Load carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to a load carrier (1) comprising a container part (2) designed to receive components and a lid (3) which can be releasably locked in a closed position (5) by at least one locking mechanism (4), and the locking mechanism (4) can be transferred between an unlocked state and a locked state (6) for this purpose. The unlocked state of the locking mechanism (4) can be provided by an unlocking configuration of the locking mechanism (4), and the locked state (6) of the locking mechanism (4) can be provided by at least two locking configurations of the locking mechanism (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a load carrier comprising a container part configured to receive components and a lid that can be releasably locked in a closed position by at least one locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can be transferred between an unlocked state and a locked state for this purpose. The unlocked state of the locking mechanism can be provided by an unlocking configuration of the locking mechanism.

[0002] In a production environment with a high degree of automation and strict requirements to prevent component contamination, a fully enclosed load carrier is crucial. Such a load carrier must be designed to integrate seamlessly into the automated production environment and offer the option of both automated and manual opening if necessary. At the same time, cleanliness requirements must be taken into account to ensure that components are protected from contamination during transport or storage. The load carrier must therefore have a closure mechanism suitable for the requirements.

[0003] Locking mechanisms are already known in many different ways from the prior art. CN 2 11 598 157 U, for example, discloses a locking mechanism for a tool case which has a locking bracket which is arranged displaceably on a shoulder of the tool case and a locking block which interacts with the locking bracket. The locking bracket has a groove for this purpose so that it can be pushed onto the locking block, with the locking block engaging in the groove. The locking block comprises two block parts which are formed on each half of the tool case to the side of the handle. In a locked position, the locking bracket is pushed onto the two adjacent block parts and thus fundamentally prevents the halves of the tool case from opening.The locking bar and locking block also have transverse openings that are aligned with each other in the locking position, whereby a switchable locking pin, for example, can be inserted into the openings to prevent unwanted opening, so that the locking bar is locked in the locking position and thus any movement of the locking bar is blocked.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2021 100 419 A1 discloses a locking mechanism for a suitcase, wherein a locking part of the locking mechanism is arranged on each case half, and the locking parts of a closed position engage with one another via locking elements formed on the locking parts. While the locking elements of the first locking part are shaped as rigid locking projections, the second locking part has locking elements in the form of elastically springy locking elements. Similar to the locking projections on the first locking part, two pairs of locking elements are axially offset from one another along an actuation direction perpendicular to a closing direction. The locking elements of the second locking part, in turn, form locking projections that are positioned at different heights, analogous to the arrangement of the locking elements on the first locking part.To open the case, the second locking part is moved in the actuating direction via an actuating element. The locking elements of the two locking parts move tangentially to each other along their longitudinal extension. This breaks the positive locking and disengages the locking parts, allowing them to be separated.

[0005] CN 2 19 278 273 U also describes a locking mechanism for a freezer, wherein four locking insertion plates are arranged on the front of the freezer lid, each having an insertion opening. Furthermore, four locking bolts are arranged on the freezer body, which are also designed to be displaceable against a return spring via a pull rod connected to a respective locking bolt. To lock the freezer lid, the locking bolts engage in the insertion openings and are held there by the return spring. To open the freezer lid, the locking bolts are disengaged from the insertion openings by pulling on the pull rod against the force of the return springs.

[0006] Further challenges arise when a load carrier, as a type-tested packaging, must meet additional requirements. Such type-tested packaging refers to packaging whose construction and materials have been tested according to specific standards and norms. A type test carried out in this context typically includes tests to ensure that the packaging meets prescribed requirements, e.g., with regard to stability, leak-tightness, labeling, and other relevant criteria. Drop tests are often also used in the type test, whereby the closure mechanisms often develop weak points and open automatically.

[0007] Common solutions to circumvent this problem usually involve reinforcement using type-tested packaging materials, often through strapping. However, the use of strapping is only partially automatable and leads to considerable packaging waste, especially when a large number of load carriers need to be reinforced. Reusable concepts, such as load carriers with plastic bars, have already been introduced. However, with comparable load weights, these are rarely approved for the transport of dangerous goods. This consequently means that the load weight of the load carriers must be significantly reduced, in particular to a maximum of 10% of the payload. Alternatively, additional, more complex measures are required. Solutions with metal bars are generally designed for manual use only.In addition, the load carriers are usually also made of metal, which significantly increases the tare weight compared to a plastic load carrier, often five times as much. Due to their heavy weight, the metal bars are subjected to significantly higher forces during a drop test, so they also regularly fail drop tests.

[0008] Against this background, the object of the invention is to design a load carrier of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it can pass a drop test even when designed in a lightweight construction.

[0009] This object is achieved with a load carrier according to the features of patent claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly expedient developments of the invention.

