WO2017137874A1 - Process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets - Google Patents
Process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2017137874A1 WO2017137874A1 PCT/IB2017/050594 IB2017050594W WO2017137874A1 WO 2017137874 A1 WO2017137874 A1 WO 2017137874A1 IB 2017050594 W IB2017050594 W IB 2017050594W WO 2017137874 A1 WO2017137874 A1 WO 2017137874A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- shell
- pallet
- plastic
- process according
- mould
- Prior art date
Links
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 title claims abstract description 31
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 31
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 24
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 8
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 238000010101 extrusion blow moulding Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- -1 polybutane Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920000426 Microplastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920000876 geopolymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007598 dipping method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000001427 coherent effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000002538 fungal effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 241000238631 Hexapoda Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004794 expanded polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003000 extruded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012948 isocyanate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002513 isocyanates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006223 plastic coating Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920005862 polyol Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000003077 polyols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
- B29C49/04—Extrusion blow-moulding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/30—Preforms or parisons made of several components
- B29C2949/3064—Preforms or parisons made of several components having at least one components being applied using techniques not covered by B29C2949/3032 - B29C2949/3062
- B29C2949/3074—Preforms or parisons made of several components having at least one components being applied using techniques not covered by B29C2949/3032 - B29C2949/3062 said at least one component obtained by coating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
- B29C44/02—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
- B29C44/12—Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
- B29C44/18—Filling preformed cavities
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2075/00—Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
- B29K2105/04—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped cellular or porous
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2017/00—Carriers for sound or information
- B29L2017/006—Memory cards, chip cards
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
- B29L2031/7178—Pallets
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
- B65D2203/10—Transponders
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
- B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
- B65D2519/00009—Materials
- B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
- B65D2519/00034—Plastic
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
- B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
- B65D2519/00009—Materials
- B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
- B65D2519/00044—Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
- B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
- B65D2519/00009—Materials
- B65D2519/00049—Materials for the base surface
- B65D2519/00079—Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
- B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
- B65D2519/00009—Materials
- B65D2519/00084—Materials for the non-integral separating spacer
- B65D2519/00114—Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
- B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
- B65D2519/00009—Materials
- B65D2519/00119—Materials for the construction of the reinforcements
Definitions
- the invention relates to a process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets for use primarily in the food industry, in the pharmaceutical industry, and for transportation by air.
- low weight pallets with a high load-bearing capacity, having a completely smooth surface are produced, which are easily and perfectly cleanable, washable with 80 °C water, do not absorb other foreign substances, resist fungal growth, and therefore meet the highest hygiene standards.
- the pallets can be equipped with a microchip, if necessary, thereby the pallet and the load placed on it can be easily tracked.
- Pallets made of plastic are much more durable, lighter, free from wood-destroying insects, and have a high load-bearing capacity.
- a wide variety of pallets is known in the prior art, with different sizes, structures, and leg designs.
- European Patent Application E06726910 relates to a polymeric load carrying apparatus comprising an outer shell composition and a filled inner core composition within the outer shell composition, wherein the outer shell composition comprises less than 10% filler by weight, and the inner core composition comprises more than 15% filler by weight.
- European Patent Application E07008185 relates to a dunnage platform made from an expanded polystyrene core, and a chemical combination process is used to chemically combine a portion of the core proximal to its surface with high impact polymer.
- European Patent Application E03254634 relates to a dunnage platform and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the legs of the pallet are filled with expanded
- Patent Application WO 2007098566 discloses a pallet having a plastic core and at least one plastic coating layer.
- the coating layer is formed by reactive injection moulding using approximately 60 parts by weight liquid isocyanate component of a polyurethane, and approximately 100 parts per weight liquid polyol component of a polyurethane.
- Patent US5,921,189 discloses a tubular pallet apparatus extruded or pultruded in plastic or resin.
- One piece, integrated pallets are produced from recycled plastic in various configurations.
- Patent Application US20090266276 relates to a method for producing transport pallets from a mixture of recycled plastics with optional addition of fibrous material.
- the mixture is portioned in an extruder, liquefied into a paste by heating, and introduced via the conveying screw of the extruder into a closed mould for hardening.
- the solution according to the invention includes a storage device having an adjustable volume, in which the liquefied mixture can be intermediately stored while the mould is changed.
- the pallet is fabricated by thermoforming an extruded plastic parison.
- the thermoplastic is selected from polyolefins, PVC, ABS, styrene plastics (PA), polyamides (PA) and polycarbonates (PC).
- the pallet may have a multilayer structure comprising at least one foamed plastic layer.
