Insulated Container Box

Abstract

To provide a heat-insulating container box having a simple structure which is lightweight, and has an inner surface that does not get dirty, and which comprises a door-opening / closing structure which is easily operable via wing doors and side flaps.SOLUTION: A heat-insulating container box comprises: a body of a rectangular parallelepiped basic structure made of thermoplastic foam constituted through combination of a bottom plate, a front plate 12, a rear plate 13 and an upper plate 14; and opening / closing doors. Therein, each of the opening / closing doors is constituted while divided into: a pair of stay assemblies 40 including two wing doors 15, 16 which are rotatably supported at both ends of the upper plate 14 and respective ones of which are engaged with substantially each bottom plate side of the front plate 12 and the rear plate 13 of the body, rotatably about an axial direction being an advancing direction as of when a vehicle is loaded; and two side flaps 17, 18 which are engaged with the other ends of the wing doors above both ends of the side flaps, rotatably about the axial direction being the advancing direction as of when the vehicle is loaded. Therein the side flaps 17, 18 each have a structure which can be retained in a state of being open below the bottom plate while keeping the outer surface of the heat-insulating container box closed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat-insulating container box having a door that can be opened and closed. [Background technology]

[0002] Insulated container boxes have the advantages of keeping things cool, warm, moist and airtight, so they are used to transport fresh produce such as vegetables harvested from farms to processing plants where they are washed and packed, and also for transporting them from processing plants to sales outlets. for cargo vehicle (Hereafter referred to as "truck") Vegetables and other fresh produce are placed in baskets and loaded into and unloaded from the insulated container box. When loading and unloading the baskets, the door of the insulated container box needs to be opened, but this is not a problem in practice if the door is a double door that opens and closes horizontally to the ground.

[0003] However, it is important to keep vegetables and other perishables fresh, and while they are harvested from the farm, placed in baskets, and loaded, they need to be shielded from direct sunlight to prevent drying, but double doors do not act as eaves. Also, when workers are loading and unloading, if the double doors are in the line of movement, they get in the way. Therefore, a structure that acts as a eaves and also allows workers to move out of the line of movement was needed.

[0004] To address this issue, there is a method of using a so-called wing door, which holds the door approximately horizontally on the approximately upper surface of the container box. Patent Document 1 is a first example of an embodiment of the method of using a wing door, which holds the door approximately horizontally on the approximately upper surface of the container box, and for cargo The wing doors are rotated upward using the engagement part that engages the container box body and the wing doors, which is axially positioned in the direction of travel when loaded onto a vehicle, as a fulcrum, and the wing doors are held open by a gas spring, thereby providing the function of a canopy.

[0005] Patent Document 2 is a second example of an embodiment of a method using a wing door, which is approximately on the top surface of a container box, and for cargoThe wing doors are folded upward and rotated using a biasing means located approximately on the top surface of the container box and a wire connected to the biasing means, with the engaging portion that engages the container box body and the foldable divided wing doors, which is axially positioned in the direction of travel when loaded onto a vehicle, as a fulcrum.The wing doors are given the function of a canopy and the function of being able to move out of the way of workers' movement.

[0006] Patent Document 3 is a third example of an embodiment of a method using a wing door, in which the container box body and the wing door are made of a heat insulating material, lining plates bonded to both sides of the heat insulating material, and a thin aluminum plate (FRP plate or other bendable plate), and are located approximately on the top surface of the container box, and for cargo The wing doors can be rotated upward around the engaging part that engages the container box body and the wing doors, which is axially positioned in the direction of travel when loaded onto a vehicle, providing the doors with the functions of a canopy and allowing them to escape from the path of workers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7162808 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3621289 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-76287 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, workers transport fresh produce, such as vegetables harvested from farmland, to processing plants multiple times a day. Therefore, because the wing doors must be opened and closed each time to load and unload baskets containing fresh produce, the wing doors must be able to open and close quickly with little force. Furthermore, the bottoms of the baskets containing fresh produce, such as vegetables harvested from farmland, are often soiled with farm mud. When transporting boxed vegetables from processing plants to retail outlets, a structure is needed to prevent the interior surfaces of the container boxes from becoming soiled.

[0009] Therefore, Patent Document 1 uses a gas spring to open and close the wing door, but the structure is complex. Furthermore, while the gas spring can be fixed relatively easily with screws because the container box body and wing door are made of thin plates, the structure lacks thermal insulation and is heavy, resulting in poor operability. Furthermore, as the wing door is made shorter and smaller to reduce weight, a gate structure is provided to hold the door approximately horizontally on the approximately lower surface of the container box. However, when baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables are loaded or unloaded, the top surface of the gate when opened horizontally becomes dirty due to the baskets being dragged or due to rainwater, resulting in the inside surface of the container box becoming dirty when closed. Furthermore, the gate is located in the path of workers, which creates a problem of obstructing their work.

[0010] In addition, in Patent Document 2, the wing doors are opened and closed by a biasing means that generates a biasing force to open the wing doors, but the structure is complex, and because the container box body and the wing doors are made of thin plates, the biasing means can be fixed relatively easily with screws, but on the other hand, it does not provide thermal insulation.In addition, because the wing doors are made up of the entire side panels of the container box, there are problems such as a large weight and poor operability.

[0011] In Patent Document 3, the surfaces of the insulated container box are made up of insulating material, lining plates glued to both sides of the insulating material, and a thin aluminum plate (FRP plate or other bendable plate), so although it has insulating properties, the structure is complex and the wing doors are made up of the entire side panels of the container box, which makes it heavy and difficult to operate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems associated with the above-mentioned technology, and aims to provide an insulated container box with a simple structure that includes wing doors that act as eaves and are lightweight and therefore easy to open and close, and a door opening and closing structure using side flaps that are out of the way of workers and do not soil the inside surface of the insulated box.

