TRANSPORT PALLET

[0001]The invention relates to a transport pallet for the transport of objects in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a transport apparatus having such a transport pallet.

[0002]Known transport pallets of the type stated initially are used, in particular, for the purpose of transporting transport containers, which serve for the transport of piece goods, for example. In this regard, at least one transport container is set onto the support surface that is surrounded by the frame. However, it is also possible to set multiple smaller transport containers onto the support surface, next to one another, and/or to set transport containers that are stacked on top of one another onto the support surface. In this regard, the frame prevents slipping of the transport containers on the support surface. However, in the case of previously known transport pallets of the type stated initially, the frame often does not offer sufficient security.

[0003]It is therefore the task of the invention to further develop a transport pallet of the type stated initially, in such a manner that it better secures transport containers set onto it.

[0004]This task is accomplished by means of a transport pallet having the characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the object of the dependent claims.

[0005]The invention is based on the idea of providing the frame of the transport pallet with a tooth system that faces the support surface, which tooth system can interact with a corresponding tooth system on a transport container set onto the support surface, so as to prevent slipping of the transport container on the support surface right from the start. Therefore it is also possible to set transport containers that are smaller than the surface area surrounded by the frame onto the support surface, without these containers being able to hit the frame if they slip at a relatively high speed.

[0006]The transport pallet can be configured in one piece and can be produced, in particular, as an injection-molded part or using a 3D printing method. However, it is also possible that the transport pallet has an upper part that has the support surface and a lower part that is connected to the upper part and has the placement surface. Both parts of the transport pallet can then be produced separately from one another, thereby simplifying their production. It is practical to produce the one-piece transport pallet, on the one hand, or the upper part or the lower part or both parts, on the other hand, from a hard plastic, preferably from polyolefin. In the latter case, it is particularly preferred that both parts are produced from the same hard plastic. It is advantageous if both parts are produced in one piece, as injection-molded parts, or by means of a 3D printing method. It is practical if the engagement openings are delimited upward by the upper part and downward by the lower part. It is preferable if both parts are firmly and inseparably connected to one another by means of a snap-lock connection, in the sense that the snap-lock connection is destroyed when the two parts are separated.

[0007]According to an advantageous further development, centering elements project upward from the frame, between which elements a transport pallet having the same construction can be centered when it is set onto the frame. The centering elements can have the form of centering ribs or can also have other forms. Empty transport pallets can then be stacked on top of one another, saving space, wherein the centering ribs prevents slipping of the transport pallets relative to one another during transport.

[0008]With the transport pallet according to the invention, transport containers are used, in particular, that have a basic body having a bottom and side walls that project upward from the bottom, forming an edge around a transport space, wherein the bottom has a tooth contour on its underside that faces away from the transport space. This tooth contour has four rows of teeth, which rows run in pairs at a distance and parallel to one another, and in pairs transverse to one another, and project away to the side from a shoulder that has a bottom lower surface that stands on the support surface. The teeth engage, at least in part, between two teeth of the frame, so that a connection is formed between the transport pallet and the transport container, which connection inhibits slipping of the transport container on the support surface. A transport pallet according to the invention forms a transport apparatus according to claim 11 together with at least one such transport container.

[0009]It is preferred that in the case of each of the frame parts of the transport pallets, the teeth are arranged at a constant distance from one another. It is furthermore preferred that the distances between the teeth are the same in the case of all the frame parts. By means of this measure, it is made possible to set transport containers of different sizes onto the support surface, wherein it is practical if a standard dimension for the teeth is provided for the transport containers on the underside of the bottom. In this regard, it is preferred that, in the case of the transport apparatus according to the invention, in every transport container, in every row of teeth, the width of the teeth, measured in the longitudinal expanse of the row of teeth in question, is greatest in the center of the row of teeth and smallest at the ends of the row of teeth. In particular, in the case of every transport container, in every row of teeth, the tooth having the greatest width fits precisely into the interstice between two teeth of the frame that accommodates it.

[0010]This allows very precise positioning of the corresponding container center on the transport pallet. In this regard, fits precisely refers to precise fit with a play on the order of production tolerances of maximally ±two tenths of a millimeter.

[0011]If the tooth centers in every row of teeth have a constant distance from one another in the case of every transport container, this measure makes it possible, in particular in interplay with the measure that the teeth are smallest at the ends of the row of teeth, to balance the production tolerances of the transport container and of the transport container(s) out well.

[0012]It is practical if the frame parts of the transport pallet border on one another, in pairs, at four pallet corners, and have a circumferential surface that is directed upward. On this surface, a bottom surface of the transport container that runs circumferentially can lie if the transport container that stands on the support surface has a shoulder that is delimited downward by the bottom lower surface that stands on the support surface.

