Container for the transport and storage of goods provided with a butterfly mechanism

Abstract

Container (10) for the transport and storage of goods comprising a supporting structure (1), a base (11), a first uprights (2, 2') and a second uprights (3, 3') opposite to the first uprights and positioned at the ends of the short sides of the supporting structure (1), in which at least one stiffening element (6), provided with a plurality of supports (8, 8'), is removably fixed between the first uprights (2, 2') and between the second uprights (3, 3'), the container (10) being characterized in that the connection of the supports (8, 8') with the supporting structure (1) is achieved by means of a butterfly mechanism (20) firmly connected to the stiffening element (6).

Description

[0001] CONTAINER FOR THE TRANSPORT AND STORAGE OF GOODS PROVIDED WITH A BUTTERFLY MECHANISM

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Technical Field of the Invention

[0004] The subject of the present invention is a container for the transport and storage of goods provided with an innovative butterfly mechanism capable of guaranteeing greater operability. In particular, the reference sector is that of containers for the transport of body parts or accessory parts for the automotive industry. The containers object of the present invention are therefore used to stack a plurality of goods of the same type on several levels, ensuring convenient and safe storage and transport of the goods.

[0005] Background art

[0006] Conventionally, containers for the transport of goods are structures used to collect a load composed of a plurality of individual pieces, so as to form a unit load that can be easily transported and stacked using mechanical devices.

[0007] In the state of the art, some examples of containers for the transport and storage of car parts in the automotive industry are known. As is known, in the automotive sector the various assembly or spare parts, such as bonnets and fenders, gearboxes, doors, etc., are stored and transported inside steel containers, often of considerable size which are, in turn, stacked on top of each other inside goods transport trucks. Since these are very delicate mechanical parts, valuable and characterized by precise functioning, they must therefore be inserted inside the containers in a stable and safe way, to avoid possible impacts that could damage them. Normally, the loading and unloading of the pieces inside these containers are carried out manually by operators, who, during the loading phase, position one piece at a time on suitable supports fixed to the load-bearing structure, i.e. walls or drawn / welded tubes of the container itself. These supports must also guarantee safety and stability to the pieces to be transported. They are generally partially movable to ensure the insertion of the pieces by the operators. However, the handling of these supports is often not very easy and cannot therefore be carried out by a single operator, but requires the use of multiple operators.

[0008] There is therefore a need to define a container for the transport and storage of goods which allows for easy loading and unloading of the pieces by a single operator and which also has real safety and stability capabilities, so as to allow storage and safe transport of the goods.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to create a container for the transport of goods which allows the elimination of the technical drawbacks complained of in the prior art. The aim of the present invention is, therefore, a container provided with a plurality of supports for supporting the load characterized by an innovative butterfly mechanism which allows the load to be positioned easily and supported in a safe and stable way.

[0011] A further purpose of the present invention is to create a support adaptable to the transport of a load of any shape and overall size.

[0012] These and other purposes and advantages are achieved, according to the invention, by a container for the transport of goods, having the characteristics set out in the attached independent claim.

[0013] Further preferred and / or particularly advantageous ways of implementing the invention are described according to the characteristics set out in the attached dependent claims.

[0014] Brief Descrizione dei Diseani

[0015] The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of implementation, in which:

[0016] • Figure 1 is an overall axonometric view of the container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] • Figure 2 is a plan view of the container in Figure 1;

[0018] • Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a detail of the container of Figure 1, according to a first embodiment;

[0019] • Figure 4 is an axonometric view of a detail of the container of Figure 1, according to a further embodiment; • Figure 5 is a detailed side view of the support and of a butterfly mechanism in the assembled configuration of Fig.4,

[0020] • Figure 6 is a side view of the butterfly mechanism in unassembled configuration, according to the present invention.

[0021] Detailed Description

[0022] With reference to the aforementioned figures, the subject of the present invention is a container 10 for the transport and storage of goods comprising a load-bearing structure or frame 1 having a rectangular shape.

[0023] The supporting structure 1, in a preferred form according to the present invention, has a parallelepiped shape and includes a base 11, first uprights 2, 2' and second uprights 3, 3' opposite the first uprights and positioned at the ends of the short sides of the load-bearing structure 1 and at least a third upright 4, 4' on the long side of the loadbearing structure 1. First 2, 2', second 3, 3' and third uprights 4, 4' being connected to each other by horizontal crosspieces 5. The uprights being, preferably, drawn / welded tubes or drawn / bent profiles.

[0024] At least one support-holding stiffening element 6 provided with a plurality of supports 8, 8' is fixed in a removable manner between the first uprights 2, 2' and between the second uprights 3, 3'.

[0025] Advantageously, the supports 8, 8' can take on any shape depending on the goods to be stored or transported and are preferably coated or made of a non-metallic material capable of absorbing any impacts or blows.

[0026] A first example of support 8 is illustrated in figure 3 and includes a plurality of elements having an inverted "U" shape, a second example of support 8' is illustrated in figure 4 and includes a plurality of elements having an "L" shape". The individual pieces to be stored and transported are allocated within these elements. These supports 8, 8', suited to the shape of the goods, allow on the one hand the stacking of the goods on several levels for an optimization of the spaces, on the other their extremely stable positioning, given the possibility of using them inside the structure carrier 1 of container 10.

