MARK ELEMENT FOR MARKING WOOD PALLETS

The present invention concerns, generally, the traceability of objects out of wooden and, more particularly, the identification of the handling pallets out of wood, this invention being applicable in the fields of logistics and control.

The traditional means of identification of the objects out of wooden, such as for example marking with iron or painting, already strongly evolved to more technical solutions, getting a true traceability of these objects and, in particular, handling pallets out of wood. These solutions currently tighten worms of the identification plates which are inserted in the feet or the studs of the pallets.

Thus, the French patents FR 2.895.549, FR 2.902.222 and FR 2.913.134 describe already specific identification plates which are fixed in the feet or studs of the handling pallets. Other documents, such as the French patents FR 2.673.026, FR 2.718.554 and FR 2.810.436, describe similar solutions applicable to the identification of other objects out of wooden, such as barks.

Generally, the identification plates described in these documents include/understand a higher face appreciably plane, designed to take seat outside the object out of wooden to be identified, against the surface of this object, and at least a mounting foot which extends perpendicular to the higher face and which is designed to be inserted in a housing corresponding, dug in the object out of wooden, for example in a foot or stud of handling pallet out of wood.

As show it the documents above mentioned, the identification plates known in this field, and in particular those used for the identification of the handling pallets out of wood, comprise already detectable means remotely, indicated like electronic label, electronic chip, transponder or “RFID” (Radio operator Frequency Identification) which are able to memorize and transmit information of identification of the object out of associated wooden, to carry out a traceability of high efficiency. Such means of identification can be placed on the plane higher face of the identification plate; however benefitting from the miniaturization of these means, it was already proposed to place them inside a mounting foot of the plate, the foot mounting in this case being realized hollow to receive the means of identification such as “RFID” - to see the patents FR 2.902.222 and FR 2.913.134 above mentioned. As it easily is conceived, the housing of the means of identification in the mounting foot, which itself takes seat in a cavity of the object out of wooden to be identified, in particular a cavity dug in a foot or stud of pallet, ensures already a certain mechanical protection of the known as means of identification by putting it at the shelter shocks and predations of any nature, including those of fraudulent nature, and this for all the lifespan of the pallet.

However, the above mentioned patents do not solve the problem of the protection of the means of identification against moisture and in particular against water. This is explained by the fact why the aforementioned means of identification are generally manufactured in a mass production, for the needs for many industries and marketing activities which correspond to applications in a medium not presenting a significant risk of deterioration. For example, they are adhesive electronic labels, posed on packing out of paperboard containing of the products of various nature intended for the great consumption, and in general consumed within a relatively short time. Such is not the case of the electronic chips or “RFID” integrated in the identification plates of the handling pallets, which chips must be protected not only from the shocks and the blows, but also with respect to various exposures such as water and ambient moisture, in order to guarantee the elevated level of necessary traceability in the medium and long term.

One knows certainly identification plates which integrate means of identification per radio frequency of the type says “GLASSTAG”, in which the components which are the electronic chip and its antenna are placed in a capsule out of glass, therefore tight. The capsule out of glass preserves nevertheless a considerable risk of break, in the cases of shocks violent one on the pallets, caused for example by the forks of the machines of handling used with these pallets.

The means of identification at ultra-high frequency (RFID UHF) are, by the nature of their frequencies which are close to that of water, very sensitive to the presence of water and thus do not function near water or of elements charged with water. This sensitivity to water is strongly worsened for handling pallets called to be used over one duration of several years, during which they soak with moisture.

In the case of the use of more ordinary means of identification, such as the currently current adhesive electronic labels, these last are exposed and can be returned except service if they are not protected from water and ambient moisture, inevitably present on the usual spot of use or storage of the handling pallets which are the parks of the companies, the holds of the ships, the vehicles such as trucks and coaches of railroad, and more generally all means of transport.

Thus, whatever the type of means of identification used on an identification plate of the kind here concerned, the problem of the protection of these means of identification against water and moisture, in combination with the shock protection, remain currently posed.

The present invention aims at curing the disadvantages previously exposed of the current identification plates with means of identification per radio frequency, by providing a solution which guarantees the sealing of the compartment of these plates receiving the aforementioned means.

For this purpose, the invention has as an aim an identification plate for handling pallets out of wood, the identification plate including/understanding an appreciably plane higher face, and at least a mounting foot which extends perpendicular to the higher face and which is provided to be inserted in a housing corresponding, dug in a foot or stud of a pallet out of wooden, the mounting foot having an internal compartment in which is placed at least a detectable means of identification remotely, in particular by radio frequency and more particularly by ultra high frequency, this identification plate being primarily characterized by the fact that the mounting foot, of tubular conformation, is closed with its end opposed to the higher face of the plate by a comprising obturator, parallel to directed its axis and preferably containing this axis, a wall appreciably punt extending inside the above mentioned compartment and supporting the detectable means of identification remotely, the installation of the returning obturator seals the internal compartment of the mounting foot.

