Device for handling a removable container wall

Abstract

The invention relates to a handling device (10) for a removable wall (12) of a container (14), the handling device (10) comprising a lifting frame (20) for a removable wall, a wheel assembly (22) of wheels (24) being mounted on the lower part of the lifting frame, the lifting frame comprising a connecting element (26) with a removable wall of a container, and the lifting frame being pivotally mounted about a lifting axis (A20) between an approach position of a wall of a container and a lifting position of a wall of a container. In the invention, the connecting element (26) is offset forward of the handling device by at least 30 cm relative to the lifting axis about which the lifting frame pivots. Abstract figure: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for handling a removable wall of a container

[0001] The present invention relates to the dismantling of the removable walls of a storage container and to the removal of these removable walls on the base of the storage container.

[0002] In the tire manufacturing industry, for example, different raw materials such as elastomers or different intermediate products such as rubber-based mixtures are stored in removable storage containers.

[0003] More specifically, these storage containers comprise walls, also called sides, removable relative to the base of the container. For example, the removable walls are fitted onto the base of the container and secured to each other by mechanical means.

[0004] Document WO2021 / 084318 relates to a handling tool for dismantling the removable walls of a container. This handling tool comprises a main frame equipped with wheels and a lifting frame pivotally mounted relative to the main frame. The lifting frame comprises a connecting element with a removable wall at a first end and a gripping handle at another end.

[0005] The handling tool presented in document WO2021 / 084318 allows the removable walls to be dismantled but it is not intended to allow the removable walls to be folded, i.e. the removal of the removed removable walls from the base of the container. However, it has been found that this folding operation could present difficulties for the operators, and in particular require excessive muscular effort, making it impossible for some operators to carry out this folding operation without risk.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a solution allowing the removable walls to be dismantled and placed, also called folded, on the base of the container. In addition, the solution offered by the present invention aims to reduce the muscular effort required from operators to carry out this folding operation and therefore to make this folding operation accessible to all operators, regardless of their muscular capacities.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a device for handling a removable wall of a container, the handling device comprising a frame for lifting a removable wall, a wheel set being mounted on the lower part of the lifting frame, the frame lifting device comprising a connecting element with a removable wall of a container, and the lifting frame being pivotally mounted around a lifting axis between a position for approaching a wall of a container and a position for lifting a wall of a container.

[0008] According to the invention, the connecting element is offset towards the front of the handling device by at least 30 cm relative to the lifting axis around which the lifting frame pivots.

[0009] Thanks to this advanced position of the connecting element, the handling device allows the removable walls of a storage container to be dismantled and these removable walls to be placed on the base of the storage container. This advanced position of the connecting element also makes it possible to avoid possible impacts of the handling device against the removable wall during dismantling. Finally, thanks to its advanced position, the connecting element easily cooperates with the removable walls to be dismantled, and more precisely with the crosspieces or sides of these removable walls.

[0010] Advantageously, but not necessarily, the invention may also provide that: - the lifting axis is located in the lower part of the lifting frame, - the lifting axis coincides with the axis of rotation of the wheels of the wheel set, - the connecting element is located at least 30 cm in front of the axis of rotation of the wheels of the wheel set, - the lifting frame is triangular in shape with one vertex in the lower part and two vertices in the upper part, - the connecting element is located in the upper part of the lifting frame and at a first upper vertex of the triangle formed by this lifting frame, - the lifting axis is located in the lower part of the lifting frame and at the lower apex of the triangle formed by this lifting frame, - the lifting frame includes a gripping handle, this gripping handle is located in the upper part of the lifting frame and at the second upper vertex of the triangle formed by this lifting frame, - the lifting frame comprises a front upright and a rear upright directly connected to each other in the lower part of the lifting frame and connected by a cross member in the upper part of the lifting frame, - the rear upright of the lifting frame is equipped with a crutch.

[0011] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows. This description, given by way of example and not as a limitation, refers to the schematic drawings attached in the appendix in which: - [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a handling device according to the invention, - [Fig.2] represents a side view of a storage container and a device for handling according to the invention in an approach position, - [Fig.3] represents a side view of a storage container and a handling device according to the invention in a lifting position, - [Fig.4] represents the start of an operation of removing a removable wall of a container onto the base of this container with a handling device according to the invention, - [Fig.5] represents the end of an operation of removing a removable wall of a container from the base of this container with a handling device according to the invention.

