Abstract:
A device for transporting objects, in particular fittings, having a frame includes outer walls ( 2, 3 ) protruding upwards from a floor at opposite end faces, on which a plurality of receiving hoppers ( 4 ) are provided for placing a first end section of an object, and at least one middle wall section ( 5, 5 ′) protruding from the floor. A plurality of receiving hoppers ( 4 ) is provided thereon for placing a second end section of an object opposite the first end section. At least one middle wall section ( 5, 5 ′) is displaceably mounted on a floor guide and can be fixed at different distances from an outer wall ( 2, 3 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described in German patent Application DE 20 2010 000 875.1 filed on Jan. 12, 2010. This German Patent Application, whose subject matter is incorporated here by reference, provides the basis for a claim of priority of invention under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for transporting objects. 
     Lattice boxes or pallet containers in which objects produced in production facilities are placed are known for the storage and transport of objects. As a result, the objects are disordered and are difficult to remove in an automated fabrication process. In addition, the objects can be damaged during transport and/or when filling the lattice boxes. 
     Transport devices are known in which the objects are placed in fixed magazines. By this means the objects can be positioned exactly for a subsequent removal and are additionally protected from damage. However, such transport devices are not flexible and the magazines can only be used for objects of predetermined size. 
     DE 41 39 761 discloses a transport device for goods in which a frame-shaped circumferential frame is mounted on a supporting surface. The frame comprises supports and traverses on which retainers for supporting objects are mounted which can be fixed in different positions. Transporting and retaining heavy objects is only possible to a limited extent with this structure. Due to the frame-shaped configuration of the frame the accessibility from the side is made difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device for transporting objects which ensures secure transport of objects with a simple structure and can be adapted flexibly to different-sized objects. 
     According to the invention, the device for transporting objects comprises at least one middle wall section between the outer walls, which is displaceably mounted on a floor guide and can be fixed at different distances from an outer wall. As a result, a plurality of magazines can be formed between the displaceable middle wall section and an outer wall, in which corresponding objects can be placed. In doing so, the object is placed with one end section in a receiving hopper on an outer wall and on the opposite side in a receiving hopper on the middle wall section. If the length of the objects to be placed changes, for example, as a result of a changeover in production, the device can be further used, merely the middle wall section is displaced and adapted in position to the length of the objects to be placed. By this means, a high degree of flexibility can be provided with a device for transporting objects, where the objects in the individual hoppers are disposed in exact positions and can then be gripped in an automated fabrication process. 
     Preferably a plurality of displaceably mounted wall sections are provided between the outer walls so that a plurality of rows with placed objects can be formed in the device for transporting objects. In particular, two, three or four displaceable wall sections can be mounted displaceably on the floor. 
     For easy displacement of the wall sections, these can be guided on the floor on at least one rail. In this case, the at least one rail can be configured to be U-shaped in cross-section where at least one roller connected to the wall section is guided in the rail. This ensures smooth-running guidance and prevents canting of the wall sections. In order to improve the guidance of the wall sections, the wall section can have a carriage on the floor on which at least two rollers spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the rail are mounted on the carriage. If each displaceable wall section has at least two carriages on the floor side, which are guided on parallel rails, canting of the wall sections can be reliably avoided. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, each hopper has a floor section on which the lowest object rests with an end section. This ensures that the objects are positioned exactly in height and in addition weight forces can be removed via the wall sections to the frame or the rails. This can prevent the weight forces from acting on the guide elements such as the rollers in order to avoid damage at higher weight loads, in particular when placing metal components thereon. 
     For fixing the at least one middle wall section, at least one retaining element is preferably disposed between the outer walls on which the displaceable wall sections can be fixed. In this case, in order to avoid tilting movements of the wall sections, at least one retaining element can be disposed at least on one side, at a distance from the floor, preferably in the upper half of the wall sections. 
     In order to enable an adjustment process in a simple manner, the retaining elements can be configured as toothed racks, on which the wall sections can be fixed at predetermined positions. Locking positions can thus be predefined by means of the toothed racks so that the hoppers on the outer walls and the displaceable wall sections can be positioned exactly with respect to one another. The retaining elements in a first position can be out of engagement with the at least one displaceable wall section and in a second position fix the at least one wall section. For easy handling the retaining elements in the first and the second position can be engaged by means of a sliding block guide so that a single operator can execute an adjustment process. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in detail hereinafter by means of several exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention for transporting objects; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of the device of  FIG. 1  in the floor area; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective exploded view of the carriage of a displaceable wall section; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective detailed view of a retaining element of the device of  FIG. 1  in a first position; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective detailed view of a retaining element of the device of  FIG. 1  in a fixing position; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the retaining element; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a modified exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A device  1  for storing and transporting objects is substantially configured to be rectangular and comprises at opposite end faces outer walls  2  and  3 , on which a plurality of receiving hoppers  4  are formed. Two wall sections  5  are provided between the outer walls  2  and  3 , and which are mounted displaceably on the floor side. The wall sections  5  also have receiving hoppers  4  on one side or on both sides, which are disposed opposite the receiving hoppers  4  on the outer walls  2  and  3 . As a result, an object, for example, a profile rail, can be inserted with a first end section in a receiving hopper  4  on an outer wall or  3  and with a second end section in a receiving hopper  4  on a wall section  5 . The receiving hoppers  4  are formed by U-shaped profiles so that the end sections of the object are arranged in a protected manner. 
     The floor of the device  1  comprises a pallet  6  which is configured as a standardized Euro pallet and on which two rails  11  are mounted, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. The wall sections  5  are held displaceably on the rails  11 , where the wall sections  5  are fixed at predetermined positions by retaining elements  7 . The retaining elements  7  are configured as toothed racks, where a retaining element  7  is provided on the floor on opposite sides and on one side a retaining element  7  is also disposed in the upper area of the wall sections  5 . 
