EP2930121A1 - Plastic pallet for receiving flexible bulk containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic pallet (1) for receiving flexible bulk containers. Such a plastic pallet (1) comprises at least a pair of tunnel-shaped receptacles for the prongs of the fork of a forklift, the tunnel-shaped receptacles connecting two opposite sides (2) of the plastic pallet (1).

According to the invention, each tunnel-shaped receptacle has a tunnel bottom, which is formed from bottom ribs (6) spaced from one another by bottom air gaps (5). In addition, each tunnel-shaped receptacle has a tunnel arch, which is formed by vault ribs (8) spaced from one another by vault air gaps (7). In each of the tunnel-shaped receptacles bottom ribs (6) and ribs (8) are each arranged offset and dimensioned so that a bottom rib (6) under a vault air gap (7) and a vault rib (8) above a bottom air gap (5) is arranged ,

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a plastic pallet for receiving flexible bulk containers. Such a pallet comprises at least a pair of tunnel-shaped receptacles for the prongs of the fork of a forklift, the tunnel-shaped receptacles connecting two opposite sides of the plastic pallet.

State of the art

flexible bulk containers - also known as flexible intermediate bulk containers ( FIBCs ) - are used for the transport and storage of loose goods. Such loose goods can be found in many areas, in the building materials include, for example, sand, cement or earth to flour in the food sector, cereal grains, etc., and in the processing industry, for example, plastic granules. The flexible bulk containers can be made of a variety of materials and are characterized by the fact that they are flexible containers, the container so have no rigid shape as boxes or boxes, but resilient container boundaries or walls. It is more or less baggy containers in various forms, with or openings for emptying or filling. The size of the containers and the material used for them is chosen depending on the material to be filled. Thus, for cement with a high specific gravity smaller sacks, often also of several layers of strong paper are used. When transporting foodstuffs, care must be taken to ensure that no chemical reactions occur between the food to be transported and the inner wall of the container so that the inner walls of the container are food-safe. For the transport of light goods with a low specific weight, which allows the use of large bulk containers, so-called bulk bags , which are also referred to as big bags , have become established in the prior art.

To transport such flexible bulk containers, the widespread wooden pallets, which include the so-called europallets, are only partially suitable. On the one hand, the flexible bulk material containers can be damaged by the rough wooden surface, protruding wood splinters etc. On the other hand, bulk goods containers with a high flexibility of the side walls in the filled state adapt to the shape of the pallet, ie, due to its own weight, the bulk goods container bulges downwards between the slats of the wooden pallet or hangs through, which, when entering with a forklift in the worst case may cause the bulk material container to be damaged and torn open.

For the transport and storage of such flexible bulk containers one therefore endeavors to find other solutions.

A suitable for the transport of flexible bulk containers range is, for example, in the US 2013/0136573 A1 described and offered by the company BHA - Bulk Handling Australia . The in the US 2013/0136573 A1 described pallet is made of plastic by injection molding. Compared to wood, plastic has the advantage that it can be cast or sprayed in almost any shape, the surfaces are also smoother, which is advantageous for the transport of flexible bulk containers. The pallet has on its underside tunnel-shaped receptacles which connect two opposite sides of the plastic pallet - plastic pallets for flexible bulk containers generally have a square shape which defines the support surface, so that the tunnel-shaped receptacles thus two parallel sides of such a square, the Opposite each other, connect. In another embodiment, the pallet shows four tunnel-shaped receptacles, which are arranged in pairs in a crosswise direction. Thus, each side of the square-shaped pallet is connected to the opposite side by tunnel-shaped receptacles. These tunnel-shaped openings are designed so that the forks of the fork of a forklift can drive into these openings and receive the pallet. Between the tunnel-shaped receptacles, which are open at the bottom, there is a central, closed area. On the tunnel-shaped formations elevations are formed, which stiffen the structure of the pallet. If only one tunnel pair is used, the elevations run transversely to the tunnel direction from the sides of the pallet to the other side. In the case of the pallet with two pairs of tunnel-shaped receptacles, ie a total of four tunnel-shaped receptacles, the elevations each connect two adjoining tunnel-shaped receptacles, they then run in such a way that they enclose a right angle in the central area. The fact that the tunnel-shaped shots are open at the bottom, which is in the US 2013/0136573 A1 nestable plastic pallet described, ie when stacking several similar pallets, the pallets stacked so that the total height of a stack of N pallets is substantially less than N times the single height of a pallet.

