MX2008005625A

MX2008005625A - Multipart pallet.

Info

Publication number: MX2008005625A
Application number: MX2008005625A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Jochen Brunsmann; Michael Rinderle
Original assignee: Schoeller Arca Systems Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-04-30
Filing date: 2008-04-30
Publication date: 2009-03-02
Also published as: MX352208B; DE102007020277A1

Abstract

The pallet (1) has an upper part (3) forming a loading surface (4) and a lower part (2), where the lower part forms a contact area for the pallet. The upper part and the lower part are form-fit interconnected in inseparable manner. A form closure between the upper part and the lower part is formed by locking lugs. The lugs are arranged at the lower part and/or at the upper part. The lugs cooperate with corresponding locking elements at the upper part and/or at the lower part. The lugs are designed as bar-like locking units. Round openings included in the upper part are molded.

Description

TABLE FORMED BY MULTIPLE PIECES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a pallet of synthetic material formed by multiple parts with a loading surface and a support surface according to the characteristics of the general idea of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Platforms, for example Europool pallets, are used in different applications for the transport and stacking of articles. In addition to the wooden pallets, the pallets of synthetic material are increasingly used, which is much easier to clean and with a greater rigidity and resistance to deformation, they present a reduced weight. Due to the state of the art, pallets are known which have an upper part, a frame part and a bottom part, which in a welding process of synthetic material are permanently joined to each other by adhesion of materials. Here the disadvantage is that the welding of the individual parts represents a complicated work stage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The task of the present invention is to produce a pallet of synthetic material formed by several pieces, which on the one hand presents stability and resistance to deformation, as well as a high load capacity and also that can occur with a small expense . This task is solved according to the invention by means of a pallet of synthetic material according to claim 1. Preferred and advantageous embodiments are subject of the dependent claims. The pallet according to the invention includes an upper part and at least one lower part joined by shape coupling. Preferably, the joining of the parts is exclusively carried out through this shape coupling. In particular, the parties are permanently united to each other, that is, they can not be separated. This is the pieces that are to be joined are fixed to each other essentially without the use of adhesives, solder, screws or the like. Thus, this stage of the process can be omitted, which saves production work and costs. Coupled by shape coupling in the sense of this application refers to that at least two pieces are supplied that are joined together due to their geometric conformation (formation), avoiding the separation of the joint.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the shape coupling is achieved by means of fixing protuberances (fixing clips) provided on the lower part and / or on the upper part, which cooperate with corresponding fastening elements provided on the upper and / or lower part, forming together a locking or clamping connection by its coupling of shapes. Another embodiment provides that the fixing protrusions are shaped as catwalk-shaped fixing members which extend essentially parallel to the loading surface or to the support surface of the pallet according to the invention. This includes the case that the fixing members in the form of gangways have a fin-shaped protrusion at their free end. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the coupling elements which cooperate with the coupling members are surrounded, at least on the one hand, by a reinforcing rib which at the same time functions as a guide rib. With this, the protrusion (16) or the coupling member (10) is guided to join the pieces, which facilitates the interlocking process. In addition, when the pieces are joined together, the forces of side introduction. Furthermore, it is provided that the fixing members and the fastening elements are provided in highlighted spacing pillars, which in particular separate the loading surface and the support surface of the pallet and form a hollow space for the introduction of the forklift's nails. (in the form of a fork), which are positioned along the periphery of the front surfaces of the spacer pillars. In particular, it is provided that the distance pillars have a frontal surface essentially parallel to the loading surface or to the supporting surface, which is partially interrupted by oblique surfaces, forming an angle