GB2147269A

GB2147269A - Load handling pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2147269A
Application number: GB08424726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Farr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-04
Filing date: 1984-10-01
Publication date: 1985-05-09
Also published as: GB8326568D0; GB8424726D0; KR850004081A; NZ209773A; ZA847772B

Abstract

A load handling pallet comprises two pleated sleeves (1) secured to the bottom of a load supporting member (2). Up-bent lips or taps (9) serve as guides for the entry of forks of load handling equipment into the sleeves. Each sleeve has side walls formed from two parts (3 and 4) hinged about a crease line (5). The parts (3) are hinged at each side to a base part (3a) and the parts (4) are hinged at each side to top flanges (4a) which may be double thickness as shown. The tabs (9) are provided at an end of a sheet member (9a) which is positioned between the top flanges (4a) and the pallet base (2). The base part (3a) can be provided with a cut-out part (3b) to prevent snagging by the forks of a lift truck. The parts are retained by staples (10). The sleeves may be secured directly to the lower surface of a load and be provided with entry guides for the lift forks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handling palleted loads This invention relates to pallet apparatus used for the movement of unitised loads.

It is well known to handle loads by use of support pallets.

Such pallets may be of steel, plastic, aluminium or composites of different materials such as fibreboard with plastic; but are mainly of timber, to provide the strength to support the load and spaces suitable for use with mechanical handling equipment such as lift truck forks, pallet trucks, conveyors, and slings.

It has been proposed to form pallets from fibreboard material affording low cost and being discardable at the destination, and in addition collapsible pallets of such material have been proposed, see US Patents 2702682 and 3167038. In the latter patent the pallet is collapsed after use manually and similarly erected prior to use manually and the intention is to afford ready storage when out of use. The pallet is not adapted to open on entry of fork lifts and thereafter collapse. In the former patent a folded fibreboard material is used for the legs but this does not expand in use and forms merely a convenient construction for varying the height of the base during manufacture.

In British patent 696214 a pallet is disclosed for four-way entry this having U-shape channels of metal which are not intended to collapse. None of the prior art discloses or suggests a lightweight construction of pallet having the capability of supporting a heavy load but which nevertheless can also accept fork lift entry through an expansion action. Ail the aforementioned prior art is concerned with maintaining at all times sufficient space for clean entry of the forks of a fork-lift truck.

This invention is primarily intended to improve the construction of a pallet so as to obtain better efficiency in the transport of unitised and unit loads when used instead of existing pallets.

According to this invention there is provided a load handling means comprising a sleeve secured to a lower surface of the load or to a support pallet to carry the load, the sleeve being defined by a base portion to form a ground bearing surface, side wall portions embodying longitudinal pleats or hinges and arranged to collapse or expand by folding about the pleats or hinges, and a top portion to secure the sleeves to the load or pallet, the sleeve when fully collapsed under load defining a space sufficient for initial entry of load handling equipment, the opening to said space having an entry guiding means, the pleats allowing the sleeve to expand to fully receive the load handling equipment.

This invention further provides a pallet, baseboard, container or box to a surface of which is secured two sleeve means in parallel spaced relationship.

As an alternative to the above there may be provided a pallet, baseboard, container or box to a surface of which is secured a sleeve means and having a width extending across a substantial part of the width of the surface.

A preferred arrangement may have the pallet, baseboard, container or box in combination with a second pallet having a base forming a conventional pallet structure and a top including battens defining channels to receive the sleeves, with the battens supporting the lower surface of the pallet or like.

The construction according to the invention enables a higher packing density to be obtained in view of the smaller height taken up by the pallet.

The entry guiding means may comprise an attachment fitted to the edge surface of the support pallet or to the edge of the base portion of the sleeve or to both. The attachment may comprise a sheet member defining an outwardly flared entrance channel to receive the fork of load handling equipment.

This means largely prevents damage to the pallet or sleeve due to poor alignment of the forks and enables the pallet to be reused where it is constructed from cardboard.

As examples, embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 7 shows a pallet base with expandable fork entry sleeves in the expanded state, Figure 2 shows a pallet as in Figure 1 but in the collapsed state, Figure 3 shows a fork entry sleeve for attachment to a load in the expanded state, Figure 4 shows a load on a pallet base with sleeves, Figure 5 shows a further guide attachment, Figure 6 shows the guide of Figure 5 in plan, Figure 7 shows another guide attachment in plan, and Figure 8 shows the attachment of Figure 6 in side view.

Figures 1 and 2 show two pleated sleeves 1 secured to the bottom of a pallet 2. The front edge of the pallet has up-bent lips or tabs 9 serving as a guide for the entry of forks of load handling equipment into the sleeves. Each sleeve has side walls formed from two parts 3 and 4 hinged about a crease line 5. The parts 3 are hinged at each side to a.base part 3a and the parts 4 are hinged at each side to top flanges 4a which may be double thickness as shown. The tabs 9 are provided at an end of sheet member 9a which is positioned between the top flanges 4a and pallet base 2. The base part 3a can be provided with a cut-out part 3b to prevent snagging by the forks of a lift truck. The parts are retained by staples 10.

