Tray

Abstract

[Problem] To disclose a technique making it possible to place a cargo on a tray by a forklift. [Solution] This tray is provided with a plurality of support base parts that protrude upward and can support a cargo from below, which are arranged in three rows. The spaces between these rows form a pair of fork reception parts in which a fork can be inserted below the cargo. The tray is provided with: a first regulation projection part that regulates the displacement of the cargo in a first horizontal direction, which is a fork insertion / extraction direction to the pair of fork reception parts; and a second regulation projection part that regulates the displacement of the cargo in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction.

Description

tray

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tray having a restricting portion that restricts horizontal movement of luggage.

[0002] A known conventional tray of this type has a recessed regulating portion capable of receiving luggage (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-41077 (Figs. 1 and 2)

[0004] However, the above-mentioned conventional trays could not meet the demand for loading cargo onto the trays using a forklift. Therefore, this application discloses a technology that makes it possible to load cargo onto the trays using a forklift.

[0005] One aspect of the invention of the present disclosure is a tray that has three rows of multiple support base sections that protrude upward and can support luggage from below, and between the rows is a pair of fork receiving sections that allow forks to be inserted below the luggage, and is equipped with a first regulating protrusion that regulates displacement of the luggage in a first horizontal direction, which is the direction in which forks are inserted and removed from the pair of fork receiving sections, and a second regulating protrusion that regulates displacement of the luggage in a second horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.

[0006] 9A is a side view of the tray as viewed from the first horizontal direction, and FIG. 9B is a side view of the tray as viewed from the second horizontal direction. 9B is a side view of the tray as viewed from the second horizontal direction. 9C is a side view of the pallet, tray, and cargo as viewed from the second horizontal direction. 9D is a side view of the pallet, tray, and cargo as viewed from the first horizontal direction.

[0007] A tray 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 11. Figure 1 shows a state in which a pair of packages 90 are placed on the trays 10 stacked on a pallet 70.

[0008] The pair of luggage 90 are, for example, identical, and are rectangular parallelepipeds with protruding portions 91 at their lower ends. The protruding portions 91 are, for example, horizontally elongated rectangles, with both ends of the long sides protruding from the side surfaces of the entire luggage 90, and both ends of the short sides protruding slightly from the side surfaces of the entire luggage 90.

[0009] 2 shows the pallet 70 in a standalone state with the trays 10 removed. This pallet 70 is, for example, a resin injection-molded product with a crossbeam structure, and a deck board 71 having a luggage carrying surface 71A on its upper surface has a plurality of upper surface openings 72 that penetrate vertically. The planar shape of the deck board 71 is a rectangle whose first horizontal direction H1 is larger than its second horizontal direction H2, and a plurality of beams 73 that protrude downward from the deck board 71 are provided at the four corners, the centroid, and the centers of each outer edge of the rectangle. The spaces between these beams 73 form fork receiving portions 74 into which a pair of forks F (see FIG. 9A ) can be inserted from the first horizontal direction H1 and the second horizontal direction H2.

[0010] The pallet 70 of this embodiment is not manufactured for the tray 10, but is a general-purpose pallet that can be used on its own, but it may also be a pallet dedicated to the tray 10. The pallet 70 may also be made of wood or metal.

[0011] 3 shows the tray 10 in a standalone state removed from the pallet 70. The tray 10 is, for example, a vacuum-formed resin product, and is formed by placing a resin sheet on a heated mold (not shown) and sucking the resin sheet through multiple holes in the mold. The planar shape of the tray 10 is a rectangle in which the first horizontal direction H1 is longer than the second horizontal direction H2, and the planar shape is slightly smaller than the load-placing surface 71A of the pallet 70.

[0012] Outer edge ridges 14 protrude from the entire outer edge of the tray 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer edge ridges 14 have a groove structure with an open bottom. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer edge ridges 14 are lowered at multiple locations on the tray 10, dividing them into multiple lower step portions 15 and multiple upper step portions 16. This stepped structure increases the strength of the outer edge ridges 14 against loads that expand them in the width direction compared to a non-stepped structure. More specifically, the tray 10 has, for example, four lower step portions 15 spaced apart along the outer edge of each of the pair of long sides, excluding both ends, and one lower step portion 15 located in the center along the outer edge of each of the pair of short sides. Furthermore, a step 14D between the lower step portion 15 and the upper step portion 16 is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the outer edge ridges 14.

