Device for transporting objects

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).

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device1for storing and transporting objects is substantially configured to be rectangular and comprises at opposite end faces outer walls2and3, on which a plurality of receiving hoppers4are formed. Two wall sections5are provided between the outer walls2and3, and which are mounted displaceably on the floor side. The wall sections5also have receiving hoppers4on one side or on both sides, which are disposed opposite the receiving hoppers4on the outer walls2and3. As a result, an object, for example, a profile rail, can be inserted with a first end section in a receiving hopper4on an outer wall or3and with a second end section in a receiving hopper4on a wall section5. The receiving hoppers4are formed by U-shaped profiles so that the end sections of the object are arranged in a protected manner.

The floor of the device1comprises a pallet6which is configured as a standardized Euro pallet and on which two rails11are mounted, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. The wall sections5are held displaceably on the rails11, where the wall sections5are fixed at predetermined positions by retaining elements7. The retaining elements7are configured as toothed racks, where a retaining element7is provided on the floor on opposite sides and on one side a retaining element7is also disposed in the upper area of the wall sections5.

The outer walls2and3as well as the wall sections5each comprise a cross-beam9on the floor side, the upper side of which forms a floor8in a receiving hopper4. As a result, the load of the objects placed in the receiving hoppers4is distributed over the cross-beam9.

As shown inFIG. 3, the cross-beam9of an outer wall2or3or of a wall section5is supported on a retaining plate10, which rests on the rail11having a U-shaped cross-section. The rail11has inwardly bent sections16on both legs, which form a flat supporting surface for the retaining plate10. Two rollers12spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the rail11are mounted rotatably on the retaining plate10, where the rollers12are disposed with little play between the legs of the rail11. A web14is provided below the rollers12, where the rollers12are mounted between the retaining plate10and the web14by means of a first screw13and a second screw15. The screws13and15can be mounted as desired from above or below into the retaining plate10or the web14. The rollers12are disposed in the rail11so that during a sliding movement of a wall section5along the rail11, a lateral guidance is given, but the wall section5is also secured against lifting or tilting since the rollers12are disposed below the inwardly bent webs16. The lateral guidance is accomplished by means of the rollers12whilst the screws13or15are guided through a slit17between webs16.

Laterally protruding bolts18having a thickened head section19are provided on vertical posts26on the outer walls2and3and the wall sections5. The bolts on the outer walls2and3are preferably configured as threaded bolts.

FIG. 5shows the device1in a position in which the middle wall sections5can be displaced along the rails11. For this purpose the retaining elements7are fixed in a raised position. The retaining elements7are configured as toothed racks and comprise in the central area a plurality of teeth20which are spaced apart from one another by recesses21open at the bottom. A bolt18of a wall section5can be inserted in each recess21.

In the area of a post26of the outer walls2and3a sliding block guide22is formed on the retaining element7, which is arranged in a V shape and has a perpendicular leg23and a shortened angular leg24. In order to fix the retaining element7in a raised position, a nut25is released and the retaining element7is raised upwards along the bolt18until the recesses21are out of engagement with a bolt18on the wall section5. In this position, when all three retaining elements7are arranged out of engagement with the bolts18on the wall sections5, the wall sections5can be displaced along the rails11, where the rollers12on the carriage disposed on the floor side provide for exact guidance. After the wall section5has been displaced in the predefined grid spacing, a fixing can be made. For this purpose the retaining elements7are each moved obliquely upwards along the sliding block guide22in order to be lowered into the perpendicular leg23of the sliding block guide22. When lowering, care must be taken to ensure that the bolts18engage in a corresponding recess21between two teeth20. After the lowering of the retaining elements7, the position shown inFIG. 6is achieved. The wall sections5can now no longer be moved along the rail11. When objects are placed in the receiving hoppers4, the weight force of the objects provides for stabilisation of the outer walls2,3and the wall sections5, since the cross-beams9are loaded and rest with their lower supporting surface on the flat rails11. Movements of the middle wall sections5are thereby avoided in particular when the device1is completely filled with objects.

FIG. 7shows a retaining element7in detail, which is configured as a toothed rack and has a sliding block guide22on opposite end sections. A plurality of teeth20and recesses21are provided in a middle section, which predefine the grid spacing in which the wall sections5can be displaced and fixed.

FIG. 8shows a modified embodiment1′ for storing and transporting objects, in which four middle wall sections5are positioned instead of two middle wall sections5. As a result, the spacing between two opposite receiving hoppers4has been reduced whilst more objects can be accommodated since three rows having a plurality of receiving hoppers4are provided. It is possible to adjust the distance of the outer walls2or3from a middle wall section5and also to vary the distance between two middle wall sections5. Furthermore, the number of wall sections5disposed between the outer walls2and3can also be varied with the device1or1′ according to the invention.

The outer walls2and3can be fixed on the rails11or the pallet6by means of fixed connecting means. It is also possible to form the outer walls2and3as displaceable wall sections5.

The outer walls2and3as well as the wall sections5preferably consist of metal sheet but can also be made of plastic or other materials. Instead of the three retaining elements7, only two retaining elements7or more than three retaining elements7can also be provided.

FIG. 9shows a modified embodiment of a wall section5′ formed from a plurality of plug-in profiles40plugged into one another. Each plug-in profile40comprises a receiving hopper4in which an end section of an elongate object can be inserted. On the side facing an adjacent plug-in profile, a groove45is formed which has inwardly directed webs46. On the opposite side each plug-in profile40has two hook-shaped webs41which can be inserted into the groove45in order to lock the adjacent plug-in profiles40to one another.

On a rear side opposite the receiving hoppers4two wedge-shaped strips42and43as well as a screw groove44are formed for reinforcement. Cross traverses for supporting the wall section5′ formed from plug-in profiles40can be fixed in the screw groove44. The plug-in profiles40can be formed as extruded aluminium profiles so that damage to harder objects is avoided.