EP3736224B1 - Container with plate with protrusions - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a container according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular to a container for transporting goods on roller conveyors, having a base, side walls and a support plate connected to an underside of the base by ribs.

State of the art

Generic containers are known for example from DE 10 2008 020 916 A1 or DE 10 2013 207 943 B4 . These containers each have a base with a rectangular outline, side walls extending vertically upwards from the base, and a support plate which is connected to an underside of the base by ribs.

DE 198 44 015 A1 discloses a container according to the preamble of claim 1.

The problem with these containers is that they produce relatively loud noises when being transported on roller conveyors due to the contact between the stable combination of the floor and the support plate and the rollers of the roller conveyor.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a container which enables quieter transport on roller conveyors.

This object is solved by features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are the subject of the subclaims.

A container according to the invention has a base, side walls and at least one supporting plate connected to an underside of the base by ribs.

The side walls extend from an upper side of the base transversely, in particular perpendicularly, upwards to the base.

The support plate is spaced from the underside of the floor and in particular extends parallel to the underside of the floor.

The ribs, which connect the at least one support plate to the underside of the base, extend transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the base or to the underside of the base and transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the support plate.

The container according to the invention is characterized in that at least two projections protrude laterally at least on an edge section of the support plate extending along one of the side walls. In particular, the projections each have the shape of a plate. In particular, the projections are designed in such a way that they each have free ends on three sides and are connected to the support plate on a fourth side.

In other words, the container according to the invention is characterized in that at least two projections are formed on the at least one support plate in such a way that the support plate together with the at least two projections at least partially form an outline with a castellated outer contour.

In particular, the plate-shaped projections each have a rectangular or essentially rectangular or trapezoidal or essentially trapezoidal outline. In particular, one edge of each plate-shaped projection with a rectangular outline is connected to the at least one support plate. In particular, three of the four are edges of each plate-shaped projection with a rectangular or trapezoidal outline free or at least partially free.

By providing the projections, the deformability of the support plate can be increased locally. In addition, when the container is being transported on a roller conveyor, it can be made more difficult or prevented for the support plate to hit the rollers directly.

At least two support depressions are provided in the upper edge section of the at least one side wall for receiving at least two projections of a support plate of an identical container stacked on it.

In other words, at least that side wall along which the at least one edge section, each provided with at least two projections, of the at least one support plate extends has at least two support depressions in each case on an upper side in an edge section facing away from the bottom, in particular an upper edge section, which are designed in such a way that they each receive a projection of a support plate of an identical container in a state in which the identical container is stacked on the container.

The outer dimensions of the support plate are increased by the projections, so that during transport on a roller conveyor, more rollers can be touched by the container at the same time compared to a container with a support plate without lateral projections. Thus, a more stable and thus quieter transport behavior can be achieved. By providing support depressions, the excess by which the projections protrude laterally can advantageously be increased without impairing the stacking properties of the container.

At least one of the at least two projections can be connected to the underside of the floor via at least one rib extending transversely to the floor and transversely to the at least one support plate. In particular, the the rib connecting the projection and the underside of the floor extend perpendicularly to the floor or to the underside of the floor and/or perpendicularly to the support plate.

By providing the rib connecting the projection and the underside of the base, the local increase in deformability caused by the free ends of the projections can be limited.

The at least one rib which connects the base to one of the at least two projections can have a wall thickness which is less than an average wall thickness of the container. Additionally or alternatively, the at least two projections can have a wall thickness that is less than the average wall thickness of the container. The wall thickness of the at least one rib connecting the base to one of the at least two projections and the wall thickness of the at least two projections can be the same. Alternatively, the wall thickness of the at least one rib connecting the base to one of the at least two projections can be smaller than the wall thickness of the at least two projections. In this context, “wall thickness” is understood to mean the thickness of plate-shaped components, for example the plate-shaped rib or the plate-shaped projections. In particular, the wall thickness of the rib connecting the base to one of the at least two projections and/or of the projections can be less than a wall thickness of the base or a wall thickness of the side walls.

Due to the local reduction in wall thickness, the flexibility of the container can advantageously be increased locally, so that when the container is transported on a roller conveyor, an impact on rollers can be cushioned. Such an improved impact behavior can alternatively or additionally also be achieved by a local reduction in the density of the ribs connecting the base with the projections. The "density of ribs" in this context means the number of ribs per predetermined unit area of the plate-like projections.

At least two laterally projecting projections, in particular in the form of a plate, can also be formed on an edge section of the at least one support plate, which is opposite the edge section of the at least one support plate provided with the at least two projections. In other words, at least four similar projections according to the invention can be provided on the at least one support plate. Those of the side walls along which the edge sections, each provided with at least two projections, of the at least one support plate extend can each have at least two support depressions in an edge section facing away from the bottom, i.e. in particular in an upper edge section on a top side. The support recesses can be formed in such a way that they each receive a projection on a support plate of a container of the same construction in a state in which the container of the same construction is stacked on the container.

