Transport container with discharge channels inclined with respect to the side walls for draining liquids from the transport container

Abstract

The invention relates to a container for storing and transporting objects, wherein the container has a bottom that defines a lower part of the container, and at least a first pair of side walls arranged opposite each other and extending upwards from the bottom, wherein at least the side walls of the first pair of side walls each have drainage channels for the lateral drainage of water from the container, and the drainage channels within the side walls are each separated from each other by partitions, and the partitions are oriented obliquely within a cutting plane parallel to the bottom with respect to a perpendicular of the respective side wall, which in the cutting plane is perpendicular to a respective outer surface of the respective side wall.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container for storing and transporting objects with drainage channels for the lateral drainage of liquids.

[0002] US 2023 / 0 174 288 A1 discloses a container comprising a plurality of side walls defining an upper edge and a base. At least one handle is formed integrally with at least one horizontal reinforcing rib. A skirt extends along the side walls above the base. Drainage openings are formed below the skirt and in an intersection between the base and at least one of the side walls.

[0003] CH 714 972 A1 discloses a stackable container for the transport and storage of goods and in particular such a container with openings for the drainage of liquids from the interior of the container.

[0004] DE 36 19 697 A1 discloses a box, particularly a fish box, of the type comprising a bottom and mutually connected side walls projecting upwards from the bottom, and having drainage holes arranged adjacent the transition between the bottom and the side walls.US 4 588 087 A discloses a container according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0005] It is known to equip containers for storing and transporting objects, for example tools or intermediate products of a production process, with lateral openings in the area of ​​a bottom of the containers in order to allow a lateral drainage of liquids from the containers (e.g. necessary in the case of an active sprinkler system which sprays water in the event of a fire in a warehouse with such containers).

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved container for storing and transporting objects. This object is achieved by the features of the independent patent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0007] A container for storing and transporting objects is proposed. The container has a base that delimits a lower part of the container, and at least a first pair of side walls arranged opposite one another and extending upwards from the base. Furthermore, at least the side walls of the first pair of side walls each have drainage channels for the lateral drainage of a liquid from the container. The drainage channels are separated from one another within the side walls by partitions. The partitions are aligned obliquely with respect to a perpendicular of the respective side wall within a sectional plane that runs parallel to the base. The perpendicular of the respective side wall runs perpendicular to a respective outer surface of the respective side wall in the sectional plane.

[0008] This could have the advantage that, when using such containers, there would be no problems with detecting them on conveyor belts or rollers of a conveyor belt or roller conveyor system. Typically, the positions of such containers on conveyor belts or rollers (e.g., roller conveyors) are detected using light barriers. The openings for draining liquids from the containers can now facilitate the detection of such containers using light barriers by preventing a light beam from shining through openings on one side of the container and simultaneously through openings on the opposite side.In a scenario, referred to below as a successful screening, a logic unit of the conveyor belt or roller system, which processes signals from the light barrier, could classify this scenario in such a way that it corresponds to a situation in which no container is present on the conveyor belt or rollers. In most applications, such an incorrect classification of a current scenario usually has an impact on control commands for motors in the system. If a motor is incorrectly controlled due to the incorrect classification, this can lead to traffic jams and accidents within the system, thus interrupting system operation. This risk could be significantly reduced with the container described.

[0009] In the following, it is assumed, by way of example and without loss of generality, that the container can be transported on a transport plane of a conveyor belt system or roller conveyor system – hereinafter referred to as the transport system. To detect the container, a light barrier can be arranged to the side of the rollers or belt just above the transport plane. The light barrier has a transmitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver for detecting the light beam. The transmitter that emits the light beam can be, for example, a light-emitting diode or a phototransistor. In most applications, the light beam comprises electromagnetic waves in the infrared range. The receiver can be in the form of a photodiode.

[0010] Because the dividing walls are aligned at an angle to the vertical of the respective side wall, the probability of the light beam from the light barrier passing through a drainage channel of a first side wall of the side walls of the first pair and simultaneously through a drainage channel of a second side wall of the side walls of the first pair can be reduced. This can reduce the probability of false detection, in which it is incorrectly assumed that the container has passed through a light barrier. The probability of radiation penetration can also be reduced with the proposed container for an application in which the light barrier is to be used to check whether the container is located within a section of the transport system in which the light barrier is arranged. The proposed container thus enables, for example, trouble-free operation of the transport system.

