WO2018157180A1 - Panel transport cradle - Google Patents

Panel transport cradle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2018157180A1
WO2018157180A1 PCT/ZA2018/050006 ZA2018050006W WO2018157180A1 WO 2018157180 A1 WO2018157180 A1 WO 2018157180A1 ZA 2018050006 W ZA2018050006 W ZA 2018050006W WO 2018157180 A1 WO2018157180 A1 WO 2018157180A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
panels
cradle
pillars
shipping
base
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2018/050006
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Pieter VAN ZYL
Original Assignee
Vdm Supply Chain Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vdm Supply Chain Solutions (Pty) Ltd filed Critical Vdm Supply Chain Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Publication of WO2018157180A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018157180A1/en
Priority to ZA2019/06350A priority Critical patent/ZA201906350B/en

Links

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
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/30—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
    • B65D85/48—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for glass sheets
    • 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
    • B65D19/38—Details or accessories
    • B65D19/44—Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00263—Overall construction of the pallet
    • B65D2519/00273—Overall construction of the pallet made of more than one piece
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00293—Overall construction of the load supporting surface made of more than one piece
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00323—Overall construction of the base surface made of more than one piece
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00328—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base
    • B65D2519/00333—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base contact surface having a stringer-like shape
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00492—Overall construction of the side walls
    • B65D2519/00532—Frame structures
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00577—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other
    • B65D2519/00631—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other sidewalls not connected to each other, e.g. spaced apart frames
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00636—Connections structures connecting side walls to the pallet
    • B65D2519/00641—Structures intended to be disassembled
    • B65D2519/00646—Structures intended to be disassembled by means of hinges
    • B65D2519/00656—Structures intended to be disassembled by means of hinges separately formed
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00671—Connections structures connecting corner posts to the pallet
    • B65D2519/00676—Structures intended to be disassembled
    • B65D2519/00681—Hinges
    • B65D2519/00691—Hinges separately formed
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/0081—Elements or devices for locating articles
    • B65D2519/00815—Elements or devices for locating articles on the pallet
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/0081—Elements or devices for locating articles
    • B65D2519/0082—Elements or devices for locating articles in the side wall
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00865—Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected
    • B65D2519/00875—Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected collapsible side walls
    • B65D2519/009—Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected collapsible side walls whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to the base panel
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00935—Details with special means for nesting or stacking
    • B65D2519/00955—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable
    • B65D2519/0096—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when empty
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00935—Details with special means for nesting or stacking
    • B65D2519/00955—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable
    • B65D2519/00965—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when loaded
    • B65D2519/0097—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when loaded through corner posts