[0013] The first solution according to the present invention is to use a thermoplastic material such as polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene resin). A main body made of a resin foam body and having four surfaces, namely a bottom plate, a front plate, a rear plate, and an upper plate, and both sides of the main body side of A thermoplastic resin foam side panel (also called a side door) is attached to cover the side. Preparation It is mounted on a freight vehicle equipped with a pair of tailgates with a rotating shaft parallel to the direction of travel. do It is an insulated container box. In addition, at least one of the side panels on both sides of the vehicle is provided with a movable wing door and the wing door. It moves separately from Gooda. , supported by a pair of link arms at the upper side near both ends side The wing door is made up of a flap and is attached to one of the upper panels of the insulated container box body and the main body. One end and one end of the wing door can rotate freely around the axis in the direction of travel when loaded onto a freight vehicle. The hinge parts are engaged to keep the wing doors open and closed. The front and rear panels of the main body are connected to the wing via a pair of stays (stay assemblies) that can be held. It is connected to the inside of the door. The side flaps are a pair of link arms having one end rotatably engaged with the inner surfaces of the front and rear panels, and the other end of each link arm is rotatably disposed above both ends of the side flaps and below the wing doors that are rotatably engaged with the side flaps in parallel with the rotation of the wing doors. The wing doors and the side flaps are opened and closed with their inner surfaces always facing inward, and when the side flaps are open, the upper end surfaces of the side flaps are held at a position lower than the inner surface of the bottom panel. .

[0014] The side flaps are located on the bottom side of the front and rear panels of the insulated container box body. for cargoWhen the direction of travel when mounted on a vehicle is taken as the axial direction, the side flaps are arranged so that they can rotate freely in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the axis, and when opening the side flaps, they are positioned on the lower side of the main body or on the side of the main body while keeping the outer surface facing outward when closed. for cargo When the side flaps are installed in the vehicle, they are retracted in the direction of travel. In other words, the side flaps are opened and closed with their inner surfaces always facing inward.

[0015] Furthermore, when closed, each wing door and side flap constitutes a side panel of the container box at a position higher than the upper end of the truck tailgate, with the stepped lower tip of the wing door overlapping on the outside and the upper tip of the side flap overlapping on the inside.

[0016] In addition, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the container is used as an insulated container box, the wing doors and side flaps are closed and pressed against the main body of the insulated container box to form a sealed space. When loading or unloading cargo, the wing doors are lifted upward around the axis of the hinge parts rotatably engaged with the main body, while the pair of stay assemblies hold the wing doors above the insulated container box. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, when loading and unloading cargo into the insulated container box, the wing doors can be opened and closed without retracting the side flaps, so when loading and unloading a basket containing relatively light vegetables or other fresh produce, only the wing doors need to be opened and closed, making the opening and closing operation even easier. Also, when loading and unloading a basket containing relatively heavy vegetables or other fresh produce, the basket is slid onto the bottom of the main body, but the side flaps are positioned at the bottom of the side of the main body or for cargo The side flaps are retracted in the direction of travel when loaded onto a vehicle, making loading and unloading easy, and the inside of the side flaps do not come into contact with baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables, and are not exposed to rainwater, so the inside of the main body does not get dirty, allowing the boxes to be transported clean.This makes it possible to provide an insulated container box that acts as a canopy and has insulating properties, is simple in structure, lightweight, and has easy opening and closing operations for the wing doors and side flaps, and is less likely to get dirty inside.

[0018] (Another solution according to the present invention) The second aspect of the present invention is a heat-insulating container box body and one side flap, wherein one end of a pair of link arms is engaged with the front panel and the rear panel, respectively, and the other end of the link arms is for cargo The side flaps are engaged above the ends of one of the side flaps so that they can rotate freely about the direction of travel when loaded onto the vehicle. When the side flaps are opened, they move downward along the side of the insulated container box while keeping the outer surface facing outward when closed. In other words, the side flaps are opened and closed with the inner surface always facing inward.

[0019] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the side flaps are engaged at the top near both end faces, and their lower ends are rotatable, so that under their own weight, they maintain their outer faces facing outward when closed, and can easily move to the outside of the side flap of the open truck, so that the upper end faces of the side flaps can be easily positioned at approximately the same height as or lower than the loading surface of the truck. In other words, this does not interfere with the movement of workers, and allows for smooth loading and unloading by sliding baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables along the inner surface of the bottom plate. Furthermore, because the inner surfaces of the side flaps do not come into contact with the baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables, and are not exposed to rainwater, the inside surface of the main body does not get dirty, allowing for clean transport of sales boxes.

[0020] In a third aspect of the present invention, one of the side flaps is divided into a plurality of lower side plates in the vertical direction, and at least one of the lower side plates constituting the side flap is connected to one end of the front plate of the main body or one end of the rear plate of the main body. for cargo The first hinge part is engaged so that the vertical direction when mounted on the vehicle can be rotated about an axial direction. Furthermore, the lower side plates are each divided into two parts. for cargo Each lower side plate can be folded so as to rotate freely around the axis that corresponds to the top-bottom direction when mounted on a vehicle, and the inner surfaces of each lower side plate are engaged with a second hinge part so that they can abut against each other facing each other.

[0021] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the side flaps are designed to be opened and closed horizontally, allowing for smooth opening and closing with very little force. Furthermore, the inside surfaces of the side flaps, which form the inside surfaces of the insulated container box body, do not face the outside (front) even when the side flaps are open, which has the advantage that baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables harvested from farmland can be kept clean and free from soiling when loaded onto the body.

