FR2837171A1 - Pallet for handling goods by forklift truck has hollow corners and spacers with internal ribs to absorb mechanical forces - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet, comprising top and bottom panels with spacers between, has hollow corners with internal ribs (19a1, 19a2, 19b1, 19b2, 19b3, 19b4, 31a1, 31a2, 431, 432, 433) to absorb forces (F1) applied to the outer surfaces of the pallet during handling. The ribs are in staggered rows, separated by perpendicular ribs. The ribs are of different thicknesses and are initially straight, before being subjected to any external forces. Similar deformation zones (7a) are located in the spacers.

Description

adjoining this folded part (7).

  The invention relates to a handling pallet comprising: - an upper plate, - a lower sole, - intermediate feet between the upper plate and the lower sole, the pallet being delimited peripherally by an external edge exposed to a possible deformation force, in particular a shock, applied against it from outside the pallet, the pallet comprising internally, at least locally and within the limit of this edge, a bracing of stiffening ribs of generally vertical orientation. Such pallets are already known. An example can be found in

WO-A-94/10051.

  The problem posed concerns the mechanical holding of the pallet at the precise deformation effort. To cope with such an effort which can be generated by the forks of a handling trolley, the resistance can be increased

  mechanics of certain areas of the palette.

  An alternative or complementary solution may consist in absorbing at least part of this effort by local deformation of the pallet. zo It is this second solution which has been adopted in the invention, with the particularity that the precise bracing of ribs advantageously comprises: - at least one first rib oriented along an axis substantially parallel to the direction of application to said deformation force, or transverse to a first area of their outer wall against which this force would be applied, the first rib extending between said first area of the outer wall and a second rib transverse to this first rib and located away from the first area of the outer wall, - at least a third and a fourth rib substantially parallel to the first rib and located on either side of its axial extension, these third and fourth ribs extending between the second rib and a fifth rib which is transverse to said third and fourth ribs, without any rib extending in the axial extension of these derri eres, between said first outer wall zone and the second rib, or that no rib extends in the axial extension of the first rib, between the

second and fifth ribs.

  o Thus, one or more shock absorber (s) will be produced with privileged zones of absorption of the force, the local deformation of the ribs thus arranged limiting the risks of rupture of the pallet. Indeed, [effort is likely to deform the first and the third and fourth ribs

  by buckling and the second rib by bending.

  A complementary problem taken into account is linked to the compromise to be obtained between the absorption of the force of precise deformation and the rigidity of the pallet. Indeed, the ribs make it possible to limit or even eliminate the deformation or warping of the pallet relative to the horizontal plane

  when its upper deck is loaded.

  The solution adopted consists in that the force absorption zone (which therefore comprises at least said first to fifth ribs) is

  localized in the intermediate feet.

  The invention also takes into account the orientation of the ribs in

  bond with the best effect as for the absorption of the effort to bear.

  In this respect, it is advised that: - the pallet has a generally rectangular shape, in particular with regard to its upper plate, - the first to fifth ribs extend for some substantially parallel, for others substantially perpendicular, to either one of one of the longest sides of the tray, or on the opposite side of shorter length of the same tray. In order to improve the absorption capacity of the privileged absorption zones without reducing the rigidity of the pallet, another characteristic of the invention advises that at least part of the ribbing comprising said aforementioned ribs is structurally dissociated from the plate

  upper and / or lower sole.

  A more detailed description of the invention will now be

  o provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows in general perspective view an embodiment of a pallet according to the invention, - Figures 2 and 3 are two local sections, vertical, one foot parallel to its height, at the place respectively of the section lines II-II and III-III of FIG. 1, - FIG. 4 is a local view from above in the direction of the arrow IV of FIG. 1, while the part of the pallet constitutes the upper plate and the reinforcement bars which are removed and that no effort is exerted on the illustrated foot, - FIG. 5 repeats FIG. 4 after a deformation effort has been exerted, - the FIG. 6 shows another possible deformation of the ribs,

  - and Figure 7 shows a variant of Figure 4.

