Container for packaging parts held by suspension

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) for the packaging of parts (2) having at least one opening (2', 2") and intended to be arranged side by side in said container (1), said container (1) comprising a base (3) and a load-bearing superstructure (3') having arms (4, 4') for the suspended support of the parts (2) and each having a plurality of support sites (6) distributed along their length, aligned along the stacking direction (DE) and each intended to cooperate with a support area of ​​an opening (2', 2") of a part (2).The support sites (6) of at least one gantry (4, 4') are mounted on or are part of an elongated constituent component (8) of the gantry in question (4, 4') capable of pivoting, freely or against a restoring or prestressing couple, around an axis which is substantially parallel to the stacking direction (DE), the contact areas between support sites (6) and bearing areas being preferably in the form of lines or strips.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of industrial equipment, in particular containers or packaging for conditioning and transporting in groups or batches of dressing or functional parts, in particular of large dimensions or surface area extension, in particular sheet metal body parts, and likely to undergo deformations during their transport or handling.

[0002] In this context, the invention relates to a container for the packaging of parts having at least one opening, and capable of receiving a plurality of such parts.

[0003] The invention relates in particular to the type of containers in which the parts are stored suspended from gantries and stacked in a horizontal direction (parallel to the bottom of the container), one behind the other in an aligned manner.

[0004] In this context, the invention applies more specifically to a container for the packaging of parts having at least one similar opening, cutout or perforation and intended to be arranged side by side in said container, being substantially aligned in a stacking direction.

[0005] Such a container essentially comprises a base and a supporting superstructure extending above it and at least partially defining a receiving volume for the parts (above the base). The parts are received into the container by being held, at least by suspension or hooking, on at least two elongated supports extending substantially in the direction and each attached at one end to the superstructure, thus cantilevering from it. Each of these supports has a plurality of bearing sites distributed along its length, aligned in the stacking direction, and each designed to cooperate with a bearing area of ​​an opening or cutout in a part when the part is placed in the container by being threaded onto these supports through the opening(s) or cutout(s), for the purpose of holding it by suspension or hooking.

[0006] Currently, these supports provide fixed support sites (either individual and discrete or as a continuous surface) with near-point contact surfaces. This can generate mechanical stresses both locally and throughout the overall structure of the part, potentially leading to torsion and / or deformation. Therefore, these supports and their superstructure must be manufactured and assembled with extremely tight tolerances, which is time-consuming, difficult, and expensive. Even if the supports are manufactured and installed with exceptional precision, the final positioning of the suspended part cannot be guaranteed, and consequently, neither can the absence of the aforementioned negative effects.

[0007] US patent 2009 / 0311065 A1 describes a container for packaging parts, the container comprising a base and a frame. Several support strips are attached to the frame, each strip consisting of an elongated support to which several clips are attached to receive the parts to be supported. In some embodiments, the clips can be installed on the elongated supports with adjustable orientations.

[0008] The main purpose of the present invention is to improve a container of the aforementioned type in order to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a container for packaging parts having at least one similar opening, cutout or perforation and intended to be arranged side by side in said container, substantially aligned along a stacking direction, this container essentially comprising a base and a supporting superstructure extending above the latter and at least partially delimiting a volume for receiving the parts, and said parts being received in said container by being at least held by suspension or hooking onto at least two elongated arms extending substantially along the direction and each secured at one end to said superstructure, cantilevered, each of these arms having a plurality of support sites distributed along their length,aligned along the stacking direction and each intended to cooperate with a support area of ​​an opening or cutout in a part when the latter is placed in the container, by being threaded onto these supports through the opening(s) or cutout(s) for the purpose of its suspension, this container being characterized in that the support sites of at least one support are mounted on or are part of an elongated constituent component of the support considered, capable of pivoting, freely or against a restoring or prestressing moment, around an axis that is substantially parallel to the stacking direction, and in that the contact areas between support sites and bearing areas are preferably in the form of lines or strips.

