WO2000041937A1

WO2000041937A1 - Transport container especially designed as a bottle case

Info

Publication number: WO2000041937A1
Application number: PCT/CH2000/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Umiker
Original assignee: Schoeller International Engineering S.A.
Priority date: 1999-01-12
Filing date: 2000-01-05
Publication date: 2000-07-20
Also published as: CH693377A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport container (1) having a rectangular shape, especially the shape of a bottle case. Said container comprises two opposite longitudinal (3) or front walls (4) encompassing an inner space (2) with top edges (5) configured as stacking shoulders and bottom edges (6) configured as stacking edges; a bottom (20); support elements (8) with top edges (9) formed on the longitudinal (3) or front walls (4) stabilizing the container (1), and a foot (16) formed on the bottom (20) having substantially vertical webs (15, 15', 15'') and staggered in relation to the longitudinal and front walls. The invention is characterized in that the foot (16) projects downward in relation to the stacking edge (6) to a degree which is substantially the same as the degree in which the top edges (9) of the support elements (8) are staggered downward in relation to the stacking shoulders (5) with the purpose of directly transferring loads to the top edges (9) of the support elements (8). In order to enable linear and staggered stacking of several identical transport containers (1), the foot (16) is subdivided into partial feet (16'). The substantially vertical webs (15, 15', 15'') of the foot or partial feet (16') have areas comprising first force transfer surfaces (22) and release areas (23) which are less staggered downward than the second support surfaces (24).

Description

Transport containers, which are designed in particular as a bottle crate

The invention relates - in particular as a bottle crate - to transport containers according to the preamble of independent claim 1. In such transport containers an attempt is made to find a construction which, while using as little material as possible, nevertheless ensures sufficient stability or resilience.

A first - designed as a bottle crate - transport container is known from the prior art. It has two sides, each enclosing an interior, lying opposite one another, each with opposite, for direct transfer of loads, upper edges designed as a stacking shoulder and lower edges designed as a stacking edge, a base that stabilizes the bottle crate on the longitudinal or end side walls molded support elements with upper edges, and a foot which is molded onto the floor and comprises essentially vertical webs and is set back from the longitudinal and end walls.

In contrast to the first, a second rectangular transport container - designed as a bottle crate - does not include any spars in the corners between the longitudinal and end walls, but instead does a network-like bottom that comprises essentially vertical webs. It also includes a truss that divides the interior to hold bottles, stabilizing the bottle crate, attached to the longitudinal or Front side walls formed on and essentially vertically running triangular spars, and a foot which is formed onto the floor and comprises essentially vertical webs and is set back with respect to the longitudinal and front side walls. This bottle crate has an orthogonal to hold 24 bottles with a content of 0.33 liters Truss, with the bottles arranged in 4 rows of 6 bottles. The external dimensions are 405 x 270 mm, which corresponds to an aspect ratio of the front to the long side walls of 2: 3. This bottle crate, which is known in the prior art, has proven itself per se, as it enables the bottle crate to be used in addition to the long-known linear stacking - in which the bottle crate of a second layer is located across the surface and exclusively on one bottle crate of the underlying, first layer - also the so-called staggered stacking - in which the bottle crates of a second layer only partially rest against a bottle crate of the underlying first layer and at least on two or more bottle crates of the first layer. In practice, transport containers or bottle crates are often manufactured without corner pillars and have especially thin longitudinal or end walls with relatively narrow stacking shoulders on their upper edges. The tolerances prescribed by the market can become problematic, particularly in the case of staggered stacking, which is preferred because of the increased stacking stability: The corner of a bottle crate of a second layer, which rests within the upper edge of a long side designed as a stacking shoulder, can show a tendency in the bottle crate if the load is high submerged first position. This may endanger the stability of the stack.

That should be remedied.

This is achieved according to the invention by proposing a transport container, which is designed in particular as a bottle crate and which, according to the characterizing part of independent claim 1, is characterized in that the foot, for the direct transfer of loads to the upper edges of support elements, essentially does that same dimension protrudes downwards from the stack edge as the top edges of the support elements are set down against the stacking shoulder. Preferred developments of the transport container according to the invention result from the dependent claims.

The proposed construction has the advantage that the loads over one, e.g. conceived as a bottle crate, transport container of a lower layer of layers of the bottle crate on the stacking shoulders and at the same time on the e.g. Carrying elements designed as triangular spars are transmitted. As a result, the side walls are less stressed. The fact that the foot rests on the upper edges of such support elements arranged on the inside of the side walls also causes a tendency of the wall to move away from the inside of the container below, so that the dipping of a corner of an existing bottle crate into an underlying bottle crate, which is observable in the prior art, is effectively prevented .

The proposed design is suitable both for containers without truss partitioning of the interior and for bottle crates in normal construction (with full floor and / or with corner spars) or in lightweight construction (with a network-like floor comprising essentially vertical webs, with or without corner spars).

With the aid of schematic drawings, an embodiment of the transport container according to the invention is to be shown as a bottle crate, by way of example and in no way restricting the scope of the invention. Show:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle crate;

2a shows a view of a longitudinal side wall of the bottle crate; 2b shows a view of an end wall of the bottle crate;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a bottle crate from above;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a bottle crate from below;

Fig. 5 A detail section through two stacked bottle crates.

