PALLET OR LOAD CARRIER FOR THE TRANSPORT AND STORAGE OF GOODS

Description

[0001] In the transport and logistics industry, transport pallets, colloquially known as Euro pallets, are used in a wide variety of ways. They are lifted, moved, and set down again using a forklift or pallet truck. In automated storage systems, such as high-bay warehouses, they are automatically transported by roller conveyors, chain conveyors, storage and retrieval machines, and / or other devices, brought to the desired storage location within the warehouse system, and removed again as needed.

[0002] Some pallets contain hazardous goods, such as chemicals or lithium-ion batteries (colloquially known as rechargeable batteries). Such batteries are very safe if used according to good technical practice and their casing is not damaged.

[0003] If the casing is damaged by external influences, a battery can catch fire. The exothermic reactions generate enormous heat, causing the fire to quickly spread to other batteries or other flammable objects in the immediate vicinity, like a chain reaction. In short, the potential for danger and damage, originating, for example, from mechanical damage to a lithium-ion battery, is very high.

[0004] DE 10 2011 110 851 A1 (D1) discloses a pallet onto which a protective device can be placed. This device serves to prevent damage to the pallet, for example, from the tines of a forklift.

[0005] DE 10 2005 049 678 A1 discloses a protective sleeve that can be placed on a pallet. The protective sleeve prevents goods on the pallet deck from sliding off or being damaged by the tines of a forklift.

[0006] US 2012 / 0017809 A1 discloses a pallet shaped so that, when unloaded, two pallets can be nested, so that the volume of these two pallets is smaller than the sum of the individual volumes. WO 2013 / 149289 A1 discloses a pallet whose deck is designed as a liquid-tight tray. It comprises three protective walls that protrude vertically beyond the deck. A fold is provided into which a grid can be inserted. This grid is arranged at approximately the same height as an upper edge of the circumferential upper edge of the side walls of the liquid-tight tray. It forms the deck of the pallet.

[0007] DE 10 2014 200 879 A1 discloses a transport container for lithium batteries. This transport container comprises an outer container that accommodates an inner container. The inner container, in turn, can be filled with lithium batteries. Spring elements are provided between the outer and inner containers to reduce the shocks exerted on the lithium batteries during transport. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The invention is based on the object of reducing the risk of damage to products stored on pallets - for example by the tines of forklift trucks during storage or retrieval - and, in the event of such damage, minimizing the resulting hazard and damage potential.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a pallet or load carrier having the features of claim 1.

[0010] In the pallet or load carrier according to the invention, hereinafter also referred to as pallet carrier, a protective wall is provided at least on one end face or another side of the deck, which projects vertically upwards above the deck. When a product or a Euro pallet loaded with products is placed on the pallet or load carrier according to the invention, the protective wall protects the product(s) from mechanical damage. For example, it protects products from the forks of a forklift truck or lifting device. If the forklift driver is careless and, for example, sets the forklift truck's forks too high, it often happens that the forklift truck's forks do not retract below the deck of the pallet, but instead collide with the products stored on the pallet.

[0011] The protective wall prevents, for example, the tines of a forklift from penetrating and damaging the housing of a lithium-ion battery. This not only minimizes the damage resulting from product damage, but also effectively prevents consequential damage, such as fire or environmental pollution, for example, from leaking acids or alkalis.

[0012] The pallet or load carrier according to the invention is very easy to use. Either a pallet or load carrier with the products or goods to be protected is placed directly on the deck of the load carrier according to the invention. Alternatively, a loaded (Euro) pallet is placed on the deck. In both cases, the protective wall prevents the pallet and / or the products stored on it from being damaged by the tines of a forklift, lifting device, or other equipment.

[0013] If sensitive products or dangerous goods are placed on the deck of a load carrier according to the invention, the protective wall effectively protects these products / dangerous goods from damage caused by penetrating objects.

[0014] Special handling of products stacked on a pallet is not required. The pallet with the products on it is placed as is on the pallet or load carrier according to the invention. The products are then handled and stored in exactly the same way as with shelving systems for Euro pallets or similar. Only the vertical space requirement increases slightly because the deck and longitudinal beams of the load carrier according to the invention require a certain height. The floor space requirement does not change compared to shelving systems for Euro pallets. Therefore, retrofitting or converting an existing shelving system is also possible.

[0015] The load carrier according to the invention also has the advantage of supporting and stabilizing the pallets placed on its deck, allowing even very heavily loaded pallets to be safely stored in a high-bay warehouse or other shelving system. Even a damaged pallet can be stored safely and trouble-free in a shelving system, even an automated shelving system, because the supporting function is assumed by the pallet or load carrier according to the invention.

