Pallet packaging

Abstract

Package structure including pallet members each having a base member, a deck member, and compression-resisting means interposed between the base and deck members. The compression-resisting means includes coils of sheet metal, each of which has a plurality of spaced-apart wraps. Each coil is resilient in a direction transverse to the coil axis, rigid in a direction along the axis, and held in position by resilient pressure of the coil against retaining surfaces. The coils are further stiffened by corrugations extending in a direction along the coil axis. Each pallet member also includes aligning members for aligning the load and the pallet member with respect to each other. Apertures are provided for receiving and retaining strapping means which secure the pallet members to the load. The pallet members are particularly useful in packaging metal sheet stacks.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In mills producing flat metal products (e.g., steel sheets), it is conventional to package the products for shipment on pallets for handling by overhead-crane, forklift, or other manipulating equipment. The pallets which are conventionally used are subject to breakage and other deterioration under usage with heavy masses of metal.

It has been proposed in the prior art to provide more durable pallets, but the pallet designs put forward thus far have possessed disadvantages or deficiencies which have prevented their being entirely satisfactory. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved package structure employing a pallet which is strong and durable, but also inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to construct and utilize. A main object of the invention is the fulfillment of this need.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description which, in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of package structure embodying principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of pallet details of the structure of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, package structure 10 includes a load 12 in the form of a stack of rectangular steel sheets. The package has opposite sides 14, 16, and opposite end portions 18, 20.

Package 10 includes pallet means 22 for supporting the load. Pallet means 22 consists of four spaced-apart, coacting, formed sheet metal pallet members, with one pallet member being positioned at each of the four corners of the load. The three pallet members illustrated are indicated at 24, 26 and 28, and the fourth pallet member is obscured from view in the drawing by load 12. The pallet members are paired, with one pair at each end portion of the load. One pallet member of each pair is at one side of the load, and the other pallet member of each pair is at the other side of the load. The pallet members of each pair are identical, although arranged under load 12 so as to be mirror images of one another. Description of one pallet member imparts an understanding of all.

For example, pallet member 24 (FIG. 2) includes a deck member or panel 28 having a planar load-receiving surface 30. Deck panel 28 has opposite edge portions 32, 34, and an aligning member or panel 36 projects upwardly from edge portion 32 in a direction transverse to load-receiving surface 30. The aligning panel extends along, and fits snugly against, side 14 (FIG. 1) of load 12, and serves to align the pallet member and the sheet stack with respect to one another.

A support member or panel 38 (FIG. 2) projects from edge portion 34 of deck panel 28 in a direction opposite to the direction of aligning panel 36. Support panel 38 includes a plurality of apertures 40 which are contiguous to deck panel 28.

A base member or panel 42 projects from support panel 38 in a direction generally parallel to load-receiving surface 30 and toward aligning panel 36. Base panel 42 supports the package on a floor, and a retaining member or panel 44 projects upwardly from base panel 42 toward the deck panel but terminates at an end which is spaced from the underside of the deck panel.

It will be appreciated that the deck, aligning, support, base and retainer panels are advantageously and easily formed from a single piece of sheet metal, preferably steel.

Compression-resisting means in the form of three coils 46 of sheet metal are interposed between base panel 42 and deck panel 28. The coils support the deck panel above the plane of the base panel against crushing by action of the heavy sheet stack.

Each coil 46 has a plurality of wraps which are spaced from one another in a plane parallel to load-receiving surface 30. This arrangement is advantageous in providing a large area of support under deck panel 28, and is further advantageous in reducing the amount of material which is required for each coil. Coils 46 are arranged with their axes 48 extending transversely to load-receiving surface 30.

Each coil 46 is preferably made of sheet steel which is spirally wound around the coil axis. Each coil has corrugations, as 50, which extend in a direction along the coil axis and the corrugations further stiffen the already strongly compression-resistant coils against crushing by the sheet pack.

