DE19932068A1 - Transport and storage container for temperature sensitive products e.g. foodstuffs, made of plastic foam comprising reinforcing corner inserts in the form of non-foamed, non-holed plastic profiles with various cross-sectional shapes - Google Patents

Abstract

The transport and storage container made of plastic foam and has reinforcing inserts for the corners. The transport and storage container made of plastic foam and has reinforcing inserts for the corners is characterized by: a) reinforcing inserts are non-foamed, non-holed plastic profiles (2) which have various cross-sectional shapes; b) all openings left in the container wall in the production process are closed by means of plugs; and c) the containers are provided with wear resistant stacking and support edges.

Description

The invention relates to a transport and storage container made of plastic foam with a Corner stiffening.

Plastic foam containers have been in use for a long time. Such containers are preferably used for temperature sensitive goods, e.g. B. for perishable Foodstuffs, in particular for meat.

The use of these containers is not a voluntary occasion alone. Rather, there is one Food regulation that provides evidence of an uninterrupted cold chain for meat to the end customer. This not only forces wholesalers to cool the delivery to the middleman, but also the middlemen for cooling on the Transport route to the retailer such as B. the restaurant owner for cooling on the Transport route to his kitchen or to his cold rooms / cooling facilities.

Overall, there is a significant increase in refrigerated transport. Here are the large transport volumes is not the problem because refrigerated trucks have been used for this for a long time become. Problems arise with the small transport volumes. Here are great Scope of cooling boxes made of plastic foam used. The cooling boxes are a form of Containers. These cooling boxes preferably consist of particle foam. The particle foam is also known as Beads. The beads are sold on the market with a Diameters from 1 mm to 5 mm are offered as bulk goods.

For the production of moldings such. B. the cooling boxes are the beads from a silo stripped and filled into a mold cavity. The mold cavity is the cooling boxes replicated. The lower part of the box and the lid are usually separated made so that a replica as a mold cavity is relatively simple.

The beads are filled with pressure until the mold cavity is filled. One follows Applying superheated steam to the beads in the mold cavity. The superheated steam causes suitable temperature a melting of the bead surface in the mold and a  Expansion of the beads. By using superheated and high-tension steam temperatures can be generated that are well above the Evaporation temperature of water.

The beads treated in this way weld more or less in the mold cavity solid molded body. After sufficient cooling, the moldings formed can be taken from the form.

The strength of the molded body depends on the material and the wall thickness or the Box dimensions. If possible, the wall thickness of the moldings should not be above go beyond the thickness required for the desired cooling. Nevertheless, the Desire for further strength. This mainly results from the demand for Stackability of the boxes. Contemporary boxes should have a stacking load of 500 to 900 kg can wear.

German utility model 722 78 825 teaches how this requirement is met Utility model shows L-profiles for the corner stiffening of such boxes. It is a matter of perforated profiles that are molded into the plastic material. The perforation should be one cause advantageous connection with the plastic.

Surprisingly, the application of such corner stiffeners to transport and Particle foam storage container difficult. It turns out that the beads on the Stiffening profiles can be overheated very easily. The overheating leads immediately serious damage with loss of strength and poor insulation.

The object of the invention is to eliminate these problems. This turns the invention from the perforated profiles. The invention returns to the long since overhauled prestigious unperforated profiles. At the same time, profiles are made of non-foamed Plastic, in particular of the same material, preferably at least one material provided that can be welded to the beads.

Surprisingly, there are far fewer overheating problems with such profiles than on perforated profiles, although the contact surfaces are much larger than in are perforated profiles. The beads are advantageously welded to the Profiles achieved an extreme strength of the construction.  

Particularly favorable conditions result from beads that are made up entirely or partially Polypropylene (PP) exist and can be combined with profiles, which in turn or partly consist of PP.

The plastic is optionally provided with reinforcing fibers or reinforcing fabric. Adequate strength is already achieved with glass fiber reinforcement.

In addition, it is possible to stretch the stiffening profiles so that the stiffening profiles are very hard. The reinforcement and stretching allow the use of PP Regranulate for the production of the stiffening profile.

