EP0240960A2 - Thin-walled pallet container for receiving fluid or pourable bulk material - Google Patents

Abstract

A palletizable, thin-walled container (1) of large volume for bulk goods reception comprises an annular corrugated cardboard jacket (2) with openings which can be closed by base or lid parts (4, 3) and an insert (5) corresponding to the jacket contour. A cavity (6) is formed between the jacket and the insert. The insert is floating to the jacket, forms an open ring, stands with its lower edge (53) on the floor and is made of deformable material that is flexible under the limits of the cavity under static loads caused by the goods to be transported. In addition to sufficient static load-bearing capacity, increased resistance to damage to the jacket under dynamic loading as a result of suddenly increased internal pressure through the filling material is achieved by first absorbing part of the deformation energy until the residual energy acts on the jacket after it has been destroyed and the cavity has been overcome without sufficient to destroy it. The upper edge (51) of the insert has wing flaps (52) which cover the cavity and are lower than the casing.

Description

The invention relates to a preferably palletizable thin-walled container for receiving bulk, flowable, pourable or pourable transport goods, the contour of which is determined by an annular casing (outer ring) made of corrugated cardboard, cardboard or similar foldable or bendable material, the casing each have a bottom and lid opening, which can optionally be closed by bottom or lid parts, and surrounds an insert (inner ring) essentially corresponding to the container contour such that a cavity is formed between the casing and insert.

Large-volume containers made of corrugated cardboard, which can hold a bulk weight of one tonne and above, are increasingly used by the large chemical industry because of their relatively low material price and weight. The bulk material is preferably stored in bags or sacks made of polyethylene or similar material in the container. Because of the dynamic loads occurring during the transport of the regularly palletized containers, there is a requirement for dangerous goods packaging that a container loaded with a ton of material must not crack or burst during a drop test from a height of 0.8 m or more - depending on the danger level. This regulation can apply to normal corrugated containers that are very common in today The shape of polygonal, in particular octagonal, structures used in the horizontal section are not observed in many cases. Rather, the compression of the bulk material causes bulges of the container casing under static load and at the latest with dynamic load (fall, impact) in the grooved corner areas to tear, i.e. the casing bursts, so that the filled sack is then exposed.

A great variety of efforts have been made in the past to avoid such deformations, in particular the bursting of the container shell.

For example, in a container of the type described in the introduction (DE-GM 1 886 464), but without the formation of cavities between the jacket and the insert, the latter is provided as a one-part or multi-part arch arrangement which is provided with reinforcement strips produced by folding. The various parts of the arch lie essentially flat against the inner surface of the container wall.

Another known reinforcement arrangement in a palletable container (DE-PS 25 50 009) provides for a polygonal corrugated cardboard container jacket a correspondingly polygonal receptacle made of corrugated cardboard which is connected to the pallet and extends at least over part of the jacket height.

It has been shown in practice and in particular when carrying out the aforementioned drop tests to comply with the safety criteria for dangerous goods packaging that such insert and reinforcement arrangements, which practically create a double wall, do not eliminate the problems of tearing / bursting, particularly along the container edges can. Though the bulges remain in the frame when the container wall is subjected to static loads, but in the event of suddenly occurring dynamic loads, the aforementioned disadvantageous destruction phenomena in the container wall, which are not permissible for the faultless shipment of dangerous goods, occur.

In contrast, in a known container of the type described in the introduction (DE-PS 684 550) there is a cavity between a container jacket and a hollow cylinder arranged in it over a substantial part of the height of the container. This container is intended to hold any substance and to be sufficiently resistant for repeated use. For this purpose, a safe and reliable connection of the two hollow bodies is described at their respective upper and lower ends, which can be an adhesive connection or the outer and inner jacket can also be produced so tightly that one another that displacements of the container parts can be prevented . Therefore, damage to the container shell is easily possible after overcoming the cavity in the event of a shock load. The main aim of this known object is, as can be seen in connection with the description of a container based on the same development and construction (DE-PS 156 179), to protect the material against the outer wall being pressed in from the outside and less to deform the inner body bring about.

In another known arrangement of similar construction (US Pat. No. 3,800,994), a lateral displacement of the inner pocket is possible as a result of a spring-floating suspension of an inner pocket. It is a plastic container intended for liquids, semi-liquid substances or other bulk goods, in which the inside container does not stand on the floor. Palletizability is not possible. Due to the suspension of the inner container, it can only be loaded relatively weakly and is not suitable for large-volume arrangements, especially not for the drop tests mentioned.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a palletizable container of the type described, which, with a structurally simple and therefore inexpensive construction, in addition to sufficient static load-bearing capacity, above all an increased resistance to damage to the outer wall of the container under dynamic loading as a result of suddenly increased internal pressure due to the filling material and consequently fulfills the safety regulations for dangerous goods packaging, in particular according to the IMDG code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods).