[0010] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a partial perspective view of a container according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment (a single support arm is provided with pivoting support sites); [ Fig. 2 ] is a front elevation view along the stacking direction of the container of the figure 1 in which a part in the form of a car door has been installed; [ Fig. 3A ] And [ Fig. 3B ] are perspective (3A) and front elevation views along the stacking direction (3B) of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention (the two arms are provided with pivoting support sites), in which a part in the form of a car door has been put in place; [ Fig. 4A ] And [ Fig. 4B ] are views at another scale respectively, in elevation, of detail A of the figure 2 and, in perspective, detail B of the figure 3B ; Fig. 5 ] is a view at another scale of the gallows depicted in the figures 4A And 4B ; Fig. 6 ] is a detailed view at another scale showing the gallows of the figure 3A in a shattered state, and, [ Fig. 7 ] is a view similar to that of the figure 6 illustrating a gantry equipped with a variant of the embodiment of the pivoting support sites (discreet sites, with part separators).

[0011] THE figures 1 à 3 show a container (1) for the packaging of parts (2) having at least one similar opening, cutout or cutout (2', 2") and intended to be arranged side by side in said container in substantially aligned in a stacking direction (SD).

[0012] This container (1) essentially comprises a base (3) and a load-bearing superstructure (3') extending above the latter and at least partially defining a volume (V) for receiving the parts (2), and said parts (2) being received into said container (1) by being at least held by suspension or attachment on at least two elongated arms (4, 4') extending substantially along the direction (DE) and each secured at one end (5) to said superstructure (3'), cantilevered, these arms (4, 4') each having a plurality of support sites (6) distributed along their length, aligned along the stacking direction (DE) and each intended to cooperate with a bearing area (7, 7') of an opening or cutout (2', 2") of a part (2) when the latter is placed in the container (1), by being threaded onto these arms (4, 4') by the or the opening(s) or cutout(s) (2', 2") for the purpose of maintaining it suspended.

[0013] According to the invention, the support sites (6) of at least one gantry (4, 4') are mounted on or are part of an elongated constituent component (8) of the gantry considered (4, 4') capable of pivoting, freely or against a restoring or prestressing couple, around an axis (AP) which is substantially parallel to the stacking direction (DE) and in that the contact areas between support sites (6) and bearing areas (7, 7') are preferably in the form of lines or strips.

[0014] Thus, by providing mobile support sites (6), through pivoting of the gantry component (4, 4') to which they are attached, these sites exhibit a certain degree of freedom and can adapt, on the one hand, to the direction of engagement of the support zones (7, 7') under the weight of the parts (2) and, on the other hand, to the local configuration of these zones. Furthermore, by providing non-point contact areas, the pressure stresses are distributed. These features of the invention make it possible to significantly limit, or even completely eliminate, excessive mechanical stresses (i.e., not directly induced by the locally supported load) at the level of the support zone resting on the gantry in question. The stresses in the part (2) are also reduced, and the load distribution between the two gantry cranes is better balanced, resulting in more stable and secure storage of the parts (2).Of course, the support sites and the support areas intended to come into contact with each other should have as much as possible flat and straight shapes, or be mutually complementary (if not flat or not straight), in order to provide as much as possible contact areas that are at least linear or in the form of strips.

[0015] As shown by figures 1 à 6 , and in accordance with a first variant embodiment, each support site (6) consists of a line or transverse band of a continuous support surface (6'), preferably flat and having anti-slip and / or elastic deformation properties, forming part of or attached to a face (8') of said constituent component (8), engaging the parts (2) in their suspended state.

[0016] As shown by figure 7 , and in accordance with a second variant embodiment, each support site (6) consists of a notch, a notch or a similar depression forming part of or attached to a face (8'), preferably flat, of said constituent component (8), engaging the parts (2) in their suspended state.

[0017] In accordance with an embodiment emerging from the figures 3 , it can be provided that each of the two gantries (4, 4') includes a pivoting constituent component (8).

[0018] In accordance with another embodiment arising from figures 1 And 2 , it may be provided that only one (4) of the two gantries (4, 4') has a pivoting constituent component (8), the support sites (6) of the other gantry (4') being fixedly mounted on the latter.

