SYSTEM COMPRISING A PALLET, CONTAINERS AND STACKING PINS

Description

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system comprising at least one pallet, a plurality of containers and a plurality of stacking pins as separate components.

PRIOR ART

Known pallets have upper decks with bearing surfaces and circumferential stacking edges. Standardisation of a plastic material pallet with stacking edges can be found e.g. in a “Recommendation 120.4” of “Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Logistik SGL” [Swiss logistics society] from March 1998. The stacking edges fix containers arranged on the pallet when the containers, covering the surface on the upper deck, form one container tier. The stacking edges do not allow each container to be able to be fixed individually in its own right. As a result, by reason of the tolerances, the individual containers can be displaced within the stacking edge and thus cause instability of the stack during transport on the pallet.

DE 20 2016 100 079 U1 discloses a carrier for storing or transporting containers, wherein the carrier is equipped with an edge protruding upwards beyond the carrying surface and wherein a securing device having a resilient stop element is arranged on the base of the carrier, said stop element securing containers, which are arranged on the carrying surface, laterally to prevent slipping. The disadvantage of this system is that the fixedly installed anti-slip tongue is not designed to be adaptive to different container sizes and that the container can be secured only at specific points.

US 2002/195027 A1 discloses a system according to the preamble of claim 1. In the exemplified embodiment shown in FIG. 27 therein, rib-like stacking members protrude from the upper deck of a pallet and can be pushed from a position protruding from the upper deck to a position retracted into the upper deck, as soon as containers are un-loaded onto the pallet. The rib-like stacking members can be inserted into groove-like cut-outs where they are pretensioned by springs such that they protrude from the upper deck when the pallet is in the resting position. Channel-like cut-outs can be provided on the underside of the containers to prevent the stacking members from being pressed down when the containers are placed thereon.

AT 15 627 U1 discloses a transport pallet for transporting bulky and/or heavy objects, wherein stacking pins protrude above the pallet surface by reason of spring pretensioning and can be permanently pressed down by the load placed onto the pallet, wherein pins arranged laterally from the load secure the load to prevent slipping.

According to US 2002/0195027 A1 and AT 15 627 U1, the stacking members protruding upwards over the pallet surface are each permanently pressed downwards and subject to loading by means of the objects placed thereon, in that the springs which pretension the stacking members upwards are compressed. This gives rise to the disadvantage that after frequent use, in particular when loading larger loads, the springs can wear out and as a result the stacking members are then not properly pressed outwards over the surface.

Therefore, after long-term use of the transport pallet there is no longer sufficient and reliable protection to prevent the load from slipping on the pallet.

US 2005/081763 A1 discloses in FIG. 10 b a system comprising a pallet with containers placed thereon, wherein various insertable sheet-like wedges are provided which can be used on the transport pallet. On the one hand, wedges are provided at the edges, are connected to an engagement tongue via a horizontal tongue and are received in receiving slots in the container. On the other hand, wedges are provided in the central region of the pallet and cooperate with two containers placed on the pallet by means of an elongated tongue at the upper end. A disadvantage is the plug-in system which consists of many individual parts and which requires the additional transport of the wedges in an extra bag or the like e.g. when transporting empty pallets.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,904 A discloses a transport pallet for receiving spools of yarn which are wound around a tubular winding mandrel. In order to hold the mandrels placed vertically onto the pallet, pins are provided which are screwed into the pallet, engage into the winding mandrels from below and secure them to prevent slipping.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a system, in which containers, in particular plastic material containers, can be fixed on a pallet, in particular a lightweight pallet, such that they do not slip during transport and at the same time permit modular stack formation.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved by means of a system comprising at least one pallet, in particular a lightweight board, a plurality of containers, in particular of a similar design, and with a plurality of stacking pins, in particular of a similar design, as separate components.

The containers have preferably a rectangular container base and four circumferential side walls.

