DE2026781A1 - Article conveyor - Google Patents

Description

DR. BERQ DIPL.-INQ. STAPF

PATENTA N Wm LT E Θ MÜNCHEN 2, HILBLESTRAS8E SO

Attorney's file 19 699 Munich, June 1, 197o

SPERRY RAND CORPORATION New York, N.Y. I00I9 UNITED STATES.

Article conveyor.

The present invention relates to an article conveying device in which the articles, e.g. Conveyors are movable from a storage location to a work station and vice versa.

Article conveying devices are already known with which one or more stored articles can be picked out and put down again. There are too semi-automatic devices known to manually locate and store articles, as in automatic processes, but at a slower rate. Such facilities are used in libraries, department stores and office

009850/0324

file storage systems used, as well as in bank »and Insurance institutions and public institutions, where quick access is stored © «files © in constant problem.

Regardless of the type of law, regardless of whether the retrieval process is automatic, manual or semi-automatic, there is usually a final step that includes the delivery of the item you are looking for to a place of work. person or a machine that carries out the necessary action ₉ e.g. the inspection, use or use in accordance with the Natux of the article visited "In the case of the non-consumable article, the article is then retrieved" it arbitrarily or at a predetermined address _{or similar}

In the German OffeKlegungsscteift 1 802 7CO an article processing and Äyfbraakrungsäfilage is described, in which the articles © of the containers contained by a transport <d®xv @ £ richt4mg vm ®in © ü storage place in a storage rack to a remote. placed workstation or vice versa. Various probes have emerged in such systems in attempting to create a device which is suitable for the rational and convenient handling of the articles when a container is sought out and delivered to the work station. It was found that the change in the manual handling of the containers increases reliability by reducing the number of discarding errors and thereby improving overall efficiency more advantageously only the desired article, for example the document »the

009850/0324

Correspondence folder or the like from the container and keep the removed item available at the workstation. In the In the meantime, the container can be put down again, so that the entire system is free for other desired items Identify containers or otherwise handle them. If the item or items you want are not needed any longer, they are temporarily stored until the system is ready. υ »a To perform a discard operation.

In the German Offenlegungsschrift 1 761 346 a Article conveying device described in which the articles, e.g. correspondence folders, in article containers are housed, which can be moved by means of a »storage location to a work station and vice versa, and which is characterized by» that the Article container on the bottom «have a slot, and there A lifting device is provided at the work station, which has a lifting plate which is inserted into the slot of the Article container can be lifted, un to lift the article partially out of the article container and visible to make them easier to take out and put down again.

It is now the object of the present invention to improve this article conveying device in such a way that prevents that the container is bent out if heavy or bulky articles are used, or that the direction of lifting an article lying against a container wall not to grasp vernag.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that di® Lifting device has at least one lifting finger »titid that means are provided in the container to prevent

«That articles remain between the container wall and the fingers, the HtbtfiÄgnr grips the outer edge of the article, u» lift them up. 00.98-50 / 03.2 *

According to a further feature of the invention is the article conveyor characterized in that the means which prevent articles from getting between the container wall and the lifting finger remain, consist of a number of ribs at the junction between the vertical Container wall and the container bottom are arranged, and have a smooth surface that is in the way of The lower edge of a flat article is »if it is in the immediate vicinity of the vertical container wall in the container is inserted. Due to these ribs, the article can therefore something against the inside of the container at the lower edge be pressed so that © r is always caught by the lifting finger can be.

