EP1813542B1 - Container with hinged stacking T elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a t-stack (7) adapted to be disposed proximate to a side (315) of a body (3) with a central bar (71) approximately perpendicular to a base (311) of the body. The t-stack is integrated to the body and articulated on the side while being mobile between a low position in which the central bar is approximately parallel to the base, and a high position in which the bar is approximately perpendicular to the base. Flanges (73) of the t-stack extend parallel to the side and are pressed on posts (314) of body in the high position of the t-stack.

Description

The present invention relates to a container comprising a body provided with at least two uprights rising from this body and flanking one side of the body, this container comprising at least one stacking tee.

It is known to use containers to transport various products (see for example GB 2 333 285 A and WO 98/31596 A ). Such containers are generally stacked, when full, using removable bars placed on the uprights provided on each container and projecting from the parts housed in the containers. For each container, these removable bars form a bearing surface adapted to receive the bottom of another container. In these known devices, the stacking bars, which are not integral with the container, can easily be misplaced. In addition, the stacking bars of a first container are held in place on the uprights of the container through the weight of a second container stacked on the first. This does not ensure a stable positioning of the stacking bars.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a container comprising full stacking means whose positioning is stable on the amounts of the container and whose risk of loss is limited.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a container comprising a body provided with at least two uprights rising from this body and flanking one side of the body, this container comprising at least one stacking tee consisting of a central bar and two wings arranged generally in a shape of "T", this tee being adapted to be disposed near the side of the body framed by the uprights, with the central bar substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the body. This container is characterized in that the stacking tee is integral with the body and articulated on the side framed by the amounts, of so as to be movable between a low position in which the central bar is substantially parallel to the bottom of the body and a high position in which the central bar is substantially perpendicular to the bottom while the wings extend parallel to the side framed by the uprights and s 'support these amounts.

Thanks to the invention, the stacking tee being secured to the body of the container, there is no risk of loss of this tee. In addition, by means of adjustments on the stacking unit and the uprights, it is possible to guarantee a stable and precise positioning of the stacking unit on the uprights in the high position of the tee.

• une équerre de report de charge est fixée sur la barre centrale du té de gerbage et est apte à venir en appui sur une partie correspondante du corps ;
• chaque aile du té de gerbage est munie, à son extrémité distale, d'une boucle d'ancrage sur le montant correspondant ;
• le té de gerbage et le corps comportent des moyens permettant un déplacement du té sensiblement parallèlement à l'axe longitudinal des montants lorsque le té est au voisinage de sa position haute, ces moyens comprenant une lumière oblongue ménagée dans la barre centrale du té, respectivement dans le côté du corps, et une tige solidaire du côté du corps, respectivement solidaire de la barre centrale du té, la tige étant apte à coulisser dans la lumière oblongue ;
• les ailes du té de gerbage forment une zone de réception d'un autre conteneur lorsque le té est dans la position haute, la distance séparant la zone de réception et le fond du corps étant inférieure à la distance séparant les extrémités distales des ailes et le fond ;
• la zone de réception et chaque extrémité distale des ailes sont reliées par un pan incliné des ailes servant de guidage vers la zone de réception ;
• au moins un organe de retenue de pièces logées dans le corps est solidaire du corps, cet organe comprenant une barre principale et deux pattes orientées dans le même sens, selon une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à la barre principale, les pattes étant articulées sur deux côtés opposés du corps, de telle façon que l'organe de retenue est mobile entre une position basse dans laquelle les pattes sont sensiblement parallèles au fond du corps et une position haute dans laquelle les pattes sont sensiblement inclinées par rapport au fond ;
• des moyens de rappel élastique sont disposés entre chaque patte et le côté du corps sur lequel elle est articulée, ces moyens de rappel étant aptes à exercer sur les pattes un effort élastique dirigé vers le fond du corps ;
• le corps est en matériau synthétique et comporte, sur au moins un côté, une paire d'orifices juxtaposés, chaque orifice donnant accès à un logement de réception d'un bras d'une fourche d'appareil de manutention, un bouclier métallique solidaire du corps recouvrant ce côté au voisinage des orifices.

