EP2141081B1 - Transportation and storage container of plastic material provided with a sliding element - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (100) has a sliding element (106) for closing a removal opening, where the container is made of plastic. A guide element (108) is arranged at the sliding element, and another guide element (110) is arranged at a front wall (104). The guide elements are formed such that an opening- and closing movement of the sliding element is defined. The former guide element is formed on a front side of the sliding element, and has a retaining element (112) e.g. catch, for clamping the sliding element in a preset opening- and closing position. The guide elements are designed as guide rails.

Description

The invention relates to a transport and storage container made of plastic, in particular a stackable bearing assembly box.

The prior art discloses various stackable storage box boxes. For example, the DE 198 09 394 C2 a stackable bearing assembly box, which has a displaceable front view lens, wherein the front view lens from a closed position by overcoming a latching force can be converted into an open position. The DE 10 2005 019081 B4 also discloses a bearing disposal box, this at least one end wall cutout which is closable by a windshield, which is guided laterally in the end wall and is displaceable between an upper closure position and a lower closure position. Said bearing assembly box is characterized in that in the lateral guide region of the end wall cutout at least one spring-like fastening means for releasable fixing of the front pane is arranged in the end wall section.

The invention is based on the object to provide an improved stackable bearing assembly box.

The problem underlying the invention is solved by the features of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a transport and storage container made of plastic, in particular a stackable storage order box, is provided with a trough. The transport and storage container made of plastic usually a removal opening in a removal side and a sliding element for closing the removal opening. Furthermore, the container has first guide elements on the sliding element and second guide elements on the removal side, wherein the first and second guide elements are formed so that an opening and closing movement of the sliding element is defined. Furthermore, the first guide elements are formed on an end face of the sliding element, wherein the first guide element has at least one holding element for locking the slide element in a predetermined opening or closing position. Preferably, the first and second guide elements are guide rails.

The plastic transport and storage container according to the invention has the advantage of guiding the sliding element through the first and second guide elements during a movement process of the sliding element. Such a movement or shifting operation is typically performed by exerting a force on the sliding element in the region of a central handle hole of the sliding element achieved. However, since typically such a force exercise never takes place absolutely centrally to the sliding element itself, there is a risk that a tilting of the sliding element takes place during the displacement movement. By directly weave the handle hole arranged guide elements this jamming risk is minimized because due to the short distance between the handle hole, which acts on the displacement force and the guide elements, which acts on the guide rails resulting leverage and thus tilting force is minimized.

If only a guide of the sliding element in the opposite side walls of the container, even an insignificantly offset to the handle hole force exercise for displacement of the sliding element due to the large distance between the sliding element guide and Kraftansatzpunk lead to a large leverage, and thus to a strong tilting of the sliding element , This in turn would lead to a sluggishness of the sliding element displacement, up to a complete tilting of the sliding element between the opposite side walls of the container. By the guide elements according to the invention such tilting of the sliding element is reliably avoided.

As already noted above, the guide elements are each arranged laterally to the handle hole of the sliding element. Thus, the respective left and right to the handle hole arranged guide elements are at a significantly lower distance from each other compared to guide elements, which would be located for example only in the opposite side walls. This small spacing of the guide elements means, in particular in a manufacturing method of the container according to the invention in an injection molding process, that corresponding shrinkages resulting from the plastic injection molding process can be minimized due to the smaller dimension "spacing guide elements". This can be ensured by means of the guide elements due to the lower shrinkages in a much more precise manner exact guidance of the sliding element, as would be the case if only one Guiding the sliding element would be done in the opposite side walls of the container. Due to the larger distances of these side walls greater shrinkage in an injection molding process are conditional here.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first guide elements are designed for engaging behind the second guide elements. This has the advantage that the sliding element is pressed in its central region around the handle hole in a displacement movement, that is, an opening or closing movement, due to the engaging behind the preferably opposing guide elements to the end wall of the removal side. This ensures that when a force is exerted on the sliding element in the area of the handle hole, only a movement of the sliding element in the longitudinal direction to the guide elements is possible. A vertical "lifting" of the sliding element of the end wall of the removal side due to the exercise of an unwanted tensile force on the sliding element perpendicular to the end wall of the removal side is thus reliably avoided. This is particularly relevant against the background that due to a lifting of the sliding element of the end wall of the removal side in the container located objects could fall between this end wall and the sliding element, if the distance between this end wall and sliding element would change. Thus, an unintentional tilting due to objects between this end wall and the sliding element is also avoided here.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the container further comprises a slotted guide of the sliding element in the removal opening bounding and opposite side walls. Such additional link guide in the opposite side walls of the container is particularly advantageous for large and wide storage box. If only two guide elements, which are arranged relatively centrally to the sliding element, serve to guide the sliding element, due to the elasticity of various plastic materials, from which such a container can be made, there would be a danger that the objects located in the container would be close to the side walls could push the sliding member, so that the sliding member is deformed near the side walls and pressed perpendicularly from the end wall of the removal side away. In this case, the sliding element would be away from the container at one point of the container, whereby a passing robotic gripping arm could stick to this protruding sliding element of the container, in particular in the case of a robot-controlled bearing guide using bearing box. Due to the additional slotted guide of the sliding element in the opposite side walls, this can be reliably avoided, since a guide of the sliding element is given at just these vulnerable points near the side walls of the container.

