FR2724366A1 - Handling pallet for packaged articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet has a peripheral groove between the support plate (2) and the feet (3,4). This groove has an inlet chamfer and a chamfer on the feet, with an angle between 30 and 45deg. It facilitates the introduction of a stretchable film covering the pallet into the groove. The automatic film fastening (6) has deformable fins which lock the film in the direction of the force exerted on it. The film enveloping the pallet is guided by an inclined roller, driven by the film, which has at its base a conical plate fixed in alignment with the base of the film extending from the groove along the tangent to the plate. The direction of rotation of the conical plate favours the rolling of the film towards the inside of the groove.

Description

 The present invention relates to the design of wooden, cardboard and / or plastic handling pallets.

 The wrapping of the pallets in stretch film currently carried out, generally covers 2/3 or more of the height of the support pallet.

 Covering is necessary to ensure the cohesion of the load with the pallet, but has the disadvantage of closing the fork passages for pallet trucks and / or forklifts.

 During handling, the forks tear the film, which can weaken the cohesion of the palletized load and frequently cause the creation of strips of film dragging on the ground.

These shreds are a source of incidents such as .Flashing of the film in the conveyors and / or other pallets .But mainly, untimely triggering of the cells
and other detectors which equip and control the chains
automatic storage and handling.

 The shape of the pallet according to the invention eliminates all the drawbacks described above.

 According to a first characteristic, the pallet comprises a peripheral compression groove situated under the upper plate, allowing the accumulation of the excess film, without the film passing the forks through the film.

 In addition, the accumulation of the film in the compression groove makes it possible to reinforce the shear and tear resistance of the "pallet + palletized load" link formed by the stretch film.

 The film application device according to the second characteristic allows the guiding and the introduction of the lower surplus of the film under the pallet plate in the compression groove. The device can be adapted to all machines with a turntable.

 As a third characteristic, the pallet can advantageously be fitted, at least on the two opposite faces (or on the four faces); on the vertical or frontal upright of one of the "feet" with a self-locking device allowing the film to be quickly attached and detached.

 This self-locking device prevents the film from being fixed by a knot on one of the pallet "feet". Currently, after multiple uses, there generally remains around the "feet" of pallets one or more unsightly knots with more or less long floating strands, causing incidents and untimely detections in automatic conveying, handling and storage installations.

 Besides that the different variant (s) of the locking device can be adapted to the different types of pallets, with or without compression groove; they avoid the drawbacks mentioned above.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

 Fig.1 shows a pallet with compression groove.

 Fig.2 shows the pallet in perspective equipped according to one of the versions of the self-locking devices for hanging the film.

 Fig.3 illustrates a possibility of blocking the film without accessories.

 Figs. 4,5,6,7,8 represent different principles and possibilities of the self-locking film hanging devices.

 Fig.9 shows the principle of the film guide system to be adapted on the film deposition machines with turntable.

 With reference to these drawings, the pallets (wood, cardboard, plastic or composites) will be designed so as to provide a groove (1) on the periphery between the plate (2) and the "feet" (3) and (4). A chamfer (5) made on the "feet", at an angle of 30 to 45a will facilitate the introduction of the film into the accumulation groove thus formed.

 The device (6) fig.2 illustrates one of the principles of attachment of the wrapping film as well as its mounting by nailing or stapling on the pallet "foot" (4).

 Fig.3 shows a variant for securing the film with the pallet via a zone forming a locking corner. This zone is arranged by a chamfer of angle o (and produced on the upper lateral angle of the pallet "feet" thus allowing the film to be wedged between the chamfer and the crosspieces (7).

 Fig.4 shows a self-locking device (6) forming a square, the upper plate being equipped with inclined fins intended to block the film in the direction of traction by "HARPON effect". The angles oc and If facilitate the introduction of the film between the top of the fins and the crosspiece (7). A heel (8) is capable of reinforcing the resistance of the device (6) in the direction of traction.

 Fig.5 shows a mounting variant with opposing locking fins.

 Fig.6 shows a self-locking device (11) with cam effect in the direction of traction on the film. The fixing of the device by stapling or straddle nail (10) makes it possible to limit the movement of the cam according to the geometry of the light (9).

 Fig.7 and 8 show two variants of a bi-directional self-locking device (12) and (13) allowing the laying of the film by rotation of the pallet support plate in both directions.

