tray

Abstract

A pallet includes a top plate extending in a rectangular shape and carrying a cargo, a plurality of legs disposed at a plurality of positions including four corners of the top plate to support the top plate from below, and a bottom plate disposed to support the plurality of legs, the top plate including a long side and a short side, the legs disposed at the corners of the top plate among the plurality of legs including a long side and a short side, and the long sides of the legs disposed at the corners of the top plate among the plurality of legs being disposed along the short side of the top plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a pallet. Background Technology

[0002] When handling heavy products, the following operation is performed: the products are placed on a wooden pallet and moved together with the pallet using a forklift or hand lift.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-34780 discloses a pallet using longitudinal beams and proposes a method to mitigate vertical impacts on the top plate of the pallet.

[0004] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-507029 discloses a paper tray, which is a truss with a cross-sectional shape having a wide upper surface and a narrow lower surface. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In recent years, in order to improve stacking efficiency or reduce costs, there has been a demand to minimize the size of packaging materials, resulting in smaller boxes or pallets. However, if boxes or pallets are reduced in size, the supporting components such as casters that support the products will be placed directly above the blocks supporting the pallet top plate, which may not be able to absorb the impact of logistics and cause the products to break. Moreover, if the blocks are reduced in size for the sake of miniaturization, the coverage of the blocks will be reduced, which may lead to loose packages and make stacking more difficult.

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a tray that improves functionality compared to simply miniaturizing the case.

[0007] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a tray is provided, comprising: a top plate that extends in a rectangular shape and carries a load; a plurality of feet disposed at multiple locations including the four corners of the top plate to support the top plate from below; and a bottom plate disposed to support the plurality of feet, the top plate including a long side and a short side, the feet disposed at the corners of the top plate including a long side and a short side, and the long side of the feet disposed at the corners of the top plate being arranged along the short side of the top plate.

[0008] According to the second aspect of this disclosure, it has the following shape: the side away from the short side of the top plate is cut off in such a way that the width of the upper surface of the pad disposed at the corner of the top plate, which contacts the top plate along the long side of the top plate, narrows.

[0009] According to the third aspect of this disclosure, the stack mounted on the top plate includes: a support portion supporting the stack at the four corners of the lower part of the stack, and a pad disposed at the corner of the top plate is disposed in a position such that it is offset from the short side of the top plate relative to the support portion of the stack mounted on the top plate that is closest to the corner.

[0010] According to the fourth aspect of this disclosure, the pads disposed at the corner of the top plate have the following shape: relative to the support portion closest to the corner of the stack mounted on the top plate, they extend to a position further away from the corner along the short side direction of the top plate.

[0011] According to the fifth aspect of this disclosure, the two foot gaps located at both ends of the long side of the top plate are configured such that the spacing between the two foot gaps can be used to insert the forks of a forklift crane or a hand-cranked crane.

[0012] According to the sixth aspect of this disclosure, the two pads disposed at both ends of the short side of the top plate are positioned such that they are close enough that the forks of a forklift or hand-cranked crane cannot be inserted between the two pads.

[0013] (Effect)

[0014] According to the first, third, and fourth solutions, for example, compared to the case of using pads with square upper and lower surfaces, the material impact is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the top plate.

[0015] According to the second scheme, the top plate can be elastically deformed more effectively compared to the case of using pads without notched shapes.

[0016] According to the fifth scheme, the performance of the tray is improved compared to a tray that is simply miniaturized and cannot accommodate a fork.

[0017] According to the sixth solution, compared with a pallet where forks can be inserted from the short side, it can maintain the function of carrying by inserting forks from the long side and is a small pallet. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 (A) and Figure 1 (B) is an explanatory diagram of the background of one embodiment disclosed herein.

[0019] Figure 2 (A) and Figure 2 (B) is a diagram representing a problem associated with miniaturization.

[0020] Figure 3 (A-1) to Figure 3(C-2) is a plan view of the tray and a partial enlarged view thereof indicating a problem accompanying miniaturization and a countermeasure therefor.

[0021] Figure 4 (A) to Figure 4 (C) is a view indicating the tray of the present embodiment.

[0022] Figure 5 (A) and Figure 5 (B) is a front view (A) and a partial enlarged view (B) thereof indicating a state in which the tray carrying the articles is stacked in two stages, as viewed from the long side 111 of the top plate.

