FR2650251A1 - PALLET-WOOD CONTAINER FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The palletised container is produced in wood and it comprises a pallet-type base and surrounding walls (3). This pallet is characterised in that it comprises a structure in the form of a brace between the surrounding wall (3) and the base (2) so as to prevent any deformation of the corresponding wall during handling of the palletised container by a fork-lift truck. This structure in the form of a brace is obtained by assembling the edge (13) of the base with the lower plank (9) of the corresponding surrounding wall. These wooden palletised containers are particularly used for gathering fruit in orchards.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of wooden container pallets

  especially for the collection of fruit and vegetables and more particularly

  collecting apples in orchards.

  These pallets-containers known under the name of "palox", consist of a pallet surmounted by walls of entourage. These containers are usually handled by forklift or pallet truck. Handling by pallet truck does not generally result in damage to the products in the container. In fact, the pallet trucks raise these containers by means of the beams-which are located under the floor and which

  constitute the essence of the structure of the pallet.

  On the other hand, the handling of these containers by fork carriage, induces damage to the products in contact with the surrounding walls and in particular the walls which correspond to the input sides of the forks of the carriage. This deterioration comes from the friction of the fruits on said walls due to the movement of the bottom of the pallet relative to said walls during handling of the container; she can reach ten for

hundred of the fruits.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and in particular to eliminate the causes of deterioration of the products, that is to say the friction of

  these products on the sidewalls.

  The pallet container according to the invention comprises a bottom of the pallet type consisting of a floor laying on longitudinal members, and surrounding walls integral with corner posts which are fixed on said pallet; this container pallet is characterized in that it comprises, on the input side of the forks of handling, a bending-resistant structure, in the form of equerre, shaped between the corresponding surrounding wall and the

floor of the pallet.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this structure consists of the bottom edge of the pallet and the lower panel of the corresponding surrounding wall, the two being assembled

together by nailing for example.

  Still according to the invention, the bank of the bottom has a trapezoidal section, its small side is contiguous to the floor of the pallet, its long side is attached to the face

  internal of the lower plate of the surrounding wall.

  According to another embodiment of the invention, the bottom banks are fixed on the side members; they have a length that corresponds to the outer spacing of the side members

  located at each end of the pallet.

  Still according to the invention, and according to another preferential arrangement, the banks of the bottom comprise, at their ends, a notch located substantially at the same level as the floor, allowing the interlocking of the post

corresponding angle.

  The invention will be further illustrated with the help of

  following description and accompanying drawings, given

  indicative, and wherein: - the figure is a perspective view of a pallet container according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a section at one of the fork introduction tunnel of a handling truck, partially showing the pallet container; - Figure 3 is a front view of the pallet, the introduction side of the forks of a handling truck, without the surrounding walls; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of an angle of the pallet; FIG. 5 is a perspective view also of the same angle of the pallet, comprising the corner post in the normal position; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a corner post showing in particular its foot; - Figure 7 is a front view of the corner post and in particular of its side located inside the container; - Figure 8 is a side view of the same corner post, that is to say one of its faces on which - 3 is fixed the surrounding wall and in particular the wall located on the side the entry of the forks of a handling truck; Figure 9 is a top view of the corner post; FIG. 10 is a view from below of this same angle post. FIG. 1 shows a container pallet according to the invention consisting of a pallet 1 itself, comprising a bottom 2 forming the floor, which bottom is surmounted by surrounding walls 3 made of planks.

  assembled on corner posts 4.

  The pallet 1 consists of four longitudinal members 5 parallel to each other: two external longitudinal members and two internal longitudinal members defining tunnels 6 in which the forks of a forklift truck are introduced. Under these side members 5 there are cross members 7 and in particular three cross members 7: two external cross members and a cross member in the center. Between these crosspieces 7, under the longitudinal members 5, a pallet truck can be slid for the handling of these pallets-containers. The floor 2 is fixed on the longitudinal members 5 by nailing. for example. Note that this floor consists of several boards 8 perpendicular to the

longitudinal members 5.

