U.S. patent application number 15/326727 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-21 for apparatus for storing and/or transporting parts.
The applicant listed for this patent is alpha-tec Krimpmann GmbH, FAIST ChemTec GmbH. Invention is credited to Hans-Peter Brodhacker, Ernst Hotz, Manfred Krimpmann, Arnd Ludke.
Application Number | 20170267402 15/326727 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53776563 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170267402 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brodhacker; Hans-Peter ; et
al. |
September 21, 2017 |
Apparatus for Storing and/or Transporting Parts
Abstract
An apparatus for storing and/or for transporting, in particular,
flat parts, including a storage device, which has a floor or floor
sections, and a dividing structure, through which individual
compartments lying alongside each other can be formed inside of the
storage device where the floor or floor sections can be adjusted in
height relative to the dividing structure and, for this purpose,
the dividing structure has preferably delimiting elements between
individual compartments of the storage device, where openings are
configured in the delimiting elements and a lifting device is, for
instance, provided for raising and/or lowering the floor, so that
the parts between the delimiting elements are raised or
lowered.
Inventors: |
Brodhacker; Hans-Peter;
(Worms, DE) ; Hotz; Ernst; (Schonau, DE) ;
Ludke; Arnd; (Frankenthal, DE) ; Krimpmann;
Manfred; (Zell u.A., DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FAIST ChemTec GmbH
alpha-tec Krimpmann GmbH |
Worms
Zell u.A. |
|
DE
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
53776563 |
Appl. No.: |
15/326727 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
July 15, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/066100 |
371 Date: |
June 9, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00815
20130101; B65D 83/0005 20130101; B65D 2519/00273 20130101; B65D
2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00333 20130101; B65D 19/06 20130101;
B65D 2519/00626 20130101; B65D 2519/00701 20130101; B65D 2519/00293
20130101; B65D 2519/00323 20130101; B65D 25/04 20130101; B65D 19/44
20130101; B65D 2519/00666 20130101; B65D 2519/00805 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/44 20060101
B65D019/44; B65D 25/04 20060101 B65D025/04; B65D 19/06 20060101
B65D019/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 15, 2014 |
DE |
202014103246.0 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for storing flat parts, comprising a storage device
with a floor or floor sections and a partitioning structure by
means of which individual juxtaposed compartments are formed within
the storage device, wherein the floor or the floor sections is or
are adjustable in height relative to the partitioning
structure.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor has at
least one slot through which the partitioning structure
protrudes.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partitioning
structure has delimiting elements between individual compartments
of the storage device, and openings are formed in the delimiting
elements.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the floor has at
least two floor sections which are adjustable in height
independently of each other.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage device
has outer delimiting walls in which openings are formed.
6. The apparatus as claimed claim 1, wherein a lifting device is
provided in order to raise and/or lower the floor.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage device
has a fixed floor element which forms a base for placement on a
support surface, and the floor element has at least one opening to
allow a lifting element to gain access in order to raise the
floor.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a base rack is
provided in order to accommodate the storage device.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base rack is in
the shape of a box with a floor frame and side walls.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base rack has
at least one lateral access region in order to allow a lifting part
of a lifting transport device to gain access.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for storing and/or
transporting flat parts in particular.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In order to store flat parts, in particular cut sheet metal
or other flat stamped or molded parts, pallets with a plurality of
juxtaposed compartments are known, into which the flat parts can be
loaded. The flat parts may in particular be rectangular plates, for
example with dimensions of 100 mm.times.300 mm. The plurality of
compartments means that many small parts of this type can be
juxtaposed and stored in exact positions on a pallet with small
positional tolerances in individual stacks which are safe to
transport. For further processing or, for example, for storage in a
store room, the parts are removed from the pallet or the individual
compartments by means of a gripper system. It is also possible to
envisage different geometries of the parts forming a set on a
single pallet.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0003] The disclosure provides an apparatus for storing flat parts
in particular with which as short a cycle time as possible for
loading and/or unloading the parts can be obtained.
[0004] The apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a
storage device with a floor or floor sections and a partitioning
structure or partitioning device by means of which individual
juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device. In
accordance with the invention, the floor or the floor sections is
or are adjustable in height relative to the partitioning
structure.