[0012] The invention relates to the dismantling of the removable walls 12 of a storage container 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, and to the removal of these removable walls 12 on the base 16 of the storage container.

[0013] The removable walls 12 of a container, also called side walls, can be solid or partially open. To form the container, these removable walls 12 are for example fitted onto the base 16 of the container. This base 16 forms the bottom of the container and it rests on the ground S of the site or building where the container is used. For example, this base 16 comprises handling sleeves intended to receive the forks of a forklift. For example, the base of the container is parallelepiped and the container comprises four removable walls. The walls 12 of a container are secured to each other by fitting, by snap-fastening, by screwing or by any other removable mechanical connection.

[0014] For the dismantling of the removable walls 12 of a storage container 14 and the removal of these removable walls 12 on the base 16 of the storage container, the invention proposes a handling device 10 as illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0015] This handling device 10 comprises a lifting frame 20 of a removable wall 12.

[0016] To enable the handling device to be moved, in particular when it is used to dismantle and move a removable wall, a train 22 of wheels 24 is mounted on the lower part of the lifting frame 20. Preferably, the train 22 of wheels comprises two wheels 24 mounted on the same axle.

[0017] To enable the lifting and transport of a removable wall, the lifting frame 20 comprises a connecting element 26 with a removable wall of a container. This connecting element 26 takes, for example, the form of a plate cut into a U or arch shape. Alternatively, this connecting element 26 may take the form of a rectangular plate.

[0018] In order to be able to position the handling device in different positions, for example in a position for approaching a removable wall of a container and in a position for lifting a removable wall allowing its disassembly, the element of connection 26 and the lifting frame 20 are pivotally mounted about a lifting axis A20. The connection element 26 and the lifting frame 20 pivot at least between the position of approaching a wall of a container and the position of lifting a wall of a container.

[0019] To allow the removable walls to be placed on the base of the container, and therefore to fold the container walls, the connecting element 26 is offset towards the front of the handling device 10 by at least 30 cm, and for example between 30 and 50 cm, relative to the lifting axis A20 around which the lifting frame pivots. This forward offset DAV of the connecting element 26 is measured in a horizontal direction when the handling device is in its approach position illustrated in [Fig.2] and in which the connecting element 26 is substantially horizontal. At the same time, the connecting element 26 is also offset towards the upper part of the handling device 10 and by at least 70 cm, and for example between 70 and 80 cm, relative to the lifting axis A20 which is located in the lower part of the lifting frame and around which the lifting frame pivots.This upward offset DH of the connecting element 26 is measured in a vertical direction when the handling device is in its approach position illustrated in [Fig.2] and in which the connecting element 26 is substantially horizontal.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the forward offset of the connecting element 26 makes it possible to tilt the removable wall 12 towards the base 16 after having lifted it and separated it from the base 16.

[0021] Preferably, the lifting axis A20 coincides with the rear rotation axis of the wheels 24 of the wheel set. Thus, it is the entire lifting frame 20 and the elements it comprises which pivot around the rear rotation axis of the wheels 24 of the wheel set. Given its forward offset DAV relative to the lifting axis A20, the connecting element 26 is also located at least 30 cm in front of the rear rotation axis of the wheels of the wheel set. This forward offset of the connecting element 26 relative to the rear rotation axis of the wheels makes it possible to clear the volume present under the connecting element 26 and to facilitate the tilting of the removable walls onto the base of the container when they are dismantled.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the lifting frame 20 is triangular in shape with a vertex S1 in the lower part and two vertices S2, S3 in the upper part. In more detail, the connecting element 26 is located in the upper part of the lifting frame and at a first upper vertex S2 of the triangle formed by this lifting frame. The lifting axis is located in the lower part of the lifting frame 20 and at the lower vertex S1 of the triangle formed by this lifting frame. Finally, the lifting frame 20 comprising a gripping handle 28 for the hands of an operator, this gripping handle is located in the upper part of the lifting frame and at the second upper vertex S2 of the triangle formed by this lifting frame. S3 upper part of the triangle formed by this lifting frame. For example, the connecting element 26 and the gripping handle 28 are located between 90 and 110 cm above the ground S when the handling device is in its approach position illustrated in [Fig.2],

[0023] Still in this preferred embodiment of triangular shape, the lifting frame 20 comprises a front upright 30 and a rear upright 32 directly connected to each other in the lower part of the lifting frame and by a cross member 34 in the upper part of the lifting frame. In more detail, the lower ends of the two front and rear uprights are connected to each other and to the axis of rotation of the wheels of the wheel set. Preferably, the front upright 30, the rear upright 32 and the cross member 34 are located in the same vertical plane PV. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the rear wheels, and therefore the lifting axis A20, extends perpendicular to the vertical plane PV in which these uprights and this cross member are located.

