Transport pallet

Abstract

To provide a conveying pallet which is excellent in recyclability while having a simple structure, and can be used as a one way pallet.SOLUTION: The transport pallet includes a first member made of corrugated cardboard, leg portions made of corrugated cardboard, the leg portions being bonded to a first surface of the first member in a first region and being spaced apart from each other in a first direction, a plurality of second members made of corrugated cardboard, the second members being bonded to a second surface of the first member in the first region and being spaced apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a frame portion made of metal, the frame portion being disposed on the second surface so as to be fitted into gaps between the plurality of second members. The first member is folded in a direction away from the leg portion at a boundary portion between the first region and a second region adjacent to the first region in the first direction and including an outer edge portion in the first direction, and sandwiches the plurality of second members and the frame portion between the second surface in the second region and the second surface in the first region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport pallet. [Background technology]

[0002] When transporting an article, the article is generally placed on the top surface of a pallet, and the pallet is transported by a forklift with forks inserted into the bottom of the pallet.

[0003] When goods are exported, it is not practical to return the pallet to the shipping source, so the pallet is returned to the shipping destination. Such a pallet is called a "one-way pallet."

[0004] When the goods are relatively heavy, wooden one-way pallets have traditionally been used to increase the load-bearing capacity. However, wooden pallets are difficult to recycle, so they are often incinerated after collection, which poses environmental problems.

[0005] Therefore, instead of wooden pallets, plastic pallets are also being used as one-way pallets. Plastic pallets are recyclable because they can be crushed and reprocessed after collection and then manufactured into pallets again.

[0006] However, from the perspective of the SDGs, there has been a global trend in recent years to move away from plastic, and demand for recyclable one-way pallets as an alternative to plastic pallets is expected to increase.

[0007] Meanwhile, cardboard pallets have also been available for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). Cardboard is a material with a high recyclability rate. For this reason, cardboard pallets appear to be a viable alternative to plastic pallets as recyclable one-way pallets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-370739 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-036915 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, cardboard pallets have the problem of being weaker than wooden or plastic pallets. Generally, the maximum load capacity of a plastic pallet is around 2,000 kg for an 11-type pallet, while that of a cardboard pallet is only around 300 kg. This means that traditional cardboard pallets have a high limit on the weight of goods that can be transported. While it depends on the type of goods, export goods tend to be heavy, so it is expected that transporting goods using traditional cardboard pallets may be difficult.

[0010] In recent years, several cardboard pallets with increased load capacity have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). However, when trying to increase the load capacity of a cardboard pallet, the structure becomes more complex, which leads to increased manufacturing costs and handling difficulties. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 does not mention load capacity, so it is unclear whether the pallet can withstand a load of, for example, around 500 kg.

[0011] To increase the load capacity, metal pallets such as iron pallets can be used. However, metal pallets are more expensive to manufacture than cardboard pallets, and their weight makes them difficult to handle.

[0012] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a transport pallet that has a simple structure, is highly recyclable, and can be used as a one-way pallet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The transport pallet according to the present invention comprises: a first member made of cardboard; Legs made of cardboard are bonded to a first surface in a first region that is a partial region of the first member and are arranged at a distance in a first direction; A plurality of second members made of cardboard are bonded to a second surface opposite to the first surface in the first region of the first member and are provided with gaps in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a metal frame portion disposed on the second surface in the first region of the first member and fitted into the gaps sandwiched between the plurality of second members, The first member is folded in a direction away from the leg portion at the boundary between the first region and a second region that is adjacent to the first region in the first direction and includes an outer edge portion related to the first direction, and is characterized in that the second surface in the second region of the first member and the second surface in the first region sandwich the plurality of second members and the frame portion.

[0014] In other words, the transport pallet according to the present invention comprises a first member made of corrugated cardboard, a second member made of corrugated cardboard, legs made of corrugated cardboard, and a metal frame. The frame is typically made of iron, although aluminum, stainless steel, etc. can also be used. In this specification, the term "frame" is defined as a shape that extends in a predetermined direction, and is typically rod-shaped or frame-shaped.

