WO1999001352A1

WO1999001352A1 - Transport container

Info

Publication number: WO1999001352A1
Application number: PCT/NO1998/000201
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl Magnus Dahlberg
Original assignee: Karl Magnus Dahlberg
Priority date: 1997-07-04
Filing date: 1998-07-03
Publication date: 1999-01-14
Also published as: NO973129D0; NO973129L; AU8753598A; NO308732B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a collapsible transport container of the pallet type, especially for transport of food products, such as fish or for transport of petroleum products, e.g. oil or chemicals, where the container's walls are collapsible. The transport container is composed of a pallet portion (1), a bottom box portion (2), a side wall portion (3) and a lid portion (4). The side walls (3) are supported against the bottom and the side walls in the bottom box portion (2) and are equipped with longitudinal hinges for folding the walls in towards the centre of the container. The container's lid portion (4) is designed with grooves for co-operation with the tops of the side wall portions (3) and in such a manner that it can be lowered on to and secured in a power-transferring manner with the bottom box portion (2) with the side walls (3) folded down. The container is further internally equipped with a watertight, or fluid-tight bag which can be attached to the lid portion's (4) attachment area to the side wall portion (3), and with tightening means, e.g. tightenable bands, which are passed in or round the container, to hold it together in an upright and in a folded position.

Description

Transport container

The invention concerns a collapsible transport container of the "IBC" type with an integrated pallet as load carrier, preferably a EUR pallet, especially for transport of articles of food, such as fish, or for transport of petroleum products, e.g. oil or chemicals, where the container's walls are collapsible.

To a great extent present day transport is conducted in containers, or with the products placed on pallets. This provides a good and reliable means of transport with the cargo protected in the container and the pallets standardised, so that they are adapted to suit the handling instruments, such as trucks. Containers may be of different types and sizes and may be specially adapted for the product which has to be dispatched. One disadvantage, however, which exists in relation to such transport containers is the return transport, since the transport of the empty containers requires just as much space as the transport of the full containers. A new type of container has therefore been developed called IBC

(Intermediate Bulk Container) designed as a so-called EUR pallet with a cubically formed plastic container for holding, e.g., chemicals. Such containers are intended for once-only use or as stationary containers.

The further development is represented by the so-called FIBC containers (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) which constitute a "flat package principle" where the container to some extent fulfils the same functions as an IBC, but is flexible and collapsible, thereby taking up less space when it is returned. This type of container is especially developed for shuttle traffic between manufacturer and user location, and with logistic distribution. A reduction in transport costs may be expected of 20-25% compared to an IBC which has a fixed volume in return transport. However, containers of this kind also require a great deal of space during return transport, and are not always well-suited to all types of transport. Problems may arise, e.g., in the transport of liquid products or if it is important to maintain a special atmosphere round the goods which have to be transported.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a transport container of the FIBC type, which can be packed together in a maximally effective manner during the return transport, thus enabling it to be stacked as compactly as possible, while at the same time the container should be especially suited for transport of food products such as fish, or for transport of petroleum products such as oil or chemicals.

In order to make it impervious to the environment, such a container will be equipped with an internal, airtight bag, but it must be possible to fill and handle this bag in a suitable manner in order to be able to utilize the container effectively. The object of the present invention is to solve this problem.

The object of the invention is achieved with a transport container of the type mentioned in the introduction, which is characterized by what is stated in the patent claims.

The container according to the invention is composed of four main components, which are assembled or combined in a suitable manner. Thus the basis of the invention is a EUR pallet of ISO Standard, which is combined with a bottom box. To this bottom box there are connected collapsible side walls, which in a folded position will be located inside the bottom box. The container is closed at the top by a lid portion, which also forms a reinforcement for the side wall, and which is also adapted to the bottom box, thus enabling the lid portion to be passed down over the bottom box, closing it off with the side walls folded down. In this state the lid's top surface will be able to be used as a cargo plane for other goods which can be placed on this "slightly raised" pallet. The whole arrangement is kept fastened together by means of tight bands which are coupled to the container in a suitable manner and which can be adjusted so as to keep the container's parts together both in an upright and folded position. In the box there is provided a bag, which is kept secured in the surface section between the side walls' upper area and the lid, and the bag may also be in a folded position when mounted, with the result that it is not unfolded until the actual process of filling the container. The bag may also be secured in an opening in the lid or secured by means of a "goods frame". The lid of the container may also include a frame structure which enables the product to be suspended inside the container.

