WO2004041680A1

WO2004041680A1 - Container for transporting goods

Info

Publication number: WO2004041680A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/013236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Jürgen VOIGT; Volker Birkenbeil
Original assignee: New-Logistics Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-11-05
Filing date: 2002-11-25
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: DE10251445A1; DE10251445B4; EP1575849A1; AU2002352131A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (10) for transporting goods, comprising a transport compartment (1) which is open on at least one end side and can be converted into an empty transporting position having a reduced volume, a stabilizing device (2), and an end part for closing the open end side or end sides of the transport compartment in the transporting position. Said aim is achieved in a container of the aforementioned type by configuring at least one end part (3, 4) in a plate-shaped manner, said plate-shaped end part or end parts being placeable in a compact manner in the empty transporting position of the container (10), while a sealing device is disposed between the respective plate-shaped end part and the end side of the transport cell so as to seal the open end side or end sides of the transport compartment in the transporting position.

Description

Containers for the transportation of goods

The present invention relates to a container for transporting goods according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic container for the transport of goods has a transport cell with at least one top part, one bottom part and two side parts, which is open on at least one end face, the transport cell being convertible from a transport position with usable volume into a reduced-volume empty transport position. The container also has a stabilizing device for stabilizing the transport cell in the transport position and in each case at least one end part for closing the open end face or end faces of the transport cell in the transport position.

A container of the type mentioned is known for example from DE 021 11 561 U1. Containers of a similar type with a transport position and a volume-reduced empty transport position are also known from GB 2 160 851 A, US-3,405, 835, US-5,190,179, GB 1 107 196 A. Such containers, which, however, cannot be reduced in volume conventionally, are used to transport almost all goods by road, rail and water. In order to be able to withstand the rough transport and storage operations, the containers have to be of stable construction and therefore have a considerable weight. They pose a significant problem with port if they are not loaded, ie in empty transport, must be transported and need the same volume as when loaded. However, it is very often necessary to transport these containers empty, since there are often no corresponding goods at the destination of the goods that can be transported back with the containers. However, it is necessary to transport the containers back, as they are used again as transport containers at other locations.

Since the containers as such already represent a considerable value, there are limits to increasing the number of containers from an economical point of view, but also from an ecological point of view. This means that refraining from directly returning containers for which no corresponding goods are available at their destination means unprofitability from a certain number of containers. The unpaired flow of traffic with the resulting necessity for a very cost-intensive empty disposition of the containers represents one of the biggest problems of international container shipping that have not yet been solved.

Since the transport of an empty container, regardless of the mode of transport used, generally causes the same costs as the transport of a loaded container, there are disadvantages or problems with regard to the costs. In addition, the ecological aspect is getting more and more attention.

The above consideration applies accordingly to the domestic transport of swap bodies.

The known containers mentioned at the outset could in principle solve the problems described. It has been found, however, that the known containers due to their very complex folding mechanisms and the extremely poor protective effect against the transported goods Weather and water influences did not go beyond a test stage. It has been shown that, in particular, the many hinge connections between the foldable individual parts of the containers could not withstand the rough transport operation, so that in many cases the containers are folded or transferred from a transport position to an empty transport position or vice versa due to a jamming of the sensitive ones Hinge parts were not possible. Another disadvantage of the known foldable transport containers is that they consist of a large number of individual parts which have to be manufactured with high precision, so that containers of this type could only be produced very costly overall. Much _Λ originally neuter 'for the failure of the known container were also non-existent water resistance and the high weight of the containers.

It is a task of the present invention to design a container of the type mentioned above, which is of simple construction, which can withstand the rough transport and handling operations and in which a good seal is achieved.

This object is achieved by a container for the transport of goods with the features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the container according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

A container of the type specified above is further developed according to the invention in that at least one end part is plate-shaped, that the plate-like end part or the plate-like end parts can or can be arranged in a space-saving manner in the empty transport position of the container and that for sealing the open end face or A sealing device is provided between the plate-like end part and the end face of the transport cell in each case on the end faces of the transport cell in the transport position.

