HRP20010462A2 - Nestable and stackable pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

The nestable and stackable pallet comprises frame structure (1) of tetragonal-based prism, with vertical supports (FN) positioned at edges (SN) equipped with horizontal base and top bracing unit (K1,K2). Guidance units (MN) are designed underneath the bottom bracing unit to facilitate the existing handling equipment.

Description

The invention relates to a modular frame structure, for holding and storing or handling, if required, with a suspended, flexible formwork structure for storing or transporting - practically bulk material - and/or other - primarily piece products. A modular frame structure is a self-supporting rigid frame, which encloses a three-dimensional space.

With the development of modern transport and storage technologies, solutions with large containers and packaging have become widely used. Large rail freight containers, rigid structures and high durability, were well known. However, containers with a flexible (soft) structure, collapsible when empty, are also convenient for various non-changes, so various types of such containers are also affordable.

These containers are mostly in the form of bags, which are hung by a rope on the forks of a forklift. Their shape is determined by the nature of the material stored in them or transported in them.

For example: a process for ventilated storage of agricultural crops is described in Hungarian patent application no. 185 405, while the container for grains, eg seeds, is presented in Hungarian patent application no. 196 932. Since significant stress is generated in the bottom plate of a full container, projects were developed for this purpose to strengthen the container that can be lifted freely (Hungarian patent application no. 187 353).

The bottom plate can still be less strong, if the bottom of the container is supported, and the container itself is suitably placed and secured with a suitable iron structure on the upper side of the pallet base, etc., or wherever possible. In Hungarian patent application no. 188 376 describes, for example, an iron structure as used in the meat industry, suitable to be placed on top of a standard pallet (800 x 1200 mm).

The wooden EUR pallet, the well-known basic unit of the modular frame, is now widely used on roads, on water, in the air, as well as in rail transport. In the cold storage industry, for example, refrigerated goods are stored and transported in paper bags or cardboard boxes of various sizes, as modular loads on the aforementioned EUR pallet or on the upper surface of a mounted metal structure that includes the EUR pallet (see patent application no. US 4,221,296). A metal structure similar to this metal construction is described in patent application no. EP 0 472 360. In this case, a metal structure attached to a EUR pallet encloses a liquid container with a flexible wall. This procedure uses a well-known metal structure and a EUR pallet with the intention of achieving the desired goal, which nevertheless results in a considerable extra weight being added, which requires redundant efforts during transport and storage.

As for the wooden EUR pallet, in addition to having a significant weight, it is quickly damaged due to frequent collisions with the forklift. Another disadvantage of the EUR pallet is that it requires the use of other existing auxiliary shelf structures, in order to stack the pallets in several layers as a modular load.

A multipurpose pallet is described in Australian patent no. AU 507 585, suitable for storage and handling of goods. The pallet has a base frame, load frame and side frames, and each side frame can be attached to and released from the base frame and load frame. The disadvantage of this known structure is the fact that in case of storage of empty pallets, they must be completely disassembled.

The aim of this invention is to create a modular frame structure that is self-moving, self-supporting and rigid, its interior space is suitable for storage and/or transport purposes. Expectations, with regard to the invention, include the elimination of bad properties before known solutions, enabling transport without tipping and storage of goods without adding any additional loads. In addition, the frame structure should take up as little space as possible when not in use, and thus enable its easy storage and transport. Another expectation, with regard to the modular frame structure, is that it is suitable for holding, storing, as well as handling and practical moving and convenient unloading at the desired place and in the desired manner primarily suspended, flexible for storage and transport structure with formwork - suitable for bulk materials and/or other - primarily - piece products.

A further express objective of the invention is to achieve a reduction in own weight and to achieve a level of resistance to deformations that allows the stacking of frame structures on top of each other, thereby enabling the creation, if necessary, of an independent frame system that uses several frame structures, thus creating an adequate storage capacity, which meets the current claim.

Another goal of the invention is that the dimensions, characteristics and structural performance of the pallet enable the pallet to become a unit of the supply system, fitting into existing, internationally used technologies and its standard dimensions, which are established as a standard or quasi-standard in transport and storage.