[0011] Advantageously, the drainage channels are limited at the bottom by a surface of the base. This allows, for example, the liquid to flow almost completely out of the container through the drainage channels at the sides. In this variant, the partition walls are directly adjacent to the surface of the base. Conveniently, the partition walls run from an inner side of the respective side wall to an outer side of the respective side wall. This allows the liquid to be guided completely through the side walls with the help of the partition walls.

[0012] As a rule, the width of the transport surface, e.g. of the conveyor rollers or the conveyor belt, is greater than the width of the container. This can result in the container being arranged on the conveying plane of the transport system at an angle to a transport direction predetermined by the transport system. In other words, during normal operation of the transport system, in which the container is transported on the transport system in the transport direction, it is possible that a longitudinal axis of the container runs at an angle to the transport direction and thus the side walls are aligned at an angle to the transport direction. In such cases, the side walls are not arranged at a right angle to the light beam of the light barrier.

[0013] For most applications, it has proven useful for the partition walls to have an angle of at least 30 degrees to the respective vertical within the cutting plane. This can prevent X-ray penetration in most cases, even if the container is (slightly) oriented at an angle to the transport direction.

[0014] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the partition walls each have an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the respective vertical within the sectional plane. This embodiment can make it possible to prevent radiation from penetrating the drainage channels, even if the container is rotated by, for example, 15 degrees or more relative to the transport direction (for reasons of economy alone, the width of the conveyor rollers or conveyor belt will not be 10%-20% greater than that of the containers to be transported). Furthermore, the angles of the partition walls of approximately 45 degrees to the respective vertical can be produced particularly easily using an injection molding tool. The injection molding tool can be used both to produce the partition walls of the first side wall of the first pair of side walls and to produce partition walls of an end wall of the container - for example,Four mold quarters are used, which can be moved at an angle of 45 degrees away from the molded rectangular container for demolding. In this variant, the partition walls of the first side wall of the first pair of side walls and the partition walls of the end wall are aligned parallel to each other.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first pair of side walls comprises a first side wall with first partition walls and a second side wall with second partition walls. In this embodiment, the first partition walls are arranged at a right angle or an acute angle to each other with respect to the second partition walls within the sectional plane. This embodiment can further reduce the probability of radiation penetration compared to a variant in which the first partition walls run parallel to the second partition walls.

[0016] In principle, it is possible for the light beam to pass through some of the drainage channels of the first side wall and simultaneously through the drainage channels of the second side wall when the container is at a certain inclination relative to the transport direction, even if the first dividing walls are arranged at a right angle or an acute angle to one another with respect to the second dividing walls within the sectional plane. The probability of radiation passing through in such an application can be reduced by at least the first dividing walls having different angles to the vertical within the sectional plane. Advantageously, a first part of the first dividing walls has a first angle to the vertical and a second part of the first dividing walls has a second angle to the vertical. The first angle can be +45 degrees and the second angle -45 degrees, for example.

[0017] In a further development, it can be provided that the floor and the side walls delimit a loading space of the container and ends of the partition walls aligned with the loading space extend partially parallel to the side walls.

[0018] Because the ends of the partition walls aligned toward the cargo space extend partially parallel to the side walls, it is possible to prevent these ends from protruding into the cargo space in the form of edges or from adjoining it with sharp edges. The ends of the partition walls aligned in this way therefore preferably have a surface that runs parallel to the side walls. This refinement can protect the partition walls, in particular, from damage that could be caused by loose stored goods within the container. Likewise, it can prevent stored goods from being damaged by any sharp-edged partition walls themselves. It should be noted that "partially parallel" means, in particular, that the width of the ends is at least 1.5-2 times as wide as the width of the partition walls at their ends facing away from the storage space.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the container has a second pair of side walls arranged opposite one another and extending upwards from the bottom. The side walls of the first pair are arranged substantially perpendicular to the side walls of the second pair. At least one side wall of the second pair has further drainage channels for the lateral drainage of the liquid from the container. The further drainage channels are each separated from one another by further partition walls, wherein the further partition walls run parallel to the partition walls of at least one of the side walls of the first pair.This design of the container makes it possible to produce the partition walls of at least one side wall of the second pair and the partition walls of at least one side wall of the first pair simultaneously with an injection molding tool by moving a tool, in particular a 4-part tool (tool with 4 quadrants), at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to a side wall from the container for demolding.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the proposed container are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. The following schematically shows: Figure 1 shows a container with side walls and inclined drainage channels in the lower part of the side walls; Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the lower part of the Figur 1 shown container; Figure 3 a perspective view of the Figur 1 shown inclined drainage channels; Figure 4 an enlargement of the Figur 3 shown perspective view;

