Patent Application
20240190610
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2021 203 137.4, filed 29 Mar. 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
The invention relates to a pallet. The invention further relates to a method for producing a pallet.
Pallets are generally known from the prior art by way of public prior use. In practice, they have proven useful primarily for transporting and storing items. A drawback is that pallets are often extremely heavy and thus not always easily handled. Pallets are also known which, despite being light, are not particularly robust or do not have a particularly high load-bearing capacity.
DE 10 2006 018 870 B3, WO 2020/182954 A1 and DE 1 756 873 A disclose prior-art pallets.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved pallet and to overcome the problems of the prior art. In particular, a pallet is to be provided which is extremely stable and has a high load-bearing capacity and is also comparatively light. A method for producing a pallet of this kind is also to be provided.
This object is achieved by a pallet comprising a pallet arrangement which comprises a carrier arrangement for carrying at least one item, which comprises a runner arrangement, connected to the carrier arrangement, for providing support with respect to a support surface, and which is made of a pallet arrangement material, and at least one, in particular profile-like, reinforcement element, which is non-detachably connected to the pallet arrangement, for reinforcing the pallet arrangement at least in regions.
This object is further achieved by a method for producing a pallet, comprising the steps of producing a pallet arrangement from a pallet arrangement material, wherein the pallet arrangement comprises a carrier arrangement for carrying at least one item, and a runner arrangement, connected to the carrier arrangement, for providing support with respect to a support surface, and non-detachably connecting at least one reinforcement element for reinforcing the pallet arrangement at least in regions and the pallet arrangement to one another.
The key concept of the invention is a reinforced pallet arrangement. The non-detachable connection between the pallet arrangement and the at least one reinforcement element results in a pallet which is particularly robust and durable and has a high load-bearing capacity.
It is expedient for the carrier arrangement to be plate-like. Advantageously, the carrier arrangement forms at least one, preferably planar, carrier surface for carrying the at least one item to be carried.
The runner arrangement preferably forms a standing surface for providing support with respect to the support surface, which is formed by a floor, the ground, a transport vehicle, another pallet, or the like, for example. The carrier surface(s) and the standing surface advantageously extend in parallel with one another.
It is advantageous for the runner arrangement to comprise a plurality of, in particular two to four, preferably elongate, runners. Each runner advantageously has a length that (approximately) corresponds to the length of the carrier arrangement. Each runner preferably has a width in its transverse extension that is less than, in particular significantly less than, a width of the carrier arrangement.
Each runner preferably has at least one bearer, preferably a plurality of bearers, preferably two to four bearers, which are attached to the carrier arrangement on the underside. The bearers of the pallet arrangement are preferably structurally identical at least in type. In particular, bearers arranged in corner regions of the pallet are structurally identical. It is expedient for outer bearers of at least one inner runner to also be formed to be structurally identical. Advantageously, inner bearers of outer runners are structurally identical.
It is expedient for each runner to also comprise at least one base element, which is attached to the at least one bearer of the relevant runner on the underside. Each base element and/or each bearer of the relevant runner preferably forms a standing surface for providing support with respect to the support surface. It is advantageous for at least one base element to be connected to bearers that are at least partly divided in the width direction and/or the longitudinal direction of the pallet. (Partial) bearers of this kind are extremely light and resilient.
Advantageously, the carrier arrangement and the runner arrangement are interconnected integrally or in one piece. They are made of a preferably common or identical pallet arrangement material, which is preferably plastics material, preferably bio-based or biologically degradable plastics material, or unmixed plastics material, or recycled material. The pallet arrangement material can consist of one or more materials. The pallet is particularly environmentally friendly and is preferably completely recyclable. Preferably, it is free of fibre-reinforced plastics material.
The at least one reinforcement element is preferably made of a material which differs from the pallet arrangement material. It is expedient for the at least one reinforcement element to have a greater strength or rigidity than the pallet arrangement. Advantageously, the at least one reinforcement element is elongate or profile-like.