[0016] Load-bearing points are located on the top side of the load carrier's deck. These load-bearing points can be designed as raised edges, for example. They can also be areas with increased sheet metal thickness on the deck. The load-bearing points absorb the increased surface loads, for example, from the feet of pallets, and transfer them to the pallet carrier. They also serve as a "stop" for the goods or pallets, preventing them from slipping off the deck, for example, due to sudden braking. The dimensions and arrangement of these load-bearing points are preferably selected to be compatible with the feet of standardized pallets or other standardized transport containers.In other words: the feet of Euro pallets or other transport containers come into direct contact with the load-bearing points of the deck of the load carrier according to the invention, so that optimal force transmission from the pallet to the load transfer points and the longitudinal beams of the load carrier according to the invention is ensured.

[0017] The load-bearing points are designed as crossbeams or spacers and transfer the weight forces transmitted from the pallet's feet directly into the load-bearing points. A simple form of a load-bearing point would therefore be a wooden block or a short piece of square tubing welded to the corresponding points on the deck, thus permanently connecting it.

[0018] Alternatively, it is also possible for the load-bearing points to be designed as crossbeams, whose longitudinal axis preferably runs orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal beams of the load carrier according to the invention. This results in a "cross-like" structure between the longitudinal beams and crossbeams, which leads to very high mechanical load capacity with minimal material usage.

[0019] According to the invention, the deck is designed as a liquid-tight tray with a base and surrounding side walls, with the load-bearing points arranged at approximately the same height as an upper edge of the surrounding side walls. This means that the space below the load-bearing points is available as a storage volume for any leaking liquids. This makes it possible, firstly, to collect a significant volume of liquid leaking from a damaged product in the tray. Nevertheless, it is possible to place a loaded pallet on the load-bearing points of the load carrier according to the invention without difficulty.In other words, the Euro pallet does not have to be lifted over the side walls of the tray and then placed on the floor of the tray. Instead, the Euro pallet can be moved over the load carrier at the same height as the top edge of the tray's side walls and then placed on the load-handling points located at approximately this height. This facilitates the handling of the Euro pallets and the load carriers according to the invention. The use of the load carriers according to the invention requires no additional equipment. Therefore, the pallet or load carrier according to the invention can also be retrofitted into manual or automated shelving systems.

[0020] Depending on the requirements, it is also possible to have a protective wall on more than just one side of the deck. It is also possible to have a protective wall on two or three sides of the deck. However, one side of the deck must be without a protective wall. A pallet or product can be placed on the deck's load-carrying points via this side without a protective wall, for example, using a conventional forklift.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the protective walls are arranged at the upper edges of the tank walls. In many cases, it is also possible and advantageous to manufacture both the tank side walls and the tank floor and the protective walls from sheet steel, for example, by folding and subsequent welding. This creates a liquid-tight tank for leaking liquids at no significant additional cost.

[0022] If necessary, reinforcement plates can then be welded in, so that overall a very resilient, robust and cost-effective production is possible.

[0023] The longitudinal beams are often made of steel; this has the advantage of being very resilient and robust. However, if the load carrier is placed down or moved "roughly," for example, on a coated industrial floor, the coating of the industrial floor can be damaged. To prevent or minimize this, a (replaceable) plastic or wooden skid can be attached to the underside of the longitudinal beams. These skids cushion shocks when the load carrier is placed down, thus protecting floors and shelving systems. Furthermore, the process of placing the load carrier down is quieter and less damaging to the ears of those present. The choice of material from which the pallet or load carriers according to the invention are made depends largely on the intended application. For example, if containers containing chemical products (hazardous goods) are stored on the load carriers, it may be advantageous to manufacture the load carriers from an acid-resistant plastic.When impact resistance and robustness are particularly important, welded sheet metal constructions are often the best choice. The required sheet metal blanks can be welded together to ensure a liquid-tight seal if necessary, so that the tray according to the invention can also be manufactured from the folded sheet metal blank by means of liquid-tight welding in this embodiment without any significant additional effort.

[0024] Sheet metal is also easy to repair. If, for example, a crack appears in the protective wall or a weld has opened, the functionality of the damaged pallet or load carrier can be easily restored with a repair weld.

[0025] To monitor the condition of the stored goods, sensors can be attached to the rear wall, e.g., for smoke development / heat development, etc., which transmit changes in the storage conditions, e.g., via radio or similar. Potentially dangerous goods that could, for example, catch fire are often stored on the pallet carriers according to the invention. In order to be able to detect such changes without delay and prevent the outbreak / spread of a fire, an advantageous development provides for at least one sensor to be attached to the pallet carrier to monitor the condition of the stored goods. The sensor wirelessly transmits changes in the storage condition to a control center.

[0026] This at least one sensor can monitor the smoke development and / or heat development of the stored goods on the pallet carrier and wirelessly transmit changes in the storage status to a central location.