[0013] A connecting portion 17 is formed in each upper step 16 of the outer edge protrusion 14. As shown in FIG. 5 , the connecting portion 17 includes angular grooves 17M formed by bending portions of a pair of opposing widthwise walls of the outer edge protrusion 14 toward each other in a rectangular groove shape. Furthermore, V-shaped grooves 17N are formed in the center of the bottom surfaces of the angular grooves 17M, bending the pair of opposing walls to secure them together. Additionally, multiple angular grooves 18 are formed in the upper step 16 of the outer edge protrusion 14 on each of the pair of short sides of the tray 10. The angular grooves 18 are simply formed by bending the outermost opposing wall of the pair of opposing walls of the outer edge protrusion 14 in a rectangular groove shape. The connecting portions 17 and angular grooves 18 increase the bending strength of the pair of opposing walls of the outer edge protrusion 14, and the connecting portions 17 prevent the pair of opposing walls at the upper step 16 of the outer edge protrusion 14 from separating. In addition, the step portion 14D between the lower portion 15 and the upper portion 16 of the outer edge protrusions 14 on the pair of short sides of the tray 10 also functions as a marker for the fork insertion and removal opening into the pair of fork receiving portions 101 described later (see Figure 3).

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, the tray 10 includes a horizontal, plate-like base wall 11 on the inner side of the outer edge protrusion 14, and support base portions 20, 30 that protrude upward from the base wall 11 and are arranged in three rows at intervals in the second horizontal direction H2. As shown in Fig. 4, the support base portions 20, 30 have a bag-like structure with an open bottom, and as shown in Fig. 3, they include a plurality of load placement surfaces 50 included in a common imaginary horizontal plane and a plurality of restricting protrusions 60, 61, 63 that protrude upward from the imaginary horizontal plane. The load placement surfaces 50 are divided into two groups in the first horizontal direction H1, and the load placement surfaces 50 of each group are surrounded on all four sides in the first horizontal direction H1 and the second horizontal direction H2 by the plurality of restricting protrusions 60, 61, 63 to form a pair of workpiece receiving portions 100 (see Figs. 9A and 9B ). As shown in FIG. 1, the protruding portion 91 of each load 90 is received in the work receiving portion 100 and placed across the plurality of support base portions 20, 30.

[0015] 6, the support base 20 in the center row generally has a groove structure that is open at the bottom and extends linearly in the first horizontal direction H1, and includes restricting protrusions 60, 61 at both longitudinal ends and the center. Between the central restricting protrusion 61 and the restricting protrusions 60 at each end, the luggage placement surface 50 extends in the first horizontal direction H1, and a horizontal groove 21 that crosses the support base 20 in the second horizontal direction H2 is formed in the longitudinal center of each luggage placement surface 50. The inner surface of each horizontal groove 21 has a saddle shape that is rounded in both the first horizontal direction H1 and the second horizontal direction H2, and the height of the bottom of the horizontal groove 21 from the base wall 11 is, for example, approximately half the height from the base wall 11 to the luggage placement surface 50. The support base portion 20 has a structure in which the luggage carrying surface 50 is divided by a horizontal groove portion 21 and a regulating protrusion 61, and four support base main body portions 22 each having a luggage carrying surface 50 are arranged in a row in the first horizontal direction H1.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 4, the restricting protrusions 60, 61 have a bag structure with an opening inside the groove structure of the entire support base 20, and as shown in Fig. 6, for example, they are flat in the first horizontal direction H1 and gradually narrow upward in both the first horizontal direction H1 and the second horizontal direction H2. In addition, the portions of the upper surface of the support base 20 from which the restricting protrusions 60, 61 protrude form protrusion upright surfaces 28 that are slightly lower than the luggage placement surface 50. The central restricting protrusion 61 and the restricting protrusions 60 at each end sandwich the luggage 90 in the first horizontal direction H1, restricting displacement (movement) of the luggage 90 in the first horizontal direction H1.

[0017] Note that a restricting protrusion 63, which will be described later, restricts the displacement (movement) of the luggage 90 in the second horizontal direction H2, and when distinguishing between the restricting protrusions 60, 61, and 63, the restricting protrusions 60 and 61 that restrict the movement of the luggage 90 in the first horizontal direction H1 will be referred to as the "first restricting protrusions 60 and 61," and the restricting protrusion 63 that restricts the movement of the luggage 90 in the second horizontal direction H2 will be referred to as the "second restricting protrusion 63." Furthermore, when distinguishing between the restricting protrusions 60 and 61, the central restricting protrusion 61 in the first horizontal direction H1 will be referred to as the "rear-side first restricting protrusion 61," and the restricting protrusions 60 at both ends will be referred to as the "entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60."

[0018] 7, the lower portion of each of the two surfaces of the rear first restricting protrusion 61 facing the first horizontal direction H1 from a position approximately in the vertical center forms a vertical surface 61C that is a flat surface perpendicular to the first horizontal direction H1, and the upper portion forms an inclined surface 61B that is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction and parallel to the second horizontal direction H2. The upper end surface 61A of the rear first restricting protrusion 61 is horizontal, and the portions between the upper end surface 61A and the inclined surface 61B and between the inclined surface 61B and the vertical surface 61C are chamfered in an arc shape.

