FR3100234A1 - FOLDABLE CONTAINER FOR THE STORAGE AND TRANSPORT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - Google Patents

Abstract

Collapsible container for the storage and transport of fruits and vegetables, comprising a base (10), rectangular, comprising at least crossbars (10-1), 4 corner blocks (10-2) as well as a floor ( 10-4) and four walls, characterized in that it comprises two sides (12A, 12C), and two panels (14B, 14D) as well as 4 retaining angles (16), integral with the corner studs (10- 2) and four hinges (30), the two sides (12A, 12C) being mounted to pivot about an axis XX 'relative to the retaining angles (16) and the two panels (14B, 14D) being mounted to pivot about 'a YY axis' with respect to the base (10) by means of said hinges (30), as well as connecting means (26) of the sides (12) and of the panels (14). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 7

Description

FOLDABLE CONTAINER FOR THE STORAGE AND TRANSPORT OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

The invention relates to a collapsible container for storing and transporting fruits and vegetables.

Certain fruits and vegetables, such as fruit apples, potatoes, cabbage for example, are harvested once a year and are then used, processed and consumed throughout the year. There are containers known under the registered trademark PALOX®, of large dimensions, which can contain from 500 kg to 2000 kg of fruits and vegetables. These containers can be stacked to great heights, 8 to 10 stacked containers, in order to gain storage space. The gain in surface area is very important because these products are generally kept in premises at controlled temperatures, or even atmospheres, so that it is necessary to limit the surface on the ground and exploit the height. Being able to stack at great height is therefore a necessity for savings in construction costs, energy savings and better storage quality. The advantage is also to be able to ensure good circulation in the columns and between the columns of containers. Transport includes transfers from the field to the place of storage, between places of storage, from the place of storage to the place of transformation, from the place of storage to the place of consumption. Fruits and vegetables are marketed by variety and it must be possible to store and transport them by variety in order to supply the quantities requested, in the variety, when the time comes. Fruits and vegetables are thus kept in the same container from the field to the final destination.

Containers of the PALOX® type are widely used and give full satisfaction as a container, but pose two real problems which lead to others. Thus, such a container occupies the same full or empty volume, so that the empty or full storage volume is the same. A sophisticated volume is therefore required for the storage of full containers after harvest, but also an identical volume for empty containers. As the cost of a building, even an unsophisticated one, would be very high for storing empty containers, then said empty containers are often kept in the open air and therefore subject to bad weather and UV radiation for example. The lifespan of a protected container is 25 years while a container exposed to bad weather can see its lifespan reduced to 10 years.

During transport, if full containers are placed on a vehicle for a given place, it will also be necessary to provide the same vehicle to bring the same number of empty containers from this given place to the initial place.

An existing solution is to provide an arrangement of a container kit, removable. The immediate advantage is the reduction in empty volume and therefore the possibility of limiting bulk transport. The resulting inconvenience is the loss of parts, mixing and storage of the different parts. Moreover, if it takes too long to mount it, users will avoid this solution and this is why the kit has never been satisfactory. Another very important problem is safety because containers stacked 8 or 10 high are sources of danger for operators, in addition to the possible loss of products in the event of a column overturning. However, the resumption of the forces passes through the corner posts which must be perfectly stable with respect to the base, perfectly stiffened. It is therefore necessary to be able to reduce the volume but absolutely retain the mechanical resistance necessary for safety.

The present invention covers a collapsible container for storing and transporting fruit and vegetables, comprising a rectangular base comprising at least crosspieces, 4 corner studs as well as a floor and four peripheral side boards characterized by two pairs of sideboards as well as 4 retaining angles, integral with the corner studs and four hinges, the two sideboards being pivotally mounted around an axis XX' relative to the retaining angles and the two sideboards being pivotally mounted around a axis YY' relative to the base by means of said hinges, as well as means for connecting the sides.

The present invention is now described using only illustrative examples and in no way limiting the scope of the invention, and from the accompanying illustrations, in which:

shows a perspective view of a collapsible container for the storage of fruits and vegetables according to the present invention, in a folded position.

shows a side elevational view of the container according to the invention, from the side of the folded kneepads.

shows a side elevational view of the container according to the invention, from the side of the side panels with hooks and uprights, folded.

shows a perspective view, during deployment of the sideboards with hooks and uprights.

depicts a side elevational view of the hook rails being deployed.

shows a side elevational view, at 90° with respect to FIG. 4A, of the drop sides with hooks being deployed.

shows a side elevational view of FIG. 4A, of the hooked sideboards, after deployment.

shows a side elevational view of the hooked sideboards after deployment and vertical interlocking in the retaining bracket.

shows an isolated view, in perspective, of the retaining angle.

shows a side elevational view of a toggle sideboard, deployed.

represents a perspective view of the container according to the invention ready to serve.

The present invention of a collapsible container for fruits and vegetables is described below, with reference to the various figures.

In FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the container shown in the folded position comprises a rectangular base 10 as well as four peripheral walls, two sides 12A and 12C, and two panels 14B and 14D as well as 4 retaining brackets 16. These containers are generally made of wood but they can also be made of reinforced composite materials, by molding, in particular by rotational molding. The invention finds application regardless of the material used.

