EP3369678B1 - Structure for roof of a container, roof and container therewith - Google Patents
Structure for roof of a container, roof and container therewith Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3369678B1 EP3369678B1 EP18159663.6A EP18159663A EP3369678B1 EP 3369678 B1 EP3369678 B1 EP 3369678B1 EP 18159663 A EP18159663 A EP 18159663A EP 3369678 B1 EP3369678 B1 EP 3369678B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- doors
- hinged
- products
- container
- door
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 15
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 description 8
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 4
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 244000075850 Avena orientalis Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000007319 Avena orientalis Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 240000005979 Hordeum vulgare Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000007340 Hordeum vulgare Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 240000007594 Oryza sativa Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000007164 Oryza sativa Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000007238 Secale cereale Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 244000082988 Secale cereale Species 0.000 description 3
- 244000062793 Sorghum vulgare Species 0.000 description 3
- 241000209140 Triticum Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000021307 Triticum Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 240000008042 Zea mays Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000005824 Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000005822 corn Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000019713 millet Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000009566 rice Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000000314 lubricant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004026 adhesive bonding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005465 channeling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007799 cork Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003116 impacting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010985 leather Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005461 lubrication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005445 natural material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003313 weakening effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/54—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
- B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
- B65D88/121—ISO containers
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to the transport field.
- the present invention refers to an intermodal transport unit (container). More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for a roof of a container.
- Intermodal transport provides that products to be transported are placed at the factory or the warehouse of a shipper in a specific intermodal transport unit, or container, in which the products are located until they reach the final destination.
- the intermodal transport usually takes place by means of two or more transport means (such as trucks, semitrailers, railway wagons, or ships).
- transport means such as trucks, semitrailers, railway wagons, or ships.
- the (granular) products to be transported comprise loose food products - for example, grains (for example, cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye) and salt.
- grains for example, cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye
- salt for example, salt
- the container is open at the top (open top container), and is typically covered at the top by a tarpaulin that replaces the rigid roof.
- the container comprises a roof that can be opened entirely.
- the container comprises a roof having a single inlet opening (which can be opened and closed selectively by a door), wherein the inlet opening is equipped with flow sensors.
- Document US 3720328 discloses a structure for a roof of a container for the intermodal transport of products, the container comprising a casing delimiting a cavity adapted to house the products to be transported, wherein the structure comprises two openings for accessing said cavity, and two doors each one associated with a respective one of said two openings and each one comprising a first and a second hinged doors opposite to each other, each door being selectively operable between an opened position that allows insertion from above of the products to be transported into the cavity through the respective opening, and a closed position that prevents insertion of the products into the cavity and exposure thereof to impurities and atmospheric agents during the transport.
- the Applicant has noticed that the open top container solution is not advisable for the transport of food products (which would be exposed to impurities and to atmospheric agents), and involves high logistic and transport costs (in fact, due to the their relative fragility, open top containers should be placed on top of a container stack).
- the Applicant has noticed that the solution of container with roof having a single inlet opening does not allow the distribution of the products uniformly inside the container.
- the inlet opening has a relatively small size, whereby the container, during the insertion of the products, should be continuously moved (in different directions) in the attempt of distributing them.
- this procedure besides causing considerable difficulties for moving the container, is not reliable (due to the non-predictability of the dynamics of distribution of moving granular products) and typically involves an inefficient occupation of the container volume.
- the relatively small size of the inlet opening does not allow an operator to safely access the container, for example in order to manually redistribute the products loaded therein.
- the Applicant has devised a roof for a container (and a corresponding container) capable of overcoming these, as well as other, drawbacks.
- an aspect of the present invention proposes a structure for roof of a container for the intermodal transport of products.
- the container comprises a casing delimiting a cavity adapted to house the products to be transported.
- the structure comprises:
- each one of said at least two doors comprises a first and a second hinged doors opposite to each other.
- said first and second hinged doors comprise each one a guiding member protruding in a slanted manner from an inner surface of the hinged door that, in the closed position, faces the cavity.
- said guiding members associated with each door act as a hopper for guiding the products into the respective opening.
- the hinged door comprises a first end in correspondence of the opening when the hinged door is in the open position, and a second end opposite to the first end; the guiding member extends from said surface of the hinged door at a first distance from a first portion of the hinged door delimited by said first end, and at a second distance, lower than the first distance, from a second portion of the hinged door delimited by the second end.
- the structure further comprises a plurality of crossbars for supporting said at least two doors.
- the structure further comprises a hinging structure for hinging said at least two doors to said crossbars thereby allowing to operate individually each one of said at least two doors between the opened position and the closed position.
- the structure further comprises at least one stop member for stopping said at least two doors in the opened position at a predetermined aperture angle.
- the first hinged door in the closed position forms an overlapping abutment with the second hinged door.
- the first and second hinged doors comprise each one a respective gutter member extending vertically from a surface of the first and second hinged doors that, in the closed position, is external to the cavity.
- the gutter member of the second hinged door is adapted to overlap to the gutter member of the first hinged door so as to form a labyrinth that prevents the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity.
- the structure further comprises at least one locking system for locking said at least two doors in the closed position.
- said at least two doors in the closed position said at least two doors abut on abutment portions of said crossbars.
- at least one between said at least two doors and said abutment portions comprises at least one gasket.
- Another aspect of the present invention proposes a roof for a container comprising said structure and an upper wall of, in use, the casing of the container.
- a further aspect of the present invention proposes a container comprising said roof.
- the present invention it is possible to obtain containers for the transport of granular products (for example, loose food products) having a total compatibility with the existing systems for moving the containers, with the current systems for loading and unloading the products, and with all the transport modes provided by the intermodal transport (thus avoiding the transshipment of products between different carriers - choke-point). Moreover, thanks to the present invention, it is possible to obtain containers that are suitable for stacking and that can also be used for the temporary storage of the products contained therein. In addition to the advantages of above, the present invention also involves, at the same time, low construction costs.
- Figures 1A and 1B show perspective views of an intermodal transport unit, or container 100 , according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- directional terminology for example, upper, lower, front, rear, side
- container 100 and components thereof refers to their orientation in the figures, which is exemplarily assumed as typical orientation of use thereof.
- the container 100 is able to contain products to be transported. As will be apparent from the following description, the container is particularly advantageous for the transport of granular products - such as grains (including, for example, cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye) or salt. In any case, the container 100 is not limited to a specific type of products to be transported.
- grains including, for example, cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye
- salt salt.
- the container 100 is not limited to a specific type of products to be transported.
- the container 100 for example compliant with ISO ("International Organization for Standardization") standard, comprises a casing 105 that delimits a cavity (not visible) within which the products are housed/contained during their transport.
- the casing 105 is parallelepiped in shape, and comprises a lower wall 105 B (parallel to the plane defined by the X-Z axes), two opposite side walls parallel to each other 105 S1 ,105 S2 (parallel to the plane defined by the Y-Z axes and, therefore, orthogonal to the lower wall 105 B ), a front wall 105 F (parallel to the plane defined by the X-Y axes), and a rear wall 105 R parallel to the front wall 105 F .
- the lower 105 B , side 105 S1 ,105 S2 , front 105 F and rear 105 R walls may for example be made of a corrugated metal sheet (as shown) or of a flat metal sheet.
- the casing 105 further comprises one or more fixing elements 105 FIX (e.g. , as illustrated, one fixing element 105 FIX in each corner of the casing 105 ) adapted to be fixed to a lifting equipment (for example, forklifts, overhead travelling cranes, and cranes) for the transfer of the container 100 between the various transport modes or vehicles (for example, trucks, semitrailers, railway wagons, and ships), and to the fixing elements of other containers (for example, so as to enable the stacking of the containers onto one another).
- a lifting equipment for example, forklifts, overhead travelling cranes, and cranes
- the container 100 comprises a roof 110 selectively operable between an open condition (shown in Figure 1A ) that allows the insertion or charging from above of the products into the cavity, and a closed condition (shown in Figure 1B ) that prevents the insertion of the products into the cavity and the exposure of the products to impurities (such as dirt and smog) and to atmospheric agents (such as rain, ice and snow) during the transport.
- an open condition shown in Figure 1A
- a closed condition shown in Figure 1B
- impurities such as dirt and smog
- atmospheric agents such as rain, ice and snow
- the roof 110 comprises an upper wall 105 T of the casing 105 , opposite to the lower wall 105 B , and a structure (hereinafter, access structure) 115 for selectively accessing the cavity (thereby allowing the insertion from above of the products into it).
- Such a selective access is achieved by means of two or more doors (in the following, inlet doors), better discussed in the following, each one being selectively operable between an open position and a closed position - in the open position of the inlet door, the inlet door covering or uncovering a respective inlet opening defined by portions of the roof 110 not occupied by the upper wall 105 T .
- the roof 110 may take the open condition (in which all the inlet doors are in the open position), the closed condition (in which all the inlet doors are in the closed position), and a partially open condition (not shown, in which at least one inlet door is in the open position).
- the upper wall 105 T may for example be made of a corrugated metal sheet (in such a way as to give strength to the roof 110 , especially when, as better discussed below, the upper wall 105 T is also used as a walking region) or, as illustrated, in a flat metal sheet (so as to simplify both its welding to the rest of the casing 105 , especially when the roof 110 according to the present invention is applied in replacement of upper walls of existing containers, and its cleaning).
- the container 100 comprises an additional door (hereinafter, outlet door) 120 (or more thereof, in alternative embodiments of the present invention) to allow the discharge of the products contained in the cavity.