[0024] Advantageously, the rear upright 32 of the lifting chassis is equipped with a stand 36. This stand 36 makes it possible to stabilize the handling device when parked, and it can also be used by an operator to lift a removable wall by exerting additional force with his leg.

[0025] For example, the lifting frame 20 is made using metal profiles forming a mechanically welded assembly.

[0026] Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the implementation of the handling device according to the invention for detaching a removable wall 12 from the base 16 of a container and placing it on this base.

[0027] In a first step illustrated in [Fig.2], an operator O moves the handling device 10 towards the container until the connecting element 26 comes into contact with the wall to be handled. During this approach step, the handling device 10 is held in its approach position by the operator. In this approach position of the handling device 10, the connecting element 26 is substantially horizontal. More precisely, during this first step, the connecting element 26 is brought to bear under a crosspiece or a side wall 11 of the wall 12.

[0028] In a second step illustrated in [Fig. 3], the operator O exerts a force E directed towards the ground S on the gripping handle 28. This has the effect of lowering the gripping handle 28 towards the ground S and raising the connecting element 26 away from the ground S, which makes it possible to lift the removable wall 12 and to unhook it from the base 16. During this disassembly step, the handling device 10 is substantially stationary relative to the ground and it is brought into its lifting position by the operator. In this lifting position of the handling device 10, the connecting element 26 is no longer horizontal and it is inclined upwards.

[0029] In a third step illustrated in [Fig.4], the operator O again moves the handling device 10 towards the container 14 and its base 16 while continuing to exert the force E to keep the removable wall 12 raised. This has the effect of detaching the removable wall 12 from the connecting element and causing it to tilt towards the base 16.

[0030] In the last step illustrated in [Fig.5], the first removable wall of the container 14 is placed on the base 16 of the container, and the operator can proceed in the same way to disassemble and stack the other removable wall(s) 12 of the container. Ideally, all the removable walls of the container are disassembled and stacked on top of each other on the base of the container with the handling device according to the invention.

[0031] Advantageously, the handling device 10 can also be used by an operator O to reassemble the removable walls 12 onto the base 16.

Claims

Claims

1. Handling device (10) for a removable wall (12) of a container (14), the handling device (10) comprising a lifting frame (20) for a removable wall, a train (22) of wheels (24) being mounted in the lower part of the lifting frame, the lifting frame comprising a connecting element (26) with a removable wall of a container, and the lifting frame being pivotally mounted about a lifting axis (A20) between a position for approaching a wall of a container and a position for lifting a wall of a container, the handling device (10) is characterized in that the connecting element (26) is offset towards the front of the handling device by at least 30 cm relative to the lifting axis around which the lifting frame pivots.

2. Handling device according to claim 1, in which the lifting axis (A20) is located in the lower part of the lifting frame.

3. Handling device according to claim 2, in which the lifting axis (A20) coincides with the axis of rotation (AR) of the wheels of the wheel set.

4. Handling device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting element (26) is located at least 30 cm in front of the axis of rotation of the wheels of the wheel set.

5. Handling device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lifting frame (20) is triangular in shape with one vertex in the lower part and two vertices in the upper part.

6. Handling device according to claim 5, in which the connecting element (26) is located in the upper part of the lifting frame and at a first upper vertex of the triangle formed by this lifting frame.

7. Handling device according to claim 6, in which the lifting axis (A20) is located in the lower part of the lifting frame and at the lower apex of the triangle formed by this lifting frame.

8. Handling device according to claim 7, in which, the lifting frame comprising a gripping handle (28), this gripping handle is located in the upper part of the lifting frame and at the second upper vertex of the triangle formed by this lifting frame.

9. Handling device according to one of claims 5 to 8, in which the lifting frame comprises a front upright (30) and a rear upright (32) connected directly to each other in the lower part of the lifting frame and by a crosspiece (34) in the upper part of the lifting frame.

10. Handling device according to claim 9, in which the rear upright of the lifting frame is equipped with a crutch (36).

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