  In Figure 1 first of all, we fly a palette intended for

bear loads.

  Pallet 1 illustrated is a plastic pallet, injection molded. The pallet includes an upper plate 3, a lower sole 5 and intermediate feet 7 connected together and which also connect

  also the upper plate and the lower sole.

  Pallet 1, which therefore includes the trots pieces 3, 5, 7, is generally parallelepipedic, in this case rectangular. The upper plate is in one piece and has a shape

  general plane, according to plan 9 a priori horizontal.

  The upper plate 3 has an upper surface 3a

substantially flat and full.

  0 Plate 3 is rib only below, in ltespece at the

  way of a box, as can be seen from Figures 2 and 3.

  More precisely, from the lower surface 3b of the plate, stand up vertically a series of longitudinal ribs 11a and 11b which cross in various places, forming a series of braces. At its periphery, the plate 3 has a perimeter tapered edge

13, full.

  The free ends respectively of the falling edge (end 13a) and of at least some of the inner ribs ll a, l lb (end where respectively ll'a and ll'b) of the upper plate, come to bear respectively on an outer wall 17 and an internal rib (19al, l9a2,

  19bl, 19b2,19b3,19b4) of the intermediate feet 7.

  Like the ribbing of the upper plate, that of the feet

  intermediaries 7 is a priori vertical (axis 20 in FIG. 2).

  - It will also be noted that, like the image of that of the upper plate, the internal ribs of the feet 7 constitute a grid or a series of bracing. The perimeter walls of the feet are preferably full and externally smooth, that is to say devoid of cavities which are difficult to access or

ribbing to bracing.

  In FIGS. 2 and 3, it will also be noted that some of the ribs of the feet wind locally more than others, so that a kind of groove 21, forming a channel drawing a parallelepipedic frame (in this case rectangular), either reserved at the right end of the free upper end of said stroke ribs (see end reference 19'b in FIG. 3) of the feet. o This channel 21 is capable of receiving a reported means of stiffening the pallet (which is therefore not integrated into it, in one piece). It is in fact a series of bars of parallelepipedic section (in particular four bars which do not cross at their ends, see FIG. 1), marked 23a, 23b for two of them on the

Figures 1 to 3.

  In FIG. 3, it will be noted that at least some of the bars (see bar 23b in this figure) are therefore interposed between the free end of the inner ribs of the upper plate and of the feet (ends

11'b and 19'b).

  Thus, a load supported by the upper plate will pass through the ribbing 11a, 11b, which will transmit part of the force to the bars which will distribute this effort on the ribbing of the feet, which will then transmit them to the inner ribbing corresponding to 25a, 25b of the sole 5, the outer wall 17 of the feet coming to bear on a wall

  also full and substantially smooth exterior 27 of the sole.

  Thus defined, pallet 1 externally presents a full surface

  substantially smooth, that is to say devoid of notable asperities.

  In this respect, the lower surface 29 of the sole 5 is

advantageously full and smooth.

  To avoid any ambiguity, it is pointed out here that a lion calls "sole" any single or multiple piece closing the lower part of the internal ribbing of the feet. They can be individual studs (as many studs as there are feet in the form of a column) or elongated pads joining together several feet, in a longitudinal or lateral direction of

the palette, or others.

  Figure 1 shows a sole consisting of a shoe

  0 perimeter joining together the feet located at the periphery of the pallet 1.

  In Figure 4, there is more particularly a corner foot (item 7a) seen from above. The bars 23a, 23b have been removed and we have identified

  dashed line the outline of the outer edge, or wall, of the foot 7a.

  This foot, like at least some of the other feet, is provided with a force absorption zone, this zone being circumscribed inside the

outline draw of the foot.

  This zone is defined to absorb a force F1, (see figure 1 in particular) stexercant against one of the edges (longitudinal in ['assembly) of the pallet, this edge being here supposes to be the edge against which the forks of a handling cart may accidentally come into contact. Sure

  In the figure, the edge 17 is thicker than the ribs.

