DE20217572U1 - Device for storing and transporting piece goods and insert therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

At least one insert ( 6 ) for insertion into a bag ( 3 ) for receiving a discrete article, said insert ( 6 ) being preferably located in a portion of the bag taking up substantially the main load of the discrete article and being moveable relative to the bag, securable to the bag and removable from the bag. The invention also includes a device for storing and transporting discrete articles, having at least one bag ( 3 ) in which the discrete article can be received, wherein it comprises at least one insert ( 6 ), as described above, in the region of the bag ( 3 ) taking up substantially the main load of the discrete article, said insert being movable relative to the bag and detachably secured to the bag ( 3 ).

Description

Device for storing and transporting general cargo and insert for this purpose

The present invention relates to a device for storing and transporting piece goods and an insert for such a device.

In practice, there are very different requirements for such transport and storage systems depending on the type of piece goods. Insensitive piece goods can be stacked or piled on top of each other in boxes, cartons or on the loading area of trucks. However, the transport and storage of sensitive piece goods is much more complex. In industry, a large number of finished and semi-finished parts are manufactured, which then require further transport or intermediate storage.

One example of this is certain individual parts in the manufacture of motor vehicles. Gearbox parts are often manufactured a long way from the factory where the gearbox is assembled and/or put together. Body parts, such as the doors of a car, are also usually not manufactured in the immediate vicinity of the production line where they are fitted to the vehicle. Other examples of such individual items are sealing washers, bearing shells and many other parts that have sensitive surfaces which

P.cfjgiro: Frankfurt/M 6763-602
Bank: Dresdner Bank AG, Wiesbaden Account 27 680 700 (bank code 510 800 60)

if the items were randomly stacked or poured on top of each other, they would be scratched or otherwise damaged. Originally, items that were sensitive to impact and contact were usually packaged very carefully for transport over long distances and also for storage. Transport boxes or cartons were given a specially shaped insert, generally made of polystyrene, which was adapted to the shape of the item and kept its sensitive parts or surfaces at a safe distance from other items.

However, this is a relatively expensive and time-consuming procedure. The space required for transport is many times greater than the total volume of the transported goods, because the packaging of the goods is very bulky. In addition, the packaging is often damaged during unloading and unpacking of the goods and is then not suitable for reuse. Even if it remains undamaged, the empty packaging must be transported back to the place of origin of the goods in another transport journey, which is equivalent to an empty journey of a corresponding truck or railway wagon. Finally, the packaging process and also the unpacking of the items is relatively time-consuming, labor-intensive and accordingly expensive.

Therefore, a transport and/or storage device for piece goods has already been proposed in DE 41 38 507, with a collapsible web of film or fabric material which is folded together to form at least one essentially U-shaped pocket in which the piece goods can be received, wherein a suspension device is provided at the upper end of the pockets which can be suspended from at least one suspension device fastened to a base structure.

In use, the item is simply placed in the U-shaped pocket formed by the film or fabric strip, which is then suspended from the upper ends of the U-legs. The film or fabric strip wraps around and against the item so that the suspended pocket does not take up significantly more space than the item itself. Depending on the type of item to be transported, the film or fabric strips may be lined or padded.

In order to protect the objects transported in these devices, the material webs usually consist of a relatively soft, flexible cloth, which can be a fabric, for example, or a fleece-like material, possibly also a plastic web or an embossed film.

If the objects in question are relatively large and comparatively thin, the U-shaped pockets into which the objects are placed either from above between two rods or

but are inserted laterally into the open ends of the U-shaped pockets, have a correspondingly large vertical (and possibly horizontal) depth. Between two adjacent rods, on which the two ends of such a U-shaped pocket are suspended, a relatively long piece of material then hangs loosely, forming the U-shaped loop. 5

Since this material web is relatively soft and flexible in order to protect the objects to be transported or stored, the opposite web sections can easily become warped or wrinkled when the material webs hang loosely, which can lead to the two sections forming the U-legs of a U-shaped pocket coming into contact with one another, so that the corresponding pocket is no longer open and easily accessible at least on one of its front sides or in parts of these front sides. This makes loading such a device considerably more difficult because a person who wants to insert an object into this pocket must first open the pocket, i.e. must separate the adjacent sections of the material webs from one another in order to be able to insert an object into this pocket. This is particularly annoying if the person needs both hands to carry the object and put it into the bag, which can then lead to the object first having to be put down, the bag in question then having to be opened, so that only then can the object be picked up again and put into the bag, whereby the bag can still close again on its own if it is not deliberately kept open.

