FR2936225A1 - RIGIDIFICATION BEAM AND CORRUGATED CARDBOARD FOR TRANSPORTING AND SAFEGUARDING GOODS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a beam for stiffening a corrugated cardboard pallet for transporting and elevating goods, comprising an upper wall. According to the invention, the beam comprises additional stiffening elements (137) housed at least partly in the internal cavity of the beam and in the form of cardboard walls extending in the direction of support of the goods. The invention also relates to a pallet for transport and elevation of goods provided with the beam above. The invention finds application in the field of transport and elevation of goods.

Description

The invention relates to a stiffening beam and a corrugated pallet for the transport and elevation of goods. A pallet of this type generally comprises a goods support panel, and at least two pallet stiffening beams, each extending under the panel to support it and being secured to this panel, each beam having the shape of a hollow profile delimiting a longitudinal cavity. A pallet of this type has the major disadvantage of being damaged or even crashing under the weight of the goods it supports, or of being deformed when these goods are transported.

The invention aims to overcome this drawback. To this end, the invention relates to a corrugated cardboard pallet, for the transport and elevation of goods, comprising a cargo support panel, and at least two pallet stiffening beams, each extending under the panel for support and being secured to this panel, each beam having the shape of a hollow profile defining a longitudinal cavity. According to the invention, the pallet comprises additional stiffening elements housed at least in part in the internal cavity of a beam, these stiffening elements providing additional stiffening of the entire pallet. According to a first embodiment of the invention, each stiffening element defines a stud integrally housed in the cavity of a beam, each stud comprising stiffening walls extending in the direction of support of the goods, the stud stiffening the pallet in the direction of support of the goods.

Advantageously, each beam comprises an upper wall coinciding with the support panel, a lower wall intended to rest on the ground, external and internal lateral walls, the outer lateral wall being closer to a free edge of the support panel than the internal side wall, these walls defining the internal cavity of the beam, and in that the stiffening pad comprises two opposite stiffening walls respectively plated against the opposite faces of the two side walls of the beam. According to another characteristic of the invention, the stud has the general shape of a box provided with a bottom wall intended to follow the lower wall of the beam, and side walls extending from the bottom wall. and forming the stiffening walls of the stud, the stud defining a cross section of complementary shape of the inner contour of the beam. Preferably, the beam has a cross section of trapezoidal shape, the small base of the trapezoid being constituted by the lower wall of the beam, the stud also having a trapezoidal cross section, able to fit into that defined by the beam .

Advantageously, the upper wall of the beam is defined by a portion of the support panel, and in that the outer side wall, the bottom wall and the inner side wall of the beam, are integral with the constituent carton blank of the support panel, the inner side wall including an end edge in contact with and attached to the underside of the support panel. Advantageously the pallet comprises a fastening strip of the inner side wall of the beam to the support panel, this strip coming from material with the inner side wall of the beam and being fixed on the underside of this panel. According to a feature of the invention, the two beams and the support panel are made of material, the same blank of cardboard. Preferably, the pallet comprises two fold lines allowing the reinforcement panel and the two beams to occupy a flat configuration, the two lines being each formed within a side wall of a beam and separating said beam. two wings stackable one another. It is possible that the pallet is formed by the combination of two subassemblies each comprising a flat part intended to form a portion of the support panel 15 of the pallet, and a beam adapted to receive stiffening pads, the flat part and the beam of the same subassembly coming from material, from the same cardboard blank, the two subassemblies being superimposed with their planar portions overlapping each other over a certain width, and with their beams extending on either side of the overlapping portion of the planar portions, the two subassemblies being fixed in this way to one another. According to another characteristic, the means for fastening the two subassemblies to each other comprise an additional stiffening pad and two flaps each capable of extending under the flat portion of a subassembly and on the portion of this flat part intended to overlap that of the other subassembly, each flap releasing in its extended position, a passage window within the corresponding flat part, the flap of the upper subassembly being introduced into the window passing the lower subassembly the two flaps protruding from the underside of the flat portion of the lower subassembly and being secured to the additional stiffening pad supporting the center of the pallet. In this case, each subassembly comprises a fold line allowing the support panel portion and the subassembly beam to occupy a flat configuration, the line being formed within a sidewall of the subassembly. beam and separating this beam into two wings stackable one another. Advantageously, the pallet comprises a stiffening stud at each end of a beam. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the pallet is characterized in that each stiffening element defines a profile passing through the two beams, a section of the stiffening profile 15 being housed within the cavity of each beam, the profile stiffening the pallet in the direction defined by this profile. In this case, each beam comprises an upper wall, a lower wall and two lateral walls 20 made of material, made from the same blank of cardboard comprising successive panels articulated in pairs intended to form respectively the upper wall, the side walls of the beams comprising openings for passage of the profiles, of complementary shape of these profiles, the pallet comprising at least two sections extending transversely with respect to the beams and the ends of these beams. According to yet another characteristic of the invention, each beam comprises at least one intermediate stiffening wall interposed between the two side walls of the beam, and integral with the same blank as the constituent blank of the upper, side and bottom walls. of the beam, this intermediate wall being provided with openings 35 for the stiffening profiles.

According to yet another characteristic of the present invention, the intermediate stiffening wall extends in an oblique or vertical plane relative to the side walls of the beam.

According to an alternative embodiment, each beam comprises two intermediate walls respectively extending along two diagonals which cross over the cross section of the beam, the first intermediate wall being formed by an additional panel hinged to one of the panels of the blank constituting a wall of the beam, this additional panel being folded in an oblique direction coinciding with the diagonal of the beam, the second intermediate wall being formed by a portion of cardboard taken from the additional panel and the hinge panel of the additional panel, and folded to extend along the second diagonal of the beam. Advantageously, the upper walls of the beams serve as a support panel for the goods.

