AU2013205886B2

AU2013205886B2 - A Racking Slide

Info

Publication number: AU2013205886B2
Application number: AU2013205886A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Munro
Original assignee: Amiata Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Amiata Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-05-16
Filing date: 2013-05-16
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-16
Also published as: AU2013205886A1

Abstract

- 10 A racking slide comprising a base platform adapted to be securely attached to racking, the base platform supporting 5 an upper platform that can slide relative to the base platform, wherein the upper platform can extend outwardly of the base platform in a cantilever fashion, and two independently releasable means to prevent the forward sliding motion. 3655900_1 (GHMatters) P91293.AU. 11605/13

Description

2013205886 16 May 2013

ABSTRACT

A racking slide comprising a base platform adapted to be securely attached to racking, the base platform supporting an upper platform that can slide relative to the base platform, wherein the upper platform can extend outwardly of the base platform in a cantilever fashion, and two independently releasable means to prevent the forward sliding motion.

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A RACKING SLIDE

This invention relates to a racking slide specifically for use with racking that carries palleted loads.

Palleted loads are frequently stored in warehouses in vertical racking. A forklift is used to position the pallets on various levels in the racking dependent on the height of the warehouse. A problem with such arrangements is that if access is required to the goods carried on the pallet it is difficult to reach into the racking to add to or remove goods from the pallet.

Modern day health and safety regulations are particularly critical of employers that encourage employees to lift goods from awkward positions by having to bend forward or climb under racking.

It is these issues that have brought about the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a racking slide system comprising at least two racking slides positioned in a side-by-side arrangement and adapted to be securely attached to a racking, each racking slide having a base platform supporting an upper platform that can slide relative to the base platform, wherein the upper platform can extend outwardly of the base platform in a cantilever fashion, and two independently releasable means to prevent sliding of the upper platform relative to the base platform, wherein a first of the releasable means comprises a lock located on each of the upper platforms and a release member slidable between the side-by-side racking slides to engage and release one lock at a time so as to allow only one upper platform to slide at a time

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2013205886 29 May 2018 la

Preferably the two releasable means comprise a latch to prevent the forward sliding motion and a separate lock that also prevents the forward sliding motion, the lock being releasable by positioning a release member directly underneath the racking slide to engage and release the lock.

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An embodiment of the invention will be described now by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:5

Figure 1 is a perspective view of racking including a number of racking slides;

Figure 2a is a perspective view of one slide on the racking;

Figure 2b is an enlarged view of the encircled part of Figure 2a;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the front of the racking side;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from the side showing the rack in an open position,

Figure 5a is a side elevational view of the slide in an open position,

Figure 5b is an enlarged view of the encircled part of Figure 5a,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the slide in a closed position,

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the slide in a closed position, and

Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are cross sectional views of a release latch in open and closed positions.

Warehouses frequently include lengths of racking often referred to as DEXION (Registered Trade Mark) racking. This racking comprises horizontal beams supported by vertical pillars to define tiers of racks into which can be positioned pallets of goods. Forklifts are usually used to install and remove the pallets from the racking.

A problem of racking of this kind is where access is required to the goods in each pallet. This usually requires operators to climb over the racking and reach into the space defined by the racking to obtain access to the goods on the pallet. These actions cause health and

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2013205886 16 May 2013 safety issues and can be particularly hazardous to the backs of operators.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical racking R of the 5 DEXION type whereby the pallets can be loaded into three rows Rl, R2, R3 in a vertical array. Although not shown in detail, the racking R comprises a series of vertical pillars that support horizontal beams at the front and rear of the racking. The front beams are shown in the

Figure 1 as BI, B2, B3 and the rear beams as Cl, C2, C3. Located pallets are usually positioned across the beams for access and storage.

A racking slide 10 as shown in the accompanying drawings essentially comprises a rectangular base platform 20 that is adapted to be secured to the front and rear beams BI, Cl. The base platform 20 supports an upper platform 40 of similar rectangular profile that is in the form of a slide. The upper platform 40 can move longitudinally of the base platform 20 on rollers 21, 22 located in rails 23, 24 defined by the base platform 20. The upper platform 40 can be slid longitudinally and outwardly relative to the base platform to cause the loaded platform to extend outwardly of the racking in a cantilever fashion, see Figure 4. When in this position the load can be accessed by hand without having to climb in, or reach towards the rear of the racking.