For example, the containers are produced from a plastic material and by means of an injection-moulding method. In particular, the containers can be formed in one piece, but this is not limiting for the invention. On the contrary, the containers can also comprise foldable or pivotable side walls, apertures in the side walls, display openings, handle openings and the like, as known from the prior art.

The containers are equipped e.g. with container bases which are flat and formed without a stacking edge. In particular, the container bases can also be provided with an open rib structure.

The pallet has an upper deck with a bearing surface and a plurality of feet and/or runners on the underside of the upper deck.

The upper deck can have an open rib structure. The open rib structure of the upper deck reduces the weight of the pallet and also allows the pallet to be cleaned effectively.

For example, the pallet is produced from a plastic material and by means of an injection-moulding method. In particular, the pallet can be formed in one piece, but this is not limiting for the invention.

The feet in the corners of the pallet have preferably a pot-like outer shape with a conical geometry, so that the feet of the pallet are designed to be nestable in feet of an identical second pallet. Preferably, the pallet is designed to be nestable in a further identical pallet. This advantageously results in a volume reduction during return transport of a plurality of pallets. The bases of the feet form the lower standing surface of the pallet.

Moreover, the feet of the pallet are preferably designed in such a manner that they comprise a dome-like internal structure, the upper side of which forms an island-like bearing surface as part of the bearing surface of the upper deck which is located within a foot region of the pallet. When a tier of containers is arranged on the pallet, the container bases also preferably come to lie at least also on the island-like bearing surfaces of the pallet. The pot-like outer structure with the dome-like inner structure, e.g. in the form of a truncated pyramid, permits a nestable pallet which is stabilised in the foot region and can also have a load-transferring effect.

The feet of the pallet can be connected to one another by means of one or more runners, wherein the various designs are familiar to a person skilled in the art.

The upper deck of the pallet comprises at least one first stacking pin receiver.

In advantageous embodiments, at least one first stacking pin receiver is delimited by a receiver fitting which is formed in particular circumferentially. Alternatively or additionally, at least one first stacking pin receiver is delimited by a partial ring-shaped flange portion. Also alternatively or additionally, at least one first stacking pin receiver is delimited by a threaded portion.

The container bases of the containers comprise in each case at least one second stacking pin receiver.

In one advantageous embodiment, the second stacking pin receiver is designed as an aperture of a container base flange or stacking edge.

In one advantageous alternative embodiment, at least one second stacking pin receiver is designed as an aperture in the container base of reinforcing ribs which are present.

In one advantageous yet further embodiment, at least one second stacking pin receiver is formed by means of an in particular circumferential receiver fitting in the container base.

The first and second stacking pin receivers are dimensioned for insertion of a stacking pin, the first ones being designed preferably for inserting a stacking pin in particular in an accurately fitting manner. Moreover, the first and second stacking pin receivers can be arranged with respect to one another such that a container can be fixed on the upper deck by means of a stacking pin, wherein the stacking pin can be arranged in a stable manner in one position such that it engages, on the carcass side, into a first stacking pin receiver, on the end side protrudes over the bearing surface and engages into a second stacking pin receiver.

With the measures of the invention, each individual container can advantageously be fixed in its own right on a pallet. Furthermore, a container tier can be fixed on a pallet even when it is arranged on a pallet without covering the surface.

Furthermore, provision is made that the stacking pin can still be arranged in a stable manner in a second position, wherein the stacking pin is countersunk in the first stacking pin receiver and is located in a clamping fit with the upper deck or in a thread of the upper deck.

In terms of the present disclosure, the phrase “can be arranged in a stable manner” is understood to mean that the stacking pin does not arrive in a position by itself, e.g. by reason of pretensioning, by means of a resilient bearing or the like. On the contrary, it requires an external force effect, in particular by means of manual adjustment, screwing or e.g. an impact effect, for the stacking pin to move out of the stable position.

The measures of the invention thus provide at least two stable positions for each stacking pin in the pallet, wherein the stacking pin can be transferred from the first stable position to the second stable position and vice versa by means of the external force effect.

