EP0304752B1 - Stacking device for hot plates and method of using it - Google Patents

Abstract

For the stacking of electric hot-plates (2) for transport, storage and assembly purposes, the stacking device has pallet plates (10), which are to be arranged one above the other in stack layers and can be stacked directly inside one another for storage, in the form of deep-drawn plastic plate parts with flat trays (19) which are arranged in a grid, receive the lower part of an electric hot-plate (2) in a centred manner, projecting in each case over the open side with the cooking surface (4), and are supported in relation to the cooking surfaces of the adjacent stack layer via an anti-slip device (31), but otherwise without contact. By this means, a very large number of hot-plates (2) can be held securely in the same alignment on one bearing pallet, protected by a packaging cover, and can thus be stacked for good access during assembly. According to an assembly method which can be carried out fully automatically using programmable handling tools, the hot-plates (2) required in each case are set down aligned in an inverted position, then an installation plate is plugged on in the inverted position and secured with a tensioning part in relation to the hot-plates, after which the connection members (33) of the hot-plate (2) are connected, if appropriate by spot weld connections, to a connection piece for connection leads and the assembled installation plate thus formed is fed to a stack. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a hotplate stacking aid for electric hotplates. According to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for their use (claim 8).

Such stacking aids are known from EP-A-180 752.

Stacking aids of this type, which can have different stacking inserts for the structural units to be stacked one above the other and possibly next to one another, generally serve as aids in order to ensure that the stacked structural units stand securely and to keep them at a sufficient distance from one another.

In the case of electric hot plates, according to EP-A-180 752, ring-shaped stacking members have been used so far in plan view, which are designed so that they can each receive two hotplates facing each other in reverse orientation, the stacking members of adjacent stacking columns not being directly connected to one another are.

Although this has given good results for certain types of hotplates, in particular those with the central bolt and the connecting block projecting above the underside, essentially every other hotplate has to be turned into the desired starting position for assembly.

Stacking aids are also known, in particular, for objects other than electric hotplates, namely for objects with a significantly lower weight. For example, FR-A-20 65 457 shows profile plates which are to be arranged between stack layers and have shell-like depressions for receiving air filters. Since there is only a very limited support of the respective profile plate with respect to the stacking layer underneath, such a design is not suitable for heavier objects, such as electric hot plates.

This also applies to a profile plate which has become known from EP-A-194 405 as an intermediate layer for stacking yarn packages, in which the supporting surfaces which transmit the weight on both sides of the plate are offset from one another transversely to the plane of the plate and would be compressed under great weight.

The invention has for its object to provide a hotplate stacking aid of the type mentioned, with which the hotplates can be stacked so that most or all of the hotplates are provided in the same orientation, that is, either with the cooking surface above or below, in the stack .

This object is achieved in a hotplate stacking aid of the type mentioned according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Intermediate links or flat shells are provided to form the support surfaces, which can act in the manner of ring-shaped stack members and easily ensure a centering adapted to the upper or lower circumference of the respective hotplate. Adjacent adjacent flat shells are expediently connected to one another by their bond in the common pallet plate, so that the stacking columns standing in the area of a pallet plate are directly connected to one another in the associated stacking layer, so that they are directly connected to one another against transverse or tilting forces, in particular, occurring as tensile forces.

Superimposed flat shells or pallet plates, which can be of the same or different design, are preferably supported against one another completely without contact, essentially only by mediating the hot plates lying between them, although an almost slightly supportive contact of stacked pallet plates in the areas between the flat shells and / or in The edge area of the pallet plates is conceivable, for example in such a way that in each case one pallet plate forms a lid for the adjacent pallet plate or the one in between intended hotplates are in a room that is essentially completely sealed off from the outside and can thus be protected against the ingress of atmospheric moisture. However, each flat pan is expediently in centering engagement with only a single hotplate, wherein flat shells or hotplates lying one on top of the other can lie coaxially over the entire height of the associated stacking column. If the flat shells are approximately the same size or larger than the height of the hotplate, then individual, essentially mutually closed receiving chambers can each be formed for one, two or more hotplates in the interaction of two stacked pallet plates.

