EP3626646B1 - Stackable tray - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stackable box according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

At the in the EP 1 287 780 B1 In the case of the generic box shown, it is provided that the stacked boxes are essentially placed on top of each other in their corner areas. In this prior art, the top sides of the side wall sections between the corner areas are inclined obliquely to the stacking direction. This has the advantage that water and/or other liquids or moisture run off from the sloping tops of the side wall sections following the gradient and so the tops of the side wall sections dry more quickly. This is particularly advantageous if the boxes are used in a washing and/or rinsing process. A disadvantage of the construction according to the EP 1 287 780 B1 is that the maximum possible load capacity of such boxes is limited.

Another generic box is in the US 2018/251260 A1 shown.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve generic stackable boxes in such a way that, on the one hand, they have side walls that dry as quickly as possible, but on the other hand they also enable high loads.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a box according to claim 1.

It is therefore a basic idea of the invention to create contact surfaces along the side wall sections which ensure stable support of boxes stacked on top of one another. This creates boxes that have a high load capacity exhibit. The areas of the top side of the side wall sections remaining between the contact surfaces are designed to be inclined obliquely to the stacking direction, so that water and other liquids flow quickly from the top sides of the side wall sections, thus promoting rapid drying of the side wall sections. The contact surfaces that protrude over the respective adjacent areas can be attached both to the tops and to the bottoms of the side wall sections.

If one considers an arrangement of boxes according to the invention stacked on top of one another, it is advantageously provided that the undersides of the side wall sections of the respective upper box rest exclusively in the area of the contact surfaces on the top sides of the side wall sections of the respective lower box. Conveniently, this results in the areas of the respective top sides that are inclined obliquely to the stacking direction Side wall sections of the lower box are arranged at a distance from the areas of the undersides of the side wall sections of the upper box arranged above them. This creates an air gap between the respective top sides of the side wall sections of the lower box and the undersides of the side wall sections of the upper box, which in turn promotes the rapid drying of the side walls. It is also advantageous to ensure that the boxes stacked on top of each other do not touch each other in the corner areas. This is achieved by the contact areas also protruding beyond the corner areas of the side wall of the box.

Stackable boxes according to the invention could also be referred to as transport and/or storage boxes or generally as containers or transport containers. Even if they are designed for mechanical gripping using at least one gripping device, they can of course also be conveniently gripped and transported by hand.

The term mechanical gripping is to be understood in its general meaning as meaning that a box is physically contacted by means of a gripping device in such a way that it is lifted with the gripping devices in the mechanically gripped, in other words, machine-contacted or machine-touched state , transported or moved in another way.

Stackable boxes according to the invention can be used in very different areas. In principle, it is conceivable to use such stackable boxes for storing, washing and transporting dishes, glasses and the like. However, such machine-graspable stackable boxes are particularly preferably used in an industrial environment in order to store, transport, wash and the like corresponding objects to be processed, manufactured or manufactured in industry. The minimum load capacity of stackable boxes according to the invention is advantageously at least 10 kg, particularly preferably 25 kg per box. Depending on the area of application Stackable boxes according to the invention can also be dimensioned very differently. These are preferably boxes with a rectangular or square basic shape. Based on the external dimensions, the length of the box is advantageously in the range from 10 cm to 120 cm, preferably from 25 cm to 65 cm, and its width in the range from 10 cm to 100 cm, preferably 25 cm to 45 cm. In preferred variants, the height of the box is in the range from 3 cm to 25 cm, preferably from 4 cm to 15 cm.

Boxes according to the invention can consist of different materials or material compositions. These can be metal boxes but also plastic boxes. Even wooden or composite boxes are conceivable. In any case, it is preferably provided that the stackable box is designed in one piece. This also means that the side wall and the floor are then connected to one another in one piece and are made of the same material. For example, boxes according to the invention can be those made of a suitable plastic such as polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyoxymethylene (POM) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Boxes according to the invention can be produced, for example, using the injection molding process.

Boxes according to the invention have a base which, together with the surrounding side wall, delimits the receiving space of the box into which the objects can be placed. The box is usually placed on the floor with the bottom in such a way that the objects in the receiving room rest on the floor. The floor usually forms the support surface for the objects in the storage space of the box. Towards the sides, the recording space is limited by the circumferential side wall of the box. The side wall can be self-contained and completely surround the floor. But it can also be made up of several components that are interrupted. Even then it can still be a circumferential side wall. Both the side wall and the bottom can be designed as self-contained surfaces. However, it is just as possible to have grid-shaped structures in the floor and/or in the side wall, i.e. openings, windows, reinforcing ribs and the like to be provided. In preferred embodiments, the circumferential side wall is composed of corner areas and, preferably straight, side wall sections running between the corner areas. In preferred embodiments, the side wall can have a rectangular basic shape in a top view of the box. The term rectangular is not only to be understood in the strict mathematical sense. It also includes embodiments in which the side wall sections basically converge at a right angle in the corner area, but the corner area itself still has roundings and the like, etc.

In any case, boxes according to the invention are designed so that they can be stacked on top of one another in a stacking direction together with other boxes of the same type. As is known in the prior art, the stacking direction is generally predetermined by the shape of the box or its bottom and side wall. For example, the floor can protrude over the side wall, so that this protruding area of the floor of a box can be placed in the upper area of the receiving space of the box underneath, i.e. in the area which is surrounded by the side wall, so that the floor of the upper box is closed is held positively on the sides by the side wall of the lower box. This also automatically determines the corresponding stacking direction in which the boxes must be stacked on top of each other. For boxes with several possible stacking directions, the features according to the invention must be implemented with respect to at least one stacking direction so that it is a box according to the invention.

