SIDE WALL ARRANGEMENT FOR A CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF AND CONTAINER HAVING SUCH A SIDE WALL ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a side wall arrangement for a container and a method for the production thereof and a container, in particular a pallet container, which comprises several side walls (16) that can be connected to one another on their narrow sides assigned to one another of the side walls (16) by means of a joint (18) or are connected to one another, such that a closed ring (14) is formed from the side walls (16) that can be folded together, wherein a loading hatch (19) is provided on the at least one side wall (16), said loading hatch (19) closing an opening (27) in a closed position (22), said opening (27) being open towards an end edge (37) of the side wall (16), and wherein the loading hatch (19) is flexibly connected to the side wall (16) by means of a hinge (21), wherein side edges (42) of the loading hatch (19) which border it in terms of width and side edges (43) of the side wall (16) which border the opening (27) in the side wall (16) are reduced in terms of wall thickness relative to its adjacent wall sections (28, 29) of the side wall (16) and the loading hatch (19) on at least one side edge (43) of the side wall (16) or at least one side edge (42) of the loading hatch (19), at least one tab (31) is provided which extends beyond the opposite side edge (42, 43) of the loading hatch (19) or the side wall (16) and can be transferred into the open position (23) or closed position (22) when opening and closing the loading hatch (19) after overcoming a holding force produced by the tab (31) or after overcoming a holding force produced by corner regions (51) of the side wall (16) projecting into the opening (27) and, in the closed position (22), the side edge (42) is positioned in the upper corner region (52) of the loading hatch (19) between the side edge (43) of the side wall (16) and the tab (31) positioned in the side wall (16) or the side edge (43) is positioned in the upper corner region (51) of the side wall (16) between the side edge (42) of the loading hatch (19) and the tab (31) that is arranged on the loading hatch (19).

Claims

1. A side wall arrangement for a container, in particular a pallet container, which comprises several side walls that are connectable to one another on their narrow sides allocated to one another of the side walls by means of a joint or are connected to one another, such that a closed ring is formed from the side walls which is foldable together, wherein a loading hatch is provided on the at least one side wall, said loading hatch closing an opening in a closed position, said opening being open towards an end edge of the side wall, and wherein the loading hatch is flexibly connected to the side wall by means of a hinge, wherein side edges of the loading hatch which border it in terms of width and side edges of the side wall which border the opening in the side wall are reduced in terms of wall thickness relative to their adjacent wall sections of the side wall and the loading hatch, on at least one side edge of the side wall or at least one side edge of the loading hatch, at least one tab is provided which extends beyond the opposing side edge of the loading hatch or the side wall and are transferable into the open position or closed position when opening and closing the loading hatch after overcoming a holding force produced by the tab or after overcoming a holding force produced by corner regions of the side wall projecting into the opening and in the closed position, the side edge is positioned in the upper corner region of the loading hatch between the side edge of the side wall and the tab arranged on the side wall or the side edge is positioned in the upper corner region of the side wall between the side edge of the loading hatch and the tab arranged on the loading hatch.

2. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tab is fixable on an outside or an inside of the side wall or loading hatch, or the tab is stamped on an outside or inside of the side wall or of the loading hatch.

3. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tab is aligned in parallel to the side edge to which the tab is allocated, such that the tab is arranged on a parallel plane to the side edge.

4. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the side edge of the side wall or of the loading hatch is broken in the region of the tab of the side wall arranged on the side wall or loading hatch or to the extent of the length of the tab.

5. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the side edge of the side wall or of the loading hatch opposite the tab extends continuously from the hinge up to the end edge of the side wall or the ring.

6. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness of the side edges of the side wall and the loading hatch.

7. The side wall arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the stamping of the side edges having adjacent slants relative to the wall sections of the side wall and the loading hatch, when seen in cross-section, has a Y-shaped course.

8. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tab is adjacent to the end edge of the side wall or loading hatch or is stamped in the upper corner region of the side wall or loading hatch or is positioned between a central region of the side edge of the side wall or loading hatch up to the end edge of the side wall or loading hatch.

9. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tab is provided as a stop and, in the upper corner region of the side wall, at least the side edges are provided as locking elements.

10. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall is formed from a multi-layer plate, and have a wall thickness that is formed from the number of layers of the multi-layer.

