ES2346375T3 - FOLDING TRAY. - Google Patents

Abstract

The tray (1) has a base wall (2) and lateral walls (3-6) that are formed of a rigid frame (40, 60) supporting a panel, where the frame is articulated along the base wall. The lateral walls have profiles fixed to the base wall by a flexible attachment. The attachment forms an articulation between the profile and the base wall that has other profiles (21-24) along its edges. The former profiles are guided along latter profiles and are fixed to the latter profiles by the attachment, where the profiles are co-extruded with the attachment.

Description

Folding tray

The present invention relates to the domain of trays or folding trays of a material such as plastic which allow in particular a use for several times.

For the transport of parts between different factory workshops are generally used form trays parallelepiped that are circulated in a shuttle or vehicle Of transport. Once the pieces reach their destination often is obliged to return the empty trays to the workshop of expedition to fill them again. To be fit for such use, This type of tray has several features. This made of a sufficiently strong and rigid material for withstand heavy loads, as well as maintenance shocks without deformation or tears. Resists stains and should be able to be cleaned. It is light so you don't have to transport dough useless On the other hand, to the extent that its use implies  Vacuum transport phases, it is desirable that it be foldable from so that its volume is reduced.

The use of plastic trays is Now widely spread. They are light, inexpensive, and liable to be used for very numerous applications. These trays generally have a parallelepipedic shape, and they have a bottom panel and erect side walls in relation to this one, formed of panels articulated to each other.

A prior art tray is illustrated by the patent BE-A-6,592,426 describing a folding tray whose bottom wall and side walls are each formed by a rigid frame or frame that supports a panel. The sidewall racks are attached to the Back wall frame by flexible joints.

The present invention aims at a tray improved folding in relation to the products of the technique previous.

The folding tray of the invention comprises a back wall and side walls, the walls being mobile lateral between an erect position in relation to the back wall and a retracted position, inclined flat relative to the bottom wall, at least two side walls being formed by a rigid frame that supports a panel, said articulation being articulated frame along the back wall. It is characterized by fact that the racks of the side walls comprise a first profile fixed to the bottom wall by a flexible joint that articulation between the first profile and the bottom wall, the bottom wall comprises two second profiles along its edges, and the first profiles are guided along the second profiles and fixed thereto by said flexible joint, the first and second profiles being coextruded with the flexible joint

Thanks to the invention, a tray has been made which combines lightness and solidity. The frame ensures the rigidity of the wall and allows absorption of vertical forces by the bottom of the tray. Thus, the trays can be stacked at a great height. For the side walls, the frame can support a panel lightweight formed by a plastic plate. Advantageously it can be an alveolar plate, such as that marketed by the applicant under the Akylux brand, consisting of two sheets or sheets of coverage joined together by parallel partitions and that provide longitudinal alveoli.

More particularly, the set of Racks and panels may be formed of materials Plastics that can be recycled.

The frame that forms the side walls preferably comprises at least a third profile that is supported on the back wall when the side walls are erected

According to another characteristic, when understanding the bottom wall corner reinforcement parts, third parties Profiles rely on these reinforcements in an upright position. Plus particularly the bottom wall is also formed by a frame with profiles that hold one or more panels of each other background.

According to another feature, the walls laterals comprise a two to two locking means to maintain the side walls in an upright position.

It has now been described in more detail the tray of the invention with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate a non-limiting embodiment, and in which:

Figs. 1 to 4 show the tray of the invention in four states from the volume tray to its state of flat;

Fig. 5 shows the detail of a hinge between the first and second profiles;

Fig. 6 shows in perspective the detail of the blockage between two adjacent side walls;

Fig. 7 is a cut according to the direction 6-6 of fig. 6.

As seen in fig. 1, tray 1 comprises a bottom wall 2 and four side walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The transverse side walls 4 and 6 on the small sides of the tray, are formed by a frame 40 and 60 which supports a panel 45 and 65 respectively. The walls longitudinal sides 3 and 5 comprise in this example two profiles 31 and 33 for one and 51 and 53 for the other. Panels 35 and 55 are retained between the two profiles. Each frame is composed of profiles joined together: 41, 42, 43, 44 for the frame 40 and 61, 62, 63 and 64 for frame 60. In another mode of embodiment not shown the side walls are formed by four racks.

The bottom wall is here also composed by a frame 20, with its four profiles 21, 22, 23 and 24, which retain a panel 25 by appropriate slides. The panels are preferably of a light but rigid material such as Akylux brand alveolar plates.

Fig. 2 shows how wall 3 is articulated along the edge of the back wall 2. The four walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 are articulated here in the same way along the edges of the bottom wall 2. The first profile 31 pivots about an axis along the second profile 21 of the back wall 2.