It is possible that the upper walls of the beams project laterally from one of the side walls of these beams, so as to define an additional width of support of the goods. It is also possible that the ends of the stiffening profiles are flush with the outer side walls of the beams. Otherwise, the ends of the stiffening profiles located on the same side of the pallet project laterally from the outer wall of one of the two beams and define sections that can be supported by a fork of a transport vehicle. According to another characteristic of the invention, the pallet comprises raising terminals, able to support a beam and / or a section of the pallet.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, each raising terminal is disposed at the intersection between a beam and a profile passing therethrough, this terminal supporting both the beam and the associated section. According to an alternative embodiment, each raising terminal is a separate part of the beam that it supports and is in the form of a box comprising side walls whose upper free edges define openings for receiving this beam and of the associated profile. Otherwise, each elevation terminal forms a single piece with the beam it supports. In this case, the beam comprises an upper part defining stiffening walls extending in the direction of support of the goods, obtained by folding two opposite portions of a blank of cardboard, and traversed by the stiffening profiles, and lower parts forming the elevation terminals extending over the width of the upper part, the side walls of the terminals being merged with those of the upper part, the terminals each comprising a support wall on the floor coming from a central portion cardboard blank, and support walls of the upper part taken from the common side walls and interposed vertically between the stiffening walls of the upper part and the bearing wall on the ground of the elevation terminals.

According to another characteristic of the invention, each support wall comprises a tongue articulated around the lower edge of this support wall, and serving as a support foot and a wedging element of the support wall in a predetermined position, a free edge of the tongue bearing against the adjacent common side wall 143, this tongue coming from the central portion of the blank. The invention relates to a stiffening beam of a corrugated cardboard pallet for the transport and elevation of goods, comprising an upper wall for forming a cargo support panel or supporting a merchandise support panel, a lower wall intended to rest on the ground, opposite side walls, these upper, lower and lateral walls defining an internal cavity of the beam. According to the invention, the beam comprises additional stiffening elements housed at least partly in the internal cavity of the beam and being in the form of cardboard walls extending in the direction of support of the goods. According to another characteristic, the beam comprises two profiles juxtaposed to one another by one of their side walls, respectively obtained from two end portions of a carton blank defining each successive panels articulated two by two , the walls of juxtaposition of a profile to the other extending in the internal cavity of the beam in the direction of support of the goods and defining the additional stiffening elements of the beam. According to yet another characteristic, the beam comprises raising studs extending under the juxtaposed profiles and obtained from the central portion of the cardboard blank which defines small successive panels of shorter length than the panels forming the profiles, and articulated in pairs so as to define two opposite side walls and a bottom wall for the stud, the opposite side walls and the bottom wall of the stud being merged

respectively with the opposite side walls and the bottom wall of the profiles. Advantageously, the beam comprises means for holding the profiles (134) juxtaposed against each other. Preferably, the means for holding the profiles juxtaposed against each other are defined by a blank portion connecting to each other the opposite side walls of each stud.

In addition, the blank portion connecting to each other the opposite side walls of each pad is taken from the blank portion interposed between the small panels of a first pad and the small panels of the adjacent pad.

More specifically, the blank portion connecting the opposite side walls of each stud comprises a central portion hinged to an edge of the panel forming the bottom wall of a stud, extending laterally between the opposite side walls. a stud, and a width substantially equal to that of the two juxtaposed profiles, and two tabs articulated to the central portion and respectively fixed to the two opposite side walls of the stud. Preferably, the central portion of the holding strip extends in the direction of support of the goods, from the bottom wall of a stud to the lower walls of the two sections so as to support these profiles in this direction. According to another characteristic, the beam comprises support flaps of the upper walls of the profiles, extending under these upper walls in the direction of support of the goods. Advantageously, the beam comprises mandrel orifices made in the walls of the profiles 35 extending in the direction of support of the goods.

The invention also relates to a corrugated pallet for transporting and elevating goods, characterized in that it comprises at least two stiffening beams as defined above. Preferably, the pallet comprises at least two beams provided with mandrel orifices and mandrels inserted into the orifices of the beams and ensuring the joining of one beam to the other. In addition, the pallet may include a cargo support panel attached to the beams.

The invention will now be described with reference to the appended figures which give a possible but nonlimiting embodiment thereof: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first pallet family according to the invention, provided with stiffening studs, FIG. 2 illustrates a second family of the pallet according to the invention, provided with stiffening profiles; FIGS. 3 to 8 show a first variant of a pallet of the first family; FIGS. perspective of the steps of a method of making a second variant of a pallet of the first family; FIGS. 14 to 17 illustrate the steps of manufacturing a first variant of a pallet of the second family; FIGS. 18 to 21 show a second variant of the pallet of the second family; FIGS. 22 to 25 illustrate a third embodiment of a pallet of the second family;

FIGS. 26 to 31 show a fourth embodiment variant of the pallet of the second family; FIGS. 32 to 36 show perspective views of the steps of making a fifth variant of the pallet of the second family, whose beams incorporate the functions of pads and terminals; FIGS. 37 to 50 show perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the beam of the pallet of FIGS. 32 to 36. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pallet according to the invention is intended for transport and the elevation of goods and comprises for this purpose a support panel of this commodity 1 and at least two stiffening beams 4, 5, 7 and 8. These beams each extend under the panel to support and are secured to that -this. Each beam 4, 5, 7, 8 has the shape of a hollow section delimiting a longitudinal cavity 11, 12 and 13. In order to be able to transport and elevate goods of considerable weight or quantity, the pallet according to the invention, made of corrugated cardboard, is stiffened. To this end, the invention provides that additional stiffening elements 15 and 16 are housed at least in part in the internal cavity 11, 12, 13 of a beam to provide additional stiffening of the entire pallet. And this stiffening is declined in two large families of pallets according to the invention. In the first family of pallets, a variant of which is illustrated in FIG. 1, the stiffening elements 15 have the shape of studs provided with substantially vertical walls and which are integrally housed in the cavity 11 of each beam 4, 5. The walls substantially vertical stiffening studs 15 oppose vertical crushing of the pallet since extend in the direction of support goods and form a reinforcement for the walls of the beam. They also limit the risk of buckling of the pallet.

