AU2017215906A1

AU2017215906A1 - Operational storage means with at least one drawer

Info

Publication number: AU2017215906A1
Application number: AU2017215906A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joel Brunschwiler; Franz Oberhänsli
Original assignee: Lista AG
Current assignee: Lista AG
Priority date: 2016-02-03
Filing date: 2017-02-01
Publication date: 2018-09-27
Also published as: ES2767277T3; EP3203148A1; PL3203148T3; WO2017133839A1; KR20190030639A; DK3203148T3; CN109477632A; CA3015920A1; PT3203148T; CN109477632B; EP3203148B1; HUE047838T2

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a capability for operational storage means, such as drawer cabinets (1) for example, wherein optically perceivable state and status information can be displayed on drawers (3) with less technical complexity than before by means of said capability. Such an operational storage means, which has a body (2) or a frame for receiving drawers (3), wherein guide means are provided with which drawers can be pulled out and retracted and at least one optical display means is provided, by means of which signals relating to state information of the drawers (3) can be displayed in an optically perceivable manner, said signals being provided by a controller of the operational storage means, is provided with at least one light-emitting means which is operatively connected to the controller of the operational storage means in order to supply signals, said light-emitting means being arranged on the frame or body (2) of the operational storage means. The at least one light-emitting means of the at least one drawer can be activated and deactivated by means of signals provided by the controller, and drawer display means are provided by means of which light transmitted in the direction of the drawer (3) from the light-emitting means in a contactless manner can be brought to the drawer (3) in order to be displayed.

Description

OPERATIONAL STORAGE MEANS WITH AT LEAST ONE DRAWER

The invention relates to an operational storage means, in particular a drawer cabinet, which has a body or a frame for receiving drawers, wherein guide means are provided, by means of which drawers can be pulled out and retracted, wherein at least one optical display means is provided, by means of which signals relating to state information of the drawer provided by a controller of the operational storage means can be optically displayed.

In particular in the area of the industrial production, objects, which represent a high value, have to often be stored temporarily. These can be tools, measuring means, components and the like, the value of which can easily represent a four- or even five-digit Euro amount. However, there is a trend that such objects are increasingly removed from operational storage means, such as for example storage cabinets, even from factories and workrooms, the entry of which is limited to certain groups of people. The companies suffer very significant financial damages through this.

This is one of the reasons why tool cabinets have already been developed, the entry of which is controlled via an entry or access authorization system, respectively. Entire cabinets and individual drawers are to thereby be capable of being blocked or released from a central location. Due to the fact that the drawer are generally divided by means of dividing means and different stored goods with different access authorizations can be present in the individual compartments of the drawers, frames for covering drawers are also offered, the size of which corresponds exactly to the respective drawer surface. The frame is to be attached to the drawer from the top and is to be fastened thereto. It has a matrix-shaped structure and has an opening, which can be accessed from the top and which can be closed and released by means of a pivotable flap, for each compartment of the respective drawer. A release request button, by means of which a higher-ranking access release device can request a release for opening the certain flap or a flap can be opened, respectively, is assigned to each flap on the frame. As a function of the regulation relating to the right of individual users to access individual compartments, which is stored in the access authorization device, the closing device of the corresponding drawer and of the corresponding flap of the drawer is then unlocked or the lock is maintained.

Applicant's product range already includes drawer cabinets and other operational storage means, which are based on drawers, in the case of which state or status information relating to individual drawers are displayed on the front side. Such status information can in particular - but not exclusively - be release information relating to the corresponding drawer and compartments inside this drawer. However, the current solution has the disadvantage of a high technical complexity as a result of the required wiring complexity, in the case of which cables and/or sliding contacts have to be installed all the way into the drawer, so that power and signals are available at the drawers .

The invention is thus based on the object of providing a capability for operational storage means of the abovementioned type, by means of which optically perceivable state and/or status information can be displayed on drawers with less technical complexity than before.

In the case of an operational means of the above-mentioned type, this object is solved according to the invention by means of at least one light-emitting means, which is operatively connected to the controller of the operational storage means in order to supply signals, and which is arranged on the frame or body of the operational storage means, wherein the at least one light-emitting means of the at least one drawer can be activated and deactivated by means of signals provided by the controller, and wherein drawer display means are provided, by means of which light transmitted/sent in the direction of the at least one drawer from the light-emitting means in a contactless manner can be brought to the drawer in order to be displayed.

