US3638790A

US3638790A - Palletized packaging of cylindrical objects

Info

Publication number: US3638790A
Application number: US888673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard O Schmid; Harold Alda
Original assignee: Union Carbide Corp
Current assignee: Evonik Corp; Union Carbide Corp
Priority date: 1969-12-29
Filing date: 1969-12-29
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01
Also published as: CA940096A

Abstract

Cylindrical objects, particularly end-capped rolls of sheeting and the like, are loaded on a pallet in the vertical position and bound into a stable unit by horizontal strapping and baffles placed between rows of the cylindrical objects. The stabilized unitized group of cylindrical objects is secured to a pallet by strapping or by a heat-shrunk plastic shroud covering and protecting the cylinder, or by both.

Description

United States Patent [15] 3,638,790

Schmid et al. Feb. 1 197 2 [54] PALLETIZED PACKAGING OF 3,522,688 8/1970 Kaliwoda et al. ..206/65 S CYLINDRICAL 0B ECTS 3,148,773 9/1964 J 3,399,761 9/1968 [72] Inventors: Richard 0- Schmid, East Brunswick; 3,460,671 8/1969 Harm ..206/65 S Harold Alda, Colonia, both OfNJ,

. Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

[73] Asslgnee' a? Carbide Corporation New Attorney-Paul A. Rose, J. Hart Evans and John F. Hohmann [22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1969 [57] ABSTRACT pp No; 888,673 Cylindrical objects, particularly end-capped rolls of sheeting and the like, are loaded on a pallet in the vertical position and bound into a stable unit by horizontal strapping and baffles 52 .S. I. 2 T51} T11". ..B65d 71/04 B65 8 5 6 placed between rows of the cylindrical objects The stabilized 58 Field of Search ..206/65 R 65 s 65 Y 60 A nitized 8MP cylindrical is cured 3 Pane by 206/46 BK 46 Z 3. 259/5 strapping or by a heat-shrunk plastic shroud covering and protecting the cylinder, or by both. [56] Relmm CM 31 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1954 Budd .,..:...7..V..V,.20V6/65 R PATENTEUFEB H2172 3,638,790

SHEET 10F 3 INVENTORS HAROLD ALDA RICHARD O. SCHMID ATTORNEY m me-rm m1;

SHEET 2 HF 3 FIG. 5.

INVENTORS HAROLD ALDA RICHARD O. SCHMID 1. T v: ATTORNEY WENTEBFEB 1m? 3,63 79 SHEET w 3 I INVENTOES saw 6% m ATTORNEY PALLETIZEI) PACKAGING OF CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rolls of vinyl fabric and the like have traditionally been palletized by stacking them on their sides in a pyramidal configuration. This has been felt to be the only way in which damage to the ends of the rolls could be avoided. Such pyramidal stacking has limited the number of rolls that can be accommodated on a single pallet and has also prevented the stacking of one loaded pallet on top of another. Such single level loading of pallets has wasted warehouse and trucking space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION We have now found that by a combination of strapping, vertical baffles and shrink packaging we can palletize cylindrical objects in an upright position on a freight pallet, thereby greatly increasing the number of cylinders which can be carried on a single pallet. Since our arrangement permits stacking loaded pallets on top of one another, available warehouse and trucking space are greatly increased.

In a preferred embodiment of our invention the cylindrical objects which are palletized are protected by removable end caps on either end. Such caps permit stacking on end of cylindrical objects which would otherwise be damaged by such stacking. Rolls of sheeting such as vinyl fabrics are particularly benefited by this embodiment of the invention inasmuch as the end caps protect the axial ends of the rolls of sheeting and prevent the damage that would otherwise occur to these roll ends when they were stacked vertically. An improved roll package of this type is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 888,497, entitled End-Capped Cylindrical Package, filed concurrently with this application and assigned to the same assignee.

