TRANSPORT CONTAINER SYSTEM AND TRANSPORT CONTAINER
20190039811 · 2019-02-07
Inventors
- Joachim Kuhn (Würzburg, DE)
- Thomas Taraschewski (Würzburg, DE)
- Fabian Eschenbach (Rottendorf, DE)
- Benjamin SEEMANN (Würzburg, DE)
- Fritz KELLERMANN (Estenfeld, DE)
Cpc classification
F25D3/08
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2303/0844
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2303/0845
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2303/08221
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F25D2201/14
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
The transport container (6) has an inner bottom (7) and an inner shell (8) and forms an upwardly open receiving space (9) for goods to be transported. The inner container (6) comprises at least one inwardly protruding projection (11), at least on each of two opposite sides, on the upper edge of the inner casing (8). The clear distance between the oppositely arranged projections (11) is slightly smaller than the corresponding inner dimensionlength or widthof the inner bottom (7) in the receiving space (9), such that the projections (11) form a support for a latent heat storage element (10), i.e. a latent heat storage element (10) with a corresponding outer dimension can be positioned on said projections (11).
Claims
1. A transport container system with an outer container made from a rigid, resistant material, having a tub-shaped bottom part comprising a bottom and a casing and optionally a lid closing the bottom part (4) at the open side, with a tub-shaped inner container inserted into the bottom part of the outer container and having an inner bottom and an inner shell, wherein the inner container forms a receiving space open at the top for goods to be transported, wherein the walls of the inner shell run parallel to each other or diverge, starting at the inner bottom, in slightly conical fashion from each other, wherein the inner bottom has inner dimensions in the receiving space, namely, a particular clear length and a particular clear width, wherein a plate-shaped latent heat storage element can be arranged on the inner bottom in the receiving space and wherein the outer dimensions of a latent heat storage element which can be arranged on the inner bottom can at most correspond substantially to the inner dimensions of the inner bottom in the receiving space, wherein the inner container comprises an inwardly protruding projection at the upper edge of the inner shell at least on each of two oppositely situated sides, the clear distance between the oppositely arranged projections slightly smaller than the corresponding inner dimensionlength or widthof the inner bottom the receiving space, so that the projections form a support for a latent heat storage element, i.e., a latent heat storage element with a corresponding outer dimension can be laid down on these projections.
2. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projections are molded on the inside of the inner shell or otherwise firmly mounted, especially by gluing, or releasably mounted, especially inserted.
3. The transport container system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner shell is at least two-piece, such that one upper piece of the inner shell comprising the projections can be removed from the rest of the inner shell.
4. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projections are formed on an insert frame separate from the inner container, wherein, preferably, a seat for the insert frame his formed at the upper edge of the inner shell and the insert frame is arranged in the seat on the inner container.
5. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first latent heat storage element is arranged in the receiving space of the inner container on the inner bottom and a second latent heat storage element with identical outer dimensions to the first latent heat storage element is arranged on the projections.
6. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner container formed as an injection molded part made of plastic, preferably of a thick-wall foamed plastic, especially expanded polypropylene (EPP).
7. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner container is accurately fitted into the bottom part of the outer container.
8. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spacing is present at the casing and preferably also at the bottom between the inner container and the outer container.
9. The transport container system as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one vacuum insulation panel is arranged in the spacing between the inner container and the outer container.
10. The transport container system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inner container has an encircling collar at the upper edge, which reaches outward beyond the inner shell, by which the spacing between the inner container and the outer container is covered.
11. The transport container system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a seat groove for the edge of at least one vacuum insulation panel is formed on the collar at the bottom side.
12. The transport container system as claimed in claim 10, wherein an outer encircling sealing lip formed on the collar, said sealing lip's outer dimensions being chosen such that the inner container inserted in the bottom part of the outer container is press-fitted here.
13. The transport container system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner container has its own inner lid.
14. The transport container system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inner container has an encircling seat for the inner lid at the upper edge of the inner shell, in which the inner lid is or can be accurately fitted.
15. The transport container system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a seat for at least one vacuum insulation panel is present on the inner lid.
16. A transport container, preferably as an inner container for a transport container system, wherein the container has an inner bottom and an inner shell and forms an upwardly open receiving space for goods to be transported, wherein the walls of the inner shell run parallel to each other or diverge, starting at the inner bottom, in slightly conical fashion from each other, and wherein the inner bottom has inner dimensions in the receiving space, namely, a particular clear length and a particular clear width, wherein the container comprises an inwardly protruding projection at the upper edge of the inner shell at least on each of two oppositely situated sides and the clear distance between the oppositely arranged projections is slightly smaller than the corresponding inner dimensionlength or widthof the inner bottom in the receiving space.
17. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the projections are molded on the inside of the inner shell or otherwise firmly mounted, especially by gluing, or releasably mounted, especially inserted.
18. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the inner shell at least two-piece, such that one upper piece the inner shell comprising the projections can be removed from the rest of the inner shell.
19. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the projections are formed on an insert frame separate from the container, wherein, preferably, a seat for the insert frame is formed at the upper edge of the inner shell and the insert frame is arranged in the seat the container.
20. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein a first latent heat storage element is arranged in the receiving space of the container on the inner bottom and a second latent heat storage element with identical outer dimensions to the first latent heat storage elements is arranged on the projections.
21. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the container formed as an injection molded part made of plastic, preferably of a thick-wall foamed plastic, especially expanded polypropylene (EPP).
22. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the container has an encircling collar at the upper edge, which reaches outward beyond the inner shell.
23. The container as claimed in claim 22, wherein a seat groove for the edge of at least one vacuum insulation panel is formed on the collar at the bottom side.
24. The container as claimed in claim 22, wherein an outer encircling sealing lip is formed on the collar.
25. The container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the container has a lid.
26. The container as claimed in claim 25, wherein the container has an encircling seat for the lid at the upper edge of the inner shell, in which seat the lid is or can be accurately fitted.
27. The container as claimed in claim 25, wherein a seat for at least one vacuum insulation panel is present on the lid.
28. A lid for a transport container, especially for a transport container system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lid has a lid body with a seat for at least one vacuum insulation panel.
29. The lid as claimed in claim 28, wherein the lid body consists of two interconnected half-shells, between which the seat is formed, in which the vacuum insulation panel, if present, is arranged.
30. The lid as claimed in claim 28, wherein the half-shells are releasably joined together, especially clamped together by force locking and/or interlocked by form fitting.
31. The lid as claimed in claim 28, wherein the lid body, especially each of the two half-shells, is/are formed as injection molded parts made of plastic, especially a thick-wall foamed plastic, especially expanded polypropylene (EPP).
Description
[0023] In the following, the invention shall now be explained more closely with the aid of a drawing representing merely preferred sample embodiments. The drawing shows
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033] The lid 5 for now is not essential to the teaching of the invention, the invention initially primarily relates to the bottom part 4 of the outer container 1 with the inner container 6 arranged therein.
[0034] The outer container 1 consists of a rigid, resistant material, here, an optionally fiber-reinforced plastic. The outer container 1 should protect the goods to be transported inside the transport container system when the transport container system is being carried on conveyor belts, for example, or being placed into or removed from the cargo space of vehicles. The inner container 6 on the other hand has essentially the function of safely transporting the goods to be transported inside it and providing a thermal insulation for the goods to be transported.
[0035]
[0036] The following discussion of the inner container 6 holds equally for an independent transport container 6, as contained in the claims relating to this.
[0037] The inner container 6 is tub-shaped and has an inner bottom 7 and an inner shell 8. In this way, the inner container 6 forms a receiving space 9 open at the top, in which goods to be transported can be transported.
[0038]
[0039] One may conclude from
[0040]
[0041] For details of a plate-shaped latent heat storage element such as the latent heat storage element 10, in order to avoid needless length, reference is made to the prior art, especially the already cited EP 2 700 891 A2, but also DE 20 2014 004 515 U1, which belongs to the applicant of the present application. Latent heat storage elements of the kind in question are also available for a vast range of target temperatures. The desired target temperature should correspond to the goods to be transported. In the pharmaceutical sector, the desired transport and storage temperature is a few degrees C. The latent heat storage element or the latent heat storage elements make sure that a stable temperature in the desired range of the target temperature is formed in the receiving space 9, which is thermally insulated by at least the inner container 6.
[0042] It further emerges from
[0043] In
[0044] In
[0045] Since the projections 11 are situated laterally at sufficient spacing from each other, and given correspondingly sufficient height of the receiving space 9 in the inner container 6, the first latent heat storage element 10 can be easily removed at the top from the receiving space 9 by placing it on a slant in the receiving space 9 and then pulling it upward and out near the diagonal position through the opening between the two projections 11.
[0046] As already indicated above, one may also in theory arrange still further latent heat storage elements in the receiving space 9 of the inner container 6. One could then also install or remove these edge-situated latent heat storage elements in the same way as the latent heat storage element 10.
[0047] In
[0048] The projections 11, arranged opposite each other, need not occupy the full length of the corresponding side of the inner container 6. They may each extend for only a portion of the length, or in each case several projections 11 may be provided, arranged uniformly or not. The only important point is that a support for the latent heat storage element 10 is formed each time by means of at least one inwardly protruding projection 11 on the respective side of the inner container 6.
[0049] In regard to the material of the inner container 6, it matters whether one can mold the projections 11 on the inner shell 8 at the inside or otherwise attach them, especially by gluing. There are many possibilities for this which are known to the skilled person.
[0050] Alternatively, the projections 11 may also be attached releasably on the inner shell 8. For example, one may clamp a projection 11 into the plastic material of the inner shell 8 of the inner container 6 or plug-fit it into a seat which is present there.