The theory of the invention is based on the fact that the above objective is best satisfied by a frame structure having the shape of a prism with a polygonal base, in which the horizontal bottom and the upper tied frame are connected to the main vertical supports, so as to ensure suitable load carrying. However, since a complex and necessarily oversized rigid unit is not necessarily required when not in use, the frame structures of the modular frames can be disassembled, if required. Frame structures that are temporarily disassembled can be simply placed inside each other, thus occupying little space until they are used the next time.

We have found that, in order to facilitate the nesting of empty frames, it is practical to place the vertical main supports in a trapezoidal arrangement, which makes one side of the upper link frame detachable.

Due to the ability to be nested within each other, the center of gravity of nested framework structures changes as the number of framework structures increases. This is somewhat prevented by the realization that unwanted changes in the position of the center of gravity can be modified by temporarily fixing the detachable side of the upper link frame in an adjustable position.

The invention therefore constitutes a modular frame structure for holding, storage as well as handling, if required, primarily with a suspended, flexible formwork structure for storage and transport - practically bulk materials - and/or other - primarily piece - products, which is made as a rigid and a self-supporting frame structure for supply, and which encloses a three-dimensional space. The invention is characterized by a frame structure in the form of a prism with a polygonal - preferably tetragonal base, with its main vertical supports located at or near the edges. It is equipped with horizontal bottom and upper connecting units, which are connected to vertical main supports. When not in use, the frames of the modular frame structure can be placed inside each other by temporarily dismantling the frame structure.

In the preferred embodiment of the modular metal structure shown, positioning openings are made at the junctions of the vertical main supports and the upper connecting unit with the intention of allowing the modular frame structures to be placed on top of each other. Positioning openings are extremely important, their purpose is to transmit the forces created by stacking frame structures on top of each other to the ground without eccentricity.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the support points of the formwork structure for flexible storage and transport - practically for bulk materials - are suspended from the vertical main supports and are made near the connection points of the vertical main supports and the upper connection unit.

To allow easy handling of the frame structure, the connection points of the lower link unit to the vertical main supports are made at a height that allows access to existing material handling equipment (such as a forklift or pallet truck). For the same reason, the guide units were built below the lower binding unit with the intention of facilitating the use of existing material handling equipment.

For the safety of material handling, the part of the lower binding unit, which comes into contact with the existing material handling equipment, is roughened or covered with a non-slip material.

It is very useful for the lower attachment unit to include a grid adapter that allows the discharge of a bottom-hung, flexible paneled storage structure, practically used to store bulk material and/or support existing material handling equipment.

In certain cases, it may be important that the frame structure is equipped with auxiliary adjustment parts that enable the attachment of wheels, which are known per se, to the lower connecting unit and/or to the lattice adjustment part.

In the practical version of the modular frame structure, the lower and upper connecting units are rectangular, while the vertical main supports are arranged in a trapezoidal arrangement in such a way that two of the vertical main supports are placed below one of the longer sides of the rectangular lower and upper connecting units - on the outer side of the shorter side - while the remaining two main supports are positioned in line with the other longer sides of the rectangular lower and upper connecting units - on the inner side of the shorter sides.

In a further practical embodiment of the frame structure, the lower binding unit and/or the grid adjustment part enable support with existing material handling equipment, so the frame structure is made to Sanction like a traditional pallet.

It is a very practical version of the useful model in which the frame structure is designed to be suitable for placing the goods on top of the pallet, which is self-evident, between the lower and upper binding units, if necessary, where the elements that create the surface are arranged, attached to the vertical main supports.

The ability for the frames to be nested is primarily enabled by one of the sides of the upper binding unit, preferably the longer one, which is fixed in a detachable manner, and this detachable side is preferably capable of being temporarily attached to the other longer side.

The stability of the frame structures, when placed inside each other, can be achieved by the use of auxiliary adaptation parts that allow the ability to place the frame structures not in use inside each other, practically the shorter sides of the upper connecting unit between the vertical main supports. For this purpose, the length of the auxiliary adapters is practically equal to the height of the guiding units, facilitating the use of existing material handling equipment.

