PALLETIZED LOAD SEPARATE
The folding prism-shaped separator with a lateral hook component addresses the challenges of direct contact and adhesive limitations in existing palletized load separators, ensuring stable, reusable, and space-efficient separation solutions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023011715
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-10-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing separators for palletized loads face challenges such as deformation or rupture during transport due to direct contact, require additional handling for assembly, and suffer from increased storage space needs and limited reuse due to adhesive deterioration.
A folding prism-shaped separator with a lateral component that acts as a hook to suspend and fix onto the protective envelope of palletized loads, eliminating the need for adhesives and additional assembly steps, thus ensuring stability and ease of reuse.
The solution effectively prevents direct contact between palletized loads, ensures stable positioning without adhesives, reduces storage space requirements, and allows for multiple uses without deterioration, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency in transport and storage.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: PALLETIZED LOAD SEPARATOR
[0001] Technical sector.
[0002] The present invention relates to a separator for palletized loads, comprising a folding body, in the form of a prism, made up of superimposed sheets, joined at points and forming a certain number of folding cells delimited by partitions perpendicular to the two lateral faces of the separator and intended to face the palletized loads to be separated.
[0003] This separator has characteristics which simplify its manufacture and its fixing between the palletized loads to be separated.
[0004] The present invention applies to the sector of packaging palletized loads for transport and storage, and more particularly to palletized loads protected laterally by a protective envelope surrounding the load.
[0005] Previous state of the art
[0006] It is currently a common practice to palletize goods to facilitate loading and unloading from transport vehicles and handling in warehouses.
[0007] During transport, these palletized loads are likely to move and come into contact with other palletized loads placed nearby, resulting in a risk of deformation or breakage of the transported products.
[0008] In order to avoid direct contact between palletized loads during transport, it is common to use separators of different heights placed between the loads.
[0009] The state of the art reports the existence of various load separators, described in utility models ES 1 198 610 U, ES 1 200 237 U and ES 1 266 649 U, all originating from the applicant of the present invention and which generally comprise a folding body, in the form of a prism, consisting of superimposed sheets, joined at points and forming a certain number of vertically folded cells, delimited by partitions perpendicular to the two lateral faces of the separator, intended to face the palletized loads to be separated.
[0010] The separating device described in utility model ES 1 198 610 U comprises, on one of the side faces intended to face the loads to be separated, a protective sheet which, when the separator is unfolded, covers one side of the body and prevents its direct contact with the load to be separated. This protective sheet has a horizontal folding line in its middle zone, parallel to the upper and lower edges, so that when the body of the device is folded vertically, in the rest position for transport, this protective sheet adopts the shape of a V and protrudes laterally from the body by a length equal to half the height of the body in the unfolded position, which considerably increases the space required for storing the device in the rest position.
[0011] In the separators of the later utility models ES 1 200 237 and ES 1 266 649 U, the protective film and the storage problems that its use caused were eliminated by the incorporation of means for fixing the separator to the loads.
[0012] In particular, the separator of utility model ES 1 200 237 U comprises means for fixing to palletized loads consisting of an adhesive material applied to an upper flap of the separator. This solution has certain disadvantages: on the one hand for the manufacturer, the need to apply the adhesive to the flap, with the cost that this entails and, for the user, the need to remove the protective film from the adhesive and the production of waste; on the other hand, the limited reuse of the separator due to the deterioration of the adhesive.
[0013] These disadvantages have been eliminated in the separator of utility model ES 1 266 649 U, which uses as fixing means flat support pieces parallel to the base or to the upper cover of the separator and mounted on the upper cover by means of two rotation axes between: - a rest position in which they are arranged on the surface of the cover and - a working position in which they protrude on the same side, or on two opposite sides of the separator, respectively forming means for supporting the device on a load arranged on one side of the body, or on two loads arranged on each side of the separator.
[0014] Positioning the separator with simple support of one of the support parts on a load does not guarantee the stability of its operational position when loading and placing other palletized loads in the transport vehicle. In addition, this separator requires handling for mounting the rotation axes and assembling the support parts on the axes, which increases the manufacturing cost.
[0015] Previous state of the art
[0016] The palletized load separator which is the subject of the invention is applicable to palletized loads provided with a lateral protective envelope formed, for example, of a plastic film enveloping the load; said separator comprises a folding body, in the form of a prism, consisting of superimposed sheets joined at points and forming a certain number of vertically folding cells and delimited by partitions whose ends define certain lateral faces of the body intended to face the palletized loads to be separated.