     The outer walls  2  and  3  as well as the wall sections  5  each comprise a cross-beam  9  on the floor side, the upper side of which forms a floor  8  in a receiving hopper  4 . As a result, the load of the objects placed in the receiving hoppers  4  is distributed over the cross-beam  9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cross-beam  9  of an outer wall  2  or  3  or of a wall section  5  is supported on a retaining plate  10 , which rests on the rail  11  having a U-shaped cross-section. The rail  11  has inwardly bent sections  16  on both legs, which form a flat supporting surface for the retaining plate  10 . Two rollers  12  spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the rail  11  are mounted rotatably on the retaining plate  10 , where the rollers  12  are disposed with little play between the legs of the rail  11 . A web  14  is provided below the rollers  12 , where the rollers  12  are mounted between the retaining plate  10  and the web  14  by means of a first screw  13  and a second screw  15 . The screws  13  and  15  can be mounted as desired from above or below into the retaining plate  10  or the web  14 . The rollers  12  are disposed in the rail  11  so that during a sliding movement of a wall section  5  along the rail  11 , a lateral guidance is given, but the wall section  5  is also secured against lifting or tilting since the rollers  12  are disposed below the inwardly bent webs  16 . The lateral guidance is accomplished by means of the rollers  12  whilst the screws  13  or  15  are guided through a slit  17  between webs  16 . 
     Laterally protruding bolts  18  having a thickened head section  19  are provided on vertical posts  26  on the outer walls  2  and  3  and the wall sections  5 . The bolts on the outer walls  2  and  3  are preferably configured as threaded bolts. 
       FIG. 5  shows the device  1  in a position in which the middle wall sections  5  can be displaced along the rails  11 . For this purpose the retaining elements  7  are fixed in a raised position. The retaining elements  7  are configured as toothed racks and comprise in the central area a plurality of teeth  20  which are spaced apart from one another by recesses  21  open at the bottom. A bolt  18  of a wall section  5  can be inserted in each recess  21 . 
     In the area of a post  26  of the outer walls  2  and  3  a sliding block guide  22  is formed on the retaining element  7 , which is arranged in a V shape and has a perpendicular leg  23  and a shortened angular leg  24 . In order to fix the retaining element  7  in a raised position, a nut  25  is released and the retaining element  7  is raised upwards along the bolt  18  until the recesses  21  are out of engagement with a bolt  18  on the wall section  5 . In this position, when all three retaining elements  7  are arranged out of engagement with the bolts  18  on the wall sections  5 , the wall sections  5  can be displaced along the rails  11 , where the rollers  12  on the carriage disposed on the floor side provide for exact guidance. After the wall section  5  has been displaced in the predefined grid spacing, a fixing can be made. For this purpose the retaining elements  7  are each moved obliquely upwards along the sliding block guide  22  in order to be lowered into the perpendicular leg  23  of the sliding block guide  22 . When lowering, care must be taken to ensure that the bolts  18  engage in a corresponding recess  21  between two teeth  20 . After the lowering of the retaining elements  7 , the position shown in  FIG. 6  is achieved. The wall sections  5  can now no longer be moved along the rail  11 . When objects are placed in the receiving hoppers  4 , the weight force of the objects provides for stabilisation of the outer walls  2 ,  3  and the wall sections  5 , since the cross-beams  9  are loaded and rest with their lower supporting surface on the flat rails  11 . Movements of the middle wall sections  5  are thereby avoided in particular when the device  1  is completely filled with objects. 
       FIG. 7  shows a retaining element  7  in detail, which is configured as a toothed rack and has a sliding block guide  22  on opposite end sections. A plurality of teeth  20  and recesses  21  are provided in a middle section, which predefine the grid spacing in which the wall sections  5  can be displaced and fixed. 
       FIG. 8  shows a modified embodiment  1 ′ for storing and transporting objects, in which four middle wall sections  5  are positioned instead of two middle wall sections  5 . As a result, the spacing between two opposite receiving hoppers  4  has been reduced whilst more objects can be accommodated since three rows having a plurality of receiving hoppers  4  are provided. It is possible to adjust the distance of the outer walls  2  or  3  from a middle wall section  5  and also to vary the distance between two middle wall sections  5 . Furthermore, the number of wall sections  5  disposed between the outer walls  2  and  3  can also be varied with the device  1  or  1 ′ according to the invention. 
     The outer walls  2  and  3  can be fixed on the rails  11  or the pallet  6  by means of fixed connecting means. It is also possible to form the outer walls  2  and  3  as displaceable wall sections  5 . 
     The outer walls  2  and  3  as well as the wall sections  5  preferably consist of metal sheet but can also be made of plastic or other materials. Instead of the three retaining elements  7 , only two retaining elements  7  or more than three retaining elements  7  can also be provided. 
       FIG. 9  shows a modified embodiment of a wall section  5 ′ formed from a plurality of plug-in profiles  40  plugged into one another. Each plug-in profile  40  comprises a receiving hopper  4  in which an end section of an elongate object can be inserted. On the side facing an adjacent plug-in profile, a groove  45  is formed which has inwardly directed webs  46 . On the opposite side each plug-in profile  40  has two hook-shaped webs  41  which can be inserted into the groove  45  in order to lock the adjacent plug-in profiles  40  to one another. 
     On a rear side opposite the receiving hoppers  4  two wedge-shaped strips  42  and  43  as well as a screw groove  44  are formed for reinforcement. Cross traverses for supporting the wall section  5 ′ formed from plug-in profiles  40  can be fixed in the screw groove  44 . The plug-in profiles  40  can be formed as extruded aluminium profiles so that damage to harder objects is avoided.