GB2031370A

GB2031370A - Pallet Liners

Info

Publication number: GB2031370A
Application number: GB7840560A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Lin Pac Corrugated Cases Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-13
Filing date: 1978-10-13
Publication date: 1980-04-23

Abstract

A pallet liner blank and associated pallet assembly in which the blank has an article-receiving portion (D), with dimensions corresponding to those of the article- supporting area (2) of the pallet (1), and a securing portion (A, B, C) hingedly connected to each of a pair of opposed edges (Lcd) of the portion (D). On erection of the blank upon the pallet (1), a portion (C) of each securing portion (A, B, C) engages between the supporting area (2) and base (3) of the pallet (1) to secure the liner blank rigidly to the pallet. Thus, a continuous, article-receiving portion (D) is provided on the pallet (1), whereby articles, such as bottles, which normally have to be pre-packed before being located on pallets to prevent them from falling through the spaces separating adjacent cross members of the pallet supporting area, can be freely stood on the portion (D) and "swept" therefrom, whilst the liner is retained in position on the pallet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pallet Liners This invention relates to pallets and, in particular, to pallet liners in the form of a cardboard blank which can be secured to a pallet to provide a flat surface upon which articles can be supported, freely standing, for transportation purposes.

Pallets generally comprise an upper, articlesupporting area formed from a plurality of parallel, spaced cross members which are, in turn, spaced from the base of the pallet by supporting pillars.

Thus, it will be appreciated that, if a number of individual articles, such as bottles, are required to be packed and transported upon the pallet, then they must either be pre-packaged in, say, a box or must be supported upon an intermediate continuous surface provided on the supporting area of the pallet, whereby the articles do not fall through the spaces separating adjacent cross members. The disadvantages associated with known pallet liners are that, firstly, they are not securely attached to the pallet and, secondly, they tend to be forced off the pallets by a removal mechanism which "sweeps" the free-standing articles, such as bottles, from the supporting area of the pallet during the unloading operation.This second disadvantage, of course, presents difficulties in a bottle treatment plant because the liner is passed therethrough together with the bottles previously supported on the pallet liner.

These disadvantages associated with known pallet liners are overcome by providing, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a pallet liner blank for securement to a pallet comprising an article-supporting area spaced from a base, which blank comprises an article-receiving portion, that has peripheral dimensions corresponding substantially to those of the supporting area of the pallet to which the blank is to be secured, and a securing portion which is hingedly connected to each of a pair of opposed edges of the article-receiving portion and which, in use of the blank, is adapted to engage between the supporting area and base of the pallet to secure the blank thereto with the articlereceiving portion lying in register with the pallet supporting area.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a pallet assembly comprising a pallet having an article-supporting area spaced from a base and a liner comprising an article-receiving portion, which has peripheral dimensions corresponding substantially to those of the article-supporting area of the pallet and which lies in register with said area, and a securing portion which is connected to each of a pair of opposed edges of the article-receiving portion and which engages between the supporting area and base of the pallet, whereby the liner is secured rigidly to the pallet.

Preferably, each securing portion of the blank is hingedly connected thereto by a further, intermediate portion which, in use of the blank, is folded beneath the pallet supporting area to lie substantially parallel to the article-receiving portion of the blank. Advantageously, each securing portion is dimensioned such that it is friction-fitted between the supporting area and base of the pallet, whereby the blank is secured rigidly thereto. Thus, when any free-standing articles such as bottles, supported upon the liner ure swept therefrom by a removal mechanism, the liner is retained upon the pallet and does not become entrained with the bottles into the bottle processing plant.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, two preferred forms of pallet liner blank, in accordance with the invention, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of blank; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the blank of Fig. 1 in its erected form; Fig. 3 is a view of a pallet with the erected blank of Fig. 2 secured thereto; Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form of blank; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of-the blank of Fig. 4 in its erected form.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a pallet liner blank comprises an article-receiving portion D having at each of a pair of opposed ends further portions, A, B and C. The portions C are hingedly connected to the portion D by respective slit-score lines Lcd and the portions B are hingedly connected to respective portions C by crease lines. (inward bend) LbC. Each corner portion A is separated from its respective portion C by a cutting line Lac and is hinged connected to its respective portion B by a crease line (outward bend) Lab.

