GB2137957A - Load Handling Pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

A load handling pallet comprises a tubular length of fabric (1) and a support structure (4, 5) at each side of the tube. Each support structure is formed from two parallel battens (6, 7) extending the length of the fabric and spaced apart by spacers (8,9). One or both of the battens at each side may lie within the fabric tube, an the fabric is secured to at least one of the battens. Each pair of battens defines a space for receiving a tine of a fork lift truck. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load Handling Pallet This invention relates to pallets for load handling purposes.

Loads comprising-a number of unit articles are commonly handled by stacking the articles on a pallet, the pallet being engageable by the tines of a fork-lift truck. The unit articles may be articles themselves, may be rigid containers including articles therein or may be flexible containers, for example sacks or bags containing powdered or granular material. In each case the articles need to be retained securely on the pallet. In some instances the proper stacking of the articles will, in itself, suffice, while in other cases tie-down or strapping means securing the articles to the pallet may be necessary. In yet another usage a plurality of articles may be secured together but not to the pallet, by such means as webbing and buckle arrangements or by confining the plurality of articles within a shrink-wrapped covering.

It is well known that there are commercial problems with palletised loads. The pallets themselves are of significant commercial value, generally being constructed from wood or from synthetic plastics. Manufacturers need to handle palletised loads within their own premises, but as soon as the pallet leaves those premises it represents a potential loss to the manufacturer unless its cost is charged to the customer as part of the cost of goods. The object of the present invention is to provide a pallet that will allow fork lift truck handling of loads of the aforesaid type, which pallet can be manufactured sufficiently cheaply and easily so as to be disposable without significant adverse economic impact.

According to the present invention a pallet for load handling purposes comprises a tubular length of fabric having two open ends, a rigid member at each side of the length of fabric extending from one end of the tube to the other within the tube, means securing the fabric to each of the rigid members, and associated with each rigid member a further rigid member spaced therefrom and extending parallel thereto and means rigidly spacing the member and further member apart.

The spacing between each pair of parallel rigid member and further rigid member will be sufficient to receive the tine of a fork-lift truck, and each pair of spaced members will be spaced from the other such pair by a distance such that fork-lift truck tines may simultaneously be inserted one between the two members of each pair. The fork-lift truck can thus lift the pallet and the length of fabric extending between the pairs of spaced parallel members effectively forms a sling assisting in the support of a load on the pallet. The structure is sufficiently strong to support a load thereon and to allow the load to be lifted and manoeuvred as required.The cost of a length of fabric together with the rigid members and the means spacing these apart can be very significantly less than the cost of a conventional pallet and indeed can make it an economic proposition for the pallet to be considered as being completely disposable without materially affecting the cost to the end user of a load supported by the pallet. The presence of the fabric means that the pallet may be partially folded and thus occupy significantly less storage space than a conventional rigid pallet.

In one embodiment of the invention each further rigid member lies outside the tube of fabric. In an alternative each further rigid member lies within the tube of fabric. In either case at each side of the tube of fabric the means spacing the members of each pair apart is preferably at least one rigid element lying outside the tube and secured through the tubular fabric to at least one of the pair of parallel rigid members. This greatly facilitates construction as the pallet can then be manufactured simply by inserting rigid members into the tube, positioning the further rigid members appropriately, placing the spacing means outside the tube and securing them through the tubular fabric, for example by nails or screws to appropraite ones of the parallel members.At each side of the pallet the rigid spacing means may be a single rigid element extending the full length from one end of the tube to the other, may be two short rigid elements, one positioned at each end of the tube, or may be a number of short rigid elements spaced apart along the length of the tube.

Preferably the fabric is a circular woven, seamless fabric, which again considerably facilitates manufacture of the pallet. Alternatively, a tube of fabric could be formed by stitching together the free ends of a single length of fabric, or by stitching together ends of two or more lengths of fabric.

At each side of the pallet the parallel rigid members need be sufficiently strong to resist significant compression due to a load stacked on the pallet, and to resist the loads experienced when lifting the pallet on a fork-lift truck.

Palletised loads are commonly stacked one on top of another and accordingly the strength of the parallel rigid members should desirably also be sufficient to take account of the fact that they should not significantly compress not only under the load on their own pallet, but also under the load on any superimposed pallets. The parallel rigid members may be constructed from sections formed from any materials that will give the required strength and they may, for example, be constructed from wood or be mouldings of a suitable plastics material. Wood is particularly preferred.