[0019] According to a practical construction illustrated on the figures 4 à 6 In particular, each pivoting component (8) consists of an elongated profiled element, such as a hollow tube or angle iron, extending substantially along the entire length of the relevant arm (4, 4'), having a face (8') for engaging the bearing areas (7, 7') of the parts (2), provided with support sites (6), and pivotally mounted at its two opposite ends in respective bearings (9, 9'), one of which is integral with the supporting superstructure (3') or with the end (5) of the arm (4, 4') connected to this superstructure, and the other with the free end (5') of this arm (4, 4'). A return spring that forces the component (8) around the pivot axis towards a default stop position is advantageously provided (not shown). This pivot axis (PA) can, for example, consist of a single rod passing through both bearings and extending between them.

[0020] In order to further distribute the local mechanical stresses (at the support areas) induced by the weight of the suspended part (2) and simultaneously to better secure said part in position, it may be provided that the, one or each of the two arms (4, 4') which includes a pivoting component (8) also has at least one fixed support surface (10) and / or at least one fixed contact surface (10'), configured to cooperate with the support sites (6) in order to secure the parts (2) in position in planes perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE), this or these fixed surface(s) being provided by one or more corresponding elongated component(s) or part(s) (11, 11') (see figures 1 à 6 ).

[0021] As is particularly evident from figures 4 à 7 said at least one fixed support surface (10) and / or said at least one fixed contact surface (10') has a profiled configuration along the stacking direction (DE) and rounded or curved in cross-section to this direction.

[0022] In accordance with a beneficial feature of the invention, arising in particular from the figures 4 The invention may provide that for at least one gantry (4, 4'), the pivoting constituent component (8) and at least one of a fixed support surface (10) and a fixed contact surface (10') are configured and arranged on the gantry (4, 4') considered in such a way that they all engage with respective bearing areas (7, 7') and are grouped locally in a region of the opening (2', 2") of a given part (2) and together provide support by suspension and at least partially wedged in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE) of this part (2).

[0023] This region of a through opening in the room (2) can, for example, be a rounded corner of that opening.

[0024] Advantageously, the alignment of support sites (6) is slightly inclined downwards towards the free end of the considered gantry (4, 4').

[0025] Preferably, each gantry (4, 4') is removably fixed to the supporting superstructure (3'), the latter forming at least one face of the container (1), perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE) and opposite to the clear face for introducing parts (2).

[0026] In connection with a particularly interesting application of the invention, and as is apparent from the figures 2 à 4The two brackets (4 and 4') are configured and arranged on the supporting superstructure (3') for receiving and securing automotive body parts (2), particularly doors, by hooking with suspension, and preferably with bracing in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE). The supporting superstructure (3') advantageously provides multiple attachment points for the brackets (4, 4'). These parts (2) are hooked onto the brackets at their upper part, such that their center of gravity is located significantly lower than the brackets, and the brackets are spaced as far apart as possible to stabilize the support of the part.

[0027] As shown in the figures, each gantry (4, 4') has a basic body (12) in the shape of a solid right angle. Instead of a solid plate, the right angle could also be hollow or simply an L-shaped piece. The container (1) may also include additional means for laterally securing the pieces (2) at the bottom, for example in the form of a ramp or a bar (13). Means for spacing or securing the pieces (2) in the stacking direction (DE), for example fingers or cushions (14) mounted on arms (14') that retract laterally by pivoting, may also be provided.

[0028] These additional means are advantageously mounted, for a parallelepiped-shaped container, on the two lateral walls of the superstructure (3') extending in planes parallel to the stacking direction (DE) and connected by the wall supporting the supports (4, 4'), the fourth face being open and unobstructed. These means (14, 14') can be adjusted in position according to the stacking direction (DE), and a pair of opposing means can serve as end stops, preventing the last piece suspended on the supports from falling. The superstructure (3') can advantageously have a welded tubular construction with uprights at the corners of the rectangular base (3), allowing the containers to be stacked vertically, the supports being able to be mounted on two specific uprights of the superstructure (3').

