Patent EA-005056-B1 (EA)
Title: Transport unit and method for manufacturing the same
Inventor: DYBRO HANNE
IPC: B65D71/00
Filed: 2002-05-22
Abstract: 1. A transport unit comprising a package (3) enclosed by a casing (2), said package (3) comprising at least one stack (5) of insulation panels (6) which is carried by supporting elements (4), said supporting elements (4) and said insulation panels (6) being made of a material usable for insulation purposes, characterised in that the casing (2) enclosing the package (3) comprises a first hood (7) and a second hood (8), said hoods (7,8) being arranged on the package (3) respectively from a first side (9) and an opposite second side (10) thereof, and said hoods (7,8) being joined together in a portion (11) along which the hoods (7,8) overlap. 2. A transport unit according to claim 1, in particular for mineral wool products such as mineral wool insulation panels (6), wherein the stack (5) has on at least one of its principal surfaces (9) receptacles (16) for handling by mechanical means of transport, such as fork-lift trucks, lifting equipment and the like. 3. A transport unit according to claim 2, wherein the receptacles (16) are formed by recesses of a lamellar panel which forms said supporting elements (4), said recesses being arranged below the stack (5). 4. A transport unit according to claim 3, wherein the lamellar panel is designed in the manner of a pallet and has a width and length which essentially correspond to the width and length of the stack (5), and wherein the receptacles (16) are designed as recesses in the lamellar panel which extend continuously over said length. 5. A transport unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lamellar panel is formed from three projecting longitudinal members, between which the recesses are arranged, said recesses being formed by longitudinal members of the lamellar panel with lower height than the height of the projecting longitudinal members. 6. A transport unit according to claim 2, wherein the receptacles (16) are realised by means of supporting elements (4) in the form of a support body, which in terms of material is identical to the insulation panels (6) forming the stack (5) and which forms a section of an insulation panel of the stack (5) or an insulation panel of a smaller width dimension, such that the support body arranged centrally below the stack (5) delimits, at both sides, receptacles (15) for mechanical engagement by the means of transport. 7. A transport unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supporting elements (4) as well as said insulation panels (6) are made of a high-density material usable for insulation purposes. 8. A transport unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supporting elements (4) are arranged on said first side (9) of the package (3). 9. A transport unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hoods (7,8) are arranged in such manner that, in said overlap portion (11), the second hood (8) is arranged outside the first hood (7). 10. A transport unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first (7) and the second (8) hood have been shrunk so as to fit tightly on the package (3). 11. A transport unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first (7) and the second (8) hood are made of a plastic film material. 12. A transport unit according to claim 11, wherein said plastic film material is shrinkable by heating. 13. A transport unit according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first (7) and the second (8) hood are joined together in the overlap portion (11) by melting. 14. A method of manufacturing a transport unit (1), comprising the steps of arranging supporting elements (4) on an upper side of a stack (5) of insulation panels (6), said insulation panels (6) and said supporting elements (4) being made of a material usable for insulation purposes, and enclosing a package (3) formed of said supporting elements (4) and insulation panels (6) by a casing (2) to form said transport unit (1), characterised in that the package (3) is enclosed by a casing (2) in the form of a first hood (7) and a second hood (8), said first hood (7) being slipped over the package (3) from a first side (9) thereof, at which first side (9) said supporting elements (4) are arranged, and said second hood (8) being slipped over the package (3) from a second side (10) thereof located opposite the first side (9), the first hood (7) and the second hood (8) being joined together in a portion (11) along which the hoods (7,8) overlap. 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of slipping said second hood (8) over the package (3) is preceded by the step of turning the package (3) so that its second side (10) faces upward. 16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein each hood (7; 8) slipped over the package (3) is made of a plastic film material and is shrunk by heating so as to fit tightly on the package (3), the second hood (8) being joined with the first hood (7) in said overlap portion (11) by melting in connection with the shrinking of the second hood (8). 17. A method according to any one of claims 14-16, wherein said supporting elements (4) as well as said insulation panels (6) are made of a high-density material usable for insulation purposes.