GB1569641A

GB1569641A - Nestable pallet

Info

Publication number: GB1569641A
Application number: GB37746/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-09-23
Filing date: 1977-09-09
Publication date: 1980-06-18
Also published as: AU510024B2; NL7710049A; FI60536B; FR2365489A1; DE2740818C2; JPS5360044A; SE7610063L; FI60536C; IL52903A0; DK423177A; NZ185120A; DK144174C; ATA420577A; FR2365489B1; NL182388B; NO773252L; AT349968B; ES462539A1; CA1078310A; CH623008A5

Abstract

The stackable rolling pallet has two pallet sides (1, 2) which are located opposite one another and are connected to one another at one of their vertical edges. A pallet deck (4) lies between the pallet sides (1, 2). It can be pivoted in a vertical plane about an axis lying between the pallet sides (1, 2). In a folded-down position, the pallet deck forms a support surface for the loads. It engages in parts of the pallet sides (1, 2). In its folded-up position, it has an approximately vertical position. The pallet sides (1, 2) can be pivoted in a horizontal plane relative to the pallet deck (4). Provided on the pallet sides (1, 2) and on the pallet deck (4) are interacting guide devices (21, 23) by means of which the pallet sides (1, 2) can be pivoted out by a particular amount automatically and in a positive-locking manner when the pallet deck (4) is folded upwards and can likewise be returned to their starting position when the pallet deck is folded down. The guide devices are helically curved guide cams (23) and cam followers (21) which are fixed to the pallet sides (1, 2) and to the pallet deck (4). This rolling pallet can be stacked with other identical pallets during empty transportation or storage. It can be used in a very flexible manner for various purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) NESTABLE PALLET (71) I, AKE ERIC SJÖBLOM, a Swedish subject of 3A Landstormsvägen, S-7(n 27 örebro, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a nestable pallet.

According to the present invention there is provided a nestable pallet comprising two interconnected pallet sides each mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at one of their vertical edges, and a load supporting platform located between said pallet sides and mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about an axis extending between said pallet sides at said vertical edges, whereby said platform can ;;be moved between a horizontal load supporting position in which it engages part of the pallet sides and a vertical or substantially vertical position adjacent said one of the vertical edges of the pallet sides, and co-operating means provided on the pallet sides and platform for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot outwardly a predetermined dis tance about their vertical axis when the platform is moved from the horizontal position to its vertical position and for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot back to their initial positions when the platform is moved from the vertical position back to the horizontal position.

Such pallets when being ,transported or stored etc. in an emptied state, can in part be nested into a similar pallet so as to occupy a small storage area.

Such a pallet is very flexible and can be used for many different purposes either completely open between the two pallet sides or provided with a gate on one or both of said sides and provided' as a closed unit having a cover, one or several sup porting planes and two, three or four sides.

For modern material handling great demands are made on a pallet. In order to simplify the handling and facilitate the work for the operating persons the pallet should take up little space when empty, it should be easy to bring the pallet into its nestable state, it should be simple and easy to raise the pallet deck to its vertical storage position and to bring the pallet sides to a position in which they are folded out from each other, and it should be easy to make the pallet ready for being loaded and transported.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in ,which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodi ment of a roller pallet in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line II-II indicated in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the pallet shown in Figures 1 and 2, from above and in position for handling of material, Figure 4 shows three roller pallets in a collapsed state and partly nested into each other, Figure 5 shows the structural compostion b the main parts of a roller pallet according to the invention, Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a part of the pallet according to the invention and Figure 7 is a cross-section taken along the line Vll-Vll indicated in Figure 6.

The roller pallet shown in Figures 1 to 7 generally comprises the following main parts: two pallet sides 1 and 2, a connection bar 3 for interconnecting the two pallet sides 1 and 2, and a platform 4.