- the commercially available plastic pallets are usually produced by injection moulding, casting or vacuum suction, the structures formed by these processes are typically lattice, beam, or hollow structures.
- the pallets thus formed are impossible or very difficult to handle hygienically.
- a known solution is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) or high frequency (HF) RFID tag placed on the packaging, box, or pallet of the products.
- the tag is typically placed on the surface, preferably the bottom surface of the pallets.
- UHF ultra-high frequency
- HF high frequency
- a disadvantage of this solution is that the device used for tracking can be easily damaged during loading, transportation, or can be easily removed from a visible surface.
- the aim of the invention is to produce plastic pallets that have a high load-bearing capacity, are light, bounded by a completely closed smooth surface, with the outer surface having a non-hollow structure, and therefore are easily and maximally cleanable, and can be quickly and economically produced.
- a further aim of the invention is to place safely inside the pallets, in a practically nonremovable manner, a microchip used for identifying and tracking the products stored or transported on the pallet.
- the idea of the invention comes from the recognition that the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry need pallets that can be simply sterilized, and that is impossible or very difficult to do in the case of wooden pallets or plastic pallets having a lattice structure.
- the injection moulded pallets produced by the current conventional technology are hollow, have a lattice structure, are complicated to clean, have a high tare weight, and accordingly, are expensive.
- the invention relates to a process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets for use primarily in the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry, or in fields where having a low tare weight is important, primarily in the field of transportation by air.
- the shell of the pallet is produced by extrusion blow moulding in such a way that compressed air is blown into a plastic parison formed from plastic granules melted by the feed screw of the extruder, which inflates the ductile plastic into the shape of a mould consisting of two halves, with the two halves of the mould closed.
- One half of the mould gives the shape of the upper part of the shell, the other half gives the shape of the lower part of the shell.
- the lower part is formed integrally with the legs.
- the shell has at least one bore.
- the one piece, integrated shell having a hollow interior is removed from the mould, then the dispensing head of a dispensing device, e.g. a foam sprayer is connected to the bore of the shell, and through it the whole shell is filled with a filler material.
- a dispensing device e.g. a foam sprayer
- the pallet produced by the process according to the invention has a shell bounded by a smooth, continuous, coherent, closed surface, with integrated legs, which shell is non- hollow, filled completely with a filler material.
- the shell is produced, then the shell is filled with a filler material.
- the hollow pallet form, the shell is produced by extrusion blow moulding from plastic granules or recycled plastic.
- the feed screw of the extruder melts the plastic granules, which become fluid during the operation of the extruder, then the molten granules are extruded into a parison.
- the still warm, ductile plastic parison vertically elongated in a curtain-like manner, is inflated with compressed air into the shape of a mould consisting of two halves by blowing compressed air into the plastic parison through blowing pins, with the two halves of the mould closed. Then the ductile plastic takes the shape of the mould.
- the "burrs" formed at the closing of the mould are removed from the product and recycled.
- One half of the mould gives the shape of the upper part of the shell, the other half gives the shape of the lower part of the shell with integrated legs, preferably 9 legs.
- the half of the shaping mould producing the lower part of the shell is formed in such a way that there are circular bores on the legs.
- the one piece, integrated shell having a hollow interior is removed from the mould.
- the dispensing heads of a dispensing device are automatically connected to each bore on the legs of the continuous hollow shell removed from the mould, then the hollow interior of the shell is filled with a filler material through the dispensing heads.
- the filler material fills the hollow interior of the shell completely, then solidifies. The filler material overflowing at the bores is removed.
- a microchip can be placed inside either by placing it in the hollow shell before it is filled with the filler material, or by filling it into the interior of the pallet together with the filler material.
- the solidity, and thereby the load-bearing capacity of the surface of the pallet produced by the process according to the invention can be further increased, if a plastic-based glass fibre, plastic fibre or fabric fibre synthetic resin layer is applied to the surface of the pallet by spraying or dipping. Then a pallet having an extremely high mechanical, static load- bearing capacity is obtained.
- the plastic granules used for producing the shell of the pallet are preferably high density polyethylene (HDPE), polybutane, polypropylene, or polystyrene.
- the filler material is preferably a composite, polyurethane (PUR-foam), or geopolymer.
- filler materials are materials that they can be filled into the shell of the pallet in a fluid/ductile form, then they solidify, filling the space available in the hollow interior completely.
- the filler material is selected according to the intended use of the pallet.
- the wall thickness of the hollow shell can be adjusted at will to the load-bearing capacity, mechanical load.
- the pallets produced by the process according to the invention comprise a shell having a completely smooth surface, which is filled uniformly with a filler material.
