20 at their base where they connect to the wall and taper in both thickness and width towards their free ends.
  • the fingers 21 extend in a plane at an oblique angle to the wall so that fingers extending from the sidewalls at opposite sides of each opening extend away from each other towards their free ends.
  • the oblique angle may be in the range 15 to 30 degrees, but other angles are possible. In one embodiment the angle is about 10 degrees.
  • the sidewalls 20 extend over 80% of the length of the side edges of the larger openings 10, and extend rearwards from the rear face 9 of the faceplate by a distance of about 20% of the height of the larger openings 10, so significantly greater than the depth of the ledge 15.
  • the fingers 21 extend from the ends of the sidewalls by a distance of at least half the height of the sidewalls.
  • the sidewalls and fingers form inner and outer pairs of gripping structures, whose function is described further below.
  • a bead 22 is formed around edge of the smaller opening 11 on the front face 8 of the faceplate.
  • Counter-bored apertures 23 are formed in the faceplate, for receiving fasteners, with the larger bore opening to the front face 8 of the faceplate.
  • One is positioned at each corner of the faceplate. And one is positioned about a quarter of the way along each long edge of each larger opening from the end of the edge, between the opening and the outside edge of the faceplate. So, in total, there are 12 counter-bored apertures.
  • the second type of protector effectively has a subset of the features of the first type, and corresponding features of the second type of protector are identified in the drawings by the same reference numerals as those of the first type.
  • the second type of protector does not have any faceplate extending below the larger openings 10 so that the openings are only bounded on three sides, and the short sides are stepped to increase the width of the opening towards its open side. Consequently the lower corner locators of the first type of protector are omitted.
  • the side edges of the openings in the second type of protector are also shorter than those of the first type and so therefore are the sidewalls 20, which therefore only carry four rather than five, fingers 21.
  • the sidewalls are also substantially rectangular rather than trapezoidal.
  • Ten counter-bored apertures 23 are formed in the second type of protector. Four are spaced across the width of the top edge 12 adjacent that edge with one located towards each outside corner of the protector. One is located adjacent each outside edge of each opening about half way along that edge. Two are located at respective bottom outside corners of the protector and the remaining two adjacent the bottom corners of the faceplate between the two openings. There is no other opening in the faceplate between the two openings and so no equivalent to the smaller opening 11 through the first type of protector 6.
  • the protectors are fitted to the sides of the pallet.
  • One method of fitting is shown in figures 8a to 8c and is the same for each type of protector.
  • a protector is flexed into a curved configuration where at least the central portion of its rear face 9 is convex as shown is figure 8a . This increases the distance between the free ends of the inner pair of gripping structures.
  • the central region of the protector is offered up to a side of the pallet so that one of each of the inner pair of gripping structures enters a respective opening in the pallet so that the gripping structures are located on opposite sides respectively of a centre block of the pallet.
  • the corner locators 18, 19 at one or both ends of the inner gripping structures assist in locating the protector vertically with respect to the pallet.
  • a third step at least the central part of the protector is allowed to return towards its original configuration, with a substantially planar faceplate. This causes the inner pair of gripping members to be urged towards one another, gripping the centre block of the pallet, retaining the protector relative to the pallet.
  • the protector is flexed so that at least part of the rear face 9 of protector extending each side of its centre to its lateral edges is concave, as shown in figure 8b . This reduces the distance between the free ends of the outer pair of gripping structures.
  • the outer edges of the protector are offered up to the pallet so that one of each of the outer pair of gripping structures enters a respective opening in the pallet so that each gripping structure is located adjacent an inner edge of a respective outer block of the pallet.
  • the protector is released allowing it to attempt to return towards its original configuration, with a substantially planar faceplate.
  • This causes the outer pair of gripping members to be urged away from one another to grip the outer blocks 3 of the pallet, further retaining and locating the protector relative to the pallet.
  • the corner locators at one or both ends of the outer gripping structures also assist in locating the protector vertically with respect to the pallet.
  • fasteners 24 such as screws or tacks, are driven through the counter-bored apertures 23 into the pallet to further secure the protector in place.