  The surrounding walls 3 consist of horizontal boards 9 that is to say parallel to the floor 2, which boards are fixed by nailing, for example, on the corner posts 4. These corner posts 4 have a triangular section and have a foot 10 which is bolted to the longitudinal members 5, and in particular outside the longitudinal members located at the ends of the

pallet 1.

  FIG. 2 shows a partial section of a container pallet according to the invention, this section being made at a tunnel 6 in which one of the forks 11 of a forklift truck is inserted. FIG. 2 also shows an arm 12 of a pallet truck, which is positioned between two cross-members 7 of the pallet, under the spar 5 and in particular in a cut-out

  of arch made in this spar 5.

  Note, Figure 2, the boards 8 of the bottom of the pallet are placed on the longitudinal members 5. The end of the bottom consists of a bank 13 also placed on the spar 5 at its end. This bank 13 has a trapezoidal section: its short side 14 is attached to the boards 8 of the bottom 2 and this small side corresponds to the thickness of the boards 8. The large side 15 is backed to the board 9 of the surrounding wall, which board 9 of the surrounding wall rests on the longitudinal members 5 and in particular on the end of these longitudinal members. Note in fact Figure 2, that the outer face of the board 9 is in line with

the end of the longitudinal members 5.

  This bank 13 is secured to the board 9 by

  all appropriate means and in particular by nailing.

  The whole bank 13 - plate 9, constitutes a bracket-shaped structure whose deformation is restricted and which, when handling the pallet container by a forked truck Il, to limit the deformation of the walls of entourage 3 which is located on the side of the introduction of the forks 11. Note, Figure 2, the lower plate 9, integral with the side 13, is slightly spaced from the board 9 immediately higher. Thus a deformation of the lower plank 9 does not cause a deformation of the upper planks 9 which constitute the rest of the surrounding wall and thus avoids the friction and the deterioration of the products against the internal face of these different planks which constitute the

surrounding walls.

  Banks 13 are arranged at each end dd floor 2; they have a trapezoidal section which makes it possible to soften the angle between the bottom 2 and the corresponding wall 3 and which also allows the nailing of the associated board 9. These banks 13 also constitute a kind of reinforcing beam which is rendered substantially indeformable by its fastening, by means of nails 16 for example, with the lower plate 9 of the surrounding wall 3 corresponding. FIG. 3 shows the pallet 1, seen from the side of the introduction of the forks 1I of a forklift truck, which forks 11 are positioned in the insertion tunnels 6. Note in this figure, the cross members 7 on which the rails 5 rest. These rails 5 receive the boards B forming the bottom 2 and the banks 13, disposed at each end. Note that the boards 8 have a length that corresponds substantially to that of the cross members 7 located under the longitudinal members 5. The banks 13 have a length L which corresponds to the outer spacing E of the longitudinal members arranged at each end of the pallet. The ends of the banks 13

  rest on the outer longitudinal members 5.

  FIG. 4 shows in greater detail, in perspective, an angle of the pallet showing a cross-member 7 on which is placed a spar 5 which receives a bank 13. It has also been shown in fine line,

  boards 8 constituting the bottom 2 or floor of the pallet.

  The bank 13 is associated with a board 9, which board is nailed to the outer face of the shore. Note that the end of the bank 13 is placed on the end of the spar 5. This end of the bank 13 has a notch 17 arranged obliquely in its angle to allow the positioning of the corner post 4 which appears in Figure 5

  in the normal position, assemble on the pallet.

  The notch 17 corresponds to a cut made at each end 'of the edge 13, which cut is for example made by means of a bur whose movement is at an angle of 45 relative to the longitudinal axis of the edge 13. The end of the edge 13 retains a thickness that corresponds substantially to the thickness of the boards 8

  constituting the bottom 2 of the pallet.

  FIG. 6 to 10 shows, in detail, a corner pot 4. This post has a parallelepiped-shaped foot 10 located at the bottom of the post itself, which is presented with a triangular section, so as to follow the internal angle of the surrounding walls. The foot 10 has a height H which corresponds to the height of the longitudinal members 5, increased by the height of the end of the edge 13, that is to say of the thickness of the

boards 8 constituting the bottom 2.

