FR2982594A1 - Stud for supporting and holding pallet device in e.g. food industry, has circumferential contour walls secured together to form contour of stud, and stabilizing walls placed in internal volume of stud in abutment with contour walls - Google Patents

Abstract

The stud (1) has circumferential contour walls (12-14) secured together to form a contour of the stud and defining an internal volume of the stud, where the stud is made of semi-rigid cardboard material. Two stabilizing walls are placed in the internal volume of the stud in abutment with the circumferential contour walls, where one of the stabilizing walls is hinged to the respective contour wall. A groove wall (20) defines a groove that extends in a direction normal to a base plane of the stud, where the stabilizing walls are joined together to form a double wall. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a pallet device (2) an assembly of blanks for the realization of the stud.

Description

The invention relates to a pallet pad in semi-rigid material, and a pallet provided with such pads. For reasons of hygiene and safety mainly, we have been looking for several years to replace conventional wooden pallets, consisting of holding pads and plates, by equivalents made with other materials, including cardboard or plastic. The plastic pallets are advantageous because of their resistance to moisture, but the plastic pads made do not ensure stacking. Cardboard pallets have been developed, with an innovative design compared to conventional pallets. Such pallets are provided with longitudinal members made of folded cardboard, but have the disadvantage of having large openings, capable of housing all kinds of living organisms, such as caterpillars, rodents or others, such as bacteria. These pallets can not therefore be used in environments requiring the control of hygiene and sterility, especially in the pharmaceutical or food industry, or even in the hospital environment.

Therefore, there is a need for a more hygienic cushioning device while having sufficient load and stack resistance.

The invention relates to a pad made of semi-rigid cardboard material, capable of constituting a means for supporting and holding pallets, comprising: - an assembly of at least three contour walls joined together forming a contour of the pad and defining an internal volume of the stud, and - at least two stabilizing walls disposed in the internal volume of said stud abutting on at least two contour walls of the assembly. The stud comprising at least two stabilizing walls is particularly suitable for constituting a pallet element, which is particularly resistant to load, stacking and shearing, thanks to the high mechanical stability of the stud. In addition, all of the at least three walls provide a hygiene benefit, since the absence of spars in the prior art cardboard pallets reduces the undesired presence of living organisms, such as animals. , and bacteria. The stud is very advantageously made of corrugated cardboard material, simple type, double or triple grooves depending on the desired uses and desired mechanical strength. The at least three contour walls are hinged together, preferably by fold lines, and are advantageously erected along a vertical axis, so as to constitute a base assembly or structure, the base surface of which defines at least a triangular shape . The assembly may comprise at least four preferably vertical contour walls, advantageously articulated to each other by fold lines. This set therefore constitutes a square or rectangular base. It is also conceivable that the assembly constitutes a pentagonal, hexagonal base, without being limited, which improves its stability at the base. It can also be provided different lengths for each wall. In addition to the cardboard material constituting the pad, the height of the pad, which is defined by the respective widths of the vertical contour walls, may be chosen to increase the mechanical strength properties. Advantageously, at least one of the stabilizing walls is articulated to at least one respective contour wall.

The at least two stabilizing walls comprise at least one groove wall and at least one receiving wall shaped to interlock with one another. The at least two stabilizing walls advantageously extend in a vertical direction.

The at least one grooved wall defines a groove which extends in the direction normal to the plane of the bottom of the stud. This groove is very advantageously carried out over the entire thickness of the wall. This plane constitutes a base surface of the stud, which is advantageously defined along a horizontal plane.

Preferably, the groove extends substantially over half the height of the grooved wall. In this way, the at least two walls can be nested or abutted one to the other to form a cross system whose angle between the at least two walls is adapted to the structure of the assembly of the minus three contour walls.

