JPH0335186B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a collapsible container for transporting cargo.

When transporting cargo from one region to another in a railway vehicle, large truck, ship, etc., a large cube-shaped container is mounted on a tower, the desired cargo is stored in this container, and the cargo is transported. In bulk,
Delivered safely to the required area.

Since this container has a cubic shape,
Even when loaded onto a vehicle, the containers can be placed side by side without leaving any gaps, so there is no wasted dead space.On the other hand, since a large number of materials can be properly accommodated inside the container, there is no risk of damage to the materials. Therefore, the desired safe transportation can be carried out.

However, for example, when export goods are sent from Japan to a foreign country by ship, there are no imported goods from the foreign country, or when materials are sent to a remote area within Japan, there are no orders for land transportation in that remote area. In some cases, used containers have no choice but to be taken home empty.

In such a case, since the volume of the container is large, the space occupied on the ship, truck, or vehicle that accommodates it becomes large, and there is the problem that it is economically disadvantageous, such as extra freight charges for transporting the container. It was hot.

For this reason, collapsible containers have been developed, such as those disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57-175549 or Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-56276.

These containers are constructed in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, with the center of the left and right panels flexible, the front door and the rear door pivoted on the bottom plate, and when folded, each front door and rear door are attached to the bottom plate. It is superimposed on top.

However, in such conventional containers, the rear door and rear door are integrally constructed with a frame and two doors assembled within this frame, so the overall weight is very heavy, and when folded, these When the front and rear doors of a machine are stacked on top of the bottom plate, or conversely placed in an upright position, they cannot be operated by one worker alone, but must be operated by multiple workers or by a machine. However, there are problems in that it is troublesome and difficult, and the cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible container that is easy to open and close, and also allows one operator to easily and smoothly fold the front and rear doors.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a top plate, a bottom plate, a front door and a rear door that are provided between the top plate and the bottom plate and are divided into four plates, and a top plate and a bottom plate. Consisting of a left side plate and a right side plate, which are provided in between and are divided into two upper and lower plates,
In a container that can be folded compactly by bending the left and right sides at the center, the upper end of the upper left and right sides is rotatably supported with respect to the top plate, and the lower end of the lower board is also rotatably supported. The upper and lower frames are rotatably supported on the bottom plate, and the lower end of each upper plate and the upper end of the lower plate are rotatably connected, and the front upper and lower frames are attached to each corner of the top and bottom plates. The frame and the rear upper and lower frame frames are rotatably supported, the lower part of each upper frame frame and the upper part of each lower frame frame are rotatably connected, and the front door and rear frame are connected to each upper and lower frame frame. The outer ends of each divided plate constituting the door are rotatably joined, and each plate of the front door and rear door is overlapped with the inner surface of the left side plate and the right side plate when folded. It is something.

According to the above configuration, the rear door and rear door are divided into four plates, so they can be easily opened by rotating each plate outward, and when folding, each plate should be moved to the left side. It can be overlapped along the inner surface of the board and the right side board.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the entire container. Reference numeral 1 denotes a top plate made of iron or the like. Two locking fittings 2 are provided at the center of the top surface of the top plate.
Hanging latches 3 are fixed at the four corners. In addition,
The locking fitting 2 is configured to be locked to a fork of a forklift, and the suspension fitting 3 is configured to be locked to a locking pin of a crane. The four peripheries of the lower surface of the top plate 1 are bent into an L-shape, and a rectangular cylindrical reinforcing frame 4 is fixed to the outer periphery by welding. 5 is a sealing material interposed between the outer periphery of the top plate 1 and the reinforcing frame 4. Such an arrangement is shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the same figure,
A mounting frame 6 is attached to the lower surface of the reinforcing frame 4 on the front side of the top plate 1, and a sealing material 7 made of hollow rubber material as a weather strip is adhered to this. Also,
A cover plate 8 is fixed to the outside of the reinforcing frame 4 at the rear and side portions of the top plate 1 by welding or the like. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes brackets fixed to the lower surfaces of both ends of the reinforcing frame 4 at the front and rear portions, which rotatably support a skeleton frame to be described later.