In an embodiment preferred of the identification plate object of the invention, the sealing of the internal compartment of the mounting foot is obtained by tightening of a peripheral zone of the obturator against the interior wall of the mounting foot, and this sealing is reinforced by a peripheral annular joint of the obturator, put in compression at the time of the installation of the obturator.

Advantageously, the obturator including/understanding the seal is produced in only one part by a process of moulding per injection of the type “Bi-matter”, the body of the obturator being realized in a first synthetic matter while the joint is produced in one second synthetic matter, less rigid than the first, to obtain an adequate compression of this joint in order to ensure the required sealing.

Thus, the invention proposes, for the identification plate, a structure which, while remaining simple and economic, returns seals the internal compartment of this identification plate which receives the means of identification per radio frequency. In particular, the obturator advantageously equipped with a joint makes this compartment inaccessible to water, like with all other foreign bodies. Moreover, the aforementioned obturator is used for the support of the aforesaid means of identification, via its wall extending along the axis from the obturator, therefore also along the central axis of the mounting foot.

Thus, the means of identification are maintained on the obturator in a central position remotely of the interior wall of the foot mounting, so that these means do not risk any deterioration in consequence of a shock which would be transmitted to them by the wall of the identification plate, or a contact and friction against this wall at the time of the depression of the obturator. In the same way, the seal plays also a part of shock absorber which contributes mechanically to protect the means of identification against the destroying effects of the shocks and the vibrations.

In the simplest design, the above mentioned wall of the obturator carries a single means of identification, on only one of its two faces. However, this wall of the obturator can also carry means of identification on its two faces. Thus, the aforementioned wall can relate, respectively to its two faces, two electronic labels granted on frequencies distinct, which makes it possible to identify on the one hand the pallet itself, and on the other hand the loading or contents from this pallet, by thus getting a “double traceability”.

Insofar as the mounting foot of the identification plate has a section of circular or oval or oblong form, the central position of the wall of the obturator carrying the means of identification still spares, in the internal compartment of the mounting foot, an empty space which can receive the additional of traceability or control other than means of identification and useful methods in certain applications.

It acts, for example, of inspecting devices of times and temperature which are used for control of the good application of standards of drying of wood. Of course, the localization of these methods of traceability or control inside the compartment of the mounting foot, sealed in a tight way, also makes it possible to maintain these means additional in a tight zone, like the means of identification themselves, this in accordance with the original intention of this invention.

The localization of the means of identification, and if necessary of the additional methods of traceability and control, in a closed compartment, also has the advantage of protecting these means against the flights, the frauds and other actions badly disposed. This protection anti-fraud can still be reinforced by a ruptible zone, such as a zone reduced thickness, envisaged between the higher face of and the mounting foot identification plate of the same plate.

Thus, an attempt at extraction of the identification plate will show the wrenching of the only higher face, leaving places the mounting foot from there with the means of identification, therefore by a failure of the attempt at fraud which, in addition, will leave visible this attempt at fraud.

The invention will be included/understood better using the description which follows, in reference to the diagrammatic drawing annexed representative, as example, the shape of execution of this identification plate for handling pallets out of wood.

• Figure 1 is a partial sight, in prospect, of a handling pallet equipped with an identification plate in conformity with the present invention,
• Figure 2 represents, with more large scales, a stud of the pallet of figure 1 provided with the identification plate,
• Figure 3 is a general sight, in prospect, identification plate alone,
• Figure 4 is a simplified cross-section of this identification plate assembled on a stud of pallet,
• Figure 5 is in a cross-section passing by the central axis of the identification plate,
• Figure 6 is an increased detail of figure 5,
• Figure 7 is another cross-section passing by the central axis of the identification plate, this cut being made according to a plan perpendicular to that of figure 5,
• Figure 8 represents the obturator of the identification plate of the preceding figures, with the means of identification, before its introduction into the mounting foot.

Figures 1 and 2 point out the usual structure of a handling pallet out of wood, which comprises intersected higher slats 2 and lower slats 3, connected between them by studs 4 out of wood of cubic or parallelepipedic form. A stud 4, or two diagonally opposed studs of this pallet, comprises on a side face an identification plate 5, which has a higher face 6 apparent.