The plastic stiffening profile has a wall thickness of up to 10 mm; the L-shaped Stiffening profile one leg length up to 100 mm. The length of the stiffening profiles is depending on the height of the boxes. According to the box heights, they can Stiffening profiles have a length of 30 to 1000 mm.

Optionally, the stiffening profiles are also interconnected by other profile bars connected. These additional profile bars run in horizontally standing boxes preferably horizontal, while the stiffening profiles run vertically. The additional Profile bars can run at a distance from the top or bottom edge of the box. The additional profile bars can also form the upper or lower edge of the box. The The task of the additional profile bars is to prevent excessive bulging of the Crate walls or preventing a change in position of the stiffening profiles. At the top and / or the lower edge of the box, the stiffening profiles can also provide wear protection form.

Optionally, the stiffening profiles also have a different cross-section than with the pre-published utility models proposed. So round and / or angular Profiles, hollow profiles and full profiles are used. Likewise T-shaped or T- shaped profiles or profiles with + (cross) -shaped or X-shaped cross-section. The X- shaped cross section allows much longer compared to the + -shaped cross section Profile leg.

The + -shaped and X-shaped profiles are also advantageous regardless of whether a non-perforated stiffening profile or a stiffening profile made of plastic or a Metal profile is used.  

Favorable conditions result when the stiffening profiles in the stack of boxes stand on top of each other and the occurring loads directly or, if necessary, via a Forward the unfoamed edge of the stack to one another.

The stiffening profiles are attached to the ends and / or between the ends with brackets centered in the position desired for molding in the mold cavity. The brackets are either part of the form and / or lost parts.

Pins of short length, which are attached to the mold, are suitable as holders either reach into cavities of the stiffening profiles or the stiffening profiles between to lock myself in.

The lost parts remain in the plastic foam when the holders are molded. Preferably, the lost mounts are made of the same material as that Profiles. The brackets can also be part of the profiles, i. H. molded onto the profiles his.

The brackets can be spacers.

Brackets which are designed as eyelets or molded onto the profiles are favorable. Such eyelets can have a round or angular shape. The eyelets arise e.g. B. from thin Web material.

In the case of L-shaped profiles, the webs are provided in the apex of the angle. For example, the Include a triangle or a square with the legs of the angle profile. The webs have a material thickness of up to 5 mm.

The eyelets can also be used to advantage in other stiffening profiles also for perforated profiles and metal profiles.

The purpose of the eyelets is to be penetrated by a locking rod that is attached to the shape is attached. The locking rod centers the stiffening profiles in the mold. For the Making the boxes, the stiffening profiles can easily be attached to the locking bars in the Shape to be pushed. After finishing and cooling, the boxes can be removed from the mold out and easily pulled off the locking rods. It remains in the boxes Cavities that can then be closed. Are suitable for closing under other stopper. The plugs can have sufficient hold due to the press fit, they can but also be glued or welded.  

The plugs can also perform other functions. Optionally, the on Box bottom provided plugs also form feet with which the boxes are erected become. The uprising has an insulating effect because the heat is then only over the poorly conducting air can penetrate the boxes, but not through direct contact the bottom of the box with a warm surface.

Optionally, the plugs provided on the top of the box can also have depressions, so that the plugs of an overlying crate engage in the recesses. That's why to a stable stacking.

The plugs can have elevations next to the depressions and vice versa, so that the Interlock plugs simultaneously.

The plugs can also have different dimensions at one end of the box than at the other Box end, so that the boxes experience a defined orientation when stacked. The has practical advantages because the boxes are usually provided with stickers, etc. and a defined orientation of the boxes to recognize the respective stickers facilitated.

The boxes according to the invention can be produced with and without a stacking rim. As Stacking edge is called a supporting edge / wear edge of the boxes. The stacking edge is in the Rule put on. It is imperative to use a stacking edge on the Boxes according to the invention not because the loading of the boxes from the stiffening profiles is transmitted.

According to the invention, the stiffening profiles can simultaneously form the plugs with which the cavities are closed, which in the application of Locking rods remain.

It is both possible to have a frame-like closed support / stacking edge generate as well as use single bars or angles that are attached to the box at one Stack edge are assembled and there one without welding or gluing develop sufficient strength because they mesh and so alone or with the Stiffening profiles in the corners form a solid construction.