The core concept of the present invention can be seen in the case of a simply constructed transport cell, which can also be referred to as the inner shell and has a tubular or tubular shape and is thus closed in one direction of circulation, a plate-like end part on at least one end face and between the transport cell and plate-like front part to provide a sealing device.

A major advantage of the container according to the invention is that the usable volume and thus the transported goods are reliably protected from dust, water and other weather effects by the transport cell closed with the plate-like end parts.

This is achieved with a simple structure and with simple measures, so that the container according to the invention can be manufactured overall very inexpensively and with a low empty weight.

Another important advantage is that the functions of tightness and stability, which are provided in the container according to the invention by the transport cell to be closed with the plate-like front parts or by the stabilization device, are achieved in a structurally independent manner, so that overall a very reliable operation becomes possible. Furthermore, the container according to the invention can withstand the rough transport and handling operation particularly reliably due to the simple but nevertheless stable construction.

Finally, the container according to the invention can be transferred from its empty transport position with a small empty transport volume to its transport position and vice versa with the aid of existing handling devices and container loading devices, such as forklifts, with this transfer only a very small manual use.

,.1

Overall, the container according to the invention can be produced and made available at a similar cost as normal transport containers, the volume of which cannot be changed.

An embodiment of the container according to the invention is particularly preferred in which the plate-like end parts in the empty transport position of the container can be transferred, in particular pivoted, to a substantially parallel position to the top part and / or the bottom part of the transport cell. The end parts can then be accommodated in a particularly space-saving manner and the volume saved in the empty transport position is particularly large.

For this purpose, it is expedient to provide a storage area or storage areas for the end parts in a ceiling and / or in a floor area of the container. The front parts are then stored in a protected position in the empty transport position. A particularly convenient transformation of the container from the transport position into the empty transport position and vice versa can be achieved if the transport cell can be transferred from the transport position into the empty transport position by pivoting the side parts, the top part and / or the bottom part, in particular by folding.

This can be achieved in a structurally particularly simple manner if the side parts are each formed in two parts and if the pivoting of the two-part side parts inwards and simultaneous parallel lowering of the ceiling part onto the bottom part of the container can be carried from the transport position into the empty transport position. It is thereby achieved that the container in the empty transport position takes up the same floor area as in the transport position, but a significantly reduced total volume.

In this context, a configuration of the transport cell is particularly preferred in which the cover part, the base part and the side parts are each connected to an adjacent part by elastic segments, in particular made of an elastomer material. The result is a transport cell that is simply constructed from solid and elastic elements and enables reliable sealing against dust and weather influences.

The end parts, the side parts, the top part and / or the bottom part are expediently designed as a sandwich or ribbed plate. These are materials that are available as semi-finished products as standard. In addition, a particularly low empty weight of the container can be achieved with these materials. In principle, the sealing device can be arranged in any manner between the transport cell and the end parts, but a configuration of the container according to the invention is particularly preferred, in which the sealing device is provided on the front side as a circumferential seal on the transport cell. The seal can thus be arranged in a protected manner and the risk of damage can be kept low.

A particularly reliable sealing function, which is maintained in particular even if the relative position of the end plates to the transport cell is changed, can be achieved if the sealing device is designed as a sealing coating of the plate-like end parts.

In a further preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, the stabilization device is designed as a scaffold, in particular with cross members, longitudinal members and / or vertical posts. This enables a light, yet very stable construction to be achieved. In particular, the stowage area or stowage areas for the end parts can be provided in a ceiling or floor area of the scaffold.

The scaffold can be made smaller, in particular foldable, in a structurally simple manner if the vertical posts are designed to be pivotable, in particular as pivotable corner posts.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the container according to the invention, the pivotable corner posts, for example in the region of corner fittings arranged essentially on all the lower square corners of the transport cell, can be pivoted about an axis which is oriented essentially parallel to the base part. Corner fittings with regularly standardized openings for the engagement of lashing devices and baffles of various types are regularly available for containers in all eight corner points. Containers stacked on top of each other lie on the corner fittings with the interposition of baffle pieces. The corner fittings are therefore generally highly stable construction elements, so that it is extremely advantageous according to the invention to provide the folding axes for the post elements in these elements as well.

