Synthetic resin pallet and manufacturing method therefor

• US 6,138,582 A
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Incorporated, Nippon Plastic Pallet Corporation (Yellow Hat Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Incorporated, Nippon Plastic Pallet Corporation (Yellow Hat Limited)
• Inventors: Fujii, Mitsuru, Dobashi, Tomoyuki, Kurosawa, Kiyoshi, Sugihara, Junro
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/273,471
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.26, 108/57.25, 108/57.27, 108/901, 108/902
• US Class Current: 108/57.25
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/20 with direct contact, e.g. using "mirror"
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7252 hollow-walled
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7178 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0059 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0069 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/38 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00044 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00079 Combination, e.g. different elements made of different materials, laminates
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00303 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00358 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 : on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00432 : Non-integral, e.g. inserts B65D2519/00462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0084 : Separated elements, e.g. including in-moulded elements

Abstract

With a synthetic resin pallet provided with large open portions in an under surface portion for handling with a hand lifter, the aim is to improve the strength of the under surface portion. Therefore there is provided a synthetic resin pallet having an upper surface portion and an under surface portion which is provided with large open portions, the upper surface portion and the under surface portion being connected by columns, with fork insertion apertures formed between the columns, the synthetic resin pallet being integrally formed by connecting a pallet upper part integrally formed with the upper surface portion and column main portions, and a strengthened pallet lower part integrally formed with the under surface portion and column lower end portions, by the respective columns.

Claims

1. A synthetic resin pallet having an upper surface portion and an under surface portion which is provided with large open portions, the upper surface portion and the under surface portion being connected by columns, with fork insertion apertures formed between the columns, wherein said synthetic resin pallet is integrally formed by connecting a pallet upper part integrally formed with the upper surface portion and column main portions, and a strengthened pallet lower part integrally formed with the under surface portion and column lower end portions, by the respective columns,

wherein the pallet lower part is strengthened by adding a filler, and a filler is added to the pallet upper part in an amount of up to half the amount of filler added to the pallet lower part.

2. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the connection by each column is provided by heat welding.

3. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the under surface portion in underside view is approximately the shape of a rectangle divided by a horizontal and a vertical line.

4. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the under surface portion in underside view is approximately the shape of a rectangle divided by a horizontal line.

5. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein reinforcing ribs are formed on an inner face side of the upper surface portion.

6. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein hollow portions are formed in the pallet upper part.

7. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein hollow portions are formed in the pallet lower part.

8. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the columns comprise corner columns formed at respective corners, intermediate portion columns formed at intermediate portions of respective sides, and a central portion column formed at a central portion, and the fork insertion apertures are formed between the columns.

9. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the columns comprise side columns formed along a pair of opposite sides, and a central column formed in parallel with and at a central portion between the side columns, and the fork insertion apertures are formed between the columns.

10. A method of manufacturing the synthetic resin pallet of claim 1, wherein the pallet upper part integrally formed with the upper surface portion and the column main portions is formed by injection molding, and the strengthened pallet lower part integrally formed with the pallet under surface portion and the column lower end portions is formed by injection molding, after which the pallet upper part and the pallet lower part are integrally connected by the respective columns,

the pallet lower part being strengthened by adding a filler, and a filler being added to the pallet upper part in an amount of up to half the amount of filler added to the pallet lower part.

11. A method of manufacturing a synthetic resin pallet according to claim 10, wherein the integrality is formed by providing the connection by each column by heat welding.

12. A method of manufacturing a synthetic resin pallet according to claim 11, wherein the heat welding is effected using a metal plate which has been heated and subjected to surface stripping treatment.

13. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the filler of the pallet lower part is talc, calcium carbonate, glass fiber, or carbon fiber.

14. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein the filler of the pallet upper part is talc, calcium carbonate, glass fiber, or carbon fiber.

15. A synthetic resin pallet according to claim 1, wherein no filler is added to the pallet upper part.