with the front surface of 10 ° to 45 °, preferably of about 15- ° -25 °, and this angle is measured in a plane obed in one of the middle axes of the spacing pillars. Thus, when the load and support surfaces are assembled, that is to say when they are in an armed state, lateral support forces can be transferred through the oblong surfaces by means of the coupling in a toothed shape. According to a very preferred embodiment, it is provided that the area of the members or fasteners at least have an inferred part of at least one flat guide element and the upper part when at least one corresponding planar guide element is present, wherein these guide elements slide together when joining the pieces. Here, it seems to be particularly advantageous if the corresponding guiding surfaces of the guide elements have at least one longitudinal rib or a longitudinal groove (or the like), so as to form a toothed coupling, through which the lateral support forces can be transferred. only during the union of the pieces. A particularly advantageous and economic embodiment provides that the pallet according to the invention is formed in two parts, wherein each part together with the connecting elements formed therein are preferably produced by means of an injection molding process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OR FIGURES Other advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with the help of the figures. The figures show: Figure 1: a pallet according to the invention in a perspective view; Figure 2: the lower part of a pallet according to the invention in a top perspective view; Figure 3: the upper part of a pallet according to the invention in a top perspective view; Figure 4: the upper part of a pallet according to the invention in a bottom perspective view; Figure 5: a detailed perspective view of the lower part in the region where a spacer is located; Figure 6: a detailed perspective view of the upper part in the region where a spacer is located; Figure 7: a perspective cut through a spacer pillar of two upper and lower parts joined together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows in three-dimensional form the pallet of synthetic material according to the invention 1, which includes the lower part 2 and an upper part 3, which are joined together by shape coupling. In FIG. 1, the loading surface 4 of the upper part 3 is shown on the right. The upper part 3 has a plurality of round holes, which are formed to reduce the overall weight of the pallet. synthetic material. The supporting surface or the supporting surface is not shown, which are provided on the opposite side of the loading surface 4 of the plastic pallet 1. Usually a synthetic pallet with a support surface placed on the top is used. preferably a flat, horizontal base that receives the articles on the horizontal loading surface 4. Next, this definition of horizontal and vertical will be taken as reference. The distance pillars 5 thus define a space between the area of the load surface and the area of the support surface, a space that is used for transporting the platform by means of a forklift or a lifting vehicle. By means of the spacer pillar the base bodies are displaced relative to each other in the vertical direction. The base bodies are advantageously shaped flat. The lower part shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the upper part 2 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the area where the spacer pillar 5 is located. For this, the upper part as well as the lower part are provided with spacer pillars 5. that are in the corners, in the middle parts of the outer edges and in the center, and when mounted they are directed towards each other and their height is essentially identical. Figures 5 and 6 they show as a detailed view a spacing pillar of the lower part and of the upper part 3. The spacing pillars have a basic rectangular shape with rounded corners and a front surface, which limits the spacing pillar in the vertical direction. This front surface has the shape of a peripheral annular edge with a material thickness of the distance pillar of at least 3 mm and maximum 18 mm. Preferably the edge has a width of 6 mm to 10 mm. Union structures are placed inside this ring, there may be mentioned clamping hooks or coupling members 10, the reinforcing elements 11, the elements 20 and the compression ribs 12. In figure 7 it can be seen clearly how the clamping hooks or the coupling member in shape of gangway 10 with a coupling flap 16 formed on the free end is inserted into the coupling element 30 and is thereby engaged by means of shape coupling. During the assembly process, both pieces meet from top to bottom (vertically). Here the clamping hook 10 moves to the right and at the end of the joining process the clamping hook elastically retracts to its initial position or clamping position, so that the upper and lower parts can no longer be separated from each other.