It is known a frame-like closed support / stacking edge from individual bars assemble, which are welded together.  

The frame-like closed support / stacking edge is preferably made by folding one Material strand formed. The material strand is despite the wide profile cross section thereby foldable that in the material strand at the predetermined corner points Miter cuts are made. The miter cuts end after the Invention, however, before the last material wall of the profile in the cutting direction, so that this Wall can be bent. The bending can be done by heating the kink or by Imprinting a crease line can be made even easier.

The miter cut has a 90 degree miter, corresponding to the angle at the 90 degree kink. A corner is created, which can optionally be attached to the Butt joints of the profile is welded. The remaining material forms an advantageous one Guiding / positioning for the material strand. This also has one of the invention Training of reinforcement profiles independent meaning.

The free ends of the strand of material are also preferably mitred cut and positioned with the help of an angle, one leg in the one free End and its other leg inserted into the other free end of the strand of material becomes. As a result, the free ends of the strand of material move to form a corner towards each other. In the end position, welding is again possible.

The described support / stacking edge can also be glued to the edge of the box. The increases the rigidity of the construction. Hot glues are particularly suitable.

The supports according to the invention are also optionally available with stacking corners instead of one closed stacked edge combined. The stacking corners take into account on the one hand that the Stacking forces through the corner profiles and, if necessary, through the molded connection profiles recorded and forwarded. On the other hand, the Crates of wear. In a further embodiment of the invention, these wear points reinforced by stacking corners. The stacking corners optionally form plugs at the same time.

The stacking corners can completely or partially encompass the outer box corners, so that these corners are protected against mechanical damage. In addition, the stacking corners extending on the outer box surface can Form windows and / or pockets for waybills or labels or form different structures for meat containers / fish containers and vegetable containers.  

This ensures that the containers are only ever used for the same content and that no flavors accidentally spoil other goods.

The box lid can have recesses on the corners of the box, so that the Stacking forces are directed past the box lids into the box below. The lid of the box can also be an intermediate layer between the lower box and the one on top form stacked box. In this case, a lid is made of particularly strong Provided plastic foam and or provided a stiffening insert.

The particularly strong plastic foam is regularly a high plastic foam Density. Particle foam bodies can also be of different types Density are produced. The density is determined by the beads and determines the filling pressure.

The stiffening insert in the box lid is preferably by the same profile and its same arrangement as formed in the box. In contrast to the box, for the box lid has a comparatively short profile length.

Naturally, there are no feet on the underside of the lid of the box to support the Cover provided. Nevertheless, feet can be provided if in the There are recesses in the closing surface of the lid, which completely accommodate the feet. The recesses can have been created in the manner explained above.

The top of the lid, however, can be designed like the top of the box. Loading the lid has the advantage of a high closing pressure.

Otherwise, a construction is also possible in which the stacking forces of an upper one The box is led over the stacking edge into the stiffening profiles of the lower box.

Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing.

According to Fig. 1 and 2, a box 1 made of PP-particle foam.

In each box corner an isosceles and non-punched and unfoamed L- reinforcing profile is formed. 2 The reinforcement profile 2 is made of recycled PP and is glass fiber reinforced and additionally biaxially stretched, so that the reinforcement profile 2 has a high strength and is at the same time relatively hard.

The reinforcement profiles 2 are molded in a molding machine (not shown). In the mold cavity, the reinforcement profiles 2 are held by locking rods 3 which are attached to the mold. The locking rods 3 , which are square in cross-section, reach through eyelets. The eyelets are formed by material webs 4 , which form a sufficiently large square opening with the legs of the reinforcing profile.

After a box has been produced, the boxes are removed from the molding machine while being pulled off the locking rods.

According to Fig. 3 and 4 2 stiffening profiles 10 are provided instead of the stiffening profiles, which are provided at the apex with a sloping web of material 11 so that the web of material with the legs of the reinforcing profile 10 forms a triangular opening. Corresponding to this opening, triangular locking rods 11 are provided in cross section.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the preparation of a support / stacking edge of a material strand 15 of unfoamed PP corresponding cross-section. The material strand 15 is provided with an incision at the corner points. The incision forms a 90 degree miter cut 16 and ends before the last material wall in the cutting direction. After making the miter cuts, the strand of material can be bent slightly at the corner points. This is supported by linear heating of the kink. The linear heating takes place with a suitable heating wedge and causes material softening.