Information can be displayed in an optically perceivable manner on at least one drawer, which can be retracted and pulled out, by means of such a solution with low technical complexity and by means of a type of indirect illumination, using at least one stationary light-emitting means. The at least one light-emitting means should thus preferably be oriented in such a way that at least one drawer display means and/or at least one light guide means, as it is described in claim 13, is arranged within an angle of radiation of the light-emitting means in the retracted state of the drawer.

A preferred embodiment of the invention can also be characterized by a plurality of light-emitting means, which are arranged on the frame or body of the operational storage means and which are in each case assigned to only one of a plurality of drawers. With this, it is also possible with low technical complexity, to supply information signals and/or status signals to be optically perceived by people to each drawer, independent of other drawer, without the light-emitting means having to be arranged on one of the drawers.

It is also preferred when the at least one light-emitting means, which is arranged on the frame or on the body, is directed to at least one drawer display means, which is arranged on one of the drawers, so that light emitted by the light-emitting means can be displayed as optically perceivable signal on the drawer on the drawer display means thereof.

A preferred further development of the invention can provide that the light-emitting means are arranged at least approximately vertically one behind the other. Such a solution can be realized for example by means of a costefficient LED strip, in the case of which individual LEDs can be combined in a component and can be switched by the controller, if possible independently of one another. In the context of the present invention, however, LEDs are also suitable as light-emitting means independently of embodiments, in the case of which a plurality of lightemitting means is combined as LED strip. The invention thus also captures preferred embodiments with a plurality of LEDs, which are arranged separately from one another, however, or also other light-emitting means.

A short distance between the at least one light-emitting means and a suitable location of the respective drawer for the at least one display means on the drawer, which is particularly favorable for a contactless transmission of the light, can be realized for example in that the at least one light-emitting means is arranged in the area of a front opening of the frame or body, from which the drawers can be pulled out of the frame or body and can be retracted. The same advantage results in the case of an advantageous further development of the invention, in the case of which light-emitting means are located directly opposite front faces of handle strips of the drawers when the drawers are retracted.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that light-emitting means are arranged on at least one inner side of the opening of the frame or of the body. With this measure, it is possible with small technical complexity to direct light-emitting means with their emission direction to the respective drawer and to thereby indirectly illuminate the respective drawer. It can also contribute to this when light-emitting means are preferably arranged on the at least one inner side at a distance to an opening-side front face of the body or of the frame.

The at least one light-emitting means can be arranged in the area of an undercut or of a recess of an inner surface of the opening of the body or of the frame - with regard to a retracting direction of the at least one drawer. This undercut or such a recess, respectively, can preferably be located at a location, which is located opposite at least one drawer front or a handle of this drawer in the retracted state of the drawer. With such an embodiment, it is possible to realize that the at least one light-emitting means itself cannot be perceived by a user or can barely be perceived. In the case of such preferred embodiments of the invention, a user perceives only, or mainly the light emitted by the light-emitting means onto the drawer front or the handle strip thereof and the light, which is then reflected therefrom then or which is displayed otherwise, and the information associated therewith, when the lightemitting means is activated.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the at least one light-emitting means either guides the light directly to the drawer front or indirectly to the drawer front via light-guiding means. A handle element, for example a handle strip, which is provided for handling the drawer by a user in response to pulling the drawer out of the cabinet body and in response to retracting the drawer into the cabinet body, is to also be considered to be a part of the drawer front in this context, even if the handle element is a separate component or a separate assembly. The information relating to or with regard to the corresponding drawer, respectively, which is thus displayed by the respective light-emitting means by means of contactless transmission of the light or of the light signals, respectively, can be read as optically perceivable information on the respective drawer front.

At least a doubling of the optical information and signals, which can be transferred to the drawers, can be attained in the case of a further preferred embodiment of the invention according to the invention, in the case of which the lightemitting means are arranged on two different, in particular opposite sides of the opening on the frame or body of the operational storage means.

