PALLET SYSTEM AND TOP PLATE OF A PALLET SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet system and a top plate for a corresponding pallet system.

[0002] For transport, coils are sometimes placed on transport supports that must meet modern logistics requirements, i.e., they must be able to be lifted by a forklift. This requires that the transport support has access openings for the forklift's tines or that they are provided underneath the transport support. While modern inventory management recognizes pallets and recycles them, this does not apply to such transport supports.

[0003] Pallets are sometimes unsuitable for transporting coils because the coils have a diameter that laterally exceeds at least the width of a standard Euro pallet according to DIN EN 13698-1. Thus, the coils must be supported underneath by a transport base that is wider than the pallet, meaning a standard transport pallet is unsuitable for transporting a coil. A top plate for a transport pallet with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known, for example, from EP 0 436 783 A1.

[0004] The present invention is based on the problem of creating a transport option for coils of the type mentioned above, which can be recognized and reused by users as part of the merchandise management cycle.

[0005] To solve this problem, the present invention provides a top plate with the features of claim 1. This top plate is designed to be adapted for a transport pallet, i.e. a Euro pallet. The transport pallet has, in a manner known per se, a support surface comprising at least two boards which are separated from one another by a gap. The gap usually runs parallel to an elongated engagement opening for the engagement of tines of a forklift truck below the support surface, so that the transport pallet can be lifted by the forklift truck. The support surface of the transport pallet is formed by parallel extending boards, wherein preferably and in accordance with DIN EN 13698-1 (January 2004) four gaps are provided between five boards.

[0006] The present invention proposes a top plate for such a transport pallet, which has an upper and a lower surface that run parallel to one another. The upper surface serves to support the coil. The lower surface rests on the support surface of the transport pallet. A projection protrudes from the lower surface and is adapted to be received in a gap in the transport pallet. The top plate further has at least one recess that extends from the upper surface toward the lower surface.

[0007] The recess usually extends completely through the top plate, i.e. it forms a continuous opening between the upper and lower surfaces. The recess is designed to accommodate the projection. Of course, the projection of the same top plate cannot be inserted into the corresponding recess in the top plate. Rather, the recess has a dimension that is designed to accommodate the projection. In practice, several top plates are stacked against one another. The projection of a first top plate can be accommodated in the recess of an adjacent second top plate placed against the first top plate.The corresponding design of the projection and recess enables a compact storage of a large number of attachment plates, so that the attachment plates can be moved in a relatively space-saving manner in the goods cycle and can be transported by the recipient and user of a coil back to the manufacturer or sender of the coils.

[0008] The projection protruding from the lower surface engages in a gap in the transport pallet, so that the transport pallet is pre-positioned relative to the top plate and the top plate is positively connected to the transport pallet transversely and longitudinally in the direction of extension of the gap. The positive connection between the top plate and the transport pallet gives the resulting pallet system increased load security. The position of the projection is adapted to the position of the associated gap so that the top plate projects at least by the same amount beyond the width of the transport pallet. However, the top plate is usually no longer than the length of the transport pallet, which is specified as 1200 mm according to the standard. The width is 800 mm, so that with a diameter of a preferably round top plate, it can project 200 mm beyond the transport pallet on both sides.

[0009] However, the extension plate can certainly have a larger diameter than the length of the transport pallet. This means the top plate can extend beyond the transport pallet on four sides.

[0010] To securely support the coil, the top plate is made of a solid material such as plastic or metal.

[0011] The top plate is preferably provided predominantly with mesh-like openings. This reduces the weight of the top plate without significantly compromising its stability. The mesh structure allows a lashing strap to be routed almost perpendicularly around the coil, the top plate, and the pallet, regardless of the coil's outer diameter. This increases the potential lashing force and the associated load security of the pallet system.

[0012] The recess and the projection are arranged point-symmetrically to each other, relative to a center point of the top plate. Even a non-circular top plate can have a center point. The longitudinal axis of the projection extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the recess, so that top plates rotated by 90° can form a stack in which the projection of the first top plate engages the recess of the second top plate.

[0013] It has proven effective to provide at least two, preferably exactly two, recesses and at least two, preferably exactly two, projections on the top plate, arranged point-symmetrically around the center of the top plate. These two projections allow the position of the top plate relative to the transport pallet and its gap to be reliably specified.

