Abstract:
The invention relates to a stacking column for storing goods on top of each other or next to each other on pawls ( 1 ) which rotate about a rotational axis ( 2 ) from an idle position into a working position. The respective successive pawls ( 1 ) are mutually coupled by means of at least one link plate ( 9 ). In order to reduce the gap or pitch (T) between adjacent pawls ( 1 ), the at least one link plate ( 9 ) is angular, elbowed or arc-shaped.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a stacking column for storing articles one beside the other or one on top of the other on pawls which rotate about an axis of rotation from a position of rest into a working position, the respective subsequent pawls being coupled to one another by means of at least one driver link plate. 
   Such stacking columns are known and available on the market in a variety of shapes and designs. For example, a stacking column for storing articles of the type mentioned at the beginning is disclosed and described in DE 196 47 578.3. 
   In said document, individual pawls are also arranged spaced apart one on top of the other so as to be rotatable with respect to one another, a rotary movement and pivoting movement of the individual pawls being coupled to one another by means of driver link plates in order to permit individual pawls, in particular extended pawls, to move back. 
   DE 100 00 371 A1 describes a grid system for accommodating components in a vertical position, in which components the individual latches or hooks for holding objects are connected to one another by means of linear rigid control levers with elongated holes. 
   DE 94 08 344.4 discloses a toggle lever for a stacking column for storing storable goods, in particular vehicle bodywork parts with a supporting arm which is assigned to an axis of rotation, a strip for holding the bodywork part being secured to the supporting arm. 
   DE 200 05 710 U1 discloses a latch lever for stacking columns having a counterweight which is formed directly from the lever itself. 
   DE 196 41 270 A1 describes a device for stacking and transporting shaped parts, the individual latches being constructed with axes of rotation and pin elements which engage in respective elongated holes of a side part. 
   The disadvantage in comparison with the stacking column described in said document is that a reduction of the pitch, i.e. a distance between two pawls with respect to one another, is not readily possible so that the pawl weights of the individual pawls as well as individual driver link plates impede one another. In particular for thin components of planar design it is advantageous that significantly more components can be accommodated in such stacking columns. For this purpose, the pitch must be considerably reduced. 
   If the pitch is reduced, for example the counterweights are in contact with one another so that the individual pawls cannot be moved along. 
   The smaller the pitch, the smaller a distance between a drilled hole and an elongated hole of the driver link plate, so that only a quite specific pitch can be obtained. 
   A different form of stacking columns dispenses with counterweights, in which case, instead of counterweights, springs are provided which restore the individual pawls. Such a solution is costly and problematic, which relates in particular to the spring forces. Such springs are prone to faults and easily move the articles to be stored out of the pawl region, which is also undesired. They are not self-locking. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is based on the object of providing a stacking column of the type mentioned at the beginning which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages and with which a pitch between two pawls which lie one beside the other and/or one on top of the other can easily and effectively be reduced in a cost-effective manner. In this context, self-locking of pawls which are extended in a working position is to be possible. In addition, such a stacking column is to be manufactured in extremely cost-effective fashion, and be operationally reliable and have a long service life. 
   The features, the features of the characterizing part of claim one and all the features of the independent patent claims bring about the solution of this object. 
   The method of operation of stacking columns is described in detail in DE 196 47 578.3 which is incorporated herein by reference. Reference is expressly made here to this document and for this reason a more detailed description of the method of operation is dispensed with. 
   The present invention discloses a stacking column for storing articles such as, for example, pieces of sheet metal, engine hoods, mud flaps or the like, in which it has proven particularly advantageous to give a driver link plate, which has a drilled hole and an elongated hole, an elbowed or arcuate or angled design. 
   This ensures that a pitch between two adjacent pawls can be reduced in such a way since in particular an end region of the driver link plate in which the elongated hole is provided can be moved out of an active region of a pawl lying above it. As a result, it is possible not only to reduce the weights of the individual pawls, which affects their size, but also to significantly decrease the pitch so that significantly more pieces of sheet metal can be accommodated in a stacking column, or significantly more pawls can be accommodated in the stacking column. 
   It has also proven advantageous to store the counterweights in and/or next to a pawl mount on a weight shaft, it also being the intention that the scope of the present invention will include mounting a multiplicity of counterweights thereon in order to reduce overall their diameters or overall size. As a result, a pitch of individual pawls which lie one on top of the other or one beside the other can also be reduced. 
   For the purpose of also reducing the diameters and possibly number of the counterweights it has proven advantageous to provide a supporting surface with breakthroughs and/or recesses. As a result, the necessary counterweight or counterweights can be reduced, which affects their overall size, diameters etc. This also contributes to permitting a pitch of adjacent pawls to be reduced significantly. 
   It has also proven advantageous in the present invention to provide, in the side walls of the pawl mount, in particular in an outer edge, a stop recess which interacts with a stop in a horizontal working position, and thus separate protection is also sought for this. The pitch of adjacent pawls can also be reduced by means of the stop recess. 
