Abstract:
An apparatus for storing and/or for transporting, in particular, flat parts, including a storage device, which has a floor or floor sections, and a dividing structure, through which individual compartments lying alongside each other can be formed inside of the storage device where the floor or floor sections can be adjusted in height relative to the dividing structure and, for this purpose, the dividing structure has preferably delimiting elements between individual compartments of the storage device, where openings are configured in the delimiting elements and a lifting device is, for instance, provided for raising and/or lowering the floor, so that the parts between the delimiting elements are raised or lowered.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus for storing and/or transporting flat parts in particular. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In order to store flat parts, in particular cut sheet metal or other flat stamped or molded parts, pallets with a plurality of juxtaposed compartments are known, into which the flat parts can be loaded. The flat parts may in particular be rectangular plates, for example with dimensions of 100 mm×300 mm. The plurality of compartments means that many small parts of this type can be juxtaposed and stored in exact positions on a pallet with small positional tolerances in individual stacks which are safe to transport. For further processing or, for example, for storage in a store room, the parts are removed from the pallet or the individual compartments by means of a gripper system. It is also possible to envisage different geometries of the parts forming a set on a single pallet. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The disclosure provides an apparatus for storing flat parts in particular with which as short a cycle time as possible for loading and/or unloading the parts can be obtained. 
         [0004]    The apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a storage device with a floor or floor sections and a partitioning structure or partitioning device by means of which individual juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device. In accordance with the invention, the floor or the floor sections is or are adjustable in height relative to the partitioning structure. 
         [0005]    Because the floor or the floor sections and/or the partitioning structure is/are adjustable in height, the loading depth of the apparatus or the individual compartments can be varied in a flexible manner. This means that, in order to remove the parts, the floor of the apparatus can be moved upwards and/or the partitioning structure can be moved downwards so that a picking unit, for example a gripper unit, does not have to be moved into or in any case does not have to be moved as far into the depth of the compartments or pockets. In this manner, the parts can be dropped or picked up from further up, for example at or near the upper edge of the partitioning structure, which allows the cycle time when loading or picking the parts to be substantially reduced. When loading the parts into the compartments, a batch of parts or individual parts can be put down on, over or near the upper edge of the apparatus (onto the floor which has been moved upwards and/or on the floor at the upper edge of the partitioning structure which has been moved downwards) and the floor can then be lowered (or the partitioning structure can be raised) so that the parts are moved into the compartments. Picking can correspondingly be carried out in batches or individually. The partitioning structure may form a guide device to guide the individual parts during loading and/or picking. In particular, it can provide a positionally accurate repository for the parts in the storage device or cassette. 
         [0006]    Thus, it can be seen that the underlying principle of the invention, in particular with a box-like device or a container partitioned into interior compartments, is to provide a floor or partitioning structure which is adjustable in height, by means of which the loading depth of the individual compartments, which in particular are accessible from the top, can be varied. In particular, the storage device may also be described as a storage vessel, storage container, compartment vessel or cassette part. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, the floor has at least one slot or an aperture through which the partitioning structure or the partitioning device protrudes. By means of the slot or aperture in the floor, the disposition and form of which appropriately corresponds to the cross-section of the partitioning structure, the floor is decoupled from the partitioning structure so that the floor or the floor sections and/or the partitioning structure can be moved independently of each other. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the partitioning structure or compartment partitioning comprises delimiting elements between individual compartments of the storage device. The delimiting elements may in principle be configured in any manner and, for example, have webs, pins, walls and/or the like. In this regard, preferably, openings or apertures are formed in the delimiting elements. This means that a continuous or unitary floor may be provided which extends over several or even all of the compartments. The floor therefore extends through an opening from a first compartment to a second compartment. In addition, if necessary, the openings in the delimiting elements allow for access from the side into the individual compartments, for example in the case of failure of the picking apparatus or tilting of a part or sheet in one of the compartments. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one embodiment, the floor which can be raised or the partitioning structure which can be lowered extends over individual, over several or over all of the compartments of the storage device, and thus the floor sections of the individual compartments or the corresponding sections of the partitioning structure can be raised or lowered individually, in groups or all together. In accordance with a variation, the floor sections of the individual compartments (or the corresponding sections of the partitioning structure) are formed by a single common floor, or the floor extending over the individual compartments or the partitioning structure is formed as one piece. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, the floor has at least two floor sections which are independently adjustable in height. This provides greater flexibility, but if necessary a more complex lifting device to raise and/or lower the floor or the floor section or the partitioning structure. 