The ability to put them inside each other is facilitated if an auxiliary surface is made on the lattice fitting part, facilitating the insertion of the next frame structure that is temporarily out of use.

Considering the weight reduction of the performance as well as the achievement of a rigid, self-supporting frame structure, the modular frame structure is made of thin-walled, primarily steel units.

A significant advantage of the invention is that empty frame structures can be placed inside each other without disassembling the joints of the structure.

A possible example of the implementation of the modular frame structure according to the invention is presented in detail in the following drawings,

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a favorable performance of a modular frame structure;

- figure 2 shows the outline of the frame structure according to figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows the floor plan; while

- picture 4 shows the side view of the same;

- figure 5 shows an enlarged detail A from figure 2;

- Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show various views of enlarged detail B from Figure 2;

- figures 7a and 7b show various views of the enlarged detail C from figure 4;

- Figures 8a and 8b show a favorable embodiment of the detachably attached side of the upper connecting unit

The invention is implemented as a modular frame structure for holding, storing and moving, if necessary, primarily as a suspended, flexible paved structure for storage and transport - practically bulk materials - and/or other - primarily piece - products, made as rigid and self-supporting frame structure 1 for supply, which encloses three-dimensional space. The frame structure 1 is prism-shaped with a polygonal - primarily tetragonal - base, with its vertical main supports Fl, F2, ..., FN, positioned at or near the edges. The frame structure is equipped with lower and upper horizontal connecting units K1, K2, which are attached to the vertical main supports F1, F2, ...FN.

According to Figure 1, positioning openings P are formed at the junctions of the vertical main supports F1, F2, ..., FN and the upper connecting unit K2 with the purpose of facilitating the ability of the modular frame structures to be stacked on top of each other. The joints of the vertical main supports F1, F2, FN and the lower link unit K1 are located at a height of m, providing access for existing material handling equipment (eg forklift, pallet truck). Additionally, below the lower connecting unit K1, the guiding units M1, M2, ..., MN were made, in order to facilitate the use of the existing material handling equipment.

It is desirable that the attachment points R1, R2, ... RN designed for a flexible formwork structure in their own development, are suspended on the vertical main supports 1 F2, ...,FN near the joints of the vertical main supports F1, F2, . .., FN and upper intermediate units K2. Formwork structures are used for storage and transport - practically bulk materials.

In the following very practical version of the modular frame structure, the lower coupling unit Kl comprises a lattice fitting part T which enables the discharge from the bottom, practically bulk material placed in a suspended flexible formwork structure and/or supported by existing material handling equipment.

According to our version, the frame structure 1 has a solution with a polygonal base, while in the version shown in Figure 1, a tetragonal, primarily rectangular base is equipped with lower and upper connecting units K1, K2 between which vertical main supports F1, F2, F3, FN are located , placed in a trapezoidal layout. Connection units K1, K2 are surrounded by sides 01, 02, 03, 04.

Fig. 2, which shows a draft of an example version according to the invention, is a good illustration of the trapezoidal arrangement of the vertical main supports F1, F2, ... FN. The part of the lower binding unit K1, which comes into contact with the existing material handling equipment, is roughened and/or covered with non-slip material G.

Figure 3, which shows the floor plan, is a very clear representation of the rectangular design of the upper link unit K2. According to the drawing, the trapezoidal arrangement of the vertical main supports F1, F2, ... FN, can be described as two vertical main supports F1, FN, which are positioned in the continuation of one of the longer sides 01 of the rectangle - on the outside of the shorter sides 03, 04 - while the remaining two vertical main supports F2, F3 are positioned flush with the second longer side 02 of the rectangle - on the inside of the shorter sides 03, 04.

In certain cases, it may be important that the modular frame structure is equipped with auxiliary adaptation parts ST, which enable the attachment and detachment of the wheels, which are known per se, connected to the lower connection unit K1 and/or to the grid adaptation part T.

The version of the lattice adapter T, which is shown as an example in Figure 3, is suitable for the operating characteristics of traditional pallet functions, i.e. the modular frame structure can be easily and safely lifted and manipulated with existing material handling equipment, such as forklifts or vehicles for pallets.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the modular frame structure. The drawing shows that the additional adjustment parts PT, which ensure the stability of the stacked hollow structures of the frame 1, are practically positioned on the shorter sides 03,04 of the upper connecting unit K2, between the vertical main supports F1, F2 - and FN, F3, which are they don't see the drawing.

