WO2016008900A1 - Apparatus for storing and/or transporting parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for storing and/or for transporting, in particular, flat parts, comprising a storage device (12), which has a floor (20) or floor sections (21, 22), and a dividing structure (30), through which individual compartments (32) lying alongside each other can be formed inside of the storage device (12). The floor (20) or floor sections (21,22) can be adjusted in height relative to the dividing structure (30). For this purpose, the dividing structure (30) has preferably delimiting elements (36) between individual compartments (32) of the storage device (12), wherein openings (38) are configured in the delimiting elements (36). A lifting device (60) is, for instance, provided for raising and/or lowering the floor (20), so that the parts between the delimiting elements are raised or lowered.

Description

 Device for storing and / or transporting parts

The invention relates to a device for storing and / or transporting in particular plate-shaped parts according to the preamble of claim 1.

For the storage of plate-shaped parts, in particular of sheet metal blanks or other flat punched or shaped parts, pallets with a plurality of juxtaposed compartments are known, in which the plate-shaped parts can be inserted. The plate-shaped parts may, in particular, be rectangular plates, for example with dimensions of 100 mm × 300 mm. Due to the plurality of compartments can be on a pallet a plurality of such smaller parts accurately positioned with low position tolerances in individual stacks next to each other safe transport. For further processing or, for example, for storage in a magazine, the parts are removed by means of a gripper system from the pallet or the individual compartments. Also conceivable are different part geometries as a set on a pallet.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for storing particular plate-shaped parts, with which the shortest possible cycle time when storing and / or retrieval of the parts can be achieved.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The device according to the invention comprises a bearing device with a bottom or bottom sections and a dividing structure, or dividing device, by means of which individual, adjacent compartments are formed within the bearing device. According to the invention it is provided that the floor or the floor sections is or are height-adjustable relative to the partition structure.

Due to the height adjustability of the floor or the floor sections and / or the partition structure, the insertion depth of the device or of the individual compartments can be flexibly varied. This makes it possible to guide the bottom of the device for removing the parts from the device upwards and / or the partition structure down, so that a removal unit, such as a gripper unit, not or at least less far into the depth of the compartments or shafts retract , Thus, the parts can be placed or picked up, for example, on, above or near the upper edge of the partition structure, which allows a significant reduction in the cycle time when inserting or removing the parts. When placing the parts in the compartments, a stack of parts or individual parts may be deposited on, over or near the top of the device (on the raised floor and / or on the floor at the top of the descending divider structure) and the floor then lowered (or the division structure are raised), so that the parts are retracted into the compartments. The removal can be carried out in batches or in individual parts. The partition structure may form a guide for guiding the items during insertion and / or removal. In particular, it can ensure a positionally accurate storage of the parts in the storage device or cassette.

A basic idea of the invention can thus be seen in providing a height-adjustable floor or partition structure in a particularly box-like device or a container with an inner compartment division, by means of which the insertion depth of the individual compartments, in particular accessible from above, varies leaves. The storage device can in particular Also referred to as storage containers, storage containers, compartment containers or cassette part.

In a preferred embodiment, the bottom has at least one slot or opening through which the dividing structure or dividing device protrudes. Through the slot or breakthrough in the bottom, the arrangement and shape of which suitably corresponds to the cross section of the dividing structure, a decoupling of the bottom from the dividing structure is achieved so that the bottom or the bottom sections and / or the dividing structure are moved independently of one another can.

Preferably, the dividing structure, or compartmentalization, comprises boundary elements between individual compartments of the storage facility. The boundary elements can in principle be designed arbitrarily and, for example, webs, pins, walls and / or the like. It is preferred that openings or openings are formed in the boundary elements. These make it possible to provide a continuous, or one-piece, floor, which extends over several or all compartments. The floor extends through an opening from a first compartment to a second compartment. In addition, the openings in the limiting elements optionally allow a lateral engagement in the individual compartments, for example in the case of a failure of the removal device or a tilting of a part or sheet in one of the compartments. According to one embodiment, it is provided that the liftable bottom or the lowerable dividing structure extends over individual, several or all compartments of the storage device and thus the bottom sections of the individual compartments or the corresponding sections of the dividing structure are raised or lowered individually, in groups or together , According to a variant, the bottom sections of the individual compartments (or the corresponding sections of the partitioning structure) are formed by a single, common floor or the floor or partitioning structure extending over the individual compartments is designed in one piece. In a further embodiment, the floor has at least two floor sections, which are independently adjustable in height. This allows a greater flexibility, but possibly also a more complex lifting device for raising and / or lowering the floor or the floor sections or the partition structure.

