Abstract:
A support rack for releasably and securely holding and separately supporting a plurality of objects. The rack has a plurality of arms each of which is constructed to support a separate object such as an automobile frame. The arms of the rack are linked together such that when an object is placed on a first arm, a second arm is moved into position to receive the next object to be loaded onto the rack. When the next object is loaded onto the second arm, a third arm is moved into position to receive the next object to be loaded onto the rack, and so on. In addition to moving the succeeding arm into position to receive an object, when an object is loaded onto an arm a lock adjacent to the preceding arm is preferably also moved into a locking position securing the object on the preceding arm. For example, when an object is placed onto the second arm of the rack, the third arm is moved into position to receive an object as described above and a lock adjacent the first arm is simultaneously moved to its locking position to secure an object on the first arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a support rack and more particularly to a rack for holding multiple objects, such as automobile frames, which is especially adapted for securing such objects for transportation or storage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Frames for vehicles such as automobiles and the like are typically fabricated from steel at one location and are shipped to another location for assembly of the vehicle. A plurality of frames are transported on pallets received on the bed of a truck or a railroad car. The frames are typically stacked one on top of another with individual spacers manually placed between adjacent frames to protect them during shipping. One or more chains are needed to secure the frames to the pallet and undesirably, each frame bears the weight of each frame stacked on top of it. Further, a stack of frames loaded in this manner is unstable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A support rack is provided for releasably and securely holding and separately supporting a plurality of objects. The rack has a plurality of arms each of which is constructed to support a separate object such as an automobile frame. The arms of the rack are linked together such that when an object is placed on a first arm, a second arm is moved into position to receive the next object to be loaded onto the rack. When the next object is loaded onto the second arm, a third arm is moved into position to receive the next object to be loaded onto the rack, and so on. In addition to moving the succeeding arm into position to receive an object, when an object is loaded onto an arm a lock adjacent to the preceding arm is preferably also moved into a locking position securing the object on the preceding arm. For example, when an object is placed onto the second arm of the rack, the third arm is moved into position to receive an object as described above and a lock adjacent the first arm is simultaneously moved to its locking position to secure an object on the first arm. 
     Similarly, the rack is constructed such that when unloading objects from the rack the arms rotate out of the way to avoid interference with the unloading of subsequent objects and the locks of preceding arms are automatically disengaged as the object from the adjacent arm is removed. Thus, the rack facilitates automated loading and unloading of the objects to eliminate manual labor and eliminate the need for individual spacers between adjacent objects. 
     Objects, features and advantages of this invention include providing a rack for multiple objects which securely and releasably holds the objects, individually supports multiple objects, facilitates automated loading and unloading of multiple objects, automatically locks and securely holds objects onto the rack during loading, automatically unlocks objects from the rack during unloading, increases the stability of a stack of objects, facilitates securing multiple objects to a pallet, is rugged, durable, reliable and of relative simple design and economical manufacture and assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a plurality of automobile frames received on a plurality of racks embodying the present invention and each received on a shipping pallet; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the stack of frames loaded on the racks as in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of a rack embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view as in FIG. 5 illustrating a single frame loaded on the rack; and 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as in FIG. 6 illustrating two frames loaded onto the rack. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of support racks  10  mounted on a pallet  12  and receiving and securely holding thereon a plurality of automobile frames  14   a - 14   g  for shipping or storage of the frames. As shown in FIG. 2, four support racks  10  may be used to support the frames  14   a - 14   g  at four different locations. Less than or more than four racks  10  may be used depending on the particular application. Each frame  14   a - 14   g  is supported by an arm  16   a - 16   g  of each rack  10  and is releasably held thereon by an overlapping locking body  18   a - 18   g  to securely hold the frames on the racks  10  during shipping or storage. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, each rack  10  preferably has a pair of spaced apart generally parallel uprights  20  extending from a base  22  or secured directly to a shipping pallet  12 . As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, each arm  16   a - 16   g  and its associated locking body  18   a - 18   g  are pivotally carried on a pivot pin  24  extending between the uprights  20 . First and second stops  26 ,  28  extending between the uprights  20  limit the pivotal movement of the arms  16   a - 16   g  in each direction and between retracted and extended positions. Each arm  16   a - 16   g  is preferably generally L-shaped with the pivot pin  24  received between the ends of the arm providing a support portion  30  on one side of the pin  24  and an actuating portion  32  on the other side of the pin  24 . 
     An actuator link  34   a - 34   g  is preferably fixed to the actuating portion  32  of each arm  16   a - 16   g . Each actuator link  34   a - 34   g  has an elongated slot  36  formed therethrough defining a track in which one end of a connecting link  38   a - 38   f  is slidably received. When an arm  16   a - 16   g  is in its extended position, the slot  36  formed in the actuator link  34   a - 34   g  is preferably inclined at an acute included angle relative to a line  37  perpendicular to the uprights. Desirably, an angle ∝ (FIG. 7) defined between the slot  36  and this line is between 20° and 60° and preferably about 30° for smoothest operation of the rack  10  with the least interference of movement between its components. 