This object is achieved in that the insert is floating in relation to the container jacket, wherein it forms a ring open at the bottom and stands with its lower edge on the floor, and that the insert consists of a deformable material which is subjected to static loads the transported goods have a compliance below the limits of the cavity. With such an arrangement, it is possible that when the container is subjected to dynamic loads, part of the deformation energy is initially absorbed by the inner ring before the remaining energy acts on the outer ring after the same has been destroyed and the cavity has been overcome, but the total deformation energy has already been reduced so far that the rest is no longer sufficient to destroy the outer ring. In other words, due to the deformation / destruction of the insert, the energy released upon the impact of the container is partially reduced immediately, so that the total Energy related, a gradual energy reduction takes place and the last "energy level", which affects the outer ring, leads to a certain bulging or bulging, but no longer leads to destruction. A centering of the inner ring is not necessary, only the presence of the cavity between the inner and outer ring is sufficient for the gradual energy dissipation. The fact that the inner ring can be completely destroyed has no disadvantage since the container shell remains undamaged. The inner ring thus acts practically as an energy absorption element. By inserting such an insert, the packaging weight is changed just as little as the manufacturing and thus the cost of the packaging compared to double-walled containers of this type having a connection between the inner and outer wall. A major advantage of using energy absorption elements is that the outer appearance of the container casing, insofar as its printing, labeling and any warnings are concerned, remains unchanged when the insert is destroyed.

Various measures for the formation of cavities in double-walled containers are known, but this does not, however, achieve the object of the invention. For example, DE-AS 1 141 221 shows a container with a double wall and a honeycomb rib structure arranged in between in the cavity. The inside and outside wall should consist of corrugated cardboard. A gradual energy dissipation through the honeycomb structure is only conceivable to a limited extent, since it is relatively stiff and is supported on the walls. It also represents a considerable constructive and costly additional effort. A support between the inner and outer wall also takes place in the container according to DE-GM 1 638 117. Furthermore, US Pat. No. 3,155,305 Double-walled container shown, which has a base arrangement to avoid damage to the outer container by the inner container. However, a direct stand-up of the inner container on the bottom closing the outer container and thus a floating bearing are not shown. Rather, the latter is just excluded by a connection in the floor area.

The US-PS 2 406 758 finally shows a cavity between the inner and outer container, but the bottom of the inner container is in sliding connection with the outer container, so that a floating movement of the inner container is not possible without direct loading of the outer wall.

As stated, it is essential that a cavity be formed between the inner and outer rings. Of course, this may only move within technically and economically reasonable limits. On the one hand, its minimum dimension is determined by the fact that no static contact between the inner ring and the outer ring may occur when the inner ring is subjected to static loads, because precisely at such points, in the event of suddenly occurring loads, the transmission of force takes place and would lead to the outer ring being subjected to destructive stress. In this respect, depending on the weight of the goods to be transported and the deformability of the material of the inner ring, a minimum dimension must be provided for the cavity. On the other hand, the cavity cannot be provided as wide as this would significantly reduce the capacity of the container. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the circumference of the insert / inner ring should be approximately 2 to 7% less than the circumference of the casing / outer ring, an approximately 4% smaller circumference of the inner ring being found to be particularly advantageous with regard to the choice of material and load-bearing capacity as well as economy Has.

Due to the load conditions in such packaging, in which the focus of the pressure attack is about 1/3 of the height, the height of the insert / inner ring advantageously only needs to be a part of the height of the jacket / outer ring, thereby saving on packaging material and weight can. In view of these load conditions, the inner ring should therefore preferably extend from the bottom of the container to the height of the center of pressure attack of the goods to be transported.

In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the inner ring can be provided along its upper edge with wing flaps which can be folded against the inner wall of the outer ring and cover the cavity. This creates a harmonious transition from the inner to the outer ring, which, for example, prevents damage to the plastic bag into which the goods to be transported are stored, since this bag cannot get stuck in the cavity.

However, depending on the intended use and load requirements, it is equally possible that the insert / inner ring extends over the entire height of the jacket / outer ring. This is e.g. conceivable with increased demands on the load-bearing capacity of the entire container, especially when loading from above (stacking).

In order to meet the requirements placed on such containers, the outer ring can advantageously be made from corrugated cardboard laminated on both sides, possibly with multiple corrugations.

