GB2250976A

GB2250976A - Load supporting structure

Info

Publication number: GB2250976A
Application number: GB9123343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul John Hutchins
Original assignee: Palletower Ltd
Current assignee: Palletower Ltd
Priority date: 1990-11-13
Filing date: 1991-11-04
Publication date: 1992-06-24
Also published as: GB9024672D0; GB9123343D0

Abstract

A loading structure has a bulk container bag (3) detachably suspended within a framework (1) by means of bars (12) fixed to the top of the bag (3) which fit removably within sockets (10a, 10b) on the framework (1). The framework (1) may have a pallet type bottom (2) which can be lifted with pallet-handling equipment. Some at least of the sides and base of the framework may comprise solid walls. <IMAGE>

Description

LOAD SUPPORTING STRUCTURE This invention relates to a loading struture comprising a framework and a bag suspended in the framework.

It is.known to suspend so called Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) bags for transporting loose items within rigid frameworks which have pallet-type bottom structures whereby the entire assembly can be lifted and transported using usual pallet handling equipment such as fork-lift trucks. The known framework has upright corner posts linked by horizontal crossbars at their top end portions. The bag is an open topped fabric construction which is suspended from the crossbars by clamping the periphery of the bag top between the crossbars and respective inner clamping strips using bolts passed through the strips, bag fabric and crossbars. This known suspension technique- is inconvenient and time consuming and adds considerably to production costs and to the time taken to change a bag.

An object of the present invention is to provide a quick and convenient manner of suspending a bag within a framework.

According to a first aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a loading structure comprising a framework and a bag suspended within the framework, characterised in that the bag is detachably suspended by means of elongate members connected to top peripheral portions of the bag, said members having projecting end portions which locate removably in upper receiving members of the framework.

With this arrangement it is possible to mount and remove the bag quickly and easily.

With regard to the framework this may comprise a base structure with upright corner posts linked at upper end portions by transverse crossbars. The base structure may be of open-work construction. The base structure may be generally rectangular and may have lower entries to receive the forks of a forklift truck. The framework may comprise an integral construction made from joined bars, strips or tubes, particularly welded metal bars, strips or tubes.

The bag may be an open topped fabric structure. Connection of the elongate members to the bag may be effected by insertion of the members through loops or channels formed in the bag. The elongate members may comprise rigid bars or tubes and there may be four members arranged in generally rectangular conformation.

The receiving members may take any suitable form and may be attached to the framework at any suitable position. Preferably, there is a respective pair of receiving members for each elongate member, each such pair comprising receiving sockets or channels adapted to receive the ends of the elongate member. The arrangement may be such that the elongate members can be freely lifted out of the -receiving members. Alternatively detachable retention devices, such as removable retaining pins or the like may be provided to hold the elongate members captive in the receiving members.

In a particularly preferred embodiment for each elongate member there is a respective pair of receiving members comprising a socket to receive one end of the elongate member and a generally U-shaped upwardly open channel to receive the other end of the elongate member. Preferably, a detachable retention device, such as a removable pin is provided to close the open top of the channel above the pertaining end of the elongate member. Preferably also there are abutment surfaces at the outermost ends of the socket and channel to limit longitudinal displacement of the elongate member.

Where the framework has upright corner posts and crossbars as aforesaid, the receiving members may be attached to the crossbars and! our to the corner posts. In a particularly preferred arrangement the crossbars are joined to the corner posts spaced below the top ends of the posts and the receiving members are fixed in the corners defined between the ends of the crossbars and the end portions of the corner posts. With this arrangement, side faces of the corner posts can provide the above mentioned abutment surfaces.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a load supporting structure, for suspending a bag having elongate members connected to top peripheral portions thereof, said structure comprising a framework having a base structure, upright corner posts, and crossbars linking upper end portions of the framework, characterised by the provision of upper receiving members to removably locate projecting end portions of the elongate members.

The second aspect of the invention may incorporate any of the above mentioned features of the first aspect of the invention as appropriate.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of a loading structure according to the invention; and Figs. 2 & 3 are views to a larger scale of details of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

The loading structure illustrated comprises a framework 1 with a pallet-type base structure 2 in which is suspended a load-carrying open topped fabric bag 3.

The base structure 2 is generally square or rectangular and is defined by four metal square-section tubular crossbars 4 which are welded at their ends to side faces of lower end portions of four metal square-section tubular corner posts 5, whereby the crossbars 4 extend horizontally generally in a common plane, and the corner posts 5 extend vertically. The crossbars 4 are also linked by a grid of welded metal angle-section bars 6 extending at right angles to each other and to the crossbars 4 at the welded interconnections.