If projections are provided on two opposite sides of the at least one support plate, a noise-reducing effect can be achieved not only when the container is moved in a single specific orientation on a roller conveyor.

On the side walls each provided with at least two support depressions, at least one handle can be formed in each case in the edge section facing away from the floor, i.e. in particular the upper edge section on an outside of the respective side wall between the corresponding at least two support depressions.

On the side walls, each provided with at least two support depressions, in the region of each support depression on the outside of the corresponding side wall, an outwardly extending bulge can be formed. The at least two handles can each be designed as a rib running between the at least two bulges of a corresponding side wall and running transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the corresponding side wall.

Undersides of the at least four projections of the at least one support plate can extend in a common plane. Lower surfaces of the at least four support cavities may extend in a common plane. A distance between the common plane of the undersides of the at least four projections of the at least one support plate and the underside of the floor can be less than or equal to a distance between the common plane of the underside surfaces of the at least four support depressions and an upper edge of the container. This design of the support depressions or the projections can advantageously ensure that the container does not rest on the projections when it is stacked on a container of the same construction.

On edge sections of the floor, which extend along edge sections of the at least one support plate each provided with at least two projections, at least one column can be formed which extends downwards transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the floor or to the underside of the floor, which column extends downwards less far from the container than the at least one support plate and protrudes outwards or laterally less far from the container than the at least four projections on the at least one support plate. In particular, the pillars can be formed at corners of the floor. The edge sections facing away from the bottom, in particular the upper edge sections of the side walls each provided with at least two support depressions and the corresponding support depressions can be coordinated with the projections on the support plate and the columns in such a way that in a state in which the container is stacked on a container of the same construction , lateral displacement of the container in relation to the identical container is limited and/or prevented by the interaction of the columns with an inside of side walls of the identical container and the projections of the at least one support plate of the container do not touch inner surfaces of corresponding support depressions of the identical container. Through this coordination, the projections can be protected from stress when stacking several identically constructed containers. In the vertical direction, one can be constructed identically by one stacked on a container Container introduced force can be derived over the upper edge of the container and lateral forces introduced in the lateral direction or in lateral directions, the columns of the container from the structurally identical container.

The ribs, which connect the at least one support plate to the underside of the container, can have openings. Because of the openings, the ribs can be formed easily.

The openings cannot be arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another. The non-mirror-symmetrical arrangement of the openings can make it more difficult for acoustic waves and/or vibrations to propagate.

The openings in the ribs can be arranged rotationally symmetrically to one another with respect to a central axis of the container extending perpendicularly to the base. In particular, the openings can be designed and arranged in such a way that they are imaged onto themselves when rotated through 180° about the central axis. The construction of the container or tools can be simplified by a rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

The projections may be coated with or made of a material which is softer than a material or materials of the remaining parts of the container. Thus, advantageously, the material of the projections can be optimized for cushioning an impact on rollers of a roller conveyor without compromising the structural integrity of the remaining container parts.

The base, the side walls, the at least one support plate and the ribs connecting the base and the at least one support plate can be formed in one piece. Complex assembly steps can be saved by a one-piece design.

The container can be made of plastic. Plastic is advantageously suitable for fields of application with high hygiene requirements, for example for food.

The at least one support plate can have at least one opening. In particular, the at least one support plate can have a central opening, so that the support plate essentially has the shape of a ring. In particular, the annular support plate extends along the edges of the floor. In this way, the container can be made lightweight and can still be placed stably on a flat surface.

The bottom may have a substantially rectangular outline. The side walls may comprise two opposite long side walls located at long edges of the base and two opposite short side walls located at short edges of the base. The container can be designed in such a way that projections are formed only on edge sections of the at least one support plate that extend along the long side walls. When a container with a rectangular outline is transported on a roller conveyor, noise is generated in particular when the container is transported with one of its long side walls first. If projections are only provided on the support plate on the long side walls, a noise-reducing effect can be achieved with relatively few adjustments.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters von schräg oben;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Behälters von schräg unten;
• Fig. 3 eine Unteransicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Behälters und
• Fig. 4 die in Fig. 3 gezeigte Unteransicht mit schematisch angedeuteten Rollen eines Rollenförderers

The present invention is described in more detail below using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of a container according to the invention obliquely from above;
• 2 a perspective view of the in 1 shown container from below;
• 3 a bottom view of the in 1 shown container and
• 4 in the 3 shown bottom view with schematically indicated roles of a roller conveyor

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

1 shows a container 2 according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from above. 2 shows the container 2 according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from below.