In addition, the studs 15 which comprise these walls have a trapezoidal shape, which defines a lower base 22 of smaller area than their upper base 23 which increases the crush resistance of this stud, therefore that of the beam which the welcome, and therefore that of the palette. In the second family of pallets, a variant of which is shown in FIG. 2, the stiffening elements 16 have the shape of multi-ply cardboard sections 16 which connect the two beams 7, 8 and the two to each other. each traverse transversely so that a section of each profile 16 is housed within the cavity 12, 13 of each beam 7, 8. These profiles 12 stiffen the pallet in a transverse direction since they oppose a crushing of this pallet in this direction, but also in the direction of elevation of the goods since the forks of a transport vehicle come into contact with these profiles 16 and no longer the support panel 1; these profiles being much more rigid vertically than the panel 1. These profiles thus prevent the risk of buckling of the panel 1 during the raising of the pallet and the goods it supports.

3 to 13 different variants of the paddle pallet of FIG. 1 are described below, then with reference to FIGS. 15 to 36 different alternative embodiments of the additional profiled pallet of FIG. 2.

According to the first variant embodiment of the pallet with stiffening studs of FIGS. 3 to 8, this latter comprises a rectangular support panel 1 and two stiffening beams 4 and 5. The two beams 4, 5 each define an upper wall 31 coinciding with the support panel 1, a bottom wall 32 resting on the ground and two side walls 33 and 34 respectively forming an inner side wall 33 for the pallet since located closest to the center of this pallet and an outer side wall 34. The two beams 4 and 5 are parallel to one another and extend along the short side of the reinforcement panel. In addition, each beam defines a trapezoid-shaped cross section whose base 32 resting on the ground is of smaller size than the upper side 31 coinciding with the reinforcement panel. It thus defines a longitudinal cavity that is also trapezoidal in shape and in which studs of complementary shape 15 of this cavity are inserted. Advantageously, the reinforcement panel 1 and the two beams 4 and 5 come from the folding of a single blank of corrugated cardboard. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each beam is formed by folding four successive panels 41, 43, 46 and 49 of the single blank, articulated in pairs and forming respectively the side wall

34, the bottom wall 32, the inner side wall 33, and a fastening strip of the beam 49 under a rectangular central panel 37 of the blank for forming the support panel 1.

The fastening strip is secured to the underside of this panel 37. The same is done to form the opposite beam. The stiffening studs 15 are then inserted into the cavities of the two beams 4, 5 with preferably one stud at each end of these beams, and optionally a stud in the middle of these beams. Advantageously, the panel 1 and the two beams coming from the same blank, and forming a main body for the pallet, can be proposed to a user in the flat preformed configuration of FIG. 4. For this purpose, two additional folds are provided. and 52 in two of the panels constituting the beam, and in this case within the panels 41 forming the outer side walls, these folds 51, 52 being parallel to the hinge lines of the panels constituting the beam. The position of each of these folds 51, 52 on the corresponding small panel 41 is provided so that each beam 4, 5 is separated into two rectangular wings preferably of the same widths 1, as shown in FIG. 4, these wings coming to to be pressed against each other, in the same plane as the support panel 1. This flat configuration facilitates the transport and storage of the pallet since the beams and panel assembly can be stored and stacked in the planar configuration , and that the pads 15 can be nested within each other. Furthermore, each stiffening pad is formed from a cut blank as shown in FIG. 7 which comprises a rectangular central portion 61 and four trapezoidal flaps 62 and 63, the two flaps hinged to the longer sides. the central part of the blank, comprising fastening tabs 64 with adjacent short flaps 62. The stud of FIG. 6 is obtained by shaping the blank of FIG. 7 by folding the flaps in oblique directions and by gluing the tabs. 64 of the longer shutters on the shorter flaps 62. In this embodiment, the fastening tabs 64 glued on the same flap 62 cover this flap over the entire surface. The stud 15 thus has a general shape of trapezoidal box whose top wall would have been removed. The dimensions of this box are designed so that it can fit inside the cavity 11 of a beam as shown in Figure 8, its lower base along the bottom wall of the beam. Thus, the cross-section of each pad projected on the plane P of FIG. 8 falls within the cross-section of a beam. The pallet according to this first embodiment is of simple design, improved rigidity thanks to its pads, and practical storage given its preformed configuration flat.

According to the second embodiment of a paddle pallet, shown in FIG. 9, the paddle 30 is obtained by the association of two subassemblies each containing a beam and a panel portion, as represented in FIG. 11. and each being obtained by folding a single blank of cardboard.

Each portion of panel 71, 71b represents in the illustrated example about two-thirds of the support panel of the pallet finally made. In addition to the panel 71, 71b forming the support panel portion, the constituent blank of each subassembly comprises successive panels 34, 34b, 32, 32b and 33, 33b articulated in pairs and intended to constitute respectively the side walls. external, lower and internal of the beam, and fastening strips 49, 49b as described for the embodiment of Figure 3. Each subassembly 70, 70b further comprises a rectangular opening 72, 72b made in the the thickness of the panel portion 71, 71b by a C-shaped cutting line, defining a flap 73, 73b hinged about a fold line 74, 74b joining the two ends of the cutting line. The two subsets 70, 70b form the left part and the right part of the pallet.

It is important to emphasize that the flap 73 of the left subassembly is articulated around one of the sides 74 of the opening 72 and that the flap 73b of the right subset is articulated around the opposite side 74b of the opening made. in the panel portion 71b of the right subset. The two left and right subassemblies are assembled together by superimposing one subassembly on the other and by engaging the flap 73b of the upper subassembly within the opening 74 of the sub-assembly. lower assembly so as to form a complete support panel 1 as visible in Figure 12. The flaps 73 and 73b of the two subassemblies come to project from the lower face 48 of the support panel 1 and are engaged in the volume

internal of a rigging stud 15 being pressed against two opposite walls of this stud. More specifically, each flap 73, 73b has a width designed to be wedged in the stud on engagement thereof, the opposite side edges of each flap 73, 73b bearing against two opposite walls of the stud 15. And the image of the preceding embodiment, stiffening studs 15 are then introduced into the cavity of each beam as shown in FIG. 13. Likewise, each subassembly 70, 70b comprises, at image of the previous variant and as illustrated in Figure 10, a fold line 51 for storage in a flat preformed configuration of this subset. The pallet of this second design may have a width and a greater length than the pallet of the first design of FIG. 3 taking into account the presence of the central stiffening stud 15 and the constitution of the support panel 1 by the association of two sub-panels. The studs used both inside the beams and in the center of the pallet are advantageously of the same size. The assembly of these panels is fully mechanized. Adhesive points are provided to fix the central stud 15 to the flaps 73, 73b of the pallet. The bonding of the pads coming into the cavities 30 of the beams is not essential. In the illustrated embodiment, it is not present.

