EP0474813B1 - Container frame for use with a pallet to form a storage and transport container - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/CH91/00074 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 12, 1991 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 12, 1991 PCT Filed Mar. 26, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO91/14631 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 3, 1991.The container frame (1) is constructed with three layers, the middle layer (3) having a smaller width than the inner and outer layers (2, 4). Insertion slots (5, 6) are thereby formed at the top and bottom of the container frame. A pallet (7) made of carton forming the bottom of the container comprises a base plate (8) and feet (9) made of layers of cardboard, glued to its underside. On the side of the base plate (8) lying opposite the feet (9) is glued a cardboard bottom element (10), whose edges (11) are bent upwards. The insertion slot (6) of the container frame is placed on the bent edge (11). A lid element (12) with bent over edges (13) can be placed in the upper insertion slot (5). All components of the container consist of cardboard or corrugated cardboard and glue and are suitable for recycling.

Description

The present invention relates to a container frame for use with a pallet to form a storage and transport container from a foldable blank of recyclable material, such as e.g. Solid cardboard or corrugated cardboard. The invention further relates to a method for producing a container frame.

From US-A-2,762,551 a container is known which has an inner and an outer container wall. At the lower end there is a bottom with an edge which is inserted between the two container walls. At the upper end of the container, a lid is attached, which is inserted with side edges between the container walls. The container can be made from fiberboard, corrugated fiberboard, or other suitable material. The floor is placed on a pallet, for example made of wood, whereupon the inner container wall is placed on the floor. The outer part of the container is then placed on the pallet. This container has the disadvantage that two separate container walls have to be placed one after the other on the pallet. Furthermore, a separate bottom part is necessary.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container frame for forming a storage and transport container, which can be attached to a pallet in a simple manner. According to the invention, this is achieved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

In a preferred embodiment, there should be the possibility that a plurality of container frames are plugged onto one another and, if desired, can be closed at the top with a lid. According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of patent claim 2.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing the container according to the invention. According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of patent claim 4.

Thanks to the three-layer design, the container frame is very stable and is also suitable for large storage and transport containers. Because the container frame consists of solid cardboard or corrugated cardboard and adhesive, it is recyclable.

Fig. 1 - 6

die einzelnen Verfahrensschritte zur Herstellung des Behälters,

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispieles eines Behälterrahmens,

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt durch den Behälterrahmen und die Palette des ersten Ausführungsbeispieles,

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt durch den Behälterrahmen eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispieles.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention and their use are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1-6

the individual process steps for producing the container,

Fig. 7

2 shows a perspective illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a container frame,

Fig. 8

2 shows a section through the container frame and the pallet of the first exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 9

a section through the container frame of a second embodiment.

How the container frame 1 is manufactured is explained below with reference to FIGS. 1-6. A first longitudinal and a first transverse wall elements 22 and 23, which have an adhesive application on the surface, are placed next to one another at a distance. (Fig. 1).

On the top, ie on the adhesive application of the Wall elements 22 and 23, an insert box 24 is placed (Fig. 2).

Opposite the wall elements 22 and 23, a second longitudinal and a second transverse element 25 and 26 are placed on the insert carton 24 with a glue application underneath and glued to the insert carton 24 by pressing (FIG. 3).

On the longitudinal wall element 25, a third transverse element 27 is placed flush with the outer edge and a third longitudinal wall element 28 is also placed flush on the transverse element 26, also with the outer edge, these wall elements 27 and 28 having a glue application on top (FIG. 4).

The protruding areas 29 and 30 of the insert carton 24 are placed on the wall elements 27 and 28 (FIG. 5).

Opposite the transverse element 27 and the longitudinal element 28, a fourth transverse element 31 and a fourth longitudinal element 32 with adhesive application are placed on the folded areas 29 and 30 of the insert carton (FIG. 6). Then the superimposed wall elements with the insert cardboard running in between are pressed to create a good bond.

The folded container frame can be seen from FIG. In this condition, the container frames can be stacked and delivered as a package. The pallets can also be stacked on top of each other and delivered separately from the container frames. The pallets and the container frame preferably have dimensions that correspond to the European standard format.

All components of the container frame, including the lid, consist only of cardboard or. Solid cardboard or corrugated cardboard, ie fiber material and adhesive, and are therefore well suited for recycling, ie they can be used again for cardboard production.

