ES2381074B1 - REMOVABLE MODULAR CONTAINER. - Google Patents

Abstract

Detachable modular container. # A modular container is described for parts of any productive sector that, given its modular configuration, allows to exchange or replace those parts of the container that may be damaged during use or redefine it depending on the pieces to be housed. The container has some means of fixing the pillars that make up the structure that allow its assembly and disassembly quickly and safely.

Description

REMOVABLE MODULAR CONTAINER

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is framed in the field of specific containers used for the transport of parts and sub-assemblies in any productive sector.

The object of the invention consists of a removable container that can be reused, for the most part, several times independently of the piece or subset to be transported or stored, and which also allows to replace, in a simple way, any damaged part thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In certain productive sectors (such as the automobile sector) it is necessary to store and transport parts or sub-assemblies from suppliers or from other locations to be used in subsequent assemblies. These pieces must be handled in containers specifically designed for transport, since they cannot suffer friction or deterioration, typical of a bulk transport, and they must also facilitate access to the part of a worker or a machine for its extraction simple and safe.

The problem associated with this type of container lies in the fact that if the part is no longer manufactured or undergoes a small modification in its design, the containers cannot be reused and their sole purpose is the crushing.

If there is any bump or deterioration of the container during handling (usually with forklifts) this can make it impossible to use for

transport of the pieces (which usually happens with a certain frequency), the arrangement of the pieces is practically impossible because it is a welded structure. The difficulty of maintenance means that most of the time you opt for the replacement of the container instead of its repair.

It is necessary a container that can be reused several times, and that can also be adapted to different parts; avoiding having to destroy them with each change or when it is damaged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a specific container for the parts and sub-assemblies that are used in any productive sector, such as the automotive manufacturing sector.

Said container is removable and is formed by several parts that are mounted according to specifications of the pieces to be stored or transported.

Being removable, it is allowed to exchange one or more parts of the container if they are damaged. This solves the problem previously raised with respect to the containers that are unusable once they have been damaged in any of their parts; which until now are rendered useless and discarded.

The main parts that make up a container with these characteristics are:

•

The base supports the entire container.

•

The stackers allow a container to be stacked on top of another, resting on the pillars.

•

The skates, serve so that the container moves easily along the ground and at the same time serves to facilitate the positioning of the nails of the transport element with which the container will be handled, as per

example of a forklift or pallet truck.

•

The pillars provide rigidity to the structure and support the combs.

•

The combs are elements arranged on a metal structure that allow the pieces to be transported without touching each other or may suffer some type of friction or deterioration. Said combs are preferably made of polymeric material.

• Other elements, such as stiffening bars between pillars.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective of the container object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective of the base of the container where the elements that compose it are appreciated.

Figure 3.- Shows a view of the means of fixing the pillars to the base.

Figure 4.- Shows a view of the fixing means inserted in one of the pillars of the container structure.

Figure 5.- Shows a view of the pillars fixed to the base of the container structure.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures, a preferred embodiment of the container (1) object of this invention shown in Figure 1 is described below.

The modular container (1) object of the invention is formed by the prior manufacture of an outer structure thereof formed by a base

(14)

and some pillars (3), which provide rigidity to the container (1), where all the necessary elements for handling such as stackers (6), skates (5), etc. are located.

Once we have both parts defined, the container (1) is completed with a series of removable combs (4) that allow the exact placement of some pieces inside the container (1). Said combs (4) are distributed and located according to the specifications of the pieces to be contained, this is made possible by finding said combs (4) arranged on supports (15) defined by bars that are fixed to the pillars (3) and / or to the base (14), either in a panel

(2)

or in racks (7) of said base (14), as needed. To provide greater rigidity to the container (1) reinforcement bars can be placed

(16)

between pillars (3).

The container (1) object of the invention can comprise a modular set of bases (14) and pillars (3), which can be easily assembled and disassembled and allow the creation of different exterior structures for a wide range of specific containers (1) where you can easily assemble and disassemble any comb system (4).

With this solution, if there is any blow or deterioration to the container (1), the damaged part can be replaced in a simple way and can take advantage of the rest of the container. When the piece undergoes a redesign or stops being manufactured, the comb system (4) will simply have to be squashed, and the outer structure can be reused, consisting of the base (14) and the pillars (3).

