Cargo pallet, method for manufacturing a pallet and assembly of a box and a pallet

Abstract

The invention relates to a pallet (1) which is intended to be secured to an object (9) in order to facilitate the handling of said object (9). According to the invention, the pallet is made of two identical portions (14, 15) which are secured to one another at an interface plane delimiting a main internal channel (16).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a loading pallet.

[0002] A loading pallet is generally intended to be attached to an object, such as a storage box, in order to facilitate the handling of this object with a forklift-type machine, for example to load it onto a vehicle platform.

[0003] FR 2 030 321 A1 discloses a loading pallet according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] A loading pallet according to the invention has a simplified structure, the manufacturing time of which is reduced and which therefore allows savings to be generated.

[0005] In order to better understand the positioning of the various parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is carried out with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0006] The invention relates to a loading pallet intended to be secured to an object in order to facilitate the handling of said object.

[0007] According to the invention, the pallet is made of two identical portions which are secured to each other at an interface plane delimiting a main internal channel. The principle of a loading pallet according to the invention is to be manufactured in two identical portions requiring only one and the same mold. In this way, depending on the geometry and dimensions that one wishes to obtain for the pallet, it is easy to modify the characteristics of the mold to manufacture the portions adapted to this pallet. Thanks to the use of a single mold, it becomes easy to modify the characteristics of said mold to obtain a pallet having given characteristics, whereas it would be more complicated to obtain said pallet in a single manufacturing operation by means of a mold and / or a more complex technique.The internal channel is intended to receive the support part of a forklift in order to easily move the pallet in space. The object may for example be a crate or any container. Advantageously, the pallet is previously secured to the object, and it is the resulting assembly that is handled with a forklift. The main internal channel is bordered by an internal surface of the two portions and may have a circular, square or rectangular cross-section. The two portions may be secured to each other by any means, such as for example by screwing or gluing.

[0008] According to a characteristic of the invention, each of the portions is rectangular in shape, and said portions overlap one another so that the resulting thickness of the pallet corresponds to the sum of the two thicknesses of the two portions, and so that the width and length of said pallet correspond respectively to the width and length of a portion. In other words, the two portions overlap ideally to obtain a compact pallet, the dimensions of which do not exceed those of a single portion. Only the thickness of the pallet is multiplied by two compared to that of a single portion.

[0009] According to a characteristic of the invention, each portion has a recess extending over its entire width and over a fraction of its length, so that once assembled, the two portions delimit the main internal channel. Advantageously, the main internal channel is a through channel so that it opens onto two opposite sides of said pallet. In this way, the support part of a forklift can enter through one of the two end openings of said internal channel to handle the pallet, which itself may have been previously secured to an object which may for example be a storage box.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the main internal channel has a rectangular cross-section. Preferably, the large side of this rectangular cross-section extends parallel to a large side of the rectangular pallet.

[0011] According to a characteristic of the invention, each portion has a second recess extending over a part of its width and over a part of its length, so that once assembled, the two portions delimit a secondary internal channel extending in a direction which is perpendicular to the main internal channel and opening into it. Thanks to the presence of these two perpendicular internal channels, the support part of a forklift can penetrate either into the main internal channel or into the secondary internal channel to manipulate the pallet in two positions located at 90° to each other. It is advantageously assumed that the secondary internal channel opens at one edge of the pallet.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each portion has on at least one external surface a network of reinforcing ribs, some of which extend parallel to a short side of the portion, and some of which extend parallel to a long side thereof. The concept of "external surface" is made with reference to the main internal channel. Thus, an internal surface will delimit said main internal channel and an external surface will externally delimit the pallet. The fact of having reinforcing ribs in two perpendicular directions makes it possible to stiffen the pallet uniformly, along two directions of the plane in which the corresponding portion is inscribed. Preferably, this external surface is intended to support a storage box and it is therefore important that it can have good mechanical strength with respect to said box, especially if the latter is loaded.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each portion has on an internal surface delimiting the internal channel a network of reinforcing ribs extending parallel to a short side of the portion. These ribs make it possible to stiffen the pallet a little more, in particular when it is handled by a forklift since said ribs will come directly into contact with the support part of said forklift.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each portion has on an external surface impressions in the form of hollows intended to cooperate with complementary protruding impressions of an object capable of being fixed to said pallet. In this way, the object which can for example be represented by a storage box, will not be able to slide along said pallet thanks to the protruding impressions of said object which will be inserted into the hollow impressions of the pallet. The dimensions and the arrangement of the hollow impressions of the pallet are a function of the structural characteristics of the object to be placed on said pallet.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the pallet is made of a composite material comprising carbon fibers and a poly epoxy. Such a material is light and has good mechanical strength when packaged in the form of a finished part. In this way, the pallet does not unnecessarily weigh down the vehicle on which it will be installed, but can easily withstand the weight of a storage box secured to it, even if the latter is loaded.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two portions are assembled by means of a technique to be chosen from gluing and screwing. These techniques are well mastered and allow the two portions to be joined together at low cost. Since the two portions of the pallet are not subjected to forces which could cause them to slide against each other, the assembly techniques mentioned above are sufficient to hold them against each other.