FIG. 1 shows a container 1 according to the invention - designed as a bottle crate - in a perspective view. This bottle crate each has two longitudinal 3 or front side walls 4 enclosing an interior space 2, each lying opposite one another, with upper edges 5 designed as a stacking shoulder and lower edges 6 designed as a stacking edge for the direct transfer of loads. A honeycomb-like framework 7 divides the interior 2 to hold 20 bottles with a content of 0.5 liters. On the longitudinal 3 or front side walls 4, the bottle crate 1 stabilizing, substantially perpendicular and formed as a triangular support elements 8 are formed. The foot, which is formed onto the floor and comprises essentially vertical webs and is set back with respect to the longitudinal and end walls (see FIG. 2), stands for the direct transfer of loads to upper edges 9 of support elements 8 designed as triangular spars by substantially the same amount - Above the stacking edge 6 downwards, how the upper edges of the triangular spars 8 are set down relative to the stacking shoulder 5.

This rectangular transport container 1, designed as a bottle crate, has no spars in the corner areas, but only reinforcement webs 10 in order to minimize weight. The longitudinal 3 or end wall 4 sen window cutouts 11, each having a stabilizing web 12 on three sides. Those stabilizing webs 12, which only connect to another stabilizing web at one end, have a height running towards zero at the other end. In the area of windows 11 4 carrying handles 13 are formed in the end walls (cf. also FIG. 2B).

Furthermore, a section line X — X is drawn in FIG. 1, which denotes the course of the section in FIG. 5; the arrow indicates the direction of view.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal wall 3 (FIG. 2A) and an end wall 4 (FIG. 2B) of the transport container 1 according to the invention - designed as a bottle crate. The window cutouts 11 can be seen clearly and each have a stabilizing web 12 on three sides. Those stabilizing webs which only connect to another stabilizing web at one end have a height running towards the other end. The region 14 of the mutual connection of the stabilizing webs 12 is shown rounded here. The longitudinal 3 or end wall 4 has, for the direct transfer of loads, an upper edge 5 designed as a stacking shoulder and a lower edge 6 designed as a stacking edge. The foot 16, which is formed onto the floor and comprises essentially vertical webs 15 and is set back with respect to the longitudinal and front side walls, stands for the direct transfer of loads to upper edges 9 of support elements 8 designed as triangular spars, by substantially the same amount compared to the stacking edge 6 shows how the upper edges 9 of the support elements or triangular spars 8 are set down relative to the stacking shoulder 5. The foot 16 is divided into six partial feet 16 'to enable both the linear and the offset stacking of a plurality of similar transport containers or bottle crates 1. FIG. 3 shows a top view of a container 1 according to the invention, designed as a bottle crate, from above. Here you can clearly see the two longitudinal 3 or end walls 4, each enclosing an interior 2, with opposite top edges 5 formed thereon for direct transfer of loads, designed as a stacking shoulder 5. The bottle crate is for holding 20 formed bottles with egg ^¬ nem content of 0.5 liters and has a honeycomb-like truss 17. Carrier elements 8, which are formed on the longitudinal 3 or end walls 4 and are designed as triangular spars and run essentially perpendicular to the floor, stabilize the bottle crate 1 by reinforcing the walls. These support elements 8 can be designed as spars, the cross section of which comprises a shape deviating from a triangle, such as a polynomial, an arc shape, etc. Other shapes of support elements 8 such as ribs, walls and wall heels are conceivable, they are also preferably arranged on the inside of the side walls and molded onto them. The support elements 8 designed as triangular spars are only continuously open here in a partial area because, to enlarge the windows 11, the triangular spars 8 have been narrowed on one side and the part of the triangular spar that ends near the lower window edge 18 has been provided with a cover 19 (cf. also Fig. 1).

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a transport container 1 according to the invention - designed as a bottle crate - from below. The bottom 20 of the bottle crate is network-like and essentially comprises vertical webs 15 and horizontal webs 21. The foot 16, which is molded onto the bottom 20 and comprises essentially vertical webs 15 and is set back from the longitudinal and end walls, is to enable both the linear and also the staggered stacking of several similar containers divided into six partial feet 16 '. The essentially vertical webs 15 of the foot 16 or the partial feet 16 'have first areas (including dotted lines) comprising force transmission areas 22 and release zones 23, which are less offset than second areas comprising standing areas 24 (shown in broken lines). This distinction between power transmission 22 and standing surfaces 24 indicates the different functions that the lower edges of these webs 15 can perform. The lower edges can all be arranged at the same height; However, it has proven to be advantageous to raise the force transmission surfaces 22 somewhat in relation to the standing surfaces 24, so that only these standing surfaces 24 are loaded when the transport container 1 is set up. In practice, such bottle crates 1 are often placed roughly on a base or even pushed around on this. This leads to excessive wear on the surfaces that come into contact with the base. Due to the transfer of loads from the feet 16, 16 'to the support elements 8, the extent of the support elements 8 being set down relative to the stacking shoulders 5 and the foot 16 or the partial feet 16' relative to the stacking edge 6 should be kept as constant as possible. The lifting of the force transmission surfaces 22 relative to the standing surfaces 24 - for example by 2 mm - thus protects the force transmission surfaces 22, so that the conditions described, which are important for load transmission, can be maintained over a longer period of time. The release zones 23 are required for the transition from the force transmission surfaces 22 to the standing surfaces 24 and have a dimension adapted to the manufacturing tolerances of the transport containers.