[0022] The fourth means of the present invention is that the surface of at least one of the bottom plate, front plate, rear plate, top plate, wing door, and side flap of the main body of the insulated container box is coated (lined) with a resin compound.

[0023] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the surface of a foam made of a thermoplastic resin is coated with a coating material of a resin compound such as a polyurea resin, which has the advantages of preventing the foam from splitting and breaking and improving its rigidity and strength. Furthermore, the surface coating has the advantages of improving waterproofing, wear resistance, and sliding properties. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of a first embodiment of a heat-insulating container box according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention, seen from the bottom side. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, in which one of the wing doors is not shown. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow FF in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows GG in FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view showing the entire heat-insulating container box of the present invention when mounted on a freight vehicle. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow JJ in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing the entire insulated container box of the present invention mounted on a cargo vehicle with the wing doors and side flaps open in a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow KK in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the structure of the stay assembly that supports the wing door in the insulated container box of the present invention, where (a) is a detailed oblique view showing the state of the stay assembly when the wing door is closed, and (b) is a detailed oblique view showing the state of the stay assembly when the wing door is rotated upward and opened. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of one of the side flaps in the first embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention, where (a) is a detailed oblique view of the insulated container box when the side flap is closed, as seen from inside the box, and (b) is a detailed oblique view of the insulated container box when the side flap is lowered downward on the side and opened, as seen from outside the box. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the process of opening the wing door in the first embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention, in which the wing door has rotated upward and opened. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the process of opening the side flaps of the first embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention, in which the side flaps are lowered downward on the side and opened. [Figure 15] 5A and 5B are perspective views of modified side flaps in the first embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention, in which (a) shows the closed state and (b) shows the open state. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of a second embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the structure of one side flap in the second embodiment of the insulated container box of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the entire insulated container box according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the wing doors and side flaps open. [Figure 19]10A and 10B are diagrams showing the process of opening the wing doors and side flaps in the second embodiment of the insulated container box of the invention, where (a) shows the wing doors in an open state, (b) shows the side flaps being opened while being folded, and (c) shows the wing doors and side flaps in a fully open state. [Figure 20] 1 is a photograph showing the state in which an insulated container box of the present invention is placed in a temperature-controlled room for a heat insulation test of an example in which the insulated container box of the present invention is used. [Figure 21] This is a photograph showing a test specimen in which a thermocouple for measuring temperature is inserted under the thin skin of a turnip, a fresh vegetable, for an insulation test of an example using an insulated container box of the present invention. [Figure 22] This is a photograph showing the state in which test specimen A was placed in a basket installed in an insulated container box for an insulation test of an example using an insulated container box of the present invention. [Figure 23] As a comparative example, this photograph shows the state in which test specimen B was placed in a basket placed outside an insulated container box in a temperature-controlled room, covered with a blanket, and sprayed with sufficient water. [Figure 24] 1 is a graph showing the results of a heat insulation test of an example using the heat-insulating container box of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the configuration of a heat-insulating container box according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a heat-insulating container box 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Truck 200 (see Figure 7)1 is a view seen from the rear in the direction of travel, and FIG. 2 is a view seen from the front in the direction of travel, showing a state in which wing doors 15, 16 and side flaps 17, 18 on both sides are closed. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the insulated container box 100 has a main body 10 (see FIG. 4) whose basic structure is made up of a rectangular parallelepiped bottom plate 11, a front plate 12 arranged upward from an end of the bottom plate 11, a rear plate 13 arranged upward from an end opposite to the front plate 12, and an upper plate 14 provided to connect the upper ends of the front plate 12 and rear plate 13.

[0027] Furthermore, side doors 5 and 6 are provided on both sides of the main body 10 as side panels, and the side door 5 is divided into a wing door 15 and a side flap 17, and the side door 6 is divided into a wing door 16 and a side flap 18. The two wing doors 15 and 16 are engaged with each other via hinge parts 19 and 20 made of resin (e.g., polypropylene) at the ends 14a and 14b (see FIG. 5 for the locations) of the top panel 14 so as to be rotatable, and the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 of the main body are connected to each other by hinge parts 19 and 20 at the sides of the bottom panel 11. for cargo A pair of metal link arms 31 are engaged at one end so that they can rotate freely around a rotation fulcrum 31a with the direction of travel of the vehicle when mounted on the vehicle as the axial direction, and a pair of metal link arms 31 are engaged at one end so that they can rotate freely around a rotation fulcrum 31b at the other end of the link arms 31. for cargo Two side flaps 17, 18 are engaged at both end surfaces of the main body 10 so as to be rotatable about the axial direction of the traveling direction when loaded onto the vehicle, thereby forming the insulated container box 100. Note that instead of the resin hinge parts 19, 20, multiple short metal hinges may be used.

[0028] The bottom plate 11, front plate 12, rear plate 13, top plate 14, wing doors 15, 16, and side flaps 17, 18 are made of a thermoplastic resin foam such as expanded polystyrene resin with an expansion ratio of 40 to 70, and the surfaces are coated (also called lining) with a resin compound (for example, polyurea resin manufactured by Shine Kohgei Co., Ltd.) Note that the surfaces of all of the bottom plate 11, front plate 12, rear plate 13, top plate 14, wing doors 15, 16, and side flaps 17, 18 do not necessarily have to be coated with a resin compound, but it is preferable to coat the entire surfaces with a resin compound from the viewpoints of preventing splitting and fracture of the foam, improving rigidity and strength, improving waterproofness, and improving abrasion resistance and sliding properties.