- the outlet door 120 allows the frontal exit or discharge of the products contained in the cavity, the outlet door 120 being for example formed on a front face of the casing 105 comprising the front wall 105 F - in other words, the portion of the central face not occupied by the front wall 105 F identifies an outlet opening selectively covered or uncovered by the outlet door 120 .
- the outlet door 120 is hinged to the bottom side of the front wall 105 F by means of one or more (for example, two) hinges 120 H , so as to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the X axis between an open position (visible in Figure 1A ), in which the outlet door 120 uncovers the outlet opening thereby allowing the front discharge of the products from the cavity (such discharge being advantageously facilitated by the rear lifting of the container 100 , so that the inclination resulting from such lifting causes the products to exit due to gravity), and a closed position (visible in Figure 1B ), in which the outlet door 120 covers the outlet opening thereby preventing the products from escaping from the cavity.
- one or more (for example, two) hinges 120 H so as to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the X axis between an open position (visible in Figure 1A ), in which the outlet door 120 uncovers the outlet opening thereby allowing the front discharge of the products from the cavity (such discharge being advantageously facilitated by the rear lifting of the container 100 , so
- the front wall 105 F and the outlet door 120 are substantially coplanar ( i.e. , they substantially lie on a same plane) and form, as a whole, the front face of the casing 105 , whereas in the open position of the outlet door 120 , the outlet door 120 abuts on ( i.e. , on a portion of) the front wall 105 F , and is advantageously retained to it by means of suitable retaining elements, not shown (in such a way that, during the lifting of the container 100 , the outlet door 120 is firmly kept in the open position).
- the sizes along the X axis (width) and along the Y axis (height) of the outlet door 120 (and, hence, of the outlet opening associated therewith) are not limitative for the present invention, in that they may be arbitrarily chosen based on specific design considerations - the width and the height of the outlet door 120 depending, for example, on the desired discharge flow rate of the products and on the degree of granularity of the products.
- the outlet door 120 (and, hence, the outlet opening associated therewith) has a height of about 40-50 cm (for example, in order to ensure a discharge flow rate of products such as grain or salt of about 200 tons per hour).
- Figure 2A shows a perspective view of the access structure 115 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 2A will be discussed jointly with Figures 2B-2C , which are perspective views of the roof 110 in semi-closed and closed conditions, respectively, to Figures 2D-2E , which are perspective views of the roof 110 in open condition, and to the Figure 2F , which is a flat front view of the roof 110 .
- each inlet door 205 n can be selectively ( i.e. , independently) operated in the open position or in the closed position by an operator, without the need of providing bulky and expensive mechanical systems (as it is instead in the prior art solution wherein the container has a roof that can be opened completely).
- each inlet door 205 n is particularly advantageous as it can be adapted to the degree of granularity of the products to be transported.
- the products to be transported comprise grains
- all the inlet doors 205 n are advantageously positioned in the open position; on the contrary, in the case in which the products to be transported comprises salt, only two inlet doors 205 n (preferably, the central doors 205 2 ,205 3 ) are advantageously positioned in the open position, so as not to generate accumulation zones in certain regions of the cavity.
- the selective opening of each inlet door 205 n is further advantageous when the container 100 , during the insertion of the products, is lifted and inclined for redistributing the products inside it. In this scenario, in fact, as the inclination of the container 100 changes, a different inlet door 205 n for the insertion of the products may be selected.
- each inlet door 205 n has a pair of opposite hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n along a transversal direction parallel to the X axis, in order to prevent or selectively allow access to the cavity (as explained below). Since, in the various figures, the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n are, respectively, on the left and on the right of the observer, they will be denoted from here on by left hinged door 205 AS n and right hinged door 205 AD n , respectively (when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other).
- each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n can be selectively (that is, independently) operated in the open position or in the closed position by an operator.
- the selective opening of each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is advantageous when, for example, it is necessary that the inside of the container 100 is not excessively exposed during the insertion of the products.
- the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n are made of steel or other metal material.
- the access structure 115 further comprises a frame 210 having a plurality of crossbars (for example, made of steel or other metal material) for supporting / sustaining the inlet doors 205 n and the upper wall 105 T (as explained shortly) and to give mechanical stiffness to the casing 105 .
- the mechanical stiffness of the casing 105 determined by the provision of the crossbars allows avoiding buckling of the container 100 during its moving, for example during the lifting aimed at giving the inclination that is required to facilitate the frontal outlet of the products through the outlet opening or to redistribute the products inside the container 100 .
- the frame 210 comprises a pair of crossbars 210 TLS ,210 TLD extending along the longitudinal direction (so that they will be indicated in the following by longitudinal crossbars), and spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction by a distance corresponding to the width of the casing 105 ( i.e. , to the width of the lower wall 105 B ).
- the longitudinal crossbars 210 TLS ,210 TLD will also be indicated by left longitudinal crossbar 210 TLS and right longitudinal crossbar 210 TLD , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other.
- the top wall 105 T is positioned substantially between the left longitudinal crossbar 210 TLS and the left hinged doors 205 AS n , and between the right longitudinal crossbar 210 TLD and the right hinged doors 205 AD n , the upper wall 105 T thus acting as a walking region to allow an operator to walk on it (for example, for opening the inlet doors 205 n and/or carrying out the operations necessary to allow the lifting of the container 100 ).
- the upper wall 105 T defines two identical walking regions (i.e.
- different walking regions can be obtained (which, in any case, are not limiting for the present invention).
- the transversal crossbars 210 TT i delimit inlet openings (each associated with a respective inlet door 205 n ), so that the inlet doors 205 n in the open position uncover the respective inlet openings (thereby allowing the insertion of the products into the cavity through them), and the inlet doors 205 n in the closed position, by abutting on the respective transversal crossbars 210 TT i ( i.e. , on abutment portions associated therewith, as discussed in the following), cover the respective inlet openings (thereby preventing the insertion of the products into the cavity through them).
- inlet doors 205 n in the closed position, abut on the respective transversal crossbars 210 TT i is advantageous in terms of mechanical stiffness and stability, as opposed to, for example, US3720328 , which instead shows doors abutting directly on roof wall portions surrounding the openings (thus significantly weakening the whole structure).
- the arrangement of the transversal crossbars 210 TT i depends on the size of the inlet openings along the longitudinal direction.
- the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n of a same inlet door 205 n are preferably fixed, at ends thereof, to a respective pair of transversal crossbars 210 TT i (for example, by means of brackets, as discussed below), so that the distance between two transversal crossbars 210 TT i associated with a same pair of hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n (for example, the transversal crossbars 210 TT3 and 210 TT4 associated with the pair of hinged doors 205 AS2 ,205 AD2 ) depends on the length of the hinged doors.
- each transversal crossbar 210 TT i associated with a hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is adjacent to the transversal crossbar 210 TT i associated with a previous or a following hinged door in succession (see, in this respect, the pairs of adjacent transversal crossbars 210 TT2 ,210 TT3 , 210 TT4 ,210 TT5 and 210 TT6 ,210 TT7 ).
- the access structure 115 preferably comprises a hinging structure for hinging the inlet doors 205 n to the crossbars (preferably, as illustrated, to the transversal crossbars 210 TT i ).
- such hinging structure comprises hinging elements (e.g ., hinging pins) arranged along the longitudinal direction, for hinging the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n . More preferably, in the exemplary embodiment herein assumed in which each inlet door 205 n has two hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n , the hinging structure comprises a pair of hinging pins 215 S ,215 D for hinging the left hinged doors 205 AS n and the right hinged doors 205 AD n , respectively (hereinafter, consistently with the used directional terminology, these hinging pins will be indicated by left hinging pin 215 S and right hinging pin 215 D , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other), so as to allow the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n to rotate about their respective hinging pins 215 S ,215 D between the open position and the closed position.
- hinging elements e.g ., hinging pins
- each group of left hinged doors 205 AS n and/or each group of right hinged doors 205 AD n may be hinged to respective hinging pins (in a further embodiment, each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n may be hinged to a different hinging pin).
- the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D and the hinges 205 CSi j ,205 CD j are advantageously made of a metal material (e.g ., steel) with a reduced friction coefficient (so as to require no, or substantially no, lubrication).
- the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D are made of a metal material having self-lubricating properties (said self-lubricating properties being preferably obtained by incorporating in the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D solid lubricants components capable of gradually releasing the lubricant in the fluid state, for example as a result of the friction with the respective hinges 205 CS j ,205 CD j ).
- the access structure 115 preferably comprises a plurality of brackets 220 S j ,220 D j (for example, made of stainless steel or other metal material) to fix the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D to the frame 210 . More preferably, the access structure 115 comprises a bracket 220 S j ,220 D j in the vicinity of each hinge 205 CSi j ,205 CD j (hereinafter, consistent with the used directional terminology, such brackets will be indicated by left bracket 220 S j and the right bracket 220 D j , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other).
- each bracket 220 S j ,220 D j has a hole or slot 225 for the passage of the (respective) hinging pin 215 S ,215 D through it.
- the left brackets 220 S j (and the respective slots 225 ) are advantageously aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction (so as to allow the passage of the left hinging pin 215 S through the respective slots 225 ) and the right brackets 220 D j (and the respective slots 225 ) are also aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction (so as to allow the passage of the right hinging pin 215 D through the respective slots 225 ).
- each left bracket 220 S j is fixed to a respective transversal crossbar 210 TT i
- each right bracket 220 D j is fixed to a respective transversal crossbar 210 TT i properly spaced apart from the left bracket 220 S j on the same transversal crossbar 210 TT i
- each bracket 220 S j ,220 D j (or at least a part thereof) being preferably fixed to a respective traversal crossbar 210 TT i by gluing or by suitable fixing means (such as screws), not shown, or being integral with it.
