EP1634815A1 - Nestable and stackable container - Google Patents

Abstract

The rotation bin (1) comprises a rectangular bottom (2) and two long side walls (3) and end walls (4) projecting upwards from the bottom. At least one raised slide rib (31) is installed on the upper side of at least two opposite lying side walls and extends in the longitudinal direction of the side wall. The slide rib is of such height that an upper rotation bin is movable on the slide ribs relative to a lower rotation bin in the longitudinal direction of the slide ribs from a seated position offset relative to the lower rotation bin in the longitudinal direction of the slide ribs into the stacked position.

Description

The present invention relates to a rotary stacking container having a substantially rectangular bottom and each with two upstanding from the bottom longitudinal side walls and end walls, wherein on at least two opposing side walls outside outwardly projecting, extending over a lower part of the side wall height stacking blocks and inside matching stacking block pockets asymmetrically so are arranged that an upper stacking stack container can be placed in a stacking position on a lower stacking container and rotated in a rotated about a vertical axis by 180 ° nest position in the lower stacking container, wherein in the stacking position of the upper stacking stack container with the bottom of its stacking blocks on the top the side walls of the lower rotary stacking container stands up, wherein in the nest position of the upper stacking stack container with its stacking blocks in the stacking block pockets of the lower rotating stacker and wherein on the container top and on the container bottom each centering elements are provided which are in the stacking position in engagement with each other and center the upper stacking stack container relative to the lower stacking container and secure the stacking containers against slipping relative to each other in the direction of the ground plane.

Rotary stacking containers of the type mentioned above are generally known due to their wide use in the field of storage and transport of goods, such as food. The rotating stack containers are optionally stackable or nested in one another, whereby a transport of empty, nested containers requires little transport space. The stacking containers have therefore proven to be reusable containers for many uses now.

A disadvantage is considered in the known rotary stacking containers, that a stacking is only possible if the upper container is placed exactly from above to the lower container exactly. Especially with heavy, filled containers this handling is unfavorable for the operator, because a high force and a very accurate positioning are required.

For the present invention, therefore, the task is to improve the known stacked rotary container in that the stacking of containers one above the other is simplified for the operator.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention with a rotary stacking container of the type mentioned, which is characterized in that on the upper side of at least two opposing side walls each having at least one extending in the longitudinal direction of the side wall, raised sliding rib of such a height is arranged that on the sliding ribs upper rotary stacking container relative to a lower rotating stack container in the longitudinal direction of the sliding ribs from a relative to the lower rotating stack container in the longitudinal direction of the sliding ribs offset Aufsetzstellung slidably into the stacking position is displaceable.

With the invention is advantageously achieved that an upper stacking stack container initially under only partial overlap with a lower stacking container can be placed on this and that then brought by simply moving the upper stacking container in the longitudinal direction of the sliding ribs of the upper stacking stack container in the desired stacking position relative to the lower stacking container can be, without the displacement of the upper rotating stack container is hindered relative to the lower stacking stack container by the centering or other parts of the rotary stacking container. As a result, the handling of the rotating stack container, especially in the heavy, loaded condition for the operator is much easier and the stacking of containers is easier and faster vonstatten. As a result, the operator is physically relieved and at the same time achieves a more rational work.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided according to the invention that the sliding ribs are provided only on the longitudinal side walls or only on the end side walls. Although rotating stacking containers designed in this way can then only be displaced in the direction of their longitudinal axis or in the direction of their transverse axis during the production of container stacks, this does not generally lead to problems because operators who produce the stacks move very quickly to the appropriate manner get used to the production of the container stack.

In order to enable a sliding lifting of the respective uppermost container when stacking containers, it is further provided that the sliding ribs are respectively rounded or bevelled at their ends. In addition, this shape of the Gleitrippenenden at the top the sidewalls avoided injury to the operator or damage to transported goods.

A further advantageous embodiment of the rotary stacking container according to the invention provides that at least one of the underside of the arranged with the sliding ribs side walls stack blocks at least one cooperating with the associated sliding rib of a lower rotating stack container, downwardly projecting skid is provided. By means of the skids on the one hand, a secure guidance of the upper rotating stack container is achieved on the arranged underneath the stacking container when moving. In addition, it is provided for a low friction and an advantageous low effort for moving the upper stacking container relative to the lower stacking container. In addition, the skids may be used to cause the desired elevation of the upper rotating stacking container relative to the lower rotating stacking container during shifting as long as the skids rest on the sliding ribs. In this way, in particular makes it possible to form the sliding ribs relatively low, so that they do not interfere with the top of the rotary stacking container in appearance.

