DE8902266U1 - Stacking transport box made of metallic layered material - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICA"'MÜLLER -'GROSSE · VOLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 1 -

24 Feb. 1989 ⁺ ' ^{ni 75 380}

Pritz Schäfer Limited Liability Company,
Fritz-Schäfer-Strasse 20, 5908 Neunkirchen

Stacking transport box made of metallic layered material

The innovation concerns a stacking transport box made of metallic layered material, in particular sheet steel, with the upper opening area having angled stacking edges directed outwards and upwards, as well as with stacking webs formed on the top side, which engage in the stacking edges on the opening side when several units are placed on top of one another.

In the known stacking transport boxes of this type, the stacking edges that delimit the upper opening area and are directed outwards and upwards at an angle are provided in connection with bead-like recesses in the longitudinal and transverse walls, so that in the area of these recesses there is a kind of narrowing of the box opening compared to the clear distance between parallel longitudinal and transverse walls. On the other hand, the stacking webs on the bottom side are shaped as beads to form a sufficiently large support surface, which are shaped inwards from the walls that run straight downwards under the box bottom, in such a way that the box bottom springs back compared to these beads.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICHT**ltitft_'LER ·* GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN ~ ² -

The well-known stack transport boxes have proven to be very effective in practical use. However, it has been shown that they cannot be used for all possible needs. For example, in most cases they cannot be used if their contents are to be loaded and unloaded using so-called robot systems. The grippers and/or rams used in such robot systems are considerably hindered in their inward and outward movement relative to the stack transport box by the type and design of the existing stack edges and stack bars and are therefore unable to reliably fulfill their intended task.

In the case of plastic stacking transport boxes, both the stacking edges in the opening area and the stacking bars on the bottom are designed in such a way that they can be used in conjunction with robot systems without any problems. However, it has been shown that the plastic material of the stacking transport boxes is in most cases unsuitable for long-term use with robot systems because it cannot permanently withstand the inevitable stresses.

The innovation is therefore based on the task of creating a stacking transport box made of metallic layered material of the generic type, which, while being simple and inexpensive to manufacture, has a design both in its opening area and on the base that enables problem-free cooperation with robot systems, in that the length and width clearance '"iboi.· the entire box height between the base and the stacking edge is designed to be constant.

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMER!CH''mOLLER ·' GROSSE ■ POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN" 3 - L

According to the innovation, the solution to this problem is basically achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, namely in that the box bottom is designed as a sheet metal cut separate from the longitudinal walls and the transverse walls and is connected to the longitudinal walls and the transverse walls via angled edge strips, that the edge strips have a transition section that extends either from the box bottom or from the longitudinal and transverse walls in one piece, runs at an acute angle to the plane of the box bottom, but at an obtuse angle to the plane of the longitudinal and transverse walls, which forms stacking webs that point outwards following the floor plane, and that these edge strips have a free end section that either lies flat against the longitudinal walls and transverse walls and is firmly connected or can be connected to them, e.g. welded, or that supports the longitudinal and transverse edges of the box bottom and is firmly connected or can be connected to them, e.g. welded .

With this innovative design of the stacking webs in the area of the floor, the angled stacking edges in the opening area of the stacking transport box can simply extend outwards from the vertical plane of the longitudinal and transverse walls, so that the clear dimension of such a stacking transport box is nowhere restricted in the longitudinal and transverse directions by the stacking edges in the way that is the case, for example, with the storage tubs or storage boxes according to DE-GM 80 17 518 or DE-OS 30 24 713 de--.

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH*·'MÜLLER · GROSSE ■ POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 4 -

In an innovative design for a stackable transport box according to claim 2, the edge strips of the box base are angled upwards and surround the longitudinal walls and the transverse walls on the outside, with the lower end edges of the longitudinal walls and transverse walls reaching at least approximately down to the inner surface of the box base.

However, a stackable transport box with the features of claim 1 has proven particularly useful after the innovation, in which, according to claim 3, the edge strips of the longitudinal walls and the transverse walls have a transition section angled outwards and downwards and an end section angled inwards, with their end sections lying flush with the underside of the box base and engaging in offset edge regions of the same.