According to a further feature of the invention is the article conveyor characterized in that the lifting device has a number of lifting fingers, and that the Container is provided with a corresponding number of slots, and that these lifting fingers each have a surface at the at the front and at the rear container wall when the articles are partially lifted, whereby through said Areas of the front and the rear clearance is limited. In contrast to a large opening on The lower part of the container can increase the stability of the container by a number of slots of limited length are less influenced, so that it has greater stability. It is therefore possible to have such a container to be arranged closer to each other in the storage system without touching each other. This creates a significant Saving of space achieved.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the console of a - Article conveyor device.i, at wticher the improved one

Device can be used, 00 9-8 50/0324

Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the container,

2a shows a side view, shown partially in section, in which the ribs arranged in the container are visible are,

3 shows a schematic representation of a conveyor system, which is used in the console shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the workstation of the Article conveyor,

Fig. 5 is a top view of the container and the corresponding fingers at the work station;

Fig. 6 is a partial section through the device of Fig. 4,

7 is a partial section along line 7-7 in FIG Fig. 1, which shows the container containing the article at the work station,

FIG. 8 shows a section corresponding to the view of FIG. 7, but after actuation of the lifting device.

The reference numeral IO in Fig. 1 designates a console, to which the present invention can find application. One or more people can work with console 10 be placed around the item retrieval and storage device to use. As with most item retention and conveyors eventually become the articles led to a processing station, whereupon their processing can take place. The console 10 includes a main part 11 with a work table 12, which extends from the main part

00 9850/0324

extends and serves to facilitate the handling of the removed To facilitate article. The part 13 of the work table 12 extends over a box 14 which has a support leg 15 has, and a storage part 16 with a drawer 17 and an open compartment 18, which is through a Breakthrough in the table 12 is accessible. The other end of the table 11 is also with an opening to A similar compartment is provided with compartments. The main part 11 is supported by a front panel 21, a side plate 22, a foot plate 23 and a top plate

24, all of which are visible in FIG. 1. An invisible back plate completes the finish. The invisible right end of the main body is at least partially open. The reasons for this will become apparent the following description of the funding mechanism.

The console has an opening 25 at the top through which the operator is able to read articles such as documents or the like to remove or store. The opening

25 is large enough to allow an article container 28 to pass through. Next to the opening 25 there is a transparent part 26 that allows the operator to access the adjacent surface of the Inner part 11 makes visible when they are in their normal working position, i.e. sitting or standing nearby of the table 12 is located at the opening 25. The compartment 27 is used to accommodate the electrical circuits and others Components that are required for the device. This circuit © and components include in particular the Keyboard mechanism, the motor control device, the solid-state switching mechanisms, etc., all of which are not directly related to the present invention and therefore cannot be described in detail »

009850/032

Of particular importance is a rectangular container 28, which is shown in FIG. 2 and which is used to transport the articles from and to the access opening 25. The article container 28 consists of an open, box-like compartment defined by the container bottom 30 and the first and second upwardly extending side walls 31 and 32. The side walls 31, 32 are connected with a front wall 34 and a rear wall 35 to form an article receiving container. A flange 36 extends upward from the rear wall 35 and, if necessary, corresponding notch marks, holes, etc. can be made on it. An arbitrarily selected container 28 is in the rest state μ in the access opening 25 of the console 10 (FIG. 1). This container contains a marking flange 36 on which a visible alphabetical or numerical identification or any other marking of the container contents is affixed. The container 28 is moved to the access opening 25 by a conveyor system having conventional conveyor belts, sweaters and drive means therefor. The container 28 has the necessary dimensions which correspond to the dimensions and properties of the articles to be contained. In a corresponding manner, the dimensions of the console are chosen so that it can accommodate the container.

A number of segments or ribs 37, which m the container in order consist of one piece, are arranged at the junction between the upstanding rear wall and the upright front wall 35, 34 and the bottom 30th A detailed view of the ribs in FIG. 2a shows the concave configuration of the surface 38 of the rib 37 in question. However, it would also be possible to make the surface 38 flat. In the illustrated embodiment, two groups of three ribs 37 are shown, which are spaced apart at the junction between the

009850/0326

Rear wall 35 and the bottom 30 are arranged. However, the number of groups of ribs is not critical. Two identical groups of ribs, which are not shown in FIG. In order to complete the Behä'lterkonstruktion two pairs are provided of divergent slots, all of which are referred to by the reference numeral 40th These slots

40 are located in the floor 30 and extend from the rear forward, but without cutting the bottom 30 eu where the Ribs 37 are arranged.