According to our invention the cylindrical objects, such as end capped rolls of sheeting, are stacked on end in regular rows and columns on a freight pallet, with baffles separating the rows and straps encircling the stacked cylinders. The stacked, strapped cylinders and the edges of the pallet are then preferably enveloped by an overwrap of shrinkable plastic such as heat shrinkable polyethylene which is heatshrunk tightly around them. The rolls are thus held tightly to the pallet or platform, although additional strapping can be used if desired. If the protective plastic wrap is unnecessary, the stacked, horizontally strapped cylinders can be bound to the pallet with vertical strapping. When used the shroud or overwrap of heat-shrunk plastic protects the surfaces of the rolls against abrasion, moisture and other damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a group of cylinders packaged on a freight pallet according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a group of end-capped cylinders packaged on a freight pallet according to the invention, with additional strapping of the load to the pallet.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a section of blown heatshrinkable polyethylene film tubing slit on one edge and heatsealed at both ends.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the piece of film of FIG. 3 further shaped to form a bag adapted to be dropped over a load of cylinders on a pallet according to the invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an alternate method of folding in the tucks of the bag in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a section of gusseted blown heat-shrinkable polyethylene tubing heat sealed at one end.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the piece of tubing of FIG. 6 partially opened.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the tubing of FIG. 6 fully opened and further shaped to form a bag adapted to be dropped over a load of cylinders on a pallet according to the invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. I a group of cylindrical objects I0 have been stacked in a vertical position on a freight pallet 12 and are arranged in regular rows and columns. Baffles 14 separate the rows of cylindrical objects 10 while horizontal straps l6 encircle and secure them. The bafiles I4 are preferably placed perpendicular to the direction D of normal pallet travel. An enveloping shroud or cover of heat shrinkable plastic film 18 has been heat-shrunk over the group of cylindrical objects 10 and around the floor of the pallet 12, thereby serving as vertical strapping means securing the cylindrical objects 10 to the pallet 12. The shroud illustrated was formed as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing.

In FIG. 2 a group of rolls 20 of plastic sheeting or the like, with protective end caps 22 and enclosed in heat shrunk plastic film wrappers 24, have been stacked vertically on a freight pallet 12 and arranged in regular rows and columns. Baffles 14 separate the rows of rolls 20 and preferably placed perpendicular to the direction D of normal pallet travel. Horizontal straps I6 encircle the rolls 20 of sheeting and in cooperation with the baffles l4, serve to stabilize the group of rolls 20 and prevent them from shifting relative position.

Shown in this FIG. 2 are vertical straps 26 which serve to provide additional vertical strapping means binding the group of rolls 20 to the pallet 12. Angle pieces 28 prevent the vertical straps 26 from cutting into the ends of the rolls 20 or the end caps 22 and serve to distribute the binding force of the straps 26 across the row of rolls 20. These vertical straps 26 can be fastened to the pallet 12 or preferably can be run beneath the pallet 12 and fastened to themselves to form continuous loops of strapping. An enveloping bag or cover of heat-shrinkable plastic film 30 has been heat-shrunk over the group of rolls 20 and around the floor of the pallet 12, thereby securing the rolls 20 to the pallet 12 and forming a dust and moisture proof covering around the contents of the pallet 12. The bag 30 illustrated was made as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing.

The heat-shrunk covering shroud 18 in FIG. 1 was made from a section of tube 32 of heat-shrinkable plastic film as shown in FIG. 3. The flat tubing 32 was cut open along one side to provide cut edges 34 with the other folded side 36 left intact. Heat seals 38 were made across the ends of the slit tube 32, thereby forming an envelope of film open only on the side with the cut edges 34. This envelope was then opened to the baglike form shown in FIG. 4. The baglike shroud of heatshrinkable film thus formed in FIG. 4 is then ready to be placed over the pallet 12 and cylindrical objects 10 of FIG. I and heat-shrunk to provide the heat-shrunk covering bag I8 of FIG. 1. The triangular ears" 40 thus formed can be folded down against the outer ends 42 of the bag. Preferably, however, these ears 40 are inverted back underneath the top surface 44 of the bag, as shown in FIG. 5. This inversion of the ears 40 is preferably done after the bag is placed over the cylindrical objects 10 and pallets 12, but of course before heating.

The heat-shrunk covering bag 30 in FIG. 2 was made from a section of gusseted heat-shrinkable plastic film tubing 50 with a heat-seal 52 closing one end as shown in FIg. 6. The unsealed ends 54 of the tubing 50 are then opened as shown in FIG. 7 to form a baglike shroud which is shown fully opened and shaped in FIG. 8. The shroud shown in FIG. 8 is ready to' be placed over the pallet 12 and rolls 20 of FIG. 2 and heat shrunk to provide the covering shroud of FIG. 2.