[0019] The surface of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60 facing the rear-side first restricting protrusion 61 has a lower portion from the upper end thereof that forms a vertical surface 60C that is a flat surface perpendicular to the first horizontal direction H1, and an upper portion that forms an inclined surface 60B that is inclined at a steeper angle with respect to the up-down direction than the inclined surface 61B described above and is parallel to the second horizontal direction H2. The upper end surface 60A of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60 is horizontal, and the portions between the upper end surface 60A and the inclined surface 60B and between the inclined surface 60B and the vertical surface 60C are chamfered in an arc shape.

[0020] The rear-side first restricting protrusion 61 protrudes higher from the support base 20 than the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60. Specifically, the lower end of the inclined surface 60B of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60 and the lower end of the inclined surface 61B of the rear-side first restricting protrusion 61 are positioned at approximately the same height, and the inclined surface 60B of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60 is smaller in the vertical direction than the inclined surface 61B of the rear-side first restricting protrusion 61.

[0021] The surface of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60 facing away from the rear-side first restricting protrusion 61 is continuous from the upper end of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60 to the base wall 11, and forms an inclined surface 60D that is slightly inclined in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 6, a vertical groove 24 with a square groove structure is formed in the horizontal center of the inclined surface 60D, and this vertical groove 24 reinforces the inclined surface 60D. The vertical groove 24 extends linearly from the base wall 11 to the upper end surface 60A of the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60, and its upper end opens to the upper end surface 60A.

[0022] Waveform portions 23 are formed on both side surfaces of the support base 20. The waveform portions 23 are made up of a pair of arc grooves 23A formed on both side surfaces of each support base main body 22 and extending in the vertical direction, and arc grooves 23B curved with a larger radius of curvature than the arc grooves 23A on both sides of the horizontal groove portion 21, which are connected side by side. The waveform portions 23 reinforce the pair of side walls of the support base 20 so as to increase their buckling strength.

[0023] A pair of reinforcing ridges 29 extend from both ends of the support base 20 on both sides in the second horizontal direction H2. These reinforcing ridges 29 protrude upward from the base wall 11 lower than the outer edge ridges 14 and have a groove structure with an open underside. These reinforcing ridges 29 increase the strength of the support base 20 against a load that tends to tilt the entire support base 20 in the second horizontal direction H2. Similar to the stepped portions 14D of the outer edge ridges 14 described above, the reinforcing ridges 29 also function as markers for the fork insertion / removal openings of the pair of fork receiving portions 101.

[0024] 3, the support base sections 30 at both end rows in the second horizontal direction H2 have an overall groove structure that is open at the bottom and extends in a serpentine manner in the first horizontal direction H1. Two of the support base sections 30 that protrude toward the support base section 20 due to the serpentine shape form a pair of support base main sections 32 each having a luggage placement surface 50. Second restricting protrusions 63 are arranged at four locations on the side of the support base section 30 away from the support base section 20, including both end sections in the first horizontal direction H1.

[0025] 8 , the planar shape of each support platform main body 32 is generally T-shaped, with a first side 32A extending in the first horizontal direction H1 and a second side 32B extending from the center of the first side 32A in the longitudinal direction toward the support platform 20 in the central row. Support auxiliary portions 31 extend from both ends of the first side 32A of each support platform main body 32 toward the side opposite the support platform 20 in the central row, and second restricting protrusions 63 protrude from positions on the support auxiliary portions 31 away from the support platform main body 32. The upper surface of the support auxiliary portion 31 between the second restricting protrusion 63 and the support platform main body 32 forms a protrusion upright surface 38 that is slightly lower than the luggage placement surface 50.

[0026] Each second restricting protrusion 63 has an L-shaped planar shape and includes a reinforcing portion 64 corresponding to a side of the L-shape parallel to the first horizontal direction H1 and a luggage contact portion 65 corresponding to a side parallel to the second horizontal direction H2. The second restricting protrusions 63 are paired, with two second restricting protrusions 63 at one end in the first horizontal direction H1 and two second restricting protrusions 63 at the other end. The luggage contact portions 65 of each pair of second restricting protrusions 63 are disposed on the edges of the pair of support auxiliary portions 31 from which they stand. The surface of each luggage contact portion 65 facing the support base 20 has, for example, a vertical surface 63C that is a flat surface perpendicular to the second horizontal direction H2 over approximately the lower one-third in the vertical direction, and an inclined surface 63B that is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction and parallel to the first horizontal direction H1 over approximately the upper two-thirds. The upper end surface 63A of the second restricting protrusion 63 is horizontal, and the portions between the upper end surface 63A and the inclined surface 63B, and between the inclined surface 63B and the vertical surface 63C are chamfered in an arc shape.