This size of the groove on the width of the groove wall is also designed so that said wall can advantageously be kept stable once it abuts in the receiving wall. In addition, the stability of the stud, once brought into contact with a horizontal support, must very advantageously be obtained on the base surface of the assembly, to avoid rocking movements, and on the upper part of the at least two walls. stabilization. Moreover, the groove on the grooved wall can be made on the near-middle part along the length. The positioning or housing of the groove wall in abutment on the receiving wall can be done along the entire length of the receiving wall. The at least two stabilizing walls may be of different length, depending on the shape of the stud.

It can be envisaged that the at least two stabilizing walls form three walls, two of the three walls being the groove walls defining a groove, and the third wall being the receiving wall, for securing the walls together by interlocking the two walls. groove on the third receiving wall. According to preferred embodiments, the at least two stabilizing walls comprise two groove walls secured together by their surface to form at least one double wall.

In a variant, the at least two stabilizing walls comprise two receiving walls secured together by their surface to form a double wall. 2982 594 4 The double walls are usually joined by gluing or other means of securing. Advantageously, the at least two stabilizing walls are shaped so that the groove wall is nested, in abutment, substantially in the middle of the receiving wall, and the angle between said walls can be between 20 ° and 90 °. . According to other preferred embodiments, the receiving wall defines another groove extending over its height, the size of said other groove being complementary to that of the groove of the grooved wall. The respective sizes of the grooves preferably extend substantially over half the height of the receiving and groove walls, although other sizes are possible as long as their complementarities are respected. This provides stability to the base surface of the stud in contact with a horizontal support. The double wall of the at least two stabilizing walls can define a double groove, each on one of the double wall. The at least two stabilizing walls are very advantageously arranged to allow their positioning in the internal volume of the pad defined by the contour of the at least three walls, according to a mutual securing movement parallel to the vertical axis of all the walls. of contour. The at least two stabilization walls are then secured to the inner walls of the contour walls, and are abutted by contact, preferably by friction, between the ends of the at least two stabilizing walls and said at least three walls of contour. A bonding point in the contact zone 30 can be provided. Thanks to this arrangement, the stud is kept stable on its base, and the risk of shearing is significantly reduced. According to embodiments, the assembly is formed of four walls, preferably vertically erected, advantageously articulated and interconnected, preferably by fold lines, one of the walls of the four walls being arranged to forming a receiving wall of a grooved wall.

The receiving wall of the at least two stabilizing walls is in this case secured to the base structure of the stud. According to this embodiment, the assembly defines a triangular base by the three contour walls, the fourth wall, receiving wall, being junctioned by its free end, opposite to that articulated with the third contour wall, in abutment, in any area of the length of the contour wall opposite to said receiving wall. Preferably, the free end of the receiving wall is junctioned by friction and / or bonding, in abutment, in an area located substantially in the middle of the length of said opposite contour wall. The grooved wall is adapted to be nested abutting on the receiving wall, as described above, and is positioned and junctioned in abutment, preferably by friction and / or gluing of the two ends of the groove wall on the other two walls of outline.

Thus, the receiving wall and the groove wall form a cross system whose each end is junction with respectively a different contour wall. Such an arrangement allows the increased mechanical stabilization of the stud both shear and load.

Alternatively, the receiving wall very advantageously defines a groove of arrangement and size complementary to those of the at least one grooved wall. Such a receiving wall with the groove constitutes a receiving groove wall.

As a further variant, and in order to reinforce the mechanical properties of stability and resistance, it may be provided that the assembly comprises five preferably vertical contour walls, advantageously articulated and interconnected, preferably by fold lines, two walls of the five contour walls being fixed and secured, for example by gluing, by their opposite surfaces, that is to say forming a double wall. This double wall is arranged to form a receiving wall of a groove wall defining a groove extending over substantially half the width. The other three contour walls define a triangular base structure. The other variants and the positioning of the grooved wall are those mentioned above.