In Fig. 3, a conveyor system is shown schematically, the for the console 10 can be used. The Roman Numbers I, II, III and IV designate the various positions on the way to work © in the selected container » In the position I, the container moves on the conveyor belt 41 to the left. The container is in position II stopped and bridged the rough "! between the conveyor belt

41 and a second conveyor belt 42 "This position corresponds to the position of the container in the access opening, as is shown in Fig. 1 _o How d later when considering the operation © r article conveying device will be described ,, the container moves on the Belt 42 a short distance to the left _s until it is moved on © in the third conveyor belt 43, which moves to the right. The container is then brought from position III to position IV and finally out of the console to the storage location ₉ from which it was originally h @ rka @.

After the arrival of a container 28 in the position II (FIG. 4), a stop 44 "which is shown in a schesian manner" becomes effective to prevent the container 28 from moving to the left. The container 28 now remains in a position where it bridged the space between the conveyor belts 41 and 42

0 09850/0326

The conveyor belt 42 is in the direction of arrow 45 over the rollers 46 and 47 moves, and also the conveyor belt 41 moves in the same direction as this through arrow 48 is displayed. Only one roller 50 of the conveyor belt 41 is shown. However, anyone can any number of drive and intermediate rollers can be used to convey the articles in a known manner. At point II a lifting device is provided, which is located below the conveying path. Appropriate Guide means, which are not shown, are used to move the container in position II lead and hold. For example, the work station can have edges arranged in parallel, around which outer edges of the container bottom in the access opening in the space between the conveyor belts 41 and 42 to carry. Other means of guiding and driving can also be provided, such as support rollers that run idle or driven, inter alia, to grasp the side walls of the container when the front end of the container moves away of the position on the conveyor belt 41 above the roller 50 to the position shown in FIG.

The lifting device comprises two pairs of fingers, generally with the reference numerals 41 and 42 are designated. The finger pairs 41, 42 are mounted on a base plate 53, the can be moved back and forth by a cylinder rod 54 « The piston rod 54 is operated in a conventional manner by means of a valve 55 which cooperates with a cylinder 56, The fingers 51, 52 are mounted on the plate 53, with the preference being given to tuning with the slots 40 with little play, as shown in Fig. 5, which shows a container 28 at rest in the work station, wherein whose position corresponds to the position indicated by the Roman numeral II.

009850/03 2 4

202G781 - ίο -

The lifting device shown in FIGS. 4-6 cooperates with the containers 28 in such a way that flat articles such as ^ B. Correspondence folders, which are housed in the container, are partially highlighted from this. When the container 28 is stopped by the stopper 44 in the position II * engage the driven fingers 51 "52 in the slot © 40ein (Figure" 5) .. In FIG ₀ 7 d @ r container 28 and a number of (in housed) articles 57 shown in the position II before the driven fingers 51, 52 engage in the slots 40 (Fig. 2). 8 shows the position after the fingers 51, 52 have engaged in the slots 40. Each finger 51, 52 has the shape of a ramp and has an inclined plane 58 provided with projections. The angle of the inclined plane of each finger 51, 52 is such that their surfaces together lie in an inclined plane with respect to the bottom 30 of the container 28. Each of the fingers 51, 52 engages in a corresponding slot 40 in the bottom 30 of the desk 28 in such a way that all correspondence apps or flat articles are grasped by at least two fingers. In the middle of the container, the article can be grasped by four fingers in the embodiment shown / The two slits 40 extending from the rear wall 35 end slightly above the middle of the bottom 30 ₉ during two diverging slits that diverge from the center of the 'bottom 30 to the front wall '34 extend somewhat in front of the center, that is, begin at a point that an overlap between the “two diverging pairs” of slots 40 arises. Di @ s is illustrated in Figure "5, where the fingers 5I ₉ 52 are shown in relation to the slots 40 ,, before they are driven upwardly to a number to detect correspondence binders, such as di @ s in Fig. 8 gszeigt is "as was mentioned bnreits _e h @ ben fingers 51 _p 52 in iSarnr-uppermost layer, the correspondence Appsn 57 staggered so that their

