Sales and transport container for storing and displaying goods

Abstract

Sales and transport containers (2) for storing and presenting goods, comprising pairs of vertically oriented longitudinal side walls (4) and transverse side walls (6) that are fixed to corner support posts (8), and comprising at least one container base (10) that can be positioned at different heights, wherein the longitudinal side walls (4) and transverse side walls (6) at least partially define a goods receiving area of ​​the sales and transport container (2) together with the at least one container base (10), wherein the container base (10) comprises two positioning devices (14) that are arranged in two adjacent support posts (8), and by means of which the container base (10) can be raised or lowered translationally to different heights and locked in a selected height, wherein the positioning devices (14) each have at least one gear (16) that interacts with a rack (22) arranged in the respective support post (8),and wherein the gears (16) are connected to each other via a connecting element (18) in a movement-synchronized manner, wherein the support posts (8) for the insertion of the adjusting devices (14) are open at the top, wherein at the open end of the support posts (8) are each provided insertion aids (28) for guiding the gears (16) of the adjusting devices (14) when the adjusting devices (14) are inserted into the support posts (8), which are designed such that the gears (16) engage teeth of the racks (22) arranged at the same height level when inserted.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sales and transport container for storing and presenting goods. The sales and transport container has pairs of vertically oriented longitudinal and transverse side walls arranged opposite each other. These are fixed to corner support posts. Furthermore, the sales and transport container includes at least one base that can be positioned at different heights. The longitudinal and transverse side walls, together with the base, define at least a portion of the goods receiving area of ​​the sales and transport container. The base includes at least two adjustment devices arranged in two adjacent support posts, by means of which the base can be raised or lowered translationally to different heights and locked in a selected height position.Each adjusting device has at least one gear that engages with a rack located in the respective support post. The gears of two adjusting devices located in two adjacent support posts are synchronized via a connecting element. The support posts are open at the top to allow the adjusting devices for the container bottom to be inserted into them.

[0002] Corresponding sales and transport containers for storing and presenting goods are known from DE 10 2018 001 904 A1. These containers can be filled with goods, with the base typically positioned and locked at a lower level. After some of the goods in the container have been sold, the base, along with the goods, can be easily raised to a higher level and locked in place. This makes the goods more easily accessible to customers. Furthermore, it ensures that the sales area continues to appear fully stocked, which, based on experience, increases sales.The gears of the adjusting devices, which are synchronized via a connecting element and interact with the racks in the respective support posts, ensure that the container bottom remains in its initial orientation during translational movement. This prevents the container bottom from tilting or jamming during translational movement. In particular, the container bottom is positioned so that it is horizontal.

[0003] However, the previously known sales and transport container suffers from the problem that when the adjusting devices are inserted into the open-topped support posts, or if they are accidentally shifted beyond the area where the gears engage with the rack, the container bottom can tilt or become misaligned. If the container bottom is inserted at such an angle, the gears of the adjusting device engage with teeth of the racks located in the two support posts, which are positioned at different heights. This skewed arrangement of the container bottom results in increased stress on the gear of the lower adjusting device and the corresponding tooth of the rack with which it engages.Furthermore, the teeth of the gear and the teeth of the rack are angled relative to each other, leading to increased edge stress and a risk of damage. Additionally, this angled position can impair the secure, long-term locking of the container base at a chosen height. Moreover, goods placed on an angled container base can shift. Particularly when the height of the container base is adjusted, such shifted goods can become jammed within the sales and transport container.

[0004] This is particularly relevant when sales and transport containers are used for promotional merchandise. After the promotional period, these containers are dismantled and stored until the next one. Specifically, the bottom of the container is removed, and the remaining container is folded up. For the next promotional period, the containers are reassembled. This is typically done by personnel who are not specifically trained for this task. Without training, such personnel are not aware of the possibility of the container bottom tilting when inserting the stand into the support posts.In particular, if the translational lifting and lowering function is generally functional even with an inclined container bottom, such incorrect operation only becomes apparent when damage occurs to gears, rack and / or other elements of the sales and transport container.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to further develop a sales and transport container of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way as to facilitate the correct insertion of the positioning devices of the container bottom into the support posts.