Referring now to the second pallet family, which comprises stiffening profiles 35 connecting the beams of the pallet in pairs, it may comprise, according to the first variant shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, two parallel beams 7, 8 and three transverse stiffening profiles 16.

The three sections 16 are in the form of mandrels; two of them connect the two ends of the two beams, the third extending from one center of a beam to the center of the parallel beam. The two beams 7 and 8 are obtained by folding on itself the blank 80 illustrated in FIG. 15. To constitute each beam 7, 8, the blank 80 comprises a succession of substantially rectangular panels 88, 81, 82, 83, 84 , 85, 86, articulated in pairs around folding lines parallel to each other. The first panel 88 is intended to form a locking lug of the blank in its folded constitution constituting the beam. As visible in FIG. 16, the second panel 81 is intended to form the upper wall 31 of the beam, the third panel 82 forms the outer wall 34 of the beam, the panel 83 constitutes the lower wall 32 of this beam. , the panel 84 forms the inner side wall of the beam and its outer face serves to attach to the locking tab 88 which is folded against the panel 84 outside thereof and fixed in this way. In addition, to provide additional rigidity to the beam, the panel 85 is folded to be plated under the panel 81 constituting the upper wall of the beam and the panel 86, and articulated vis-à-vis the panel 85 to extend from the upper left corner of the beam along the diagonal of the rectangle defined by this beam. To further increase the rigidity of this beam, two flaps 87 are each formed in the blank

constituent of the panel 85 internally doubling the upper wall of the beam, and within the panel 86 extending along the first diagonal of this beam. These flaps thus formed, are intended to extend from the upper inner corner of the beam as indicated by 92 in Figure 17, to the outer lower corner 93 of the beam, that is to say according to the second diagonal of the beam. More precisely, these flaps 87 are delimited by a C-shaped cutting line 91 made within the panels 85 and 86 and whose two ends originate on the hinge line of the panel 85, the two opposite branches of which extend perpendicularly to this line, and whose central branch extends parallel to this line within the panel 86 and is separated therefrom by a distance substantially equal to that of the diagonal of the beam. No articulation is present within these components. As can be seen in FIG. 16, the formation of a beam with diagonal stiffening flaps 85, 87 from the blank of FIG. 15 is effected by disengaging the flaps 87 from their cutting lines 91 by applying a pressure P such as visible in Figure 15, tending to bring these shutters 87 under the panels 85 and 86 in which they are formed, while the blank is in the flat state. Subsequently, the panel 86 is folded so that its free edge 94 comes into contact with the hinge line intended to form the inner lower corner 96 of the beam. The free edge 98 of the shutters 87 is brought as visible in Figure 17 at the hinge line forming the outer lower corner of the beam.

The panel 81 constituting the upper wall is then pressed against the panel 85 intended to double this upper wall, and the locking tab 88 is pressed against the outer face of the panel 84 constituting the inner wall of the beam. During this movement, the panel 82 forming the outer side wall, is brought into a vertical position to form this wall. In order to form passage openings for the mandrels 16, circular cutting lines 101 are formed in the thickness of all the panels traversed by these mandrels, namely: the panel 88 forming the locking tab, the one forming the inner wall 84, the panel forming the first diagonal wall 86, and finally the panel 82 constituting the outer side wall. As shown in Figure 17 the openings 101 are disposed within the relevant panels to be located, once the beam formed at the same vertical level. Once the beam thus formed, a first mandrel 16a is inserted from the opening 101a formed within the locking tab 88 to the opening made in the outer wall 34, through the openings made respectively to within the inner wall 84, and the first diagonal panel 86. The insertion of the mandrel 16a in this direction locks the blank in its folded configuration of constituting a beam, thanks to the locking tab 88 provided for this purpose, stuck by the mandrel 16. It remains only to insert in the same way the mandrels 16b and 16c within this first beam and then to insert the free ends of the mandrels 16a, 16b and 16c in the same sequence, within the second beam 8. The pallet thus formed is, without any point of glue, since the locking of the beams is done by insertion of the mandrels. In addition, this pallet has improved rigidity in the direction defined by the mandrels and supports greater loads than a pallet that would be lacking. In addition, when the goods are in the form of trays or cases defining by their constitution a flat bottom wall, the pallet according to the invention may be devoid of a support panel, the bottom wall of the box or plateau 15 resting on the upper walls of the beams to provide this support function. According to this first embodiment, the ends of the mandrels 16a, 16b, 16c come flush with the outer walls 34 of the two beams 7 and 8, the coming of the forks of the transport vehicle being effected between these two beams 7 and 8.

According to the variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 21, the forks of the transport vehicle do not come between the two beams, but on either side of a beam, a first fork being placed between these two beams and a second fork being disposed on one side of one of the beams, as shown more particularly in Figure 18. To achieve this goal, a portion 103 of each mandrel is laterally protruding from one of the two beams 7, while the opposite end of each mandrel comes flush with the outer wall 34 of the beam.

The distance over which the sections 103a and 103b protrude laterally from the beam 7 is slightly greater than that of the width of a fork of the handling machine used.

This particular configuration is specially adapted for goods in the form of a box of small width that is to say a width close to that of the width defined by the two forks of the handling equipment.