[0017] Another subject of the invention is a method of manufacturing a pallet in accordance with the invention.

[0018] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: a step of manufacturing a first portion using a mold, a step of manufacturing a second portion using the same mold, a step of assembling the first portion and the second portion to form a pallet.

[0019] The characteristic of such a method is that it uses a single mold of simple design, to manufacture the two portions of a pallet according to the invention. Indeed, a portion of a pallet according to the invention is of simple geometry compared to that of the pallet once assembled and it is therefore not necessary to design a mold of complex geometry to directly manufacture the pallet.

[0020] The assembly of the two portions can, for example, be carried out by gluing, screwing or clipping.

[0021] Another subject of the invention is an assembly of a storage box and a pallet in accordance with the invention.

[0022] According to the invention, the dimensions of the pallet and the box are identical, so that once assembled, said pallet and said box have a continuous external surface. This assembly can be achieved by any means such as screwing, gluing or clipping. The box and the pallet will thus give the impression of forming a single common part, manufactured from the same material during the same operation.

[0023] A pallet according to the invention has the advantage of being able to be easily and quickly manufactured, thanks to the use of a single mold of simple design. It also has the advantage of being able to easily change its shape and size thanks to a modification of the mold designed to manufacture a portion and which is of simple design.

[0024] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a loading pallet according to the invention is given below with reference to the following figures: [ Fig. 1 ] represents a perspective view of a vehicle in which a pallet according to the invention can be mounted, [ Fig. 2 ] represents a partial perspective view of the vehicle of the figure 1 showing a palette according to the invention, [ Fig. 3 ] represents a perspective view of a pallet according to the invention, [ Fig. 4 ] represents a perspective view from another angle of the palette of the figure 3 , [ Fig. 5 ] represents a perspective view of an assembly of a storage box and a pallet according to the invention, [ Fig. 6 ] represents a perspective view from another angle of the assembly of the figure 5 .

[0025] Referring to the figures 1 et 2 , a pallet 1 according to the invention can be mounted in a utility vehicle 2 having a driver's cabin 3 and a rear storage part 4. The driver's cabin 3 comprises a driver's seat and a passenger seat which may for example be a folding seat. The rear storage part 4 comprises a structure 5 having two longitudinal and parallel segments 6, extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 2. These two longitudinal segments 6 are connected by a transverse rear segment 7 extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, said transverse segment 7 constituting the rearmost part of the structure 5. On these three segments 6, 7 is fixed a platform 8 of rectangular shape, originating against the driver's cabin 3 and extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle to the rear transverse segment 7 of the structure 5.If the vehicle 2 is placed on a flat and horizontal ground, the platform 8 extends in a horizontal plane.

[0026] Referring to the figures 5 et 6 , an assembly of a storage box 9 and a pallet 1 according to the invention is placed on the platform 8 so that said pallet 1 rests on the platform 8 and is between said platform 8 and the box 9. The box 9 is a hollow container, of parallelepiped shape, and having at least one means of access in the form of a door 10 which can be mounted sliding or pivoting on the box 9. The box 9 is delimited by: two longitudinal and vertical faces 11 extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 2, two transverse and vertical faces 12 extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle 2, an upper face 13 and a lower face horizontal, the upper face 13 being placed above the lower face.

[0027] In the example illustrated in figures 1 et 2 , the access door 10 of the box 9 constitutes one of the two longitudinal faces 11 of said box 9, and can pass from a closed position for which it extends vertically and closes the box 9, to an open position for which it extends horizontally as illustrated in figure 1 , and provides access to the interior of the box 9. The box 9 can, for example, be compartmentalized in order to structure the storage of goods inside it.

[0028] Referring to the figures 3 et 4 , the pallet 1 is made of two separate and identical portions 14, 15, which are then secured to each other to form said pallet 1. This securing can for example be carried out by gluing or by screwing. The two portions 14, 15 are perfectly identical, and are manufactured from the same mold in a material which can for example be a composite material comprising carbon fibers and a poly epoxy.