  The first ribs marked 31al, 31a2, 31a3, in Figure 4 which wind attached to a first area 17a of the outer wall 17 against which is exerted here the force F1, wind substantially parallel to the direction 33

of this effort.

  In other words, these first ribs tend

  transverse to the first zone 17a (in ltespece perpendicularly).

  These are ribs also perpendicular to the plane 9 suppose

  horizontal of the plate, that is to say a priori vertical ribs.

  The number of these first ribs (like other ribs in the "deformation stress absorption zone") depends on the volume of this zone. There may therefore be one or more ribs, and in particular one or more ribs 31al, 31a2, 31a3, such as one or more ribs 19bl, 19b2, .... Said first rib (s) extends (ent) between the first zone 17a of the external wall 17 to which it (s) is (are) contested (in

  the species by molding) and a second transverse rib 19al.

  This second rib 19a is therefore transverse to the first 0 ribs 31 and in this case substantially parallel to the first wall zone 17a. The second rib 19 is connected laterally to an area of the external wall 17. In the example, this is at one end (on the right) of a direct connection, and on the other (on the left) of a connection via a corner rib 37 with angulation by

compared to it.

  In addition to these first and second ribs, the force absorption zone comprises at least a third and a fourth ribs l9bl, l9b2, substantially parallel at least to said first rib 31al and located on either side of its axial extension 39 , these third and fourth ribs extending between the second rib 19al and a fifth rib l9a2, which is transverse to the third and fourth ribs. The fifth rib l9a2 could be constituted directly by an area of the wall 17. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, however, there is an inner rib separated from an area 17b of the wall 17 opposite (mats substantially parallel) to the zone 17a by at least one sixth rib 431 which therefore extends between the rib l9a2 and the zone 17b,

  transversely to this rib l9a2.

  Optionally, the "substantially staggered" diagram of the ribs 31al; 19al; 19BL; 19b2; 19a2; 431 could be reproduced over a greater force absorption length than that illustrated in FIG. 4, by reproducing this same offset arrangement between them of the ribs, in the plane 9. In this respect, it will be noted that no rib does extends in the axial extension (respectively marked 451 and 452) of the third and fourth ribs 19bl, 19b2, and this neither on one side (between the outer edge zone 17a and the second rib 19al), nor on the other (between the fifth 0 rib 19a2 and the opposite area of the outer wall 17b). Likewise, no rib (or any wall whatsoever) extends in the axial extension of the sixth rib 431, between the second and

fifth ribs 19al and 19a2.

  In the example illustrated in Figure 4, we can see trots sixth rib identified 431, 432, 433, although the ribs 432, and 433 should not deform in the same way as that identified 431, given that at -from wall 17, they are connected to spotted ribs

  respectively 472, and 473 which extend in their axial extension.

  It should be noted that such an axially "offset" arrangement, in particular of the first, third and fourth ribs, combined with an orientation of these ribs substantially parallel to the direction of the force exerted by F1, causes the second rib to flex, which participates significantly in the absorption of the force, as illustrated in FIG. 5 where the bars are still not present. In this figure, it can indeed be seen that [the F1 force exerted has caused a bending of the second rib 19al, being assumed that [the F1 force is here distributed according to the succession

illustrated arrows.

  Note that in this figure 5, the deformation of the zone 17a has not been shown. Also note that when the bars are present (and in particular, as in the figure, the bar 23b), rib deformations only occur on the part of the ribs of the feet located below the level of

the bar involved.

  In other situations, as in FIG. 6, it could be (also) the first (s) 31, or even third (s) 19bl / or fourth (s) ribs 19b2, or even other ribs of this deformation zone. which would deform under the force exerted. This depends on the distribution of the ribs concerned, their thickness and / or their shape, in particular. In this respect, said ribs will preferably be flat at the origin and of a thickness comparable to that of the outer wall.

  17. The ribs may however be of different thicknesses between them.

  In FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the ribs 19bl, 19b2, 19b3, therefore have a height lower than the rib 19b4 and that they thus stop, at their upper end 19'b before the top of the ribs transversal 19al etl9a2, thus leaving sufficient space for the

  cavity 21 and for the housing of the bar 23b (not illustrated in FIG. 4).