In Fig. 7, a container frame of a first embodiment is shown in perspective, partially broken away. This four wall elements 59, 60, 61, 62 including container frame 33 is also constructed in three layers, the three layers being made of solid cardboard. The frame is manufactured in the same way as was explained with reference to FIGS. 4-9 in the first exemplary embodiment. The outer layer 34 protrudes at its lower edge 35 over the middle layer 37. The inner and middle layers 36 and 37 are extended at the upper edge 38 by the same amount beyond the outer layer 34 as the outer layer protrudes downwards at its lower edge from the middle layer 37. The inner layer is extended at the lower edge of the container frame 33 over the middle layer in the form of a flap, these flaps being bent through 90 ° and coming to rest on the pallet (not shown in FIG. 10). The tabs 39, 40, 41 and 42 are cut in the corners of the container frame at an angle of 45 °. The edge 35 of the outer layer 34, which is extended at the lower edge of the container frame 33, is pushed over the pallet. Another identical container frame or a lid can be placed on the container frame 33.

FIG. 8 shows a section through the container frame 33 placed on a wooden pallet 43. The lower, tab-shaped edges 39 of the inner layer 36 which are bent over by 90 ° are placed on the pallet base 44. The lower part 35 of the outer layer 34 projects over the pallet base 44 and thus secures the container frame 33 on the pallet 43. The outer layer 46 of a second container frame 47 rests on the offset edge 45 of the outer layer 34. The inner layer 48 and the middle layer 49 of the upper container frame 47 lie on the upper edge 38 of the inner layer 36 and the middle layer 37 of the lower container frame 33. In the same way, a lid could also be placed on the lower container frame 33 or additionally on the upper container frame 47. There is also the option of stacking more than two container frames on top of one another. The inner layer 48 of the upper container frame 47 can also be extended in the form of a tab.

9 shows a section through the side wall 65 of a container frame of a second exemplary embodiment. As in the first exemplary embodiment, the outer layer 66 is also offset from the middle and inner layer 50. The middle layer consists of three individual layers 51, 52 and 53. The tabs 54 for laying on the pallet bottom are arranged between two layers 52 and 53 of the middle layer and are also bent through 90 ° as in the first embodiment.

In a further, not shown, third exemplary embodiment, the three layers 34, 36 and 37 are of the same height at the upper edge, in which case no second frame could be attached in this exemplary embodiment. In this case, the edge of the lid would be placed over the outer layer 34.

The first, second and third exemplary embodiment are preferably used when conventional wooden pallets are to be used further.

Claims (4)

1. Container frame, made from a collapsible blank of recyclable material such as e.g. cardboard or corrugated cardboard, for use with a pallet, characterized in that it comprises wall elements constructed of at least three layers, a middle layer (37) joining the wall elements (59, 60, 61, 62) with each other, and at least the outer layer (34) being offset on at least the bottom side (35) with respect to the inner layer (36, 37) and thereby forms an extended edge (35) on one side of the container frame for fitting over a pallet.
2. Container frame according to claim 1 characterized in that at least the outer layer (34) is also offset at the top side (38) with respect to the inner layer (36, 37) and thereby forms a ledge on which another container frame or lid can be stacked.
3. Container frame according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner layer (36) extends beyond the middle layer (37) and forms in the extended portion a bendable tab (39, 40, 41, 42).
4. Process for producing a container frame according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a first and a second lengthwise element (22, 25) and a first and a second crosswise element (23, 26) are glued to each side of the middle layer (24), two lengthwise and two crosswise elements lying opposite each other, a third crosswise element (27) being placed with a coating of glue on its upper side on the upper second lengthwise element (25) and a third lengthwise element (28) being placed with a coating of glue on its the upper side on the second crosswise element (26), the projecting portions (29, 30) of the middle layer (24) being wrapped around and glued to the third elements (27, 28), and on the middle layer (24) over the third crosswise element (27) a fourth crosswise element (31) is glued with a coating of glue on the underside, and above the third lengthwise element (28) a fourth lengthwise element (32) is glued with a coating of glue on the underside, and in the wall elements thus formed at least the outer edge (34) being offset on at least the bottom side (35) with respect to the inner layer (36, 37).

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