Improvements to apparatus for securing loads

Abstract

Abstract The invention to which this application relates to improvements to a retaining band which can be used to securely locate, form and retain a load of items or goods, in one embodiment on a pallet, and thereby retain the said items or goods as a single integral package. The invention allows for the adaptation of the retaining bands to be detectable when with a predetermined range of detection apparatus such as X-ray and / or metal detection apparatus so that should the retaining band or fragments thereof be discarded or dislodged, the presence of the same is detectable and therefore prevented from becoming a potential contaminant or safety hazard. 2021200267 18 Jan 2021 H tM- Zb $ jjz "+ ,< 2 i % lb )n •$：I $ 4 ItA 6 IDTs?L id b 20tl 14 Zi f\ 2o 3 / W ^ j \. * £& ‘Is ,e> / t(*\ G'f »« / pff / '* 21 20 21 20 02 67 1 8 Ja n 20 21 1 / 1 1 / 1 24 18 Jan 2021 10 26 (L 10 14 8 2 2021200267 18 28 K76 6 1010 6 22 20 14 E Figure ; I A 14 20 no Figure 22

Description

The invention to which this application relates is to improvements to apparatus of a type which can be used to more securely locate a load of items or goods on a pallet 5 and thereby effectively form the said items or goods as a single integral package which can be moved when located on the pallet, with the pallet providing the base support and also acting as the interface between the movement apparatus such as a forklift truck, and the pallet load. The use of pallets to move loads of goods between different locations, for example, 10 within a manufacturing facility and / or from the manufacturing facility to a location of use or sale, is well-known. Also well-known is that if the items which are placed together to form the load on the pallet are unstable, then during storage and / or movement, items can fall from the pallet which means that time then has to be taken to relocate the items as part of the load, can mean that items are missing from the 15 load when it is subsequently delivered to the required location and / or can represent a hazard or risk to other personnel in the vicinity of the pallet load when the same starts to move and items fall. In order to avoid this problem, or at least reduce the risk of the pallet load from being unstable, it is known to provide retaining means which pass round the 20 sidewalls of the pallet load and thereby maintain the sidewalls in respective, substantially vertical planes, perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the pallet base. These retaining means can be temporary in nature such as, for example, in the form of cardboard or thin plastic sheet material wrapped around the same or may be more environmentally friendly and reusable apparatus known as pallet bands. 25 The pallet bands, in one form, can be expanded and placed in position around the pallet sidewalls and then reduced in size and / or are tightened to a required degree 2021200267   27 May 2026 to secure the items in the load together. When it is required to move the items from the load and / or from the pallet, the pallet bands can be released and then reused on another load. This therefore means that the relatively wasteful use of pallet wrapping sheet material, which is provided for a single use only, is avoided and hence prevents 5 the pallet wrapping material from entering the waste chain. The pallet bands can be made of silicone, rubber or polythene and typically have a degree of elasticity so as to allow the same to be placed in position and, in one embodiment, the elasticity may be sufficient to allow the required retention force to be exerted on the sidewalls of the pallet load or alternatively, tightening means may 10 be provided to allow the pallet band to be tightened around the pallet load sidewalls once placed in position. However, the potential use of pallet bands in certain environments, such as a food environment, provides further problems in that the pallet band represent a potential contamination source which is introduced into the food environment in an 15 uncontrolled manner and which, if the same breaks, or is discarded, or is damaged, represents an opportunity for the material from which the pallet band has been formed, to enter the food manufacturing process and / or the foodstuff itself. Thus, at present, while the use of pallet bands is recognised as being environmentally beneficial and can be provided in a form which is suitable for use in a non-20 contaminating manner in terms of the material from which the pallet band is formed, the applicant has recognised that there is a risk of potential contamination of the food manufacturing process and / or food products. The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a means whereby the presence of a pallet band and / or fragment of a pallet band can be determined and 25 thereby allow the same to be removed from an environment in which the same would represent a potential hazard such as a food manufacturing environment, whilst ensuring that the advantages of use of the pallet bands can still be achieved. 2021200267   27 May 2026 In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a reusable elastic band for use in retaining a load of items in a defined position on a pallet, said elastic band provided to be located with respect to one or more walls of the said load, the said elastic band provided in the form of a loop of a flexible and resilient material that has a degree 5 of elasticity such that in use the elastic band is movable from a first condition to a second, extended condition of a size to allow the same to be positioned around said one or more walls of said load and, when in position, the release of the elastic band allows the band to move to a third condition in which the same has decreased in size and exerts a gripping force on said load and said elastic band further includes one or 10 more materials evenly dispersed at a predetermined density within the flexible and resilient material as an integral part thereof which render the said elastic band detectable by X-ray and / or metal detection apparatus when said elastic band is within a predetermined range of said detection apparatus so as to allow the presence of said elastic band, or a fragment thereof greater than a predetermined size present 15 as a result of breaking or damage to the elastic band, to be detected when said elastic band is in said first condition and when released from said third condition. In one embodiment, the said material includes particles of a metal or metal alloy of a form which is detectable by metal detection apparatus. In one embodiment, the said material includes a material which is capable of 20 detection by X-ray detection apparatus and in one embodiment, the material is a barium or similar material. Typically, the range and sensitivity of the detection apparatus is as defined by Health & Safety Standards and may vary from region-to-region and the retention means and in particular, the quantity and form of the detectable materials which are provided 25 as part of the retention means, is selected to meet the detection requirements for that location and / or requirements with regard to the size of a fragment of the retention means which is required to be detected and at which distance from the detection apparatus. It will therefore be appreciated that the form of the detectable materials in the retention means and quantity of the same, can be varied to suit 2021200267   27 May 2026 particular usage requirements. In one embodiment the detection range is up to 1 metre and the fragment size is greater than 1cm2 Typically, the elastic band is provided to be selectively positioned around the sidewalls of the load of items so as to retain the sidewalls in substantially vertical 5 planes during storage of the said load and the movement of the said load between different locations. Typically the pallet is formed of wood, plastics or cardboard material and which forms the base of the load and provides location means via which movement apparatus, such as a forklift truck, can engage with the load and hence move the 10 same between the required locations. In