[0010] According to the invention, a load carrier is provided which has a container part designed to receive components and a lid which is arranged, in particular, so as to be movable and preferably pivotable on the container part. In principle, the lid can be transferred between at least one open position and a closed position, wherein the lid can be releasably locked and / or secured in the closed position in accordance with the invention via at least one locking mechanism, preferably at least two, particularly preferably several locking mechanisms. The lid can also consist of at least two lid parts which can be locked and / or secured relative to one another and / or relative to the container part via the at least one locking mechanism.For this purpose, the locking mechanism can be transferred between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein the unlocked state of the locking mechanism can be provided and / or is provided by, preferably exclusively, one, in particular mechanical unlocking configuration of the locking mechanism. In contrast, the locking state of the locking mechanism can be provided and / or is provided by at least two, preferably several, in particular mechanical locking configurations of the locking mechanism.

[0011] By providing the locking state of the closure mechanism via multiple locking configurations, it is ensured that the lid remains locked in the closed state even under high, but short-term load, such as occurs in a drop test, and that transition from the closed state, i.e. opening of the load carrier or the lid, is avoided. The use of multiple locking configurations specifically ensures that even under a load that forces the closure mechanism out of a locking configuration or releases a locking configuration, the transition to the unlocked state does not occur immediately. Instead, the closure mechanism simply changes to another locking configuration, or further locking configurations remain in place, maintaining the locking state.A transition to the unlocked state is only possible if the locking mechanism is deliberately forced out of all locking configurations and / or all locking configurations are deliberately released. This is almost certainly impossible under a load, even a high one, such as a drop test.

[0012] In a highly advantageous development of the invention, the locking mechanism has at least one locking element, by means of which the lid can be locked and / or is locked in the closed position in the locked state. The design of a locking element represents an advantageous and at the same time structurally simple embodiment, enabling reliable locking of the lid in the locked state. This ensures that the lid remains firmly and securely in the closed position. The design of a locking element also enables the load carrier and / or the locking mechanism to be used in different applications and environments, for example, in automated and / or manual modes.

[0013] It is also considered advantageous if the locking element interacts with a coupling means in the locked state and / or to establish the locked state in such a way that a transfer of the lid from the closed position is blocked. The combination of locking element and coupling means represents a reliable and cost-effective design, which is also ideally suited for load carriers with a lightweight construction and their simple production. In a preferred embodiment, the locking element and / or the coupling means are designed on the lid and / or on the container part, wherein the coupling means can be designed, for example, as a receptacle, in particular as an insertion opening. The locking element would therefore engage with the coupling means, here, for example, the receptacle or insertion opening, in the locked state, and consequently also in all locking configurations.

[0014] An embodiment of the invention is also advantageous if a respective locking configuration of the locking mechanism is formed by different locking positions of the locking element, which is displaceably arranged, in particular along a displacement path for transferring between the locked state and the unlocked state. The displaceable, in particular sliding, arrangement of the locking element, which can be releasably secured in various locking positions, enables simple and reliable provision of the locking configurations of the locking mechanism. By subjecting the locking mechanism to a high but brief load, such as occurs during a drop test, the locking element is only forced out of one or a few of several configured locking positions, wherein the locking element remains in a locking position after the load subsides, in which the locking mechanism continues to be in the locked state.To enable the locking element to be moved, it can be arranged on a base frame and / or a guide of the locking mechanism. It should also be noted that, particularly in the above context and also in principle, it is possible for the locking element to be designed as a latch or a slide.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a respective locking position can be formed and / or is formed by the interaction, in particular a releasable engagement, of at least one locking means with at least one counter-locking means. A respective locking means can be formed on a base frame of the locking mechanism, the counter-locking means on the blocking element, or vice versa. The releasably interlocking interaction of the locking means and the counter-locking means ensures secure and reliable fixation in every locking position. This helps to prevent an undesired transfer of the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state, since this would require overcoming a plurality of locking moments.Especially when the direction of action of a force forming a load is substantially perpendicular to a force necessary to overcome the locking torque, the above embodiment represents an extremely advantageous embodiment of the locking configurations. A respective locking means can be designed, for example, as a projection, formation or spring, and a respective counter-locking means can be designed as a recess or groove, into which a locking means engages in the respective locking position.

[0016] Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention is advantageous in which, to form a respective locking position and / or the locking positions, at least one locking means for all of the locking positions that can be formed interacts with at least one counter-locking means for each of the locking positions, wherein the counter-locking means of each two locking positions are offset from one another, in particular by a distance between the two locking positions. Thus, one locking means, two locking means, or even several locking means, for example a group of locking means, is / are formed, via which all of the locking positions of the blocking element can be adjusted. When the locking position changes, the same locking means or the same locking means are always engaged. Accordingly, this is only possible if, depending on the locking position, different counter-locking means interact with these locking means.It is therefore provided that, for each locking position, at least partially different counter-locking means are engaged and / or engaged with the locking means. Changing the counter-locking means can be achieved, for example, by shifting, in particular, the locking element. This advantageously provides a simple way of providing the locking positions, which can be carried out easily in both an automated and a manual process.

