FR2867161A1 - Support tray for adjustable freestanding container, has base with lateral and longitudinal sides formed by respectively folding lateral and longitudinal parts of plate, and legs formed on sides of base by cutting and folding lateral parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The tray has a base (2) with lateral sides (3, 4) and longitudinal sides formed by folding lateral parts and longitudinal parts of a plate along longitudinal and transversal folding axes, respectively. Legs (7) are formed on the sides of the base by cutting and folding the lateral parts along the longitudinal folding axes. The legs extend downward out of plane of the plate while folding the lateral parts upward. An independent claim is also included for an adjustable container comprising a support tray.

Description

SUPPORT TRAY AND MODULAR CONTAINER

INCORPORATING SUCH A PLATEAU

  The present invention relates to a support plate, in particular for a modular container, and a modular container incorporating such a plate.

  The containers are generally made from a cut cardboard plate and then folded to form a box having a bottom, sides and ceiling or from separate elements such as a bottom plate, a belt forming four sides and a lid.

  These containers remain heavy, fragile therefore can not be directly lifted by a forklift or pallet truck or a devil which requires for their handling to arrange them on a wooden pallet receiving the fork of the truck or pallet truck.

  The present invention is intended in particular to provide a support plate provided with feet for the passage of the forks of the pallet truck, this plate being used alone or as a bottom of a self-supporting container.

  To do this, the present invention relates mainly to a support plate made of cut material folded from a plate of packing material such as corrugated board, provided with a bottom, first sides, made by folding side portions of the plate according to first longitudinal folding axes, second sides, made by folding longitudinal portions of the plate according to first transverse folding axes and feet, the feet, secured to the plate, being made by cutting operations and folding the lateral parts of the plate along the first longitudinal axes of folding on either side of the bottom.

  The tray according to the invention makes it possible in particular to dispense with the use of a wooden transport pallet under the container and allows the container to be placed directly in a sales area for use as a display container. In addition it gives the container good stability and effective maintenance of the contained load. The tray according to the invention and the container incorporating it are advantageously mono-material.

  Advantageously, the feet are derived from cuts, directed towards the inside of the plate from the first longitudinal axes of folding, and extend downward from the plane of the plate by folding upwards of said lateral parts.

  More particularly, the lateral portions constitute said first sides of the plate and extend by folded wings along transverse fold axes to form longitudinal flaps, the feet having first and second sides folded at 90, the first flanks extending the flaps, the second flanks extending said first sides.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention and to stiffen the sides of the plate, the longitudinal portions of the plate comprise at least two first and second longitudinal strips, beyond the first axes transverse to the bottom, these longitudinal strips forming the second sides of the tray by folding upwards the first longitudinal strips along the first transverse folding axes, the second longitudinal strips being folded towards the inside of the tray by folding downwards according to second transverse folding axes around the flaps.

  The flanks of the feet extending the flaps may in particular be cut in the first longitudinal strips and each comprise a ridge snapping into a notch of the bottom.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, the upper edges of the first and second sides of the plate comprise recesses for receiving feet from a second plate, the plate thus constituting a stackable plate.

  The plate may, in addition, be provided with at least one reinforcing element comprising retaining studs inserted under the bottom between the feet and thus stiffening the plate to prevent it from sagging in the case of a container for receiving heavy products.

  The retaining studs may in particular comprise central uprights which extend transversely to the bottom and are constituted by folding cut of at least one complementary plate, inserted under the bottom of the plate and / or comprise reinforcing posts of the feet, constituted by cutting folding end portions of at least one complementary plate inserted under the bottom of the tray.

  More particularly, the reinforcing element may be constituted by two complementary plates positioned under the bottom of the plate, provided with first amounts back to back, extending transversely to the bottom, and second amounts in abutment against the feet of the plate, the first and second amounts constituting the retaining pads.