[0029] The cross-sectional shapes of the bottom plate 11, front plate 12, and top plate 14 are generally rectangular. The rear plate 13 extends upward from the bottom plate 11 in a generally rectangular shape, and has a cross-sectional shape that is connected to the top plate 14 with a step that protrudes outward (see Figure 4).

[0030] The wing doors 15, 16 and the side flaps 17, 18 constituting the side doors 5, 6 are positioned at a position approximately one-quarter of the height from the bottom plate 11 to the top plate 14. for cargo It is divided parallel to the direction of travel when loaded onto the vehicle. However, it is not necessary to limit it to the quarter position as long as it is located higher than the tailgate 201 of the truck.

[0031] The wing doors 15 and 16 have respective ends 15a and 16a (see FIG. 5 for locations) that have a substantially rectangular cross section similar to the ends 14a and 14b of the top plate 14, with curved portions 15b and 16b and flat portions 15c and 16c. The inner surfaces are stepped down at stepped portions 15j and 16j midway toward the free ends of the tips 15d and 16d so that the thickness of the cross section becomes thinner, extending to the tips 15d and 16d. As a result, a stepped space Q is formed inward at each of the tips 15d and 16d (see FIGS. 3, 5, and 8).

[0032] The side flaps 17 and 18 each have a generally rectangular flat plate shape and have outer surface portions 17a and 18a and inner surface portions 17b and 18b. The upper end surfaces 17d and 18d overlap to engage with the stepped space Q, and the lower end surfaces 17c and 18c face the bottom plate 11 (see Figures 3, 5, and 8). As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the outer surface portion 17a is provided with protrusions 17g (the same applies to the side flaps 18).

[0033] The top plate 14 and the wing door 15, and the top plate 14 and the wing door 16, are connected by hinge parts that allow them to rotatably engage with each other. Taking the top plate 14 and the wing door 15 as an example, as shown in FIG. 5, the top plate 14 and the wing door 15 are connected by hinge parts 19 with fixing screws (not shown). The hinge parts 19 are made of resin, such as polypropylene resin, and have a thin-walled bending groove in the approximate center, and connect the top plate 14 and the wing door 15 with multiple fixing screws. Here, the top plate 14 and the wing door 15 are made of thermoplastic resin foam, such as expanded polystyrene resin. To ensure attachment strength, the top plate 14 and the wing door 15 are fitted with reinforcing beams 23, 24 made of metal, such as aluminum, or wood, and are fixed to the reinforcing beams 23, 24 with fixing screws. The hinge parts 19, 20 may also be metal hinges.

[0034] Furthermore, mounting fasteners 43, 44 for a pair of front and rear metal stay assemblies 40 are fixed to the approximately upper plate sides of the front and rear plates 12, 13 of the main body and the approximately upper plate sides of the inner surfaces of the wing doors, respectively. As shown in Figure 11(a), the stay assembly 40 has one end of a stay arm 41 and one end of a stay arm 42 rotatably connected by a pivot pin 45, the other end of the stay arm 41 is rotatably connected to a mounting fixture 43 fixed to the front panel 12 by the pivot pin 45, and the other end of the stay arm 42 is rotatably connected to a mounting fixture 44 fixed to the wing door 15 by the pivot pin 45, and the stay arms 41 and 42 are stored in a bent state. The fixing members 43, 44 are fixed to the front panel 12, rear panel 13 and wing door 15 with fixing screws (not shown), but the front panel 12, rear panel 13 and wing door 15 are equipped with reinforcing beams (not shown) made of metal such as aluminum or wood to ensure attachment strength.

[0035] As a result, when the wing door 15 is rotated around the hinge part 19 and opened to approximately the height of the upper plate 14, the stay arms 41 and 42 change from a bent state to a fully extended state as shown in Figure 11(b), and the wing door 15 can be held in that position. In this explanation, the stay assembly 40 has been described as a bending type stay assembly, but it may be a stay assembly that can be extended and contracted in the longitudinal direction, or may be a cylinder type gas spring. (The wing door 16, the front panel 12, the rear panel 13, and the stay assembly 40 have the same structure.)

[0036] The front panel 12, rear panel 13 and side flaps 17, and the front panel 12, rear panel 13 and side flaps 18 are connected by metal link arms 31 arranged at both ends. One end of each of the four link arms 31 is rotatably held to the front panel 12 and rear panel 13 by pivot pins 32 at rotation fulcrum portions 31a, respectively, and the front panel 12 and rear panel 13 are equipped with reinforcing beams (not shown) made of metal such as aluminum or wood to ensure attachment strength. Meanwhile, the other end of the link arm 31 is fitted into grooves 17e, 18e near upper end surfaces 17d, 18d of the side flaps 17, 18 on both sides, and is rotatably held by pivot pins (not shown) at rotation fulcrum portions 31b (see FIG. 12).

[0037] As a result, the side flaps 17 can be opened by lowering them to a position below the bottom plate 11 in an upright position that is substantially the same as when they are closed, that is, with the outer surface 17a of the side flaps 17 always facing outward. (The front plate 12, rear plate 13, and link arm 31 of the side flaps 18 also have the same structure.) The opening and closing operations will be described separately below.

[0038] The sealed structure of the insulated container box 100 is formed by lowering the wing doors 15, 16 on both sides of the main body 10 and lifting the side flaps 17, 18 to close the box. At this time, the end faces 12a, 12b on both sides of the front panel 12 and the end faces 13a, 13b on both sides of the rear panel 13 come into contact with the inner surfaces 15f, 16f of the wing doors 15, 16 and the inner surfaces 17b, 18b of the side flaps 17, 18, respectively, to form a sealed structure (see FIG. 3).