It is expedient for the at least one reinforcement element to extend in the longitudinal direction, transverse direction and/or vertical direction of the pallet or pallet arrangement. It preferably has a length of between 500 mm and 1500 mm, preferably between 600 mm and 1200 mm. It is expedient for the at least one reinforcement element to have an in particular uniform thickness of between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm.
Advantageously, the at least one reinforcement element is arranged at least partially within the pallet arrangement. It is arranged in/on the carrier arrangement and/or the runner arrangement, for example. The at least one reinforcement element is preferably covered or surrounded by the pallet arrangement material at least partially, preferably by at least 50%, preferably by at least 70%, and preferably completely. It is advantageous for the at least one reinforcement element to be arranged to be immovable relative to the pallet arrangement. It is preferably an insert element.
The pallet arrangement is preferably rigid. Preferably, it has a lightweight construction.
It is expedient for the pallet to be (substantially) symmetrical to at least one main plane. The pallet arrangement and/or the at least one reinforcement element is/are preferably designed to be symmetrical to at least one main plane.
The pallet is preferably designed as a reusable pallet. Advantageously, it is particularly suitable for use in a warehouse, in particular a high-bay warehouse, and/or in automated conveyor systems, such as conveyor systems. The pallet is preferably designed such that it can be transported by means of a lifting apparatus, such as a pallet truck. The lifting apparatus is advantageously capable of reaching under the carrier arrangement between runners and then lifting and thus transporting the pallet and optionally at least one item arranged thereon. Preferably, for this purpose the pallet has at least one cut-out for the lifting apparatus, for example at least one fork or prong thereof, into which to engage.
Here, the expression “non-detachably connected” is in particular understood to be a connection that cannot be detached without damaging the pallet arrangement and/or the at least one reinforcement element.
The expressions “horizontal”, “vertical”, “underside”/“lower”, “top”/“upper” or the like relate to an intended arrangement of the pallet with the standing surface facing downwards and the carrier surface facing upwards.
The configuration, in which the pallet arrangement engages at least in part into the at least one reinforcement element, in particular in manner of a locking, in particular in a positive fit manner, provides a pallet that is particularly robust and has a high load-bearing capacity. The engagement of the pallet arrangement or the pallet arrangement material into the at least one reinforcement element is preferably formed by at least one undercut. The at least one reinforcement element is appropriately designed or shaped to do this. For this purpose, it preferably has at least one corresponding fixing means, which is designed as an opening, a depression, a cut-out, a projection or the like, for example. The pallet arrangement advantageously comprises at least one corresponding complementary fixing means, which preferably corresponds to the at least one fixing means.
The at least one reinforcement element comprising at least one fixing opening, preferably a plurality of fixing openings, for fixing the at least one reinforcement element in position relative to the pallet arrangement, the pallet arrangement engaging at least in part into the at least one fixing opening, is perforated and, on one hand, makes it possible to produce the pallet in a particularly simple manner. On the other hand, the at least one reinforcement element can thus be fixed in position particularly securely relative to the pallet arrangement and is extremely light. It is expedient for the at least one fixing opening to be completely closed in the circumferential direction or laterally on the outside.
It is advantageous for the at least one reinforcement element to comprise a plurality of fixing openings. Advantageously, the fixing openings in a reinforcement element are structurally identical. Alternatively, they differ from one another. Preferably, they are located in at least one leg of the at least one reinforcement element, which leg runs vertically or extends perpendicularly to the carrier surface of the carrier arrangement. The at least one reinforcement element is preferably designed as a reinforcement hole element.
The at least one fixing opening being continuous and the pallet arrangement penetrating the at least one fixing opening, in particular completely, establishes a connection between opposite sides of the at least one reinforcement element.
The at least one fixing opening is circular in cross section, while the at least one complementary fixing means is preferably designed as a cylindrical undercut body or cylindrical locking body. The at least one fixing opening in each case preferably has a diameter between 3 mm and 9 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 8 mm. Alternatively, the at least one fixing opening has a different cross section, such as polygonal, oval, elliptical or the like.