[0027] Also, as shown in Figure 9B, when the tray 10 is viewed from the second horizontal direction H2, the second regulating protrusion 63 of one pair is located midway between the rear first regulating protrusion 61 and one entrance side first regulating protrusion 60, and the second regulating protrusion 63 of the other pair is located midway between the rear side first regulating protrusion 61 and the other entrance side first regulating protrusion 60.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 8 , a pair of support auxiliary portions 31 facing each other at the center in the first horizontal direction H1 are connected by a connecting rib 34 at their ends farther from the support base portion 20, and a triangular rib 36 is provided on the opposite side of the central pair of support auxiliary portions 31 from the connecting rib 34 (see FIG. 9B ). These connecting ribs 34 and triangular ribs 36 have a hollow structure (a groove structure with an open bottom). As shown in FIG. 9B , the connecting rib 34 is lower than the support base main body portion 32, and the triangular rib 36 is even lower than the connecting rib 34. A pair of triangular ribs 36 are provided on the ends of the support auxiliary portions 31 at both ends farther from the support base portion 20 in both directions of the first horizontal direction H1.

[0029] 8 and 9B , the triangular ribs 36 at both longitudinal ends of the end row support base 30 are larger than the other triangular ribs 36. Reinforcing ridges 37 extend from the lower ends of the triangular ribs 36 at both ends toward the center row support base 20. Similar to the reinforcing ridges 29 described above, the reinforcing ridges 37 protrude upward from the base wall 11 lower than the outer edge ridges 14 and have a groove structure with an open bottom.

[0030] 3 and 9B, the surface of each second restricting protrusion 63 facing away from the support base 20 in the center row is formed with a vertical groove 24, similar to the restricting protrusions 60 of the support base 20 in the center row. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 8, a corrugated portion 33 is formed on the entire side surface of the support base main body 32. The corrugated portion 33 is made up of a series of multiple arcuate grooves 33A extending in the vertical direction.

[0031] 4, a plurality of fitting protrusions 13 protruding downward are provided near the support base portions 20, 30 of the base wall 11. Specifically, in the region of the base wall 11 between the support base portion 20 and each support base portion 30, the plurality of fitting protrusions 13 are arranged in two rows extending in the first horizontal direction H1, and are arranged such that the distance between one row and the entire support base portion 20 and the distance between the other row and the entire support base portion 30 are narrower than the distance between the rows.

[0032] 8, the second side 32B of the support base main body 32 is located midway in the row of fitting protrusions 13. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the region of the base wall 11 opposite the support base 20 with respect to each support base 30, the fitting protrusions 13 are located between a pair of second restricting protrusions 63. As shown in FIG. 11, these fitting protrusions 13 fit into a plurality of top surface opening holes 72 in the deck board 71 of the pallet 70, and the tray 10 is positioned so that it fits exactly on the deck board 71. Furthermore, the fitting protrusions 13 have a bag-like structure with an open top, as shown in FIG.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the base wall 11 has a plurality of through holes 12. The through holes 12 are, for example, substantially rectangular and are formed at three locations in the base wall 11, namely, the center and both end portions in the first horizontal direction H1, in a portion of the base wall 11 sandwiched between the center row of support base portions 20 and the end row of support base portions 30. The center through hole 12 in the first horizontal direction H1 is located between the second side portions 32B of the pair of support base main body portions 32 of the end row of support base portions 30, and the through holes 12 at both end portions are located with the second side portions 32B of the support base main body portions 32 (support base portions 30) sandwiched between the center through hole 12 and the center through hole 12. These through holes 12 exactly overlap with a plurality of upper surface opening holes 72 of the deck board 71 of the pallet 70.

[0034] The structure of the tray 10 of this embodiment has been described above. Next, the effects of the tray 10 will be described.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3 , the tray 10 of this embodiment includes three rows of support bases 20, 30 that protrude upward and can support cargo 90 from below, with a pair of fork receiving sections 101 formed between the rows, as shown in FIG. 9A . This allows a pair of forks F carrying cargo 90 to be lowered from above the tray 10, and the cargo 90 to be placed across the three rows of support bases 20, 30 as shown in FIG. 1 , and then the pair of forks F can be lowered into the pair of fork receiving sections 101 and removed, as shown in FIG. 9A . In other words, the cargo 90 can be placed on the tray 10 using a forklift. The cargo 90 placed on the support bases 20, 30 is restricted by the first restricting protrusions 60, 61 from displacing in a first horizontal direction H1, which is the direction in which the forks are inserted into and removed from the fork receiving sections 101, and by the second restricting protrusion 63 from displacing in a second horizontal direction H2, which is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction H1. In detail, the vertical surfaces 60C, 61C (see Figure 6) of the first regulating protrusions 60, 61 and the vertical surface 63C (see Figure 8) of the second regulating protrusion 63 are adjacent to the four side surfaces of the protrusion 91 (see Figure 1) of the luggage 90, thereby regulating the displacement (movement) of the luggage 90 in the first horizontal direction H1 and the second horizontal direction H2.