It is also advantageous if the post elements at their articulation areas can be rapidly and slidably received in guides which are formed in the longitudinal edge areas of the cover part. In the articulation areas of the post elements to the cover part, a sliding joint is formed, so to speak, the post element being able to slide back and forth in this guide when the container is being folded up or unfolded

Appropriately, running areas for the pivotable corner posts are then formed in the longitudinal beams. In principle, these can be provided on each side member. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, however, the pivotable corner posts can be pivoted about an axis lying essentially in the floor plane in the plane of the side parts, so that the running areas are correspondingly provided in the upper longitudinal members.

Overall, a very reliably working structure can be achieved in this way, in which problems such as those which occurred in the previously known containers, for example with jammed hinges, are largely excluded in practical operation. In order to achieve easy handling of the container according to the invention with existing machines and tools, it is also preferred to provide forklift guides in a ceiling and / or in a floor area, in particular of the scaffolding. These can in particular consist of profiles welded on transversely to the longitudinal beams, for example made of steel or aluminum.

With regard to the good compatibility with existing systems, tools and machines, it is also preferred if the scaffolding has corner fittings with standardized openings. In this context, in particular,

Advantage if the container is stackable. This

It can be achieved particularly easily in the case of a cuboid-shaped container with an essentially cuboid-shaped transport cell, the container expediently having standardized external dimensions. Overall, an externally robust, standardized and stackable container can thus be provided.

In order to ensure safe handling of the container, especially in the transport and empty transport positions, suitable safety devices are expediently provided.

The container according to the invention can thus be secured in the transport and empty transport positions by simple and robustly constructed manually operated locking elements. These locking elements can in particular be designed such that defined forces can also be transmitted.

In particular, post securing devices can be provided to secure the pivotable corner posts in the transport position of the container. be seen. Furthermore, it can be expedient to provide the container with an empty transport lock for securing in the empty transport position.

The functionality of the container according to the invention can be further increased and in particular the loading of the container according to the invention with the goods to be transported can be considerably facilitated if at least one end part of the container is designed as an access. Such access can in particular be implemented in the manner of a door.

In order to ensure safe operation here, too, it makes sense to provide a front part securing device to secure the end parts in the open position and / or in the respective storage area.

In another preferred embodiment, the container is designed as a swap body or swap body, in particular with standardized external dimensions, for use in combined traffic.

For the intermediate storage of such a container, support devices, in particular telescopic and / or foldable support legs, can be provided, which are preferably arranged in standardized positions.

Such support devices can be of simple construction, in particular an embodiment is preferred in which the support legs are formed as an integral part of the bottom region of the container, in particular of the scaffold.

Further advantages and properties of the container according to the invention are described below with reference to the attached schematic figures. There shows: 1 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of a container according to the invention with closed end faces;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the container according to the invention from FIG. 1 with open end plates which are partially inserted into stowage areas provided for this purpose;

3 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a transport cell of the container according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2 in a transition state between the transport position and the empty transport position with the end plates removed;

4 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of an outer frame of the container according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2;

5 shows a highly schematic side view of the container according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a partially broken approximately central

Horizontal sectional view of the container according to the invention along the line 6-6 in Figure 5;

7 is a highly schematic side view of the container according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2;

8 shows an approximately central vertical sectional view of the container according to the invention along the lines 8 - 8 in FIG. 7; 9 is a perspective view of a highly schematic representation of a container according to the invention designed as a swap body;

10 is a schematic partial sectional view of a telescopic and foldable support leg of the swap body from FIG. 9;

11 is a schematic partial sectional view of the telescopic and foldable support leg from FIG. 10 with the foldable support foot extended; and

12 is a schematic partial sectional view of the _A telescopic and foldable support leg from FIGS. 10 and 11 with the support foot pulled out and folded down.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematically in perspective views a container 10 according to the invention with an essentially cuboid shape, the essential components of which are a transport cell 1, a frame 2 as a stabilizing device 2, which can also be referred to as an outer frame 2, and plate-like end parts 3, 4 , which can also be referred to as end plates 3, 4.

