GB2484550A

GB2484550A - A nesting roll container with welded joints

Info

Publication number: GB2484550A
Application number: GB1017504.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Gronholm
Original assignee: K Hartwall Oy AB
Current assignee: K Hartwall Oy AB
Priority date: 2010-10-15
Filing date: 2010-10-15
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Also published as: GB201017504D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a nesting roll container and manufacturing method thereof, which nesting roll container comprises a back frame section 50 defining the rear end of the roll container and an A-frame chassis 20 opening towards the rear of the roll container. The A-frame chassis is fixed substantially perpendicular to the back frame and has a lower surface 21. The roll container also comprises two trombones, or side panels 60, which are fixed on both sides of the back wall section perpendicularly to both the back wall section and chassis. The trombones also have respective a lower surface 62. The roll container further comprises at least two rear castors 30, which are provided to the rear of the container underneath the chassis and which comprise a wheel fork 31 having a top surface 32. The lower terminal ends of the trombones and the lower surfaces of the A-frame chassis are arranged directly on the top surface of the castor wheel forks by welded assembly.

Description

A nesting roll container and manufacturing method thereof

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to logistics equipment. in particular, the invention relates to nestable roll containers having an A-frame chassis. Specifically, the present invention relates to a nesting roll container and manufacturing method thereof according to the pre-amble portions of claims I and 5.

Background art

Roll containers are a popular means of moving and temporary storage of goods. Roll containers comprise a chassis, which is fined with fixed or swivel castors or both, and a vertical back frame section and usually side pieces of some sort. There is a variety of different types of roIl containers, but a nesting type has achieved great popularity. A par-ticularly popular type of a nesting roll container is the so called UK style A-frame roll container, which has an A-shaped chassis in plan view. The container further comprises a vertical back frame section, which is fixed to the horizontal chassis. The back frame sec- tion is provided with integral forward protruding side pieces, which are known as trom-bones. The trombones act as fastening points for other components of the container, such as side frames, which are hinged to the fixed trombones. When the roll container is in operating state, the side frames are parallel to the trombones, wherein a space is created for the contents of the container.

Most A-frame chassis roll containers also comprise a liftable floor, which is hinged to the rear of the container so that the floor can be in a horizontal position, wherein it is able to receive and provide support for the contents of the container, or in a vertical position, wherein it is folded parallel to the back frame section for accommodating efficient nest-ing. In the vertical position, the rear end of the floor is aligned horizontally with the rear frame section of the roll container. The floor is lifted up typically, when the container is empty and not needed for transport of objects, whereby the side frames are also pivoted parallel to the back frame section. Nesting of these A-frame chassis roll containers may also require folding possible auxiliary structures, such as gates, into the fixed back frame section. The projecting A-frame chassis can then be rolled under a similar nesting unit.

S

Roll containers and specifically the so called UK style A-frame chassis roll containers are described with greater detail in the European standard for roll containers EN 12674-1, particularly in figures 5a and Sb.

Such roll containers are assembled at the factory, whereby the assembly flow is usually optimized by means of product design. The assembly stage of manufacturing is aided by designing the product so that as few modular elements are to be assembled as possible. It is also seen advantageous to favour coupling methods, which are feasible with minimal tools and which enable modularity. A traditional roll container is presented in Figs. 1 and 2. As can be seen from said Figs., it has been particularly ordinary to assemble the basic components of the roll container, i.e. the chassis (20), back frame section (50), trombones (60) and castors (30), with aid of a special adaptor piece (40). A typical adaptor piece (40) is formed of sheet metal for positioning these basic components (20, 30, 50, 60) to each other so that the back frame (50) is perpendicular to the chassis (20) and so that the rear castors (30) are arranged in the correct position underneath the back frame section (50) and the chassis (20). The adaptor piece (40) is an established part of a traditional container due to its function as an alignment tool and as means for providing framework for screw joints between the basic components of the roll container (1). The adaptor piece (40) also serves as a mounting point for hinges (41) side frame sections (70).

