Pallet for transporting solar cell module

Abstract

To provide a pallet for transporting a solar cell module capable of suppressing occurrence of damage of the solar cell module with a simple structure.SOLUTION: The solar battery module transportation pallet 100 includes a plurality of upper girder plates 11 having a long side and a short side and disposed in parallel along a long-side direction LD, a plurality of middle girder plates 12 fixed to a 11s portion of a lower surface of the plurality of upper girder plates 11 and disposed in parallel along a short-side direction SD so as to be orthogonal to the plurality of upper girder plates 11, and an insertion port 15 provided on the short-side side for inserting the fork claw F. The plurality of middle girder plates 12 include an abutting plate 121 on which the tip Ft of the fork claw F abuts when the fork claw F is inserted from the insertion port 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet for transporting solar cell modules, which is used when transporting solar cell modules. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, solar cell modules used in solar power generation systems are packaged in cardboard boxes or the like and stacked on flat pallets, and then generally transported by forklift to a storage location or a transportation means such as a truck. An example of a flat pallet used to transport solar cell modules is a wooden double-sided four-way flat pallet as shown in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1. In addition to this, for example, a single-sided four-way flat pallet, a single-sided four-way flat pallet, etc. are also used. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-80198 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional wooden flat pallets are typically designed so that the upper girders, middle girders perpendicular to the upper girders, and reinforcing members (blocks) for the middle girders are evenly arranged so that the load is evenly distributed across the entire pallet when solar cell modules are loaded onto the upper girders (see, for example, Figure 5 of Patent Document 1). However, when transporting solar cell modules using a conventional wooden flat pallet, when the fork tines of a forklift are inserted through the insertion holes located on the short sides of the pallet, the tips of the fork tines may come into contact with the underside of the upper girders near the center of the pallet. When the tips of the fork tines come into contact with the underside of the upper girders, stress is concentrated at the contact point, which can cause deformation or breakage of the upper girders. Such deformation or breakage of the upper girders can damage the solar cell modules loaded directly above the pallet.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a pallet for transporting solar cell modules that has a simple structure and can prevent damage to the solar cell modules. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a pallet for transporting solar cell modules, which comprises a plurality of upper girders having long and short sides and arranged parallel to the long side direction, a plurality of middle girders fixed to the undersides of the plurality of upper girders and arranged parallel to the short side direction so as to be perpendicular to the plurality of upper girders, and insertion holes provided on the short side for inserting fork claws, wherein the plurality of middle girders include abutment plates against which the tips of the fork claws abut when the fork claws are inserted through the insertion holes (Invention 1).

[0007] According to this invention (Invention 1), when transporting solar cell modules by forklift, the tips of the fork tines contact the abutment plate of the middle girders, not the underside of the upper girders of the pallet, which prevents deformation or breakage of the upper girders due to stress concentration on their undersides, thereby preventing damage to the solar cell modules loaded directly above the pallet.

[0008] In the above invention (Invention 1), it is preferable that the abutment plate includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a first abutment plate having a linear distance from the insertion port to the abutment plate in the range of 910 mm to 930 mm, and a second abutment plate having a linear distance from the insertion port to the abutment plate in the range of 1060 mm to 1080 mm (Invention 2).

[0009] According to this invention (Invention 2), deformation or damage to the upper girder plate due to stress concentration on the underside of the upper girder plate can be suppressed by the first abutment plate when the length of the fork claws is approximately 920 mm, and by the second abutment plate when the length of the fork claws is approximately 1070 mm.

[0010] In the above inventions (Inventions 1 and 2), it is preferable that the plurality of middle girders further include a support plate arranged at a position other than the abutment plate, and that the pallet further includes a plurality of reinforcing members fixed to the undersides of the plurality of middle girders (Invention 3).

[0011] According to this invention (Invention 3), by evenly arranging the support plates and reinforcing members of the middle girder plate, it is possible to design the pallet so that the load is evenly distributed across the entire pallet when solar cell modules are loaded.

[0012] In the above inventions (Inventions 1 to 3), it is preferable that the pallet further comprises a plurality of lower beam plates fixed to the undersides of the plurality of reinforcing members and arranged parallel to the long side direction (Invention 4).

