WO2016083710A1

WO2016083710A1 - Thermally insulating transport case system that is deliverable in kit form

Info

Publication number: WO2016083710A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/053159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexis Marchand; Gilles Labranque; Vincent Bailleul; David Gaston Michel MARTIN; David Stienne
Original assignee: Sofrigam
Priority date: 2014-11-24
Filing date: 2015-11-20
Publication date: 2016-06-02
Also published as: FR3028846B1; FR3028845A1; FR3028846A1

Abstract

Kit-form case system comprising a base (4), an upper panel (5), two side panels (6), two longitudinal panels (7) and also a lower panel (10) included in the base, each panel being thermally insulating and comprising connection means that are designed such that each peripheral edge of a panel can be connected to a corresponding edge of an adjacent panel, while maintaining continuity of the thermal insulation.

Description

INSULATING THERMAL INSULATION DELIVERY SYSTEM DELIVERABLE IN KIT.

The present invention relates to a thermal device for the transport of products, including palletized products.

Products, stored or transported, are often palletized, that is to say that these products are arranged on a pallet. This is so for products to be stored in a given temperature range, for example products to be kept cold or hot, at a temperature different from that of the storage medium. Such products must sometimes be transferred, especially by plane; it must then be ensured that their temperature remains within the desired range, especially during the transfer.

Cases have been developed to answer this problem. Nevertheless, such a box must be able to be sent empty to a shipper who will fill it with its products, before sending it to a recipient of the products. Routing this box empty, especially when it is large, is economically acceptable; it is inevitably expensive, especially if the empty box must be sent by plane. It is also expensive to store such an empty crate for possible future use. The object of the invention is in particular to propose means making it possible to avoid or limit the transport and storage of such empty boxes. According to the invention, there is provided a system of kit transport case comprising the following elements, of rectangular general shape:

a base, notably comprising a lower thermally insulating panel;

an upper thermally insulating panel;

- two thermally insulating side panels; and,

- two longitudinal thermally insulating panels

each element being deliverable separately from the others; each element, preferably each panel, comprising connecting means designed so that each peripheral edge of a panel can be connected to a corresponding edge of a neighboring panel, while maintaining a continuity of the thermal insulation. Preferably, each of said longitudinal panels is formed in two parts hinged together so that one can be folded against the other.

The connection means may comprise interlocking means, preferably comprising slots formed in the four respective peripheral edges of each panel, these slots alternately forming recesses and teeth, each tooth being designed to fit together

at 90 degrees, in an adjusted fashion, in the hollow of a neighboring panel. Preferably, the dimensions of the tray are such that the sides of the tray are flush with the ends of the teeth of the bottom panel and, preferably, the dimensions of the floor are such that the sides of the floor are flush with the bottoms of the recesses of the bottom panel. The base advantageously comprises: - a rectangular tray, preferably plywood, fixed under the lower thermally insulating panel;

- a rectangular floor, preferably in plywood, glued to the lower panel; and,

- Legs fixed under the tray, arranged to allow the passage between them of a fork of a forklift.

Advantageously, each of the side panels and / or and the upper panel have, on an inner face, a rack for sliding cold blocks, these racks being preferably made of cardboard.

Preferably, a first portion of each longitudinal panel has a width less than the width of the second portion so that in the folded position the width of the longitudinal panel does not exceed a width of the top panel, a width of the side panels and a width of the lower panel, these widths being preferably substantially equal to each other.

Such a panel may comprise a first band and a second band for connecting together the two parts of each longitudinal panel, each of the bands being provided to be fixed to a respective side of the longitudinal panel; the first band comprising a preformed longitudinal fold and being bonded on one side of the fold over the entire length of the first part and on the other side of the fold over the entire length of the second part, so that the first band forms a hinge for the articulation of parts between them; The second band being fixed on one of the parts and having an adhesive zone protected by a skin intended to be removed for the purpose of bonding this adhesive zone to the other part during assembly of the body, in order to maintain the alignment of the two parts, by blocking the articulation formed by said first band. The strips may be plastic, preferably polypropylene, the thickness of which is preferably less than or equal to 1 mm, double-sided adhesive tape being advantageously provided for fixing the strips on the longitudinal panel.

Advantageously, the first part of each longitudinal panel has a width less than half the width of the second part.

The invention also relates to a package for delivery of a system according to the invention, characterized in that the side panels, the longitudinal panels and the top panel are stacked on top of one another and on the base, which serves pallet parcel, said longitudinal panels being arranged head to tail, so that the first parts are arranged between the second parts, a space being provided over the entire length of the package, between the first parts, on each side, and the second parts, one above and one below, said space being preferably used to accommodate angles to strengthen corners of the body.

Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a package containing a crate according to FIG. the invention, disassembled, as it can be delivered to a sender of products to be kept in a given temperature range, for example products to be kept cold or hot; FIG. 2 is a representation similar to that of FIG. 1, in which the package protection carton has been removed, leaving visible body elements as they are stacked there; Figure 3 is a perspective representation illustrating the deployment of a longitudinal panel for the body according to the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective representation of a base of the body; Figure 5 is a perspective representation of a box mounting step, in which a longitudinal panel and a transverse panel have been positioned on the base of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective representation of a subsequent step of mounting the box, in which only a front panel is missing for the box is closed; FIG. 7 is a perspective representation of a subsequent step in which cold packs are being introduced into the box while product cartons have been loaded therein; Figure 8 is a perspective representation of a later step, in which the cold blocks are in place, before closure of the box by the front panel; Figures 9 and 10 are perspective representations, respectively from below and from above, of the box closed and rimmed, ready to be shipped; and, Figure 11 illustrates the mounting of two parts of the longitudinal panel of the body according to the invention. The invention relates to a box 1 in kit, for transporting products under stable temperature conditions. These are usually products that need to be stored in a given temperature range, for example products that need to be kept cold or warm at a temperature different from that of the storage medium, especially during a transport of products from a shipper to their recipient.

Figure 1 illustrates a package 2 containing constituent elements of such a box. This package includes a cardboard envelope 3 that protects the items on the top and sides of the package.

Figure 2 illustrates the contents of the package 2, once the envelope 3 removed. This content is formed of a stack of elements 4-7 following, constituting the body 1:

a base 4, in particular comprising a lower thermally insulating panel 10;

an upper thermally insulating panel 5;

- two thermally insulating side panels 6; and,

- two thermally insulating longitudinal panels 7.

These elements are arranged flat on top of each other, in this order, from bottom to top. The base 4 comprises legs 8 arranged so that in the package 2 the base serves as a pallet for the other elements. At the same time, it protects the elements 4-7 from below, in addition to the envelope 3.

In the illustrated example, all the panels 5, 6, 7 have substantially the same thickness E equal to 60mm, the lower panel 10 having a lower thickness E10 equal to 40mm; The insulating panels are made of polyurethane or polystyrene graphite.

The insulating panels 5, 6, 7 and 10 comprise connection means 21, 22 designed so that each peripheral edge of a panel can be connected, preferably by interlocking, to a corresponding edge of a neighboring panel, while now a continuity of the thermal insulation provided by each panel. In the example illustrated, the means interlocking portions include slots 21,22 cut in the respective four peripheral edges of each panel. These slots alternately form recesses 21 and teeth 22, each tooth being provided to fit 90 degrees, fittingly, in the recess of a neighboring panel; the depth P21 of each hollow corresponds substantially to the thickness E, E10 of the neighboring panel, that is to say that one has substantially P21 = E or E10.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 3, each longitudinal panel 7 is in two parts 7B, 7H hinged together so that one can be folded against the other. In the illustrated example, a first part is a part, said upper part 7H, intended to be positioned at the top of the panel 7, and the second part, said lower part 7B, is intended to be positioned under the top part. The upper part 7H has a width L7H less than half the width L7B of the lower part. Furthermore, in the folded position, the width L7B of the longitudinal panel 7 does not exceed the width L5 of the top panel 5, the width L6 of the side panels 6 and the width L10 of the bottom panel 10. Preferably, these four widths L5 , L6, L7 and L10 are substantially equal to each other. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 11, the two parts 7H, 7B are interconnected by a first glued strip 17. This strip 17 is glued on both sides and over the entire length of the junction between the upper part 7H and the lower portion 7B of the longitudinal panel 7. In the illustrated example, this strip 17 comprises a plastic blade in which a fold 17V is preformed, and two strips of double-sided adhesive; one of the faces of one of the ribbons is glued to the plastic blade, the other the upper part 7H; one of the faces of the other ribbons is glued to the plastic strip, the other face to the lower part 7B. Preferably the plastic strip is made of a polypropylene whose thickness El 7 is less than or equal to 1 mm. The preformed fold 17V allows the first band 17 to form a hinge and articulate the two parts 7H, 7B between them. Each longitudinal panel 7 comprises a second strip 18. This second strip is intended to be fixed on one side of the panel 7, opposite to that where the first strip is fixed, so as to maintain the alignment of the two parts 7H, 7B, blocking the hinge formed by the hinge. Like the first band 17, this second band 18 comprises a plastic blade and two double-sided adhesive tapes. A first ribbon is attached to both the blade and one of the parts - the upper part 7h, in the illustrated example; in the folded position shown in Figure 2, the second ribbon is only fixed to the blade, its other face remaining protected by a skin 18P. This peel is removed during assembly of the body 1, to rigidly fix the two parts 7H, 7B between them. As for the first band, preferably the second plastic blade is a polypropylene whose thickness El 8 is less than or equal to 1 mm.

