EP4223655A1 - Storage container, method for producing same, and shelf system having mounts and storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage container (100) made of plastic, in which the plastic has a first density in a first area and a second density in a second area, which is lower than the first density, and in which the first area has a bottom ( 110) and from the bottom (110) and the second area is formed on a collar (130) sitting at least in sections on the walls (120) in order to stiffen the collar (130).

Description

The present invention relates to a storage container made of plastic (or using plastic) and intended to be placed on a support of a storage rack. It also relates to a method for producing such a storage container and a shelving system with a plurality of holders and at least one storage container seated on a holder.

From the US 4,373,642A it is known to stabilize such storage containers by means of ribs.

According to the US 8,627,981 B2 bridge structures provided for stabilization are formed on a plastic body of a storage container.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating an improved storage container.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved with the features of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

According to embodiments of the invention, the storage container made of plastic has a first density of the plastic in a first region and a second density of the plastic in a second region, which is lower than the first density, the first region having a bottom of the container and from which Forms upstanding walls of the container and the second region is formed on a collar which is at least partially seated on the walls in order to stiffen the collar. A receiving space of the container for e.g. receiving, storing and transporting piece goods is defined by the bottom and the walls.

The advantage of this could be that, due to the lower density, the collar can be made voluminous without any significant increase in the weight of the container, so that it can have a stabilizing effect on the container, for example due to its size. Another effect could be that, due to its increased volume, such a collar could also be suitable for the container to be held hanging or stored on this collar. Due to the possibility of increasing the volume, the overall stability of the container can be increased, so that the carrying capacity of the container is maximized without the edge of the container collapsing when heavy piece goods are accommodated in the container. Since the storage container can now sit with the collar on the holder of the storage rack, it is advantageous that the collar is not compact and thin, but voluminous. As a result, the collar can remain stable when the storage container is full or heavily packed.

According to embodiments, the storage container is trough-shaped, so that there is a continuous receiving space of the container for e.g. receiving, storing and transporting piece goods, which contributes in particular to the overall stability of the storage container. The trough-shaped storage container can in particular have a bottom and (only and at most) four walls, which preferably form a rectangle. This configuration can be designed to be stable to a considerable extent for storing heavier goods. This can be especially true when the storage container is made using polypropylene.

According to embodiments, in particular, a thickness of the collar is greater than a thickness of the walls. If the collar were as thick as all the walls and base, it could more easily buckle under the weight; the storage container would then possibly be damaged. Due to the lower density, the collar also does not contribute too much to the overall weight.

According to embodiments, the collar has a flat underside, with the flat underside running parallel to the floor and opening into the respective wall of the container. The flat underside makes it possible to place the collar on complementary flat surfaces of a holder, so that a load application over a large area is ensured. This avoids peak forces in the collar and maximizes the load capacity of the container when the collar is seated on a storage rack bracket.

The collar can completely encircle the storage bin at the top so that the mating bracket of the shelf can follow the contour of the entire collar. Should the storage container be of rectangular shape as viewed in plan, the collar would consist of the four legs of the rectangle. The embodiment in which the collar is provided on two opposite legs (in particular the two longer ones, in the case of a true rectangle) is also advantageous here. However, the peripheral collar has the advantage that the storage container can also be held on the other two legs of the rectangle. The rectangular storage container can thus be held lengthwise or crosswise. In the case of a square storage container, the all-round collar would also be advantageous because there is increased flexibility with regard to the suspension of the holder.

According to embodiments, the collar has a width of between 0.1 and 20 mm, preferably between 2 and 10 mm. Especially with typical widths of storage containers of between 30 cm and 2 m, these widths are stabilizing in cooperation with the voluminous collar with the second density.

According to embodiments, the second density is at most 0.9 times the first density, preferably at most 0.75 times, more preferably at most 0.5 times, particularly preferably at most 0.3 times. Typically, when the storage container is made of plastic, the density is essentially inversely proportional to the volume: Thus, the storage container has about 0.5 times the density in the range of the collar there is approximately twice the volume per unit of length as the walls of the storage container resting on the floor.

According to embodiments, the plastic completely fills the second area and/or the collar is completely filled with plastic. This could have the advantage that the container could be used in particular in the medical field, where any cavities formed by rib structures, for example, should be avoided due to inadequate cleaning options.