[0013] According to this invention (Invention 4), by arranging the lower beam plates evenly, it is possible to design the pallet so that the load is evenly distributed over the entire pallet when the solar cell modules are loaded. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] With the solar cell module transport pallet of the present invention, when transporting solar cell modules by forklift, the tips of the fork tines contact the abutment plate of the middle girders rather than the underside of the upper girders of the pallet, thereby preventing deformation or breakage of the upper girders due to stress concentration on their undersides, and therefore preventing damage to the solar cell modules loaded directly above the pallet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1]1A and 1B are a schematic plan view, a schematic side view of a long side, and a schematic side view of a short side showing an example of a pallet for transporting solar cell modules according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the pallet of FIG. 1 as seen from above. [Figure 3] 2A and 2B are schematic side views of the long side of the pallet in FIG. 1 together with the solar cell modules and the fork claws, where (A) shows the solar cell modules loaded on the pallet, (B) shows the fork claws inserted through the insertion openings of the pallet, and (C) shows the pallet being lifted by the fork claws. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are a schematic plan view, a schematic side view of a long side, and a schematic side view of a short side showing an example of a conventional flat pallet. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the pallet of FIG. 4 as viewed from above. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are schematic side views of the long side of the pallet in FIG. 4 together with the solar cell modules and the fork claws, where (A) shows the solar cell modules loaded on the pallet, (B) shows the fork claws inserted through the insertion openings of the pallet, and (C) shows the pallet being lifted by the fork claws. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of a pallet for transporting solar cell modules according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way.

[0017] [Pallets for transporting solar cell modules] Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view, a schematic side view of the long side, and a schematic side view of the short side of an example of a solar cell module transport pallet 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as "pallet 100") according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the pallet 100 of Fig. 1 as seen from above.

[0018] The pallet 100 has long and short sides. The pallet 100 includes a plurality of upper girders 11, a plurality of middle girders 12, and insertion holes 15 for inserting fork claws. The upper girders 11 are arranged parallel to each other at intervals along the long side direction LD. The middle girders 12 are fixed to the undersides 11s of the upper girders 11 and are arranged parallel to each other at intervals along the short side direction SD so as to be perpendicular to the upper girders 11. The insertion holes 15 are provided on the short side. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the insertion holes 15 may be provided on both short side sides. The middle girders 12 each include an abutment plate 121 against which the tips of the fork claws abut when the fork claws are inserted through the insertion holes 15.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the long side of the pallet 100, showing the solar cell modules M and the fork claws F. FIG. 3A shows the pallet 100 loaded with solar cell modules M, FIG. 3B shows the fork claws F inserted through the insertion openings 15 of the pallet 100, and FIG. 3C shows the pallet 100 being lifted by the fork claws F. In reality, the solar cell modules M are packaged in cardboard or other packaging; however, the packaging is omitted from FIG. 3 for ease of understanding. When the fork claws F are inserted through one of the insertion openings 15 of the pallet 100, as shown in FIG. 3B, the tips Ft of the fork claws F contact the abutment plates 121 of the middle girders 12 of the pallet 100, rather than the lower surfaces 11s of the upper girders 11. This prevents stress concentration on the lower surfaces 11s of the upper girders 11, thereby preventing deformation or damage to the upper girders 11. This prevents damage to the solar cell modules M loaded directly above the pallet 100.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view, a schematic side view of the long side, and a schematic side view of the short side of an example of a conventional flat pallet 200. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the pallet 200 of FIG. 4, viewed from above. The pallet 200 includes multiple upper girders 21, multiple middle girders 22, and insertion holes 25 for inserting fork claws. The multiple upper girders 21 are arranged parallel to each other at intervals along the long side direction LD. The multiple middle girders 22 are fixed to the undersides 21s of the multiple upper girders 21 and are arranged parallel to each other at intervals along the short side direction SD so as to be perpendicular to the multiple upper girders 21. The insertion holes 25 are provided on the short side. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, conventional pallets 200 are typically designed so that the upper girders 21, middle girders 22, reinforcing members (blocks) 23 for the middle girders 22, and lower girders 24 are evenly arranged so that the load is evenly distributed across the entire pallet 200 when solar cell modules are loaded.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the long side of a conventional pallet 200, showing solar cell modules M and fork claws F. (A) shows the pallet 200 loaded with solar cell modules M, (B) shows the fork claws F inserted through the insertion openings 25 of the pallet 200, and (C) shows the pallet 200 being lifted by the fork claws F. Note that, as with FIG. 3, the packaging material for the solar cell modules M is omitted from FIG. 6 as well. As shown in FIG. 6, when transporting solar cell modules M using the conventional pallet 200, if the fork claws F are inserted through the insertion openings 25 located on one short side of the pallet 200 (FIG. 6(B)), the tips Ft of the fork claws F may come into contact with the underside 21s of the upper girders 21 near the center of the pallet 200 (FIG. 6(C)). When the tips Ft of the fork claws F come into contact with the underside 21s of the upper girders 21, stress is concentrated at the contact points, potentially causing deformation or damage to the upper girders 21. Such deformation or breakage of the upper girder plate 21 causes damage to the solar cell modules M loaded directly above the pallet 200. In contrast, the pallet 100 of this embodiment has a simple structure that can prevent damage to the solar cell modules M.

