Pallet Box

Abstract

We provide a pallet box that is both compact and easy to use. [Solution] The pallet box 1 is a pallet box that is assembled to stand upright on a pallet P, comprising a sleeve 2 having a plurality of side plate portions 21, 22, 23, 24, wherein when the pallet box 1 is assembled, the sleeve 2 is in the shape of a rectangular tube, and a pair of opposing side plate portions 21, 23 of the sleeve 2 are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P, and another pair of opposing side plate portions 22, 24 of the sleeve 2 are positioned on the upper surface of the pallet P, and the pair of side plate portions 21, 23 that are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P have a fork insertion notch 21a at the bottom, and the other pair of side plate portions 22, 24 have a restricting piece 22c that restricts the movement of the side plate portions relative to the upper surface of the pallet P.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet box that can transport goods stacked on a pallet while protecting them.

Background Art

[0002] In the logistics industry, due to the strengthening of overtime work regulations, the shortage of drivers has become a serious problem (the 2024 problem), and accordingly, a decrease in transportation capacity in trucks and the like is expected. Also, due to the trend of declining birthrates and aging populations, the shortage of driver talent is said to be becoming even more serious. Therefore, in the logistics industry, measures to improve transportation efficiency are being demanded.

[0003] Conventionally, a pallet box that protects goods stacked on a pallet and enables the pallets to be stacked vertically has been known. With the pallet box, it becomes easier to fill the cargo space of a truck, and an improvement in transportation efficiency is expected.

[0004] As a pallet box, for example, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. This pallet box includes a rectangular tube-shaped main body (sleeve) that surrounds the outer edge of the pallet, and a lid that closes the upper opening of the sleeve. The sleeve has a pair of side plates to be placed in the nail holes of the pallet, a back plate that connects the side end faces of the pair of side plates, and an opening / closing plate that faces and is divided from the back plate. Also, a stopper (for example, a hook-and-loop fastener) is attached to the opening / closing plate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Incidentally, various types of pallets are used in the distribution field, and in terms of versatility, it is desirable for pallet boxes to have a form that is as unrestricted as possible by the shape of the pallet. Also, since forklifts and other equipment are used to transport pallet boxes containing goods, it is desirable that this type of transport also be taken into consideration.

[0008] This invention was made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide a pallet box that is compact and easy to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention provides a pallet box comprising a sleeve having a plurality of side plates, which is assembled to stand upright on a pallet, wherein the sleeve is rectangular in shape when the pallet box is assembled, a pair of opposing side plates of the sleeve are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet, another pair of opposing side plates of the sleeve are positioned on the top surface of the pallet, the pair of side plates positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet have notches for fork insertion at their lower part, and the other pair of side plates have restricting pieces that restrict the movement of the side plates relative to the top surface of the pallet.

[0010] At least one of the pair of side plates is divided into left and right sections, and both ends are connected by a connecting member with a partition wall in between. Of the two ends, one side is fixed to the connecting member, while the other side is not fixed to the connecting member and a gap is provided between it and the opposing partition wall.

[0011] The above-mentioned sleeve is constructed by connecting a plurality of sleeve members with the above-mentioned connecting member, and the above-mentioned connecting member has a concave receiving portion in plan view that accommodates each side end of the sleeve member, and the depth of the receiving portion is longer than the distance of the gap.

[0012] In the assembled state of the pallet box, the lower ends of the pair of side panels are in contact with the ground surface, while the lower ends of the other pair of side panels are not in contact with the upper surface of the pallet. When the pallet box is subjected to a load, the lower ends of the other pair of side panels are in contact with the upper surface of the pallet.

[0013] In the assembled state of the pallet box, the lower ends of the pair of side panels are not in contact with the ground surface, while the lower ends of the other pair of side panels are in contact with the upper surface of the pallet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The pallet box of the present invention is a pallet box that is assembled to stand upright on a pallet, comprising a sleeve having a plurality of side plates, and when the pallet box is assembled, the sleeve is in the shape of a rectangular tube, and the opposing pair of side plates of the sleeve are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet and have notches for inserting forks at the bottom, so that it is not limited by the shape of the pallet and is easy to use. Furthermore, since the other opposing pair of side plates of the sleeve are located on the top surface of the pallet, the outer dimensions of the pallet box can be reduced in the direction in which the other pair of side plates are facing each other, and furthermore, the other pair of side plates have restricting pieces that restrict the movement of the side plates relative to the top surface of the pallet, so that, for example, the other pair of side plates can not bend inward when subjected to a load. As a result, the pallet box is compact and easy to use.