In the illustration shown in FIG. 1, the end faces of the transport cell 1 are closed with the front end plate 3 or with the rear end plate 4, which is essentially parallel thereto.

Identical or equivalent components are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures. FIG. 2 shows the container 10 according to the invention with open end faces, the front end plate 3 and the rear end plate 4 each being partially inserted into stowage areas provided for this purpose in a ceiling area of the outer frame 2, which are described below in connection with FIG. 8. The direction of movement of the front end plate 3 and the rear end plate 4 when inserted into the storage area is shown by an arrow 12.

The transport cell 1 of the container 10 from FIGS. 2 and 3, which is shown schematically in a perspective view in FIG. 3, has a tubular or tubular shape with end faces open on both sides and one that is essentially watertight and dust-tight all the way to a longitudinal direction of the container Structure on.

The transport cell 1, which is shown in a transition state between the transport position and the empty transport position in FIG. 3, has a ceiling part 1.1, a bottom part 1.2 essentially parallel thereto and two-part side parts 1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11. In the transport position of the container 10 shown in Fig. 1, the transport cell 1 also has an essentially cuboid shape, i.e. the side parts 1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11 are arranged essentially parallel to one another.

The top part 1.1, the bottom part 1.2 and the side parts 1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11 can also be referred to as a fixed inner shell, which can be designed in particular as a sandwich or ribbed plate. Between each two of these fixed inner shell elements there is an elastic inner shell segment 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12, which fulfills a hinge function and thus enables the transport cell 1 to be folded or folded. The elastic inner shell segments 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10 can therefore also be referred to as folding segments. This collapsing or collapsing process is illustrated in FIG. 3. The transport cell 1 is shown there in a transition state between the transport position and the empty transport position, that is to say the side parts 1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11 have already been swung inward in the direction of the usable volume and the cover part 1.1 has thereby been moved parallel towards the base part 1.2 , The direction of movement of the ceiling part 1.2 during the transition from the transport position into the empty transport position is in

Fig. 3 marked by the arrow 14.

The transport cell 1 is therefore made up of geometrically very simple solid and elastic parts, the elastic parts, that is to say the elastic inner shell segments 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12, being arranged in the folding regions. The elastic and the solid parts of the transport cell 1, which can also be referred to as the inner shell, are permanently connected to one another in the longitudinal direction, in a water-tight and dust-tight manner. This connection, which can be designed in particular as a groove connection, always exists and cannot be released for the folding process.

The transport cell 1 is integrated in a robust scaffold 2, which can be folded up by longitudinally folding corner posts and which is described below in connection with FIG. 4. This frame 2 essentially absorbs all forces acting on the container 10 from the outside.

In the empty transport position, the ceiling part 1.1 essentially lies on the side parts 1.6 and 1.11, while rend the side parts 1.4 and 1.9 essentially come into contact with the bottom part 1.2.

The transport cell 1 shown in FIG. 3 also has, according to the invention, a circumferential sealing device on both end faces, which is described below in connection with FIG. 6 and is not shown in FIG. 3 for reasons of clarity.

In order to illustrate the transition of the container 10 from the transport position into the empty transport position, the front is also shown in FIG. 3 in a partially broken view

Front part 3 and the rear end part 4 are shown in a position already removed from the transport cell 1. A direction of movement of the front end part 3 and of the rear end part 4 during the transition from the transport position into the empty transport position and vice versa is indicated by a double arrow 16. The direction of movement of the ceiling part 1.1 during the transition from the transport position into the empty transport position is indicated by the arrow 14. Unsupported and empty, the transport cell 1 would always fall into the empty transport state.

The outer frame 2 shown in detail in FIG. 4 of the container 10 according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2 also has an essentially cuboid structure with longitudinal beams 2.7, 2.8, cross beams 24 and vertical beams 2.1.