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the packaging and shipping of panels such as glass panels, mirrors and photovoltaic or solar panels.
  • the inventor is aware of the use of corrugated paper boxes to pack and ship photovoltaic panels.
  • the panels can be stacked vertically or packed horizontally in a box.
  • Corrugated paper or polystyrene spacers and fillers are used between panels to prevent contact and to minimise vibration.
  • the boxes are typically designed to be stacked in a container and in some cases hard plastic corner protectors are used to lower the stresses caused on the panels by stacking the boxes.
  • micro cracks which degrade a photovoltaic panel, is still caused by impacts and vibrations during loading and transport.
  • Stacking height of the boxes are limited to prevent point loads, collapsing of the boxes and damage to panels. Big impacts can still damage the photovoltaic panels and water can also cause the corrugated boxes to soften and collapse.
  • the boxes are not dimensioned to optimise shipping container space. This leads to shipping a lower number of panels possible and spaces between stack of boxes inside the shipping container. Often airbags are used between rows of boxes inside a container to prevent movement and to take up space.
  • a cradle for shipping panels which cradle includes:
  • a frame having a rectangular base configured to be handled by a forklift and four pillars extending upward from the respective corners of the base;
  • a first panel movement damping means in the form of a set of elongate stacking and spacer guides of resiliently deformable material to prevent relative movement of the panels and to absorb panel vibrations;
  • a second movement or shock damping means in the form of movement or shock damping mounting means for mounting each elongate stacking and spacer guides to the frame.
  • Stacking and spacer guides may be mounted in a operatively horizontal orientation on the base and/ or frame and may be provided with spaced slots for respectively receiving corners and/ or edges of vertically positioned panels, in use.
  • Each of at least one pair of opposed spacer guides may respectively span horizontally between opposed pairs of pillars and each may be provided with spaced slots for respectively receiving edges of vertically positioned panels.
  • the first panel movement damping means in the form of a stacking and spacer guide may include metal backing plate for supporting and mounting the damping means to the frame.
  • the stacking and spacer guides may be removable and interchangeable. Guides may be provided with spaced slots configured to accept any set panels of a number of sets of panels. It will be appreciated that the panels may be reusable and may be configured or reconfigured to contain and transport a set of panels of certain dimensions, allowing the cradle to be customised and used for various panel products and varying dimensions.
  • the pillars may preferably be load bearing pillars to allow the cradles to be stacked vertically on top of each other with the pillars of stacked cradles being aligned and supporting the weight of the stack of cradles without any load being experienced by the panels in the cradle, in use.
  • the bottom of the base and the top of the pillars may have complementary locating formations to locate and align and interlock corresponding pillars of a vertical stack of cradles.
  • Each opposed pair of pillars may be hingedly attached to the base and may be foldable flat onto the base when no panels are stacked inside the cradle.
  • the length of the pillars may be half of the length of the base to allow the pillars to fold flat into a plane on the base. It will be appreciated that empty cradles can be stacked in a compact manner to lower the cost of shipping empty cradles.
  • the length, width and height of the cradle may preferably be selected to allow rows and stacks or multiples thereof to fit snugly inside a typical ISO 40' shipping container or load volume of a truck, trailer or railway cart.
  • Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of a cradle with the panels in exploded view to show details, in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of part of the cradle
  • Figure 3 shows a top view of a cradle loaded with panels
  • Figure 4 shows a side perspective view of a cradle loaded with panels
  • Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of a stack of cradles loaded with panels
  • Figure 6 shows a side perspective view of a stack of empty cradles in its compact folded state
  • Figure 7 shows a side perspective view of a 40 foot shipping container loaded with full cradles with the container's side removed to show the contents
  • Figure 8 shows a side perspective view of a 40 foot shipping container loaded with empty cradles with the container's side removed to show the contents; and
  • Figure 9 shows a side perspective view of a trailer load bed loaded with full cradles and empty compacted cradles.
  • a cradle for shipping panels in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.
  • the cradle 10 for shipping panels 12 includes a frame 14 having a rectangular base 16 configured to be handled by a forklift by means of lifting cavities 18 on each side of the base.
  • the frame includes four pillars 20 which extend upward from the respective corners of the base 16.
  • the cradle 10 further includes a first panel movement damping means in the form of a set of eight elongate stacking and spacer guides 22 of resiliently deformable material to prevent relative movement of the panels and to absorb panel vibrations and a second movement or shock damping means in the form of movement or shock damping mounting means 24 for mounting each elongate stacking and spacer guides 22 to the frame 14.
  • Two pairs of stacking and spacer guides 22.1 and 22.2 are mounted in a operatively horizontal orientation on the base 16 and is provided with spaced slots 26 for respectively receiving corners and/ or edges of vertically positioned panels 12.
  • Two pairs of opposed stacking and spacer guides 22.3 and 22.4 respectively span horizontally between opposed pairs of pillars 20 and each is provided with spaced slots 26 for respectively receiving edges of vertically positioned panels 12.
  • the first panel movement damping means in the form of a stacking and spacer guides 22 include a metal backing plate 28 for supporting and mounting the guides to the frame14.
  • the stacking and spacer guides 22 are removable and interchangeable to allow the cradle to be customised to transport different types of panels 12.
  • the guides 22 can be provided with spaced slots configured to accept any set panels 12 of a number of sets of panels.
  • the pillars 20 are load bearing pillars to allow the cradles 10 to be stacked vertically on top of each other with the pillars of stacked cradles being aligned and supporting the weight of the stack of cradles without any load being experienced by the panels in the cradle, in use.
  • the bottom of the base and the top of the pillars have complementary locating formations 30.1 and 30.2 to locate and align and interlock corresponding pillars 20 of a vertical stack of cradles 10.
  • Each opposed pair 20.1 and 20.2 of pillars are connected by two cross bars 32 and are hingedly attached to the base 16 and can be folded flat onto the base 16 when no panels are stacked inside the cradle 10.
  • the length of the pillars 20 is half of the length of the base 16 to allow the pillars to fold flat into a plane on the base.
  • Empty cradles 10 can be stacked in a compact manner to lower the cost of shipping empty cradles, as shown in figures 6, 8 and 9.
  • the length, width and height of the cradle 10 selected to allow 6 stacks of cradles 10 to fit snugly inside a typical ISO 40' shipping container 34 or load volume of a truck, trailer 36 or railway cart.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)