In Figure 3 each sleeve has a top portion 6 secured to an overlap 7 forming a complete box section, the top 6 having the tab 9 to facilitate fork entry. The tabs 9 may be integral with the pallet or sleeve or attached thereto.

Figure 4 shows a complete pallet 2 and load 8 with the fork entry tabs 9.

Figures 5 and 6 show an attachment 50 of plastics material which has an "I" section slot 51. The strip is flexed to the form of Figure 5, where the two adjacent tongues may be inserted into the sleeve thus causing the slot 51 to open in the manner of a letter box. This provides a flared entry guide, top and bottom, and may be inserted into a sleeve prior to handling.

Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative arrangement in which a rigid but resilient plastics moulding is used, with a tongue 60 which is passed inside the sleeve and secured by staples or the like with the end of the sleeve abutting a shoulder 61. The fork guidance is achieved by a lip 62 which projects from the open end of the sleeve in a direction away from the mouth.

The sleeves may be assembled to the load, top pallet, tray, box, sling or bag with some 25mm projecting to the front of the handling face.

The top of the sleeve exposed may be slit near to both sets of pleated sides and the flap 9 thus formed bent back against the front edge of the pallet.

Where required it is also feasible to similarly slit the base of the sleeve and instead of bending the fly portion it is cut off to create a notch.

The advantage of the top flap is that it assists sighting of the mouth of the sleeve and provides a guide for the lift truck forks.

The advantage of the notch is that it allows the forks to enter under the flap without precise positioning of the forks between both top and base of sleeve. When the forks are under the flaps they may then be raised together with the front of the load so that the sleeves will expand and allow the forks to be driven on under the load prior to lifting.

The device of Figures 5 and 6 is not an attachment nor a modification, but may be used if required to assist the entry of lift truck forks into sleeve mouths which may be partially collapsed due to poor loading or,load-shift, or in situations such as with bagged materials which may settle in transit and take the line of the sleeve mouths away from the horizontal plane.

The device is formed by bending it so that the tips are touching each other. This causes the slit in the centre to open and form a 'letter box' effect. It is then pushed into the sleeve mouth so that when the forks enter the letter box opening they pass on into the sleeve spaces and under the load.

When the load is put down again and the forks withdrawn, the letter box is pulled off the forks for re-use as required.

The devices of Figures 5 to 8 may be secured to the sleeve by any method such as adhesive, rivet or staple.

The flat portion lying along and inside the top of the sleeve forms a high spot which can aid the forks sliding action whilst the protruding lip directs the forks to the sleeve centres and provides a guide for fork entry.

If required a matching or similar lip may be mounted on the base portion of the sleeves alone or with a lip on the upper portion also.

This lip may be similar to the upper lip and is intended to also operate as a fork guide with a high spot and also as a means whereby the pallet together with its load may be pulled to slide along a floor. With this means the assembly to the foot may need to be more robust than the upper lip and the lip will be designed to accept a gripper.

Claims

1. A load handling means comprising a sleeve secured to a lower surface of the load or to a support pallet to carry the load, the sleeve being defined by a base portion to form a ground bearing surface, side wall portions embodying longitudinal pleats or hinges and arranged to collapse or expand by folding about the pleats or hinges, and a top portion to secure the sleeves to the load or pallet, the sleeve when fully collapsed under load defining a space sufficient for initial entry of load handling equipment, the opening to said space having an entry guiding means, the pleats allowing the sleeve to expand to fully receive the load handling equipment.

2. A load handling means according to Claim 1, comprising a pallet, baseboard, container or box to a surface of which is secured two sleeve means in parallel spaced relationship.

3. A load handling means according to Claim 1, comprising a pallet, baseboard, container or box to a surface of which is secured a sleeve means and having a width extending across a substantial part of the width of the surface.

4. A load handling means according to Claim 2 or 3, comprising a pallet, baseboard, container or box in combination with a second pallet having a base forming a conventional pallet structure and a top including battens defining channels to receive the sleeves, with the battens supporting the lower surface of the pallet or like.

5. A load handling means according to any preceding Claim, wherein the entry guiding means comprises an attachment fitted to the edge surface of the support pallet or to the edge of the base portion of the sleeve or to both.

6. A load handling means according to Claim 5, wherein the attachment comprises a sheet member defining an outwardly flared entrance channel to receive the fork of load handling equipment.

7. A load handling means in accordance with Claim 5, wherein the attachment comprises a rigid but resilient plastics moulding with a tongue which is passed inside the sleeve and secured by staples or the like with the end of the sleeve abutting a shoulder, fork guidance being achieved by a lip which projects from the open end of the sleeve in a direction away from the mouth.

8. A load handling means in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the base portion of the sleeve has a cut-away at the mouth of the sleeve.

9. A load handling means in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the sleeve or sleeves are secured by means of staples to the load or support pallet.

10. Load handling means substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.