WO2014111355A1

WO2014111355A1 - Pallet made of sheet metal

Info

Publication number: WO2014111355A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/050525
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Pisano
Original assignee: Roberto Pisano
Priority date: 2013-01-15
Filing date: 2014-01-14
Publication date: 2014-07-24
Also published as: ITVE20130002A1

Abstract

Pallet (2) comprising a platform (4) and at least two plinths (6) constructed separately from the platform (4) and connected thereto, the platform (4) comprising a plurality of stiffening ribs (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) and a plurality of shaped regions (32) for snap-connection to said plinths (6), each plinth (6) comprising a hollow body (8) and a ribbed base (10), constructed separately from each other and snap-connectable together, the body of each plinth (6) presenting at least two raised portions (28) defining a passage-hole (30) for the insertion of a lifting fork for the pallet, and comprising shaped regions at their top (38) for snap-connection to the corresponding shaped regions (32) provided in the platform (4), the snap-connection means (34, 40, 36, 44, 46, 50, 66, 64) between the platform (4) and the body of each plinth (6) and between the body of each plinth (6) and the respective base (10) being activated as the result of the application of a force having a direct component perpendicular to the platform (4), the platform (4) and the plinths (6) being made of metal sheet and being obtained by cold pressing of said metal sheet.

Description

PALLET MADE OF SHEET METAL

The present invention relates to an improved pallet with assemblable components.

Metal or plastic pallets are known for goods storage and transport. They have been used for some time in addition to traditional wooden pallets, and are indeed often preferred in various sectors because of a series of characteristics such as price, construction by automated machines, conformity to international requirements, etc.

However, currently known metal or plastic pallets are not completely satisfactory both because of their ratio of weight to capacity, and because of their overall size. In particular this latter is a critical factor during unloaded pallet transport, and precisely to obviate this drawback pallets have been proposed which can be assembled at the time of their use.

US 2006/0013991 describes an assembled pallet made of plastic: in particular its components are made for the most part in PE, PP, ABS, PC or other plastic materials and their combinations.

US 2005/01 93929 descri bes a pa l l et m ade of a composite of thermosetting resin and reinforcing fibers. Moreover, its assembly is carried out by providing heat and, therefore, its disassembly is not possible.

WO 2012/142576 describes a pallet consisting of two parallel platforms, one upper and one lower, connected together by means of supports. Even in this case, the pallet is made mainly of plastic material. In particular, the platform has a base made of compressible foam coated with an outer layer of thermoplastic material while the connecting portions are made by injection molding of polymer- based materials.

Notwithstand ing th is, known assemblage pallets are still costly to construct, and are complicated to assemble, in particular at the time of use, since specific equipment is required.

In particular, the known pallets made of plastic material are made by injection molding, and this makes them particularly expensive due to the large size and costs of the facilities used, and also because they require the use of a considerable amount of plastic material, and a greater weight, in order to obtain a good stability and load capacity. Not least the fact that the pallets in plastic material are particularly subjected to deformation and cracks that make them unusable.

An object of the invention is to provide an assemblage pallet of optimal weight/capacity ratio and of considerable structural rigidity and stability.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet which is of small overall size when in its unassembled configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet of simple, fast and low-cost construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pallet which can be easily and quickly assembled by the user without the use of special equipment.

These and other objects wh ich will be apparent from the ensu ing description are attained, according to the invention, by an improved pallet in accordance with claim 1 . Some preferred embodiments of the present invention are further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pallet according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged partly cut-away perspective view of a detail of the platform of the pallet of Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the body of a plinth of the pallet,

Figure 4 shows it in the same view as Figure 1 , but with a different form of platform,

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment thereof, Figure 6 shows it i n the sam e view as F ig u re 5, but i n th e assem bl ed configuration,

Figure 7 shows an enlarged cut-away detail of the connection between the platform and plinth,

Figure 8 shows the plinth base in perspective view, and

Figure 9 shows an enlarged cut-away detail of the connection between the base and body of the plinth,

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a platform in a third embodiment,

Figure 1 1 shows in an exploded perspective view of a plinth in this third embodiment,

Figure 12 shows an enlarged cut-away detail of the connection between the platform of figure 10 and the body of the plinth of Figure 1 1 ,

Figure 13 shows an enlarged cut-away detail of the connection between the base and the body of the plinth of Figure 1 1 . As can be seen from the figures, the improved pallet 2 according to the invention comprises substantially two separate types of component: a platform 4 and three plinths 6 each comprising a body 8 and a base 10.