  • fasteners 24 such as screws or tacks
  • the counter-bored apertures 23 are positioned so that when the protectors are fitted to a pallet they are located over solid structure of the pallet which is suitable for accepting a fastener.
  • the process is then repeated to fit protectors to the remaining three sides of the pallet, or two or more protectors could be fitted to the pallet simultaneously.
  • the first to sixth steps are consolidated into two steps.
  • the pallet protector is flexed into a triple curve, broadly a "w" or one and a half wave shape, so that the rear face 9 of the faceplate adopts a concave curve between the inner and outer gripping structures and a convex shape between the inner gripping structures as shown in figure 8d .
  • This serves to simultaneously separate the inner pair of gripping structures and bring the outer pair of gripping structures closer to each other.
  • the protector thus configured can be offered up to the pallet in a further step, introducing all four gripping structures into openings in the pallet, before releasing the protector and allowing it to (at least partially) adopt its original state.
  • the faceplate of the pallet is thicker and thus stiffer than the gripping structures, in particular the fingers of those structures. So, when the protector is offered up to a pallet in a curved state and subsequently released, the faceplate will return to a substantially planar configuration. This urges the gripping structures into contact with the blocks 3 of the pallet and may cause the gripping structures, and in particular the fingers 21, to deform slightly, maintaining them in contact with the blocks 3.
  • the first method is suited to manual installation of protectors whilst the latter, which requires a more complex flexing of the protector, is more suited an automated or at least tool assisted installation.
  • Figures 9 to 12 show a pallet 1 and parts of a pallet to which protectors have been fitted.
  • the protector lies over the entire planar surface of the pallet 1, stopping at the chamfered corners of the end blocks.
  • the corner locators 18, 19 sit adjacent the inside edges of the top and base boards and side blocks.
  • the underside of the angled part of the faceplate which forms the central part of the lower edge of each larger opening follows the shape of the chamfered edge of the base board.
  • the fingers 21 of the gripping structures contact the sides of the blocks, spacing the wall part 20 of the gripping structures from the blocks.
  • the protector lies over the planar surface of the pallet 1 beneath the top boards 5.
  • Providing a pallet protector with gripping structures which resiliently grip the blocks of a pallet helps to hold a pallet protector in place after fitting, facilitating the subsequent fitting of fasteners, whilst accommodating variations in pallet dimension owing to manufacturing tolerances and protecting block sides of the pallet from damage during use. Provision of corner locators assists in locating the protector on a pallet, particularly vertically, but allows the top and bottom edges of openings into the pallet to be substantially unobstructed. This reduces the risk of the protector being damaged by fork tines or other equipment.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pallets (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Palettenschutz (6, 7), umfassend eine Blende, die eine oder mehrere Öffnungen (10) definiert, die im Betrieb dazu angedacht sind, eine oder mehrere entsprechende Öffnungen in einer Palette (1) zu überlagern, wobei der Palettenschutz (6, 7) zwei oder mehr Griffstrukturen umfasst, die sich von der Blende benachbart zu jeweiligen gegenüberliegenden Seiten von der oder von jeder Öffnung erstrecken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Griffstrukturen derart federnd angeordnet sind, dass sie die Palette (1) greifen, wobei sie dabei helfen, den Schutz (6, 7) relativ zu der Palette (1) zu halten, und wobei die Blende federnd flexibel ist und derart angeordnet ist, dass ein Biegen der Blende verursacht, dass sich zwei Griffstrukturen zueinander hin oder voneinander weg bewegen, um ein Anpassen des Schutzes (6, 7) an die Palette (1) zu vereinfachen, und wobei ein Lösen der Blende ermöglicht, dass sie in ihre originale Konfiguration zurückkehrt, wodurch verursacht wird, dass die Griffstrukturen voneinander weg oder zueinander hin bewegt werden, um einen Griff auf der Palette (1), an die der Schutz (6, 7) angepasst wurde, herzustellen.