The lower edge of the outer ring can be placed in a tray-like base part that can be connected to the outer ring hen, which in turn can be connected with a pallet. Such a bottom part then forms the lid for the bottom opening of the container and serves to securely hold and secure the position of the container shell. An expedient possibility is that the lower edge of the outer ring is provided with bottom flaps which can be folded into the interior of the container and which can preferably be designed as stub flaps on which the inner ring can stand. But it is also possible that the outer ring is formed with a narrow, circumferential lower edge and stands with this on the bottom part, in which case the inner ring in turn stands directly on the bottom part. Decisive for the choice between these design options are essentially parameters such as material expenditure and costs, strength in the floor area, type of fastening relative to the pallet and quality of the material used for the rings, especially the outer ring.

The insert can advantageously consist of a material similar to that of the outer ring, that is to say, for example, of high-strength corrugated cardboard, and depending on the load requirements and conditions, single- or multi-corrugated corrugated cardboard can be used. This corrugated cardboard used for the inner ring can have a tear-resistant inner and / or outer cover in order to meet the strength requirements in a particularly expedient manner.

However, it is equally possible that the insert consists of tissue-reinforced paper with which a relatively high degree of independence from the moisture content can be achieved compared to corrugated cardboard.

For many applications, however, it can also be useful to completely differentiate yourself from the training To solve corrugated cardboard or paper use and, especially since the filling material is usually contained in the container in separate film bags, the use as a film bag receiving the filling material with an additional stiffening outer layer. Such a double-layer film sack, the inner film of which has the usual closed sack shape and the outer layer of which is made of a fabric-reinforced plastic material in the manner of a belt, is fastened in the upper region of the container using suitable means accessible to the person skilled in the art.

The overall advantages that can be achieved with the invention are that a container with an inner and outer wall separated by a cavity is obtained, the inner wall of which serves for dynamic force absorption and the outer wall of which is predominantly a quasi-static support.

• Fig. 1 einen erfindungsgemäß aufgebauten Behälter im Vertikalschnitt,
• Fig. 2 den Behälter der Fig. 1 in Draufsicht bei weggelassenem Deckel,
• Fig. 3 einen Vertikalschnitt durch eine andere Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Behälters,
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht des Behälters der Fig. 3 bei weggelassenem Deckel,
• Fig. 5 eine weitere Ausführungsform des erfindungs­gemäßen Behälters im Vertikalschnitt und
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht auf den Behälter der Fig. 5 bei weggelassenem Deckel.

Further advantages and embodiments or possibilities of the invention emerge from the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic drawing. It shows

• 1 is a container constructed according to the invention in vertical section,
• 2 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1 with the lid omitted,
• 3 shows a vertical section through another embodiment of the container according to the invention,
• 4 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 3 with the lid omitted,
• Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the container according to the invention in vertical section and
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 5 with the lid omitted.

The reference symbols used in the drawing for the three different embodiments are used in the same way for functionally identical parts.

Thus, a container 1 comprises a jacket or outer ring 2, which determines the outer contour of the container. This contour is octagonal in the exemplary embodiments. The contour can just as well be the shape of any other polygon, a circle, an oval or the like. have, of course, purpose and practicality are decisive. The outer ring 2 is open at the top and bottom and is closed here by a cover 3 and a base 4, respectively, which are tray-like in the examples. The floor 4 usually stands up for transport purposes on a pallet, not shown, with which it can be firmly connected.

In the outer ring 2, an insert or inner ring 5 can be used, the contour of which essentially corresponds to that of the outer ring 2, but which has an order of magnitude of 2 to 7%, preferably about 4% smaller, so that between the inner ring 5 and the outer ring 2 a cavity 6 is formed. The inner ring 5 is not centered in the outer ring 2, but rather is "floating" in it. Flowable, pourable, pourable or pourable goods such as any granular chemicals, slurries, powders or liquids can be stored in the interior of the container 1 determined by the outer ring 2 and inner ring 5 for transport and storage purposes are, this filling material is usually introduced into a film bag, not shown here, which, after filling, lies closely against the inner wall of the inner ring 5.

The focus of the compressive force of such contents is with a reasonably uniform distribution and complete filling of the container 1, which can hold a ton or more of such contents, at about a third of the container height. Therefore, the inner ring 5 extends at least up to this height, but as a rule and for safety purposes, as shown in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3, is extended beyond half the height, but it is just as good as in the exemplary embodiment of FIG 5 and 6 shown, can take up the entire height of the outer ring 2 and then increases the overall load-bearing capacity of the container 1, in particular also with regard to its vertical load-bearing capacity. In order to prevent the film bag from jamming in the opening area of the cavity 6 when the inner ring 5 is lower in height than the outer ring 2, the inner ring 5 is formed along its upper edge 51 with wing flaps 52 which can be folded outward and cover the cavity 6. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, such wing flaps are not necessary, since the upper edge 51 of the inner ring 5 closes with the upper edge 23 of the outer ring 2 and can be closed here directly by the container 3.