[0006] To solve this problem, the sales and transport container according to the invention is equipped with insertion aids at the open ends of the support posts into which the adjusting devices are to be inserted. These insertion aids guide the gears of the adjusting devices when the devices are inserted into the support posts. They are designed such that the gears of the adjusting devices engage teeth of the racks arranged at the same height level when the devices are inserted into the support posts.

[0007] In particular, the insertion aids are designed to act directly on the gears of the adjusting devices. Specifically, the adjusting devices are arranged above an upper end of the racks in the support post.

[0008] In a first preferred embodiment, the insertion aids are each formed by an insertion rack extending in the longitudinal direction of the rack directly above it. The teeth of the insertion rack are wider than the teeth of the gears and, in particular, extend across the entire width of the support post. Such an insertion aid is especially advantageous when the teeth of the insertion rack are narrower than the teeth of the gears. This is typically the case when the rack is manufactured from a thinner sheet metal compared to the teeth of the gears, thus saving material. The insertion rack, arranged directly above the rack, typically has two to three teeth, so that, despite the wider teeth, the material used for the insertion rack is relatively small compared to the number of teeth on the rack due to the smaller number of teeth.The wide teeth of the insertion rack ensure that the teeth of the gear make full contact with the teeth of the insertion rack during insertion. This guides the gears, making it more difficult for the container bottom to tilt. In a sales and transport container equipped with such insertion racks, the insertion of the adjusting devices is facilitated because the gears engage with teeth of the rack that are arranged at the same height.

[0009] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the insertion aids are each designed as insertion elements extending directly above the rack and having an insertion surface. The insertion surfaces of the insertion elements are designed and arranged such that, when the respective adjusting device is inserted into the support post, they lock the adjusting device's gear against rotation. During insertion, the gears slide past the respective insertion surfaces in a defined position until they engage the teeth of the insertion rack. Because the gears are guided along the insertion surfaces in a defined position during insertion, it is facilitated that the gears engage teeth of the rack arranged at the same height level.

[0010] Preferably, the insertion elements are arranged and designed such that the respective gears contact the insertion surfaces with two teeth during insertion. This prevents the gears from rotating. Since the gears are connected to each other via a connecting element in a movement-synchronized manner, if the container bottom is inserted at an angle, the gear of one of the two adjusting devices will first contact the uppermost tooth of the corresponding rack. The adjusting device is then secured against further insertion into the support post because the gear would have to be rotated. However, this is prevented by the fact that the opposing, movement-synchronized gear still bears two teeth against its insertion surface. Rotation of the two gears is only possible when both gears are engaged with the uppermost tooth of their respective racks.

[0011] In another alternative embodiment, the insertion aids are each formed by a projection arranged above the rack in its longitudinal direction and an insertion contour extending between the projection and the rack. The projection is arranged such that, when the adjusting devices are inserted into the support posts, it engages one tooth of the gears. As the teeth pass the projection, the gears are aligned so that they come into correct contact with the insertion contour. During further insertion, the gears are guided by the insertion contour toward the uppermost tooth of the respective rack. This facilitates the engagement of the gears with teeth of the racks that are located at the same height level during insertion.

[0012] In a fourth preferred embodiment, the insertion aids are each formed by an insertion tooth arranged above the rack on the side opposite the rack.