[0015] At least one of the pair of side plates described above is divided into left and right sections, and both ends are connected by a connecting member with a partition wall in between. Of the two ends, one side is fixed to the connecting member, while the other side is not fixed to the connecting member, and a gap is provided between it and the opposing partition wall. This gap allows for the absorption of dimensional tolerances between the pallet and the sleeve. For example, if no gap is provided, it is possible to prevent the side plate located on the top surface of the pallet from spreading outward and falling off the top surface of the pallet due to the dimensional tolerances.

[0016] The above-mentioned sleeve is constructed by connecting multiple sleeve members with a connecting member. The connecting member has a concave receiving portion in plan view that accommodates each side end of the sleeve member. Since the depth of the receiving portion is longer than the distance of the gap, it is possible to prevent the side ends of the sleeve members from coming out of the receiving portion of the connecting member while still providing the gap described above.

[0017] In the state where the pallet box is assembled, the lower ends of the pair of side plate portions abut on the ground surface, and the lower ends of the other pair of side plate portions do not abut on the upper surface of the pallet. In the state where the pallet box receives a load, the lower ends of the pair of side plate portions abut on the upper surface of the pallet. Therefore, for example, when assembling the pallet box with respect to the pallet, it is possible to assemble by covering the pallet while dragging the lower ends of the pair of side plate portions of the sleeve on the ground. At that time, it is possible to prevent the lower ends of the other pair of side plate portions of the sleeve from interfering with the side surface of the pallet.

[0018] On the other hand, from the viewpoint of inserting the fork and carrying, in the state where the pallet box is assembled, when the lower ends of the pair of side plate portions do not abut on the ground surface and the lower ends of the other pair of side plate portions abut on the upper surface of the pallet, it becomes difficult to drag the lower ends of the pair of side plate portions on the ground, and smooth carrying is easy.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of an assembled state of one form of the pallet box of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view of the pallet box of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic plan view showing the positional relationship between each side plate portion of the sleeve and the pallet. [Figure 4] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the side plate portion including the regulating piece. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the connecting member. [Figure 6] It is a view for explaining the configuration of the sleeve member. [Figure 7] It is a bottom view of the lid member. <目标文本中未提及该标签的具体含义,因此保留原文 <目标文本中未提及该标签的具体含义,因此保留原文 [Figure 8] It is a view for explaining the assembly of the pallet box. [Figure 9] It is a view showing another form of the contact mode of the side plate portion. [Figure 10] It is a view showing another form of the sleeve. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The structure of the pallet box of the present invention will be described below.

[0021] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one form of the pallet box of the present invention in an assembled state, and Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view. The pallet box 1 is a packaging side wall that is assembled to stand upright on a pallet 2 on which goods (packaged items) are placed, and is also called a sleeve box. In the distribution field, the pallet box 1 is assembled and used each time. During transportation, it is transported in the cargo space of a truck, etc., either lined up in parallel with other pallet boxes or stacked on top of each other.

[0022] In Figure 1, the pallet P to which the pallet box 1 is applied can be a general-purpose pallet used in distribution. A common pallet size is, for example, 1100mm x 1100mm (Type 11). Note that in Figures 1 and 2, the shape of the pallet P is simplified for convenience, but generally, numerous holes are formed on each side to reduce weight and ensure ventilation.

[0023] The pallet P is made of resin and has a top surface P1 that is rectangular in plan view, four sides P2, and a bottom surface (see Figure 2). Each side P2 has two fork insertion openings P3 into which the forks (tines) of a forklift are inserted. This pallet P is configured so that forks can be inserted from any of the four sides P2. However, the pallet used in the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and may have a configuration in which fork insertion openings are formed only on a pair of opposing sides.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the pallet box 1 comprises a rectangular tubular sleeve 2 and a lid 3. The sleeve 2 has four upright side plate sections 21, 22, 23, and 24. Each side plate section 21, 22, 23, and 24 is formed in a rectangular flat shape and is mainly composed of side plate panels (see Figure 4). The material of the side plate panels is not particularly limited and can be made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene resin. From the viewpoint of weight reduction, it is preferable that the side plate panels have a hollow structure.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, in the rectangular tubular sleeve 2, the side plate portion 21 and the side plate portion 23 face each other in the X-axis direction, and the side plate portion 22 and the side plate portion 24 face each other in the Y-axis direction. In this configuration, the sleeve 2 is formed by two sleeve members 2A and 2B connected by a connecting member 4 to form a rectangular tubular shape. In this configuration, the opposing pair of side plate portions 21 and 23 are each divided into left and right halves and connected by the connecting member 4 to form each side plate portion. Sleeve member 2A has a divided plate portion that forms part of the side plate portion 21, a side plate portion 24, and a divided plate portion that forms part of the side plate portion 23. Sleeve member 2B has a divided plate portion that forms part of the side plate portion 21, a side plate portion 22, and a divided plate portion that forms part of the side plate portion 23.

