EP2894108B1 - Container with stacking rail with anti-slide coating - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to containers according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular to transport containers made of plastic, which have stacking stirrups.

State of the art

Container with stacking bracket are known, for example DE 1 721 167 U . EP 0 584 745 A1 . EP 0 669 259 A1 . EP 1 323 637 A1 . US 5,469,986 A and DE 20 2010 000 632 U1 , which discloses a container according to the preamble of claim 1. Containers according to these documents all have conical, so widening to the open container top side walls to be nestable in identical or compatible container, and therefore need to be stackable on each identical container stackable, which pivots on the respective expanded container opening can be. When two such nestable containers are stacked on each other according to the cited references, the upper container is displaced relative to the lower container by positive engagement between the lower container stacking brackets and the upper container bottom by means of specific deformations of the stacking brackets or depressions and / or projections prevented at the stacking brackets and / or at the bottom.

The stacking hanger of the container according to US 5,469,986 A each have a centrally located handle made of a soft material, so that the container can be worn in a haptic pleasant way. EP 2 548 809 A1 describes a collapsible container with stacking brackets, said ribs are also designed for a positive fit designed ribs on the stacking brackets, which can cooperate with corresponding recesses in the bottom of a container stacked on such a container of identical construction with stacking brackets. Collapsible Containers with stacking straps without positive locking elements on the stacking brackets are also known from the GB 2 360 762 A ,

The problem with containers with stacking ironing according to previous designs is that shifting a stacked on such a container identical container or more generally of a stacked on such a container other object is prevented or made more difficult only by means of positive locking, but why this container with the On them objects to be stacked must be matched exactly and thus the selection of items that can be stacked on such containers immovable or difficult to move, is very limited.

Disclosure of the invention

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a container with at least one stacking bracket on which a larger selection of items can be stacked immovable or difficult to move. If incompatible containers or transport layers are stacked on the container, they run the risk of slipping or even sliding off of the stacking bracket or container.

This object is solved by features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A container according to the invention has a bottom and a bottom upwardly extending conversion. In particular, the bottom has a substantially rectangular shape and the conversion consists of four substantially rectangular side walls. The side walls may be rigidly connected to the ground or formed integrally with increased stability requirements, but may also be hingedly connected to the ground to be able to save space in a non-loaded state. For this purpose, the side walls can also be formed foldable. At the container upper side, the four side walls form a container opening located above the bottom. At the transformation, in particular at the upper edge of the transformation, is at least one movable Stacking bracket mounted so that it releases the container opening in a first position and is located in a second position over the container opening or across the container opening, in the second position, the container opening so divides, limited or reduced, that on the container according to the invention objects , In particular, other types of containers or pallets, can be stacked when the stacking bracket is in the second position.

Characteristic of a container according to the invention is that at least partially an anti-slip coating is provided on each stacking bracket. More specifically, the container according to the invention comprises two stacking stirrups each having two sections provided with an anti-slip coating, these four sections being arranged relative to each other to lie at the corners of an imaginary rectangle, the long sides of the rectangle being between 900 mm and 1300 mm and the short sides of the rectangle are between 500 mm and 1000 mm long. This can be stacked on the container according to the invention standardized Europoolpaletten, also called Euro pallets, immovable or difficult to be stacked.

In this context, the term "coating" is generally to be understood as a layer or area on or at a surface and is not intended to be limiting to a specific manufacturing process. Thus, the coating can be produced for example by coating, sticking, brushing or shrinking. The anti-slip function of the anti-slip coating is accomplished primarily by its surface. It is therefore also conceivable that the anti-slip coating itself consists of several layers or subregions. The material of the surface of the anti-slip lining differs from the material of the underlying and / or anti-slip lining structure of the stacking bracket. Furthermore, the coefficient of friction of the surface of the anti-slip lining is higher than the coefficient of friction of the structure of the stacking bridge situated underneath and / or on the anti-slip lining. The term "friction coefficient" can be interpreted as a static coefficient of friction, as a kinematic coefficient of friction or, in summary, for both static and kinematic coefficients of friction at the same time.

A first advantage of the present invention is that by virtue of the fact that projections necessary to effect positive engagement are at least partially or sectionwise absent, the compatibility of the container according to the invention with articles, in particular other types of containers or pallets, which are fixed or non-displaceable on the container difficult to be stacked, is greatly improved. The selection of possible objects that can be stacked immovably or difficult to be stacked on the container according to the invention is thus considerably increased. In particular, objects with a smooth bottom surface, without projections or depressions on or in the outer surface of the floor, can be stacked on a container according to the invention so that a displacement or slippage of the object is difficult or impossible.