However, this nestability is disadvantageous in the event that several such pallets with thereon, loaded bulk containers to be stacked: In the same manner as described above for the wooden pallets, press the plastic pallets on the underlying flexible bulk containers, which thus in the can bulge or expand downwardly open receptacles, as they can react flexibly to pressure to a certain extent. When entering the downwardly open tunnel-shaped receptacles with the tines of the fork of a forklift, this can thus damage the bulk goods container located below the pallet. In addition, the stability in the stacking of several loaded pallets is also affected on top of each other.

This will be in the case of WO 2010/151367 A1 and system sold by Sonoco under the name FirmaLoad ^™ . In the WO 2010/151367 A1 various embodiments of a bulk container and a carrier system for bulk containers are described, the carrier system can be connected to the bulk container in various ways, also a non-separable version of bulk container and carrier system will be described. The carrier system consists of a plate-shaped bottom area with a square base area on which the container is or can be arranged. Below the plate-shaped bottom region, half-tubular receptacles for the tines of a forklift truck are arranged. These recordings are preferably made of cardboard, but can also be made of plastic. The half-tube-shaped receptacles are completely closed to the floor, so that these pallets are not nestable, their stacking in the empty state so compared to nestable pallets claimed significantly more space. Conceptually, only two shots can be attached to the bottom or top of the base surface so that the pallet can not be picked up from all sides by a forklift truck. For emptying the bulk goods container, the base plate may also have a resealable flap.

Description of the invention

The object of the invention is to develop a plastic pallet of the type described above to the effect that it is both nestable, and stackable in the loaded state, in a stack a bulk material container on which the plastic pallet is parked, should be protected from damage by a forklift ,

This object is achieved in a plastic pallet of the type described above in that each tunnel-shaped receptacle has a tunnel bottom, which is formed from each other by bottom air gaps spaced bottom ribs. In addition, each tunnel-shaped receptacle has a tunnel arch formed of vault ribs spaced from one another by vault air gaps. In each tunnel-shaped receptacle, bottom ribs and ribs are each offset and dimensioned so that a bottom rib is located below a vault air gap and a rib above a bottom gap. In the region in which a bottom rib is arranged, therefore, no vault rib is arranged, and in the region which is covered by a vault rib, no bottom rib is arranged, if the reference direction is the normal of a base plate which corresponds to the bearing surface for the bulk material container , used.

In this case, vault ribs and bottom ribs can be designed so that they cover the opposite air gaps with almost exact fit or with a slight underfitting, so that maximum stability is ensured. However, in order to improve the stackability somewhat and reduce the material consumption, it is also possible to make the vault ribs narrower than the bottom air gaps and the bottom ribs narrower than the vault air gaps. Along a tunnel longitudinal axis, therefore, the width of the bottom ribs is in no case greater than the width of a vaulted air gap arranged above it, and the width of a vault rib is in no case greater than the width of a bottom air gap arranged underneath, since otherwise several similar plastic pallets of this type would not be nestable.

The vault ribs are preferably formed arcuate, since the absence of edges, the risk of damage to be transported flexible bulk goods container is reduced.

Bottom ribs and ribs each have two ends with which they are preferably connected to tunnel side walls, ie, each end is connected to a tunnel side wall and in the tunnel-shaped receiving the tunnel side walls are opposite each other transversely to the tunnel longitudinal direction. The - preferably vertical to the base plate or support surface trained - tunnel side walls increase the stability of the pallet structure on the one hand, but they also serve as a guide for the tines of the fork of the forklift and prevent them from getting caught in the air gaps, if the forklift is not exactly straight enters the tunnel-shaped recordings. In principle, it is also possible to connect the vault ribs and the bottom ribs at their ends instead of a tunnel side wall with the least possible material expenditure or only over a narrow web.

Suitably, each plastic pallet comprises four tunnel-shaped receptacles, which are arranged in pairs in a crosswise manner. This increases flexibility in use, since the plastic pallet, which is generally formed with a square base plate, can now be received by all four sides of a forklift. The tunnel-shaped receptacles are arranged in pairs in a crosswise arrangement, i. a first pair of tunnel-shaped receptacles is aligned parallel to each other and connects two parallel sides of the plastic pallet, the second pair is arranged at right angles to the first pair and connects the two other mutually parallel sides of the plastic pallet. In each case, a tunnel-shaped receptacle of one pair encloses a right angle with two tunnel-shaped receptacles of the other pair, so that there are a total of four intersection areas for each two tunnel-shaped receptacles. In order to design such an intersection of each two tunnel-shaped images, there are various ways to continue to ensure the nestability of the plastic pallet.