[0017] The superimposed sheets which form the body of the separator may be made of corrugated cardboard, plastic or another similar material, which does not affect the subject of the invention.
[0018] This separator also comprises means for fixing the separator to one of the palletized loads to be separated.
[0019] According to the invention, the means for fixing the separator to the loads to be separated consist of a lateral flap fixed by its upper end to an upper cover or to a lateral face of the body of the separator, and oriented towards the bottom of the separator; said flap as well as the corresponding lateral face of the separator define a cavity, the opening of which is oriented towards the bottom of the separator, to accommodate an upper part of the protective envelope of the load and ensure the suspension of the separator from said protective envelope.
[0020] The aforementioned side flap does not include any additional element for fixing to the palletized load to be separated, since it is the flap itself which constitutes the means for suspending and fixing the separator on the aforementioned protective envelope of the palletized load.
[0021] Thus, the flap acts as a hook and, inserted behind the protective casing and embracing an upper portion thereof, it ensures stable suspension of the separator without the need to use adhesive, which also allows it to be reused as many times as necessary. This solution also does not require additional manipulation of the separator body to install rotation axes or other additional support elements.
[0022] Advantageously, the side flap is a lateral extension of the upper cover of the separator, so that its presence does not result in a significant increase in the manufacturing cost of the separator.
[0023] Brief description of the contents of the drawings.
[0024] To complete the description given and facilitate understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive memorandum is accompanied by a set of drawings which represent, by way of illustration and in a non-limiting manner, the following elements:
[0025] - [Fig.l] represents a rear elevation view of the palletized load separator, according to the invention, in the unfolded position.
[0026] - [Fig.2] is a side view of the separator of [Fig.l], still in the unfolded position.
[0027] - [Fig. 3] is a front elevational view of the separator shown in the figures previous, in folded position.
[0028] - [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the separator in the position of use, suspended by means of the side flap of the protective envelope of a palletized load.
[0029] Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention.
[0030] The palletized load separator shown in the attached figures comprises a prism-shaped body (1), made up of superimposed sheets (11) of corrugated cardboard, glued together at certain points to form a certain number of cells (12) limited by partitions (13) perpendicular to the lateral faces (14) which constitute the contact surfaces of the body (1) of the separator with the loads to be separated.
[0031] In this configuration, the body (1) of the separator can be folded and unfolded vertically between: an operational position of use illustrated by figures 1, 2 and 4, and a rest position for storage or transport illustrated in [Fig.3].
[0032] The body (1) comprises an upper cover (15) made of a sheet of cardboard arranged horizontally and fixed by points to the upper row of cells (12).
[0033] The separator comprises fixing means allowing it to be placed on one side of the loads to be separated. These fixing means comprise a flap (2) which, in the example illustrated, consists of a lateral extension of the upper cover (15) and is oriented towards the bottom of the body (1) of the separator.
[0034] The aforementioned side flap (2) defines, together with the corresponding side face (14) of the separator, a cavity (21) whose opening is oriented towards the bottom of the separator, as shown in [Fig.2].
[0035] As shown in [Fig.4], the cavity (21) delimited by the side flap (2) and by a side face of the body (1) allows the flap to slide behind the typical protective envelope (31) usually applied to palletized loads (3), so that an upper portion of this protective envelope (31) is housed in said cavity (21) and the separator is suspended and fixed in a stable manner in the position of use.
[0036] After having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, and having given an example of a preferred embodiment, it is specified that the materials, the shape, the size and the arrangement of the elements described can be modified, provided that this does not result in an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention claimed below.
Claims
Claims
1. Palletized load separator, applicable to palletized loads (3) provided with a protective envelope (31) arranged around the load; comprising a folding body (1), in the form of a prism, consisting of superimposed sheets (11), joined at points and forming a certain number of folding cells (12) and partitions (13) whose ends define the lateral faces (14) of the body (1) intended to face the palletized loads (3) to be separated; the separator comprising means for fixing the separator to one of the palletized loads (3) to be separated; characterized in that the means for fixing the separator consist of a lateral flap (2) fixed at its upper end to an upper cover (15) or to a lateral face (14) of the body (1) of the separator, and oriented towards the bottom of the separator;said side flap (2) and the corresponding side face (14) of the separator define a cavity (21) whose opening is oriented towards the bottom of the separator and suitable for receiving an upper portion of the protective envelope (31) of the palletized load (3) and for suspending the separator from said protective envelope.;
2. Palletized load separator; according to claim 1; characterized in that the side flap (2) is an extension of the upper cover (15) of the body (1) of the separator.