These two devices with opposite and inverted fins are mounted without lateral protrusion in a groove arranged in the "feet" of pallets (4) they can be stapled, nailed or optionally, held by compression between the crosspiece (7) and the "foot" (4) fig. 8. A heel (14) possibly makes it possible to reinforce the resistance to tearing. The frontal positioning of the devices (12) and (13) facing the operator facilitates the location and the introduction or the extraction of the wrapping film. The manufacture of self-locking devices, the principles of which are defined in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 can be carried out in thin walls of colored thermoplastic and injection molded (polypropylene or charged polypropylene) or in gum (rubber).

 Fig.8 shows schematically the film guide system (17), allowing the introduction of the lower edge (20) in the groove (1).

 The system consists of a horizontal bracket (19) possibly articulated and not shown which supports an inclined angle axis. The axis receives in its lower part a crazy rubberized roller (16) intended to follow the periphery of the pallet during the rotation of the latter. On the upper part of the axle, the idler roller (15) will be adapted with its lower conical plate which will come to take place above the wheel (16) which must be able to turn in the opposite direction.

 During the wrapping operation the film (17) rotates the roller (15) by friction. The lower level (20) of the film is brought to the level of the groove (1) tangent to the cone of the plate; the direction of rotation of the plate tends to "roll" the film in the groove thus reinforcing the resistance of the "load and pallet" link; during film mounting, the film deposition cycle can be stopped at the top level of the pallet. The holding of the pallet will be sufficient especially when using MONO ORIENTE palletizing film even in very small thicknesses.

 The invention therefore makes it possible to reinforce the “pallet-palletized load” link, not to close the fork passages, to reduce the film weight used and to eliminate the strands of film or tears making rags to the ground.

 The pallet according to the invention is particularly suitable for its use on handling chains and / or automatic storage stores.

Claims (10)

1) Handling pallet with compression groove allowing  accumulation of excess stretch film characterized  in that the groove (1) located under the support plate (2)  is peripheral to the said palette which comprises 2 or 4  locking or self-locking hooking devices (fig. 3)  (fig. 4,5,6,7 and 8) mounted on the opposite sides for the  fixing the stretch film as well as the  guide (15) allowing the introduction of the film (17) into the  groove (1) said system being adaptable on machines  for removing the film with a turntable. 2) Handling pallet with compression groove according to  claim 1 characterized in that the groove  device has an input chamfer (fig. 1  detail A). 3) Handling pallet according to claim 1 characterized in that a chamfer chamfer + ss made on the "foot" of  pallet (4) fig.3 allows the hooking and blocking of the  film and its entry directly into the throat (1). 4) Handling pallet according to claim 1 and 3  characterized in that it is equipped with devices (6)  self-locking coupling with deformable fins which  block the film in the direction of the force exerted on  this one. 5) Handling pallet according to claims 1 and 3  characterized in that it is equipped with devices  self-locking attachment (fig. 5) fitted with fins  deformables mounted in opposition which block the film in  the sense of effort. 6) Handling pallet according to claims 1 and 3  characterized in that it is equipped with devices  attachment (11) by blocking the film by cam effect  in the sense of effort. 7) Handling pallet according to claims 1,3 and 4  characterized in that it is equipped with devices  bi-directional self-locking hook fig. 7 and 8  mounted frontally in 2 or 4 opposite feet and allowing  a banding in both directions of rotation of the  palette or film. 8) Handling pallet according to claims 1,3,4,5,6  and 7 characterized by the use of devices  self-locking film attachment on all types of  pallets even without compression groove (1). 9) Film guiding system fig.9 for wrapping  pallets according to one of Claims 1 to 8 for machines  with turntable; characterized in that an inclined roller  (15) driven by the film has at its base a plate  integral conical aligning the base of the film (20) in the  extension of the groove (1) along the tangent of the  tray. The direction of rotation of the conical plate promotes  rolling of the film towards the inside of the throat. 10) Guidance system for wrapping pallets  according to claims 1 and 9 characterized in that  the inclined axis which supports the roller (15) is mounted on  an articulated bracket (19) whose limited stroke does not  not allow the introduction of the wheel (16) in the  fork passages and allows return to position  vertical of the roller axis (15) when the  reel holder carriage (18).