CORNER FITTING FOR BOX-LIKE STRUCTURES ON TRANSPORT PALLETS

A corner fitting for box-like structures on transport pallets, which fitting connects two respective side wall elements of stackable side wall frames for the box-like structure using an articulated connection along an articulation axis and has an aligning element for aligning the side wall frame relative to the transport pallet or to another adjacent side wall frame. The aligning element is embodied in the form of a locking element, which can be moved perpendicular to the articulation axis between a locking position and a release position and is situated in a first end region of the articulated connection, and a receiving pocket with a locking opening for the locking element of another corner fitting is provided in the opposite, second end region of the articulated connection. With the aid of the invention, a corner fitting is implemented which allows an easy reciprocal alignment of side wall frames and transport pallets and facilitates repeated assembly of box-like structures on transport pallets, as well as the loading thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a corner fitting for box-like structures on transport pallets, which fitting connects two respective side wall elements of stackable side wall frames for the box-like structure by means of an articulated connection along an articulation axis and has an aligning element for aligning the side wall frame relative to the transport pallet or to another adjacent side wall frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transport pallets are used for conveying larger goods and are usually made of wood. They are also referred to as “Euro pallets” or as “Europool pallets” and are composed of bottom boards and top boards, which are connected to one another by means of blocks positioned between them. An open space remains between the bottom boards and top boards, into which the blades of a floor conveyor unit, fork lift truck, or lift truck can be inserted in order to then be able to move the transport pallets for short distances, for example to load them onto a truck or railcar.

To transport loose goods, bulk goods, or delicate goods, side wall elements are placed onto the transport pallets to create box-like structures, which are bounded at the bottom by the top boards of the transport pallet and at the top by the bottom boards of another transport pallet possibly stacked on top. For this purpose, the side wall elements are connected to one another by means of corner fittings, usually in pivoting fashion in order to permit them to be folded up and stored in a space-saving way when they are not needed. Each set of four side wall elements forms a side all frame that is closed in the circumference region, onto which other side wall frames can be stacked until the box-like structure has reached a desired height and is closed at the top by another transport pallet. Other side wall frames can then be placed onto this top transport pallet.

When they are stacked, the side wall frames must be aligned relative to one another and also relative to the transport pallet. Conventional corner fittings have aligning elements for this purpose in the form of outer aligning lugs, which protrude downward, parallel to the articulation axis. In the use position, these aligning lugs rest snugly against the outer surfaces that converge in the corner region of the underlying transport pallet or the underlying side wall frame.

Aligning lugs of the conventional kind are in fact simple in design and widely used, but they have several disadvantages in practice. They protrude slightly beyond the outer surface of the transport pallet and the side wall elements and are thus in practice subject to significant stress. Transport pallets must be densely loaded when transported, not only for reasons of optimal space utilization, but also for reasons of load safety. For this reason, aligning lugs often catch on other parts or other aligning lugs and end up getting bent. These bent aligning lugs complicate subsequent handling of the transport pallets and often result in damage to other parts. Bent aligning lugs must then be bent back into position, which is labor-intensive and delays the overall loading process.

In addition, conventional aligning elements do not provide a tensile connection, making it necessary to then place a strap clamp around a stack of transport pallets and side wall frames in order to prevent vertical movements during transport. These strap clamps are usually made of plastic and are cut off and discarded after use. Consequently, they not only take up a large amount of time for the clamping, but also generate a large amount of waste.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to avoid these disadvantages and to create a corner fitting that permits a simple reciprocal alignment of side wall frames and transport pallets and that facilitates repeated assembly of box-like structures on transport pallets as well as the loading thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects are attained by a corner fitting for box-like structures on transport pallets, which fitting connects two respective side wall elements of stackable side wall frames for the box-like structure by means of an articulated connection along an articulation axis and has an aligning element for aligning the side wall frame relative to the transport pallet or to another adjacent side wall frame. According to the invention, the aligning element is embodied in the form of a locking element, which can be moved perpendicular to the articulation axis between a locking position and a release position and is situated in a first end region of the articulated connection, and a receiving pocket with a locking opening for the locking element of another corner fitting is provided in the opposite, second end region of the articulated connection. The locking in this case is produced between two corner fittings situated one on top of the other or between a corner fitting and the transport pallet, as will be explained in greater detail below. Since the aligning element provided according to the invention is able to move perpendicular to the articulation axis between a locking position and a release position, when stresses occur in the direction of the articulation axis and therefore in the direction of the edge of the corner of the side wall frame, the locking exerts a movement-inhibiting action and thus represents a tensile connection. Strap clamps and the like for vertical fixing are therefore no longer necessary. It is also possible to avoid having parts that protrude beyond the outer surfaces of the side wall frames and the transport pallet.

