ES2842379T3 - Transport container - Google Patents

Abstract

Transport container with a base (12) and with a side wall (16) projecting from the base (12) towards an upper side (15), annularly surrounding a housing space (14), which has several wall sections (18, 20), each two wall sections (18, 20) being arranged between a gap (30), in which at least the height of the side wall (16) is reduced, the wall sections (18, 20) so that the shipping container (10) and a further structurally identical shipping container (10) with upper sides (15) facing each other can be assembled so that at least a part of the Wall sections (18, 20) of the transport container (10) engage in the accommodation space (14) and / or the recesses (30) of the additional transport container (10), engaging at least a part of the transport container sections (10). wall (18, 20) of the additional transport container (10) in the accommodation space (14) and / or the recesses s (30) of the transport container (10), the side wall (16) having four wall sections (18, 20), each having two wall parts (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) extending transversely to each other from a corner (24) of the housing space (14), and each wall portion (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) running parallel to a wall portion (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) of a wall section (18, 20) adjacent and laterally offset from it by at least its thickness, with two wall sections (18) diametrically opposite each other being offset, starting from a rectangular plan and the other two wall sections (20) being offset against each other, presenting wall portions (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) diametrically opposite each other the same length, characterized in that the base (12) and the wall side (16) are manufactured in a single piece from a particle foam, because the wall is The lateral wall (16) in each gap (30) is reduced in height by at least half, and because the side wall (16) in each gap (30) has a transverse wall connecting the two wall parts (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) adjacent to each other.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Transport container

The invention relates to a shipping container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Shipping containers are known, for example, from EP 0950 610 B1 and DE 10345 054 A1. These containers are made from a sheet of flat material and have a circumferential side wall, which consists of folded material and is molded in one piece at the base. These transport containers are used for the transport of objects, for example, baled goods such as parts for the automotive industry. If these shipping containers are again transported in an empty state for reloading, then their side walls can be folded with respect to the base until the parts of the sheet of flat material that form them are in a plane with the base. In this way, a space-saving return transport of the empty shipping container is possible. However, for the folding of the side walls, these have to be released from their anchors in the base, which is expensive and therefore hardly used in practice.

From DE 1778 558 U a base part is known which can be assembled with a structurally identical cover part to form a transport container and has a side wall, which has four wall sections with in each case two wall parts extending transversely to each other from one corner. In this regard, mutually adjacent wall portions run parallel to each other and are offset against each other by more than their thickness, so that a gap is left between them. Apart from that, additional shipping containers are known from DE9111324U1, EP3290347A1 and US2009065514A1.

From DE 11 24 421 B a transport container of the aforementioned type is known, the stability of which in the area of the gaps is defined exclusively by the stability of the base.

The object of the invention is to improve a transport container of the aforementioned type in such a way that it is more stable even with a low weight.

According to the invention, this object is solved by a transport container with the characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous improvements of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention makes it possible to transport empty shipping containers saving space without great effort. In particular, the shipping containers are rigidly configured, namely with a base and a side wall made in one piece from a particulate foam such as expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene. Then, a reduction in volume is not achieved by means of the folding of the parts of the side wall with respect to the base, but by means of an insert one inside the other of two structurally identical transport containers, meshing at least a part of the wall sections of the one shipping container in the gaps between the wall sections of the other shipping container and / or in its accommodation space and vice versa.

To this end, in the case of the shipping container according to the invention, it deviates from the usual rectangular plane. The side wall which annularly surrounds the accommodation space has four wall sections, each having two wall parts that extend transversely to each other from a corner of the accommodation space. In contrast to known shipping containers, a wall part does not directly adjoin and is aligned with the wall part of an adjacent wall section, but rather each wall part runs parallel to a part. of an adjacent wall section and is laterally offset from it by at least its thickness. If, starting from a rectangular plan, two wall sections diametrically opposed to each other are displaced away from each other and the other two wall sections are displaced against each other and furthermore wall parts diametrically opposed to each other have the same length, two structurally identical shipping containers can be nested together to reduce their overall volume by placing an upper container with its base pointing upwards on a lower container, whose base points downwards, so that the wall sections offset outwards of the upper container encompass the wall sections displaced inwardly of the lower container and vice versa. This is particularly possible when the side wall of each shipping container is axially symmetric with respect to an axis of symmetry running perpendicular to the base, in the sense that there is an additional point on the side wall at each point of the line. side wall, so that their connecting distance is bisected at right angles by the axis of symmetry. The axis of symmetry conveniently runs through the point of intersection of the diagonals, which run through the corners of the housing space.