The rib-shaped reinforcing element or guiding element 11 according to FIG. 7 is a part of the upper part 3 shown above and in which the fastening element 30 is fixed. The reinforcing element 11 is adjacent to the leg of the reinforcement element 11. clamping hook 10, with which the clamping hook is attached to the lower part 2. When on the upper part act forces, which (according to figure 7) act forward, so the upper part moves slightly with reference to the lower part, until the reinforcing element 11 comes into contact with the leg of the clamping hook 10 and thus the forces are transferred to the lower part 2. The width of the clamping hook is clearly greater than its thickness, with which in the clamping direction (in the direction in which the coupling fin 16 moves) a greater elasticity is obtained than in the horizontal direction that is perpendicular thereto. In this section, no other reinforcement element is shown, which according to FIG. 7 is seated before the clamping hook 10, and with the represented reinforcement element 11 forms a space, within which the clamping hook can be moved with a certain slackness This clearance is necessary so that the fastening hook after assembly can recover its shape thanks to the elastic recoil tension or force, and can act on the coupling element 30. 52-507 Figure 5 shows four guiding elements 20 of a spacer pillar 4 of the lower part 2, which are coupled with the four guiding elements 20 'of the upper part shown in figure 6. In the guiding elements contact surfaces provided here are defined with three longitudinal ribs or longitudinal grooves (21). Two of these pairs of guide elements have parallel contact surfaces that form an angle of 90 ° with the contact surfaces of the other two pairs of guide elements. This prevents displacement in all directions of the horizontal plane. In addition, the longitudinal ribs or longitudinal grooves 21 serve to position both parts without play. Its height has a larger dimension than the nominal separation between the guide elements that interact with each other. For example, the nominal spacing can be 0.5 mm and the height of the longitudinal ribs can be 2 mm, so that the three longitudinal ribs 21 when joining the upper and lower parts deform plastically and elastically approximately 1.5 mm. In addition, FIG. 5 shows a compression rib 12 positioned in such a way that when joining the upper and lower parts it is essentially elastically deformed, and after that the fastening hook 10 which caught in its clamping position can also be retracted 52-507 elastically. Since the orientation of the compression rib 12 is opposite to the direction of the hole of the clamping hook 10, a firm grip of the hook in its clamping position is produced by means of the rib. Figure 6 shows that the peripheral front edge 14 of spacer pillar 4 is interrupted by oblique surface areas 15a and 15b. While the zones of the edge 14, which extend parallel to the loading surface, are very suitable to receive the forces of the weight of the products that are on the platform, the effect of the force serves so that the upper part 3 can center by the displacement on the oblique surfaces 15a and 15b in the counterclockwise direction. The oblique surfaces slope approximately 20 ° up and down the front surface. In other words: when disturbing lateral forces act between the upper and lower part, the force of gravity acts on the load that is on the platform, in such a way that the upper part 3 with the load does not move against the the direction of gravity in the oblique surfaces 15a or 15b and the upper and lower parts remain centered between each other, and at least partially the harmful forces that can act on the fastening hooks are absorbed. 52-507 Figure 6 shows that three clamping hooks 10 as well as three coupling elements 30 are provided peripherally to an inwardly directed surface of the spacer pillar 5 so as to receive the corresponding clamping hooks of the part to be joined. With this, in the area of those spacing pillars of the upper and lower parts are joined with six hooks in total. The spacer pillars located in the corner of the platforms are provided with the same number of clamping hooks. However, all the spacers that are on the lateral edge of the platform are wider and have 8 spacing pillars. Six clamping hooks are provided on the spacer pillars in the center of the platform. Correspondingly, the guide elements 20 are also adapted to the dimensions of the spacer pillars in question. Essentially the upper part 3 is symmetrically the lower part 2, but the upper part has four wide openings for receiving the rollers of a lifting vehicle during transport. In an alternative embodiment of a platform, an embodiment is also possible in which the lower part is identical to the upper part, ie it lacks the wide openings. Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the 52-507 upper part 3, including a base body from which the spacer pillars extend 4. The base body extends over the entire surface of the platform with a thickness of preferably 30 mm +/- 3 mm, but at least 15 mm and maximum 45 mm. To reduce the weight of the base body, it is formed with a structure of bars that extend parallel and cross each other to define a plurality of cavities or depressions. To further reduce the weight, round holes have been provided in the bases of the depressions, which according to Figure 1 can be observed from above the pallet, that is from the loading surface 4. These holes also allow to eliminate the humidity that It is on the platform by dripping or flowing down. In addition, rectangular holes are visible on the surface of the platform in the area of the spacing pillars 5, which are produced by means of techniques for injecting synthetic material from the cores forming the fastening hooks 20 and the coupling elements 30. The lower part 2 is made corresponding to the upper part 3, in which, due to the extensive orifices, the base surface is reduced to walkways that join the spacing pillars 5. On the lateral outer edges of the platform, or be on the sides in which the nails of 52-507 a lifting vehicle or forklift, the thickness of the pallet material increases to elevate the protection against damage. As a material for the stage, any thermoplastic synthetic material can be used, preferably polyethylene or polypropylene is used. To further reduce the weight, a foamy synthetic material is used, the material of which foams in the injection tool during the injection process. Both the upper part and the lower part are in one piece. This is that the mentioned clamping hooks 10 are formed directly with clamping fins 16, reinforcing elements 11 or guide element 20 directly during the injection process. By means of the suitable application of temperature and pressure inside the injection tool it is achieved that the surface of the platform is to the greatest possible degree free of pores, but the density of the material is reduced within the areas with greater wall thicknesses . The application of pressure can be supported by means of movable cores, which after filling the tool can be retracted in a second stage in a certain amount and thus release the volume to foam the synthetic material. Thanks to this technique, for example, it can be achieved that the upper part and the lower part of the 52-507 region of the clamping hooks present a clearly greater density, and with this a greater rigidity than in the area of the lateral edges. 52-507