[0023] Figure 6 (A) and Figure 6 (B) is a view indicating a region of the notch portion of the foot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0025] Figure 1 (A) and Figure 1 (B) is a view indicating a background of the present embodiment.

[0026] Figure 1 (A) is a comparative example for comparison with the embodiment described later. The Figure 1 In (A) of the comparative example, an article 2 indicated by a dotted line is placed on a tray 1 made of wood. Casters 21 (see FIG. 2) are installed at four corners of a lower portion of the article 2, and the tray 1 directly carries the casters 21. A cushioning material 3 such as foamed styrene is arranged around the article 2, and the article 2 and the cushioning material 3 are covered with a packaging box 4. In this case of (A) of the comparative example, the cushioning material 3 is arranged, and thus a large packaging box 4 capable of accommodating not only the article 2 but also the cushioning material 3 is required. Along with this, a tray 1 capable of carrying the large packaging box 4 is required. In this case of (A) of the comparative example, the article 2 is placed on the tray 1, and thus the tray 1 is required to have a size capable of carrying the article 2. Figure 2 Figure 1 Figure 1 In the example shown in (A) of the comparative example, a tray 1 having a size of 833 mm x 720 mm is used. This tray 1 includes a rectangular top plate 11 extending along the entire surface of the tray 1, a foot 12 supporting the top plate 11 from below, and a bottom plate 13 arranged so as to carry the foot 12. The foot 12 is arranged at a plurality of positions including four corners of the rectangular top plate 11.

[0027] In recent years, miniaturization of packaging materials is being studied.

[0028] Figure 1 (B) is a view indicating a miniaturized image.

[0029] The​​Figure 1 In (B), a packing box 4 smaller in size than that of (A) is shown, and a pallet 1 that carries the packing box 4 is shown. In comparison with (A), the packing box 4 shown in (B) is a packing box 4 that houses only the article 2 without a cushioning material 3. Along with this, the pallet 1 is also downsized. The example shown in (B) is provided in a size of 770 mm x 686 mm. Figure 1 Figure 1 Figure 1 In comparison with (A), the packing box 4 shown in (B) is a packing box 4 that houses only the article 2 without a cushioning material 3. Along with this, the pallet 1 is also downsized. The example shown in (B) is provided in a size of 770 mm x 686 mm. Figure 1

[0030] However, the pallet 1 is not simply downsized, but also generates several problems along with the downsizing.

[0031] Figure 2 (A) and (B) are diagrams that show one problem along with the downsizing. Figure 2

[0032] Figure 2 (A) shows an image of simply downsizing the pallet. If the packing box 4 is downsized or omitted by discarding the cushioning material 3 (refer to (A)), or the like, along with this, the pallet 1 that carries the downsized article 2 can also be downsized. However, even if the pallet 1 is downsized, the article 2 is not downsized, but the caster 21 attached to the article 2 is placed in a position close to the corner of the pallet 1. Therefore, if the pallet 1 is simply downsized, as shown in (A), it is possible that the caster 21 of the article 2 is placed in a position overlapping or close to the foot pad 12. Figure 1 Figure 2

[0033] The pallet 1 places the caster 21 in a position not overlapping the foot pad 12 of the top plate 11, and absorbs the flow impact by the flexure of the top plate 11. Therefore, if the caster 21 is placed in a position overlapping the foot pad 12 as shown in (A), the flow impact is directly transmitted to the article 2, and it is possible that the adjustment of the article 2 is disturbed or breakage is caused. Figure 2

[0034] Figure 2 (B) shows an image of downsizing the pallet 1, and further downsizing the size of the foot pad 12 in order to avoid the caster 21 being placed in a position overlapping the foot pad 12. At this time, in a case where only the up-and-down direction vibration is considered, the vibration is absorbed by the flexure of the top plate 11. However, if the foot pad 12 is small, when a horizontal direction force is applied to the top plate 11, the foot pad 12 tilts and the top plate 11 is laterally shifted with respect to the bottom plate 13, and the pallet 1 can be broken. If stacking is performed in which the articles 2 are vertically stacked together with the pallet 1 as shown in (A), it is possible that the upper articles 2 fall, and the stacking becomes difficult. Figure 5

[0035] ​​​​​​​​Figure 3 (A-1) to (A-2) of FIG. 1 Figure 3 (C-2) of FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pallet and a partially enlarged view thereof, which indicate another problem accompanying miniaturization and a strategy for solving the problem. The Figure 3 (A-1) to (A-2) of FIG. 1 Figure 3 (C-2) of FIG. 3, a caster 21 installed at a lower portion of the article is also shown.