[0026] It is preferable that the sleeve 2 be provided with fasteners to maintain its rectangular tubular shape. In Figure 2, hook-and-loop fasteners 5 are provided on the outer surfaces of the two side-by-side divided plate sections as fasteners, holding them closed. The hook-and-loop fasteners 5 consist of a hook side and a loop side. In Figure 2, the left side of the side plate section 21 is the hook side, and the right side of the side plate section 21 is the loop side, with the loop side protruding from the side end. In addition, the hook-and-loop fasteners 5 are provided at two locations separated in the height direction on the side plate section 21. Note that in addition to hook-and-loop fasteners 5, belts or strings may also be used as fasteners.

[0027] In the pallet box 1 according to the present invention, in the assembled state, a pair of opposing side plates 21 and 23 of the sleeve 2 are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P, and another pair of opposing side plates 22 and 24 of the sleeve 2 are positioned on the upper surface of the pallet P.

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view (with the lid removed) showing the positional relationship between the sleeve and the pallet. The dark rectangle in the figure represents the outer edge of the pallet P, and the light rectangular frame represents the sleeve 2. As shown in Figure 3, the side plates 21 and 23 are located outside the pallet P, while the side plates 22 and 24 are located on the top surface of the pallet P. When the planar shape of the pallet P is square as shown in Figure 3, the planar shape of the sleeve 2 is rectangular, and the length of one side of the side plates 22 and 24 (length in the X-axis direction) is longer than the length of one side of the side plates 21 and 23 (length in the Y-axis direction). The side plates 22 and 24 are located on the periphery of the pallet P, and their outer surfaces are positioned so that they are approximately flush with the outer surface of the pallet P.

[0029] In this configuration, the external dimensions of the pallet box in the X-axis direction (the direction in which the pair of side panels 21 and 23 face each other) are larger than the external dimensions of the pallet P in the same direction by the thickness of the sleeve 2. However, the external dimensions of the pallet box in the Y-axis direction (the direction in which the pair of side panels 22 and 24 face each other) (the external dimensions of the side panels 22 and 24) are the same as or slightly smaller than the external dimensions of the pallet P in the same direction. Therefore, compared to the conventional pallet box described above, which surrounds the outer edge of the pallet, the size in one direction (the Y-axis direction in Figure 3) can be reduced, making the pallet box more compact.

[0030] Therefore, for example, when transporting goods in a container, arranging them in two rows along the Y-axis allows for loading in many situations, thereby improving transportation efficiency. For example, the assembled dimensions of a pallet box that accommodates a general-purpose pallet size are 1160mm x 1100mm. The height of the pallet box is approximately 800mm to 1200mm.

[0031] Although Figure 3 shows the case where the planar shape of the pallet P is square, the planar shape of the pallet may also be rectangular. When the planar shape of the pallet is rectangular, it is preferable that in the pallet box, the pair of side panels located on the long side of the pallet are located on the top surface of the pallet, and the pair of side panels located on the short side of the pallet are located so as to cover the outer edge of the pallet.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, in the sleeve 2, the side plate portion 21, which is positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P, has a fork insertion notch 21a at its lower part. The fork insertion notch 21a is provided to communicate with the fork insertion opening P3 of the pallet P located on the inside. The fork insertion notch 21a is formed, for example, by cutting a rectangular flat side plate panel that constitutes the side plate portion 21 in a rectangular shape from the lower end 21b. In addition, the lower part of the side plate portion opposite to the side plate portion 21 is also provided with a fork insertion notch, similar to the side plate portion 21.

[0033] Furthermore, since the fork comes into contact with the upper and side surfaces of the fork insertion notch 21a, a cover member (such as a metal plate or resin plate) may be provided to cover these parts. This increases the strength of the fork insertion notch 21a and prevents the edges from bending or breaking.

[0034] In Figure 1, two fork insertion notches 21a are formed in the side plate portion 21, but for example, a single fork insertion notch may be formed, such that these are connected. Also, the fork insertion notch 21a is not limited to a configuration that opens at the lower end 21b of the side plate portion 21, but may be formed as a hole type that does not open at the lower end 21b.

[0035] In Figure 1, since the side plate portion 22 is located on the upper surface of the pallet P, the side P2 of the pallet P on the side plate portion 22 is exposed, and the fork insertion opening P3 on the side P2 is directly visible from the outside in the assembled state. Therefore, when using a pallet P with fork insertion openings formed on each of the four sides, the orientation of the pallet box 1 relative to the pallet P does not need to be considered, and forks can be inserted from any side, resulting in superior usability.