The base platform 20 comprises two elongate runners

25, 26 each having an upturned side 27 and a U-shaped return 28 on the other surface to define longitudinally extending rails. The runners are interconnected by three transverse beams 30, 31, 32, again of U-shaped configuration having downwardly extending flanges. As shown in Figure 6 A Z-shaped attachment bracket 90 with an upturned flange 91 is bolted to the centre of the front and rear beams BI, Cl and this bracket 90 is arranged to

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2013205886 16 May 2013 accommodate the cross beam of the racking. The Z-shaped configuration of the attachment bracket 90 ensures that when both brackets 90 are bolted to the platform 20 there is no possibility of movement inward or outwardly of the racking with each attachment bracket 90 engaging around and along the sides of the racking beams BI, Cl.

As shown in Figure 3, the upper platform 40 comprises two Z-shaped runners 41, 42 positioned in a parallel array and joined by three rectangular U-shaped cross members 43, 44, 45. The rear cross member 45 has an upwardly extending flange 46 which defines the rear edge of the platform. The Z shaped cross section of each runner 41, defines a vertical web 47 supporting a horizontal flange with an upturned inclined outer ledge. The flange and outer edge define a load supporting surface. The base of the web has an in-turned flange 58. At each end of the vertical web 47 of the runners of the upper platform is located a transverse rod 48 that has projecting free ends that support roller bearings 21, 22 arranged to run in the confines of the rails 23, 24 of the base platform 20. In this manner the upper platform 40 is a rolling fit within the rails of the lower platform 30. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, a bolt 65 extends upwardly within each rail 23,

24 to define the extent of the sliding movement of the upper platform 40 to the base 20. The cantilever overhang is between 700-800mm.

The forward end of the runners 41, 42 of the upper platform 40 supports a cylindrical handle 54 that is axially rotatable. The handle has welded thereto a latch arrangement 55 with a downturned hook 56 so that rotation of the handle can release the hook from contact with the forward transverse beam 30 formed on the base platform 20.

In this manner the hook 56, when locked, prevents outward sliding movement of the upper platform 40 to the base platform 20, but when turned to unlock, allows the upper

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2013205886 16 May 2013 platform 40 to be pulled by the handle 54 outwardly from the support from the base platform 20.

A secondary latch 60 is incorporated into the racking 5 slide 10 to prevent outward displacement of more than one upper platform 40 at a time. A length of racking may support a number of racking slides sides by side along the length of racking. If more than one upper platform is pulled out there is a danger that the whole racking might topple forwards. Consequently the secondary latch 60 is incorporated that can only be released by a release tool 70 secured on a rail 71 to be slideable along the racking and operable to only release one racking slide 10 at a time .

As shown in Figure 7 a beam 61 is positioned across the upper platform 40 between the first and second transverse beams 43, 44. This beam 61 has pivotally secured thereto the latch 60. The latch 60 pivots about a rod 63 secured across upwardly projecting flanges 64, 65.

The latch 60 has an elongate tongue 66 with a triangular detent 67. The latch 62 is supported in a cantilever fashion so that the latch drops down through gravity to impede movement of the upper platform past an abutment 68 on the forward transverse beam of the base platform. The latch 60 is a useful safety device to control the outward movement of the upper platform 40 relative to the base platform 20. The detent 67 is a triangular shape so that it has inclined walls that allow it to ride up the abutment 68 of the base platform 20. The tongue 66 of the latch 60 has a centrally positioned adjusting bolt 69 that can be adjusted to vary the pivotal movement of the latch 60 .

Figure 1 shows racking of this kind incorporating six racking slides 10 that are the subject of this invention. On the underside of each row of racking there is an

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2013205886 16 May 2013 elongate rail 71 spaced below the underside of the racking

10. The rail 71 carries the release tool 70 that has a forwardly projecting handle 72. The handle 72 can be gripped to cause the release tool to slide along the rail

71 to a nominated position underneath any one of a particular row of racking slides 10. The return tool 70 has a T shaped extension 74 with inclined sides 75, 76 on the top of the T.

As shown in Figure 8, when it is desired to pull the upper platform 40 out of the racking 10 the release tool 70 is gripped by the handle 72 and slid along the rail 71 until it is directly underneath the detent 67 of the latch 60 so that the T shaped extension engages the latch 60.

