Two-part flat pallet

[0001] The invention relates to a two-part flat pallet as a carrier of general cargo for handling and storage of general cargo, in which one or more general cargo is each time loaded onto this flat pallet and transported and / or stored with this flat pallet. The field of application of the present invention relates to the area of ​​storage and distribution systems as well as storage techniques for general cargo.

[0002] Various storage concepts apply when storing general cargo. For example, general cargo is delivered on disposable pallets or other packaging materials and is transferred to flat pallets. The loaded flat pallets are then transported by conveying devices to the storage place and are stored there. When delivering general cargo, they leave the flat pallet warehouse for the reloading station and are then reloaded or loaded manually from the flat pallet. For industrial pallets with dimensions of about 1 mx 1.2 m, the problem arises that manual unloading and loading of pallets is very exhausting and laborious. General cargo must be lifted from the pallet from a distance up to above one meter and must be stored there. For larger general cargo with a correspondingly higher weight, this is not partly adapted to the loading capacity.

[0003] Publication W02007 / 124530-A1 discloses a container with a base that can be used as a pallet. This palette consists of many identical modules. These modules have on their four side edges connecting elements similar to swallow tails, which consist of fingers and complementary recesses with them. On one side of the module there are many fingers which are cut vertically obliquely in the shape of a wedge. The associated recesses for finger joints are located on the opposite side edge of the module. Thus, two modules connected together give a two-part palette, which, however, due to the swallow-tailed connection are rigidly and forcefully coupled with each other. Tilting or tilting connected modules is therefore not possible. Due to the bevelled fingers, the modules can only be connected vertically in one direction and cannot be easily disconnected. In addition, the pallet connected together with two modules has protruding fingers on the side edges. For the use of general cargo on conveyor equipment, this multi-part pallet is not suitable, because firstly it cannot be easily connected with two modules during loading or it cannot be easily separated during unloading, and secondly the fingers protrude on the side edges of the pallet. During transport on the conveyor device, the fingers can easily get hooked along the transport path, and thus hinder the transport process.

[0004] WO 92/01607 A1 also belongs to the prior art.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a flat pallet of the aforementioned type from two identical plates that are detachably connected to each other, which allows easy unloading and loading, and individual plates of this flat pallet can be simply and easily joined and separated.

[0006] This object is achieved by a flat pallet with the features of claim 1.

[0007] An important advantage of the invention is that the two-part flat pallet can be loaded and unloaded more easily and with less physical involvement, and that the individual plates of the flat pallet are easier to handle. The fact that the flat pallet consists of two identical plates makes it easier to handle and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0008] Further advantages of the invention arise from the dependent claims and the following description, in which the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the embodiment shown in the schematic drawings.

[0009] They present:

Fig. 1 a perspective view of a two-part pallet plate;

Fig. 2 a perspective view of the two-part palette from above;

Fig. 3 two perspective stacked plates;

Fig. 4 a partial view of the latch element and the latch seat;

Fig. 5 two side-by-side pallet plates in a bottom view;

[0010] In the Figures, the same reference symbols are used for the same elements and the explanations appearing for the first time apply to all Figures, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0011] The double-flat pallet 1 according to the invention consists of two identical plates 2 which are detachably connected to each other and held by two coupling means 3, 30. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of such a plate 2 seen from above in perspective. Plate 2 has a rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners and a size of 1016 mm x 610 mm and a thickness of 40 mm. The boards are preferably made of HDPE (high density polyethylene) plastic and have a largely flat surface 8. To increase stability, the bottom side of the plate 2 is ribbed and reinforced with steel pipes, which is explained in more detail on the basis of Figure 5. On the longitudinal side 4 are visible coupling means 3, 30 with hook elements 3a, 30a and hook seats 3b, 30b, the function of which is described on the basis of Figure 4. The coupling means 3, 30 are located on the longitudinal side 4 in such a way that the distance of the catch element 3a, 30a on the first transverse side 7 of the plate 2 corresponds to the distance of the catch socket 3b, 30b from the second side of the transverse plate 2. When the plate 2 is now rotated 180 ° relative to the other plate 2, so that the coupling means 3, 30 of the two plates 2 are oriented relative to each other, then one hook element 3a, 30a of one plate is in direct contact with the hook socket 3b, 30b of the other plate

2. The shapes of the latch seats 3b, 30b are complementary to the latch elements 3a, 30a, so that the latch elements 3a, 30a can be inserted exactly into the latch seats 3b, 30b. In the embodiment shown, the latching elements 3a, 30a and the latching seats 3b, 30b are trapezoidal in shape. However, other forms of connecting means are also possible. At the ends of the opposite longitudinal side 6 and in the center of the transverse sides 7, in the ribs 12, sockets 5 are provided which serve as grips. Located on the surface 8 of the plate 2, the tabs 9 in the form of buttons grip the stacking of the plates 2 by the recesses 11 on the bottom side of the above-lying plate 2 and prevent the stacked plates 2 from moving. The recesses 11 can be formed by screening the ribs. In the center of the plate 2, a through hole is provided as hook holes 10 for machine displacement of the plates 2. The robot can grip the plates 2 by the hook holes 10, for example stacking or leading to a cleaning installation.