[0015] The first member is folded when used. Legs are adhered to one surface (first surface) of the first member, and multiple second members are adhered to the other surface (second surface) with gaps between them. In other words, the first member, second member, and legs, which are made of corrugated cardboard, are integrated with each other. Hereinafter, the portion where the first member, second member, and legs are integrated may be referred to as the "corrugated cardboard member."

[0016] When using the transport pallet, a frame portion is installed on the second surface of the first member so as to fit into the gap between the multiple second members. The first member is then folded, and the folded first member sandwiches the second member and the frame portion. The legs are adhered to the first surface of the first member before folding. When a region (second region) of the first member that is outside the region (first region) where the legs are adhered is folded, the first surface in the second region is positioned on the opposite side from the legs, i.e., the upper surface. In other words, when the first member is folded, the first surface in this second region forms the surface on which an item is placed.

[0017] In other words, this transport pallet has a metal frame between the loading surface and the legs, which increases its load-bearing capacity compared to conventional cardboard pallets. Furthermore, the frame is simply installed to fit into the gap, not glued to the first member. Therefore, when recovering the pallet after the transport of items is complete, the metal and cardboard can be easily separated by simply removing the frame from the gap, contributing to recycling. In other words, the frame may be removable from the gap when the first member is unfolded so that the second region of the first member is retracted relative to the plurality of second members and the frame.

[0018] Furthermore, although the transport pallet according to the present invention includes a metal frame, the frame itself is only used as a part of the pallet, and therefore its weight is significantly reduced compared to conventional metal pallets. Furthermore, when using the transport pallet, it is only necessary to fit the frame into the gap and then fold the first member, so the metal frame and the cardboard member can be stored separately before use.

[0019] The metal frame portion is positioned on the second surface of the first member, fitting into the gap between the multiple second members, so when viewed from above, the metal member is present in a specific location. However, when the first member is folded, the second member and the frame portion are sandwiched between the first member, so that when an item is placed on the top surface (the first surface in the second region) of the first member that forms the placement surface, the weight of the item is distributed in the planar direction. As a result, the load-bearing capacity is increased.

[0020] The legs are bonded to a first surface in a first region of the first member and spaced apart in a first direction, so that the transport pallet can be transported by inserting the forks of a forklift into the space.

[0021] The first member may be folded at two positions spaced apart in the first direction, with each position being folded in a direction approaching the first direction.

[0022] According to this configuration, the metal frame portion arranged to fit into the gap can be held down by the first member from both sides in the first direction. This prevents the tip of the frame portion from being exposed when the transport pallet is used, thereby preventing the frame portion from falling off during transport. Furthermore, it also prevents the tip of the frame portion from coming into contact with surrounding walls, objects, or workers when transporting items.

[0023] The legs may be spaced apart when viewed in the second direction wider than a standard value that is the minimum distance at which the forks of a forklift can be inserted, and may be spaced apart when viewed in the first direction narrower than the standard value.

[0024] According to the above configuration, when inserting the forks of a forklift into the space between the legs during transportation, if an attempt is made to insert them in the first direction, the legs will interfere with the insertion, so the insertion direction can be specified in the second direction.

[0025] The second members are arranged with gaps in the second direction, and the metal frame portion is arranged to fit into the gaps. That is, the length of the frame portion in the second direction is shorter than the length of the frame portion in the first direction; in other words, the frame portion has a shape that substantially extends in the first direction. Note that the term "substantially" is intended to include not only cases where the frame portion extends in a direction parallel to the first direction, but also cases where the frame portion is arranged to be inclined with respect to the first direction but extend in the first direction when viewed from the second direction.

[0026] In this way, because the metal frame portion has a shape that extends substantially in the first direction, when the forks are inserted in the second direction, the forks cross the frame portion when viewed vertically. As a result, when the transport pallet with items placed on it is lifted with the forks, the forks can support the area where the frame portion is located, allowing the items to be transported in a stable manner.