[0013] Preferably, the guide tooth, the adjusting device, and the rack are designed and arranged such that, in order to insert the adjusting device into the support post, the gear initially engaged with the guide tooth must first rotate in a first direction. Subsequently, the gear engages with the uppermost tooth of the rack and must rotate in the opposite direction to the guide tooth to pass it. Since the two gears of the two adjusting devices are synchronized in their movement, this ensures that the gears can only engage with the uppermost tooth of the rack if they are simultaneously engaged with and moved past the guide tooth.Once a gear has been guided past the guide tooth on one side and brought into contact with the uppermost tooth of the rack, further lowering of the positioning device is only possible if the gear rolls along the rack. However, the direction of rotation for this rolling motion is opposite to the direction of rotation with which the other gear is guided past its corresponding guide tooth. If the container bottom is tilted when the positioning devices are inserted into the respective support posts, the insertion is blocked by the guide tooth on one of the support posts and the uppermost tooth of the rack on the other support post, in conjunction with the synchronous connection of the two gears. The operator receives immediate feedback that the container bottom has been inserted at an angle, allowing for corrective insertion.

[0014] The guide tooth is preferably designed and arranged such that the clear width between the guide tooth and the uppermost tooth of the rack is smaller than the smallest distance between the edges of a polygon obtained by connecting the gear teeth with straight lines. This distance is measured through the center of the gear. This prevents a gear from simply being guided through the clear width between the guide tooth and the uppermost tooth of the rack. It is necessary to first insert the guide tooth and then at least partially insert the uppermost tooth of the rack into the area between two teeth of the gear in order to thread the gear through the clear width between the guide tooth and the uppermost tooth of the rack. This is only possible if the gears of the guides are correctly aligned with each other.

[0015] In particular, the clear width between the insertion tooth and the uppermost tooth of the rack is chosen such that, in order to insert the adjusting device, the gear must first be brought into engagement with the insertion tooth in order to guide the gear past the uppermost tooth of the rack and then brought into engagement with the uppermost tooth of the rack in order to guide the gear past the insertion tooth.

[0016] Preferably, each support post comprises an upper guide surface designed such that the container base can be supported against the guide surface in a support position via the gears of the adjusting devices before being inserted into the support posts. The guide surfaces, gears, and guide tooth are designed such that the adjusting devices can be synchronously inserted into the support posts from this support position by means of a pivoting movement. The use of such guide surfaces in conjunction with a guide tooth makes it easier for the operator to guide the two adjusting devices with their gears synchronously past the guide teeth, thus inserting the container base into the support posts in the correct orientation, i.e., without tilting. A sales and transport container designed in this way is particularly easy and reliable to operate, especially by unskilled personnel.Since this makes correctly aligned insertion easier, the risk of tilting is reduced even further.

[0017] Preferably, the positioning devices arranged in two adjacent support posts comprise at least two support rollers spaced apart from each other and supported on the running surfaces of the respective support posts. These support rollers allow the positioning devices, and thus the container bottom, to be reliably guided along the support posts during translational lifting or lowering. This improves the reliability of the sales container.

[0018] Preferably, the respective support posts have angled legs arranged at a distance from one another, forming inner running surfaces on which the support rollers of the respective positioning device run. A support post with angled legs can be manufactured particularly easily and provided with suitable running surfaces for the support rollers of the positioning device to run on.

[0019] Preferably, the support posts have an inner and an outer running surface, wherein the support rollers of the respective positioning device run on the inner and outer running surfaces of the respective support post, the support rollers being arranged in a corresponding horizontal plane of the sales and transport container. In particular, this ensures that the at least one container bottom cannot be lifted at the end furthest from the support post. This more reliably secures the container bottom at a selected height.

[0020] Furthermore, preferably the support rollers provided in a horizontal plane are arranged with a vertical distance below the gear.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, each adjusting device has a gear support roller arranged coaxially to the respective gear. In particular, the gear support roller is designed as a ball bearing. The gears are connected to each other synchronously via a common shaft. The gear support rollers, also designed as ball bearings, can then likewise be arranged on this shaft. The gear is guided in the support post by the gear support roller. Such guidance ensures that the gear and the rack remain reliably engaged. The gear support roller can also guide the adjusting device and thus the container bottom within the support post. In particular, forces can be introduced into the support post via the gear support roller, counteracting a tilting moment caused by goods arranged on the container bottom.