[0012] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a two-piece flat pallet 1 in a top view. Both plates 2 are their longitudinal sides 4 with coupling means 3, 30 directed towards each other and are held together by means of hook elements 3a, 30a and receiving elements 3b, 30b lying in each case opposite plate 2. That is, the latching elements 3a, 30a of the first plate 2 grip the receiving elements 3b, 30b of the second plate 2, and the latching elements 3a, 30a of the second plate 2 grip by the receiving elements 3b, 30b of the first plate 2. Thus, both plates 2 are held together by the type of hinged connection. By tilting up, i.e. by tilting one of the plates 2 by an angle> 25 ° around a common hypothetical rotary axis A that runs along the longitudinal axis 4, both plates 2 can be decoupled. The two plates 2 can also be coupled in that both longitudinal sides 4 with the coupling means 3, 30 are combined, and both plates 2 are tilted at an angle> 25 °. As soon as the tilting angle is reduced, the catch elements 3a, 30a grip the receiving elements 3b, 30b of the opposing plate 2 and both plates 2 are coupled together by a kind of hinged connection in a removable manner. This type of hinged connection also proves to be advantageous with respect to the rigid industrial pallet when transporting a flat pallet 1 on a transporting device, since it can level the transitions at different elevations along the transfer path.

[0013] In Figure 3, two plates 2 are shown stacked one on top of the other in a stacked perspective view. Due to the tabs 9, the stacked plates do not move on the one hand, and the tabs 9 also act centrally on the other hand, so that the plates can be stacked on top of each other.

[0014] Figure 4 shows a partial view of two plates 2 in the area of ​​the coupling means 3, the plates 2 being cut. The hook element 3a shown in the Figure on the left side of the slice of the first plate 2 and the hook socket 3b shown on the right of the slice of the second plate 2 are visible. The hook element 3a functions similarly to the hook which grips the receiving element 3b. The receiving element 3b is formed by a groove running parallel to the longitudinal side 4 in the ribs 12 of the bottom side of the plate 2. The left plate is slightly tilted up so that the catch element 3a does not yet fully grip the receiving element 3b. When lowering the left plate 2, the catch element moves upwards and grips the receiving element 3b. Due to the conical or trapezoidal shape of the hook elements 3a, 30a and the corresponding receiving elements 3b, 30b both plates 2 are centered as soon as they are lowered, and both lie approximately in the same plane. The two longitudinal sides 4 are in close contact with each other, so that both plates 2 can still be tilted vertically when horizontal, however they cannot be rotated horizontally. Thus, the plates 2 form a hinged connection of the hooking elements 3a, 30a and the associated receiving elements 3b, 30b with a two-part pallet 1. In addition, the Figure shows a gutter 13 which extends parallel to the longitudinal side 4, and which is intended to receive a pipe as for example a steel pipe. The steel pipe strengthens plate 2 and increases its lifting force. In Figure 4, the steel pipe is not yet inserted. In the ready state of the plate 2 with the steel pipe inserted, the gutter 13 is covered with the plate and the plate is welded to the edge 14 of the gutter 13. To this end, the sides 14 of the gutter 13 and the adjacent ribbing bridges 12 are slightly shorter than the other ribs 12. On the bottom side of each plate 2 two such gutters 13 are provided for receiving a steel pipe.

[0015] Figure 5 shows two side-by-side plates 2 of the pallet 1 in a bottom view. The coupling means, namely the hooking elements 3a, 30a and the receiving means 3b, 30b can be seen in each case with the corresponding coupling means on the opposite plate 2. The bottom side of plate 2 is ribbed, which gives the plate the required stability. In each plate, two gutters 13 are provided for receiving a steel pipe, which also contribute to the stability and strengthening of the plate 2. Round recesses 11 in ribs 12 are used for stacking plates 2 in order to receive tabs 10 lying below plate 2. Recess 5 on transverse sides 7 of plate 2 form handles 5 for easier handling of plates 2. In the middle of plates 2 you can see the bottom sides of the coupling holes 10 .

In order to load the flat pallet 1 according to the invention, the first plate 2 is first laid down and loaded on the conveyor device, then the second plate 2 is suspended in the plate 2 lying on the conveyor device and is loaded. To unload such a flat pallet 1, the reverse is true. First the front plate 2 is unloaded, then it is decoupled from the second plate by tilting upwards and is removed from the conveyor device. Then the second plate 2 is unloaded, i.e. the second half of the flat pallet 1. Due to the smaller width of the plates 2 relative to the industrial pallet, their loading and unloading is significantly simplified. Since the individual plates 2 constitute only half of the flat pallet 1, their weight is only about half and thus their handling is much easier and energy saving.