As shown in Figure 2, in the package 2, the longitudinal panels are arranged head to tail, so that the upper parts 7H, are arranged between the lower parts 7B. Thus, a space 9 is provided along the entire length of the package, between the upper parts, on each side, and the lower parts, one above and one below. This space is used to accommodate angles 11 (see FIGS. 6-10) intended to reinforce the corners of the box against the forces exerted by the strapping strips 12. This space can also be used to house a cover. As particularly illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 4 comprises in particular:

a rectangular plate 14, preferably made of plywood;

the lower thermally insulating panel 10, glued on the plate 14;

a rectangular floor 16, preferably made of plywood, glued to the lower panel 10; and,

- The legs 8 fixed under the plate 14. In the illustrated example, the dimensions of the plate 14 are such that the sides of the plate are flush with the ends of the teeth of the lower panel 10. Similarly, the dimensions of the floor 16 are such that the sides of the floor are flush with the bottom of the troughs the bottom panel 10.

A wedge 24, here a cleat, and fixed to each longitudinal end of the floor 16, above the floor. These wedges allow to position longitudinally a pallet 26 which must be introduced into the body 1, once it mounted.

The side panels 6 and the upper panel 5 each carry, on an inner face, a rack 27 internally perforated, for sliding blocks of cold, as particularly illustrated in Figure 7. These racks are preferably made of cardboard.

We will now describe the different phases of mounting of the body 1 according to the invention, in particular with reference to Figures 5 to 10.

The panels are identical two by two. Thus, the longitudinal panels are identical to each other and the side panels are identical to each other. The panels are furthermore easily recognizable to each other by their shapes and accessories. Thus, the mounting of the box is facilitated.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 4, a side panel 6 and a longitudinal panel 7 are firstly interlocked with each other. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the second lateral panel 5 is engaged with the preceding ones, and then added thereto. the upper panel 5. Angle 11 is placed on the two corners formed by each of the side panels 6 with the upper panel 5 to protect these angles. The base 4, the side panels 6 and the top panel 5 are then hooped together to secure the assembly. The Strapping is advantageously performed with metal or plastic strips 29.

Thus mounted, only the front of the box remains open. It is time to introduce the products intended to be transported in the box 1. In the example shown, the products are packaged in cartons arranged on the pallet 26. As illustrated in FIG. 7, once the pallet has been introduced into the open box, is introduced horizontally blocks of cold 28 from the front in racks 27 provided for this purpose. It is also possible to introduce blocks of cold before the products to be transported.

Figure 8 illustrates the body 1, ready to be closed. It then fits the second longitudinal panel 7 to close the body 1 and ensure its thermal seal. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, angles 11 are placed on the two horizontal angles formed by each of the longitudinal panels 7 with the upper panel 5 and on the four vertical angles by the longitudinal panels 7 with the side panels 6. These angles are thus protected; then the base 4, the longitudinal panels 7 and the top panel 5 are combined, and also the longitudinal panels with the side panels, in order to fasten the assembly.

Advantageously, the cardboard envelope 3 of the package 2 can be used to cover the body 1, once mounted. This cap offers protection for insulating panels and additional thermal insulation. When using such a cap, it may be preferable not to use angles that can interfere with the placement of the cap.

In a next step, it is also possible to provide a reflective outer house for wrapping the box and, where appropriate, the cap. This house is for example made of Tyvek ®, a non-woven fabric of high density polyethylene fibers (HDPE) supplied by the company DuPont ™. The thickness of the cover can be a few micrometers. The use of such a cover, by its reflective properties, further improves the thermal insulation of the body. For delivery of the dismantled body, this cover can be stored in the space 9 of the package 2, with the angles 11.

In the illustrated example, the cold blocks 28 advantageously have a length substantially equal to the width of the side panels. They are preferably formed of eutectic elements, capable of maintaining a substantially constant temperature chosen for a period corresponding at least to the expected time of storage of the products in the box 1.