Abstract

The invention provides a cradle (10) for shipping panels (12) such as solar panels. The cradle includes a frame (14) having a rectangular base (16) configured to be handled by a forklift and four pillars (20) extending upward from the respective corners of the base. The cradle further includes a first panel movement damping means in the form of a set of elongate stacking and spacer guides (22) of resiliently deformable material to prevent relative movement of the panels and to absorb panel vibrations, and a second movement or shock damping means in the form of movement or shock damping mounting means (24) for mounting each elongate stacking and spacer guides to the frame.

Description

Title: Panel Transport Cradle Technical field of the invention
This invention relates to the packaging and shipping of panels such as glass panels, mirrors and photovoltaic or solar panels.
Background to the invention
The inventor is aware of the use of corrugated paper boxes to pack and ship photovoltaic panels. The panels can be stacked vertically or packed horizontally in a box. Corrugated paper or polystyrene spacers and fillers are used between panels to prevent contact and to minimise vibration. The boxes are typically designed to be stacked in a container and in some cases hard plastic corner protectors are used to lower the stresses caused on the panels by stacking the boxes. However, micro cracks, which degrade a photovoltaic panel, is still caused by impacts and vibrations during loading and transport. Stacking height of the boxes are limited to prevent point loads, collapsing of the boxes and damage to panels. Big impacts can still damage the photovoltaic panels and water can also cause the corrugated boxes to soften and collapse. Although movement of the panels are inhibited in these boxes, damping of vibrations and impacts are not sufficient. In addition, the boxes are not dimensioned to optimise shipping container space. This leads to shipping a lower number of panels possible and spaces between stack of boxes inside the shipping container. Often airbags are used between rows of boxes inside a container to prevent movement and to take up space.
In addition, large quantities and volumes of packaging material accompany the shipping of panels such as photovoltaic panels, which needs to be disposed of on site. This is a particular problem when large numbers of the panels needs to delivered at a site destination. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved shipping solution for panels such as glass panels, mirrors and photovoltaic panels. General description of the invention
According to the invention there is provided a cradle for shipping panels, which cradle includes:
a frame having a rectangular base configured to be handled by a forklift and four pillars extending upward from the respective corners of the base;
a first panel movement damping means in the form of a set of elongate stacking and spacer guides of resiliently deformable material to prevent relative movement of the panels and to absorb panel vibrations; and
a second movement or shock damping means in the form of movement or shock damping mounting means for mounting each elongate stacking and spacer guides to the frame.
Stacking and spacer guides may be mounted in a operatively horizontal orientation on the base and/ or frame and may be provided with spaced slots for respectively receiving corners and/ or edges of vertically positioned panels, in use.
Each of at least one pair of opposed spacer guides may respectively span horizontally between opposed pairs of pillars and each may be provided with spaced slots for respectively receiving edges of vertically positioned panels.
The first panel movement damping means in the form of a stacking and spacer guide may include metal backing plate for supporting and mounting the damping means to the frame.
The stacking and spacer guides may be removable and interchangeable. Guides may be provided with spaced slots configured to accept any set panels of a number of sets of panels. It will be appreciated that the panels may be reusable and may be configured or reconfigured to contain and transport a set of panels of certain dimensions, allowing the cradle to be customised and used for various panel products and varying dimensions.
The pillars may preferably be load bearing pillars to allow the cradles to be stacked vertically on top of each other with the pillars of stacked cradles being aligned and supporting the weight of the stack of cradles without any load being experienced by the panels in the cradle, in use. The bottom of the base and the top of the pillars may have complementary locating formations to locate and align and interlock corresponding pillars of a vertical stack of cradles.
Each opposed pair of pillars may be hingedly attached to the base and may be foldable flat onto the base when no panels are stacked inside the cradle. The length of the pillars may be half of the length of the base to allow the pillars to fold flat into a plane on the base. It will be appreciated that empty cradles can be stacked in a compact manner to lower the cost of shipping empty cradles.
The length, width and height of the cradle may preferably be selected to allow rows and stacks or multiples thereof to fit snugly inside a typical ISO 40' shipping container or load volume of a truck, trailer or railway cart.
Detailed description of the invention
The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of a cradle with the panels in exploded view to show details, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of part of the cradle;
Figure 3 shows a top view of a cradle loaded with panels;
Figure 4 shows a side perspective view of a cradle loaded with panels;
Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of a stack of cradles loaded with panels; Figure 6 shows a side perspective view of a stack of empty cradles in its compact folded state; Figure 7 shows a side perspective view of a 40 foot shipping container loaded with full cradles with the container's side removed to show the contents;
Figure 8 shows a side perspective view of a 40 foot shipping container loaded with empty cradles with the container's side removed to show the contents; and Figure 9 shows a side perspective view of a trailer load bed loaded with full cradles and empty compacted cradles.
Referring now to the drawings, a cradle for shipping panels, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.
The cradle 10 for shipping panels 12 includes a frame 14 having a rectangular base 16 configured to be handled by a forklift by means of lifting cavities 18 on each side of the base. The frame includes four pillars 20 which extend upward from the respective corners of the base 16. The cradle 10 further includes a first panel movement damping means in the form of a set of eight elongate stacking and spacer guides 22 of resiliently deformable material to prevent relative movement of the panels and to absorb panel vibrations and a second movement or shock damping means in the form of movement or shock damping mounting means 24 for mounting each elongate stacking and spacer guides 22 to the frame 14.
Two pairs of stacking and spacer guides 22.1 and 22.2 are mounted in a operatively horizontal orientation on the base 16 and is provided with spaced slots 26 for respectively receiving corners and/ or edges of vertically positioned panels 12. Two pairs of opposed stacking and spacer guides 22.3 and 22.4 respectively span horizontally between opposed pairs of pillars 20 and each is provided with spaced slots 26 for respectively receiving edges of vertically positioned panels 12. The first panel movement damping means in the form of a stacking and spacer guides 22 include a metal backing plate 28 for supporting and mounting the guides to the frame14. The stacking and spacer guides 22 are removable and interchangeable to allow the cradle to be customised to transport different types of panels 12. The guides 22 can be provided with spaced slots configured to accept any set panels 12 of a number of sets of panels. The pillars 20 are load bearing pillars to allow the cradles 10 to be stacked vertically on top of each other with the pillars of stacked cradles being aligned and supporting the weight of the stack of cradles without any load being experienced by the panels in the cradle, in use. The bottom of the base and the top of the pillars have complementary locating formations 30.1 and 30.2 to locate and align and interlock corresponding pillars 20 of a vertical stack of cradles 10. Each opposed pair 20.1 and 20.2 of pillars are connected by two cross bars 32 and are hingedly attached to the base 16 and can be folded flat onto the base 16 when no panels are stacked inside the cradle 10. The length of the pillars 20 is half of the length of the base 16 to allow the pillars to fold flat into a plane on the base. Empty cradles 10 can be stacked in a compact manner to lower the cost of shipping empty cradles, as shown in figures 6, 8 and 9.
The length, width and height of the cradle 10 selected to allow 6 stacks of cradles 10 to fit snugly inside a typical ISO 40' shipping container 34 or load volume of a truck, trailer 36 or railway cart.
It shall be understood that the example is provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . A cradle for shipping panels, which cradle includes:
a frame having a rectangular base configured to be handled by a forklift and four pillars extending upward from the respective corners of the base;
a first panel movement damping means in the form of a set of elongate stacking and spacer guides of resiliently deformable material to prevent relative movement of the panels and to absorb panel vibrations; and
a second movement or shock damping means in the form of movement or shock damping mounting means for mounting each elongate stacking and spacer guides to the frame.
2. A cradle for shipping panels as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the stacking and spacer guides are mounted in a operatively horizontal orientation on the base and/or frame and is provided with spaced slots for respectively receiving corners and/ or edges of vertically positioned panels, in use.
3. A cradle for shipping panels as claimed in Claim 2, wherein pairs of opposed spacer guides respectively span horizontally between opposed pairs of pillars and each is provided with spaced slots for respectively receiving edges of vertically positioned panels.
4. A cradle for shipping panels as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the first panel movement damping means in the form of a stacking and spacer guide includes a metal backing plate for supporting and mounting the damping means to the frame.
5. A cradle for shipping panels as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the stacking and spacer guides are removable and interchangeable.
6. A cradle for shipping panels as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the pillars are load bearing pillars and the bottom of the base and the top of the pillars have complementary locating formations to locate and align and interlock corresponding pillars of a vertical stack of cradles.
7. A cradle for shipping panels as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein each opposed pair of pillars is hingedly attached to the base and is foldable flat onto the base when no panels are stacked inside the cradle.
8. A cradle for shipping panels substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/ZA2018/050006 2017-02-27 2018-02-01 Panel transport cradle WO2018157180A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA2019/06350A ZA201906350B (en) 2017-02-27 2019-09-26 Panel transport cradle