It should be noted here that, depending on the size of the stackable container any number of guide elements can be used. The same applies to the retaining element for holding the sliding element in a predetermined position, wherein e.g. the number of holding elements used for simultaneously holding the sliding element in a position based on the weight of the sliding element. For an independent opening is avoided due to the excessive weight of the sliding element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the retaining element is a spring element for steplessly fixing the sliding element to the second guide element. In this case, the force needed to move the sliding member is determined by the adhesive and sliding friction force between the spring member and the first and second guide members, respectively.

Alternatively, the holding element is a latching element and / or a spring element for the step-shaped fixing of the sliding element to the second guide element. In this case, to carry out a movement of the sliding element from a fixed position only so much force must be expended in order to overcome the holding force due to the locking or spring element. Until the next detent position is reached, the sliding element can be moved virtually frictionless parallel to the end wall of the removal side.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the container further comprises a recess of the second guide elements on the ground-facing side. Such a recess has the advantage that a simple mounting of the sliding element is ensured at the second guide elements. The assembly is done here only by "threading" the first guide rail in the second guide rail by means of the recess of the second guide elements.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the second guide elements each have a first web perpendicular to the end wall of the removal opening and a second web arranged at right angles to the first web, wherein the first guide elements are designed for engaging behind the second web. In this case, the recess of the second guide elements are recesses of the second webs.

Preferably, the first and the second web form an L-shaped form. Alternatively, it is also possible that the first and the second web form a T-shape. The use of an L-shape, wherein in particular the recesses formed by the L-shaped second guide elements are arranged facing each other, has the advantage of easy manufacturability by means of an injection molding process. In addition, it is ensured by the mutually facing recesses, which are formed by the L-shaped second guide elements that a guide of the sliding element is also ensured in the direction of these mutually facing recesses. In other words, it is ensured that an unwanted displacement movement and thus an unwanted tilting of the sliding element in the direction of the discharge opening limiting end walls can be avoided.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the slotted guide of the sliding element in the discharge opening bounding and opposite side walls on a recess on the side facing the bottom. Such a recess also has, like the recess of the second guide elements on the side facing the floor the advantage that thus a simple mounting of the sliding element can be ensured on the container.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the handle hole is a hand grip hole, which means that the handle hole is dimensioned so that an average adult human hand will comfortably engage the handle hole for opening or closing movement of the slide member can.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the side of the handle hole facing the bottom has a curved shape toward the bottom. This is on the one hand given an ergonomic way for a user of the container to move the sliding element of the container. On the other hand leads to the curved shape of the handle hole that due to the arch shape optimal power transmission or force distribution can be done on the sliding element itself. Force peaks, as they would occur in the case of a purely rectangular handle hole, are thus avoided, whereby the overall stability of the container is increased.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the side facing away from the bottom of the sliding element, at least at the level of the handle hole on a honeycomb structure. By the honeycomb structure on the one hand a high mechanical stability of the sliding element is ensured, yet a material saving is given due to the honeycomb structure. This allows cheaper production costs.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the container (100) is stackable.

Figur 1:

einen erfindungsgemäßen Behälter im geschlossenen Zustand,

Figur 2:

einen Behälter im geöffneten Zustand,

Figur 3:

ein Schiebeelement,

Figur 4:

ein Schema von L-förmigen Führungselementen,

Figur 5:

ein Schema von T-förmigen Führungselementen.

