Housing adapted for placing on a pallet

Abstract

 The invention relates to a housing adapted for placing on a pallet, provided with a frame comprising angle profiles and side panels for fastening to the frame. Such a housing is often applied as a box mould for application in the cheese industry. These box moulds are known in practice for curing young cheese packed in foil. In the housing according to the invention the frame also comprises transverse profiles and the side panels are arranged releasably and form-fittingly on the inner side of the frame.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing adapted for placing on a pallet, provided with a frame comprising angle profiles and side panels for fastening to the frame. Such a housing is often applied as a box mould for application in the cheese industry. These box moulds are known in practice for curing young cheese packed in foil. The foil cheeses, for instance in eight units per layer, are stacked six layers high on a pallet. The overall mass of the cheese is then 900 kilograms. Because the foil cheese is very soft and held to some extent in shape by the vacuum foil, a support is necessary which is referred to as a box mould.

[0002] The known box mould is of simple embodiment and consists of four wooden plates, preferably of film-layered plywood. This is a compressed wood with a film layer. The four panels are fastened to each other at the corners using steel angle profiles by means of rivets. Tubular rivets are used for this purpose. Filler strips are arranged between the panels and the angle profiles.

[0003] The known box mould has diverse drawbacks.

[0004] One of these is the time-consuming assembly using rivets. 64 rivets are needed for one box mould. A hole has to be drilled for each rivet and the rivet must be riveted with a special tool.

[0005] A second problem likewise has to do with the rivets and relates to the fact that the rivets are not all equally cleanly finished on the inside of the box mould. During removal the foil is occasionally torn from the cheese by protruding rivets.

[0006] A third problem relates to the fact that there are an increasing number of transport operations with box moulds. The box mould is however bulky, so that for instance 70 fit into an open truck and 44 in a closed trailer.

[0007] A fourth drawback relates to safety. Current box moulds are filled with 900 kilograms of cheese and subsequently stacked six-high in a storage area using a forklift truck. It is a regular occurrence here that the forklift truck knocks against the box moulds, which can thereby be damaged. Such damage is not clearly discernible in the known box moulds. This is because the cheeses press the somewhat flexible panels back into place from inside. The damage hereby remains unnoticed, but there does result a safety risk with the danger of accidents for personnel.

[0008] The solution to these problems has been found in a completely new construction for the box mould. The housing according to the invention has for this purpose the feature that the frame also comprises transverse profiles and the side panels are arranged releasably and form-fittingly on the inner side of the frame. The strength of the construction of the housing is increased by applying transverse profiles which co-act with the angle profiles. Possible damage caused by a collision with a forklift truck is better visible due to the transverse profiles. Because the side panels are arranged releasably and form-fittingly on the inner side of the frame, the use of rivets is unnecessary. The housing can hereby be assembled more quickly compared to known housings without this detracting from the strength of the housing. The risk of damage to the content of the housing is also vastly decreased. Damage to the side panels, which often occur during transport, are also more readily discernible and easier to repair by replacement thereof.

[0009] In a first embodiment of the present invention the transverse profiles are fastened releasably to the angle profiles. The number of housings a truck can transport is increased by disassembling the transverse profiles from the frame prior to transport. This number can be further increased by making the frames nestable or providing them with hinges on the corners.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention one or more edges of the side panels are adapted for co-action with adjacent panels. The form-fitting of the side panels is in this way improved, whereby the strength of the housing increases. This form-fitting can be realized for instance by providing each profile on at least one side with a recess in which the edge of an adjacent panel can be form-fittingly received.

[0011] The bottom side of the side panels is preferably adapted for co-action with the lower transverse profile with which the side panel rests in downward direction on the frame. This can for instance be realized by providing the bottom sides of the side panels with a recess intended to be received in the lower transverse profile.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment each transverse profile is provided with one or more recesses intended for co-action with the angle profiles. The space between the side panels and the angle profiles is hereby further reduced. The recesses also ensure that the frame becomes more stable, since lateral displacements on either side of the frame are prevented.

[0013] The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to a number of figures, in which

Figure 1 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in the normal operating state.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the co-acting edges with recesses of the side panels mounted in the angle profile.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the bottom side of the angle profile.