The at least one reinforcement element being made of metal and preferably of steel, in particular roll-formed steel, in particular high-strength steel, in particular dual-phase steel has particularly high strength or rigidity. It is preferably made of a metal sheet. It is expedient for this to be galvanized, at least partially, preferably completely, in particular for corrosion reasons.
The pallet, in which the at least one reinforcement element is overmoulded with the pallet arrangement material at least in regions, preferably at least mostly, preferably completely, is extremely cost-effective and simple to produce. It is expedient for the pallet arrangement material to flow into or through the at least one reinforcement element in a, preferably single, injection-moulding process. In the injection-moulding process, the at least one reinforcement element is preferably arranged in an injection-moulding device or injection mould and is overmoulded with the pallet arrangement material at least in regions at this point, preferably directly. In this case, it is preferably detachably connected to the pallet arrangement. The pallet arrangement is advantageously produced by injection moulding and is designed as an injection-moulded pallet arrangement. It is produced by primary moulding.
The pallet comprising a plurality of reinforcement elements has particularly high strength or rigidity. It is expedient for the reinforcement elements to extend in parallel with one another. They are preferably arranged at a spacing from one another.
Advantageously, at least one first and one second reinforcement element are provided, which differ from one another, for example in terms of shape, design, length and/or size. It is expedient for a plurality of first reinforcement elements and a plurality of second reinforcement elements to be provided. Advantageously, each reinforcement element is formed in one piece.
The at least one reinforcement element is designed as a Z-shaped profile element, which has a corresponding Z-shaped cross section. This preferably has two straight end legs extending in parallel with one another and an intermediate leg interconnecting these end legs. It is expedient for the end legs to extend perpendicularly to the intermediate leg and project from the intermediate leg at the edge in opposite directions. The Z-shaped profile element is preferably symmetrical to at least one plane, preferably to a first and second plane.
The Z-shaped profile element is arranged in the carrier arrangement at least mostly, preferably completely.
The configuration, in which the at least one fixing opening is arranged in an intermediate leg of the Z-shaped profile element, in particular extending perpendicularly to a carrier surface of the carrier arrangement, provides a pallet that can be produced in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the at least one reinforcement element can thus be fixed in position in an extremely functionally reliable manner relative to the pallet arrangement.
The at least one reinforcement element is designed as an omega-shaped profile element, which has a corresponding omega-shaped cross section. This preferably has two straight end legs, which extend in parallel with one another in a common plane. Advantageously, the omega-shaped profile element also comprises two side intermediate legs. Each side intermediate leg perpendicularly adjoins an end leg at the edge. The side intermediate legs are interconnected by a connecting leg, which extends in parallel with the end legs. The omega-shaped profile element is preferably formed by a U-shaped profile element and two end elements, which each project perpendicularly laterally outwards at the edge. The omega-shaped profile element is advantageously symmetrical to at least one plane of symmetry, preferably to a first and second plane.
It is expedient for the at least one or each fixing opening in the at least one Z-shaped profile element to be larger than in the at least one omega-shaped profile element.
Adjacent to the at least one reinforcement element, the pallet arrangement has, at least in regions, preferably at least mostly, a cross section or contour which substantially corresponds to the cross section or contour of the at least one reinforcement element there. It is advantageous for the pallet arrangement to have a uniform thickness adjacently to the at least one reinforcement element at least in regions and to preferably be thin-walled at this point. The pallet arrangement surrounds the at least one reinforcement element in the region thereof, preferably at least partially, preferably at least mostly, preferably completely, (substantially) with a uniform wall thickness, which is advantageously between 1 mm and 10 mm. At this point, the pallet arrangement and the at least one reinforcement element have an identical contour or an identical cross-sectional shape or a substantially identical contour or cross-sectional shape, in particular in a Z shape or omega shape.