The pallet variant according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 25 differs essentially from that shown in the preceding FIGS. 18 to 21 by the replacement of the panel 81 intended to form the upper wall of the beam in FIG. 21 and the panel 88. forming the locking tab, by a single panel 106 hinged relative to the side panel 82 and having a width greater than that of the beam that it is intended to form, to constitute, as visible in Figure 22 an upper wall 31 'd a width much greater than that of the beam of the previous embodiment (Figure 18). Thus, the upper walls 106 of the two beams define an upper support width and therefore a better seating for the goods, which makes the use of a support plate superfluous. Advantageously, the wide panel 106 of the beam 7 of which the sections 103a and 103b of the mandrels 16a, 16b are laterally projecting comprises a free edge 107 flush with the free end of the mandrels 103a and 103b.

Furthermore, according to the fourth variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 31, there is found a combination of beams 111 and profiles 16A, 16B, 16C passing through them and forming a stiffening grid, but additional elements are arranged at each intersection between a beam 111 and a profile 16A and each is engaged on both the beam 111 and the section 16 of the intersection concerned. More specifically, these additional elements are each in the form of a terminal 112 as illustrated in FIG. 28, which is in the image of the pads described for the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 8, in the form of FIG. a box of trapezoidal section with the base of smaller width, resting on the ground, and which would be devoid of upper wall. Their function is to add extra rigidity to the pallet and to raise it. The common elements between the terminals and the pads of Figures 7 and 28 have the same references. In order to be able to engage at an intersection between a beam 111 and a profile, each terminal 112 comprises, formed on its large opposite walls 63, a passage opening 113 for a beam, delimited by a shaped cutting line. C whose ends open on the upper free edge of each large wall 63, this cutting line being of complementary shape of the lower part of a beam, which comprises the side walls, and the bottom wall of this beam. Similarly, to ensure the passage and engagement around the mandrel 16, two openings 114 are formed from the free edge of each small wall 62 of the terminal and define a complementary shape of the lower part of the mandrel 16, it is to say in an arc. With regard to the beams 111 used according to this embodiment, these have a substantially trapezoidal cross-section as shown in FIG. 30, and whose small base would be closest to the ground. Each is obtained by folding the blank shown in Figure 29 and which comprises a succession of panels articulated two by two. More precisely, a first panel 116 is intended to form the bottom wall of the beam, the following panel 117 forms one of the two side walls of this beam, the third panel 118 constitutes the upper broad wall of this beam, the panel next 119 is the second side wall of this beam, and the last three panels 120, 121, 122 form an internal reinforcement for this beam. More particularly, the panel 120 hinged to the second side wall 119 is intended to internally double the bottom wall of the beam over half the width of the bottom wall. The next panel 121 is intended to extend vertically into the cavity of the beam from half of the panel 116 to join the center of the bottom wall to that of the top wall. Finally, the next panel 122 forms a fastening strip of the reinforcing panel 121 in its vertical position and is pressed against half the surface of the top wall and fixed in this way. Lock tabs of the reinforcing panel 121 in its upright position 124 are formed along the joint between the reinforcing and securing panels 122. They are intended to protrude vertically above the reinforcing panel 121, and to engage in complementary slots 125 made in the thickness of the panel 118 constituting the upper wall of the beam.

In addition, strips of glue or other fixing agent are applied to the upper face of the fixing panel 122, while the blank is flat (FIG. 29). Glue strips 123 are also provided on the panel 116 forming the bottom wall of the beam. The shaping of the beam of FIG. 30 from the blank of FIG. 29 is initially done by folding the panels 120 to 122 towards the panel 118 so that the tabs 124 engage in the corresponding slots. 125 and that the adhesive strips 123 of the panel 122 are applied and be fixed against the half-portion of the panel 118 forming the upper wall. The panel 117 and the panel 116 are then folded to form respectively the side wall of the beam and the bottom wall of this beam, the end panel 116 coming to press against the outer face of the reinforcing panel 120 and being fixed to that by the adhesive strips 123 provided for this purpose.

Once the beam 111 thus constituted, it is, according to Figure 31 mounted on three terminals in accordance with that of Figure 28, by engagement of the beam 111 within the openings 113 provided within the large walls 63 of the terminals 112, and so that the circular openings 101 of the beam are in correspondence with the semi-cylindrical openings 114 formed within the short walls 62 of the terminals. A first mandrel 16a is then inserted into the opening 114a of a first terminal and into the corresponding openings 101a of the beam to finally open into the opening 114a of the terminal concerned. It is then proceeded to the same for two other mandrels 16b and 16c.

Subsequently, two beams 111b and 111c are each mounted on three terminals 112 and each pair of terminal beams is fitted on the three mandrels 16a, 16b, 16c. Of course, it is possible to form the grid girders llla, lllb, 111c and mandrels 16a, 16b, 16c in another chronological order. For example, it is possible to first engage the mandrels within the openings of the beams, then to mount the terminals 112 at each intersection between a beam 111 and a mandrel 16 by engagement of the openings 113 and 114 made on the walls of the terminals for respectively receiving a beam and a mandrel. The structure thus formed is rigid because of the combination of beams and mandrels and their method of attachment to one another by insertion of the mandrel partially into the beam. Also, the presence of a vertical reinforcing wall 121 in the longitudinal cavity of each beam, and that of the terminals coming to lock the engagement of a beam 111 to a mandrel 16, participate in this additional stiffening. Finally, the trapezoidal sections of the beams and terminals ensure a distribution of the load. An improved pallet of rigidity made according to this embodiment can for example have dimensions 800 x 1200 (in mm) and support goods of weight of the order of 300 kg. It has a significant stability which reduces or annihilates any deformation during its elevation.

The constitution of the beam by winding a blank on itself, allows it to achieve significant rigidity and makes possible its elongation without impairing the overall rigidity of the pallet. This winding makes the rigidity of the beam 35 comparable to that of a mandrel and thus prevents the beam from constituting a "weak link" for the rigidity of the pallet. The elevation of the pallet by the terminals provided for this purpose facilitates the arrival of the gripping forks 5 of a transport vehicle.