At the total of eight corners of this cuboid structure, standardized container corner fittings 2.2 are provided. The robust and standardized corner fittings 2.2 are for reloading the container 10 from one means of transport to one other means of transport and for attaching and securing the container 10 in the transport state and empty spur state he ordered. The vertical supports 2.1 are designed as foldable or pivotable corner posts 2.1, which are articulated in the area of the lower square corners and can be pivoted about an axis oriented essentially parallel to the base part. Correspondingly, guides for the pivotable corner posts 2.1 are provided in the longitudinal beams 2.7 of the ceiling area, in which they are slidably received. A sliding joint is thus formed on the articulation areas of the corner posts 2.1 to the longitudinal beams 2.7 of the ceiling part of the scaffold 2, the corner posts 2 .., which can also be referred to as post elements 2.1, in the guides described when the container 10 is folded or unfolded and can slide here.

Correspondingly, rotating guides 2.3 are formed in the lower corner areas for the corner posts 2.1, which at the same time include a lock for the empty transport position. For each of the pivotable corner posts 2.1, a securing device 2.6 is provided in the area of the lifting and sliding joint described above, which at the same time represents a lock for the empty transport position.

In order to ensure that the container 10 according to the invention can be handled comfortably with the aid of existing handling devices, in particular with a forklift, two forklift guides 2.4, 2.5 are provided on the top and bottom of the outer frame.

The scaffold 2 also takes the end walls 3, 4 required for closing the container on the front side in particular can be designed as doors. The seals required for the production of water and dust tightness are not part of these end walls, end doors or end plates 3, 4, but are mounted in a protected manner on the end sides of the transport cell 1.

Advantageously, both end faces of the container 10 can optionally or simultaneously be designed as a door or as an access. These doors or access locks can be opened and pushed onto the ceiling part of the transport cell 1 and secured there. Here these front access locks (door, doors or rear wall) are also stored in the empty transport position of the container 10. The container 10 is in

1 Empty transport position is mechanically secured and cannot be unfolded unintentionally or in an uncontrolled manner.

The fixed parts of the transport cell 1 and the front access closures, i.e. In the present case, the end plates 3, 4 are designed such that, when the container 10 is in the transport state, they support the foldable scaffold 2 when absorbing forces, in particular buckling forces during transport or stacking.

Further details of the container 10 according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2 are described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8.

6 shows a partially broken horizontal section through the container 10 according to the invention in the transport position, ie the end faces of the transport cell 1 are closed by the front end part 3 or by the rear end part 4. It can be seen particularly well in the sectional view of FIG. 6 that through the sealing inserts - left

Direction 5.2, which is arranged as a circumferential seal on the end face of the transport cell 1, a tight closing of the transport cell and thus the usable volume is made possible. To lock the front end part 3 and the rear end part 4 in the closed position shown in FIG. 6, wall locks 3.1, 4.1 are provided, through which in particular buckling loads can also be transmitted.

Furthermore, locking devices 5.3 for the pivotable corner posts 2.1 are indicated schematically in FIG. 6. Compared to the schematic representation of the outer frame 2 in FIG. 4, the container 10 shown in a sectional view in FIG. 6 additionally has middle pivotable support posts 5.1 and associated post locks 5.3. Such additional middle support posts 5.1 are particularly useful for long containers.

As can be seen from the vertical sectional view shown in FIG. 8 of the container according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2, a stowage area 2.9 is provided for the front end part 3 and the rear end part 4 in the ceiling area of the outer frame 2. This stowage area 2.9 is essentially formed by suitably profiled upper longitudinal beams 2.7 of the frame 2, into which the front end part 3 and the rear end part 4 can be inserted. The upper side members 2.7 of the stand 2 and the lower side members 2.8 of the stand 2 can be designed in particular as a cold-rolled steel profile or as a continuous cast aluminum profile.

Furthermore, the structure of the transport cell 1 is shown in FIG. 8 with the sequence of fixed areas, which consist of the ceiling part 1.1, the bottom part 1.2 and the side parts 1.4 1.6, 1.9, 1.11 are formed and elastic parts, ie the areas 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12 can be seen particularly well. The transport cell 1 is connected to the outer frame 2 via corner connections 6.1.