The pallet sides 1 and 2 are a mirror image of each other and they both com- prise an inverted U-shaped frame 5 which at its lower end is closed by a horizontal bar 6 and the frame S has a lattice arrangement of bars 7. At one edge called the inner edge the pallet sides 1 and 2 are rotably connected to the connection bar 3 and the inner limb 88 of the U-shaped frame 5, for this purpose, terminates some distance above the lower edge of the side 1, 2 and the said inner limb 8 of the frame 5 is extended by a hinge pin 9 having a diameter which iis less than the diameter of the frame tubes.The hinge pin 9 is at the lower end mounted in a connec tion dng 10. At the lower end of the outer edge of each pallet side 1 and 2 is provided a caster roller I la which is rotatable about a vertical pin. The caster roller Ila is mounted on an inwardly directed support plate 12 which is fixedly mounted on the pallet side and which forms a support ing plate for the pallet deck 4 in the folded down position thereof. The support plate 12 has a through bore 13 adapted to co-operate with a downwards directed pin 14 in the platform 4.

The connection bar 3 consists of a central solid bar 15 carrying at each end a vertically mounted hinge tube 16 the length of which corresponds to the distance between flanges of the connection ring 10 at the lower edge of the inner limb 8 of the U-shaped frame 5. The bore of each hinge tube 16 corresponds to the diameter of the hinge pin 9 and in the assembled condition the limb 8, the hinge pin 9, the connection ring 10 and the hinge tube 16 provides a hinge joint by which the pallet side is rotatably supported in relation to the connection bar- 3.Adjacent its ends the connection bar 3 carries rollers lllb which are preferably fixed mounted i.e. they are not catered. Some distance from each end the central bar 15 has horizontally extend ing plates 17 which are connected by a pivot member 24 with plates 18 provided on the platform 4 to form a pivot connection for the platform 4 in relation to the connection bar 3.

The platform 4 is made of two long itudinal bars 19 to which cross boards 20 or similar are fastened. At the inner end of the platform 4 the above mentioned plates 18 are mounted on the bars 19 and at the outer end each bar 19 carries the above mentioned pin 14 for cosoperatien with the bore 13 in the support plate 12 of the pallet side 1, 2.

It will be appreciated that the central part of the above described roller pallet is formed by the connection bar 3 and the two pallet sides 1 and 2 are rotably mounted on said bar. By having the bar 15 and the hinge tubes 16 integral it is possible to have the connection bar 15 relatively low, and the bar 15 is preferably of such dimen- sions that the upper side thereof is on the same level as the upper side of the platform 4.Since the connection bar 3 carries the two pallet sides 1 and 2 the roller pallet can preferably be used with two open ends so as to be suited for handling of pieces of goods which are longer than the pallet sides but it can also if needed be provided with one more pallet gates connecting the free ends of the pallet sides 1 and 2, and it can be provided with a lid or cover extending between the upper edges of the pallet sides ,1 and 2.

In order to facilitate the handling of the pallet it is according to the invention provided with means for automatically and positively forcing the pallet sides 1 and 2 outwards when the platform 4 is pivoted upwardly and to automatically and positively force the pallet sides I and 2 back again when the platform 4 is moved downwardly and to secure the platform 4 in its folded up position in order to prevent the platform 4 from unintentionally dropping down. The said means comprises a uidi'ng means for each pallet side I and 2 mounted on the platform 4 and a guided means mounted on the pallet side 1 and 2, and the said guiding means is formed as a portion of a screw spiral the centre of which coincides with the pivot axis for the platform.The guiding and the guided means can be formed in several different ways but in the illustrated embodiment the guiding means is formed as a guide hook 21 which is mounted on each longitudinal bar 19 of the platform 4 and extends outwardly therefrom. Located inwardly from the ,outer edge the said guide hook 21 is a guide slot 22 opening towards the con 'nection bar 3. For co-operation with the Iguide hook 21 a guide in the form of a bevelled or bent plate 23 is mounted in the .corner which ds formed between the inner limb of the pallet side and the horizontal bar 6. As mentioned above the centre of the said spiral or screw path coincides with the pivot axis for the platform 4 at the connection bar 3.The radius of the screw path also corresponds with the distance between the pivot axis of the platform and the inner edge of the guide slot 22.