According to embodiments, the second area can be formed on a collar that is provided only in sections, preferably above a handle hole (in the associated wall). This can have the advantage that the wearing comfort when carrying the storage container is increased.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a shelving system with a plurality of holders and at least one storage container of the type described above, which is seated with its collar on a holder.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for producing a storage container according to the type described above, wherein a plastic provided with a blowing agent is pressed into an injection mold, the injection mold having a negative of the first area and a negative of the second area of the storage container. The second density is achieved by allowing more space in the negative of the second portion of the container in the injection mold than in the negative of the first portion. Thus, in the negative of the first area in the injection mold, the propellant is prevented from being able to develop its full effect, whereas in the negative of the second area of the container, it is provided that the propellant can foam the plastic. A foam spraying process known from the prior art can be used for this purpose.

A foam injection process works particularly well when the plastic is a thermoplastic, with a thermoplastic polymer being preferred for stability and low cost in storage containers. The plastic can be provided as granules to which, for example, sodium bicarbonate and/or a citric acid derivative as a chemical blowing agent and/or a blowing gas (as a physical blowing agent) has been added.

The advantage of foaming the plastic is that closed, smooth surfaces are present everywhere, so that the storage container can also be used in the medical sector, for example.

Fig. 1

den oberen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Lagerbehälters,

Fig. 2a

eine stark schematisierte Darstellung des Lagerbehälters aus Fig. 1 im Schnitt,

Fig. 2b

den Lagerbehälter 100 wie in Fig. 2a dargestellt, auf einer Halterung eines Regalsystems aufsitzend,

Fig, 2c

eine Abwandlungsform 100' des Lagerbehälters aus Fig. 2a,

Fig. 3

eine Spritzgussform, die bei der Herstellung des Lagerbehälters aus Fig. 1 einsetzbar ist,

Fig. 4

die Schritte eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Herstellung des Lagerbehälters aus Fig. 1, vorzugsweise mit der Spritzgussform aus Fig. 3

Fig. 5

ein Lagerregal mit dem Lagerbehälter in perspektivischer Darstellung, und

Fig. 6

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Lagerbehälters 600.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1

the upper part of a storage container according to the invention,

Figure 2a

a highly schematic representation of the storage container 1 on average,

Figure 2b

the storage container 100 as in Figure 2a shown sitting on a bracket of a shelving system,

Fig. 2c

a modification 100' of the storage container Figure 2a ,

3

an injection mold used in the manufacture of the storage container 1 can be used,

4

the steps of a method according to the invention for the production of the storage container 1 , preferably with the injection mold 3

figure 5

a storage rack with the storage container in a perspective view, and

6

another embodiment of a storage container 600 according to the invention.

The 1 12 shows the plastic storage container 100 as a whole.

The storage container 100 has a bottom portion 110 from which walls 120 protrude. Here the storage container 100 is rectangular so that there are four walls 120 .

The walls terminate in a collar 130 at their free end. The side surface of the collar 130 facing outwards can be extended downwards towards the bottom area 100 by means of an apron 140, for example. However, this is optional.

Based on the schematic representation of the storage container 100 according to Figure 2a its characteristics are explained. The wall thickness d1 of the storage container is constant in the region 110 of the floor, the wall 120 standing up from the floor and the skirt 140 (if present). In contrast, the wall thickness in the area of the collar, d2, is 2 to 3 times the thickness d1. This is made possible by the fact that the plastic from which the storage container 100 is made is foamed, for example due to a blowing agent used in production, and thus locally has a lower density. In other words, there is a first portion of the base 110, wall 120 and optional skirt 140 with a first density, as known from conventional storage containers, and a second portion, the collar 130, with a second density that is less than first density is.

The thickness d2 of the collar 130 is, for example, between 0.1 and 20 mm, preferably between 2 and 10 mm. For example, d2 is between 3 and 7% of the total width of the storage container.

The collar 130 has a flat underside 135 . With this level underside 135, the entire storage container 100 can be placed on a suspension of a storage rack. Such a suspension is shown schematically in Figure 2b shown in section, it has two struts 210a and 210b whose upper flat surfaces 215a, 215b are complementary to the flat underside 135 of the collar 130 of the storage container 100.

As in Figure 2c shown using a modification of a storage container 100' according to the invention, however, the collar 130' is preferably completely filled with the plastic, ie there is no apron in this variant and therefore no cavity into which, for example, dirt could penetrate.

The 3 shows an injection mold 300, using which the storage container 100 from 1 is producible, on average. The injection mold has a first area where a clearance for injected plastic is limited. This first area is the negative of the first area of the storage container, i.e. it comprises a section 310 complementary to the bottom area 110, a section 320 complementary to the walls 120 and optionally a section 340 complementary to the apron 140. In the second area, the plastic has a Width d1 square. A second area of the injection mold 300, which is labeled 330 in the present case, corresponds to the collar 130. In the second area 330, there is space for the plastic over a width d2. In the case of the injection mold, d1 and d2 are identical to the corresponding above-mentioned wall thicknesses of the storage container 100.