According to other advantageous features of the invention:

• a load transfer bracket is fixed on the central bar of the stacking tee and is able to bear against a corresponding part of the body;
• each wing of the stacking tee is provided at its distal end with an anchoring loop on the corresponding amount;
• the stacking tee and the body comprise means allowing a displacement of the tee substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the uprights when the tee is in the vicinity of its upper position, these means comprising an oblong slot formed in the central bar of the tee, respectively in the side of the body, and a rod secured to the body side, respectively integral with the central bar of the tee, the rod being slidable in the oblong slot;
• the wings of the stacking tee form a receiving zone of another container when the tee is in the up position, the distance separating the receiving zone and the bottom of the body being less than the distance separating the distal ends of the wings and the background ;
• the receiving zone and each distal end of the wings are connected by an inclined flange of the wings serving as a guide towards the reception zone;
• at least one piece retaining member housed in the body is integral with the body, this member comprising a main bar and two lugs oriented in the same direction, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main bar, the tabs being hinged on two opposite sides the body, such that the retaining member is movable between a low position in which the legs are substantially parallel to the bottom of the body and a high position in which the tabs are substantially inclined relative to the bottom;
• elastic return means are disposed between each lug and the side of the body on which it is articulated, these biasing means being able to exert on the legs an elastic force directed towards the bottom of the body;
• the body is made of synthetic material and comprises, on at least one side, a pair of juxtaposed orifices, each orifice giving access to a receptacle for receiving an arm of a handling equipment fork, a metal shield integral with the body covering this side near the orifices.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un conteneur conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en élévation selon la flèche II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en plan d'un flan de tôle destiné à constituer un bouclier pour le conteneur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue à plus grande échelle du détail V de la figure 1, un té de gerbage du conteneur étant représenté en position surélevée par rapport aux montants du conteneur ;
• la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 5, un té de gerbage étant représenté en position haute, en appui sur les montants du conteneur ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective à plus grande échelle d'une bride de verrouillage du conteneur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 1 mais à plus petite échelle de deux conteneurs conformes à l'invention, gerbés avec leurs tés en position basse ;
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue à la figure 8 de deux conteneurs conformes à l'invention, gerbés avec leurs tés en position haute.

The features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of an embodiment of a container according to the invention, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a partial elevation view along arrow II of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a section along line III-III of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a plan view of a sheet blank intended to constitute a shield for the container of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 is a larger-scale view of detail V of the figure 1 , a container stacking tee being shown in raised position relative to the amounts of the container;
• the figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 5 , a stacking tee being shown in the upper position, resting on the uprights of the container;
• the figure 7 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a container lock flange of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 8 is a view similar to the figure 1 but on a smaller scale two containers according to the invention, stacked with their tees in the low position;
• the figure 9 is a view similar to the figure 8 two containers according to the invention, stacked with their tees in the high position.

The container 1 according to the invention, represented at figure 1 , comprises a body 3 of synthetic material, for example high density polyethylene. The body 3 comprises a bottom 311 of rectangular section and four sides substantially perpendicular to the bottom 311, namely two longitudinal sides 313 rising from the lengths of the bottom 311 and two transverse sides 315 rising from the widths of the bottom 311 The bottom 311 has on its upper face 311A unrepresented reliefs, which are complementary parts intended to be housed and transported in the container 1. The container 1 may, for example, be intended for the transport of spare parts of motor vehicles. The reliefs are then designed to accommodate as precisely as possible these spare parts.

The body 3 is made by rotational molding of high density polyethylene, the reliefs being directly made by rotational molding on the bottom 311 of the body 3. The bottom 311 of the body 3 further comprises drainage holes for water or runoff liquid also not shown.

