Abstract:
A tire-wheel transport pallet having engaging parts engaging the lower circumferential edge section of the rims of a plurality of tire wheels, and a mounting surface on which the tire wheels lying sideways are arranged; a partition plate prevents a horizontal positional shift, and interposed between an upper and a lower level of the tire wheels, which are stacked on the mounting surface in a plurality of levels; a lid covering the uppermost level of the tire wheels, and having, on its bottom surface, a plurality of wheel-position-determining concavities engaging the upper circumferential edge section of the rims of the tire wheels. Furthermore, the bottom surface of the pallet has a plurality of legs projecting downward, and the top surface of the lid has a plurality of leg-position-determining concavities corresponding to the plurality of legs on the pallet, so to stack a plurality of units.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2015/071754, filed on Jul. 31, 2015, and claims benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-160533, filed Aug. 6, 2014. The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a tire-wheel transport structure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various transport structures for transporting tire wheels such as aluminum wheels have been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 3318120). 
         [0004]    Japanese Patent No. 3318120 discloses a pallet including a placing surface having annular grooves corresponding to plural types of automobile wheels having different diameters. On the pallet, the annular grooves corresponding to the respective diameters are configured by annular grooves and other types of annular grooves planarly overlapped with each other. According to the pallet of Japanese Patent No. 3318120, the wheels are transported with the wheels being fitted into the annular grooves corresponding to diameters of the respective wheels. This avoids displacement of the wheels, and enables to transport and store plural types of wheels having different sizes. 
         [0005]    Japanese Patent No. 3561875 discloses a technique by which each stage of tire wheels stacked in multiple stages on a pallet is sandwiched by two support-fixing members capable of avoiding horizontal movement of the tire wheels. With this technique, it is possible to stack the tire wheels in multiple stages on the pallet, while avoiding the horizontal movement of the tire wheels. 
         [0006]    Incidentally, recently, there are demands for further improvement in efficiency of transportation and storage of automobile parts. Thus, also for the tire-wheel transport structure, there is a demand for a technique for transporting and storing a larger number of tire wheels more efficiently. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention has been made. The present invention has an object to provide a tire-wheel transport structure as below. That is, the tire-wheel transport structure is configured to allow units to be stacked in multiple stages stably, where each of the units is constituted by tire wheels stacked in multiple stages on a single pallet. With such a tire-wheel transport structure, it is possible to transport and store a larger number of tire wheels more efficiently. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is understood by the following configurations. 
         [0009]    (1) One aspect according to the present invention is a tire-wheel transport structure including: a pallet including a placing surface on which a plurality of tire wheels is placeable with the plurality of tire wheels laid on the tire wheels&#39; sides and a plurality of engagement parts formed on the placing surface, the plurality of engagement parts being engageable with lower peripheries of rims of the plurality of tire wheels; a partition plate configured to be interposed between the plurality of tire wheels in an upper stage and the plurality of tire wheels in a lower stage, the plurality of tire wheels being stacked in multiple stages on the placing surface of the pallet, to avoid lateral displacement of the plurality of tire wheels in the upper stage and the plurality of tire wheels in the lower stage; and a lid configured to cover the plurality of tire wheels in an uppermost stage, the lid having a lower surface having a plurality of wheel positioning recesses being engageable with upper peripheries of the rims of the plurality of tire wheels. The pallet has a lower surface having a plurality of legs projected downwardly. The lid has an upper surface having a plurality of leg positioning recesses respectively corresponding to the plurality of legs of the pallet so that a plurality of units is stackable, where each of the plurality of units is constituted by the pallet, the plurality of tire wheels stacked in multiple stages, the partition plate, and the lid. 
         [0010]    (2) In the configuration of the above described (1), the lid may be made of a hollow resin molding integrally having a double-walled structure including an upper wall and a lower wall. The plurality of leg positioning recesses may be provided on the upper wall in such a manner that the plurality of leg positioning recesses is depressed toward the lower wall. The plurality of wheel positioning recesses may be provided on the lower wall in such a manner that the plurality of wheel positioning recesses is depressed toward the upper wall. 