It is conceivable to form adjacent flat shells by separate components and to connect them to one another by, for example, releasable connecting members, such as snap members lying in their planes, so that very space-saving storage or a corresponding transport state can be achieved.

Due to the design according to the invention, the hotplate bodies of the superimposed electric hotplates are subjected to pressure under the stack pressure over their entire height, namely between the lower ring end face of an outer flange edge and the cooking surface, so that even the lowest stack pressure is exposed to the greatest stack pressure even with a very large stack height Hot plates are not overloaded and, if necessary, already attached to them, panel-like profile support rings made of sheet metal or the like. completely unencumbered, namely remaining essentially exposed. The bottom of the shell of at least one flat shell of at least one pallet plate, which is supported with its bottom outside on the cooking surface or the underside of the bottom of the adjacent hot plate, which is adjacent in the vertical direction, expediently has an anti-slip device that passes through the smooth or continuously flat surface or, for example, a support surface profiled with protruding knobs and possibly formed by an additional, layer-shaped insert with a high coefficient of friction.

The side of the pallet plate facing away from the shell openings can be essentially continuously flat, so that the pallet plate has different wall thicknesses and a relatively high rigidity, but it is particularly expedient if the pallet plate is designed to be elastically resiliently flexible in such a way that Moving adjacent flat shells against each other in an articulated manner and resiliently deforming in such a way that they adapt themselves under the stack pressure to ensure constant specific surface pressures in the area of their supporting surfaces. In particular, in the case of such a design, for example formed by a deep-drawn plastic plate of approximately 1 mm in thickness, it is also possible in a simple manner to design the pallet plates to be stacked in an interlocking manner so that the associated stacking height multiplies the number of stacked pallet plates by their wall thickness plus the thickness or height of a pallet plate. This means that the pallet plates can be transported in a space-saving manner for reuse after the hot plates have been removed.

In order to be able to support the entire stack, which, for example, contains a total of between 384 and 768 hot plates with a total weight of up to one ton in approximately 32 stack layers of approximately 12 to 24 hot plates in each case, in a particularly stable manner and to be able to move it safely in road transport, a stable one is expedient Carrying pallet provided, which can be formed for example by a so-called. EURO pallet or a pool pallet. For this purpose, it is also advantageous if the top of the stack is braced against the bottom of the stack in addition to the dead weight stack pressure is, for which purpose a grate plate is expediently placed on the top of the stack, which is braced with tension members, for example bands surrounding the stack, against the top plate grate of the carrying pallet. After removing the hot plates, the stacked pallet plates can be placed on the carrying pallet and clamped between the grate plate placed thereon and the carrying pallet for the return transport.

To protect against contamination, a packaging sleeve which accommodates the pallet stack is expediently provided, which can be formed by a cardboard container with a lid which can be lifted up on the carrying pallet, so that it can easily be removed completely by destruction and the stack of hot plates can thereby be exposed in an easily accessible manner. The cardboard container can also be preserved or emptied undamaged.

According to the invention, a method for assembling electric hotplates is also proposed, which can be used in particular using the stacking aid described, but also where the hotplates are delivered in a different arrangement. In order to enable an essentially fully automated assembly of a built-in plate to be built into the top of a table top or a stove housing as a structural unit with the aid of handling machines, it is proposed to remove the respective hotplate from its ready state with a handling machine and, if necessary, under it To be turned so that the cooking surface lies downwards so that it can be placed in a proper mounting position on a wing formed, for example, by an assembly table, both with regard to its position in a surface area and with regard to its rotational position with respect to its central axis. On the electric hotplate then aligned with the underside facing upwards, in usually together with other hotplates intended for installation in the mounting plate, the mounting plate is plugged in in the top position so that its mounting opening or mounting openings comes from the underside of the hotplate or the hotplates into the intended engagement, in which the one below The top of the mounting plate rests adjacent to the mounting openings on the supporting edges of the support rings of the hot plates. Thereupon, a clamping part can be placed on the underside of the mounting plate from above, which, for example, has a fastening or engaging element in a central pin of the respective hotplate. Bolt is fully automatically clamped between the hotplate or between all hotplates and the mounting plate in such a way that the support ring or rings are resiliently clamped against the underside of the top of the mounting plate. Possibly. Before placing or tensioning the clamping part, but especially afterwards, electrical connecting elements, which are expediently provided on the underside of each hotplate in the form of pins lying parallel to one another, are fully automatically connected to a single common or several separate connecting pieces for connecting lines, for which purpose the connecting piece is approximately parallel can be brought up to the level of the underside of the respective hotplate at the connection members thereof until, during this movement, it comes into self-threading, electrically conductive engagement with the connection members and is carried by them. Since the mounting plate and the clamping part can also be placed fully automatically with handling machines, assembly is very simple and safe.