Due to the fact that no or less positive locking means are provided in the stacking brackets, less material than in the production of a comparable stacking bracket of the same extent is necessary for the production of such a stacking bracket and the manufacturing tolerances are greater, since the required form fit for a compatibility of the positive locking means the corresponding counterparts can be completely or partially disregarded. The manufacturing cost of such a stacking bracket can therefore be lower.

The anti-slip coating may be made of rubber, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), polyethylene (eg LDPE) or other suitable material with a relatively high surface friction coefficient higher than that of the stacking bracket, which may be made of plastic in particular, but also of metal can exist.

The anti-slip coating is realized such that the elasticity of the anti-slip coating is higher than the elasticity of the supporting structure of the stacking bracket. Carrying structure here refers to all parts of the stacking bracket, which ensure the structural integrity of the stacking bracket in an external load.

Due to the higher elasticity of the anti-slip lining, when it is loaded by an object mounted on the anti-slip lining, it yields in the areas where the article rests on the anti-slip lining, which in turn results in the regions of the anti-slip lining which are not loaded by the article are not pressed, and thus serve as additional acting form-fitting elements for fixing the object.

A further advantage of the increased compliance of the anti-slip coating is that the article stacked on the container according to the invention, when transporting this composition of container and article, is sprung relative to the container, whereby impacts acting either on the container or on the article, only be transmitted to the other body in a reduced manner and the negative consequences of such shocks are limited.

According to the invention provided with the anti-slip lining portions of the stacking bracket are arranged so that they are at least partially turned up when the stacking bracket is in the first position. If it is to be expected that objects are to be stacked on the container according to the invention, in each case with a large extent compared to the container, the invention provides the advantage that the sections of the stacking bracket provided with the anti-slip coating are arranged such that they are oriented upwards, if the stacking bracket is in the first position. The first layer according to the invention is not only defined by the fact that the stacking bracket the Container opening only releases, but more specifically, that the stacking bracket in the first position is at least partially above the upper edge of the conversion, so the anti-slip coating is thus located at an exposed point above the upper edge of the conversion.

Depending on the objects for which an inventive container should be designed as a base in a stacking, it may also be advantageous, the displacement of such objects relative to the container not in all directions only by means of frictional engagement, but in at least one direction by means of positive locking means accomplish.

Namely, if it is clear in advance that only a certain range of objects on a container according to the invention should be stackable, one can interpret the interlocking means so that shifts in directions in which an object is most likely moved by positive locking, and that shifts in the directions in which displacements are expected to be less likely to be prevented by friction. Also, the positive locking means can be interpreted as a kind of security elements, which only come into play when a stacked on a container according to the invention object has been moved by a defined maximum amount. Below this maximum value, a shift is prevented or made more difficult by frictional engagement and only after reaching the maximum displacement are the interlocking means effective. In this embodiment, therefore, the advantages of the positive connection are partially retained and at the same time the advantages of the frictional connection of a flat and thus compatible with different geometries effective area added. The positive locking means are realized in particular in the form of projections, preferably parallelepiped or prismatic projections.

Since the surface of the anti-slip lining may possibly lose all or part of its anti-slip function due to frequent loading or wear, according to another embodiment the anti-slip lining or the anti-slip lining portions of the stacking bracket are interchangeably attached to the stacking bracket or to the remaining portions of the bracket.

This interchangeability made possible reduces the costs incurred in repairing the anti-slip coating costs. Also, a change in the friction coefficient of the anti-slip lining is easier to achieve. Since the coefficient of friction depends on the combination of the materials rubbed against one another, it is easy to adapt the anti-slip coating to the expected materials of the objects to be supported by the dismountability of the anti-slip coating. The disassembly can be accomplished for example by means of screw, adhesive, clip or click connections.

It is also advantageous if the stacking bracket made of plastic and the anti-slip coating is accomplished by an in-mold anti-slip rubber insert.

With this configuration, fabrication of the entire stacking bracket is possible so that the production of the supporting structure of the stacking bracket and the application of an anti-slip coating on the stacking bracket can be done in one step, since the anti-slip coating can be simultaneously back-poured during casting of the stacking bracket.

If, however, it is to be expected that objects are to be stacked on the container according to the invention, each with a smaller extent compared to the container, it is advantageous if the sections of the stacking bracket provided with the anti-slip coating are arranged such that they are oriented upwards, if the stacking bracket is in the second position. In particular, the second layer of the stacking bracket then also characterized in that the stacking bracket is above the upper edge of the side walls and rests on it.