According to the fifth variant embodiment of FIGS. 32 to 36, the function of the pads and the terminals is fully integrated with the beams. Indeed, each beam 131 comprises a longitudinal main body 132 extending from one end to the other of the beam, and presenting as substantially half the height of the beam finally formed, as well as vertically protruding parts. of the lower portion of the main body 132 and forming support pads 130. Specifically, the longitudinal main body 132 of a beam is in the form of two rectangular section profiles juxtaposed each other 134 134 the along their side walls. The two juxtaposed lateral walls 137 of these rectangular sections 134 form internal walls for stiffening the beam in the vertical direction. The two outer side walls of these rectangular sections 134 are each reinforced by a corrugated board 135 which internally doubles as a dotted arrow in FIG. 34. A beam of this type is advantageously obtained from a single blank. As illustrated in FIG. 33: The two rectangular sections 134 of the same beam are each formed by folding in relation to one another five successive panels formed on one side of the cardboard blank.

More precisely, as can be seen in FIGS. 33 to 34, the first four successive panels 135 to 138 are intended to form respectively the reinforcing panel 135 of the outer lateral wall of the longitudinal rectangular profile 134, the lower wall 136, the internal vertical wall. 137, and the upper wall 138 of this profile 134. The following panel 139 comprises a first portion intended to form the outer lateral wall of the rectangular section 134, in the form of a strip 142, and three second parts 143 intended to forming the side walls of the three studs of the beam, and the third parts in the form of flaps 144 intended to form reinforcing portions of each of the three pads articulated around lines perpendicular to the fold lines of the panels. More specifically, each second portion 143 extends in the extension of the strip 142 to a hinge line intended to form the lower corner of the stud portion of the beam. The width of these second parts is the width of the desired portions for the beam portions of the beam. Between two consecutive second portions 143 are arranged two flaps 144 of the type mentioned above each forming a reinforcing portion for a stud. Each of these flaps 144 comprises a tab 146 which is articulated to it and serves as a support foot and also a wedging element as will be specified later. Articulated at the second portions 143, are portions of the panel which are intended to form lower walls for each stud, 147. And articulated to these third parts of blank, is found by symmetry, a panel 139 constituting the

side walls of the studs and that of the second section, and the four end panels 135 to 138 constituting the walls of the second rectangular section 134.

To form a stud beam 131, starting from the blank of FIG. 33, the stiffening flaps 144 are raised relative to the remainder of the blank in the direction indicated by the arrow F1 of FIG. 33 and the fins 146 forming feet of FIG. the support 139 are folded along their hinge edge towards the fold line disposed between the panel 139 and the third parts 147. The panel 139 is straightened according to FIG. 34 in a vertical position while one of the free edges of the The fin 146 is disposed along the fold line forming the lower left corner of the stud of the beam. At this position, the fin forces the flap to extend along a first diagonal of the bottom wall 147 and the wedge in this position.

It should be noted that the central stud of the beam comprises two stiffening flaps 144 hinged around the lateral edges of the side wall of this stud, and extending along the diagonals of the lower wall 147 of this stud.

The successive panels 135 to 138 of a first rectangular section are folded in pairs perpendicularly to one another and the bottom face (in FIG. 33) of the end panel 135 is slotted on the upper face (in the same FIG. ) of the first portion 142 of the panel 139. By symmetry, the second section is formed, the opposite side walls of the studs and the right stiffening flaps. A first mandrel 16 is inserted into the openings provided on the side walls 135, 137 of the

two profiles 134 and locks these profiles, the pads and thus the entire beam in its mounted position. The other mandrels are then inserted into the apertures provided for this purpose so as to complete the assembly of the armature of the pallet, as represented in FIG. 32. Optionally, a support panel 1 may be attached to this armature such that visible in Figure 35.

And for its mounting on the frame, it may comprise fins 151 as shown schematically in Figure 35, which are taken from the thickness of the panel and each articulated by a side edge relative to the panel 1 and able to engage between the lateral walls juxtaposed with two sections of the main body of a beam, each fin comprising cut-outs of the mandrels formed from their free edge and nesting around the mandrels. The pallet according to this embodiment has a very high vertical rigidity in view of the multiple-thickness structure of cardboard, with multiple reinforcement walls (there are 8 oblique vertical walls 144 and six straight vertical walls 137 reinforcement panel 139 in the illustrated embodiment) and by the passage of the mandrels through two sections of rectangular section. This high rigidity is particularly useful for the construction of pallets with large dimensions, for example 800 x 1200 (in mm).

In this embodiment, the mandrels 16a, 16b, 16c are flush with the outer side walls 139 of the end beams. In the embodiment of the following figure 36, the mandrels 16 are no longer flush with the external lateral walls of the beams 131 but, in the image

of the embodiment previously described for Figure 18, their left ends 103A and 103B protrude laterally from the outer side wall 139 of one of the beams.

As in the case of Figure 18, this configuration makes it possible to achieve a very small pallet with two beams 131A, 131B and two mandrels 16A, 16B and can be moved by the forks of a standard machine. Typically, this pallet can have dimensions 600 x 400 (in mm).

The variant embodiment of the stiffening beam illustrated in FIGS. 37 to 49 is based on the same principle of integration of the functions of the studs and the elevation terminals used for the beam of the pallet according to the fifth variant described above with reference to FIGS. For these reasons, the identical elements between the fifth and sixth variants will bear the same references. Thus, as can be seen in FIGS. 37 and 38, which respectively represent a first and a second embodiment of a beam of the pallet according to the sixth variant, each beam comprises a main body 132 formed by two sections of rectangular section 134 and juxtaposed each other along their side walls, which are obtained by folding on themselves five consecutive panels 135 to 142, as well as stiffening stud and elevation terminal parts, designated as pads 130 and s' extending under the main body 132. These pads 130 are formed in particular by three small consecutive panels 143, 147 and 143 articulated perpendicularly in pairs, as described above for the beam of the pallet according to the fifth variant.