[0029] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Container (1) for packaging pieces (2) that are provided with at least one opening, cutout or similar perforation (2', 2") and intended to be arranged side by side in said container (1), being substantially aligned in a stacking direction (DE), this container (1) essentially comprising a base (3) and a load-bearing superstructure (3') extending above the latter and at least partially delimiting a volume (V) for receiving the pieces (2), and said pieces (2) being received in said container (1), being held at least by suspension or hooking on at least two elongate brackets (4, 4') extending substantially in the direction (DE) and each secured at one end (5) to said superstructure (3'), in a cantilevered manner, these brackets (4, 4') each having a plurality of support sites (6) distributed along their length, aligned in the stacking direction (DE) and each intended to cooperate with a bearing zone (7, 7') of an opening or cutout (2', 2") of a piece (2) when the latter is put in place in the container (1), being threaded onto these brackets (4, 4') via the opening(s) or cutout (s) (2', 2") with a view to holding it suspended, which container (1) is characterized in that the support sites (6) of at least one bracket (4, 4') are mounted on or form part of an elongate constituent component (8) of the bracket (4, 4') in question that is able to pivot, freely or against a return or prestressing torque, about an axle (AP) that is substantially parallel to the stacking direction (DE), and in that the contact zones between support sites (6) and bearing zones (7, 7') are preferentially in the form of lines or strips.

2. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that each support site (6) consists of a transverse strip or line of a continuous support surface (6'), which is preferentially flat and has anti-slip and / or elastic deformation properties, forming part of or added onto a face (8') of said constituent component (8), engaging the pieces (2) in their suspended state.

3. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that each support site (6) consists of a notch, a slot or a similar depression forming part of or added onto a face (8'), which is preferentially flat, of said constituent component (8), engaging the pieces (2) in their suspended state.

4. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the two brackets (4, 4') has a pivoting constituent component (8).

5. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that only one (4) of the two brackets (4, 4') has a pivoting constituent component (8), the support sites (6) of the other bracket (4') being mounted fixedly on the latter.

6. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the or each pivoting constituent component (8) consists of an elongate profiled element, such as a hollow tube or an angle bar, extending substantially along the entire length of the bracket (4, 4') in question, having a face (8') for engagement of the bearing zones (7, 7') of the pieces (2), which is provided with or provides support sites (6) and mounted so as to pivot at both of its opposite ends in respective bearings (9, 9'), one of which is as one with the load-bearing superstructure (3') or with the end (5) of the bracket (4, 4') connected to this superstructure and the other of which is as one with the free end (5') of this bracket (4, 4').

7. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the, one or each of the two brackets (4, 4') that has a pivoting constituent component (8) also has at least one fixed support surface (10) and / or at least one fixed contact surface (10'), configured to cooperate with the support sites (6) with a view to wedging the pieces (2) in position in planes perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE), this or these fixed surface(s) being provided by one or more corresponding elongate constituent component(s) or part(s) (11, 11').

8. Container according to Claim 7, characterized in that said at least one fixed support surface (10) and / or said at least one fixed contact surface (10') has a configuration that is profiled in the stacking direction (DE) and rounded or curved in cross section with respect to this direction.

9. Container according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that, for at least one bracket (4, 4'), the pivoting constituent component (8) and at least one among a fixed support surface (10) and a fixed contact surface (10') are configured and arranged on the bracket (4, 4') in question such that they all come to engage with respective bearing zones (7, 7') grouped locally in a region of the opening (2', 2") of a given piece (2) and together ensure support by suspension and at least partially wedged in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE) of this piece (2).

10. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the alignment of support sites (6) is slightly inclined downwards in the direction of the free end of the bracket (4, 4') in question.

11. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each bracket (4, 4') is removably fastened to the load-bearing superstructure (3'), the latter forming at least one face of the container (1), perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE) and opposite the clear face for insertion of the pieces (2).

12. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the two brackets (4 and 4') are configured and arranged on the load-bearing superstructure (3') with a view to reception for holding by hooking with suspension, and preferentially with wedging in a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction (DE), of motor vehicle bodywork parts (2), in particular doors, the load-bearing superstructure (3') advantageously having a plurality of fastening sites for brackets (4, 4').

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