[0027] Advantageously, further uprights 12 also provided with special supports 13, adaptable to the shape of the goods to be transported, can be mounted on the base 11 of the supporting structure 1 of the container 10.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5 and in the detail of Figure 6, the connection of the supports 8, 8' with the supporting structure 1 is achieved by means of a butterfly mechanism 20. This butterfly mechanism 20 is firmly attached to the stiffening element 6 and includes a plate 19 with a substantially circular external shape and a "T"-shaped plate 18 firmly fixed to the supports 8, 8'. The plate 18 is able to rotate inside a shaped opening 21 of the plate 19, an opening 21 defined, as illustrated in the detail of Figure 6, by respective protuberances 22, 22' and recesses 23, 23' of the plate 19. The butterfly mechanism 20 also includes an orthogonal U-bolt 26 firmly attached to the plate 18 which can engage in operation with a groove 25 of the plate 19.

[0029] The shaping of the opening 21 allows the plate 18 to assume:

[0030] - a first working configuration for fixing the goods in a stable and safe way, in which a first face 39 of the plate 18 abuts on a first face 42 of a first protuberance 22' and the U-bolt 26 is inserted into the groove 25 of the plate 19, so that the plate 18 assumes a position parallel to a horizontal plane passing through an axis X of the stiffening element 6;

[0031] - a second, intermediate configuration, in which a second face 49 of the plate 18 abuts on a second face 32 of a second protuberance 22 and the U-bolt 26 is disengaged from the groove 25 of the plate 19, so that the plate 18 can rotate inside opening 21;

[0032] - a third configuration, open to allow access to the underlying supports 8, 8', in which the second face 49 of the plate 18 abuts on a second face 43 of the second protuberance 22 and in which the first face 39 of the plate 18 abuts on a second face 33 of the second protuberance 22'.

[0033] The U-bolt 26 inserted into the groove 25 of the plate 19 has enough play to allow for easy movement of the same inside and outside the groove 25.

[0034] According to the present invention, the plate 19 is capable of performing a rotation inside the opening 21 of the plate 19 between 0° and 90°.

[0035] Advantageously, the butterfly mechanism 20 can be easily operated by a single operator to carry out the loading and unloading operations of the goods. In particular, in order to access the underlying supports, the operator will move the support 8, 8' upwards which will pass from the first configuration to the second configuration (translation) from the second configuration to the third configuration (rotation). To bring the supports 8, 8' back to the working position, the operator will move the support 8, 8' downwards which will move from the third configuration to the second configuration and then to the first working configuration.

[0036] In practice, starting from the base 11 of the container 10, to position the means to be stored and transported, the operator will first move the supports 8, 8' upwards, position the first piece and then close the next support 8, 8' to position the second piece and so on until the container 10 is complete. The unloading of the goods will take place in the reverse sequence.

[0037] Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the summary and detailed description, it must be understood that there is a large number of variations falling within the scope of protection of the invention. Furthermore, it must be understood that the embodiment or embodiments presented are only examples which are not intended to limit in any way the scope of protection of the invention or its application or its configurations. Rather, the summary and detailed description provide the skilled technician in the sector with a convenient guide to implement at least one exemplary embodiment, it being clear that numerous variations can be made in the function and assembly of the elements described herein, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as established by the attached claims and their technical-legal equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Container (10) for the transport and storage of goods comprising a supporting structure (1), a base (11), a first uprights (2, 2') and a second uprights (3, 3') opposite to the first uprights and positioned at the ends of the short sides of the supporting structure (1), in which at least one stiffening element (6), provided with a plurality of supports (8, 8'), is removably fixed between the first uprights (2, 2') and between the second uprights (3, 3'), the container (10) being characterized in that the connection of the supports (8, 8') with the supporting structure (1) is achieved by means of a butterfly mechanism (20) firmly connected to the stiffening element (6), wherein the butterfly mechanism (20) comprises a plate (19) with a substantially circular external shape, a "T" shaped plate (18) firmly constrained to the supports (8, 8 '), the "T" shaped plate (18) being configured to rotate inside a shaped opening (21) of the plate (19) and a U-bolt (26), orthogonal to the "T" shaped plate (18) and firmly constrained to it, which engages with a groove (25) of the plate (19).

2. Container (10) according to claim 1, wherein in a first configuration of the butterfly mechanism (20) a first face (39) of the "T" shaped plate (18) abuts against a first face (42) of a first protuberance (22') and the U-bolt (26) is inserted in the groove (25) of the plate (19), so that the "T" shaped plate (18) assumes a position parallel to a horizontal plane passing through an axis (X) of the stiffening element(6).

3. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in a second configuration of the butterfly mechanism (20) a second face (49) of the "T" shaped plate (18) abuts against a second face (32) of a second protuberance (22) and the U-bolt (26) is disengaged from the groove (25) of the plate (19), so that the "T" shaped plate (18) can rotate inside the opening (21).

4. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in a third configuration of the butterfly mechanism (20) the second face (49) of the "T" shaped plate (18) abuts against a second face (43) of the second protuberance (22) and in which the first face (39) of the "T" shaped plate (18) abuts against a second face (33) of the second protuberance (22').

5. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (19) is capable of performing a rotation within the opening (21) of the plate (19) comprises between 0° and 90°.

6. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a first support (8) comprises a plurality of elements having an inverted "U" shape and a second support (8') comprises a plurality of elements having a "L" shape.

7. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising further uprights (12) connected to the base (11) of the supporting structure (1) also provided with suitable supports (13).

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