The free ends 17 and 18 of the strand of material are joined together using an angle 19 . The angle 19 is simultaneously inserted into one end 17 and the other end 18 .

The stacking edge in FIG. 5 and 6 is bonded to the upper box edge with hot glue. A construction is shown in FIG. 7. The box is closed by a lid 21 . There is also a reinforcement profile 28 in the cover. The profile 28 is positioned so that it is aligned with the profile 20 in the box.

The loads occurring from a box stacked above are passed through the profiles 28 into the profiles 20 .

Fig. 8 shows a box 25 made of foam particles having different gain profiles. In one variant a tubular profile 26 is provided, in another variant a round full profile 27 , in a third variant a + (cross) -shaped profile 28 and in a fourth variant an X-shaped profile 30 .

At the same time, a centering with pins 29 , which are in the form and enclose the profile between them, is shown on the basis of the profile 28 .

Claims (20)

1. Transport and storage container made of plastic foam with a reinforcing insert for the corners, characterized in that

• a) that the reinforcing insert when using particle foam are formed by unperforated and non-foamed reinforcing profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ) and / or
• b) the reinforcing insert is formed by profiles ( 28 , 30 ) with a + -shaped or X-shaped cross section and / or
• c) a holder of the profiles when molded into the plastic foam and / or
• d) manufacturing-related openings in the container wall are closed by plugs and / or
• e) Wear corners / stacking corners are provided
• f) a support / stacking edge, which consists of a bent and bent strand of material ( 15 ).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ) made of the same plastic as the particle foam, but at least consists of a plastic weldable to the particle foam. 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ) are reinforced and / or stretched with fibers and / or fabrics. 4. Container according to claim 3, characterized by a glass fiber reinforcement and a biaxial stretching. 5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the use of PP for the particle foam and the profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ). 6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a leg length of the profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ) to 100 and / or by wall thicknesses of up to 10 mm and / or by profile lengths of up to 1000 mm. 7. Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by additional profiles in the walls which connect the profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ) in the corners and / or by supporting / stacking edges 8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the profiles ( 2 , 10 , 20 ) of different containers are one above the other in the stacked position. 9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the holder is formed by tenons in the manufacturing mold for the plastic container are attached and / or that the bracket is formed by eyelets and locking rods the eyelets on the profiles and the locking rods on the shape are located. 10. A container according to claim 9, characterized in that the eyelets through material webs are formed, which together with the legs of angular profiles, an opening for form the locking rods. 11. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the opening is triangular triangular locking rod cross-section and square with square Locking rod cross-section and / or the material webs is a thickness of up to 5 mm have. 12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the stopper at the same time form feet and / depressions, the depressions with other plugs or Container parts on top of the stacked containers correspond and / or to align the Containers have different dimensions, and / or wherein the stopper press fit have or are welded or glued. 13. Container according to claims 1 and 12, characterized in that the stopper at the same time form the wear corners. 14. A container according to claim 1 or 13, characterized in that the wear corners at the same time completely or partially enclose the outer corners of the containers and / or a window and / or form a pocket and / or have a marking.   15. Container according to one of claims 1 and 12 to 14, characterized in that the Profiles in the corners are connected by profiles that are also the plugs form or are provided with the plugs and / or engage in recesses of the plugs. 16. A container according to claim 15, characterized in that the connecting profiles entirely or partially form the support / stacking edge. 17. Container according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by an adhesive of the Support / stack edge with the container. 18. Container according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that miter cuts ( 16 ) are provided in the material strand ( 15 ) for the support / stacking edge and / or the kinking is facilitated by linear heating of the kink or an embossed crease line and / or the free ends ( 17 , 18 ) of the strand of material ( 15 ) are brought together with the aid of an angle ( 19 ). 19. Container according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized by in the stacked position unloaded cover, the corners with recesses for the force-carrying profiles are provided, or are relieved of the support / stacking edge, or in the stacking position carry the container stacked over it 20. A container according to claim 19, characterized by supporting lids made of plastic foam higher density and / or with stiffening inserts.