In the alternative or in addition, an increase of the number of different pieces of optical information, which can in each case be displayed on a drawer, can also be attained in that light-emitting means are used, which can emit light in different colors. In a further embodiment according to the invention - as an alternative or in addition to the above-described options - different pieces of optical information can also be attained in particular with the same light-emitting means by means of different flashing patterns, which are generated by this lightemitting means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, means can be provided on at least one of the drawers, by means of which optical signals transmitted in a contactless manner to the drawer can be transferred from a receiving location of the optical signal on the drawer to another location of the drawer, in particular by means of at least one light guide element arranged on the drawer or its handle strip. Such a preferred embodiment of the invention can in particular have a transparent handle strip, to the at least one front face of which - in the retracted state of the drawer and in the activated state of the lightemitting means - the light of the light-emitting means is directed and the light is introduced into the handle strip, in particular in a contactless manner. The light can hereby be displayed at any point of the handle strip and the corresponding information can thus be displayed. It goes without saying that partially transparent or nontransparent handle strips can also be provided instead of transparent ones.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention follow from the claims, the description, and the drawing.

The invention will be described in more detail by means of the exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in a purely schematic manner in the Figures.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a drawer cabinet according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional illustration of the drawer cabinet from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a partially cut sectional illustration of a corner area of the drawer cabinet from Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a drawer cabinet 1, as it is mostly common for the storage of operating and production means, as well as for tools in the area of the production or of the trade. The drawer cabinet 1 has a body 2, which is made of metallic sheets. Each of the drawers 3 is provided with drawer pullouts 4, for example so-called full pullouts, which are constructed like a telescope. Individual drawers 3 can be pulled out of the body 2 and can be retracted back into the body 2 again by means of the drawer pullouts, which are known per se.

The drawer cabinet 1 can be provided with an access authorization device as well as with an individual pull-out protection. A simultaneous pull-out of more than one drawer

- and thus also a risk of tilting as a result of too many pull-out drawers 3 - can be prevented by means of the individual pull-out protection. It can be determined, preferably in a changeable manner, by means of the access authorization device, which drawers 3 are released for a pull-out from the body 2, and which drawers 3 are blocked for a pull-out. Different access authorizations can be present and can preferably be set so as to be capable of being changed for different users and/or groups of users. The respective data relating to access authorizations are stored in a controller of the drawer cabinet 1 and/or a joint controller of a plurality of drawer cabinets 1 so as to be capable of being changed. Both the access authorization device and the individual pull-out protection can access the same locking mechanism, by means of which a drawer 3 and/or a group of drawers 3 of the drawer cabinet 1 can be blocked separately from other drawer 3 against being pulled out. For this purpose, a tab arranged in the area of the rear side of the respective drawer can for example cooperate with a locking profile arranged in the area of the rear-side wall of the body (not illustrated in the Figures). A drawer 3, which is retracted into the body 2, hereby engages with the locking profile and, depending on the position of the locking profile, the latter can seize or engage behind, respectively, or release the tab in a positive manner, so that the tab and thus the drawer, which belongs to the respective tab, is blocked against The present invention is not limited to mechanical locking or release by being pulled out. this type of a individual principle, an

On here , pull-out protection as described the invention can be used with any individual pull-out protection and any access authorization device. In addition, it is also possible to use the invention without an individual pull-out protection.

As is illustrated in Figs. 1-3, a vertically oriented row 8 of light-emitting diodes 9 is in each case arranged on the body 2 in the area of the front ends of the two side walls 6, 7. In the exemplary embodiment, the light-emitting diodes 9, which are each arranged on one side of the drawers 3, are each embodied as one-piece LED strip 10 or LED band, which is preferably located in a protective tube or a protective cover for protection against damages. Instead of light-emitting diodes 9 as light-emitting means, any other type of light-emitting means can also be provided, for example light bulbs and/or luminous foils. The light-emitting diodes 9 are located on inner sides of the edges 14 of the opening of the body 2, with which the body 2 edges the front sides 3a of the retracted drawers 3. In each of the two rows 8 of the light-emitting diodes, which are oriented substantially parallel to one another and vertically, each light-emitting diode 9 can be activated and deactivated, independently of the other light-emitting diodes 9 of this row 8 by a controller of the drawer cabinet 1 by means of corresponding signals. Each light-emitting diode 9 of each of the two LED rows 8 is hereby only assigned to one drawer 3 and is thus in each case located directly opposite a front face of the drawer 3, which is in each case assigned thereto. The total of at least two light-emitting diodes 9 for each drawer 3 (one light-emitting diode each on each front face 20 of the handle strip 21) can also be operated independently of one another. It is thus in particular possible to simultaneously signal two different pieces of information relating to or with regard to the drawer, respectively, by means of the LEDs for each drawer 3, for example no access possible or outside of the operating hours. In addition, it is also possible to use the invention without an individual pull-out protection. In other exemplary embodiments, only a total of one row 8 of light-emitting means or also a plurality of rows 8 of light-emitting means can in each case be provided on one or on both sides.