The body 3 comprises four uprights 314 which rise from each of its corners. The portion 314A of the body 3, located below each upright 314, is shaped to have a shape complementary to the outer shape of each upright 314. In this way, several containers 1 are able to be stacked, when are empty, by mutual interlocking of their uprights 314, as shown in FIG. figure 8 .

On the other hand, the body 3 comprises, on each of the four sides 313 and 315, a pair of orifices 318 juxtaposed, each orifice 318 giving access to a housing 319 formed in the body 3 and adapted to receive an arm of a fork of handling trolley.

Each side 313 or 315 is equipped with a shield 5 consisting of a steel plate. Each shield 5 has a main portion 51 which extends against the side 313 or 315 concerned around the orifices 318, so as to protect the outer surface 313E or 315E of the body 3 located in the vicinity of the upper and lateral areas of the orifices 318.

Each shield 5 also comprises, for each orifice 318, three folding wings which are able to engage from the surfaces 313E or 315E inwardly of the adjacent housing 319 and thus to protect the inlet of the orifice 318. More precisely, two lateral wings 53 and 53 ', visible at Figures 2 to 4 , are capable of covering the lateral faces 319A of each housing 319. These wings 53 and 53 'are of substantially rectangular shape, with a width slightly less than the height of each orifice 318 and a length substantially equivalent to half the length of each orifice 318. As shown in FIG. figure 3 , the upper face 319B of each housing 319 is partially covered by a third wing 54 of substantially rectangular shape, with a length substantially equivalent to the length of each orifice 318 and a width of the order of a few centimeters.

The shield profile represented in Figures 2 to 4 corresponds to a shield installed on a longitudinal side 313 of the body 3. The shields 5 installed on the transverse sides 315 have a similar profile, but their shape is adapted to facilitate their implantation on the sides 315.

In the embodiment described, the four shields 5 are fixed on each side 313 or 315 of the body 3 by riveting by means of stampings 55. In a variant, the attachment of each shield 5 can be made by screwing.

The flat configuration of the shield 5 shown in FIG. figure 4 is obtained from a substantially flat steel blank, in which are formed fold lines 531, 531 'and 541 able to be superimposed on the side edges 318A and upper 318B of the orifices 318. The outline of the wings 53, 53' and 54, as well as the general contour of the shield 5, are cut in the steel blank. The blank thus prepared is then applied to each side 313 or 315 of the body 3 so as to superpose the folding lines 531, 531 'and 541 on the edges 318A and 318B of the orifices 318. After fixing the blank on the body 3, the wings 53, 53 'and 54 are folded and fixed against, respectively, the lateral faces 319A and upper 319B of the housings 319.

Alternatively, each shield 5 may be made of another metallic material having good impact resistance.

The presence of the four shields 5 on the container 1 according to the invention makes it possible to preserve the zones of the body 3 located in the vicinity of the orifices 318 against any damage due to shocks or repeated contacts with forks of handling equipment, while strengthening the structure of rotomolded body 3. In addition, the presence of the wings 53, 53 'and 54, folded from the outer surface 313E or 315E of the body 3 towards the inside of the housings 319, ensures a function of guiding the forks of the handling equipment towards the inside of these housing.

The container 1 represented at figure 1 also comprises two stacking tees 7, each tee 7 consisting of a central bar 71 and two wings 73, arranged generally in a shape of "T". Each wing 73 is provided at its distal end 731 with an anchoring loop 75 on an upright 314 of the body 3. The wings 73 of each tee 7 form a receiving zone 733 of another container, substantially perpendicular to the bar central 71 and separated from each of the distal ends 731 by an inclined pan 735, the corresponding distal end 731 to the receiving zone 733, towards the central bar 71.

Each of the tees 7 is articulated on a transverse side 315 of the body 3. Each tee 7 is movable between a low position in which the central bar 71 is substantially parallel to the bottom 311, and a high position in which the central bar 71 is substantially perpendicular at the bottom 311, while the wings 73 extend parallel to the transverse side 315 on which the tee 7 is hinged and rest on the uprights 314 flanking this side 315.