The following steps must therefore be carried out to transfer the container 10 according to the invention from the transport position into the empty transport position.

First, the container or container 10 must be secured with an external securing device, for example a forklift or a container spreader, before securing or locking devices are released. i

Then the wall locks 3.1, 4.1 of the 'front face 3 and the rear face 4 can be released. The front end face 3 and the rear end face 4 are then to be removed from the transport cell and inserted into the dust areas 2.9 provided in the ceiling area of the scaffold 2, as indicated by the arrows 12 in FIG. 2.

Then the locking devices 5.3, which can also be referred to as post locks, are to be released and the pivotable corner posts 2.1 are slowly pivoted downward, the upper ends of the pivotable corner posts 2.1 sliding in the designated running areas of the upper side members 2.7.

By slowly swiveling the pivotable corner posts 2.1, the side parts 1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11 fold inwards at the same time, and the elastic areas 1.3, 1.5., 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12 are bent. This pivoting process is continued until, as described above in connection with FIG. 3, the ceiling part 1.1 of the transport cell 1 essentially on the side parts 1.6 and 1.11 comes to rest and the side parts 1.4 and 1.9 come into contact with the bottom part 1.2.

In order to secure the container in the empty transport position then reached and also the end plates 3, 4 introduced into the storage areas 2.9, the safety devices provided for this purpose, in particular locks, not shown in the figures, can be actuated.

A transfer of the transport container from the empty transport position into the transport position essentially takes place by reversing the procedure described above.

In FIG. 9, a container 10 according to the invention, designed as an interchangeable container, is shown schematically with a total of four. telescopic and foldable support legs 8.1, which are attached to standardized positions of the container 10, shown. The direction of pulling out and pivoting the telescopic and foldable support legs 8.1 is indicated in FIG. 9 by the arrows 18, 20.

A partial sectional view of a support leg 8.1 is shown in FIG. 10. The support leg 8.1 consists, in addition to a support 8.3, which is formed integrally with a base group of the outer frame 2, of a telescopic support foot support 8.5 and of the height-adjustable, telescopic and foldable support foot 8.4. An inner cross section of the foldable support foot is identified in FIG. 10 by reference number 22. At the outwardly facing end of the cross member 8.3, a surround 8.2 is provided to protect the telescopic and foldable support leg.

The telescopic and foldable support leg 8.1 in the extended position compared to FIG. 10 is shown in FIG. 11. The direction of movement of the telescopic support foot 8.5 and the telescopic and foldable support foot 8.4 is indicated by the arrow 18. In Fig. 12, the support leg 8.1 is shown in the folded position, ie the horizontal support leg 8.5 is pulled out of the cross member 8.3 and the support leg 8.4 is folded away from the horizontal support leg 8.5 by an angle of 90. To fold this, whose

Direction indicated by the arrow 20 to be able to carry it out in a safe manner, a safety joint 8.6 is provided between the horizontal support base 8.5 and the support base 8.4.

With the help of the support feet 8.1, a container 10 according to the invention can be parked at any location and the height adjustability of the support feet 8.1 makes it possible to set up the container 10 in a simple manner, for example by a truck.

The support legs 8.1 are particularly advantageous when the container 10 according to the invention is used as an interchangeable container, that is to say when the container 10 is used with various means of transport, for example ship and truck.

The individual parts of the exemplary embodiment of a container 10 according to the invention described here are connected to one another both in the transport position and in the empty transport position.

The basic construction of the container 10 according to the invention can be flexibly adapted to all standard container sizes, both as a container and as an interchangeable container for water, rail and road transport. In addition, the container 10 according to the invention described here can be easily transferred from its empty transport position to its transport position and vice versa using standardized container handling devices, such as are available worldwide at the individual handling locations, or by means of a forklift.