This causes the latch 60 to be pivoted upwardly as shown in Figure 8B, whereby releasing the forward end of the tongue 66 from the abutment 68. In this position, the upper platform 40 can be slid outwardly relative to the base platform 20. There is only one release tool 70 on a particular rail 71, so only one platform 10 can be released at a time. In the normal stored position the latch 60 drops down to the position shown in Figure 8A whereby the tongue 66 abuts the abutment 68 to impede outward movement. This feature ensures that only one slide 10 can be pulled outwardly in the cantilever fashion. It thus substantially reduces the chances of the racking being pulled over.

The relationship between the bearers and the transverse beams of the upper platform is such that the bearers and transverse beams are in the same plane and there is an upturned longitudinal edge on each side with an upturned edge at the rear. The front edge is left open. The spacing of the longitudinally extending edges on the sides of the bearers is arranged to ensure that a pallet fits on the bearing surface.

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The racking slide 10 comes in two sizes namely, a first size to suit a Euro pallet measuring 900 x 1180mm and a second size to suit a Chep pallet, this unit has dimensions of 1180 x 1180mm. The slide is designed to allow either fully loaded pallet to assume a cantilever forward extension from the racking. A Chep pallet is designed to carry 1000kg and a Euro pallet is designed to carry 600kg. The extent of the cantilever overlap is somewhere between 700 and 800mm and provides ready access so that contents of the pallet can be removed without the operator having to climb up or bend into the racking to remove or replace items.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense,

i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A racking slide system comprising at least two racking slides positioned in a side-by-side arrangement

5 and adapted to be securely attached to a racking, each racking slide having a base platform supporting an upper platform that can slide relative to the base platform, wherein the upper platform can extend outwardly of the base platform in a cantilever fashion, and two

10 independently releasable means to prevent sliding of the upper platform relative to the base platform, wherein a first of the releasable means comprises a lock located on each of the upper platforms and a release member slidable between the side-by-side racking slides to engage and

15 release one lock at a time so as to allow only one upper platform to slide at a time.
2. The racking slide system according to claim 1, wherein the release member is slidable to be positioned

20 directly underneath the base platform corresponding to the upper platform to be extended.
3. The racking slide system according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the release member is slidably secured on a

25 rail extending across the underside of the side-by-side base platforms.
4. The racking slide system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the release member comprises a T30 shaped extension for engaging and releasing the lock, and a first handle.
5. The racking slide system according to claim 4 wherein the T-shaped extension includes inclined sides on the top

35 of the T that engages the lock during the sliding motion.
6. The racking slide system according to any one of the

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2013205886 06 Sep 2018 preceding claims, wherein the lock on the upper platform, when not engaged by the release member, prevents outward extension of the upper platform.

5
7. The racking slide system according to claim 6, wherein the lock comprises a tongue that is engageable with an abutment on the base platform, when the lock is not engaged by the release member, to prevent outward extension of the upper platform.
8. The racking slide system according to claim 7, wherein the lock further comprises a detent including inclined walls that allow the lock to ride up the abutment.
9. The racking slide system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second releasable means on the racking slide comprises a latch to prevent the outward sliding of the upper platform.
10. The racking slide system according to claim 9, wherein a forward end of the upper platform has a transverse second handle, the second handle being attached to the latch so that rotation of the second handle

25 relative to the platform effects release of the latch.
11. The racking slide system according to either claim 9 or 10, wherein the latch includes a downturned hook which is engageable to the base platform to prevent the outward

30 sliding of the upper platform.
12. The racking slide system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each base platform has longitudinally spaced rails and each upper platform has

35 rollers that are arranged to run in the rails.
13. The racking slide system according to claim 12

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2013205886 06 Sep 2018

- 10 wherein each rail has a stop that prevents movement of the roller to the rail to define the maximum outward extremity of movement of the upper platform.

5
14. The racking slide system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a three sided rectangular bracket is profiled to embrace a transverse beam of each base platform and is attached to either end of the underside of the base platform whereby when the bracket is secured to

10 the base platform around the transverse beams longitudinal movement of the platform is prevented in either direction.
15. The racking slide system according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the first handle has a forward projecting portion

15 to allow the first handle to be gripped in front of the racking slide.

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2013205886 16 May 2013

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