[0014] To facilitate stacking multiple top plates, it is preferable to provide a through hole in the center of the top plate, extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. This through hole can be used to slide multiple top plates over a mandrel, thus centering them. The mandrel can have an eyelet at its upper free end, which can be used to attach the mandrel to a hook. Below the mandrel is a counter surface connected to the mandrel, against which the bottommost top plate rests. This creates a stack that is easy to handle and return to the coil shipper.

[0015] The pallet system claimed according to the independent aspect of the present invention has a transport pallet and a top plate provided thereon and forms a base for the transport of coils.

[0016] Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Figure 1 a perspective top view of a pallet system; Figure 2 a perspective bottom view of the pallet system according to Figure 1 , wherein the two components of the pallet system are provided one above the other in an exploded view and Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of two top plates of a stack.

[0017] In the Figures 1 and 2 Reference numeral 20 designates a transport pallet according to DIN EN 13698-1. Reference numeral 22 designates the support surface of this transport pallet, which is formed by a plurality of boards 24 and form gaps 26 between them.

[0018] As usual, there are two elongated openings 28 under the support surface for the engagement of the tines of a forklift truck.

[0019] Reference numeral 10 shows an example of a top plate having an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 14 running parallel thereto. Figure 2 As illustrated, two projections 16 protrude from the lower surface 14. These projections 16 are adapted to be received in an associated gap 26, both with regard to the position of the standardized gap 26 and with regard to the width of the gap 26.

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates two recesses 18 which run orthogonally to the elongated projections 16, each of which extends along a longitudinal axis L, and penetrate the top plate 10 in the vertical direction, ie extend from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface 14.

[0021] A through hole 19 is provided at a center point M of the top plate 10, which also penetrates the top plate 10. The two recesses 18 and the two projections 16 are provided point-symmetrically with respect to this center point M.

[0022] In Figure 3 The two top plates 10 shown there are provided aligned one above the other with their respective center points M. Thus, the projections 16 of the upper top plate 10.1 are also aligned with the recesses 18 of the lower top plate 10.2. When the two top plates 10.1 and 10.2 are placed on top of each other, the lower surface 14.1 of the upper top plate 10.1 rests flat against the upper surface of the lower top plate 10.2. This creates a compact stack of top plates. List of reference symbols

[0023] 10 Top plate 10.1 First top plate 10.2 Second top plate 12 Upper surface 14 Lower surface 14.1 First lower surface 14.2 Second lower surface 16 Projection 18 Recess 19 Through hole 20 Transport pallet 22 Support surface 24 Board 26 Gap 28 Access opening 30 Pallet system M Center point L Longitudinal axis

Claims

1. Top plate (10) for a transport pallet (20) with a support surface (22) comprising at least three boards (24) which are separated by columns (26), wherein the top plate (10) has an upper surface (12) and a lower surface (14) running parallel thereto, at least two projections (16) projecting from the lower surface (14) and at least two recesses (18) extending from the upper surface (12) in the direction of the lower surface (14), wherein the projections (16) are each adapted to fit into the columns (26) of the transport pallet (20) and the recesses (18) are each adapted to receive the projections (16), wherein the projections (16) and the recesses (18) each extend along a longitudinal axis (L) which lies parallel to the upper and lower surfaces (12; 14) of the top plate (10), wherein the projections (16) are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to a center point (M), and wherein the projections (18) are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to the center point (M), characterized in that the longitudinal axes of the projections (16) are orthogonal to the longitudinal axes of the recesses (18).

2. Top plate (10) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the top plate (10) is made of plastic.

3. Top plate (10) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the top plate (10) has a grid structure.

4. Top plate (10) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the top plate (10) is circular in shape.

5. Top plate (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the top plate (10) has a diameter between 800 mm and 1500 mm.

6. Top plate (10) according to one of the previous claims, characterized by a through hole (19) extending from the upper surface (12) to the lower surface (14) and provided at a center point (M) of the top plate (10).

7. Pallet system (30) with a transport pallet (20) having a support surface (22) comprising at least three boards (24) separated by columns (26), and a top plate (10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the projections (16) of the top plate are received in the columns (26) of the transport pallet (20).

8. Pallet system (30) according to claim 7, characterized in that the top plate (10) projects beyond the support surface (22) of the transport pallet (20).

9. Stacking of top plates (10) with several top plates (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the projections (16) of a first top plate (10) are each received in the recesses (18) of a second top plate (10) resting against the first top plate (10).