However, traditional nesting roll containers have occasionally been known to suffer from play in the joint between the adaptor piece (40) and back frame section (50) accumulat-ing from handling. More specifically, the joint between the chassis (20) and back frame section (50) experience fatigue resulting from steering motions, in which the user ma-nipulates the back frame section (50) in respect to the chassis (20). Efforts have been made to improve the rigidity of the standardized roll container. One presented solution to this problem is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein an improved adaptor piece (40) is equipped with a plurality of screw joints between a flange provided to the trombone and the adap-tor piece (40). In this example, three screws have been provided to both adaptor pieces (40) for improving the rigidity of the joint.

Aim of the invention The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved nesting roll container. It is also an aim of the invention to provide a method for manufacturing such improved nest-ing roll container.

Summary

The aim of the invention is achieved with a novel nesting roll container. It is has tran-spired that the traditional standardized roll container may be improved by developing the assembly of the container to an inverse direction, wherein the coupling between the back frame section and chassis is not reinforced by adding latching elements thereto, but changing the assembly concept all together. Indeed, it is herein proposed that the roll container is assembled contrary to the prevailing concept, in which the basic elements of the roll container are fixed to each other with interchangeable components, which may be changed where necessary to remedy fatigue issues.

The present novel roll container therefore comprises a back frame section defining the rear end of the roll container and an A-frame chassis opening towards the rear of the roll container. The A-frame chassis is fixed substantially perpendicular to the back frame and has a lower surface. The roll container also comprises two trombones, which are fixed on both sides of the back wall section perpendicularly to both the back wall section and chassis. The trombones also have respective a lower surface. The roll container further comprises at least two rear castors, which are provided to the rear of the container under- neath the chassis and which comprise a wheel fork having a top surface. The lower ter-minal ends of the trombones and the lower surfaces of the A-frame chassis are arranged directly on the top surface of the castor wheel forks by welded assembly.

More specifically the nesting roll container according to the present invention is charac-terized by what is stated in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

On the other hand the aim of the invention may also be achieved with a novel method of manufacturing a nesting roll container having an A-frame chassis, in which method a back frame section is provided, wherein the back frame section defines the rear end of the roll container. An A-frame chassis is further provided substantially perpendicularly to the back frame so that the chassis opens towards the rear of the roll container. Two trom-bones are fixed on both sides of the back wall section perpendicularly to both the back a wall section and chassis. At least two rear castors are provided to the rear of the container underneath the chassis. The back frame section, the A-frame chassis, the trombones and castors are fixed to each other through welded assembly.

According to one embodiment the bottom terminal ends of the trombones are welded to the top surface of the castor wheel forks and the bottom rear surfaces of the A-frame chassis are welded to the top surface of the castor wheel forks.

More specifically, the method of manufacturing a nesting roll container according to the present invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing portion of claim S. Benefits Considerable benefits can be gained with aid of the present invention. Because the basic elements of the roll container are weld assembled, the container is more resistant to cy- clic loads, which are subjected to the back wall section when the user steers the con-tainer. Indeed, by simply changing the assembly concept of the container, the structure is less likely to suffer from fatigue whereby the need for modularity is significantly re-duced. In fact, the structure is so robust that the roll container reaches the end of its life span through common wear and tear.

As a further benefit, the basic components may be accurately positioned to each other with aid of weld fixtures as opposed to traditional adaptor pieces. This is because the holes in both the adaptor piece and the basic components of the container may be slightly off the intended positions. Furthermore, the angles between said basic components may alter during assembly when tightening the screws.

Because the container is assembled straight on top of the castor wheel forks, no adaptor piece is required, which reduces the tare weight of the container as well as the number of components while improving the rigidity of the structure.

The novel concept therefore achieves previously pursued properties by not improving the established components, i.e. the adaptor piece, but moreover simplifying the entire de-sign and manufacturing method of the roll container.