In preferred embodiments of boxes according to the invention, it is provided that the bottom forms an upper, in particular flat, boundary surface with which it delimits the receiving space. The stacking direction then conveniently runs normal to this upper boundary surface of the floor. In other words, the stacking direction then forms a surface normal to this upper boundary surface of the floor. In an operating position of the box, the upper boundary surface of the floor limits the receiving space of the box downwards, while the side wall limits the receiving space in this position of the box to the sides, i.e. in horizontal directions. The boundary surface is spanned from the top of the floor. This also applies if the floor is designed in a grid shape or the like. The upper, in particular flat, boundary surface is the surface on which the objects stored in the box in the receiving space rest in the operating position. The stacking direction is used as a reference direction in several places when defining the invention. As an alternative to the stacking direction, the mentioned upper, in particular flat, boundary surface of the floor could also be used as a geometric reference, in which case it would be assumed that the stacking direction forms a surface normal to this upper boundary surface of the floor, i.e. orthogonally on all sides on the upper boundary surface of the floor stands.

Boxes according to the invention can be open at the top, i.e. on the side of the side wall facing away from the floor. In other words, such boxes have a receiving space that is open at the top. In principle, stackable boxes according to the invention can of course also be closed with a lid on the side of the receiving space opposite the floor by attaching a corresponding lid to this side of a side wall.

• Fig. 1 zwei aufeinander gestapelte erfindungsgemäße Kisten eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung in einer Seitenansicht;
• Fig. 2 einen Vertikalschnitt entlang der Schnittlinie AA aus Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Draufsicht auf den Kistenstapel gemäß Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 den Bereich B aus Fig. 3 vergrößert;
• Fig. 5 den Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie CC aus Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 den Schnitt durch die Seitenwand entlang der Schnittlinie DD aus Fig. 4;
• Fig. 7 den Schnitt durch die Seitenwand entlang der Schnittlinie EE auf Fig. 4;
• Fig. 8 die beiden Kisten aus Fig. 1, wobei Greifeinrichtungen in die Kanäle der Kisten eingeführt sind;
• Fig. 9 Eine Ansicht von unten auf die Situation gemäß Fig. 8 und
• Fig. 10 und 11 Schnittdarstellungen analog zur Schnittlinie CC aus Fig. 4, wobei die gezeigte Greifeinrichtung jeweils zum Greifen einer verschiedenen Anzahl von Kisten in die Kanäle eingeführt ist;
• Fig. 12 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf eine der Kisten des Kistenstapels in Fig. 1 von schräg oben;
• Fig. 13 diese Kiste aus Fig. 12 in einer Schrägansicht auf den Boden;
• Fig. 14 diese Kiste aus Fig. 12 in einer Draufsicht;
• Fig. 15 den Bereich F aus Fig. 14 vergrößert;
• Fig. 16 den Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie GG aus Fig. 15;
• Fig. 17 den Bereich L aus Fig. 16 vergrößert;
• Fig. 18 den Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie HH aus Fig. 15;
• Fig. 19 den Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie KKaus Fig. 15;
• Fig. 20 eine alternative Ausgestaltungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Kiste bei der auch in den Seitenwandabschnitten Kanäle vorgesehen sind;
• Fig. 21 einen Vertikalschnitt entlang der Schnittlinie MM aus Fig. 20;
• Fig. 22 einen Eckbereich einer erfindungsgemäßen Kiste bei der abweichend von vorab geschilderten Ausführungsbeispielen der Kanal nicht umfangsgeschlossen ausgeführt ist;
• Fig. 23 und 24 verschiedene Schnittdarstellungen zu möglichen Ausgestaltungsformen des Kanalinnenhohlraums;
• Fig. 25 und 26 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in einer Ansicht von schräg oben und in einer Ansicht schräg auf den Boden der Kiste;
• Fig. 27 und 28 Schnitte durch die Seitenwand der Kiste gemäß Fig. 25 und 26 im aufeinandergestapelten Zustand zweier solcher Kisten und
• Fig. 29 und 30 eine Darstellung analog zu den Fig. 27 und 28 für eine weitere alternative Ausgestaltungsform.

Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained by way of example in the following description of the figures using exemplary embodiments of the invention. It should be noted that the individual preferred features are shown in combination with one another in the exemplary embodiments. However, this does not mean that these preferred features always have to occur in this combination when implementing the invention. All preferred features or variants described below can therefore also be seen on their own and can also be implemented in exemplary embodiments of the invention other than those shown in combination with other preferred features of the invention. Show it:

• Fig. 1 two boxes according to the invention stacked on top of each other of a first Embodiment of the invention in a side view;
• Fig. 2 a vertical section along the section line AA Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 a top view of the stack of boxes according to Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 4 the area B Fig. 3 enlarged;
• Fig. 5 the cut along the cutting line CC Fig. 4 ;
• Fig. 6 cut through the side wall along the cutting line DD Fig. 4 ;
• Fig. 7 the section through the side wall along the section line EE Fig. 4 ;
• Fig. 8 the two boxes Fig. 1 , with gripping devices inserted into the channels of the boxes;
• Fig. 9 A view from below of the situation Fig. 8 and
• 10 and 11 Sectional representations analogous to the section line CC Fig. 4 , wherein the gripping device shown is inserted into the channels for gripping a different number of boxes;
• Fig. 12 a perspective view of one of the boxes in the stack of boxes in Fig. 1 diagonally from above;
• Fig. 13 this box Fig. 12 in an oblique view of the floor;
• Fig. 14 this box Fig. 12 in a top view;
• Fig. 15 the area F Fig. 14 enlarged;
• Fig. 16 the cut along the cutting line GG Fig. 15 ;
• Fig. 17 the area L Fig. 16 enlarged;
• Fig. 18 the cut along the cutting line HH Fig. 15 ;
• Fig. 19 the cut along the cutting line KK Fig. 15 ;
• Fig. 20 an alternative embodiment of a box according to the invention in which channels are also provided in the side wall sections;
• Fig. 21 a vertical section along the section line MM Fig. 20 ;
• Fig. 22 a corner area of a box according to the invention in which, unlike the previously described exemplary embodiments, the channel is not designed to be closed around the circumference;
• Fig. 23 and 24 various sectional views of possible configurations of the inner channel cavity;
• Fig. 25 and 26 a further embodiment of the invention in a view obliquely from above and in a view obliquely on the bottom of the box;
• Fig. 27 and 28 Cuts through the side wall of the box accordingly Fig. 25 and 26 when two such boxes are stacked on top of each other and
• Fig. 29 and 30 a representation analogous to the Fig. 27 and 28 for another alternative embodiment.

The first exemplary embodiment of the invention will be discussed below, which is shown in the Fig. 1 to 19 is shown. The following description of the further exemplary embodiments then focuses on the differences from the first exemplary embodiment.

The box 1 according to the invention of the first exemplary embodiment is in the Fig. 1 to 11 stacked in the stacking direction 2 on another box 1 according to the invention of the same type. The Fig. 12-19 show this box 1 of the first exemplary embodiment individually or parts of it.

The box 1 has a base 3 and a side wall 4 which projects beyond the base 3 parallel to the stacking direction 2 and, in this exemplary embodiment, runs completely around the base 3. The bottom 3 and the side wall 4 together delimit the receiving space 5 of the box 1, which is intended to hold the objects in the box. In the operating position, such as in the Fig. 1 and 2 shown, the receiving space 5 is delimited downwards by an upper, here flat boundary surface 17 of the floor 3. The stacking direction 2 forms a surface normal to this upper boundary surface 17 of the base 3. In other words, the stacking direction 2 runs normal to the upper boundary surface 17 of the base 3. The stacking direction 2 is also predetermined in this exemplary embodiment in that the base is used to stack the boxes 1 on top of one another 3 of the upper box 1 must be inserted into the upper area of the receiving space 5 of the lower box 1 surrounded by the side wall 4. Like this, for example Fig. 2 can be clearly seen, this results in a positive connection in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction 2. This means that the boxes 1 have to be placed on top of each other in the stacking direction 2 for stacking on top of each other and the upper box or Boxes 1 must be lifted off the lower box or boxes 1 against the stacking direction 2. As already explained at the beginning, both the bottom 3 and the side wall 4 can be designed as self-contained surfaces. This is not the case in this exemplary embodiment. Here both the bottom 3 and the side walls 4 each have openings. In this exemplary embodiment, the floor 3 is formed by a lattice-shaped structure. The side wall 4 has a large number of window-like openings. All of this is of course only shown as an example and can also be carried out in other ways known per se. Above all, reinforcing ribs and the like can also be formed both on the bottom 3 and on the side wall 4, to the extent necessary for the intended purpose. The boxes 1 shown here have a rectangular basic shape with four corner regions 16, which in this exemplary embodiment are rounded. Side wall sections 21 run between the corner regions 16. In the embodiment variants shown here, the side wall 4, which runs completely around the base 3, is thus formed from the four corner regions 16 and the preferably straight side wall sections 21 running between them. Of course, boxes 1 according to the invention with a basic shape that is not rectangular but with a different design are also conceivable and possible. The preferred side wall sections 21 realized here are each designed to be straight or linear. They each meet an adjacent side wall section 21 at an orthogonal angle in the corner regions 16. Of course, this does not have to be the case either. For example, the number of corner regions 16 and the number and shape of the side wall sections 21 can of course also be designed differently.

The boxes 1 are designed with adapters arranged at a distance from one another for mechanical gripping of the box 1 by means of at least one gripping device 6. The adapters are each designed in the side wall 4 as channels 8 extending longitudinally in a longitudinal direction 7 running parallel to the stacking direction 2, the channels 8 each having an inlet opening 9 and an outlet opening 10 and in between one delimited by a channel boundary wall 11 of the box 1 and in the respective longitudinal direction 7 have a longitudinally extending inner channel cavity 12 for passing the gripping device 6 through the inlet opening 9 and the inner channel cavity 12 and the outlet opening 10. The channel boundary wall 11 is advantageously, as also implemented here, designed as a partial area of the side wall 4. In preferred embodiments, as shown here in the first exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the channel boundary wall 11 delimits the channel inner cavity 12 in a closed circumference. Circumferentially closed means that the channel boundary wall 11 surrounds the channel interior cavity 12 over a circumferential angle of 360°. This is good in relation to the first exemplary embodiment Fig. 3 , 4 , 9 , 12 to 14 and 15 to see. The circumferentially closed design can also be seen in a sectional plane 13 normal to the stacking direction 2. Such sectional planes 13 are exemplified in Fig. 5 drawn. Conveniently, the channels 8 are each formed in a corner region 16 of the side wall 4, as also shown in the first exemplary embodiment. In order to ensure stable gripping of the box 1 or stacked boxes 1, at least two channels 8 are advantageously formed in each box or its side wall 4. Preferred embodiments provide that at least four, preferably exactly four, channels 8 are arranged in the side wall 4.