- a left bracket 220 S j and a right bracket 220 D j are fixed to each transversal crossbar 210 TT i , the left bracket 220 S j and the right bracket 220 D j being spaced from each other along the transverse direction according to the size of the inlet openings.
- the distance between the left brackets 220 S j and the right brackets 220 D j on the same transversal crossbar 210 TT i determines the distance between the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D (and, consequently, of the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n hinged thereto) and therefore the size of the inlet openings along the transversal direction.
- the access structure 115 further comprises one or more stop members for stopping the inlet doors 205 AS n (or at least a part thereof) in the open position at a predetermined aperture angle.
- stop members comprise a pair of stop tubular elements (or pins) 235 S j ,235 D j in correspondence of each hinge 205 CS j ,205 CD j (hereinafter, consistently with the used directional terminology, these stop pins will be indicated by left stop pin 235 S j and right stop pin 235 D j , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other).
- the stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j are preferably fixed to the transversal crossbar 210 TT i , more preferably by means of the brackets 220 S j ,220 D j .
- each bracket 220 S j ,220 D j has a further hole or slot 230 for the passage of the stop pin 235 S j ,235 D j through it.
- each bracket 220 S j ,220 D j is arranged, along the transversal direction, at a distance from the slot 225 of the same bracket 220 S j ,220 D j such that the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n , by rotating toward the open position, abut on the respective stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j (which will prevent the further rotation of the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n ) at a proper aperture angle relative to the Y axis (the stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j thus acting as mechanical limit switch for the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n , respectively).
- the stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j stop the rotation of the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n , respectively, to an aperture angle determined by the distance of the stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j from the respective hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n ( i.e. , the distance of the stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j from the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D ) along the transversal direction.
- the aperture angle is not limitative for the present invention, as it may be arbitrarily chosen based on specific design considerations - the aperture angle being for example sufficiently large to ensure that each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is kept firmly in the open position (for example, in such a way as to prevent an operator on the walking region from accidentally impacting on a hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n , which would determine the undesired rotation of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n back to the closed position), but sufficiently low to avoid such an encumbrance that would prevent an operator to safely operate along the walking region.
- the aperture angle is preferably between 10° and 60°, more preferably it is between 15° and 45°, still more preferably it is between 20° and 40° - in the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the aperture angle is approximately of 30°.
- each bracket 220 S j ,220 D j is exemplary provided with a single slot 230 for the passage of the stop pin 235 S j ,235 D j .
- each bracket 220 S j ,220 D j may be provided with one (or more) additional slots to adjust the position of the stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j with respect to the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D and, hence, the aperture angle of the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n .
- each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is associated with a different pair of stop pins 235 S j ,235 D j (so as to be able to adjust the aperture angle of each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n independently).
- each group of left hinged doors 205 AS n and/or each group of right hinged doors 205 AD n may be associated with a respective stop pin (and, therefore, to a respective aperture angle).
- the use of a single left stop pin for stopping (simultaneously) the rotation of the left hinged doors 205 AS n at the same aperture angle, and a single right stop pin for stopping (simultaneously) the rotation of the right hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n at the same aperture angle may be provided.
- each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n comprises a guiding member (hereinafter, guide) 240 on a surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n that, in the closed position, faces the cavity (hereinafter, inner surface).
- guide a guiding member
- Each guide 240 protrudes in a slanted manner from the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of the respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n , so that, as can be better appreciated in Figure 2F , the guides 240 associated with each inlet door 205 n act as a hopper for the products loaded from above, directing ( i.e. , channeling) them into the inlet openings.
- the guides 240 that protrude in slanted manner from the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of the respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n when the respective hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n are in the open position identify chutes that delimit a passage for the products to be loaded, such passage narrowing from top to bottom, thus regulating the flow of the products loaded from above.
- each guide 240 extends from the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of the respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n at a first distance from a first or lower region of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n in correspondence of a lower end of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n ( i.e .
- the lower and upper regions of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n are very close to the lower and upper ends thereof, respectively, however alternative embodiments of the present invention (not shown) may be envisaged in which the lower and upper regions of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n are more or less distant from the respective lower and upper ends, respectively.
- each pair of hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n progressively narrow a mouth identified by such hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n in the open position at the predetermined aperture angle, such that the products under loading are efficiently directed or channeled towards the respective inlet opening and do not accumulate outside it; in fact, in absence of the guides 240 , an amount of products could accumulate below the lower region of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n (for example in correspondence of the hinges 205 CS j ,205 CD j and/or of the hinging pins 215 S ,215 D ), whereby no hopper function would be envisaged.
- the guides 240 associated with each inlet door 205 n act as a hopper for the products loaded from above is advantageous in terms of time and cost efficiencies, as opposed to, for example, the above cited US3720328 , which instead shows an external hopper to control the flow of the products into the cavity (thus involving high costs and high times due to the need of the external hopper).
- each hinged door forms, in the closed position, an overlapping abutment with the other hinged door of the same door 205 n , so as to reduce the interstices or gaps between them.
- each hinged door for example, the left hinged door 205 AS n
- each hinged door comprises a gutter member 245 S extending vertically from an outer surface thereof opposite to the inner surface
- the other hinged door for example, the right hinged door 205 AD n
- the overlap between the gutter members 245 S ,245 D forms a labyrinth that matter-of-factly and effectively prevents (or at least strongly reduces) the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity, especially from above of the inlet opening.
- at least one gutter member, and preferably the gutter member that, upon overlapping, is more exposed to the external environment (the gutter member 245 D in the example at issue) is advantageously provided with a slanted wall 245 DL which allows draining impurities and atmospheric agents by gravity.
- the gutter members 245 S ,245 D are advantageously formed in a single piece with the left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors.
- the gutter members 245 S ,245 D may for example be formed in a single piece with rods 246 S ,246 D advantageously provided on the upper regions of the hinged doors 205 AS n ,205 AD n , respectively, and arranged for providing mechanical strength to the access structure 115 .
- the access structure 115 preferably comprises at least one abutment portion, preferably one abutment portion 247 n for each pair of left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors associated with a same opening, such that in the closed position the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of the first 205 AS n and second 205 AD n hinged doors abuts on the respective abutment portion 247 n .
- the abutment of the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of each pair of first 205 AS n and second 205 AD n hinged doors on the respective abutment portion 247 n forms a labyrinth that matter-of-factly and effectively prevents the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity, especially from a side of the inlet opening.
- the access structure 115 may further comprise first 249 1S n ,249 1D n and second 249 2S n ,249 2D n cover elements adapted to cover a respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n and the respective gutter member 245 S ,245 D at, respectively, first and second sides thereof (the first and second sides of each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n essentially being the two parallel opposite sides of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n that extend along substantially the transversal direction when the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is in the closed position, and along substantially the vertical direction when the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is in the open position).
- Figure 2E shows the first 249 1S1 and second 249 2S1 cover elements covering the opposite first and second sides of the left hinged door 205 AS1 , the first 249 1D1 and second 249 2D1 cover elements covering the opposite first and second sides of the right hinged door 205 AD1 , the first cover element 249 1S2 covering the first side of the left hinged door 205 AS2 , and the first cover element 249 1D2 covering the first side of the right hinged door 205 AD2 , whereas Figure 2C shows the profile of the first sides of left and right hinged doors (and of the associated gutter members 245 S ,245 D ) without the respective cover elements covering them.
- each abutment portion 247 n is in the form of a frame surrounding the respective inlet opening, i.e. it comprises one or more (two, in the example at issue) transversal abutment portions 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n extending along the transversal direction parallel to each other, and two or more (two, in the example at issue) longitudinal abutment portions 247 LS n ,247 LD n extending along the longitudinal direction parallel to each other.
- the transversal 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n and longitudinal 247 LS n ,247 LD n abutment portions are in the form of walls extending along the vertical direction from the upper wall 105 T of the casing 105 .
- the transversal 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n and longitudinal 247 LS n ,247 LD n abutment portions are in the form of walls each one extending along the vertical direction from a respective transversal 210 TT i and longitudinal 210 TLS ,210 TLD crossbar, the transversal 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n and longitudinal 247 LS n ,247 LD n abutment portions being for example formed in a single piece with the respective transversal 210 TT i and longitudinal 210 TLS ,210 TLD crossbars.
- the transversal 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n and longitudinal 247 LS n ,247 LD n abutment portions extend along the vertical direction to such an extent that they form a barrier preventing the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity from the sides of the inlet opening.
- Each transversal abutment portion 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n is preferably adapted to abut, in the closed position of the left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors, on the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of the respective pair of left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors, and particularly at a same respective side thereof ( i.e.
- transversal abutment portion 247 T1 n that is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the respective pair of left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors in correspondence of their first sides
- transversal abutment portion 247 T2 n that is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the respective pair of left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors in correspondence of their second sides
- each transversal abutment portion 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors (at the respective side) by fitting into gaps between the first 249 1S n ,249 1D n and second 249 2S n ,249 2D n cover elements and the respective guiding members 240 (for example, with the transversal abutment portion 247 T11 that abuts on the inner surface of the left 205 AS1 and right 205 AD1 hinged doors by fitting into the gaps between the cover elements 249 1S1 ,249 1D1 and the guiding members 240 , and with the transversal abutment portion 247 T12 that abuts on the inner surface of the left 205 AS1 and right 205 AD1 hinged doors by fitting into the gaps between the cover elements 249 2S1 ,249 2D1 and the guiding members 240
- the transversal abutment portions 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n and the cover elements 249 1S n ,249 1D n , 249 2S n ,249 2D n provide a further combined labyrinth effect against the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity from the sides of the inlet opening.