The components of the pallet 2, that is, the platform 4 and the plinths 6, are made entirely of sheet metal and are obtained essentially for cold forming of said metal sheet. Also, before or after the cold forming, the sheet is suitably sheared so as to define the individual components of the pallet 2. In particular, the components of the pallet 2 are obtained by drawing a metal sheet, for example stainless steel or aluminum; preferably, they are obtained from a steel sheet having a thickness substantially comprised between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm.

Advantageously, the metal sheet used to realize the pallet 2 can also be coated with suitable polymeric materials, depending on the application.

The platform 4 is of substantially rectangular shape and presents a plurality of stiffening channels. In greater detail, the platform 4 shown in Figure 1 comprises a perimetral channel 12, a plurality of longitudinal channels 14 and X- shaped channels 16 integrated by a series of channelled portions 18. A pallet with a platform 4 having these characteristics has a dynamic load capacity of about 1500 kg, if constructed with sheet metal of 0.3-0.4 mm thickness.

It shou ld be noted that "dynam ic load capacity" means the weight supportable by the pallet during its handling, for example by a fork lift truck, or on a rack, i.e. the weight supportable by the pallet when supported with its lateral edges resting on a rack.

Preferably, the perimetral edge 22 of the platform 4 is bent firstly downwards to form a band 24 and then outwards and then upwards to define a folded edge 26 having a slightly rounded profile, as is well visible in Figure 7. This folded edge 26 eliminates those problems otherwise caused by a sharp free edge and, at the same time, substantially doubles the edge thickness, in this manner rendering more rigid those portions of the platform which come into contact with the prongs of the fork lift truck during engagement, lifting and transport of the pallet.

In the embod iment shown in Fig ure 4, the platform 4 comprises a perimetral channel 12 and a plurality of parallel transverse channels 20. A pallet with a platform 4 having these characteristics has a dynamic load capacity of about 1500 kg, if constructed with sheet metal of 0.6 mm thickness.

The body 8 of the plinths 6 has an elongate shape and presents three raised hollow portions 28 of slightly frusto-conical shape, disposed at the centre and at the ends of the body itself. Th is means that when the platform 4 is connected to the plinths 6, the two spaces bounded by the three raised portions 28 thereof define two passage holes 30 into which the prongs of a lift truck can be inserted.

In different embodiments, not shown here, the body of the plinths 6 can have only two raised hollow portions 28, and thus defining a single hole 30, or it can have even more than three raised hollow portions 28, and thus defining three or more holes 30.

The body 8 can be made as a single pressing or as several sheet metal parts pressed separately and then joined together. In greater detail, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, the body 8 is formed from two lateral half-portions 29a and 29b of specular longitudinal extension, joined together by clinching or riveting or other joining methods. The combination of these two half-portions 29a and 29b defines the lateral walls of the raised portion 28 and the longitudinal connection portions 31 between these latter. Moreover, the upper base 38 of the raised portions 28 is also formed separately; more particularly, the upper base 38 embraces both the sheet-metal half-portions 29a and 29b at the top of the raised portions 28 and is connected thereto by a series of tabs which are formed in the edge of the upper base 38 and snap-engage in slots provided in the upper band 33 of the half-portions 29a and 29b.

Advantageously, in the lateral walls of the raised portions 28 depressed seats, not shown, can be provided for the application of a label for radio-frequency identification (RFID), containing data relative to the products loaded onto the pallet 2 and interfaceable with suitable devices for reading/writing said data.