To ensure stable standing, the length of the additional adjustment parts PT is practically equal to the height m of the guide units M1, M2, ..., MN, made below the lower connecting unit K1, and they facilitate the use of existing material handling equipment.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of A from Fig. 2, showing part of the lower binding unit K1 and the guide unit M1, which facilitates the use of existing material handling equipment. The practical use of the performance according to the invention is aided by the fact that the part of the lower binding unit K1, which comes into contact with the existing material handling equipment, is roughened and/or covered with a non-slip material G, as well as by the fact that the auxiliary surface SF on the lower binding unit K1 is made and/or on the grid adjustment part T, in order to facilitate the insertion of empty frame structures 1 into each other.

Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show the connection of the vertical main support FN and the upper connecting unit K2 and its surroundings. Fig. 6a shows an assumed version of the attachment point RN of the flexible paved structure, which is known per se, which structure is used for the storage and transport of practically bulk material, and which is suspended from the vertical main support FN, while Fig. 6b shows the design of the positioning opening P Fig. 6c shows a possible procedure for securing the detachably attached side - practically side 01 - of the upper connecting unit K2.

Similar to figures 6a and 6b, figures 7a and 7b show - the second - connection point of the vertical main support F2 and the upper connection unit K2.

It can be clearly seen in the figures that the attachment point RN is placed in the direction of the inner space of the frame structure 1 - to the left of the main support FN - while the attachment point R2 is placed on the outside of the frame structure 1 - to the left of the main support F2 - in figures 6a , or 7a. This is not accidental, this performance is a consequence of the trapezoidal arrangement of the vertical main supports F1, F2, ..., FN. The attachment points R1, R2, ..., RN of the suspended, flexible formwork structures for storage and transport - practically bulk material - are not practically distributed asymmetrically, in order to ensure an even distribution of the load and related applications.

Figure 7b shows a practical design of the positioning hole P.

Figures 8a and 8b present two views of assumed embodiments of one of the detachably attached sides, practically side 01, of the upper connecting unit K2. Based on one of the main objectives of the invention, that, if necessary, the frame structure 1 of the modular frame structure can be placed inside each other by temporarily disassembling the frame structure 1. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one side, practically the longer side 01, of the upper links unit K2, is attached in a detachable manner. Figures 8a and 8b show a possible version of such a detachable side 01.

Figure 9 shows the modular frame structure placed inside each other, when they are empty, with the frame structure 1 being temporarily disassembled. The long side 01 of the upper link unit K2 of this frame structure l was separated, and the frame structure l was placed inside each other. According to our solution, side 01, temporarily "separated" in this way, can be temporarily attached again along the other side, preferably along the longer side 02.

The essential function of the modular frame structure is that, thanks to its practical design, it has a three-dimensional space on a polygonal base, in which various goods and products intended to be stored or transported can be safely placed - primarily in a suspended flexible structure with formwork for storage and transport - practically in bulk material. The design according to the invention is suitable for difficult working conditions, if necessary, it can be stacked on top of each other, together with a suspended flexible formwork structure. Due to its design, the forces created when stacking pallets on top of each other are directly transmitted to the ground via the vertical main supports F1, F2, ...,FN.

The performance is suitable as a unit in the supply system, it can be adapted to current needs, due to the size of the floor area, properties and structural performance. Its performance, described above as an example, fits well with established transport and storage technologies in international practice.

A special advantage of the modular frame structure according to the invention is that the individual empty frame structures 1 can be placed one inside the other, thereby ensuring their economical storage. Due to the convenient design, the frame structures, when placed inside each other, are also very stable - due to the additional adjustment parts PT and specific guiding units M1, M2, ..., MN, located in the corresponding positions.

The presented version of the grid-adaptive part T, connected to the lower connecting unit K1, meets multi-purpose needs. Regardless of the static factors, the protection of suspended flexible formwork structures, the possibility of their discharge from below and the possible performance of traditional pallet functions, all of this plays an important role in the design process of the grid adjustment part T.