[0036] Here, Figure 3 (A-1) of FIG. 1 is a pallet also shown in Figure 1 (A) of FIG. 1 as a comparative example, Figure 3 (A-2) of FIG. 1 is Figure 3 (A-1) of FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a portion of the circle Rl shown therein. Also, Figure 3 (B-1) of FIG. 2 is a pallet in a middle stage of a pallet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 3 (B-2) of FIG. 2 is Figure 3 (B-1) of FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the circle R2 shown therein. Further, Figure 3 (C-1) of FIG. 3 is a pallet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 (C-2) of FIG. 3 is Figure 3 (C-1) of FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the circle R3 shown therein.

[0037] Figure 3 The top plate 11 of the pallet 1 of the comparative example shown in (A-1) has dimensions of a long side 111 of 833 mm and a short side 112 of 720 mm. Also, the feet 12 have a rectangular shape with a long side 121 in the direction of the long side 111 of the top plate 11 and a short side 122 in the direction of the short side 112 of the top plate 11. Here, it is assumed that a fork of a hand truck or a fork lift truck (not shown, hereinafter represented by a hand truck) is inserted under the top plate 11, and an article is lifted and carried together with the pallet 1. The width dimension W of the fork of the hand truck is, for example, Figure 3 (C-1) of FIG. 3 shows W = 555 mm. Figure 3 (A-1) of FIG. 1 and Figure 3 In the case of the pallet 1 of (A-2) of FIG. 1, the gap between the feet 12 at both ends of the long side 111 of the top plate 11 is 613 mm, and the gap between the feet 12 at both ends of the short side 112 of the top plate 11 is 580 mm. Therefore, the fork of the hand truck having the width dimension W of 555 mm can be inserted from both the long side 111 and the short side 112. The Figure 3 (A-1) of FIG. 1 shows that Figure 3 (A-2) of FIG. 1 shows that the caster 21 is placed at a position appropriately distant from the feet 12.

[0038] Figure 3 The pallet 1 shown in (B-1) of FIG. 2 is such that Figure 3The tray 1 of (A-1) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (C-1). Figure 3 The tray 1 of (B-1) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (C-1). Figure 3 In the tray 1 of (B-1), the gap between the feet 12 at both ends of the long side 111 of the top plate 11 is 560 mm, and the gap between the feet 12 at both ends of the short side 112 of the top plate 11 is 546 mm. The tray 1 of (B-1) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (C-1). Figure 3 The tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (C-1). Figure 3 In the tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2), it is not possible to insert a fork with a width dimension W = 555 mm of a hand-operated hoist from the short side 112. Furthermore, from the long side 111, it is a dimension that is theoretically possible to insert, but the excess width is too small, and in practice it is difficult to insert. Therefore, the tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2) is simply miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (C-1). Figure 3 The tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (C-1). Figure 3 In the tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2), it is difficult to transport the articles carried on the tray 1 together with the tray 1.

[0039] Furthermore, in the tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2), the caster 21 is placed in a position immediately adjacent to the foot 12. Figure 3 In the tray 1 of (B-1) and (B-2), the caster 21 is placed in a position immediately adjacent to the foot 12. Figure 3 In (B-2), the caster 21 is placed in a position away from the foot 12.

[0040] Figure 3 The tray 1 of the present embodiment shown in (C-1) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (B-1). Figure 3 The tray 1 of (C-1) is the same as the tray 1 of (B-1), with the long side 111 being 770 mm and the short side 112 being 686 mm. However, the tray 1 of (C-1) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (B-1). Figure 3 The tray 1 of (C-1) and (C-2) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (B-1). Figure 3 In the tray 1 of (C-1) and (C-2), the feet 12 are arranged with their long sides 121 oriented along the short side 112 of the top plate 11. Furthermore, the dimensions of the short sides 122 of the feet 12 are made narrower in a manner such that the gap between the feet 12 at both ends of the long side 111 of the top plate 11 is 670 mm. Furthermore, the dimensions of the long sides 121 of the feet 12 are widened to the extent necessary, and with respect to the direction of the short side, the possibility of the feet 12 described in (B) tilting or the difficulty of stacking is eliminated. Figure 3 The tray 1 of the present embodiment shown in (C-1) is miniaturized in a manner consistent with the size of the tray of the embodiment shown in (B-1). Figure 3 In the tray 1 of the present embodiment shown in (C-1), the caster 21 is placed in a position immediately adjacent to the foot 12. Figure 3 In (C-2), the caster 21 is placed in a position away from the foot 12.

