LV13265B

LV13265B - A method and unit load for distributing articles

Info

Publication number: LV13265B
Application number: LVP-04-150A
Authority: LV
Inventors: Allan Dickner
Original assignee: Inter Ikea Sys Bv
Priority date: 2002-05-28
Filing date: 2004-12-23
Publication date: 2005-05-20
Also published as: BR0311341A; TW200400902A; AU2003238986A1; SE0201591L; HK1080054A1; EP1509458A1; TNSN04220A1; AR040639A1; LT2004112A; SE0201591D0; HRP20041128A2; PL372243A1; RU2004137125A; NZ536647A; WO2003099668A1; PL200771B1; TWI268897B; NO20045155L; IL165163A0; LT5231B

Abstract

In a method of distributing articles in a palletized form from a supplier (11) of the articles, these are placed at the supplier on two or more loading ledges (1) to form a unit load, which is transported to a receiver (13, 14) of the articles. Each loading ledge (1) comprises an L-shaped profile having projections (3) for supporting the unit load at a certain distance over its support.

Description

1 LV 13265

A METHOD AND UNIT LOAD FOR DISTRI3ŪTING ARTICLES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of distributing articles in a palletized form from a supplier of the articles. It also relates to a unit load for such distribution.

Background of the Invention

The conventional way to distribute palletized articles is by using traditional paliets, most often wooden paliets of standardized dimensions, on which the articles are loaded and often attached, for example by straps.

Wooden paliets are so widely used that their advantages are rarelv questioned. However, there are a number of important disadvantages with wooden paliets: - It is expensive to keep a return system for wooden paliets running. - A lot of transport facility is used for transporting empty wooden paliets, that are bulky and heavy. - A wooden paliet has a short lifetime, whicn aads to the cost. - The use of the bulky and heavy wooden paliet reduces the transport efficiency. - Quite a lot of space is needed for storing the wooden paliets at the supplier and at other places in the distribution network. - The Standard size of the paliets is not optimal for many articles and carriers, such as containers, goods waggons, and trucks and trailers. A prior attempt to decrease the disadvantages connected to wooden paliets is to use a loading panei of corrugated cardbcard during distribution. Such a loading panei can have a lower height and weight than the wooden 2 panei and is intended to be discarded after one use.

Certain advantages with regard also to price and versatility are obtained, but stili a loading panei of the above type does not represent an optimal solution to the problem of creating a distribution method without the disadvantages mentionea above.

The main object of the invention is accordingly to create a method of distributing articles in a palletized form from a supplier of the articles.

The Invention

The problems with earlier used distribution methods are according to the invention obviated and a greatly improved distribution method obtained by placing - at the supplier - one or mora articles on two or more loading ledges to form a unit load, each ledge comprising an L-shaped profilē having project'ions for supporting the unit load at a certain distance over its support and being positioned at a lower edge of the unit load, and transporting the unit load on its loading ledges to a receiver of the articles.

By the provision of the supporting projections on the loading ledges the formed unit load can be handled by handling eguipment, such as fork lift trucks, used for handling unit loads on wooden paliets.

Normally, the unit load is provided at the supplier (often the manufacturer of the articles) with circumferential straps (extending over the loading ledges) and/or stretcn or snrink wrapping or the like. In this way the unit load with its loading ledges is held together and is also protected against the environment.

From the supplier the unit load may be transported by ordinary transport means to a warehouse, where it may be stored for further distribution to a retailer or the like, where the article leaves the distribution system. 3 LV 13265

Alternatively, the unit load can be transported directly to the retailer or the like.

In the former case it may be possible to use a traditional wooden paliet at the transport from the warehouse to the retailer and for storing the unit load there, if the storing system is adapted to wooder. paliets.

In this case the wooden paliet is returned for renewed use in a traditional paliet return system.

The loading ledges are preferably produced of recyclable plastic, for example uncoloured polypropylene (PP). The production method may be injection moulding.

Other materiāls and production techniques are possible.

The loading ledges may be returned for renewed use on new unit loads, but it may be advantageous to recycle them, for example by grinding them, and to return the material to a producer of loading ledges. Alternatively, the material can be put on the ordinary marķēt as plastic raw material. In the latter case it is of special importance to have the plastic material uncoloured.

With the use of loading ledges as set out above it will be possible to use one size only for ali applications. The size of the unit load is not dependent on any paliet size but rather on the size of the articles, provided at their bottom edges with two or more loading ledges with downwardly extending projections allowing handling by traditional handling equipment. If the articles are long, two or even three loading ledges may be provided at each lower edge.

The use cf loading ledges means in other wcrds that an optimal unit load may be built according to the goods or articles, not according to the paliet size as today.

Further, the tara weight and the price for the loading ledge are very low.

Empty loading ledges may be stacked for transportation, which thus may be very effective. 4 A unit load for distribution in a palletized form from a supplier of articles in the unit load to a receiver may according to the invention have two or more loading ledges positioned at lower edges of the unit load comprised of one or more articles.

Inits basie form the unit load has one loading ledge at each opposing lower edge, but if the unit load is especially long, it may have two or more loading ledges. Also, loading ledges may be provided at ali lower edges of the unit load or within the unit load.

Circumferential straps may be provided around opposing loading ledges.

For example if the unit load has a considerable number of separate articles (or cardboard boxes) a base plate may be arranged between the articles and the loading ledges.