In the following embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a container according to the invention in the closed state,

FIG. 2:

a container in the opened state,

FIG. 3:

a sliding element,

FIG. 4:

a schematic of L-shaped guide elements,

FIG. 5:

a scheme of T-shaped guide elements.

Hereinafter, similar elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a container 100 in the closed state. The container 100 consists of two opposite side walls 102, and a first end wall 104 and a second end wall, not shown here, which is opposite to the first end wall 104. Furthermore, the container has a bottom 109.

The first end wall 104 has an opening in an upper area, which can be closed by a sliding element 106. The sliding element 106 is designed to be displaceable in the direction 122 parallel to the first end wall 104. The sliding element 106 has a grip hole 116 arranged centrally with respect to the sliding element 106, the sliding element each having first guide elements 108 laterally next to the grip hole 116. By way of example, the first guide elements 108 are guide rails. These guide rails 108 are designed to engage behind and engage with second guide elements 110 arranged opposite one another and on the first end wall 104, wherein these guide elements 110 may likewise be guide rails. These second guide rails 110 have at least one holding element 112 for holding the Sliding element 106 in a predetermined position. In the present case, the holding element is a latching nose 112.

Further apparent from the FIG. 1 is a honeycomb structure 118, which is formed at the level of the handle hole 116 on the sliding element 106.

Also off FIG. 1 a recess 114 is visible, which serves to facilitate a "threading" of the sliding element 106 and its first guide rails 108 in the second guide rails 110 during a mounting operation.

The FIG. 2 shows the container 100 in the open state. In this case, above the sliding element 106, an opening is released, which serves as a removal opening and preferably 50% of the total in FIG. 1 shown front surface of the container makes. Shown are in the FIG. 2 In addition, the slide guides 120 in the side walls 102 of the container 100. Due to the slotted guide 120 and due to the guide rails 108 and the in FIG. 2 not shown guide rails 110 ensures that the sliding member 106 is movable only in the direction 122. A lifting of the sliding element 106 of the in the FIG. 1 shown end wall 104 in the direction 200, or an unintentional displacement of the sliding element 106 in the direction 202 parallel to the end wall 104 is avoided. As already mentioned above, thereby tilting of the sliding element 106 between the side walls 102 is avoided. In addition, due to the constant lateral spacing between the end wall 104 and the sliding element 106, no objects can fall between the end wall 104 and the sliding element 106 - a "lifting" of the sliding element from the end wall in direction 200 is avoided.

Preferably, the slotted guides 120 converge toward each other at their upper end. In other words, the horizontal distance of the two mutually opposing slide guides 120 tapers upwards, ie in direction 122. This has the advantage that in the closed state of the container has a high mechanical stability - the sliding element has no in the closed state Game in the area of the slide tour. An opening operation is still possible in a mechanically smooth manner, since the movement of the sliding element is increased when opening the sliding element due to the downwardly wider distance between the opposite slotted guides in the horizontal direction.

The FIG. 3a shows a schematic view of a sliding element 106. Recognizable in the FIG. 3a is on the one hand, the handle hole 116 with its curved shape, wherein the bottom-facing side of the handle hole has a curved toward the bottom shape, so a concave shape. It should be noted, however, that the bottom-facing side of the handle hole may also have a curved shape away from the bottom, ie a convex shape. Also in this case, ergonomic handling in combination with optimal power transmission due to the arcuate curvature is guaranteed.

Further in the FIG. 3a the first guide elements 108, which have recesses 300 on the side facing the floor, can be seen.

These recesses 300 serve to receive spring elements, not shown here, which, for example, in force with the in Fig. 1 shown latching lugs serve to hold the sliding element in defined by the locking lugs positions. For example, the spring elements part of in FIG. 1 and 2 be shown holding elements 124, which serve via a spring action to hold the sliding element in predetermined by the locking lugs 112 positions.

A mounting of the sliding element on the container is preferably carried out so that the sliding element 106 is slightly overblown in the opening position of the container, so that an insertion of the side members 304 of the sliding element in the slotted guide 120 is possible. This is in the FIG. 3b shown. The overbending of the slide member 106 is accomplished by exerting a lateral force 302 on the slide member 106, causing the slider member to bulge. This will be the reduces lateral distance between the sliding element edges 304, thereby ensuring that the guide elements 108 can be pushed behind the guide elements 110.

Alternatively, however, it is possible with a suitable choice of spring elements, a "threading" of the sliding element 106 and its first guide elements 108 in the second guide elements 110 thereby realize that the guide elements, as in the FIG. 1 shown, at their lower end have the recesses 114, in which the upper end of the guide elements 108 can be threaded obliquely coming from below.

The FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of L-shaped interlocking first and second guide elements. The end face 104 of the container has a web 400, which is perpendicular to the end wall 104, and a further web 402, which is arranged at right angles to the web 400, and together form the guide rail 110. The guide elements 108 of the sliding element 106 are formed opposite to the guide elements 110, that is, the guide elements 108 also have webs 404 and 406 on. The web 404 is designed to engage behind the web 402 of the guide elements 110.

Further in the FIG. 4 Holding elements 112 and 408 are shown. The holding element 112 is, for example, a latching lug which is arranged on the guide element 104 or on the web 402. Counterpart to this is a preferably elastic locking lug 408, which is formed on the sliding element 106. The detent 408 engages in the latching nose 112, so as to fix the sliding member 106 relative to the end wall 104 and hold. The fact that the guide rails 108 and 110 engage with each other, it is ensured that a continuous pressing of the locking lugs 112 and 408 is guaranteed - a "lifting" of the sliding element 106 in the direction 200 and thus accidental release of the fixation, which is formed by the locking lugs , will be prevented.

The FIG. 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of guide elements. In the FIG. 5 That is, in this case, the guide elements 110 consist of a vertical web 500 and a guide web 502 centered perpendicularly thereto. The guide web 502 is counter-balanced on both sides by corresponding Guide webs 504 and 506, which form the guide elements 108 of the sliding member 106 includes.

Both in the in FIG. 4 as well as in the FIG. 5 shown embodiment of guide elements ensures that an unwanted displacement movement of the sliding element 106 in the direction 202, that is parallel to the end wall 104 is avoided. In the embodiment of the FIG. 4 the webs 406 and 402 form corresponding stops. In the FIG. 5 this is done by means of webs 506 and 502. Further, in the FIG. 4 to avoid an unwanted movement in the direction 202, an embodiment of the L-shaped guide elements 110 is given so that the recesses 410 formed by the L-shaped second guide elements 110 are arranged facing each other.

Claims (14)

1. Plastics-material transportation and storage container (100) having a removal opening in an end wall (104) and having a sliding element (106) with a grip hole (116) which is formed centrally in relation to the sliding element and is intended for closing the removal opening, wherein the container (100) also has first guide elements (108) on the slide element and second guide elements (110) on the end wall, wherein the first and second guide elements are designed such that an opening and closing movement of the sliding element (106) is defined, wherein the first guide elements (108) are formed on an end side of the sliding element, wherein the first guide elements (108) have at least one retaining element (124) for arresting the sliding element (106) in a predetermined open or closed position, and wherein the first guide elements are arranged directly alongside the grip hole.
2. Container (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the first guide elements (108) are designed for engaging behind the second guide elements (110).
3. Container (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, also having a guide track (120) for the sliding element (106) in the mutually opposite side walls bounding the removal opening.
4. Container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining element is a resilient element for fixing the sliding element (106) in a stepless manner on the second guide element.
5. Container (100) according to one of preceding Claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining element is a latching element and/or resilient element for fixing the sliding element (106) in a step-like manner on the second guide element.
6. Container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, also having a cutout (114) in the second guide element on that side of the container which is directed towards the base (109).
7. Container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide elements each have a first crosspiece (400), which is perpendicular to the first end wall (104), and a second crosspiece (402), which is arranged at right angles thereto on the first crosspiece, wherein the first guide elements (108) are designed for engaging behind the second crosspiece.
8. Container (100) according to Claim 7, wherein the cutout (114) in the second guide elements forms cutouts in the second crosspieces (402).
9. Container (100) according to either of preceding Claims 6 and 7, wherein the first crosspiece and the second crosspiece form an L shape or a T shape.
10. Container (100) according to Claim 8, wherein the cutouts (410) formed by the L-shaped, second guide elements are directed towards one another.
11. Container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip hole (116) is a handgrip hole (116).
12. Container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein that side of the handgrip hole (116) which is directed towards the base (109) is of curved shape.
13. Container (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein that side of the sliding element (106) which is directed away from the base (109) has a honeycomb structure (118) at least level with the grip hole (116).
14. Container (100) according to Claim 3, also having a cutout in the guide track (120) for the sliding element (106) in the mutually opposite side walls bounding the removal opening, on the side which is directed towards the base (109) of the container (100).

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