Therefore, a device has already been proposed in DE 198 26 429 in which the U-shaped pockets are each formed by two separate, essentially parallel material webs made of the flexible material, with at least one connecting web made of the flexible web material extending between the two material webs and preferably being connected to both adjacent material webs essentially over its entire length.

However, all known devices have in common that during use, particularly during the transport and storage of relatively heavy and sharp-edged items, the bag is often damaged, at least in the area of the bag that essentially bears the main load of the item. The damaged bag of the device can then no longer be used, so that the device can now accommodate a smaller number of items with the same space requirement, which requires more space per item and thus leads to higher transport and storage costs.

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In addition, repeated use of the known devices often resulted in the pockets becoming dirty, which in turn could damage the items being picked up. However, cleaning the pockets accordingly is very time-consuming.

Compared to this prior art, the present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for storing and/or transporting piece goods with at least one pocket in which the piece goods can be accommodated, which device is simply constructed, in which the loading and unloading process is simplified, i.e. in particular the risk of individual web sections forming the pocket being rejected is almost eliminated and in which, above all, the risk of damage to the pockets is significantly reduced and which is easy to clean.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a device of the type mentioned, in which at least one insert is preferably provided on the area of the bag which essentially receives the main load of the item, which insert is movable relative to the bag or is fastened to the bag but is removable from it.

This measure simultaneously avoids two disadvantages of the prior art devices. Firstly, the insert which is attached to the bag stiffens the bag, so that the risk of warping or creasing of the material web is almost eliminated. The insert thus ensures that the front of the bag is always open and easily accessible. The bags can therefore easily be loaded and unloaded by just one person.

On the other hand, the insert protects the bag against damage and/or soiling. Although damage can still occur, particularly in the case of heavy, sharp-edged items, this no longer occurs on the bag, but only on the insert. If the insert has become damaged or soiled, it can either be removed from the bag or moved relative to it, so that another, undamaged section of the insert is now arranged in the area of the bag that takes the main load of the item. It goes without saying that the area that essentially takes the main load of the item does not always have to be arranged at the bottom of a bag. For example, it is also conceivable to equip the side walls of the bags with the inserts according to the invention, particularly if items are to be accommodated that have sharp-edged projections on their sides that press into the side wall of the bag, creating high local pressure.

The insert according to the invention can also provide simplified cleaning. Since the majority of the contamination is usually in the area where the main load of the item

receiving area of the bag, the contamination will essentially affect the insert, so that this can either be removed from the bag and then replaced or cleaned and reinserted or can be moved relative to the bag so that after displacement another, uncontaminated area of the insert is arranged on the area of the bag which essentially receives the main load of the item.

Advantageously, the insert is attached to the bag in such a detachable manner that the insert can be easily removed from the bag without additional tools.

The insert can be attached to the bag using double-sided adhesive tape, for example. Alternatively, or in combination with this, the insert can be attached to the bag using Velcro or a similar fastening system. In both cases, the insert can be removed or replaced quickly and easily.

In a preferred embodiment, the inserts are attached to the bag in such a way that they can be removed from the bag without damaging it.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, several inserts are provided. In particular, if the area of the bag that takes the main load of the item is relatively large or varies in position depending on the item stored or transported in the bag, these measures can further reduce the costs associated with replacing the insert, since only the damaged or dirty insert needs to be replaced or cleaned.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, several inserts are provided one above the other, with the bottom insert preferably being attached to the pocket, while the other inserts are each detachably attached to the insert below. This has the advantage that no reserve inserts need to be provided. It is therefore possible for the person responsible for loading or unloading the device with items to notice, for example during the loading process, that the insert is damaged or dirty and simply remove the top insert from the pocket. This reveals the next, uncontaminated and undamaged insert and the loading process can be continued without any delay. Ideally, it should then be checked at regular intervals whether there are still enough inserts arranged one above the other in the pocket and, if necessary, the number of inserts arranged one above the other should be increased.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one insert is displaceable relative to the area of the bag which essentially receives the main load of the item.

bar. This measure also brings with it a whole series of advantages. Since the device for storing and/or transporting general cargo is not always filled with the same general cargo, it can happen that the area of the bag that bears the main load of the general cargo is closer to the front of the bag for one type of general cargo, while for another type of general cargo this area is closer to the back of the bag. If the insert can be moved relative to the bag, the insert can be moved to where the area of the bag that bears the main load of the general cargo is located for the general cargo being used. If the insert becomes damaged or dirty over time, generally not the entire area of the insert is affected. It is therefore possible to move the insert in such a way that a different part of the insert now bears the main load of the general cargo, so that the insert can be used for longer before replacement or repair is necessary.