A first possibility is to form the crossing region of each two tunnel-shaped receptacles through a base plate covering the crossing area, over which no vault ribs are arranged. Another possibility is to form the crossing region by the crossing area covering vault, under which no bottom plate is arranged.

In order to increase the stability of the pallet and the protection stored on the pallet, flexible bulk containers, however, it is advantageous if the crossing region of each two tunnel-shaped receptacles comprises a crossing area covering the bottom plate, in which at least one intersection air gap is introduced, and if above the at least an intersection air gap is arranged a crossing vault rib, wherein the intersection air gap with tunnel longitudinal axes of the crossing there tunnel vault each includes an equal angle, ie 45 °. This considerably increases the stability of the storage since the bulk material containers can no longer avoid the corners. The tunnel side walls can also be continued in the crossing area so that they reinforce the structure and in particular the crossing vault ribs where no forklift tines enter.

Both the vault ribs and the crossing vault ribs may have thickenings in the area below the tunnel side walls, which further increases the stability of the structure.

The obliquely arranged crossing ribs also prevents the flexible bulk material container from entering the channel, ie the tunnel area, leading to the channel The fork of a forklift serves to pry, stretch and possibly be damaged by the tines.

The area between the tunnel-shaped receptacles can be permanently closed, for example with a grid-like structure, so that the pallet can be manufactured in one piece. Such an embodiment is advantageous, for example, if smaller bulk goods containers - such as cement bags - are to be transported on the pallet. However, for large bulk material containers, in particular for the big bags, it is advantageous to provide an opening for emptying the flexible bulk goods container in the area between the at least two tunnel-shaped receptacles. Such big bags may, for example, have closable openings and are stored on the pallet so that the opening points downwards. The closure of the big bag can then be released through the opening, so that the bulk goods container, standing on the pallet, can be emptied.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, however, the opening is closed with a reversibly removable closure, so it is made in two parts. In this way it is possible to transport both bulk containers such as big bags with openings pointing downwards and smaller bulk containers or big bags without openings pointing downwards, since the closure prevents the flexible bulk containers from dragging to the floor and from being damaged become.

There are several possibilities for connecting the closure to the plastic pallet. For example, the closure may be connected via a clip connection to the edges of the opening, which may be of any shape, provided it is confined to the area of the at least two tunnel-shaped receptacles. The closure can also be designed as a hinged flap and be connected via a hinge at the edge of the opening with the plastic pallet, said hinge can also be designed so that the flap can be completely removed from the plastic pallet. The latter variant can be connected to a clip connection on the opposite side of the hinge to the hinge, magnetic closures, closures with hooks and eyes or similar. are conceivable variants, but this requires the use of foreign materials, whereas a pure clip connection can be integrated into the molds for the pallet and the closure. In the simplest case, the closure can also be placed loosely from above on the opening when bulk containers are transported without openings.

In a further preferred embodiment are in the vault ribs to the inside of the tunnel out - preferably flat, ie horizontal or parallel to the base plate extending - supports for the tines of a forklift trained. The pads are so designed that they come to rest when entering a forklift in the tunnel-shaped receptacles and the subsequent lifting of the pallet - preferably flat - on the also flat tops of the tines of the fork of the forklift, whereby point loads on the vault ribs are avoided and the forces caused by the pressure the loaded pallet are applied to the vault ribs or pads and the back pressure of the tines in this area are best distributed.

This increases the stability when picking up and transporting a loaded pallet. For example, the vault ribs may be configured as hollow ribs open to the inside of the tunnel, wherein stiffening elements are formed in the hollow ribs, and wherein at least a part of the stiffening elements form a flat, i. horizontally extending underside - this may be, for example, an edge of a stiffening element - as a support for the tines of the fork of a forklift. However, the vault ribs can also be designed in a closed form with flat supports.

Finally, in a further preferred embodiment, on the outer sides of such ribs, which form an end opening of a tunnel-shaped receptacle - that is to say, the tunnel entrances - a facet serving as a drive-in aid for a fork-lift truck is formed, i. the corresponding area is chamfered and the tunnel opening widened in this area to the outside or tapers inwards. This prevents damage to the plastic pallet by careless picking up by a forklift.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the specified combinations but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail for example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which also disclose characteristics essential to the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig.1a, 1b

Ansichten einer Kunststoffpalette für flexible Schüttgutbehälter von oben,

Fig.2a, 2b

Ansichten der Kunststoffpalette von unten,

Fig.3

eine weitere Ausführung einer Kunststoffpalette in Ansicht von oben, und

Fig.4

zwei genestet gestapelte Kunststoffpaletten übereinander.