11. A method for producing a side wall arrangement which is formed from several side walls which are connectable to one another relative to a ring on the narrow sides by means of joints or are connected to one another, which ring are foldable together, and a loading hatch is installed in at least one side wall, which loading hatch closes an opening in the side wall in a closed position which is open towards the end edge of the side wall, wherein at least one stamping is introduced in the side wall for forming the loading hatch, by means of which stamping a hinge for flexibly connecting the loading hatch to the side wall is produced, in which surface sections are installed in the side wall by means of at least one stamping, wherein the wall thickness of the surface sections is reduced by stamping, in which, in each case, one separation cut is introduced into the surface sections, which separation cut extends partially or completely from the end edge of the side wall in the direction of or up to the respective end region of the hinge, and in which a tab is allocated to at least one side edge of the side wall formed by the separation cut or at least one side edge of the loading hatch formed by the separation cut, which tab extends beyond the opposing side edge of the loading hatch or the side wall starting from the allocated side edge and is aligned spaced apart from the allocated side edge.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the tab is formed by a one-sided stamping that is introduced into the side wall or the loading hatch and preferably an outside of the tab is flush to an outside of the side wall or an inside or the loading hatch.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the side edges of the side wall or the loading hatch extend from an end edge of the side wall up to the respective end region of the hinge and the surface sections formed by stamping are introduced across the entire length of the side edges of the side wall and loading hatch.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the surface sections that are reduced in terms of wall thickness and the hinge are installed in the side wall in a communal work step.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the loading hatch is transferred into a position outside the closed position for applying the tab to the side wall or loading hatch.

16. A container, in particular a pallet container, having a base and a cover between which a side wall arrangement is arrangeable, wherein the side wall arrangement is fittable on the base and the cover is placeable on the side wall arrangement, wherein the side wall arrangement is formed according to claim 1.

17. The side wall arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the side edges of the side wall are introduced by symmetrically stamping the inside and outside of the side wall and the loading hatch.

18. The side wall arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the side edges of the side wall and the loading hatch are from the material thickness of the layers of the multi-layer plate.

19. The side wall arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the container is a pallet container.

Description

[0023] The invention and further advantageous embodiments and developments thereof are described and explained in more detail below by means of the examples depicted in the drawings. The features that can be seen in the description and the drawings can be applied individually or together in any desired combination according to the invention. They show:

[0024] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a container having a side wall arrangement and a loading hatch provided in a side wall,

[0025] FIG. 2 a schematic view of a side wall in a first work step for producing a loading hatch,

[0026] FIG. 3 a schematic sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 2,

[0027] FIG. 4 a schematic side view of the side wall according to FIG. 2 after introducing a tab,

[0028] FIG. 5 a schematic sectional view along the line V-V in FIG. 4,

[0029] FIG. 6 a schematic enlarged side view of the side wall having the loading hatch and the shutter in a closed position,

[0030] FIG. 7 a schematic view from above of an end edge of the side wall and loading hatch,

[0031] FIG. 8 a schematic view of an alternative embodiment to FIG. 4,

[0032] FIG. 9 a schematic side view of the loading hatch that is not depicted in more detail in the embodiment in FIG. 8, and

[0033] FIG. 10 a schematic sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 9.

[0034] An isometric depiction of a container 11, in particular a collapsible container 11, is depicted in FIG. 1. This container 11 comprises a base 12 that is formed in the shape of a pallet, for example. This base 12 receives a side wall arrangement 13 which is formed from several side walls 16, for example from four side walls 16. These four side walls 16 are connected to one another along their narrow side by means of a joint 18 and form a sleeve or a ring 14. This ring 14 is preferably able to be folded. For example, an M-fold or similar can be provided. A cover 17 is provided on the ring 14, which cover 17 closes the container 11. As a result, a closed transport container can be created that, moreover, is also able to be stacked.

[0035] The cover 17 is preferably formed to be hood-shaped. In the case of the transport container 11, this has the advantage that the side wall arrangement 13, in particular the folded together ring 14 that rests on the base 12, is covered by the cover 17 such that a small transportation volume of the container 11 for return transportation is possible. Such containers 11 preferably consist of plastic, in particular plastic that can be recycled. The side walls 16 can be formed from two or three-layer plastic films or plastic plates, such as hollow chamber plates or ribbed plates with flat outsides, for example.

[0036] The side wall 16 has a loading hatch 19 in an opening 27, said loading hatch 19 bordering an upper end edge of the side wall 16. The loading hatch 19 is flexibly connected to the side wall 16. Preferably, a hinge 21, in particular a film hinge, is formed. The loading hatch 19 can be transferred from the closed position 22 depicted in FIG. 1 into an open position 23 that is shown in dashes or an unloading position for transport goods contained therein in order to enable a simple removal of the parts stored therein or a simple loading and unloading.