- each transversal abutment portion 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n has a first part having a first slanting with respect to a horizontal plane on which the access structure 115 lays when mounted on the container 100 (in other words, the horizontal plane being substantially a plane parallel to the upper wall 105 T of the casing 105 ), and a second part having, with respect to the horizontal plane, a second slanting opposite to the first slanting (see, for example, Figures 2D , 2E and 2F ).
- each pair of left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors in the closed position identify, by abutment thereof on said first and second parts of the respective transversal abutment portion 247 T1 n ,247 T2 n , an inverted-V profile of the closed position (see, for example, Figure 2B ) that allows draining of impurities and atmospheric agents by gravity.
- Each longitudinal abutment portion 247 LS n ,247 LD n is preferably adapted to abut, in the closed position of the left 205 AS n and right 205 AD n hinged doors, on the inner surface 205S AS n ,205S AD n of a respective one of the left 205 AS n and second 205 AD n hinged doors ( i.e.
- the longitudinal abutment portion 247 LS n that is adapted to abut on the inner surface 205S AS n of the left hinged door 205 AS n
- the longitudinal abutment portion 247 LD n that is adapted to abut on the inner surface 205S AD n of the right hinged door 205 AD n
- the longitudinal abutment portion 247 LS n ,247 LD n is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n in correspondence of the respective lower region thereof ( i.e.
- the region in correspondence of the lower end of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n that, when the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n is in the open position, is in correspondence of or proximal to the respective inlet opening).
- the access structure 115 further comprises one or more locking systems (preferably, each one associated with a respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n ) for locking the inlet doors 205 n (or a part thereof) in the closed position (for example, so as to avoid accidental opening of the same, especially during the inclination of the container 100 for promoting the frontal outlet of the products through the outlet opening).
- one or more locking systems preferably, each one associated with a respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n ) for locking the inlet doors 205 n (or a part thereof) in the closed position (for example, so as to avoid accidental opening of the same, especially during the inclination of the container 100 for promoting the frontal outlet of the products through the outlet opening).
- the access structure 115 comprises a locking system associated with each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n (so that each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n can be firmly locked in the closed position).
- each locking system comprises, for each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n , a hook element 250 GS ,250 GD integral with the respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n (the hook element 250 GS ,250 GD being for example formed in a single piece with the respective hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n ) and extending vertically from the inner surface of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n towards a respective crossbar 210 TT i (for example, the crossbars 210 TT1 ,210 TT3 ,210 TT5 ,210 TT7 for the hook elements 250 GS ,250 GD of the hinged doors 205 AS1 -205 AS4 ,205 AD1 -205 AD4 , respectively), and a lever or latch element 250 LS ,250 LD fixed on such transversal crossbar 210 TT i so as to intercept and lock the respective hook element 250
- the lever element 250 LS ,250 LD is adapted to be operated (for example, manually) by sliding along the transversal direction on the hook element 250 GS ,250 GD ( i.e. , on its arcuate portion), thereby preventing the movement ( i.e. , the opening) of the hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n (as visible in Figure 2B for the lock system 250 GS ,250 LS associated with the left hinged door 205 AS1 ).
- each inlet door 205 n in the closed position, is adapted to abut on the respective transversal crossbar 220 TT i ( i.e. , on a respective abutment portion 247 n thereof).
- each hinged door 205 AS n ,205 AD n (or at least a part thereof) comprises a perimeter gasket 255 on its inner surface, the gasket 255 being for example formed of an elastomeric material (such as poly
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Storage Of Harvested Produce (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Description
- The present invention generally relates to the transport field. In particular, the present invention refers to an intermodal transport unit (container). More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for a roof of a container.
- Intermodal transport provides that products to be transported are placed at the factory or the warehouse of a shipper in a specific intermodal transport unit, or container, in which the products are located until they reach the final destination.
- The intermodal transport usually takes place by means of two or more transport means (such as trucks, semitrailers, railway wagons, or ships).
- Although the use of containers allows avoiding intermediate handling of the products therein (thus ensuring a lower risk of damage to the products and a higher transport speed), the use of the containers is not currently advantageous for certain types of products, especially for granular products.
- In fact, conventional containers are typically equipped with inlet and outlet doors positioned on opposite vertical side walls of the container, whereby the insertion of granular products into the container cannot ensure the maximization of the volume occupation.
- For this reason, granular products are typically transported on conventional trucks, until reaching port stations (where they are loaded into proper tanks intended to be transported by ships). The transport by trucks, and the subsequent transfer into the tanks, exposes the products to impurities (such as dirt and smog) and to atmospheric agents (such as rain, ice and snow), which affect the quality of the products.
- These issues are exacerbated in cases where the (granular) products to be transported comprise loose food products - for example, grains (for example, cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye) and salt.
- To overcome these drawbacks, in the state of the art three container solutions mainly exist, which have in common the possibility of inserting the products from above.
- In a first solution, the container is open at the top (open top container), and is typically covered at the top by a tarpaulin that replaces the rigid roof.
- In a second solution, the container comprises a roof that can be opened entirely.
- In a third solution, the container comprises a roof having a single inlet opening (which can be opened and closed selectively by a door), wherein the inlet opening is equipped with flow sensors.
- Document
US 3720328 discloses a structure for a roof of a container for the intermodal transport of products, the container comprising a casing delimiting a cavity adapted to house the products to be transported, wherein the structure comprises two openings for accessing said cavity, and two doors each one associated with a respective one of said two openings and each one comprising a first and a second hinged doors opposite to each other, each door being selectively operable between an opened position that allows insertion from above of the products to be transported into the cavity through the respective opening, and a closed position that prevents insertion of the products into the cavity and exposure thereof to impurities and atmospheric agents during the transport. - The Applicant has noticed that the containers known in the art are not satisfactory in terms of costs and efficiency, and do not lend themselves to be used for the loading and transport of certain types of products (for example, loose food products such as grains - cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye - and salt).
- In this regard, the Applicant has noticed that the open top container solution is not advisable for the transport of food products (which would be exposed to impurities and to atmospheric agents), and involves high logistic and transport costs (in fact, due to the their relative fragility, open top containers should be placed on top of a container stack).
- Furthermore, the Applicant has noticed that the solution of container with roof that can be opened entirely needs (due to the heaviness of the roof and its difficult accessibility by an operator) a mechanized system for opening and closing the roof, which leads to non-negligible losses in terms of time (in fact, for moving the container and the mechanized system several tens of minutes are needed) and in terms of costs.
- In addition, the Applicant has noticed that the solution of container with roof having a single inlet opening does not allow the distribution of the products uniformly inside the container. In fact, in order to ensure a correct operation of the flow sensors, the inlet opening has a relatively small size, whereby the container, during the insertion of the products, should be continuously moved (in different directions) in the attempt of distributing them. In any case, this procedure, besides causing considerable difficulties for moving the container, is not reliable (due to the non-predictability of the dynamics of distribution of moving granular products) and typically involves an inefficient occupation of the container volume. The Applicant has also noticed that the relatively small size of the inlet opening does not allow an operator to safely access the container, for example in order to manually redistribute the products loaded therein.
- The Applicant has devised a roof for a container (and a corresponding container) capable of overcoming these, as well as other, drawbacks.
- In particular, one or more aspects of the present invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same invention that are indicated in the dependent claims, whose text is hereby incorporated verbatim by reference (with any advantageous feature provided with reference to a specific aspect of the present invention that applies mutatis mutandis to every other aspect thereof).
- More specifically, an aspect of the present invention proposes a structure for roof of a container for the intermodal transport of products. The container comprises a casing delimiting a cavity adapted to house the products to be transported. The structure comprises:
- at least two openings for accessing said cavity, and
- at least two doors each one associated with a respective one of said at least two openings, each door being selectively operable between an opened position that allows insertion from above of the products to be transported into the cavity through the respective opening, and a closed position that prevents insertion of the products into the cavity and exposure thereof to impurities and atmospheric agents during the transport.
- According to the present invention, each one of said at least two doors comprises a first and a second hinged doors opposite to each other.
- According to the present invention, said first and second hinged doors comprise each one a guiding member protruding in a slanted manner from an inner surface of the hinged door that, in the closed position, faces the cavity. In the opened position of the first and second hinged doors, said guiding members associated with each door act as a hopper for guiding the products into the respective opening.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hinged door comprises a first end in correspondence of the opening when the hinged door is in the open position, and a second end opposite to the first end; the guiding member extends from said surface of the hinged door at a first distance from a first portion of the hinged door delimited by said first end, and at a second distance, lower than the first distance, from a second portion of the hinged door delimited by the second end.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the structure further comprises a plurality of crossbars for supporting said at least two doors.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the structure further comprises a hinging structure for hinging said at least two doors to said crossbars thereby allowing to operate individually each one of said at least two doors between the opened position and the closed position.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the structure further comprises at least one stop member for stopping said at least two doors in the opened position at a predetermined aperture angle.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the closed position the first hinged door forms an overlapping abutment with the second hinged door.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second hinged doors comprise each one a respective gutter member extending vertically from a surface of the first and second hinged doors that, in the closed position, is external to the cavity. Preferably, the gutter member of the second hinged door is adapted to overlap to the gutter member of the first hinged door so as to form a labyrinth that prevents the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the structure further comprises at least one locking system for locking said at least two doors in the closed position.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the closed position said at least two doors abut on abutment portions of said crossbars. Preferably, at least one between said at least two doors and said abutment portions comprises at least one gasket.