Particularly in connection with the transport of articles of food such as fish, during lengthy periods of transport it can be of vital importance to be able to maintain a controlled environment in the interior of the container, i.e. controlled, e.g., with regard to changes in temperature, pressure conditions, or the risk of bacterial growth, etc. Such a controlled environment can be provided, e.g., by filling the container, i.e. the space remaining after filling with the product, with a liquid or gas, which can ensure a flexible support of the products in the container, while at the same time forming a buffer against the environment. If, e.g., fish is placed in a water environment, temperature fluctuations in the environment will not be transmitted quickly to the actual fish product, since the entire water environment has to be heated up. In such an environment it will be possible to maintain a fixed temperature within narrow temperature limits, e.g. in a transport trailer with a cold-storage chamber. At the same time the f sh will be less subject to stress damage. Substances which impede bacterial growth or other agents may also be added to prevent disadvantageous influences on the products. A transport container of this kind with a controlled, internal environment will be of the greatest importance for the transport of special products, where it is vital to maintain freshness during the entire transport period.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of an embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing, which is purely schematic and in which: fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main components of a transport container according to the invention, fig. 2 is a detail view of an edge area of the container, between the bottom box and the side wall,

fig. 3 is a corresponding view, illustrating the folding mechanism for the side wall,

figs. 4 and 4a are a design variant of the connection area between the side wall and the lid portion, viewed in a section, with fig. 4a illustrating an advantageous angular design in this area, fig. 5 is a principle view, corresponding to fig. 1, illustrating a light-weight design of a container according to the invention,

fig. 6 is a design variant of the embodiment in fig. 5, and figs. 7 and 7a are a further variant of the embodiment in fig. 5.

The drawings illustrate in purely schematic form the principles which form the basis for the invention, and it should be stressed that embodiments are involved here which with regard to practical implementation can also be designed in other ways.

Thus in the practical testing of the invention functionally equivalent solutions may be developed.

Fig. 1 illustrates the main parts of the transport container according to the invention. The container is based on a pallet of the type EUR pallet, which will be determining for the container's basic shape. On this EUR pallet 1 there is mounted a bottom box 2 with relatively low side walls. Internally in this box 2 there is mounted a set of four side walls 3, which will form the container's main walls. On top of the side walls 3 there is installed a lid portion 4, which in the embodiment in fig. 1 projects beyond the side walls. A variant is illustrated in fig. 4, where the lid is terminated in the edge of the side walls.

The connection of the parts 1 and 2 will be of an entirely conventional nature, and is therefore not described further here. In order to obtain a secure attachment of the walls 3 and also a reliable power transfer from the wall load to the bottom and lateral edge of the bottom box 2, a tongue and groove connection is employed between the wall section 3 and the bottom box 2. For this purpose the side walls may be designed with reinforcement strips 16 on the outside. In the bottom a groove 4 has been cut out, while the wall sections have a corresponding pin or downwardly projecting edge area which fits into the groove 4. The remaining part of the side wall will abut directly against the bottom of the bottom box 2 in the area designated 5. By this means the side wall is secured for power transfer both in the lateral direction and towards the bottom of the box, while at the same time by means of the tongue and groove connections the correct location of the side walls is ensured.

Fig. 3 illustrates a collapsing mechanism for side walls. The same attachment is illustrated here as in fig. 2. The lower part of the side wall 3, which is here designated 6, is secured to the bottom box 2, e.g. by means of a screw connection 7. Many modifications may be envisaged here. Above the attachment point 7 a division has been made in the side wall, where the side wall's upper part 8 is connected to a lower part 6 via a longitudinal, through- going hinged joint 17. The side wall can be folded down about this hinged connection. In order to secure the side wall section 8 in the correct place in an upright position a connection with pin 9 and hole 10 is employed between the bottom box and the side wall. The hinge 17 may be provided at different heights in the various walls in order to achieve a compact folding down of the walls.

In order to ensure the vertical power transfer from lid 4 to bottom box 2, there may also be provided on the outside of the walls stiffeners or strips with a length corresponding to the distance between the bottom box's 2 top edge and the lid's lower edge. When loaded the lid will then transfer the forces via the strips directly to the bottom box, thereby relieving the pressure on the side walls.

The mounting of the lid section 4 is illustrated in figures 4 and 4a. As illustrated in fig. 4, the upper part of the walls 3 may be designed with a narrow edge 1 1. In the lid 4 there is provided a corresponding groove 12. When it is put on, the lid 4 will thereby come into the correct position relative to the side wall by means of the connection between the lateral edge 1 1 and the groove 12. The groove may be somewhat deeper than the lateral edge 11, thus permitting a packing 13 to abut against the top of the lateral edge 1 1 , forming an airtight and watertight packing. The lid has stepped contact surfaces for connection with the wall surfaces.

In fig. 4a there is illustrated an embodiment in which the lid can be tilted about an angle, e.g. of 5° to 8° for ease of positioning. In such a case weight transfer can take place via the packing 13 which is placed on top of the wall section. Such an angular design may also be employed in the embodiment in fig. 4. The lid section 4 may also project further out than the side walls with special connecting means to the bottom box 2 in the container's assembled position.

