FR2934248A1 - SET OF PERFECTED HANDLING PALLETS. - Google Patents

Abstract

In the field of handling pallets, the creation and use of half-pallets (5; 6) or even quarter-pallets has recently been developed with the aim of increasing the possibilities of combinations and arrangements of products. transported and handled. But this type of set (1) of pallets poses many technical problems such as a lack of stability, maneuverability, too much space. The invention proposes to solve these problems by producing an assembly (2) of advanced handling pallets (3; 7A, 78; 8) having a shape which gives it optimum natural stability and workability and which makes it possible to fit said pallets between them, and a total height about two times smaller than that of a standard set. More precisely, the quarter-pallets fit together, the half-pallets fit together and the support pallets fit together.

Description

Advanced pallet handling package

The present invention relates to a set of advanced handling pallets.

The technical field of the invention is, in general, that of pallets. More particularly, the invention relates to a set of pallets comprising a support pallet and at least two modular pallets. Known in the state of the art, wooden pallets or injected plastic material of PVC, PP, PE or ABS thermoformed. These pallets have standardized dimensions to facilitate their transport including trucks or containers of trucks or in train wagons. Typically a conventional pallet has a generally flat and rectangular support surface, and at least four feet connected or not between them by sleepers. Such a structure provides a certain strength to the pallet which can thus be handled by lifting devices such as forklifts and pallet trucks. The dimensions, especially in Europe, of a standard support pallet are 1200 mm for the length, 800 mm for the width, and 160 mm for the height. Pallets of 800 x 600, 1000 x 1200 and 800 x 1000 are also known, the height of which is between 140 and 180 mm. Other standards are possible. Document FR-A-2 911 086 discloses a reinforced loading pallet and a method of reinforcing such a pallet.

Also, the development and use of half-pallets or even quarter-pallets has recently been developed in order to increase the possibilities of combinations and arrangements of the products transported and handled. These small pallets, also called modular pallets, are generally intended to be arranged on large pallets, or pallets carriers for transport. The combination of a support pallet with two modular half-pallets or with four modular quarter-pallets or with a half-pallet and two quarter-pallets makes it possible to obtain a set of transport pallets. Such an assembly has a height of about 320 mm.

But this type of pallet set poses many technical security problems. Indeed, to prevent the modular pallets from sliding on their support pallet, it is necessary, in order to stabilize them, to tie them together in one way or another, for example by means of plastic film, or straps, or nylon or steel strapping, depending on the load. Given the small size of the quarter-pallets, the unloading of the latter by forklifts is unstable. Small stores are not necessarily equipped with expensive forklifts. The unloading is done manually, which generates risks of accidents at work. It could be stable with a pallet truck, but it can not unload a quarter pallet placed on a pallet support. Also, the gap between the forks of a pallet truck is not adjustable, it is very difficult to manipulate the modular pallets alone, including down the pallet support. The operator is therefore forced to pull the sets of entire pallets, before extracting the modular pallets he wants. In addition, the storage of standard pallets is problematic because of the volume they occupy. Typically, in a truck dump 2.5 m high, only fifteen standard pallets can be stacked. The invention proposes to solve the problems described above by producing a set of advanced handling pallets having a shape which gives it a natural stability and an optimal handling and which makes it possible to fit said pallets together, as well as a total height of about twice as small as that of a standard set, which allows a large volume gain in transport and storage. Indeed, when empty, the quarter-pallets fit together, the half-pallets are interlocked between them and the pallets supports fit between them, which further increases the economy of volume. Typically, in a truck dump 2.5 m high, up to fifty-seven advanced pallets can be stacked. The set of pallets according to the invention being much lower than in the state of the art The invention allows the unloading of modular pallets by a pallet truck, in complete stability.

A pallet locking system between them prevents slipping. Keys or visual indicators can better identify the inputs of the forks on the pallets placed on the ground or stored in height, on racks.