10 is a corrugated bottom plate having the same shape as the top plate 1,
This corrugated plate 10 is fixed to square cylindrical support frames 11 arranged oppositely at the front and rear parts, the front and both sides are fixed to a U-shaped reinforcing frame 12, and the rear part is fixed to a square cylindrical reinforcing frame 13. is fixed to. This structure is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A sealing material 14 is pasted on the reinforcing frame 17. On the other hand, a cover plate 15 is fixed onto the cylindrical reinforcing frame 13 by welding or the like. Reference numeral 16 denotes a sealing material affixed to the inner surface of this cover plate 15. Brackets 17 are fixed to the ends of each of the reinforcing frames 12 and 13, and the same brackets as the brackets 9 are used. As shown in FIG. 8, this bracket 17 has two mounting pieces 17a and 17b integrally formed in a U-shape.
One hole 19, 20 for inserting the pin 18 is provided diagonally on the other side. 21 is each reinforcing frame 12,1
3. Leg members protruding from the lower surface on both sides. The bracket 17 can be attached via a mounting member 18, as shown in FIG. 9, without being directly fixed on the reinforcing frames 12, 13.

Next, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, 2
2, 23, 24, and 25 are a set of four front doors.
The front doors 22 and 23 are disposed opposite to each other at the top and have a symmetrical shape, and L-shaped notches 26 and 27 are provided on the opposite sides, and frame frames 28 and 29 are attached to the opposite sides. ing. The notch 26 is provided with a recess 30 as shown in FIG.
An operator 32 is provided protruding from the. Reference numerals 33 and 34 are holding members for the operating element 32, which are designed to hold the locking rod 31 at a predetermined axial position. 35,3
Reference numeral 6 denotes a regulating piece that prevents the operating element 32 from being naturally removed from the holding members 33 and 34, and urges the operating element 32 inwardly by a spring (not shown). Further, an elongated hole 37 is horizontally bored in the end face of the notch 27 facing the locking rod 31. Therefore, by rotating the operator 32, pushing open the regulating piece 35 to escape from the holding member 33, and further urging the operator 32 toward the front door 23, the end of the locking rod 31 is can be inserted into the elongated hole 37. For this reason, both front doors 22 and 23 are locked by the locking rod 31.
The opening and closing of these are regulated. Note that 38 is a sealing material affixed to the end surface of the front door 22.

Reference numerals 39 and 40 are recesses provided at the bottom of the front doors 22 and 23, in which a locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 11 is provided. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a mounting base provided in each recess 39, 40, and on this mounting base 41 is a locking rod 42 that slides in the vertical direction.
is supported by a guide member 43. The upper end of the locking rod 42 is bent into an L shape and the locking portion 4
2a, which can rotate and engage with the holding member 44 or the end of the guide member 43. The 42nd end of this locking rod is for each front door 2.
It passes through the lower end of 2 and 23, and this locking rod 4
2 to move the locking part 42a to the guide member 43.
When moved to the position where it engages with the end, the end of the locking rod 42 is inserted into a long hole 45 formed on the front doors 24, 25 at the lower end.
This allows the front doors 22 and 24 and the front doors 23 and 25 to be integrated, respectively. Note that 46 is a regulating piece that determines the upper limit position of the locking rod 42.

The front doors 24 and 25 are arranged opposite to each other at the lower part of the front doors 22 and 23, and L-shaped notches 47 and 48 are provided on the opposing surfaces thereof, and a frame frame 49 and a frame frame 49 are provided on the opposite end surfaces, respectively. 50 is attached. The notch 47 is provided with a recess 51 similar to that described in FIG.
The lock rod 52 is adapted to move in and out of an elongated hole 54 provided in the end face of the front door 25 by operating an operator 53 provided thereon.
Note that a holding member for the operator 53 as shown in FIG. 9 is also provided.

The upper ends of the frame frames 28, 29 and the lower ends of the frame frames 49, 50 are rotatably supported on a bracket 17 by pins 18, as shown in FIG.

By the way, the lower ends of the frame frames 28 and 29 and the lower ends of the frame frames 49 and 50 have the same universal joint structure. This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12. A rotating piece 55 is interposed between the mounting pieces 17a and 17b and is pivotally supported by a pin 18, and a mounting shaft 56 is provided at the center of the upper part of the rotating piece.
is fixed. A mounting plate 57 is fitted onto the mounting shaft 56, and a mounting plate 59 is rotatably supported on this via a bearing 58.
A lubricating member 60 is interposed at 9 . Further, a bolt 6 is attached to the upper end of the mounting shaft 56 via a washer 61.
2 is screwed in. That is, the main bodies of the frame frames 28, 29, 49, and 50 are horizontally rotatable with respect to the rotating piece 55.