- the shell of the pallet is made of polybutane by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is polyurethane.
- the weight of the produced pallet is max. 4 kg.
- the shell of the pallet is made of polypropylene by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is polyurethane.
- the produced pallet is dipped in glass/fabric fibre synthetic resin, or a synthetic resin layer is applied by a spray gun.
- the load-bearing capacity of the produced pallet is higher than that of a pallet without a fabric fibre synthetic resin layer.
- the shell of the pallet is made of HPDE by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is geopolymer.
- the weight of the produced pallet is max. 8 kg.
- the shell of the pallet is made of polyethylene (PE) by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is polyurethane.
- the weight of the produced pallet is max. 4 kg.
- a further advantage of the process according to the invention is that pallets adjusted to the needs can be produced, taking into account the field of use.
Abstract
The invention relates to a process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets for use primarily in the food industry, in the pharmaceutical industry, and for transportation by air. During the process low weight pallets with a high load-bearing capacity, having a completely smooth surface are produced, which are easily and perfectly cleanable, washable with 80 °C water, do not absorb other foreign substances, resist fungal growth, and therefore meet the highest hygiene standards. The pallet can be equipped with a microchip, if necessary, thereby the pallet and the load placed on it can be easily tracked. The pallet produced by the process according to the invention has a shell bounded by a smooth, continuous, coherent, closed surface, with integrated legs, which shell is non- hollow, filled completely with a filler material.
Description
Process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets
The invention relates to a process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets for use primarily in the food industry, in the pharmaceutical industry, and for transportation by air. During the process low weight pallets with a high load-bearing capacity, having a completely smooth surface are produced, which are easily and perfectly cleanable, washable with 80 °C water, do not absorb other foreign substances, resist fungal growth, and therefore meet the highest hygiene standards. The pallets can be equipped with a microchip, if necessary, thereby the pallet and the load placed on it can be easily tracked.
In addition to wooden pallets, the use of transport pallets made of plastic, offering many more advantageous properties, is also gaining ground in the field of logistics and transportation.
Pallets made of plastic are much more durable, lighter, free from wood-destroying insects, and have a high load-bearing capacity. A wide variety of pallets is known in the prior art, with different sizes, structures, and leg designs.
European Patent Application E06726910 relates to a polymeric load carrying apparatus comprising an outer shell composition and a filled inner core composition within the outer shell composition, wherein the outer shell composition comprises less than 10% filler by weight, and the inner core composition comprises more than 15% filler by weight.
European Patent Application E07008185 relates to a dunnage platform made from an expanded polystyrene core, and a chemical combination process is used to chemically combine a portion of the core proximal to its surface with high impact polymer.
European Patent Application E03254634 relates to a dunnage platform and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the legs of the pallet are filled with expanded
polystyrene.
Patent Application WO 2007098566 discloses a pallet having a plastic core and at least one plastic coating layer. The coating layer is formed by reactive injection moulding using approximately 60 parts by weight liquid isocyanate component of a polyurethane, and approximately 100 parts per weight liquid polyol component of a polyurethane.
Patent US5,921,189 discloses a tubular pallet apparatus extruded or pultruded in plastic or resin.
One piece, integrated pallets are produced from recycled plastic in various configurations.
Patent Application US20090266276 relates to a method for producing transport pallets from a mixture of recycled plastics with optional addition of fibrous material.
The mixture is portioned in an extruder, liquefied into a paste by heating, and introduced via the conveying screw of the extruder into a closed mould for hardening. The solution
according to the invention includes a storage device having an adjustable volume, in which the liquefied mixture can be intermediately stored while the mould is changed.
International Patent Application WO/ 1997/025250 relates to a lightweight plastic pallet made of a thermoplastic material. In the solution according to the invention the pallet is fabricated by thermoforming an extruded plastic parison. The thermoplastic is selected from polyolefins, PVC, ABS, styrene plastics (PA), polyamides (PA) and polycarbonates (PC). The pallet may have a multilayer structure comprising at least one foamed plastic layer.
The commercially available plastic pallets are usually produced by injection moulding, casting or vacuum suction, the structures formed by these processes are typically lattice, beam, or hollow structures. The pallets thus formed are impossible or very difficult to handle hygienically.
The tracking of products is becoming widespread in the field of logistics and
transportation. A known solution is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) or high frequency (HF) RFID tag placed on the packaging, box, or pallet of the products. The tag is typically placed on the surface, preferably the bottom surface of the pallets. A disadvantage of this solution is that the device used for tracking can be easily damaged during loading, transportation, or can be easily removed from a visible surface.