Particularly advantageously, the assembly comprises five contour walls, advantageously vertical, preferably articulated and interconnected, preferably by fold lines, one of the four walls of the wall being arranged to form a partition wall. receiving a groove wall defining a groove on substantially half of the width. The four contour walls of the assembly define a square or rectangular base. It may be provided that the assembly comprises six contour walls, preferably arranged in a vertical axis, advantageously articulated and interconnected, preferably by fold lines, two walls of the six contour walls being fixed and secured, in particular by bonding, by their opposite surfaces, forming a double wall. This double wall is a wall receiving a groove wall defining a groove extending over substantially half the width. The four contour walls of the assembly define a square or rectangular base. Also, the other variants and the positioning of the grooved wall are those mentioned above.

These last two embodiments are particularly advantageous in terms of the stability of the stud on a horizontal support, in particular with respect to shear, in particular when the studs are intended to receive a cardboard plate under the base of the stud, it is to say the inner surface, and on the upper part.

The pad of semi-rigid cardboard material may further comprise means for sealing the lower surface of the stud, that is to say of the base, and / or the upper surface of the stud, parallel to the lower surface . These sealing means are in particular made of semi-rigid cardboard material.

These sealing means substantially limit the degradation of the pads by living organisms, such as animals, for example rodents, bacteria, etc., which could penetrate, and by moisture. Therefore, in terms of hygiene, the pads of the invention can be used in areas or environments demanding in terms of cleanliness or sterility.

These closure means also ensure the maintenance of the stud by reinforcing its stability. In addition, these sealing means are suitable for laying plates, particularly rigid or corrugated cardboard, to form pallets.

These sealing means are advantageously of complementary shape to that respective of the lower and upper surfaces of the stud, and have a base surface provided with holding flaps and closure, each being secured to the end of a respective side of the base surface, preferably by fold lines. The number of flaps is preferably equal to that of the contour walls constituting the assembly. Each flap is arranged to cooperate, preferably with a respective inner wall of the assembly, and they thus ensure the fastening of the closure means with the pad, for example, by gluing and / or friction.

In the operative position, the holding flaps are perpendicular to the base surface, and parallel to the contour walls of the assembly. The holding flaps may be hinged at the edge end of each side of the base surface, along the entire length. Advantageously, each holding flap defines a groove situated in a zone of length, which groove may extend over substantially the entire width, in order to allow, in locking, the passage and the fixing of the closure means, in abutment, on the at least two stabilizing walls present in the stud.

The holding flaps may also be articulated over a portion of the length, also at the edge of the end of the sides. This embodiment is particularly preferred because once these folded flaps in the operative position, they define voids at the respective corners, between two folded flaps, to allow the passage and the positioning in abutment on the at least two stabilizing walls respective, when the latter form a cross system of an angle close to 90 °. The invention also relates to a pallet device comprising at least two plates of semi-rigid cardboard material, which pallet comprises a minimum number of pads of the invention, to ensure rigidity and resistance to load and stack, the at least two plates being positioned respectively between the lower and upper surfaces of said pads. The pallet of the invention must therefore comprise a minimum number of pads so that it can perform its function, that is to say, withstand sufficient loads, be mechanically resistant to shear and of a duration compatible with the requirements. industrial cost reduction. The pads should preferably be positioned or distributed in areas between the plates of the pallet to allow the desired effects. Very advantageously, the pallet is provided with at least three studs of the invention. The choice of at least three pads is dictated by the respective surfaces of the two boards. Thus, it can be provided 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 pads. So that the pads ensure their functionality especially on an industrial or commercial scale, they are conventionally positioned at the ends of corners, substantially in the middle of each side of the top or bottom plate, and substantially in the center of gravity of the top plate. Conventionally, the plates have identical dimensions and are of square shape, or rectangular or other known to those skilled in the field of pallets. The pads connect the upper and lower plates to one another and ensure stability, particularly shearing, and resistance to load and stacking.