In this preferred embodiment, the base (14) is formed by two identical “U” shaped frames (7) assembled together by means of anchors, between which the panel (2) is introduced, which mainly provides stiffness, and the possibility of screwing on it. The frames (7) are assembled by means of bolted joints as an anchor located at their ends, by the central part; as seen in figure 2. The width and length of the elements that form the base (14) depend on the modularity that is proposed. Likewise, four open-profile pillars (3) and grooves are used on their opposite face that fit into the four corners of the base and are secured by means of fixing means (8), formed by four pieces (12,13) in shape wedge two smaller pieces (13) and two larger pieces

(12) -a threaded stud (9) that passes through one of the smaller pieces (13) and stops at the other- through it or not, by fixing it to it-, some washers (11) pierced by the stud (9 ) and a nut (10) threaded at the free end of the stud (9), which allows the abutment (3) to be attached to the frame (7) of the base (14); leaving the joint hidden and protected inside the pillar (3) and the stacker (6) as seen in figures 3, 4 and 5.

In this way, by turning the thread (10) around the stud (9) clockwise, it squeezes one of the smaller pieces (13) so that it pushes the two major pieces (12) causing an expansion of the assembly that it forms the fixing means (8), making a tightening against the inner walls of the pillar (3) which can be open profiles or hollow profiles.

In an even more preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, the container

(1) it has the reinforcement bars (16) located between two pillars (3) and fixed to them in such a way that, as seen in Figure 1, the structure is reinforced by two reinforcement bars ( 16) located at the top of the sides of the container (1), and a reinforcement bar (16) located at the back, at the same height or different height depending on the configuration of the container (1).

Claims (15)

 R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S 1. Removable modular container (1) for parts characterized in that it comprises: -a base (14) consisting of:

-

"U" shaped racks (7) having anchors at their ends intended to assemble said racks (7) with each other, and

-

 a panel (2) arranged between the frames (7), -a removable pillars (3) perpendicular to the base (14) fixed to the

same by means of fixing (8), and -a removable combs (4) intended to hold the piece.

2.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the frame anchors (7) are removable joints.

3.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the removable joints are bolted connections.

Four.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it additionally comprises skates (5) intended to allow handling of the container (1).

5.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises stackers (6) located in the corners of the bottom of the base (14) intended to serve as a support for stacking more than one container (1).

6.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the fixing means (10) comprise: two smaller wedge-shaped pieces (13) arranged

facing and two major wedge-shaped pieces (12) arranged opposite shape, where said pieces (12,13) form a rectangle, -a threaded stud (9) arranged through the inside of at least one of the smaller pieces (13), -at least one washer (11) that is located crossed by the stud (9), and - at least one nut (10) threaded into the stud (9).

7.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the combs (4) are arranged on supports (15) defined by bars.

8.

Container (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the supports

(15) are fixed to the pillars (3).

9.

Container (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the supports

(15) are fixed to the racks (7) of the base (14).

10.

Container (1) according to claim 7 characterized in that the supports

(15) are fixed to the panel (2).

eleven.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the pillars (3) are fixed to the base (14) at the corners of the frames (7).

12.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the pillars (3) are open profile.

13.

Container (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the pillars (3) are hollow profiles.

14. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it additionally comprises at least one reinforcement bar (16) that is fixed to at least two pillars (3). SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201031557 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 10.25.2010 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: B65D19 / 44 (2006.01) B65D88 / 02 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

Y

DE 19908824 A1 (HOLZINDUSTRIE FUERST ZU FUERST) 07.09.2000, 1-5,7-14

column 3, line 68 - column 8, line 30; figures 1,16,17,20,21,37

Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN 2000-580178.

Y

JP 11278479 A (YAMAGUCHI SHIKI KOGYOSHO KK et al.) 12.10.1999, 1-5,7-14

Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN JP-25007398-A

Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN 1999-628782; Figures 3-8.

TO

DE 202008011823 U1 (BACHMANN EBERHARD) 02.19.2009, 1,7,10,14

Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN DE-202008011823-U

Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN 2009-G26777; figure 2.

TO

JP 9295643 A (NAT HOUSE IND) 18.11.1997, 1,7.11

Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN JP-10942196-A

Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN 1998-046640; Figure 1.

TO

US 2006013647 A1 (FARLEY CHARLES et al.) 19.01.2006, 1,7,8

Figure 1; Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN 2006-099351.

TO

US 4919277 A (JERUZAL THOMAS M) 24.04.1990, 1,4,7-10

Figure 1.

TO

EP 0116682 A1 (VOLL KAROSSERIEFAB) 29.08.1984, 1.12-14

Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN EP-83109109-A

Summary of the WPI database. Recovered from EPOQUE; AN 1984-214366; Figure 1.

TO

US 2010089917 A1 (GILBERT DANNY L et al.) 04.04.2010, one

paragraphs 38-61; figure 8.

TO

US 4603787 A (ESSARY LARRY) 05.08.1986, 1.4

Figure 1; Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE;

AN US-78252185-A.

