Storage product carrier for rollable storage products

The invention relates to a storage product carrier (10) for a storage rack (100) that includes a plurality of support beams disposed one on top of the other at a distance from one another, the support beams being arranged in pairs on opposite side walls of the storage rack (100) and supporting the storage product carrier (10), wherein the storage product carrier (10) comprises a base plate (30) for storing a rollable storage product container (20) provided with at least one wheel (22), wherein the base plate (30) has at least one depression (40) for receiving the wheel (22) of the storage product container (20). The invention further relates to a storage rack with such a storage product carrier.

The present invention relates to a storage product carrier for a storage rack that includes a plurality of support beams disposed one on top of the other at a distance from one another, said support beams being arranged in pairs on opposite side walls of the storage rack and supporting the storage product carrier, wherein the storage product carrier comprises a base plate for storing a rollable storage product container provided with at least one wheel.

Such storage product carriers are used, in particular, for the storage of storage products in automated vertical lifts, which include a transport apparatus for the storage product carrier. Since the arrangement in the storage rack is dependent on the height of the storage product, storage products of various sizes can be stored on the storage product carriers in a space-saving manner.

Such a vertical lift is known from EP 0 722 894 A1. To support the storage product carriers, carrier supports are provided in this storage rack in the side walls formed and made of steel sheeting, which support the storage product carriers. Furthermore it is provided that the storage spaces are assigned to the storage product carriers dependent on the height of the storage product.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to create a storage product carrier and a storage rack wherein the rollable storage product container can be safely stored and retrieved.

To achieve this object, it is suggested in accordance with claim1, that the base plate comprises at least one depression for holding the wheel of the storage product container.

The depression forms a kind of trough, bead, channel, or groove that has sufficient depth so that the wheel of the storage product container remains in the depression both in a resting state and during conveyance of the storage product carrier within a storage rack, and thus the storage product container is retained in its storage position.

The storage product container rollable on the base plate comprises at least one wheel. Preferably it is a rolling cart or setup cart provided with four wheels.

With the configuration according to the present invention, the rollable storage product container can be pushed for storage in a storage rack by an operator in a simple manner with little force expenditure onto the base plate, until the at least one wheel of the storage product container is received in the depression and is engaged in the depression. This engagement of the wheel enables secure retention of the storage product container on the storage product carrier, in particular, during movement of the storage product carrier within the storage rack. Furthermore, certain surface areas of the base plate can be predefined as storage spaces.

In a preferred embodiment, the depression is formed by at least one surface inclined with respect to the horizontal. As a consequence of the inclined surface, the storage product carrier can be easily moved by an operator even in the case of relatively great weight and/or dimensions. Advantageously, the depression is formed in correspondence to the diameter of the wheel and/or the weight of the storage product container. The depression can also be formed by a plurality of such inclined surfaces as seen in cross-section, and/or by at least one horizontal surface and/or by means of at least one vertical surface.

To further simplify the storage and retrieval of the rollable storage product carrier, the base plate can have a storage surface section advantageously inclined with respect to the horizontal. Preferably, the inclined storage surface section is adjacent to the depression. As a consequence of this inclined area, the force expenditure required for rolling the storage product container can be reduced, and the storage product container basically rolls toward the depression automatically until the wheel is received within the depression and is in engagement with it. Such an inclination similarly simplifies withdrawal of the wheel of the storage product container from the depression across the inclined storage surface section and then from the base plate. For example, the inclined storage surface section can extend from about the center axis of the base plate to the depression. In principle, the entire surface area of the base plate can also have an inclined configuration.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a plurality of depressions are provided spaced along one direction with respect to each other, or arranged along essentially parallel-extending directions. In this manner, storage spaces can be assigned to predetermined areas of the base plate and/or a plurality of rows of storage product containers can be stored on the base plate.

In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one depression and/or the at least one storage surface section are formed as an exchangeable unit. Advantageously, the unit comprises the depression and the inclined storage surface section and optionally further surface sections of the base plate, and is attachable to the base plate. To attach the unit, the base plate can have a substructure and support structure suitable for a plurality of units. In this way, a preconstructed unit with depressions geometrically adapted to the wheels of the storage product container can be attached to the substructure and the support structure depending on the type of the storage product container to be stored. By these means the storage product carrier and in particular its base plate can be adapted to the weight and size of each of the storage product containers and storage products.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the depression extends along one side of the base plate and is spaced from a side edge of the base plate. For example, with a rectangular shape of the base plate, the depression can extend along one long side and at a distance from the outermost edge of the long side. Preferably, the distance of the depression from a side edge is chosen in correspondence to the geometry of the base plate and/or the storage product container. Preferably, the depression essentially extends along the length of one of the sides of the base plate. In a rectangular configuration of the base plate, for example, the depression can extend essentially over the entire length of the long side.