According to one advantageous embodiment, at least one stacking pin has a conical or cylindrical body portion and at least one end portion which has a larger diameter than the body portion. Preferably, the transition from the body portion to the end portion is formed by means of a circumferential shoulder. Such a stacking pin can be inserted up to the shoulder into the first stacking pin receiver and, by reason of the enlarged diameter, protrude over the bearing surface on the front side, where the stacking pin can engage into a second stacking pin receiver of a container.

In one advantageous embodiment, at least one stacking pin is designed as a locating pin, wherein the dimensions of the locating pin and of the first stacking pin receiver are adapted to one another such that the locating pin can be inserted through the first stacking pin receiver, in particular from below, under compression, preferably with elastic deformation, and can be held in the first stacking pin receiver in a form-fitting manner or in a clamping fit.

In one advantageous embodiment, the locating pin has a body portion which is divided by an annular lip into an end-side body portion and a carcass-side body portion. The annular lip can be formed circumferentially around the periphery of a body portion.

Particularly preferably, the dimensions of the end-side and carcass-side body portions are adapted to the size of the first stacking pin receiver such that, in the first position, the end-side body portion can be held in a form-fitting manner or in a clamping fit in the first stacking pin receiver and, in the second position, the carcass-side body portion can be held in a form-fitting manner or in a clamping fit in the first stacking pin receiver. The change in the position of the stacking pin from the first to the second position or vice versa can be changed e.g. by screwing or striking it.

The locating pin is made in part or completely from an elastically deformable material, e.g. an elastomer or a polymer. Materials demonstrating elastic behaviour are distinguished from materials demonstrating plastic behaviour. In particular, provision can be made that the annular lip is formed from an elastically compressible material, e.g. an elastomer or a polymer, wherein this is formed in one piece with the locating pin or as a second component.

In addition or alternatively thereto, at least one stacking pin can be formed as a screw, in particular a bayonet screw, wherein the first stacking pin receiver is delimited by a threaded portion which is adapted to a bayonet threaded portion of the bayonet screw, so that the bayonet screw can be held in the first stacking pin receiver in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner.

A first position and a second position are also provided for the screw, in particular a bayonet screw, wherein the stacking pin can be transferred from the first to the second position by the screw head drive, wherein in the first position the end-side body portion protrudes beyond the bearing surface and in the second position the end-side body portion is countersunk in the bearing surface or in the upper deck. The screw head drive can have slots, intersecting slots or e.g. special shape contours. Advantageously, the change in position can be brought about in this case by means of a suit-able tool, such as e.g. a spanner, in the case of special shape contours by means of a special tool.

In all embodiments of the stacking pin described, whether as a locating pin or as a bayonet screw, provision can be made that the stacking pin can be held in a first position in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the upper deck, wherein the stacking pin engages on the carcass side into the first stacking pin receiver and protrudes on the end side over the bearing surface, and can be held in the second position in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the upper deck, wherein the stacking pin is completely countersunk in the second stacking pin receiver. The change in position can be brought about by striking or screwing, for instance by means of a special tool.

The containers can be arranged on the upper deck, substantially covering the surface in one container tier.

The first stacking pin receivers can be arranged e.g. along the pallet edge and/or at the centre of the pallet. In particular, a use of stacking pins at the edge of the pallet can additionally enable e.g. cardboard boxes to be fixed on the pallet, and the use of stacking pins at the centre of the pallet can enable the pallet to be used in the system with the containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the figures.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a system having a lightweight board, a plurality of containers and a plurality of stacking pins according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an underside of a container,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a corner-side portion of a pallet with stacking pins arranged therein,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a corner region of a system having a pallet and a container according to an alternative embodiment,

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a detailed region of a pallet and of stacking pins in the form of locating pins,

FIG. 6 shows a section of a system having a pallet, a container and stacking pins in the form of locating pins,

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of a pallet having stacking pins in the form of bayonet screws, and

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a system having a pallet, a container and stacking pins in the form of locating pins.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a system 2 according to one embodiment of the invention. A part of a container tier 4 is illustrated on a pallet 10 which is designed as a so-called light-weight board, wherein, in this case, the container tier 4 is formed by way of example of three containers 20.