[0036] Furthermore, the side plate portion 22 located on the upper surface of the pallet P has a restricting piece 22c at its lower end. The side plate portion opposite to the side plate portion 22 also has a restricting piece. This structure will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 shows a partial cross-section (corresponding to cross-section AA in Figure 1) from the side plate portion including the restricting piece to the ground surface.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the side panel 22 includes an upright side panel 22a, a cover member 22b that protects the lower end surface of the side panel 22a, and a restricting piece 22c. The side panel 22a has, for example, a hollow structure in which a plurality of cells forming a polygonal prism shape or cylindrical shape are arranged side by side. For example, this hollow structure has a resin core layer and a resin sheet-like skin layer joined to both the upper and lower surfaces of the core layer. The thickness of the side panel 22a is about 10 mm to 30 mm. In a side panel 22a having such a hollow structure, the direction of the columns of the cells in the hollow structure is parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0038] The cover member 22b is provided to prevent the lower end surface of the side panel 22a from being exposed and to increase its strength. In particular, in configurations where the side panel 22a has a hollow structure, the core is exposed and the direction of the core's columns is horizontal, so it is preferable to provide the cover member 22b from the viewpoint of durability against loads acting in the vertical direction. In Figure 4, the cover member 22b is an integrally molded body with a U-shaped cross-section, and is formed to cover not only the lower end surface of the side panel 22a but also a part of the inner surface and a part of the outer surface of the side panel 22a. The thickness of the cover member 22b is thinner than the thickness of the side panel 22a. The cover member 22b is also an elongated member extending in one direction (see Figure 1) and is provided along the width direction of the side panel 22a (the X-axis direction in Figure 1).

[0039] The material of the cover member 22b is not particularly limited, and it can be made of resin or metal. The cover member 22b is fixed to the side panel 22a by fasteners such as screws (not shown) or adhesive.

[0040] The restricting piece 22c has the function of restricting the movement of the side plate portion 22 relative to the upper surface P1 of the pallet P. The restricting piece 22c has an engaging portion c1 with a U-shaped cross-section on the side plate portion side, and a side portion c2 extending from the engaging portion c1 toward the outer surface of the side P2 of the pallet P. In Figure 4, the side portion c2 is connected to the portion of the engaging portion c1 toward the outer surface of the side plate portion in a stepped manner, but it may also be connected in a straight line. Specifically, the restricting piece 22c is an integrally molded body with an H-shaped cross-section, and is positioned so as to abut the outer surface of the side P2 of the pallet P, and to cover the U-shaped cover member 22b from the outside. The thickness of the restricting piece 22c is thinner than the thickness of the side plate panel 22a and is about the same as the thickness of the cover member 22b.

[0041] In the regulating piece 22c, if the length in the height direction of the portion on the outer surface side of the side plate portion of the engaging portion c1 is A and the length in the height direction of the side portion c2 is B, then the relationship of "A > B" holds. Note that the relationship of these lengths is not limited to this, and it may also be "A < B". For example, by setting "A < B", even when traveling on a gravel road or the like during the transportation of the forklift, the regulating piece can be made difficult to come off from the pallet.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the regulating piece 22c is provided at both ends in the width direction of the side plate portion in the side plate portion 22. However, the position, size, etc. of the regulating piece 22c are not particularly limited. In addition, a configuration in which the regulating piece 22c is provided at one location in the center in the width direction of the side plate portion 22 can also be adopted. However, as shown in FIG. 1, the configuration in which the regulating piece 22c is provided at both ends in the width direction of the side plate portion 22 is preferable because the side plate portion 22 is less likely to deform and the side plate portion 22 is less likely to fall off from the pallet P. Further, it is preferable that the regulating piece 22c does not interfere with the fork insertion port P3 of the pallet P.

[0043] The material of the regulating piece 22c is not particularly limited, and a resin-made or metal-made one can be used. The regulating piece 22c is fixed to the side plate panel 22a or the cover member 22b by a fixture (not shown) such as a screw or an adhesive.

[0044] In this way, in the pallet box, since the side plate portion 22 located on the upper surface P1 of the pallet P has the regulating piece 22c, when a load is applied to the pallet box from above, it is possible to prevent the side plate portion 22 from shifting and entering inward.

[0045] The restricting piece 22c is not limited to the configuration shown in the figures. For example, the restricting piece may be formed in a flat plate shape, or it may consist only of the outer surface portion of the side plate portion and the edge portion c2 of the engaging portion c1 as shown in Figure 4. Alternatively, it may consist of a boss that can be inserted into a recess or hole provided on the top surface of the pallet or on an intermediate member placed on the pallet P. Furthermore, in the side plate portion 22, the cover member 22b may be omitted, and the restricting piece 22c may be attached to the side plate panel 22a without going through the cover member 22b.