As in 1 and 2 As shown, the container 2 has a base 4 of substantially rectangular outline from the long edges of which two opposite long side walls 6 and 8 extend upwards and from the short edges of which two opposite short side walls 10 and 12 extend upwards. Each side wall 6, 8, 10 and 12 is substantially rectangular in outline.

Below the base 4 there is a support plate 14 which extends at least essentially parallel to the base 4 and which is connected to an underside of the base 4 via ribs 16 .

The support plate 14 has the outline of a substantially rectangular ring and is dimensioned such that outer edges of the support plate 14 extend parallel to the edges of the floor 4 .

The ribs 16 extend perpendicularly to the base 4 or perpendicularly to the support plate 14. In addition, the ribs 16 not only extend between the support plate 14 and the base 4 but also reinforce the base 4 in an area inside the annular support plate 14.

On the outer edges of the support plate 14, which extend along the long side walls 6 and 8, projections 18 are formed. Each of the two corresponding outer edges has two projections 18 respectively. Each of the projections 18 has the shape of a plate with a trapezoidal outline. The projections 18 are each connected with their long base to the support plate 14 in such a way that they each extend the support plate locally. This means that the support plate 14 and the projections 18 lie in a common plane. Furthermore, the projections 18 have a chamfer on an underside on their short base side.

The projections 18 are each connected to the underside of the base 4 via two ribs 20 . The ribs 20 run perpendicular to the underside of the base 4 or perpendicular to the respective projection 18.

The outer edges of the support plate 14, which extend along the short side walls 10 and 12, each have a chamfer on the underside of the container 2. The shape of the chamfer on the outer edges of the support plate 14 along the short side walls 10 and 12 corresponds to the chamfer on the short base sides of the plate-shaped projections 18. The ribs 16 and the ribs 18 are designed in such a way that several Ribs are lined up parallel to each other in such a way that they form pockets 22 open to the outside between them and together with the underside of the base 4 and an upper side of the support plate 14 or an upper side of the projections 18 .

The ribs 12 are further formed such that one of the ribs 12 connects an inner edge of the annular support plate 14 to the underside of the floor 4 . The pockets 22 are delimited on the inside by this circumferential rib. as well as in 3 shown, openings 24 are provided in the circumferential rib, which are arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to a central axis M running perpendicular to the base 4 . Within the inner edge of the annular support plate 14, the ribs 12 are trussed.

At each of the corners of the base 4 is a column 26, referred to below as the corner column 26, is formed. The four corner columns 26 each connect a long side wall 6 or 8 with a short side wall 10 or 12.

As in 3 As shown, the outer edges of the platen 14 and the short bases of the projections 18 are offset inwardly with respect to the side walls 6, 8, 10 and 12. If the container 2 is stacked on a container of the same construction, an outer edge section 28 of the base 4 rests on an upper edge section 30 of the side walls 6 , 8 , 10 and 12 . So that the projections 18 do not prevent such contact, two support depressions 32 are formed on the upper edge section 30 of the side walls 6, 8, 10 and 12 per side wall. The support depressions 32 are each formed in such a way that a distance D from an upper edge of the container 2 to a lower surface of the respective support depression is greater than a distance d between the undersides of the projections 18 and the underside of the base 4. If the container 2 is on stacked the same container, the projections 18 are received in the support depressions 32. The projections 18 do not touch the lateral inner surfaces of the support depressions 32 either. This is ensured by the fact that a play between the outer surfaces of the corner columns 26 and an inner surface of the side walls of the identical container is smaller than a play between the short base sides of the projections 18 and a respective outer inner surface of a corresponding support depression of the identical container.

The support depressions 32 are realized by bulges in the long side walls 6 and 8 . This means that the long side walls 6 and 8 each have a bulge 34 on their respective outer side in the area of a respective support depression 32 . Provided between the two bulges 34 of a respective long side wall 6 or 8 is a rib which runs perpendicularly to the corresponding long side wall 6 or 8 and forms a handle 36 .

In 4 a bottom view of the container 2 is shown together with schematically illustrated rollers R of a roller conveyor. If a container 2 is transported on the roller conveyor with the long side wall 6 first, the short bases of the projections 18 first encounter a corresponding roller before the remaining parts roll or slide or roll over the same roller. Because not only the short base sides of the projections 18 but also the legs of the projections 18 are free ends at least in sections, the projections 18 are easily deformable and cushion the impact of the container 2 on the corresponding roller R.