As a securing measure for the storage product to be stored on the storage product carrier, it can be advantageously provided to fix a side wall along at least one side of the base plate. Advantageously, one side wall is attached along each of three sides of the base plate. By these means, the storage product container can be pushed from a service area onto the base plate and from the base plate into the service area via the fourth side, if the base plate has a rectangular configuration.

The side wall or the side walls can at the same time prevent that a storage product with excessive dimensions is stored in the storage product container so that the storage product protrudes beyond the storage product container. In other words, the side wall, or the plurality of side walls can serve as a protrusion control means. Additionally, the side walls can be stiffened by means of a plate or a beam. Preferably, a triangular plate is used, which is attached to two neighboring side walls. For the case where this triangular plate is mounted in a corner area of two side walls on the two top sides of the side walls, so that a protruding storage product abuts against the plate as the storage product container is pushed onto the base plate, it is signaled to the operator that the storage product or the storage product container is not suitable.

To arrange the handover area of the storage product carrier as a closable configuration, a door with at least one door leaf is present on one side of the base plate. By these means the storage product container can be transferred from the service area onto the base plate while the door leaf is open and subsequently the door leaf can be brought into its closed position. To simplify movement of the door leaf, it can be provided with a wheel.

To effectively prevent accidents, advantageously, a monitoring means is provided that checks whether the door is in the open or closed state. A light barrier and/or a switch can be provided, for example, as a monitoring means. The light barrier, in particular, serves to prevent that movement of the storage product container begins before the door is completely closed.

The above-mentioned switch can monitor, in particular, a closure means for the door. In a preferred embodiment, both the light barrier and the switch are provided.

In a further preferred embodiment, the closure means comprises a latch and a socket, wherein the latch engages the socket in a closed position of the door, and wherein the latch is out of engagement with the socket in an open position of the door. Advantageously, the door has a two-leaf configuration and comprises such a closure means for each of the door leafs.

The latch, which locks the one or more door leafs, in a preferred embodiment, has a coded security switch at the lower end. The counterpart thereof is at the corresponding position at each lift retrieval point. Prior to each lift start, it is enquired whether the latch is locked, and the lift is only enabled after this. It is thus ensured that the storage product carrier is only moved while the door is closed. An autonomous opening of the latch is not possible.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a storage rack is suggested, which is provided with a plurality of support beams, one on top of the other at a distance from one another, arranged in pairs on opposite side walls, and wherein at least one storage product carrier is provided according to the present invention. Such a storage rack utilizes the advantages of the storage product carrier according to the present invention.

In an advantageous embodiment, a controllable transport apparatus is provided for storing and retrieving the storage product carrier in or from the storage rack. Such a transport apparatus is preferably fully automatically operated and can comprise a transport unit traversable in the horizontal and/or in the vertical direction for storing and retrieving the storage product carriers.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one service opening is provided for storing and retrieving the storage product carrier in and from the storage rack, wherein the storage product containers are rollable from a service area through the service opening onto the base plate and vice versa.

Furthermore, the service area can be provided with a monitoring means and the storage product carrier with a door, wherein the monitoring means checks whether the door is in the opened or closed state. The monitoring means can thus comprise a light barrier that only transmits an enable signal to the motor unit of the storage rack when the door is completely closed.

FIG. 1schematically shows the structure of a storage product carrier10according to the present invention, having a base plate30for the storage of a storage product container20in the form of a rolling cart provided with four wheels22.