In a further embodiment of this type of stacking transport box, according to claim 4, the end sections of the edge strips can protrude beyond the inner surfaces of the longitudinal and transverse walls by a dimension which is at least equal to the width of the stacking webs protruding beyond the outer surfaces of the longitudinal and transverse walls.

If, according to claim 5, in both types of stacking transport boxes, the box base is provided with openings, e.g. holes, arranged in rows next to one another and one behind the other, each of which has a predetermined distance from one another and from the edge strips, then such stacking transport boxes can work together in a particularly advantageous manner with robot systems in which plungers have to be guided through the box base from below in order to carry out the loading and unloading process.

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMER I '"MÜLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN" 5 ~

A high degree of dimensional stability of stackable transport boxes according to the invention is achieved according to claim 6 when the stacking edge delimiting the opening area is provided with a one-piece stiffening bead rolled outwards and downwards.

In the case of stackable transport boxes according to the innovation, it can also prove to be advantageous if, according to claim 7, the box base is provided with a profile running in the longitudinal or transverse direction, e.g. molded-in beads, waves, ribs or the like, because this can achieve a considerable increase in its dimensional stability and can counteract warping in practical use.

In stacking transport boxes with the design features of claims 1 and 3, it is particularly advantageous that, according to claim 8, the profiling of the box base can be carried out continuously across its entire length or width. Not only is a higher dimensional stability and freedom from distortion achieved for the box base itself, but with good welding with the edge strips of the longitudinal and transverse walls, the stability of the stacking transport box is increased overall.

The drawing shows examples of the innovation.

Figure 1 shows in three-dimensional view the overall structure of a first design for a stacking transport box,

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY - VALENTIN - 6 -

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the two most important components of the stacking door saving box according to Fig. 1,

Figure 3 shows a slightly enlarged vertical section through a section of the stacking transport box according to Fig. I,

Figure 4 shows a spatial view of the overall structure of a second type of stack transport box,

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the two most important components of the stacking transport box according to Fig. 4 and

Figure 6 shows, on a slightly enlarged scale, a vertical section through a section of the stacking transport box according to Fig. 4.

The stacking transport box 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing has a box base 2, two transverse walls 3 and 4 adjoining it at the top and two longitudinal walls 5 and 6 also adjoining it at the top. The upper opening area of the stacking transport box 1 is delimited all around by an angled stacking edge 7 directed outwards and upwards, while on the base side there are stacking webs 8 also directed outwards all around.

Each transverse wall 3, 4 and each longitudinal wall 5, 6 of the stacking transport box 1 can be cut individually from a metallic layer material, in particular sheet steel, whereby these cut pieces can then be connected to one another via angled edge strips by spot welding. It is

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMER ICH* **MÜ LLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · McY · VALENTIN" 7 -

but it is also possible to manufacture a transverse wall and a longitudinal wall, for example the transverse wall 3 and the longitudinal wall 5 on the one hand and the transverse wall 4 and the longitudinal wall 6 on the other hand, each in one piece from a sheet metal blank and then to connect these two angle parts to one another by means of spark welding. In any case, it is important that the upwardly directed stacking edge 7 is formed in one piece, for example by bending, onto each transverse wall 3 or 4 and each longitudinal wall 5 or 6, as can be seen particularly clearly in Fig. 3. It is also possible to equip the stacking edge 7 not only with a horizontal leg 9 and a vertical leg 10, but also to have a reinforcing bead 11 rolled outwards and downwards in one piece connected to the vertical leg 10, as can be seen particularly clearly in Fig. 3.

The spot welds for establishing the connection between the transverse walls 3 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6 are each marked with the reference number 12 in the drawing.

The box base 2 is designed as a sheet metal blank manufactured separately from the transverse walls 3 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6. It has edge strips 13 that are angled upwards from its plane along its four boundary edges, as can be seen particularly clearly in Fig. 2. These edge strips 13 are preferably manufactured by bending and each have an end section 14 that extends at right angles to the box base 2. This end section 14 is designed in such a way that it can lie flat against a transverse wall 3 or 4 or a longitudinal wall 5 or 6, as can be seen particularly clearly in Fig. 3.