[0017] Furthermore, it is considered advantageous if the unlocking configuration of the locking mechanism, in a further development of the invention, is formed by, preferably exclusively, a detent position of the locking element, which is arranged displaceably, in particular along a displacement path for transferring between the locking state and the unlocking state, which differs from the detent positions of the locking configuration and in which a transfer of the cover from the closed position is permitted. In this way, the unlocking configuration and thus the unlocking state can be provided in a similar manner to the locking configurations and thus the locking state. The transfer from the locking state to the unlocking state can take place by displacing, in particular sliding, the locking element from a detent position of the locking configurations to the detent position of the unlocking configuration.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged that the locking element has a handling means designed such that an automated displacement of the locking element can be carried out via this means. This allows integration of the load carrier into an automated process environment, for example a production line. The locking element can be operated in this way by a handling device, e.g. a robot, and the locking mechanism can thus be transferred between the locked state and the unlocked state. It is conceivable here that the handling means is shaped as a receptacle, e.g. a particularly circular opening, for a manipulator of the handling device.

[0019] In general, but particularly in conjunction with the above embodiment, it is considered advantageous if the handling means is designed in such a way that it also allows manual displacement of the locking element. This also enables manual opening and / or closing, in particular manual emergency opening and / or closing, of the load carrier. The handling means can in turn be designed as a receptacle, e.g., a particularly circular opening, into which both the engagement of a manipulator of a handling device and manual engagement are possible.

[0020] It offers additional advantages if the locking mechanism according to one embodiment of the invention is made at least partially of plastic. The design of the locking mechanism with at least two locking configurations enables the locking mechanism to be manufactured at least partially of lightweight plastic, which leads to a reduced overall mass while still being highly reliable. In particular, the base frame of the locking mechanism which carries the locking element and in which the latching means and / or a guide for the locking element are formed can be made of plastic. However, the locking element itself can be made of a metal, for example aluminum. In a preferred manner, not only the locking mechanism itself is made at least partially of plastic, but the rest of the load carrier is made entirely of plastic.This results in a significant reduction in the tare weight of the load carrier compared to a design that uses primarily metal. This approach enables effective minimization of the forces acting on the locking mechanism during loading conditions such as drop tests. Furthermore, there is no need to reduce the load weight, as is otherwise common with state-of-the-art locking mechanisms and / or load carriers.

[0021] The invention allows for numerous embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, one of them is shown in the drawing and is described below. This shows in Fig. 1a, 1b shows an embodiment of a load carrier; Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a locking mechanism.

[0022] The Figures 1a and 1bshow an overall and a detailed representation of an embodiment of a load carrier 1 according to the invention. The load carrier 1 has the container part 2 designed to receive components and the lid 3 pivotably arranged on the container part 2. The lid 3 can be releasably locked in the illustrated closed position 5 via the two locking mechanisms 4 and, as specifically shown in the Figure 1b shown also locked.

[0023] For this purpose, the locking mechanism 4 is switched between an unlocking state (not shown in detail) and the state shown in particular in the Figure 1bshown locking state 6. In this locking state 6 and / or to establish this locking state 6, the locking element 8 designed as a bolt interacts with the coupling means 9 designed as a receiving or insertion opening in such a way that a transfer of the cover 3 from the closed position 5 is blocked. This is achieved in particular in that the locking element 8, in particular the end of the locking element 8 facing the coupling means 9, engages positively in the coupling means 9.

[0024] This can also be seen in the Figure 2 remove, whereby the Figure 2basically shows an embodiment of the locking mechanism 4. The locking mechanism 4 is in the locking state 6, which can be provided and / or is provided by at least two, specifically six locking configurations 7 of the locking mechanism 4. A respective locking configuration 7 of the locking mechanism 4 is formed by different locking positions 10 of the displaceably arranged locking element 8, so that the illustrated embodiment of the locking mechanism 4 also provides six possible locking positions 10. The Figure 2 specifically shows one of these locking configurations 7 and thus one of the locking positions 10.

[0025] Again Figure 2Furthermore, as can also be seen, a respective locking position 10, here also the locking position 10 shown, can be formed and / or is formed by the interaction of two locking means 11 with two counter-locking means 12. In particular, to form a respective locking position 10, thus also the illustrated locking position 10, the two locking means 11 arranged on both sides of the locking element 8 and formed as projections in the base frame 14 of the locking mechanism 4 for all formable locking positions 10 of the locking state 6 cooperate with two counter-locking means 12 for each of the locking positions 10. The counter-locking means 12 formed as grooves in the locking element 8 are arranged offset from one another for each of two locking positions 10.