[0046] Next, the contact configuration of the lower ends of the side plate portions 21 and 22 will be explained using Figure 4. In Figure 4, a portion of the side plate portion 21, which is positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P, is also shown. In this assembled state of the pallet box, the lower end 21b of the side plate portion 21 is configured to contact the ground surface. On the other hand, in this assembled state, the lower end 22d of the side plate portion 22 is configured not to contact the upper surface P1 of the pallet P. The lower end 22d of the side plate portion 22 is the part that faces the upper surface P1 of the pallet P, and in Figure 4, it is the lower end of the restricting piece 22c. In this case, a gap CL is formed between the lower end 22d of the side plate portion 22 and the upper surface P1 of the pallet P.

[0047] The gap CL is approximately the same length as the thickness of the cover member 22b or the restricting piece 22c, and is only about 1 mm to 10 mm in specific terms. When a load is applied to the pallet box from above, the side plate portion 22 sinks downward, and the lower end 22d of the side plate portion 22 contacts the upper surface P1 of the pallet P, making it capable of receiving the load. This configuration allows for load acceptance while improving workability during assembly, as shown in Figure 8, which will be described later.

[0048] Next, the configuration of the connecting member in the sleeve will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the side plate portion 21 of the sleeve 2 is divided into left and right sections, and each divided plate portion is connected by a connecting member 4. In Figure 1, the connecting member 4 is a long member extending in one direction, and is provided so as to extend in the height direction (Z-axis direction) from the upper end to the lower end 21b of the side plate portion 21. The material of the connecting member 4 is not particularly limited, and resin or metal can be used.

[0049] Here, Figure 5(a) shows a cross-section of the periphery of the connecting member 4 (corresponding to the BB cross-section in Figure 1). As shown in Figure 5(a), the connecting member 4 is an integrally molded body having two parallel flat plate portions 41 and 42 and a partition wall 43. The partition wall 43 is provided perpendicularly between the flat plate portions 41 and 42, and the connecting member 4 has an H-shaped cross-section. On both sides of the partition wall 43 of the connecting member 4, concave housing portions are formed in plan view. The housing portion is a space enclosed by the flat plate portions 41 and 42 and the partition wall 43, and the side ends 2Aa and 2Ba of the sleeve members 2A and 2B are housed in this housing portion. The partition wall 43 of the connecting member 4 is interposed between the two side ends 2Aa and 2Ba.

[0050] Of the two end portions 2Aa and 2Ba, the side end portion 2Aa is fixed to the connecting member 4 by fasteners such as screws or adhesive. The side end portion 2Aa is inserted all the way to the back of the housing, and its end face is in contact with the bulkhead 43. On the other hand, the side end portion 2Ba is not fixed to the connecting member 4 and is only inserted into the housing during assembly, as will be described later, and the side end portion 2Ba and the connecting member 4 are not fixed together. Therefore, although the side end portion 2Ba itself can be inserted into and removed from the connecting member 4, the state shown in Figure 5(a) during assembly is held in place by the hook-and-loop fastener 5 (see Figure 1).

[0051] As shown in Figure 5(a), in the assembled state of the pallet box, a gap CL is provided between the side end 2Ba on the side not fixed to the connecting member 4 and the opposing partition wall 43. The distance of this gap CL is preferably set considering the case where the dimensional tolerances of the sleeve and the pallet act on the side that reduces the gap CL. For example, if the dimensional tolerances of the sleeve and the pallet are ±5 mm, the distance of the gap CL is set to 10 mm or more.

[0052] The depth d of the housing portion of the connecting member 4 is preferably longer than the distance of the gap CL. This prevents the side end portion 2Ba of the sleeve member 2B from coming out of the housing portion of the connecting member 4 while maintaining the gap CL. The depth d of the housing portion is the length of the overlapping portion of the opposing flat plate portions 41 and 42.

[0053] Figure 5(b) shows a configuration in which there is no gap between the side end 2Ba and the opposing partition wall 43. In such a configuration, if the dimensional tolerances of the sleeve and the pallet act in a way that reduces the gap CL, the side end 2Ba will be pushed out in the direction of the white arrow, that is, away from the partition wall 43, by that tolerance. As a result, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 3, the side plate portion 22 located on the upper surface of the pallet P is more likely to be positioned further outward, and as a result, there is a risk of it falling off the upper surface of the pallet P. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing such an event, it is preferable to have a configuration in which a gap CL is provided during assembly, as shown in Figure 5(a).