[0027] On the other hand, when the first member is folded and an article is placed on its top surface, the operator of the forklift cannot see the frame, and therefore may not be able to visually determine which direction to insert the forks into the transport pallet. According to the above configuration, when the forks are inserted along the substantial extension direction of the frame (first direction), they are interfered with by the legs, so it is possible to avoid a situation where the transport pallet is lifted with the forks inserted in the same direction.

[0028] When transporting goods using a forklift, the spacing between the forks (prong width) is set according to the width of the transport pallet to ensure stable transport. If the spacing between the forks is too narrow, the goods will become unstable when lifted, so the forks are generally inserted with the spacing set to about half the width of the pallet.

[0029] In other words, the "standard value that is the minimum spacing at which the forks of a forklift can be inserted" here refers to the minimum spacing of the forks recommended for safety reasons based on the dimensions of the pallet to be transported, and typically, as mentioned above, this can be taken to be 1 / 2 the width of the face of the transporting pallet facing the forks.

[0030] More specifically, the transport pallet includes a plurality of legs each having a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the second direction as a longitudinal direction, The plurality of legs include: First legs are provided at four corners of the first surface in the first region of the first member; a second leg portion disposed at a more central position than the first leg portion on the first surface in the first region of the first member, The distance between the first leg and the second leg when viewed in the second direction may be wider than the reference value, and the distance between the first leg and the second leg when viewed in the first direction may be narrower than the reference value.

[0031] According to the above configuration, when the forks are inserted along the first direction in which the frame portion substantially extends, the second legs interfere and the forks cannot be advanced any further. This allows the worker to recognize that the correct insertion direction of the forks is the second direction. Then, by lifting the transport pallet with the forks inserted along the second direction below the first member of the transport pallet, as described above, the forks can support the area where the metal frame portion is located, allowing the goods to be transported in a stable manner.

[0032] Each of the second members has a rectangular shape having a side substantially parallel to the first direction and a side substantially parallel to the second direction when viewed in a normal direction of the second surface, The frame portion may be disposed so as to extend in the first direction.

[0033] In this case, the second members may have the same shape and dimensions, which can reduce the manufacturing cost when mass-producing transport pallets.

[0034] When there are multiple legs mounted on a transport pallet, the legs may have the same shape and dimensions as each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0035] The transport pallet of the present invention has a simple structure yet is highly recyclable, and can be used as a one-way pallet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the structure of one embodiment of a transport pallet according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic perspective view of the conveying pallet 1 shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from a different direction. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the transport pallet 1 in the process of folding the first member 10. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic plan view of a conveying pallet 1 in a state before a first member 10 is folded, as viewed from the +Z direction. [Figure 5] 10 is a perspective view showing a frame portion 40 being fitted between second members 20, 20. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic plan view of the transport pallet 1 before the frame portion 40 is attached, as viewed from the +Z direction. [Figure 7] 6 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which second members 20, 20, . . . are separated from the state shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conveying pallet 1 before the first member 10 is folded, taken along the YZ plane at a predetermined position. FIG. [Figure 9]9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conveying pallet 1 in a state after the first member 10 has been folded, taken along the YZ plane in the same manner as in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic plan view of a transport pallet 1 with a first member 10 folded, as viewed from the +Z side. [Figure 11] 10 is another schematic plan view of the transport pallet 1 with the first member 10 folded, as viewed from the +Z side. FIG. [Figure 12] This is a schematic plan view of the transport pallet 1 with the first member 10 fully opened, viewed from the +Z side, before the frame portion 40 is installed, with the second member 20 omitted from the illustration. [Figure 13] This is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a conveying pallet 1, viewed from the +Z side, with the first member 10 fully open before the frame portion 40 is installed, and the second member 20 is omitted from the illustration. [Figure 14] This is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a conveying pallet 1, viewed from the +Z side, with the first member 10 fully open before the frame portion 40 is installed, and the second member 20 is omitted from the illustration. [Figure 15A] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a pallet used in the verification. [Figure 15B] 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a pallet for verifying the process of folding the first member 10. FIG. [Figure 15C] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a pallet for verification when viewed from the leg 30 side. [Figure 16] FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a conveying pallet 1 of another embodiment, following FIG. 4. [Figure 17] FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a conveying pallet 1 of another embodiment, following FIG. 4. [Figure 18] FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a conveying pallet 1 of another embodiment, following FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The following describes an embodiment of a transport pallet according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings are schematic, and the dimensional ratios and number of elements in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to the actual dimensional ratios and number of elements.