one embodiment, elastic bands are provided in a range of different sizes and the particular size of band which is used and / or number of bands used are selected with regard to the particular load size. In one embodiment, the elastic band is provided with an indication means to allow 15 different types, uses, or any other feature of the elastic band to be distinguished from other pallet bands. In one embodiment, the indication means may be provided to identify the particular uses which are allowable for the particular elastic band. In another embodiment, the indication means is used to indicate whether the elastic 20 band is metal detectable, X-ray detectable or capable of X-ray and metal detection. In one embodiment the indication means may be the selection of one of a range of colours for the elastic bands. The selection of the particular indication means, such as the selection of a colour, allow the elastic band to be colour coded with regard to, for example, the particular location from which the load originates, a particular time 25 at which the load has been formed and / or moved and / or a particular sector of workforce, with each sector being provided with retention means of different colours to use. In these embodiments, the aim is to allow a forensic analysis to be performed if, for example, an elastic band, or a fragment thereof, is subsequently 2021200267   27 May 2026 detected to be present in the foodstuff manufacturing process or foodstuff and thereby allow an indication of the time and / or location from which the contaminating elastic band or fragment thereof, originates and thereby allows action to be taken to prevent a repeat occurrence. 5 In one embodiment the material from which the elastic band is manufactured is or includes an antimicrobial feature. In one embodiment the retention means is biodegradable. Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 10 Figure 1 illustrates a pallet load formed using a retention means in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a retention means in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section along line AA of the retention means of Figure 2. 15 Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a pallet load 2 formed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the pallet load 2 comprises a pallet 4 which forms the base of the load and which includes a series of location means 6 for the receipt of the prongs of a tail lift apparatus in a conventional manner so as to allow the load to be lifted 20 and moved between different locations as and when required. The remainder of the pallet load 2 is formed of a series of items stacked on the base and which in this case are packages of foodstuff containers, and each package 8 is 2021200267   27 May 2026 placed in position with respect to the packages so as to form the overall pallet load 2 of the combination of packages 8 and which is typically cuboid in shape. Whilst, at the time of placing the packages in position to form the pallet load the same can appear to be securely in position, it is found that during storage and / or 5 movement, the packages 8 may move and the pallet load 2 become unstable and therefore in accordance with the invention, retention means, in this case in the form of three pallet bands 14, 16, 18, are placed at spaced intervals around the sidewalls of the load and act to provide a gripping force on the sidewalls 20, 22, 24, 26 as indicated by arrows 10 to effectively push opposing sidewalls towards each other 10 and thereby act to maintain the pallet load in position, with the sidewalls 20, 22 24, 26 being in a substantially vertical plane and perpendicular to the upper surface 28 of the pallet base 4. This therefore allows the load to be maintained as a unitary item during storage and / or movement. In the example shown, each pallet band 14, 16, 18 is formed as a continuous band 15 and may for example be formed of a silicone material so as to allow the same to be capable of being used in the food industry. It will be appreciated that at the time of delivery of the pallet load 2 to the end user, it will be necessary to separate the packages 8 and provide the same for the required use. It will also be appreciated that at this point, the pallet bands 14, 16, 18 also have to be removed and, whilst the 20 intention is that these bands are reused, it is possible and especially in relatively pressurised, high throughput, environments, that the bands are discarded, or inadvertently lost, or are damaged so that there may be fragments of the band material present at the location of use of the containers. It will also be appreciated that if these containers are for use in the food industry, then the location at which 25 this occurs, will be close to the food manufacturing process and so the discarding of the bands and / or fragments of the same at this location thereby represents a risk that the same will enter the food manufacturing process and become a hazard to the end consumer of the food products. 2021200267   27 May 2026 As a result, and in accordance with the invention, and as illustrated in Figure 3, the band, in addition to being formed of silicone material and / or any other material which is required to provide the effective use of the same in retaining the load in position, also include one or more materials 20,22 which allow the bands and 5 fragments thereof to be metal detectable and / or X-ray detectable. Typically, the X-ray and metal detection will occur using apparatus which is provided on the food production line and most typically, near the end of the same and thereby any band or fragment thereof, which has inadvertently entered the food production process of foodstuff itself, can now be identified as a result of the provision of the 10 material which allows the same to be metal and / or X-ray detectable. Typically, the same can be rendered metal detectable by the inclusion therein of a quantity of metal particles 20 with the particular metal which is selected, being one which is found to be particularly effective at being detected and suitable for use with metal detection apparatus and the particles are typically provided in the material used 15 to form the band at the time of formation of the band so that typically the metal particles are dispersed into the silicone material used to form the band when the same is in a liquid state and thereby ensure relatively even dispersal of the metal particles and at a required density throughout the material. Alternatively, or in addition, the material used to form the retaining band can also 20 include a material therein such as barium 22, which is capable of rendering the pallet band detectable by X-ray apparatus and once again the material is added at the time of formation of the band so as to form an integral part of the same. Typically, if the colour of the band is important for the use of the same for the purposes as previously described, the selected colour pigment is also added to the 25 material at the time of manufacture of the band so that the same has the required colour. 2021200267   27 May 2026 It will be understood that the term “comprise” and any of its derivatives (eg comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied. 5 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. In some cases, a single embodiment may, for succinctness and / or to assist in understanding the scope of the disclosure, combine multiple features. It is to be 10 understood that in such a case, these multiple features may be provided separately (in separate embodiments), or in any other suitable combination. Alternatively, where separate features are described in separate embodiments, these separate features may be combined into a single embodiment unless otherwise stated or implied. This also applies to the claims which can be recombined in any 15 combination. That is a claim may be amended to include a feature defined in any other claim. Further a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in 20 its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and / or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications in 25 its scope.