- Another aspect of the present invention proposes a roof for a container comprising said structure and an upper wall of, in use, the casing of the container.
- A further aspect of the present invention proposes a container comprising said roof.
- Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to obtain containers for the transport of granular products (for example, loose food products) having a total compatibility with the existing systems for moving the containers, with the current systems for loading and unloading the products, and with all the transport modes provided by the intermodal transport (thus avoiding the transshipment of products between different carriers - choke-point). Moreover, thanks to the present invention, it is possible to obtain containers that are suitable for stacking and that can also be used for the temporary storage of the products contained therein. In addition to the advantages of above, the present invention also involves, at the same time, low construction costs.
- Embodiments of the present invention, as well as further features and the advantages thereof, will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, given purely by way of non-limiting example, to be read in conjunction with the attached figures (in which corresponding elements are indicated by same or similar references and their explanation is not repeated for the sake of brevity). In this regard, it is expressly understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale (with some details that may be exaggerated and/or simplified) and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are simply used to illustrate conceptually the described structures and procedures. In particular:
-
Figure 1A and1B show perspective views of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figure 2A is a perspective view of an access structure for a roof of the container according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figures 2B-2C are detailed perspective views of the container roof in semi-closed and closed positions, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Figures 2D-2E are perspective detail views of the container roof in open condition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and -
Figure 2F is a flat front view of the container roof (in open condition) according to an embodiment of the present invention. - With reference to the drawings,
Figures 1A and1B show perspective views of an intermodal transport unit, orcontainer 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, directional terminology (for example, upper, lower, front, rear, side) relating to thecontainer 100 and components thereof refers to their orientation in the figures, which is exemplarily assumed as typical orientation of use thereof. - The
container 100 is able to contain products to be transported. As will be apparent from the following description, the container is particularly advantageous for the transport of granular products - such as grains (including, for example, cereals such as oats, spelled, wheat, corn, millet, barley, rice and rye) or salt. In any case, thecontainer 100 is not limited to a specific type of products to be transported. - The
container 100, for example compliant with ISO ("International Organization for Standardization") standard, comprises acasing 105 that delimits a cavity (not visible) within which the products are housed/contained during their transport. Preferably, thecasing 105 is parallelepiped in shape, and comprises a lower wall 105B (parallel to the plane defined by the X-Z axes), two opposite side walls parallel to each other 105S1,105S2 (parallel to the plane defined by the Y-Z axes and, therefore, orthogonal to the lower wall 105B ), a front wall 105F (parallel to the plane defined by the X-Y axes), and arear wall 105R parallel to thefront wall 105F . The lower 105B ,side front 105F and rear 105R walls may for example be made of a corrugated metal sheet (as shown) or of a flat metal sheet. - The
casing 105 further comprises one or more fixing elements 105FIX (e.g., as illustrated, one fixingelement 105FIX in each corner of the casing 105) adapted to be fixed to a lifting equipment (for example, forklifts, overhead travelling cranes, and cranes) for the transfer of thecontainer 100 between the various transport modes or vehicles (for example, trucks, semitrailers, railway wagons, and ships), and to the fixing elements of other containers (for example, so as to enable the stacking of the containers onto one another). - According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
container 100 comprises aroof 110 selectively operable between an open condition (shown inFigure 1A ) that allows the insertion or charging from above of the products into the cavity, and a closed condition (shown inFigure 1B ) that prevents the insertion of the products into the cavity and the exposure of the products to impurities (such as dirt and smog) and to atmospheric agents (such as rain, ice and snow) during the transport. - As can be seen in the figures, the
roof 110 comprises anupper wall 105T of thecasing 105, opposite to thelower wall 105B , and a structure (hereinafter, access structure) 115 for selectively accessing the cavity (thereby allowing the insertion from above of the products into it). - Such a selective access is achieved by means of two or more doors (in the following, inlet doors), better discussed in the following, each one being selectively operable between an open position and a closed position - in the open position of the inlet door, the inlet door covering or uncovering a respective inlet opening defined by portions of the
roof 110 not occupied by theupper wall 105T . In this way, theroof 110 may take the open condition (in which all the inlet doors are in the open position), the closed condition (in which all the inlet doors are in the closed position), and a partially open condition (not shown, in which at least one inlet door is in the open position). - The
upper wall 105T may for example be made of a corrugated metal sheet (in such a way as to give strength to theroof 110, especially when, as better discussed below, theupper wall 105T is also used as a walking region) or, as illustrated, in a flat metal sheet (so as to simplify both its welding to the rest of thecasing 105, especially when theroof 110 according to the present invention is applied in replacement of upper walls of existing containers, and its cleaning). - In the illustrated embodiment, the
container 100 comprises an additional door (hereinafter, outlet door) 120 (or more thereof, in alternative embodiments of the present invention) to allow the discharge of the products contained in the cavity. Preferably, theoutlet door 120 allows the frontal exit or discharge of the products contained in the cavity, theoutlet door 120 being for example formed on a front face of thecasing 105 comprising the front wall 105F - in other words, the portion of the central face not occupied by thefront wall 105F identifies an outlet opening selectively covered or uncovered by theoutlet door 120. - More preferably, the
outlet door 120 is hinged to the bottom side of thefront wall 105F by means of one or more (for example, two) hinges 120H , so as to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the X axis between an open position (visible inFigure 1A ), in which theoutlet door 120 uncovers the outlet opening thereby allowing the front discharge of the products from the cavity (such discharge being advantageously facilitated by the rear lifting of thecontainer 100, so that the inclination resulting from such lifting causes the products to exit due to gravity), and a closed position (visible inFigure 1B ), in which theoutlet door 120 covers the outlet opening thereby preventing the products from escaping from the cavity. Still more preferably, in the closed position of theoutlet door 120, thefront wall 105F and theoutlet door 120 are substantially coplanar (i.e., they substantially lie on a same plane) and form, as a whole, the front face of thecasing 105, whereas in the open position of theoutlet door 120, theoutlet door 120 abuts on (i.e., on a portion of) thefront wall 105F , and is advantageously retained to it by means of suitable retaining elements, not shown (in such a way that, during the lifting of thecontainer 100, theoutlet door 120 is firmly kept in the open position). - The sizes along the X axis (width) and along the Y axis (height) of the outlet door 120 (and, hence, of the outlet opening associated therewith) are not limitative for the present invention, in that they may be arbitrarily chosen based on specific design considerations - the width and the height of the
outlet door 120 depending, for example, on the desired discharge flow rate of the products and on the degree of granularity of the products. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outlet door 120 (and, hence, the outlet opening associated therewith) has a height of about 40-50 cm (for example, in order to ensure a discharge flow rate of products such as grain or salt of about 200 tons per hour). - With reference also to
Figure 2A , it shows a perspective view of theaccess structure 115 according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of exposition simplicity and clarity,Figure 2A will be discussed jointly withFigures 2B-2C , which are perspective views of theroof 110 in semi-closed and closed conditions, respectively, toFigures 2D-2E , which are perspective views of theroof 110 in open condition, and to theFigure 2F , which is a flat front view of theroof 110. - The
access structure 115 comprises a number N of inlet doors 205 n (n = 2, ..., N, with N = 4 in the example at issue), for example a succession ofN inlet doors 205 n aligned along a longitudinal direction parallel to the Z axis. - The use of a relatively large number of independently
operable inlet doors 205 n allows a distribution of the products uniformly within the cavity, and simplifies the moving operations of thecontainer 100 during the insertion of the products (as opposed to the prior art solution in which the container has a roof with a single opening, which requires continuous movement of the container in all directions). In addition, eachinlet door 205 n can be selectively (i.e., independently) operated in the open position or in the closed position by an operator, without the need of providing bulky and expensive mechanical systems (as it is instead in the prior art solution wherein the container has a roof that can be opened completely). - The selective opening of each
inlet door 205 n is particularly advantageous as it can be adapted to the degree of granularity of the products to be transported. For example, in the case in which the products to be transported comprise grains, all theinlet doors 205 n are advantageously positioned in the open position; on the contrary, in the case in which the products to be transported comprises salt, only two inlet doors 205 n (preferably, thecentral doors 2052,2053 ) are advantageously positioned in the open position, so as not to generate accumulation zones in certain regions of the cavity. The selective opening of eachinlet door 205 n is further advantageous when thecontainer 100, during the insertion of the products, is lifted and inclined for redistributing the products inside it. In this scenario, in fact, as the inclination of thecontainer 100 changes, adifferent inlet door 205 n for the insertion of the products may be selected. - As shown, each
inlet door 205 n has a pair of opposite hingeddoors doors door 205ASn and right hingeddoor 205ADn , respectively (when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other). - Advantageously, each hinged
door door container 100 is not excessively exposed during the insertion of the products. For example, in the presence of rain or other atmospheric agents that are potentially detrimental to the correct storage of the products, it may be convenient to open and close one single hingeddoor - Preferably, although not necessarily, the hinged
doors - The