[0038] 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the structure of one embodiment of a transport pallet according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is shown viewed from a different direction than FIG.

[0039] 1 and 2 includes a first member 10 made of cardboard and a leg portion 30 made of cardboard. In the state shown in Fig. 1, a surface 10a of the first member 10 forms a surface on which an article is placed.

[0040] 2, the conveying pallet 1 has a plurality of legs 30, 30, ... on the surface 10b side of the first member 10. Each of the legs 30, 30, ... is adhesively fixed to the surface 10b of the first member 10.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 1, the multiple legs 30, 30, ... included in the transport pallet 1 of this embodiment are arranged with a gap 3 in the Y direction. On the other hand, the gaps in the X direction between the multiple legs 30, 30, ... are narrower than the gaps 3 formed in the Y direction. The gaps 3 in the Y direction form an area into which the forks of a forklift are inserted when the transport pallet 1 is transported by the forklift.

[0042] In the following, an XYZ coordinate system will be referred to where appropriate, in which the surface 10a of the first member 10 is the XY plane and the normal direction of the surface 10a is the Z direction. In this specification, when a positive or negative direction is to be distinguished when expressing a direction, the direction is described with a positive or negative sign, such as "+X direction" and "-X direction." When a direction is to be expressed without distinguishing between positive and negative directions, the direction is simply described as "X direction." In other words, in this specification, when simply referring to the "X direction," both the "+X direction" and the "-X direction" are included. The same applies to the Y direction and the Z direction. The Z direction is typically the vertical direction.

[0043] In this embodiment, the Y direction corresponds to the "first direction" and the X direction corresponds to the "second direction."

[0044] The conveying pallet 1 shown in Fig. 1 is formed by folding a first member 10. Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the conveying pallet 1 in a state in which the first member 10 is in the process of being folded. Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the conveying pallet 1 in a state before the first member 10 is folded, as viewed from the +Z side in the -Z direction.

[0045] 3 and 4, a plurality of second members 20, 20, ... are arranged on the upper surface of the first member 10 at intervals in the X direction. Each of the second members 20, 20, ... is made of cardboard, and in this embodiment, each has the same dimensions and shape. In this embodiment, each of the second members 20, 20, ... has a rectangular shape when viewed in the Z direction, with a short side extending along the X direction and a long side extending along the Y direction.

[0046] A frame portion 40 is disposed between the second members 20, 20 adjacent to each other in the X direction. The frame portion 40 is made of metal, typically iron.

[0047] The frame portion 40 is arranged to fit between the second members 20, 20, and is not adhered to the first member 10 or the second member 20. On the other hand, the multiple second members 20, 20, ... are adhered and fixed to the surface of the first member 10. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the frame portion 40 is fitted between the second members 20, 20. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the transport pallet 1 before the frame portion 40 is attached, as viewed from the +Z side in the -Z direction. FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the second members 20, 20, ... have been separated from FIG. 5 for ease of understanding.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the second members 20, 20, ... are adhesively fixed to the surface 10d of the first member 10 with a gap therebetween in the X direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, a gap 5 is formed between adjacent second members 20, 20. After the frame portion 40 is fitted into this gap 5, the first member 10 is folded along the boundary portion 11. Note that in FIGS. 4 and 6, the boundary portion 11 has a width in the Y direction because the thickness of the second member 20 in the Z direction is taken into consideration when the first member 10 is folded. In other words, the width in the Y direction of the boundary portion 11, which is indicated by hatching in FIGS. 4 and 6, substantially corresponds to the thickness in the Z direction of the second member 20. After the first member 10 is folded along the boundary portion 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the boundary portion 11 has substantially no width in the Y direction.