         [0011]    (3) In the configuration of the above described (1) or (2), the plurality of wheel positioning recesses may be grooves respectively corresponding to the upper peripheries of the rims. 
         [0012]    The present invention can provide a tire-wheel transport structure as below. That is, the tire-wheel transport structure is configured to allow units to be stacked in a larger number of multiple stages stably, where each of the units is constituted by tire wheels stacked in multiple stages on a single pallet. With such a tire-wheel transport structure, it is possible to transport and store a larger number of tire wheels more efficiently. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view for illustrating an example of use of a tire-wheel transport structure according to an example of the present invention, and is a perspective view of two units that are stacked. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pallet shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a partition plate shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4( a )  is a perspective view of a lid shown in  FIG. 1  from obliquely above,  FIG. 4( b )  is a perspective view of a lid shown in  FIG. 1  from obliquely bottom, and  FIG. 4( c )  is a cross-sectional view of a lid shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4( a ) . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a view for illustrating a working procedure of placing tire wheels on the pallet. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a view for illustrating a working procedure of placing a partition plate on the tire wheels. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a view for illustrating a working procedure of further placing tire wheels and a partition plate on the partition plate. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a view for illustrating a working procedure of placing a lid on the tire wheels. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a packing style of a unit in which the pallet and the lid are bound. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a view for illustrating a working procedure of stacking, on the lid, a pallet of another unit. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11( a )  is a perspective view of a pallet of a modification of the example from obliquely above and  FIG. 11( b )  is a perspective view of a pallet of a modification of the example from obliquely bottom. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12( a )  is a perspective view of a lid of the modification of the example from obliquely above and  FIG. 12( b )  is a perspective view of a lid of the modification of the example from obliquely bottom. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples 
       [0025]    With reference to the drawings, the following provides a detailed description of examples of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as “examples”). Throughout the description of the examples, identical elements are given identical reference signs. 
       Overall Configuration of Tire-Wheel Transport Structure  10   
       [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the following describes an overall configuration of a tire-wheel transport structure  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tire-wheel transport structure  10  is a logistics material for use in transportation and storage of tire wheels  11  such as aluminum wheels. The tire-wheel transport structure  10  includes a pallet  20 , a partition plate  30 , and a lid  40 . On the pallet  20 , a plurality of tire wheels  11  is to be placed with the tire wheels  11  laid on their sides, i.e., with axial lines  13  of shaft holes  12  of the tire wheels  11  aligned with a vertical direction (see  FIG. 2 ). The partition plate  30  is configured to be interposed between the tire wheels  11  in an upper stage and the tire wheels  11  in a lower stage, tire wheels  11  being stacked in a multiple stages on the pallet  20 . The lid  40  is configured to cover a plurality of tire wheels  11  of an uppermost stage. 
         [0027]    According to the tire-wheel transport structure  10 , one unit  50  can be constituted by the pallet  20 , the tire wheels  11  stacked in multiple stages on the pallet  20 , a plurality of partition plates  30 , and the lid  40 . Further, on the lid  40  of the one unit  50 , other units  50 A may be stacked in multiple stages. As an example,  FIG. 1  illustrates two units  50  and  50 A stacked in two stages. 
       Configuration of Pallet  20   
       [0028]    Next, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the following describes a configuration of the pallet  20 . The pallet  20  is made of a synthetic resin, and is formed to have a plane having a substantially quadrangle shape, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The pallet  20  has a placing surface  21 , on which a plurality of tire wheels  11  (in this example, four tire wheels  11 ) is to be arranged and placed. Meanwhile, the pallet  20  has a lower surface having a plurality of legs  22  projected downwardly. Each of the legs  22  is a recess depressed downwardly from the placing surface  21  side. In this example, nine legs  22  are arranged at lattice points on the lower surface of the pallet  20 , which has a substantially quadrangle shape. This example shows a configuration including a fork insertion portion  23 , disposed in a separation part between two adjacent ones of the legs  22 , into which a folk (claw) of a forklift is to be inserted. 