The invention therefore relates to a set of improved transport pallets, intended to support a load, comprising a support pallet whose dimensions in width and length are those of one of the known standards, and at least two, preferably four modular pallets intended to be arranged on the support pallet, the modular pallets being of smaller size than the support pallet and, contiguous to one another or to each other, having together the same size as the latter, the support pallet surmounted modular pallets being movable by means of a forklift truck or a pallet truck, a modular pallet being in particular movable with the pallet truck, characterized in that - the support pallet comprises a base plate of thickness less than that of a standard pallet and protruding rails rising above this base plate, - the rails being generally hollow and extending perpen preferably to the longer sides of the support pallet, - the modular pallets comprising an upper plate and feet supporting this upper plate, these feet bearing on the base plate on either side of a rail. The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the figures that accompany it. These are presented only as an indication and in no way limitative of the invention. The figures show: FIG. 1: a diagrammatic representation, seen from the side, of a set of handling pallets of the state of the art arranged next to a set of improved pallets according to the invention, FIG. a diagrammatic representation, viewed in oblique perspective from above, of a set of improved pallets according to the invention, - FIG. 3: a diagrammatic representation, viewed in oblique perspective from below, of a set of improved pallets according to the invention, - Figure 4: a schematic representation according to oblique perspective view from above, two support pallets nested one inside the other and two quarter-pallets nested one inside the other, according to the invention, - FIG. 5: a diagrammatic representation, seen from the front, of a pallet truck whose forks are inserted between a support pallet and two modular pallets according to the invention; FIG. 6: a schematic representation, seen from profile, a pallet truck whose forks are inserted between a support pallet and two modular pallets according to the invention. Figure 1 schematically shows a side view of an assembly 1 of pallets of handling of the state of the art arranged next to an assembly 2 of improved pallets according to the invention.

Both sets 1 and 2 of pallet handling are generally intended to support a load and to be transported. The assembly 2 comprises a support pallet 3 whose dimensions in width and in length are standard, ie identical to those of a support pallet 4 of the assembly 1. The two assemblies 1 and 2 comprise at least two, preferably four modular pallets, respectively referenced 5, 6 and 7, 8, intended to be arranged on the support pallets 4 and 3. The modular pallets according to the invention can equally well be a rectangular half-pallet 8 or a rectangular quarter-pallet 7, two quarter-palettes 7A and 7B joined together forming a half-pallet.

In this embodiment, it is considered that the assembly 2 comprises three modular pallets: the half-pallet 8 and the two quarter-pallets 7A and 7B better visible in the following figures. The modular pallets 5, 6, 7 and 8 being of smaller size than the pallets 3 and 4 and contiguous to each other, have the same size as the latter. The support pallets 3 and 4 surmounted by their respective modular pallets are movable by means of a lifting device of the forklift or pallet jack type. Modular pallets 5 and 6 of the state of the art can only be moved with a forklift. In contrast, the modular pallets 7 and 8 are also movable with the pallet truck.

The numerical values provided in the description which follows are presented only as an indication and in no way limitative of the invention. In one example, the modular quarter pallets 7A and 7B have a length of 600 mm, a width of 400 mm, and a mass of 1,693 Kg. In one example, the modular half-pallet 8 has a length of 800 mm, an 600 mm width, and a mass of 3,732 Kg. In one example, the support pallet has a length of 1200 mm, a width of 800 mm, and a total mass of 10.474 kg.

Another standard pallet format is the 1219 mm by 1016 mm (48 "x 40") American pallet widely used in English-speaking countries. The support pallet 3 according to the invention comprises a base plate 9 of thickness less than that of the standard support pallet 4 and, in one example, two protruding rails 10 and 11 rising above this base plate 9 . In a variant, the two rails 10 and 11 may be replaced by four protruding studs. The modular half-pallet 8 comprises an upper plate 12 and preferably two rows 13 and 14 of three feet supporting this upper plate 12, these feet 13 and 14 resting on the base plate 9 on either side of the rail 10 In this example, the central foot of each row is wider than the other two. In a variant, the rows 13 and 14 each comprise two or four feet. The modular quarter-pallets 7A and 7B comprise an upper plate 15 and, in one example, two pairs of legs 16 and 17 supporting this upper plate 15, these feet 16 and 17 resting on the base plate of part and of Other of the rail 11. Alternatively, two rows of three feet support the plate 15. In all cases, the feet must allow insertion of lifting equipment forks. The standard support pallet 4 and the modular pallets 5 and 6 30 generally have a height of 160 mm. The peaks of the rails 10 and 11 preferably peak below the height of the standard support pallet 4. In this case, the assembly 2 according to the invention makes it possible to obtain, when assembled, a height gain of 45% and a volume gain of 55% with respect to the assembly 1 of the state of the art.

Indeed, in a preferred example, the base plate 9 has a thickness of about 35 mm, the upper plates 12, 15A and 15B have a thickness of about 40 mm and the feet 13, 14, 16 and 17 have a thickness of about 40 mm. height of about 100 mm. Thus, the assembly 2 has a total height of about 175 mm. Figure 2 schematically shows an oblique perspective view from above of the assembly 2 of improved pallets according to the invention. The rails 10 and 11 are generally hollow and extend perpendicularly to sides 18 and 19, preferably longer than edges 20 and 21, of the support pallet 3. In a variant, generally hollow rails extend perpendicular to the edges 20 and 21 the shortest. The edges 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the base plate 9 of the support pallet 3 preferably each have a pair of visual indicators 22, 23, 24 and 25 positioned opposite a pair of openings 26, 27 , 28 and 29 formed along the rails 10 and 11 and perpendicular thereto, so as to facilitate the sight of the handling operator who must insert the forklift of his forklift in said openings.