In other embodiments of the invention, a different number of light-emitting means can likewise also be provided per drawer, in particular at least two light-emitting means on at least one or both of the front faces of the drawers.

In embodiments of the invention, it can likewise also be provided that at least one light-emitting means is in each case provided only on one front face of the drawers. In each of the conceivable embodiments of the invention according to the invention, light-emitting means other than LEDs can also be provided, different types of lightemitting means, for example light bulbs and/or luminous foils can likewise also be used in another embodiment.

According to the preferred embodiment of Fig. 3, the LED strip 10 is arranged in an undercut 22 of the front-side frame of the body 2, so that the LED strip 10 is largely covered from the outside and is not or barely visible, respectively. As is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the LEDs 9 of the LED strip are in each case located directly opposite the front faces 20 of the handle strips 21 of the drawers. A handle strip cover 23 is attached to every front face 20 of the handle strip 21. The handle strip cover 23 can have a surface 24, which points to the respective LED and which is arranged at a slight distance to the LED, so that the LED, which is assigned to the handle strip cover 23, releases and emits its light emission in the direction of the surface 24 of the handle strip cover 23, at least among others. The surface 24 of the handle strip cover 23, which is irradiated by the respective LED is thus illuminated and can be perceived as such by a user of the drawer cabinet. In this exemplary embodiment, handle strip covers 23 of the drawers have the function of drawer display means, which display the emitted light on the respective drawer. Due to the fact that the respective LED signals certain information, such as, for example, an existing access authorization for this drawer, or interference, or expiration of the access time, a user can read this optically perceivable information on the corresponding front face 20 of the handle strip 21 or can gather it therefrom, respectively. To improve the detectability of the optical signal on the front face 20 of the respective handle strip 21, the front face 20 can be provided with (particularly strongly) reflective material. An inclination or a curvature of the surface 24 front face 20 could likewise be provided, so that the light sent by the respective LED to the front face does not hit along an optical axis, which is oriented orthogonally to the surface of the front face, and the incoming light is reflected forward in front of the drawer 3 - with respect to front side 3a of the drawer 3.

In a further, non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, LEDs or other light-emitting means are in turn arranged in the area of the opening of the body. Here, the LEDs also emit light in the direction of the front faces of handle strips of the drawers, which are in each case assigned thereto, wherein the light-emitting means are operated by the respective controller, thus activated and deactivated. In contrast to the above-described embodiment of the invention, however, the light hitting the front face of the respective handle strip is not reflected from there, but is guided into the handle strip from the front face of the handle strip. At least a partial area of the handle strip can be designed to be transparent by it, so that the light introduced into the handle strip can be recognized or can be optically perceived, respectively, from the outside. In addition, it can be provided that light guide means are present in or on the handle strip, by means of which light can be guided into an area in the direction towards the center or the opposite other front face of the respective drawer, so as to be displayed on any, yet predetermined location of the handle strip or of the drawer front. The light generated by the light-emitting means can be transmitted in a contactless manner hereby and can also be displayed at locations, which are located far away from the respective light-emitting element, on the drawer or the handle strip thereof, respectively. The handle strip can hereby likewise also be illuminated across its entire length, if applicable.

In other embodiments according to the invention, a different element of the drawer, in particular of the drawer front, instead of a front face of a handle strip, can also be illuminated by at least one light-emitting means, which is arranged laterally on the body frame. Instead of an introduction of light into a handle strip, light can likewise be introduced into a different element arranged on the drawer, through which the respective light can be identified from the outside as belonging to the respective drawer. A light guide element, by means of which light from the light-emitting means, which is not arranged on the drawer, is received and this light is transferred to any location of the drawer front, so as to be displayed at that location, can additionally also be arranged on the front face, instead of in or on the handle strip. Finally, the light originating from one or plurality of lightemitting elements can also be emitted to the front side of the respective drawer itself, in order to provide optically perceivable signals there for transmitting information relating to the respective drawer.