Furthermore, it is possible for the bearing device to have outer boundary walls in which, if appropriate, openings or openings are formed. For example, the outer boundary walls can be designed as individual webs. The openings in the peripheral walls allow lateral intervention in the subjects, for example in case of failure of the removal device, as well as a visual control of storage and / or removal of the individual parts. In order to simplify the description of the invention, a movable floor or floor sections will be described below, which also always refers to the embodiments of the movable partition structure or parts thereof which can be moved relative to the floor. According to a further variant of the invention, one is - in particular motorized - lifting device for raising and / or lowering of the soil or the dividing structure or of parts of this (soil / Teilungsstruktrur) provided. The lifting device may have at least one vertically extending lifting element, for example a lifting ram and / or a lifting spindle for lifting and / or lowering the bottom or the bottom section. Preferably, the lifting device is designed as a device separate from the bearing device, which can be set up optionally below or on the bearing device and removed from the bearing device. In this case, a lifting device can also be used for the selective actuation of a plurality of bearing devices by arranging these in succession or simultaneously under or at a plurality of bearing devices. Preferably, the at least one lifting element of the lifting device on a coupling surface, which is movable from below against the ground or laterally to the bottom or the bottom portions. The Hubele- ment can preferably be additionally moved in a lateral direction relative to the storage device or removed from the storage device. For this purpose, for example, a rail system may be present. According to a variant of the invention, the lifting device is movable and can be moved from one storage facility to the next, eg. an automatically movable forklift, so that the lifting device can engage in the ground or the floor sections by means of coupling surfaces or elements and can move it up or down within the partition structure. For this purpose, the floor can be connected, for example, to a coupling frame, which protrudes outwardly beyond the contours of the dividing structure and can thereby be coupled to the lifting device.

According to a further aspect, the lifting device can have at least one horizontally and / or vertically movable lifting element in order to selectively lift different floor sections. In this way, the bottom sections can be operated separately, without each having its own lifting device is required. Here too, individual floor sections can be controlled via one or more coupling frames (that is to say a type of frame transmission) with one and the same lifting element, so that the lifting element always moves only the floor section or sections which are currently required via the frame structure or transmission.

The lifting device, which can be hydraulically and / or electrically operated, for example, permits movement of the floor independently of the loading of the storage device. To ensure a uniform lifting movement of the soil and prevention of tilting several lifting elements can be provided, which engage at different positions of the soil. For a variable adaptation of the insertion depth, it is preferred that the base is infinitely height-adjustable or liftable and / or lowerable.

The bearing device can be used particularly flexibly if it has a fixed floor element, in particular below the lifting floor, which forms a base surface for placement on a contact surface, and the bottom element has at least one opening for the passage of at least one lifting element for lifting the bottom. Preferably, the dividing structure or the floor (if the dividing structure is moved) is attached to the fixed floor element, which can be designed as a floor plate or grid-like floor element. The bottom member configured with one or more openings allows the use of an external lifting system with at least one lifting element that can reach through the opening of the floor element to move the lifting floor. The storage device can be arranged above or next to the separate lifting device and lifted or removed from this if necessary.

For increased stability and / or for transporting the storage device, a, in particular separate, base or transport frame may be present. The caddy serves to accommodate, or support, the storage device and for transporting this and can be detachably connected to the bearing device. Also, the basic or transport frame by conventional pallet truck or the like. In or out of a warehouse or the like. Be spent. The base frame may be designed, for example, box-shaped and have a bottom frame and side walls. Preferably, the running as a separate element bearing device can be placed on the base frame and / or insert into this. The bottom frame of the base frame may have a footprint for the bearing device.

In the bottom frame holes may be formed for the passage of one or more lifting elements. The particular grid-like base frame may include feet. Below the floor frame, a receiving space for arranging a lifting device for raising and / or lowering of the floor may be formed. The base frame can also be referred to as a transport box or base pallet. To transport the device, it is preferred that the base or transport frame has at least one lateral engagement region for engagement of a lifting part of a lifting transport device, for example a forklift truck. This makes it possible to transport the bearing device mounted in and / or on the base frame.