[0029] Each of the portions 14, 15 is rectangular in shape and has a recess extending over its entire width and over a fraction of its length, such that once assembled, the two portions 14, 15 delimit a main internal channel 16. Each of these portions 14, 15 has a second recess extending over a portion of its width and over a portion of its length, such that once assembled, the two portions 14, 15 delimit a secondary internal channel 17 extending in a direction which is perpendicular to the main channel 16 and opening into it. Schematically, the main internal channel 16 extends along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and the secondary internal channel extends along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle when the pallet 1 is mounted on said vehicle 2.These two channels 16, 17 are intended to receive the support part of a forklift truck for the purpose of handling the pallet 1, for example to load it onto the vehicle 2, or to unload it from it. The presence of these two internal channels 16, 17 thus offers two possibilities for handling the pallet 1 by the forklift truck, either by using the main internal channel 16 or by using the secondary internal channel 17.

[0030] Referring to the figures 3 et 4 , each portion 14, 15 has on an external surface, transverse ribs 18 extending along a short side of said portion 14, 15 and longitudinal ribs 19 extending along a long side thereof, said longitudinal ribs 19 being shorter than the transverse ribs 18 because of the presence of said transverse ribs 18.

[0031] Referring to the figures 2 , 4 , 5, each portion 14, 15 has on an internal surface delimiting the main channel 16, a network of reinforcing ribs 20 extending parallel to a short side of the portion 14, 15. All the ribs 18, 19, 20 of each portion 14, 15 are preferably rectilinear.

[0032] Referring to the figures 3 et 4 , each portion 14, 15 has on an external surface three indentations 21, 22, 23 in the form of hollows intended to cooperate with complementary projecting indentations of the box 9. In this way, once the box 9 has been placed on one of the two portions 14, 15 of the pallet 1, it cannot slide on said pallet 1. The dimensions of the hollow indentations 21, 22, 23 of each portion 14, 15 are slightly greater than those of the complementary projecting indentations of the box 9, so that there is no play between said indentations 21, 22, 23 and said complementary indentations when the complementary projecting indentations are placed in the hollow indentations 21, 22, 23 of the pallet 1.

[0033] Referring to the figures 5 et 6 , the pallet 1 in two portions 14, 15 is first secured to the box 9, then it is the assembly resulting from these two elements which will be handled by a forklift to transport said assembly to its final location on the platform 8 of the vehicle 2. Advantageously, the pallet 1 is glued and / or bolted to the storage box 9 to form an assembly which can be handled by the forklift.

[0034] Referring to the figures 3 et 4 , it should be noted that the two portions 14, 15 are perfectly superimposed on each other to form the pallet 1, so that the width and the length of said pallet 1 correspond respectively to the width and the length of a portion 14, 15 and so that the thickness of the pallet 1 corresponds to twice the width of one of said portions 14, 15.

[0035] Referring to the figures 5 et 6, it should be noted that the width and length of pallet 1 correspond exactly to the width and length of box 9 and that said pallet 1 and said box 9 are perfectly superimposed on each other to form a whole, the overall external surface of which is perfectly continuous, giving the impression that pallet 1 and box 9 form a single, single-piece piece manufactured from the same material and during the same operation.

Claims

1. Pallet (1) intended to be secured to an object (9) in order to make said object (9) easier to handle, said pallet (1) being formed in two identical portions (14, 15), which are secured to one another at an interface plane delimiting a main internal channel (16), each of the portions (14, 15) being rectangular in shape, the two portions (14, 15) being superimposed on one another such that the resulting thickness of the pallet (1) corresponds to the sum of the two thicknesses of the two portions (14, 15) and such that the width and the length of said pallet (1) correspond to the width and the length of a portion (14, 15), respectively, each portion (14, 15) having a recess extending over its entire width and over a fraction of its length, so that, once assembled, the two portions (14, 15) delimit the main internal channel (16), characterized in that each portion (14, 15) has a second recess extending over part of its width and over part of its length, so that, once assembled, the two portions (14, 15) delimit a secondary internal channel (17) extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the main channel (16) and opening into the latter and at an edge of the pallet.

2. Pallet according to Claim 1, characterized in that each portion (14, 15) has, on at least one external surface, a network of reinforcing ribs (18, 19), some of which (18) extend parallel to a short side of the portion (14, 15), and some others of which (19) extend parallel to a long side of the latter.

3. Pallet according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each portion (14, 15) has, on an external surface, impressions (21, 22, 23) in the form of hollows intended to cooperate with complementary projecting impressions of an object (9) that can be fastened to said pallet (1).

4. Pallet according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is made from a composite material comprising carbon fibres and a polyepoxide.

5. Pallet according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two portions (14, 15) are assembled by means of a technique to be selected from adhesive bonding and screwing.

6. Method for manufacturing a pallet (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, said method comprising the following steps: - a step of manufacturing a first portion (14) by means of a mould, - a step of manufacturing a second portion (15) by means of the same mould, - a step of assembling the first portion (14) and the second portion (15) to form a pallet (1).

7. Assembly of a storage box (9) and of a pallet (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, the dimensions of the pallet (1) and of the box (9) being identical, so that, once assembled, said pallet (1) and said box (9) have a continuous external surface.

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