We have found that the combination of the baffles and the horizontal strapping provides an unusually stable load which will not shift or change in configuration during shipping. To this end it is essential that cylinders be arranged in rows and columns with the baffles to prevent nesting of the cylinders in one row with those in the next. Preferably the pallet is filled with rows and columns of cylinders, although the entire surface of the pallet will not necessarily be covered, depending on the diameter of the cylinder.

it is also possible to omit cylinders from one row, however, Thus a pallet that would ordinarily be filled with a load of 16 cylinders in four rows and four columns could have one or more cylinders omitted from one row. in completing the packaging of an order it may even be desirable to load the last pallet to far less than capacity. There should be at least four, however, with a baffle separating the two rows. Such an underloaded pallet will not permit stacking another pallet on top of it, but has all the other advantages of the invention.

The maximum number of cylinders which can be loaded on a pallet will of course vary with the size of the cylinder and the size of the pallet. Thus a 42 inch square freight pallet could accommodate only 4 cylinders of 20 inch diameter but as many as 64 cylinders of 5 inch diameter. While square pallets 42 inches on each side are a standard size used normally in industry, any convenient size of pallet can be employed. The pallet can be of any convenient construction, normally one which permits introduction under the load of the arms of a fork lift truck or the like. Wood, plywood, corrugated board, metal, plastic and combinations of these can all be suitable materials.

We have used with excellent results, a 42 inch square pallet with hardwood deck boards of seven-eighths inch lumber spaced one-half inch apart. Stringers were two by fours with three bottom deck boards 4 inches wide placed at each end and at the center of the stringers. We have been quite successful in loading such a pallet with l6, inch diameter rolls of vinyl fabric, the 54 inch wide rolls having 55 inch long cores and protective end caps and heat-shrunk plastic film covering as described in the above-mentioned copending application Ser. No. 884,497. Rolls of from 6 to 24 inch diameter and from 12 to 84 inches in length are commonly used in industry today. a

The baffles used in our invention can be of any suitable stiff material such as corrugated paper, plywood or other laminated materials, metal, or built up from lumber. in our work with fabric rolls on 42 inch square pallets we used corrugated board of nominal 125 pound burst strength in a 40 inch width and a length equal to or slightly less than the roll core length. A baffle longer than the roll core length can be used if the excess is folded over the tops of the rolls. The corrugations in the corrugated baffle preferably run horizontal to the pallet for maximum strength. The horizontal strapping which secures the rolls with the baffles between the rows can be any plastic, textile, metal, rope, cord, or composite strap of sufficient strength, as can the vertical strapping used to secure the load to the pallet. We used one-half inch wide, 0.020-inch thick nylon strapping, tensioned and heat sealed. The protective angle piece can be of any suitable material such as wood, plywood and other laminates, corrugated board, metal and plastic. We used laminated kraft paper 3 inch by 3 inch by 38 inches long and 0.225 inches thick for our vinyl fabric roll packages.

The shrinkable film wrap used in the shroud of the preferred embodiment of the invention can be any heat-shrinkable, plastic film such as films made from heat-shrinkable polyethylene and modified, heat-shrinkable vinyl chloride polymers and copolymers, heat-shrinkable vinylidene chloride polymers and copolymers, heat-shrinkable polystyrene, heatshrinkable polyesters and heat-shrinkable polypropylene. A thickness of from 5 to 10 mils will be suitable for most applications although thicker or thinner film can be used if desired. The film can be colored or printed. We have used 5 mil thick polyethylene shrink film with excellent results, heat shrinking it at a temperature of 320 F. for 60 seconds.

Heat-shrinkable polyethylene is ordinarily supplied in tubular form and FIG. 3 through 5 and 6 through 8 illustrate two different ways in which the tubular film can be processed into a bag or shroud. The procedure illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is preferred because plastic tubing made by the air-bubble or blown extrusion process has a substantially greater capacity for shrinking in the machine direction, that is, along the axis of the tube, than perpendicular to it. Thus the shroud of Fit]. 5 will shrink more in the horizontal direction while that of H0. 8 will shrink more in the vertical direction. The greater horizontal shrinkage is ordinarily preferred in the practice of our invention because it serves to help bind the cylinders tightly together in a manner which prevents shifting during transit.

The invention can be used to package most cylindrical objects of a size suitable for palletizing. These include textile rolls of cotton, synthetics, wool, plastic and the like, as well as rolls of paper, plastic film, roofing paper and such materials. Carbon electrodes, tires and gas cylinders can be so packaged, as can most cored, drummed and pailed materials.