  The invention further relates to a modular container comprising a tray as defined above, a belt having flanks inserted into the tray between said first and second sides and a lid provided with a ceiling and side walls made by cutting folding an additional plate, the lid, according to an advantageous embodiment, consisting of a second plate.

  The container is thus modular since several modules possibly provided with belts of greater or lesser height can be superimposed.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures which represent: FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c, Id: a support plate according to the invention according to successive mounting phases; 2a, 2b: a reinforcing element according to one aspect of the invention according to two mounting steps; Figure 3: the plate of Figure 1 equipped with reinforcing elements in perspective seen from below; Figure 4: an example of a modular container according to the invention according to a first variant seen in perspective; Figure 5: an example of a modular container according to the invention according to a second variant seen in perspective; 2867161 4 Figure 6: an alternative embodiment of a tray according to the invention viewed in perspective.

  The embodiment shown in Figure 1 relates to a support plate, directly manipulated by a pallet truck without the need for a pallet and can be used in particular for making a self-supporting modular container, two examples are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

  The support plate 1 shown in various mounting phases in Figures 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is made from a plate of packaging material such as a rigid corrugated cardboard.

  The starting size plate of the order of 1.5 m by 2 m is pre-cut and marked at the places to be folded.

  Figure la shows a plate pre-cut in the form of a blank to achieve the tray.

  In this figure, the fold lines are represented by dashed lines and first longitudinal fold axes 8, 9 and first transverse fold axes 13, 14 intersecting define a central section 2a intended to become the bottom 2 of the tray support 1.

  On this plate la, lateral portions 3a, 4a are connected to the central section by the first longitudinal folding axes 8, 9. These lateral portions are extended by wings 11a, 12a which extend beyond the central section and which are also defined by cutouts in the plate.

  The cutouts of the wings return towards the inside of the plate 1a relative to the first longitudinal axes of folding 8, 9, to form crenels, cut astride the corners of the central section, these crenels being intended to become feet 7 which, when folding up said side portions 3a, 4a, extend downwardly from the plane of the plate, perpendicularly to the bottom 2 of the plate 1 to form first sides 3, 4 of the plate 1.

  Perpendicular to the lateral parts, the plate la has longitudinal portions 5a, 6a connected to the bottom 2 by the first transverse fold axes. According to the example shown, the longitudinal parts comprise three longitudinal strips.

  A first folding step, described in FIG. 1b, begins with an upward folding start of the wings 11a, 12a from the lateral parts 3, 4 2867161 5 along the transverse fold axes 13, 14. The lateral parts are then folded upwards from the bottom 2 and according to the first longitudinal fold axes to constitute first sides 3, 4 of the plate 1.

  The end of the folding of the wings 11a, 12a conforms the latter in longitudinal flaps 11, 12.

  The feet 7 are formed during these folding steps and, because of their position on either side of the transverse fold lines 13, 14, they comprise first and second sides 7a, 7b bent at 90 around their line. transverse folding 13, 14, the first flanks 7a extending the flaps 11, 12, the second flanks 7b extending the first sides 3, 4.

  The folding of the tray continues by folding the longitudinal strips 15, 16 according to the first transverse folding axes 13, 14.

  The second longitudinal strips 17, 18, intended to produce the inner walls of the longitudinal sides 5, 6, are bent upwards along transverse axes 19, 20 to define a double gap receiving the flaps 11a, 12a.

  The first longitudinal strips 15, 16 contiguous to the bottom 2 are bent upwards at 90 relative to the bottom 2 and form the outer walls of the longitudinal sides.

  The second longitudinal strips 17, 18 are folded towards the inside of the plate 1 by folding downwards along the second transverse folding axes 19, 20 to produce the internal walls of the longitudinal sides and trap the flaps 11, 12.

  The example shown further provides third longitudinal strips 42, 43 distal to the bottom 2, these strips 42, 43 which are placed on the bottom to strengthen it by folding at 90 relative to the second strips along third transverse axes 40 , 41.

  To maintain all the sides of the support plate, latching means are provided between the side portions and the longitudinal portions.

