Device and method for packaging transporting and storing products, in particular bulk goods

Abstract

A device for transporting and/or storing products, comprising a substantially plate-shaped carrier and a number of substantially block-shaped containers to be called block containers, wherein on the carrier at least one layer of series of block containers arranged next to and behind each other is provided, wherein the block containers are adopted to be folded and/or disassembled.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for transporting and/or storing products, comprising carrier and a number of substantially block-shaped containers, to be called block containers, wherein, on the carrier, at least one layer of series of block containers arranged next to and behind each other is provided, wherein the block containers are adopted to be folded and/or disassembled, wherein said carrier is substantially plate-shaped wherein the block containers comprise coupling means and are mutually coupled to each other and/or to said substantially plate-shaped carrier directly.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the block containers placed on said carrier are laterally connected to each other.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the containers are designed such that on a top layer of block containers on a first plate-shaped carrier, a second plate-shaped carrier is stackable, on which further block containers have been placed.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein on the top layer of block containers on a first plate-shaped carrier, a further container is placed, which further container is a standard container, in particular a 20 or 40 foot container with a bottom surface having dimensions approximately corresponding to the dimensions of a matrix of said block containers onto which the further container has been placed.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device has outside dimensions substantially corresponding to those of a standard container, in particular a 20 or 40 foot container.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein on the carrier, a fastening element is provided to which at least a number of the block containers included in a lower layer is connected.  
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein on two opposite sides, the carrier is provided with a side wall, in particular a sidewall which can be folded against the carrier.  
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the block containers are provided with coupling elements which, in a first position, are virtually completely received within the block container, while, in a second position, the coupling elements reach at least partly outside the block container and engage on or in an adjacent block container or on or in the carrier or a fastening element provided thereon.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein each block container is provided with engaging means for engagement of the block container with the lifting forks of a lifting device, wherein the coupling means are operable by said forks upon engagement of the engagement means.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a bolster or flat known per se.  
     
     
         11 . A series of devices of the type according to  claim 1 , wherein the block containers of a device in folded and/or disassembled condition are stackable on the associated carrier, wherein said series is stackable, wherein a series of carriers stacked one on top of the other with block containers stacked, folded and/or disassembled thereon has outside dimensions fitting within a modular size of standard containers, particularly a 20 or 40 foot container.  
     
     
         12 . A series of devices according to  claim 11 , 2h343in onto each carrier two layers of block containers are provided, wherein ten or eleven carriers with associated block containers in folded and/or disassembled condition are stackable within the dimensions of a standard container particularly a 20 or 40 foot container.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly of a series of devices according to  claim 1  and a series of standard containers, particularly  20  and/or  40  foot containers, wherein the standard containers and said devices with unfolded block containers are stacked on top of and next to each other, in particular in a transport device or in or on a storage space.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly of a series of devices according to  claim 1  and a series of standard containers, particularly  20  and/or  40  foot containers, wherein the standard containers and said devices with folded and/or disassembled block containers are stacked on top of and next to each other, in particular in a transport device or in or on a storage space.  
     
     
         15 . A method for transporting products, wherein the products are received in containers adopted to be folded and/or disassembled, substantially block-shaped, to be called block containers, wherein the block containers are stacked in files and/or in rows on a carrier, whereupon the assembly of carrier and block containers is transported and/or stored, whereupon the block containers are emptied and are folded and/or disassembled for further transport, in particular return transport and/or storage, wherein the containers are placed on a substantially flat carrier and are coupled directly to each other and/or to said carrier by locking means in folded out or assembled state.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein a number of the block containers are attached to the carrier.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the block containers are stacked to form a substantially block-shaped assembly with outside dimensions which substantially correspond to the outside dimensions of a standard container, in particular a 20 or 40 foot container, at least a modular size thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein a number of assemblies of carriers with block containers stacked thereon are stacked in a transport device of, on, or in a storage space.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein a number of assemblies of carriers with block containers stacked thereon and a number of standard containers, in particular 20 and/or 40 foot containers, are stacked in a transport device or on, or in a storage space.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the block containers are emptied and are folded and/or disassembled, whereupon the folded and/or disassembled block containers are restacked on the carrier to a substantially block-shaped assembly with outside dimensions which substantially correspond to the outside dimensions of a standard container, in particular a 20 or 40 foot container, at least a modular size thereof.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein at least a number of the block containers is comprised of at least a carrier frame and an inner carrier, wherein the inner carrier is foldable and is preferably provided with ventilation openings.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the carrier frame and the inner carrier, after emptying of a block container, are separated from each other and are separately cleaned and/or folded.  
     
     
         23 . Use of a device according to  claim 1 , said carrier being bolster or flat for transporting and/or storing goods, wherein: 
 the containers in folded out and/or assembled condition are stacked on the bolster or flat, while forming a substantially block-shaped assembly with outside dimensions which fit within a modular size of a standard container, particularly a 20 or 40 foot container from a filling position; and    The containers in folded and/or disassembled condition are stacked on the bolster or flat, while forming a substantially block-shaped assembly with outside dimensions which fit within a modular size of a standard container, particularly 1 20 or 40 foot container, for transport to a filling position or storage;    wherein the containers are connected directly to each other and/or to said bolster or flat.    
     
     
         24 . Use of a bolster or flat according to  claim 23 , wherein on the bolster or flat, fastening means are secured to which at least a number of a lower layer of containers are attached, wherein the containers in at least the or each layer are mutually coupled.  
     
     
         25 . A block container for use in a device according to  claim 1 , which block container has outside dimensions which substantially fit within a modular size of a standard container and is provided with coupling means for coupling to a similar container.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 15 , which block container has outside dimensions which substantially fit within a modular size of a standard container and is provided with coupling means for coupling to a similar container.