The outer ring 2 can either, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 or 5 and 6, stand directly on the bottom part 4 with its lower edge 21, the bottom edge here forming a narrow, circumferential ring. The same applies to a lower edge 53 of these embodiments formed on the inner ring 5.

In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the lower edge 21 of the outer ring 2 is provided with bottom flaps 22 which can be folded inwards and which rest on the bottom part 4 or interposed inserts (not described here in greater detail) and are thus fastened relative to the pallet. The lower edge 53 of the inner ring 5 then stands on these base plates 22.

The outer ring 2 is made of single or multi-layer corrugated cardboard with appropriate lamination / cover, the choice of material depending on the purpose of the container and the required strength conditions. An identical or similar material, which, for example, can also be tissue-reinforced paper, is used for the inner ring 5. However, it must be ensured that this material can deform / bulge only to such an extent under the static loading of the container that a cavity 6, that is to say a distance from the outer ring 2, is always maintained and in particular no two-sided diametrical planar contact of the inner ring 5 on the outer ring 2 is done. The same naturally also applies to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, in which case the inner ring 5 practically replaces the film bag, not shown, of the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 or 3 and 4, and in the manner of a “belt” made of fabric, fabric-coated special paper or film can be formed. Decisive for the choice of material here are the strength ratios with regard to the maintenance of the cavity 6 with static loading of the inner ring 5 by the filling material.

In the event of dynamic loading of the container due to impact or falling, the energy to be absorbed is gradually absorbed as a result of the center of gravity of the filling material and the formation of the cavity 6 between the inner ring 5 and the outer ring 2, in that first the inside ring 5 may be deformed into its cavity 6 until it is destroyed, before the residual energy is collected on the outer jacket after the cavity 6 has been overcome. However, this residual energy is no longer sufficient to destroy the outer casing 2, and this remains undamaged.

Claims (17)

1. Preferably palletizable thin-walled container for receiving bulk, flowable, pourable and pourable transport goods, the contour of which is determined by an annular casing (outer ring) made of corrugated cardboard, cardboard or similar foldable or bendable material, the casing each Bottom and lid opening, which can be closed by bottom or lid parts if necessary, and surrounds an insert (inner ring) corresponding essentially to the container contour in such a way that a cavity is formed between the casing and insert, characterized in that the insert (5th ) is floating in relation to the container jacket (2), wherein it forms an open ring and with its lower edge (53) stands on the floor (4, 22), and that the insert consists of a deformable material that is static Load caused by the cargo has a compliance below the limits of the cavity (6). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the circumference of the insert or inner ring (5) is about 2 to 7% less than the circumference of the jacket or outer ring (2). 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the circumference of the insert or inner ring (5) is about 4% less than the circumference of the jacket or outer ring (2). 4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, there characterized in that the height of the insert or inner ring (5) is only part of the height of the jacket or outer ring (2). 5. A container according to claim 4, characterized in that the insert or inner ring (5) extends from the bottom of the container (1) to the height of the center of pressure attack of the goods to be transported. 6. Container according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the insert or inner ring (5) along its upper edge (51) with against the inner wall of the jacket or outer ring (2) foldable, the cavity (6) covering wing flaps (52nd ) is provided. 7. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insert or inner ring (5) extends over the entire height of the jacket or outer ring (2). 8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the jacket or outer ring (2) is made of double-sided, optionally multi-corrugated corrugated cardboard. 9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the jacket or outer ring (2) with its lower edge (21) is in a tray-like, connectable to the outer ring bottom part (4). 10. Container according to claim 9, characterized ge indicates that the lower edge (21) of the outer ring (2) is provided with bottom flaps (22) which can be folded into the interior of the container. 11. A container according to claim 10, characterized in that the bottom flaps are designed as stub flaps (22) on which the inner ring (5) stands. 12. A container according to claim 9, characterized in that the outer ring (2) is formed with a narrow, circumferential lower edge (21) and stands on the bottom part (4) with this. 13. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the insert (5) consists of high-strength corrugated cardboard. 14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the insert (5) consists of single or multi-wall corrugated cardboard. 15. A container according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the insert (5) consists of corrugated cardboard with tear-resistant inner and / or outer cover. 16. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the insert (5) consists of tissue-reinforced paper. 17. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the insert (5) consists of a film bag receiving the filling material with an additional stiffening outer layer.

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