In the described example represented in the figures, the pallet 2 has three plinths 6, which are associated with the platform 4 at the profiled regions 32 of this latter. In particular, these profiled regions 32 of the platform are located at the centre thereof in proximity to its four vertices and of the four centre points of its sides.

In greater detail, as shown in Figure 3, in each profiled region 32, the platform 4 presents a slightly frusto-conical protuberance 34, which is surrounded by a depressed annular band 36 of depth equal to that of the perimetral channel 12.

The upper base 38 of each raised portion 28 of the plinths 6 is intended to engage in the corresponding profiled region 32 of the platform 4. In greater detail, said upper base 38 presents a central protuberance 40 having substantially the same shape and the same dimensions as each of the protuberances 34 of the platform 4, and is intended to be inserted, from below, into this latter. Moreover, the central protuberance 40 is surrounded by a series of projecting portions 42, separated from them by hollow portions 44 intended to receive the corresponding depressed annular band 36 of the platform 4. In th is manner an insertion connection can be achieved at several points between the platform 4 and the plinths 6, to ensure a considerable coupling and connection stability over the entire surface of the platform 4.

Preferably, the band 24 of the perimetral edge 22 of the platform 4 projects laterally beyond the outer vertical wall of the raised portions 28 of the plinths 6, such that between these a space 25 is left. In this manner, when a covering of heat-shrinkable material is applied to the pallet and is subjected to a heat source, it retracts and becomes inserted into the step defined by the space 25, to adhere to the walls defining said space; this is particularly advantageous in that it makes accidental removal of the covering more difficult.

By virtue of the slightly frusto-conical shape of the protuberances 34 and 40 of the platform 4, and respectively of each raised portion 28 of the plinths 6, mutual self-centring coupling is achieved; this can however also be achieved if these protuberances 34 and 40 are slightly frusto-pyramidal.

At the top of each protuberance 34 of the platform 4, two parallel cuts are present defining a V-shaped central downwardly extending portion 46 provided on its lateral edges with engagement teeth 48. In contrast, at the top of the central protuberance 40 of the plinths 6, two mutually-facing downwardly bent fins 50 are defined separated by a slot which extends substantially in the same direction as the V-shaped portion.

At the moment the plinth 6 and platform 4 are coupled together, as each central protuberance 40 of the plinth enters the corresponding protuberance 34 of the platform, the fins 50 yield elastically downwards under the thrust of the V- shaped portion 46 until defining a space sufficient for passage of the portion itself. Then when the portion 46 has penetrated between the fins 50, these tend to return elastically towards the rest configuration, to be engaged by the teeth 49 and forming a further stable and irreversible snap-connection between the platform 4 and plinth 6.

Th e base 1 0 of the plinth 6 is in the shape of an elongated and longitudinally ribbed strip and, in addition to giving high rigidity to the pallet, enables a lower resting surface to be defined which is larger than that defined by just the lower edge 52 of the body 8 of the plinths 6. More particularly, the base 10 comprises a perimetral stiffening rib 54 and a central longitudinal rib 56 which extends for the entire length of the base 10. The perimetral rib 54 of the base 10 abuts laterally against the inner wall of the body 8 of the plinth 6. Moreover, that outer edge 60 of the perimetral rib 54 which faces outwards acts as a support for the lower edge 52 of the body 8 of the plinth 6. Preferably this lower edge 52 is bent upwards through 1 80° in the same manner as al ready described with reference to the bent edge 26 of the platform 4.

Moreover, the perimetral rib 54 of the base 10 presents upwardly bent edges 62 which embrace the corresponding lower edge 58 of the body 8 of the plinth 6, to improve the connection between the two. Again advantageously, in the perimetral rib 54 of the base 1 0, apertures 64 are defined into which tabs 66, provided in proximity to the lower edge 58 of the body 8 of the plinth 6, snap- engage.

In the described example the plinths 6 are three in number, however only two plinths or even more than three could be provided depending on requirements.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 13 , the platform 10 has the same characteristics as described above ( the longitudinal channels 14, the X-shaped channels 16, the channelled portions 18 and the folding of the perimetral edge 22) except for the fact that, in correspondence of each portion intended to be coupled on the bottom with plinths 6, has a shaped region defined by a flat portion 70, that is not channelled, entirely surrounded by a groove 72 .