The pallet has at least one monitoring unit arranged, in particular detachably, on the pallet arrangement, for at least temporarily monitoring an environment of the pallet and/or the at least one item. The at least one monitoring unit is preferably connected to the pallet arrangement in a positive fit and/or force-locked, but detachable, manner. It is expedient for the at least one monitoring unit to be arranged on the pallet arrangement in a latched or snapped-in manner. The at least one monitoring unit is for example arranged on/in the carrier arrangement and/or runner arrangement, such as at least one bearer thereof. The pallet arrangement is appropriately designed and shaped for this purpose. Advantageously, a plurality of, such as two to four, monitoring units are provided, which are preferably arranged in corner regions of the pallet, for example to be opposite one another diagonally.
It is expedient for the at least one monitoring unit to be capable of detecting physical and/or chemical properties, for example qualitatively or quantitatively as a measured variable. It is advantageous for the at least one monitoring unit to be capable of generating a corresponding electrical signal or an electrical variable for the relevant property, condition, state and/or environment which can advantageously be processed further. Different environmental conditions, state conditions or changes can preferably be detected. In particular, the at least one monitoring unit is capable of monitoring a prevailing ambient temperature and/or ambient air humidity. It is advantageously a technical component and preferably comprises at least one corresponding electrical or electronic monitoring means, such as a sensor. Preferably, the at least one monitoring unit is designed as a sensor box. It preferably has a protective housing.
The configuration, in which the at least one monitoring unit is arranged in the pallet arrangement at least in regions, preferably completely, and the pallet arrangement comprises at least one communication opening for the at least one monitoring unit to communicate with the environment and/or the at least one item, enables particularly functionally reliable and accurate monitoring of the environment and/or the at least one item. Furthermore, the at least one monitoring unit is thus extremely well protected, for example against mechanical influences. The at least one communication opening is preferably open to the bottom and/or the top. Alternatively or additionally, it is open to the side.
The at least one monitoring unit is arranged on the pallet arrangement in a latched manner. The at least one monitoring unit can be reliably and rapidly fixed in position on the pallet arrangement. It can also preferably be detached or removed from the pallet arrangement. This is preferably possible without using tools. It is advantageous for the at least one monitoring unit to comprise, for this purpose, at least one latching means, such as a latching tab, a latching projection or the like, and for the pallet arrangement to comprise at least one corresponding complementary latching means, such as an opening, a cut-out, a surface, a flank or the like. Alternatively, a reverse arrangement of the latching means and complementary latching means is possible.
The at least one monitoring unit is in particular designed as a navigation box. It preferably comprises a humidity sensor.
The pallet arrangement comprises at least one expansion means, which is preferably arranged adjacent to the at least one reinforcement element and advantageously extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the at least one reinforcement element The at least one expansion means or movement means is formed in the pallet arrangement material and is capable of compensating for stresses which in particular occur when cooling the pallet after it has been moulded or produced. By means of the at least one expansion means, controlled or targeted/precisely defined cracking of the pallet arrangement material is possible, for example. Preferably, undesired cracks in the pallet arrangement material can be prevented or reduced. The at least one expansion means is designed as an expansion joint, an expansion hinge, such as a film hinge, or the like, for example.
The at least one reinforcement element comprising at least one flanged edge region has particularly high rigidity. It is expedient for each edge region, in particular each free edge region, of the at least one reinforcement element to be flanged or crimped. When the at least one reinforcement element is designed as a Z-shaped profile element, for example, each end leg thereof preferably has a flanged edge region. When the at least one reinforcement element is designed as an omega-shaped profile element, for example, each end leg preferably again has a flanged edge region.
The pallet according to the invention and the configurations thereof also form preferred developments of a method for producing a pallet, comprising the steps of producing a pallet arrangement from a pallet arrangement material, wherein the pallet arrangement comprises a carrier arrangement for carrying at least one item, and a runner arrangement, connected to the carrier arrangement, for providing support with respect to a support surface, and non-detachably connecting at least one reinforcement element for reinforcing the pallet arrangement at least in regions and the pallet arrangement to one another.
The method is configured such that the at least one reinforcement element is overmoulded in an injection-moulding device.
The method is further configured such that the at least one reinforcement element is overmoulded upon forming the pallet arrangement completely.