It is preferred that all the wall parts have the same thickness and, starting from the base, the same height. In order to achieve the symmetry that allows two structurally identical shipping containers to be nested one inside the other, the wall parts running parallel to each other can have different lengths, provided that only the wall parts diametrically opposed to each other have the same length. . However, it is also possible that the wall portions running parallel to one another have the same length. In this regard, According to the invention, it is provided that the height of the side wall in each recess is reduced by at least half and preferably, taking into account the usual manufacturing tolerances, by half. Furthermore, according to the invention, provision is made for the side wall to have, in each gap, a transverse wall, preferably running perpendicular to the wall parts, connecting the two adjacent wall parts to each other. This closes the gap at least in part.

Spacers projecting from the base may be arranged in the receiving space, on which the base of a further transport container stacked on the transport container rests. In particular, when the spacers, starting from the base, have the same height as the side wall, the spacers prevent a buckling of the base of the transport container in each upper case. Furthermore, the spacers may be provided, at least partially, with an upwardly projecting dome, which protrudes more above the base than the side wall, while the base, below the dome on its underside opposite the space housing, has a notch complementary to the dome. The dome of a lower shipping container then engages in the notch of an upper shipping container stacked on the lower shipping container and prevents the shipping containers from sliding relative to one another. Furthermore, positioning elements, projecting from the base in the accommodation space, may be arranged for objects to be accommodated in the accommodation space. Advantageously, starting from the base, they have a height that corresponds at most to the height of the side wall. A one-piece molding of the spacers and / or positioning elements to the base results in a more stable connection than gluing the spacers or positioning elements to the base and is therefore preferred .

The base advantageously has at least one gripping hole extending through it. This facilitates the handling of the shipping container. Furthermore, the side wall can advantageously have ribs projecting towards the receiving space, which run in the direction of the base. The ribs facilitate a separation of two assembled containers by reducing the suction cup effect. In order to prevent the sliding of two transport containers stacked one on top of the other relative to one another, the side wall can furthermore have an at least partially circumferential stacking edge complementary to a contour on the lower side, opposite the receiving space, of the base. .

Furthermore, it is possible that teeth arranged at a distance from one another protrude from the stacking edge in the direction towards the receiving space, and that the underside of the base has notches complementary to the teeth. This measure causes, by means of the intermeshing one within the other of teeth and recesses in the case of transport containers stacked one on top of the other, an even more improved stability of the container stack by avoiding a sliding of the transport containers stacked one. on top of the other not only from the circumferential stacking edge, but also through the intermeshing one within the other of the teeth and the notches. The teeth and the stacking edge further stabilize each other by being conveniently firmly and preferably integrally connected to each other. The stacking edge also has a sealing effect and prevents a lateral penetration of liquid or dirt when several transport containers are stacked one on top of the other. It may be provided with a circumferential bevel, which forms a circumferential surface, which rises from its outer surfaces in the direction towards the accommodation space, so that it acts as a drip edge for liquids such as, for example, water from rain, running off the outer surface of a stack of containers.

The invention is described in more detail below by means of an exemplary embodiment represented schematically in the drawing. Show

figure 1 a transport container in a perspective view;

figure 2 the transport container according to figure 1 in a top view;

Figures 3, 4 two transport containers according to figure 1 before assembly and fitting one inside the other;

Figures 5, 6 two stacks of containers with in each case six transport containers in a transport position for the accommodation of transport goods and in a position of reduced volume, and

FIG. 7 a transport container according to a variant in a perspective view.