[0037] The loading hatch 19 is held in the closed position 22, for example, by shutters 26. These shutters 26 are provided close to the upper end edge 37 of the side wall 16.

[0038] Additionally, two opposite halves of a Velcro strip 24, 25 can be provided on the loading hatch 19 adjacent to the shutters 26, the Velcro strips 24, 25 interlocking with one another in order to fix the loading hatch 19 in an open position 23.

[0039] The two shutters 26 can be fixed in a wall section 28 of the side walls 16 according to a first embodiment. Alternatively, the shutters 26 can also be fixed on a wall section 29 of the loading hatch 19. The shutter 26 that is subsequently described in more detail is arranged in a stationary manner in the wall section 28, 29.

[0040] A first embodiment of the shutter 26 is described in FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0041] In FIGS. 2 and 3, a schematic side view and a view from above of the side wall 16 after carrying out a first method step for producing the shutter 26 according to FIG. 1 are depicted.

[0042] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic side view and a schematic sectional view along the line V-V in FIG. 4 and the formation of a tab 31 for a shutter 26 after a second and a third work step. In FIGS. 6 and 7, a schematic side view and a top view of a side wall having a loading hatch 19 held in the closed position by the shutter 26 are depicted.

[0043] To produce a side wall arrangement 13, a multi-layer plate is preferably provided for forming the side walls 16. A three-layer plate is preferably provided; a so-called hollow chamber plate or structure chamber plate which consists of two flat outer layers and has a layer lying therebetween that comprises projections formed from a plane on one or two sides. To produce the loading hatch 19 and the shutter 26, the hinge 21 is introduced in the side wall 16 by means of a stamping tool, preferably in a first work step. Preferably, hot stamping is carried out. When installing the hinge 21, slants 33 are formed which bridge a reduced wall thickness in the region of the hinge 21 relative to an inside 34 and an outside 35 of the side wall 16.

[0044] At the same time, to introduce the hinge 21 or in a subsequent work step, surface sections 36 are introduced which are reduced relative to the wall thickness of the side wall 16. These surface sections 36 are preferably aligned at a right angle to the hinge 21. These surface sections 36 extend from the respective end region of the hinge 21 up to the end edge 37 of the side wall 16 and the loading hatch 19. In turn, slants 33 are joined on the side of the surface sections 36, by means of which slants 33 a transition from a reduced wall thickness of the side wall 16 and the loading hatch 19 in comparison to adjacent wall sections 28, 29 of the side wall 16 and the loading hatch 19 is formed. Preferably, the surface sections 36 of an inside 34 and an outside 35 are introduced equally such that a symmetrical design in terms of the slants 33 is created. When introducing the surface sections 36, the side wall 16 and the loading hatch 19 are stamped in this region. For example, with a three-layer plate, the central structured layer is pressed together and abuts flush with an outer and an inner layer 34, 35. The thickness of the surface section 36 preferably corresponds to the material strength of the respective number of layers of the side wall 16 or can be further reduced by additionally introducing heat and/or pressure.

[0045] As a result of this introduction of the surface sections 36 and, preferably, the formation of the slants 33, an internal tension or pretension is formed in this region because of the material displacement.

[0046] After introducing the stamping for the hinge 21 and the surface sections 36, a separation cut 41 is introduced by means of a knife or a hot blade, said separation cut 41 extending within the surface sections 36. This separation cut 41 can also have the length of surface sections 36. Side edges 42 of the loading hatch 19 and side edges 43 of the side wall 16 are formed by means of introducing the separation cut 41. The side edges 42, 43 are each allocated to one another. As a result, the loading hatch 19 can be pivoted in the opening direction. The opening direction can emerge from the image plane or is depicted in FIG. 3 by the arrow 45.

[0047] In a subsequent work step, the tab 31 is stamped according to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. The loading hatch 19 is pivoted out of the closed position, such that the opening 27 is freely accessible. The stamping tool acts on an outside 35 of the side wall arrangement 13 or the side wall 16 such that a material deformation in the direction of the inside 34 of the side wall 16 takes place.

[0048] As a result of this thermal deformation, a break of the side edge 43 in this region can take place by the tab 31 being stamped. Preferably, the tab 31 abuts with its outside flush to the inside 34 of the side wall 16. The length of the tab 31, in proportion to the length of the side edge 43, which is determined by a distance between the hinge 21 and the end edge 37 of the side wall 16, is several times smaller. Preferably, the length of the tab 31 is formed to be smaller than a quarter or a fifth of the length of the side edges 43.

[0049] The width of the tab 31 is formed in such a way that a front tab edge 47, seen in a top view, is congruent with the side edge 43 or, moreover, projects slightly into the opening 27.