         [0029]    Further, the placing surface  21  has a plurality of engagement parts  25 . The engagement parts  25  are engageable with lower peripheries  11   d  of rims  11   a  of the respective plurality of tire wheels  11 . The plurality of engagement parts  25  is annular grooves formed on the placing surface  21  except on the legs  22  in such a manner that the engagement parts  25  are not overlapped with each other. 
       Configuration of Partition Plate  30   
       [0030]    Next, with reference with  FIG. 3 , the following describes a configuration of the partition plate  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the partition plate  30  is formed to have a plane having a substantially quadrangle shape. The partition plate  30  has a plurality of lower engagement parts  31 , which is annular and corresponds to the plurality of tire wheels  11  arranged on the pallet  20 . Each of the lower engagement parts  31  is an annular groove that is depressed from a lower surface side of the partition plate  30  toward an upper surface of the partition plate  30 . The lower engagement parts  31  are engageable with upper peripheries  11   u  of the rims  11   a  of the respective tire wheels  11 . Further, the partition plate  30  has a plurality of upper engagement parts  32 , which is annular and is arranged concentrically with the lower engagement parts  31 . Each of the upper engagement parts  32  is an annular groove that is depressed from the upper surface side of the partition plate  30  toward the lower surface of the partition plate  30 . The upper engagement parts  32  are engageable with lower peripheries  11   d  of rims  11   a  of respective tire wheels  11  to be placed on the partition plate  30 . 
       Configuration of Lid  40   
       [0031]    Next, with reference with  FIG. 4 , the following describes a configuration of the lid  40 . As shown in  FIG. 4( a ) , the lid  40  is a hollow resin molding integrally having a double-walled structure including an upper wall  41  and a lower wall  42 . The lid  40  has a plane having a substantially quadrangle shape. This resin molding can be molded by any method. For example, the hollow resin molding (lid  40 ) can be formed by blow molding. Further, as a molding material of the lid  40 , a polyolefin resin exemplified by polyethylene and polypropylene can be used. 
         [0032]    The upper wall  41  has a plurality of leg positioning recesses  43 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 4( b ) , the lower wall  42  has a plurality of wheel positioning recesses  45 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 4( c ) , each of the leg positioning recesses  43  is depressed from the upper wall  41  side toward the lower wall  42 . The leg positioning recesses  43  are engageable with legs  22  of a pallet  20  coming from above. Meanwhile, each of the wheel positioning recesses  45  is an annular groove that is depressed from the lower wall  42  side toward the upper wall  41 . The wheel positioning recesses  45  respectively correspond to the upper peripheries  11   u  of the tire wheels  11  of the uppermost stage in the unit  50  (see  FIG. 1 ), and are engageable with the upper peripheries  11   u.    
       Working Procedure of Loading Tire Wheels  11   
       [0034]    Next, with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 10 , the following describes procedures of loading tire wheels  11 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , first, a plurality of tire wheels  11  (in this example, four tire wheels  11 ) is arranged and placed on a placing surface  21  of a pallet  20  with the tire wheels  11  laid on their sides. The arranging and placing are performed such that lower peripheries  11   d  of rims  11   a  are engaged with engagement parts  25 . This causes the tire wheels  11  to be positioned in correct positions in the pallet  20 , and avoids lateral displacement of each tire wheel  11 . 
         [0036]    Next, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a partition plate  30  is placed from above on the plurality of tire wheels  11  arranged on the pallet  20 . The placing of the partition plate  30  is performed such that lower engagement parts  31  of the partition plate  30  are respectively engaged with upper peripheries  11   u  of the rims  11   a.    