[0036] 10 , when a load 90 is placed on the tray 10, a tilt operation may be performed to move the pair of forks F from a tilted position with the tips raised to a horizontal position. In contrast, in the tray 10 of this embodiment, the rear-side first restricting protrusion 61, which is located away from the fork insertion / removal opening, of the first restricting protrusions 60, 61 is higher than the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60, which is located closer to the fork insertion / removal opening. Therefore, even when the load 90 is placed on the support bases 20, 30 by a tilt operation, the load 90 fits smoothly between the rear-side first restricting protrusion 61 and the entrance-side first restricting protrusion 60. In other words, the tray 10 of this embodiment makes it easy to operate a forklift when placing the load 90 on the tray 10.

[0037] Once the cargo 90 has been placed on the tray 10, the tray 10, the pallet 70, and the cargo 90 can be connected together by passing a connecting member 95 such as a belt or string shown in FIG. 1 through the through-hole 12 of the tray 10 shown in FIG. 3 and the top opening hole 72 of the pallet 70 shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] When a load 90 is placed on the tray 10, the weight of the load 90 acts as a load that widens the lower end openings of the support bases 20, 30. In response to this, the underside of the tray 10 is provided with a plurality of fitting protrusions 13 that fit into the upper surface opening holes 72 of the pallet 70, preventing the tray 10 from shifting relative to the pallet 70 and suppressing deformation that widens the openings of the support bases 20, 30. Moreover, as shown in Figure 3, the plurality of fitting protrusions 13 are positioned closer to the support bases 20, 30, which effectively suppresses the widening of the openings of the support bases 20, 30.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , the side surfaces of the support bases 20 and 30 are formed with a plurality of vertically extending arcuate grooves 23A, 23B, and 33A arranged side by side to form corrugated portions 23 and 33. These corrugated portions 23 and 33 reinforce the side walls of the support bases 20 and 30, increasing their buckling strength. This provides stable support for the load 90. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , the outer surfaces of the restricting protrusions 60 and 63 are provided with vertically extending vertical grooves 24. The pair of groove side walls of the vertical grooves 24 function as reinforcing ribs, increasing the bending strength of the walls of the first restricting protrusions 60 and 63 and enhancing the ability to prevent the load 90 from shifting sideways. This also provides stable support for the load 90. The vertically extending vertical grooves 24 may be provided on the side surfaces of the restricting protrusions 61 (e.g., the side surfaces facing the restricting protrusions 60 and 63 or the side surfaces facing the support base 30).

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the support base portion 20 in the central row has a groove structure with an open bottom surface, but by providing a lateral groove portion 21 that crosses the support base portion 20, a pair of groove side walls of the lateral groove portion 21 act as reinforcing ribs, and deformation such as an increase in the groove width of the groove-structured support base portion 20 is suppressed.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the support base portions 30 of the end rows have a structure that extends in a serpentine manner in the first horizontal direction H1, so that both ends of the tray 10 in the second horizontal direction H2 are reinforced in both the first horizontal direction H1 and the second horizontal direction H2 by the support base portions 30.

[0042] In addition, the pair of step portions 14D of the outer edge protrusions 14 on the pair of short sides of the tray 10 shown in Figure 9A and the pair of reinforcing protrusions 29 that protrude from the base wall 11 lower than the support base portions 20, 30 serve as markers for the positions of the fork insertion and removal openings of the pair of fork receiving portions 101, making it easier to insert forks into the pair of fork receiving portions 101.

[0043] [Other embodiments] In the above embodiment, the multiple upper surface opening holes 72 of the pallet 70 were through holes, but the upper surface opening holes 72 that engage with the mating protrusions 13 of the tray 10 may not be through holes but may be recesses with closed lower ends.

[0044] In the tray 10 of the above embodiment, the three rows of support bases 20, 30 all extend continuously in the first horizontal direction H1, but they may be separated along the way. Also, for example, the three rows of support bases 20, 30 may be separated at positions near both ends so that a pair of forks can be inserted from the second horizontal direction H2.

[0045] In the tray 10 of the above embodiment, the first restricting protrusions 60, 61 and the second restricting protrusion 63 are provided apart from each other, but they may be provided adjacent to each other. Specifically, for example, a structure may be adopted in which a portion corresponding to one side of an L-shaped restricting protrusion in a planar shape forms the first restricting protrusion, and a portion corresponding to the other side forms the second restricting protrusion.

[0046] <Additional Notes>

[0047] The following describes the features extracted from the above embodiment, while indicating, as necessary, the effects, etc. Note that, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above embodiment are indicated in parentheses as appropriate below, but these features are not limited to the specific configurations indicated in parentheses.