The channels 8 arranged in the side wall 4 or, in preferred embodiments, in the corner regions 16 serve to allow a corresponding gripping device 6 to be guided through them, so that the correspondingly designed gripping device 6 covers the inlet opening 9, the inner channel cavity 12 and the outlet opening 10 of the respective Channel 8 can penetrate. For this purpose, the shape of the gripping device and the shape of the channel 8 should be coordinated with one another, with different shapes being fundamentally conceivable and possible. It is preferably provided that the inner channel cavity 12 of the respective channel 8 has a circular cross section at least in sections, as is also the case in the first exemplary embodiment shown here. This can be seen in the first exemplary embodiment, for example, in the shape of the inlet opening 9 and also in the shape of the outlet opening 10 and also in a corresponding section through the respective channel 8 in a sectional plane 13 normal to the stacking direction 2. The channel 8 preferably extends with its longitudinal extension direction 7 over the entire or at least a large part of the height extension 15 of the side wall 4 in the area of the respective channel 8 in a direction parallel to the stacking direction 2. In this sense it is advantageously provided that the side wall 4 in the area of the respective channel 8 has a height extension 15 in a direction parallel to the stacking direction 2 and the channel 8 extends over at least 50%, preferably over at least 80%, of this height extension 15 of the side wall 4. In Fig. 5 It can be seen particularly clearly that the channel 8 in this first exemplary embodiment extends over practically the entire height extent 15 of the side wall 4. It is also advantageous if the longitudinal extent of the respective channel 8 in its longitudinal direction is at least, preferably twice, as large as the diameter of the inlet opening 9 or the outlet opening 10. If in doubt, the largest of these diameters should be used.

In an arrangement of boxes 1 stacked on top of each other, it is conveniently provided that the, preferably at least two of the channels 8 of each of the boxes 1 are arranged in alignment with a channel 8 of the box 1 arranged below and/or above for the passage of a gripping device 6. This is good in the Fig. 5 , 10 and 11 to see where in Fig. 5 no gripping device 6 is shown, while in Fig. 10 the gripping device 6 is guided through the two channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1, which are arranged one above the other and aligned with one another, and in Fig. 11 the gripping device 6 is only passed through the channel 8 of the upper box 1.

So that the respective gripping device 6 can be guided unhindered through the corresponding channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1, preferred embodiments provide that the box 1 is, preferably completely, free of the respective inlet opening 9 and the respective outlet opening 10 of the respective channel 8 in its respective longitudinal extent 7, in particular completely, covering wall areas. In other words, it is therefore advantageously at least provided that the box 1 does not have any wall areas which completely cover the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 10 of the respective channel 8. This ensures that the gripping device 6 can be guided unhindered through the channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1. Advantageously, it is provided that the box is completely free of wall areas that only partially cover the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 10 of the respective channel. For the sake of completeness, however, it should be noted that with a corresponding design of the gripping device 6, the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 10 would be able to partially cover wall areas if the gripping device 6 was guided past them and passed through the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 10 of the respective channel 8 can be.

For the mechanical gripping of boxes 1 stacked on top of one another, a preferred method provides that at least two gripping devices 6 are each guided through the channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1, which are arranged in alignment with one another, and the gripping devices 6 are each, preferably only in the lowest jointly gripped, of the stacked boxes 1 can be releasably fixed in a positive and/or frictional manner. In other words, it is conveniently provided that the gripping device 6 for gripping a certain number of boxes 1 stacked on top of each other does not fix each of these boxes 1 in a positive and/or frictional manner, but, to put it simply, this releasable fixation only on the lowest box 1 of the number of boxes 1 stacked on top of each other to be gripped in a form-fitting and/or frictional manner. When this bottom box 1 of the plate stack is lifted by means of the gripping device 6, the boxes 1 of the box stack arranged above it are then automatically lifted. To releasably fix the box 1 or the lowest box 1 of the stack of boxes to be lifted, the gripping device 6 can engage the respective channel 8 of the box 1 in various ways in a positive and/or frictional manner. For example, it is conceivable that the diameter of the gripping device 6 within the channel 8 mentioned is increased, for example by appropriate pressure pads or the like, so that it is releasably fixed by means of friction to the channel boundary wall 11 surrounding the channel inner cavity 12. However, one is preferred positive, releasable fixing of the respective gripping device 6 in or on the respective channel 8 of the corresponding box 1, as is highly schematized in the Fig. 8 to 11 is also shown. The variant of the gripping device 6 shown there has a bar 20 which can be displaced in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction 2 and which can engage in a corresponding undercut 18 in and/or on the channel boundary wall 11. In this context, it is conveniently provided that at least one undercut 18 is formed in and/or on the channel boundary wall 11 of the respective channel 8 to form a positive connection with the gripping device 6 which acts in the longitudinal direction 7 of the channel 8. In the Fig. 5 , 10 and 11 It can be clearly seen that this undercut 18 can be formed, for example, in the area of the outlet opening 10 of the respective channel 8. In the variant shown, this undercut 18 of the corresponding box can be positively engaged behind by the correspondingly extended bolt 20. In order to create appropriate space for the latch 20, as implemented in the exemplary embodiments shown here, an exemption 34 can be incorporated in the area of the inlet opening 9 of the respective channel 8, which creates the necessary space for inserting the latch 20. To positively engage behind the respective undercut 18, the latch 20 is extended relative to the gripping device 6, as shown in FIG 10 and 11 is good to see. If, on the other hand, the respective gripping device 6 is to be retracted into the channel or channels 8 or pulled out of it or these again, the latch 20 is moved into a retracted position, not shown here, in which it is in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction 2 or to the longitudinal direction 7 of the channels 8 does not protrude beyond the gripping device 6, so that in this position it does not collide with the channel boundary walls 11 of the channels 8 and the

Gripping device 6 can be inserted into or pulled out of the corresponding number of channels 8.