Our invention has special advantages when applied to endcapped rolls of sheeting of the type described in the abovementioned application Ser. No. 884,497. Such rolls of sheeting, which may be of plastic, textile fabric, paper or the like, are normally wound on cores, frequently hollow cores, which may be flush with the ends of the roll or may extend beyond the roll to facilitate handling. End-caps for the flush core rolls may have axial protrusions which extend into the hollow cores, while end caps for extended core rolls have axial holes into which the cores fit.

These end caps are normally circular and have a diameter from 75 to percent of the outer diameter of the rolls to which they are applied. These end caps, which can be solid or hollow, can be made of wood, composition board, plastic foam, molded plastic, metal, ceramic or other suitable material. They may be attached to the rolls by a friction fit over the extended cores in the case of pierced discs or by a friction fit of their axial protrusions into hollow flush cores. They may also be held in place solely by the plastic overwrap.

The plastic film used in wrapping the individual end-capped rolls can be any heat-shrinkable plastic film such as films made from heat-shrinkable polyethylene and modified, heatshrinkable vinyl chloride polymers and copolymers, heatshrinkable vinylidene chloride polymers and copolymers, heat-shrinkable polystyrene, heatshrinkable polyesters and heat-shrinkable polypropylene. It can be of any appropriate thickness, with from 2.5 to 6 mils suitable for most applications. It can be applied as a seamless tube slipped over the roll or it can be a sheet wrapped around the roll and heat sealed into a tube. It is heat-shrunk around the roll at a temperature appropriate to the plastic film being used.

What is claimed is:

l. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of cylindrical objects standing upright on said pallet and arranged in regular rows and columns, baffles separating the rows of said cylindrical objects, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of cylindrical objects and vertical binding means securing said plurality of cylindrical objects to said pallet.

2. A palletized package according to claim I where said baffies are arranged perpendicular to the usual direction of pallet travel.

3. A palletized package according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal strapping means consists of at least one individual strap.

4. A palletized package according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal strapping means consists of three individual straps.

5. A palletized package according to claim 1 wherein said vertical binding means consists of at least one individual strap.

6. A palletized package according to claim I wherein said vertical binding means consists of two individual straps.

7. A palletized package according to claim 1 further comprising angle pieces of protective material positioned along the outer edges of the two outside rows of said cylindrical objects and underneath said vertical binding means.

8. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plu rality of cylindrical objects standing upright on said pallet and arranged in regular rows and columns, baffles separating the rows of said cylindrical objects, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of cylindrical objects and a shroud of heat shrunk plastic film enveloping said plurality of cylindrical objects and the edges of said freight pallet, thereby serving as vertical binding means securing said plurality of cylindrical objects to said pallet.

9. A palletized package according to claim 8 where said bafties are arranged perpendicular to the usual direction of pallet travel.

10. A palletized package according to claim 8 wherein said horizontal strapping means consists of at least one individual strap.

11. A palletized package according to claim 8 wherein said horizontal strapping means consists of three individual straps.

12. A palletized package according to claim 8 further comprising additional vertical binding means encircling said pallet and the ends of a column of said cylindrical objects.

13. A palletized package according to claim 12 wherein said additional vertical binding means consists of at least one individual strap.

14. A palletized package according to claim 12 wherein said additional vertical binding means consists of two individual straps.

15. A palletized package according to claim 12 further comprising angle pieces of protective material positioned along the outer edges of the two outside rows of said cylindrical objects and underneath said additional vertical binding means.

16. A palletized package according to claim 8 wherein said heat shrunk plastic film is polyethylene.

17. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects individually encased in heat shrunk plastic film standing upright on said pallet, baffles separating the rows of said end-capped cylindrical objects, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects and a shroud of heat-shrunk plastic film enveloping said plurality of endcapped cylindrical objects and the edges of said freight pallet, thereby serving as vertical binding means securing said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects to said pallet.

18. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said end caps are circular, are each of a diameter of from 75 percent to 125 percent of the outside diameter of said cylindrical objects and are removably attached to said cylindrical objects.

19. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said cylindrical objects have axial protrusions at each end, said protrusions have a smaller diameter than the body of said endcapped cylindrical object, said end caps have axial holes therein and said end caps are fitted over said extrusions, said extrusions extending into said holes, but not beyond the outer ends of said caps.

20. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said cylindrical objects have axial holes at each end and said end caps have axial protrusions on one side which extend into said holes and frictionally engage the interior walls of said holes.

21. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said end caps are made of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, composition board, plastic foam, molded plastic, metal and ceramic.

22. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said overwraps of heat shrunk plastic film enveloping said cylindrical objects are each preformed seamless tubes.

23. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said overwraps of heat shrunk plastic film enveloping said cylindrica] objects are sheets which have been wrapped around said cylindrical objects and heat sealed to form tubes.

24. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said heat-shrunk plastic film enveloping said cylindrical objects is polyethylene film.

25. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said cylindrical objects are rolls of sheeting.

26. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects are further secured to said pallet by additional vertical binding means comprising at least one vertical strap encircling said pallet and the ends of said end-capped cylindrical objects.

27. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of rolls of sheeting wound on cores with protective end caps on each end of said roll and individually encased in heatshrunk plastic film standing upright on said pallet, baffles separating the rows of said rolls horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery oi said plurality 0 r0 s and a shroud of heat-shrunk plastic film enveloping said plurality of rolls and the edges of said pallet, thereby serving as vertical binding means securing said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects to said pallet.

28. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said cores are hollow.

29. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said caps are circular, are each of a diameter of from 75 percent to percent of the outside diameter of said rolls and are removably attached to said rolls.

30. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said rolls are of substantially the same axial length as said cores and the ends of said cores are substantially flush with the ends of said rolls.

31. A palletized package according to claim 30 wherein said cores are hollow and said end caps have axial protrusions on one side which extend into said cores and frictionally engage the interior walls of said cores.

32. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said cores have lengths greater than the axial lengths of said roll and protrude at both ends of said rolls.

33. A palletized package according to claim 32 wherein said end caps have axial holes therein and said end caps are fitted over the ends of said cores, said core ends extending into said holes but not beyond the outer ends of said caps.

34. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said end caps are made of a materials selected from the group consisting of wood, composition board, plastic foam, molded plastic, metal and ceramic.

35. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said overwraps of heat-shrinkable plastic film enveloping said capped rolls are each preformed seamless tubes.

36. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said overwraps of heat shrunk plastic film enveloping said capped rolls are sheets which have been wrapped around said capped rolls of sheeting and heat sealed to form tubes.

37. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said heat-shrunk film enveloping said capped rolls is polyethylene film.

Claims

1. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of cylindrical objects standing upright on said pallet and arranged in regular rows and columns, baffles separating the rows of said cylindrical objects, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of cylindrical objects and vertical binding means securing said plurality of cylindrical objects to said pallet.

2. A palletized package according to claim 1 where said baffles are arranged perpendicular to the usual direction of pallet travel.

6. A palletized package according to claim 1 wherein said vertical binding means consists of two individual straps.

8. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of cylindrical objects standing upright on said pallet and arranged in regular rows and columns, baffles separating the rows of said cylindrical objects, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of cylindrical objects and a shroud of heat shrunk plastic film enveloping said plurality of cylindrical objects and the edges of said freight pallet, thereby serving as vertical binding means securing said plurality of cylindrical objects to said pallet.

9. A palletized package according to claim 8 where said baffles are arranged perpendicular to the usual direction of pallet travel.

17. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects individually encased in heat shrunk plastic film standing upright on said pallet, baffles separating the rows of said end-capped cylindrical objects, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects and a shroud of heat-shrunk plastic film enveloping said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects and the edges of said freight pallet, thereby serving as vertical binding means securing said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects to said pallet.

19. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said cylindrical objects have axial protrusions at each end, said protrusions have a smaller diameter than the body of said end-capped cylindrical object, said end caps have axial holes therein and said end caps are fitted over said extrusions, said extrusions extending into said holes, but not beyond the outer ends of said caps.

23. A palletized package according to claim 17 wherein said overwraps of heat shrunk plastic film enveloping said cylindrical objects are sheets which have been wrapped around said cylindrical objects and heat sealed to form tubes.

27. A palletized package comprising a freight pallet, a plurality of rolls of sheeting wound on cores with protective end caps on each end of said roll and individually encased in heat-shrunk plastic film standing upright on said pallet, baffles separating the rows of said rolls, horizontal strapping means encircling the outer periphery of said plurality of rolls and a shroud of heat-shrunk plastic film enveloping said plurality of rolls and the edges of said pallet, thereby serving as vertical binding means securing said plurality of end-capped cylindrical objects to said pallet.

28. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said cores are hollow.

29. A palletized package according to claim 27 wherein said caps are circular, are each of a diameter of from 75 percent to 125 percent of the outside diameter of said rolls and are removably attached to said rolls.