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a container 1 for storing and transporting objects. The container 1 has a base 2, which delimits a lower part of a loading space 60 of the container 1, and at least a first pair of side walls 11, 12 arranged opposite one another and extending upwards from the base 2. The side walls 11, 12 of the first pair of side walls comprise a first side wall 11 and a second side wall 12. The side walls 11, 12 of the first pair each have drainage channels 21, 22 for the lateral drainage of liquid from the container 1. The drainage channels 21, 22 comprise first drainage channels 21, which are incorporated in a lower region of the first side wall 11, and second drainage channels 22, which are incorporated in a lower region of the second side wall 12. The second drainage channels 22 are in Fig. 2 in a section plane 20, which runs parallel to the bottom 2. The section plane 20 can be constructed by a horizontal section of the container 1, which runs parallel to the bottom 2. The section plane 20 is shown in the Fig. 1 and 2 also marked as section plane AA.

[0022] The first drainage channels 21 are separated from one another within the first side wall 11 by first dividing walls 31. Similarly, the second drainage channels 22 are separated from one another within the second side wall 12 by second dividing walls 32. The first dividing walls 31 and the second dividing walls 32 are aligned obliquely within the sectional plane 20 with respect to a vertical 41 of the first side wall 11 and a vertical 42 of the second side wall 12, respectively. It goes without saying that the vertical 41 of the first side wall 11 is aligned parallel to the vertical 42 of the second side wall 12 when the first side wall 11 runs parallel to the second side wall 12. This is the case in most applications. However, the possibility of the first side wall 11 being aligned obliquely to the second side wall 12 should not be ruled out.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a variant of the container 1 in which the first drainage channels 21 are aligned parallel to the second drainage channels 22. Here, the first partition walls 31 are also arranged parallel to the second partition walls 32.

[0024] In comparison, Fig. 2 a further possible embodiment of the container 1, in which the first partition walls 31 have at least two different orientations to the vertical 41 of the first side wall 11, hereinafter referred to as the first vertical 41. In the following, the container 1 shall be conceptually divided into two halves, namely a first half 1.1 and a second half 1.2. The front half 1.1 of the container 1 is in Fig. 2 to the left of the first vertical 41 and the rear half 1.2 of the container 1 to the right of the first vertical 41 within the cutting plane 20.

[0025] Corresponding to the division of the container 1 into the front half 1.1 and the rear half 1.2, both the first dividing walls 31 and the first drainage channels 21 and the second dividing walls 32 and the second drainage channels 22 can be assigned to a front part of the first side wall 11 and a rear part of the first side wall 11 or to a front part of the second side wall 12 and a rear part of the second side wall 12. Those first drainage channels 21 and first dividing walls 31 that are located in the front half 1.1 are referred to below as front first drainage channels 21 and front first dividing walls 31, respectively. Analogously, those first drainage channels 21 and first dividing walls 31 that are located in the rear half 1.2 are referred to below as rear first drainage channels 21 and rear first dividing walls 31, respectively.

[0026] Analogously, those second drainage channels 22 and second partition walls 32 located in the front half 1.1 are referred to below as front second drainage channels 22 and front second partition walls 32, respectively. Accordingly, those second drainage channels 22 and second partition walls 32 located in the rear half 1.2 are referred to below as rear second drainage channels 22 and rear second partition walls 32, respectively.