[0022] Preferably, the positioning devices have locking elements that can be moved from a locked position to a released position via an operating element. The container bottom can be fixed at a selected height using such locking elements.

[0023] The locking elements are particularly advantageous when their movement is synchronized via the control element. By actuating a common control element, the locking elements can be simultaneously moved from the locked position to the released position. This simplifies the operation of the sales and transport container for repositioning the container base.

[0024] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that abutments are formed on the respective support posts, and that the locking elements are designed as locking latches which can interact with the abutments of the respective support post to lock the container bottom at a selected height. In this way, a sales and transport container in which the container bottom can be locked at different heights can be easily provided.

[0025] Preferably, the locking element is pivotable or tiltable on the positioning device such that it can be pivoted from the release position to the locking position by its own weight. The operating element then serves only to move the locking element from the locking position to the release position. When the operating element is released, the locking element automatically returns from the release position to the locking position due to gravity. The sales and transport container is therefore particularly easy to operate.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the positioning device has at least one spring element via which at least one locking element is subjected to a force that moves the locking element into the locking position. This allows for particularly reliable locking of the container bottom at a selected height.

[0027] Preferably, the positioning devices are driven by a manually operated or an electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically operated drive. Preferably, the sales and transport container has two bases, each base having two positioning devices and each base being arranged on two support posts of the transport container, so that the two bases can be moved independently of each other horizontally to different heights and locked in place. The design with two bases facilitates repositioning, and in particular lifting, the bases, especially when carrying goods. When lifting a base, it is therefore not necessary to lift the entire base with all the goods in the sales and transport container at once; rather, the lifting can be done in two steps. This further simplifies the handling of the sales and transport container.

[0028] Particularly preferably, the sales and transport container is equipped with a compartment divider arranged between the two container bottoms and independent of the container bottoms. Such a compartment divider separates the goods receiving area into two sub-compartments, with each sub-compartment having its own container bottom. The container bottoms can then be arranged at different heights within the two sub-compartments without preventing goods from falling from a higher container bottom to a lower one, or from the lower container bottom getting under the higher container bottom.

[0029] Preferably, the sales and transport container includes a base support that supports the container bottom, at least at its lowest level. The base support is designed so that the container bottom can be brought into contact with it. When the container bottom and the base support are in contact, forces acting on the container bottom are absorbed, at least partially, and preferably completely, by the base support. This relieves the load on the container bottom's adjustment mechanisms. By using a suitable base support, the container bottom can bear a greater load, at least when it is in its lowest position. The sales and transport container can then be loaded with larger quantities of goods, at least in this state.Only when the quantity of goods in the sales and transport container has been reduced after a partial sale, will the bottom of the container be raised to a higher level, if necessary.

[0030] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures, which include exemplary embodiments of the invention. The figures schematically illustrate: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a sales and transport container with two independently adjustable container bottoms; Fig. 2 shows the representation according to Fig. 1 with removed container bottoms; Fig. 3 a cross-section through a support post of a sales and transport container of a first embodiment with an insertion aid designed as an insertion rack; Fig. 4 an alternative embodiment of a sales and transport container with an insertion aid formed by an insertion element forming an insertion surface; Fig. 5 a third embodiment of a sales and transport container with an insertion aid having a projection and an insertion contour; Fig. 6 a representation of a fourth embodiment of the sales and transport container with a container bottom separate from the sales and transport container, wherein the insertion aid is designed as an insertion tooth; Fig. 7 a partially cut-out detail view of a support post of the embodiment according to Fig. 6 ; Fig. 8 shows a cross-section through the support post of the embodiment according to Fig. 6 Fig. 9 shows the gear of the adjusting device in engagement with the guide tooth when inserting the adjusting device into the support posts; Fig. 10 shows a representation according to Fig. 9 , wherein the gear is guided through the clear width between the leading tooth and the uppermost tooth of the rack; Fig. 11 a representation according to Fig. 9 , in which the gear is guided past the guide tooth; Fig. 12 a representation of the container bottom supported on an upper guide surface of the support post via the gear on the support post. Fig. 13 a cross-section through the sales and transport container according to Fig. 1 with one of the container bottoms at the lowest height