The platform 4 is rotatable at the connection bar 3 in that the two plates 17 and 18 are formed with bores and the pivot shaft is formed by a rivet 24, a bolt or similar. For macing it possible to secure the platform 4 in its folded up position the bore 25 of the plate 18 of the platform 4 ds oval in the plane of the platform 4 so that the edge of the bore 25 facing the connection bar 3 forms a pivot edge for the platform. At the upper edge the guide plate 23 is provided with a slot 26 of sub stantially the same width as the thickness of the guide hook 21, when the platform 4 is in its folded uip position it can be lowered so that the guide hook 21 with the slot 22 engages the slot 26 of the guide plate 23. The said lowering of the platform 4 is possible since the bore 25 of the eyelet 18 is oval, and in the lowered position the platform 4 is locked against rotating movement in any direction.

Depending on ithe inclination of the guide curve of the guide plate 23 the pallet sides 1 and 2 can be folded out different amounts and by changing the form or direction of the guide curve special niovements can be given to ;the pallet sides 1 and 2 for different purposes.

It is essential that the pallet sides 1 and 2 are automatically and positively guided in their movements both in the outwards direction and the inward direction since thereby the pallet can be handled only by actuation of the platform 4, that is, in one direction only by folding the platform up, whereby the platform 4 at the end of the said movement automatically moves vertically down and provides the above described locking action and dn the opposite direction by slightly lifting the platform 4 up whereupon the platform 4 by the force d gravity pivots downwardly to a transport position and in the first mentioned case the sides 1 and 2 are automatically folded out to a nestable or 'compressing' position and in the latter case the pallet sides 1 and 2 are automatically folded in to a load position Since the pallet sides 1 and 2 thus automatically are folded in to the load position and since the guide pins 14 of the platform 4 dn this position engage the guide bores 13 dn the support plates 12 of the pallet sides the pallet can be brought to its load position in the simplest possible way. if needed even by having the platform 4 drop down by itself.

In order to provide a safe guiding of the guide pins 14 the support plates 12 may be formed with the guide Itubes at the underside thereof.

Preferably the pin 14 is chamfered at the outer edge and the bore 113 of the support plate 12 is correspondingly chamfered so that the pin 14 is guided when entering the said bore. Preferably the inner diameter of the guide tube ds slightly larger than the diameter of the pin 14 and the guide tube can be tilted in one direction, viz. in a direction perpendicular to the pallet sides 1 and 2, so that the two guide tubes are directed obliquely down towards each other.

Thereby the guide pins 14 will at least partly slide along the outer edges of the guide tubes during their movement Idown- wards whereas they provide a stiff connection in their fully folded down position between the pallet deck and the pallet side.

The above described two sided roller pallet can in addition to the pallet deck 4 be provided with two further supporting planes which are preferably hinge connected to the pallet side 1 and 2, when transforming the pallet to its nestable or compressed position a lower one of the support planes is folded up along the pallet side 1 and an upper support plane is folded down along the pallet side 2 so as to not prevent a second pallet to be introduced between the sides 1 and 2.

A pallet according to the invention may also have a rear wall and it may, depending upon use, also be provided with a gate whereby the rear wall and the gate are in a way known per se mounted on the pallet sides 1 and 2. The rear wall when nesting the pallet, can be left mounted between the pallet sides whereas the gate is rotated outwards or inwards to contact one of the pallet sides.

In Figure 4 is illustrated how the roller pallet according to Figure 2 can be made nestable or compressed. For this purpose the platform 4 is folded up as previously mentioned, whereby the pallet sides 1 and 2 are folded out. Into the roller pallet thus made nestable a further roller pallet can be introduced as illustrated in Figure 4.

In order to make it possible to partly introduce roller pallets into each other as illustrated in Figure 4 the horizontal bars 6 of the sides 1 and 2 has to extend on a higher level than the support plates 12, and in Figure 5 is illustrated an embodiment for providing different levels of the horizontal bar 6 and the guide plate 12. The bar 6 is angularly bent down adjacent the outer edge of the pallet side. There may alternatively be a spacer between the guide plate 12 and the horizontal bar 6.