The body 8, shown in figure 1 1 , of the plinth 6 has substantially the same characteristics as described above, i.e. it has an elongated shape and presents three raised hollow portions 28 of slightly frusto-conical shape disposed at the center and at the ends of the body itself. However, the raised hollow portions 28 of the plinth 6 of Figure 1 1 , in correspondence of the upper base, are devoid of top coverage, which is instead substituted by a passing opening 76. In particular, in correspondence of their upper edge, the vertical wall of the raised hollow portions 28 define a shaped region around the passing opening 76; in more detail, this shaped region includes a substantially horizontal band 78 which develops inwardly in a substantially vertical band 80 that delimits he passing opening 76 .

As shown in Figure 12, the raised hollow portions 28 of the plinths 6 are intended to mate with the corresponding flat portions 70 of the platform 4 in such a way that the latter close the upper openings 76 of the body 8 of the plinths 6 and so defining the upper base of said raised hollow portions 28. More in detail, the bottom of the grooves 72 of the platform 4 rests on the horizontal band 78 of the corresponding raised hollow portions 28 of the body 8, while tabs 82, defined in the vertical band 80 of the raised portion itself, engage within corresponding apertures 74 defined in the inner wall of the groove 72 that surrounds the flat portion 70 of the platform 4 .

Advantageously, each flat portion 70 of the platform 10 of figure 1 1 has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners, but it may have any other suitable shape to close the through openings 76 of the corresponding raised portions 28 of the plinths 6 .

The base 10, shown in figure 1 1 , of the plinth 6 has also the shape of an elongated strip and is longitud inally ribbed . In particular, it presents two longitudinal ribs central stiffening 56 and a peripheral edge 84 folded upwards at the central area and at the ends of the base 10 and is intended for engagement with the body 8 of the plinths 6 .

As shown in Figure 13, the folded upwards edge 84 of the base 10 abuts laterally with the internal wall of the body 8 of the plinth 6 and, advantageously, the tabs 66 defined in correspondence of the lower edge 58 of the body 8 of the plinth 6 are inserted within the openings 64 defined along the edge 84 of the base 10.

In each embodiments of the pallet according the invention, before the assembly, the components of the same type are stored stacked, i.e. the platforms 4 are stacked with other platforms, the bases 10 of the plinths 6 are stacked with other bases, and the plinth bodies 8 are stacked with other bodies. Preferably, the different components are provided with traditional spacing indentations (not shown), to facilitate separation of each individual component on withdrawing it for use.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the pallet according to the invention i s ve ry a d va n ta g eo u s co mpared with traditional pallets since its mounting/assembly is fairly easy and quick, by simply superposing the various components in sequence; this can be done manually, but more advantageously automatically.

In that case, the three bases 10 of the three plinths 6 are firstly positioned to correspond with fixed outlines provided on an endless conveyor belt; the three bodies 8 of the plinths 6 are then rested on the bases, and finally the platform 4 is rested on said bodies. When the pallet has been loaded with the products to be transported, it is the actual weight of these which forces the components downward, resulting in their snap-connection by mutual insertion. This mounting operation can be carried out manually by an operator, or advantageously can be completely automated and implemented continually along a roller conveyor line.

Furthermore, the pallet according to the invention is very advantageous compared with traditional pallets since:

_ being made by cold forming of a metal sheet, more simple tools and apparatus are required, and therefore it is less expensive,

_ being made entirely of sheet metal is more difficult to deform, and also, in order to have the same carrying capacity, it weights substantially half compared to a pallet made of plastic.

