LT5231B - A method for distributing articles - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of distributing articles in a palletized form from a supplier (11) of the articles, these are placed at the supplier on two or more loading ledges (1) to form a unit load, which is transported to a receiver (13, 14) of the articles. Each loading ledge (1) comprises an L-shaped profile having projections (3) for supporting the unit load at a certain distance over its support.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of distributing articles stacked on pallets from a supplier of articles.

Preconditions of the invention

The usual way of distributing palletized products is by using traditional pallets, usually wooden pallets of standard dimensions, on which the products are stacked and often affixed, for example, by straps.

Preconditions of the invention

A common way to distribute palletized products is to use traditional pallets, usually wooden pallets of standard dimensions, on which the products are stacked and often affixed, for example, by straps.

Wooden pallets are so widely used that their benefits are rarely questioned. However, there are some important disadvantages with wooden pallets:

- it is expensive to maintain a return system for the operation of wooden pallets;

- many transport services are used to transport empty, large and heavy wooden pallets;

- Wooden pallets have a short lifetime which increases the cost

- The use of large and heavy wooden pallets reduces transport efficiency

- large enough space for storing wooden pallets at the supplier and other locations in the distribution network;

- The pallet standard size is not optimal for many products and carriers, such as containers, freight wagons and trucks and trailers.

Before attempting to maximize the benefits of wooden pallets, you should use a corrugated cardboard loading panel during distribution. Such a loading panel may have a lower height and weight than a wooden panel and may be discarded after one use. There are some advantages in terms of cost and versatility, but still the loading panel of the type mentioned above does not provide a distribution method without the disadvantages of the optimal solution to the problem mentioned above.

The state of the art transportation, storage, and display device that forms a particular type of pallet when stored items are floorboards or boxed products (GB 2312416 A) does not solve all of the above problems.

The main object of the invention is accordingly to provide a way of distributing articles when pallets are stacked from their suppliers.

The essence of the invention

The problems of the previously used distribution methods are eliminated by the present invention and a significantly improved distribution method is obtained by placing one or more articles on two or more loading flanges at the supplier to form a section load, each flange having an L-shaped profile with projections for section loading. , and places the flange on the underside of the unit load, the unit load is transported to the loading flanges of the consignee.

The sectional load formed by the support projections on the loading ledges may be serviced by service equipment, such as a fork used to handle the sectional loads on wooden pallets.

Typically, a unit load is provided by the supplier (often an article manufacturer) with circumferential strips (extending above the loading ledges) and / or elastic or shrink wrapping or the like. In this way the unit load with the loading ledges is kept together and also protected from the environment.

From a supplier, bulk cargo can be transported by conventional means to a warehouse where it can be stored for further distribution to the retailer or similar when the product leaves the distribution system

Alternatively, the bulk cargo may be transported directly to the retailer or similar.

In earlier cases it was possible to use a traditional wooden pallet for transporting from a warehouse to a retailer and storing a sectional load there if the storage system is adapted to wooden pallets.

In this case, the wooden pallet is returned for reuse in the traditional pallet return system.

Preferably, the loading ledges are made of recyclable plastic such as colorless polypropylene (PP). The production method may be injection molding. Other materials and production techniques are available.

The loading ledges may be returned for reuse on new sectional loads but may be useful for recycling, for example by grinding them and returning the material to the loading ledge manufacturer. Alternatively, the material may be placed on the market as a plastic raw material. In the latter case, it is particularly important to have colorless plastic.

Using the loading flanges above will only allow one size to be used for all applications. The size of the unit load is independent of the pallet size, but rather of the size of the articles, when the products have two or more loading nozzles on their lower edges, the projections of the nozzles point downwards to service traditional service equipment. For long products, two or even three loading ledges may be attached to each lower edge.

In other words, the use of loading ledges means that an optimal sectional load can be made based on the goods or products, but not on the pallet size, as is the case today.

In addition, the weight and price of loading flanges are very low.

Empty loading ledges can be stacked for transport, which can be very efficient.

A unit load for distribution in the form of pallets from articles in a unit load may, in accordance with the invention, have two or more loading ledges disposed at the lower edges of the unit load of one or more articles.

With its main shape, the unit load has one loading ledge on each of the opposing lower edges, but if the unit load is extremely long, it may have two or more loading ledges. The loading ledges can also be located on all lower edges of the load unit or inside the unit load.

The perimeter strips can be arranged around opposite loading ledges.

For example, if a unit load has a certain number of individual articles (or cardboard boxes), a base plate may be placed between the articles and the loading ledges.

Drawings

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 is a perspective view of the loading ledge used in the method according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a general diagram of the method of distribution according to the invention, and

FIG. 3a-i show examples of sectional loads with loading ledges.

Detailed Description of the Invention

FIG. The loading flange 1 is shown in Figure 1. It is mostly injection molded, L-shaped in recyclable plastic, preferably polypropylene (PP). Its lower corner 2 has protrusions 3, in this case three protrusions, to hold the sectional load above the base or other support and to serve the usual equipment used for goods on conventional wooden pallets currently widely used in distribution systems.

