GB2201084A

GB2201084A - A coupling mechanism for container shelves

Info

Publication number: GB2201084A
Application number: GB08803869A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erik Markvard Grubbe Nesting
Original assignee: VARIANTSYSTEMET AS; VariantSystemet International as
Current assignee: VARIANTSYSTEMET AS; VariantSystemet International as
Priority date: 1987-02-19
Filing date: 1988-02-19
Publication date: 1988-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-19
Also published as: DK155363C; DK155363B; GB2201084B; DK84587D0; DE3804945A1; DE3804945C2; GB8803869D0; DK84587A

Description

11 i J 21/101o81, A coupling mechanism for container shelves.

The invention concerns a coupling mechanism for joining shelf halves of a container of the kind comprising two side members, each being provided with a number of pivotable shelf halves which after downward pivoting form a common load face.

Containers with partitioning means for dividing the load volume.are known. Thus there are containers with stationarily fixed shelves which e.g. are bolted or welded on. Other containers are provided with shelves which are inserted on rails fitted on the side members of the container.

It is evident that when using containers for stacking in particular products having poor shape stability it isnecessary to have a more specific division of the load height, which may e.g. be necessary in connection with stacking and transport of e.g. certain food stuffs, such as butter.

It has been sougth to solve this problem by another known container type in which the shelves are divided into two shelf halves, each being hinged to its adjacent side member, the said s helf halves being vertically pivotable, and consequently in use being 4L downward pivoted to the horizontal position to form a plane load face. In this construction the shelf halves in their down-folded load.position are supported by the hinging to the side members, while the divided center part of the shelf is only supported at one end via a bearing on the rear side of the container.

The above shelf co. nstruction consequently has a 3-point support for each of the shelf halves, which in combination tjith the fact that no coupling takes place i at the front edge of the halvea entailú that the shelf faces have comparatively poor stiffness and consequently poor strength, and consequently differences in level between the shelf halves may easily arise.

It is the object of the invention to provide a coupling mechanism for joining shelf halves of a container, whereby high load strength and efficient coupling together of the shelf halves are obtained, so that the container as a whole appears as a rigid and sturdy _ structure, simultaneously with the shelf system of the container being simple and fast to handle, manually or automatically.

The object is obtained by constructing a coupling mechanism as stated in the characterizing portion of claim 1. By this construction of the engagement system of the container shelves is firstly obtained increased rigidity of the shelves as a consequence of the shelf halves not only being in engagement at their front edges, but also being supported via the overlapping provided by the protrusions of one of the halves by engagement with the other shelf half forming a support overlapping the other shelf half. This support hereby forms a reaction momentum which entails that the shelf halves are capable of absorbing a 'relatively larger momentum, and so that the strength properties of the q_ load face formed by the shelf halves are uniform along the entire shelf length. Secondlyi the system works in such a way that the mutual engagement of the shelf halves by load is exposed to an efficient friction engagement, so that also the horizontal stability is increased, whereby the entire container structure obtains a certain rigidity.

The load dist-ribut ion_ obtained by overlapping the shelf support entails that the halves may be relatively weak 1 J 11 tl.

structures, which again makes possible a reduced shelf thickness. This is significant when folding-up the shelf halves which as a result project less outwards from the inner faces of the side members, thus making possible closer packing together of collapsible containers.

As the present construction thus relates to a container type with stationarily hinged shelf halves, it is furthermore evident that the shelf construction is particularly suited for use in connection with automatic stacking/packing, where loading of each load layer is succeeded by an automatically controlled downward pivoting of subsequent;helf halves.

The coupling mechanism according to the invention can in a simple way advantageously be provided as stated in claim 2, where the supports of the second shelf half comprise partly the front edge of that half and partly carrying means, which in accordance with a desired reaction momentum.are positioned at a distance from the front edge and at a distance from the underside of the shelf half, so that the p.rotrusion of one of the halves forms a comparatively tight fit with the said second carrying,means.

The protrusions positioned on one of the shelf halves are preferablyprovided,with foldings to form a recess which is capable of receivingthe carrying means of the other shelf half, and preferably in such a manner that the longitudinal dimension of the recess essentially corresponds to the transverse dimension of the carrying means,'measured crosssectionally to the edge. Hereby is obtained a self-locking coupling of the shelf halves, which further contributes to the horizontal stability of the container.'This is of particular significance, as it. is evident that unstable goods, i.e. resilient: productst will affect the side members of the cont&Iner and force 9 them away from each other, which would restrict the usefulness and consequently the safety in using the container. This is of particular relevance in case of collapsible containers where greater stability demands are made on the side members. This is stated in claims 3 and 4.