In one variant, one, two or three sides have visual indicators. In a variant, the rails 10 and 11 have only two pairs 26 and 27 or 28 and 29 openings. Indeed, the openings 26, 27 and 28, 29 are intended to receive respectively the forks of a forklift or those of a forklift or a pallet truck. The support pallet 3 has a symmetry with respect to a plane perpendicular to the base plate 9 and passing between two rails 10 and 11 and with respect to a plane perpendicular to the length of a rail 10 or 11 in the middle. Modular pallets 7A, 7B and 8 have a symmetry with respect to the plane perpendicular to the upper plate and perpendicular to the length of a rail 10 or 11 in the middle. In one example, the modular quarter pallets 7A and 7B are aligned at their edges 30, 31 and 32 with the edges 18, 19 and 20 of the support pallet 3 which carries them. The modular half-pallet 8 is aligned on its edges 33, 34 with the edges 18, 19 and 21 of the support pallet 3 which carries them. In a variant, the modular pallets are arranged differently with respect to each other. The modular quarter pallets 7A and 7B can each support a load of 250 Kg, the modular half-pallet 8 can support a load of 500 Kg and the pallet can support a load of 1000 Kg.

Figure 3 schematically shows an oblique perspective view from below of a set of improved pallets according to the invention. The assembly 2 according to the invention is made of injected plastic material, preferably PP, or PE, the plates 9, 12, 15A and 15B preferably having a structure of honeycomb type. In a variant, the plates are full. In a variant, the material used may be other than plastic: agglomerated wood, metal, or a wood / plastic composite. In one example, the support pallet 3 comprises elongated cavities 36 and 37 in the thickness of the base plate 9, preferably parallel to its longest edges, and metal bars 38 and 39, preferably made of galvanized steel, reinforcement extending into these cavities 36 and 37. In a variant, the bars are made of another solid material such as stainless steel or polyester resin.

In a variant, the modular pallets 7A, 7B and 8 also comprise reinforcement bars. FIG. 4 schematically represents an oblique perspective view from above of the two support pallets 3 and 40 nested one inside the other and of the two modular quarter-pallets 7A and 7B fitted one inside the other, according to the invention. The hollow rails 10 and 11 of the support pallet 3 are tapered and have no base for fitting by interlocking protruding rails of the underlying support pallet 40. In a variant, the rails have side faces perpendicular to the base plate 9.

The legs 16A and 17A of the modular pallet 7A are tapered hollow and at the location of said feet the upper plate 15A is perforated to accommodate in these holes the legs 16B and 17B of the modular pallet 7B superimposed. Alternatively, the feet are straight and extend perpendicular to the plate 15.

An upper face 41 of the rail 10 preferably has two pairs of lugs 42 and 43 adapted to fit in and to fit lower cavities, not shown, of the upper plates 15A and 15B of the modular vanes 7A and 7B. An upper face 47 of the rail 11 preferably has two pairs of lugs 48 and 49 adapted to fit in and to fit lower cavities, not shown, of the upper plate 12 of the modular pallet 8. pins 42, 43, 48 and 49 fit into honeycomb cells of the modular pallets 7A, 7B and 8. In a first variant, the upper faces 41 and 47 each have a number of lugs comprised between one and fifty. In a second variant, the rails 10 and 11 penetrate into the thickness of the upper plates 12, 15A and 15B. Unlike the state of the art according to which the pallets 4, 5 and 6 are stacked, the pallets 3, 7A, 7B and 8 according to the invention are nested.

For example, on a height of 2 m 50, one can fit fifty-seven advanced support pallets while one can stack only fifteen pallets standard supports. Figure 5 schematically shows a front view of a pallet truck 44 whose forks 45 and 46 are inserted between the support pallet 3 and the two modular quarter pallets 7A and 7B. An inner face 47 of pairs 16A and 16B of modular quarter-pallet feet 7A and 7B abuts against a lateral outer face 48 of the rail 10 of the support pallet 3 when the modular quarter pallets 7A and 7B are aligned at their edges. 30, 31 and 32 with the edges 18, 19 and 20 of the support pallet 3 which carries them. In this case, a gap located between another lateral outer face 49 of the rail 10 and another pair of legs 17A and 17B of the modular quarter-pallets 7A and 7B is greater than the width of the fork 46 of the pallet truck 44. This stop and this difference makes it possible to impose that the pallet truck is correctly positioned under the modular quarter pallet or 7A and or B. Figure 6 schematically shows a side view of the pallet truck 44 whose forks 45 and 46 are inserted between the support pallet 3 and the two modular pallets 7A and 7B.