The corner posts 5 extend downwardly below the crossbars 4 to define short legs 7. Beneath the end portions of the crossbars 4 bent metal strips 8 are welded to the crossbars 4 and to the bottoms of the legs 7 to define generally rectangular entries which engage the ground surface on which the framework is standing At each side of the base structure 2 there are two spaced apart such entries which can be engaged by the fork of a fork lift truck.

The upper end portions of the corner posts 5 are joined by metal square-section tubular crossbars 9 which are welded to the corner posts 5.

These crossbars 9 extend horizontally generally in a common plane.

In each corner defined between the top surface of each end portion of each crossbar 9 and the adjacent side surface of the top end portion of the adjacent corner post 5 there is welded a respective receiving member 10.

As shown in the drawings, at the left-hand end of each crossbar 9 the receiving member 10 is in the form of a square-section tubular socket 10a, whereas at the right-hand end the receiving member 10 is in the form of an upwardly open generally U-shaped channel 10b.

The fabric bag 3 which is generally of square conformation is folded over and stitched or hemmed around the periphery of its open top to define four tubular channels.

Within each channel 11 a round section tubular metal bar 12 is inserted so that short end portions of the barts 12 project beyond the ends of the channels 11. The bag 3 is suspended within the framework 1 by locating each bar 12 in the pair of receiving members 10 associated with each crossbar 9. That is, for each crossbar 9 one projecting end of one of the bars 12 is inserted into the socket 10a and the other projecting end of the bar 12 is dropped into the U-shaped channel lOb. The bar 12 is then locked in position by inserting a split pin 13 through aligned holes in the upper part of the channel 10b. The socket 10a is wide enough to permit pivoting movement of the bar 12 so that it can be dropped into the channel 10b.Longitudinal movement of the bar 12 in the socket and channel is restricted by abutment surfaces defined by the inner faces of the corner posts 5.

With this arrangement the bag 3 is securely suspended. It can be loaded with articles and can then be transported with the framework using a fork lift truck.

Assembly of the bag 3 and the framework 1 can be effected quickly and easily and when desired the bag can be quickly and easily changed. To change the bag it is only necessary to remove the pins 13, lift the bars 12 out of the channels and sockets 10, slide the bars 12 out of the bag channels 11 and then fit a new bag.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, the framework need not be wholly openwork as shown. Some or all of the side walls andlor the base structure of the framework may comprise solid walls.

Instead of square section tubes, angle section or other structures may be used.

Claims

1. A loading structure comprising a framework and a bag suspended within the framework, characterised in that the bag is detachably suspended by means of elongate members connected to top peripheral portions of the bag, said members having projecting end portions which locate removably in upper receiving members of the framework.

2. A loading structure according to claim 1 characterised in that the framework comprises a base structure with upright corner posts linked at upper posts linked at upper end portions by transverse crossbars.

3. A loading structure according to claim 2 characterised in that the base structure is of open-work construction.

4. A loading structure according to claim 3 characterised in that the base structure is generally rectangular and has lower entries to receive the forks of a fork lift truck.

5. A loading structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the bag is an open topped fabric structure.

6. A loading structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that connection of the elongate members to the bag is effected by insertion of the members through loops or channels formed in the bag.

7. A loading structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that there are four said members arranged in generally rectangular conformation.

8. A loading structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that there is a respective pair of receiving members for each elongate member.

9. A loading structure according to claim 8 characterised in that each pair of receiving members comprises receiving sockets or channels adapted to receive the ends of the elongate member.

10. A loading structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that detachable retention devices are provided to hold the elongate members captive in the receiving members.

11. A loading structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that for each elongate member there is a respective pair of receiving members comprising a socket to receive one end of the elongate member and a generally U-shaped upwardly open channel to receive the other end of the elongate member, and in that a detachable retention device is provided to close the open top of the channel above the pertaining end of the elongate member, and in that there are abutment surfaces at the outermost ends of the socket and channel to limit longitudinal displacement of the elongate member.

12. A loading structure according to claim 11 and claim 2 characterised in that the receiving members are attached to the crossbars and/or to the corner posts.

13. A loading structure according to claim 12 characterised in that the crossbars are joined to the corner posts spaced below the top ends of the posts and the receiving members are fixed in the corners defined between the ends of the crossbars and the end portions of the corner posts, whereby side faces of the corner posts provide said abutment surfaces.

14. A load supporting structure, for suspending a bag having elongate members connected to top peripheral portions thereof, said structure comprising a framework having a base structure, upright corner posts, and crossbars linking upper end portions of the framework, characterised by the provision of upper receiving members to removably locate projecting end portions of the elongate members.

15. A loading structure and a load supporting structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.