[0049] 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conveying pallet 1 cut along the YZ plane at a predetermined position before the first member 10 is folded. As shown in Fig. 8, the second member 20 is disposed on the +Z side surface 10d of the first member 10, and the leg portion 30 is disposed on the -Z side surface 10b of the first member 10.

[0050] 8, the surface on the -Z side of the first member 10 is referred to as the "first surface," and the surface located opposite the first surface in the Z direction, i.e., the surface on the +Z side of the first member 10, is referred to as the "second surface." Using this expression, the legs 30, 30, ... are bonded to surface 10b, which is a region of the first surface of the first member 10 located within region A1 that is inward from the outer edge portion 15 in the Y direction. Region A1 corresponds to the "first region." Furthermore, the second members 20, 20, ... are bonded to surface 10d, which is a region of the second surface of the first member 10 located within region A1 that is inward from the outer edge portion 15 in the Y direction (see also FIG. 7). Note that region A2, which is adjacent to region A1 in the Y direction and includes the outer edge portion 15, corresponds to the "second region."

[0051] As shown in Fig. 8, the first member 10 is folded along direction α1 toward the +Z side, i.e., in the direction away from the leg portion 30, with the boundary portion 11 between the regions A1 and A2 as a reference. As a result, the surface 10c of the second surface of the first member 10 that was located within the region A2 comes into contact with the upper surfaces of the second member 20 and the frame portion 40 (see also Fig. 3), and the surface 10a of the first surface of the first member 10 that was located within the region A2 becomes the uppermost surface. This results in the configuration shown in Fig. 1.

[0052] FIG. 9 is a diagram, following FIG. 8, that schematically shows a cross section of the conveying pallet 1 with the first member 10 folded, cut along the YZ plane at a predetermined position.

[0053] 9, when the first member 10 is folded using the boundary portion 11 as a reference, the second member 20 is sandwiched by the folded first member 10. Note that, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that in addition to the plurality of second members 20, 20, ..., the plurality of frame portions 40, 40, ... are also sandwiched by the folded first member 10.

[0054] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the conveying pallet 1 with the first member 10 folded, viewed from the +Z side in the -Z direction. In the conveying pallet 1 of this embodiment, the ends of the first member 10 are not in close contact with each other, and a portion of the second member 20 and a portion of the frame portion 40 are exposed at the center. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the ends of the first member 10 may be in complete close contact with each other, so that the second member 20 and the frame portion 40 are not visible. Note that FIG. 10 is exaggerated to show that a portion of the second member 20 and a portion of the frame portion 40 are exposed.

[0055] In other words, the transport pallet 1 is configured to include a cardboard member in which a cardboard first member 10 is bonded to a cardboard second member 20 and cardboard legs 30, and the cardboard member is integrated with a detachable metal frame member 40.

[0056] The transport pallet 1 has a metal frame 40 between the surface 10a on which the items are to be placed and the legs 30, thereby increasing the load-bearing capacity compared to conventional cardboard pallets. The metal frame 40 is merely installed so as to fit into the gap 5 between the adjacent second members 20, 20, and is not adhered to the first member 10. Therefore, when recovering the transport pallet 1 after the items have been transported, the first member 10 is unfolded to the state shown in FIG. 3, and then the frame 40 is simply removed from the gap 5 in the opposite direction to FIG. 5, allowing the metal frame 40 and the cardboard member to be easily separated, which contributes to recycling.

[0057] 12 is a schematic plan view of the transport pallet 1 with the first member 10 fully opened, as viewed from the +Z side in the -Z direction, similar to FIG. 8, before the frame portion 40 is installed. However, for convenience of explanation, the second member 20 is not shown. Also, although the multiple legs 30, 30, ... are hidden by the first member 10, they are shown by dashed lines for convenience of explanation.