[0027] As in Fig. 2 As can be seen, the rear first drainage channels 21 and the rear first partition walls 31 each have a first angle 51 to the first vertical 41. The front first drainage channels 21 and the front first partition walls 31 each have a second angle 52 to the first vertical 41. The first angle 51 and the second angle 52 are in Fig. 2 in the mathematically positive sense, starting from the first perpendicular 41. In the Fig. 2 In the variant of the container 1 shown, the first angle 51 is, for example, plus (+)45 degrees and the second angle 52 is, for example, minus (-)45 degrees. This generally means that the first angle 51 is different from the second angle 52. Accordingly, Fig. 2 a variant in which the first partition walls 31 have different angles to the vertical 41. This is already the case if at least two of the first partition walls 31 have a different angle to the first vertical 41. In the according Fig. 2 In the variant of the container 1 shown, the different angles are the first angle 51 and the second angle 52. An advantage of this variant will be described in more detail below using a possible first application example.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows a state in which the container 1 is not rotated relative to a transport direction 50 of the above-mentioned transport system (e.g. the roller conveyor or the above-mentioned conveyor belt). In other words, a Fig. 1 In this case, the longitudinal axis 54 shown forms an angle of 0 degrees relative to the transport direction 50. In the first application example described below, the container 1 is rotated relative to the transport direction 50, wherein the longitudinal axis 54 forms an angle of 45 degrees relative to the transport direction 50.

[0029] The light barrier described above can generally detect the container 1 with the aid of the above-mentioned light beam. The light beam preferably runs perpendicular to the transport direction 50. If the container 1 is positioned on the transport system rotated by 45 degrees to the transport direction 50, the light beam could, along a possible first beam direction 53, illuminate both an outlet channel of the first outlet channels 21 and an outlet channel of the second outlet channels 22. In this case, the radiation penetration described above would occur. The first application example provides that the front first outlet channels 21 and the rear second outlet channels 22 are initially illuminated with the aid of the light beam propagating along the first beam direction 53.If the container 1 subsequently moves on the transport system along the transport direction 50, the light beam strikes the rear first partition walls 31 after the container 1 has moved along the transport direction 50. Since the rear first partition walls 31 have a different angle to the first perpendicular 41 than the front first partition walls 31, for example +45 degrees compared to -45 degrees, the light beam strikes the rear first partition walls 31 and therefore cannot pass through the container 1. The light barrier is interrupted in this case. The logic unit of the transport system can be programmed accordingly such that motors of the transport system are only controlled when the light barrier has been interrupted for the first time by the container 1 and subsequently the light beam is not interrupted for a predetermined minimum period. The minimum period is obtained, for example,from the conveyor speed and the length or width of the containers, depending on whether longitudinal or transverse conveying is taking place. "Control" in this case can have different meanings, depending on the application. Control can mean, for example, that a motor drive for the conveyor is activated or interrupted in a specific section of the transport system. Control can also mean, for example, that a separating device or braking device of the transport system is activated or deactivated.

[0030] In the first application example, the light beam would first strike the front second partition walls 32 and thereby be interrupted for the first time. The light beam would then radiate through the front first drainage channels 21 and the rear second drainage channels 22 and subsequently strike the rear first partition walls 31. The predetermined minimum duration for which the light beam should not be interrupted for switching the motors is preferably significantly longer, for example, twice or three times as long as the duration between the first interruption of the light beam upon striking the front second partition walls 32 and a second interruption of the light beam upon striking the rear first partition walls 31.

[0031] Fig. 2 further shows a possible embodiment in which the container 1 has a second pair of side walls 13, 14 arranged opposite one another and extending upwards from the base 2. The side walls 13, 14 comprise a third side wall 13 and a fourth side wall 14 and are arranged substantially perpendicular to the side walls 11, 12 of the second pair of side walls. At least one side wall, in which Fig. 2 In the example shown, the third side wall 13 and the fourth side wall 14 of the second pair have partition walls which run parallel to the partition walls of at least one side wall of the side walls 11, 12 of the first pair.

[0032] In the area of ​​the base 2, third partition walls 33 are incorporated into the third side wall 13 to form third drainage channels 23. Similarly, in the area of ​​the base 2, fourth partition walls 34 are incorporated into the fourth side wall 14 to form fourth drainage channels 24. As in Fig. 2 As shown, a first part of the third dividing walls 33 can have a different angle to a third perpendicular 43, which runs perpendicular to the third side wall 13, than a second part of the third dividing walls 33. This can have the advantage that, for example, with regard to the first application example, the light beam can also strike the second part of the third dividing walls 33 when the light beam propagates along the first beam direction 53 and the container 1 is positioned on the transport system rotated by 45 degrees relative to the transport direction 50. In addition, the said configuration could enable the container to be transported through the transport system in the transverse or longitudinal direction without the discharge channels causing any impairment of a light barrier control of the transport system.