Show it

Fig.1a, 1b

Views of a plastic pallet for flexible bulk containers from above,

2a, 2b

Views of the plastic pallet from below,

Figure 3

another embodiment of a plastic pallet in top view, and

Figure 4

two nested stacked plastic pallets on top of each other.

Detailed description of the drawings

In Fig. 1a is a plastic pallet 1 for receiving flexible bulk containers in the plan view shown from above. In Fig. 1b the same pallet is shown in a perspective view obliquely from above. The plastic pallet 1 comprises at least a pair of tunnel-shaped receptacles for the prongs of the fork of a forklift, the tunnel-shaped receptacles connecting two opposing sides 2 of the plastic pallet 1. In the in the Fig. 1a and 1b As shown, the plastic pallet 1 comprises four tunnel-shaped receptacles, which are each arranged in pairs in a crosswise direction. Thus, all four sides 2 are connected by two tunnel-shaped receptacles, so that a forklift from each of the sides 2 can enter into the tunnel-shaped receptacles. The tunnel-shaped receptacles themselves are arranged on a base plate 3, which forms the bottom of the plastic pallet, is generally aligned horizontally and basically a square shape - for example, according to the shape of the bulk material container to be transported - has. In the present case, the base plate 3 is flattened by means of chamfers 4 in the areas in which each two sides 2 collide. In this way damage to bulk containers by sharp corners can be prevented when the loaded pallets are stacked and / or transported.

Each tunnel-shaped receptacle has a tunnel floor, which is formed from bottom ribs 6 spaced from one another by bottom air gaps 5. Since in the present case four tunnel-shaped receptacles are arranged in pairs in a crosswise arrangement, and the crossing areas, which will be discussed below, occupy a relatively large space compared to the dimensions of the plastic pallet 1, each tunnel-shaped receptacle here has only one bottom rib 6. In plastic pallets 1 with larger side dimensions more than one bottom rib 6 are formed on the pallet, even in a design with only two tunnel-shaped receptacles, this is the case regularly, as in a version with narrower ribs. The bottom air gaps 5, by which the bottom ribs 6 are spaced apart from each other and in the present example, the bottom rib 6 is spaced from the crossing regions of the tunnel-shaped receptacles are in Fig. 2 to recognize, here shows Fig. 2a a plan view of the bottom of the plastic pallet Fig. 1 and Fig. 2a a perspective view of the underside of the plastic pallet 1 from Fig.1 ,

Each of the tunnel-shaped receptacles also has a tunnel arch, which is formed from vault ribs 8 spaced from each other by vault air gaps 7. The vault ribs 8 are formed here arcuate. However, they may also be rectangular or polygonal shaped, but an arcuate configuration offers the advantage of dispensing with edges that may possibly be a flexible bulk container stored on the pallet could damage or overload too much. Rounded surfaces do not provide such points of attack.

A particular feature of the plastic pallet 1 is that in each of the tunnel-shaped receptacles bottom ribs 6 and ribs 8 are arranged and dimensioned offset from one another such that a bottom rib 6 is arranged in each case below a vault air gap 7 and a rib 8 each above a bottom air gap 5. The ribs can each be slightly narrower than the air gaps, over which or under which they are arranged, are executed, this lightweight Unterpassung allows better stackability. In particular, the plastic pallets 1 are nestable by the particular arrangement of the ribs and air gaps, although the tunnel-shaped receptacles have a bottom structure which improves the stackability of loaded pallets.

There are several ways to create a crossing area between two tunnel-shaped images. In the embodiment shown here, the crossing region comprises a base plate 9 covering the crossing region, into which at least one intersection air gap 10 is introduced, wherein a crossing vault rib 11 is arranged above the at least one intersection air gap 10. Again, the intersection air gap can be made slightly larger than the width of the crossing vault rib 11, which facilitates the stacking of the pallets. Advantageously, the intersection air gap 10 and thus also the crossing vault rib 11 with the two longitudinal axes of the tunnel vaults crossing each other enclose the same angle. Since the tunnel vault intersect at a right angle with a square-shaped pallet, the intersection air gap 10 with the longitudinal axes therefore each encloses an angle of 45 °.

In the plastic pallet shown in Figs. 1s, 1b . 2a . 2 B is shown, an opening 12 for emptying a flexible bulk goods container is arranged between the at least two tunnel-shaped receptacles. In another, in Fig. 3 As shown, the opening is closed by a reversibly removable closure 13. This can be connected via a clip connection on several sides of the opening 12 or via a hinge with the remaining plastic pallet 1, in the latter case, the closure does not have to be designed removable, but, for example, hinged. On the opposite side of the hinge, for example, again a clip connection or a snap hook can be formed.