This technology allows a desired number of stacked boxes 1 to be gripped mechanically and simultaneously with the corresponding number of gripping devices 6 by inserting the gripping devices 6 correspondingly deep into the aligned channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1 then the lowest of the desired number of boxes 1 is releasably fixed in a positive and/or non-positive manner, in order to then lift, transport and/or move the stack of boxes 1 gripped in this way accordingly. The gripping devices 6 can be moved by known lifting devices, robots, cranes or the like. In Fig. 10 is shown as an example of how the gripping device 6 grips the lowest of the two boxes 1 in a form-fitting manner by means of its latch 20, so that the two in Fig. 10 shown stacked boxes 1 are mechanically gripped together by the gripping device 6. In Fig. 11 On the other hand, the gripping device 6 is only retracted into the channel 8 of the upper box 1 and positively locked in its undercut 18, so that in Fig. 11 only the upper box 1 of the stack of boxes shown is picked up by machine. Even if this is only shown as an example in the figures enclosed here for a stack with two boxes 1, this technology can of course be implemented in a corresponding manner for gripping almost any number of boxes 1 stacked on top of one another. An entire stack or just a part of a stack of boxes 1 can be picked up by machine.

In the 8 and 9 is in a side view and in a view from below the situation Fig. 10 shown, in which both boxes 1 are gripped mechanically by the gripping devices 6 at the same time.

The Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show a single one of the stacked boxes 1 of the previous figures. Fig. 12 shows a view diagonally from above into the recording room 5. Fig. 13 shows a view diagonally from above of the upside down box, i.e. its bottom 3. Fig. 14 shows a view from above of box 1. Detail F Fig. 14 is in Fig. 15 shown. In Fig. 15 the cutting lines GG, HH and KK are shown. Fig. 16 shows the section along the section line GG. Fig. 17 shows the louse area Fig. 16 enlarged. The preferably wedge-shaped alignment surface 19 can be seen there, which in this exemplary embodiment is formed on an outside of the base 3. When stacking the boxes 1 on top of each other, this alignment surface 19 ensures alignment or centering of the boxes stacked boxes relative to each other, in that when stacking in the stacking direction 2, the bottom 3 of the respective box 1, as in Fig. 2 can be seen, penetrates into the upper area of the receiving space 5 of the box 1 below and interacts with the upper edge of the side wall 4 of the lower box 1. Through the alignment surfaces 19, which are arranged accordingly distributed on the box 1 or its bottom 3, the stacked boxes 1 are aligned with one another in the horizontal direction, i.e. in the direction normal or orthogonal to the stacking direction 2, so that the channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1 align with each other. Generally speaking, preferred embodiment variants therefore provide that alignment surfaces 19, preferably wedge-shaped, are formed on the box 1 for the aligned alignment of the channels 8 of stacked boxes 1 relative to one another. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that corresponding alignment surfaces 19 can of course also be shaped differently and formed in other places on the respective box 1. For example, it is conceivable to arrange the alignment surfaces 19 not on the bottom 3 but on the corresponding areas of the upper edge of the side wall 4, so that when the boxes 1 are stacked on top of one another in the stacking direction 2, they interact accordingly with the bottom 3 of the box 1 stacked above and have a corresponding alignment of the channels 8 of the stacked boxes 1.

In Fig. 19 the lower exit opening 10 serving as an undercut 18 and the corresponding exemption 34 in the area of the inlet opening 9 for the bolt 20 can be clearly seen again. Regarding the terms of the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 10, it should be noted that these are ultimately only openings of the channel 8 or the corresponding ends of the inner channel cavity 12. The term inlet opening 9 and outlet opening 10 was chosen for linguistic simplification. The inlet opening is the opening of the channel 8, in which a gripping device 6 is inserted into the channel 8 from above. The outlet opening 10 was named so because when the gripping device 6 is pushed into the channel 8 from above, the gripping device 6, when pushed through the channel 8, is at the Exit opening 10 emerges from channel 8 again. Strictly speaking, when pulling the gripping device 6 out of the channel 8, one would have to name the inlet opening 9 and the outlet opening 10 the other way around. However, this is omitted in the interests of linguistic simplification. One could also refer to the inlet opening 9 as the first opening and the outlet opening 10 also as the second opening.

In the 20 and 21 a second exemplary embodiment of a box 1 according to the invention is shown, in which, in addition to the four channels 8 arranged in the corner regions 16, additional channels 8 are arranged in the longer side wall sections 21. Fig. 20 shows a top view and Fig. 21 the cut along the cutting line MM Fig. 20 . This serves to illustrate that the channels 8 do not necessarily have to be arranged in corner areas 16 of the box 1. It is intended to illustrate that the channels 8 can also be arranged in other areas of the side wall 4, including in the area of the side wall sections 21 arranged between the corner areas 16. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the corner areas 16 are also designed entirely without channels 8 can be if the channels 8 are then implemented accordingly in other areas of the side wall 4.