Brief description of drawings

In the following, certain embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I presents an isometric view of a roll container according to the background art, Fig. 2 presents a detailed exploded view of the connection between the castor, trombone and chassis of the roll container of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 presents an isometric view of a roll container according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3a presents an isometric view of the roll container of Fig. 3 in a folded nesting posi-tion, Fig. 3b presents an isometric view of four nested roll containers of Fig. 3a, Fig. 4 presents a detailed view of the connection between the castor, trombone and chas-sis of the roll container of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 presents the view of Fig. 3 from within the roll container, Fig. 6 presents the view of Fig. 3 from behind the roll container, and Fig. 7 presents a detailed exploded view of the connection between the castor, trombone and chassis of the roll container of Fig. 3.

Detailed description ofpreferred embodiments

Referring first to Figs. I and 2, wherein the assembly of a traditional roll container is presented. As said, the chassis 20, back frame section 50 and castors 30 have tradition-ally been assembled with aid of a special adaptor piece 40. A typical adaptor piece 40 is formed of sheet metal to position these basic components 20, 50, 60 to each other so that the back frame 50 is perpendicular to the chassis 20 and so that the rear castors 30 are arranged in the correct position underneath the back frame section 50 and the chassis 20.

The components are commonly joined with aid of screw joints.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the roll container 1 according to the invention comprises a back frame section 50, which defines the rear end of the roll container 1, The essentially verti- cal back frame 50 is fixed to an A-frame chassis 20, which is arranged substantially per-pendicular to the back frame 50. The A-frame chassis 20 is a typical A-frame structure, which is equipped with fixed castors 30 and has a horizontal orientation in typical operat-ing conditions. The A-frame chassis 20 opens towards the back frame 20 and thus points to the front of the container 1, where swivel castors have been provided. Fig. 1 further illustrated side wall sections 61, which are hinged to trombones 60. Trombones 60 are fixed to the back frame 50, from which they protrude substantially perpendicularly. In other words, the trombones 60 are integral rear side walls fixed to the back frame section forming part of the rigid structure of the roll container 1. The trombones 60 also act as fastening points for other components of the container 1, such as shelves etc. The roll container 1 also comprises a floor 10 for receiving and providing support for the contents of the roll container 1. The floor 10 is a flat wall section having a rectangular frame and a mesh provided within the frame. The floor 10 is hinged to the rear of the roll container 1, whereby the floor 10 is pivotable to a load-bearing position and to a nesting position. In the load-bearing position, the floor 10 is substantially parallel to the A-frame chassis 20 above thereof, i.e. substantially horizontal, wherein the floor 10 is able to re-ceive the contents of the container 1 and wherein the floor 10 rests against the main structures of the roll container, e.g. the chassis 20 or back frame 50 or both. In the nest- ing position (Fig. 3a), the floor 10 is substantially parallel to the back frame 50, i.e. sub- stantially vertical, wherein the floor 10 is able to fold flat with the back frame 50 for con-tributing to the nesting of roll containers 1. In said nesting position the side wall sections 61 are folded into a position parallel to the back frame section 50 and in front of the trombones 60. In the nesting position the floor 10 is removed from above the A-frame chassis 20 so that the roll container I may be nested within another roll container, where-in the frontal part of the chassis 20 is embedded inside the chassis and underneath the back frame of a subsequent roll container (Fig. 3b). Respectively, the roll container I is thereby able to receive the frontal part of the chassis of a following roll container inside its chassis 20 and underneath its back frame 50.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 7, the roll container I comprises two castors 30, which are attached directly to the chassis 20 underneath thereof. More specifically the both castors are fixed to the terminal ends of the prongs of chassis 20. The castor 30 comprises a wheel fork 31 and a wheel assembly 33, which is bearing mounted into the wheel fork.

While both fixed and swivel castors may be used, fixed castors are preferable as an as-sembly foundation. Basic elements of the roll container I are assembled directly onto the fixed rear castors 30 by means of welding joints 70. More precisely, the bottom terminal ends 62 of the trombones 60 as well as the bottom surfaces 21 of the prongs of the A-frame chassis 20 are welded directly onto the top surface 32 of the castor wheel fork 31 (Fig. 7). In this context the expression directly on the castor wheel fork 31 is to be under-stood in a functional sense so that the chassis 20 is fixed to the castor 30 without aid of an adaptor piece 40. Naturally a mere spacer plate between the chassis 20 and wheel fork 31 would not constitute as an adaptor piece unless it is designed to provide for a form join, such as a screw joint. Furthermore in this context the prongs of the chassis refers to the individual rear portions of the chassis 20 being spaced apart and intended to engage with the rear of the container 1.