  In Figure 7, there is a variant embodiment of a bracing of ribs of a pallet according to the invention, at the right

  of a zone of absorption of a deformation force reference F3.

  In this case, the absorption zone of this force, referenced 50, comprises a single first rib 51 extending substantially parallel to the direction of the force F3, between a zone of the external wall 53 and a second rib 55 parallel to this wall. 53. At the rear, the zone 50 is completed by third and fourth ribs 57,: 5 59, offset with respect to the axial extension of the first rib 51 and extending between the second rib 55 and a wall zone 53a external

  substantially parallel and opposite to the wall 53.

  As the ribs and more generally the walls constitute the deformation zone illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, those of FIG. 7 also make it possible to better absorb (without mechanical rupture) the force F3 than the ribs otherwise arranged would be, being of course assumes that the effort F3 has a value contained in an admissible range, a function of the material, the ribs, their number, their thickness and / or the density of the "mesh" thus created. From the above and attached illustrations, we will have understood

  that the description made of the force absorption zone of the foot 7a and of its

  ribbing is advantageously reproduced at the place of other feet, or even

  possibly other areas of the palette.

  0 In the foregoing, the mechanical connection between the ribs of the upper plate 3, those of feet 7 and of the sole 5, is produced by

  link mirror welding together of the ribs.

  As a variant, the ends of certain ribs of all or part of the feet may not be mechanically linked to those of the ribs of the upper plate opposite and / or of the sole. This would favor the deformations of said ribs during a shock

of the precise type.

Claims (9)

  1. Handling pallet comprising: - an upper plate (3), - a lower sole (5), - intermediate feet (7) between the upper plate and the lower sole, the pallet being peripherally delimited by an external edge (13 , 17, 27) exposed to a possible deformation force applied against it or from outside the pallet, the pallet comprising internally, at least locally and within the limit of this edge, a bracing of ribs (lla, 19al ,. .., 19bl, ..., 25a, 25b), characterized in that this rib bracing comprises at least one zone (7a, 50) for absorbing the deformation force, this zone comprising: - at least one first rib (31al, 51) oriented along an axis substantially parallel to the direction of application to said deformation force, or transverse to a first zone (17a, 53) of their outer wall against which said force would be applied, the first rib s 'extending between said first zone of the wall exterior and a second rib (19al) transverse to this first rib, - at least a third and a fourth ribs (19bl, l9b2) substantially parallel to the first rib and located on either side of its axial extension, these third and fourth ribs extending between the second rib (19al) and a fifth rib (19a2) which is transverse to the third and fourth ribs, without any rib extending in the axial extension of these rear, between said first zone of the outer wall (17a, 53) and the second rib (19al), or that no rib extends in the axial extension of the first   rib, between the second and fifth ribs.   2. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the bracing of ribs comprises, at the location of the feet (7), zones (7a) for absorbing a said deformation force. 3. Pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the fifth rib is a second zone (53a) of the wall   exterior opposite the first zone (53).   4. Pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the zone (s) of absorption of the deformation force further comprises at least one sixth rib (431) transverse to the fifth rib (19a2) and extending axially between this rear and a seventh rib (17b) transverse to this sixth rib, without any rib extending in the axial extension of this sixth rib, between the second and fifth ribs. 5. Pallet according to claim 4, characterized in that the eighth rib is a second zone (17b) of the outer wall opposite to the first zone.   6. Pallet according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the ribbing of the feet comprises said ribs (31al, 19al, 19bl, 19b2, 19a2, ...) and is structurally dissociated from the plate   upper (3) and / or lower sole (5).   7. Pallet according to any of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the upper plate (3) comprises an internal rib (lla, lib) which is supported at least locally on the rib interior (19al, 19b4) of the feet.   8. Pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in   that at least some of the ribs have different thicknesses between them.   9. Pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in   what the internal ribs are mostly straight or substantially