The base 10 comprises, in a known manner, crosspieces 10-1, 4 corner studs 10-2 and intermediate studs 10-3 as well as a floor 10-4, reinforced in this case, taking into account the loads. The floor 10-4 is cut out and housings 10-5, the thickness of the floor are generated, allowing access from above, directly to the corner studs. The base 10 can thus be manipulated by forklifts, in an entirely known manner. The dimensions are standardized dimensions and are not directly relevant to the invention, the container according to the invention being able to be manufactured to the necessary dimensions.

In each of the corners, there is attached a retaining bracket 16, preferably but not exclusively made of metal because of the forces generated, as will be explained further on during operation. Each retaining bracket 16 is advantageously made by bending. Since the retaining brackets are asymmetrical, two types of retaining brackets, right and left, are provided to be mounted in pairs on the same side. Each retaining bracket 16, as shown in Figure 5, comprises a first outer wing 16-1 and a second outer wing 16-2 as well as an inner wing 16-3, parallel to the first wing 16-1, forming thus a U. The first outer flange 16-1 has a height H1, and carries an oblong slot 16-4 in a substantially centered position and upwards, of height h. This first outer wing 16-1 further comprises a passage hole 16-5. The second outer wing 16-2 is solid monolithic, with a height H2 less than H1, the lower edges being in the same plane. The inner flange 16-3 has a hole 16-6 aligned with the hole 16-5 of the first outer flange 16-1. The height H3 of the third wing 16-3 is less than H2. This height H3 corresponds substantially to the height of a corner stud 10-2, so that the third wing 10-3 can pass under the floor. The lower edge of this wing 10-3 is in the same plane as the edges of the first and second outer wings. Each angle therefore rests on the ground on its three edges. Each retaining bracket 16 is fitted onto the corresponding corner stud with the first and second outer flanges covering the outer faces of the corresponding corner stud and a screw V is mounted through the two holes 16-5 and 16-6, said screw V passing through said corner stud 10-2. The retaining angle is thus secured to the container, without the possibility of pivoting or sliding, with a single screw. The retaining bracket is supported by its first and second outer sides on both sides of the floor, the first and second outer sides coming beyond the floor above.

The sides 12A and 12C are sides comprising an apron 18, of a width L and a height l, consisting of blades 20, spaced apart, so as to allow air circulation while retaining the content, this in the chosen embodiment in wood. These blades 20 are fixed at their ends to uprights 22. These uprights 22 are, in the embodiment represented in wood, pieces of wood of square section. Each upright 22 has a height equal to the height l of the apron 18. Each upright 22 is aligned with the free edge of the slats, therefore with the free edge of the apron 18. Thus, the distance between the outer faces of the uprights 22 is equal to the width L of the apron. The fixing of the blades 20 on the uprights 22 is carried out by any means such as nailing or screwing. Each upright 22 comprises a through axle 24, for example a screw with a wide washer or a wide domed head on the outside and a washer nut on the other side. This through pin 24 is mounted through the oblong slot 16-4 of the first outer wing 16-1 of the retaining bracket 16, the upright 22 being on the inside of said first outer wing. The upright 22 can thus pivot relative to said first outer wing, in a plane parallel to the plane formed by said first outer wing. In Figure 3, one can appreciate the deployment movement of the two sides 12B and 12D, by pivoting relative to the retaining brackets 16 and therefore relative to the base, around the axes XX'. It is noted that each sideboard 12B and 12D comprises part of the connecting means 26 of the sideboards 12/panels 14, namely, in the selected embodiment, connecting means with hooks 26-1 carried by the sideboards 12B and 12D in upper part and toggle 26-2 carried by the panels 14A and 14C, in the upper part, vis-à-vis said hooks 26-1. Note the presence of the fixing screws V of the retaining brackets 16 on the corner studs 10-2. Advantageously, ergonomic gripping windows 28 are made in the two sides 12B and 12D and facilitate manual gripping during pivoting maneuvers because the two sides 12B and 12D offer little grip in the folded position.

The panels 14A and 14C have a width W, less than the width L of the sides 12B and 12D, but of the same height l. The panels 14A and 14C consist of an apron like the two sides 12B and 12D with blades but said panels are free of uprights. These panels 14A and 14C each carry two hinges 30 making it possible to pivot each of said two panels with respect to the base 10 around an axis YY', as shown in FIG. 6. Each hinge 30 comprises a long hinge 30-1 integral with the blades of each side panel which carries them, allowing said blades to be mounted and a short hinge 30-2, integral with one of the faces of the associated corner stud 10-2, by screws 32 for example.