On the other hand, unlike the beam of the pallet according to the fifth variant, the beams of FIGS. 37 and 38 are not provided with reinforcement flaps 144 nor associated tabs 146. Instead, they comprise means for holding the two sections against each other 150, which allow to retain the general shape and therefore the strength properties of the beam, even with difficult goods transport conditions, such as a heavy load of goods and / or vibrations caused by the movement of the vehicle containing the pallets laden with goods. In the examples illustrated, these holding means 150 are formed by a cardboard blank strip connecting the two opposite side walls 143 of a stud 130 and being rigidly fixed thereto. Each holding strip 150 thus comprises two tabs 151, only one of which is shown in FIG. 37, which are respectively fixed to the two opposite lateral walls 143 of the same stud, as well as a central part 152 connecting one to the other. the other two fastening lugs 151. The central portion 152 of the holding strip 150 limits the spacing of the two of the two side walls 143 of the stud to which it is fixed by these lugs 151. By limiting the spacing of the two side walls 143 of a pad 130, the central portion of the strip 150 thus also limits the lateral spacing of the outer side walls 142 of the two sections 134 forming the main body 132 of the beam, since the side walls 142 of the profiles are merged with those of the pads 130. In doing so, the strip 150 maintains the one against the other two profiles 134 and avoids their

spacing from one another during the transport of the goods. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 40, the width of the central portion 152 of the holding strip 150 is substantially equal to that of the lower wall 147 of the stud, of which it must limit the spacing of the walls 143. Thus, as results from the Figures 37 and 38, its width is also substantially equal to that of the two sections juxtaposed to each other, which prevents a spacing thereof. In addition, the retaining strip 150 does not require for its construction any additional carton blank element with respect to the elements used for the manufacture of the profiles 134 and the parts forming a pad 130. More specifically, as can be seen in FIG. to form the central portions 152 of a holding strip, the blank portions interposed between two blank portions 147 for forming the lower walls of the pads 130, and to form the fastening tabs 151 of the holding strips 150, are used the blank portions interposed between the portions 143 intended to form the side walls of the studs 130. Thus, for each holding band 150, the central portion 152 is delimited by an articulation edge 154 at the bottom wall 147 of a stud. , a cutting line opposite this edge and two lateral edges allowing the articulation of the legs 151. The fixing lugs 151 are hinged to the central portion by the two lines 156 which extend in the extension of the hinge line of the panel 139 to the lower walls 147. They are each delimited by a C-shaped cutting line whose ends join the hinge line 156.

To shape the beam 131 from the blank of FIG. 40, the procedure is as already indicated with reference to FIG. 34, forming first of all the two rectangular sections 134 by folding over the panels 135 to themselves. 142 of the two sets of panels, the panel 135 being pressed against the portion 142 of the panel 139, and by raising in a second time the panels 139 against which the rectangular profiles 134 are held, to form, as shown in Figure 41, the side walls 143 of the studs, and the outer walls 142 of the profiles 134, the sections 134 being found to be juxtaposed against each other by their internal walls 137. Once these steps have been performed, the blank parts intended for forming the holding strips are arranged at the same level as the lower walls 147 of the pads, that is to say in a horizontal plane. Subsequently, as can be seen in FIG. 42, each central portion 152 of holding strips 150 is articulated around its hinge edge 154 with respect to the bottom wall of a stud 147, so that it can be lifted at a distance. substantially vertical position so as to come, as shown in Figure 43, vertically under the rectangular profiles 134 and close each, one side of a stud 130. Thereafter, it remains only to fold the legs of fixing 151 against the side walls 143 of the pads 130 and to fix these tabs 151 to the side walls 143. This attachment can for example be done by gluing. According to this method, there is obtained a stiffening beam whose resistance during transport is improved, thanks to the presence of the holding strips 150. These strips 150 and more particularly their central portions 152 further strengthen the

vertical compressive strength of the beam since they support the profiles 134 extending in the direction of support of the goods, namely vertically. Also, the adhesive that is used between the fixing lugs 151 and the side walls 143 of the pads 130 contributes to this improvement in the compressive strength of the beam. By proceeding in the same way, a second beam 131 is obtained which can be associated, as illustrated in FIG. 44, with the first beam using the mandrels 16A, 16B and 16C as described above, inserted into the orifices 101A, 101B, 101C provided for this purpose on the panels 139 and 137 (see FIG. 37), thus making it possible to obtain a pallet with six beam studs and three mandrels. It is possible, in the same way as it has been exposed for the pallet of FIG. 35, to have an additional support panel 1 above the assembly of FIG. 44.

Similarly, it is possible to associate more than two beams to one another using mandrels such as for example three beams, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 46. This set has three beams, three mandrels and nine pads may, as shown in Fig. 47, be covered by a support panel as previously discussed. Finally, still according to a previously mentioned possibility, the pallet can take the form of a set with two beams and two mandrels and four studs, in which the mandrels 16 are no longer flush with the external side walls of the beams but having left ends protruding laterally from the outer side wall 139 of one of the beams, allowing

make a palette of very small size, and can be moved by the forks of a standard machine. To further enhance the compressive strength of the beam while maintaining the profiles 134 against each other, the beam of Figure 38 comprises in addition to the holding strip 150 described above, and to each its ends, two flaps 160 extending in the direction of support of the goods and supporting the upper wall 138 of a profile, and a bracket 161 of the flap 160 in its supporting position of the upper wall 138 of profile 134. More specifically, as shown in Figure 50, a reinforcing flap 160 is hinged by an edge to the blank portion 143 for forming the side wall of an end pad 130. This flap 160 s' extends over the entire width of this blank portion 143. The hinge edge of this flap 160 is perpendicular to the fold lines of the successive panels 135 to 142 and extends in the extension of the free edges of the panels 137 and 138 so that to ensure when the beam is mounted, as shown in Figure 49, the pivoting of the flap under the upper wall 138 of the overhead section 134.

The bracket 161 of a flap of this type is hinged relative to the blank portion 147 for forming the blank wall 147 of a stud. The hinge edge 162 of this lug 161 to the bottom wall 147 is not perpendicular to the two adjacent lateral edges of this bottom wall, but slightly inclined towards the center of this bottom wall, in order to fix the flap 160 in a position in which it encroaches on this bottom wall 147 and supports the upper wall 138 of the overlying profile 134.

