Corner piece for forming a corner of a container, container provided with such corner pieces, and, grip mechanism and gripper which can cooperate with such corner pieces

Abstract

Improved corner piece to form a corner of a container, that contains a movable coupling element, which is at least movable between a maximally protruding position, whereby a coupling part of the coupling element protrudes maximally from the improved corner piece on the level of a grip opening, such that it can serve as coupling element for coupling to a corner piece of another container, and a fully retracted position, in which the movable coupling element is completely inside the improved corner piece and the grip opening is left free.

1 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) to form a corner ( 2 ) of a container ( 3 ), whereby the corner piece ( 1 ) contains a hollow body ( 4 ) that is meant to be applied between the ribs ( 5 ) of the container ( 3 ), whereby the hollow body ( 4 ) is provided with a wall ( 19 ) in which at least one grip opening ( 28 ) is applied with a form that can be gripped by external gripping means ( 51 , 52 ), whereby during the gripping a part of such external gripping means can be inserted through the grip opening ( 28 ) into the hollow body ( 4 ), whereby the improved corner piece ( 1 ) contains a movable coupling element ( 30 ) which can at least move between a maximally protruding position, whereby a coupling part ( 31 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) protrudes maximally out of the improved corner piece ( 1 ) on the level of the aforementioned grip opening ( 28 ), such that it can serve as a coupling element ( 30 ) for coupling to a corner piece ( 1 ) of another container ( 3 ) which is placed with an opening adjoining against the protruding coupling element ( 30 ), and, a fully retracted position, in which the movable coupling element ( 30 ) is completely inside the improved corner piece ( 1 ) and the grip opening ( 28 ) as well as the part of the hollow body ( 4 ) adjoining this grip opening ( 28 ) is left free in so far that the improved corner piece ( 1 ) is put in a position in which the improved corner piece can be gripped by the aforementioned external gripping means ( 51 , 52 ), wherein the movable coupling element ( 30 ) can also be put in a partially protruding position, whereby the coupling part ( 31 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) only partially extends from the corner piece ( 1 ) on the level of the grip opening ( 28 ) and thus can serve as guiding element. 
     
     
         2 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the aforementioned at least one grip opening ( 28 ) has such a form that the improved corner piece ( 1 ) can be gripped by an external gripping means ( 51 , 52 ) in the form of a hammerlock. 
     
     
         3 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to claim, wherein the improved corner piece ( 1 ) contains a first corner piece part ( 32 ) the external dimensions and form of which correspond with an ISO-standardised corner piece ( 13 ) with the exception of the at least one grip opening ( 28 ) which is however also part of this corner piece part ( 32 ), as well as an adjacent corner piece part ( 33 ) that is adjoining and connecting to the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and in which the movable coupling element ( 30 ) is kept in the fully retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the hollow body ( 4 ) is an L-shaped structure ( 34 ) with a first beam-shaped wall part ( 35 ) that forms the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and a second beam-shaped wall part ( 36 ) that forms the adjacent corner piece part ( 33 ). 
     
     
         5 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the improved corner piece ( 1 ) is provided with a top part ( 19 ) that is part of both the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and the second corner piece part ( 33 ) and in which an opening ( 25 ) is provided a part of which ( 26 ) serves as grip opening ( 28 ), and whereby opposite the top part ( 19 ) in the first corner piece part ( 32 ) a first flat closed bottom part ( 20 ) is provided and in the second corner piece part ( 33 ) a second flat closed bottom part ( 21 ) is provided and whereby the first bottom part ( 20 ) protrudes at a distance (D) from the top part ( 19 ), whereby this distance (D), reduced with the thickness (T) of the top part ( 19 ), is somewhat greater than the difference in height (D′) between the top ( 37 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) in the maximally protruding position and the top ( 37 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) in the partially protruding position, and whereby the second bottom part ( 21 ) protrudes at a distance (E) from the top part ( 19 ) that is somewhat greater than the height (H) of the movable coupling element ( 30 ). 
     
     
         6 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the top ( 37 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) is formed by a coupling part ( 31 ) that forms a protrusion ( 38 ) on a base ( 39 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ), whereby the coupling part ( 31 ) is provided with a laterally extending bulge ( 40 ), whereby between the base ( 39 ) and the coupling part ( 31 ) a widened edge ( 41 ) is provided the width (B″) of which is greater than the width (B) of the grip opening ( 28 ), such that the widened edge ( 41 ) can rest on the top part ( 19 ) around the grip opening ( 28 ). 
     
