ES2374240A1 - Side closure module for adjustable height containers. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Side enclosure module for adjustable height containers. Of the type that make up a rectangular ring, superimposable to others to vary the effective height of the container, in which a base pallet (18) also participates, each module (1) has two one-piece sides (2, 3), obtained at base of extruded plastic, and two other smaller sides fragmented into two halves (4, 4'-5, 5 '), all of them joined together by means of articulation pieces that allow the double sides of the module to bend towards the inside thereof, adopting an "m" configuration during its folding, up to a limit situation in which each double side (4, 4 '- 5, 5') remains with its two halves directly contacting each other, and contactants in turn with the one-piece sides (2 and 3) of the module, with minimum dimensions that allow the folded modules to be housed inside one or more extended modules and conveniently fixed to the lower pallet (18). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Side enclosure module for containers height adjustable.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a module of lateral enclosure, specially designed for containers of height adjustable, of the type of which incorporate as a base element a pallet, on which rings in variable number are attachable in function of the desired height.

The object of the invention is to achieve a module of lateral enclosure fully obtained in plastic, at same as the palletizable base, which is optimal from the point of sanitary sight, which substantially minimizes its occupation volumetric in vacuum and allowing a simple and constructive process consequently economic, all with remarkable rigidity structural.

Background of the invention

Containers that are used as base element a pallet, on which a plurality are attachable of annular bodies, of rectangular plan, which depending on their own number allow you to select a certain height for the pallet, adapted to the specific needs of each moment.

Generally these pallets are obtained, as far as which refers to its modular and perimeter structure, based on wooden boards or segments, properly assembled together and equipped with inter-coupling means at height.

In order to reduce the dimensions that the pallet occupies in an inoperative situation, to reduce the costs of transport in such a situation, pallets are also known in which Each side enclosure module uses four boards, joined hingedly, forming a deformable parallelogram, of so that when a module separates from the rest of the container, it is liable to flatten by setting an element considerably longer, almost double the length of the container, but of very reduced thickness, also double that of the boards that They participate in it.

These containers present a problem wide and varied, which focuses primarily on the following aspects:

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For his own nature, that is to say by their participation in the wood as a fundamental component, they have type problems health and high environmental impact.

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Be splinter easily, generating sawdust that damages transmissions of automated warehouses.

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The said chipping are sources of injuries to the hands of the user during handling.

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Yes They have a high rigidity and are relatively expensive low, its folding conditions leave much to be desired that the base panel does not match dimensionally with the modules folded sides, and there are no means for their location last.

Trying to ignore this problem are also known modules for height-adjustable containers in which the aforementioned rings are obtained based on material plastic, specifically manufactured by injection, but these they have a considerably higher price than wood, and less stiffness, to which we must also add that, due to high cost of the molds necessary for its manufacture, normally the dimensional ranges offered to the market are very reduced, obviously to reduce the number of molds necessary.

Description of the invention

The side enclosure module that the invention proposes solves in a fully satisfactory manner the above-mentioned problem, in the different aspects mentioned, so that with costs similar to those of classic wooden containers, that is to say with substantially lower costs than Conventional plastic modules, combine the advantages of each other, eliminating their respective disadvantages, to which we must also add folding characteristics that allow a container with a minimum height to receive inside, perfectly coupled and immobilized, to the side enclosure modules that are necessary in it to achieve height
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To do this more specifically, the module enclosure that is recommended is made up of pieces plastic tubular, obtained by extrusion and consequently much cheaper than the classic pieces obtained by injection or molding, being these extruded pieces of rectangular section, hollow and with internal stiffening partitions.

In correspondence with two parallel sides of the module the cited plastic parts are unique, while in correspondence with the other two sides are fragmented into two halves, one and the other joined by hinge, so that fragmented sides are likely to fold over themselves and into the module, configuring each of them a kind of "M" whose parallel sides approximate progressively as the angle of the other two sides goes decreasing, until the fragmented sides remain contacting between yes contacting the intermediate sides that relate them.

It is achieved in this way that each module of enclosure in inoperative situation present a thickness four times higher than the pieces that participate in it, but a length that is slightly shorter than the module in situation operant, allowing on the classic lower pallet, arranging one or more modules in assembly or operational situation, these act as a container for the remaining modules, that is for non-operational modules, during empty transport of the container, leaving the set perfectly compacted to an easy and comfortable transport, optimizing the space.

The relationship between the major and minor sides, as well as between the two portions of each of the latter, is carried out by means of plug-in hinges on the plastic tubular pieces, fixable by any means, capable of allowing the necessary tilts for maneuvering. of folding and unfolding mentioned above
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Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization of it, is accompanied as an integral part of said description, a set of drawings where with character Illustrative and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows, according to an overview in perspective, a side enclosure module for containers height adjustable made in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, which appears in an operating situation.

Figure 2.- Shows, according to a representation similar to figure 1, several modules duly inter-coupled and in turn coupled to the lower pallet.

Figure 3.- Shows a detail in perspective of one of the extruded pieces of plastic material involved in the module of figure 1.

Figure 4.- Shows a detail in perspective of one of the hinges intended to be coupled to the ends of pieces like the one in figure 3.

Figure 4A.- Shows another perspective of the piece shown in figure 4, as opposed to that of the latter figure.