The shipping container 10 shown in the drawing is made in one piece from particulate foam. It has a base 12 and a side wall 16 that annularly surrounds a receiving space 14 open towards an upper side 15. The side wall 16 in turn has two first wall sections 18 and two second wall sections 20. The first ones Wall sections 18 each have two first wall parts 22a, 22b which, starting from one of the four corners 24 of the receiving space 14, run at right angles to each other. In this regard, the first longer wall parts 22a are diametrically opposite and the first shorter wall parts 22b are also diametrically opposite. In this regard, two longer first wall parts 22a have the same length, while the shorter first wall parts 22b also have the same length. The two second wall parts 20 each have two second wall parts 26a, 26b, which in turn start from one of the corners 24 at right angles to each other. The second longer wall portions 26a are again diametrically opposite each other and have the same length. Likewise, the second shorter wall portions 26b are diametrically opposite each other and have the same length. All the wall parts 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b also have the same thickness and the same height measured from the base.

The longest first wall parts 22a run in each case parallel to the longest second wall part 26a of the adjacent second wall section 20 and are laterally offset from the latter in their thickness. Otherwise, the shorter first wall parts 22b run in each case parallel to a shorter second wall part 26b of the adjacent second wall section 20 and are laterally offset from this by their thickness. In this regard, the first wall sections 18 are displaced outwards, starting from a rectangular plane, along the diagonals defined by their corners 24, while the second wall sections 20 are displaced inwards, with respect to the plane. rectangular, along the diagonals defined by its corners 24. The diagonals intersect at a central point 28, through which an axis of symmetry runs perpendicular to the base 12, with respect to which the lateral wall 16 is axially symmetric.

The axial symmetry of the side wall 16 makes it possible to fit two structurally identical shipping containers one inside the other, saving space with the upper side 15 facing each other. To this end, the side wall 16 has, where two wall parts 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b of two different wall sections 18, 20 adjoin each other, in each case a gap 30 in which their height is halved. In the area of each gap 30, the side wall 16 has a transverse wall running perpendicular to the wall portions 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b adjacent to each other there, which connects the wall portions 22a, 22b, 26a. , 26b to each other and is half as tall as you are. The empty shipping containers 10 can then be fitted one inside the other saving space so that, in the case of an upper shipping container 10, the bottom side of the base 12 points upwards, while, in the case of a lower shipping container 10, point down. The first wall sections 18 of the upper shipping container 10 then encompass the second wall sections 20 of the lower shipping container 10, while the first wall sections 18 of the lower shipping container 10 encompass the second wall sections 20 of the container. transport 10 top. In the area of the recesses 30, the transverse walls rest on each other.

For the transport of goods in bundles, the transport containers can be stacked one on top of the other with the lower side pointing downwards from their base 12, as shown in figure 5. To this end, in their accommodation space 14 have several spacers 32, which extend from the base 12 to the same height as the side wall 16, so that the base 12 of the upper transport container 10 not only rests on the side wall 16, but also on the spacers 32 of the lower transport container 10. Furthermore, in the receiving space 14 there are positioning elements 34 which, starting from the base 12, extend at most to the height of the side wall 16 and serve for the safe positioning of the baled goods. In order to simplify handling, the transport container 10 also has continuous gripping holes 36 in its base 12. Figure 6 shows the stack of containers according to Figure 5 in reduced volume form, one inside the other being embedded in each case two transport containers 10.

Figure 7 shows a variant of the transport container 10. This differs only in a detail from the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1. Therefore, the same characteristics are provided with the same reference symbols. In addition to the variant shown in figure 1, the variant of the transport container 10 according to figure 7 has, on the upper side 15, a stacking edge 38 projecting upwards from the wall sections 18, 20, with With the exception of the interruptions in the recesses 30. From the edge of the stack 38 in the direction of the receiving space 14 protrude several teeth 40 arranged at a distance from each other. On the underside of the base 12 there is arranged a contour, not shown in more detail, complementary to the stacking edge 38 and the teeth 40, in which, when two transport containers 10 are stacked one on top of the other, the stacking edge 38 and the teeth 40 of the lower shipping container 10 mesh.