[0054] Furthermore, regarding the configuration of the connecting member 4, as shown in Figure 5(a), it is preferable that the outer flat plate portion 42 located on the outside of the pallet box has a portion (dotted circle in the figure) that protrudes in the width direction relative to the flat plate portion 41 located on the inside of the pallet box. The width direction here is the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting member 4 extends, and corresponds to the Y-axis direction in Figure 1. In particular, it is preferable that the protruding portion be on the side into which the side end portion 2Ba is inserted during assembly. For example, when inserting the side end portion 2Ba into the housing portion of the connecting member 4, the side end portion 2Ba can be smoothly accommodated by aligning it with the protruding portion of the flat plate portion 42. In the connecting member 4, the width dimension of the outer flat plate portion 42 is longer than the width dimension of the inner flat plate portion 41.

[0055] In Figure 5(a), the connecting member 4 has an asymmetrical shape with respect to the center line of the partition wall 43, but it may also have a symmetrical shape. Furthermore, the connecting member 4 may also have the aforementioned protruding portion on the side to which the side end 2Aa of the flat plate portion 42 is fixed.

[0056] Next, the configuration of the sleeve member will be explained using Figure 6. Although Figure 6 shows sleeve member 2B, the sleeve member 2A (see Figure 2) to which it is combined has the same configuration as sleeve member 2B, so its explanation will be omitted.

[0057] As shown in Figure 6, the sleeve member 2B has a divided plate portion 211, a side plate portion 22, and a divided plate portion 231. The divided plate portions 211 and 231 are connected to the respective side ends of the side plate portion 22 and are configured to be foldable inward.

[0058] Specifically, a corner hinge portion h is provided near the base where the divided plate portion 211 attaches to the side plate portion 22. The corner hinge portion h is formed along the height direction from the upper end to the lower end of the divided plate portion 211, and in Figure 6, the inner surface of the divided plate portion 211 is formed as a V-shaped recess. The formation of the corner hinge portion h allows the divided plate portion 211 to be partially thinned, making it rotatable. In addition, it eliminates the need for metal fittings and other parts, which contributes to cost reduction. The corner hinge portion h is formed, for example, by pressing a heated bar against the inner surface of the divided plate portion 211. Note that the shape of the corner hinge portion h is not limited to a V-shape; it may also be formed as an arc or other shape. Similarly, a corner hinge portion h is also provided near the base where the divided plate portion 231 attaches to the side plate portion 22.

[0059] As shown in Figure 6, no connecting member is fixed to the side end of the divided plate portion 211, whereas a connecting member 4 is fixed to the side end of the divided plate portion 231. In addition, one side of a hook-and-loop fastener is provided on the outer surface of each of the divided plate portions 211 and 231. In the sleeve member 2B, when the divided plate portions 211 and 231 are folded inward, the side ends of the divided plate portion 211 and the side ends of the divided plate portion 231 (including the connecting member 4) do not overlap and are configured not to interfere with each other.

[0060] Next, the structure of the lid member will be described. First, the structure of the lid member as seen from the top will be described using Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the lid member 3 has a rectangular flat top plate 31 with four sides and a peripheral wall portion 32 that protrudes downward from the peripheral edge of the top plate 31. The top plate 31 is preferably made of synthetic resin and has a hollow structure such as a porous structure. Stacking parts may be provided on the top surface of the top plate 31 as needed, for example, anti-slip parts made of elastomer or the like may be provided at the four corners.

[0061] The peripheral wall portion 32 has four hanging walls 32a provided along each of the four sides of the top plate 31, and four corner members 32b. The corner members 32b are members that connect two adjacent hanging walls 32a in an L-shape. The hanging walls 32a and corner members 32b are formed using, for example, synthetic resin.

[0062] Figure 7 shows a bottom view of the lid member. As shown in Figure 7, on the underside of the lid member 3, the four corner members 32b are located at the four corners of the top plate 31. On the peripheral edge of the underside of the top plate 31, four frame members 33 are provided along the four sides of the top plate 31. Two adjacent frame members 33 are sandwiched and fixed between the top plate 31 and the corner members 32b located at the corners.

[0063] Furthermore, on the underside of the lid member 3, inclined frame members 34 are provided at each of the four corners of the top plate 31, connecting two adjacent frame members 33 at an angle. The inclination angle of the inclined frame members is, for example, 30° to 60°, and more specifically, 45°. By arranging the inclined frame members 34 between each of the four frame members 33 in this way, and connecting the frame members in a ring shape, the overall strength of the lid member 3 is increased.