It is expedient for the non-detachable connection between the at least one reinforcement element and the pallet arrangement to be produced in or during the production of the pallet arrangement. For producing the pallet, it is advantageous for the at least one reinforcement element to be placed into an injection-moulding device or injection mould and to then be overmoulded at least in regions with the pallet arrangement material to form the pallet arrangement. Advantageously, the at least one reinforcement element is pre-heated before the injection-moulding process.
In the following, two preferred configurations of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First of all, with reference to
The carrier arrangement 1 is designed to be plate-like and elongate. It is rectangular in plan view and has a planar, horizontally extending carrier surface 3 facing upwards for carrying at least one item (not shown) to be carried. The carrier arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of (substantially) rectangular hollow chambers, which are open to the top and the bottom. The carrier surface 3 is formed by upper free ends of fins of the carrier arrangement 1 delimiting the hollow chambers.
One runner 2 extends adjacently to a longitudinal edge 4 of the pallet or carrier arrangement 1 in each case and forms an outer runner 2. One runner 2 extends between these outer runners 2 and forms an inner or interposed runner 2. The outer runners 2 are structurally identical, while the inner runner 2 differs from them in structure.
Each runner 2 has three bearers 5, which project downwards from the carrier arrangement 1. Nine bearers 5 are provided here in total, which have an identical vertical height.
In each other runner 2, the bearers 5 are arranged adjacently to the relevant longitudinal edge 4. In this case, two bearers 5 are arranged in corner regions of the pallet or carrier arrangement 1 and form outer bearers 5. A bearer 5 is arranged in a central region between the outer bearers 5 of this outer runner 2 and form an inner or interposed bearer 5.
For the inner runner 2, two bearers 5 are arranged adjacently to transverse edges 6 of the pallet or carrier arrangement 1 and form outer bearers 5. A bearer 5 is again arranged in a central region between these outer bearers 5 of this inner runner 2 and form an inner or interposed bearer 5.
The bearers 5 of each runner 2 are arranged in a row, which extends in parallel with the longitudinal edges 4 or in a longitudinal direction 7 of the pallet or carrier arrangement 1. The inner bearers 5 are arranged in a common inner vertical plane. The bearers 5 arranged adjacently to a transverse edge 6 of the pallet or carrier arrangement 1 are also each arranged in a relevant common outer vertical plane, which extends in parallel with the inner vertical plane.
Each bearer 5 substantially has a rectangular cross section or a rectangular contour. Corner regions can be rounded off. Each bearer 5 is hollow and preferably has an, in particular closed, outer wall 8. It is expedient for each bearer 5 to comprise at least one inner stiffening connecting piece 9.
Furthermore, each runner 2 comprises a straight, elongate base element 10, which interconnects the bearers 5 of the relevant runner 2 on the underside and is designed to be strip-like, fin-like or the like. Each base element 10 extends in the longitudinal direction 7. It delimits two intermediate spaces 11 together with the carrier arrangement 1 and the adjacent bearers 5 in each case. Each base element 10 has a plurality of stiffening ribs 12 on the top, which extend in parallel with one another and perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 7. The reinforcement ribs 12 extend vertically and at a spacing from one another. It is expedient for these to be (substantially) continuous in the transverse direction 6.
In each base element 10, a straight omega-shaped profile element 13 (see, for example,
The omega-shaped profile elements 13 are designed to be identical. Each omega-shaped profile element 13 has a straight, rectangular connecting leg or fin 14 and two rectangular side intermediate legs 15 which perpendicularly adjoin said leg or piece at the edge and extend in parallel with and opposite one another. A rectangular end leg 17 adjoins each side intermediate leg 15 at the edge so as to be opposite the connecting leg 14 and projects perpendicularly therefrom laterally outwards.