Fig. 22 shows a corner area 16 of a box 1, in which the channel 8 is not designed to be closed around the circumference. In other words, in this exemplary embodiment, the inner channel cavity 12 is not circumferentially closed, that is, it is delimited by the channel boundary wall 11 with a circumferential angle of 360°. In such embodiments, however, it is advantageous if the channel boundary wall 11 delimits the channel interior cavity 12, in particular when viewed in a sectional plane 13 normal to the stacking direction 12, at least in sections via a circumferential angle 14 of at least 180 °. This is in Fig. 22 the case, as shown by the circumferential angle 14 shown.

The Fig. 23 and 24 serve to illustrate various possibilities, such as a particularly circumferentially closed channel 8 or its Channel boundary wall 11 and its channel interior cavity 12 can be formed. In both variants it is provided that the inner channel cavity 12 of the respective channel 8 has a circular cross section everywhere, seen in a corresponding sectional plane 13 normal to the stacking direction 2. In the variant according to Fig. 23 However, the inner channel cavity 12 is formed by two truncated cones meeting in a constriction area 35, while the inner channel cavity 12 in the variant according to Fig. 24 continuously has a circular cylindrical shape. The constriction area 35 in the variant according to Fig. 23 can, for example, serve to fix a correspondingly designed gripping device 6 in the respective channel 8 in a form-fitting, releasable manner. The constriction area 35 is therefore another possibility for realizing the undercut 18 already discussed above.

In order to further improve the box 1 in such a way that, on the one hand, it can be stacked with large loads or heavy objects in the receiving space 5 and, on the other hand, it is also equipped with side wall sections 21 that dry well, it is provided for the stackable boxes 1 that the side wall 4 is in a top view on the box 1 has a, preferably rectangular, basic shape with, preferably four, corner regions 16 and side wall sections 21 running between the corner regions 16, the side wall sections 21 running between the corner regions 16 each being inclined by an upper side 22 of the side wall section which is inclined at least in some areas obliquely to the stacking direction 2 21 and an oppositely arranged underside 23 of the side wall section 21 are limited, with the side wall sections 21 on the top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21 each adjacent to at least one region 24 of the respective top side 22 which is inclined obliquely to the stacking direction 2, preferably between two of these obliquely inclined ones Areas 24 of the respective top side 22, contact surfaces 25 protruding over this or these obliquely inclined areas 24 and/or on the undersides 23 of the side wall sections 21 over at least one area 26 adjacent thereto, preferably two areas 26 adjacent thereto, of the respective underside 23 protruding Contact surfaces 27 are formed. For illustrative purposes and In further explanations of preferred design options, this is implemented in various variants in the various exemplary embodiments of this invention. In the first exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 to 19 as well as in the modification forms according to Fig. 20 to 22 the contact surfaces 25 are formed exclusively on the top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21. The exemplary embodiment according to the Fig. 25 to 28 On the other hand, an example shows a variant in which the contact surfaces 27 are formed exclusively on the undersides 23 of the side wall sections 21. The Fig. 29 and 30 show illustrations of a mixed form in which both contact surfaces 25 on the top sides 22 and contact surfaces 27 on the respective underside 23 of the respective side wall section 21 are formed.

In the first exemplary embodiment, particular attention is paid to the 4, 6 and 7 referred. Fig. 6 shows the section along the section line DD Fig. 4 through the side wall sections 21 of the stacked boxes 1 and thus in an area outside the contact areas 25. Fig. 7 however, shows the section along the section line EE Fig. 4 and thus the area in which the contact surfaces 25 of the lower box 1 formed on the respective top side 22 of the side wall section 21 support the undersides 23 of the box 1 arranged above it.

This is therefore a first example of an arrangement of boxes 1 according to the invention stacked on top of one another, in which it is provided that the undersides 23 of the side wall sections 21 of the respective upper box 1 exclusively in the area of the contact surfaces 25 on the top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21 of the respective lower box 1 rest. As a result, as also realized here, it is advantageously achieved that the areas 24 of the respective top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21 of the lower box 1, which are inclined obliquely to the stacking direction 2, are arranged at a distance from the areas of the undersides 23 of the side wall sections 21 of the upper box 1 arranged above them . In the in Fig. 6 The section shown is the spaced arrangement of the underside 23 of the upper box 1 from the inclined area 24 of the Top 22 of the side wall section 21 of the lower box 1 can be clearly seen. An air gap is thus created between the respective bottom side 23 and the inclined area 24 of the respective top side 22. In combination with the oblique design of the inclined areas 24 relative to the stacking direction 2, this ensures that the top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21 of the respective box 1 can dry particularly quickly and well.

When describing the invention, the term oblique is to be understood to mean that it is an angle, preferably an acute angle, which is neither a right angle nor coincides with a parallel line. Preferably, in this as well as in other exemplary embodiments according to the invention, the regions 24 of the respective top side 22 of the respective side wall section 21 which are inclined obliquely to the stacking direction 2 form an acute angle with the stacking direction in a range of 75° to 85°, preferably from 80° to 83° .

Fig. 7 and thus the cut along the cutting line EE Fig. 4 shows how the contact surfaces 25, which protrude over the obliquely inclined areas 24 on the top 22 of the side wall section 1, support the underside 23 of the side wall section 21 of the box 1 arranged above it over the entire surface, so that with a corresponding number of contact surfaces 25, the boxes also can accommodate high loads.