In a preferred example, the edges 18 and 19 of the base plate 9 are inclined towards the ground so as to facilitate the insertion of forks, for example 45 and 46, of a forklift or pallet truck 44. In a variant , the edges 20 and 21 are inclined in the same way as the edges 18 and 19, or are the only ones to be inclined. In another variant, no edge is inclined. The forks 45 and 46 of the pallet truck 44 rise about 10 cm at their end, which is why the pairs of pins 42, 43, 48 and 49 have a height of a few millimeters. In one example, the height of the lugs is 15 mm.

According to the invention, in order to move the improved assembly 2, the forks 45 and 46 of the pallet truck 44 are inserted by one of the edges 20 or 21, until its rollers 50 and 51 are within the hollow rails 11 or 10 respectively, so that they can rest on the ground and that the assembly 2 is peeled entirely off the ground, by a pumping movement of the operator operating a lever 52 of the pallet truck 44, to rest on said forks. 9

Claims (12)

CLAIMS1 - An assembly (2) of advanced transport pallets, intended to support a load, comprising a support pallet (3) whose dimensions in width and length are those of one of the known standards, and at least two, preferably four , modular pallets (7A; 7B; 8) intended to be arranged on the support pallet, the modular pallets being of smaller size than the support pallet and, contiguous to one another or to each other, having together the same size as the latter, the support pallet surmounted modular pallets being movable by means of a lift truck or pallet jack (44), a modular pallet being in particular movable with the pallet truck, characterized in that - the pallet support comprises a base plate (9) of a thickness less than that of a standard pallet and protruding rails (10; 11) rising above this base plate, - the rail s being generally hollow and extending perpendicular to sides (18; 19; 20; 21), preferably longer, of the support pallet, - the modular pallets comprising an upper plate (12; 15A; 15B) and feet (13; 14; 16; 17) supporting this upper plate, these feet being supported on the base plate on either side of a rail. 2 - assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that - the support pallet comprises in the protruding rails openings (26; 27; 28; 29) provided along these rails or perpendicular to these rails, - these openings are intended for receiving respectively the forks (45; 46) of a forklift truck or those of a forklift truck or a pallet truck. 3 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that - a modular pallet can be indifferently be a rectangular half-pallet preferably having six feet or eight feet or a rectangular quarter pallet having four feet, two quarter- adjoining pallets forming a half-pallet. 4 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that - the hollow rails of the support pallet are tapered and lacking base to accommodate by interlocking rails protruding a pallet support (40) underlying, and or in that - the feet of the modular pallets are tapered hollow and at the location of these feet the upper plate is perforated to accommodate in these holes the feet of a modular pallet superimposed. 5 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that - an inner face (47) of the modular pallet feet abuts against a lateral outer face of a rail of the pallet support when the modular pallets are aligned at their edges (30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35) with the edges of the support pallet carrying them, and that in this case - a gap located between another lateral outer face (48) of the rail and another foot of the modular pallet is greater than the width of a fork of a pallet truck. 6 - Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that - an edge of the base plate of the support pallet has a pair of visual indicators (22; 23; 24; 25) positioned opposite a pair of openings, preferably all four edges. 7 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that - an upper face (41; 47) of a rail has lugs (42; 43; 48; 49) adapted to be inserted into lower cavities of the upper plate of the modular pallets. 8 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that - the tops of the rails culminate below the height of a standard pallet. 9 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that 35 - the pallets are injected plastic material, the platespresenting a structure of honeycomb type. 10 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that - the support pallet has a symmetry with respect to a plane perpendicular to the base plate and passing between two rails and or relative to a plane perpendicular to the length of a rail in the middle, the modular pallets have a symmetry with respect to a plane perpendicular to the upper plate and perpendicular to the length of a rail in the middle. 11 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that - the support pallet and or the modular pallet comprise elongated cavities (36; 37) in a thickness of the plate, preferably parallel to its edges most long, and reinforcing metal bars (38; 39), preferably galvanized, extending into these cavities. 12 - assembly according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that - the edges of the base plate are inclined towards the ground so as to facilitate the insertion of forks of a forklift or a pallet truck.