[0005] Because the floor or the floor sections and/or the
partitioning structure is/are adjustable in height, the loading
depth of the apparatus or the individual compartments can be varied
in a flexible manner. This means that, in order to remove the
parts, the floor of the apparatus can be moved upwards and/or the
partitioning structure can be moved downwards so that a picking
unit, for example a gripper unit, does not have to be moved into or
in any case does not have to be moved as far into the depth of the
compartments or pockets. In this manner, the parts can be dropped
or picked up from further up, for example at or near the upper edge
of the partitioning structure, which allows the cycle time when
loading or picking the parts to be substantially reduced. When
loading the parts into the compartments, a batch of parts or
individual parts can be put down on, over or near the upper edge of
the apparatus (onto the floor which has been moved upwards and/or
on the floor at the upper edge of the partitioning structure which
has been moved downwards) and the floor can then be lowered (or the
partitioning structure can be raised) so that the parts are moved
into the compartments. Picking can correspondingly be carried out
in batches or individually. The partitioning structure may form a
guide device to guide the individual parts during loading and/or
picking. In particular, it can provide a positionally accurate
repository for the parts in the storage device or cassette.
[0006] Thus, it can be seen that the underlying principle of the
invention, in particular with a box-like device or a container
partitioned into interior compartments, is to provide a floor or
partitioning structure which is adjustable in height, by means of
which the loading depth of the individual compartments, which in
particular are accessible from the top, can be varied. In
particular, the storage device may also be described as a storage
vessel, storage container, compartment vessel or cassette part.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the floor has at least one slot
or an aperture through which the partitioning structure or the
partitioning device protrudes. By means of the slot or aperture in
the floor, the disposition and form of which appropriately
corresponds to the cross-section of the partitioning structure, the
floor is decoupled from the partitioning structure so that the
floor or the floor sections and/or the partitioning structure can
be moved independently of each other.
[0008] Preferably, the partitioning structure or compartment
partitioning comprises delimiting elements between individual
compartments of the storage device. The delimiting elements may in
principle be configured in any manner and, for example, have webs,
pins, walls and/or the like. In this regard, preferably, openings
or apertures are formed in the delimiting elements. This means that
a continuous or unitary floor may be provided which extends over
several or even all of the compartments. The floor therefore
extends through an opening from a first compartment to a second
compartment. In addition, if necessary, the openings in the
delimiting elements allow for access from the side into the
individual compartments, for example in the case of failure of the
picking apparatus or tilting of a part or sheet in one of the
compartments.
[0009] In accordance with one embodiment, the floor which can be
raised or the partitioning structure which can be lowered extends
over individual, over several or over all of the compartments of
the storage device, and thus the floor sections of the individual
compartments or the corresponding sections of the partitioning
structure can be raised or lowered individually, in groups or all
together. In accordance with a variation, the floor sections of the
individual compartments (or the corresponding sections of the
partitioning structure) are formed by a single common floor, or the
floor extending over the individual compartments or the
partitioning structure is formed as one piece.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the floor has at least two floor
sections which are independently adjustable in height. This
provides greater flexibility, but if necessary a more complex
lifting device to raise and/or lower the floor or the floor section
or the partitioning structure.
[0011] It is also possible for the storage device to have outer
delimiting walls in which openings or apertures are formed. As an
example, the outer delimiting walls may be configured as individual
webs. The openings in the peripheral walls allow for access into
the compartments from the side, for example in the event of failure
of the picking apparatus, and also for a visual check of loading
and/or picking of the individual parts.
[0012] For the purposes of simplification in describing the
invention, a movable floor or floor section will be described
below, but in doing so, embodiments with movable partitioning
structures or parts thereof which can be moved relative to the
floor are also encompassed therein.
[0013] In accordance with a further variation of the invention, a
lifting device--particularly motorized--is provided to raise and/or
lower the floor or the partitioning structure or parts thereof
(floor/partitioning structure). The lifting device may have at
least one vertically extending lifting element, for example a
lifting jack and/or a lifting spindle, to raise and/or lower the
floor or the floor section. Preferably, the lifting device is
configured as a device which is separate from the storage device
and which can optionally be installed under or on the storage
device and can be removed from the storage device. In this manner,
a lifting device may also be used for selectively actuating a
plurality of storage devices if they are disposed adjacent to each
other or under or on several storage devices at the same time.
Preferably, the at least one lifting element of the lifting device
has a coupling surface which can be moved from below against the
floor or laterally onto the floor or the floor sections. The
lifting element may preferably in addition be moved in a lateral
direction relative to the storage device or may be removed from the
storage device. As an example, a track system may be used for this
purpose.
[0014] In accordance with a variation of the invention, the lifting
device is mobile and can be taken from one storage device to the
next, for example an automatically controlled forklift, so that the
lifting device can gain access to the floor or the floor sections
with the aid of coupling surfaces or coupling elements and can
drive it upwards or downwards within the partitioning structure.
For this purpose, for example, the floor may be connected to a
coupling frame, for example, which protrudes outwards beyond the
periphery of the partitioning structure and can therefore be
coupled with the lifting device.
[0015] In a further aspect, the lifting device may have at least
one horizontally and/or vertically displaceable lifting element in
order to be able to select different floor sections to be lifted.