'0098 50/0324

ORIGINAL INSPECTED

Tab or the address on the edge is visible, i.e. from the correspondence folder in front of it is not covered. If so desired, the container 28 can be removed from the conveyor belts 41 in this position and 42 are lifted by bringing the lifting plate 53 into contact with the floor 30. As a result, the Conveyor belts 41, 42 continue to run after the container 28 has been lifted without wear and tear on the bottom 30 of the lifted container arises.

It should be noted that the ribs 37 (cf. FIGS. 2, 7 and 8), as shown in Fig. 7, prevent the edges of the correspondence folders 57 from being in the lower corners of the container 28 rest. This ensures that when the correspondence folders 57 are lifted off the serrated surfaces 58, which are located in the vicinity of the container wall, as shown in FIG. 8. One function of the ribs 37 thus consists in causing a correspondence folder 57 which is in contact with the surface 38 a series of ribs 37 comes out by gravity is printed inwards and comes to rest a certain distance from the end of the slots 40. This ensures that that the correspondence folder 57 is always grasped by the fingers 51, 52 when they are guided through the slots 40. The distance between fingers 51, 52 and the inner surfaces the container walls 34, 35 is difficult because of the manufacturing tolerances in the manufacture of the fingers and the slots 40 to eliminate. In addition, an exact fit would cause friction between the container and the fingers, what is not wanted. Thanks to the described design of the container 28, however, there are now large manufacturing tolerances possible without impairing the operation of the device, as will be explained in more detail below. .

009850/0326 ORIGINAL INSPECTED

The operation of the article conveyor described above is best described with reference to the movement of a document or the like in retrieving it in a typical information storage facility. For the purpose of description, it is assumed that the information storage system serves a business in which there is a folder for each customer, which is identified by a strip on which the name of the customer is located. If, for example, an employee ^{needs the "Braun 11} folder" in order to view a certain document in it, she informs the operator at the console. The operator then takes the steps described below. The control device for the console is shown in FIG . 1 schematically illustrated in order to explain the operation of the overall system. This control device comprises a data input keyboard 60, a "Hole ^M push button 61 and eien ^fl Back ^M push button 62 on the part 13 of the work table 12. the control device further comprises on the left side of the table 12, a lifting ^{M M} push button 63 and a drain ^{n n} pushbutton 64 for controlling the lifting device.

The retrieval of a specific correspondence folder is initiated by the introduction of the corresponding data into the keyboard 60. If the folder "Braun ¹ · is to be fetched, this folder is identified by the keyboard and the information can then be stored, or the device (not shown) for retrieval can then be programmed or otherwise prepared depending on the system used.The operator then presses the ^{n get n} button 61, whereupon the selected container is brought by the conveyor belt 41 (see FIG. 3) into position II, where the container hits the stop 44 in the container wXeg is blocked to it in the one shown in FIG

009850/032 *.

To hold position. It would also be possible to use the container 28 manually to position I and / or II. Regardless of the way in which the container is picked out it is then possible, after the desired container has arrived in position II, to open the correspondence folders in the To lift the container 28, which is located in the access opening 25 of the console IO, in a staggered manner, as shown in FIG. 7 will be shown. This lifting operation can be accomplished by pressing the "lifting" button 63. It would also be possible to carry out this operation automatically when the container hits the stop 44. In both In some cases, the same lifting device can be used. The "Braun" correspondence folder is then visible to the operator and can be easily removed. because it already protrudes from the contents of the selected container.