With the blank erected, as shown in Fig. 2, and secured to a pallet 1, as shown in Fig. 3, each portion C has been hinged about its respective slit-score line Lcd with respect to the portion D to extend at right angles to the latter and over a respective edge of a supporting area 2 of the pallet 1. Each portion B has been hinged about its respective crease line Lbc with respect to its associated portion C to extend beneath the supporting area 2 of the pallet 1 substantially parallel to the portion D. Each corner portion A has been hinged about its respective crease line Lab with respect to its associated portion B such that it is wedged or friction-fitted between the underside of the supporting area 2 of the pallet 1 and a cross member 3 of the base of the pallet, this supporting area being spaced from the pallet base by pillars 4.A trapezoidal cut-out, separating adjacent portions B, is dimensioned such that each portion B does not interfere with the central pillars 4.

Thus, the blank is secured rigidly to the pallet such that it cannot be removed therefrom by the sweeping action of a mechanism (not shown) for unloading any free-standing articles receiving upon the portion D.

With regard to Figs. 4 and 5, a second form of liner blank is identical to that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, except that each corner portion A' is shaped differently from the corresponding corner portion A of the blank of Figs. 1 to 3. The difference between portions A and A' is that each portion A has an L-shaped area removed therefrom, whereby, when the blank of Fig. 4 is erected, as shown in Fig. 5, each portion A' has a stepped part for engaging a cross member of the base of the pallet. The upper, horizontally extending edge of this stepped portion engages with the upper surface of such a cross member, whilst the downwardly-extending edge engages with the inner, downwardlyextending edge of the cross member.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of each portion A, A' can be varied in order to provide the necessary "locking" effect of the blank upon the pallet. twill also be appreciated that the securing portion A, A' of the blank of the present invention prevents movement of the blank with respect to the pallet in any direction during use.

Of course, should any portion of either blank, such as portion D, D', be damaged, then the blank can be easily removed from the pallet by reversing the assembly or erection operation. Furthermore, each blank is preferably made from cardboard, and, more preferably, from corrugated cardboard.

However, any suitable material may be used for the blank, such as a plastics material which can be scored to provide the necessary crease and fold lines.

Claims

1. A pallet liner blank for securement to a pallet comprising an article supporting area spaced from a base, which blank comprises an article-receiving portion, that has peripheral dimensions corresponding substantially to those of the supporting area of the pallet to which the blank is to be secured, and a securing portion which is hingedly connected to each of a pair of opposed edges of the article-receiving portion and which, in use of the blank, is adapted to engage between the supporting area and base of the pallet to secure the blank thereto with the article-receiving portion lying in register with the pallet supporting area.

2. A blank as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each blank securing portion is hingedly connected to its respective edge of the article-receiving portion by a further, intermediate portion which, in use of the blank, can be folded beneath the pallet supporting area to lie substantially parallel to the articlereceiving portion of the blank.

3. A blank as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each blank securing portion is dimensioned such that, in use of the blank, it is friction fitted between the supporting area and base of the pallet, whereby the blank is secured rigidly to the pallet.

4. A pallet liner blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A pallet assembly comprising a pallet having an article-supporting area spaced from a base and a liner comprising an article-receiving portion, which has peripheral dimensions corresponding substantially to those of the article-supporting area of the pallet and which lies in register with said area, and a securing portion which is connected to each of a pair of opposed edges of the article-receiving portion and which engages between the supporting area and base of the pallet.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each blank securing portion is hingedly connected to its respective edge of the article-receiving portion by a further, intermediate portion which is folded beneath the pallet supporting area to lie substantially parallel to the article-receiving portion of the blank.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein in each blank securing portion is a friction fit between the supporting area and base of the pallet.

8. A pallet assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.