[0039] Fig. 7 shows the insulated container box 100 of the present invention mounted on a truck, and Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow JJ. When the truck's tailgate 201 is closed, the outer surface 17a of the side flap 17 shown in Fig. 8 fits into the tailgate 201. Furthermore, the protrusion 17g of the side flap 17 abuts against the inner wall 201a of the tailgate, thereby sandwiching and fixing the insulated container box 100 from both sides between the opposite side flap 18 and the truck tailgate 202. In other words, the tailgate 201 presses the wing door 17 against the main body 10, ensuring a tight seal when the truck is traveling (the same applies to the opposite wing door 18).

[0040] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wing door 15 is secured with fixing levers (not shown) at fixing portions 15k provided near both ends of the flat portion 15c and fixing portions 12k, 13k on the end faces of the front panel 12 and rear panel 13, respectively, so that the inner surface 15f of the wing door 15 is in close contact with each side end face 12a and 13a, and the outer surface 17a of the side flap 17 is in close contact with the inner stepped flat portion 15m in the stepped space Q of the wing door 15, thereby ensuring a tight seal when the truck is traveling, etc. (See Figure 8; the same applies to the opposite wing door 16.)

[0041] FIG. 9 shows the insulated container box 100 of the present invention mounted on a truck with the wing doors and side flaps open in the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows K-K. The wing doors 15 are fixed and supported at approximately the same height as the top plate 14 by stay assemblies 40 at both ends. The side flaps 17 are engaged by link arms 31 at both ends, and their own weight causes the upper end surfaces 17d to be at approximately the same height as or lower than the loading surface 204a of the loading section 204 of the truck. In other words, loading and unloading operations can be carried out smoothly by sliding baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables along the inner surface 11a of the bottom plate of the main body 10 without interfering with the worker's movement (the same applies to the opposite wing door 16 and side flaps 18).

[0042] Next, the opening and closing operation of the wing doors 15 and side flaps 17 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. The initial state of the insulated container box 100 with the wing doors 15, 16 and side flaps 17, 18 closed is shown in Figure 1. Figure 13 shows the insulated container box 100 with one wing door 15 open, and also shows the state with the truck tailgate 201 rotated open. Baskets containing relatively lightweight fresh produce such as vegetables can be loaded and unloaded with only the wing doors 15 open, leaving the truck tailgate 201 and side flaps 17 closed, making opening and closing even easier. Figure 14 shows the insulated container box 100 with the side flaps 17 open, allowing relatively heavy baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables to be loaded and unloaded smoothly by sliding them along the inner surface 11a of the bottom plate. Generally, when loading and unloading cargo, one side is often operated, but it is preferable to provide the wing doors and side flaps of the present invention on both sides in terms of freedom of operation.

[0043] Next, an operation for holding the wing doors 15 of the insulated container box 100 in an open position will be described. The process from the closed state (FIG. 1) of the insulated container box 100 to holding the wing doors 15 in an open position will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 13. From the state of FIG. 1, an operator removes the fixing levers that secure the fixing parts 15k provided near both ends and the fixing parts 12k, 13k on the end faces of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13, places their fingers on the handles (not shown) provided near the tip 15d of the wing door 15, and lifts it upward while pulling it toward themselves. The wing door 15 then rotates upward around the hinge parts 19 in the direction of arrow R1 and moves to the open position. Next, as the wing door 15 rotates, the stay arms 41 and 42, which are bent so that they can be folded upward of the stay assembly 40 shown in Figure 11(a), rotate around three pivot pins 45 as the wing door 15 moves, and as shown in Figure 11(b), the stay arms 41 and 42 bend slightly in the opposite direction (downward) from their substantially straight state, restricting their rotation and fixing them in place. As a result, the wing door 15 is held in an open position (the same applies to the opposite wing door 16). Note that although a handle is not shown, it may be provided on the flat portion 15c near the tip end 15d of the wing door 15, or on both end surfaces.

[0044] Next, an operation for holding the side flaps 17 of the insulated container box 100 in an open position will be described. The process from when the wing doors 15 of the insulated container box 100 are in an open position (FIG. 13) to when the side flaps 17 are held in an open position will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. First, the worker opens the wing doors 15 upward as shown in FIG. 13, and then rotates the gate 201 in the direction of arrow R2 to open it. Next, when the worker places his or her fingers on the handles (not shown) provided near the end surface 17d at the upper end of the side flaps 17 and pulls them toward the worker (in the forward direction of arrow R3 in FIG. 14), the link arms 31 at both ends rotate toward the outside of the main body 10 around the rotation fulcrum 31a formed by the pivot pin 32. Furthermore, the side flaps 17, which are rotatably engaged at the rotation fulcrum 31b by the pivot pin (not shown), move downwardly to the bottom plate 11 on the outside (in the downward direction of arrow R4 in FIG. 14). The pivot pin that engages the side flap 17 with the link arm 31 is located near the upper end surface 17d of the side flap 17, so that the side flap 17 remains in a substantially vertical position due to its own weight, and moves over the open truck tailgate 201 to the open position with the outer surface 17a of the side flap 17 always facing outward from the insulated container box 100 (FIGS. 12(b) and 14). In other words, the inner surface 17b of the side flap 17 always faces inward, and can be kept clean even when loaded with baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables on farmland (the same applies to the opposite side flap 18).