[0050] The tab 31 lies with its tab edge 47 on a plane that is spaced apart in parallel to a plane on which the side edges 43 of the side wall 16 lie. As a result, a distance or a clearance between the tab edge 47 and the end edge 43 can be formed, seen in the sectional view according to FIG. 5, said distance being larger than the thickness of the side edge 43 after the stamping of the surface sections 36. As a result, the side edge 42 of the loading hatch 19 can be positioned between the tab edge 47 of the tab 31 and the side edge 43 of the side wall 16 in a closed position. Since, in the region of the tab 31, the side edges 43 are broken, the tab 31 extends lengthways corresponding to the break of the side edge 43. The shutter 26 is preferably formed by the tab 31 and the side edge 42, 43 allocated to this or the side edge 42, 43 which is broken by the stamping of the tab 31. The same applies if the tab 31 is allocated to the side edges 42, 43 and is fixed on the side wall 16 or the loading hatch 19. Then, the side edge 42, 43 is not broken, but can be broken.

[0051] As a result of the stamping to form the surface sections 36, as is depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is an easing of tension of the side wall 16 after introducing the separation cuts 41 such that the upper corner regions 51 aligned relative to one another move at least slightly into the opening 27. As a result, there is a trapeze- shaped opening 47 or an almost trapeze-shaped opening 47. The side edges 43 are inclined towards one another, starting from the hinge 21, seen in the direction of the end edge 37, as depicted by the course of the side edges 43 relative to the separation cut 41.

[0052] The loading hatch 19 can remain the same in terms of the distance of the end edges 42 such that these are formed parallel to one another. Because of the pretension introduced by the surface sections 36, the end edges 42 of the loading hatch 19 can each move slightly outwards, i.e. the end edge 37 of the loading hatch 19 lengthens slightly and becomes larger than the opening width of the opening 27 when introducing the separation cuts 41.

[0053] In FIG. 6, a schematic side view of the shutter 26 and, in FIG. 7, a top view of the end edge 37 of the side wall 16 and the loading hatch 19 are depicted in a closed position 22.

[0054] When transferring the loading hatch 19 from the open position 23 into the closed position 22, which is depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, the end edges 42 of the loading hatch 19 are guided past on the respective side edges 43 of the side wall 16, in particular the section of the side edge 43 in the upper corner region 51 of the side wall 16, by overcoming a holding force or return force. Subsequently, the further movement of the loading hatch 19 in the closing direction is prevented by the tab 31, which preferably serves as a stop. The end edges 42 of the loading hatch 19 lie between the upper corner region 51 of the side wall 16 with the tab 31. In addition, an upper corner region 52 of the loading hatch 19 rests on the upper corner region 51 of the side wall 16 adjacent to the side edge 42 of the loading hatch. This resting on one another is then further strengthened when the corner regions 52 of the loading hatch 19 also move outwards at least slightly. As a result, the inwards pivoting of the loading hatch 19 is prevented. When opening the loading hatch 19 for transferring into the open position 23, the loading hatch 19 is released after overcoming the holding force of the side edge 43 of the side wall 16 and can be transferred into the open position 23.

[0055] From the top view of the side wall 16 and the loading hatch 19, it can be seen that, in the closed position 22, the loading hatch 10 lies with the outside 35 virtually flush with the outside 35 of the side wall 16.

[0056] Alternatively, instead of the arrangement depicted in FIGS. 5 and 7, in which the tab 31 is arranged to be flush with the inside 34 of the side wall 16, this tab 31 can be moulded such that it is adjacent to or flush with the outside 35 of the side wall 16. For this alternative embodiment, the same applies as for the arrangement described above. In this alternative arrangement, the tab 31 does not serve as a stop against falling inwards, but rather as a locking element. The side edges 43 of the side wall 16 then prevent the loading hatch 19 from falling inwards and thus serve as a stop.

[0057] An alternative embodiment of the shutter to that in FIGS. 6 and 7 is depicted in FIGS. 8 to 10, which is produced after the work steps according to FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0058] This shutter 26 differs from the embodiment described above only in that the tab 31 is arranged on the loading hatch 31 and not on the end wall 16. Here, the tab 31 is stamped on the loading hatch 19 in such a way that the tab 31 is arranged to be offset relative to the end edges 42 of the loading hatch 19 in the direction of the outside 35. Preferably, the tab 31 is provided to be flush with the inside 34. In general, the embodiments and advantages and the alternative embodiments of the shutter 26 described above according to FIGS. 2 to 7 apply analogously to the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 to 10.