In this as well as in other preferred embodiments of the invention, the contact surfaces 25 and 27 are the only areas of the entire side wall 4 in which the stacked boxes 1 are supported on one another. This means that in preferred embodiments the boxes 1 stacked on top of each other do not touch each other in the corner areas 16 and are therefore not supported on one another in these corner areas 16.

When comparing the Figs. 6 and 7 It can be clearly seen that in preferred embodiments of the invention the contact surfaces 25 are in a first level 28 are arranged and the adjacent areas 24 of the respective top sides 22 are arranged in a second level 29, the first level 28 and the second level 29 enclosing an acute angle 30 with one another. To clarify this, the in Fig. 7 shown first level 28 of the contact area 25 in Fig. 6 entered again. In this exemplary embodiment, in Fig. 7 It is also easy to see that in preferred variants of the invention, the contact surfaces 25 formed on the top sides 22 run in a plane 31 arranged normal to the stacking direction 2.

If you now refer to the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 25 to 28 , in which the contact surfaces 27 are formed exclusively on the undersides 23 of the respective side wall sections 21, as shown Fig. 27 and 28 analog cuts too Figs. 6 and 7 . Fig. 27 shows a section in an area in which there is no contact area 27. Here too, the oblique areas 24 of the respective top 22 of the side wall sections 21 of the lower box 1 are spaced from the respective undersides 23 of the side wall sections 21 of the box 1 stacked above Fig. 27 The clearly visible air gap in turn promotes the drying of the top and bottom sides of the side wall sections.

In Fig. 28 you can see a section through the side wall sections 21 of the stacked boxes 1 in the area of the contact surfaces 27 formed on the respective undersides 23 of the side wall sections 21. The fact that these protrude over the areas 26 adjacent to them is clear Fig. 26 good to see. In this exemplary embodiment it is also the case that the contact surfaces 27 are arranged in a first level 28 and the adjacent areas 26 of the undersides 23 of the respective underside 23 are arranged in a second level 29, the first level 28 and the second level 29 enclose an acute angle 30 with each other. To make this clear, the first level 28 is again off Fig. 28 also in Fig. 27 registered. This exemplary embodiment shows in particular in Fig. 28 that the contact surfaces 27 formed on the undersides 23 are in a plane 32 arranged obliquely to the stacking direction 2 can proceed. This oblique course of the contact surfaces 27 is advantageous, as in Fig. 28 also shown, formed at an angle which corresponds to the oblique regions 24 of the respective top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21. As a result, the contact surfaces 27 rest firmly and over the entire surface on the corresponding areas 24 of the top sides 22 of the box 1 arranged underneath, so that the boxes 1 stacked on top of one another are supported in a stable manner. This embodiment according to the Fig. 25 to 28 also shows, by way of example, that in the case in which the contact surfaces 27 projecting over the respective adjacent areas 26 of the underside 23 are formed on the underside 23, the areas 26 of the underside 23 adjacent to the contact areas 27 can run in a plane 33, on which the stacking direction 2 is arranged normally, see in particular Fig. 27 .

Based on Fig. 29 and 30 An embodiment of the invention will now be shown as an example, in which corresponding contact surfaces 25 and 27 are formed on both the top sides 22 and the bottom sides 23. Fig. 27 shows analogously to Fig. 6 Here again the situation in a section through the side walls 21 of the stacked boxes 1 outside the areas of the contact surfaces 25 and 27. In these areas there is again the spaced arrangement and thus the air gap that supports drying between the undersides 23 of the upper box 1 and the obliquely inclined areas 24 on the top sides 22 of the side wall sections 21 of the box 1 arranged underneath. The angle 30 between the first level 28 and the second level 29 is as follows Fig. 29 shown, again the same as in the other two previously described exemplary embodiments.

In the section through the contact surfaces 25 and 27 according to Fig. 30 It is clear to see that they rest on each other over the entire surface, so that the boxes 1 are supported stably on each other. In this variant it is again provided that the contact surfaces 25 formed on the top sides 22 run in a plane 31 arranged normal to the stacking direction 2. This embodiment shows by way of example that the contact surfaces 27 formed on the undersides 23 can also run in a plane 31 arranged normal to the stacking direction 2.

The sizes of the contact surfaces 25 and 27 as well as their relationship to the remaining surfaces of the top sides 22 and bottom sides 23 of the side wall sections 21 can in principle be adjusted accordingly in accordance with the load requirements to be expected or to be achieved. However, it is favorable if a ratio between the sum of the areas of all contact surfaces 25 on the top sides 22 of all side wall sections 21 of the box 1 on the one hand and the total area of the top sides of the side wall 4 of the box 1 on the other hand is in a range of 1:5 to 1:15, preferably 1:9 to 1:11. The same applies advantageously if the contact surfaces 27 are arranged on the undersides 23 of the side walls 4. It is then preferred that a ratio between the sum of the areas of all contact surfaces 27 on the undersides 23 of all side wall sections 21 of the box 1 on the one hand and the total area of the undersides 23 of the side wall 4 of the box 1 on the other hand is in a range from 1:5 to 1: 15, preferably from 1:9 to 1:11. In absolute numbers, it is advantageously provided that the respective contact area 25 or 27 has an area in the range from 75 mm ² to 175 mm ² , preferably from 120 mm ² to 135 mm ² .