In order to keep the production costs for the rotating stack container according to the invention low and to ensure a high stability and durability for both the sliding ribs and for the skids, the sliding ribs and the skids are preferably integrally formed respectively on the associated side wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the rotary stacking container, two stacking blocks are provided at each longitudinal side wall in the longitudinal direction of each other spaced apart and it each corresponds to the length of the sliding rib the clearance between the two skids of the two stacking blocks of the longitudinal side wall minus a Bewegungsspielmaßes, wherein in the stacking position each sliding rib between two skids. In this embodiment, the sliding rib has a continuous, uninterrupted course, whereby a large displacement path for the upper rotating stack container is made possible relative to the lower rotating stack container. In the stacking position of the stacked stacking containers are each the two skids on each longitudinal side of the upper container on both sides of the sliding rib of the lower container to have no contact with the sliding rib, which now the sliding ribs and skids are inoperative. In this stacking position, the upper rotary stacking container stands with the underside of its stacking blocks on top of the lower rotary stacking container. The centering elements which are now in engagement secure the stacked stacking containers against an undesired displacement relative to one another parallel to the ground plane, ie in practice usually in the horizontal direction.

Further, it is preferably provided that each sliding rib extends only over the region of the upper side of the longitudinal side wall between two stacking block pockets. This is taken care of for an interruption-free course of the sliding rib over the largest possible length, and expediently and advantageously the stacking block pockets of the longitudinal side walls are as close as possible to the end walls of the rotary stacking container.

In order to be able to manage with the lowest possible height of the sliding ribs and the skids, proposes a further embodiment of the rotary stacking container according to the invention that the centering on the top of the rotary stacking container each have a sloping to the interior of the rotating stack container slope or rounding and / or the centering on the underside of the rotary stacking container each having a rising to the outside of the rotary stacking container slope or rounding. In this embodiment, the cooperating centering elements when sliding the upper container slide over each other, without causing a hindrance to the displacement movement. The upper rotating stack container is slightly lifted only when running its lower-side centering on the upper-side centering of the lower rotating stack container, to then fall into its stacking position. In addition, the operator receives a clear signal for the achievement of the correct stacking position of the newly placed rotary stacking container.

In order to keep the centering elements simple in their shape and at the same time to make them stable, the centering elements preferably have the form of cams or ribs.

In order that the rotary stacking container can be inexpensively mass-produced, it is preferably a one-piece plastic injection-molded part.

Figur 1

einen Drehstapelbehälter gemäß Erfindung in einer perspektivischen Gesamtansicht,

Figur 2

den Drehstapelbehälter aus Figur 1 in Ansicht auf den linken Endbereich einer seiner Längsseitenwände,

Figur 3

den Drehstapelbehälter aus Figur 1 in Seitenansicht auf den rechten Endbereich seiner Längsseitenwand,

Figur 4

zwei Drehstapelbehälter während ihres Stapelns übereinander in Ansicht auf je eine der Längsseitenwände der beiden Behälter,

Figur 5

den linken Endbereich der Längsseitenwände der gestapelten Behälter aus Figur 4,

Figur 6

den rechten Endbereich der Längsseitenwände der gestapelten Behälter aus Figur 4 und

Figur 7

einen Ausschnitt aus dem linken Endbereich von zwei übereinander angeordneten Drehstapelbehältern gemäß dem Stand der Technik in Seitenansicht während eines Verschiebens relativ zueinander.

An embodiment of the rotary stacking container according to the invention and an example of a known from the prior art rotary stacking container will be explained below with reference to a drawing. The figures of the drawing show:

FIG. 1

a rotary stacking container according to the invention in a perspective overall view,

FIG. 2

1 in view of the left end region of one of its longitudinal side walls,

FIG. 3

1 in side view on the right end region of its longitudinal side wall,

FIG. 4

two stacked stack containers during stacking on top of each other in view of one of the longitudinal side walls of the two containers,

FIG. 5

the left end region of the longitudinal side walls of the stacked containers of Figure 4,

FIG. 6

the right end portion of the longitudinal side walls of the stacked container of Figure 4 and

FIG. 7

a detail of the left end of two stacked stacked containers according to the prior art in side view during a displacement relative to each other.