[0031] Identical or similar parts are provided with identical reference numerals, where appropriate. Individual technical features of the embodiments described below can be combined with the features of claim 1 and with the features of individual embodiments described above to form articles according to the invention.

[0032] Fig. 1 Figure 2 shows a sales and transport container with longitudinal side walls 4 and transverse side walls 6. The longitudinal side walls 4 and transverse side walls 6 are arranged on support posts 8. The sales and transport container also has two bases 10. The longitudinal side walls 4, the transverse side walls 6, and the base 10 define a goods receiving area of ​​the sales and transport container 2. The bases 10 can be locked at different heights. Goods are placed on the bases 10. When some of the goods placed on the bases 10 have been sold, an operator of the sales and transport container 2 can raise the bases 10. This makes the goods placed on the bases 10 more easily accessible to customers of a retail outlet equipped with the sales and transport container 2.

[0033] Furthermore, the sales and transport container 2 appears to be filled more effectively. The container base 10 is horizontally oriented, allowing goods to be placed upright or lying down in the receiving area. Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows the sales and transport container 2 with the container bottom 10 removed. Each container bottom 10 is provided with positioning devices 14 on two opposite sides.

[0034] Each of these adjusting devices 14 comprises a gear 16. The gears 16 are connected to each other via a connecting element 18, which in this case is designed as a rod or shaft. The adjusting device 14 also has support rollers 20. The container bottom 10 is to be positioned in the support posts 8 together with the adjusting devices 14. The support posts 8 are open at the top for this purpose.

[0035] Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a support post 8 with an adjusting device 14 attached to it. The adjusting device 14 has a gear 16 which engages with a rack 22 located in the support post 8. Support rollers 20 are arranged below the gear 16. A locking element 24 is arranged between the gear 16 and the support rollers 20. The locking element 24 is designed to interact with an abutment 26 of the support post 8.

[0036] The positioning device 14 has two support rollers 20 arranged opposite each other.

[0037] In the Fig. 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the sales and transport container 2 is provided with an insertion aid 28, which is designed as an insertion rack 30. The insertion rack 30 has two teeth. In the illustrated embodiment, the teeth are formed by wire rods. The teeth of the insertion rack 30 are wider than the teeth of the gear 16 and the rack 22. Fig. 3 This is evident from the fact that the guide rack 30 is shown in a different section than the gear 16 and the rack 22. Because the teeth of the guide rack 30 are significantly wider than the teeth of the gear 16, the gear 16 of the adjusting device 14 is guided into the support post 8 when the adjusting device 14 is inserted. Since the gears 16 are guided on both sides of the container base 10, this ensures that the gears 16, and thus the adjusting device 14, are aligned so that the gears 16 engage teeth of the rack 22 at the same height. This guidance is further supported by the support rollers 20. This facilitates the correct insertion of the adjusting devices 14 into the support posts 8.

[0038] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows an alternative embodiment of a sales and transport container 2, in which the insertion aid 28 is formed by an insertion element 32. The insertion element 32 forms an insertion surface 34. The insertion element 32 is also arranged directly above the rack 22 in the support post 8. The insertion element 32 is designed such that, when the adjusting device 14 is inserted into the support post 8, the gear 16 is guided past the insertion surface 34 with two teeth. The gear 16 is thus secured against rotation during insertion. Here, too, the fact that the gears 16 of the adjusting devices 14 arranged on both sides of the container base 10 are guided past corresponding insertion surfaces 34 of corresponding insertion elements 32 simultaneously facilitates the correct insertion of the adjusting devices 14 into the support posts 8.This ensures that the gears 16 engage teeth of the racks 22, which are arranged at the same height. This prevents the container bottom 10 from tilting when inserted into the support posts 8.

