LOADING TRAY DEVICE HAVING A MOVABLE FLOOR

Abstract

A loading tray device having a movable floor includes a frame that receives a juxtaposition of at least one first blade and one second blade that are mounted so as to be movable in longitudinal translation. Each blade has a lower beam and a covering plate attached to the upper edges of side walls. The first and second walls respectively include a first flange and a second flange that extend laterally to and outside of the beam. The second wall of each blade has a height that is less than the height of the first wall by the thickness of the first flange, such that the first flange of the second blade abuts the second flange of the first blade.

Claims

1. A loading tray device comprising: a movable floor; a frame receiving a juxtaposition of at least a first and a second blade mounted in longitudinal translation, each blade being formed of at least one lower longitudinal beam provided with a bottom above which are mounted a first and a second sidewall and by at least one cover plate for said longitudinal beam fastened to the upper edges of said sidewalls, wherein said first and second walls mutually comprise a first and a second flange extending laterally and externally with respect to said longitudinal beam, and wherein said second wall of each blade has a height that is less than that of said first wall by the thickness of the first flange, so that said first flange of said second blade rests on said second flange of said first blade.

2. The loading tray device, according to claim 1, wherein said plate comprises at the lower portion raising means at the level of the upper edge of said second wall of each blade.

3. The loading tray device, according to claim 2, wherein said raising means are in the form of at least one slat having a thickness equivalent to the thickness of said first flange, each slat being fastened on the lower face to the second upper edge and on the upper face to said plate of its blade.

4. The loading tray device, according to claim 1, wherein each longitudinal beam of each blade, its sidewalls, its edges and its flanges are obtained by folding a sheet.

5. The loading tray device, according to claim 1, wherein said movable floor is provided ventilated and to this end comprises at least one opening passing through the bottom of said longitudinal beam of at least one of said blades and orifices passing through at least its cover plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of non-restrictive embodiments of the invention, with reference to the attached figures.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an example of a tray device having a movable floor, in the case in which it is ventilated, showing the cross-sections of a plurality of juxtaposed blades mounted slidably with respect to each other, the blades at the right covering the blades at the left.

[0038] FIG. 2 is another partial perspective view of a single blade of FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The present invention relates to a loading tray device having a movable floor 1.

[0041] Such a device 1 comprises a frame (not shown), serving as a support for said movable floor. Such a frame receives a juxtaposition of at least a first 2 and a second 3 blades. Preferably, blades are positioned adjacent the entire width of said device 1 and are supported at the upper face of said frame.

[0042] In addition, said blades 2, 3 are mounted in longitudinal translation, i.e. they slide together or separately from each other. Said first blade 2 belongs to a first group of blades, while said second blade 3 belongs to a second group of blades, each group being jointly or separately actuated in translation. An additional group of blades may be provided, also actuated simultaneously with the other groups, together with either of the other two groups, or fully independently from each of the other groups of blades.

[0043] In addition, said device 1 comprises actuating means made integral with the lower face of each blade 2, 3, preferably of each of the blades per group of blades of said floor, in order to provide it with its mobility.

[0044] On the one hand, each blade 2, 3 is formed of at least one lower longitudinal beam 4. The latter is provided with a bottom 40, above which are mounted a first 5 and a second 6 sidewall. Preferably, these walls 5, 6 extend orthogonally with respect to said bottom 40, parallel to each other, along its longitudinal sides. Thus, the longitudinal beam 4 has a global U-shape, forming a hollow tank open at the upper face.

[0045] On the other hand, each blade 2, 3 is formed of at least one plate 7 for covering said longitudinal member 4. This plate 7 closes the opening at the upper face of said longitudinal beam 4. It is fastened to the upper edges 8, 9 of said sidewalls 5, 6. In other words, the plate 7 is applied on the top and fastened to the top of the walls 5, 6 in order to close the space between them. The longitudinal beam 4 then has a globally rectangular cross-section and is similar to a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0046] The fastening can occur in any way, preferably by welding or screwing, even by means of rivets. Preferably, this fastening provides a hermetic contact, ensuring the tightness between the longitudinal beam 4 and the plate 7.

[0047] Advantageously, said first 5 and second 6 walls mutually comprise a first 10 and a second 11 flange. The latter extend laterally and externally with respect to said longitudinal beam 4, on both sides of their respective wall 5, 6. In other words, said flanges 10, 11 extend parallel to the bottom 40, forming wings on either side of the longitudinal beam 4.