Due to the selected construction, the container 10 according to the invention can also be produced with the investment volume that is to be expected for normal, standardized and non-collapsible containers or containers or swap bodies. The construction proposed according to the solution is chosen in such a way that even without a large infrastructure

1 the individual destinations at which the containers 10 are stored or handled, repairs can be carried out if the folding mechanism of the container 10 or the transport cell 1 has suffered damage as a result of improper handling or external influences.

Claims

1. Container for the transportation of goods

with a transport cell (1) which has at least one ceiling part (1.1), a bottom part (1.2) and two side parts (1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11) and is open on at least one end face,

- The transport cell (1) can be transferred from a transport position with usable volume into a volume-reduced empty transport position,

- With a stabilizing device (2) for stabilizing the transport cell (1) at least in the transport position and

- each with at least one end part (3, 4) for closing the open end face or end faces of the transport cell (1) in the transport position, thereby ensuring that

- That at least one end part (3, 4) is plate-like,

- That the plate-like front part (3, 4) or the plate-like end parts (3, 4) in the empty transport position of the container (10) can be arranged in a space-saving manner and

- That a sealing device (5.2) is provided between the plate-like end part (3, 4) and the end face of the transport cell (1) for sealing the open end face or end faces of the transport cell (1) in the transport position.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate-like end parts (3, 4) in the empty transport position of the container (10) in a substantially parallel position to the ceiling part (1.1) and / or the bottom part (1.2) of the transport cell (1 ) are transferable, in particular pivotable.

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport cell (1) by pivoting the side parts (1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11), the ceiling part (1.1) and / or the bottom part (1.2), in particular i by folding , can be transferred from the transport position to the empty transport position.

4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing device (5.2) is provided as a circumferential seal on the transport cell (1) on the end face.

5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sealing device (5.2) is designed as a coating of the plate-like end parts (3, 4).

6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transport cell (1) is cuboid.

, Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side parts (1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11) are each formed in two parts and that the container (10) by swiveling the two-part side parts (1-4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11 ) can be transferred inwards and by simultaneously lowering the top section (1.1) onto the bottom section (1.2) from the transport position to the empty transport position.

8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that * the top part (1.1), the bottom part (1.2) and ^' the side parts (1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11) each by elastic segments (1.3, 1.5, 1.7 , 1.8, 1.10, 1.12), in particular made of an elastomer material, are connected to an adjacent part.

9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the end parts (3, 4), the side parts (1.4, 1.6, 1.9, 1.11), the ceiling part (1.1) and / or the bottom part (1.2) as a sandwich - Or ribbed plate is formed.

10. Container according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the stabilizing device (2) is designed as a scaffold (2), in particular with cross members, longitudinal members (2.7, 2.8) and / or vertical posts (2.1).

11. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the vertical posts (2.1) are designed as pivotable corner posts (2.1).

12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that forklift guides (2.4, 2.5) are provided in a ceiling and / or in a floor area, in particular of the scaffold (2).

13. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a stowage area or stowage areas for the end parts (3, 4) is provided in a ceiling and / or in a floor area, in particular the scaffold (2) or are.

14. Container according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that longitudinal members (2.7) with running areas for the pivotable corner posts (2.1) are provided.

15. Container according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the frame (2) has corner fittings (2.2) with standardized openings.

16. Container according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that post securing means (5.3) are provided for securing the pivotable corner posts (2.1) in the transport position and in the empty transport position of the container (10).

17. Container according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that an empty transport lock (2.6) is provided for securing the container in the empty transport position.

18. Container according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least one end part (3, 4) of the container (10) is designed as an access.

19. Container according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a front part securing is provided for securing the end parts (3, 4) in the open position and / or in the respective storage area (2.9).

20. Container according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the container (10) is designed as a swap body or swap body.

21. Container according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that telescopic and / or foldable support legs (8.1), in particular in standardized positions, are provided.

22. A container according to claim 21, characterized in that the support legs (8.1) are formed as an integral part of the bottom region of the container (10), in particular the frame (2).

23. Container according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the container (10) has standardized external dimensions.

24. Container according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the container (10) is designed to be stackable.