[0051] If the projections 11 are attached releasably to the inner shell 8, one may first insert the lower latent heat storage element 10 into the receiving space 9 of the inner container 6 and only then plug-fit the projections 11 at the appropriately designated places, for example.
[0052] As is represented, it would thus be especially expedient for the introducing of the lower latent heat storage element 10 into the receiving space 9 of the inner container 6 if the projections 11 were not present during this procedure.
[0053] In an especially interesting variant represented in
[0054] The sample embodiment represented in
[0055] In the represented and preferred sample embodiment, a seat 14 for the insert frame 13 is formed at the upper edge of the inner shell 8 and the insert frame 13 is arranged in the seat 14 on the inner container 6. Here as well, one can insert the insert frame 13 loosely in the seat 14, or with correspondingly elastic material of the inner shell 8 of the inner container 6 and/or of the insert frame 13 itself one can realize a kind of press fit.
[0056]
[0057] Furthermore, one sees in
[0058] The inner container 6 should consist of a material with good heat insulating action, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP), polyurethane (PU) or polyethylene combined with EPS, EPP, PU, to mention only a few examples. In the represented and preferred sample embodiment, it is provided that the inner container 6 is made as an injection molded part of plastic, here thick-wall foamed plastic, and more specifically expanded polypropylene (EPP). There are various methods for the manufacture of components made of thick-wall foamed plastic, such as the combination of foam extrusion and molding process, the thermoplastic foam casting method (TSG), PUR foaming, and other methods known in the prior art.
[0059] Basically it is possible, though not shown here, for the inner container 6 to be accurately fitted into the bottom part 4 of the outer container 1. In this case, the thermal insulating effect is provided primarily by the inner container 6 and only to a slight degree by the outer container 1. The efficiency of the latent heat storage elements 10, 12 is however increased significantly if one ensures a better thermal insulating effect.
[0060] The represented and preferred sample embodiment shows, for this purpose in
[0061] For vacuum insulation panels one should also refer to the prior art from EP 2 700 891 A2 and DE 20 2014 004 515 U1. There, examples are given for the configuration of vacuum insulation panels. Further information on vacuum insulation panels will also be found in WO 2004/104498 A2.
[0062] It is especially effective to arrange corresponding vacuum insulation panels 16 each time on both the bottom 2 and on the casing 3 of the outer container 1 on the inside, so that the entire space between inner container 6 and outer container 1 is filled up with vacuum insulation panels 16.
[0063]
[0064]
[0065] In theory, one may also prevent contaminants from getting into the space between inner container 6 and outer container 1 in another manner, for example, by gluing the inner container 6 and outer container 1 together at the upper edge or for example by permanently closing the gap with an adhesive strip.
[0066]
[0067] The subject matter of the invention is also a transport container 6 in itself. For this transport container 6, the preceding explanations given for the inner container 6 of the transport container system also apply accordingly. In this case, the inner lid is designated as the lid 20. Such a transport container 6 may also be used by itself. Especially preferably, however, such a transport container 6 is used as the inner container for a transport container system according to the invention or in conjunction with other outer containers or another kind of packaging.
[0068]
[0069] According to preferred teaching, it is provided in the sample embodiment represented in
[0070] In theory, the half-shells 20, 20 of the lid body of the lid 20 may be permanently joined together, when the vacuum insulation panel 22 is present in the seat 23, for example by gluing. However, then the vacuum insulation panel 22 cannot be replaced if it should prove to be defective. According to preferred teaching, therefore, it is provided in the represented sample embodiment that the half-shells 20, 20 are releasably joined together, especially clamped together by force locking and/or interlocked by form fitting. In the represented sample embodiment, tongue and groove connections are present on the two half-shells 20, 20, being designed as press-fit seats and/or as latching connections. By plugging the two half-shells 20, 20 together, they are releasably joined together.
[0071] The above explained design is especially advisable when the two half-shells 20, 20 of the lid 20 can be made from a foamed plastic, or in the design of the lid 20 per claim 31.
[0072] The represented sample embodiment has the peculiarity that the two half-shells 20, 20 in the representation shown in
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0073] 1 Outer container [0074] 2 Bottom [0075] 3 Casing [0076] 4 Bottom part [0077] 5 Lid [0078] 6 Inner container [0079] 7 Inner bottom [0080] 8 Inner shell [0081] 8 Upper portion of the inner shell [0082] 9 Receiving space [0083] 10 First latent heat storage element [0084] 11 Projection [0085] 12 Second latent heat storage element [0086] 13 Insert frame [0087] 14 Seat for 13 [0088] 15 Grip formations [0089] 16 Vacuum insulation panel [0090] 17 Collar [0091] 18 Seat groove [0092] 19 Sealing lip [0093] 20 Inner lid [0094] 20 Half-shell [0095] 20 Half-shell [0096] 21 Seat for 20 [0097] 22 Vacuum insulation panel [0098] 23 Seat for 22