A plurality of fixing openings 16 are arranged in each side intermediate leg 15 in a horizontal row extending in the longitudinal direction 7. The fixing openings 16 in each side intermediate leg 15 have an identical horizontal spacing from one another and are designed to be identical. Each fixing opening 16 penetrates the relevant side intermediate leg 15 completely and is round or circular in cross section. The fixing openings 16 arranged in the opposite side intermediate legs 15 of the relevant omega-shaped profile element 13 are preferably arranged to be opposite one another or alternatively are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction 7 or a vertical direction.
In each runner 2, the connecting leg 14 of the relevant omega-shaped profile element 13 is arranged above the end leg 17 of the relevant omega-shaped profile element 13. Each connecting leg 14 thus has a smaller vertical spacing from the carrier arrangement 1 than the end leg 17 and extends horizontally. The side intermediate legs 15 extend vertically or perpendicularly to the carrier surface 3.
At a spacing from the stiffening ribs 12 or without taking this into consideration, each base element 10 has a cross section adjacently to each Z-shaped profile element 20 or in the region thereof that (substantially) corresponds to the cross section of the omega-shaped profile element 13 here. Each base element 10 is thus (substantially) omega-shaped in cross section here. At this point, it comprises a central body 18 which is U-shaped in cross section and in which the connecting leg 14 and the side intermediate leg 15 of the relevant omega-shaped profile element 13 are arranged. Furthermore, each base element 10 has two horizontally extending side legs 19 here, which adjoin the relevant central body 18 at the bottom at the edge and project laterally outwards from there. An end leg 17 of the relevant omega-shaped profile element 13 is arranged in each side leg 19.
In the carrier arrangement 1, a total of six straight Z-shaped profile elements 20 (see, for example,
The Z-shaped profile elements 20 are designed to be identical. Each Z-shaped profile element 20 has an upper rectangular end leg 21 and a lower rectangular end leg 22 extending in parallel therewith. Each Z-shaped profile element 20 also has a rectangular intermediate leg 23, which interconnects the two end legs 21, 22 of the relevant Z-shaped profile element 20 at the edge and extends perpendicularly thereto. The end legs 21, 22 project from the relevant intermediate leg 23 at the edge in opposite directions.
A plurality of fixing openings 27 are arranged in each intermediate leg 23, which are arranged in three horizontal rows extending in the longitudinal direction 7 and arranged above one another and are designed to be identical. The fixing openings 27 arranged in each row have an identical horizontal spacing from one another. The fixing openings 27 arranged in the central horizontal row are arranged to be offset in the longitudinal direction 7 from the fixing openings 27 arranged in the upper or lower row. Each fixing opening 27 penetrates the intermediate leg 23 completely and is round or circular in cross section.
The intermediate leg 23 of the relevant Z-shaped profile element 20 extends vertically or perpendicularly to the carrier surface 3 in the carrier arrangement 1. The upper end legs 21 extend adjacently to the carrier surface 3 and above the lower end legs 22. They run horizontally.
The carrier arrangement 1 has a cross section adjacently to each Z-shaped profile element 20 or in the region thereof that (substantially) corresponds to the cross section of the Z-shaped profile element 20 here. The carrier arrangement 1 is thus (substantially) Z-shaped in cross section here in each case. Here, the carrier arrangement 1 has an upper, horizontally extending fin 24 and a lower, horizontally extending fin 25 as well as a vertical connecting piece 26 extending perpendicularly therebetween. An upper end leg 21 of the relevant Z-shaped profile element 20 is arranged in each upper fin 24 of the carrier arrangement 1. A lower end leg 22 of the relevant Z-shaped profile element 20 is arranged in each lower fin 25 of the carrier arrangement 1. An intermediate leg 23 of the relevant Z-shaped profile element 20 is arranged in each connecting piece 26 of the carrier arrangement 1. The upper end legs 21 preferably lie in a common plane. The lower end legs 22 also preferably lie in a common horizontal plane.
Two of the Z-shaped profile elements 20 extend adjacently to the longitudinal edges 4. The remaining Z-shaped profile elements 20 extend laterally from the bearers 5 and adjacently thereto.
