FR2806707A1 - MODULAR, REUSABLE AND RECONFIGURABLE, PACKAGING AND SETTING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Reusable and reconfigurable modular system for packaging and securing series of stackable profiles, offering a significant economic advantage over single-use, disposable packaging systems. In this system, the profiles are wedged by removable wedging devices (1 to 8) which are embedded in pre-cut slots (10), held and retained by their tabs in a base plate (9), itself placed on a support plate (11) and secured to the assembly by clamps. Several slots corresponding to different profile shapes can be pre-cut, both on the base plate and on the support plate. The system is thus reusable as it is for successive transports. It is easily reconfigurable, by simply turning the base plate over for symmetrical profiles or by swapping the base and support plates. The system is mainly applicable to the transport of rubber seals for automobile doors, but it can also be used for all kinds of profiles of different materials and shapes and for various application sectors.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging and wedging system for

series of

  stackable profiles. This system is modular, reusable and reconfigurable.

  Traditionally, the transport of stackable profiles is carried out using

  specially designed cardboard packaging which is discarded after each trip.

  This single-use method generates significant additional costs. In addition, these

  non-scalable and non-modular packaging requires inventory management.

  The present invention on the contrary allows a complete reuse of the system for the repetitive routing of the transported sections. It also allows reconfiguration

  packaging for series of profiles in different numbers, shapes and materials.

  The invention consists of four assemblies making it possible to wedge the profiles by means of wedging devices specifically adapted to the profiles to be transported: - a bottom plate specifically shaped according to the shape of the profiles and comprising pre-cut insertion slots, the wedging fitted with tabs, fitted in the bottom plate and removable, - a reusable support plate,

  - clamps to secure the two bottom and support plates.

  The whole system is normally placed in a box.

  Figure 1 (bird's-eye view) describes the configuration of the system in the case of rubber seal profiles intended for automobile car doors. The system allows the packaging of two series (a and b) of 25 joints. It includes in this case (exploded view in Figure 2) 8 wedging devices (1 to 8) embedded in the bottom plate (9) in slots (10) pre-cut to the necessary shape, and retained and held by means of tabs " I / "forming the base of said wedges, the whole being fixed on the reusable support plate (11) by means of clamps (12). The components of the system are constructed of sufficiently strong and light materials, which gives the system its capacity for reuse for successive transportations of identical shapes (for this application, the bottom and support plates are made of wood and the wedging devices made of metal). In addition, thanks to the pre-cut notches in the bottom plate, the system can be easily reconfigured and adapted to different series of profiles. FIG. 3 illustrates the particular case -2- of notches corresponding to two symmetrical profiles. The same bottom plate (being reversible by simple turning over on itself) can thus be used for wedging and transporting right or left profiles. In this case, to transport new profiles, the reuse principle consists simply in turning the bottom plate over. Note that the method applies to all types of curved profiles or which require a stacking direction, insofar as the only projection of the profiles on the horizontal plane is symmetrical. The same base plate can also be used for different and non-symmetrical profiles. However, in this case and in order to optimize the number of possible uses of the same system, the invention provides for exchanging the functions of the bottom plates and wedges between successive transports, the two plates having been pre-cut as appropriate for profiles to be transported. Figure 4 shows the example of the rotation of plates for the transport of 4 successive transports of different profiles, using 4

plates only in total.

  Compared to single-use systems (disposable after transport, lost packaging), the invention has a significant economic advantage, the unit cost of the product being minimized thanks to a high number of reuse (which can reach twenty) without any revision. the set: - re-use as is for transporting profiles of identical shapes, - reconfigurability for various profiles,

  - reuse of the bottom and chock plates by reversible rotations.

  In the case of rubber seals for the automobile, the support and bottom plates are made of wood and the wedging devices are made of metal. They measure 1170 mm x 970 mm, the height of the wedging devices being 600 mm. The assembly makes it possible to wedge about fifty profiled rubber seals used for the passage of

  windows in car doors.

  However, the invention can be used for all kinds of profiles (for example: seals, pipes, etc.) made of different materials (rubber, wood, metal, etc.), of different shapes and for various application sectors (transport , aeronautics, chemistry, pharmacy ...) and requiring specific protection during the phases of

handling, transport and storage.

-3 -

Claims (4)

  1) Reusable and reconfigurable modular system for packaging and wedging series of stackable profiles, characterized in that it comprises: - a bottom plate (9) in which insertion slots (10) have been cut out - removable wedging (1 to 8) fitted with tabs ("/" >>) and fitted into these slots, - a support plate (11) placed under the wedging plate - clamps (12) used to secure the assembly in enclosing the timing plates and Support.   2) System according to claim (1) characterized in that the wedging plate has pre-cut slots for wedging and packing series of different profiles.   3) System according to any one of the preceding claims   characterized in that insertion slots have also been pre-cut in the support plate, which makes it possible to easily exchange the roles of the said plates   support and setting for the successive transport of different profiles (figure 4).   4) System according to any one of the preceding claims   characterized in that the wedging (or support) plate has symmetrical precut slots and which can be turned over in order to wedge and transport, with the same plate, profiles whose projection on the horizontal plane is symmetrical (figure 3).