Figure 1 shows a rotary stacking container 1 according to the invention in an overall perspective view obliquely from above. The lower part of the container 1 forms a non-visible here in plan view rectangular bottom 2. From the four sides of the bottom 2 extend integrally with this two longer longitudinal side walls 3 and two shorter end walls 4 upwards. In the example shown, the rotary stacking container 1 is a one-piece injection molded part made of plastic. On the outside of all side walls 3 and 4 are each two outwardly projecting stacking blocks 5, which extend over approximately the lower half of the height of the container 1 here.

On the insides of all four side walls 3, 4 5 dimensioned stacking block pockets 6 are formed in the upper half corresponding to the dimensions of the stacking blocks.

The stacking blocks 5 and the stacking block pockets 6 are arranged on the walls 3 and 4 of the rotary stacking container 1 in an asymmetrical position so that in a first position of an upper stacking container 1 this stackable on a lower container 1 and in a perpendicular to the Bottom plane 2 extending axis rotated by 180 ° position of the upper container 1 of this can be used in the lower container 1, that is nestable, is. In the stacking position is an upper container 1 with the bottom of its stacking blocks 5 on the upper edge of the four side walls 3, 4 of the lower container 1. In this position, the stacked containers 1 relative to each other by centering 7 at the top of the side walls 3, 4 and further centering 8 (see Figures 2 and 3) on the underside of the container 1 relative to each other centered and against displacement relative to each other in one Direction secured parallel to the plane of the bottom 2.

As far as described so far corresponds to the illustrated rotary stacking container 1 conventional, known rotary stacking containers. New and essential in the rotary stacking container 1 shown in Figure 1 are two sliding ribs 31 which are integrally formed on the upper side of the longitudinal side walls 3. The sliding ribs 31 protrude upward above the upper side of the longitudinal side walls 3 and form one of a first stacking block pocket 6 and a second stacking block pocket 6 of the respective longitudinal side wall 3 continuous, uninterrupted slideway for aufzustapelnden further rotating stack container. 1

The slideways 31 offer the possibility of initially stacking a further stacking stack container 1 with an offset parallel to the longitudinal side walls 3 on the lower stacked stack container and then simply displacing it along its sliding ribs 31 into its stacking position. At the end of the displacement movement then falls the upper stacking stack container 1 in its stacking position on the lower stacking rotary container 1, in which case the mentioned centering elements 7, 8 come into engagement with each other. Due to the raised sliding ribs 31, the displacement movement is advantageously not hindered by the centering elements 7, 8. This greatly facilitates the manufacture of stacks from the rotary stackers 1 to the operator. Additionally or alternatively, for example, in Figure 1 corresponding sliding ribs may be provided on the top of the end walls 4.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the left end portion of the viewer in Fig. 1 facing longitudinal side wall 3 in side view. Below in Figure 2, the bottom 2 of the rotary stacking container 1; At a distance from the left end wall 4 offset to the right in the lower half of the longitudinal side wall 3 of the two stacking blocks 5 of this longitudinal side wall 3. The stacking block 5 is here from an arrangement of three in Vertical direction extending parallel ribs formed, which are interconnected by a plurality of transverse ribs. At the left end of the bottom of the stacking block 5, a skid 51 is formed, which upon placement of a rotary stacking container 1 on a lower stacking rotary container 1 on the associated sliding rib 31 of the lower rotating stacker 1 touches down. When moving the upper rotary stacking container 1 relative to the lower rotary stacking container 1, the upper rotary stacking container 1 slides on the sliding ribs 31 of the lower container 1 with a pair of its skids 51 provided on all four stacking blocks 5 of the two longitudinal side walls 3.

On the top left in FIG. 2, one of the centering elements 7 on the top side of the container 1 can be seen. This centering element 7 has a sloping towards the interior of the container 1 slope or rounding 71st

2, one of the centering elements 8 is visible on the underside of the rotary stacking container 1. Each of these centering elements 8 has an incline or rounding 81 which increases toward the outside of the container 1. Both the centering elements 7 and the centering elements 8 are designed here in the form of raised ribs.