[0048] [Feature 1] A tray (10) comprising a plurality of support base portions (20, 30) arranged in three rows, each protruding upward and capable of supporting a piece of luggage (90) from below, with a pair of fork receiving portions (101) between the rows that allow forks to be inserted below the piece of luggage (90), the tray (10) comprising first restricting protrusions (60, 61) that restrict displacement of the piece of luggage (90) in a first horizontal direction (H1), which is the direction in which forks are inserted into and removed from the pair of fork receiving portions (101), and a second restricting protrusion (63) that restricts displacement of the piece of luggage (90) in a second horizontal direction (H2) that is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction (H1).

[0049] [Feature 2] The tray (10) according to Feature 1, wherein the first regulating protrusions (60, 61) include an entrance-side first regulating protrusion (60) that protrudes upward from the central row of the support base portions (20) on the side of the fork insertion / removal opening to the pair of fork receiving portions (101) in the first horizontal direction (H1), and a rear-side first regulating protrusion (61) that protrudes upward from the central row of the support base portions (20) at a position away from the fork insertion / removal opening and is higher than the entrance-side first regulating protrusion (60).

[0050] [Feature 3] The tray (10) according to Feature 2, wherein the inlet-side first restricting protrusions (60) are provided on both ends of the support base portions (20) in the central row in the first horizontal direction (H1).

[0051] [Feature 4] The tray (10) according to Feature 2 or 3, wherein the rear first restricting protrusion (61) is provided on each of the three rows of support base portions (20, 30).

[0052] [Feature 5] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 2 to 4, wherein the rear first restricting protrusion (61) divides the luggage (90) placement area on the tray (10) into two areas in the first horizontal direction (H1).

[0053] [Feature 6] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 5, wherein the first regulating protrusions (60, 61) are provided at three separate locations in the first horizontal direction (H1) on the tray (10).

[0054] [Feature 7] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 6, wherein the first restricting protrusions (60, 61) are provided on each of the plurality of support base portions (20, 30).

[0055] [Feature 8] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 7, further comprising a plurality of engaging protrusions (13) that protrude downward from a plurality of positions spaced apart in the first horizontal direction (H1) on the tray (10) and can be fitted into upper surface opening holes (72) of a pallet (70) having a crosspiece structure, the plurality of support base portions (20, 30) having a bag structure with openings on the lower surface of the tray (10), and the plurality of engaging protrusions (13) having a bag structure with openings on the upper surface of the tray (10) and that are arranged in positions near the support base portions (20, 30) in the pair of fork receiving portions (101).

[0056] [Feature 9] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 8, wherein the outer edge of the tray (10) is provided with a mark (14D) at a position that corresponds to the fork insertion / removal opening of the pair of fork receiving portions (101).

[0057] [Feature 10] The tray (10) according to Feature 9, wherein an outer edge ridge (14) is provided that protrudes from the outer edge of the tray (10) lower than the support base portion (20, 30), and the outer edge ridge (14) is provided with a step portion (14D) serving as the marker.

[0058] [Feature 11] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 10, wherein the pair of fork receiving portions (101) are not provided with any protrusions projecting upward.

[0059] [Feature 12] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 10, wherein the pair of fork receiving portions (101) are provided with protrusions (29) that protrude upward and are lower than the support base portions (20, 30).

[0060] [Feature 13] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 12, wherein a vertical groove (24) extending in the vertical direction is provided on an outer surface of the first restricting protrusion (60, 61) or the second restricting protrusion (63).

[0061] [Feature 14] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of support base portions (20, 30) has a structure that has an opening on the underside of the tray (10) and extends in the first horizontal direction (H1), and is provided with a horizontal luggage placement surface (50) that extends in the first horizontal direction (H1) and abuts against the underside of the luggage (90), and a horizontal groove portion (21) that is recessed from the luggage placement surface (50) and crosses an upper portion of the support base portion (20, 30) in the second horizontal direction (H2).

[0062] [Feature 15] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of support base portions (20, 30) extends in a serpentine manner in the first horizontal direction (H1).

[0063] [Feature 16] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 15, wherein a corrugated portion (23, 33) is provided on a side surface of the support base portion (20, 30) with a plurality of vertical grooves (23A, 23B, 33A) arranged horizontally and extending in the vertical direction.

[0064] [Feature 17] The tray (10) according to any one of Features 1 to 16, wherein a plurality of arcuate grooves (23A, 23B, 33A) extending in the vertical direction are provided on the side surface of the support base portion (20, 30).

[0065] [Feature 18] The support base portion (30) in the end row has a plurality of support base main body portions (32) that abut the underside of the luggage (90) and are distributed in the first horizontal direction (H1), and has a plurality of through holes (12) that are lined up on either side of the support base main body portions (32) in the first horizontal direction (H1).