In a particularly useful embodiment, the insert is in the form of a band. This band can be of considerable length if necessary. For example, it is possible to push the insert a little further after each use and to collect the dirty and/or damaged band in a corresponding receiving device, e.g. a winding device. The insert is particularly preferably in the form of an endless band that wraps around the base area of the bag. Here too, after each use that has caused damage and/or soiling of the insert, the endless band can be pushed further accordingly. Only when the band is dirty and/or damaged in almost all places does it need to be replaced.

In another particularly useful embodiment, a brush device is provided for cleaning the at least one insert. Preferably, the at least one insert engages with the brush device and is movable relative to it. If the insert is now moved relative to the brush device, the brush device automatically cleans the insert so that it can be used over a longer period of time.

It is advantageous if the insert is designed as a belt or endless belt and is moved past the brush device.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments and the associated figures. They show:
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Figure 1 shows a device for storing and/or transporting general cargo,

Figure 2 shows three different embodiments of the device of Figure 1 with

inventive inserts,

Figure 3 shows an example of a fastening process of an insert according to the invention

and
Figures 4 to 8 show different embodiments of the insert according to the invention.

For clarification, Figure 1 shows a device for storing and/or transporting general cargo. Figure 1 shows a box 1 which is closed on all other sides except for its front side visible on the left. However, the side opposite the open side could also be open if necessary.

Rods or tubes 2 extend parallel to the lower and upper edges of the open side and are suspended in rod holders 12, which in turn are attached to the housing wall of the box 1. Corresponding rods 2 also extend near the closed rear wall, near the upper and lower edges.

The rods 2 carry flexible material webs 4 which have a substantially rectangular shape and which have eyelets 9 in their corner areas which are pulled onto the rods 2. The distance between the rods 2 and the distance between the eyelets 9 on the webs 4 is dimensioned such that the material webs 4 can hang loosely from the upper rods 2 or are slightly stretched so that the material webs 4 form substantially flat, level material webs. Between the individual material webs 4, spacers 10 in the form of short pipe sections are pulled onto the rods 2, the outer diameter of which is larger than the inner diameter of the eyelets 9 and which thus keep adjacent material webs 4 at a fixed, predetermined distance.

U-shaped connecting strips 5 are sewn between each two adjacent material strips 4, which together with the vertically extending material strips 4 form U-shaped pockets. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, two connecting strips 5 are sewn at a distance one above the other between each two adjacent separating strips 4, so that two superimposed U-shaped pockets 3 are formed between each two separating strips 4.

The connecting tracks 5 also have inserts 6. The inserts can extend in depth over the entire length of the connecting track 5, but they can also be relatively short.

It goes without saying that the device can also simply consist of horizontally arranged tracks.

Furthermore, it is possible to form the bag in two layers, at least in the area which essentially bears the main load of the item, and to insert the insert between the layers.

Figure 2 shows two material webs 4 arranged parallel to one another with corresponding eyelets 9. Here, too, three connecting webs 3 forming the pockets can be clearly seen. The letters A, B and C show three different embodiments with different inserts 6. In case A, the insert consists only of an insert 6 attached to the connecting web 3 with a double-sided adhesive tape and/or Velcro fastener, which extends essentially over the entire length of the connecting web 3. If the insert 6 becomes damaged and/or soiled during use, it can be separated from the connecting web 3 and replaced with another undamaged and unpolluted insert 6.

The embodiment B shows the possibility of several inserts 6 being arranged one above the other on the connecting track 3. If the top insert 6 becomes damaged and/or dirty during use, it can be removed so that the next insert 6 underneath can be seen. Ideally, it is checked at regular intervals whether a sufficient number of inserts 6 are still arranged on the connecting track 3 and, if this is not the case, the inserts 6 are supplemented accordingly. 20

Finally, embodiment C shows an insert 6 arranged as a circumferential band. If the top of the insert 6 becomes dirty and/or damaged, the circumferential band can simply be moved around the connecting track 3 so that the lower part of the band comes to lie on the top of the connecting track 3.