[0064] In the pallet box of the present invention, the lid member 3 covers the top of the rectangular tubular sleeve 2, and therefore has a larger outer shape than the pallet P in a plan view (see Figure 3). That is, when stacked, the pallet P placed on top of the lid member 3 has a smaller outer shape, so depending on the position of the pallet P relative to the lid member 3, a load may be locally applied only to the top plate 31 of the lid member 3, which may result in the top plate 31 bending or the pallet P getting stuck in the top plate 31. In contrast, by arranging the inclined frame member 34 as described above, the entire lid member 3 can more easily receive the load from above, which in turn helps to prevent the load from collapsing.

[0065] The assembly procedure for the pallet box described above will be explained below using Figure 8.

[0066] First, prepare the pallet P to be used, and place the goods on the top surface P1 of the pallet P. Various types of pallets commonly used in the distribution field can be used as the pallet P. Furthermore, the goods placed on the pallet (the goods to be transported) can be a wide variety of items, such as electronic components, electrical appliances, food products, beverages, and chemical products.

[0067] Next, one of the sleeve members 2A is installed. When stored, the sleeve member 2A is folded, and each divided plate portion 211, 231 is rotated to open each divided plate portion 211, 231 to a C-shape, and then installed on the pallet P. During this installation, the worker does not need to lift the sleeve member 2A, and can install it by sliding the lower ends of the divided plate portions 211, 231 on the floor. The side plate portion 24 (same as the side plate portion 22 in Figure 4) is configured to form a gap CL with respect to the upper surface P1 of the pallet P, allowing for smooth installation without interference from the side of the pallet P.

[0068] Next, the other sleeve member 2B is installed in the same manner as the sleeve member 2A described above.

[0069] Then, the sleeve members 2A and 2B, which are installed facing each other, are combined. Specifically, the side ends of each sleeve member 2B and 2A (the side where the connecting member 4 is not fixed) are inserted into the connecting member 4 of the other sleeve member 2A and 2B, and secured with hook-and-loop fasteners. In this state, a gap is formed between the side end where the connecting member 4 is not fixed and the partition wall of the connecting member 4 (see Figure 5).

[0070] Finally, the lid is placed over the top end of the rectangular, cylindrical sleeve, completing the assembly of the pallet box. This creates a pallet box with goods stored inside the sleeve.

[0071] Afterward, the pallets P are scooped up by a forklift and transported to storage areas or the cargo compartments of each transport vehicle.

[0072] Although one form of the pallet box of the present invention has been described above, the pallet box of the present invention is not limited to the form described above.

[0073] For example, the contact configuration of the lower ends of each side panel of the pallet box can be in a different form. Figure 9 shows a diagram corresponding to Figure 4 as an example of another form. In this form, when the pallet box is assembled, the lower end 21b of the side panel 21, which is positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P, does not contact the ground (the same applies to the opposing side panel), while the lower end 22d of the side panel 22, which is positioned on the upper surface P1 of the pallet P, contacts the upper surface P1 of the pallet P (the same applies to the opposing side panel). That is, a gap CL is formed between the lower end 21b of the side panel 21 and the ground. In this form, for example, when inserting a fork to transport the pallet P together with the pallet box, the lower ends 21b of the side panel 21 are less likely to be dragged on the ground, making smoother transport easier.

[0074] Other contact configurations include bringing the lower end 21b of the side plate portion 21, which is positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet P, into contact with the ground surface (the same applies to the opposing side plate portion), and bringing the lower end 22d of the side plate portion 22, which is positioned on the upper surface P1 of the pallet P, into contact with the upper surface P1 of the pallet P (the same applies to the opposing side plate portion).

[0075] Furthermore, while Figure 1 and other figures show the sleeve 2 as being composed of two sleeve members 2A and 2B, other configurations are possible. Figure 10(a) shows a schematic plan view (with the cover removed) of a configuration in which the sleeve is composed of a single sleeve member.

[0076] As shown in Figure 10(a), the sleeve 6 has four upright side plates 61, 62, 63, and 64, with side plates 61 and 63 facing each other, and side plates 62 and 64 facing each other. In this configuration, when assembled, the opposing pair of side plates 61 and 63 of the sleeve 6 are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet, while the other opposing pair of side plates 62 and 64 of the sleeve 6 are positioned on the top surface of the pallet.

[0077] In the sleeve 6, one side plate portion 61, which is positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet, is divided into left and right sections. The side ends of each divided plate portion 611, 612 are connected by a connecting member 4. The connecting member 4 is fixed to one of the divided plate portions 611, and during assembly, the other divided plate portion 612 is inserted into the housing portion of the connecting member 4 fixed to the divided plate portion 611 to form a rectangular tube shape. In this case as well, it is preferable that a gap is formed between the side end of the divided plate portion 612 and the partition wall of the connecting member 4 facing it.