[0027] If one or more batteries are stored on the deck of the pallet carrier, the at least one sensor for monitoring the condition of the stored goods can measure the electrical voltage at the electrical terminals of the battery(ies), the internal resistance of the battery(ies), and / or the (quiescent) electrical current flowing in the battery(ies), and wirelessly transmit changes in one or more of these variables to a control center. This can, in many cases, prevent the outbreak of a battery fire before a significant temperature increase occurs on the battery housing or before smoke develops.

[0028] In a particularly advantageous development, the at least one sensor, along with a change in the condition of a stored item, wirelessly transmits information for identifying the pallet carrier and / or its storage location to the control center. This allows the pallet carrier containing potentially "critical" stored goods to be located, allowing the responsible personnel to go to this pallet carrier without having to search.

[0029] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the following drawings, their description and the patent claims. drawing

[0030] They show: Figures 1 to 3 various views of a pallet or load carrier not according to the invention and Figures 4 to 6 corresponding views of an embodiment of a pallet or load carrier according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0031] In the Figure 1 1 shows a simplified isometric view of an exemplary embodiment not according to the invention. The pallet or load carrier 1 comprises a deck 3, which generally has a rectangular base area. It is dimensioned so that a Euro pallet or other standardized pallet can be placed on the deck 3. This means that the base area of ​​the deck 3 is the same size as or slightly larger than the base area of ​​a pallet or a standardized container that is to be placed on the pallet carrier. In this exemplary embodiment, three cross members 19 are provided on the deck 3. They can be designed as a sheet metal strip or a rectangular plate made of plastic, which is / are welded or fastened to the deck 3.

[0032] In this embodiment, there are three parallel longitudinal beams 5 beneath the deck 3. The longitudinal beams 5 are connected to the deck 3, for example, by welding. They stabilize the deck 3. The tines of a lifting device or forklift (see Figure 2 ). In other words, the pallet or load carrier can be lifted with a standard lifting device or forklift truck, transported within the company, and then set down again at another location.

[0033] A protective wall 7 is attached to one end of the load carrier 1. The protective wall 7 projects vertically upwards above the deck 3.

[0034] In this embodiment, there is no protective wall on the side of deck 3 opposite the protective wall 7. This means that there is only a small raised edge to limit deck 3 on the side opposite the protective wall. It is also possible for no raised edge to be provided there. This enables and facilitates driving a pallet from this side, opposite the protective wall 7, over deck 3 using a conventional lifting device or forklift and setting it down on deck 3. The tines of the lifting device or forklift can then be pulled out from under the Euro pallet in a conventional manner.

[0035] In the Figure 1 No Euro pallet is shown on deck 3. This is only shown in the Figures 2 and 3 the case.

[0036] To stabilize the protective wall 7, but also to protect the goods or Euro pallets placed on the deck 3 from mechanical damage, this embodiment features side walls 9, which are designed here as triangular surfaces. However, it is also possible to design the side walls 9 as rectangles.

[0037] The side walls 9 also function as protective walls. They are designated differently than the protective wall 7 at the front of the deck to distinguish them conceptually from the frontal protective wall 7.

[0038] In this embodiment, it is possible to manufacture both the longitudinal beams 5 and the deck 3, the protective wall 7, and the side walls 9 from sheet metal. The load carrier 1 is particularly preferably manufactured from sheet steel because it is very robust, ductile, and thus offers very good protection for pallets or goods located on the deck 3.

[0039] By bending sheet metal blanks, such as those used to manufacture the longitudinal beams 5, the stability and flexural rigidity of the longitudinal beams 5, as well as of the deck 3 firmly connected to the longitudinal beams 5, can be structurally adapted to future operating conditions within very wide limits. The protective wall 7 and the side walls 9 further contribute to increasing the rigidity of the pallet or load carriers 1.

[0040] In Figure 2 the pallet or load carrier 1 is in accordance with Figure 1 shown in a side view. An empty Euro pallet 11 is shown on deck 3. In actual use, this Euro pallet 11 contains sensitive products, such as batteries, containers filled with corrosive or flammable liquids, and other hazardous goods.

[0041] To the side of the load carrier 1, a lifting device in the form of a reach truck 13 with tines 15 is shown. The tines 15 are located just above the hall floor. In this position of the tines 15, it is possible to drive the reach truck 13 towards the load carrier 1 and thereby position the tines 15 under the deck 3 and between the longitudinal beams 5. This position is shown in the Figure 2 Not shown. However, every expert in the field of transport and warehousing knows how a Euro pallet can be lifted using a lifting device. Exactly the same process occurs when the pallet or load carrier 1 is to be lifted.

[0042] As can be seen from the Figure 2As can be clearly seen, the protective wall 7 represents very effective protection against mechanical damage to products stored on the pallet 11. In particular, it effectively prevents careless operation of the lifting device with the tines 15 set too high from causing damage to goods located on the Euro pallet 11.