  These snap-fastening means comprise, according to the example, tabs 44 on the sides of the second strips 17, 18 and slots 45 for receiving the tabs 44 at the intersection of the flaps 11, 12 and first sides 3, 4 made to from wings 11a, 12a and side portions 3a, 4a.

  The support plate thus produced is robust due to the imprisonment of the flaps by the strips forming the longitudinal sides and especially because the feet consist of two flanks 90 interconnected.

  To further improve the rigidity of the plate is provided, in the case of the use of corrugated cardboard, to position the carton so that the section of the corrugations is parallel to the longitudinal axes. The orientation of the corrugations is shown in Figure la by the reference "C".

  For products of low mass, such a tray is already usable to make a container receiving directly between his feet the fork of a lift truck without requiring the use of a wooden pallet.

  In order to support large loads of up to 200 kg, ie 400 kg for two containers placed one on top of the other, a variant of the invention provides for supplementing the plate by a reinforcing element provided in particular with a base central.

  Such a reinforcement is described in Figures 2a and 2b. This reinforcing element comprises retaining studs 24, 25 inserted under the bottom 2 between the feet 7.

  According to the example, the reinforcement consists of two complementary blanks 23a and 23b identical forming two symmetrical half-elements disposed under the bottom 2 of the plate. The retaining studs 24, 25 are made in the form of a transverse base over the entire width of the plate.

  To do this, the reinforcement comprises central uprights 25 which extend transversely to the bottom 2 over the entire width of the bottom. The central uprights 25 are constituted by cutting folding of complementary plates 26, 23a, 23b inserted under the bottom 2 of the plate 1.

  The complementary plates are precut to produce blanks provided with a bottom 50, longitudinal strips 51, 52 on each side of the bottom at its longitudinal ends and side arms 54 which extend longitudinally around the longitudinal strips 51, 52 from a triangle 53 connecting the side arms with the bottom.

  To achieve the base, the connecting triangle 53 are bent at 90 relative to the bottom, the arms 54 are folded to fold in the transverse direction and the longitudinal strips are folded successively along their fold axis to form edges enclosing the arms 54.

  According to this example two symmetrical half-elements are used.

  The retaining studs 24, 25 thus comprise a central transverse base, made by placing back to back the central uprights of the two half-elements, and two remote legs, constituted by the uprights 24, intended to bear against the feet 7 and strengthen, these amounts being made as the central amounts by cutting folding end portions of the blanks 26, 23a, 23b inserted under the bottom 2 of the tray 1.

  A simplified solution for the reinforcing element is to achieve it with a single reinforcement plate without central upright, made from a single blank whose bottom 50 extends over the entire length of the bottom of the plate 1.

  Alternatively, shown in Figure 6, the upper edges of the first and second sides 3, 4, 5, 6 of the plate comprise recesses 61 receiving feet 7 of a second plate 1 ', thus forming a stackable tray.

  Thus, the tray can itself be a container especially for low height products such as bread sticks "P", several trays can be stacked for transport.

  The trays 1 'and 1 "are used without a belt to make stackable trays The tray according to the invention can be used as a base for a modular container 30, an example of which is shown in FIG. equipped with a reinforcing element provided with uprights 24, 25, a belt 31 provided with flanks inserted in the plate between said first and second sides and a cover 32 provided with a ceiling 33 and side walls 34 made by cutting folding The tray according to the invention forms an extension for the container, the feet 7 depending on the uses to be higher or lower.

  The orders of magnitude of the blanks used in the example are 1500x1000 mm for the tray, 1060x2400 mm for the belt, 930x965 for the lid and of the order of 830x740 for each reinforcement.

  The invention is applicable to make stackable containers of identical dimensions to pallets either for example 600x400 mm quarter pallet dimensions, 600x800 mm, half-pallet, 800x1200, .... Depending on the height of the belts, several containers (usually 2) can be stacked.