To allow the entrance of the shutter 160 into the cavity of the profile 134, despite the presence of the lower wall 136 of this profile, the panel forming the bottom wall 136 comprises bevelled edges 163 as shown in Figure 50, giving off a space which allows the coming of the flap under the upper wall 138 of the profile. The stiffening beams described above with reference to FIGS. 37 and 38 may be shaped prior to the complete assembly of a pallet since the holding strips 150 alone ensure the holding of the beam in its configured configuration. form. The support flaps 160 of the upper walls 138 of the profiles 134 may be integrated into the embodiment of the beam of FIG. 34, which already contained reinforcing flaps 144 and the associated tongues.

The invention as described above has many advantages among which:

the increase in the overall rigidity of the pallet, making it possible to increase its dimensions, by the interlocking of the studs within the beams, and / or the mandrels through the beams, and by the multiple thicknesses of cardboard used, presence of different intermediate walls extending in the direction of support of the goods contributing to improve the rigidity of the structure, and reducing or even canceling the risk of buckling, - the use of shapes for the beams and studs, improving the distribution of the load of the goods,

the use of profiles in the form of mandrels and for this reason very rigid, the weight gain vis-à-vis palettes of the same dimensions made of wood, - the possibility of not using any glue point for the constitution of the pallet for certain embodiments (FIGS. 32 to 36), - increase of the rigidity of the pallet by the glue in the other embodiments, - limitation of the lateral deformation of the beam by the different interlockings profile in beam, beam and profile in raising terminal, beam stiffening stud, and in the angles of the trapezoidal section beams and studs, the possibility of carrying a body of a width close to that of the two forks a transport vehicle, by the lateral offset of a beam (FIGS. 18 and 36), the possibility of using the upper walls of the beams as a support panel for the goods; the pallets can occupy a flat configuration, - the long-term and the multiple uses of the stiffening beam made possible in particular thanks to the band 150 which holds the two sections of a beam in their juxtaposed position one against the other and thus ensures the integrity of the shape of the beam, - the presence, within the beams shown in FIGS. 37 to 50, of two sections of rectangular section, juxtaposed one against the other. other by their adjacent side walls and defining two beams of small cross-section compared to that of the overall beam 131. The small section of these sections 10

makes their deformation difficult and minimizes the risk of deformation of the overall beam 131. The two walls in contact 137 of these profiles 134 extend vertically and therefore in the direction of support of the goods, and in the middle of the upper part of the internal cavity of the beam, which increases the compressive strength of the beam 131. In addition, these profiles 134 are derived from the folding of the same blank of cardboard which allows the formation of the upper, lower and lateral walls of the beam . Also, the elevation terminals extending under the profiles are obtained from the same blank of cardboard. They allow the pallet to be raised by a forked vehicle, and contain elements (flaps 144 or strip 150) extending in the direction of support of the goods. The beams of this type have for these reasons a robustness, a resistance to vertical compression, improved lateral support, and are obtained from a cardboard blank, cutting and shaping simple because requiring little or no point glue and a single cardboard blank.

Claims (13)

REVENDICATIONS1. A stiffening beam of a corrugated cardboard pallet for transporting and elevating goods, comprising an upper wall (138) for forming a merchandise support panel or supporting a merchandise support panel, a lower wall (147). ) intended to rest on the ground, opposite side walls (139), these upper, lower and lateral walls (138, 147, 139) delimiting an internal cavity (11) of the beam, characterized in that it comprises elements additional stiffening means (137) housed at least partly in the internal cavity of the beam and in the form of cardboard walls extending in the direction of support of the goods. 2. Beam according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two profiles juxtaposed to one another by one of their side walls (137), respectively obtained from two end portions of a blank of carton defining each of the successive panels articulated in pairs (135-138, 142), the juxtaposition walls (137) of one section to the other extending in the internal cavity of the beam according to the direction of support of the goods and defining the additional stiffening elements of the beam. 3. Beam according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises elevation studs (130) extending under the juxtaposed profiles (134) and obtained from the central portion of the carton blank which defines successive small panels (143, 147, 143) shorter than the panels (135-138, 142) forming the profiles (134), and articulated in pairs to define two opposite side walls (143) and a bottom wall (147). ) for the stud, the opposite side walls (143) and the bottom wall (147) of the pad (130) being respectively merged with the opposite side walls (142) and the bottom wall (147) of the profiles (134). 4. Beam according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means (150) for holding the profiles (134) juxtaposed against each other. 5. Beam according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding means (150) of the profiles (134) juxtaposed against each other are defined by a portion of blank (150) connecting one to the other the opposite side walls (143) of each stud (130). 6. Beam according to claim 5, characterized in that the blank portion (150) connecting to each other 20 the opposite side walls (143) of each stud (130) is taken from the portion of blank interposed between the small panels (143, 147) of a first pad (130) and the small panels (143, 147) of the adjacent pad (130). 25 7. Beam according to claim 6, characterized in that the blank portion (150) connecting to each other the opposite side walls (143) of each stud (130) comprises a central portion (152) hinged to a edge of the panel (147) forming the bottom wall of a stud, extending laterally between the opposite side walls (143) of a stud, and a width substantially equal to that of the two juxtaposed profiles, and two legs (151) articulated to the central portion (152) and respectively fixed to the two opposite side walls 35 (143) of the stud. 41 2936225 8. Beam according to claim 7, characterized in that the central part (152) of the holding strip (150) extends in the direction of support of the goods, from the bottom wall (147) of a stud ( 130) to the lower walls (136) of the two sections to support these profiles in this direction. 9. Beam according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises support flaps (160) of the upper walls (138) of the profiles (134), extending under these upper walls (138) in the direction of support of the goods. Beam according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises mandrel orifices (101A, 101B, 101C) made in the walls (142, 137) of the profiles extending in the support direction. goods. 11. Corrugated cardboard pallet for the transport and elevation of goods, characterized in that it comprises at least two stiffening beams according to one of claims 1 to 10. 12. Pallet according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises at least two beams according to claim 10 as well as mandrels (16A, 16B, 16C) inserted into the orifices (101A, 101B, 101C) of the beams and ensuring the solidarization of one beam to another. 13. Pallet according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises a support panel 35 of goods (1) attached to the beams.