It should be noted that the container by code or other Features on its flange can be identified. For example the letters A to C can be affixed to the strip. As a result, concern those in the container Correspondence folders housed for customers whose gender name begins with the letters A to C. The correspondence folder "Braun" is then ready for removal and can be placed in the storage compartment 20 when it is in storage it is asked for. The container is then lowered again by pressing the button 64. The container can then be in this lowered position (Fig. 1) or, if further use of the console is desired, the container can also be returned to the storage location, from which it can later be retrieved to store documents and / or To store folders. In the system shown, the container is returned by pressing button 62.

009850/0324

202G781

The lifting operation will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings. The conveyor belt 41 conveys the desired container 28 to position II (Fig. 3), whereupon the stop 44 prevents further movement of the container. The lifting fingers 51, 52 are then moved upward to detect the lower edges of the correspondence folders or the like contained in the container 28. In Fig. 7 it is shown how the elevator approaches the lower edges of the correspondence folders 57. The raised position is in Figures 4 and 8 shown. 4 also shows that when the correspondence folders 57 and before covering the last distance of the lifting fingers 51 equipped with a toothed inclined plane 58, 52 the container can be lifted off the conveyor belts 41 and 42 by the plate 53, the container 28 from the Conveyor belts 38 and 40 lifts in that the plate 53 hits the container bottom 30. The latter lifting position is not shown in FIG. This lifting movement is desirable to reduce the wear and tear on the container bottom and the Conveyor belts 41 and 42 to prevent. The conveyor belts 41 and 42 can, if so desired, during the Time in which the correspondence folders 27 are raised in the container 28, as shown in FIG. 8, are moved in the directions 45 and 48.

Conventional waste coolants, e.g. a small switch, can be attached to the stop 44, so that the presence of a container in position III can be determined can then allow the control unit to cooperate with the spool valve mechanism 55. The plate 53 is moves linearly because it is in operative connection with the cylinder via the rod 54. As mentioned earlier, the container 28 can be returned to the storage space by typing a corresponding command on the keyboard of the Console 10 is entered. However, the container can also

009850/032 / »

remain in the access opening 25 of the console IO until the document taken from «has been processed. In this case the transparent window makes it possible the operator to determine whether a later requested article container has arrived and the necessary Demands attention.

Some advantages of the device described are in the the preceding description has been expressly or indirectly set forth. The main advantage is that a plurality of different correspondence folders are automatically presented to the operator in such a way that she can easily read the different addresses. It must therefore be emphasized that the article holder hardly ever needs to be picked up.

Further advantages are the saving of operating time thanks to the reliable accessibility of the documents without interrupting the continuity between the various operations, i.e. the operator can be sure that all documents are visible during each lifting operation will. Another advantage is that the relatively narrow and obliquely arranged container slots avoid difficulties which can occur when the transfer to the storage racks takes place. If the container to be put down is not exactly at the level of the storage rack, there could be no exact match exist. A large transverse slot that is aligned parallel to the edge of the frame can hit the edge of the frame, when the container is pushed onto the rack. Another advantage of the container described without a continuous transverse slot is the resulting rigidity and the elimination of friction edges perpendicular to the transport path along the conveyor belts or rollers.

009850/032 *.

. ₁₆ . 202G781

Summary"

The article conveyor described comprises a improved article container and an improved lifting device. Flat articles are through the container conveyed by means of a conveyor mechanism to the work station, whereupon the articles are lifted so that the this affixed lettering becomes visible. Quick access to any article within the visited one Container is made easier by the new container construction, which prevents incorrect functioning of the lifting mechanism. An embodiment of the article conveying device is suitable for use in an information storage and retrieval device which is used in US Pat German Offenlegungsschrift 1 802 700 is described, in which box-shaped containers to a work station and be transported back by this. As previously shown and described, any container can be used in order to hold folders which contain a certain content of documents and which have a common labeling strip. The bottom of each container contains one or more slots suitable to receive cooperating fingers extending from one Extend the lifting device at the workstation upwards. The fingers engage in the slots and have an or several inclined surfaces which are serrated to sequentially grip the lower edges of the correspondence folders.

