The present invention relates to an intermediate wall for use with a pallet frame with two pairs of opposed walls, standing at a pallet, intended to be arranged between one pair of opposed walls, thereby dividing the space, limited by the pallet and the pallet frame.
Modern material handling comprises standardised pallets and pallet frames, put upon the same. There is a demand for dividing the space within the pallet frame into several partial spaces or partitions. One reason is, that heavy items must be fastened, such that it will not move during transportation. There may also be a need for partitioning the space into several partitions for little articles of different arts.
Document DE 198 31 640 A shows a pallet having walls positioned at the pallet frame and comprising intermediate dividing walls.
The object of the present invention is thus to achieve an intermediate wall of the art mentioned introductorily, that is simple and flexible when used and is also inexpensive in manufacture.
According to the invention, such an intermediate wall is characterised by the features, apparent from the enclosed patent claims.
The invention shall now be described more closely, reference being made to the enclosed, schematic figures, of which:
In figure 1 there is shown from above a pallet frame with the opposed walls 1 and 3, and 2,4. An intermediate wall 5 with an indicated expansion device 6 with handle is arranged between the opposed walls 1 and 3. If there is no holder - on element, the walls 1 and 3 will bend out, from the starting positions 1a and 3a. The expansion device is of the double- acting art, i e by the handle two rods 7 and 8 are caused to be pressed, releasably locking, outwards to the opposed walls. From figure 2, showing part of a pallet frame, standing at a pallet 9, is obvious, that the rod 7 in its end is formed with a grip means 8 in the form of plate with three tags, intended to gripe into the wall, against which the grip means is pressed. Another suitable embodiment of the expansion device is shown in figure 12, where two links 29 and 30 are united journalled around a first joint 31. Each of the links is connected, via joints 32 and 33 with its grip means 8.
An upper holder - on element 9 in the form of a bent piece of sheet is provided at the end of the intermediate wall, griping the wall 1 around its upper edge. There is a certain risk, that this wall will be pressed outwardly at its lower portion, when the grip means is pressed outwardly. The solution of this problem is seen in figures 4,5 and 6. The holder- on means may be formed with patches 12,13 bent in opposite directions. By mounting at an intermediate wall, as in figures 4 and 6, the holder- on means can thereby support both the wall of an upper and a lower pallet frame from being pressed outwardly when the expansion device presses one or two grip means outwardly. A holder - on element 14 with patches 15, 16 can be mounted at a pallet 9 in order to support the wall of an upper pallet frame 1. The holder - on element may be designed in several ways. Figure 3a shows a variant, that enables a versatile use. A sheet 17 is punched such that there are formed patches 12, 13, which as is shown e g in figure 4 may be folded in each its direction at right angle from the original sheet 17. Further patches 18 and 19 may be formed to be used for fastening by nails through predrilled holes or as common support against the intermediate wall. Patches with nails 20 may also be provided, replacing common nails for mounting of the holder - on element at the intermediate wall. Especially from figures 3a, 3b and 4 it is obvious the holder - on element may be formed with a hole in the sheet 17 for a tap 22 to be inserted in a corresponding vertical hole in the intermediate wall 4. In figure 3b there is shown an embodiment of the holder - on element, where holder springs 23 facilitate mounting at the intermediate wall. Furthermore, there is a metal bow of stronger dimension marked 24 intended to prevent, that the intermediate wall 4 bursts when the tap 22 is subject to tensile stress.
The grip means may be formed in several ways, e g according to figure 8, showing a socket 25 with tags 26. It is presumed, that the socket keeps two parallel boards 28 together, forming an intermediate wall. Between these boards there is an expansion device. The latter is coupled to the socket 25 via a joint, with an axis through a hole 27. In stead of tags, the grip means may be provided with protrusions, adapted to corresponding predrilled holes in the walls. In the figures 9, 10 and 11 there is shown an embodiment of the grip means in the form of a socket 34 keeping two vertical boards together, with an expansion device arranged in a space between the boards. The grip means, i e the socket 34 is in this case not provided with tags, but keeps relatively rigid rubber sheet, that is pressed against the wall4 of the pallet frame and is kept fixed by friction. The socket 34 is inserted in recesses 37 and 38 in the boards 35 and 36.
In the figures 13, 14 and 15 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the invention, where a holder - on element 39 is built like a unit with an expansion device 40, comprising a sheet 41 with folded protrusions 42, 43, which act as guides for a grip means 44, movable in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate wall 5. The grip means 44 is provided, at the outer edge, with three tags, from the upper end marked with 45, 46 and 47, whereof the last one is longer than the first one in order to compensate for the bend of the wall of the pallet frame. The grip means is formed with an oval recess 48, and a link 49 is journalled, turnable around an axis 50, which axis carries an excenter 51, cooperating with the recess 48, such that the grip means moves in the prolongation of the intermediate wall 5 when the link 49 is turned, which link in its outer end is formed like a bow 52, fitting over the intermediate wall 5 when the grip means is in its extended position, locking pressing against the wall of the pallet frame.
An embodiment, principally diverging from those hitherto shown, is shown in figure 16. Here the holder - on element is formed with a bow 53, at the lower portion provided with protrusions, folded inwardly, guided by grooves 54 and 55 in the intermediate wall 5, and an edge 56, bent downwards, with tags 57, directed inwardly, intended to grip in the back side of the pallet frame wall.The holder - on element is guided by a displacement device, indicated by a rail 58, of the same art as the expansion devices earlier described, in this case however pulling the holder - on element in the direction towards the intermediate wall 5, such that the edge 56 is pressed against the back side of the wall of the pallet frame.