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMER ICH*·' MILLER "GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 8 -

Although it is entirely possible for the end sections 14 of the edge strips 13 to come into contact with the inner surfaces of the transverse walls 3 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6, a design has proven particularly useful in which these end sections 14 of the edge strips 13 of the box base 2 encompass the transverse walls 3 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6 on the outside. In this case, the lower edges 15 of the transverse walls 1 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6 can reach down at least approximately to the inner surface of the box base 2, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Each edge strip 13 also has a transition section 16 which runs at an acute angle to the plane of the box base 2, but at an obtuse angle to its end section 14, which is shaped in such a way that it forms the stacking web 8 directed outwards above the plane of the box base 2. The dimensions of a transition section 16 are selected in such a way that stacking webs 8 are created which fit into the upwardly directed stacking edge 7 with sufficient engagement play when several units of stacking transport boxes 1 are to be placed on top of one another.

It is readily apparent from the drawing that the stacking transport box 1 has both stacking edges 7 and stacking webs of high stability, and that both the stacking edges 7 and the stacking webs Q are positioned outwards relative to the transverse walls 3 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6. This ensures that the clear width of the stacking transport box 1 remains the same both transversely and longitudinally over the entire height, i.e. is not restricted by any constrictions.

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE · POtLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 9 -

The box bottom 2 is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, provided with several openings arranged in rows next to and behind one another, e.g. round holes 17, which each have a predetermined distance from one another and also from the edge strips 13 of the box bottom 2.

According to Fig. 2, three holes 17 are provided in a row running parallel to the longitudinal edges of the box base 1, in each case within a bead 18 formed longitudinally there.

The holes 17 can be used as passages for plungers, which must be inserted from below through the floor into the interior of the box when using the stack transport boxes 1 in conjunction with so-called robot systems.

In the usual way, the stacking transport boxes 1 can be provided with foldable handles 19 on the outside of their transverse walls 3 and 4, but optionally also on the outside of their longitudinal walls 5 and 6, which enable manual transport.

The box bottom 2 is connected to the transverse walls 3 and 4 and the longitudinal walls 5 and 6 in the simplest way by means of spot welds 20 via the end sections 14 of its edge strips 13, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 1.

The stacking transport box 21 shown in Fig. 3 to 6 of the drawing has a box base 22, two transverse walls 23 and 24 adjoining it at the top, and two longitudinal walls 25 and 26 adjoining it at the top. The upper opening area of the stacking transport box 21 is

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMER ICH'"m'üLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN" 10 -

delimited all around by an angled stacking edge 27 directed outwards and upwards, while on the bottom side there are stacking webs 28 also directed outwards all around.

Each transverse wall 23, 24 and each longitudinal wall 25, 26 of the stack transport box 21 can be cut individually from a metallic layer material, in particular sheet steel, whereby these cut pieces can then be connected to one another via angled edge strips by spot welding. Here too, however, it is possible to manufacture a transverse wall and a longitudinal wall, for example the transverse wall 23 and the longitudinal wall 25 on the one hand and the transverse wall 24 and the longitudinal wall 26 on the other hand, each in one piece from a sheet metal cut piece and then to connect these two angle parts to one another by spot welding. In any case, it is important that the upwardly directed stack edge 27 is formed in one piece, for example by bending, onto each transverse wall 23 or 24 and each longitudinal wall 25 or 26, as can be seen particularly clearly in Fig. 6. It is also advantageous here if the stacking edge 27 is not only equipped with a horizontal leg Γ9 and a vertical leg 30, but a reinforcing bead 31 rolled in one piece outwards and downwards is connected to the vertical leg 30, as can be seen in Fig. 6.

The connection between the transverse walls 23 and 24 and the longitudinal walls 25 and 26 is, as indicated in Figs. 4 to 6, made by spot welds 32.