Base plate30, as viewed from above, has a rectangular configuration and has four sides31,32,33,34, each with associated side edges35,36,37and38. As shown inFIG. 1, sides31and33are the short sides and sides32and34are the long sides of the rectangle. In the area of each of sides31,32and33, a side wall60,62and64extends at a right angle to the base plate. As can be seen inFIG. 1, side walls60,62and64are positioned at a short distance to side edges35to38. As an alternative, side walls60,62,64can also be flush with side edges35to38. Side walls60and62, and side walls62and64are respectively stiffened by a triangular plate66, respectively mounted at the top sides of side walls60,62,64. These plates66can at the same time prevent that a storage product with excessive dimensions is present in the storage product container so that the storage product protrudes beyond the storage product container. Side walls60,62,64can also fulfill this function. In other words, side walls60,62,64and/or plates66can serve as protrusion control means.

In the area of side34, there is a door70having two door leafs72and74, linked to side wall60,64via respective hinges and which thus enable opening and closing of door70. To move door leafs72,74more easily from the open position to the closed position, each of the door leafs is provided with a wheel75.

As can be seen from a combination ofFIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, base plate30has at least one depression40for receiving at least one wheel22. As can be seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, in particular, depression40is formed, as seen in cross-section, by two surfaces42inclined with respect to the horizontal H. In principle, depression40has at least one such inclined surface42(cf.FIG. 6) and can also comprise at least one vertical and/or horizontal surface (cf.FIG. 7).

With reference to the first embodiment according toFIGS. 1 to 5, depression40extends along side32, spaced from edge36and essentially extends over the entire length of side32.

Depression40forms a kind of trough, bead, channel or groove and has a sufficient depth so that at least one wheel22is retained in depression40both in the rest state and during movement of storage product carrier10within a storage rack, and thus storage product container20is held in its storage position.

To enable easy delivery of storage product container20into the storage position predefined by depression40, and also simple removal of storage product container20from the storage position and from base plate30, base plate30has a storage surface section50inclined with respect to the horizontal H. In the exemplary embodiment according toFIGS. 1 to 5, storage surface section50is directly adjacent to depression40and preferably has a lesser inclination relative to the horizontal H than inclined surface42. Furthermore, storage surface section50extends along side32over a length corresponding to depression40, and as seen in the direction of sides31,33it extends over a width that is less than half the length of side edge35,37. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of storage surface sections50with various different angles of inclination can also be configured and can also be arranged at a distance to depression40.

FIGS. 8 and 9are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a storage rack100for storing a plurality of storage product carriers10according toFIGS. 1 to 5. Storage rack100comprises two rack units101,102, spaced by means of a transport shaft105. A plurality of storage spaces103is provided in each rack unit101,102. To form storage spaces103in rack unit101,102, a plurality of support beams arranged one above the other in a spaced relationship are provided in pairs on opposite side walls104. Storage product carriers10are supported on these support beams.

Rack unit101further comprises a service opening110, which is configured in such a manner that storage product containers20can be transferred or, in particular, rolled by the operator from a service area120situated in front of storage rack100in one plane onto storage product carrier10provided in the area of service opening110. To transfer storage product carrier10from service opening110into transport shaft105, the transport apparatus comprises a first horizontally traversable transport unit108. This first transport unit108is also referred to as an extractor. Furthermore, the transport apparatus comprises a second transport unit traversable in transport shaft105in a vertical direction V.

FIG. 9shows a situation in which a storage product container20has already been rolled by the operator through service opening110onto storage product carrier10to be stored in storage rack100. For this purpose storage product container20is pushed by the operator from service area120onto base plate30and across inclined storage surface section50onto storage product carrier10up to a point where two wheels22, for example, are received in depression40(cf.FIG. 4). This movement is promoted by the inclination of storage surface section50toward depression40, so that storage product container10essentially rolls automatically into depression40.

Subsequently, the operator moves the two door leafs72and74into the closed position and operates a closure means90, which comprises a latch92and a socket94. Latch92is adjustable from an unlatched position into a latched position according to the arrows indicated inFIG. 3. Socket94is formed by a recess in base plate30. In the closed position of door70, latch92engages socket94, whereas latch92is out of engagement with socket94in an open position of door70.

To ensure proper closing of the two door leafs72,74before storage product carrier10is moved, a monitoring means80is provided, which checks whether door70, or door leafs72,74, are in the opened or closed position. To realize this, socket94can be provided with an associated switch84which checks whether or not latch2properly engages socket94.

A corresponding counterpart to switch84is provided at the lower end of latch92.