[0066] The tray of Feature 1 has three rows of support bases that protrude upward and can support cargo from below, with a pair of fork receiving sections between the rows. This allows a pair of forks carrying cargo to be lowered from above the tray, the cargo to be placed across the three rows of support bases, and then only one pair of forks can be lowered into the pair of fork receiving sections and removed. In other words, cargo can be placed on the tray using a forklift. The cargo placed on the support bases is restricted by the first restricting protrusions from displacing in a first horizontal direction, which is the direction in which the forks are inserted into and removed from the fork receiving sections, and by the second restricting protrusions from displacing in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.

[0067] When a load is placed on the tray, a tilt operation may be performed to move the pair of forks from a tilted, tip-up position to a horizontal position. In contrast, with the tray of Feature 2, the rear-side first restricting protrusion, which is located away from the fork insertion / removal opening, is higher than the entrance-side first restricting protrusion, which is located closer to the fork insertion / removal opening. Therefore, even when the load is placed on the support base by tilting, the load fits smoothly between the rear-side first restricting protrusion and the entrance-side first restricting protrusion. In other words, the tray of Feature 2 makes it easy to operate a forklift when placing the load on the tray.

[0068] The tray may be a vacuum-formed or injection-molded product, and the support base may have a ribbed structure or a bag structure with an open bottom. Furthermore, the pair of fork receiving sections may be insertable and removable from both sides in the first horizontal direction, or from only one side in the first horizontal direction. When the pair of fork receiving sections are insertable and removable from both sides in the first horizontal direction, the midpoint in the first horizontal direction corresponds to the rear side of the pair of fork receiving sections. When the pair of fork receiving sections are insertable and removable from only one end in the first horizontal direction, the other end in the first horizontal direction corresponds to the rear side of the pair of fork receiving sections. When the pair of fork receiving sections are insertable and removable from both sides in the first horizontal direction, the rear first restricting protrusion may be positioned midway in the first horizontal direction, and the luggage placement area may be divided into two in the first horizontal direction by the rear first restricting protrusion, as in Feature 5, or the first restricting protrusion may be provided at three locations in the first horizontal direction, as in the tray of Feature 6.

[0069] Furthermore, when a pair of fork receiving portions can be inserted and removed from both sides in the first horizontal direction, if the entrance-side first restricting protrusions are provided at both ends in the first horizontal direction, as in the tray of Feature 3, the luggage can be easily placed on the tray by performing a tilt operation regardless of whether the luggage is placed on one side or the other side in the first horizontal direction. Here, the entrance-side first restricting protrusions may be provided on each of the three rows of support base portions, or may be provided on only some of the rows. The rear-side first restricting protrusions may also be provided on each of the three rows of support base portions (Feature 4), or may be provided on only some of the rows.

[0070] Furthermore, as in Feature 7, the first restricting protrusion may be provided on each of the plurality of support base parts, or may be provided on only some of the support base parts.

[0071] Furthermore, when the tray is formed by vacuum molding and the multiple support base portions have a bag structure with openings on the underside of the tray, the weight of the cargo acts as a load that widens the openings of the support base portions, but if the tray is provided with multiple fitting protrusions that protrude downward from the tray and can fit into the opening holes on the top surface of the pallet, as in Feature 8, this prevents the tray from shifting relative to the pallet and suppresses deformation that widens the openings of the support base portions. Furthermore, if the multiple fitting protrusions are positioned closer to the support base portions as in Feature 8, this increases the effect of suppressing the widening of the openings of the support base portions.

[0072] As in Feature 9, providing a mark on the outer edge of the tray at a position that will serve as the fork insertion / removal opening for the pair of fork receiving portions facilitates the insertion of forks into the pair of fork receiving portions. The mark may be a colored portion that is different from the entire tray, a hole or recess, or, as in Feature 10, a protrusion that protrudes from the outer edge of the tray lower than the support base. Furthermore, the outer edge protrusion may be provided with a stepped portion as a mark. As in Feature 11, the pair of fork receiving portions may be structured without any protrusions that protrude upward, which serves as a mark for the pair of fork receiving portions. Furthermore, as in Feature 12, the pair of fork receiving portions may be structured with protrusions that protrude upward and lower than the support base, which serves as a mark for the pair of fork receiving portions.

[0073] As in Feature 13, by providing a vertical groove extending in the vertical direction on the outer surface of the first restricting protrusion or the second restricting protrusion, a pair of groove side walls of the vertical groove serve as reinforcing ribs, thereby increasing the bending strength of the wall of the first restricting protrusion or the second restricting protrusion, thereby improving the function of preventing lateral movement of luggage.

[0074] In the tray of feature 14, at least one of the multiple support base portions has a groove structure and is provided with a horizontal groove portion crossing it, so that a pair of groove side walls of the horizontal groove portion act as reinforcing ribs, suppressing deformation such as an increase in the groove width of the support base portion of the groove structure.