[0022] In this embodiment, the abutment plate 121 preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a first abutment plate 121a, in which the linear distance R1 from the insertion port 15 to the abutment plate 121 is in the range of 910 mm to 930 mm, and a second abutment plate 121b, in which the linear distance R2 from the insertion port 15 to the abutment plate 121 is in the range of 1060 mm to 1080 mm. Pallets for transporting solar cell modules may use fork tines with a length of approximately 920 mm or fork tines with a length of approximately 1070 mm. When the fork tines are approximately 920 mm long, the first abutment plate 121a can prevent stress from concentrating on the underside 11s of the upper girder plate 11, while when the fork tines are approximately 1070 mm long, the second abutment plate 121b can prevent deformation or breakage of the upper girder plate 11.

[0023] The abutment plate 121 may include both a first abutment plate 121a and a second abutment plate 121b. When the sockets 15 are provided on both short sides, the abutment plate 121 may include two first abutment plates 121a whose linear distance R1 from each socket 15 is in the range of 910 mm to 930 mm and two second abutment plates 121b whose linear distance R2 from each socket 15 is in the range of 1060 mm to 1080 mm. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the abutment plate 121 includes two first abutment plates 121a whose linear distance R1 from each socket 15 is in the range of 910 mm to 930 mm and one second abutment plate 121b whose linear distance R2 from each socket 15 is in the range of 1060 mm to 1080 mm. That is, the second contact plate 121b is located in the center of both sockets 15.

[0024] In this embodiment, the linear distance (R1, R2) from the insertion opening 15 to the abutment plate 121 refers to the linear distance from the end 101 on the short side of the pallet 100 where the insertion opening 15 is located to the center 121c in the width direction of the abutment plate 121. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the length of the fork prong F is approximately 1070 mm. Therefore, when the tip Ft of the fork prong F comes into contact with the second abutment plate 121b, deformation or breakage of the upper girder plate 11 due to stress concentration on the lower surface 11s of the upper girder plate 11 is suppressed.

[0025] Preferably, the plurality of middle girders 12 further include support plates 122 arranged at positions other than the abutment plates 121 (121a, 121b). In this case, the pallet 100 preferably further includes a plurality of reinforcing members 13 fixed to the lower surfaces 12s of the plurality of middle girders 12. With this configuration, by evenly arranging the support plates 122 and reinforcing members 13 of the middle girders 12, it is possible to design the pallet 100 so that the load is evenly distributed across the entire pallet 100 when the solar cell modules M are loaded on it.

[0026] 1 and 2, the support plates 122 may be arranged, for example, along both ends 101 of the short sides of the pallet 100. This configuration makes it easier to achieve a design in which the load is evenly distributed across the entire pallet 100.

[0027] Although not shown in the drawings, the support plates 122 may be disposed between the contact plates 121 and both end portions 101 on the short sides of the pallet 100. With this configuration, the strength of the pallet 100 can be improved.