[0039] Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows a third embodiment of a sales and transport container 2. In this embodiment, the insertion aid 28, arranged directly above the rack 22 in the support post 8, is designed as a projection 36 to which an insertion contour 38 extends in the direction of the uppermost tooth of the rack 22. When the adjusting devices 14 are inserted into the support posts 8, the projections 36 cause the gears 16 to rotate into a specific orientation relative to the rack 22. The insertion contours 38 ensure that the gears 16 are guided with their teeth oriented in the direction of the uppermost tooth of the rack 22 to engage it. This ensures that the gears 16 engage teeth of the rack 22 at the same height. This prevents the container base 10 from being inserted into the support posts 8 at an angle.

[0040] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a detailed view of a sales and transport container in a fourth embodiment. The figure shows a section of a support post 8 and a section of a container base 10 that is either separated from the support post 8 or intended to be inserted into it. In this fourth embodiment, the insertion aid 28 is formed by an insertion tooth 40. The insertion tooth 40 is located above the rack 22 and on the side of the support post 8 opposite the rack 22.

[0041] In Fig. 6 The locking element 24, which in this embodiment is designed as a pawl, can be seen. The locking element 24 interacts with abutments 26. These abutments are shown in the illustration. Fig. 7 The figures show a perspective view of a partially cut-out support post 8. The rack 22 is also visible.

[0042] Fig. 8 Figure 1 shows a cross-section through a support post 8. Visible are the rack 22 on one side of the support post 8 and the guide tooth 40 located above the rack 22 on the opposite side of the support post 8. The various abutments 26 are also visible. A container bottom 10 can be locked at different heights via the abutments 26 and the locking elements 24.

[0043] The function of the insertion tooth 40 is described in the Figuren 9 bis 11 depicted. Fig. 9 Figure 1 shows a state during the insertion of the actuating device 14 into the support post 8, in which the gear 16 is in contact with the insertion tooth 40. It should be noted that the position of the gear 16 in the support post 8 is determined by a gear support roller 21 located behind the gear 16 in the plane of the drawing. This gear support roller 21 is shown in Fig. 6 This is evident. When the adjusting device 14 is inserted into the support post 8, the gear 16 is therefore necessarily engaged with the guide tooth 40. In order to guide the gear 16 past the guide tooth 40, the gear 16 must undergo a rotation as shown in the illustration. Fig. 9 The operation is performed counterclockwise. The uppermost tooth of the rack 22 is arranged such that, as the gear 16 passes the insertion tooth 40, another tooth of the gear 16 comes into contact with the uppermost tooth of the rack 22. As the adjusting device 14 is further inserted, a rotation in the opposite direction occurs. Fig. 11 clockwise. The teeth of gear 16 are guided past the guide tooth 40.

[0044] This occurs simultaneously for both adjusting devices 14 on the two opposite sides of the container bottom 10. This ensures that the gears 16 engage teeth of the rack 22 at the same height level.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, if the container bottom is inserted at an angle into the support posts 8, a gear 16 of one of the two adjusting devices 14 reaches the insertion tooth 40 and the uppermost tooth of the rack 22 in front of the gear 16 of the opposite adjusting device 14. If the gear 16 of one adjusting device 14, as in Fig. 11 As shown, the uppermost tooth of the rack 22 rests against it. For further insertion of this adjusting device 14, it is necessary that the gear 16 completes a clockwise rotation. However, if the container bottom is inserted at an angle, the gear 16 of the adjusting device 14 located on the opposite side only engages in the position shown. Fig. 9 The illustrated state shows that the gear 16 is in contact with the guide tooth 40. This gear 16 must therefore rotate in the opposite direction to pass the guide tooth 40. Since the two gears 16 of the two adjusting devices 14 are synchronized via the connecting element 18, the gears 16 cannot rotate in different directions. In this embodiment, this is achieved by arranging the gears 16 on a common shaft. The combination of the guide tooth 40 and the rack 22 thus ensures that if the container bottom 10 is inserted into the support posts 8 at an angle, the gears 16 lock. This prevents the container bottom 10 from being inserted at an angle.