Claims

1. A reusable elastic band for use in retaining a load of items in a defined position on a pallet, said elastic band provided to be located with respect to one or more walls of the said load, the said elastic band provided in the form of a loop of a flexible and resilient material that has a degree of elasticity such that in use the elastic band is movable from a first condition to a second, extended condition of a size to allow the same to be positioned around said one or more walls of said load and, when in position, the release of the elastic band allows the band to move to a third condition in which the same has decreased in size and exerts a gripping force on said load, and said elastic band further includes one or more materials evenly dispersed at a predetermined density within the flexible and resilient material as an integral part thereof which render the said elastic band detectable by X-ray and / or metal detection apparatus when said elastic band is within a predetermined range of said detection apparatus so as to allow the presence of said elastic band, or a fragment thereof greater than a predetermined size present as a result of breaking or damage to the elastic band, to be detected when said elastic band is in said first condition and when released from said third condition.

2. A band according to claim 1 wherein the said material includes particles of a metal or a metal alloy of a form which is detectable by metal detection apparatus.

3. A band according to any of claims 1 or 2 wherein said material includes barium to render the retention means capable of detection by X-ray detection apparatus.

4. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said X-ray and / or metal detectable materials are located and mixed within the said band at the time of forming the said band.

5. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein the density of said metal and / or X-ray detectable material which is included in the band is selected with respect to the predetermined size of fragment of the band which is desired to be detectable when within a predetermined range of detection apparatus.2021200267   27 May 20266. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said predetermined size of the fragment is 1cm2 and the detection range is up to 1 metre from the detection means of the apparatus.

7. A band according to claim 1 wherein the said walls are side walls of the load such that the band acts to retain the sidewalls in substantially vertical planes during storage of the said load and / or movement of the said load between different locations.

8. A band according to claim 1 wherein the band engages with the pallet and at least one wall of the load.

9. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein a range of band retention means sizes are available for selection and use to retain a load of a particular dimension.

10. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein the band include an indication means, and the selection of the particular indication means used on a particular band is made with reference to any or any combination of: type of band, use of the band, user of the band, level of detectability of the band and / or any other feature of the band such that the indication means selected distinguishes the said band from other bands.

11. A band according to claim 10 wherein the indication means is used to indicate whether the band or said fragment thereof is detectable by metal detection apparatus, X-ray detection apparatus or by X-ray and metal detection apparatus.

12. A band according to any of claims 10 and 11 wherein the indication means are in the form of one of a range of colours or a mixture of colours which are matched to a table indicating the characteristic attributed to each colour or mixture of colours.2021200267   27 May 202613. A band according to any of claims 10-12 wherein the indication means are matched to a particular worker, workforce or shift of workers so as to allow forensic analysis to be performed to identify the origin of a detected band or fragment thereof.

14. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein the band is manufactured from or includes an antimicrobial material.

15. A band according to any of the preceding claims wherein the band is formed from a biodegradable material.

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