The invention generally also relates to a method for storing plate-shaped parts in particular in a storage device, which has a dividing structure by which individual, adjacent compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the parts are placed on a floor of the storage facility and then the ground and moves the division structure relative to each other, ie e.g. lowered or raised. Furthermore, the invention basically also relates to a method of extracting, in particular, plate-shaped parts from a storage device having a dividing structure, by which individual, adjacent compartments are formed within the storage device, the bottom relative to the dividing structure e.g. is lifted and then the parts are lifted from the bottom of the storage facility.

The invention will be further described by means of exemplary embodiments, which are shown schematically in the accompanying figures. In the figures shows:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a storage device of a device according to the invention;

 Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a storage device of a device according to the invention and

Fig. 3 is a base frame of a device according to the invention.

The invention relates in a first aspect to a bearing device 12 of a device 10 for storing individual parts, in particular plate-shaped Parts like stamped parts. A first embodiment of a bearing device is shown in FIG. The storage device 12 comprises a base 20 for placing the parts and a dividing structure 30, which the interior of the storage device 12 in juxtaposed, from the top stockable compartments 32 or

Shafts divided. For this purpose, inner boundary elements 36 are provided, which are designed in the illustrated embodiment as webs or wall elements. The particular cuboid compartments 32 are open at the top and are bounded below by the bottom 20. In addition, the bearing device 12 comprises an outer delimiting structure formed by outer boundary walls 42 (side walls). Below the bottom 20 of the compartments 32, a lower bottom element 14 or base element is arranged, which may be provided for placement on a substrate. The bottom element 14 comprises at least one opening 16, through which the bottom 20 can be contacted from below, and can also be referred to as a bottom plate, perforated plate or base plate. Preferably, a plurality of openings 16 are arranged distributed in the bottom element 14.

The storage device 12, which can also be referred to as a cassette part, is set up to receive flat parts or molded parts at a short distance from the boundary elements 36 (cassette walls). For faster removal and / or for easier storage of the bottom 20 is vertically adjustable within a frame structure formed by the limiting elements 36 and / or boundary walls 42 of the bearing device 12, as indicated by an arrow 2 in FIG. 1. The bottom 20 may be adjusted between a lower position in which it is approximately flush with a lower end of the bearing device 12 and an upper position substantially at an upper edge of the bearing device 12. Fig. 1 shows in the bottom 20 in a partially raised position. For adjustment, a lifting device 60 can be used (FIG. 3), which can optionally be arranged below or next to the bearing device 12. The lifting device may have at least one lifting element 62, which can contact the lifting floor 20 from below or laterally through one of the openings 16 in the stationary floor element 14. In the bottom 20 slots 24 are formed, whose shape is preferred to the Base surface of the limiting elements 36 of the lattice-shaped partition structure 30 is adjusted. The movable floor 20 preferably has a gap to the walls of the bearing means 12 which depends on the precision of the

Hubsystem is executed.

Of course, the above applies also to the reverse case, i. that the limiting elements 36 and / or boundary walls 42 height-adjustable on or between the bottom (20) and bottom portions (21, 22, see FIG. 2) are arranged.

The partition structure 30 has at its upper end a grid-shaped frame 34, which increases the stability but is optional. The limiting elements 36 and the outer boundary walls 42 are formed by individual webs or wall elements which extend between an underside of the bearing device 12 and the frame 34. In the boundary elements 36 of the lattice-shaped partition structure 30 openings 38 between individual compartments 32 are formed. The openings 38 extend substantially over the entire, maximum insertion depth of the compartments 32 or along the entire adjustment of the bottom 20. The outer boundary walls 42 are also provided with openings 44, so that from the outside in each compartment 32 can be intervened laterally , The bottom element 14, the outer boundary walls 42 and the partition structure 30 form a fixed, preferably latticed body. The storage device 12 may be made essentially of wood. The frame 34 may be made of metal.