By joint downward pivoting and engagement of the shelf halves the protrusions in a preferred embodiment project somewhat beyond the carrying means positioned farthest from the front edge of the corresponding shelf half. This is to ensure correct engagement at all times of the protrusion and the s&id other carrying means, so that small horizontal displacements will be-acceptable, where simultaneously the length of the said small projection must not be the object of a cumbersome downward pivoting of the shelf halves. This may partly be avoided by providing the said projecting part of the protrusion with a small recess, so that also this recess when the shelf halves are downward pivoted will cause a further fixation of the shelf halves in the horizontal direction. This is stated in claims 5 and 6.

The projections on the shelf halves of one of the side members may be provided in various embodiments and in various materials. Thus both tread, profile or sheet material of metal as well as plastic may be used, where the protrusions may be 4- constructed as a number of individual coupling halves being uniformly inter-spaced in the longitudinal direction of the shelf faces, or the protrusions of each shelf half may be made as a single coupling protrusion essentially stretching along the entire longitudinal direction of the shelf half. The same variations as regards construction and materials can be made in respect of the carrying means of the other.shelf halves.

1 Y The invention will now be explained more fully by the following description of some preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which

1 is f ig. 1 f ig. 2 f ig. 3 f ig. 4 f ig. 5 shows a container construction with foldedup shelves and ready for close packing with other containers, shows a cross-section of the container in- a position of use, in which two shelf'halves are about to engage, shows the container shown in fig. 2 where the shelf halves are in engagement is a perspective view of the shelf halves shown in fig. 3, in which a single coupling pair is illustrated in section, and is an embodiment of the construction of protrusion and carrying means, respectively, of a first and second shelf half.

Fig. 1 shows the container as a whole, and for the sake of clarity here being provided with one shelf pair, and it is seen that it consists of a bottom 7, to the "' rearside of which a stationary back side 6 is secured. Two side members 2 and 3 are attached to both side edges of the back side, the said side members being horizontally pivotable, and the side members are shown in a situation of being removed from each other so that several successive containers in known manner can be packed closely together for practical transportation cr storage.

A number of vertically pivotable shelf halves 4 and 5, here illustrated in folded-up state, is mounted on each side member.

When usingthe container 1 the side members 2 and 3 will first beswung into engagement with the bottom 7, and subsequently opposite shelf halves may, according to need, be folded-down into mutual engagement and form a complete load face. By mutual engagement of such. opposite shelf halves 4 and 5 the coupling mechanism according to the invention makes a certain coordination of the downward pivoting necessary, so that one shelf half prior to engageme nt so to speak is below the other shelf half.

This situation is shown in fig. 2 where the two shelf halves 4 and 5 are shown in a preferred embodiment. It is seen that the left shelf half 4'comprises a shelf stiffening 10 which may be provided in the form of a sheet material extending along the shelf length or may be a number of uniformly inter-spaced tread loops. This shelf stiffening is at the side members secured to a hinged rear edge and is, in the embodiment shown, provided with a shelf plate 8. It is also seen that the said shelf stiffening 10. in the form of a protrusion 13 projects beyond the shelf plate, the said protrusion being adapted to co-operate with the opposite right shelf half 5. The protrusion 13 is seen to be provided with various foldings, in a vertical plane. Most adjacent to the front edge of the shelf half 4 the protrusion is provided with foldings which form a recess 14, and the foremost end of the protrusion furthermore has a slight downward folding 15.

c- In this embodiment the said protrusion is adapted to engage with the shelf stiffening 11 of the right shelf half 5, which is also secured toits adjacent side member and provided with a shelf plate 9, as is the case of the left shelf half.

In the illustration showing the shelf halves 4 and 5 in. the process of mutual engagement, the protrusion 13 of the left shelf half is positioned below the front edge 9; 1 J of the right half. By mutual coupling together of the two shelf halves it is thus evident that the protrusion 13 is initially inserted between the front edge of the shelf stiffening 11, which in this embodiment constitues a first carrying means 16,_and a longitudinal crossmember, here acting as a second carrying means 12. Further forcing together of the two shelf halves will cause the foremost downward folding 15 of the protrusion to be forced in between the second carrying means 12 and the shelf plate 9, whereby the protrusion will finally slide into complete engagement with the carrying means 16 and 12 of the opposite shelf half. As the said recess 14 has been provided with a height and width dimension exactly corresponding to that of the carrying means 16, a plane load face'is provided which is formed by the two--shelf halves 4 and 5, and simultaneously it is ensured that the shelf-halves are locked essentially in a horizontal position.