In the example illustrated, the legs 8 are legs of the brand Optilège ™. Each leg has three legs aligned with each other. Each base is arranged to be in line with those of the pallet 26 carrying the products when it is in place in the box, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

In the example illustrated, the mounted body has the following dimensions:

- internal height H 1: 1284 mm

- internal width LL: 1030 mm

- inner length L2: 1274 mm

- external height H2: 1600 mm

- external width L3: 1150 mm

- outer length L4: 1500 mm

In addition, the total weight of the body 1 is approximately 1200 kg;

This weight breaks down as follows:

- weight of the mounted body, empty, as in figures 9 and 10: 100kg approx. ; - weight blocks 28, for a set of 15 blocks: 100kg approx. ;

- carrying capacity: 1 tonne. The inner height H1 is measured above the floor 16 and under the rack 27 of the upper panel 5; the inner width L1 is measured between the longitudinal panels; the inner length L2 is measured between the racks 27 of the side panels; the external height is measured from below the legs 8, to the top of the top panel 5.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the package 2, formed by the dismantled body, has the following external dimensions:

- width Ll 1 of the package: 1150 mm

- length L 12 of the package: 1500 mm

height Hl 1 of the package: 735 mm

The height of the package 3 is measured from below the legs 8, to the top of the cardboard envelope 3.

Thus, the package 3 has dimensions compatible with the standards of air transport and maritime transport, to optimize the number of packages transported at the lowest cost.

Similarly, the external dimensions of the box 1, mounted, are also compatible with the standards of air transport and shipping, to optimize the number of crates transported at the lowest cost. The interior dimensions of the box also allow to transport pallets sizes and loads compatible with international standards.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

Thus, the insulating panels may be in other materials, provided they have low conductivity, and an assembly capability. We hear by assembling ability, the fact that they can be assembled in an adjusted manner, so that there is substantially no break in continuity of the insulation at the junction between two panels, and that the assembly of two panels between them is done, if necessary, without destruction of the teeth and troughs used for their assembly.

The teeth and recesses can be made by machining from a rectangular panel, or by molding.

Advantageously, keying and / or labeling may be provided on the various panels to further facilitate the mounting of the body. Markers, for example made of plastic, are advantageously provided for the placement of angles at the corners of the box.

The use of a box kit according to the invention is particularly advantageous:

the mounting of the box is simple; it takes one person to assemble the crate in less than five minutes, the mutual interlocking fitted panels ensuring their maintenance in place, in each phase of assembly; it can be carried out by a low-skilled person, for example by the driver charged with introducing the pallet into the box;

the delivery of the box in the form of a compact package avoids carrying a vacuum;

the crate can be dismantled and returned to the shipper for a next delivery;

the body has an excellent ratio between its useful dimensions and its external dimensions;

the mounting of the body, except the installation of the last panel, is done before the product is introduced, which avoids the risk of breakage of the cold chain.

Claims

claims

1. Carrying case system (1) in kit comprising the following elements of generally rectangular shape:

a base (4), especially comprising a lower thermally insulating panel (10);

an upper thermally insulating panel (5);

- two thermally insulating side panels (6); and,

- two thermally insulating longitudinal panels (7)

characterized in that

- each element is deliverable separately from the others;

each element (4-7), preferably each panel (5-7, 10), comprises connection means designed so that each peripheral edge of a panel can be connected to a corresponding edge of a neighboring panel, while maintaining continuity of thermal insulation;

2. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that each of the longitudinal panels (7) is formed in two parts (7H, 7B) hinged together so that one (7H) can be folded against the other (7B).

3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the connecting means comprise interlocking means (21,22).

4. System according to claim 3,

characterized in that the interlocking means comprise crenellations (21,22) formed in the respective four peripheral edges of each panel, said slots alternately forming recesses (21) and teeth (22), each tooth being provided for 90 degrees fit snugly in the hollow of a neighboring panel.

5. System according to claim 4,

characterized in that the dimensions (L3) of the tray (14) are such that the sides of the tray are flush with the ends of the teeth of the bottom panel (10) and, preferably, in that the dimensions (L1) of the floor (16) ) are such that the sides of the floor are flush with the bottoms of the recesses of said lower panel (10).

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized in that the base comprises in particular:

- a rectangular tray (14), preferably plywood, fixed under the lower thermally insulating panel (10);

- A rectangular floor (16), preferably plywood, glued on said lower panel; and,

- Legs (8) fixed under said plate (14), arranged to allow the passage between them of a fork of a forklift.

7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that each of the side panels (6) and / or the upper panel (5) have, on an inner face, a rack (27) for sliding cold blocks, these racks being preferably made of cardboard.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that a first portion (7H) of each longitudinal panel (7) has a width (L7H) smaller than the width (L7B) of the second portion (7B) so that in the folded position the width (L7B ) of the longitudinal panel does not exceed a width (L5) of the top panel (5), a width (L6) of the side panels (6) and a width of the bottom panel (10), the widths (L5, L6 and L7B, L10) being preferably substantially equal to each other.