In this manner, the floor sections can be separately actuated
without requiring a dedicated lifting device. Here again,
individual floor sections can be controlled via one or more
coupling frames (i.e. a kind of frame transmission) using one and
the same lifting element, so that the lifting element always only
moves the floor section or sections required at the time via the
frame structure or frame transmission.
[0016] The lifting device which, for example, may be driven
hydraulically and/or electrically, enables the floor to be moved
independently of loading of the storage device. In order to ensure
a uniform lifting movement of the floor and to prevent tilting, a
plurality of lifting elements may be provided which engage the
floor at different positions. Preferably, in order to adapt the
loading depth in a variable manner, the height of the floor is
steplessly variable, or it can be raised or lowered in a stepless
manner.
[0017] The storage device may be used in a particularly flexible
manner when, particularly below the lifting floor, it has a fixed
floor element which forms a base for placement on a support
surface, and the floor element has at least one opening for at
least one lifting element to gain access in order to raise the
floor. Preferably, the partitioning structure or the floor (if the
partitioning structure is moved) is fixed to the fixed floor
element, which may be configured as a floor plate or a grid-like
floor element. Providing the floor element with one or more
openings allows an external lifting system to be used with at least
one lifting element that can gain access through the opening of the
floor element in order to move the lifting floor. The storage
device may be disposed above or near to the separate lifting device
and may be raised or removed therefrom as required.
[0018] To increase the stability and/or to transport the storage
device, a base or transport rack, in particular a separate base or
transport rack, may be provided. The transport rack acts to
accommodate or support the storage device as well as to transport
it and may be releasably connectable with the storage device. The
base or transport rack may also be brought into or out of the store
or the like using a normal forklift truck or the like.
[0019] The base rack may, for example, be in the shape of a box and
have a floor frame and side walls. Preferably, the storage device,
which is a separate element, can be placed on and/or in the base
rack. The floor frame of the base rack may have a support surface
for the storage device.
[0020] Holes for one or more lifting elements to gain access may be
formed in the floor frame. The base rack, which in particular is
grid-like, may comprise feet. Below the floor frame, a compartment
may be formed in which to dispose a lifting device for raising
and/or lowering the floor. The base rack may also be described as a
transport box or base pallet.
[0021] In order to transport the device, the base or transport rack
preferably has at least one lateral access region for a lifting
part of a lifting and transport device, for example a forklift.
This allows the storage device stored in and/or on the base rack to
be transported.
[0022] In principle, the invention also concerns a method for
loading flat parts in particular into a storage device, which has a
partitioning structure, by means of which individual, juxtaposed
compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the
parts are placed on a floor of the storage device and then the
floor and the partitioning structure are moved relative to each
other, i.e. lowered or raised, for example.
[0023] Furthermore, the invention also in principle concerns a
method for removing flat parts in particular from a storage device
which has a partitioning structure, by means of which individual
juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device,
wherein the floor is raised relative to the partitioning structure,
for example, and then the parts are lifted from the floor of the
storage device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention will now be described in more detail below
with the aid of exemplary embodiments which are shown
diagrammatically in the accompanying figures. In the figures:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a storage device of a
device in accordance with the invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a storage device of a
device in accordance with the invention; and
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a base rack for an apparatus in accordance with
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] In a first aspect, the invention concerns a storage device
12 and an apparatus 10 for storing individual parts, in particular
flat parts such as stamped parts. A first embodiment of a storage
device is shown in FIG. 1. The storage device 12 comprises a floor
20 on which the parts are placed and a partitioning structure 30
which divides the interior of the storage device 12 into juxtaposed
compartments or pockets 32 which can be filled from the top. In
this regard, internal delimiting elements 36 are provided which are
configured as webs or wall elements in the embodiment shown. The
compartments 32, which in particular are cuboid in shape, are open
at the top and are delimited at the bottom by the floor 20.
Furthermore, the storage device 12 comprises an external delimiting
structure which is formed by external delimiting walls 42 (side
walls). Below the floor 20 of the compartments 32 is a lower floor
element 14 or base element which can be provided for positioning on
a substrate. The floor element 14 comprises at least one opening 16
through which the floor 20 can be contacted from below; this can
also be described as a floor plate, perforated plate or base plate.
Preferably, a plurality of openings 16 are distributed over the
floor element 14.
[0029] The storage device 12, which may also be described as a
cassette part, is designed to accommodate flat parts or shaped
parts with a small clearance with respect to the delimiting
elements 36 (cassette walls). In order to pick them up more quickly
and/or to load them more easily, the floor 20 is disposed so that
its height can be adjusted within a frame structure of the storage
device 12 formed by the delimiting elements 36 and/or delimiting
walls 42, as indicated by the arrow 2 in FIG. 1. The floor 20 can
be moved between a lower position, in which it is approximately
flush with a lower end of the storage device 12, and an upper
position essentially at the upper edge of the storage device 12.