         [0011]    It is also possible for the storage device to have outer delimiting walls in which openings or apertures are formed. As an example, the outer delimiting walls may be configured as individual webs. The openings in the peripheral walls allow for access into the compartments from the side, for example in the event of failure of the picking apparatus, and also for a visual check of loading and/or picking of the individual parts. 
         [0012]    For the purposes of simplification in describing the invention, a movable floor or floor section will be described below, but in doing so, embodiments with movable partitioning structures or parts thereof which can be moved relative to the floor are also encompassed therein. 
         [0013]    In accordance with a further variation of the invention, a lifting device—particularly motorized—is provided to raise and/or lower the floor or the partitioning structure or parts thereof (floor/partitioning structure). The lifting device may have at least one vertically extending lifting element, for example a lifting jack and/or a lifting spindle, to raise and/or lower the floor or the floor section. Preferably, the lifting device is configured as a device which is separate from the storage device and which can optionally be installed under or on the storage device and can be removed from the storage device. In this manner, a lifting device may also be used for selectively actuating a plurality of storage devices if they are disposed adjacent to each other or under or on several storage devices at the same time. Preferably, the at least one lifting element of the lifting device has a coupling surface which can be moved from below against the floor or laterally onto the floor or the floor sections. The lifting element may preferably in addition be moved in a lateral direction relative to the storage device or may be removed from the storage device. As an example, a track system may be used for this purpose. 
         [0014]    In accordance with a variation of the invention, the lifting device is mobile and can be taken from one storage device to the next, for example an automatically controlled forklift, so that the lifting device can gain access to the floor or the floor sections with the aid of coupling surfaces or coupling elements and can drive it upwards or downwards within the partitioning structure. For this purpose, for example, the floor may be connected to a coupling frame, for example, which protrudes outwards beyond the periphery of the partitioning structure and can therefore be coupled with the lifting device. 
         [0015]    In a further aspect, the lifting device may have at least one horizontally and/or vertically displaceable lifting element in order to be able to select different floor sections to be lifted. In this manner, the floor sections can be separately actuated without requiring a dedicated lifting device. Here again, individual floor sections can be controlled via one or more coupling frames (i.e. a kind of frame transmission) using one and the same lifting element, so that the lifting element always only moves the floor section or sections required at the time via the frame structure or frame transmission. 
         [0016]    The lifting device which, for example, may be driven hydraulically and/or electrically, enables the floor to be moved independently of loading of the storage device. In order to ensure a uniform lifting movement of the floor and to prevent tilting, a plurality of lifting elements may be provided which engage the floor at different positions. Preferably, in order to adapt the loading depth in a variable manner, the height of the floor is steplessly variable, or it can be raised or lowered in a stepless manner. 
         [0017]    The storage device may be used in a particularly flexible manner when, particularly below the lifting floor, it has a fixed floor element which forms a base for placement on a support surface, and the floor element has at least one opening for at least one lifting element to gain access in order to raise the floor. Preferably, the partitioning structure or the floor (if the partitioning structure is moved) is fixed to the fixed floor element, which may be configured as a floor plate or a grid-like floor element. Providing the floor element with one or more openings allows an external lifting system to be used with at least one lifting element that can gain access through the opening of the floor element in order to move the lifting floor. The storage device may be disposed above or near to the separate lifting device and may be raised or removed therefrom as required. 