Claims (10)

1. Modular frame structure, for holding, storage, if necessary, handling primarily with suspended flexible formwork structure for storage and transport - especially bulk materials and/or other practically piece products, made as a rigid and self-supporting frame structure for supply, frame structure has on its upper side storage elements, and the modular frame structure can be placed inside each other, characterized by having a frame structure (1) preferably in the form of a prism with a tetragonal base, whose vertical main supports (F1, F2, ... , FN) located on the edges (S1, S2, ..., SN) of the frame structure (1) or close to them, - where the edges (S1, S2, ..., SN) are formed by the connection points of the horizontal and vertical supports, - which is equipped with a horizontal lower and upper connecting unit (K1, K2), which are connected to the vertical main supports (F1, F2, ..., FN), which has attachment points (R1, R2, ..., RN) for suspended flexible formwork structure for s stacking and transport, which are located near the points of connection of the upper connecting unit (K2) to the main supports (F1, F2, ..., FN), which has a lower connecting unit (Kl), which has a grid adjustment part (T) that allows discharge of bulk material placed in a suspended flexible formwork structure for storage and/or support by existing material handling equipment, which has guiding units (M1, M2, ..., MN), which are located below the lower connecting unit (K1), therefore to facilitate the use of the existing cargo handling equipment, which has the lower and upper coupling units (K1, K2), which are rectangular, while the vertical main supports (F1, F2, ..., FN) are placed in a trapezoidal arrangement in such a way , that two of the vertical main supports (F1, FN) are located so that they touch one of the longer sides (01) of the rectangular lower and upper connecting units (K1, K2), on the outside of the shorter sides (03, 04) while two remaining vertical main supports (F2, F3) placed flush with each other m with the longer side (02) of the rectangular lower and upper connecting units (Kl, K2) on the inner side of the shorter sides (03, 04), and that the frame structure (1) of the modular frame structure can be stacked on top of each other. 2. A modular frame structure, as stated in patent claim 1, characterized in that the positioning openings (P) as storage elements are placed on top of the connecting points of the vertical main supports (F1, F2, ..., FN) and the upper connecting units (K2) to ensure the ability of the individual modular frame structures to be stacked on top of each other. 3. A modular frame structure, as stated in any of claims 1-2, characterized in that the connection points of the lower connecting unit (K1) to the vertical main supports (F1, F2, ..., FN) are located at a height (m), providing access to existing cargo handling equipment. 4. A modular frame structure, as set forth in claims 1-3, characterized in that the part of the lower binding unit (K1), which comes into contact with the existing material handling equipment, is roughened and/or covered with a non-slip material (MR). 5. A modular frame structure, as stated in claims 1-4, characterized by the fact that it is equipped with auxiliary adaptation parts (ST), which enable the fixing of wheels, which are known per se, and which are connected to the lower connecting unit ( K1) or to the grating adjustment part (T). 6. A modular frame structure, as stated in any of the patent claims 1-5, characterized in that the lower connection unit (K1) and/or the lattice adaptation part (T), intended to be supported by the existing material handling equipment, are made so that they enable work to be done as with traditional pallets. 7. A modular frame structure, as stated in any of the patent claims 1-6, characterized in that one side, primarily the longer side (01) of the upper connecting unit (K2) is attached in a detachable manner, primarily enabling the temporary attachment of this detachable side (01) next to the second, primarily longer side (02). 8. Modular frame structure, as stated in patent claim 7, characterized in that the additional adjustment parts (PT) are located on the non-separated, primarily shorter sides (03, 04) of the upper connecting unit (K2), between the vertical main supports ( F1, F2, . guidance (M1, M2, ..., MN), located below the lower connection unit (Kl), in order to facilitate the use of existing material handling equipment. 9. A modular frame structure, as stated in any one of the patent claims 1-8, characterized in that the auxiliary surface (SF), made on the lattice fitting part (T), is intended to facilitate the placement of the frame structure (1) one in another. 10. A modular frame structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that it is made of thin-walled, primarily steel units.