According to the desired uses, requiring different resistances, it is possible to consider sheets of corrugated cardboard material in single, double and / or triple flutes. In an industrial implementation, the dimensions of the pallets can be typically of length ranging from 80 cm to 200 cm and width ranging from 60 cm to 140 cm. The heights of pads are very advantageously identical to each other, and they may vary in the range of values between 5 cm and 20 cm. Advantageously, the upper and lower plates can ensure the closure means of the pads and their mechanical stability, as well as to maintain a hygienic use, as indicated above.

The stability in fixing the plates on the pads can be performed by gluing. According to preferred embodiments, the lower plate of the pallet may be partially perforated on its surface to allow conveying on raceways, which is not possible with plastic pads. The perforated surface must not unacceptably affect the position and function of the pads of the pallet. The invention also relates to a set of blanks for producing the pad according to the invention, comprising: a first blank defining an assembly of at least three contour walls joined together, able to form a contour of the stud and defining a internal volume of the stud, and - at least two stabilizing walls of said assembly, shaped to be disposed in the internal volume of said stud abutting on at least two contour walls of the assembly. The first blank comprises an assembly of at least three contour walls joined together, and is shaped to form the basic structure of the stud, as defined above. According to embodiments, the first blank has four, five or six contour walls, preferably interconnected by fold lines. The respective lengths and widths are predetermined, depending on the desired shape for the stud, made from this first blank.

The second blank comprises at least two stabilizing walls of said assembly, when the first blank is folded to form the basic structure.

The at least three contour walls are hinged together, preferably by fold lines, and are advantageously able to be erected along a vertical axis, in order to constitute a base assembly or structure of a stud, the surface of which base defines an at least triangular shape.

The assembly may comprise at least four contour walls advantageously hinged together by fold lines. This set allows to realize, by folding, a square or rectangular pad base. It is also conceivable that the assembly allows the formation of a pentagonal, hexagonal base. It can also be provided different lengths for each wall. Advantageously, at least one of the stabilizing walls is articulated to at least one respective contour wall. The at least two stabilizing walls comprise a groove wall and a receiving wall adapted to interlock with one another.

Preferably, the groove extends substantially over half the height of the grooved wall. This groove is very advantageously carried out over the entire thickness of the wall. In this way, the at least two walls may be intended to be nested or abutted one to the other to form a cross system whose angle between the at least two walls is adapted to the structure of the together at least three contour walls. This size of the groove over the width of the groove wall is designed so that said wall can advantageously be maintained stable once it abuts in the receiving wall.

Moreover, the groove on the grooved wall can be made on the near-middle part along the length. The positioning or subsequent housing of the groove wall in abutment on the receiving wall can be done along the entire length of the receiving wall.

The at least two stabilization walls may be of different length, depending on the shape of the stud envisaged. It can be envisaged that the at least two stabilization walls form three walls, two of the three walls being the groove walls defining a groove, and the third wall being the receiving wall, intended to join the walls together by interlocking the two grooved walls on the third receiving wall. According to preferred embodiments, the at least two stabilizing walls form two groove walls secured together by their surface capable of forming a double wall.

Alternatively, the at least two stabilizing walls comprise two receiving walls adapted to be joined together by their surface to form a double wall.

According to other preferred embodiments, the receiving wall defines another groove extending over its height, the size of said other groove being complementary to that of the groove of the grooved wall. The respective sizes of the grooves preferably extend substantially over half the height of the receiving and groove walls, although other sizes are possible as long as their complementarities are respected. The set of blanks advantageously comprises a third defining means for closing off the lower surface of the stud, that is to say of the base, and / or of the upper surface of the stud, parallel to the lower surface, when the stud is obtained by folding the first and second blanks. These closure means also ensure the maintenance of the stud by reinforcing its stability, once the stud formed. In addition, these sealing means are suitable for laying plates, particularly rigid or corrugated cardboard, to form pallets. These closure means are advantageously arranged to be of complementary shape to that of the lower and upper surfaces of the stud, and have a base surface provided with holding and closure flaps, each being secured to the end of a respective side of the base surface, preferably by fold lines. The number of flaps is preferably equal to that of the contour walls constituting the assembly. Each flap is arranged to be adapted to cooperate, preferably with a respective inner wall of the assembly, and they thus secure the sealing means with the pad, for example, by gluing and / or friction. In the operative position, the holding flaps are perpendicular to the base surface, and parallel to the contour walls of the assembly. The holding flaps may be hinged at the edge end of each side of the base surface, along the entire length.