     
         7 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the adjoining corner piece part ( 33 ) is provided with a spring platform ( 42 ) that is supported by a spring element ( 43 ), whereby in the fully retracted position the coupling element ( 30 ) is supported on the platform ( 42 ) and the spring element ( 43 ) is in a compressed position. 
     
     
         8 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the coupling element ( 30 ) on both sides is provided with a longitudinal groove ( 44 ), whereby the coupling element ( 30 ) is put from the fully retracted position to the maximally protruding position by first moving the coupling element ( 30 ) upwards in the adjoining corner piece part ( 33 ), while the spring element ( 43 ) is relaxed, and by then moving the coupling element ( 30 ) over the platform ( 42 ) from the adjoining corner piece part ( 33 ) to the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and in such a way that the side edges ( 45 ) of the grip opening ( 28 ) are slid in the longitudinal grooves ( 44 ) on both sides and whereby by a reverse movement the coupling element ( 30 ) is put back from the maximally protruding position in the fully retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element ( 30 ) from the fully retracted position is put in the partially protruding position by first moving the coupling element ( 30 ) partially upward and then sliding it laterally over the platform ( 42 ) from the adjoining corner piece part ( 33 ) to the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and in such a way that at least one side edge ( 50 ) of the base ( 39 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) is slid in a groove ( 47 ) that is provided on the inside ( 46 ) of the hollow body ( 4 ) to a side wall ( 14 ) on the level of the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and whereby the coupling element ( 30 ) from the partially protruding position is put back in the fully retracted position by possibly first moving the platform ( 42 ) downward, while the spring element ( 43 ) is compressed, then moving the coupling element ( 30 ) from the first corner piece part ( 32 ) onto the platform ( 42 ) and finally moving the platform ( 42 ) further downward. 
     
     
         10 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein in the hollow body ( 4 ) of the improved corner piece ( 1 ) a guiding element ( 59 ) is provided over which the coupling element ( 30 ) can slide between the fully retracted position and the maximally protruding position. 
     
     
         11 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupling element ( 30 ) contains two parts, more specifically an external part ( 60 ) and an internal part ( 61 ) that is surrounded by the external part ( 60 ) and that can move up and down in the external part ( 60 ), whereby the internal part ( 61 ) forms a coupling part ( 31 ) which at its top ( 37 ) is provided with a laterally extending bulge ( 40 ), whereby the foot ( 62 ) of the internal part ( 61 ) is formed by two legs ( 63 ) which each consist of a flat part and which are at a certain distance from each other in order to leave an intermediate space ( 64 ). 
     
     
         12 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the external part ( 60 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) is provided with a lateral groove on both sides ( 65 ) and that the guiding element ( 59 ) contains a pair of opposite edges ( 66 ) which are provided on the side walls ( 14 , 15 ) in the hollow body ( 4 ) on either side of the improved corner piece ( 1 ) and which each are provided with a straight piece ( 69 ) on both ends ( 67 , 68 ) and whereby the edges ( 66 ) in the intermediate part ( 70 ) follow a smooth curve, whereby the opposite edges ( 66 ) extend into a corresponding groove ( 65 ) of the external part ( 60 ) and whereby the guiding element ( 59 ) moreover contains a pair of profiled upright partitions ( 71 ) provided on the bottom parts ( 20 , 21 ) of the hollow body ( 4 ) and over which the legs ( 63 ) of the internal part ( 60 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) can slide. 
     
     
         13 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupling element ( 30 ) from the fully retracted position is put in the maximally protruding position by making the coupling element ( 30 ) slide over the opposite edges ( 66 ) and over the profiled upright partitions ( 71 ) of the guiding element ( 59 ) from the adjoining corner piece part ( 33 ) to the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and whereby by a reverse movement the coupling element ( 30 ) is put back from the maximally protruding position in the fully retracted position. 
     
     
         14 . Improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the coupling element ( 30 ) is put from the maximally protruding position to the partially protruding position by first putting the coupling element ( 30 ) back in the fully retracted position and then moving the coupling element ( 30 ) laterally such that the legs ( 63 ) of the internal part ( 61 ) of the coupling element ( 30 ) are no longer aligned with the profiled upright partitions ( 71 ) of the guiding element ( 59 ) and by then moving the coupling element ( 30 ) from the adjoining corner piece part ( 33 ) to the first corner piece part ( 32 ) and whereby the coupling element ( 30 ) is put from the partially protruding position back in the maximally protruding position by a reverse movement. 
     