[0041] However, the Figure 3 (C-1) and Figure 3 The pallet 1 shown in (C-2) cannot have forks inserted from the short side 112 of the top plate 11. By making it so that forks can be inserted from the long side 111 of the top plate 11, both miniaturization of the pallet 1 and cargo handling can be achieved.

[0042] Figure 3 (A) to Figure 3 (C) is a diagram representing the tray in this embodiment.

[0043] Figure 3 In (A), it is shown that... Figure 3 The same plan view as (C-1). In this plan view, with Figure 3 Similarly, in (C-1), the top plate 11 of the tray 1 is represented by a solid line, and the feet 12 are represented by dashed lines. Figure 3 In (A), it is also shown that it is installed on product 2 (refer to) Figure 4 The casters 21 at the lower part of (A) are examples of the articles placed on the tray 1 of this embodiment, which are equivalent to the stacking objects described in this disclosure. The casters 21 installed at the four corners of the lower part of the articles are equivalent to the support portions described in this disclosure.

[0044] and, Figure 4 (B) is Figure 4 An enlarged view of the circle R4 shown in (A). Figure 3 (C) is with Figure 3 A side view of the same part as (B). Figure 4 (B) Figure 1 In (C), the top plate 11 and the feet 12 of the tray 1 are also shown. Furthermore, in Figure 4 In (B), casters 21 installed on the lower part of the product are also shown.

[0045] Here, the product mounted on the top plate 11 includes casters 21, which support the product at the four corners of its lower part. Furthermore, the feet 12 of the tray 1, located at the corners of the top plate 11, are positioned such that they are offset from the casters 21 closest to the corner, further away from the short side 112 of the top plate 11. That is, the feet 12 are located a distance d1 further away from the short side 112 than the casters 21. In this way, the tray 1 supports the casters 21 on the top plate 11 at a position where they do not overlap with the feet 12, and utilizes the flexibility of the top plate 11 to absorb vertical vibrations of the mounted product.

[0046] Further, the foot 12 of the tray 1, which is provided at a corner of the top plate 11, has a shape that extends to a position farther from the corner than the caster 21 closest to the corner of the article mounted on the top plate 11 in the direction of the short side 112 of the top plate 11. That is, the foot 12 has a shape that extends to a position farther from the caster 21 by a distance d2 from the corner 113 of the top plate 11 in the direction of the short side 112 of the top plate 11. In the present embodiment, by providing the foot 12 with a shape that extends to a degree satisfying the above condition in the direction of the short side, insertion of the fork and elimination of the possibility of tilting of the foot 12 or difficulty in stacking are simultaneously achieved.

[0047] Further, in the case of the tray 1 of the embodiment shown here, at least the foot 12 provided at the corner of the top plate 11 has a shape as shown in (C) of FIG. 10, in which the side away from the short side 112 of the top plate 11 is cut away in such a manner that the width S of the upper surface 123 of the foot 12 in contact with the top plate 11 in the direction of the long side 111 of the top plate 11 is narrower than the overall width T of the foot 12. Figure 4 Figure 4 In the example shown in (C) of FIG. 10, the foot 12 is formed with a notch portion 124 that is tapered by being cut away.

[0048] Thus, compared to the case where the notch portion 124 is not formed, the caster 21 is more appropriately distanced from the contact portion of the foot 12 with the top plate 11, and the flexing of the top plate 11 is more effectively utilized to absorb the flow impact. However, if the caster 21 is distanced too much from the contact portion of the foot 12 with the top plate 11, there is a possibility that the top plate 11 is flexed too much and the top plate 11 is broken, and it is preferable to define the dimensions of the top plate 11 or the foot 12 in such a manner that the caster 21 is placed at a position appropriately distanced from the contact portion of the foot 12 with the top plate 11, that is, at a position that makes tilting or stacking good and prevents breakage of the top plate 11 due to shearing or flexing of the top plate 11.