  2. Palettenschutz (6, 7) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Blende eine im Wesentlichen planare hintere Fläche (9) umfasst, die im Betrieb dazu angedacht ist, benachbart zu der Palette (1) zu liegen, und wobei sich die Griffstrukturen von der hinteren Fläche (9) erstrecken.
  3. Palettenschutz (6, 7) nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Griffstrukturen einen ersten Teil, der sich im Wesentlichen senkrecht von der hinteren Fläche (9) erstreckt, und einen zweiten Teil umfassen, der sich von einem Ende des ersten Teils in einem schrägen Winkel zu dem ersten Teil erstreckt, wobei optional der erste Teil eine Wand (20) umfasst und der zweite Teil eine Mehrzahl von Zungen (21) umfasst.
  4. Palettenschutz (6, 7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei zwei Griffstrukturen im Betrieb derart angeordnet sind, dass sie jeweils gegenüberliegende Seiten eines Teils der Palette (1) berühren, wobei sie den Teil zwischen den zwei Strukturen greifen, und/oder wobei zwei Griffstrukturen im Betrieb derart angeordnet sind, dass sie jeweils voneinander beabstandete gegenüberliegende Oberflächen von Teilen der Palette (1) berühren, wobei sie die Palette greifen.
  5. Palettenschutz (6, 7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei zumindest eine der Öffnungen in der Blende durch Kanten an zumindest drei Seiten definiert ist.
  6. Palettenschutz (6, 7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die eine oder mehr Öffnungen (10) in der Blende rechteckig sind, und wobei sich Eckenlokalisierungsstrukturen (18, 19) von der Blende an zumindest einigen Ecken der Öffnungen (10) erstrecken, wobei die Eckenlokalisierungsstrukturen im Betrieb dazu angedacht sind, in einer Öffnung in der Palette aufgenommen zu werden, wodurch sie eine Lokalisierung des Schutzes (6, 7) auf der Palette (1) vereinfachen.
  7. Palettenschutz (6, 7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Palettenschutz (6, 7) in einem Stück von einem federnden Kunststoffmaterial gebildet ist.
  8. Palette (1), die mit einem oder mehreren Palettenschützen (6, 7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche angepasst ist.
  9. Palette (1) nach Anspruch 8, umfassend einen oder mehrere Blöcke (3), wobei jedes Griffmittel des oder der Schütze (6, 7) einen Block (3) berührt.
  10. Palette (1) nach Anspruch 9, wobei jedes der Griffmittel einen ersten Teil, der sich von der Blende erstreckt, und einen zweiten Teil umfasst, der sich von dem ersten Teil zu einem freien Ende erstreckt, wobei zumindest ein Teil des zweiten Teils einen Block (3) berührt und der erste Teil von dem Block (3) beabstandet ist.
  11. Palette (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 8 bis 10, wobei die Palette (1) zumindest eine längliche rechteckige Aufnahmeöffnung für eine Zacke definiert, wobei die kurzen Seiten des Rechtecks laterale Seiten der Öffnung bilden, und wobei die Blende des Schutzes (6, 7) zumindest eine entsprechende rechteckige Öffnung (10) zu der in der Palette (1) definiert, und wobei die Griffstrukturen benachbart zu den kurzen Seiten der Öffnung (10) in der Blende angeordnet sind und in die Öffnung in der Palette (1) eintreten.
  12. Palette (1) nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Griffstrukturen lediglich in die oder jede Öffnung in der Palette (1) benachbart zu den kurzen Seiten von der oder jeder Öffnung eintreten, und/oder wobei der Palettenschutz (6, 7) nicht in die oder jede Öffnung in der Palette (1) benachbart zum Großteil der Länge von jeder der längeren Seiten von der oder jeder Öffnung eintritt.
  13. Verfahren zum Anpassen eines Palettenschutzes (6, 7) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, umfassend die Schritte:
    Biegen der Blende in eine gekrümmte Konfiguration;
    Ansetzen der Blende an eine Palette (1), derart, dass sich zumindest zwei Griffstrukturen benachbart zu gegenüberliegenden Merkmalen der Palette (1) erstrecken; und
    Erlauben, dass die Blende in Richtung ihrer originalen Konfiguration zurückkehrt.