Based on the upper, in particular flat, boundary surface 17 of the base 3, which delimits the receiving space 5, it is advantageously provided that a ratio between the sum of the areas of all contact surfaces 25 or 27 on the top sides 22 and / or the bottom sides 23 of all side wall sections 21 of the box 1 on the one hand and the total area of the upper boundary surface 17 of the bottom 3 of the box 1 on the other hand is in a range from 1:100 to 1:130, preferably from 1:110 to 1:115. <b>Legend</b> for the reference numbers: 1 Box 29 second level 2 Stacking direction 30 acute angle 3 Floor 31 level 4 Side wall 32 level 5 Recording room 33 level 6 Gripping device 34 exemption 7 Longitudinal extension direction 35 constriction area 8th channel 9 Entry opening 10 Exit opening 11 Channel boundary wall 12 Channel interior cavity 13 cutting plane 14 Circumferential angle 15 Height extension 16 Corner area 17 upper boundary surface 18 Undercut 19 Alignment surface 20 bars 21 Sidewall section 22 Top 23 bottom 24 sloping area 25 contact area 26 neighboring area 27 contact area 28 first floor

Claims (9)

1. Stackable tray (1) for receiving and transporting objects and for stacking one above the other in a stacking direction (2) with at least one other tray (1) of the same type, wherein the tray (1) has a base (3) and a side wall (4) projecting above the base (3) and extending at least partially, in particular entirely, around the base (3), wherein the base (3) and the side wall (4) together bound a receiving space (5) of the tray (1) for receiving the objects, and in a plan view of the tray (1) the side wall (4) has a, in particular rectangular, basic shape comprising, in particular four, corner regions (16) and side wall portions (21) extending between the corner regions (16), wherein the side wall portions (21) extending between the corner regions (16) are each bounded by a top side (22) of the side wall portion (21), which at least in part is inclined at an angle to the stacking direction (2), and an opposite bottom side (23) of the side wall portion (21), characterized in that formed on the side wall portions (21), on the top sides (22) of the side wall portions (21) between in each case two of these inclined regions (24) of the respective top side (22), are contact areas (25) which project beyond these inclined regions (24) and which are designed to support, across their entire surface, a bottom side (23) of a side wall portion (21) of a tray (1) arranged thereabove or to support, across their entire surface, contact areas (27) which are formed on the bottom sides (23) of a side wall portion (21) of a tray (1) arranged thereabove and which extend in a plane (31) arranged normal to the stacking direction (2), wherein the contact areas (25) formed on the top sides (22) extend in a plane (31) arranged normal to-the stacking direction (2), or in that formed on the bottom sides (23) of the side wall portions (21) are contact areas (27) which project beyond two regions (26) of the respective bottom side (23) adjacent thereto and which are designed to ensure stable support for trays stacked one on top of the other, wherein the contact areas (27) formed on the bottom sides (23) extend in a plane (32) arranged at an angle to the stacking direction (2), and the incline of the contact areas (27) formed on the bottom sides (23) is formed at an angle corresponding to the inclined regions (26) of the respective top sides (22) of the side wall portions (21).
2. Tray. (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact areas (25, 27) are arranged in a first plane (28), and the regions (24, 26) of the respective top side (22) or of the respective bottom side (23) adjacent to the contact areas are arranged in a second plane (29), and the first plane (28) and the second plane (29) enclose an acute angle (30) with each other.
3. Tray (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact areas (25, 27) formed on the top sides (22) and on the bottom sides (23) extend in a plane (31) arranged normal to the stacking direction (2).
4. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (3) forms an upper, in particular flat, boundary surface (17), with which it bounds the receiving space (5), wherein the stacking direction (2) extends normal to the upper boundary surface (17) of the base (3).
5. Tray. (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the contact areas (27) which project beyond the respectively adjacent regions (26) of the bottom side (23) are formed on the bottom side (23), and the regions (26) of the bottom side (23) respectively adjacent to the contact areas (27) extend in a plane (33), normal to which the stacking direction (2) is arranged.
6. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a ratio between the sum of the surface areas of all contact areas (25) on the top sides (22) of all side wall portions (21) of the tray (1) on the one hand and the total surface area of the top sides of the side wall (4) of the tray (1) on the other hand lies in a range from 1:5 to 1:15, preferably from 1:9 to 1:11, and/or in that a ratio between the sum of the surface areas of all contact areas (27) on the bottom sides (23) of all side wall portions (21) of the tray (1) on the one hand and the total surface area of the bottom sides (23) of the side wall (4) of the tray (1) on the other hand lies in a range from 1:5 to 1:15, preferably from 1:9 to 1:11.
7. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the respective contact area (25, 27) has a surface area in the range from 75 mm² to 175 mm², preferably from 120 mm² to 135 mm².
8. Tray (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base (3) forms an upper, in particular flat, boundary surface (17), with which it bounds the receiving space (5), and a ratio between the sum of the surface areas of all contact areas (25, 27) on the top sides (22) and/or on the bottom sides (23) of all side wall portions (21) of the tray (1) on the one hand and the total surface area of the upper boundary surface (17) of the base (3) of the tray (1) on the other hand lies in a range from 1:100 to 1:130, preferably from 1:110 to 1:115.
9. Arrangement of trays (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 stacked one on top of the other, characterized in that the bottom sides (23) of the side wall portions (21) of the respective upper tray (1) rest on the top sides (22) of the side wall portions (21) of the respective lower tray (1) exclusively in the region of the contact areas (25, 27), and the regions (24) of the respective top sides (22) of the side wall portions (21) of the lower tray (1) that are inclined at an angle to the stacking direction (2) are spaced apart from the regions of the bottom sides (23) of the side wall portions (21) of the respective upper tray (1) arranged thereabove.

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