     The connecting links  38  are each preferably a generally straight rod having a bent end  40  slidably received in the slot  36  in the adjacent actuator link with a stop  42 , such as a washer or other projection, fixed thereon to retain the bent end within the slot  36 . The other end of each connecting link  38   a - 38   f  is preferably fixed to either the actuating portion of the adjacent, immediately above arm  16  or the actuator link  34  connected to the immediately above arm  16 . The connecting links  38   a - 38   f  provide a lost motion coupling between adjacent arms  16   a - 16   g  and are constructed to provide at least some rotational movement of one arm upon rotational movement of an adjacent arm. 
     As noted, a locking body  18   a - 18   g  is associated with each arm  16   a - 16   g  to releasably secure an object, such as an automobile frame  14 , onto the arm  16   a - 16   g . Each locking body  18   a - 18   g  preferably has a generally outwardly extending flange  44  constructed to overlie an upper surface of a frame  14   a - 14   g  supported on the arm  16   a - 16   g  associated with that locking body to releasably clamp the frame between the flange  44  and support portion  30  of the arm. Each locking body  18   a - 18   f , except the locking body  18   g  for the uppermost arm  16   g , has a U-shaped channel  46  constructed to slidably receive a connecting link  38   a - 38   f  and provide a lost motion coupling between the connecting link and the locking body to cause rotational movement of the locking body during at least part of the range of motion of the connecting link. 
     The locking body  18   g  for the uppermost arm  16   g  for the uppermost arm  16   g  is not actuated by a connecting link and is independently actuated. An inclined slot  50  in locking body  18   g  and a vertical slot  52  in the uprights  20  receive a pin  54  connected to an actuating rod  56  of a power cylinder  58  such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. Through the actuating rod  56 , the power cylinder  58  drives the pin  54  between first and second position in slots  50 ,  52  to move locking body  18   g  between its locked and unlocked positions. The power cylinder  58  may have a piston  60  yieldably biased by a spring  62  to bias the locking body  18   g  to its locked or unlocked position as desired. 
     Operation 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first stop  26 , for the first (or lowermost) arm  16   a , is positioned to limit movement of the first arm  16   a  toward its retracted position so that at least the support portion  30  of the first arm  16   a  extends beyond the uprights  20  when the first arm is in its retracted position. This end of the support portion  30  of the first arm  16   a  extends outwardly from the uprights  20  to engage the first automobile frame  14   a , which is lowered vertically relative to the racks  10 . As shown in FIG. 6, when the first frame  14   a  is received on the first arm  16   a , the weight of the first frame  14   a  rotates the first arm  16   a  generally counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 6) about its pivot pin  24  until it engages its second stop  28  disposing the support portion  30  of the first arm  16   a  in a horizontal position generally perpendicular to the uprights  22 . 
     This rotation of the first arm  16   a  causes a corresponding rotation of the actuator link  34   a  attached to the first arm  16   a . This movement of the actuator link  34   a  changes the location and orientation of its slot  36  relative to the connecting link  38   a  associated therewith. More specifically, the connecting link  38   a  will be engaged by one end of the slot  36  in the actuator link  34   a  and will be displaced causing the second arm  16   b  attached to the connecting link  38   a , and the second actuator link  34   b  attached to the second arm  16   b , to rotate generally counterclockwise about its pivot pin  24  to position the second arm  16   b  in an intermediate position between its retracted and extended positions. When in this intermediate position, an end of the support portion  30  of the second arm  16   b  extends beyond the uprights  22  at an angle thereto so that it is engaged by a second frame  14   b  subsequently lowered onto the racks  10 . 
     When the second frame  14   b  is lowered onto the racks  10  and into engagement with the support portion  30  of the second arm  16   b , the weight of the second frame  14   b  causes the second arm  16   b  to rotate further toward its extended position until the second arm  16   b  engages its second stop  28 . This movement of the second arm  16   b  to its fully extended position causes an associated rotation of the second actuator link  34   b  and the second connecting link  38   b  to move the third arm  16   c  into its intermediate position in the same manner as described with regard to the movement of the second arm  16   b  to its intermediate position. In a similar manner, loading subsequent frames  14   c - 14   g  onto subsequent arms  16   c - 16   g  will cause movement of the next arm (if any) into its intermediate position to receive the next frame to be loaded onto the rack. 
     To more securely hold the frames  14   a - 14   g  on the racks  10 , the locking bodies  18   a - 18   g  are moved into their locked positions with a portion of their flange  44  overlying a portion of the associated frame  14   a - 14   g  when the adjacent and above arm is rotated to its fully extended position. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, rotation of the second arm  16   b  to its fully extended position displaces the first connecting link  38   a  which has one end attached to the second arm  16   b . This displacement of the first connecting link  38   a  causes the first connecting link  38   a  to bear on the first locking body  18   a  from within its channel  46  to rotate the first locking body  18   a  counterclockwise about its pivot pin  24  and into its locked position overlying a portion of the frame  14   a.    