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A pallet of synthetic material (1) with an upper part (3) having a loading surface (4), and at least a lower part (2) joined to the upper part (3); the lower part serves as a supporting surface for the synthetic pallet (1), wherein the upper part (3) and the at least one lower part (2) are preferably joined together exclusively by shape coupling and particularly in a inseparable. 2. The synthetic material pallet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the shape coupling between the upper part (3) and the at least one lower part (2) is formed by fastening fins (16) that are placed in the lower part (2) and / or in the upper part (3) and collaborate with corresponding coupling elements (30) that are in the upper part (3) and / or in the lower part (2). 3. The pallet of synthetic material (1) according to claim 2, wherein the coupling fins are formed as coupling members (10) in the form of gangways that extend essentially perpendicular to the loading surface (4) or the support surface. 4. The pallet of synthetic material (1), according to 52-507 claim 2 or 3, wherein the coupling elements (30) are surrounded by a guide rib (11), which during the connection leads to the fastening tab (16) or to the coupling member (10) and also to be together they transmit the lateral forces. The pallet of synthetic material (1), according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the coupling members (10) and the coupling elements (30) are placed on projecting spacing pillars (5), and being placed on the front surfaces of those spacing pillars (5) peripherally along its perimeter. The pallet of synthetic material (1), according to claim 5, wherein the spacing pillars (5) have a front surface (14) essentially parallel to the load surface (4) or the support surface, which is partially interrupted by oblique surfaces (15a, 15b), forming an angle with the front surface of 10 ° to 45 °, preferably of about 15 ° to 25 °, and this angle is measured in a plane obtained in one of the middle axes of the spacer pillars (5), in such a way that when the spacer pillars are mounted, through these oblique surfaces (15a, 15b) the lateral support forces can be transferred by means of the coupling in 52-507 jagged shape. The pallet of synthetic material (1) according to claims 3 to 6, wherein the coupling members (10) are formed in such a way that they can move elastically in the horizontal direction and have a defined recovery force. The pallet of synthetic material (1), according to claims 3 to 7, wherein in the region the coupling members (10) or the coupling elements (3), the at least one lower part (2) presents when less a plane guide element (20) and the upper part (3) at least has a corresponding plane guide element (20 '), which during the connection slide together. The pallet of synthetic material (1) according to claim 8, wherein the corresponding guide surfaces of the guide elements (20, 20 ') have at least one longitudinal rib (21), in such a way that it constitutes a coupling toothed, through which lateral forces can also be transferred. 10. The pallet of synthetic material (1), according to the preceding claims, wherein this pallet is formed by two parts. 52-507