The connection structure between the frame frames 28 and 49 and the connection structure between the frame frames 29 and 50 are as follows. This will be explained with reference to FIG. 13 for one of them. Reference numerals 63 and 64 designate rotary pieces employing a universal joint structure similar to that shown in FIG. Each end of a link 67 is pivotally supported by a pin 68. That is, as is clear from FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 12, and FIG. This makes it possible to perform rotational (folding) operations.

Further, a sealing material 69 is attached to the upper end of each of the front doors 22, 23 and the lower end of each of the front doors 24, 25, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the rear doors 71, 72, 7
Reference numerals 3 and 74 have almost the same rotating mechanism and mounting structure as the front doors 22 to 25, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, these rear doors 71 and 72
However, the outward opening is restricted by the cover plates 8 and 15, and the notches 75, 76, 77, 78
The difference is that it is provided on the inside. Note that other identical components are given the same reference numerals as those described for the front door.

In Figures 1 and 3, 81, 82 and 8
Reference numerals 3 and 84 denote upper and lower left and right plates, on which reinforcing materials are installed as necessary. At the bottom of both ends of the left side plate 81 are lock rods 42 and guide members 4, which are the same as those provided on the front doors 22 and 23.
3 are provided in the recesses 85, 86, and the locking rods 4
Elongated holes 87, 8 with two ends bored in the lower left side plate 82
It is now possible to enter and exit at 8pm.

Horizontal frame frames 89 and 90 are integrally attached to the upper and lower ends of the left side plates 81 and 82, respectively, and vertical frame frames 91 and 9 are similarly attached to the side ends.
2 are attached together. Rotating pieces 93, 9 are provided at the upper and lower ends of these frame frames 91, 92.
4 are integrally provided, and these are reinforcing pieces 95.
The two support pieces 96a and 96b sandwich each other between two support pieces 96a and 96b, and the link 97 is pivotally supported by pins 98 at both ends of the link 97. Further, the rotating piece 93 at the upper part of the frame frame 91 and the rotating piece 94 at the lower part of the frame frame 92 are connected to the previously described brackets 9 and 17, respectively.
It is rotatably supported in the insertion hole 19 by each pin 18.

Although detailed illustration is omitted, the right side plate 83,
The structure and operation of 84 are also the same as those described for left side plates 81 and 82, so a redundant explanation thereof will be omitted. Therefore, the same components are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 14 specifically shows the mounting structure of the locking metal fitting 2. As shown in FIG. This locking metal fitting 2 is attached to a reinforcing frame 91 buried in the center of the top plate 1 so as to be able to move in and out, and a locking plate 92 that also serves as a weight is attached to the end of the locking metal fitting 2 inside this reinforcing frame 91. It is fixed. Therefore, this locking metal fitting 2 cannot be freely removed from the top plate 1, and the insertion gap can be widened according to the thickness of the tip of the fork 93 of the forklift.

FIG. 15 shows the mounting structure of the corrugated plate 10. In this case, the corrugated sheet 10 is fixed together with a restraining plate 95 using screws 96 in an auxiliary frame 94 constructed between the previously described reinforcing frames 12 and 13.

In a container having such a structure, when assembled into a box shape, the forks 93 of the forklift 98 are inserted into the locking fittings 2 of the top plate 1, as shown in FIG. 17a. After raising the entire container by a slight distance x from the ground, the front door 22,
23, 24, 25 are removed from the respective elongated holes 37, 45, and the doors 22, 2 are removed.
Release the integration of 3, 24, and 25.

By doing this, each door 22, 23, 24,
25 is removed, and these are manually moved around the frame frames 28, 29, 49, 50 as shown in FIG. 17b.
2 and the inner surfaces of the right side plates 83 and 84, and can be folded back. Furthermore, the rear doors 71, 72,
73 and 74 are also folded inward in the same manner. In this case, the notches 26 and 75, the notch 27
and 76, the notches 47 and 77, and the notches 48 and 78 fit into each other, as shown in FIG. 17c. Each folded door thus forms a uniform surface.

Next, the left side plates 81, 82 and the right side plate 83
and 84, and the locking rod 42 is connected to the elongated holes 87 and 8.
By letting it escape from 8, it becomes free. Next, these left side plates 81, 82 and right side plate 8
Fold 3 and 84 inward as shown in Figure 17d.
Therefore, each frame frame 91, 92 is bent together with the previously described frame frames 28, 49, 29, 50, as shown in FIG. 18, centering on the brackets 9, 17. Then, from this state,
As shown in FIG. 17e, by removing the fork 93 and applying a load to the top plate 1, it is folded so that the overall shape becomes thinner. This state is shown in FIG.