In each of the embodiments according to the invention, in particular in the case of the above-described embodiments, more than only one light-emitting element can also be provided, if necessary. At least two or more light guide elements can in each case be assigned to one drawer in particular on at least one or more or all drawers. The display of different information can hereby be assigned to each light guide element, such as, for example, outside of the operating hours. To better differentiate the different information, different light guide elements of one drawer can emit light in different colors. In addition or in the alternative, it can be provided that a light guide element displays different light signals in order to display different information, for example flashing patterns with different activation and/or deactivation times and/or different brightness, changeable brightness, color change, in particular continuous and/or hard color changes.

In further exemplary embodiments according to the invention, only a frame can be provided instead of a body, for example a frame, which belongs to a shelf. All of the above-described features and characteristics of the abovedescribed preferred embodiments of the invention can also be provided in the case of such embodiments, either in part or completely.

List of Reference Numerals

1	drawer cabinet	21	handle strip
2	body	22	undercut
3	drawers	23	handle strip cover
3a	front side	24	surface
4	drawer pullout
6	side wall
7	side wall
8	row
9	light-emitting diodes	(LED)
10	LED strips
14	edge
20	front face

- 14WO 2017/133839 Al

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. An operational storage means, in particular a drawer cabinet (1), which has a body (2) or a frame for receiving at least one drawer (3), wherein guide means are provided, by means of which the at least one drawer can be pulled out and retracted, wherein at least one optical display means is provided, by means of which signals relating to state information of the at least one drawer provided by a controller of the operational storage means can be optically displayed, characterized by at least one light-emitting means, which is operatively connected to the controller of the operational storage means in order to supply signals, and which is arranged on the frame or body (2) of the operational storage means, wherein the at least one light-emitting means of the at least one drawer (3) can be activated and deactivated by means of signals provided by the controller, and wherein drawer display means are provided as optical display means, by means of which light transmitted/sent in the direction of the drawer (3) from the light-emitting means in a contactless manner can be brought to the drawer in order to be displayed.
2. The operational storage means according to claim 1, characterized by a plurality of light-emitting means, which are arranged on the frame or body (2) of the operational storage means and which are in each case assigned to only one of a plurality of drawers (3).
3. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one light-emitting means, which is arranged on the frame or on the body (3), is directed to at least one drawer display means, which is arranged on one of

- 15the drawers (3) , so that light emitted by the lightemitting means can be displayed as optically perceivable signal on the drawer (3).
4. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light-emitting means are at least approximately arranged vertically one behind the other.
5. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light-emitting means are arranged in the area of a front opening of the frame or body (2), from which the drawers (3) can be pulled out of the frame or body (2) and can be retracted.
6. The operational storage means according to claim 5, characterized in that light-emitting means are arranged at least on an inner side of the opening of the frame or of the body (2).
7. The operational storage means according to claim 6, characterized in that light-emitting means are arranged on the at least one inner side at a distance to an opening-side front face of the body (2) or of the frame.
8. The operational storage means according to at least one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that lightemitting means are arranged on two opposite sides, in particular inner sides, of the body opening on the frame or body (2) of the operational storage means.
9. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light-emitting means are located directly opposite

- 16front faces of handle strips (21) of the drawers when the drawers (3) are retracted.
10. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light is directed by at least one light-emitting means either as emitted light to the front of the drawer, which is assigned to the light-emitting means, or can be guided to the front side of the drawer (3) via light guide means.
11. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light-emitting means are embodied as LEDs (9).
12. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of light-emitting means, which are embodied as LED strips (10), wherein the LED strip (10) is arranged on the frame or body (3) and extends in the vertical direction along a plurality of drawers (3) arranged on top of one another, preferably of all drawers .
13. The operational storage means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one lightguiding element, which is assigned to a drawer (3), preferably only to one drawer, and which is provided to introduce a light emitted by the light-emitting means into a drawer front and/or into a handle strip (21) .
14. The operational storage means according to claim 13, characterized in that the light-guiding element is arranged on the drawer front and/or on the handle strip .

- 1715. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a transparent handle strip (21), to the at least one front face of which, in the retracted state of the drawer (3) and in the activated state of the lightemitting means, the light thereof is directed.
16. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that light-emitting means, by means of which light in different colors can be emitted so as to display different information by means of different colors, are in each case assigned to drawers (3).
17. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by lightemitting means, which can be placed into at least one flashing mode, preferably into different flashing modes, in order to provide information.
18. The operational storage means according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light-emitting means is arranged in the area of an undercut or of a recess of an inner surface of the opening of the body (2) or of the frame.