Reference List

2

container

4

floor

6, 8, 10, 12

Side wall

14

support plate

16

Rib at the bottom of the bottom

18

head Start

20

Rib between ledge and underside of floor

22

bags

24

Breakthrough in the surrounding rib

26

pillar or corner pillar

28

edge section of the floor

30

edge section of the side walls

32

support recess

34

bulge

36

handle

D

Depth of support depression

i.e

Distance between the bottom of one of the projections and the bottom of the floor

M

central axis of the container

Claims (15)

1. A container (2), comprising:

   a bottom (4),

   side walls (6, 8, 10, 12) extending upwards from an upper side of the bottom (4), and

   at least one support plate (14) spaced from a lower side of the bottom (4), which is connected to the lower side of the bottom (4) via ribs (16) extending transversely to the bottom (4) and transversely to the at least one support plate (14),

   characterized in that

   at least two projections (18) project laterally from at least one edge portion of the support plate (14) extending along one of the side walls (6, 8, 10, 12), and

   at least two support indentations (32) are formed in the upper edge portion (30) of the at least one side wall (6, 8) for receiving at least two projections (18) of a support plate (14) of an identically constructed container (2) stacked thereon.
2. The container (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the at least two projections (18) is connected to the lower side of the bottom (4) via at least one rib (20) extending transversely to said bottom (4) and transversely to said at least one support plate (14).
3. The container (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one rib (20) connecting the bottom (4) to one of the at least two projections (18) and/or the at least two projections (18) have a respective wall thickness which is less than an average wall thickness of the container (2).
4. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

   at least two laterally projecting projections (18) are also formed on an edge portion of the at least one support plate (14), wherein the edge portion is opposite the edge portion of the at least one support plate (14) provided with the at least two projections (18), and

   that side wall (6, 8) which is opposite the side wall (6, 8) provided with the at least two support indentations (32) likewise has at least two support indentations (32) in the upper edge portion (30) for receiving at least two projections (18) of a support plate (14) of an identically constructed container (2) stacked thereon.
5. The container (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one handle (36) is formed on the side walls (6, 8, 10, 12) provided with at least two support indentations (32) in each case in the edge portion facing away from the bottom (4) on an outer side of the respective side wall (6, 8) between the corresponding at least two support indentations (32).
6. The container (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that

   a bulge (34) extending outwards is formed on each of the side walls (6, 8) provided with at least two support indentations (32) in the region of each support indentation (32) on the outer side of the corresponding side wall (6, 8), and

   the at least two handles (36) are each formed as a rib extending between the at least two bulges (34) of a corresponding side wall (6, 8) transversely to the corresponding side wall (6, 8).
7. The container (2) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that

   lower sides of the at least four projections (18) of the at least one support plate (14) extend in a common plane,

   lower surfaces of the at least four support indentations (32) extend in a common plane, and

   a distance (d) between the common plane of the lower sides of the at least four projections (18) of the at least one support plate (14) and the lower side of the bottom (4) is smaller than or equal to a distance (D) between the common plane of the lower surfaces of the at least four support indentations (32) and an upper border of the container (2).
8. The container (2) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that

   at edge portions of the bottom (4), which extend along edge portions of the at least one support plate (14) provided with at least two projections (18) in each case, at least one respective column (26) is formed which extends transversely downwards to the bottom (4), wherein the column projects downwards from the container (2) by less than the at least one support plate (14) and projects outwards from the container (2) by less than the at least four projections (18) on the at least one support plate (14), and

   the edge portions of the side walls (6, 8), facing away from the bottom (4), which are provided with at least two support indentations (32) in each case and the corresponding support indentations (32) are coordinated with the projections (18) on the support plate (14) and the columns (26) in such a way that, in a state in which the container (2) is stacked on an identically constructed container, a lateral displacement of the container (2) is prevented, a lateral displacement of the container (2) in relation to the identically constructed container is limited and/or prevented by cooperation of the columns (26) with an inner side of side walls of the identically constructed container, and the projections (18) of the at least one support plate (14) of the container (2) do not touch inner surfaces of corresponding support indentations of the identically constructed container.
9. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ribs (16) connecting the at least one support plate (14) to the lower side of the bottom (4) have apertures (24).
10. The container (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the apertures (24) are not arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other.
11. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the projections (18) are coated with or made of a material which is softer than a material or materials of the remaining parts of the container (2).
12. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bottom (4), the side walls (6, 8, 10, 12), the at least one support plate (14) and the ribs (16) connecting the bottom (4) and the at least one support plate (14) are formed in one piece.
13. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the container (2) is made of plastic.
14. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the at least one support plate (14) has at least one aperture.
15. The container (2) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that

    the bottom (4) has a substantially rectangular outline,

    the side walls (6, 8, 10, 12) comprise two opposite, long side walls (6, 8) arranged at long edges of the bottom (4) and two opposite, short side walls (10, 12) arranged at short edges of the bottom (4), and

    projections (18) are formed only on edge portions of the at least one support plate (14) extending along the long side walls (6, 8).

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