The box base 22 of the stacking box 21 according to Figs. 4 to 6 is also designed as a sheet metal cut that is manufactured separately from the transverse walls 23 and 24 and the longitudinal walls 25 and 26.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE ■ POLLME(ER · MEY · VALENTIN - 11 - £

However, in contrast to the stacking transport box 1 according to Figs. 1 to 3, the stacking transport box 21 according to Figs. 4 to 6 does not have any edge strips angled upwards from its plane on the four boundary edges of the box base 22. Instead, according to Figs. 4 to 6, angled edge strips 33 are located on the lower edges of the transverse walls 23 and 24 as well as the longitudinal walls 25 and 26.

These edge strips 33 are produced by pressing, preferably by bending, and, as can be seen from Figs. 5 and 6, each have an end section 34 which extends in the direction of the plane of the box bottom 22. Each end section 34 is designed in such a way that it can form a flat support for the box bottom 22, as is again illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

It has proven particularly advantageous to match the shape of the box base 22 to the material thickness of the end section 34 so that the underside of the box base 22 is flush with the underside of the end section 34 (Fig. 5). For this purpose, offset edge regions 35 can be formed along the longitudinal and transverse edges of the box base 22, as can be seen in Fig. 5.

Each of the edge strips 33 formed integrally on the transverse walls 23 and 24 and the longitudinal walls 25 and 26 has a transition section 36 which is directed at an acute angle to the plane of the box bottom 22, but adjoins the relevant wall plane at an obtuse angle. This transition section is shaped in such a way that it forms the stacking web 28 directed outwards above the plane of the box bottom 22. The transition section 36 is designed in terms of its dimensions in such a way that stacking webs 28 are created which have a sufficiently large

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PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY ■ VALENTIN - 12 -

Gripping clearance must fit into the upward-facing stacking edge 27 if several units of stacking transport boxes 21 are to be placed on top of one another.

For the formation of the stacking webs 28 or the edge strips 33 used to form them, it has proven useful to measure the width of the end section 34 such that its end edge projects beyond the inner surface of the transverse walls 23 or 24 and the longitudinal walls 25 or 26 by a dimension 41 which corresponds at least to the dimension 42 by which the stacking webs 28 project beyond the outer surface of the transverse walls 23 or 24 and the longitudinal walls 25 or 26. This ensures a stable support and weld connection between the end sections 34 of the edge strips 33 and the box base 22.

The design of a stacking transport box 21 shown in Fig. 4 to 6 also has stacking edges 27 and stacking webs 28 of high stability, which are positioned outwards relative to the transverse walls 23 and 24 and the longitudinal walls 25 and 26. The clear width of the stacking transport box 21 therefore remains the same across the entire height in both the transverse and longitudinal directions and is therefore not restricted by any constrictions.

In the embodiment of a stackable transport box 21 according to Figs. 4 to 6, the box base 22 is also provided with several openings arranged in rows next to and behind one another, for example round holes 37, which are each spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE ■ POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 13 -

The box base 22 has a profile 38 running in its transverse direction - or also in its longitudinal direction - which extends uninterruptedly over its entire width - or length. This profile 38 can consist of beads, waves, ribs or the like. The profile 38 according to Fig. 6 is formed, for example, by alternating trapezoidal or rectangular beads directed upwards and downwards, with the openings 37 being located in the upwardly directed bead profiles.

The openings or holes 37 can also be used here as passages for the plungers of robot systems, as are often used for the purpose of loading and unloading stackable transport boxes 21.

According to Figs. 4 and 6, the stack transport box 21 is provided with foldable handles 39 on the outside of its transverse walls 23 and 24, which enable manual transport.

It should also be mentioned that the box bottom 22 can be firmly connected to the end sections 34 of the edge strips 33 formed on the transverse walls 23 and ?\ or longitudinal walls 25 and 26 by spot welding, which are each placed in the area of the downwardly directed bead profiles of the box bottom 22. Since the spot welding connections between the box bottom 22 and the end sections 34 of the edge strips 33 in the stack transport box 21 according to Fig. 4 to 6 basically only serve to fix the position of the box bottom 22, i.e. by the loads of the goods accommodated in the stack transport box 21

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PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 14 -

are practically not stressed , a higher load-bearing capacity results than in the stacking transport box 1 according to Figs. 1 to 3. There , the spot-welded connections 20 between the box bottom 2 and the transverse walls 3, 4 and the longitudinal walls 5, 6 are subjected to shear forces which result from the weight of the stored goods resting on the box bottom 2 as soon as the stacking transport box is lifted.