[0046] To facilitate the insertion of the container bottom 10 and to prevent the gears 16 from jamming as described above, the support posts 8 are provided with upper guide surfaces 42. The adjusting devices 14 are designed such that the container bottom 10 can be positioned on the support posts 8 so that the container bottom 10 rests on the upper guide surface 42 via the gears 16. From the in Fig. 12 In the position shown, the container bottom can now be inserted into the support posts 8 by a simple pivoting movement, which brings the container bottom 10 into a horizontal orientation. Starting from the position shown in Fig. 12 In the illustrated starting position, the gears 16 of the two adjusting devices 14 arranged on opposite sides of the container bottom 10 simultaneously enter the support post 8 and thus pass the guide tooth 40 at the same time. This prevents the gears 16 from jamming against the guide teeth 40.

[0047] Fig. 13 Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the sales and transport container 2. The sales and transport container 2 has two container bottoms 10, which are arranged at different heights on the support posts 8 of the sales and transport container 2. The in Fig. 13 The right container bottom 10 is connected via its positioning devices 14 to the locking elements 24 (in Fig. 13 (not visible) is supported at one of the abutments 26. The left container bottom 10 is in its lowest position. In this position, the container bottom 10 rests on a container bottom support 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the container bottom support 44 is distributed around the sales and transport container 2. It comprises support elements that support the container bottom 10 on the side facing away from the adjusting devices 14, as well as support elements that are arranged directly below the adjusting devices 14. In particular, the container bottom support 44 is arranged such that the locking elements 24 are engaged with the lowest usable abutment 26 in the lowest position. The adjusting devices 14 of the container bottom 10 are relieved of load in this position. In this position, the container bottom 10 can be loaded with higher loads than in the positions raised above the lowest position.

[0048] In Fig. 13A compartment divider 46 is also visible. This is positioned between the container bottoms 10 of the sales and transport container 2 in such a way that it divides the goods receiving area into two compartments. The container bottoms 10 can thus be positioned independently of each other at different heights.

[0049] In the exemplary embodiment, part of the container base support 44 is designed to accommodate the compartment divider 46. This secures the compartment divider 46 in its lower region. In its upper region, the compartment divider 46 is secured by a receptacle for the sales and transport container 2, which in this exemplary embodiment is formed by a U-profile.

Claims

1. Sales and transport container (2) for storing and presenting goods, comprising pairs of vertically oriented longitudinal side walls (4) and transverse side walls (6) that are fixed to corner support posts (8), and comprising at least one container base (10) that can be positioned at different heights, wherein the longitudinal side walls (4) and transverse side walls (6) at least partially define a goods receiving area of ​​the sales and transport container (2) together with the at least one container base (10), wherein the container base (10) comprises two positioning devices (14) that are arranged in two adjacent support posts (8), and by means of which the container base (10) can be raised or lowered translationally to different heights and locked in a selected height, wherein the positioning devices (14) each have at least one gear (16) that interacts with a rack (22) arranged in the respective support post (8),and wherein the gears (16) are connected to each other via a connecting element (18) in a movement-synchronized manner, wherein the support posts (8) are open at the top for the insertion of the adjusting devices (14), , characterized by the fact that At the open end of the support posts (8) each, guide aids (28) are provided for guiding the gears (16) of the adjusting devices (14) when the adjusting devices (14) are inserted into the support posts (8), which are designed such that the gears (16) engage teeth of the racks (22) arranged at the same height level when inserted.