In addition, a brush device 7 is optionally arranged here, which comes into contact with the band-shaped insert 6. If the band-shaped insert 6 is now moved relative to the pocket or the connecting track 3 forming the pocket, this automatically leads to the surface of the band-shaped insert 6 being brushed by the brush device 7. Any particles located on the surface of the insert are then effectively removed by the brush device 7. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the brush device is electrically grounded, so that the movement of the brush device 7 relative to the insert 6 creates an antistatic effect and dust is not attracted to the inserts 6.

Of course, the brush device does not necessarily have to be arranged in the position shown in the figure, but can also be arranged in front of, behind, above or below the insert 6.

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It is understood that, similar to embodiment B, several circulating bands can also be arranged one above the other, so that a circulating band can be removed if necessary when it becomes worn.

Figure 3 shows the process of attaching the insert 6 to the pocket. As can be seen in Figure 3 at the top, the attachment sections 8 are first bent downwards accordingly (see middle figure of Figure 3) and then placed on the pocket, as illustrated by the lower figure of Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows a whole series of different inserts according to the invention. The inserts can have a round U-shaped cross-section, a V-shaped cross-section, a flat cross-section or a straight U-shaped cross-section. Of course, the inserts 6 can also be designed differently. It is also advantageously possible to reinforce the inserts, for example with the help of a stiff film.

Figure 5 shows another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. Here, the insert 6 is not connected to the bag, but the insert 6, which - similar to embodiment C of Figure 2 - is designed as a circumferential band, itself forms the bottom of the bag. Two rods 16 are provided to fasten the insert 6, around which the band-shaped insert 6 runs. Instead of the rods 16, cables or ropes could also be used, for example. In the embodiment shown, the rods 16 run through eyelets in the vertical material webs 4. It is understood, however, that the rods 16 can also run outside the vertical material webs 4. The insert 6 can simply be moved around the two rods 13 if necessary.

Of course, this type of fastening can also be combined with the embodiment C of Figure 2, as shown in Figure 6. In Figure 6, the band-shaped insert 6 surrounds both the horizontally running connecting track 3 and the two rods 13. This embodiment has the advantage over the embodiment C shown in Figure 2 that the band-shaped insert can be moved more easily.

Figures 7 and 8 show various views of a further embodiment of the invention. The insert 6 is also designed as a circumferential band. However, the band has a substantially U-shaped cross-section so that the insert is also arranged on the lateral material webs 4 and thus also offers a certain degree of protection for these webs.

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Claims (16)

1. Device for storing and transporting piece goods with at least one bag ( 3 ) in which the piece goods can be received, characterized in that at least one insert ( 6 ) is provided preferably on the area of the bag ( 3 ) which essentially receives the main load of the piece goods, which insert is movable relative to the bag or is fastened to the bag ( 3 ) but is removable from it. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one insert ( 6 ) is detachably attached to the pocket ( 3 ). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the insert is attached to the pocket ( 3 ) with double-sided adhesive tape. 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a Velcro fastener is provided for fastening the insert ( 6 ) to the pocket ( 3 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that several inserts ( 6 ) are provided. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that several inserts ( 6 ) are provided one above the other, wherein preferably the lowest insert ( 6 ) is fastened to the pocket ( 3 ), while the other inserts are each detachably fastened to the insert ( 6 ) underneath. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one insert ( 6 ) is displaceable relative to the area of the pocket ( 3 ) which essentially receives the main load of the item, preferably in two different directions. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the insert ( 6 ) has the shape of a band, preferably the shape of an endless band. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a brush device ( 7 ) is provided for cleaning the at least one insert ( 6 ). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one insert ( 6 ) engages with the brush device ( 7 ) and the brush device ( 7 ) and the at least one insert ( 6 ) are movable relative to one another. 11. Device according to claim 10, as far as dependent on claim 8, characterized in that the belt or the endless belt can be moved past the brush device ( 7 ). 12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the brush device ( 7 ) is electrically connected to ground. 13. Insert for fastening to a pocket ( 3 ) of a device for storing and/or transporting piece goods according to one of claims 1 to 12. 14. Insert according to claim 13, characterized in that the insert has at least one fastening device for fastening the insert ( 6 ) to the pocket ( 3 ). 15. Insert according to claim 14, characterized in that the fastening device is arranged on a fastening section. 16. Insert according to claim 15, characterized in that the fastening section ( 8 ) is a double-sided adhesive tape or part of a Velcro fastener.