PALLET

Abstract: A pallet having a base (3, 4, 5) and a deck (6) attached thereto is provided with a protective film (7), which is attached between the deck (6) and the base (3, 4, 5).

Description: PALLET The present invention relates to a pallet having a base and a deck attached thereto. In a conventional pallet, the base consists of parallel skids arranged in a first plane, blocks attached to the skids, and ledges, which are attached to the blocks and which extend perpendicularly to the skids in a second plane parallel to the first plane. In such a conventional pallet, the deck consists of juxtaposed boards which are spaced from each other and extend perpendicularly to the ledges in a third plane parallel to the first and the second planes. These boards are attached to the ledges. When handling goods of a special kind, the goods need protection against dirt and moisture. A protective film is then arranged on the deck and then the goods are placed on this protective film. Subsequently, the goods are enclosed in another protective film, e.g. shrink film, covering the sides and the top surface of the goods and forming a protective cover together with the protective film placed on the deck. One example of such goods are sheets of paper, which are transported on a pallet in the form of a stack. This stack is enclosed in a protective film in the above described manner and transported on the pallet to e.g. a printing office, where the sheets are to be fed one by one through a printing press in order to be provided with print. In the printing office, the protective cover is cut off on a level with the deck of the pallet and the part of the protective cover covering the sides and the top surface of the stack of sheets is removed. Subse- quently, the stack of sheets is placed in a position for feeding sheets into the printing press. This is done either by placing the entire pallet with the stack of sheets thereon in the feeding position or by unloading the stack of sheets from the pallet and placing it in this position by means of bars, which are introduced under the stack in spacings between adjacent boards in the deck. In the last-mentioned case, the bars are introduced not only under the stack of sheets, but also under the protective film placed on the deck, which implies that the protective film is carried along as the stack of sheets is moved. Usually, the sheets are fed by means of suction cups gripping the top sheet in the stack and introducing the sheets one by one into the printing press. Independently of in which of the above described manners the stack of sheets is placed in the feeding position, the protective film under the stack of sheets must be prevented from being introduced into the printing press. This can be achieved by monitoring the end phase of the unloading of the sheets from the stack or by removing the underlying protective film before beginning the unloading of the sheets. Both these methods complicate the handling. Therefore, a particular object of the present inven- tion is to provide a pallet, in which the risk of a protective film, which is placed under a stack of sheets placed on the pallet, being introduced into a printing press is eliminated. More generally, the object of the present invention is to provide a pallet, in which the risk of a protective film, which is placed under the goods placed on the pallet, being carried along as the goods are unloaded from the pallet, is eliminated. According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a pallet which is of the initially defined type and which is characterised in that a protective film is attached between the deck and the base. The protective film preferably extends beyond the deck at least at one of its side edges. When the deck consists of juxtaposed boards which are spaced from each other, the protective film preferably covers the entire surface of the deck. When the base in the last-mentioned embodiment consists of parallel skids arranged in a first plane parallel to the deck, blocks attached to the skids, and ledges, which are attached to the blocks and which extend perpendicularly to the boards of the deck in a second plane parallel to the deck, the protective film is preferably attached between the boards of the deck and the ledges. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described hereinbelow in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 shows a pallet according to the invention from the short side of the pallet. Fig. 2 shows the pallet from its long side. The pallet 1 in the drawing is shown in its normal usage position, i.e. positioned on a horizontal support 2. The pallet 1 has in conventional manner a rectangular shape . The pallet 1 has three skids 3 of equal length arranged opposite to and at a distance from each other, which skids consist of three boards. The skids 3 extend in parallel to each other in a first plane and are arranged to bear against the support 2, as shown in Figs 1 and 2. The skids 3 extend in the longitudinal direction of the pallet 1. Each skid 3 supports three wooden blocks 4, which are attached on top of the skid at each of its ends and in the centre. Further, the pallet 1 has three ledges 5 of equal length consisting of three boards. Each ledge 5 extends in the transverse direction of the pallet 1 and is attached to three blocks 4 arranged in a transverse row. The skids 3, the blocks 4 and the ledges 5 form the base of the pallet 1. This base supports the deck of the pallet 1, which deck consists of seven juxtaposed boards 6 which are spaced from each other and extend in the longitudinal di- rection of the pallet 1 and are attached to the three ledges 5. The parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 included in the pallet are nailed together. A protective film 7 of a suitable plastic material is placed between the deck and the ledges 5. The protective film 7 is of rectangular shape, and its surface is larger than the surface of the deck. The protective film 7 is arranged on the ledges 5 to project from the deck at its four side edges. When a stack 8 of sheets of paper placed on the pallet 1, as indicated by dash-dotted lines in Figs 1 and 2, is to be removed therefrom, two bars or lift fork arms 9 are introduced each into a spacing between two adjacent boards 6 in the deck (cf . Fig. 1) . The bars or the arms 9 are thus introduced between the stack 8 of sheets and the protective film 7, which results in the stack 8 of sheets being removed from the pallet 1 as well as from the protective film 7 attached thereto. The embodiment described above can, which is easily understood by the one skilled in the art, be modified in different ways within the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the number of boards forming skids, ledges and decks as well as the number of blocks can be varied in optional manner.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A pallet having a base (3, 4, 5) and a deck (β) attached thereto, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a protective film (7) is attached between the deck (6) and the base (3, 4, 5) . 2. A pallet according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the protective film (7) extends beyond the deck (6) at least at one of its side edges. 3. A pallet according to claim 1 or 2, in which the deck consists of juxtaposed boards (6) which are spaced from each other, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the protective film (7) covers the entire surface of the deck. 4. A pallet according to claim 3, in which the base consists of parallel skids (3) arranged in a first plane parallel to the deck, blocks (4) attached to the skids (3), and ledges (5), which are attached to the blocks (4) and which extend perpendicularly to the boards (6) of the deck in a second plane parallel to the deck, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the protective film (7) is attached between the boards (6) of the deck and the ledges (5) .

Inventors: DANIELSSON BOERJE, SALLING PER-OLOF, DANIELSSON, BOERJE, SALLING, PER-OLOF
Applicants: DANIELSSON BOERJE, HEDIN KRYLBO AB, SALLING PER OLOF, DANIELSSON, BOERJE, HEDIN-KRYLBO AB, SALLING, PER-OLOF
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D19
IPC codes: B65D19