The Drawings

The invention will be deseribed in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a loading ledge to be used in the method according to the invention,

Fig 2 is an overview of the distribution method according to the invention, and

Figs 3a-i show examples of unit loads with loading ledges.

Detailed Description of the Invention A loading ledge 1 is shown in Fig 1. It is a preferably injection moulded, L-shaped profilē of recyclable plastic, preferably polypropylene (PP) . Its lower leg 2 is provided with projections 3, in the shown case three projections, for supporting a unit load above the ground or other support and allowing handling with ordinary handling eauipment utilized for goods on ordinarv wooden paliets presently widely used in distribution 5 LV 13265 systems. Its upper leg 4 is generally plain and is to bear against a vertical side surface of a unit load to be supported by the loading ledges.

In a practical (but non-limiting) case the overall length of the loading ledge 1 may be 760 mm, the widths of the lower leg 2 and the upper leg 4 180 mm and 100 mm, respectively. The projections 3 may have a height of 35 mm and a width of 75 mm. The Central projection may have a length of 160 mm, and each of the two outer projections may have a length of 75 mm.

For reasons set out below, it is of advantage to use uncoloured plastic for the loading ledge 1.

Reference is now made to Fig 2. Reference numeral 10 therein indicates a producer of the loading ledges 1 to be delivered to a. supplier or manufacturer 11 of articles or goods. At the supplier 11 the articles are placed on two or more loading ledges 1 to form a unit load, preferably provided with straps and/or stretch or shrink wrapping.

From the supplier 11 the unit loads are transported for example by a truck or lorry 12 to a Central warehouse 13 for later delivery to one of several retailers 14 supplied with articles from the warehouse 13. As is indicated by a lower arrow transport may alternatively occur directly from the supplier 11 to each retailer 14.

The use of traditional wooden paliets 15 (from a producer 16 thereof) between the warehouse 13 and the retailer 14 is suggested in Fig 2. The reason for this may be that the storing system at existing retailers 14 may be based on the use of wooden paliets on store beams. As a development, the additional use of wooden paliets 15 can be suspended with.

It is suggested by a dotted arrow in Fig 2 that loading ledges 1 can be returned from the retailer 14 to the warehouse 13. 6

The used loading ledges 1 could well be returned to the supplier or manufacturer 11 for renewed use. Among other things because the condition of each loading ledge 1 cannot be guaranteed, it is however presently preferred to use a recycling system for the loading ledges 1. The used ledges are accordingly ground, for example in a recycle company 17. From there the material may be delivered back as raw material to the loading ledge producer 10 or be put on the ordinary marķēt, if this is advantageous for example from an economical viewpoint. Quite naturally, it is preferred to keep the plastic material uncoloured.

The use of loading ledges as set out above may reduce the needed storage space in for example the warehouse 13 by 30-35% and also increase the filling rāte at transport with some 35%. The more compact filling during transport will prevent mutual movements and decrease transport damages to a minimum.

With present dimensions some 500 loading ledges/m3 can be transported as compared to about 7 Standard wooden pallets/m3, which is a theoretical saving of some 97%.

Fig 3 illustrates certain possibilities to arrange unit loads. Figs 3b and d represent "basie" unit loads on two loading ledges 1 each with for example two straps 20. Fig 3a shows a longer unit load with two loading ledges 1 at each side and for example four straps. In Fig 3c three sub-unit loads - each with two loading ledges 1 and two straps 20 - are stacked and held together by two further straps 21 to form a unit load.

In Fig 3e four articles (or cardboard boxes) are arranged on four loading ledges 1, as is further illustrated in Fig 3f. Straps, not shown, may finalize the unit load·.

Fig 3g illustrates 32 smaller articles (or cardboard boxes) forming a unit load with two loading ledges 1. In this case use is made of a base plate 22, for example

Claims

A method for dispatching goods to a pallet from a supplier of goods (11), characterized in that one or more goods (11) are placed on one or more known cargo pallets (1) to form a load unit, where each pallet of recyclable plastics is formed with an L-shaped profile with projections (3) at the bottom of the pallet for positioning the load unit at a certain height above the support surface and transporting the load unit to the cargo pallets to the consignee (13,14), and that after use the cargo pallet (1) material is recycled, for example, ground, and is reused for the production of new cargo pallets or other articles.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cargo pallets are colorless.

3. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the plastic is polypropylene (PP) and is made by injection molding.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the recycled cargo pallet (1) is returned to the load pallet manufacturer (10) for the production of new cargo pallets or placed on the normal market as a plastic raw material.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the load unit at the supplier (11) is provided with overlapping punches (20, 21) and / or a tensioned plastic wrapper or the like.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the load unit is transported to a warehouse (13) for further delivery to the seller (14).

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the load unit is delivered to the seller (14).

Method according to claim 3, characterized in that, prior to delivery to the seller (14), the load unit is placed on a standard pallet (15), such as a wooden pallet.

Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the standard pallet (15) is delivered for reuse in a standard pallet reuse system.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower edge of the opposite side of each load unit is provided with a load carrier (1).

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite side of each load unit is provided with two or more cargo pallets (1).

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that all four lower edges of the load unit are provided with pallets (1).

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a base plate (22) is inserted between the load unit and the cargo pallets (1).

14. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cargo pallets (1) are contained in the load unit.