On the upper side of the longitudinal side wall 3, a portion of the sliding rib 31 is visible, whose end 32 is rounded. In the area to the left of the rounded end 32 of the sliding rib 31 is located to the interior of the container 1 is not visible here from the outside stacking block bag.

Figure 3 shows in the same representation as the figure 2 the right end of the longitudinal side wall 3. Here, too, the bottom 2 of the rotary stacking container 1, from which the longitudinal side wall 3 extends upward. On the right-most side in FIG. 3 is the right-hand side wall 4 of the container 1. At the bottom right is the longitudinal side wall 3 of the right-hand side of the two stacking blocks 5 of this longitudinal side wall 3. In this stacking block 5 a skid 51 formed on the right end of the bottom.

At the top right in FIG. 3, one of the centering elements 7 is visible at the top of the container 1; 3 shows one of the centering elements 8 on the underside of the rotary stacking container 1. The overhead centering 7 here also has a sloping towards the interior of the container 1 slope or rounding 71. Accordingly, the lower centering element 8 with a container to the outside formed rising slope or rounding 81. Above the lower centering element 8 is still visible in Figure 3, the front stacking block 5 of the end wall 4.

FIG. 4 shows two stacking containers 1 arranged one above the other during a stacking process shortly before reaching the stacking position of the upper stacking container 1.

For producing a container stack from a plurality of rotary stacking containers 1, an upper container 1 is first placed here with an offset in the direction of the longitudinal side walls 3, here from the right in FIG. 4, onto the stacked rotary container 1 arranged underneath. Subsequently, the upper container 1 is moved according to Figure 4 from right to left in the direction of the longitudinal side walls 3 relative to the lower stacking container 1. In its left-hand portion in FIG. 4, the upper rotating stack container 1 with its two skids 51 provided there slides over the sliding ribs 31 on the upper side of the lower rotating stack container 1.

At the same time, in its right part, the upper rotating stack container 1 slides with the smooth underside its bottom 2 over the right end wall 4 of the lower container. 1

The state of the two stacked rotary container 1 of Figure 4 is shown enlarged in Figure 5 with reference to a section of the left end of the two containers 1. Here it is particularly clear that the upper container 1 with its skids 51 on the viewer facing longitudinal side wall 3 and at the same time facing away from the viewer, opposite second longitudinal side wall 3 slides on the upper side sliding ribs 31 of the lower container 1.

Left on the end walls 4 of the two containers 1 whose upper centering elements 7 and lower centering elements 8 are visible. The upper centering element 7 of the lower container 1 and the lower centering 8 of the upper container 1 are just before their engagement with each other. The centering engagement of the centering elements 7 and 8 is effected by further displacement of the upper container 1 according to the arrow drawn thereon. The upper container 1 slides by running its lower centering 8 on the upper centering 7 of the lower container 1 further to the left. After the lower centering element 8 of the upper container 1 has moved over the upper centering element 7 of the lower container 1, the upper container 1 falls by a small distance, in practice a few millimeters, downwards and thus reaches its centered and secured stacking position. At the same time get the skids 51 on the left end 32 of the sliding ribs 31 away, so that then the skids 51 are no longer in contact with the sliding ribs 31.

The figure 6 also shows in an enlarged side view of the right-hand end portion of the two stacking container 1 of Figure 4. Here it is clearly visible that the upper container 1 with the smooth bottom of its bottom 2 on the top of the right end wall 4, more precisely on the top the upper centering elements 7 on the top of the right end wall 4, the lower container 1 slides. As soon as further displacement of the upper container 1 to the left of the bottom 2 has moved beyond the upper centering 7 of the lower container 1 away, and the right portion of the container 1 falls down so far until the bottom of the arranged here stacking blocks 5 of the upper container 1 put on the top of the longitudinal side wall 3 of the lower container 1. This stacking position is then secured by the centering elements 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 shows, in a representation comparable to FIG. 5, two rotary stacking containers 1 according to the prior art, the illustration being partly carried out as a section. FIG. 7 shows the left-hand end region of two stacked stack containers 1 arranged one above the other during their superimposition in the longitudinal direction of their longitudinal side walls 3.