  An example of a modular container variant 30a is shown in FIG. 5. The container shown comprises a modified plate 1 'and, as a cover, a second plate 1 ".

  The invention is not limited to the examples shown and in particular the reinforcing element could, in the context of the invention, be made in extension of the longitudinal strips of the plate by means of an inverse folding of the side walls of the plate to fold them under the tray. Such a solution, because of the length of the unfolded blank, however, would not be easy to implement on traditional folding cutting machines and would make the blank difficult to handle.

2867161 9

Claims (10)

  1 - support plate (1) made of cut material folded from a plate (1a) of packaging material such as corrugated cardboard, characterized in that it is provided with a bottom (2), first sides (3, 4), made by folding side portions (3a, 3b) of the plate (la) according to first longitudinal folding axes (8, 9), second sides (5, 6), made by folding parts longitudinals (5a, 6a) of the plate (la) according to first transverse folding axes (13, 14) and feet (7), the feet (7), secured to the plate (1), being made by means of cutting and folding the side portions (3a, 4a) of the plate (1a) along the first longitudinal fold axes (8, 9) on either side of the bottom (2).   2 - Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the feet (7) are derived from cuts (10), directed towards the inside of the plate (1a) from the first longitudinal fold axes (8, 9), and extend downward from the plane of the plate by upward folding of said side portions (3a, 4a).   3 - Tray according to claim 2, characterized in that the side portions (3a, 4a) constitute said first sides (3, 4) of the plate (1) are extended by wings (11a, 12a) folded along axes of transverse folding (13, 14) to form longitudinal flaps (11, 12), the feet (7) having first and second sides (7a, 7b) folded at 90, the first flanks (7a) extending the flaps (11, 12), the second flanks (7b) extending said first sides (3, 4).   4 - Tray according to claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal portions (5a, 6a) of the plate (1a) comprise at least two first and second longitudinal strips (15, 16, 17, 18), beyond the first axes transverse (13, 14) with respect to the bottom, these longitudinal strips (15, 16, 17, 18) forming the second sides (5, 6) of the plate (1) by folding upwards of the first longitudinal strips (15, 16). ) according to the first transverse folding axes, the second longitudinal strips (17, 18) being folded towards the inside of the plate (1) by folding downwards according to second transverse folding axes (19, 20) around the flaps ( 11, 12).   Tray according to claim 4, characterized in that the flanks (7a, 7b) of the feet (7) extending the flaps (11, 12) are cut in the first longitudinal strips (15, 16), and each comprise a edge (22) snapping into a notch (21) of the bottom (2).   6 - Tray according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the upper edges of the first and second sides (3, 4, 5, 6) of the plate comprise recesses (61) receiving feet (7) of a second tray (1 '), thus constituting a stackable tray.   7 - Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with at least one reinforcing element comprising retaining studs (24, 25) inserted under the bottom (2) between the feet ( 7).   8 - Tray according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining studs (24, 25) comprise amounts (24) for reinforcing the feet, constituted by cutting bending of end portions of at least one plate (26, 23a). , 23b) inserting under the bottom (2) of the plate (1).   9 - Tray according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the retaining studs (24, 25) comprise central uprights (25) which extend transversely to the bottom (2) and are constituted by folding cut of at least a complementary plate (26, 23a, 23b), inserted under the bottom (2) of the plate (1).   - Tray according to claim 7 or 8 characterized in that the reinforcing element is constituted by two complementary plates (23a, 23b) positioned under the bottom (2) of the plate (1), provided with first amounts (25) back to back , extending transversely to the bottom, and second uprights (24) bearing against the feet (7) of the plate (1), the first and second amounts constituting the retaining studs (24, 25).   11 - modular container (30) characterized in that it comprises a support plate (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, a belt (31) having flanks inserted in the plate between said first and second sides 30 and a cover (32) provided with a ceiling (33) and sidewalls (34) made by folding-cutting an additional plate.   12 - modular container (30) according to claim 11 characterized in that the cover consists of a second support plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6.