access structure 115 further comprises aframe 210 having a plurality of crossbars (for example, made of steel or other metal material) for supporting / sustaining theinlet doors 205 n and the upper wall 105T (as explained shortly) and to give mechanical stiffness to thecasing 105. The mechanical stiffness of thecasing 105 determined by the provision of the crossbars allows avoiding buckling of thecontainer 100 during its moving, for example during the lifting aimed at giving the inclination that is required to facilitate the frontal outlet of the products through the outlet opening or to redistribute the products inside thecontainer 100. The mechanical stiffness of thecasing 105 determined by the provision of the crossbars also allows avoiding damages to theaccess structure 115 when the products (especially heavy products, such as stones), during their insertion or charging into the cavity, escape from product inflowing and hit theupper wall 105T . In the illustrated embodiment, theframe 210 comprises a pair ofcrossbars longitudinal crossbars longitudinal crossbar 210TLS and rightlongitudinal crossbar 210TLD , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other. - As visible in
Figures 1A and1B , thetop wall 105T is positioned substantially between the leftlongitudinal crossbar 210TLS and the left hingeddoors 205ASn , and between the rightlongitudinal crossbar 210TLD and the right hingeddoors 205ADn , theupper wall 105T thus acting as a walking region to allow an operator to walk on it (for example, for opening theinlet doors 205 n and/or carrying out the operations necessary to allow the lifting of the container 100). In the exemplary considered embodiment in which theinlet doors 205 n are arranged substantially centrally with respect to the width of the frame 210 (and, hence, of the container 100), theupper wall 105T defines two identical walking regions (i.e., a left walking region defined by the portion of theupper wall 105T between the leftlongitudinal crossbar 210TLS and the left hingeddoors 205ASn , and a right walking region between the rightlongitudinal crossbar 210TLD and the right hinged doors 205ADn ). As will be understood, according to the distribution of theinlet doors 205 n , different walking regions can be obtained (which, in any case, are not limiting for the present invention). - In the illustrated embodiment, the
frame 210 further comprises a number I of crossbars 210TTi (i = 1, 2, ..., I) extending transversely to thelongitudinal crossbars longitudinal crossbar 210TLS and the right longitudinal crossbar 210TLD (reason why in the following thecrossbars 210TTi will be indicated by transversal crossbars), and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction according to number, size and mutual distance of theinlet doors 205 n . Therefore, the upper wall 105T (i.e., the right and left walking regions) and thetransversal crossbars 210TTi delimit inlet openings (each associated with a respective inlet door 205 n ), so that theinlet doors 205 n in the open position uncover the respective inlet openings (thereby allowing the insertion of the products into the cavity through them), and theinlet doors 205 n in the closed position, by abutting on the respective transversal crossbars 210TTi (i.e., on abutment portions associated therewith, as discussed in the following), cover the respective inlet openings (thereby preventing the insertion of the products into the cavity through them). The fact that theinlet doors 205 n , in the closed position, abut on the respectivetransversal crossbars 210TTi is advantageous in terms of mechanical stiffness and stability, as opposed to, for example,US3720328 , which instead shows doors abutting directly on roof wall portions surrounding the openings (thus significantly weakening the whole structure). - In the exemplary considered embodiment in which the
access structure 115 comprises fourinlet doors 205 n having same size and being substantially equidistant from each other along the longitudinal direction, eight transversal crossbars 210TTi (i.e., I = 8) are provided. The arrangement of the transversal crossbars 210TTi (and in particular their mutual distance along the longitudinal direction) depends on the size of the inlet openings along the longitudinal direction. In fact, the hingeddoors same inlet door 205 n are preferably fixed, at ends thereof, to a respective pair of transversal crossbars 210TTi (for example, by means of brackets, as discussed below), so that the distance between twotransversal crossbars 210TTi associated with a same pair of hingeddoors 205ASn ,205ADn (for example, thetransversal crossbars doors 205AS2,205AD2 ) depends on the length of the hinged doors. In addition, in the embodiment herein considered in which the hingeddoors transversal crossbar 210TTi associated with a hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn (with the exception of the firsttransversal crossbar 210TTi and of the last transversal crossbar 210TT8 ) is adjacent to thetransversal crossbar 210TTi associated with a previous or a following hinged door in succession (see, in this respect, the pairs of adjacenttransversal crossbars - As visible in particular in
Figure 2A , theaccess structure 115 preferably comprises a hinging structure for hinging theinlet doors 205 n to the crossbars (preferably, as illustrated, to the transversal crossbars 210TTi ). - According to the exemplary illustrated embodiment, such hinging structure comprises hinging elements (e.g., hinging pins) arranged along the longitudinal direction, for hinging the hinged
doors inlet door 205 n has two hingeddoors doors 205ASn and the right hingeddoors 205ADn , respectively (hereinafter, consistently with the used directional terminology, these hinging pins will be indicated by left hinging pin 215S and right hinging pin 215D , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other), so as to allow the hingeddoors doors 205ASn , and a single right hinging pin 215D for hinging at the same time the right hingeddoors 205ADn is an advantageous implementation that descends from the specific (but exemplary) embodiment herein considered in which the inlet doors 205 n (and, hence, the respective hingeddoors 205ASn ,205ADn ) are aligned along the longitudinal direction. In any case, as will be appreciated, in alternative embodiments of the present invention (not shown), each group of left hingeddoors 205ASn and/or each group of right hingeddoors 205ADn may be hinged to respective hinging pins (in a further embodiment, each hingeddoor - In the illustrated embodiment, as can be better appreciated in
Figures 2D and2E , each hingeddoor door Figure 2D being for example visible thehinges door 205AD1 with the right hinging pin right 215D received between them, and inFigure 2E being for example visible thehinges door 205AS1 with the left hinging pin 215S received between them). - In order to obtain an effective rotatable coupling of the hinged
door 205ASn ,205ADn (i.e., of the respective hinges 205CSj ,205CDj ) to the hinging pin 215S,215D , the hinging pins 215S,215D and thehinges - The
access structure 115 preferably comprises a plurality of brackets 220Sj ,220Dj (for example, made of stainless steel or other metal material) to fix the hinging pins 215S,215D to theframe 210. More preferably, theaccess structure 115 comprises a bracket 220Sj ,220Dj in the vicinity of eachhinge 205CSij ,205CDj (hereinafter, consistent with the used directional terminology, such brackets will be indicated by left bracket 220Sj and the right bracket 220Dj , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other). Therefore, in the preferred embodiment herein considered, theaccess structure 115 comprises J = 2N left brackets 220Sj and J = 2N right brackets 220Dj (i.e., two left brackets 220Sj and two right brackets 220Dj for each inlet door 205 n ). - As visible in the figures, each bracket 220Sj ,220Dj has a hole or slot 225 for the passage of the (respective) hinging pin 215S,215D through it. In the exemplary embodiment herein considered in which a single left hinging pin 215S is provided for hinging the left hinged
doors 205ASn simultaneously, and a single right hinging pin 215D is provided for hinging the right hingeddoors 205ADn simultaneously, the left brackets 220Sj (and the respective slots 225) are advantageously aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction (so as to allow the passage of the left hinging pin 215S through the respective slots 225) and the right brackets 220Dj (and the respective slots 225) are also aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction (so as to allow the passage of the right hinging pin 215D through the respective slots 225). - Advantageously, as shown, each left bracket 220Sj is fixed to a respective
transversal crossbar 210TTi , and each right bracket 220Dj is fixed to a respectivetransversal crossbar 210TTi properly spaced apart from the left bracket 220Sj on the same transversal crossbar 210TTi - each bracket 220Sj ,220Dj (or at least a part thereof) being preferably fixed to arespective traversal crossbar 210TTi by gluing or by suitable fixing means (such as screws), not shown, or being integral with it. - Thus, a left bracket 220Sj and a right bracket 220Dj are fixed to each
transversal crossbar 210TTi , the left bracket 220Sj and the right bracket 220Dj being spaced from each other along the transverse direction according to the size of the inlet openings. In fact, as can be better appreciated inFigure 2A , the distance between the left brackets 220Sj and the right brackets 220Dj on the sametransversal crossbar 210TTi determines the distance between the hinging pins 215S,215D (and, consequently, of the hingeddoors - According to the exemplary considered embodiment, and as visible in
Figures 2A ,2D and2E , theaccess structure 115 further comprises one or more stop members for stopping the inlet doors 205ASn (or at least a part thereof) in the open position at a predetermined aperture angle. Preferably, such stop members comprise a pair of stop tubular elements (or pins) 235Sj ,235Dj in correspondence of eachhinge 205CSj ,205CDj (hereinafter, consistently with the used directional terminology, these stop pins will be indicated by left stop pin 235Sj and right stop pin 235Dj , when it will be necessary to distinguish them from each other). Therefore, in the preferred embodiment herein considered, theaccess structure 115 comprises J=2N left stop pins 235Sj and J=2N right stop pins 235Dj (i.e., two left stop pins 235Sj and two right stop pins 235Dj for each inlet door 205 n ). - The stop pins 235Sj ,235Dj are preferably fixed to the
transversal crossbar 210TTi , more preferably by means of the brackets 220Sj ,220Dj . For this purpose, as illustrated, each bracket 220Sj ,220Dj has a further hole or slot 230 for the passage of the stop pin 235Sj ,235Dj through it. - Advantageously, as illustrated, the
slot 230 of each bracket 220Sj ,220Dj is arranged, along the transversal direction, at a distance from theslot 225 of the same bracket 220Sj ,220Dj such that the hingeddoors doors 205ASn ,205ADn ) at a proper aperture angle relative to the Y axis (the stop pins 235Sj ,235Dj thus acting as mechanical limit switch for the hingeddoors doors doors 205ASn ,205ADn (i.e., the distance of the stop pins 235Sj ,235Dj from the hinging pins 215S,215D ) along the transversal direction. - The aperture angle is not limitative for the present invention, as it may be arbitrarily chosen based on specific design considerations - the aperture angle being for example sufficiently large to ensure that each hinged
door door door - In the considered embodiment, the aperture angle is fixed, since each bracket 220Sj ,220Dj is exemplary provided with a
single slot 230 for the passage of the stop pin 235Sj ,235Dj . In any case, according to alternative embodiments of the present invention, not shown, each bracket 220Sj ,220Dj may be provided with one (or more) additional slots to adjust the position of the stop pins 235Sj ,235Dj with respect to the hinging pins 215S,215D and, hence, the aperture angle of the hingeddoors - In the considered embodiment, each hinged
door door - Anyway, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, not shown, each group of left hinged
doors 205ASn and/or each group of right hingeddoors 205ADn may be associated with a respective stop pin (and, therefore, to a respective aperture angle). Alternatively, similarly to what has been discussed for the hinging pins 215S,215D , the use of a single left stop pin for stopping (simultaneously) the rotation of the left hingeddoors 205ASn at the same aperture angle, and a single right stop pin for stopping (simultaneously) the rotation of the right hingeddoors - As visible in particular in
Figures 2D-2F , each hingeddoor door guide 240 protrudes in a slanted manner from the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of the respective hingeddoor Figure 2F , theguides 240 associated with eachinlet door 205 n act as a hopper for the products loaded from above, directing (i.e., channeling) them into the inlet openings. - In fact, the
guides 240 that protrude in slanted manner from the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of the respective hingeddoor doors - In particular, as visible in