The box and lid are held together by means of a fixing device, which may, e.g., consist of a band which can be tightened round the box. These may be designed in various ways and may, e.g., be conveyed in guides along the box, but the tightening devices are not further described here. When assembling the box for return transport the walls are folded about the hinges 17, as illustrated in fig. 3, the walls are placed down in the bottom box and the lid is passed in on the top of the bottom box and tightened by means of the tightening devices. The lid will thereby form a flat transport surface on which additional pallets may be placed or folded containers, or other goods which have to be included in the return transport.

In figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated an embodiment of the container according to the invention, where the walls are designed as light-weight products, the walls being designed as a framework 14, e.g. of an aluminium material. In the top area and on the edges 15 there may be mounted a lid, which may be airtight and/or include a frame section for suspension of the products which have to be transported, e.g. in a liquid medium. Such a lid structure with frame will lie within the basic concept of the invention. In a container of this type there may be provided an internal bag, which is kept in position by light-weight rods 14, which may also be of a different construction than that which is shown in the drawing. Such a light-weight container will also be able to be employed for transport of, e.g., fresh fish, suspended in a controlled environment, such as water or gas, where the fish are hung close together in a frame in the lid, and it will be easy to fold up the container via a not shown hinged joint. In figures 5 and 6 of the drawing the bottom box is only indicated in rough outline in order to illustrate the walls located behind it.

Fig. 6 illustrates a similar embodiment to fig. 5, but where the folding is performed by means of a "scissors principle" for the wall supports, while the frame profile of the wall is folded down in the normal way.

Figures 7 and 7a illustrate a further design variant. In this variant too a scissors principle is employed for folding up the container. The two short walls 3' are thereby designed as plate walls, while the long walls 3" are formed of two pairs of scissors. The bottom box 2 is relatively low, forming the guide for the scissors. When folding up the container the side walls 3' are moved up as illustrated in fig. 7a and the scissors are closed, with the result that the plane of the walls 3' forms the plane for the folded pallet, or gives the lid structure the necessary carrying power. From the above it should be evident that the invention may be varied in many different ways within the framework of the claims.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A collapsible transport container of the pallet type, especially for transport of food products, such as fish or for transport of petroleum products, e.g. oil or chemicals, where the container's walls are collapsible, and where the container is composed of a pallet portion (1), a bottom box portion (2), a side wall portion (3) and a lid portion (4), characterized by the following individually known features:

that the side walls (3) are supported against the bottom and the side walls of the bottom box portion (2) inside the bottom box portion and are equipped with longitudinal hinges for folding down the walls towards the centre of the container, that the lid portion (4) is designed with grooves for co-operation with the tops of the side wall portions (3) and is designed in such a manner that it can be lowered on to and secured in a power-transferring manner to the bottom box portion (2) with the side walls (3) folded down,

that the container is further internally equipped with a watertight, or fluid-tight bag which can be attached in the lid portion's (4) attachment area to the side wall portion (3), and

that the container is equipped with tightening means, e.g. tightenable bands, which are passed in or round the container to hold it together in an upright and folded position.

2. A transport container according to claim 1 , characterized in that the side walls (3) are fixed in the bottom of the bottom portion (2) with a tongue and groove connection, that the part (6) of the side wall (3) under the hinge (17) is secured to the bottom portion's side wall, and that the side wall portion (8) over the hinge (17) has a dowel pin connection (9, 10) to the bottom portion's (2) wall.

3. A transport container according to claim 2, characterized in that the lid portion's (4) connection with the side walls (3) is composed of a tongue and groove connection, preferably with an in-built seal (13) and preferably with an angular clearance against the spring portion (1 1), and that the connection also forms a clamping attachment for the bag.

4. A transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the walls (3) are designed as a profile framework of light metal (figs. 5 and 6), if possible that the framework is collapsible according to the scissors principle.

5. A transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid portion (4) includes a frame for suspension of food products, e.g. fish, shells etc., which frame is supported on the side wall portions (3).

6. A transport container according to claim 1 , characterized in that the container's bag is filled with a medium for the maintenance of a controlled atmospheric state with, e.g., approximately constant temperature and/or pressure.

7. A transport container according to claim 6, characterized in that the medium is water, with the possible addition of substances for, e.g., the prevention of bacterial growth.

8. A transport container according to claim 1 , characterized in that before use the bag is evacuated and does not fill the container until the introduction of the products which have to be transported, or the controlled atmosphere.

9. A transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container in a flattened state has a compartment for accommodation of the bag.

10. A transport container according to claim 1 , characterized in that the container's lid (4) in a flattened state forms the pallet's loading plane.

1 1. A transport container according to claim 1 , characterized in that on the outside of the side walls, preferably the transverse walls there are provided strips which have a length corresponding to the distance between lid and bottom box.