In other words the top surface 32 of the castor wheel fork 31 is used as a foundation for the assembly of the roll container 1. The top surface 32 of the castor wheel fork 31 shall therefore be dimensioned to accommodate both the width of the terminal end 62 of the trombone 60 as well as the width of the profile of the chassis 20. The width of the termi-nal end 62 of the trombone 60 is to be understood as the diameter of the frame profile of the trombone 60. As it is preferable to use standardized castors 30, the profiles of the trombones 60, back frame section 50 and chassis 20 are selected to conform to the di-mensions of the top surface 32 of the castor wheel fork 31.

The lower terminal ends 62 of the trombones 60 are preferably arranged outside the rear end of the A-frame chassis 20 for protection thereof The roll container 1 may also comprise stoppers SO, which are provided to the chassis 20 and adapted to provide offset for subsequent nesting roll containers 1. According to one embodiment, the stoppers 80 are covering angle pieces, which protrude laterally from the chassis and establish a gap between the trombone 60 of a previous container and the back frame portion 50 of the following container.

Upon manufacture of the nesting roll container 1, a back frame section 50 is provided to define the rear end of the roll container 1. An A-frame chassis 20 is then arranged sub-stantially perpendicularly to the back frame 50 so that the chassis 20 opens towards the rear of the roll container 1. Correct alignment between the two components is preferably ensured by arranging the back frame section 50 and the A-frame chassis 20 to a welding fixture (not shown). Next, two trombones 60 are fixed by weld joints 70 on both sides of the back wall section 50 perpendicularly to both the back wall section 50 and chassis 20.

Finally, at least two rear castors 30 are fixed by weld joints 70 to the rear of the container 1 underneath the chassis 20. The pieces are fixed to each other through welded assembly.

In other words, the pieces are welded to each other so that no external fastening elements are required. More specifically, the bottom terminal ends 62 of the trombones 60 are welded to the top surface 32 of the castor wheel forks 31 and the bottom rear surface 21 of the A-frame chassis 20 is welded to the top surface 32 of the castor wheel forks 31.

In practice, it is preferable to first assembly the rear of the container I by providing weld joints 70 between the trombones 60 and the back frame section 50 (Fig. 4). Next or in parallel, the castors 30 are welded to the A-frame chassis 20, whereby weld joints 70 are provided between the A-frame tube and the wheel forks 31 as well as possible wheel plates. More specifically, the castors 30 are assembled by providing weld joints 70 be- tween the top surface 32 of the wheel fork 31 and the bottom rear surface 21 of the A-frame chassis 20 (Fig. 5 and 6). Once these joints 70 are established, further weld joints are provided between the sub-assembly now comprising the A-frame chassis 20 and wheels 30 -and the previously created sub-assembly 50, 60, whereby the bottom end of the roll container I is assembled. More specifically, weld joints 70 are provided between and the terminal bottom end 62 of the trombones 60 (Figs. 4 and 7) the top surface 32 of the wheel fork 31. Weld joints 70 are preferably also provided between the terminal rear end of the A-frame chassis prongs and the trombones 60 (Fig. 6). Stoppers 80 are also assembled by providing weld joints 70 between the stopper 80 and the A-frame chassis as well as between the stopper 80 and the trombone 60.

The structure may further be strengthened by providing joints to the middle and top parts of the container, e.g. welding the top terminal ends of the back frame section 50 and trombones 60 together.

Table I: List of reference numbers.

rim nw 1 I roll container 40 adaptor floor 41 hinge pin for side -A-frame chassis 50 back frame section 21 lower surface 60 -trombone castor 61 side wall section 31 wheel fork 62 terminal end - 32 top surface 70 weld - 33 wheel assembly 80 stopper