The implementation of the collapsible container according to the invention is now described in detail. The operator has a container according to the present invention in the folded position, as in Figures 1, 2A and 2B. The first step consists in erecting the sideboards 12B and 12D with uprights 22. The operator grasps the first sideboard 12B by the corresponding ergonomic gripping window 28 and pulls to bring said first sideboard vertical, at 90° to the floor, by pivoting around the XX' axis. This is the position of Figure 4A, 4B. During this pivoting, the angle of the upright pivots by resting on the floor. Traction by the operator is continued and the side panel 12B pivots around the axis 24 and the uprights come into a vertical position, in line with the corresponding housing 10-5, this is the representation of FIG. 4C. When the uprights come into a vertical position, the side panel 12B descends because the uprights 22 come into the housing 10-5 and come to bear directly on the corner stud. The axis 24 slides parallel in the oblong slot 16-4. In reality the decomposition of the movement is theoretical for purposes of understanding but as soon as the upright comes into a perfectly vertical position, it descends into housing 10-5, the two movements being rather concomitant. The operator performs the same steps for the opposite side panel, 12D. The sides are held in position by the interlocking of the uprights 22 in the housings 10-5. The 16-2 wing also provides mechanical support and reinforces the rigidity and mechanical strength of the container. The operator then erects the panels 14A and 14C. Thus, the first panel 14A is pivoted this time around the axis YY', thanks to the hinges 30. Once the first panel 14A is positioned vertically, the operator hangs each of the knee pads on the hook opposite , secured to the sides 12B and 12D, this on each side of the first panel 14A. The operator performs the same operation with the second panel 14C. The container then takes the form shown in perspective in FIG. 7. The container is erected in a few tens of seconds. No tools are required and the effort required is very limited so that these operations do not cause any particular musculoskeletal disorders.

It is also noted that the container according to the invention has an important advantage which is its stability in the folded position because the folded containers can also be superimposed during their storage at significant heights, which particularly reduces the empty storage area required. The folded container requires about 1/3 the volume of the erected container. Once assembled, each container rests on its uprights and it is understood that stacking with 8 or 10 containers is always possible due to the presence of these uprights, which are aligned like a spine and the assembly remains stable by the presence of the 4 uprights as in non-collapsible containers. All parts are linked, which prohibits any loss of parts. The retaining angles also provide protection in the event of the floor slipping, to provide support between containers and stiffen the floor itself by perfectly maintaining the squareness. The retaining angles also protect the pedestals against possible incorrect maneuvers with forklifts, the third wing inside providing guidance. The container described relates to an arrangement with wooden slats, but if the container were to be made of composite material, for example, the panels would include openings intended for the ventilation of the contents, as well as for the floor. This is a total technical equivalent and the nature of the material does not matter. Similarly, the uprights may be manufactured with the sides when they are molded so as to take up the forces in the same way as for the wooden arrangement.

Claims (9)

Foldable container for storing and transporting fruit and vegetables, comprising a rectangular base (10), comprising at least crosspieces (10-1), 4 corner studs (10-2) and a floor ( 10-4) and four walls, characterized in that it comprises two sides (12B, 12D), and two panels (14A, 14C) as well as 4 retaining brackets (16), integral with the corner studs (10- 2) and four hinges (30), the two sides (12B, 12D) being pivotally mounted around an axis XX' relative to the retaining brackets (16) and the two panels (14A, 14C) being pivotally mounted around 'a YY axis' relative to the base (10) by means of said hinges (30), as well as connection means (26) of the sides (12) and the panels (14). Collapsible container for storing and transporting fruit and vegetables according to claim 1, characterized in that each retaining angle (16) comprises a first outer wing (16-1) and a second outer wing (16-2) as well as an inner wing (16-3), parallel to the first outer wing (16-1), thus forming a U. Collapsible container for storing and transporting fruit and vegetables according to claim 2, characterized in that the first outer wing (16-1) carries an oblong slot (16-4) in a substantially centered position and towards the top of said wing, intended to receive a pivot pin (24) as well as a passage hole (16-5) for a screw V connecting with a corner post (10-2). Collapsible container for storing and transporting fruit and vegetables according to claim 3, characterized in that the sides (12B, 12D) comprise an apron (18), of a width L and a height l, consisting of strips (20), spaced apart and fixed at their ends to uprights (22) having a height equal to the height l of the deck (18) and aligned with the free edge of the deck (18), said uprights (22) being crossed by the pivot axis (24). Collapsible container for storing and transporting fruit and vegetables according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the sides (12A, 12C) are provided with ergonomic gripping windows (28). Collapsible container for the storage and transport of fruit and vegetables according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor (10-4) is cut out and comprises housings (10-5), of the thickness of the floor, allowing direct access to the corner pedestals (10-2). Collapsible container for the storage and transport of fruit and vegetables according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each panel (14A, 14C) comprises an apron with slats of a width W, less than the width L sides (12B, 12D), of the same height l and each carries two hinges (30) making it possible to pivot said panel with respect to the base (10) around an axis YY'. Foldable container for the storage and transport of fruit and vegetables according to claim 7, characterized in that each hinge (30) comprises a long hinge (30-1) integral with the slats of each side wall which carries them and a short hinge ( 30-2), integral with one of the faces of the associated corner post (10-2). Foldable container for the storage and transport of fruit and vegetables according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting means (26) of the sides and panels (12/14) are hooks (26-1) and knee pads (26-2).