Embodiments in which the portions of the stacking bracket provided with the anti-slip coating are arranged or have such an extent that they are partially oriented both upwards when the stacking bracket is in the first position, and partly oriented upwards when the stacking bar is in the second layer, of course, in view of the compatibility of the container according to the invention over objects of different dimensions may be particularly advantageous. The anti-slip coating is in each case on two Applied portions of the stacking bracket. For example, it can also be attached in the form of sections of a shrink tube.

According to one embodiment, the walling extends substantially vertically upwards from the bottom. This is particularly advantageous if the space-saving transport of empty container according to the invention was accomplished by means of hinged and / or foldable side walls, since then the loading space of a container is maximum when the side walls are in the unfolded state.

But it may also be advantageous if the conversion widens in the direction of the container opening. The thus achieved nestability of containers according to the invention is another way to transport them in an empty state to save space.

The anti-slip lining sections can be adapted to the bearing surfaces of the support feet or support skids of a Europool pallet.

The stacking bracket may have a plurality of mutually spaced, in particular evenly spaced anti-slip lining sections.

Brief description of the drawings

• FIG. 1 shows a container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view;
• FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the container according to FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 shows a container according to FIG. 1 with a Europool pallet stacked on this container in a perspective view;
• FIG. 4 shows the in FIG. 3 shown facts in a longitudinal side view; and
• FIG. 5 shows the in FIG. 3 shown facts in a lateral view.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a perspective view. The container 1 is in particular a large capacity container made of plastic. It has a substantially rectangular bottom 2, from the edges of which a wall 3 extends substantially vertically upwards. The wall 3 includes two opposing longitudinal side walls 3a and two opposite transverse side walls 3b, the side walls 3a and 3b each also being substantially rectangular in shape. The wall 3 surrounds a substantially rectangular container opening 4 located above the floor 2.

At each of the corners of the bottom 2 there extends a container foot 2a, in the middle of each longitudinal edge of the floor 2 there extends a container longitudinal side foot 2b and in the middle of each transverse edge of the bottom 2 a container lateral foot 2c extends downwards. Stands the container 1 on a flat surface, the container 1 stores on the feet 2a, 2b and 2c, which ensures that tines of a truck between the feet are retractable and that the truck with the tines can lift the container 1 from below ,

The longitudinal side walls 3a each consist of at least two parts. Each part of a longitudinal side wall 3a is pivotally connected at one end via longitudinal side wall joints 3c to the respective adjacent vertical edge of the container 1 with the respective adjacent transverse side wall 3b and at the other end with the other part of the longitudinal side wall 3a via sidewall closures 3d releasably rigidly connected. If the side wall closures 3d are released on both longitudinal sides of the container 1, the corresponding parts of the longitudinal side walls 3a can be folded into the interior of the container 1 and brought into a position in which the parts of the two longitudinal side walls 3a attached to a transverse side wall 3b are substantially parallel extend to the respective transverse side wall 3b, and then the two transverse side walls 3b can also be folded over Querseitenwandgelenke 3e at the respective lower edges of the transverse side walls 3b in the interior of the container 1 and placed in a position in which the transverse side walls 3b and each attached thereto parts of the longitudinal side walls 3a extend substantially parallel to the bottom 2 of the container 1.

Leaving aside the container longitudinal side feet 2b, the side wall closures 3d and the transverse side joints 3e, the container 1 is substantially symmetrical both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction.

To save as much material and weight, parts of the conversion 3 are recessed.

Furthermore, the container 1 per transverse side wall 3b has a substantially U-shaped stacking bracket 5 with two longitudinal arms 5a, a cross member 5b, two bearing pins, two transverse thrust links 5d and two projections 5e. The cross member 5b of each stacking bracket 5 is substantially prismatic and always extends in the assembled state parallel to the upper edges of the transverse side walls 3b from one longitudinal side of the container 1 to the other longitudinal side. From the two ends of the cross member 5b extend from each other and to the longitudinal side walls 3a parallel and equal length substantially parallelepiped longitudinal arms 5a (see also FIG. 2 ). At the ends of the longitudinal arms 5 a facing away from the respective cross member 5 a of each of the two stacking stirrups 5, a bearing pin parallel to the cross members 5 b and pointing towards the interior of the container 1 is provided as part of a bow bearing 5 c (not shown in the figures). The bearing pin of each longitudinal arm 5a of each stacking bracket 5 acts together with a container on the outside of the wall 3 longitudinally attached to the corresponding transverse side wall 3b, upright aligned slot and forms together with this slot one of the two bracket bearing 5c of a stacking bracket 5. The bearing pin is preferably formed integrally with the stacking bracket 5, but could also be formed as a separate component, which is attachable to the stacking bracket or can be connected to this.