[0026] The closure mechanism 4 arranged on the lid 3 and correspondingly the locking element 8 are designed in such a way and / or spaced from the coupling means 9 formed on the container part 2, i.e. in this embodiment of the receptacle or the insertion opening, such that the locking element 8 interacts with the coupling means 9 in each of the locking configurations 7 and / or locking positions 10 provided via the locking means 11 and the counter-locking means 12. This therefore also applies to the illustrated locking position 10, which is provided via the two locking means 11 and the two counter-locking means 12 formed furthest away from the coupling means 9, as well as the locking position 10, which is provided via the two locking means 11 and the two counter-locking means 12 formed least away from the coupling means 9.

[0027] In addition to the counter-locking means 12, via which the locking state 6 of the closure mechanism 4 can be provided, further counter-locking means 16 designed as grooves are formed in the blocking element 8, which counter-locking means 16 have the smallest distance to the coupling means 9, are spaced from the coupling means 9 and from the counter-locking means 12 in the direction of the coupling means 9 in such a way that by an interaction of these counter-locking means 16 and the locking means 11 an unlocking configuration of the closure mechanism 4 designed as a locking position can be provided, which differs from the locking positions 10 of the locking configuration 7 and in which a transfer of the cover 3 from the position in the Figures 1a and 1bshown in detail in the closed position 5. In this unlocking configuration, designed as a locking position 10, the locking mechanism 4 is thus in its unlocked state, in which the locking element 8 and the coupling means 9 do not interact. The locking element 8, designed as a bolt, and the coupling means 9, designed as a receiving or insertion opening, are then not engaged with one another.

[0028] The illustrated locking position 10, which is provided by the two locking means 11 and the two counter-locking means 12 formed furthest from the coupling means 9, is the preferred locking position 10, via which the locking state 6 of the locking mechanism 4 is provided in the standard case. This is due to the fact that in order to transfer the locking mechanism 4 from this locking position 10 into the unlocking configuration and thus the unlocking state, the largest number of locking positions 10 must be overcome.

[0029] The transfer of the locking mechanism 4 between its locked state 4 and the unlocked state is carried out by displacing the locking element 8 along the displacement path 17 via the guide 15 formed in the base frame 14. In order to be able to carry out the displacement of the locking element 8 automatically and, in particular in an emergency, also manually, the locking element 8 has the handling means 13. The handling means 13 is specifically designed as a receptacle, in particular as a circular hollow cylinder, into which both the engagement of a manipulator of a handling device and manual engagement are possible. List of reference symbols

[0030] 1Load carrier 2Container part 3Lid 4Locking mechanism 5Closed position 6Locking state 7Locking configuration 8Locking element 9Coupling means 10Locking position 11Locking device 12Counter-locking device 13Handling device 14Base frame 15Guide 16Counter-locking device 17Displacement path

Claims

1. Load carrier (1), comprising a container part (2) designed to receive components and a lid (3) which can be releasably locked in a closed position (5) via at least one locking mechanism (4) and the locking mechanism (4) can be transferred between an unlocking state and a locking state (6) for this purpose, wherein the unlocking state of the locking mechanism (4) can be provided by an unlocking configuration of the locking mechanism (4), characterized in that the locking state (6) of the locking mechanism (4) can be and / or is provided by at least two locking configurations (7) of the locking mechanism (4).

2. Load carrier (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanism (4) has at least one locking element (8) by means of which the cover (3) can be locked and / or is locked in the closed position (5) in the locking state (6).

3. Load carrier (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element (8) in the locking state (6) and / or for establishing the locking state (6) interacts with a coupling means (9) in such a way that a transfer of the cover (3) from the closed position (5) is blocked.

4. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective locking configuration (7) of the locking mechanism (4) is formed by mutually different locking positions (10) of the displaceably arranged locking element (8).

5. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective locking position (10) can be formed and / or is formed by an interaction of at least one locking means (11) with at least one counter-locking means (12).

6. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatto form a respective locking position (10), at least one locking means (11) for all deformable locking positions (10) cooperates with at least one counter-locking means (12) for each locking position (10), wherein the counter-locking means (12) of each two locking positions (10) are arranged offset from one another.

7. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unlocking configuration of the locking mechanism (4) is formed by a locking position of the displaceably arranged locking element (8), which differs from the locking positions (10) of the locking configuration (7) and in which a transfer of the lid (3) from the closed position (5) is released.

8. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (8) has a handling means (13) which is designed in such a way that an automated displacement of the blocking element (8) can be carried out via this.

9. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling means (13) is designed in such a way that a manual displacement of the blocking element (8) can be carried out via it.

10. Load carrier (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism (4) is at least partially made of plastic.

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