Claims

C L A I M S

1 . An improved pallet (2) comprising a platform (4) and at least two plinths (6) constructed separately from the platform (4) and connected thereto, characterised in that:

- the platform (4) comprises a plurality of stiffening ribs (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) and a plurality of shaped regions (32) for snap-connection to said plinths (6),

- each plinth (6) comprises a hollow body (8) and a ribbed base (10), constructed separately from each other and snap-connectable together,

- the body of each plinth (6) presenting at least two raised portions (28) which define between them and with the platform at least one passage-hole (30) for the insertion of a lifting fork for the pallet, and comprising shaped regions at their top (38) for snap-connection to the corresponding shaped regions (32) provided in the platform (4),

- the snap-connection means (34, 40, 36, 44, 46, 50, 66, 64) between the platform (4) and the body of each plinth (6) and between the body of each plinth (6) and the respective base (10) being activated as the result of the application of a force having a direct component perpendicular to the platform (4),

- the platform (4) and the plinths (6) are made of metal sheet and are obtained by cold pressing of said metal sheet.

2. A pallet as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said metal sheet is of steel.

3. A pallet as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that said metal sheet is of aluminium.

4. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said sheet metal has a thickness substantially between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm.

5. A pallet as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the shaped regions (32, 38) for snap-connection of said platform (4) and of said raised portions (28) of the body (8) of the plinths comprise at least one frusto-conical projection (34, 40) surrounded by a depressed annular band (36, 44).

6. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said ribbed platform (4) presents at least one of the following types of stiffening channels: perimetral channels (12), longitudinal parallel channels (14), transverse parallel channels (20), X-shaped channels (16), connection channel portions (18) between said channels.

7. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the edges (26, 52) of the platform (4) are bent through substantially 180°.

8. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower edges of the body (8) of the plinths are bent through substantially 180°.

9. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plinths (6) are three in number.

10. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plinths (6) comprise a raised portion (28) at the centre and one at each end.

1 1 . A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the shaped regions (32) of the platform (4) being defined at the vertices of the platform (4), at its centre and at the central points of its sides.

12. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said snap-connection means comprise a centrally bent V-shaped portion (46) defining frusto-conical projections (34) of the shaped snap-connection region (32) of the platform (4) and intended for insertion and secure engagement in the space defined between two mutually facing fins (50) defined in the frusto-conical projection (40) of the corresponding shaped snap-connection region of the raised portion (28) of the plinth body (8).

13. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said snap-connection means comprise tabs (66) provided in the body (8) of each plinth (6) and intended for insertion into corresponding apertures (64) provided in the base (10) of the plinth (6).

14. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said platform (4) and/or said plinth base (10) and/or said plinth body (8) are configured for their mutual stacking and are provided with indentations which maintain them slightly spaced apart when in the stacked condition.

15. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said force which activates said snap-connection means (34, 40, 36, 44, 46, 50, 66, 64) and having a direct component perpendicular to the platform (4) is defined mainly by the weight of actual objects to be stored/transported by the pallet (2), once these have been placed on the platform (4).

16. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plinth bodies (8) are constructed in several separately pressed parts.

17. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plinth bodies (8) comprise a profiled plate (38) and two lateral specular half-portions (29a, 29b) of longitudinal extension, said profiled plate (38) forming the upper base of the raised portions (28) of the body (8) of the plinths, and embracing and engaging by connection means said half-portions (29a, 29b), which are connected to each other to together define the lateral walls of said raised portions (28) and the connection portions (31 ) therebetween.

18. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lateral edge (22) of the platform (4) projects laterally beyond the vertical walls of the raised portion (28) of the body (8) of the plinths and defines with these a space (25) into which a pallet cover made of material which is heat-shrinkable when subjected to a heat source, is intended to be inserted.

19. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that each raised portion (28) of the body (8) of the plinths (6) comprises, in correspondence of its top (38), a through opening (76) intended to be closed at the top by a corresponding portion (70) of the platform (4).

20. A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that each raised portion (28) of the body (8) of the plinths (6) comprises, around said through opening (76), a shaped area (78, 80) intended to be snap-connected to the corresponding shaped area (72) provided in the platform (4).

21 . A pallet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said shaped area provided in the platform (4) comprises a groove (72) which surrounds the portion (70) of the platform itself used to close the corresponding through opening (76) defined at the top of each raised portion (28) of the body (8) of the plinths (6).