[0078] In sleeve 6, the divided plate portion 611 is connected to the side end of the side plate portion 64, and the divided plate portion 612 is connected to the side end of the side plate portion 62. Divided plate portions 611 and 612 are configured to be foldable inward by corner hinge portions h. Corner hinge portions h are also formed near the base of the side plate portion 63 to the side plate portion 64, and near the base of the side plate portion 63 to the side plate portion 62. A central hinge portion h1 is also formed near the middle of the width direction of the side plate portion 63. The central hinge portion h1 is formed along the height direction from the upper end to the lower end of the side plate portion 63, and in Figure 10(a), the inner surface of the side plate portion 63 is formed with a V-shaped recess. When folding this sleeve 6, the central hinge portion h1 is positioned on the inside, and the outer surfaces of the parts of the side plate portion 63 on both sides of the central hinge portion h1 are overlapped. As a result, it can be folded into an M shape.

[0079] Next, Figure 10(b) shows a schematic plan view of the configuration consisting of four sleeve members (with the lid removed). As shown in Figure 10(b), the sleeve 7 is composed of four sleeve members 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D. Each sleeve member 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D has two flat plate sections (flat plate section 711 and flat plate section 741 in sleeve member 7A) that are foldably connected by a corner hinge section h (not shown), and is assembled to form an L-shape. In the sleeve 7, the four side plate sections are formed by connecting the flat plate sections of adjacent sleeve members with connecting members 4. In this configuration as well, in the assembled state, a pair of opposing side plate sections of the sleeve 7 are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet, and another pair of opposing side plate sections of the sleeve 7 are positioned on the top surface of the pallet.

[0080] In sleeve 7, the configuration of each sleeve member 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D is identical. A connecting member 4 is fixed to one side end of the flat plate portion of each sleeve member 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D. When assembling sleeve 7, a rectangular tube shape is formed by inserting the side end of its own flat plate portion into the housing portion of the connecting member 4 fixed to the adjacent sleeve member.

[0081] In addition, as an alternative to the sleeve configuration shown in Figure 10, the sleeve may be constructed using two L-shaped sleeve members. [Industrial applicability]

[0082] The pallet box of the present invention is compact and easy to use, can be used with various commonly used pallets, and is particularly suitable for container transport and other applications where cargo space is often limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1 Pallet Box 2 sleeves 2A, 2B Sleeve members 2Aa, 2Ba side end 21, 22, 23, 24 Side plate part 21a Notch for inserting fork 21b Bottom end 22a Side panel 22b Cover member 22c regulation piece c1 Engagement part c2 side 211, 231 Split plate part 3. Lid member 31 Top plate 32 Peripheral wall part 32a hanging wall 32b Corner member 33 Frame members 34 Inclined frame member 4 Connecting members 41 Flat plate part 42 Flat plate part 43 Bulkhead 5 hook-and-loop fasteners 6 sleeves 61, 62, 63, 64 Side plate part 611, 612 Split plate part 7 sleeves 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D sleeve parts 711, 741 Flat plate part P Palette P1 top surface P2 side P3 Fork insertion slot h-shaped hinge section h1 Middle hinge section

Claims

1. A pallet box comprising a sleeve having multiple side panels, assembled to stand upright on a pallet, When the pallet box is assembled, the sleeve is rectangular and cylindrical, and the opposing pair of side plates of the sleeve are positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet, and the other opposing pair of side plates of the sleeve are positioned on the top surface of the pallet. A pallet box characterized in that the pair of side panels positioned to cover the outer edge of the pallet have notches for inserting forks at their lower ends, and the other pair of side panels have restricting pieces that restrict the movement of the side panels relative to the upper surface of the pallet.

2. At least one of the pair of side plates is divided into left and right sections, and both ends are connected by a connecting member with a partition wall in between. The pallet box according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the two ends is fixed to the connecting member, the other end is not fixed to the connecting member, and a gap is provided between it and the opposing partition wall.

3. The pallet box according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve is constructed by connecting a plurality of sleeve members with the connecting member, and the connecting member has a concave receiving portion in plan view that accommodates each side end of the sleeve member, and the depth of the receiving portion is longer than the distance of the gap.

4. The pallet box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the pallet box is assembled, the lower ends of the pair of side plates are in contact with the ground surface, and the lower ends of the other pair of side plates are not in contact with the upper surface of the pallet, and when the pallet box is subjected to a load, the lower ends of the other pair of side plates are in contact with the upper surface of the pallet.

5. The pallet box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when the pallet box is assembled, the lower ends of the pair of side plates are not in contact with the ground surface, and the lower ends of the other pair of side plates are in contact with the upper surface of the pallet.

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