[0013]In particular, in the case of the transport apparatus according to the invention, each side surface of the transport container or transport containers that faces away from the transport space can align with a lateral outside surface of the transport pallet.

[0014]Furthermore, it is preferred that each transport container has a circumferential edge on its top side, the edge having a stacking contour that is complementary to the tooth contour on the underside of the bottom. In this way, multiple transport containers having the same construction can be stacked on top of one another on the transport pallet. In particular, transport containers can be used that have basic bodies that are produced, preferably in one piece, from a particle foam material, in particular from expanded polypropylene (EPP) or from expanded polyurethane (EPU), or by means of a 3D printing process. In this case, it is furthermore preferred that each of the transport containers has a number of reinforcement elements embedded into the basic body, which elements each have an exposed upper and an exposed lower contact surface. It is practical if the reinforcement elements are releasably connected to the corresponding basic body, in each instance, and are produced from a harder material than the basic body. In particular, hard plastic and/or metal and/or wood is preferred as a material for the reinforcement elements. It is particularly advantageous if the reinforcement elements are used when multiple transport containers are stacked on top of one another.

[0015]In this regard, the reinforcement elements of the transport containers that are stacked on top of one another are arranged to lie on top of one another and on one another, in rows, while the reinforcement elements of the transport container(s) that stands or stand on the support surface lie on the support surface or on the circumferential top surface of the frame parts. The weight of the transport containers is then absorbed by the columns formed by the reinforcement elements, so that the basic bodies composed of particle foam material are not or only slightly compressed or deformed.

[0016]Furthermore, it is practical if a lid that closes off the uppermost transport container(s) toward the top is provided. The lid can be provided with a contour on its top side that faces away from the transport container, which contour can engage, in a complementary manner, into a contour on the underside of the transport pallet, so that multiple transport apparatuses can be stacked on top of one another. The lid is preferably produced from the same material as the transport pallet. The lid closes off the uppermost transport container, while the further transport containers are closed off, in each instance, by the next uppermost transport container.

[0017]In the following, the invention will be explained in greater detail using exemplary embodiments shown schematically in the drawing. The figures show:

[0018]FIG. 1a, 1b a transport pallet in a perspective view, at a slant from above and a slant from below;

[0019]FIG. 2a, 2b a transport apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment, in a perspective view, assembled, as well as in an exploded representation;

[0020]FIG. 3 a transport apparatus according to a variant of the first exemplary embodiment, in a perspective representation, and

[0021]FIG. 4 a transport apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment, in a perspective view in an exploded representation.

[0022]The transport pallet 10 shown in FIG. 1a, b is composed of an upper part 12 and a lower part 14, which are each produced in one piece from polyolefin, as an injection-molded part. The upper part 12 and the lower part 14 are firmly connected to one another by means of a snap-lock connection. The lower part 14 has an underside placement surface 16 that is not configured to be continuous, but rather is divided up into a plurality of partial surfaces. In the present exemplary embodiment, the underside placement surface 16 is divided up into three longitudinal skids 18a and two transverse skids 18b, which lie on a floor or a transport surface of a transport vehicle during storage of the transport pallet 10. As is particularly evident from FIG. 1b, the upper part 12 and the lower part 14 are not configured to be solid, but are extensively hollow with a plurality of ribs 20 that run longitudinally and transversely.

[0023]The transport pallet 10 has a top support surface 22 on the upper part 12, which surface is edged all around by a frame 24. The outer contour of the frame 24 is essentially rectangular in the sense that it forms a rectangle having rounded-off corners. The frame 24 has four frame parts 26, which are arranged, in each instance, in pairs, at a distance from one another and parallel, and in pairs, transverse to one another, and border on one another, in pairs, at four pallet corners 28. The frame parts 26 form a circumferential outer frame 30, and teeth 34 project away from their inner sides 32, which face the support surface 22, which teeth extend slightly over the support surface 22. The teeth 34 of each frame part 26 are the same size and are arranged at a constant distance from one another, so that all the interstices 36 between the teeth 34 are the same size. A smooth surface 38 that lies in a plane extends over the outer frame 30 and the teeth 34. Furthermore, centering elements 40 that are formed on in one piece project upward outside the surface 38, which elements serve for centering transport pallets 10 that have the same construction, when these are stacked on top of one another, and which have the form of centering ribs in the exemplary embodiments shown. Finally, a support structure 42 is arranged between the underside placement surface 16 and the top support surface 22, which structure has engagement openings 44 into which a conveying device, for example a forklift, can engage, and which are delimited partly by the upper part 12 and partly by the lower part 14, in each instance. Outflow openings 46 through which liquid can flow away are situated in the support surface 22.