         [0037]    Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a plurality of tire wheels  11  is arranged and placed on the partition plate  30  with the plurality of tire wheels  11  laid on their sides. The arranging and placing are performed such that lower peripheries  11   d  of rims  11   a  are engaged with upper engagement parts  32  of the partition plate  30 . Consequently, in the partition plate  30 , the lower engagement parts  31  are engaged with the plurality of tire wheels  11  in the lower stage, and the upper engagement parts  32  are engaged with the plurality of tire wheels  11  in the upper stage. This avoids lateral displacement of the tire wheels  11  in the lower stage and the tire wheels  11  in the upper stage. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a partition plate  30  is placed on the plurality of tire wheels  11  in the upper stage from above. In this manner, a plurality of tire wheels  11  is stacked in a predetermined number of stages (in this example, five stages) via partition plates  30 . Then, a lid  40  is put on the plurality of tire wheels  11  in an uppermost stage. The putting of the lid  40  is performed such that wheel positioning recesses  45  of the lid  40  (see  FIG. 4( b ) ) are respectively engaged with upper peripheries  11   u  of rims  11   a.    
         [0039]    Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a stretch film  15  is wound along the entire circumference of the tire wheels  11  stacked in multiple stages. Then, the pallet  20  and the lid  40  are bound with a binding band  16 , so that the stacked tire wheels  11  are sandwiched between the pallet  20  and the lid  40  to be fixed. Consequently, one unit  50  is constituted by the pallet  20 , the tire wheels  11  stacked in multiple stages, the partition plates  30 , and the lid  40 . 
         [0040]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 10 , on the one unit  50 , another unit  50 A is stacked. The stacking is performed such that legs  22  of a pallet  20  of another unit  50 A are engaged with leg positioning recesses  43  of the lid  40  of the one unit  50 . Consequently, the units  50  and  50 A stacked in multiple stages are obtained. 
       Effects of Tire-Wheel Transport Structure  10   
       [0041]    The following describes effects of the above-described tire-wheel transport structure  10 . According to the tire-wheel transport structure  10 , the lid  40  has an upper surface having the leg positioning recesses  43 . By engaging the leg positioning recesses  43  with legs  22  of a pallet  20  of another unit  50 A, the plurality of units  50  and  50 A can be stacked stably. As a result, it is possible to transport and store a larger number of tire wheels  11  more efficiently. 
       Modification of Tire-Wheel Transport Structure  10   
       [0042]    Next, with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the following describes a modification of the tire-wheel transport structure  10 . 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 11( a ) , a pallet  20  of the modification is configured such that six tire wheels  11  are to be placed thereon, and the pallet  20  has a placing surface  21  having six engagement parts  25 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 11( b ) , the pallet  20  has legs  22  each having a bottom surface having an engagement recess  22   a  that is circular in cross-section. 
         [0044]    Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 12( a ) , a lid  40  has leg positioning recesses  43  each having a center part having a projection  43   a , which is projected upwardly. The projection  43   a  is a protrusion that is circular in cross-section and is engageable with the engagement recess  22   a  of the leg  22  (see  FIG. 11( b ) ). Further, as shown in  FIG. 12( b ) , the lid  40  has a lower wall  42  having six wheel positioning recesses  45  respectively corresponding to the six tire wheels  11 . 
         [0045]    According to the modification, in the process of engaging leg positioning recesses  43  of a lid  40  of one unit with legs  22  of a pallet  20  of another unit, it is possible to engage projections  43   a  of the leg positioning recesses  43  with engagement recesses  22   a  of the legs  22 . This further enhances engagement strength between the legs  22  and the leg positioning recesses  43 . Consequently, it is possible to stack a plurality of units more stably. 
         [0046]    In the foregoing description, the present invention has been explained in relation to the examples. However, needless to say, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the descriptions of the examples. Persons skilled in the art would readily understand that various modifications and/or variations can be made in the examples. Further, it is clear from the claims that other examples including such modifications and/or variations are also encompassed in the technical scope of the present disclosure.