2. Sales and transport containers according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe insertion aids (28) are each formed by an insertion rack (30) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rack (22) directly above the rack (22), wherein the teeth of the insertion rack are wider than the teeth of the gears (16) and extend in particular over the entire width of the support post (8).

3. Sales and transport container according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that The insertion aids (28) are each designed as insertion elements (32) extending directly above the rack and having an insertion surface (34), wherein the insertion surfaces (34) are designed such that they lock the gear (16) against rotation when the respective adjusting device (14) is inserted.

4. Sales and transport container according to claim 3, characterized by the fact thatthe insertion elements (32) are arranged such that the respective gears (16) contact the insertion surfaces (34) with two teeth during insertion.

5. Sales and transport container according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the insertion aids (28) each have at least one projection (36) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the rack (22) above the rack (22) and an insertion contour (38) extending between the projection (36) and the rack (22).

6. Sales and transport container according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the insertion aids (28) are each formed by an insertion tooth (40) arranged above the rack (22) on the side opposite the rack (22).

7. Sales and transport container according to claim 6, characterized by the fact thatThe guide tooth (40), the adjusting device (14) and the support posts (8) with the rack (22) are designed and arranged such that, to guide the adjusting device (14), the gear (16) first engages with the guide tooth (40) and is rotated in a first direction of rotation to guide the gear (16) past the uppermost tooth of the rack (22), and subsequently the gear (16) engages with the uppermost tooth of the rack (22) and is rotated in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation to guide the gear (16) past the guide tooth (40).

8. Sales and transport containers according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by the fact thatThe support posts (8) each have an upper guide surface (42) designed in such a way that the container bottom (10) can be supported in a support position via the gears (16) of the adjusting devices (14) before being inserted into the support posts (8) on the guide surface (42) and from this support position the adjusting devices (14) can be inserted synchronously into the support posts (8) by a pivoting movement.

9. Sales and transport containers according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the positioning devices (14) arranged in two adjacent support posts (8) have at least two support rollers (20) arranged at a distance from each other and supported on running surfaces of the respective support post (8).

10. Sales and transport container according to claim 9, characterized by the fact thatthe support rollers (20) of the positioning device (14) of the respective support post (8) run on inner running surfaces of cranked legs of the support post (8) arranged at a distance from each other.

11. Sales and transport container according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the support rollers (20) of the respective positioning device (14) run on an inner running surface of a support post (8) and on an outer running surface of a support post (8) and are provided in a matching horizontal plane of the sales and transport container (2).

12. Sales and transport container according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the support rollers (20) provided in a horizontal plane are arranged with a vertical distance below the gear (16).

13. Sales and transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that The adjusting devices (14) each have a gear support roller arranged coaxially to the respective gear (16).

14. Sales and transport container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by the fact that the actuating devices (14) have locking elements (24) which can be moved from a locking position to a release position via an operating element.

15. Sales and transport container according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the locking elements (24) are motion-synchronized via the control element.

16. Sales and transport containers according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by the fact that the locking elements (24) are designed as locking latches and interact with abutments (26) formed on the respective support post (8).

17. Sales and transport container according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized by the fact that the locking element (24) is provided to be pivotable or tiltable on the adjusting device (14) in such a way that it can be pivoted from the release position into the locking position due to its own weight.

18. Sales and transport container according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized by , the adjusting devices (14) each have at least one spring element acting on the locking element (24) with a force moving the locking element (24) into the locking position.

19. Sales and transport containers according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the actuating devices (14) can be driven by a manually operated or an electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically operated drive.

20. Sales and transport containers according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the container bottom (10) is designed in two parts and each part of the container bottom has two adjusting devices (14) which are each arranged in a support post (8) so that the two container bottom parts (10.1, 10.2) can be moved independently of each other in a horizontal orientation to different height positions and locked there.

Images