Fig. 3 shows a status of the tray in which walls 3 and 5 are laid parallel to the plane of the background. The wall 4 is in intermediate position between the position erect and flat position. Wall 6 is still erect. They look on this figure the four profiles 41, 42, 43, 44 and 61, 62, 63, 64 of the two walls 4 and 6.

Fig. 4 shows the tray in its state of flat occupying a minimum volume. It is observed that the back wall it comprises four reinforcement pieces 26, 27, 28, 29 in corner of the Four angles These pieces comprise faces perpendicular to the bottom plane and they have a height such as seen in the fig. 4 slightly exceed the upper surface of the walls dejected sides. These raised parts form supports for stuffed trays and allow stacking these on top of each other without the upper tray come to rest on the side walls dejected These are not thus subjected to efforts susceptible to spoil them.

Fig. 5 shows in section a first profile of one of the side wall racks, for example profile 31 which cooperates with the second profile of the back wall corresponding, here the bottom wall is formed by a frame from which the second profile 21 is seen.

The first profile 31 of the side wall 3 it comprises two wings 31a and 31b that form a U and between which the panel 35, not shown, of the side wall 3 is slid and kept. The second profile 21 is square shaped with a part 21d in extension of the wings of profile 31 and a part that It is perpendicular to them. This last part comprises two wings 21a and 21b forming a U and between which panel 25, not shown, of the back wall is slid and maintained. The two profiles they are in contact with each other over their entire length by complementary surfaces such as a tongue and a slot to ensure a transversal fixation. According to mode preferred of the invention the two profiles are joined together by a hinge 10 on at least a part of its common length. This hinge is a band of flexible material that forms the axis of articulation and around which the profile 31 can pivot with relation to profile 21. Arranging the flexible band on one of the sides of the profiles articulation is allowed in one direction only, into the tray. The profile is prevented from swing to the other side. The flexible band can be fixed to the two profiles in any appropriate way however it can be advantageous to perform both profiles and the hinge band by coextrusion, the two profiles of a plastic material and the band of Other plastic material. The hinge joint between the first profile 31 of the side wall and the second profile 21 which form the back wall frame 2. The others can be performed in the same way: first profile 41 respectively with the second profile 22, the first profile 51 with the second profile 23 and the first profile 61 with the second profile 24.

The upper edges of the four walls laterals comprise two to two locking means. In fig. 6 se has represented the locking means between the wall 3 and the wall adjacent 6. In the extension of the profile 33 on the frame 30 a first locking element 36 with pins 36a is mounted. On the frame 60 of the wall 6 is mounted a second element of lock 67. This element 67 comprises a turned part 67a in projection at right angles to the wall 6, along its vertical edge 64. The turned part 67a comprises housings 67b for pins 36a. As you can see in fig. 7 a tongue 36b on the first element 36 comes in contact behind a stop 67c on the second element 67. This tab 36b is integral with an elastic part 36c of the first locking element and can be released when a force of pressure is exerted on This elastic part.

It is noted that the blocking elements are extended upwards each by a vertical wing 36d and 67d. These wings form fixing means when a tray is stacked over the other. The vertical load of the upper tray is taken by the vertical profiles 62-64 and 42-44 of the transverse side walls.

The following trays are used shape.

When the tray is armed or in volume it they have the objects inside and several can be stacked trays The efforts are supported by the racks and the wall profiles and not by retained and maintained panels by the racks.

To fold the trays just unlock the four locking means in the upper four angles. Be fold the wall 3 first against the bottom wall 2 then fold the wall 5 that is parallel to it. It comes on the wall 3. A Then the other two walls 4 and 6 are successively lowered. The hinges of the four walls are advantageously at heights slightly different so as to allow stacking of the latter in dejected position.

To assemble or put in volume proceed to reverse operations.

Claims (4)

1. The folding tray (1) of the invention comprising a bottom wall (2) and side walls (3, 4, 5, 6), the side walls being movable between an erect position relative to the bottom wall and a folded position, inclined flat relative to the bottom wall, at least two side walls (4, 6) being formed by a rigid frame (40, 60) supporting a panel, said frame being articulated along the wall bottom, folding tray characterized by the fact that: the racks of said side walls comprise a first profile (31, 41, 51, 61) fixed to the bottom wall by a flexible joint (10) that forms articulation between the first profile and the bottom wall, the bottom wall (2) comprises second profiles (21, 22, 23, 24) along its edges, the first profiles (31, 41, 51, 61) are guided along of the second profiles (21, 22, 23, 24) and fixed thereto by said flexible joint (10), being coextruded the first and second profiles with the flexible joint. 2. A tray according to claim 1 in the that at least a part of the side walls comprises at least a third profile that rests vertically on the bottom wall when the walls are erect. 3. A tray according to claim precedent in which when understanding the back wall pieces of angle reinforcement, third vertical profiles are supported on said reinforcements in an upright position. 4. A tray according to one of the claims precedents whose side walls comprise a locking means two to two to keep the side walls in position erect