In summary, the following should be noted: The invention relates to a transport container 10 with a base 12 and with a side wall 16 projecting from the base 12 towards an upper side 15, annularly surrounding an accommodation space 14 , which has several wall sections 18, 20, a gap 30 being arranged between two wall sections 18, 20 in each case, in which at least the height of the side wall 16 is reduced, the wall sections being arranged 18, 20 so that the shipping container 10 and a further structurally identical shipping container 10 with upper sides 15 facing each other can be assembled so that at least a portion of the wall sections 18, 20 of the shipping container 10 engaging in the accommodation space 14 and / or the recesses 30 of the additional shipping container 10, and engaging at least a part of the wall sections 18, 20 of the additional shipping container 10 in the space of accommodation 14 and / or the recesses 30 of the transport container 10.

Alternatively, the essential part of the invention can be formulated as follows:

The invention relates to a transport container 10 with a base 12 and with a side wall 16 projecting from the base 12, annularly surrounding an accommodation space 14, the side wall 16 having four wall sections 18, 20 which each have two wall parts 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b extending transversely to each other from a corner 24 of the receiving space 14, each wall part 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b running parallel to each other. a wall part 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b of a wall section 18, 20 adjacent and laterally offset from it by at least its thickness, two diametrically opposite wall sections 18 being offset, starting from a rectangular plan from each other moving away from each other and the other two wall sections 20 being offset against each other, and having wall portions 22a, 22b, 26a, 26b diametrically opposed to each other the same length. Furthermore, according to the invention, provision can be made for the side wall 16 to be axially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry running perpendicular to the base 12.

Claims (12)

1. Transport container with a base (12) and with a side wall (16) projecting from the base (12) towards an upper side (15), annularly surrounding a housing space (14), which has several wall sections (18, 20), with two wall sections (18, 20) being arranged between each case a gap (30), in which at least the height of the side wall (16) is reduced, with The wall sections (18, 20) arranged so that the shipping container (10) and a further structurally identical shipping container (10) with upper sides (15) facing each other can be assembled so that at least a part of the wall sections (18, 20) of the transport container (10) engage in the accommodation space (14) and / or the recesses (30) of the additional transport container (10), engaging at least a part of the wall sections (18, 20) of the additional shipping container (10) in the accommodation space (14) and / or the hu echoes (30) of the transport container (10), the side wall (16) having four wall sections (18, 20), each having two wall parts (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) extending transversely to each other from a corner (24) of the housing space (14), and each wall portion (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) running parallel to a wall portion (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) of a wall section (18, 20) adjacent and laterally displaced relative to it by at least its thickness, two wall sections (18) diametrically opposed to each other being offset, starting from a rectangular plan and the other two wall sections (20) being offset against each other, presenting wall portions (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) diametrically opposed to each other the same length, characterized in that the base (12) and the wall side (16) are made of a single piece from a particle foam, because the wall The lateral wall (16) in each gap (30) is reduced in height by at least half, and because the side wall (16) in each gap (30) has a transverse wall connecting the two wall parts (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) adjacent to each other. Transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that all the wall parts (22a, 22b, 26a, 26b) have the same thickness and / or the same length and / or, starting from the base (12), the same height. Transport container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the side wall (16) is axially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry running perpendicular to the base (12). Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall (16) in each recess (30) is halved in height. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that positioning elements (34) projecting from the base (12) are arranged in the receiving space (14) for baled goods to be accommodated. in the housing space (14) and / or spacers (32). 6. Transport container according to claim 5, characterized in that the spacers (32), starting from the base (12), have the same height as the side wall (16). Transport container according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least a part of the spacers (32) is provided with an upwardly projecting dome, which protrudes more above the base (12) than the wall side (16), and because the base (12), below the dome on its lower side opposite the housing space (14), has a notch complementary to the dome. Transport container according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the positioning elements (34), starting from the base (12), have a height that corresponds at most to the height of the side wall (16) . Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (12) has at least one gripping hole (36) extending through it. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall (16) has ribs projecting towards the receiving space (14), which run in the direction of the base (12). Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall (16) has an at least partially circumferential stacking edge (38) complementary to a contour on the lower side, opposite the receiving space (14) , from the base (12). Transport container according to claim 11, characterized in that teeth (40) arranged at a distance from one another protrude from the stacking edge (38) in the direction towards the receiving space (14), and that the underside of the base (12) has notches complementary to the teeth (40).