The dimensions of the containers 20 are adapted to the pallet 10 such that six containers 20 are arranged in a 2×3 matrix on the pallet in a manner covering the surface, in order to form a surface-covering container tier 4. Only three containers 20 of the container tier 4 are illustrated, wherein one of the three containers 20 is illustrated in section in order to visualise the cooperation of stacking pins 30 with the container 20 for fixing the container 20 to the pallet 10.

The containers 20 each have four circumferential side walls 22 and one container base 24, wherein this is not limiting for the invention. In one advantageous embodiment, the containers 20 are illustrated and described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The pallet 10 in FIG. 1 comprises an upper deck 12 having a bearing surface 120 which has an open rip structure 122, wherein this is not limiting for the invention. Furthermore, in this case the pallet 10 comprises, by way of example but in a manner not limiting for the invention, nine feet 14, of which five can be seen in the view in FIG. 1. The corner feet 14 have pot-like outer shapes 140 which are formed tapering conically towards the base. Therefore, the pallet 14 is designed to be nestable in an identically designed pallet 10, wherein, in this state, the feet 14 nest one inside the other. The feet 14 arranged on the corner side have dome-like inner structures 142 in the form of truncated pyramids which form island-like bearing surfaces 144 on the upper side which can be equiplanar with respect to the bearing surface 120. The dome-like inner structure 142 in the form of the truncated pyramid likewise has the property that it enables the pallet 10 to be supported in a nestable manner.

A series of stacking pins 30 are inserted in the pallet 10, for which reason the pallet 10 has corresponding first stacking pin receivers 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the stacking pins 30 are arranged spaced apart from the edge of the pallet 10. First stacking pin receivers 16 arranged on the edge side are empty or contain countersunk stacking pins 30, which means that they are not visible in this view. Corresponding to the first stacking pin receivers 16 arranged spaced apart from the pallet edge, the containers 20 have second stacking pin receivers 26 spaced apart on the edge side, which can be seen in FIG. 2 and with which the containers 20 can be fixed on the pallet.

FIG. 2 shows the underside of a container 20 having a container base 24 which is formed by means of an open rib structure 240, but this is not limiting for the invention. The open rib structure 240 comprises a multiplicity of reinforcing ribs 242 which extend e.g. diagonally in this case. The container base 24 is formed by first intersecting, diagonally extending reinforcing ribs 242 and second intersecting reinforcing ribs 242 extending in parallel with the side walls 22. The illustrated structure of the container base 24 is particularly stable against twisting and torsion.

Apertures 28 are arranged in the container base 24 and moreover in the form of apertures 28 of the reinforcing ribs 242. Within the scope of the present disclosure, the apertures 28 of the reinforcing ribs 242 form the second stacking pin receivers 26.

The apertures 28 are delimited by fittings or grommet-shaped structures, so that a circular stacking pin 30 (not illustrated) can be inserted, in particular can be inserted in an accurately fitting manner.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a corner region of an upper deck 12 of a pallet 10 with stacking pins 30 inserted therein. In contrast to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, in this case the stacking pins 30 are inserted both along the pallet edge and in the inner region of the pallet, and some of the stacking pins 30 protrude over the bearing surface 120.

FIG. 4 shows a corner region of a container 20 having two stacking pin receivers 26 in the form of apertures 28 in the container base flange 244 which is fixed on a pallet 10 by means of the engagement of stacking pins 30 into the apertures 28. The container base flange 244 can also be designated as a stacking edge and have a corresponding functionality, in particular in the container stack, which is known to a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 5 shows details of a corner region of a pallet 10 and a stacking pin 30 in the form of a locating pin 300. The locating pin 300 has a body portion 32 as well as an end portion 34, which has a larger diameter than the body portion 32, and a carcass portion 36 which has a larger diameter than the body portion 32. The end portion 34 and the carcass portion 36 each adjoin the body portion 32 via a shoulder 38.