  The width of this foot 10 substantially corresponds to the width of the bank 13. Its thickness corresponds to

the thickness of the longitudinal members 5.

  We note, still on this foot 10, the holes 18 which allow its attachment to the side members 5 by

bolting for example.

  The foot 10 is extended above, in one piece, by a portion 19 whose section is triangular and receives on the faces 19a and 19b the boards 9

constituting the entourage.

  The third face 19c of the posts receives a board 20 which extends over the entire height of the post, above the foot 10, and whose width corresponds to the dimension of this face 19c. This board 20 is made of a material softer than the post, corresponding to the material used for the bottom 2 and surrounding 3. This board 20 protects the fruit against the venom of the wood when the posts are oak, for

avoid staining fruit.

  Note, Figure 5, the positioning of the post 4 relative to the pallet 1. The foot 10 of the post 4 rests on the cross 7. It is applied against the outer face of the spar 5 and is bolted to this spar. The upper part 19 of the post 4, that is to say the one above the foot 10 overflows on the bank 13 and takes place in particular in the notch 17 specially arranged a

the end of said bank 13.

  The longitudinal members 5 of the pallet, as well as the posts 4, are made of hard material such as oak; the other elements constituting the pallet and the surrounding walls are made of softwood fir. In order to improve the holding of these container pallets, it will be seen in the figures, in particular FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, that the crosspieces 7 or flanges have an entry angle 21 arranged by planing the pallet. upper outer edge to facilitate the introduction of the forks 11 in the tunnels 6. Similarly, the edges 22 of the side members 5, always on the side of the tunnel 6, are rounded to facilitate the introduction of the forks 11 in said tunnels and avoid deterioration from the angle of these

beams.

  Note again, Figure 4, the space between the boards forming the surrounding 3 pallet container. Note that this space can increase as the drying of said boards 9. Similarly for the floor or bottom 2, the boards 8 are spaced allowing aeration of the product contained in the pallet container. -8-

Claims (10)

  1.- Wooden pallet container for handling by means of a forklift in particular, comprising a pallet type bottom with a floor placed on longitudinal members, and surrounding walls integral with corner posts, characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the input of the handling forks, a square-shaped structure between the surrounding wall 3 and the floor 2 constituting the bottom of said pallet.   2. Wooden pallet container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a square-shaped structure formed by the bank 13 of the floor 2 and the lower panel 9 of the corresponding surrounding wall, said bank and said panel being assembled together. 3. Wooden pallet container according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a bank 13 of trapezoidal section whose short side is contiguous to the floor 2 and whose long side is attached to the inner face of the lower panel 9 constituting Wall Surroundings 3.   4.- Wooden pallet container, according to one   any of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that   it comprises shims 13 fixed on the longitudinal members 5 of the pallet, the length L of said shores corresponding to   the space E of the external longitudinal members 5 of said pallet.   5.- Wooden pallet container, according to one   any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that   it comprises banks 13 provided at their ends with a notch 17 located substantially at the same level as the   floor 2, allowing the interlocking of the corner post 4.   6. Wooden pallet container according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises corner posts consisting of a foot 10 in the form of   parallelepiped surmounted by a section 19 of section-   triangular inscribed in the corners of the walls -, - 9 Surroundings 3.   7. Wooden pallet container according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises corner posts 4 whose foot 10 has a height which corresponds substantially to the height of the side members 5 increased by the thickness of the boards 8 constituting the background 2.   8.- Wooden pallet container according to one   any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   it comprises corner posts 4 hardwood kind oak dressed on their inner face 19c, a clipboard soft wood kind fir.   9.- Wooden pallet container according to one   any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that   it comprises rails 5 provided with a rounded on the vertical edge 22 on the side of the introduction of the forks of the handling truck.   10.- Wooden pallet container according to one   any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that   it comprises, on the outer upper edge 21 of the cross members 7 positioned under the side members 5, a chamfer making it possible to improve the penetration of the forks of the truck.