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 12.03.2012

Examiner M. I. Esteban Gil Page 1/5

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201031557 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) B65D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201031557 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 12.03.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims 1-14 Claims IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims 6 Claims 1-5,7-14 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201031557 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

DE 19908824 A1 (HOLZINDUSTRIE FUERST ZU FUERST) 07.09.2000

D02

JP 11278479 A (YAMAGUCHI SHIKI KOGYOSHO KK et al.) 12.10.1999

D03

DE 202008011823 U1 (BACHMANN EBERHARD) 02/19/2009

D04

JP 9295643 A (NAT HOUSE IND) 11/18/1997

D05

US 2006013647 A1 (FARLEY CHARLES et al.) 01/19/2006

D06

US 4919277 A (JERUZAL THOMAS M) 04/24/1990

D07

EP 0116682 A1 (VOLL KAROSSERIEFAB) 29.08.1984

D08

US 2010089917 A1 (GILBERT DANNY L et al.) 04.15.2010

D09

US 4603787 A (ESSARY LARRY) 05.08.1986

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The object of the invention is a removable modular container for parts consisting of a base formed by "U" -shaped frames that have anchors at their ends intended to assemble said frames together and a panel arranged between the frames; removable pillars perpendicular to the base fixed to it by means of fixing means and combs intended to hold the piece. Document D01 is considered the state of the art document closest to the invention, in which a removable modular container (10) for parts consisting of a base (13) and panels all fixed by fixing means (34) is disclosed. ) and some combs (24) intended to hold the piece. It differs from the request in the way of configuring the container as it is not done with “U” shaped frames and pillars, but is made with a base and panels. The advantage that derives from the use of racks and panels is that it is removable. Said characteristic is also achieved with the embodiment described in document D01. Different embodiments of removable containers are known in the state of the art, as is the case disclosed in document D02 which discloses a container consisting of profiles, as a corner (2), not in the form of "U" as that of the invention, profiles (8), and among them a base (5a), and removable pillars perpendicular to the base fixed thereto by fixing means. For an expert in the field it would be obvious to combine both documents, they are also different options for construction of removable containers as shown in other documents cited D07 to D09. Therefore, the invention is new according to article 6.1 of the patent law, but it lacks inventive activity according to article 8.1 of the patent law. In the second claim it is claimed that the anchors of the frames are removable joints and in the third that they are screwed. In document D01 the joints are removable and screwed, therefore claims 2 and 3 are new as they are dependent on the 1 which is also new according to 6.1 of the patent law and lack inventive activity according to art. 8.1 of the patent law. In the fourth claim, the container additionally comprises skates intended to allow handling of the container. Document D01 discloses the use of skates for handling (14) .In addition the use of skates or forks for handling containers is well known in the prior art as in documents D06 and D09, which it shows. The fifth claim refers to stackers located at the corners of the bottom of the base to serve as a support for stacking more than one container. Document D01 discloses stackers at the top and bottom of the corners of the container (46,48,14) for stacking more than one container, as shown in Figure 35 of said document. Therefore claim 5 is new as it is dependent on the 1 which is also new according to ART. 6.1 of the patent law and lack inventive activity according to art. 8.1.of patent law. In the sixth claim, the fastening means consisting of two smaller wedge-shaped pieces arranged in a facing manner and two larger wedge-shaped pieces arranged in a opposite manner where they form a rectangle, a threaded stud arranged through one of the claims minor pieces a washer pierced by the stud, and a nut threaded into the stud. No documents have been found that disclose said configuration, therefore claim 6 is new and has inventive activity according to articles 6.1 and 8.1 of the patent law. State of the Art Report Page 4/5  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201031557 In the seventh claim the combs are arranged on supports defined by bars. In the eighth claim the supports are fixed to the pillars. In the ninth claim the supports are fixed to the base frames, or to the panel as in the tenth claim. There are different ways of configuring the panels in documents D01, D03, D04, D05, D06, different supports are disclosed where the combs are arranged both in the racks, in the panels or in the base, therefore claims 7 to 10 are new because they are dependent on claim 1 according to art.6.1, but lack inventive activity according to Article 8.1 of the patent law In the eleventh claim the pillars are fixed to the base at the corner of the frames. In documents D01, D02, D03, D04, the pillars are fixed to the base at the corner of the racks. Therefore claim 11 is new and lacks inventive activity according to articles 6.1 and 8.1 of the patent law. In claim 12 the pillars are open profile and in claim 13 they are hollow profiles. Open and hollow profiles are disclosed in documents D01, D02, D07, therefore claim 12 is new and lacks inventive activity according to articles 6.1 and 8.1 of the patent law. In claim 14 the container comprises a reinforcing bar that is fixed to at least two pillars. In document D01 a reinforcement bar is disclosed which is fixed to at least two pillars, in this case panels, therefore claim 14 is new and lacks inventive activity according to articles 6.1 and 8.1 of the patent law. State of the Art Report Page 5/5