     Thus, when the first frame  14   a  is loaded onto the racks  10  the first arm  14   a  is moved to its extended position and the second arm is moved into its intermediate position to receive the second frame  14   b  to be loaded on the racks  10 . When subsequent frames are loaded onto the racks  10 , the next consecutive arm is moved into its intermediate position to receive the next consecutive frame and the locking body of the preceding arm is rotated into its locked position. In this manner, the racks  10  facilitate the loading, one after another, of a plurality of frames onto the racks for shipping or storage. Advantageously, the racks  10  also provide an automatically actuated locking mechanism to more firmly secure each of the frames onto its associated arm. 
     Because the locking bodies  18   a - 18   f  rely on movement of a succeeding or above arm, the locking body  18   g  associated with the uppermost arm  16   g  on the racks  10  is not automatically rotated into place by the loading of a frame onto the rack. Rather, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the uppermost locking body  18   g  is driven by the power cylinder  58 . As the actuating rod  56  is retracted, the pin  54  slides downwardly in the slots  52  in the upright  20  and, due to the inclination of the slot  50  in the locking body  18   g  relative to the slots  52  in the uprights  20 , causes the pin  54  to bear on the locking body  18   g  and rotate it generally clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 4) to its locked position. To permit the uppermost frame  14   g  to be removed from the racks  10 , the locking body  18   g  is rotated counterclockwise to its unlocked position by moving the actuating rod  56  to its extended position moving the pin  54  upwardly in slot  52 . 
     As shown, the power cylinder  58  may have a piston  60  slidably received therein and yieldably biased by a spring  62  to bias the actuating rod  56  to its retracted position and hence, the uppermost locking body  18   g  in its locked position. The power cylinder  58  can be actuated to move the piston  60  against the bias of the spring and thereby move the actuating rod  56  to its extended position. In the alternative, the piston  60  could be yieldably biased in the other direction, tending to move the actuating rod  56  to its extended position hence, biasing the uppermost locking body  18   g  to its unlocked position until a sufficient force is applied to the piston  60  to overcome the biasing force and move the locking body  18   g  to its locked position. As a further alternative, the uppermost locking body  18   g  can be manually actuated or actuated by some other mechanical, electrical or other means as desired for a particular application. 
     To unload the frames  14   a - 14   g  from fully loaded racks  10 , the uppermost locking body  18   g  must be moved to its unlocked position so that the uppermost frame  14   g  can be removed from the racks  10 . In general, when a frame is unloaded from the racks, the arm it was carried on is preferably automatically rotated toward its retracted position by the force of gravity acting on the arm, its actuating link and the connecting link fixed to the arm. To accomplish this, the actuator links  34   a - 34   g  and connecting links  38   a - 38   f  are attached to their associated arm  16   a - 16   g  at a location spaced from the pivot pins  24  and on the opposite side of the pivot pins  24  from the support portion  30  of the arms. The actuating links  34   a - 34   g  and connecting links  38   a - 38   f  may also be made of steel or some other relatively heavy material to increase the force of gravity tending to rotate the arms  16   a - 16   g  toward their retracted positions when they are not loaded with a frame. 
     When a frame is removed from an arm, rotation of the arm toward its retracted position by this force of gravity is limited to its intermediate position by engagement of one end of the connecting link attached to the arm with one end of the slot in the actuator link immediately below the arm. Rotation of the actuator link immediately below the arm is prevented by the weight of a frame loaded onto the arm to which that actuator link is attached. 
     More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, with a frame  14   b  loaded on the second arm  16   b , the rotation of the third arm  16   c  to its retracted position is limited by the engagement of the connecting link  38   b  with the second actuator link  34   b  from within its slot  36 . As shown in FIG. 6, when the frame  14   b  is removed from the second arm  16   b , the second arm  16   b  rotates to its intermediate position displacing the second actuator  34   b  link connected thereto and thereby disengaging the connecting link  38   b  from the end of the slot  36  of the actuator link  34   b  and permitting the third arm  16   c  to rotate to its fully retracted position. 
     At the same time, movement of the first connecting link  38   a , due to rotation of the second arm  16   b , causes the first connecting link  38   a  to bear on the first locking body  18   a  to rotate the first locking body  18   a  out of its locked position so that the frame  14   a  on the first arm  16   a  can be subsequently unloaded from the racks  10 . 
     Thus, the racks  10  automatically position the support arms  16   a - 16   b  to receive subsequent frames on the racks  10  during the loading of the racks and also automatically move all but the very last locking body  18   g  into a locked position to secure frames on the racks  10  during loading. Similarly, during unloading the racks  10  automatically reset themselves to automatically move the locking bodies  18   a - 18   f  to their unlocked position and to automatically move the support arms  16   a - 16   g  out of the way to permit substantially automatic unloading of the frames from the racks. Thus, the labor intensive process of inserting individual spacers between adjacent frames loaded onto a pallet is avoided and the racks  10  of the present invention may be substantially automatically loaded and unloaded such as by a robot or other machine. Further, each frame on the racks is individually supported so that a frame does not have to bear the load of subsequent frames loaded thereon. Still further, all of the above advantages are achieved with a relatively simple mechanical linkage and by the force of gravity acting on the linkage to avoid the cost and complexity of mechanical or electromechanical systems to automatically set and reset the racks during loading and unloading. 
     Other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.