[0045] As described above in detail, according to the first embodiment, when the insulated container box 100 is closed, fresh produce such as vegetables stored inside the insulated container box 100 is covered with an insulating layer, and therefore can be transported while maintaining freshness. Note that in the above description, the sealing state between the front panel 12 and rear panel 13 of the insulated container box 100 and the wing doors 15, 16 and the side flaps 17, 18 has been described as a structure in which the sealing is achieved by abutting the respective side end faces 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b with the inner surfaces 15f, 16f of the wing doors 15, 16 and the inner surfaces 17b, 18b of the side flaps 17, 18. Furthermore, the sealing of the wing doors 15, 16 and the side flaps 17, 18 has been described as a structure in which the inner stepped flat surfaces 15m, 16m and the outer surfaces 17a, 18a are brought into contact to form a seal, but the sealing performance can be further improved by providing, for example, polyurethane foam, which is a soft foam sponge, on the contact surfaces, etc., and sealing by clamping them together.

[0046] Furthermore, because the wing doors 15, 16 are separated from the side flaps 17, 18 and made compact, the weight is light, and even when lifted upward, opening and closing can be easily performed with a relatively light force. Also, if the baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables to be loaded are relatively light, loading and unloading can be performed without opening the side flaps 17, 18. If the baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables to be loaded are relatively heavy, the side flaps 17, 18 must be opened, but they can be easily opened and closed with a relatively light force. Also, because the upper end portions 17b, 18b of the leading ends can be moved to a position lower than the loading surface 204a of the loading section 204 of the truck, even relatively heavy baskets can be loaded and unloaded by sliding them across the loading surface 204a, realizing a structure that allows for efficient work. Furthermore, since the inner surfaces 17b, 18b of the side flaps 17, 18 are always positioned on the inside, they can be kept clean even when loaded with baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables on farmland, without being soiled by rainwater, and a structure can be realized that prevents the sales boxes from being soiled when transporting boxed vegetables and the like for sale from a processing factory to a sales outlet.

[0047] In addition, in the first embodiment of the present invention, by installing at least one torsion coil spring in the hinge parts 19, 20 that engage the wing doors 15, 16 and the upper plate 14 so that they can rotate freely, although the structure becomes more complex, the wing doors 15, 16 can be opened and closed more easily with less force.

[0048] Alternatively, in the first embodiment of the present invention, by installing a gas spring (not shown) between the wing doors 15, 16 and at least one of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13, the structure becomes more complex, but it becomes possible to easily open and close the wing doors 15, 16 with less force. Note that it is desirable to fix the gas spring with screws to a metal plate (not shown) that is inserted into or attached to the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13.

[0049] <Modification of the first embodiment> A modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 15(a) is a diagram showing the state of the side flaps 75 when the insulated container box 100 is sealed, and the side flaps 75 are divided into two roughly rectangular pieces, an upper side plate 76 and a lower side plate 77, which have roughly the same dimensions and similar shapes. Furthermore, the lower end surface of the upper side plate 76 and the upper end surface of the lower side plate 77 are each connected by hinge parts 63 so as to be foldable by rotating in the direction of arrow T in the figure toward the inner side.

[0050] To keep the side flaps 75 open, the entire side flaps 75 are pulled in the direction of arrow R3 shown in Figures 13 and 14, similar to the side flaps 17, and are rotated and folded in the direction of arrow T in Figure 15(a), while the entire side flaps 75 are moved in the direction of arrow R4 shown in Figure 14 in accordance with the rotation of the link arms 31 at both ends. In this way, the upper side plate 76 and the lower side plate 77 are folded inward around the hinge parts 63, with the inner surface portions 76b and 77b coming into contact with each other, and the entire side flaps 75 are held outside the gate 201. By doing so, only the outer surface 76a of the upper side plate 76 is exposed to the outer surface of the side flap 75, and the inner surfaces 76b, 77b are protected even more than the side flap 17 of the first embodiment. Even when loading baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables on farmland, the baskets can be kept clean without being soiled by rainwater.

[0051] <Second embodiment> A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 16 and 17. As with the first embodiment, an insulated container box 150 has a main body 10, the basic structure of which is made up of a rectangular parallelepiped bottom plate 11, a rectangular parallelepiped front plate 12 arranged upward from an end of the bottom plate 11, a rear plate 13 arranged upward from an end opposite to the front plate 12, and a top plate 14 provided to connect the upper ends of the front plate 12 and rear plate 13. As with the first embodiment, two wing doors 15, 16 are provided on both side surfaces of the main body 10 and engaged with ends 14a, 14b of the top plate 14 via hinge parts 19, 20 so as to be rotatable relative to the main body 10.

[0052] Furthermore, the side ends 12a and 12b of the front panel 12 and the side ends 13a and 13b of the rear panel 13 are for cargo Side flaps 50 and 55 are provided on both sides so that the top and bottom direction when mounted on a vehicle can be rotated in the axial direction, i.e., in the axial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hinge parts 19 and 20. The side flaps 50 are for cargo The door is divided into two side panels 56 and 57 at approximately the center in the vehicle travel direction. The upper end surface 50d of the side panel 56 fits into the step space Q of the inner step flat surface 15m of the wing door 15, similar to the side flap 17 (the same applies to the side flap 55).

[0053] The side flap 50 is made up of four lower side plates, namely, end side plates 51 and 54 and central side plates 52 and 53, which are substantially rectangular and have substantially the same dimensions. for cargo The flap portion 62a is fixed to the side end surface 12a of the front panel 12 by the first hinge part 62 so that it can be rotated about an axial direction that is the top-bottom direction when mounted on a vehicle. for cargo A flap portion 62a is fixed to the side end surface 13a of the rear panel 13 by a first hinge part 62 so as to be rotatable about an axial direction that is the top-bottom direction when mounted on a vehicle.