The hinge joint between the connection bar 3 and the pallet sides 1 and 2 is best illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. In the figures the horizontal bar 6 and the guide plate 23 are welded to a connection means 10 in the form of a U-shaped bracket having two limbs 10a and lOb and an intermediate web portion lOc, whereby the limbs 10a and lOb are formed with bores for the hinge pin 9.

The connection bar 3 is formed with a hinge tube 16 provided between the limbs 10a and lOb and the hinge pin 9 extends through the tube 16.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention described above and illustrated in the drawings is only an example and that all kinds of modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example the above described guide means for moving the pallet sides outwardly and inwardly can be modified for instance by mounting a screw shaft on the pallet deck and providing the pallet sides with a corresponding nut having large inclination, or that the screw curve is provided on the platform 4 rather than on the pallet sides whereas the corresponding means of the pallet sides are formed as a guide extending parallel with the pallet side.

Considering the successively increased torque when holding the platform 4 upwards it is also obvious to the expert that the screw curve can be formed with a large inclination in the area opposed the pivot point and thereafter a successively decreased inclination or in any other suitable way.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A nestable pallet comprising two opposed interconnected pallet sides each mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at one of their vertical edges, and a load supporting platform located between said pallet sides and mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about an axis extending between said pallet sides at said vertical edges, whereby said platform can be moved between a horizontal load supporting position in which it engages part of the pallet sides and a vertical or substantially vertical position adjacent said one of the vertical edges of the pallet sides, and co-operating means provided on the pallet sides and platform for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot outwardly a predetermined distance about their vertical axis when the platform is moved from the horizontal Iposition to its vertical position and for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot back to their initial positions when the platform is moved from the vertical position back to the horizontal position.

2. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 1, in which the co-operating means for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot outwardly and inwardly comprise a spiral formed or bevelled guide member and a curve follower co-operating therewith, which parts are mounted on the pallet sides and the platform respectively or vice versa.

3. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 2, in which the guide member is mounted on the pallet side and has a curve radius the centre of which substantially coincides with the pivot axis for the platform, and the curve follower is formed as a guide hook which is mounted on the platform.

4. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 3. in which the guide hook comprises a plate which extends outwardly from theside of the platform and inwardly of the outer end thereof is formed with an openended guide slot engaging the guide member.

5. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, in which the guide member comprises a guide plate which. is mounted at the lower inner corner of each pallet side, and the guide plate is at least partially inclined in relation to the pallet sides, whereas the guide curve part in each point extends on line with the pallet side.

6. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, in which the platform- ismovable in the longitudinal direction thereof and that the guide member is provided with a slot adjacent the upper end thereof so that the guide hook in the vertical position of the platform can drop down into the slot of the guide member to secure the platform against any rotating movement in both directions.

7. A nestable pallet as claimed in the claim 6, in which that or the movability in the longi- tudinal direction of the platform is provided by the pivot bore thereof being oval in the longitudinal direction of the platform.

8. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of the preceding -claims, in which the pallet sides at their lower corners of their other side edge are provided with support plates for the platform, said plates being provided with through bores, and said platform adjacent its . outer corners is provided with guide pins for cooperation th said bores of the guide plates to provide a locking of the pallet sides in the horizontal position of the platform.

9. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 8, in which the guide bores aree extended downwards by guide tubes which extend ob liquefy downwards and inwarsd towards the centre of the platform in a plane perpendicular to the pallet sides.

10. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the pallet sides are connected to each other by a connection bar on which the pallet sides are rotatably mounted about vertical axes.

11. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 10, in which the connection bar is provided at, the ends thereof with hinge tubes which co-operate with hinge pins on the pallet sides; 12. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 11, in which the pallet sides are formed by a tubular frame which is of inverted U-shape and which at the bottom is closed by a horizontal bar, the bottom of the inner limb of the frame terminating at a distance above the horizontal bar corresponding to the height of the hinge tube and the hinge pin extending between the said inner limb of the U-shaped frame and a connection member which is mounted at the end of the horizontal bar.

13. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, in which the connection bar has a vertical dimension such that the upper edge thereof is at the level of the upper surface of the platform and at least part of the guide tubes is higher than the said bar.

14 A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13, in which the connection bar is provided with inwardly directed pivot plates and the platform is provided with corresponding pivot plates, which plates are connected to each other by means of pivot pins.

-15. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to l14, in which the connection bar carries fixed rollers, and a - caster roller

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

inclination in the area opposed the pivot point and thereafter a successively decreased inclination or in any other suitable way.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A nestable pallet comprising two opposed interconnected pallet sides each mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at one of their vertical edges, and a load supporting platform located between said pallet sides and mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about an axis extending between said pallet sides at said vertical edges, whereby said platform can be moved between a horizontal load supporting position in which it engages part of the pallet sides and a vertical or substantially vertical position adjacent said one of the vertical edges of the pallet sides, and co-operating means provided on the pallet sides and platform for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot outwardly a predetermined distance about their vertical axis when the platform is moved from the horizontal Iposition to its vertical position and for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot back to their initial positions when the platform is moved from the vertical position back to the horizontal position.

2. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 1, in which the co-operating means for automatically forcing the pallet sides to pivot outwardly and inwardly comprise a spiral formed or bevelled guide member and a curve follower co-operating therewith, which parts are mounted on the pallet sides and the platform respectively or vice versa.

3. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 2, in which the guide member is mounted on the pallet side and has a curve radius the centre of which substantially coincides with the pivot axis for the platform, and the curve follower is formed as a guide hook which is mounted on the platform.

4. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 3. in which the guide hook comprises a plate which extends outwardly from theside of the platform and inwardly of the outer end thereof is formed with an openended guide slot engaging the guide member.

5. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, in which the guide member comprises a guide plate which. is mounted at the lower inner corner of each pallet side, and the guide plate is at least partially inclined in relation to the pallet sides, whereas the guide curve part in each point extends on line with the pallet side.

6. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, in which the platform- ismovable in the longitudinal direction thereof and that the guide member is provided with a slot adjacent the upper end thereof so that the guide hook in the vertical position of the platform can drop down into the slot of the guide member to secure the platform against any rotating movement in both directions.

7. A nestable pallet as claimed in the claim 6, in which that or the movability in the longi- tudinal direction of the platform is provided by the pivot bore thereof being oval in the longitudinal direction of the platform.

8. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of the preceding -claims, in which the pallet sides at their lower corners of their other side edge are provided with support plates for the platform, said plates being provided with through bores, and said platform adjacent its . outer corners is provided with guide pins for cooperation th said bores of the guide plates to provide a locking of the pallet sides in the horizontal position of the platform.

9. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 8, in which the guide bores aree extended downwards by guide tubes which extend ob liquefy downwards and inwarsd towards the centre of the platform in a plane perpendicular to the pallet sides.

10. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the pallet sides are connected to each other by a connection bar on which the pallet sides are rotatably mounted about vertical axes.

11. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 10, in which the connection bar is provided at, the ends thereof with hinge tubes which co-operate with hinge pins on the pallet sides;

12. A nestable pallet as claimed in claim 11, in which the pallet sides are formed by a tubular frame which is of inverted U-shape and which at the bottom is closed by a horizontal bar, the bottom of the inner limb of the frame terminating at a distance above the horizontal bar corresponding to the height of the hinge tube and the hinge pin extending between the said inner limb of the U-shaped frame and a connection member which is mounted at the end of the horizontal bar.

13. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, in which the connection bar has a vertical dimension such that the upper edge thereof is at the level of the upper surface of the platform and at least part of the guide tubes is higher than the said bar.

14 A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13, in which the connection bar is provided with inwardly directed pivot plates and the platform is provided with corresponding pivot plates, which plates are connected to each other by means of pivot pins.

-15. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to l14, in which the connection bar carries fixed rollers, and a - caster roller

is mounted adjacent the outer end of each pallet side.

ló. A nestable pallet as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15, in which a rear side and/or a gate is mounted between the two opposed pallet sides.

17. A nestable pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.