[0058] As described above, when using the conveying pallet 1 of this embodiment, the first member 10 is folded along the boundary 11. In the example of FIG. 12, the first member 10 is folded along the X direction. Because the first member 10 is made of cardboard, from the viewpoint of facilitating the folding operation and easily maintaining the flatness of the surface of the first member 10 in the folded state, it is preferable that the X direction, which is the direction along the boundary 11, is the flow direction of the cardboard, and the Y direction, which is perpendicular to the X direction, is the paper width direction of the cardboard. The upper right of FIG. 12 schematically shows that the paper width direction is along the Y direction (see notation P).

[0059] As described above, the legs 30, 30, ... provided on the transport pallet 1 of this embodiment are arranged with a gap 3 in the Y direction. Therefore, as described above with reference to Fig. 1, when transporting the transport pallet 1 with a forklift, the transport pallet 1 can be lifted by inserting the forks of the forklift in the X direction so as to penetrate the gap 3.

[0060] As can be seen from Figure 3, when a fork is inserted in the X direction, the fork crosses the multiple frame portions 40, 40, .... As a result, when the transport pallet 1 with articles placed on it is lifted with the fork, the fork can support the area where the frame portions 40, 40, ... are present, allowing the articles to be transported in a stable state.

[0061] As described above with reference to FIG. 1, the distance between the legs 30, 30, ... of the transport pallet 1 of this embodiment in the X direction is narrower than the distance 3 between them in the Y direction. Therefore, when transporting the transport pallet 1 with a forklift, even if an attempt is made to insert the forks of the forklift in the Y direction, the legs 30, 30, ... interfere with the insertion of the forks. This allows the insertion direction of the forks to be regulated to the X direction. From this perspective, it is preferable that the distance between the legs 30, 30, ... in the X direction be set to be equal to or less than a reference value, which is the minimum distance at which the forks of the forklift can be inserted.

[0062] From the above perspective, the legs 30 may extend in the X direction as shown in Fig. 13. Even in this case, if an attempt is made to insert the forks of a forklift in the Y direction, the legs 30 will interfere, so the insertion direction of the forks can be restricted to the X direction.

[0063] 14, the conveying pallet 1 may have legs 30a, 30a, ... arranged at four corners located within area A1 on the first surface of the first member 10, and legs 30b, 30b, ... installed near the center in the Y direction. In this case, the distance between the legs 30b, 30b, ... in the X direction is narrower than the distance 3 between them in the Y direction, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the leg 30a corresponds to the "first leg" and the leg 30b corresponds to the "second leg."

[0064] 14, when an attempt is made to insert the forks of a forklift in the Y direction, they can be inserted up to the center, but will not reach the end on the opposite side in the Y direction due to interference from the legs 30b, 30b, .... This allows the insertion direction of the forks to be regulated to the X direction.

[0065] A verification pallet 1a simulating the transport pallet 1 described with reference to FIG. 1 was actually manufactured and subjected to the tests described below. The tests were conducted at Logisteed Corporation's Technical Center (hereinafter abbreviated as "TC"). The structure of the verification pallet 1a is as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C. FIG. 15A is a perspective view schematically showing the verification pallet 1a, and is illustrated in accordance with FIG. 1. FIG. 15B is a perspective view schematically showing the verification pallet 1a in the process of folding the first member 10, and is illustrated in accordance with FIG. 3. FIG. 15C is a schematic plan view of the verification pallet 1a as viewed from the leg 30 side.