In this way, the container after carrying out the cargo can be easily folded, and the space occupied in the vehicle or the like can be reduced.

Figures 20a, b, c, d, and e diagrammatically show collapsible patterns of containers as reference examples. Figure 20a shows four fronts that can be opened and closed independently as shown in Figure 1. After the door A with the door and the door B with the rear door 4 are folded back onto the corrugated plate 10, the left side plates 81, 82 and the right side plates 83, 84 are folded inward. FIG. 20b shows the door A and the door B folded onto the top plate 1 and the corrugated plate 10, respectively, and the side plates 81, 82 and 83, 84 folded outward. Figure 20c shows the doors A and B folded in the same way as in the previous figure, and the left side plate C and right side plate D folded inward into three pieces each. FIG. 20d shows the left side plate C and the right side plate D folded outward three by three. In addition, Fig. 20e shows that both side plates C and D are folded back outwards, the top plate 1, the corrugated plate 10, the front door A and the rear door B are pushed down into a diamond shape, and then both side plates C and D are folded back on top of them. It is something. Note that there are various other possible folding patterns for the container.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the front door and the rear door are composed of four divided plates, each of the four plates is light in weight, and only one operator can handle each one. Can be opened and closed.

In addition, even when folded, each plate can be rotated and stacked on the inner surface of the left side plate and the inner side of the right side plate, and when returning to its original position, it can be moved by one person, making it easy to operate. It is simple and smooth, and can reduce costs.

When each divided plate is folded, there is no interference when the left and right side plates are folded, and the entire container can be folded compactly.

Therefore, when the container is brought home empty when there is no cargo material, by folding it, a large number of containers can be carried one on top of the other at one time, and transportation costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the smaller volume makes it easier for workers to carry it around. Moreover, the folded containers can be stacked in large numbers on one pallet. Furthermore, for example, in narrow passages and gaps in factories, etc.
When transporting a container in a suspended state using a crane or the like, if the container is transported in a folded state, the container will not hit any obstacles and the transport operation can be carried out easily.

In addition, the container can be folded by manually pushing or pulling it, by lifting it with a winch or crane, and then bending it under its own weight when lowered to the ground, or by installing a hydraulic cylinder or the like inside or outside the container. A method of folding the cylinder while deforming it is adopted by utilizing the force generated when the cylinder expands and contracts.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view, Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view, Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line P-P in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a 6 is a sectional view taken along the line R-R, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the S-S line, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the bracket and the frame, and FIG.
The figure is also a perspective view after assembly, Figure 10 and Figure 1.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism of the front door, Figure 12 is a sectional view showing details of the frame, Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of the link mechanism, Figure 14 is an assembly structure diagram of the locking fitting, Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the mounting structure of the corrugated plate, Fig. 16 is a partially cutaway plan view of the top plate,
Figures 17a, b, c, d, and e are explanatory diagrams showing the folding order of the container, Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the container in a compressed state, Figure 19 is a front view of the folded container, and Figure 20a. , b, c, d, and e are explanatory diagrams related to reference examples showing folded forms of containers. 1, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 71, 7
2, 73, 74, 81, 82, 83, 84...Multi-sided wall, 28, 29, 49, 50, 89, 90, 9
1,92...skeleton frame.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A top plate, a bottom plate, a front door and a rear door consisting of four plates provided between the top plate and the bottom plate and divided into four parts, and two upper and lower doors provided between the top plate and the bottom plate and divided into two parts. In a container that consists of a left side plate and a right side plate, and can be folded compactly by bending the left side plate and right side plate at the center, the upper end of the upper side plate of the left side plate and right side plate is Similarly, the lower end of the lower plate is rotatably supported with respect to the bottom plate, and the lower end of each upper plate and the upper end of the lower plate are rotatably connected, and the top plate is rotatably supported. The upper and lower frame frames on the front side and the upper and lower frame frames on the rear side are rotatably supported at each corner of the and bottom plate, respectively, and the lower part of each upper frame frame and the upper part of each lower frame frame are rotatably supported. , the outer ends of the divided plates constituting the front door and the rear door are rotatably connected to the upper and lower frame frames, so that when folded, each plate of the front door and the rear door becomes a left side plate and a right side plate. A collapsible container characterized by being superimposed on the inner surface of the container.