[0075] As in feature 15, by configuring at least one of the multiple support base portions to extend in a serpentine manner in the first horizontal direction, the support base portion reinforces the tray in both the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction.

[0076] In feature 16, a plurality of vertical grooves extending in the vertical direction are arranged horizontally on the side surface of the support base to form corrugated portions, which reinforce the side wall of the support base and increase the buckling strength. This stabilizes the support of the load.

[0077] In feature 17, the side walls of the support base are reinforced by a plurality of arcuate grooves extending up and down on the side surfaces of the support base, thereby stably supporting the load.

[0078] In feature 18, the through holes that penetrate the tray vertically and the through holes in the pallet are overlapped, and the tray and the pallet (and the cargo) can be connected by connecting members inserted through them.

[0079] Although the present specification and drawings disclose specific examples of the technology included in the scope of the claims, the technology described in the claims is not limited to these specific examples, but also includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples, and also includes parts of the specific examples taken out alone.

[0080] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Tray 12 Through hole 13 Fitting protrusion 14 Outer edge protrusion (protrusion) 14D Step portion (mark) 20, 30 Support base portion 21 Horizontal groove portion 23, 33 Wave portion 23A, 23B, 33A Circular groove 24 Vertical groove portion 29 Reinforcing protrusion (mark) 50 Luggage placing surface 60 Entrance side first restricting protrusion 61 Back side first restricting protrusion 63 Second restricting protrusion 70 Pallet 72 Top surface opening hole 90 Luggage 95 Connecting member 101 Fork receiving portion F Fork H1 First horizontal direction H2 Second horizontal direction

Claims

1. A tray comprising three rows of multiple support platforms that protrude upward and can support luggage from below, with a pair of fork receiving sections between each row allowing forks to be inserted beneath the luggage, and comprising a first regulating protrusion that regulates displacement of the luggage in a first horizontal direction, which is the direction in which forks are inserted and removed from the pair of fork receiving sections, and a second regulating protrusion that regulates displacement of the luggage in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.

2. A tray as described in claim 1, wherein the first regulating protrusions include an entrance-side first regulating protrusion that protrudes upward from the support base portion of the central row on the side of the fork insertion / removal opening to the pair of fork receiving portions in the first horizontal direction, and a rear-side first regulating protrusion that protrudes upward from the support base portion of the central row at a position away from the fork insertion / removal opening and is higher than the entrance-side first regulating protrusion.

3. A tray according to claim 2, wherein the inlet-side first regulating projections are provided on both ends of the central row of the support base portions in the first horizontal direction.

4. A tray according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rear first regulating protrusion is provided on each of the three rows of support base portions.

5. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the rear first regulating protrusion divides the luggage placement area on the tray into two in the first horizontal direction.

6. A tray according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first regulating protrusions are provided at three separate locations in the first horizontal direction on the tray.

7. A tray according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first regulating protrusion is provided on each of the plurality of support base portions.

8. A tray as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a plurality of mating protrusions which protrude downward from a plurality of positions spaced apart in the first horizontal direction and which can fit into opening holes in the top surface of a pallet having a batten structure, the plurality of support base portions having a bag structure with an opening in the bottom surface of the tray, and the plurality of mating protrusions having a bag structure with an opening in the top surface of the tray, and which are arranged at positions near the support base portions in the pair of fork receiving portions.

9. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein markings are provided on the outer edge of the tray at positions that will be the fork insertion / removal openings of the pair of fork receiving portions.

10. A tray according to claim 9, wherein an outer edge ridge is provided which protrudes from the outer edge of said tray lower than said support base, and said outer edge ridge is provided with a stepped portion as said mark.

11. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pair of fork receiving portions are not provided with any protrusions projecting upward.

12. A tray according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pair of fork receiving portions are provided with protrusions that protrude upward and are lower than the support base portions.

13. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a vertical groove extending in the up-down direction is provided on the outer surface of the first regulating protrusion or the second regulating protrusion.

14. A tray as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one of the multiple support base portions has an opening on the underside of the tray and is structured to extend in the first horizontal direction, and is equipped with a horizontal luggage carrying surface that extends in the first horizontal direction and abuts the underside of the luggage, and a horizontal groove portion that is recessed from the luggage carrying surface and crosses the upper part of the support base portion in the second horizontal direction.

15. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of support base portions extends in a serpentine manner in the first horizontal direction.

16. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the side surface of the support base is provided with a corrugated portion having a plurality of vertical grooves arranged horizontally and extending in the vertical direction.

17. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein a plurality of arcuate grooves extending in the vertical direction are provided on the side surface of the support base.

18. A tray as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the support base portion of the end row has a plurality of support base main body portions that abut the underside of the luggage and are distributed in the first horizontal direction, and has a plurality of through holes lined up on either side of the support base main body portions in the first horizontal direction.

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