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Claims (8)

PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH'*'MOLLER ■ GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 15 - 24. Febr. 1989 +.ni 75380 Fritz Schäfer Limited Liability Company, Fritz-Schäfer-Straße 20, 5908 Neunkirchen Protection claims 1. Stacking transport box made of metallic layered material, in particular sheet steel, with stacking edges that delimit the upper opening area and are angled outwards and upwards, as well as with stacking webs on the bottom that engage in the stacking edges on the opening side when several units are placed on top of each other,
characterized,
that the box bottom (2; 22) is designed as a sheet metal cut separate from the longitudinal walls (5, 6; 25, 26) and the transverse walls (3, 4; 23, 24) and is connected to the longitudinal walls (5, 6; 25, 26) and the transverse walls (3, 4; 23, 24) via angled edge strips (13; 33),
that the edge strips (137 33) have a transition section (16; 36) which extends either from the box bottom (2) or from the longitudinal walls (25, 26) and the transverse walls (23, 24) in one piece, at an acute angle to the plane of the box bottom (2; 22), but at an obtuse angle to the plane of the longitudinal walls (5, 6; 25, 26) and the transverse walls (3, 4? 23, 24), which forms an outward-facing stacking support (8; 28) following the floor plane, and that these edge strips (13; 33) have a free end section (14; 34) which either lies flat against the longitudinal walls (5, 6) and the transverse walls (3, 4) and is firmly connected or connectable to them, e.g. welded (Fig. 1 and 3) - 16 - ■ Ill. 111 PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN ~ 16 - or which supports the longitudinal and transverse edges of the base (22) and is firmly connected or can be connected to them, e.g. by welding (Fig. 5 and 6). 2. Stacking transport box according to claim 1,
dado I marked _r that the edge strips (13) of the box base (2) are angled upwards and encompass the longitudinal walls (5, 6) and transverse walls (3, 4) on the outside, and that the lower end edges (15) of the longitudinal walls (5, 6) and the transverse walls (3, 4) extend at least approximately down to the inner surface of the box base (2). 3. Stacking transport box according to claim 1,
characterized, that the edge strips (33) of the longitudinal walls (25, 26) and the transverse walls (23, 24) have a transition section (36) angled outwards and downwards as well as an end section (34) angled inwards and engage with their end sections (34) flush with the underside of the box base (22) in offset edge regions (35) of the same (Fig. 5). 4. Stacking transport box according to one of claims 1 and 3,
characterized, that the end sections (34) of the edge strips (33) protrude beyond the inner surfaces of the longitudinal walls (25, 26) and the transverse walls (23, 24) by a dimension (41) which is at least equal to the width (42) of the stacking webs (28) protruding beyond the outer surfaces of the longitudinal walls (25, 26) and the transverse walls (23, 24) (Fig. 5). PATENT ATTORNEYS HEMMERICH · MÜLLER · GROSSE · POLLMEIER · MEY · VALENTIN - 17 - 5. Stacking transport box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the box bottom (2; 22) is provided with openings (17; 37) arranged in rows next to and behind one another, e.g. holes, which each have a predetermined distance from one another and from the edge strips (13; 33). 6. Stacking transport box according to one of claims* 1 to 5,
characterized, that the stack edge (7; 27) delimiting the opening area is provided with a stiffening bead (11; 31) rolled in one piece outwards and downwards. 7. Stacking transport box according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized, that the box bottom (2; 22) is provided with a profile (18; 38) running in the longitudinal or transverse direction, e.g. molded beads, waves, ribs or the like. 8. Stacking transport box after a
of claims 1, 3, 4 and &Iacgr;.
characterized, that the profiling (38) is continuous over the entire length or width of the box base (22) (Fig. 6). - 18 -