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA201701437 2017-02-27
ZA2017/01437 2017-02-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2018157180A1 true WO2018157180A1 (en) 2018-08-30

Family

ID=62044996

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2018/050006 WO2018157180A1 (en) 2017-02-27 2018-02-01 Panel transport cradle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2018157180A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA201906350B (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4424902A (en) * 1982-03-18 1984-01-10 Proektno-Konstruktorskaya Organizatsiya "Orgsteklo" Method and apparatus for packing glass sheets in a container
US6588605B1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-07-08 Cardinal Cg Company Planar article rack having closeable holding members
CN2855943Y (en) * 2005-11-11 2007-01-10 永联邦精密工业股份有限公司 Plate package and transportation equipment
US20080217276A1 (en) * 2007-03-05 2008-09-11 Paccar Inc Modular and customizable returnable rack system and method
WO2016084103A2 (en) * 2014-11-26 2016-06-02 Arun Modgil Collapsible and extendable glass rack/ container

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4424902A (en) * 1982-03-18 1984-01-10 Proektno-Konstruktorskaya Organizatsiya "Orgsteklo" Method and apparatus for packing glass sheets in a container
US6588605B1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-07-08 Cardinal Cg Company Planar article rack having closeable holding members
CN2855943Y (en) * 2005-11-11 2007-01-10 永联邦精密工业股份有限公司 Plate package and transportation equipment
US20080217276A1 (en) * 2007-03-05 2008-09-11 Paccar Inc Modular and customizable returnable rack system and method
WO2016084103A2 (en) * 2014-11-26 2016-06-02 Arun Modgil Collapsible and extendable glass rack/ container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA201906350B (en) 2020-09-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7546927B2 (en) Product tray insert
EP3566975B1 (en) Pallet apparatus for transportation of car glass
US8061521B1 (en) Packaging system for a large article
DK2390198T3 (en) Shuttle Pallet System
EP1927552B1 (en) Collapsible packaging system
CA2627331C (en) Packaging structure for housing, transporting, displaying and retailing products
EP2116479A1 (en) Unit load for the transport of absorbent hygiene articles
US20170113863A1 (en) Reusable modular containment device for protecting cargo during shipment
KR20110002494U (en) Packing box for pannal product
JP2008254752A (en) Product package
US8910786B2 (en) Packaging for motors
KR101225468B1 (en) The assembly type box for packaging plate-shaped heavyweight products
CN100491208C (en) Pallet box and method for conveying detachable folding box using the pallet box
WO2018157180A1 (en) Panel transport cradle
JP2008189369A (en) Transporting and displaying method of paper product
JPH09295686A (en) Glass tube packaging body
JP4674153B2 (en) Packing equipment
KR100976392B1 (en) Packing box for carriage and manufacturing method of it
US20060260975A1 (en) Packaging assembly
EP2917125B1 (en) Interlocking crate and shipping container system
US2688398A (en) Pallet
KR101838282B1 (en) Shock-absorbing support for flat product packing and its packing structure using the same
JPH018515Y2 (en)
US20170313487A1 (en) Tray system for stacking layers of non-structural bottles
CN204822691U (en) Packing box

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 18719736

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 18719736

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1