So when a container has been moved to the work station, the lifter will extend the fingers through the slots ° including e.g. the correspondence folders arranged in containers co grasp and with it the corresponding labeling strips cn to make visible in staggered form. This enables ^. quick location and access to the contents of the container without ^ That this container would have to be removed from its position at the workstation ^. The design of the guide means ! ■ The container prevents the lifting device from working incorrectly, i.e. the fingers grip all the items if these were somewhat imprecisely aligned when they were put down.

Claims (1)

Claims Article conveying device in which / the articles, e.g. correspondence folders, are accommodated in article containers which can be moved by conveyors from a storage location to a work station and vice versa, the article container having at least one slot on the bottom and at least one lifting device being provided at the work station, which can be lifted into the slot in order to partially lift the articles out of the article container and thereby make them visible so that they can be easily removed and. are stored back can "| rdadurch in that the lifting means which prevent the at least one lifting finger (51, 52) and that provided in the container (28) means (37) that articles between the container wall (34, 35) and the Fingers (51, 52) remain when the finger (51, 52) grips the lower edge of the article (57) in order to lift it. 2. Article conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that that means that prevent articles from remaining between the container wall and the finger a number of ribs (37) exist at the junction between the vertical container wall (34, 35) and the container bottom (30) are arranged, and have a smooth surface (38) which is in the way of the lower edge of a flat article (57) is located when this is in the immediate Near the vertical container wall (34, 35) is inserted into the container ^. 3: Article conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lifting device has a number of Fingers (51, 52) and that the container (28) is provided with a corresponding number of slots (40) 009850/032 is, and that these fingers (51, 52) have an area next to the front and rear container walls (34, 35) when the articles (57) are partially lifted, wherein the front and rear clearance is limited by said surfaces. 4. Article conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that that two pairs of diverging slots (40) are provided in the container bottom (30), whereby the bottom edge of each of the. said flat article (57) can extend over at least two slots (40). 5. Article conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that that each finger (51, 52) has a surface which is inclined towards the container bottom (30) in order to enter the corresponding slot (40) penetrate at an angle, wherein the fingers (51, 52) are able to the lower edges to grasp the article (57) and to stagger the upper edges visibly when the article (57) is partially lifted. 6. Article conveying device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the container (28) has a bottom (30), a front wall (34), a rear wall (35) and two side walls (31, 32) which are connected to one another, to hold the articles (57) upright between the side walls (31, 32) so that the slot (40) in the bottom (30) extends approximately transversely to the front wall (34) and rear wall (35), and that ribs at a distance from one another (37) are provided where the bottom (30) and the vertical front wall (34) or the vertical rear wall (35) to one another butt, so that an article (57) located in the vicinity of the front wall (34) or the rear wall (35) of the Front wall (34) or rear wall (35) is kept at a distance. 009850/0324 7. Article conveyor according to claim 6, characterized in that the slot (40) in the vicinity of the Connection between the bottom (30) and the vertical front wall. (34) or rear wall (35) ends, and so one Forms stop, and that the ribs consist of a number of segments (37), each of which extends from the front extends rearward and comprises part of the surface of the floor (30), the horizontal part of the Segment (37) extends beyond said stop. 8. Article conveyor according to claim 2, characterized in that the smooth surface (38) of the ribs (37) is concave. 9. Article conveyor device according to claim 3, characterized in that two pairs of slots (40) are arranged such that the one pair of slots (40) of the front container wall (34) extends towards the container center, and the other pair of slots (40) down from it the middle of the container to the rear container wall (35) extends, the two approximately in the middle of the container Pairs overlap without touching. 27.5.70 0-2-481 CAR / ral 009850/032 / »