Advantageously, each holding flap defines a groove situated in a zone of length, which groove may extend over substantially the entire width, and is advantageously carried out on the thickness of the wall. The holding flaps may also be articulated over a portion of the length, also at the edge of the end of the sides. This embodiment is particularly preferred because once these folded flaps in the operative position, they define voids at the respective corners, between two folded flaps, to allow the passage and the positioning in abutment on the at least two stabilizing walls respective, when the latter form a cross system of an angle close to 90 °. The stud is obtained by a folding method consisting of the steps of: - folding a first blank as defined above, comprising an assembly of at least three walls hinged together to form a base structure of said pad, - housing at least two stabilizing walls in the internal volume of said stud abutting on at least two contour walls of the assembly. The preferred embodiments and the various positioning steps of the at least two stabilization walls of the assembly are described above. The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents the constituent elements of a stud according to one embodiment; FIG. 3A shows a stud without closure means and FIG. 3B shows a stud provided with closure means; FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of a pallet according to one embodiment; and - Figure 5 shows a pallet on which is placed various objects.

FIG. 1 represents the constituent elements of a single cardboard socket 1, which are a first blank 10 comprising four contour walls 11, 12, 13, 14 hinged together by fold lines 51, 52, 53, free end of the contour walls 11,14 being each secured to two receiving walls 15,16 by means of fold lines 54,55. These two receiving walls 15, 16 define grooves 65, 66, which are made in the middle zone along the length and half the width of the receiving walls 15, 16. They are arranged to receive, in abutment, the grooved wall 20 constituting the second blank, provided with a groove 21 in the middle zone along the length and half the width of the groove wall 20. The means 30,40, constituting the third blank, are here of square shape and consist of a base surface provided with four holding flaps 31,32,33,34,41,42,43,44, articulated by fold lines. The holding flaps 31,32,33,34,41,42,43,44 here occupy a portion of the length, also at the edge of the end of the respective sides.

FIG. 2 shows the blank 10 which has been folded up so that the contour walls 11, 12, 13, 14 are vertical forming a square base, and the receiving wall 15, 16 forms a double wall, obtained by joining together. of each wall 15 and 16, by gluing together, by means of fold lines 54, 55, so that the grooves 65,66 coincide. The ends of these receiving walls 15, 16 are fixed in abutment at the fold line 52, on the inner part. The second blank 20, provided with a groove 21 in the middle zone along the length and half the width of the grooved wall 20, is positioned perpendicularly, in abutment, on the two receiving walls 15, 16 at the grooves 65,66. The free ends of the second blank are then secured by friction to the fold lines 51, 53. The two receiving walls and the grooved wall 15, 16, 20 form a cross-shaped system with an angle of 90 ° (FIG. 3A). FIG. 2 also shows the third blank 30, 40 (sealing means), whose holding flaps 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 41, 42, 43, 44 are articulated on a portion of the edge end of each side of the base surface, square shaped. Folding the retaining flaps 31,32,33,34,41,42,43,44 defines voids 45,46,47,48,35,36 at the respective corners, which allows their passage and positioning in abutment on the lower and upper surfaces of the stud 1. The fastening of the closure means 30,40 with the walls 11,12,13,14 is produced by gluing.