In the vault ribs 8 also flat, horizontally or parallel to the base plate 3 extending supports 14 are formed for the tines of the fork of a forklift towards the inside of the tunnel. This increases the stability during transport of the loaded pallet, since the tines are not only in contact with the ribs 8 at their edges, but otherwise over a larger, flat area, so that the forces are distributed more evenly and the load on the plastic pallet 1 is reduced. For example, as shown here, the vault ribs 8 may be configured as hollow ribs open to the inside of the tunnel, in which reinforcing elements 15 are formed, wherein at least one part of the reinforcing elements restricts a flat, ie horizontally extending underside-here, for example, the lower edges of the stiffening elements on the tines of the fork of a forklift.

Finally, the plastic pallet 1 on the outer sides of such ribs 8, which form an end opening of a tunnel-shaped receptacle, each having a serving as a Einfahrhilfe for a forklift facet 16, i. the ribs 8 are from outside to inside, i. from the tunnel opening into the interior, tapered.

The bottom ribs 6 and the vault ribs 8 also each have ends with which they are connected to tunnel side walls 17. This increases on the one hand the stability of the construction, on the other hand, the tunnel side walls 17 also serve as a guide for the tines of the fork of the forklift and also prevent the flexible bulk container in the tunnel-shaped receptacle spreads by compensating movements of the bulk material in the container where it passes through the Tines of the forklift could be charged.

In the lower area, in which the ribs 8 and the crossing vault ribs 11 set on the base plate 3, the ribs are also thickened, which further increases the stability of the construction.

Such a plastic pallet 1, as described above, on the one hand nestable, on the other hand, it is stackable with their stored bulk containers, and moreover, a bulk material container on which the pallet is placed in a stacking, effectively against damage by the Protected tines of the fork of a forklift.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Plastic pallet

2

page

3

baseplate

4

chamfer

5

Floor air gaps

6

bottom rib

7

Vaulted air gap

8th

vault rib

9

baseplate

10

Crossing air gaps

11

Crossing vault rib

12

opening

13

shutter

14

edition

15

stiffener

16

facet

Claims (12)

Plastic pallet (1) for receiving flexible bulk containers, comprising - at least a pair of tunnel-shaped receptacles for the prongs of the fork of a forklift, the tunnel-shaped receptacles connecting two opposite sides (2) of the plastic pallet (1), characterized in that - Each tunnel-shaped receptacle has a tunnel bottom which is formed of spaced apart from each other by bottom air gaps (5) bottom ribs (6), and has a tunnel arch, which from each other by vault air gaps (7) spaced vault ribs (8) is formed, and - In the tunnel-shaped receptacle bottom ribs (6) and ribs (8) are each arranged offset and dimensioned so that a bottom rib (6) under a vault air gap (7) and a vault rib (8) above a bottom air gap (5) is arranged. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs (8) are arc-shaped. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottom ribs (6) and the ribs (8) have ends with which they are respectively connected to tunnel side walls (17). Plastic pallet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising four tunnel-shaped receptacles, which are arranged in pairs in a crosswise direction. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a crossing region of each two tunnel-shaped receptacles is formed by a cross-section covering the bottom plate (9), over which no vault ribs (8) are arranged, or by a crossing region covering the vault, below the no bottom plate (9) is arranged. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that an intersection region of two tunnel-shaped receptacles comprises a base plate (9) covering the crossing area, into which at least one intersection air gap (10) is introduced, and above the at least one intersection air gap (10) a crossing vault rib (10). 11) is arranged. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the intersection air gap (10) encloses in each case the same angle with longitudinal axes of the tunnel vault crossing there. Plastic pallet (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that between the at least two tunnel-shaped receptacles an opening (12) for emptying the flexible bulk material container is arranged. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the opening (12) with a reversibly removable or a hinged closure (13) is closed. Plastic pallet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the ribs (8) towards the inside of the tunnel out preferably flat pads (14) are formed for the tines of the fork of a forklift. Plastic pallet (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the vaulted ribs (8) are designed as open to the inside of the tunnel hollow ribs in which stiffening elements (15) are formed, wherein at least a part of the stiffening elements (15) has a preferably flat bottom to Edition has on the tines of the fork of a forklift. Plastic pallet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that on the outer sides of such ribs (8), which form an end opening of a tunnel-shaped receptacle, serving as Einfahrhilfe for a forklift facet (16) is formed.

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