When the container 1 is empty, the tees 7 are in the low position. As soon as the two tees 7 are in the low position, a container homologous to the container 1 can be stacked on it by mutually interlocking the uprights 314 of the two containers, as shown in FIG. figure 8 .

Prior to the loading on the face 311A of the body 3 of parts intended to be transported in the container 1, each of the stacking tees 7 is moved from its lower position to its upper position, by a tilting around an axis directed parallel to the sides transverse 315 of the body 3.

Each tee 7 has an oblong slot 711 formed in the central bar 71, parallel to the axis of this central bar. For each tee 7, a rod 316 integral with the body 3 is able to slide in the oblong slot 711. The sliding of the rod 316 in the oblong slot 711 makes it possible to raise each tee 7, in the vicinity of its upper position, with respect to the amounts 314, as shown in figure 5 . The distal ends 731 can thus be made to cap the upper portion 314B of the uprights 314, without risk of blocking the ends 731 by the uprights 314 during the tilting of the tees 7 from their lower position to their upper position.

Alternatively and according to an embodiment not shown in the figures, an oblong slot 711 may be formed in the body 3 while the corresponding rod 316 is integral with the central bar 71 of each tee 7.

The uprights 314 are equipped, at their upper portion 314B, with relief shapes 314C intended to receive the anchoring loops 75. When the two tees 7 of the container 1 are in the up position, visible at the figure 6 , the two reception zones 733 are able to receive together the bottom of a container, homologous or not with the container 1, stacked on the container 1, as shown in FIG. figure 9 . The presence of inclined faces 735, which frame each receiving zone 733, makes it possible to guide and maintain the positioning of the stacked container on the container 1. In addition, the anchoring of the loops 75 on the uprights 314 and the support of the panels inclined 735 against the lateral faces 314D of the uprights 314 make it possible to maintain the spacing of the uprights 314 when stacking the containers in the high position of the tees 7.

Each tee 7 also comprises a load transfer bracket 713 fixed on the central bar 71 and adapted to bear on a support 312 formed at the transverse side 315 on which is articulated the tee 7. When switching each tee 7 between its low position and its high position, the sliding of the rod 316 in the oblong slot 711 raises each bracket 713 relative to the corresponding support 312. Thus, for each tee 7, the bracket 713 is positioned above the corresponding support 312 and, simultaneously with the positioning of the distal ends 731 on the uprights 314, the bracket 713 bears on the support 312. The presence of the brackets load transfer 713 makes it possible to distribute the weight of one or more containers, stacked in the position of the figure 9 on the container 1, on the uprights 314 and on the transverse sides 315 of the body 3.

Furthermore, the container 1 comprises two flanges 9 for retaining pieces housed in the body 3. Each flange 9 comprises a main bar 91, extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal sides 313 of the body 3 and two tabs 93 bent, oriented in the same direction, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main bar 91. Each lug 93 of a flange 9 is articulated on a transverse side 315 of the body 3 by means of a pin 95 formed on the lug 93 and adapted to be inserted into a 3. Each lug 93 is furthermore fixed to a tension spring 97 disposed between the lug 93 and the transverse side 315 on which it is hinged. The two springs 97 associated with each flange 9 thus exert on it an elastic return force towards the bottom 311 of the body 3. Alternatively, the tension springs 97 may be replaced by gas cylinders or flat springs.

Each retaining flange 9 is movable between a low position in which the tabs 93 are substantially parallel to the bottom 311 and a high position in which the tabs 93 are substantially inclined, or even perpendicular to the bottom 311.

When the container 1 is empty, each flange 9 is arranged in its lower position, to allow a container homologous to the container 1 to be stacked on the container 1 by interlocking the uprights 314 of these containers, as shown in FIG. figure 8 .