[0049] Figure 4 (A) of FIG. 9 and (B) of FIG. 10 are front views (A) and a partial enlarged view (B) of a state in which two sections of trays in a state of carrying articles are stacked, as viewed from the long side 111 of the top plate. Figure 4 Figure 4 (A) of FIG. 9 and (B) of FIG. 10 are front views (A) and a partial enlarged view (B) of a state in which two sections of trays in a state of carrying articles are stacked, as viewed from the long side 111 of the top plate. Figure 4 (A) of FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the circle R5 shown in (A) of FIG. 9. Regarding the Figure 4 (A) of FIG. 9 and (B) of FIG. 10 are front views (A) and a partial enlarged view (B) of a state in which two sections of trays in a state of carrying articles are stacked, as viewed from the long side 111 of the top plate. Figure 4 Figure 5 (A) of FIG. 9 and (B) of FIG. 10 are front views (A) and a partial enlarged view (B) of a state in which two sections of trays in a state of carrying articles are stacked, as viewed from the long side 111 of the top plate.​​​Figure 5 In the example shown in (B) of FIG. 12, the foot 12 is formed with a notch portion 124 having a stepped shape that is one step lower. In this way, the notch portion 124 can have any shape as long as the width S in contact with the top plate 11 is narrower than the full width T, and the specific shape of the notch is not limited.

[0050] In this way, by forming the notch portion 124 on the side facing the top plate 11, the up and down vibrations are absorbed, and on the other hand, by contacting the bottom plate 13 with the full width T of the foot 12, the possibility of the foot 12 toppling over or the difficulty of stacking is eliminated.

[0051] Figure 5 (A) of FIG. 13 and (B) of FIG. 14 are views showing the region of the notch portion of the foot. Here, Figure 5 (A) of FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to the embodiment of the foot 12 shown in (A) of FIG. 12. Figure 5 (B) of FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of (B) of FIG. 13. Figure 5 (B) of FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of (B) of FIG. 13. Figure 5 (B) of FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of (B) of FIG. 13.

[0052] Figure 5 The notch portion 124 shown in (A) of FIG. 13 is formed over the full length in the length direction of the foot 12 (the direction of the short side 112 of the top plate 11). In contrast to this, Figure 6 The notch portion 124 shown in (B) of FIG. 14 is formed in a portion that includes the region overlapping the caster 21 in the length direction of the foot 12 (the direction of the short side 112 of the top plate 11). The notch portion 124 can be formed over the full length as shown in (A) of FIG. 13, Figure 6 (A) of FIG. 13, but even if the notch portion 124 is formed in only a portion of the region as shown in (B) of FIG. 14, Figure 6 Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 6 Figure 6 Figure 6 Figure 6 (B) of FIG. 14, the notch portion 124 is formed in only a portion of the region overlapping the caster 21, and the like, and this is also effective in properly distancing the caster 21 from the contact portion of the foot 12 and the top plate 11.

Claims

1. A pallet comprising: The top plate extends in a rectangular shape and carries cargo; Multiple feet are disposed at multiple points at the four corners of the top plate to support the top plate from below; as well as The base plate is configured to support the plurality of feet. The top plate includes a long side and a short side. The pads located at the corners of the top plate, among the plurality of pads, include a long side and a short side. The long side of the foot positioned at a corner of the top plate is arranged along the short side of the top plate. The tray has the following shape: the width of the portion of the upper surface of the foot disposed at the corner of the top plate that is away from the long side of the top plate and contacts the top plate in the direction of the long side of the top plate is narrowed, and only the side away from the short side and the side away from the long side of the top plate are cut off.

2. The pallet according to claim 1, wherein, The stack mounted on the top plate includes: support portions that support the stack at the four corners of its lower portion, and The pads located at the corner of the top plate are positioned such that they are offset from the short side of the top plate relative to the support portion of the stack mounted on the top plate that is closest to the corner.

3. The pallet according to claim 2, wherein, The pads disposed at the corner of the top plate have the following shape: relative to the support portion of the stack mounted on the top plate that is closest to the corner, they extend to a position further away from the corner along the short side of the top plate.

4. The pallet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The two foot pads located at both ends of the long side of the top plate are configured to allow the forks of a forklift or hand-cranked crane to be inserted between the two foot pads.

5. The pallet according to claim 4, wherein, The two feet, located at both ends of the short side of the top plate, are positioned such that the gap between them is such that the forks of a forklift or hand-cranked crane cannot be inserted between them.

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