If a stacking bracket 5 is in a first position (not shown in the figures), the respective bearing pins abut against the lower ends of the corresponding elongated holes, a respective longitudinal arm 5a lies on the edges of one container longitudinal outer recess in the corresponding transverse side wall 3b and is the respective cross member 5b on the upper edge of the container 1 in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding transverse side wall 3b.

Is one of the two stacking bracket 5 in a second position (see FIGS. 1 to 5 ), the respective bearing pins are at the upper ends of the corresponding slots, a respective longitudinal arm 5a lies partially on the edges of a container longitudinal outer recess in the corresponding transverse side wall 3b and partly at the edges of a container longitudinal outer recess in the corresponding longitudinal side wall 3a and is the respective Cross member 3b on the upper edge of the container 1 above the container opening 4.

It should be mentioned that, with regard to the mobility of a stacking bracket 5, configurations are also conceivable in which a stacking bracket 5 does not have to be moved rotationally and translationally in order to be brought from the first position to the second position but only with the same functionality is designed to be pivotable or only displaceable.

The cross section of the cross member 5 is formed so that at least an upwardly directed flat outer surface of the cross member 5b extends parallel to the upper edge of the wall 3, both when the stacking bracket 5 is in the first position, and when the stacking bracket 5 is in the second position. Embodiments are also conceivable in which an upwardly directed plane outer surface of the transverse support 5b extends parallel to the upper edge of the conversion 3 only in one of the two layers.

For mounting a stacking bracket 5, the two longitudinal arms 5a are spread, the bearing pins are attached to the corresponding, lying on opposite longitudinal sides of the container 1 in the vicinity of a transverse side wall 3b slots and the spread of the longitudinal arms 5a is finally reduced so that the bearing pins in the corresponding longitudinal holes from the outside of the container 1 engage.

Thus, an unintentional slipping out of the bearing pins from the slots is prevented by a load of the stacking bracket 5 in the cross member direction, are on the side of the cross member 5b, which faces down when the stacking bracket 5 is in the second position, transverse thrust 5d in the form of protrusions provided that prevent displacement of the stacking bracket 5 in the direction of the cross member 5b by positive cooperation with the longitudinal side walls 3a, in particular by positive cooperation with the inner sides of the longitudinal side walls 3a.

On the side of the cross member 5b, which faces upwards when the stacking bracket 5 is in the second position, 5b are provided at the ends of the cross member 5b side boundaries in the form of protrusions, the lateral slipping in the direction of the cross member 5b of the on Prevent stacking bracket 5 stored object by positive locking.

On the side of the respective cross member 5b, which faces upward when the corresponding stacking bracket 5 is in the second position, are respectively outside, near the ends of the cross member 5b or if side boundaries 5e are provided, in the vicinity of the side boundaries 5e , Anti-slip 6 mounted. These project upwards more than the remaining areas of the cross member 5b. Only if side boundaries 5 are provided, they project beyond the anti-slip pads 6 upwards. The anti-slip pads 6 have a substantially rectangular shape, wherein the extension of the short sides of each of the anti-slip pads 6 extends in the transverse direction of the cross member 5 b substantially over the entire width of the cross member 5 b and the longer side of each anti-slip coating 6 each between one sixth and one fifth of the total length of the cross member 5b long.

The container 1 and the stacking bracket 5 are made of plastic, preferably by means of an injection molding process. In the manufacture of a stacking clip 5, the anti-slip coverings 6 made of rubber are inserted in the injection mold in such a way that essentially only the rear sides of the anti-slip coverings 6 are backed by the melt and thus the Antislip 6 are connected during solidification of the melt with the stacking bracket 5 by adhesion during the normal injection molding process.

Both the static and the kinematic friction coefficients of the anti-slip coverings 6 which are preferably used are greater than the corresponding friction coefficients of the stacking bracket 5. The elasticity of the anti-slip coverings 6 is also greater than the elasticity of the stacking bracket 5.