   The scope of the present invention is also intended to include the fact that the driver link plate can be arcuate, angled, or elbowed, in particular in the region of the elongated hole. The invention is not restricted to this. For example, the entire driver link plate can also be curved in the shape of a banana or in an arcuate shape. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing; in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematically represented side view of a stacking column according to the invention; 
       FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  show plan and side views of a driver link plate according to the invention; 
       FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d  show various views of a pawl according to the invention for insertion in a stacking column. 
       FIGS. 4   a  to  4   d  show various views of a further exemplary embodiment of a further pawl; 
       FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d  show various views of a pawl mount. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   According to  FIG. 1 , a stacking column R according to the invention has a multiplicity of pawls  1  which are arranged one on top of the other or one beside the other and which can be pivoted by means of axes  2  of rotation in a housing  3  which is preferably U-shaped, a pawl mount  4  being secured in a horizontal working position of a supporting surface  5 / 16  by means of a stop  6  which is arranged in the housing  3 . The individual pawls  1  or pawl mounts  4  which are arranged one on top of the other are also provided in each case with weight shafts  7  on which at least one counterweight  8  is seated. 
   An important factor in the present invention is that the individual pawls  1 , in particular the pawls which lie one on top of the other or one beside the other, are coupled between the respective weight shafts  7  by means of at least one driver link plate  9 . 
   It has proven particularly advantageous in the present invention to make the driver link plate  9  elbowed, curved or angled, as indicated in  FIG. 1  and illustrated in enlarged form in  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c . As a result, a region  10  of the driver link plate  9  is moved out of a pivoting region or active region of the counterweight  8 , lying above it, of a pawl  1  lying above it, in particular if the driver link plate  9 , in particular its region  10 , is oriented with respect to a rear side  11  of the housing  3 . Said driver link plate  9  is moved or pivoted out of the active region of the counterweight  8  lying above it.  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show a driver link plate  9  which at one end adjoins a drilled hole  12  and an elongated hole  13  at a distance A, said elongated hole  13  ending in an end region  10 . The elongated hole  13  includes a preferably acute angle α with respect to the base element of the driver link plate  9 . 
   Starting from a specific distance A which may be smaller or larger, it is intended also to lie within the scope of the present invention that the elongated hole  13  is elbowed, for example, in an arcuate shape to a greater or less extent, or angled. This is important in the present invention since as a result the end region  10  is moved out of the active region of the pawl  1  lying above it. As a result, a pitch T can be significantly reduced. A pitch T is a distance between two adjacent pawls. As a result, a pitch T of less than 30 mm can be made as a distance between two pawls  1  and two adjacent supporting surfaces  5  in a working position. 
   In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 3   d , a pawl  1  is shown in which an approximately U-shaped pawl mount  4  is provided. The axis  2  of rotation engages through its side walls  14 . A supporting surface  5 / 16  is inserted into a base surface  15  of the pawl mount  4  (see also  FIG. 3   d ), and is permanently connected thereto by means of at least one attachment element  17 . 
   So that the size and/or number of the counterweights  8  which are seated on the weight shaft  7  can be reduced, and at the same time a large or a wide supporting surface  16  continues to be ensured, it has also proven advantageous in the present invention to provide at least one recess  18  and/or at least one breakthrough  19  in the supporting surface  16 . As a result, the load-bearing force of the supporting surface  16  is not influenced but its weight is considerably reduced, which permits the counterweights  8  to be reduced. If the counterweights  8  are made smaller, a pitch, i.e. a distance between two pawls  1  which are arranged one on top of the other can also be reduced. 
   As is apparent in particular from  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   b , the weight shaft  7  of the pawl  1  which lies above it engages in the elongated hole  13  of a lower driver link plate  9 , the next driver link plate  9  adjoining, in the way described above for the pawl  1  which lies above it (not illustrated here) on the same side or on the opposite side of the pawl mount  4 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3   b , the driver link plate  9  being arcuate, angled or elbowed in the opposite direction to the support  16 . 
   As is apparent in particular from  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   d , a further pawl  1  is described, which corresponds approximately to the type described above. The difference is that its supporting surface  16  is inclined by an angle β, as indicated in particular in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . Here, the inclination of the supporting surface  16  through the angle β can be positive or negative. The invention is not restricted to this. Moreover, the pawl  1  is composed of the above-described components. 
     FIGS. 5   a  to  5   b  show, inter alia as perspective views, the pawl mount  4  which is formed from the base surface  15  and side walls  14  which respectively adjoin it, flush through-holes  20 ,  21  being provided for receiving the axis  2  of rotation and weight shaft  7  rows  7 . 
   It has also proven particularly advantageous to provide, for a stop  6  as also indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 5   c , a stop recess  22  in an outer edge  23  of the side walls  14 , which corresponds approximately to the contour of the stop  6 . As a result, a stop takes place in a horizontal position of use of the pawl in a significantly more precise way, as a result of which a pitch T or an overall distance between two adjacent pawls  1  can also be reduced.