Automated storage accessories

Kit of improved accessories suitable for automated storage structures (20) comprising an automatic clamping system adapted to lock in position workpieces stored during transport on a truck, plant conveyor or any other vehicle and supporting elements (11) for the workpieces stored each formed by bending of iron wire according to the workpiece profile.

The present invention relates to a kit of improved accessories suitable for an automated storage column. The kit preferably comprises a workpiece clamping system and a very light supporting element for the workpieces stored.

The automated storage structures, which will be referred in the following disclosure of the present invention, comprise, as known in the art, a set of columns each provided with a plurality of supporting elements placed equidistant in respect of each other along the whole height of the column. In the plurality each supporting element results cinematically linked either to the lower supporting element or to the upper supporting element: in this manner, starting from the bottom of a column, each workpiece resting on the first supporting element causes it, due to the weight of the same workpiece, to completely lower thus, by the cinematic linkage, making the second upper supporting element to partially project out of the column waiting for the next workpiece to be stored; once the next workpiece stored on the second supporting element, the upper supporting element in turn will project out of the column so allowing an automatic continuous storage. The automated storage structure will comprise a set of the columns suitably placed in respect of one another in order to form the necessary bearing for the workpieces manufactured.

Moreover, the workpieces have often to be transported to a different machine station or even to another factory to complete the manufacturing process: there is therefore the problem of assuring the necessary stability of the workpieces stored in the automated structures when loaded on trucks, plant conveyors or the like. As previously disclosed and known in the art, the automated storage structures provides only a number of bearing points, according to the number of columns in the structures, sufficient for assuring a static equilibrium under the only force of gravity. During transport, instead, there are forces occurring, due to dynamic stresses, in any possible direction and therefore, if no further constrained, workpieces can fall down or anyway shift from their initial bearing position.

Main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a kit of improved accessories which allows for the best arrangement of workpieces on the automated storage columns and inside the storage structures.

Further object of the present invention is to provide a kit of improved accessories which have a reduced weight in order to assure:easier transport of each automated storage structure, fully or partially loaded,lower manufacturing costs of the accessories,lower transporting costs of each automated storage structure, fully or partially loaded,no maintenance needs.

The kit of improved accessories according to the present invention comprises a workpiece clamping system and a plurality of workpiece supporting elements.

The workpiece clamping system may be designed so as to couple with the corresponding automated storage column, thus being in turn automated. The clamping system according to the present invention, indeed, is provided with means for automatically clamp workpieces stored, once the automated storage structure has been loaded on a particular transport system.

The workpiece supporting element is formed from a steel wire so as to be easily shaped in accordance with the workpiece shape at the bearing point. In such way, a lighter and cheaper supporting element can be obtained, different from the prior art supporting element formed, instead, from a metallic slab, much more heavier and expensive.

With reference now toFIG. 1, there are shown an automated storage column20according to prior art and a clamping system10according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The clamping system10comprises a supporting slab1, on the lower part provided with a horizontal slot6, a slot8shaped as a circumference arc the bending center of which coincides with a hole7, and on the upper part with a slot8′ shaped as a circumference arc the bending center of which coincides with a hole7′ also lying on the vertical passing through the position of the hole7. A first rocker arm2is hinged by a pin in the hole7and has a first end provided with a slot2′ and a second end provided with a hole2″. Similarly a second rocker arm4results hinged by a pin at the hole7′ and has one end provided with a hole4′. A rack5, provided with a lower hole5′ and an upper hole5″, is coupled by a pin through holes5″ and4′ and a pin through holes5′ and2″ with the rocker arms2and4, respectively. Therefore cinematically the clamping system10results as a double rocker arm articulated quadrilateral, in which the connecting rod is constituted by the rack5. Finally a pin3is in slidable manner inserted between the slot2′ of the first rocker arm2and the horizontal slot6of the supporting slab1.

Referring now toFIGS. 2aand3aorFIGS. 2band3b, it is possible to notice how the movement of the pin3along the slot6causes the rotation of the rocker arm2around the position7, as well as of the rocker arm4around the position7′. Therefore the idle mode arrangement (seeFIGS. 2aand3a) of the clamping system10corresponds to the internal position of pin3, which forces the rack5to remain between the supporting slab1and a side face of the automated storage column20. A shift of the pin3from internal position to the external position, as just disclosed, leads to a simultaneous and concordant rotation of the rocker arms2and4that causes the rack5to translate till it comes out the space between the supporting slab1and the side face of the column20. In such arrangement, that is operational mode arrangement, a plurality of projecting parts9provided on the rack5abuts against each workpiece stored, in turn abutting on a supporting element, thus assuring the clamping of the all workpieces stored, as it is clearly seen fromFIG. 3a.

The switching of the clamping system10according to the present invention from the idle mode arrangement, in which it is possible to load or unload the workpieces on the automated storage structure, to the operation mode arrangement is made automatic once means (not shown) for engaging the pin3have been provided on load bays suitable for the storage structure: thus loading of the automatic storage structures will force the pin to move backward from internal to external position leading the rack5, as just disclosed, to clamp the current workpieces and allow the transport thereof under stability and safety conditions.

With reference now toFIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown an automated storage column20according to prior art and provided with a plurality of supporting elements11, each of the elements in turn provided with a cover12made of polyethylene or other material which avoids a direct contact between two metallic surfaces and therefore possible damages of workpieces. As it can be noticed fromFIG. 5, the supporting elements11are made of iron wire, preferably harmonic steel, suitably bent in order to obtain the desired shape fitting the particular workpiece profile. It is therefore clear that the production of the supporting elements11allows a great saving of the material used for their manufacturing. Moreover the possibility of using the iron wire, having diameter size suitable for specific application, assures all the advantages connected to the machining necessary to obtain the supporting elements11according to the present invention.

Such supporting element11besides offering a saving in terms of raw material, considerably lightens manufacture thus achieving:saving of transport costs under the same volume produced,a better adaptability with the automized banked lines in the various automotive companies because the load of the columns rests less on the structure provided for the automized pallet handling.