FIG. 1 shows the floor 20 in a partially raised position. A lifting
device 60 (FIG. 3) may be used to displace it; the device can
optionally be disposed below or next to the storage device 12. The
lifting device may have at least one lifting element 62 which can
make contact with the lifting floor 20 from below or laterally
through one of the openings 16 in the fixed floor element 14. Slots
24 are formed in the floor 20; their shape preferably matches the
base area of the delimiting elements 36 of the grid-like
partitioning structure 30. There is preferably a gap between the
movable floor 20 and the walls of the storage device 12 which
depends on the precision of the lifting system.
[0030] Naturally, the above description is also applicable to the
opposite case, i.e. where the delimiting elements 36 and/or
delimiting walls 42 are disposed on or between the floor 20 or
floor sections (21, 22, see FIG. 2) in a height-adjustable
manner.
[0031] The partitioning structure 30 has a grid-like frame 34 at
its upper end which increases the stability but is optional. The
delimiting elements 36 and the outer delimiting walls 42 are formed
by the individual webs or wall elements which extend between an
underside of the storage device 12 and the frame 34. Openings 38
are formed between individual compartments 32 in the delimiting
elements 36 of the grid-like partitioning structure 30. The
openings 38 extend essentially over the whole maximum loading depth
of the compartments 32 or along the entire displacement path of the
floor 20. The outer delimiting walls 42 are also provided with
openings 44 so that each individual compartment 32 can be accessed
from the side. The floor element 14, the outer delimiting walls 42
and the partitioning structure 30 form a fixed, preferably
grid-like body. The storage device 12 may essentially be produced
from wood. The frame 34 may be formed from metal.
[0032] The apertures or openings 38 in the delimiting elements 36
essentially have two functions. Firstly, they allow for there to be
an associated lifting plate, or an associated floor 20 so that the
floor 20 can be moved with one or only a few jacks or lifting
elements 62 of an external lifting device 60. Secondly, loading
and/or picking up parts can easily be carried out manually, for
example if the lifting system fails, because each compartment 32 is
accessible from all sides.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows a further storage device with a floor 20 which
comprises several separately height-adjustable floor sections 21,
22. The floor sections 21, 22 here may each form the floor region
of one or more individual compartments 32. Thus, possibly as a
function of the size of the parts to be stacked, a separate floor
plate is provided for each stack row or group of stack rows. This
means that only one stack row or a group of stack rows in a
container can be lowered or lifted simultaneously. The number of
separate floor sections 21, 22 to be moved may correspond to the
number of compartments 32, so that each compartment 32 can be
individually loaded or emptied. Apart from this, the embodiment of
FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1.
[0034] The number of jacks or lifting elements 62 advantageously is
adapted to the number of lifting floors or floor sections 21, 22 in
a manner such that tilting is prevented. To this end (as is also
the case for the first embodiment of FIG. 1), a coupling frame may
also be used which connects individual or several floor sections
21, 22 with the lifting device 60. In a preferred embodiment, the
lifting device 60 may have at least one horizontally and/or
vertically displaceable lifting element 62 in order to be able to
select different floor sections 21, 22 to be lifted. The lifting
element 62 may in this regard be mounted on a track system, for
example. In this manner, the floor sections 21, 22 may be actuated
separately without a respective dedicated lifting device 60 being
required for each one.
[0035] The storage device 12 forms an insert to place in a base
rack 50 shown in FIG. 3. The storage device 12 then preferably
forms an independent unit which can be removably mounted in a base
rack 50 so that it can be replaced separately in the event of
damage.
[0036] The base rack 50 comprises an open floor and closed side
walls 58. The open floor is formed by a floor frame 52 in
particular in the form of a grid which has a plurality of webs 53
on which the storage device 12 can be placed. Holes 54 are formed
between the webs 53 of the floor frame 52, through which an only
diagrammatically illustrated lifting element 62 of a lifting device
60 can gain access from below, in order to come into contact with
the floor 20 of the storage device 12. At least one access region
56 for a fork of a forklift is formed in a lower side region of the
base or transport rack 50.
[0037] In order to prevent damage to the cassette-shaped storage
device 12, the area of the base rack 50 may be somewhat larger
(space between side walls 58 of the base rack 50 and outer
delimiting walls 42 of the storage device 12), and it may be
greater in height with a protrusion. The preferably closed side
walls 58 of the base rack 50 further reinforce the protective
function.
[0038] The base rack 50 is advantageously designed so as to be
stackable. The base rack 50 ensures that during transport of the
apparatus 10, no or hardly any external forces can act on the
cassette part or on the storage device 12.
* * * * *