The Z-shaped profile elements 20 are preferably oriented so as to be rotated relative to one another: in the Z-shaped profile elements 20, the upper end legs 21 project from the associated connecting piece 26 alternately in opposite directions and the lower end legs 22 project from the associated connecting piece 26 alternately in opposite directions.
The pallet arrangement material or the pallet arrangement penetrates all of the fixing openings 16, 27 completely in manner of a locking. Each profile element 13, 20 is thus fixed in position by fixed or rigid locking bodies 28 (
The pallet arrangement also comprises, in each of two opposite corner regions, a monitoring unit receiving chamber 29 (see
A monitoring unit 33 is or can be arranged in each monitoring unit receiving chamber 29. Each monitoring unit 33 has a temperature and/or humidity sensor. Each monitoring unit 33 is capable of generating a corresponding electrical signal which can be retrieved or can be transmitted by the monitoring unit 33, for example.
Each monitoring unit 33 is or can be arranged in the relevant monitoring unit receiving chamber 29 in a detachable or replaceable manner, in particular in a snapped-in or latched manner. To do this, at least one through-hole is made in at least one delimiting wall 30 of the relevant monitoring unit receiving chamber 29. Each monitoring unit 33 carries at least one snap hook, which is snapped into the at least one through-hole forming a complementary snap means in the mounted state of the monitoring unit 33. By manually pushing in the at least one snap hook, the snap-in connection between the pallet arrangement and the relevant monitoring unit 33 can be detached again.
The production of the pallet will be briefly described in the following. An injection-moulding device (not shown) is used for this purpose.
In an injection mould of the injection-moulding device, the profile elements 13, 20 are positioned according to their later arrangement in the pallet arrangement. The profile elements 13, 20 are placed into the injection mould having been pre-heated, or are pre-heated therein.
The injection mould is then closed and the liquid or liquefied pallet arrangement material is injected under pressure. The pallet arrangement material surrounds all of the profile elements 13, 20 completely and also penetrates the fixing openings 16, 27 in the process. The fixing openings 16, 27 are flow-coated with the pallet arrangement material here. The profile elements 13, 20 are thus embedded in the pallet arrangement.
The pallet arrangement material then hardens in the injection mould to form the pallet arrangement. The injection mould is appropriately shaped to do this. The cylindrical locking bodies 28 are produced in this process, which fix the profile elements 13, 20 in position relative to the pallet arrangement. The locking bodies 28 are capable of transmitting loads.
After opening the injection mould, the pallet can be removed as a finished part.
A second embodiment will be described in the following with reference to
Each outer runner 2a has three bearers 5a, which project downwards from the carrier arrangement 1a. Here, each inner bearer 5a is formed by two partial bearers, which are arranged at a spacing from one another and have different spacings from the outer bearers 5a of the relevant runner 2a. Each inner bearer 5a of an outer runner 2a is divided in the longitudinal direction of the pallet.
In the inner runner 2a, the three bearers Sa are each formed by two partial bearers. The partial bearers forming a bearer 5a here are each arranged at a spacing from one another and have different spacings from the outer runners 2a. Each bearer Sa of the inner runner 2a is divided in the width direction of the pallet.
Each runner 2a again comprises a straight, elongate base element 10a, which interconnects the bearers Sa of the relevant runner 2a at the bottom and is designed to be strip-like, fin-like or the like. In each outer runner 2a, the partial bearers of each bearer Sa are arranged at a spacing from one another along the associated base element 10. In each inner runner 2a, the partial bearers of each bearer 5a are arranged at a spacing from one another in the transverse direction of the associated base element 10a.
The partial bearers result in a particularly light pallet.
In each base element 10a, a straight omega-shaped profile element 13a (
In the carrier arrangement 1a, a total of six straight Z-shaped profile elements 20a (
A plurality of first expansion joints 38 (
Second expansion joints 39 (
When producing the pallet by means of injection moulding, the plastics material has a temperature of between 210° C. and 230° C. The expansion joints 38, 39 allow for targeted crack formation during cooling.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 203 137.4 | Mar 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/057999 | 3/25/2022 | WO |