The aim of the invention is to produce plastic pallets that have a high load-bearing capacity, are light, bounded by a completely closed smooth surface, with the outer surface having a non-hollow structure, and therefore are easily and maximally cleanable, and can be quickly and economically produced.
A further aim of the invention is to place safely inside the pallets, in a practically nonremovable manner, a microchip used for identifying and tracking the products stored or transported on the pallet.
The idea of the invention comes from the recognition that the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry need pallets that can be simply sterilized, and that is impossible or very difficult to do in the case of wooden pallets or plastic pallets having a lattice structure. The injection moulded pallets produced by the current conventional technology are hollow, have a lattice structure, are complicated to clean, have a high tare weight, and accordingly, are expensive.
Thus the invention relates to a process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets for use primarily in the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry, or in fields where having a low tare weight is important, primarily in the field of transportation by air. The shell of the pallet is produced by extrusion blow moulding in such a way that compressed air is blown into a plastic parison formed from plastic granules melted by the feed screw of the extruder, which inflates the ductile plastic into the shape of a mould
consisting of two halves, with the two halves of the mould closed. One half of the mould gives the shape of the upper part of the shell, the other half gives the shape of the lower part of the shell. The lower part is formed integrally with the legs. The shell has at least one bore.
After the solidification of the shell enclosed by the two halves of the mould, the one piece, integrated shell having a hollow interior is removed from the mould, then the dispensing head of a dispensing device, e.g. a foam sprayer is connected to the bore of the shell, and through it the whole shell is filled with a filler material.
The pallet produced by the process according to the invention has a shell bounded by a smooth, continuous, coherent, closed surface, with integrated legs, which shell is non- hollow, filled completely with a filler material.
During the process according to the invention first the shell is produced, then the shell is filled with a filler material.
The hollow pallet form, the shell is produced by extrusion blow moulding from plastic granules or recycled plastic. The feed screw of the extruder melts the plastic granules, which become fluid during the operation of the extruder, then the molten granules are extruded into a parison. The still warm, ductile plastic parison, vertically elongated in a curtain-like manner, is inflated with compressed air into the shape of a mould consisting of two halves by blowing compressed air into the plastic parison through blowing pins, with the two halves of the mould closed. Then the ductile plastic takes the shape of the mould. The "burrs" formed at the closing of the mould are removed from the product and recycled.
One half of the mould gives the shape of the upper part of the shell, the other half gives the shape of the lower part of the shell with integrated legs, preferably 9 legs. The half of the shaping mould producing the lower part of the shell is formed in such a way that there are circular bores on the legs.
After the solidification of the shell enclosed by the two halves of the mould, the one piece, integrated shell having a hollow interior is removed from the mould.
The dispensing heads of a dispensing device are automatically connected to each bore on the legs of the continuous hollow shell removed from the mould, then the hollow interior of the shell is filled with a filler material through the dispensing heads. The filler material fills the hollow interior of the shell completely, then solidifies. The filler material overflowing at the bores is removed.
A microchip can be placed inside either by placing it in the hollow shell before it is filled with the filler material, or by filling it into the interior of the pallet together with the filler material.
The solidity, and thereby the load-bearing capacity of the surface of the pallet produced by the process according to the invention can be further increased, if a plastic-based glass fibre, plastic fibre or fabric fibre synthetic resin layer is applied to the surface of the pallet
by spraying or dipping. Then a pallet having an extremely high mechanical, static load- bearing capacity is obtained.
The plastic granules used for producing the shell of the pallet are preferably high density polyethylene (HDPE), polybutane, polypropylene, or polystyrene. The filler material is preferably a composite, polyurethane (PUR-foam), or geopolymer.
A common characteristic of the filler materials is that they can be filled into the shell of the pallet in a fluid/ductile form, then they solidify, filling the space available in the hollow interior completely. The filler material is selected according to the intended use of the pallet.
With the process according to the invention the wall thickness of the hollow shell can be adjusted at will to the load-bearing capacity, mechanical load.
The pallets produced by the process according to the invention comprise a shell having a completely smooth surface, which is filled uniformly with a filler material.
The pallets produced by the process according to the invention will now be described by way of the following examples:
Example 1
The shell of the pallet is made of polybutane by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is polyurethane.
The weight of the produced pallet is max. 4 kg.
Example 2
The shell of the pallet is made of polypropylene by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is polyurethane. The produced pallet is dipped in glass/fabric fibre synthetic resin, or a synthetic resin layer is applied by a spray gun.
The load-bearing capacity of the produced pallet is higher than that of a pallet without a fabric fibre synthetic resin layer.