The fabric from which the sling part of the pallet is manufactured is chosen so as to have sufficient strength to support the weight of the load and also to withstand the stresses expected during handling. This fabric may, for example, be a woven fabric of any suitable natural fibre or semisynthetic polymer. Synthetic polymers are preferred and the fabric can thus be woven from yarns of such materials as polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin or polyacrylic.

Polypropylene is a particularly preferred yarn as fabric therefrom can be woven at low cost and of sufficient strength for normal usage.

In order that the invention may be better understood specific embodiments of pallets in accordance therewith will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figures 1 and 2 shows perspective views of two embodiments of pallet according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 this shows a pallet comprising a seamless, circular woven length of fabric 1 taking up the form of a flattened tube.

The fabric is, for example, woven polypropylene.

Each end 2, 3 of the flattened tube is open and at each side 4, 5 of the tube there is an identical support structure. Accordingly, only structure 4 will be described in detail.

The support structure 4 comprises two spaced apart parallel rigid wooden battens 6, 7 extending from one end of the tube to the other within the tube. The spacing between the two battens is such that a tine of a fork-life truck may be received in the space between the battens. The battens are rigidly spaced apart to maintain this distance by two upper plates 8, 9 and two lower plates 8a, 9a, preferably also of wood, located outside the tube and secured through the fabric of the tube to the members 6, 7 by nails such- as 10.

Alternatively, screws could be used.

The length of the tubular fabric is chosen such that the distance between the mid-plane between battens 6 and 7 and battens 6a and 7a at the other side of the pallet is equal to the spacing between the centres of the tines of a standard fork-lift truck. Accordingly, in use the tines of a fork-lift truck may be driven one between each of the two pairs of battens and the pallet, and any load thereon, may be lifted on the tines of the truck.

The simplicity of manufacture and low cost of the pallet will be apparent from the foregoing description. The only work needed in the assembly of the pallet is in the cutting of the tubular fabric to length, the positioning of the battens 6, 7, 6a and 7a and the positioning of the plates 8, 8a and 9, 9a at each side of the pallet and their securing by nailing or screwing. This is a rapidly accomplished and unskilled job.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2 only one batten 11 of each pair 11, 12 lies within the tubular fabric 1 3. The other batten 12 is outside the tube and the two battens are spaced apart so as to receive the tine of a fork-lift truck therebetween. The spacing is maintained by upper and lower plates 14, 1 5 secured by nails or screws to the battens. The tubular fabric is secured between the plates and one of the battens at each side of the pallet.

It will be understood that modifications may be made to the pallets as particularly described. The examples illustrated have respectively two upper and lower plates 8, 8a, 9, 9a and four upper and lower plates 14, 1 5. Obviously, the number of plates may be varied as required. Alternatively, at each side of the tube a single upper and lower length of rigid material having the same length as the tubular fabric may extend from one end of the battens to the other and be secured to the battens at as many points as are required.

In another embodiment of the Figure 1 pallet each assembly of spaced battens and their spacing means may be pre-assembled, and the whole assembly inserted into the appropriate side of the tube. The fabric of the tube-is then secured to the -assembly, for example by nails or screws driven through the fabric.

Structures of this nature are not as preferred as those already described, as the outer surface of the fabric is not protected in the region of securing and there may be a greater tendency for the fabric to pull away from the securing means.

As stated, the preferred materials are woven polypropylene and wood, although it will be understood that other materials may be employed as appropriate.

Claims (6)

1. A pallet for load handling purposes, comprising a tubular length of fabric having twoopen ends, a rigid-member at each side of the length of fabric extending from one end of the tube to the other within the tube, means securing the fabric to each of the rigid members, and associated with each rigid member a further rigid member spaced therefrom and extending parallel thereto and means rigidly spacing the member and further member apart.

2. A pallet according to claim 1 in which each further rigid member lies outside the tube of fabric.

3. A pallet according to claim 1 in which each further rigid member lies within the tube of fabric.

4. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims in which at each side of the tube 9f fabric the means spacing the members of each pair apart is at least one rigid element iying outside the tube and secured through the tubular fabric to at least one of the pair of parallel rigid members.

5. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fabric is a circular woven, seamless fabric.

6. A pallet according to any one of the preceding claims in which the parallel rigid members are of wood.