The dimensions of the first stacking pin receiver 16 are adapted to the diameter of the end portion 34 and body portion 32 such that the locating pin 300 can be inserted into the first stacking pin receiver e.g. by striking it from below, and can protrude on the end side over the bearing surface 120 of the pallet. In this state which is shown on the right in the illustration, the locating pin 300 continues to engage on the carcass side into the first stacking pin receiver 16 and protrudes with its end-side body portion 320 on the end side over the bearing surface 120.

FIG. 6 shows the inserted stacking pin 30 of FIG. 5 in a functional position in the system 2 for fixing the container 20 on the pallet 10. The stacking pin 30 protrudes with its end-side body portion 320 (cf. also FIG. 5) over the bearing surface 120 of the pallet 10. FIG. 6 illustrates, with the aid of the reference signs, a further functionality of the stacking pin 30 in the form of the locating pin 300 which can be present in addition to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5, but does not have to be.

Specifically, in the exemplified embodiment of both FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 the stacking pin 30 designed as a locating pin 300 has an annular lip 326 which divides the body portion 32 into an end-side body portion 320 and a carcass-side body portion 322. The annular lip 326 or alternatively the entire locating pin 300 can be made from an elastically compressible material.

The first stacking pin receiver 16 is designed as a receiver fitting 160 having a tapered portion 162. The dimensions of the tapered portion 162 of the first stacking pin receiver 16 and the body portion 32 of the locating pin 300 are adapted to one another such that the annular lip 326 can be transferred under compression from a position above the tapered portion 162, which is illustrated in FIG. 6, to a position below the tapered portion 162 and vice versa. For the locating pin 300, a second position can be set, in which the end-side body portion 320 can be held in a form-fitting manner or in a clamping fit in the first stacking pin receiver 16 (not illustrated in FIG. 6), and a first position, in which the carcass-side body portion 322 can be held in a form-fitting manner or in a clamping fit in the first stacking pin receiver 16 (illustrated in FIG. 6). An annular shoulder 324 which adjoins the carcass-side body section 322 and forms the transition to the carcass side 36 protrudes downwards below the tapered portion 162 in both cases in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows in particular an alternative embodiment of the stacking pin 30 as a bayonet screw 302.

The bayonet screw 302 comprises a bayonet threaded portion 304 which cooperates with a corresponding threaded portion 170 (cf. FIG. 8) of the first stacking pin receiver 16 in order to hold the stacking pin 30 in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner in the first stacking pin receiver 16.

The bayonet screw 302 illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises, on the end side, a screw head drive 306, with the aid of which the bayonet screw can be arranged in a height-adjustable manner in the first stacking pin receiver 16 by means of a tool, in particular e.g. a special tool.

Furthermore, the bayonet screw 302 has an annular lip 326 which cooperates with a shoulder 172 to prevent the bayonet screw 302 from falling out of the first stacking pin receiver 16.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and includes a large number of embodiments which are immediately apparent to a person skilled in the art.

REFERENCE SIGNS

• • 2 system; 4 container tier; 10 pallet; 12 upper deck; 120 bearing surface; 122 open rib structure; 14 foot; 140 pot-like outer shape; 142 dome-like inner structure; 144 island-like bearing surface; 16 first stacking pin receiver; 160 receiver fitting; 162 tapered portion; 170 threaded portion; 172 shoulder; 180 receiver base; 20 container; 22 side wall; 24 container base; 240 open rib structure; 242 reinforcing rib; 244 container base flange; 26 second stacking pin receiver; 28 aperture; 30 stacking pin; 300 locating pin; 302 bayonet screw; 304 bayonet threaded portion; 306 screw head drive; 32 body portion; 320 end-side body portion; 322 carcass-side body portion; 324 annular shoulder; 326 annular lip; 34 end portion; 36 carcass portion; 38 shoulder