Pallet member 24 includes opposed, spaced-apart coil-retaining surfaces 52, 54 which extend transversely to load-receiving surface 30. Surface 52 is on retaining panel 44, and is the surface which faces support panel 38. Coil-retaining surface 54 is the surface on support panel 38 which faces retaining panel 44. Each spiral coil 46 is resilient in a direction transverse to the coil axis, like a coil spring, while being rigid in a direction along the coil axis to resist loading forces. Each coil 46 is held in its position in the pallet member by resilient pressure of the coil which is applied against coil-retaining surfaces 52, 54 by the tendency of the coil to unwind. Retention of the coils in position in this way is advantageous in that no separate attaching means is required, enhancing the simplicity of the device.

Pallet members 24, 26 (FIG. 1) are arranged with their respective support panels confronting one another under the load. The support panels, coils and retaining panels are spaced inwardly from the sides of the load to define a space at each side of the load for access to the bottom or back surface of each deck panel (i.e., the surface which faces in the opposite direction from load-receiving surface 30) by package-handling equipment.

Bands 56 of steel strapping pass through the apertures in the support panels (as 40 in support panel 38, FIG. 2), for securing the pallet members to load 12 (FIG. 1). Bands 56 pass under the deck panels of pallet members 24, 26, pass through the apertures in the support panels, and pass along the aligning panels vertically upwardly to extend around the sheet pack. The walls of the apertures in the support panels retain the bands in position.

In one mode of use of the packages, the pallet members are positioned at the four corners of the space which is to be occupied by the package, and the sheets which make up the load are then stacked on the pallet members. If desired, this can be done in the pallet box which is located at the end of many conventional shear lines. When the stack is complete, strapping bands 56 are passed through the apertures in the support panels and secured around the load. The package is then complete and can be removed. Removal can be effected for example by an overhead traveling crane equipped with a conventional scissors-type lifting device having gripper members which engage the back sides of the deck panels of the pallet members. Or, if desired and if the sheets are of sufficient length in relation to the length of the pallet members to allow insertion of the forks of a lift truck between the pairs of pallet members, the package can be removed by forklift. In this connection, if desired an additional pair of pallet members can be inserted at the longitudinal center of the load at a location spaced from each of the pairs of pallet members at the end portions of the load so as to allow insertion of each fork of the forklift between an end pair of pallet members and the center pair. It can be particularly advantageous in this mode to stiffen the corners of the sheet stack with angle irons, although such stiffening can also be employed when overhead-crane handling equipment is employed.

Packages according to the invention are highly advantageous. The pallet members are extremely strong and durable, particularly with respect to conventional wood pallets, yet are lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to make and utilize. Moreover, the pallets protect the sheets of the stack against damage, and facilitate the banding operation while serving to hold the bands in position. The compression-resisting coils are very economical, yet extremely strong. All-steel pallets made in accordance with the invention have sustained loads of 40,000 pounds.

As an example, each coil can be made from one two-inch wide steel strip, one foot in length, spirally wound into a coil four inches in diameter. However, it will be appreciated that other coil sizes can be employed. Moreover, more or fewer than three coils per pallet member can be used if desired.

It will further be appreciated that the pallet members can be employed for handling loads other than steel sheet stacks, and that the pallet members themselves can be made of materials other than steel.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, many modifications of that embodiment can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, for definition of the scope of the invention, reference will be made to the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. Pallet member structure, comprising

a base member,

a deck member having a load-receiving surface,

a spport member extending in a direction transverse to the load-receiving surface and joining the deck member to the base member,

the base member opposing and being spaced from the deck member, and

compression-resisting means interposed between the base member and the deck member,

the compression-resisting means including a sprial coil,

the coil having a plurality of wraps and having an axis,

the wraps being spaced from one another in a plane parallel to the load-receiving surface,

the coil axis extending transversely to the load-receiving surface, and wherein the pallet member structure further includes

opposed, spaced-apart coil-retaining surfaces extending transversely to the load-receiving surface,

the coil being resilient in a direction transverse to the coil axis and being rigid in a direction along the coil axis,

the coil being held in position against movement in a plane parallel to the base and deck members solely by resilient pressure of the coil tending to unwrap the coil against the coil-retaining surfaces.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1, including

a retaining member projecting from the base member in a direction toward the deck member but terminating in spaced relation to the deck member,

one of the coil-retaining surfaces for the coil being located on the support member,

another of the coil-retaining surfaces for the coil being located on the retaining member.