[0066] The dimensions of the verification pallet 1a and the conditions of its components were as follows: Finished product (excluding legs 30): X×Y×Z=1,100mm×1,100mm×30mm ·Leg 30: X×Y×Z=330mm×50mm×80mm Number of 30 legs installed: 7 First member 10 before folding: X×Y×Z=1,116mm×1,100mm×5mm Each second member 20: X×Y×Z=248mm×1,090mm×20mm Number of second components 20 installed: 4 Each frame section 40: X×Y×Z=50mm×1,085mm×20mm Number of frame units: 2 Frame 40 material: Iron

[0067] In the verification pallet 1a, of the four second members 20 arranged on the second surface of the first member 10, two second members 20 are arranged adjacent to each other at a central position in the X direction. Gaps are provided between the second members 20 arranged at both ends in the X direction and the second member 20 arranged at the central position, and frame portions 40 are fitted into these gaps. That is, two gaps are provided on the second surface of the first member 10, and two frame portions 40 are fitted into these two gaps, respectively. The two adjacent second members 20 arranged at the central position in the X direction are bonded together at their adjoining portions, and essentially constitute a single second member 20 measuring X × Y × Z = 496 mm × 1,090 mm × 20 mm.

[0068] Two pallets 1a were manufactured for verification under the above conditions. One of the manufactured pallets 1a was used to conduct a test under standard conditions (23°C, 50% RH), and the other pallet 1a was used to conduct a test under high temperature and humidity conditions (40°C, 90% RH).

[0069] Three types of tests were conducted: a fork loading test, a vibration test, and a top surface bending test.

[0070] The fork loading test was carried out by transporting the pallet 1a for testing within the TC premises under both standard conditions and high temperature and humidity conditions, with a 500 kg weight loaded on the loading surface of the pallet 1a for testing and a 1,000 kg weight loaded on the loading surface, to check for any changes in the performance of the transport pallet 1. Specifically, it was checked for any changes in the state of the weight during transport, such as crushing of the first member 10.

[0071] The vibration test was carried out under standard conditions, with a 500 kg weight placed on the mounting surface of the verification pallet 1a, in accordance with the Level 3 method specified in JIS Z 0200-2023.

[0072] The top surface bending test was conducted on the verification pallet 1a under both standard conditions and high temperature and humidity conditions in accordance with the pallet bending test method specified in JIS Z 0602-1988.

[0073] The test results are shown in Table 1.

[0074] [Table 1]

[0075] The test results shown in Table 1 confirmed that the test pallet 1a was able to withstand a load of at least 1,000 kg even under standard conditions, including high temperature and humidity. The results of both the vibration test and the top surface bending test also confirmed that the pallet was practically usable. As shown in Figure 15B, the test pallet 1a was configured with two frame members 40. Even with this configuration, the pallet was able to withstand a load of 1,000 kg. It is estimated that a pallet with three frame members 40, like the pallet 1 shown in Figure 1, would be able to withstand a higher load.

[0076] [Another embodiment] Another embodiment will be described below.

[0077] <1> As shown in Fig. 16, the boundary portion 11, which is the reference for folding the first member 10, may be located at a position spaced apart in the Y direction from the second member 20 and the frame portion 40. Fig. 16 is a plan view schematically illustrating a conveying pallet 1 of another embodiment, following the example of Fig. 4.

[0078] 17, the boundary portion 11, which is the reference for folding the first member 10, may be adjacent to the second member 21, but may be spaced apart in the Y direction from the frame portion 40. FIG. 17 is a plan view schematically showing a conveying pallet 1 of another embodiment, following FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a plurality of second members 20, 20, ... are arranged on the surface of the first member 10 along the X direction, and another second member 21 is also arranged in a position adjacent to the second member 20 in the Y direction.

[0079] <2> The frame portion 40 does not have to be configured to extend along the Y direction. For example, as shown in Fig. 18, the frame portion 40 may be disposed at an angle with respect to the Y direction. Fig. 18 is a plan view schematically illustrating a transport pallet 1 of another embodiment, following Fig. 4.

[0080] In this configuration, when the transport pallet 1 is transported by a forklift, the forks will cross the multiple frame portions 40, 40, ... whether they are inserted from the X direction or the Y direction. Therefore, in this configuration, the spacing between the legs 30, 30, ... in the X direction and the spacing in the Y direction may be the same.