The dimensions of the container 1 are generally chosen so that the container 1 can be easily integrated into existing transport and logistics systems. This means in particular that the longitudinal dimension of the container 1 substantially coincides with the longitudinal dimension of a European pallet 7 standardized according to the European standard EN 13698-1 (see FIGS. 3 to 5 ). The area of the container opening 4 substantially corresponds to the extent of a pallet surface 7a of the Europoolpalette 7, so that the latter can be used as a cover for the container 1. The total of four anti-slip coverings 6 of the container 1 are arranged so that the palette curbs 7b and pallet long side feet 7c attached to the Europoolpalette 7 pallet longitudinal side skids 7e rest on the anti-slip coverings 6 when the Europoolpalette 7 is stacked on the container 1. The total of four side boundaries 5e are formed on the stacking brackets 5 so that the pallet longitudinal side skids 7e are located near the side boundaries 5e when the europool pallet 7 is stacked on the container 1 (see FIG FIG. 5 ). The arrangement of the container base feet 2a, the container longitudinal side feet 2b and the container lateral side feet 2c substantially corresponds to the arrangement of the pallet cradles 7b, the pallet longitudinal side feet 7c and the pallet transverse side feet 7d of a Europool pallet 7, thus ensuring that the container 1 is lifted from four sides, each with the same handler configuration can be like a Europool Palette 7.

Is a Europoolpalette 7 stacked on the container 1, a displacement of the Europoolpalette 7 in the longitudinal direction of the container 1 by means of the anti-slip 6 is prevented or impeded by frictional engagement, a shifting of the Europoolpalette 7 in the transverse direction of the container 1 is initially using the Antislip 6 prevents or impedes frictional engagement and is pushed down the Europoolpalette 7 prevents the container 1 in the transverse direction of the container 1 by means of the side boundaries 5e by positive locking or difficult. The additional backup using the side boundaries 5e is therefore provided straight in the transverse direction of the container 1, because the lateral openings of the stacked on the container 1 Europoolpalette 7 for retracting tines of a material handling device on the transverse side of Europoolpalette 7 are smaller than on the long side and thus the likelihood of accidental bumping of the tines of the truck on the Europoolpalette 7 and a concomitant displacement of Europoolpalette 7 when retracting the tines in the transverse direction is greater than in the longitudinal direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5 ). LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS container 1 ground 2 Behältereckfuß 2a Behälterlängsseitenfuß 2 B Behälterquerseitenfuß 2c walling 3 Longitudinal side wall 3a Transverse side wall 3b Longitudinal side wall joint 3c Sidewall closure 3d Transverse side wall joint 3e container opening 4 stacking frames 5 longitudinal arm 5a crossbeam 5b bracket bearings 5c Cross shear protection 5d page limit 5e Anti-slip covering 6 EUR-pallet 7 pallet surface 7a Paletteneckfuß 7b Palettenlängsseitenfuß 7c Palettenquerseitenfuß 7d Palettenlängsseitenkufe 7e

Claims (7)

1. Container (1) having a base (2) and a surrounding wall (3) extending upwards from the base, which surrounding wall forms a container opening (4) lying above the base (1) and at which two movable stacking rails (5) are mounted such that both stacking rails (5) in a first position expose the container opening (4) and in a second position are located above the container opening (4), such that objects, in particular other types of containers or pallets, can be stacked on the container (1), characterised in that
   the two stacking rails (5) have respectively two portions equipped with an anti-slide coating (6), wherein these four portions are disposed relatively to one another such that they are situated at the corners of an imaginary rectangle,
   wherein the long sides of the rectangle are between 900 mm and 1300 mm long and the short sides of the rectangle are between 500 mm and 1000 mm long,
   wherein the material at the surface of the anti-slide coating (6) differs from the material of the supporting structure of the stacking rail (5) and with respect to a Europool pallet (7) the friction coefficient of the surface of the anti-slide coating (6) is higher than the friction coefficient of the supporting structure of the stacking rail (5),
   wherein the anti-slide coating (6) has a higher elasticity than the supporting structure of the stacking rail (5), and
   wherein the stacking rails (5) in the first position are located at least partially also above an upper edge of the surrounding wall (3) and the portions of the stacking rails (5) equipped with the anti-slide coating (6) are disposed such that they are turned at least partially upwards when the stacking rails (5) are in the first position.
2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that on each stacking rail (5) are provided form-fitting means (5e), in particular recesses or protrusions, such that a form-fit is possible with an object stored on the stacking rails (5).
3. Container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the anti-slide coating (6) or the portions of each stacking rail (5) equipped with the anti-slide coating (6) are mounted exchangeably on the stacking rail (5) or on the remaining portions of the stacking rail (5).
4. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each stacking rail (5) is manufactured from plastic and the anti-slide coating (6) is achieved by an in-mould-anti-slide-ru bber-insert.
5. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the portions of the stacking rails (5) equipped with the anti-slide coating (6) are disposed such that they are turned at least partially upwards when the stacking rails (5) are in the second position.
6. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the surrounding wall (3) extends perpendicularly upwards from the base (2).
7. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the surrounding wall (3) flares in the direction towards the container opening (4).

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