  14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 13, umfassend die Schritte des Biegens der Blende, derart, dass ein Teil der hinteren Fläche der Blende, der zwischen zwei Griffstrukturen angeordnet ist, eine konvexe Konfiguration annimmt, wodurch die zwei Griffstrukturen separiert werden, Ansetzen des Schutzes (6, 7) an eine Palette (1), derart, dass die Strukturen auf jeder Seite eines Teils der Palette (1) liegen, und Erlauben, dass die Blende in Richtung ihrer originalen Konfiguration zurückkehrt, derart, dass die Griffstrukturen den Teil der Palette (1) greifen.
  15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 14, umfassend die Schritte des Biegens der Blende, derart, dass ein Teil der hinteren Fläche (9) der Blende, der zwischen zwei Griffstrukturen angeordnet ist, eine konkave Konfiguration annimmt, wodurch die zwei Griffstrukturen zueinander hin bewegt werden, des Ansetzens des Schutzes (6, 7) an eine Palette (1), derart, dass die Strukturen zwischen beabstandeten gegenüberliegenden Oberflächen von Teilen der Palette (1) liegen, und des Erlaubens, dass die Blende in Richtung ihrer originalen Konfiguration zurückkehrt, derart, dass die Griffstrukturen in Kontakt mit den zwei Oberflächen gedrängt werden, wodurch sie die Palette (1) greifen, und den Schritt des Biegens der Blende, derart, dass ein Teil der Blende eine konvexe Konfiguration annimmt und ein anderer Teil der Blende eine konkave Konfiguration zu derselben Zeit annimmt.
EP18749474.5A 2017-06-30 2018-06-28 Palettenschutzvorrichtung Active EP3645408B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1710527.1A GB2563931B (en) 2017-06-30 2017-06-30 Pallet protector
PCT/GB2018/051807 WO2019002866A1 (en) 2017-06-30 2018-06-28 PALLET PROTECTION DEVICE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3645408A1 EP3645408A1 (de) 2020-05-06
EP3645408B1 true EP3645408B1 (de) 2021-06-16

Family

ID=59592658

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18749474.5A Active EP3645408B1 (de) 2017-06-30 2018-06-28 Palettenschutzvorrichtung

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3645408B1 (de)
ES (1) ES2890682T3 (de)
GB (1) GB2563931B (de)
PT (1) PT3645408T (de)
WO (1) WO2019002866A1 (de)

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2651486A (en) * 1948-11-19 1953-09-08 Woodward Lumber Company Inc Pallet
JPS5178567A (ja) * 1974-12-29 1976-07-08 Fuji Robin Kk Fujuobutsunoshorisochi
JPS54128250U (de) * 1978-02-16 1979-09-06
JPS572286Y2 (de) * 1978-10-20 1982-01-14
JPS5561531A (en) * 1978-10-30 1980-05-09 Hitachi Plant Eng & Constr Co Ltd Suction apparatus for powder body
WO1988002725A1 (en) * 1986-10-20 1988-04-21 Depew Thomas N Pallet construction
CA1287806C (en) * 1986-10-20 1991-08-20 Thomas N. Depew Pallet construction
DE8905970U1 (de) * 1989-05-12 1989-07-06 Edding AG, 2070 Ahrensburg Trägerbauteil für Kennzeichnungen an Palettenfüßen
CN2358007Y (zh) * 1998-12-21 2000-01-12 李琪 托盘增强附件
DE10139551A1 (de) * 2001-08-10 2003-03-06 Pongers Ingo Fassadenelement als Blende für eine Palette
US20130032063A1 (en) * 2011-08-04 2013-02-07 Wayne Randall Pallet protector device and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2563931B (en) 2020-09-30
PT3645408T (pt) 2021-08-10
WO2019002866A1 (en) 2019-01-03
EP3645408A1 (de) 2020-05-06
ES2890682T3 (es) 2022-01-21
GB2563931A (en) 2019-01-02
GB201710527D0 (en) 2017-08-16

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