[0033] Fig. 2 also shows a variant in which the first partition walls 31 within the cutting plane 20 have a right angle with respect to at least a part of the second partition walls 32.

[0034] In addition, Fig. 2 Ribs 25 are shown as examples for stiffening the floor 2. The ribs 25 are also shown in Fig. 3 which shows the base 2 with the partition walls 31, 32, 33 and 34 in a perspective view and cut away from an upper area of ​​the container 1. Furthermore, Fig. 3 in a sectional view, a possible embodiment in which first ends of the first partition walls 31, aligned with a loading space 60 of the container 1, extend partially parallel to the first side wall 11. The loading space 60 is bounded by the floor 2 and the side walls 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0035] Since the container 1 is depicted as an open container in the figures, the loading space 60 is open at the top. However, a variant is also possible in which the container 1 can be closed with a lid (not depicted in the figures). In this case, the loading space 60 would be limited at the top by the lid.

[0036] Figur 4 shows a further detailed view of part of the drainage channels. The first partition walls 31 and the first drainage channels 21 are shown here in an enlarged view. The ends 62 of the first partition walls 31, which run parallel to the inner wall of the container (not shown in detail), ensure that the first partition walls 31 do not protrude into the loading space 60 with sharp edges of the part 61 of the partition walls pointing towards the loading space 60 or border the loading space 60 with sharp edges. Instead, the ends 62 are designed in the form of surfaces that run essentially parallel to an inner side of the first side wall 11. It goes without saying that ends of the remaining partition walls 32, 33, 34 can also extend partially parallel to the corresponding side walls 12, 13, 14. This variant is in Fig. 3 shown.

Claims

1. A container (1) for storing and transporting objects, wherein the container (1) has a base (2), which delimits a lower part of the container (1), and at least a first pair of side walls (11, 12), which are arranged opposite one another and extending upwards from the base (2), wherein at least the side walls (11, 12) of the first pair of side walls (11, 12) each have discharge channels (21, 22) for the lateral drainage of water from the container (1) and the discharge channels (21, 22) within the side walls (11, 12) are each separated from one another by partition walls (31, 32), characterised in that the partition walls (31, 32), within a plane of section (20) which runs parallel to the base (2), are oriented at an incline with respect to an upright (41, 42) of the respective side wall (11, 12), which in the plane of section (20) runs in each case perpendicular to a respective outer face of the respective side wall (11, 12).

2. The container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the partition walls (31, 32) each have an angle of at least 30 degrees to the respective uprights (41, 42) within the plane of section (20).

3. The container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition walls (31, 32) each have an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the respective uprights (41, 42) within the plane of section (20).

4. The container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first pair of side walls (11, 12) comprises a first side wall (11) with first partition walls (31) and a second side wall (12) with second partition walls (32), and, within the plane of section (20), the first partition walls (31) are arranged at a right angle or an acute angle with respect to the second partition walls (32).

5. The container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first pair of side walls (11, 12) comprises a first side wall (11) with first partition walls (31) and a second side wall (12) with second partition walls (32), and, within the plane of section (20), at least the first partition walls (31) have different angles to the upright, which is perpendicular to the outer surface of the first side wall (11).

6. The container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (2) and the side walls (11, 12) delimit a loading space (60) of the container and ends of the partition walls (31, 32) aligned with the loading space (60) extend partially parallel to the side walls (11, 12).

7. The container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (1) has a second pair of side walls (13, 14), which are arranged opposite one another extending upwards from the base (2), wherein the side walls (11, 12) of the first pair are arranged substantially perpendicular to the side walls (13, 14) of the second pair, and at least one side wall (13, 14) of the second pair has further discharge channels (23, 24) for the lateral drainage of the liquid from the container (1), and the further discharge channels (23, 24) are each separated from one another by further partition walls (33, 34) and the further partition walls (33, 34) run parallel to the partition walls (31, 32) of at least one of the side walls (11, 12) of the first pair.

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