As shown in the figure 3, the identification plate 5 includes/understands, generally, the higher face 6 appreciably plane and here of circular form, and a mounting foot 7 which extends under the higher face 6, perpendicular to this higher face 6. While referring on figure 4, the higher face 6 of the identification plate 5 takes seat in a facing 8 of stud 4, while the foot mounting 7 of this identification plate 5 is introduced into a housing 9 correspondent, dug in stud 4. Longitudinal veins, formed on the outside of the mounting foot 7, ensure its guidance and its positioning in housing 9 of stud 4. The higher face of the identification plate 5 comprises visible markings 10 in relief or hollows, which can be surrounded by a rectangular framework 11. The central zone of the higher face 6 comprises also reinforcements of protection 12, height higher than that of markings 10, which avoid damaging these markings 10 when the identification plate 5 is struck using a tool for the depression of the mounting foot 7 in housing 9.

The peripheral zone of the higher face 6 is connected to the central zone of this face 6 by a zone reduced thickness 13 resulting from a groove in “V” (see figure 5 and especially figure 6). The zone reduced thickness 13 allows a rupture of the higher face 6 and its detachment of the mounting foot 7, making thus visible a fraud or attempt at fraud by a handling of extraction out of stud 4 of the pallet.

The mounting foot 7 has a tubular hollow conformation, here of oval section, the wall of this mounting foot 7 thus delimiting a compartment interns 14. At its adjacent end with the higher face 6 of plate 5, the compartment 14 is closed in a tight way by the central zone of the higher face 6. At its end distant from this higher face 6, the compartment 14 of the mounting foot 7 is closed by the installation of an obturator 15, represented only on figure 8.

Obturator 15 has a principal body 16, whose contour corresponds to the oval section of the mounting foot 7. The principal body 16 of obturator 15 is prolonged by a wall punt 17, of rectangular general form, which is in a median plane containing the central axis has obturator 15. On a face of the wall punt 17 is fixed a means of identification 18 adhesive, detectable remotely by radio frequency, here preferentially of type “RFID UHF”.

Obturator 15 is introduced into the lower end, initially opened, of the mounting foot 7, and it is maintained by a light tightening against the interior wall of this mounting foot 7, so as to close the compartment 14, while making it inaccessible to water and to all other agents or foreign bodies. In this manner, as figures 5 and 7 show it, the means of identification 18 supported by wall 17 is locked up in the compartment interns 14 of the mounting foot 7, while remaining maintained remotely wall interior of this mounting foot 7. More particularly, taking into account the oval section of the mounting foot 7, wall 17 and the means of identification 18 are directed along the main roads of this oval section.

The light tightening of the peripheral zone of obturator 15 against the interior wall of the mounting foot 7 gets already a continuous sealing, protecting from water and moisture the compartment 14 and the elements placed inside this compartment 14. The sealing is reinforced by a continuous 19, semi-flexible peripheral joint, laid out in the peripheral zone of body 16 of obturator 15, under the higher shoulder of this body 16. Once obturator 15 installed in the mounting foot 7, joint 19 is compressed, which makes the sealing permanent and durable, making the compartment 14 definitively inaccessible to water and all agents and foreign bodies.

Body 16 of obturator 15, with the wall 17, and the seal 19, is carried out in only one cast solid part, by a process of moulding per injection of the type “Bi-matter”. Body 16 of obturator 15 is thus carried out in a first relatively rigid synthetic matter, for example out of polypropylene. Joint 19 is produced in another synthetic matter more flexible than that of body 16, for example out of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), to have necessary qualities of compressibility ensuring the sealing of the obturation of the compartment 14.

The central position of wall 17 and the means of identification 18, inside the compartment 14, household in this compartment a 14 residual empty space 20 which extends on both sides from wall 17. This space empties 20 can be made profitable to place, also in tight zone, of the auxiliary attachments 21 of traceability or control. It acts, for example, of a matter whose consistency is modified in the event of exposure to a certain temperature during a certain time, this for the control of the application of the standards of wood seasoning, such as international standard NIMP 15 of plant health protection of the borders by attacks of insects which can cause deforestations.

One will note that in the event of wrenching of the peripheral zone of the higher face 6 of the identification plate 5, and position of the zone reduced thickness 13, the compartment interns 14 of the mounting foot 7 remains closed in its upper part, which guarantees to it not accessibility and the sealing of the compartment 14 and the elements placed in this one, in particular the means of identification 18 and the possible auxiliary attachments 21 of traceability or control.

The structure of the identification plate 5 allows an industrial production automated of this one, to answer at the request of traceability of the handling pallets out of wood.

One S " would not move away from the framework of the invention, such as defined in the annexed claims:

• by modifying the shapes of detail of the identification plate, for example the section of its mounting foot,
• by producing the obturator in all adapted matters, and by very proceeded suitable,
• by replacing the zone reduced thickness of the higher face by any other local weakening, resulting for example from ruptibles bridges of matter or an intermediate zone in a different matter,
• while envisaging, according to the application of this identification plate, of the auxiliary attachments of traceability or control of any nature, possibly placed on the two faces of the median wall,
• by applying the same identification plate to other fields in which the sealing is necessary to protect from the detectable means of identification remotely.