[0054] Furthermore, the side plate 56 is composed of the end side plate 51 and the central side plate 52, and the inner surface portion 51b and the inner surface portion 52b thereof are for cargo The side plates 57 and 53 are connected by a second hinge part 61 so as to be rotatable about the vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle, and the inner surface parts 51b and 52b can be folded inward in a direction in which they face each other. for cargo The second hinge part 61 connects the two parts so that they can rotate freely around the vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle, and they can be folded inward so that the inner surface part 54b and the inner surface part 53b face each other.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 17, the central side plate 52 of the side flap 50 has a stepped inner surface so that the thickness of the cross-sectional shape at the tip end is thinner, forming a protrusion 52c, and the central side plate 53 has a stepped outer surface so that the thickness of the cross-sectional shape at the tip end is thinner, forming a protrusion 53c. When the container box is closed, the protrusion 52c of the central side plate 52 of the side flap 50 abuts against the protrusion 53c of the central side plate 53. The engagement between the end side plate 51 and the central side plate 52 and the engagement between the end side plate 54 and the central side plate 53 are similar. As a result, the inner stepped flat surface 15m of the wing door 15 abuts against the outer surfaces 51a, 52a, 53a, and 54a of the side flap 50, forming a sealed structure (see FIG. 8, similar to the side flap 55).

[0056] The side flaps 50, 55 are similarly made of a thermoplastic resin foam such as expanded polystyrene resin with an expansion ratio of 40 to 70 times, and the surface is coated with a resin compound (polyurea resin).

[0057] 18 is a perspective view of the wing doors 15, 16 and the side flaps 50, 55 in the open state. With respect to the side flap 50, the end side panel 51 rotates outward at the first hinge part 62, and the central side panel 52 rotates inward at the second hinge part 61. In other words, with the end side panel 51 and the central side panel 52 constituting the side panel 56 folded in such a manner that the inner surfaces 51b and 52b face each other, the end side panel 51 and the central side panel 52 rotate and move forward of the front panel 12 while maintaining their horizontal height. Similarly, the end side panel 54 and the central side panel 53 rotate outward at the first hinge part 62, and the central side panel 53 rotates inward at the second hinge part 61. In other words, when the end side plates 54 and the central side plate 53 constituting the side plate 57 are folded in such a way that the inner surfaces 54b and 53b face each other, the end side plates 54 and the central side plate 53 rotate and move forward of the rear plate 13 while maintaining their horizontal height (the same applies to the side flaps 55).

[0058] The method of opening the wing door 15 and side flaps 50 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 19. First, the method of opening the wing door 15 is exactly the same as in the first embodiment, and as shown in Figure 19(a), the lock of the wing door 15 is released from the state in Figure 16 by operating the fixed levers (not shown) on both ends. After that, when the wing door 15 is lifted while being pulled toward the front with a finger hook (not shown) provided near the tip 15d of the wing door 15, the wing door 15 rotates upward around the hinge part 19 in the direction of arrow S1, moves to an open position, and is held by the stay assembly 40.

[0059] To open the side flaps 50, rotate the gate 201 in the direction of arrow S2 and lower it. Then, pull the areas near the joints between the end side panel 51 and the central side panel 52 and the areas near the joints between the end side panel 54 and the central side panel 53 in the direction of arrow S3 while pushing the end side panel 51 and the central side panel 52, and the end side panel 54 and the central side panel 53, toward the front panel 12 and the rear panel 13 in the direction of S4 shown in FIG. 19(b), respectively, so that they fold. As a result, the inner surface 51b of the end side panel 51 and the inner surface 52b of the central side panel 52 are folded in opposing directions and come into contact. Similarly, the inner surfaces 54b and 53b of the end side panel 54 and the central side panel 53 are folded in opposing directions and come into contact (FIG. 19(c)).

[0060] According to the second embodiment described above, the side flaps 50, 55 are structured to move horizontally when opened or closed, allowing for smooth opening and closing operations with very little force. Furthermore, the end side plates and central side plates of the side flaps 50, 55 that make up the inner surface of the insulated container box body can be folded in such a way that the inner surfaces face each other, and the structure allows the inner surfaces to be kept from being exposed to the surface even when the inner surfaces are open, which has the advantage that baskets containing fresh produce such as vegetables harvested from farmland can be kept clean and free from soiling when loaded onto the body. In the second embodiment, the side flaps 50 are divided into central side plates 52, 53 approximately in the center, and from between them for cargo It is designed to fold towards the front panel 12 and towards the rear panel 13 in the direction of travel of the vehicle. Of course, if there is an even number of lower side panels, they can be connected with the second hinge parts 61 and folded in one direction, which obviously has the same effect because the inner surfaces of the lower side panels abut against each other, but from the standpoint of workability, it is preferable to divide it roughly in the middle and fold it towards the front panel 12 and towards the rear panel 13, respectively, so that only the necessary parts can be folded. [Example]

[0061] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples. Example 1 The results of a heat insulation test carried out using the heat-insulating container box 100 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 20, an insulated container box 100 was placed in a temperature-controllable constant-temperature room 70, and test specimens 73 were prepared in a state in which a temperature-measuring thermocouple 71 was inserted under the thin skin of a fresh vegetable turnip 72, as shown in Fig. 21. With regard to test specimens 73, test specimen 73A was placed in a basket 160 placed in the insulated container box 100, as shown in Fig. 22. Test specimen 73B was placed in a basket 160 placed outside the insulated container box 100 inside the temperature-controlled room 70, as shown in Fig. 23, and then covered with a blanket 74 and sprayed with sufficient water. Test specimen 73A was used as an example to evaluate the performance of the insulated container box of the present invention, and test specimen 73B was used as a comparative example to reproduce a conventional preservation method for fresh vegetable turnips from harvesting to transportation to a processing plant.