The bottle crate 1 shown comprises partial feet 16 ', which have a shape which enables linear and offset stacking with transport containers or bottle crates from the prior art. The webs 15 'directed towards the outside and the webs 15''directed towards the inside, together with the upper edges, fulfill one A lower-lying bottle crate or transport container has a centering function that stabilizes the stack. The bottle crate 1 shown is - viewed transversely to the long side 3 - for a one-third or two-thirds overlapping and - viewed transversely to the end face 4 - for a semi-overlapping stacking. Finer or coarser divisions, for example those which only divide the long side, could also be provided.

4 also shows that the triangular spars 8 are at least partially continuously open in an essentially vertical direction. The through openings are designated by 25 and correspond to those in FIG. 3.

The bottle crate 1 shown has external dimensions which are 405 x 270 mm; this corresponds to an aspect ratio of the front to the longitudinal side walls of 2: 3. The mass of the transport container or bottle crate 1 according to the invention coincide in the horizontal direction with that of the bottle crate known in the prior art, so that a linear and offset stacking e.g. of bottle crate with 4x6 truss (bottle content 0.33 1) and 4x5 truss (bottle content 0.5 1) - at least in layers - is easily possible.

FIG. 5 shows - in accordance with the section line X — X shown in FIG. 1 - a detail section through two stacked, inventive containers - designed as a bottle crate - transport container 1. The side wall of a bottle crate F1 lying underneath takes part of the load of a bottle crate F2 lying thereon over the top edge 5 designed as a stacking shoulder from bottom edge 6 designed as a stacking edge. Another part of the load of the bottle crate F2 lying thereon is stabilized on the transport container by means of the essentially vertical webs which are formed on the bottom and which are set back with respect to the longitudinal and end walls. rende, formed on the longitudinal or end walls, here designed as triangular spars support elements 8 with upper edges 9 transferred. 5 clearly shows that the foot, for the direct transfer of loads to the upper edges 9 of the support elements 8, projects downward from the stack edge 6 by substantially the same amount as the upper edges 9 of the support elements 8 from the stack shoulder 5 downwards are discontinued. The release zones 23 are required for the transition in the webs 15, 15 'from the force transmission surfaces 22 to the standing surfaces 24 and have a dimension adapted to the manufacturing tolerances of the transport containers.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Transport container (1), which is designed in a rectangular design - in particular as a bottle crate - and comprises the following elements:

• two opposing longitudinal (3) or end side walls (4), each enclosing an interior space (2), with upper edges (5) designed as stacking shoulders and lower edges (6) designed as stacking edges for direct transfer of loads;

• a base (20);

• Support elements (8) with upper edges (9) which stabilize the container (1) and are molded onto the longitudinal or end side walls; and

• a foot (16) formed on the base (20) and comprising essentially vertical webs (15, 15', 15'') and set back from the longitudinal (3) and end side walls (4), which is used to directly transfer loads on the upper edges (9) of the support elements in order to

Substantially the same extent protrudes downwards relative to the stacking edge (6) as the upper edges (9) of the support elements (8) are offset downwards relative to the stacking shoulder (5), characterized in that the essentially vertical webs (15, 15', 15' ') of the foot (16) or partial feet (16') have first areas comprising force transmission surfaces (22) and relief zones (23), which are set less downwards than second areas comprising standing areas (24).

2. Transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the interior (2) comprises a framework (17) for receiving bottles.

). Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises support elements (8) or triangular bars which run essentially perpendicular to the floor (20).

1. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (20) is designed like a network and comprises essentially vertical webs (15, 15' 15").

5. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foot (16) is divided into six partial feet (16 ') to enable both linear and staggered stacking of several similar containers (1).

6. Transport container according to claim 5, characterized in that the partial feet (16 ') have a shape which enables linear and offset stacking with containers or bottle crates from the prior art.

7. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the triangular bars (8) are at least partially continuously open in a substantially vertical direction.

8. Transport container according to claim 7, characterized in that the triangular bars (8) are partially rounded on their upper edges (9) to form a guide funnel for the bottles.

9. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal (3) or front side walls (4) have window cutouts (11), which each have a stabilizing bar (12) on three sides.

10. Transport container according to claim 9, characterized in that those stabilizing webs (12) which only connect at one end to a further stabilizing web (12) have a height that approaches zero towards the other end.

11. Transport container according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that carrying handles (13) are formed in the area of windows (11) in the end walls (4).

12. A transport container designed as a bottle crate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed to hold 20 bottles with a content of 0.5 liters and has a honeycomb-like framework (17).