[0024]The transport pallet 10 serves for holding transport containers 50a, 50b to form a transport apparatus 100, as shown in FIG. 2a, 2b, 3. In this regard, the transport apparatuses 100 of the two exemplary embodiments differ only in that in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2a, 2b, only one transport container 50a stands on the transport pallet 10 and covers its support surface 22 completely, while in the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, two transport containers 50b, which are approximately half the size of the transport container 50a according to the first exemplary embodiment, in each instance, stand on the transport pallet 10 and jointly cover its support surface 22. Each of the transport containers 50a, 50b has a basic body 52 that is produced in one piece from a particle foam material such as expanded polypropylene (EPP) or expanded polyurethane (EPU). The basic body 52 has a bottom 54 as well as four side walls 56 that project upward from the bottom 54 and, together with the bottom 54, delimit a transport space 58 that is open toward the top. On its underside 60 that faces away from the transport space 58, the bottom 54 has a tooth contour that once again has four rows 64 of teeth that run in pairs, at a distance and parallel to one another, and, in pairs, transverse to one another. Each of the rows 64 of teeth has multiple teeth 62 that project away, laterally to the outside, from a shoulder 68 that has a bottom lower surface that stands on the support surface 22. In this regard, the tooth centers of each row 64 of teeth are arranged at a constant distance from one another, and the width of the teeth 66 is greatest in the center of the corresponding row 64 of teeth and continuously decreases toward the ends of the corresponding row 64 of teeth. A lower surface 72 of the transport container 50a, 50b is arranged around the shoulder 68 and the teeth 66, which surface lies on the surface 38.

[0025]Each of the transport containers 50a, 50b furthermore has a circumferential edge 76 on its top side 74, having a stacking contour 78 that is complementary to the tooth contour 62 on its underside, so that, as shown as an example in FIG. 3, multiple transport containers 50a can be stacked on top of one another. In this regard, the lowermost transport container 50a stands on the support surface 22, and each of the transport containers 50a, with the exception of the uppermost one, is covered by the next upper transport container 50a, so that its transport space 58 is closed off also toward the top. The uppermost transport container 50a is covered by the lid 80, so that its transport space 58 is also closed off toward the top. It is self-evident that such stacking of transport containers can also be used in the case of the second exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the transport containers 50a, 50b can be provided with reinforcement elements, in particular at their container corners, at which the side walls 56 border on one another in pairs, which elements are embedded into the basic body 52 and have an upper exposed contact surface and a lower exposed contact surface, in each instance. If multiple transport containers 50a, 50b are stacked on top of one another, then the weight of the container stack does not rest on the soft basic body 52 composed of particle foam material, but rather rests on the columns that are formed by the reinforcement elements. In this regard, the lowermost of the reinforcement elements, in each instance, stand on the support surface 22 or on the top surface 38 of the transport pallet 10. The reinforcement elements are not explicitly shown in the drawing. The teeth 66 of the rows 64 of teeth engage into an interstice 36 of the frame 24, in each instance, wherein the tooth 66 in the center of each row 64 of teeth is dimensioned in such a manner that it can engage with precise fit, with a play of maximally two tenths of a millimeter, into the related interstice 36. The further teeth 66 have a greater play in the interstices 36 that accommodate them.

[0026]In both exemplary embodiments, a lid 80 is furthermore provided, which closes off the transport space 58 of the transport container 50a or the transport spaces 58 of the transport containers 50b toward the top, and has a contour 84, on its top side 82, into which the contour formed by the skids 18a, 18b on the underside placement surface 16 can engage, so that multiple transport apparatuses 100 can be stacked on top of one another and are secured to prevent reciprocal slipping.

[0027]In summary, the following should be stated: The invention relates to a transport pallet 10 for the transport of objects, in particular of transport containers 50a, 50b, having a top support surface 22 for the objects, having a frame 24 that projects upward over the support surface 22, forming an edge around the support surface 22, having an underside placement surface 16 for being set onto a surface, and having a support structure 42 arranged between the support surface 22 and the placement surface 16, which structure has engagement openings 44 for a conveying device. According to the invention, it is provided that the frame 24 has an outer frame 30 that runs around the support surface 22 and has four frame parts 26 that are arranged, in pairs, at a distance from and parallel to one another, and, in pairs, transverse to one another, and has teeth 34 that project out of an inner side 32 of each of the frame parts 26, which side faces the support surface 22, and are arranged at a distance from one another.