It is evident that the coupling together of the two shelf parts 4 and 5 according to stability demands will call for a certain, force impact, which, as mentioned in the introduction advantagelusly can be provided by suited automatic control, which may appropriately be part of an automatic filling control suited for the said container type.

t_ The mutual fixation of the opposite shelf halves hereby obtained is shown in fig. 3, from which it is seen how the protrusion of one shelf half projects under the other shelf half and is locked at the two supporting points formed at the.recess 14 of the protrusion and carrying means 16 and at the front edge and second carrying means 12 of the protrusion, respectively. Hereby is formed an opposite directed reaction momentum for absorption of the-Shelf load as a result of the arm of momentum provided, defined by the distance be.tween the supporting points of the carrying means, an increased distance between the said carrying means 16 and 12 resulting in an increased load absorption of the shelf halves.

is Fig 4 is a perspective view of the above mentioned shelf halves, showing an embodiment of the stiffenings 10 and 11 of the shelf halves, made of a suited thread loop material, and also clearly showing the overlap caused by the engagement between the shelf stiffening 10 and li-of the halves.

Finally, fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the protrusion arrangement of one of the shelf halves and the embodiment of the other shelf'half 5 of suited carrying means. The four coupling pairs shown in fig. 4 are here replaced by one single coupling pair, so that the protrusion 13 of one half is an extruded sheet stretching along the entire shelf length and made integral with the corresponding shelf plate 8, which consequently here has the real strength absorbing function. It is seen that the shelf half 5 is also made of sheet material made integral with the shelf plate and stretching along its entire length. Additionally, the shelf halves may advantageously be made of extruded plastic material.

-L h, 11 j J 4 25.

1. A coupling mechanism for joining shelf halves of a container of the kind comprising two side members, each being provided with a number of vertically p ivotableshelf h alves, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the_-. edge of one shelf half facing the other shelf half is provided with one.or more protrusions which, during coordina ted downward pivoting of the shelf halves, are adapted to be received in supports on the adjacent edge of the other half, in such a way that the protrusions co- operate with the supports to absorb the momentum caused by loading the shelf.

2. A coupling mechanism according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the supports of the said second half comprise partly the front edge partly carrying means positioned at a distance from the said front edge and being positioned at a distance from the underside of the shelf half, this distance essentially corresponding to the thickness of the protrusion.

3. A coupling mechanisui-according to claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d 'in that the protrusions on one shelf half are provided with foldings forming arecess for receiving carrying means positioned most adjacent to the edge of the other shelf half.

k_ 4.. A coupling mechanism according to claims 1-3,. c h a r a c t e r i z. e.-d in that the recess of theprotrusion has a transverse dimension essentially corresponding to the thickness of carrying means adapted to be received therein.

5. A coupling mechanism according to claims 1-4, cha ra'cte r i zed inthatthe protruslons by joint downward pivoting and engagement of the shelf halves project somewhat beyond-the carrying means positioned farthest from the front edge of the corresponding shelf half.

is t 6. A coupling mechanism according to claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the said part of the protrusion which projects somewhat beyond the carrying means of the corresponding shelf half being positioned farthest from the front edge, is provided with a slight recess- 7. A coupling mechanism according to claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e i z e5c! in that the corresponding protrusions and carrying means for coupling the shelf halves together and for supporting same have been provided by a number of separate coupling pairs, made of thread or profile material, and being positioned in spaced relationship in the longitudinal direction of the shelf faces.

8. A coupling mechanism according to claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z ed in that protrusions of the said number of coupling pairs positioned in the longitudinal direction of the shelf halves are made of extruded sheet material.

9. A coupling mechanism according to claims 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the shelf halves being provided with coupling-protrusions are equipped with coupling protrusions essentially stretching along the entire longitudinal direction of the shelf half and which by downward pivoting of the shelf halves engage with carrying means positioned on opposite shelf halves, the said carrying means also essentially stretching across the entire longitudinal direction of the shelf half.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 88171 High Holbom, London WC111 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 310. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.

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