STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract: This invention relates to a storage system comprising a rack having at least two opposite walls each wall being provided with several horizontal tracks, one above the other, for permanently applied carriages running along the tracks, the carriages at the first wall cooperating with the carriages at the second wall so that the carriages in pairs serve as a support for a load carrying element extending between the carriages the carriages on each horizontal plane possibly with the exception of a lower plane being movable in such a way that it is possible to create a free space above each load carrier element, a hosting device being movable horizontally above the load carrier elements and vertically in the free space above any of the uncovered carrier elements. Each horizontal track (3) or cooperating pair of tracks has a common drive means (19,20,21,22) by means of which a suitable number of the carriages (14) which are moved along the track or tracks can be moved simultaneously to form the free space.

Description: This invention relates to a storage system comprising a rack having at least two opposite walls each wall being provided with several horizontal tracks, one above the other, for permanently applied carriages running along the tracks, the carriages at the first wall cooperating with the carriages at the second wall so that the carriages in pairs serve as a support for a load carrying elements extending between the carriages, the carriages on each horizontal plane possibly with the exception of a lower plane being movable in such a way that it is possible to create a free space above each load carrier element, a hoisting device being movable horizontally above the load carrier elements and vertically in the free space above any of the uncovered load carrier elements. Systems of the above type are previously known for storing elonggated goods, see EP 109950. In such systems the carriages are moved to their intended positions before the goods is taken out from or being inserted into the system manually or by means of electric motors which are positioned on the carriages. According to this invention a new simple type of drive system for the carriages is suggested, the drive system being common for each track or pair of tracks and making it possible to control the movement of the carriages carefully without using expensive electric motor drive of each carriage. This is achieved by a device having the characteristics given in claim No. 1. Several embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 in the drawings is a perspective view of a storing system in which the invention will be used whereas Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of a drive mechanism for the carriages and Fig. 3 a-e are diagrammtic views of the working principle of the device shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and 5 is a side elevation view and a section through, respectively, a second embodiment of the invention whereas Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of a third embodiment of the invention. As appears from Fig. 1 the storage system comprises a rack having two opposite walls 10, 11 with columns 12 and horizontal profiles 13 forming tracks on different horizontal levels and supporting carriages running along the tracks. The carriages of the two walls cooperate in pairs and support load carrying elements on which goods of any type can be stored. The carriages with the load carrying elements - which might form an integrated unit - can be moved along the tracks so that a free space can be formed between any of adjacent carriages the width of the space preferably being larger than the width of the carriages or the load carrying elements. The upper horizontal profiles 16 and 17 of each wall support a traverse 18 or the like which can be moved above the load carrying elements. The traverse is provided with a hoistening device by means of which any load carrying element or goods after separation of suitable carriages on the levels which are situated above the relevant load carrying element can be lifted out from or be inserted into the rack. In order to move the carriages to suitable positions a device according to Fig. 2 can be used. This device comprises a toothed belt 19 running about two pulleys 20 and 21 placed at the end of each horizontal track. The two parts of the belt are horizontal and placed at the end of and outside the carriages so that a follower 22 which is fixed to on the belt, when the belt is moved, acts on an upper shoulder 23 which is provided on each carriage and a lower shoulder 24 which is provided on one of the outer carriages. One of the pulleys 20 and 21 respectively is toothed and is driven by a reversible electric motor not shown. The follower 22 comprises a base plate 25 which is fixed to the belt and an arm 26 which is pivotably attached to this plate 25 and is kept in an upper position by means of a spring 27. In order to compensate for extension of the drive belt if any, there also is a tightening device 28. The device works in the following way and it is referred to Fig. 3a-e. From start the follower 22 is placed in the position shown in Fig. 3a. It is assumed that goods shall be picked up from a load carrier element, not shown, under the carriage D in the figure which means that the carriages D, E, F have to be moved to the right in the figure. In order to effect such a movement the belt is driven anticlockwise and the follower 22 is moved to the left to the position shown in Fig. 3b. During this movement and arm 26 folds back when passing the upper shoulders 23 on the carriages D, E, F. In order to push the carriages D, E, F towards the right the motor, not shown, is then reversed so that the carriages D, E and F by means of the follower arm 26 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3c. The carriages A, B and C thereby maintain their positions. Then the traverse is moved to a position above the openings and the goods or the complete load carrier element is lifted or lowered between the carriages C and D by the hoisting device illustrated in Fig. 1 the follower 22 thereby maintaining its position. In order to reset the system the motor, not shown, is activated so that the belt is driven anticlockwise in the figure which means that the arm 26 folds back when engaging the shoulders 23 on the carriages A, B and C and continues about the pulley 20 to the right in the figure passing the lower shoulder 24 of the outer carriage F to the position shown in figure 3d where it stops. Then the motor is again reversed which means that the carriages D, E, F are returned to the left in the figure to the position shown in Fig. 3e. By activating the motor the follower is then moved back anticlockwise to the position shown in Fig. 3a. It is of course possible whithin the scope of the invention to put shoulders also on the carriages A, B, C, D, E in the same position as the lower shoulder on the carriage F in order to increase the opening and closing time when moving the different carriages. The enbodiment shown in Fig. 4 comprises carriages 14 which by means of wheels, not shown, move on the horizontal tracks 13 shown in Fig. 1. The carriages at their ends have a lug 29 surrounding a shaft 30. This shaft can be driven in the axial direction by means of a piston-cylinder arrangement 31 and has several dowels 32 which are axially and peripherially displaced with respect to each other. The shaft can also be pivoted by a turning means 33. Each lug 29 has a slot 34 through which a dowel can be moved without influencing the carriage at a certain angle position of the shaft whereas turning the shaft to another angle position means that the follower dowel engages the lug when the shaft is moved thereby moving the carriage. By means of a combined pivoting operation by the turning means 33 and movement of the shaft 30 by means of the cylinder 31 a suitable follower can be engaged with a suitable lug so that an opening is created on the place where it is desirable. The enbodiment shown in Fig. 6 as well as the embodiment shown in Figs. 2-3 comprises a drive belt 35 supported by two wheels 36 of which only one is shown in drawing. The carriages 14 runs, as has been described above, on wheels not shown on the horizontal tracks and are provided with clasps 37 which are pivotably supported on the carriages by means of dowels 38. Each clasp engages a shoulder 39 on an adjacent carriage and has a pushing rod 40 which when acted on by a follower 41 on the drive belt moves the clasp 37 out of engagement with the shoulder 39. The clasps 37 are provided with a cam surface which is so shaped that the claps in their free state when engaging a shoulders 39 are lifted and automatically hook into an adjacent carriage. One of the outer carriages, in this case the right one, is via a piston rod 42 connected to a cylinder 43. By moving the belt 35 so that the follower 41 comes below a suitable pushing rod 40 the clasp 37 is lifted thereby making the two adjacent carriages free from each other. Activating the cylinder 43 now means that the two carriages are separated from each other and leave an opening through which the hoisting device can be lowered to pick up or deliver goods. When the pick-up or delivering operation has been completed the cylinder 43 is again acted on so that the piston rod 42 moves the carriages to their original positions that is to the compacted position at the left hand part side of the figure. It should be observed that it is desirable to achieve a synchronous movement of the two carriages supporting the load supporting element whereby a device of the type described above can be placed at each wall or by transferring the belt movement by means of a transmission from one wall to the other. In order to control the movement of the carriages automatically the drive means are pre­ ferably connected to suitable electronic equipment. It is also possible to use a hoisting device which is movable in the length direction of the load carrier elements i.e. between the cooperating carriages in order to pick up goods which is places at any position on the load carrier elements. Such a movement possibility could be achieved by providing the traverse with a shuttle which by any suitable means can be moved perpendicular to the direction of movement of the traverse, the shuttle supporting a hoisting device which can be lowered and pick up or deliver the goods.