Figures 5 and 5A.- Show in turn opposing perspectives of another hinge piece intended to fit the ends of tubular parts of plastic like the one in figure 3.

Figures 6 and 6A.- Show in turn substantially conflicting perspectives of another of the pieces of articulation involved in the module.

Figure 7.- Shows a perspective view of the module in folded situation.

Figure 8.- Shows an enlarged detail in perspective of one of the vertices of the module in operational situation for the same.

Figure 9.- Shows, also according to a view in perspective, the articulation between the two bodies involved on the foldable sides of the module.

Figure 10.- Shows a perspective of the module partially disassembled.

Figure 11.- Shows, finally, a view in plant of a container with a plurality of enclosure modules laterally folded inside.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the aforementioned figures, it can be seen how the side enclosure module that the invention proposes presents an annular, rectangular configuration, as shown in Figure 1, which is capable of engaging with other equals to form a pallet of variable height, such as the figure shows
2.

According to the invention, the module (1) it has two major sides (2 and 3), and two other minor sides (4, 4'-5, 5 ') which are double, all these sections being or sides jointly joined together to allow folding, as will be seen later.

All these pieces (2, 3, 4 and 5) are obtained by extrusion based on plastic material, with a section rectangular, hollow and with internal partition walls (6), as seen in figure 3, as well as with holes (7) near its extremes, as will be seen later.

To the pieces (2 and 3) of greater length, specifically at each end thereof, the element of hinge (8) shown in figures 4 and 4A, provided with a plurality of "plugs" (9) pluggable at the ends of the cited tubular profiles (2 and 3), equipped with lateral appendages (10) that in a situation of limited penetration into the tubes (2 and 3), are coupled by elastic recovery in the holes (7) of said tubes, mentioned above.

These hinge pieces (8) count in opposition to the studs (9) with a plurality of fins (11), Parallel, equidistant and with a reticular floor plan, with a hole (12) for passage of a joint rod (13), being these fins (11) intended to be interposed between the fins (14) and a second type of connection piece, the one shown in the Figure 5-5A, intended to be coupled to the ends contraposed of the pieces (4-4 ') on one side and (5-5 ') on the other, these articulation pieces being (15) essentially the same as the pieces (8) above described, with the sole exception that the fins (14) and "tacos" (9), instead of being opposed they form an angle straight.

Finally the two pieces or tubular bodies of plastic (4-4 ') participating in one of the sides under the module, as is the case with (5-5 ') on the other side, they receive each of them by its ends to a similar joint piece, or rather coincident, with the type of articulation piece (8) above described, but instead of being directly related to those of a profile with those of the other, they are through a piece of intermediate joint, the one shown in figures 6-6A and referenced with (16), which has two sets of fins (17) opposed.

According to this structuring the module is liable to adopt the operational position shown in the figure 1, or the folded position shown in Figure 7, in which it is liable to stay tightly and in a stable manner in the sine of a small container configured by a couple of modules, for example, mounted on the corresponding pallet bottom (18), as shown in figure 11.

The different modules (1) participants in the pallets remain perfectly in solidarity in situation operational thanks to the existence in all segments of articulation of lower pins (19) through which The different modules are machi-female.

Claims (3)

1. Side enclosure module for containers of adjustable height, in which each module configures a rectangular ring that can be coupled to a base pallet or to another module previously coupled to it, characterized in that it is constituted from extruded plastic parts (2, 3, 4, 4 ', 5, 5'), tubular and open at their ends, through which they receive joint pieces (8, 15, 16), two parallel sides of the said rectangular ring materializing in two pieces extruded (2 and 3), while the other two sides materialize, each of them, in two extruded pieces (4, 4'-5, 5 '), joined together also through articulation means (16) , all this so that the pair of pieces (4, 4 ') of one of the sides of the module, on the one hand, and the pair of pieces (5, 5') of the other side parallel to the previous one, on the other, are susceptible to form with the other two extruded pieces (2 and 3) two structures in "M", angulation n variable, until the pieces (4, 4'- 5, 5 ') contact each other and in turn contact with the other two extruded parts (2 and 3), this folded assembly having a length less than that of the extended module , so that the folded modules are accommodated within the rectangular frame defined by the deployed modules. 2. Side enclosure module for containers of adjustable height, according to claim 1, characterized in that the extruded profiled parts (2, 3, 4, 4 ', 5, 5') have internal stiffening partitions (6), and close to their end holes (7) for fixing the articulation pieces. 3. Side enclosure module for containers of adjustable height, according to claim 2, characterized in that the articulation pieces (8, 15) intended to be introduced at the ends of the profiled parts (2, 3, 4, 4 ', 5, 5 ') have several studs (9) for insertion into the hollow interior of the extrudates, with interlocking protrusions in the holes (7) of the latter, as well as a plurality of uniformly distributed semicircular fins (11, 14), of semicircular plan cant, which are opposed to the mentioned cues (9) at the ends of the extruded pieces (2, 3) longer and at the proximal ends of the double pieces (4, 4'-5, 5 '), while the distal ends of both pieces form with the 90 ° angled studs to allow folding, each pair of shorter pieces being also (4, 4'-5, 5 '), and more specifically the articulation pieces (8 ) of them, related to each other through a intermediate joint piece (16) with two sets of opposing fins (17).