         [0018]    To increase the stability and/or to transport the storage device, a base or transport rack, in particular a separate base or transport rack, may be provided. The transport rack acts to accommodate or support the storage device as well as to transport it and may be releasably connectable with the storage device. The base or transport rack may also be brought into or out of the store or the like using a normal forklift truck or the like. 
         [0019]    The base rack may, for example, be in the shape of a box and have a floor frame and side walls. Preferably, the storage device, which is a separate element, can be placed on and/or in the base rack. The floor frame of the base rack may have a support surface for the storage device. 
         [0020]    Holes for one or more lifting elements to gain access may be formed in the floor frame. The base rack, which in particular is grid-like, may comprise feet. Below the floor frame, a compartment may be formed in which to dispose a lifting device for raising and/or lowering the floor. The base rack may also be described as a transport box or base pallet. 
         [0021]    In order to transport the device, the base or transport rack preferably has at least one lateral access region for a lifting part of a lifting and transport device, for example a forklift. This allows the storage device stored in and/or on the base rack to be transported. 
         [0022]    In principle, the invention also concerns a method for loading flat parts in particular into a storage device, which has a partitioning structure, by means of which individual, juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the parts are placed on a floor of the storage device and then the floor and the partitioning structure are moved relative to each other, i.e. lowered or raised, for example. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, the invention also in principle concerns a method for removing flat parts in particular from a storage device which has a partitioning structure, by means of which individual juxtaposed compartments are formed within the storage device, wherein the floor is raised relative to the partitioning structure, for example, and then the parts are lifted from the floor of the storage device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The invention will now be described in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments which are shown diagrammatically in the accompanying figures. In the figures: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a storage device of a device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of a storage device of a device in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a base rack for an apparatus in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    In a first aspect, the invention concerns a storage device  12  and an apparatus  10  for storing individual parts, in particular flat parts such as stamped parts. A first embodiment of a storage device is shown in  FIG. 1 . The storage device  12  comprises a floor  20  on which the parts are placed and a partitioning structure  30  which divides the interior of the storage device  12  into juxtaposed compartments or pockets  32  which can be filled from the top. In this regard, internal delimiting elements  36  are provided which are configured as webs or wall elements in the embodiment shown. The compartments  32 , which in particular are cuboid in shape, are open at the top and are delimited at the bottom by the floor  20 . Furthermore, the storage device  12  comprises an external delimiting structure which is formed by external delimiting walls  42  (side walls). Below the floor  20  of the compartments  32  is a lower floor element  14  or base element which can be provided for positioning on a substrate. The floor element  14  comprises at least one opening  16  through which the floor  20  can be contacted from below; this can also be described as a floor plate, perforated plate or base plate. Preferably, a plurality of openings  16  are distributed over the floor element  14 . 
         [0029]    The storage device  12 , which may also be described as a cassette part, is designed to accommodate flat parts or shaped parts with a small clearance with respect to the delimiting elements  36  (cassette walls). In order to pick them up more quickly and/or to load them more easily, the floor  20  is disposed so that its height can be adjusted within a frame structure of the storage device  12  formed by the delimiting elements  36  and/or delimiting walls  42 , as indicated by the arrow  2  in  FIG. 1 . The floor  20  can be moved between a lower position, in which it is approximately flush with a lower end of the storage device  12 , and an upper position essentially at the upper edge of the storage device  12 .  FIG. 1  shows the floor  20  in a partially raised position. A lifting device  60  ( FIG. 3 ) may be used to displace it; the device can optionally be disposed below or next to the storage device  12 . The lifting device may have at least one lifting element  62  which can make contact with the lifting floor  20  from below or laterally through one of the openings  16  in the fixed floor element  14 . Slots  24  are formed in the floor  20 ; their shape preferably matches the base area of the delimiting elements  36  of the grid-like partitioning structure  30 . There is preferably a gap between the movable floor  20  and the walls of the storage device  12  which depends on the precision of the lifting system. 