The figure 7 illustrates that in the containers 1 according to the prior art in a first staggered placement of the upper container 1 on the lower container 1 only a limited displacement of the upper container 1 relative to the lower container 1 is possible, however, that a displacement of upper container 1 is not possible in the stacking position. This is due to the fact that, when the upper container 1 according to FIG. 7 is moved from right to left, its lower centering elements 8 start against the upper centering elements 7 of the lower container 1, which makes further shifting impossible. The stacking position can only be prepared here by the upper container 1 is placed either immediately from above vertically fitting on the lower container 1 or that the upper container 1 is raised again just before the end of the displacement movement so far that the lower centering 8th of the upper container 1 can pass over the upper centering elements 7 of the lower container 1, which means a difficult handling and an increased effort for the operating personnel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

character description 1 Total stacking container 2 ground 3 Longitudinal side walls 31 sliding ribs 32 rounded ends of 31 4 End walls 5 stacking block 51 skid 6 Stack block pocket 7 Centering elements at the top of 1 71 Sloping at 7 8th Centering element at the bottom of 1 81 Sloping at 8

Claims (10)

Rotary stacking container (1) having a substantially rectangular bottom (2) and each with two longitudinal side walls (3) and front side walls (4) projecting from the bottom (2), wherein on at least two opposite side walls (3, 4) projecting outwards on the outside, Stacking blocks (5) extending over a lower part of the side wall height and stacking block pockets (6) matching inside are arranged asymmetrically so that an upper stacked rotary container (1) can be placed in a stacking position on a lower stacked rotary container (1) and in a vertical axis about it in the stacking position, the upper rotating stack container (1) with the bottom of its stacking blocks (5) on the top of the side walls (3, 4) of the lower rotating stacker container (1) stands up in which, in the nest position, the upper rotating stack container 1 with its stacking blocks (5) in the stacking block pockets (FIG. 6) of the lower rotary stacking container (1) and wherein on the container top and on the container bottom each centering elements (7, 8) are provided which are in the stacking position in engagement with each other and the upper stacking rotary container (1) relative to the lower stacking rotary container (1) Center and the stacking container (1) against ensure slippage relative to one another in the direction of the ground plane,
characterized,
in that on the upper side of at least two mutually opposite side walls (3, 4) there is arranged at least one raised sliding rib (31) of such height extending in the longitudinal direction of the side wall (3, 4) that an upper rotating stacking container (31) is mounted on the sliding ribs (31). 1) relative to a lower stacking rotary container (1) in the longitudinal direction of the sliding ribs (31) from a relative to the lower stacking container (1) in the longitudinal direction of the sliding ribs (31) staggered Aufsetzstellung slidably into the stacking position. Rotary stacking container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding ribs (31) are provided only on the longitudinal side walls (3) or only on the end side walls (4). Rotary stacking container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sliding ribs (31) are respectively rounded or chamfered at their ends (32). Rotary stacking container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the underside of each of the side walls (3, 4) equipped with the sliding ribs (31) stacking blocks (5) at least one with the associated sliding rib (31) of a lower rotating stacking container (1 ) is provided cooperating, downwardly projecting skid (51). Rotary stacking container according to claim (4), characterized in that the sliding ribs (31) and the skids (51) are each integrally formed on the associated side wall (3, 4). Rotary stacking container according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that two stacking blocks (5) are provided at each longitudinal side wall (3) in their longitudinal direction and that the length of the sliding rib (31) corresponds to the clearance between the two skids (51) two stacking blocks (5) of the longitudinal side wall (3) minus a Bewegungsspielmaßes corresponds, wherein in the stacking position each sliding rib (31) between each two skids (51). Rotary stacking container according to claim 6, characterized in that each sliding rib (31) extends only over the region of the upper side of the longitudinal side wall (3) between two stacking block pockets (6). Rotary stacking container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering elements (7) on the upper side of the rotary stacking container (1) each have a sloping or rounded portion (71) sloping towards the interior of the rotary stacking container (1) and / or the centering elements (8) on the Have underside of the rotary stacking container (1) each have a to the exterior of the rotary stacking container (1) rising slope or rounding (81). Rotary stacking container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centering elements (7, 8) have the form of cams or ribs. Rotary stacking container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a one-piece injection-molded part made of plastic.

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