Figure 2F , eachguide 240 extends from the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of the respective hingeddoor door door 205ASn ,205ADn (i.e. the end that, when the hingeddoor door door door door - In this way, the
guides 240 of each pair of hingeddoors doors guides 240, an amount of products could accumulate below the lower region of the hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn (for example in correspondence of thehinges - Therefore, the fact that the
guides 240 associated with eachinlet door 205 n act as a hopper for the products loaded from above is advantageous in terms of time and cost efficiencies, as opposed to, for example, the above citedUS3720328 , which instead shows an external hopper to control the flow of the products into the cavity (thus involving high costs and high times due to the need of the external hopper). - Preferably, as shown in
Figure 2C , each hinged door (or, in alternative embodiments, a subset thereof) forms, in the closed position, an overlapping abutment with the other hinged door of thesame door 205 n , so as to reduce the interstices or gaps between them. According to the exemplary (but not limiting) illustrated embodiment, each hinged door (for example, the left hinged door 205ASn ) comprises a gutter member 245S extending vertically from an outer surface thereof opposite to the inner surface, and the other hinged door (for example, the right hinged door 205ADn ) comprises a gutter member 245D extending vertically from its outer surface and is adapted to overlap to the gutter member 245S . In this way, the overlap between the gutter members 245S,245D forms a labyrinth that matter-of-factly and effectively prevents (or at least strongly reduces) the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity, especially from above of the inlet opening. Moreover, at least one gutter member, and preferably the gutter member that, upon overlapping, is more exposed to the external environment (the gutter member 245D in the example at issue), is advantageously provided with a slanted wall 245DL which allows draining impurities and atmospheric agents by gravity. - The gutter members 245S,245D are advantageously formed in a single piece with the left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors. The gutter members 245S,245D may for example be formed in a single piece with rods 246S,246D advantageously provided on the upper regions of the hinged
doors access structure 115. - The
access structure 115 preferably comprises at least one abutment portion, preferably one abutment portion 247 n for each pair of left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors associated with a same opening, such that in the closed position the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of the first 205ASn and second 205ADn hinged doors abuts on the respective abutment portion 247 n . The abutment of the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of each pair of first 205ASn and second 205ADn hinged doors on the respective abutment portion 247 n forms a labyrinth that matter-of-factly and effectively prevents the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity, especially from a side of the inlet opening. - In order to further improve the labyrinth effect, especially at the side of the inlet opening, the
access structure 115 may further comprise first 2491Sn ,2491Dn and second 2492Sn ,2492Dn cover elements adapted to cover a respective hingeddoor door door door door Figure 2E shows the first 2491S1 and second 2492S1 cover elements covering the opposite first and second sides of the left hingeddoor 205AS1 , the first 2491D1 and second 2492D1 cover elements covering the opposite first and second sides of the right hingeddoor 205AD1 , the first cover element 2491S2 covering the first side of the left hingeddoor 205AS2 , and the first cover element 2491D2 covering the first side of the right hingeddoor 205AD2 , whereasFigure 2C shows the profile of the first sides of left and right hinged doors (and of the associated gutter members 245S,245D ) without the respective cover elements covering them. - The overlapping between the gutter members 245S,245D and the abutment on the abutment portion 247 n (and, possibly, the presence of the cover elements) provide, as a whole, a combined labyrinth effect that matter-of-factly and effectively prevents the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity from the most critical directions (i.e., from above and from sides of the inlet opening). This is a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, to such an extent that it is the intention of the Applicant that this aspect could form a separate subject matter independent from the hopper function achieved by means of the
guides 240. - According to the exemplary considered embodiment, each abutment portion 247 n is in the form of a frame surrounding the respective inlet opening, i.e. it comprises one or more (two, in the example at issue) transversal abutment portions 247T1n ,247T2n extending along the transversal direction parallel to each other, and two or more (two, in the example at issue) longitudinal abutment portions 247LSn ,247LDn extending along the longitudinal direction parallel to each other. Preferably, the transversal 247T1n ,247T2n and longitudinal 247LSn ,247LDn abutment portions are in the form of walls extending along the vertical direction from the
upper wall 105T of thecasing 105. More preferably, the transversal 247T1n ,247T2n and longitudinal 247LSn ,247LDn abutment portions are in the form of walls each one extending along the vertical direction from arespective transversal 210TTi and longitudinal 210TLS,210TLD crossbar, the transversal 247T1n ,247T2n and longitudinal 247LSn ,247LDn abutment portions being for example formed in a single piece with therespective transversal 210TTi and longitudinal 210TLS,210TLD crossbars. Preferably, the transversal 247T1n ,247T2n and longitudinal 247LSn ,247LDn abutment portions extend along the vertical direction to such an extent that they form a barrier preventing the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity from the sides of the inlet opening. - Each transversal abutment portion 247T1n ,247T2n is preferably adapted to abut, in the closed position of the left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors, on the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of the respective pair of left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors, and particularly at a same respective side thereof (i.e., with the transversal abutment portion 247T1n that is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the respective pair of left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors in correspondence of their first sides, and with the transversal abutment portion 247T2n that is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the respective pair of left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors in correspondence of their second sides). Even more preferably, as illustrated, each transversal abutment portion 247T1n ,247T2n is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors (at the respective side) by fitting into gaps between the first 2491Sn ,2491Dn and second 2492Sn ,2492Dn cover elements and the respective guiding members 240 (for example, with the transversal abutment portion 247T11 that abuts on the inner surface of the left 205AS1 and right 205AD1 hinged doors by fitting into the gaps between the cover elements 2491S1,2491D1 and the guiding
members 240, and with the transversal abutment portion 247T12 that abuts on the inner surface of the left 205AS1 and right 205AD1 hinged doors by fitting into the gaps between the cover elements 2492S1,2492D1 and the guiding members 240). - Therefore, the transversal abutment portions 247T1n ,247T2n and the cover elements 2491Sn ,2491Dn , 2492Sn ,2492Dn provide a further combined labyrinth effect against the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity from the sides of the inlet opening.
- According to the exemplary considered embodiment, each transversal abutment portion 247T1n ,247T2n has a first part having a first slanting with respect to a horizontal plane on which the
access structure 115 lays when mounted on the container 100 (in other words, the horizontal plane being substantially a plane parallel to theupper wall 105T of the casing 105), and a second part having, with respect to the horizontal plane, a second slanting opposite to the first slanting (see, for example,Figures 2D ,2E and2F ). Therefore, each pair of left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors in the closed position identify, by abutment thereof on said first and second parts of the respective transversal abutment portion 247T1n ,247T2n , an inverted-V profile of the closed position (see, for example,Figure 2B ) that allows draining of impurities and atmospheric agents by gravity. - Each longitudinal abutment portion 247LSn ,247LDn is preferably adapted to abut, in the closed position of the left 205ASn and right 205ADn hinged doors, on the inner surface 205SASn ,205SADn of a respective one of the left 205ASn and second 205ADn hinged doors (i.e., with the longitudinal abutment portion 247LSn that is adapted to abut on the inner surface 205SASn of the left hinged
door 205ASn , and with the longitudinal abutment portion 247LDn that is adapted to abut on the inner surface 205SADn of the right hinged door 205ADn ). Preferably, the longitudinal abutment portion 247LSn ,247LDn is adapted to abut on the inner surface of the hingeddoor door door - According to the exemplary considered embodiment, and as best visible in
Figures 2B-2E , theaccess structure 115 further comprises one or more locking systems (preferably, each one associated with a respective hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn ) for locking the inlet doors 205 n (or a part thereof) in the closed position (for example, so as to avoid accidental opening of the same, especially during the inclination of thecontainer 100 for promoting the frontal outlet of the products through the outlet opening). More preferably, in the embodiment herein exemplary assumed in which eachinlet door 205 n has two hingeddoors access structure 115 comprises a locking system associated with each hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn (so that each hingeddoor - According to the exemplary (but not limiting) considered embodiment, each locking system comprises, for each hinged
door door 205ASn ,205ADn (the hook element 250GS,250GD being for example formed in a single piece with the respective hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn ) and extending vertically from the inner surface of the hingeddoor crossbars transversal crossbar 210TTi so as to intercept and lock the respective hook element 250GS,250GD . Preferably, although not necessarily, the lever element 250LS,250LD is adapted to be operated (for example, manually) by sliding along the transversal direction on the hook element 250GS,250GD (i.e., on its arcuate portion), thereby preventing the movement (i.e., the opening) of the hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn (as visible inFigure 2B for the lock system 250GS,250LS associated with the left hinged door 205AS1 ). - As mentioned above, each
inlet door 205 n , in the closed position, is adapted to abut on the respective transversal crossbar 220TTi (i.e., on a respective abutment portion 247 n thereof). According to the illustrated embodiment, and best visible inFigure 2D , in order to avoid direct contact of theinlet doors 205 n on the abutment portions of the respective transversal crossbars 220TTi (in that, in the embodiments, such as the embodiment herein discussed, in which both theinlet doors 205 n and the transversal crossbars 220TTi are made of steel or other metal material, the direct contact between them could give rise to interstices or gaps with resulting passage of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity through them), each hingeddoor 205ASn ,205ADn (or at least a part thereof) comprises aperimeter gasket 255 on its inner surface, thegasket 255 being for example formed of an elastomeric material (such as polyurethane or silicone), of a plastic material, or of a natural material (such as leather or cork). Alternatively or, as exemplary illustrated, in addition, theaccess structure 115 comprises aseal 260 on the abutment portions 247 n (or on at least part thereof, such as for example on one or more among the longitudinal and transversal abutment portions).