Furthermore, another socket or bore can be provided in the area of service opening120, which can also be referred to as the retrieval station, into which latch92comes into engagement in the open position of the door. This further socket and/or the lower end of latch92can also be provided alternatively or additionally to the above explained monitoring means80, with a switch or a switch contact, so that the transport apparatus106of storage rack100is not set in motion as long as latch92is present within the other socket. In other words, at least one monitoring means80can be provided, which is associated with storage product carrier10and/or with service area120.

Additionally or alternatively a light barrier82can be provided, which is arranged in service area120and monitors whether door70or leafs72,74are in the opened or closed position (cf.FIG. 8).

Furthermore, storage product carrier10is indicated by dashed lines inFIG. 9in its later position on transport unit108. Transport unit108is thus equipped in a manner suitable to transport storage product carrier10from service opening110into the area of transport shaft105on transport apparatus106.

Subsequently, storage product carrier10is transported along the vertical direction V to the height of an assigned storage space103and finally pushed in the horizontal direction into the storage space103by means of transport unit108(see the upper position of storage product carrier10indicated by a dashed line inFIG. 9).

Storage rack100can be provided with a control unit for automatically determining a suitable storage space103for a storage product carrier10to be stored and for driving and traversing transport apparatus106accordingly.

For the retrieval of a storage product carrier10, the operator can request the desired storage product container20or storage product carrier10by means of an input unit provided in the area of service opening110. After the control unit has determined the storage space103, the associated storage product container20or storage product carrier10, the associated storage product carrier10is moved into the area of service opening110so that the top of base plate30is essentially at the same height as the surface of service area120. Thereafter, storage product container20can be rolled out of its storage position with wheels22received in depression40, out of depression40across inclined storage surface section50from base plate30and into service area120and subsequently moved to the desired target location.

FIG. 10shows an alternative embodiment of the lower area of storage rack100according toFIGS. 8 and 9. With reference toFIG. 10, storage rack100is installed on a floor surface130of a store room. Storage product carrier10is in service opening110in the situation shown inFIG. 10. Furthermore, storage product carrier10is indicated with dashed lines in its later position situated on transport unit108. To be able to convey storage product carrier10from service area120into the elevated area of service opening110, a ramp140is provided. In the exemplary embodiment shown according toFIG. 10, the height difference between the top of floor surface130and the top of the placement surface for storage product carrier10in the area of service opening110is about 535 mm. This height difference can also be greater or smaller depending on the construction. In comparison, the variant of storage rack100shown inFIGS. 8 and 9is installed in a recess or trench in the store floor or the floor surface130.

Finally,FIGS. 11 to 13show further exemplary embodiments of storage product carrier10with variants as regards the configuration of depression40.

A plurality of depressions40are provided inFIG. 11, extending in a direction parallel to side32and spaced with respect to each other. In such an arrangement, storage spaces can be defined in a manner adapted to the spacing of the wheels22of each storage product container20.

FIGS. 12 and 13show an embodiment having two depressions40arranged in parallel to each other and two side edges36and38. The depression is configured as shown inFIG. 5at a distance to side32. Depression40indicated with a dashed line can also be formed as needed by means of a pivotable section of base plate30. The pivotable section is pivotable about a horizontal axis out of the plane of the inclined storage surface section50in a downward direction, so that, in the downwardly pivoted position of the section, the second depression40is formed. By these means it is possible to first deliver a plurality of storage product containers20across the area of the depression40at the back, not yet downwardly pivoted, and subsequently, should the need for further storage arise and after lowering the pivotable base plate section, to roll a second row of storage product containers20with their associated wheels22into the further depression40.

In a preferred embodiment, depression40and/or storage surface section50can be provided by means of an exchangeable unit or a module. By these means, depending on the configuration of the at least one wheel22or of storage product container20, the top surface of base plate30can be configured with one or more correspondingly formed depressions40and associated storage surface sections50.

This unit can be mounted on a corresponding substructure or support structure of base plate30in a simple manner.

The described storage product carrier10has the advantage, in particular, that depression40ensures secure retention of storage product containers20on storage product carrier10. Furthermore, the retrieval and delivery operation to be carried out by the operator is facilitated by inclined surface42of depression40and the optionally present inclined storage surface section50.

Furthermore, a predetermined storage space is predefined to the operator by the depression40. Furthermore, storage product carrier10can be easily adapted to various storage product containers20with different weight and/or different wheels22.

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