Example 3
The shell of the pallet is made of HPDE by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is geopolymer. The weight of the produced pallet is max. 8 kg.
Example 4
The shell of the pallet is made of polyethylene (PE) by extrusion blow moulding, the filler material is polyurethane.
The weight of the produced pallet is max. 4 kg.
A further advantage of the process according to the invention is that pallets adjusted to the needs can be produced, taking into account the field of use.
Claims
1. A process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets for use primarily in the food industry, in the pharmaceutical industry, and for transportation by air, characterized in that the shell of the pallet is produced by extrusion blow moulding in such a way that a plastic parison formed from plastic granules melted by the feed screw of the extruder is inflated with compressed air into the shape of a mould consisting of two halves; one half of the mould gives the shape of the upper part of the shell, the other half gives the shape of the lower part of the shell with integrated legs, and the shell has at least one bore; after the solidification of the shell enclosed by the two halves of the mould, the one piece, integrated shell having a hollow interior is removed from the mould, and the dispensing head of a dispensing device is connected to the bore of the shell, and through it the shell is filled with a filler material.
2. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that high density polyethylene (HDPE), polybutane, polypropylene, or polystyrene, synthetic resin is used as the material of the shell.
3. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that a composite, polyurethane, or geopolymer is used as the filler material.
4. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the bores are formed on the legs.
5. The process according to claims 1-4, characterized in that a plastic-based glass fibre, plastic fibre or fabric fibre synthetic resin layer is applied to the shell by spraying or dipping.
6. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that a microchip is placed in the filler material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
HU1600065A HUP1600065A2 (en) | 2016-02-08 | 2016-02-08 | Process for the manufacturing of a hygienic polymer based pallet |
HUP1600065 | 2016-02-08 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2017137874A1 true WO2017137874A1 (en) | 2017-08-17 |
Family
ID=89992074
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2017/050594 WO2017137874A1 (en) | 2016-02-08 | 2017-02-03 | Process for the production of hygienic plastic pallets |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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HU (1) | HUP1600065A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017137874A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN108948516A (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2018-12-07 | 宁波帅特龙集团有限公司 | A kind of pivot pin of handle of automobile roof |
US11760536B2 (en) | 2021-10-08 | 2023-09-19 | The Hershey Company | Hygienic pallet and methods of use and manufacture |
USD1012416S1 (en) | 2021-10-08 | 2024-01-23 | The Hershey Company | Pallet |
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JPH0811885A (en) * | 1994-07-04 | 1996-01-16 | Daifuku Co Ltd | Pallet with id tag and its manufacture |
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WO2006094045A2 (en) * | 2005-03-01 | 2006-09-08 | The Engineered Pallet Company, Llc | Thermoplastic pallet having foam-filled or foam-coated structural parts |
US20070028814A1 (en) * | 2005-02-18 | 2007-02-08 | Swistak Daniel J | Pallets having multi-purpose nubs |
WO2007053044A1 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-05-10 | Pallenz Plastics Limited | Method of construction |
US20130015083A1 (en) * | 2011-07-15 | 2013-01-17 | Airdex International, Inc. | System for facilitating security check of shipment of cargo |
WO2015200549A1 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2015-12-30 | Airdex International, Inc. | Load bearing structure |
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2016
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JPH0811885A (en) * | 1994-07-04 | 1996-01-16 | Daifuku Co Ltd | Pallet with id tag and its manufacture |
JP2003137288A (en) * | 2001-10-31 | 2003-05-14 | Kyoraku Co Ltd | Resin pallet |
US20070028814A1 (en) * | 2005-02-18 | 2007-02-08 | Swistak Daniel J | Pallets having multi-purpose nubs |
WO2006094045A2 (en) * | 2005-03-01 | 2006-09-08 | The Engineered Pallet Company, Llc | Thermoplastic pallet having foam-filled or foam-coated structural parts |
WO2007053044A1 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-05-10 | Pallenz Plastics Limited | Method of construction |
US20130015083A1 (en) * | 2011-07-15 | 2013-01-17 | Airdex International, Inc. | System for facilitating security check of shipment of cargo |
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CN108948516A (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2018-12-07 | 宁波帅特龙集团有限公司 | A kind of pivot pin of handle of automobile roof |
US11760536B2 (en) | 2021-10-08 | 2023-09-19 | The Hershey Company | Hygienic pallet and methods of use and manufacture |
USD1012416S1 (en) | 2021-10-08 | 2024-01-23 | The Hershey Company | Pallet |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
HUP1600065A2 (en) | 2017-08-28 |
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