[0063] Next, the procedure for the insulation test will be described. The temperature inside the temperature-controlled chamber 70 was rapidly raised from 10°C to 35°C at the maximum capacity of the temperature-controlled chamber 70 (2°C / min), and the temperature changes of the test specimens 73A and 73B at that time were measured. At the same time, the temperature inside the temperature-controlled chamber 70 was measured. The temperature-controlled chamber 70 used was a constant temperature and humidity chamber ER-105EXMH-R manufactured by Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc.

[0064] The results of the insulation test will be explained using Figure 24. The temperature inside the thermostatic chamber 70 reached 30°C 10 minutes after the start of the test and 35°C 20 minutes later. The time from harvesting turnips as a vegetable to transporting them to a processing plant, and from the processing plant to transporting them to market, is generally assumed to be within 50 minutes, and the temperatures of test specimens 73A and 73B after 50 minutes of testing were compared. Test specimen 73B, which replicated the conventional storage method, reached a temperature of 25°C after 50 minutes of testing, a temperature increase of approximately 15°C, whereas test specimen 73A, which was placed inside the insulated container box of the present invention, maintained a temperature of 13°C even after 50 minutes of testing, a temperature increase of approximately 3°C.

[0065] Compared to test specimen 73B, which replicated the conventional storage method, test specimen 73A placed in the insulated container box of the present invention experienced a more controlled temperature rise, demonstrating the high insulating effect of the insulated container box. The insulated container box makes it possible to transport fresh produce such as vegetables while maintaining their freshness better than before, and also reduces the heavy labor of repeatedly covering them with a heavy, damp blanket and spraying them with water every time they are loaded.

[0066] As explained in detail above, the insulated container box of the present invention has heat insulation properties, a simple structure, is lightweight, and allows the wing doors to be easily opened and closed. Furthermore, the leading edges of the wing doors can be securely held in place when the doors are open, providing wind pressure resistance. Therefore, it has the advantages of being able to safely maintain the freshness of vegetables and other perishables and improving workability for workers, compared to conventional methods.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the contents described in the above-described embodiments and examples, and the constituent elements include those that are substantially the same, or those that fall within the scope of what is called equivalents. Furthermore, the constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments and examples may be appropriately combined or appropriately selected for use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 5, 6: Side door (side panel) 10: Insulated container box body 11: Bottom plate 12: Front panel 13: Rear plate 14: Upper board 15, 16: Wing door 15d, 16d: Tip 15e, 16e: External part 15f, 16f: Inner surface 15j, 16j: Stepped section 15m, 16m: Inner stepped flat part 17, 18, 50, 55, 75: Side flap 17a, 18a: External part 17b, 18b: Inner surface 17d, 18d, 50d, 55d: End section 19, 20, 63: Hinge parts 61: Second hinge part 62: First hinge part 31: Link arm 31a, 31b: Rotation fulcrum of link arm 32: Axle pin 40: Stay assembly 41, 42: Stay arm 43, 44: Mounting fasteners 45: Axle pin 51, 54: Side flap end plates 52, 53: Central side panels of side flaps 51a, 52a, 53a, 54a: External part 51b, 52b, 53b, 54b: Inner surface 56, 57: Side panels 70: Constant temperature room 71: Thermocouple for temperature measurement 73, 73A, 73B: Test specimen 100, 150: Insulated container box 200: Truck 201, 202, 203: Truck tailgate 204: Truck loading area

Claims

1. A rectangular parallelepiped bottom plate and a rectangular parallelepiped front plate arranged upward from one end of the bottom plate. and a rectangular parallelepiped rear panel disposed upward from the end of the bottom panel opposite the front panel. and a rectangular parallelepiped upper plate engaged with the upper ends of the front plate and the rear plate. A thermoplastic resin foam body and a thermoplastic resin foam cover provided to cover both sides of the body. A cargo ship equipped with a pair of gates having a rotation axis parallel to the direction of travel and a foam side panel. An insulated container box for use on a vehicle, At least one of the side panels on both sides has an end opposite to an end of the top panel that is in contact with the cargo. The hinge part is engaged so that the vehicle can rotate freely around the direction of travel when mounted on the vehicle. Wing doors and A side flap that moves separately from the wing door; Equipped with A pair of stay assemblies capable of holding the wing door in an open state and a closed state The main body and the wing door are connected via the side flaps, and the side flaps are connected to the front panel and a pair of link arms, one end of which is rotatably engaged with the inner surface of the rear panel, the other end of which is rotatably engaged with the upper portion of the side flap adjacent to both ends thereof in parallel with the rotation of the wing door, and further including link arms disposed in parallel below the wing door; The wing doors and the side flaps are opened and closed with their inner surfaces always facing inward. In addition, When the side flaps are opened, the upper end surfaces of the side flaps are in contact with the inner surface of the bottom plate. An insulated container box characterized by being held at a position lower than the surface.

2. The wing doors and the side flaps are arranged to be in the closed position on the tailgate of the cargo vehicle. The lower end of the stepped portion of the wing door is on the outside, and the upper end of the door is higher than the upper end of the side door. The side plates of the container box are configured so that the upper ends of the side flaps overlap each other on the inside.

2. The heat-insulating container box according to claim 1.

3. The bottom plate, the front plate, the rear plate, the top plate, and the wing door made of the thermoplastic resin foam At least one of the side flaps or at least one surface thereof is coated with a resin compound.

3. The heat-insulating container box according to claim 1, wherein the heat-insulating container box is provided with a casing.

4. 10. The thermoplastic resin foam according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin foam is an expanded polystyrene resin. Item 3. The insulated container box according to item 2.

Images