         [0030]    Naturally, the above description is also applicable to the opposite case, i.e. where the delimiting elements  36  and/or delimiting walls  42  are disposed on or between the floor  20  or floor sections ( 21 ,  22 , see  FIG. 2 ) in a height-adjustable manner. 
         [0031]    The partitioning structure  30  has a grid-like frame  34  at its upper end which increases the stability but is optional. The delimiting elements  36  and the outer delimiting walls  42  are formed by the individual webs or wall elements which extend between an underside of the storage device  12  and the frame  34 . Openings  38  are formed between individual compartments  32  in the delimiting elements  36  of the grid-like partitioning structure  30 . The openings  38  extend essentially over the whole maximum loading depth of the compartments  32  or along the entire displacement path of the floor  20 . The outer delimiting walls  42  are also provided with openings  44  so that each individual compartment  32  can be accessed from the side. The floor element  14 , the outer delimiting walls  42  and the partitioning structure  30  form a fixed, preferably grid-like body. The storage device  12  may essentially be produced from wood. The frame  34  may be formed from metal. 
         [0032]    The apertures or openings  38  in the delimiting elements  36  essentially have two functions. Firstly, they allow for there to be an associated lifting plate, or an associated floor  20  so that the floor  20  can be moved with one or only a few jacks or lifting elements  62  of an external lifting device  60 . Secondly, loading and/or picking up parts can easily be carried out manually, for example if the lifting system fails, because each compartment  32  is accessible from all sides. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a further storage device with a floor  20  which comprises several separately height-adjustable floor sections  21 ,  22 . The floor sections  21 ,  22  here may each form the floor region of one or more individual compartments  32 . Thus, possibly as a function of the size of the parts to be stacked, a separate floor plate is provided for each stack row or group of stack rows. This means that only one stack row or a group of stack rows in a container can be lowered or lifted simultaneously. The number of separate floor sections  21 ,  22  to be moved may correspond to the number of compartments  32 , so that each compartment  32  can be individually loaded or emptied. Apart from this, the embodiment of  FIG. 2  is the same as that of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    The number of jacks or lifting elements  62  advantageously is adapted to the number of lifting floors or floor sections  21 ,  22  in a manner such that tilting is prevented. To this end (as is also the case for the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 ), a coupling frame may also be used which connects individual or several floor sections  21 ,  22  with the lifting device  60 . In a preferred embodiment, the lifting device  60  may have at least one horizontally and/or vertically displaceable lifting element  62  in order to be able to select different floor sections  21 ,  22  to be lifted. The lifting element  62  may in this regard be mounted on a track system, for example. In this manner, the floor sections  21 ,  22  may be actuated separately without a respective dedicated lifting device  60  being required for each one. 
         [0035]    The storage device  12  forms an insert to place in a base rack  50  shown in  FIG. 3 . The storage device  12  then preferably forms an independent unit which can be removably mounted in a base rack  50  so that it can be replaced separately in the event of damage. 
         [0036]    The base rack  50  comprises an open floor and closed side walls  58 . The open floor is formed by a floor frame  52  in particular in the form of a grid which has a plurality of webs  53  on which the storage device  12  can be placed. Holes  54  are formed between the webs  53  of the floor frame  52 , through which an only diagrammatically illustrated lifting element  62  of a lifting device  60  can gain access from below, in order to come into contact with the floor  20  of the storage device  12 . At least one access region  56  for a fork of a forklift is formed in a lower side region of the base or transport rack  50 . 
         [0037]    In order to prevent damage to the cassette-shaped storage device  12 , the area of the base rack  50  may be somewhat larger (space between side walls  58  of the base rack  50  and outer delimiting walls  42  of the storage device  12 ), and it may be greater in height with a protrusion. The preferably closed side walls  58  of the base rack  50  further reinforce the protective function. 
         [0038]    The base rack  50  is advantageously designed so as to be stackable. The base rack  50  ensures that during transport of the apparatus  10 , no or hardly any external forces can act on the cassette part or on the storage device  12 .