[0043] If the tines 15 are set too high and an operator attempts to use the tines 15 to move under the deck 3 of the load carrier, the tines 15 are blocked by the protective wall 7. In other words, there will be no damage to the goods on the pallet 11, which may be sensitive or pose a high risk.

[0044] The side walls 9 stiffen the protective wall 7 so that even large forces can be absorbed by the protective wall 7 and the protective effect of the protective wall against mechanical damage to goods on the pallet 11 is very high.

[0045] The Figure 3 now shows a front view of the load carrier 1 with the protective wall 7 and an indicated pallet 11.

[0046] In the Figure 4An isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a pallet or load carrier 1 according to the invention is shown. According to the invention, the deck 3 is designed as a liquid-tight trough. This means that it has four circumferential side walls 17 that are welded together in a liquid-tight manner. In this exemplary embodiment, three cross members 19 are arranged on the deck 3 and serve as load-bearing points for the Euro pallet (not shown). The cross members 19 are ultimately folded sheet metal pieces that are dimensioned such that their upper side is essentially flush with the upper edge 18 of the side wall 17.3 of the deck 3. Of course, the sheet metal blanks can also be dimensioned such that a small / low upstand is created, which locally reinforces the deck 3. This means that a Euro pallet can be pushed onto the deck 3 via the side wall 17.3 without there being a height difference between the upper edge 18 of the side wall 17.3 and the cross members 19. The protective wall 7 and the side walls 9 rest on the surrounding side walls 17.

[0047] Of course, the protective wall 7 and the underlying side wall 17 are usually made from a single piece. The same applies to the side walls 9 and 17. List of reference symbols:

[0048] 1 Pallet or load carrier 3 Deck 5 Longitudinal beam 7 Protective wall on one end of the deck 9 Side walls 11 Euro pallet 13 Lifting device / reach truck 15 Forks 17 All-round side wall of a trough 19 Cross beam

Claims

1. Pallet or load carrier comprising a deck (3) having a base surface, a protective wall (7) being provided on at least one side of the deck (3), which wall projects in the vertical direction above the deck (3), load-bearing points being provided on an upper side of the deck (3), the deck (3) being designed as a liquid-tight trough having a bottom and peripheral side walls (17), and the load-bearing points being arranged approximately at the same height as an upper edge (18) of the peripheral side walls (17), characterized in that the pallet or load carrier comprises at least two, preferably three, parallel longitudinal beams (5), the longitudinal beams (5) being arranged below the deck (3) and being connected to the deck (3), in that the load-bearing points are designed as cross beams (19) or spacers, and in that the load-bearing points introduce the weight forces introduced into the load-bearing points directly into the longitudinal beams (5).

2. Pallet or load carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that a protective wall (7, 9) is provided on two or three sides of the deck (3) or two or three side walls (17) of the trough, which wall projects in the vertical direction above the deck (3) or the peripheral side walls (17).

3. Pallet carrier according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that no protective wall (7, 9) is provided on at least one side of the trough.

4. Pallet carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a runner made of wood or plastics material is provided on the undersides of the longitudinal beams (5).

5. Pallet carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distances between the load-bearing points correspond to the distances between the feet of a standardized pallet, in particular a Euro pallet, or a standardized transport container.

6. Pallet carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one protective wall (17), the deck (3) and / or the longitudinal beams (5) are made of metal, preferably steel.

7. Pallet carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one protective wall (17), the deck (3) and / or the longitudinal beams (5) are made of plastics material, preferably of fiber-reinforced and / or acid-resistant plastics material.

8. Pallet carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one sensor for monitoring the condition of the stored item.

9. Pallet carrier according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one sensor for monitoring the condition of the stored item monitors the smoke development and / or the heat development of the stored item on the pallet carrier and wirelessly transmits changes in the storage condition to a central control station.

10. Pallet carrier according to either of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that one or more accumulators are stored on the deck (3), and in that the at least one sensor for monitoring the condition of the stored item detects the electrical voltage applied to the electrical connections of the accumulator(s), the internal resistance of the accumulator(s) and / or the electrical current flowing in the accumulator(s) and wirelessly transmits changes in one or more of these variables to a central control station.

11. Pallet carrier according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the at least one sensor wirelessly transmits, together with a change in the condition of a stored item, information for identifying the pallet carrier and / or its storage location to the central control station.

12. Pallet carrier according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the at least one sensor is arranged on the protective wall (7), in particular on the side of the protective wall (7) facing the deck (3).

13. Pallet carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal beams (5) extend over the entire length of the deck (3) and are preferably arranged / positioned so that they extend under the runners of a Euro pallet placed on the deck (3).