[0081] <3> From the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing costs, it is preferable that the multiple second members 20, 20, ... have the same dimensions and the same shape. However, a configuration in which some of the multiple second members 20, 20, ... provided on the transport pallet 1 have different shapes or dimensions is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0082] <4> The first member 10 included in the transport pallet 1 may be a single member or multiple members. For example, according to the plan view shown in FIG. 12, two first members 10 are arranged along the Y direction and connected to each other via legs 30. This is done to facilitate handling by limiting the size of the first members 10 as parts before assembly. However, it is of course possible to realize this with a single first member 10 by using a large first member 10. Conversely, three or more first members 10 may be arranged along the Y direction and connected to each other via, for example, legs 30.

[0083] <5> In the example described above with reference to Fig. 8, when first member 10 is folded, both region A2 including outer edge 15 on the +Y side and region A2 including outer edge 15 on the -Y side are folded in direction α1. However, the present invention does not exclude the case where conveying pallet 1 is realized by folding first member 10 from only one side in the Y direction.

[0084] However, for example, in a configuration in which only region A2 including outer edge 15 on the +Y side is folded so as to overlap region A1, there is a possibility that frame 40 will be exposed at the end position on the -Y side of transport pallet 1 and fall off in the -Y direction. Therefore, in this case, as described above with reference to Figure 17, it is preferable to provide second member 41 adhered to first member 10 at a position outside the tip of frame 40 in the Y direction.

[0085] 15A to 15C, the frame 40 is not located near the center in the X direction. This configuration has the additional effect of making it easier to further distribute the weight of a heavy object placed on the top surface of the first member 10 in the XY plane, thereby preventing the loading surface from tilting. However, as shown in FIG. 1, when the transport pallet 1 has the frame 40 located near the center in the X direction, a high load-bearing capacity can be achieved, as described above.

[0086] <7> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to provide a better understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations described. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1: Transport pallet 1a: Transport pallet used for verification 3: Separation 5: Gap 10: First member 10a: Surface of the first member (first surface in the second region) 10b: Surface of the first member (first surface within the first region) 10c: Surface of the first member (second surface in the second region) 10d: Face of the first member (second face within the first region) 11: Boundary between the first region and the second region of the first member 15: Outer edge of the first member 20, 21: Second member 30: Legs 30a: Leg (first leg) 30b: Leg (second leg) 40: Frame section A1: Area (first area) A2: Area (second area)

Claims

1. a first member made of cardboard; Legs made of cardboard are bonded to a first surface in a first region that is a partial region of the first member and are arranged at a distance in a first direction; A plurality of second members made of cardboard are bonded to a second surface opposite to the first surface in the first region of the first member and are provided with gaps in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a metal frame portion disposed on the second surface in the first region of the first member and fitted into the gaps sandwiched between the plurality of second members, A transport pallet characterized in that the first member is folded in a direction away from the leg portion at the boundary between the first region and a second region adjacent to the first region in the first direction and including an outer edge portion related to the first direction, so that the second surface within the second region of the first member and the second surface within the first region clamp the plurality of second members and the frame portion.

2. The transport pallet according to claim 1 , wherein the first member is folded at two positions spaced apart in the first direction, each of the positions being folded in a direction approaching the first direction.

3. 3. A transport pallet as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacing between the legs when viewed in the second direction is wider than a standard value which is the minimum spacing at which the forks of a forklift can be inserted, and the spacing when viewed in the first direction is narrower than the standard value.

4. The leg portion has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with the second direction as a longitudinal direction, The plurality of legs include: First legs are provided at four corners of the first surface in the first region of the first member; a second leg portion disposed at a more central position than the first leg portion on the first surface in the first region of the first member, 4. A transport pallet as described in claim 3, characterized in that the distance between the first leg portion and the second leg portion when viewed in the second direction is wider than the reference value, and the distance between the first leg portion and the second leg portion when viewed in the first direction is narrower than the reference value.

5. 3. A transport pallet as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the folded state of the first member is released so that the second region of the first member is retracted relative to the plurality of second members and the frame portion, the frame portion can be removed from within the gap.

6. 3. The transport pallet according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion is made mainly of iron.

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