Before parts intended to be transported in the container 1, are placed on the face 311A of the body 3, the flanges 9 are moved from their low position to their high position retaining these parts. They are then released and, under the action of the springs 97, they are pressed by their respective main bars 91 on the upper parts of the parts to be transported. In this position, each flange 9 holds in place the parts housed in the body 3, thanks to the action of the springs 97 directed towards the bottom 311. Moreover, during the transport of the parts in the container 1, each spring 97 is adapted to deploy more or less so as to adapt the force it exerts on the corresponding flange 9 depending on shocks or vibrations occurring during transport. So, the pressure exerted by the flanges 9 on the transported parts is substantially constant during transport.

A container 1 according to the invention thus makes it possible, thanks to the mobility of the stacking tees 7 between their low position and their high position, to stack empty containers homologous to the container 1 by mutual interlocking of their uprights 314, as well as their stacking. when the tees 7 are in the up position. Such a container 1 has, moreover, several additional advantageous characteristics. The presence of retaining flanges 9 ensures the retention of parts to be transported in the container 1. In addition, the container 1 is able to withstand damage due to the action of forks of handling equipment on the body 3 , thanks to the presence of shields 5.

Claims (9)

1. Container (1) comprising a body (3) provided with at least two uprights (314) rising from the body and enclosing one side (315) of the body, the container comprising at least one stacking T-element (7) consisting of a central bar (71) and two wings (73) generally arranged in a "T" shape, the T-element (7) being capable of being arranged in the vicinity of said side (315) with the central bar (71) substantially perpendicular to the base (311) of said body (3), characterised in that the T-element (7) is articulated to said side (315), being mobile between a lower position in which its central bar (71) is substantially parallel to the base (311) of the body (3) and an upper position in which its central bar (71) is substantially perpendicular to the base (311), whilst the wings (73) extend parallel to said side (315) and bear against said uprights (314) in said upper position of the T-element (7).
2. Container according to Claim 1, characterised in that a load transfer bracket (713) is fixed to the central bar (71) of the stacking T-element (7) and is capable of bearing against a corresponding part (312) of the body (3).
3. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each wing (73) of the stacking T-element (7) is provided at its distal end (731) with a ring (75) for anchoring onto the corresponding upright (314).
4. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stacking T-element (7) and the body (3) comprise means permitting a displacement of the T-element substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the uprights (314) when the T-element is in the vicinity of said upper position, said means comprising an oblong aperture (711) made in the central bar (71) of the T-element (7), respectively in the side (315) of the body (3), and a rod (316) fixed to the side (315) of the body (3), respectively fixed to the central bar (71) of the T-element (7), the rod (316) being capable of sliding in the oblong aperture (711).
5. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wings (73) of the stacking T-element (7) form an area (733) for receiving a further container when the T-element is in said upper position, the distance separating the receiving area (733) and the base (311) of the body (3) being less than the distance separating the distal ends (731) of the wings (73) and the base (311).
6. Container according to Claim 5, characterised in that the receiving area (733) and each distal end (731) of the wings (73) are connected by an angled face (735) of the wings, used for guidance towards the receiving area.
7. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one retaining member (9) for parts housed in the body (3) is fixed to the body, said member (9) comprising a principal bar (91) and two legs (93) oriented in the same direction, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the principal bar (91), the legs (93) being articulated on two opposing sides (315) of the body, such that the retaining member (9) is mobile between a lower position in which the legs (93) are substantially parallel to the base (311) of the body (3) and an upper position in which the legs (93) are substantially inclined relative to the base (311).
8. Container according to Claim 7, characterised in that resilient return means (97) are arranged between each leg (93) and the side (315) of the body (3) to which it is articulated, said return means being capable of exerting on the legs (93) a resilient force oriented towards the base (311) of the body (3).
9. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (3) is made of synthetic material and comprises on at least one side (313, 315) a pair of juxtaposed orifices (318), each orifice (318) providing access to a housing (319) for receiving an arm of a fork of a handling device, a metal shield (5) fixed to the body (3) and covering said side (313, 315) in the vicinity of said orifices (318).

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