Claims: 1. Storage system comprising a rack having at least two opposite walls each wall being provided with several horizontal tracks one above teh other for permanently applied carriages running along the tracks the carriages at the first wall cooperating with the carriages at the second wall so that the carriages in pairs serve as a support for a load carrying element extending between the carriages, the carriages on each horizontal plane possibly with the exception of a lower plane being movable in such a way that it is possible to create a free space above each load carrier element, a hosting device being movable horizontally above the load carrier elements and vertically in the free space above any of the uncovered load carrier elements, characterized in, that each horizontal track (13) or cooperating pair of tracks has a common drive means (19,20,21,22,30,31,32,42,43) by means of which a suitable number of the carriage (14) which are running along the track or tracks can be moved simultaneously to form the free space. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said drive means comprises at least a follower (22,41) running parallel to the tracks and acting on the carriages (14). 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the follo­ wer (22,41) is fixed to an endless belt (19,35) or the like supported by two pulleys (20,21,36) the belt being so arranged that the follower can be moved to any position between the two parts interconnecting the two pulleys. 4. System according to any of claims 2-3, characterized in that the follower (22) is provided with a spring loaded arm (26) or the like which when moving the belt (19) in one direction folds back when engaging shoulders (23) or the like on the carriages (14) and which when moving the belt in the opposite direction engages a shoulder and moves the carriage or carriages. 5. System according to any of claims 2-4, characterized in that at least one of the carriages (14) has two shoulders (23,24) or the like cooperating with the follower (22), one shoulder (23) being placed above the other shoulder (24) and being engaged when moving the carriage in one direction whereas the other shoulder is engaged when moving the carriage in the opposite direction. 6. System according to any of claims 2-5, characterized in, that the belt (19) is driven by a pulley (21) which is connected to a reversible motor. 7. System according to any of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the carriages cooperating to support the load carrying element are driven in syncronism with each other. 8. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive means comprises a drive unit (42,43) which directly or indirectly is connected with one of the carriages on the horizontal track whereby a suitable number of the remaining carriages on the same track can be connected to the driven carriage. 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the connections between the carriages consist of fastening means (37) which are provided on the carriages and by means of the follower (41) can be moved from a position in which they are cooperating with an adjacent carriage to a position in which the two carriages are free from each other the fastening means consisting of a clasp having a cam surface which when engaging the shoulder (39) or the like of the adjacent carriages is lifted and falls down behind the shoulder so that the carriages are joined to one another. 10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive mechanism comprises a shaft (30) extending parallel to the tracks and which by means of a piston-cylinder arrangement is movable in the axial direction of the shaft the shaft being provided with several dowels (32) which by turning the shaft can be brought into engagement with the carriages (14) in order to move them. 11. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the hoisting device is movable prependicular to the direction of movement of the carriages.

Inventors: BAECK, ANDERS STEFAN, Bäck, Anders Stefan
Applicants: ELECTROLUX CONSTRUCTOR AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B65G1
IPC codes: B65G1