[0028] The reinforcing member 13 is a block-shaped member fixed to the underside 12s of the middle girders 12. The reinforcing member 13 may include a first reinforcing member 13a that can be arranged in the area where the middle girders 12 and the upper girders 11 overlap in a plan view, and a second reinforcing member 13b that can be arranged in the area where the middle girders 12 and the upper girders 11 do not overlap in a plan view. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first reinforcing member 13a may be arranged, for example, in a portion corresponding to the outer edge of the pallet 100. For example, the first reinforcing member 13a may be arranged in the area where the upper girders 11 overlap with the support plates 122 arranged along both ends 101 of the short sides of the pallet 100, corresponding to the four corners of the pallet 100, and in the area where the abutment plates 121 (121a, 121b) and the upper girders 11 overlap, corresponding to both ends 102 of the long sides of the pallet 100. This configuration makes it easy to achieve a design in which the load is distributed evenly across the entire pallet 100. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second reinforcing member 13b may be disposed, for example, along a center line X that passes through the center of the short side of the pallet 100 and is parallel to the long side. This configuration can improve the strength of the pallet 100.

[0029] The pallet 100 preferably further includes a plurality of lower beam plates 14 fixed to the undersides 13s of the plurality of reinforcing members 13 and arranged in parallel at intervals along the long side direction LD. With this configuration, by evenly arranging the lower beam plates 14, it is possible to design the pallet 100 so that when the solar cell modules M are loaded, the load is evenly distributed across the entire pallet 100.

[0030] The size of the pallet 100 can be set appropriately depending on the size of the solar cell modules to be loaded. An example is a pallet 100 having a length in the long side direction LD of 1770 mm and a length (width) in the short side direction SD of 1150 mm.

[0031] The size and number of each member constituting the pallet 100, such as the upper girders 11 and middle girders 12, can be set appropriately according to the size of the pallet 100. One example is an upper girder 11 that is 1770 mm long and 120 mm wide, and a middle girder 12 that is 1150 mm long and 40 mm wide.

[0032] Each of the components constituting the pallet 100, such as the upper girders 11 and the middle girders 12, is typically made of wood. However, each of the components does not have to be made of wood. For example, each of the components may be made of resin or metal.

[0033] The pallet 100 is usually manufactured by assembling an upper spar 11, a middle spar 12, a reinforcing member 13, and a lower spar 14 as shown in FIG. 1 and integrating them with a joining means such as nails or adhesive.

[0034] The above-described embodiments have been described to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design modifications and equivalents that fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The pallet for transporting solar cell modules according to the present invention is useful in the technical field of pallets for transporting solar cell modules. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 100 Solar module transport pallets 11 Upper girder plate 11s bottom side 12 Middle spar 121 Contact plate 121a 1st contact plate 121b 2nd contact plate 121c: the center of the abutment plate 121 in the width direction 122 Support plate 12s bottom side 13 Reinforcement member 13a First reinforcing member 13b Second reinforcing member 13s bottom side 14 Lower girder plate 15 Outlet 101 Short side edge 102 End of long side LD Long side direction SD Short side direction R1: Linear distance from the insertion port 15 to the first contact plate 121a R2: Linear distance from the insertion port 15 to the second contact plate 121b M solar cell module F fork claws Ft tip

Claims

1. A pallet for transporting solar cell modules, having a long side and a short side, A plurality of upper girder plates arranged in parallel along the long side direction; a plurality of middle girders fixed to the lower surfaces of the plurality of upper girders and arranged parallel to the short side direction so as to be perpendicular to the plurality of upper girders; an insertion port for inserting a fork prong, the insertion port being provided on the short side; Equipped with The plurality of center sill plates include a contact plate against which the tip of the fork claw comes into contact when the fork claw is inserted through the insertion opening. Pallets for transporting solar cell modules.

2. The abutment plate includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a first abutment plate having a linear distance from the insertion port to the abutment plate in a range of 910 mm to 930 mm, and a second abutment plate having a linear distance from the insertion port to the abutment plate in a range of 1060 mm to 1080 mm. The pallet for transporting solar cell modules according to claim 1 .

3. The plurality of intermediate spar plates further include a support plate arranged at a position other than the abutment plate, The pallet further includes a plurality of reinforcing members fixed to the lower surfaces of the plurality of center girders. The pallet for transporting solar cell modules according to claim 1 .

4. The pallet further includes a plurality of lower girders fixed to lower surfaces of the plurality of reinforcing members and arranged parallel to each other along the long side direction. The pallet for transporting solar cell modules according to claim 3 .

Images