[0048] In addition, said second wall 6 of each blade 2, 3 has a height that is less than that of said first wall 5. The first flange 10 is then located higher than the second flange 11.

[0049] This difference in height is by the thickness of the first edge. In other words, the height of the second wall 6 is equivalent to the height of the first wall less the thickness of said first flange 10.

[0050] Thus, for two adjacent blades 2, 3, said first flange 10 of said second blade 3 rests on said second flange 11 of said first blade 2. In brief, the second blade 2 lies above said first blade 3.

[0051] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the second blade 3 is positioned at the right and covers the second flange 11 of the first blade 2 located at the left.

[0052] Therefore, it should be noted that the respective width of the first and second flanges 10, 11 is dimensioned so as to permit to cover the gap between the juxtaposed blades 2, 3 and to ensure the resting of the first flange 10 of the second blade 3 on the second flange 11 of the first blade 2 over a sufficient distance, namely in order to ensure a contact area sufficient to impart the tightness between the lower face of the second flange 11 and the upper face of the first flange 10, as well as to permit a good sliding of same with respect to each other.

[0053] According to an additional, non-restrictive feature, in order to ensure the flatness of the assembly of the movable floor, said plate 7 comprises at the lower side raising means 12 at the level of the upper edge 9 of said second wall 6 of each blade 2, 3. Indeed, since the first flange 10 is higher than the second flange 11 of the same longitudinal beam 4, it is necessary to compensate for this difference in level, so that the plate 7 is parallel to the bottom 40, preferably horizontal. It is therefore necessary to add a height equivalent to the thickness of said first flange 10.

[0054] According to the preferred embodiment, said raising means 12 are in the form of at least one slat 13 having a thickness equivalent to the thickness of said first flange 10. This slat 13 is therefore interposed between the bottom of the plate 7 and the top of the second edge 6. Each slat 13 is fastened at the lower face to the second edge 6 and at the upper face to said plate 7 of its blade 2, 3. This fastening preferably occurs in a tight way, but not necessarily in the case of a ventilated floor. Several slats 13 may be abutted over the entire length of a blade 2, 3 in order to ensure the raising and flatness of the plate 7.

[0055] According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the longitudinal edge of the plate 7 can be folded so as to comprise a downward set-back of the height necessary to compensate for the difference in level and the difference in height between the first 10 and the second 11 flange.

[0056] According to a preferred additional feature, as can be seen in the figures, each longitudinal beam 4 of each blade 2, 3, its sidewalls 5, 6, its edges 8, 9 and its flanges 10, 11 are obtained by folding a sheet. This folding technique permits to obtain a perfect flatness of the longitudinal beam 4, in particular at the level of its edges 10, 11 that must cooperate with each other for two juxtaposed blades 2, 3, in tightest possible contact, by sliding. The folding of the same sheet also permits to ensure better rigidity of the longitudinal beam 4, in particular against bending over its length.

[0057] According to a preferred application, said movable floor equipping the device 1 is designed ventilated. This ventilation ensures the putting into circulation of a fluid, such as air, in particular heated air, from below to the top of said device 1. This putting into circulation occurs namely under the action of adapted ventilation means (not shown).

[0058] To this end, the floor includes at least one opening 14 passing through the bottom 40 of said longitudinal beam 4 of at least one of said blades 2, 3. Preferably, several openings 14 are provided for through the bottom 40, spaced over its length, whether at regular intervals or not.

[0059] In addition, said floor includes orifices 15 passing through at least its cover plate 7. These orifices are provided for through the thickness of said plate 7 and/or at the level of its junction with either one of the edges 8, 9. They are provided for over the length of the plate 7, whether at regular intervals or not.

[0060] It should be noted that the orifices 15 may be at least partially formed by separations at the level of the fastening of each slat 13, in particular the separation between the welding or screwing points, even a separation between two abutting slats 13.

[0061] Thus the air is put into circulation between the inside of each blade 2, 3 through the openings 14 and leaves above the device 1 through the orifices 15.

[0062] Due to the particular design of each of its blades 2, 3, with a longitudinal beam 4 obtained by the accurate folding of a sheet and shaped as a trough equipped with edges 10, 11 protruding laterally and offset in height, as well as with a plate 7 covering said longitudinal beam 4 and being fastened recessed at the level of its edges 8, 9 without altering the shape of said flanges 10, 11, the arrangement of the tray device 1 having a movable floor according to the invention provides an improved flatness and tightness.