Figure 5 shows three side views of the upper transverse profile.

Figure 6 shows three side views of the lower transverse profile.

[0014] Figure 1 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in the normal operating state. The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of an application as box mould, but is expressly not limited thereto. A box mould is used mainly for application in the cheese industry, but is suitable for any other application in which products must be stored for some time. Box mould 1 is constructed from steel angle profiles 2 and steel transverse profiles 4 and 7. Other materials can optionally be used for this purpose, including plastic or aluminium. Transverse profiles 4, 7 and angle profiles 2 are preferably attached to each other by releasable nut-bolt connections (not shown), only 16 of which are necessary per box mould. Assembly is therefore made considerably less time-consuming. The side panels, which are preferably manufactured from wood, are pushed into the thus constructed frame. The film-layered plywood used in the building industry is particularly recommended because of its strength and the side provided with film. The side panels are provided on the edges with a co-acting recess, whereby the side panels are form-fitting after assembly. Because the wooden panels cover the nut-bolt connections on the inside, the inner side of the improved box mould is smooth, so that the problem of damage to the cheeses during removal is obviated. The wholly improved box mould can be disassembled and transported as a blank, whereby transport costs and storage space can be considerably reduced.

[0015] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of Figure 1. This figure shows the elegant manner in which side panels 3, transverse profiles 4 and angle profiles 2 co-act with each other.

[0016] Figure 3 shows a top view of the co-acting edges with recesses of side panels 3, wherein side panels 3 are mounted in angle profile 2. Due to the use of co-acting recesses 5 it is possible to dispense with attachment to the angle profile by means of usual fastening means, such as nuts and bolts. The shown edge is chosen in order to elucidate the invention. Any random co-acting profile could however be applicable. As shown in Figure 3, recesses 5 can be cut from panels 3. It is however also possible for external co-acting recesses 5 to be arranged.

[0017] Figure 4 shows a side view of the bottom side of angle profile 2. Each panel is provided on one side with a recess 5 for receiving a side of an adjacent panel. Angle profile 2 is folded or bent on the underside and thereby has a support surface for the side panel (not shown). In the known box mould this support surface was welded on separately.

[0018] Figure 5 shows three side views of upper transverse profile 4. Transverse profile 4 is provided with two recesses 5 intended for co-action with angle profiles 2 (not shown). Transverse profile 4 is further provided with holes 6 with which transverse profile 4 and angle profile 2 can be fastened to each other with usual fastening means.

[0019] Figure 6 shows three side views of lower transverse profile 7. The lower transverse profile has a structure substantially identical to that of the upper transverse profile, wherein recess 8 and holes 9 have the same functions as recesses 5 and holes 6 of the upper transverse profile. The lower edge 10 of transverse profile 7 is however wider and serves to receive side panel 3. Side panel 3 is provided for this purpose on the underside with a recess 11, so that side panel 3 is enclosed on the underside in the frame.

[0020] The number of angle profiles will of course amount to four and the number of transverse profiles amounts at this moment to eight, wherein four are situated on the top side and four on the bottom side of the box mould. The number of transverse profiles can optionally be increased if an even stronger construction is desired.

[0021] Finally, the invention is expressly not limited to the described and shown embodiment, but extends generally to any embodiment falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims, as seen in the light of the foregoing description and drawings.

Claims

1. Housing adapted for placing on a pallet, provided with a frame comprising angle profiles and side panels for fastening to the frame, characterized in that the frame also comprises transverse profiles and the side panels are arranged releasably and form-fittingly on the inner side of the frame.

2. Housing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transverse profiles are fastened releasably to the angle profiles.

3. Housing as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one or more edges of the side panels are adapted for co-action with adjacent panels.

4. Housing as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that each profile is provided on at least one side with a recess in which the edge of an adjacent panel can be form-fittingly received.

5. Housing as claimed in claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bottom sides of the side panels are adapted for co-action with the lower transverse profile.

6. Housing as claimed in claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bottom sides of the side panels are provided with a recess intended to be received in the lower transverse profile.

7. Housing as claimed in claims 1 and 6, characterized in that each transverse profile is provided with one or more recesses intended for co-action with the angle profiles.

Drawing