The locking element can for example be embodied in the form of a locking bolt that is guided in a housing and is prestressed perpendicular to the articulation axis.

As has already been mentioned, the box-like structure can be closed at the top by another transport pallet. In order to ensure an alignment relative to this transport pallet as well, it is also proposed that a cover plate be provided, which has a conical projection protruding parallel to the articulation axis. This projection can engage in a corresponding conical recess in the bottom boards of the overlying transport pallet so as to ensure a relative alignment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First, we refer toFIG. 1, which shows an arrangement of two transport pallets1, each with two side wall frames2stacked on it with a corner fitting5according to the invention. The transport pallets1are composed of bottom boards and top boards4, which are connected to one another via blocks3that are positioned between them. A side wall frame2is composed of four side wall elements2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4, of which only two side wall elements2.1,2.2are visible inFIG. 1. The four side wall elements2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4of a side wall frame2are connected to one another in articulating fashion by means of four corner fittings5.1,5.2,5.3,5,4. Each side wall frame2is open at the top and bottom—it being possible to stack a plurality of side wall frames2on top of one another—and in this case is bounded below by a lower transport pallet1.1and above by an upper transport pallet1.2.FIG. 1also shows that the corner fittings5do not have any parts that protrude beyond the outer surface of the transport pallets1and the side wall elements2. This situation is made possible by the embodiment of the corner fittings5according to the invention, which will be explained below in conjunction withFIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2shows a perspective detail view of an embodiment of a locking element6according to the invention, which is supported in sliding fashion inside a housing7. The housing7is in turn fastened to a housing holder8, which is formed onto the corner fitting5or fastened to the side wall element2.2.FIG. 2also shows an articulated connection9of the corner fitting5, which defines an articulation axis A, which is more clearly shown inFIG. 3. The locking element6is embodied in the form of a locking bolt that is guided inside the housing7and is prestressed perpendicular to the articulation axis A and can be moved perpendicular to the articulation axis A between a locking position and a release position.

The locking element6is situated in a first end region of the articulated connection9, i.e. the lower end region in the example shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, and engages in a receiving pocket10of another corner fitting5(seeFIG. 3), which is situated in the opposite, second end region of the articulated connection9. A corner fitting5consequently has a locking element6in a first end region of the articulated connection9and a receiving pocket10situated in its opposite, second end region of the articulated connection9, with the locking element6of a first corner fitting5engaging in the receiving pocket10of another corner fitting5resting against it. As it enters into the receiving pocket10, the locking bolt is first pushed back and then protrudes through a locking opening11of the receiving pocket10. The position of the locking element6in which it is retracted into the housing7will be referred to below as the release position and the position in which the locking element6protrudes through the locking opening11of the receiving pocket10will be referred to as the locking position. The receiving pocket10can for example be formed into the corner fitting5or can be produced by means of a cutout in the side wall element2.2.

The box-like structure can be closed at the top by another transport pallet1.2. In order to ensure an alignment relative to this transport pallet1.2as well, a cover plate12is provided, which has a conical projection13protruding parallel to the articulation axis A, as shown inFIG. 4. This projection13engages in a corresponding conical recess14(seeFIG. 5), which is situated in a bottom board of the overlying transport pallet1.2so that a relative alignment is ensured.

The box-like structure can also be closed at the bottom by a transport pallet1.1. In order to ensure an alignment relative to this transport pallet1.1as well, a locking plate15is provided, which is situated in a top board4of the underlying transport pallet1.1, as shown inFIG. 6. The locking plate15here covers a corresponding cutout in the top board4of the transport pallet1.1and can be engaged from behind by the locking element6. The locking plate15and the cutout in the top board4consequently comprise a recess for the locking element6that is analogous to the above-described receiving pockets10.

The locking with the aid of the locking elements6engaging in the receiving pockets10is therefore produced between two corner fittings5that are stacked on top of each other. The locking with the aid of the locking elements6engaging in the locking plates15, however, is produced between a corner fining5and the underlying transport pallet1.1. Since the aligning element provided according to the invention can be moved perpendicular to the articulation axis A between a locking position and a release position, the locking exerts a movement-inhibiting action when stresses occur in the direction of the articulation axis A and therefore in the direction of the edge of the corner of the side wall frame2and thus represents a tensile connection. Strap clamps and the like for vertical fixing are therefore no longer necessary, but the top cover plates12on which no additional transport pallet1is placed can be clamped diagonally with strap clamps, for which purpose oblong holes16are provided in the cover plates12.

With the aid of the invention, a corner fitting5is implemented which allows an easy reciprocal alignment of side wall frames2and transport pallets1and facilitates repeated assembly of box-like structures on transport pallets1as well as the loading thereof.