As indicated above, FIG. 3A shows a square stud 1, in which the grooved wall 20, defining a groove 21, is positioned perpendicularly, in abutment, on the two receiving walls 15, 16 at the grooves 65. 66. The free ends of the grooved wall 20 are secured by friction to the fold lines 51,53. The two receiving walls 15, 16 and the groove wall 20 form a cross system at an angle of 90 °. Figure 3B shows a pad 1 provided on the lower and upper surfaces of the closure means 20,30.

Figure 4 shows an outlook view of a pallet 70 according to one embodiment. The pallet 70 is provided with nine studs 1,2,3,4,5 (only five studs are shown) which, to ensure their functionality, are positioned at the corner ends of the top plate 71 and lower 72, in the middle of each side of the plates 71, 72 and the center of gravity of the upper plate 71 (not shown). The plates 71, 72 have identical dimensions, are square in shape and parallel to each other. They consist of double-fluted cardboard.

The 1,2,3,4,5 pads connect together the upper and lower plates 71,72 and ensure stability including shear, and resistance to load and stacking. The stability in fixing the plates 71,72 on the 1,2,3,4,5 pads is performed by gluing.

The lower plate 72 of the pallet 70 is partially perforated on its surface to allow conveying on raceways. As shown in FIG. 4, the perforated surface of the plate 72 is made in such a way that it does not affect the position and function of the blocks 1,2,3,4,5 of the pallet 70 in a crippling manner. FIG. a view showing several views of the pallet 70, with a perforated lower plate 72 provided with studs, represented here 1,2,3,6,7, on which various objects, such as containers 80, are placed.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Plot made of semi-rigid cardboard material, suitable for constituting a means for supporting and holding pallets, comprising: - a set of at least three contour walls (11, 12, 13, 14) joined together forming an outline of the stud and defining an internal volume of the stud, and - at least two stabilizing walls (15, 16, 20) of said assembly, arranged in the internal volume of said stud abutting on at least two contour walls (11, 12, 13 , 14) of the set. 2. Plot according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises at least four contour walls (11,12,13,14). 3. Plot according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein at least one of the stabilizing walls (15,16,20) is articulated to at least one respective wall contour (11,12,13,14) . 4. Plot according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least two stabilizing walls comprise at least one groove wall (20) and at least one receiving wall (15,16) shaped to interlock with the one in the other. 5. Plot according to claim 4, wherein the groove wall (20) defines a groove (21) which extends in the direction normal to the plane of the bottom of the pad. 6. Plot according to claim 5, wherein the groove (21) extends substantially over half the height of the groove wall (20). 7. Plot according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the at least two stabilizing walls comprise two receiving walls (15,16) joined together by their surface (15,16) to form at least a double wall . 8. Plot according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the receiving wall (15,16) defines another groove (65,66) extending over its height, the size of said other groove being complementary to that the groove (21) of the at least one groove wall (20). 9. Plot according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising means for closing (30,40) a lower surface of the pad and / or an upper surface of the pad. 10. Plot according to claim 9, wherein the closure means (20,30) are complementary in shape to that of the lower and upper surfaces of the pad, and have a base surface provided with holding flaps (31,32). , 33,34,41,42,43,44) and shutter said pad, each being secured to the end of a respective side of the base surface of the stud. Pallet device (70) comprising at least two plates (71, 72) of semi-rigid cardboard material, which pallet (70) comprises a minimum number of pads according to one of claims 1 to 10, to ensure rigidity and resistance to load and stacking, the at least two plates (71,72) being positioned respectively between the lower and upper surfaces of said pads. 12. Set of blanks for producing the stud according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising: - a first blank defining an assembly of at least three contour walls (11, 12, 13, 14) secured to one another, capable of forming an outline of the stud and defining an internal volume of the stud, and - at least two stabilizing walls (15, 16, 20) of said assembly, shaped to be arranged in the internal volume of said stud abutting on at least two walls contour (11,12,13,14) of the assembly.