     
         15 . Container ( 3 ) comprising at least a bottom framework ( 6 ), a roof framework ( 7 ) and at least four corner posts ( 8 ), which corner posts ( 8 ) reach from the roof framework ( 7 ) to the bottom framework ( 6 ), and whereby each corner post ( 8 ) on one of its ends ( 9 ) is provided with a roof corner piece ( 10 ) that is part of the roof framework ( 7 ), and on the other end ( 11 ) with a bottom corner piece ( 12 ) that is part of the bottom framework ( 6 ), wherein the four roof corner pieces ( 10 ) that are part of the roof framework ( 7 ) are improved corner pieces ( 1 ) of a type according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         16 . Container ( 3 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the lateral bulges ( 40 ) on the coupling elements ( 30 ) of the roof corner pieces ( 10 ) on a first short end of the container ( 3 ) are both oriented in a first given direction and the lateral bulges ( 40 ) on the coupling elements ( 30 ) of the roof corner pieces ( 10 ) on the opposite short end of the container ( 3 ) are both oriented in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         17 . Container ( 3 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the four bottom corner pieces ( 12 ) are each provided with an opening to form a bottom framework ( 6 ) of the container ( 3 ) that on the level of the four bottom corner pieces ( 12 ) is complementary to the four coupling parts ( 31 ) of the four roof corner pieces ( 10 ) of the container ( 3 ), at least in so far they were put in the maximally protruding position, and in such a way that several such containers ( 3 ) of the same type can be stacked on top of one another in a fitting manner. 
     
     
         18 . Container ( 3 ) according to  claim 17 , wherein the four bottom corner pieces ( 12 ) are ISO-standardised corner pieces ( 13 ). 
     
     
         19 . Container ( 3 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling elements ( 30 ) of the roof corner pieces ( 10 ) in the maximally protruding position and the openings in the ISO-standardised bottom corner pieces ( 12 ) are aligned to each other, such that identical such containers ( 3 ) can be stacked on each other and can be coupled to each other and detached again by carrying out a combined movement with one of the containers ( 3 ) consisting of an up or down movement and a rotation movement, without any manual intervention. 
     
     
         20 . Grip mechanism ( 51 ) that can cooperate with an improved corner piece ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip mechanism ( 51 ) at least has:
 gripping means ( 53 ) which can be inserted via the grip opening ( 28 ) in the hollow body ( 4 ) of the improved corner piece ( 1 ) to grip the improved corner piece ( 1 ); and,   means ( 54 ) to move or activate the movement of the movable coupling element ( 30 ) to the maximally protruding position, the fully retracted position and as the case may be to one or several partially protruding positions.   
     
     
         21 . Gripping mechanism ( 51 ) according to  claim 20 , wherein the gripping means ( 53 ) comprise at least a hammerlock with a rotatable oval end that can be inserted in the grip opening ( 28 ). 
     
     
         22 . Gripper ( 52 ) to manipulate a container ( 3 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the gripper ( 52 ) is provided with four grip mechanisms ( 51 ), wherein each said grip mechanism comprises:
 gripping means ( 53 ) which can be inserted via the grip opening ( 28 ) in the hollow body ( 4 ) of the improved corner piece ( 1 ) to grip the improved corner piece ( 1 ); and,   means ( 54 ) to move or activate the movement of the movable coupling element ( 30 ) to the maximally protruding position, the fully retracted position and as the case may be to one or several partially protruding positions,   
       whereby each grip mechanism ( 51 ) can cooperate with a corresponding roof corner piece ( 10 ) of the container ( 3 ). 
     
     
         23 . Gripper ( 52 ) according to  claim 22 , wherein the gripper ( 52 ) is provided with eight grip mechanisms ( 51 ), wherein each said grip mechanism comprises:
 gripping means ( 53 ) which can be inserted via the grip opening ( 28 ) in the hollow body ( 4 ) of the improved corner piece ( 1 ) to grip the improved corner piece ( 1 ); and,   means ( 54 ) to move or activate the movement of the movable coupling element ( 30 ) to the maximally protruding position, the fully retracted position and as the case may be to one or several partially protruding positions,   
       wherein the grip mechanisms are set up such that with the gripper ( 52 ) two 20-foot containers ( 3 ) can be simultaneously manipulated, whereby each grip mechanism ( 51 ) can cooperate with a corresponding roof corner piece ( 10 ) of one of the containers ( 3 ), for example to move the coupling elements in question to a certain position and/or to simultaneously lift or move the containers. 
     
     
         24 . Gripper ( 52 ) according to  claim 22 , wherein the grip mechanisms ( 51 ) are provided on arms ( 58 ) of the gripper which have been provided slidable in the gripper ( 52 ) in order to be able to adapt the distances (J, K) between the grip mechanisms ( 51 ) as a function of the dimensions of the roof framework ( 7 ) of the container ( 3 ).