Claims (11)
- Structure (115) for roof (110) of a container (100) for the intermodal transport of products, the container (100) comprising a casing (105) delimiting a cavity adapted to house the products to be transported, wherein the structure (115) comprises:at least two openings for accessing said cavity, andat least two doors (205 n ) each one associated with a respective one of said at least two openings and each one comprising a first (205ASn ) and a second (205ADn ) hinged doors opposite to each other, each door being selectively operable between an opened position that allows insertion from above of the products to be transported into the cavity through the respective opening, and a closed position that prevents insertion of the products into the cavity and exposure thereof to impurities and atmospheric agents during the transport,
characterized in thatsaid first (205ASn ) and second (205ADn ) hinged doors comprise each one a guiding member (240) protruding in a slanted manner from an inner surface (205SASn ,205SADn ) of the hinged door (205ASn ,205ADn ) that, in the closed position of the hinged door, faces the cavity, in the opened position of the first (205ASn ) and second (205ADn ) hinged doors said guiding members (240) associated with each door (205n) acting as a hopper for guiding the products into the respective opening. - Structure (115) according to claim 1, wherein each hinged door (205ASn ,205ADn ) comprises a first end in correspondence of the respective opening when the hinged door (205ASn ,205ADn ) is in the open position, and a second end opposite to the first end, each guiding member (240) extending from said surface (205SASn ,205SADn ) of the respective hinged door (205ASn ,205ADn ) at a first distance from a first region of the hinged door (205ASn ,205ADn ) delimited by said first end, and at a second distance, lower than the first distance, from a second region of the hinged door (205ASn ,205ADn ) delimited by the second end.
- Structure (115) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of crossbars (210TTi ) for supporting said at least two doors (205 n ).
- Structure (115) according to claim 3, further comprising a hinging structure (215S,215D,220Sj ,220Dj ) for hinging said at least two doors (205 n ) to said crossbars (210TTi ) thereby allowing to operate individually each one of said at least two doors (205 n ) between the opened position and the closed position.
- Structure (115) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one stop member (235Sj ,235Dj ) for stopping said at least two doors (205 n ) in the opened position at a predetermined aperture angle.
- Structure (115) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the closed position the first hinged door (205ASn ) forms an overlapping abutment with the second hinged door (205ADn ).
- Structure (115) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first (205ASn ) and second (205ADn ) hinged doors comprise each one a respective gutter member (245S,245D ) extending vertically from a surface of the first (205ASn ) and second (205ADn ) hinged doors that, in the closed position, is external to the cavity, the gutter member (245D ) of the second hinged door (205ADn ) being adapted to overlap to the gutter member (245S ) of the first hinged door (205ASn ) so as to form a labyrinth that prevents the inlet of impurities and atmospheric agents into the cavity.
- Structure (115) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one locking system (250GS,205GD,250LS,205LD ) for locking said at least two doors (205 n ) in the closed position.
- Structure (115) according to any claim from 3 to 8 when depending on claim 3, wherein in the closed position said at least two doors (205 n ) abut on abutment portions (247 n ) of said crossbars (210TTi ), and wherein at least one between said at least two doors (205 n ) and said abutment portions comprises at least one gasket (255,260).
- Roof (110) for a container (100) for the intermodal transport of products, the container (100) comprising a casing (105) delimiting a cavity adapted to house the products to be transported, the roof comprising the structure (115) according to any of the preceding claims and an upper wall (105T ) of the, in use, casing (105) of the container (100).
- A container (100) for the intermodal transport of products, the container (100) comprising the roof (110) according to claim 10.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT102017000024162A IT201700024162A1 (en) | 2017-03-03 | 2017-03-03 | Roof structure of a container |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3369678A1 EP3369678A1 (en) | 2018-09-05 |
EP3369678B1 true EP3369678B1 (en) | 2019-09-11 |
Family
ID=59521358
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP18159663.6A Active EP3369678B1 (en) | 2017-03-03 | 2018-03-02 | Structure for roof of a container, roof and container therewith |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3369678B1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK3369678T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2763641T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT201700024162A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109335350B (en) * | 2018-10-24 | 2024-03-12 | 中车太原机车车辆有限公司 | Support locking mechanism for bottom door container |
CN110834826A (en) * | 2019-11-16 | 2020-02-25 | 张家港凯斯机械有限公司 | Sliding door structure for container tipping device |
IT202000023758A1 (en) | 2020-10-08 | 2022-04-08 | Ni Ka Mi Corp P Te Ltd | APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING GOODS FROM A CONTAINER |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3720328A (en) * | 1971-02-09 | 1973-03-13 | H Mackenzie | Discrete material transporting and dumping apparatus |
US5884794A (en) * | 1996-11-05 | 1999-03-23 | Chevron U.S.A. Inc. | Bulk container assembly |
WO2007053997A1 (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2007-05-18 | China International Marine Containers(Group) Co., Ltd. | Top lid assembly and box body having the same |
CN200981743Y (en) * | 2006-11-15 | 2007-11-28 | 刘德义 | Universal container for bulk cargo and packed cargo |
-
2017
- 2017-03-03 IT IT102017000024162A patent/IT201700024162A1/en unknown
-
2018
- 2018-03-02 EP EP18159663.6A patent/EP3369678B1/en active Active
- 2018-03-02 DK DK18159663.6T patent/DK3369678T3/en active
- 2018-03-02 ES ES18159663T patent/ES2763641T3/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ES2763641T3 (en) | 2020-05-29 |
DK3369678T3 (en) | 2019-12-16 |
EP3369678A1 (en) | 2018-09-05 |
IT201700024162A1 (en) | 2018-09-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP3369678B1 (en) | Structure for roof of a container, roof and container therewith | |
US7146914B2 (en) | Identity preserved container | |
US4995522A (en) | Bottom dumping bulk container apparatus | |
US7441671B2 (en) | Shipping container with auxiliary door for bulk cargo | |
AU2019202968B2 (en) | A collapsible intermodal container | |
US20050224644A1 (en) | Support roller arrangement for use in an aircraft cargo hold | |
US8850991B2 (en) | Hopper car gate assembly with a door having vertically spaced sections | |
US10315765B2 (en) | Service box for storing in a storage rack arrangement of a cargo container | |
CN101134523B (en) | Drawer and container using the same | |
KR20160004357U (en) | Gull-wing door type apparatus for storage of dangerous materials | |
US3977208A (en) | Containers for perishable cargoes | |
EP2743207A1 (en) | Iso standard-compliant container | |
CN216467949U (en) | Cage vehicle | |
JP4470027B2 (en) | Egg sorting and packaging equipment | |
US4955318A (en) | Transportable poultry plant cart | |
JPS599128B2 (en) | Kokumotsuochiyozoushi Katsuunsou Rutamenosouchi Oyobi Hohou | |
EP2947029B1 (en) | Insulated container and method for cooling cargo | |
RU2734439C1 (en) | System for unloading loose materials from cargo tanks | |
NL8200984A (en) | CARGO SHIP FOR COOLING. | |
US6068272A (en) | Carriage for transporting and storing doctor blades | |
KR20050001982A (en) | A goods transferring apparatus for the freight car | |
SU1501919A3 (en) | Mobile container | |
KR20160003600U (en) | Container for onion storage | |
JP3083611B2 (en) | Pre-cooling facility | |
KR100427010B1 (en) | Luggage room for delivery car |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20190304 |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20190517 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 1178190 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20190915 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602018000597 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: NV Representative=s name: PATENTANWALTSKANZLEI NUECKEL, CH |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DK Ref legal event code: T3 Effective date: 20191211 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20190911 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20191211 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NO Ref legal event code: T2 Effective date: 20190911 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20191212 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 1178190 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20190911 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200113 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200224 Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: ES Ref legal event code: FG2A Ref document number: 2763641 Country of ref document: ES Kind code of ref document: T3 Effective date: 20200529 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602018000597 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
PG2D | Information on lapse in contracting state deleted |
Ref country code: IS |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20200112 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20200615 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20200331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20200302 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20200331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190911 |
|
P01 | Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered |
Effective date: 20230503 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Payment date: 20240320 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20240320 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NO Payment date: 20240223 Year of fee payment: 7 Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20240320 Year of fee payment: 7 Ref country code: DK Payment date: 20240216 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20240529 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 20240401 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Payment date: 20240408 Year of fee payment: 7 |