Its upper corner 4 is generally flat and protruding against the vertical lateral surface of a sectional cargo reinforced with loading ledges.

In practice, but not limited to, loading ledge 1 may have a total length of 760 mm, and lower angles 2 and 4 have a width of 180 mm and 100 mm, respectively. The projections 3 may be 35 mm high and 75 mm wide. The central projection may be 160 mm long, each of the two outer projections may be 75 mm long.

For the following reasons, it is useful to use colorless plastic for the loading ledges 1.

Now referring to Figs. 2. Reference numeral 10 indicates the manufacturer of the loading ledges 1, the distributor of the articles or goods to be distributed or the manufacturer 11. The supplier 11 places the articles on two or more loading ledges 1 to form a sectional load, preferably provided with straps and / or elastic or shrink wrapping.

Batch loads from supplier 11 are transported, such as by wagons or trucks 12, to central warehouse 13 for further distribution to one of several retailers 14 provided by warehouse 13. Otherwise, they can be transported directly from supplier 11 to each retailer 14.

FIG. 2 suggests the use of traditional wooden pallets 15 (from their manufacturers 16) between warehouse 13 and retailer 14. This may be because the storage system of existing retailers 14 is based on the use of wooden pallets on stock rods. The refinement of the use of wooden pallets 15 may be an improvement.

The dotted arrow in FIG. 2 suggests that loading ledges 1 may be returned from retailer 14 to warehouse 13.

Used loading flanges 1 could be reasonably returned to the supplier or manufacturer 11 for other use. In addition, since the conditions for each loading flange 1 cannot be guaranteed, it is still desirable to use a reuse system for loading flanges 1 at this time. The used flanges are milled accordingly, for example at a recycling company 17. From there, the material can be recycled or placed on the ordinary market if it is beneficial, for example, from an economic point of view. It is only natural that the plastic material is colorless.

The use of loading ledges as described above can reduce the required storage space for example in warehouse 13 by 30-35% and also increase the transport fill ratio by about 35%. More compact stacking for transport protection against inter-movement and minimizing transport damage.

With modern dimensions, 500 flanges / m ³ can be transported as about 7 standard wooden pallets / m ³ , which in theory saves about 97%.

FIG. 3 illustrates some of the options for the placement of sectional loads. Fig. 3b and d show the "main" sectional loads on two flanges 1, each with, for example, two strips 20. Figs. 3a shows a longer sectional load with two loading ledges 1 on each side and, for example, four strips. FIG. 3c - three sub-loads, each with two loading ledges 1 and two strips, stacked and supported together by two additional strips 21 to form a sectional cargo.

FIG. 3e - four articles (or cardboard boxes) are arranged on four loading ledges 1 as shown in FIG. 3f. Non-shown bands may complete the section load.

FIG. 3g illustrates 32 smaller articles (or cardboard boxes) forming a sectional load with two loading ledges 1. In this case, a base plate 22 is used, such as a fibreboard or plastic. Non-shown bands may complete the section load. FIG. 3h illustrates a sectional cargo with four articles and a baseplate 22. Here, four loading ledges 1 are used, one on each lower edge.

FIG. 3i finally illustrates a sectional load with four loading ledges in a similar manner to that shown in FIGS. 3h.

Of course, other similar options are possible.

Claims (14)

Definition of the Invention A method of distributing palletized articles from a supplier of articles (11), characterized in that the supplier places one or more articles on two or more known loading ledges (1) to form a sectional load, each ledge having an L-shaped profile. made of recyclable plastic and having protrusions (3) for holding the unit load at a certain distance above the support and disposed on the lower edge of the unit load, the unit load is transported to the loading ledges by the recipient (13, 14); recycle the material, for example by grinding, and reuse it into new flanges or other products. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plastic is colorless. 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the plastic is polypropylene (PP) and the production method is injection molding. 4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the recyclable material is returned to the manufacturer (10) of the loading ledges (1) for the production of new loading ledges or supplied to the conventional market as a raw material for plastics. 5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the supplier (11) provides the unit load with perimeter strips (20, 21) and / or elastic or shrink wrapping or the like. 6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit load is transported to a warehouse (13) for further transportation to the retailer (14). 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit load is transported to a retailer (14). 8. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the unit load is placed on a conventional pallet (15), such as a wooden pallet, before being transported to a retailer (14). 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the traditional pallet (15) is returned for reuse in a conventional pallet return system. 10. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a single loading ledge (1) is positioned on each of the opposite edges of the sectional load. 11. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that two or more loading ledges (1) are provided on the lower edges of each opposing sectional load. 12. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the loading ledges (1) are arranged on all four lower edges of the sectional load. 13. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the baseplate (22) is positioned between the section load and the loading ledges (1). 14. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the loading ledges (l) are located inside the sectional load.