The plastic is introduced via an inlet 350 and optionally exits again via outlets 360a, 360b.

The 4 FIG. 12 shows the steps of the method for manufacturing the storage container 100. FIG 1 :
First, in step S10, a granulate of a thermoplastic polymer, for example, for example acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), polylactate (PLA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The thermoplastic polymer is mixed with sodium bicarbonate and/or a citric acid derivative as a chemical blowing agent and/or with a blowing gas as a physical blowing agent.

In step S12 the plastic granules are heated. In step S14 the plastic granulate is poured into the injection mold 300 3 injected, in step S16 the storage container obtained is removed, with a straightening or removal of burrs and the like also taking place in an optional step S18.

As an alternative to the provision of a propellant, the storage container can be produced by means of a multi-layer (thick-layer) process, or by two-component injection molding, by subjecting it to internal gas or water pressure.

The figure 5 shows a shelving system 400 with vertical shelving supports 410 and horizontal struts 420 arranged thereon (for example traverses and/or panels) and with a suspension, which consists, for example, of the struts 210a and 210b Figure 2b includes. The storage container 100 sits on this suspension with the collar 130 . The foamed collar 130 is particularly light and at the same time stable, so that the storage container 100 can contain heavy loads without the storage container being bent and possibly damaged as a result of these loads.

The 6 shows a further embodiment of a storage container 600 according to the invention. In this case, the collar 610 is only provided in one section, namely preferably on two opposite walls, and in each case above a grip hole 620. Here the foamed collar 610 serves as a second area to ensure that the Storage container 600 can be handled better, so that the wearing comfort is increased when the wearer reaches through the grip hole and his hand clings to the collar 610. The preferably centrally and symmetrically seated section with the collar 610 can have a length of between 10% and 90% (0.1 times to 0.9 times) the longitudinal extent of the associated wall, the handle hole 620 can in turn be somewhat longer extend and have a U-shaped bottom edge 630, which may facilitate gripping.

Reference List

100, 100'

storage container

110

floor area

120

walls

130, 130'

collar

135

flat underside

140

apron

210a

strut

210b

strut

215a

upper surface

215b

upper surface

300

injection mold

310

to the bottom area 110 complementary section

320

to the walls 120 complementary section

330

second region of the injection mold 300 complementary to the collar 130

340

section complementary to the skirt 140

350

inlet

360a

outlet

360b

outlet

400

shelving system

410

vertical shelf braces

420

horizontal struts

600

storage container

610

collar

620

grip hole

630

U-shaped lower edge of the grip hole

d1

wall thickness

d2

Wall thickness in the area of the collar / width

S12, S14, S16, S18

Steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention

Claims (14)

A plastic storage container (100, 100', 600), wherein the plastic has a first density in a first region and a second density less than the first density in a second region, and the first region has a bottom (110) and walls projecting from the base (110) and the second area is formed on a collar (130, 610) resting at least in sections on the walls (120) in order to stiffen the collar (130, 610). The storage container (100, 100', 600) of claim 1 which is trough-shaped. A storage container (100, 100', 600) according to claim 1 or 2 formed using polypropylene. Storage container (100, 100', 600) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a thickness of the collar (130, 610) is greater than a thickness of the walls (120). Storage container (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, in which the collar (130) has a flat underside (135), the flat underside (135) running parallel to the base (110) and in the respective wall (120) of the storage container (100) opens. Storage container (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, in which the collar (130) completely surrounds the storage container at the top. Storage container according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plastic completely fills the second region. Storage container (100') according to one of the preceding claims, in which the collar is completely filled with the plastic. Storage container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the collar (130) has a width (d2) of between 0.1 and 20 mm, preferably between 2 and 10 mm. Storage container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second density is at most 0.9 times the first density, preferably at most 0.75 times, more preferably at most 0.5 times, particularly preferably at most that 0.3 times. Storage container (600) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second region is formed above a grip hole (620) on the collar (610) which is only provided in sections. Shelving system (400) with a plurality of holders and at least one storage container with the features according to one of the preceding claims, seated with its collar (130) on a holder (210a, 210b). Method for producing a storage container (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, in which a plastic provided with a propellant is pressed into an injection mold (300), the injection mold (300) being a negative (310, 320, 340) of the first portion and a negative (330) of the second portion of the storage container (100). Method according to Claim 13, in which the plastic is a thermoplastic, in particular a thermoplastic polymer, the plastic being provided as granules to which sodium bicarbonate and/or a citric acid derivative have been added as a chemical blowing agent and/or a blowing gas.

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