3. Structure as defined in claim 1 wherein

the deck member has a back surface which faces away from the load-receiving surface, and

wherein said deck member projects away from the support member a greater distance than said base member to define a recess for access to the back surface of the deck member by package-handling equipment.

4. Structure as defined in claim 1,

the coil being of sheet metal and having stiffening corrugations extending in a direction along the coil axis.

5. Structure as defined in claim 1, including

a load-aligning member projecting from the deck member in a direction opposite to the direction of the support member.

6. Structure as defined in claim 5,

the support member including means defining an aperture contiguous to the deck member for receiving and retaining strapping means for securing the pallet member to a load.

7. Package structure, comprising

a load having opposite sides,

pallet means for supporting the load,

the pallet means comprising a plurality of pallet members including a first formed sheet metal pallet member at one side of the load and a second formed sheet metal pallet member at the other side of the load,

each pallet member including

a deck member having a load-receiving surface,

the deck member having opposite edge portions,

a support member projecting from one edge portion of the deck member in a direction transverse to the load-receiving surface,

a base member projecting from the support member in a direction generally parallel to the load-receiving surface,

the base member opposing and being spaced from the deck member, and

compression-resisting means interposed between the base member and the deck member,

the compression-resisting means including a plurality of spiral coils of sheet metal,

each coil having a plurality of wraps and having an axis,

the wraps being spaced from one another in a plane parallel to the load-receiving surface,

the coil axis extending transversely to the load-receiving surface,

the support members of the first and second pallet members confronting one another, and

strapping means for securing the pallet members to the load,

and wherein each pallet member includes

opposed, spaced-apart, coil-retaining surfaces extending transversely to the load-receiving surface,

each coil being resilient in a direction transverse to the coil axis and being rigid in a direction along the coil axis,

each coil being held in position by resilient pressure of the coil tending to uncoil the wraps against the coil-retaining surfaces.

8. Structure as defined in claim 7,

each coil having stiffening corrugations extending in a direction along the coil axis.

9. Structure as defined in claim 7,

each pallet member including

a retaining member projecting from the base member in a direction toward the deck member but terminating in spaced relation to the deck member,

one of the coil-retaining surfaces for each coil being located on the support member,

another of the coil-retaining surfaces for each coil being located on the retaining member.

10. Structure as defined in claim 7,

each pallet member including

a load-aligning member projecting from the other edge portion of the deck member in a direction opposite to the direction of the support member and engaging a side of said load.

11. Structure as defined in claim 10,

the support member including means defining an aperture contiguous to the deck member for receiving and retaining the strapping means.

12. Structure as defined in claim 11,

the load having opposite end portions,

the plurality of pallet members including a pair of pallet members at each end portion of the load.

13. Structure as defined in claim 7,

the deck member of each pallet member having a back surface which faces away from the load-receiving surface,

the support member and the compression-resisting means of each of the first and second pallet members being spaced inwardly from the respective side of the load to define a space for access to the back surface of the deck member by package-handling equipment.

14. A one-piece sheet metal pallet member comprising

a deck member having opposite side and ends and an upper planar load receiving surface extending therebetween,

a support panel projecting downwardly from one side of said deck member,

an aligning panel projecting upwardly from the deck member at the side opposite said first side to be engageable with the sides of a load to be supported by the pallet for purposes of aligning the pallet with the load, said one side and the opposite ends of said deck member being unobstructed above the load-receiving surface so as to accommodate loads of various sizes with the bottom surface of the loads extending parallel and in contact with the load-receiving surface,

a base member projecting inwardly from the lower extremity of said support panel in underlying spaced relationship to the deck member, the distance of projection of the base member from the support panel being less than the distance across the deck member between the opposite sides thereof such that a recess is defined below the underside of the deck member and the base member providing access to the underside of the deck member for package-handling equipment, said base member extending substantially throughout the underside of said member in the longitudinal direction thereof and defining an elongated passage between said deck member and the base member for receiving a plurality of compression resisting means, and

a retaining panel projecting upwardly from the base member opposite the support panel in spaced relation to the deck member, said retaining panel extending longitudinally substantially throughout the base member for providing an abutment surface retaining said compression-resisting means in said passage between the deck member and the base member,

said pallet member adapted to be employed on one side of a load together with an identical pallet member placed on the opposite side of the load.