The existing in the limiting elements 36 openings or openings 38 have essentially two functions. On the one hand, they enable a contiguous lifting plate, or a contiguous base 20, so that the base 20 can be moved with one or only a few punches or lifting elements 62 of an external lifting device 60. On the other hand, the feeding and / or removal of the parts, for example in case of failure of the lifting system, easily done by hand, since each compartment 32 is accessible from all sides. FIG. 2 shows a further bearing device with a bottom 20, which comprises a plurality of separately height-adjustable bottom sections 21, 22. The bottom sections 21, 22 can each form the bottom area of one or more individual compartments 32. It is thus, if necessary, depending on the size of the parts to be stacked, for each row of stacks or a group of rows of stacks a separate bottom plate available. This makes it possible to lower or lift only one row of stacks or a group of rows of stacks in the container. The number of bottom sections 21, 22 to be moved separately may correspond to the number of compartments 32, so that each compartment 32 can be individually loaded or unloaded. Otherwise, the embodiment of FIG. 2 corresponds to that of FIG. 1.

The number of punches or lifting elements 62 is advantageously adapted to the number of lifting bottoms or bottom sections 21, 22 such that tilting is avoided. For this purpose, a coupling frame can also be used (also for the first embodiment according to FIG. 1) which connects individual or a plurality of bottom sections 21, 22 to the lifting device 60. In a preferred embodiment, the lifting device 60 may have at least one horizontally and / or vertically movable lifting element 62 in order to selectively lift different bottom sections 21, 22. The lifting element 62 may in this case be mounted, for example, on a rail system. In this way, the bottom portions 21, 22 can be operated separately, without each having its own lifting device 60 is required.

The bearing device 12 forms an insert for insertion into a base frame 50, which is shown in Fig. 3. The bearing device 12 preferably forms an independent unit which can be detachably mounted on a base frame 50, so that it can be replaced separately in the event of damage.

The base frame 50 comprises an open bottom and closed side walls 58. The open bottom is characterized by a particular lattice-like bottom frame. men 52, which has a plurality of webs 53, on which the bearing device 12 can be placed. Between the webs 53 of the bottom frame 52 holes 54 are formed, through which a only schematically indicated lever member 62 of a lifting device 60 can reach through from below to contact the bottom 20 of the bearing device 12. In a lower side region of the base or transport frame 50, at least one engagement region 56 is formed for a fork of a forklift.

In order to avoid damage to the cassette-shaped bearing device 12, the base frame 50 can be made slightly larger in area (clearance between side walls 58 of the base frame 50 and outer boundary walls 42 of the bearing device 12) and be equipped with a supernatant in height. The preferably closed side walls 58 of the base frame 50 additionally reinforce the protective function.

The base frame 50 is preferably designed to be stackable. By the base frame 50 can be ensured that during transport of the device 10 no or hardly external forces acting on the cassette part or the bearing device 12.

List of numbers arrow

contraption

Storage facility

floor element

opening

ground

bottom section

bottom section

slot

graduation structure

subject

frame

limiting element

opening

outer boundary wall

opening

base frame

bottom frame

web

hole

engagement area

Side wall

lifting device

lifting

Claims

 claims Device for supporting in particular plate-shaped parts, comprising a bearing device (12) with a bottom (20) or bottom portions (21, 22) and a partition structure (30), formed by which individual, adjacent compartments (32) within the storage device (12) become,  characterized,  the floor (20) or the floor sections (21, 22) is or are adjustable in height relative to the partitioning structure (30). Device according to claim 1,  characterized,  in that the base (20) has at least one slot (24) through which the dividing structure (30) protrudes. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,  characterized,  the partitioning structure (30) has boundary elements (36) between individual compartments (32) of the bearing device (12), and  in that openings (38) are formed in the delimiting elements (36). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 - 3,  characterized,  the floor (20) has at least two floor sections (21, 22) which are independently adjustable in height. Device according to one of claims 1 - 4,  characterized, in that the bearing device (12) has outer boundary walls (42) in which openings (44) are formed. Device according to one of claims 1 - 5,  characterized,  a lifting device (60) is provided for raising and / or lowering the bottom (20). Device according to one of claims 1 - 6,  characterized,  that the bearing device (12) has a fixed bottom element (14), which forms a base surface for placement on a contact surface, and  the floor element (14) has at least one opening (16) for reaching through a lifting element (62) for lifting the floor (20). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 - 7,  characterized,  a base frame (50) for receiving the bearing device (12) is present. Device according to one of claims 1 - 8,  characterized,  the base frame (50) is box-shaped with a bottom frame (52) side walls (58). 10. Device according to one of claims 1 - 9,  characterized,  in that the base frame (50) has at least one lateral engagement region (56) for engagement of a lifting part of a lifting transport device.