The removal of the completely assembled mounting plate from the wing and its feeding to a mounting plate stack can also be carried out fully automatically using handling machines. The mounting plate can be formed, for example, by a profile plate made of sheet metal, but also made of tempered glass exist, in which case the hot plates can be designed in the manner of radiant heaters, the cooking surface of which is formed by the hard glass plate.

So that the hotplate to be removed from the stack and its orientation can be easily recognized with a sensor influencing the handling machine, markings can be provided in the stack or in each stacking layer for the respective hotplate, for example in the form of holes on the edge of the Pallet plate arranged or attached directly to the respective hotplate. Furthermore, it is conceivable to drive the respective hotplate stack, possibly after removing the packaging casing, into the assembly position with an automatically controlled trolley to the assembly machine having the handling machines. Due to the design according to the invention, sufficient stability of the stack can be ensured even during an emergency stop.

Fig. 1

einen mit erfindungsgemäßen Stapelhilfen aufgebauten Kochplatten-Stapel im teilweise geschnittenen Transportzustand;

Fig. 2

eine Palettenplatte des Stapels gemäß Fig. 1 in Draufsicht;

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch die Palettenplatte gemäß Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt der Fig. 3 in vergrößerter Darstellung mit angedeuteten Kochplatten;

Fig. 5 bis 10

einzelne, aufeinanderfolgende Montagephasen beim Zusammenbau einer Einbauplatte mit Elektro-Kochplatten.

These and further features of preferred developments of the invention are evident from the claims and also from the description and the drawings, the individual features being implemented individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations in one embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and can represent advantageous and protectable versions for which protection is claimed here. Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a hotplate stack constructed with stacking aids according to the invention in the partially cut transport state;

Fig. 2

a pallet plate of the stack of Figure 1 in plan view.

Fig. 3

a section through the pallet plate of FIG. 2;

Fig. 4

a detail of Figure 3 in an enlarged view with indicated hot plates.

5 to 10

Individual, successive assembly phases when assembling a mounting plate with electric hot plates.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a stacking aid 1 according to the invention, consisting of a plurality of stacking members to be put together to form a stacking insert device, is intended for stacking electric hotplates 2 in a field grid both one behind the other and next to one another such that adjacent vertical stacking columns of the same size are formed. The stacking aid 1 is particularly suitable for those electric hotplates 2 which, in the manner indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 4, each have a cast material or the like. existing hotplate body 3 with a flat, annular cooking surface 4 on the top, which surrounds a recessed, central zone, wherein the hotplates 2 in plan view round, such as circular or angular, such as rectangular or square. The hotplate body 3 has a flange 5 protruding on the underside, offset inwards with respect to the outer periphery of the cooking surface 4, and inside the flange 5 or between this and an inner flange protruding less far down on the underside one or more spiral grooves into which one or more heating resistors 6 are pressed into a ceramic insulating compound. The underside of the region of the hotplate body lying within the outer circumference 8 of the flange edge 5 3 or the like with a profiled end cover 7 made of sheet metal. closed, which abuts, for example, on the lower, annular end face of the flange rim 5, projects at most only about its material thickness downwards over this end face and can be secured, for example, by bracing against a central pin of the hotplate body 3 lying within the inner flange rim. On the outer circumference of the flange 8, a support ring 9 is placed close to the cooking surface 4, which is supported on an annular shoulder facing away from the cooking surface 4 and adjoining the flange 5 radially outwards and has an approximately U-shaped cross section with diverging U-legs can be such that the radially outer, outwardly inclined profile leg forms with its lower ring edge a supporting edge which lies radially outside the furthest outer circumference of the hotplate body 3 lying in the area of the cooking surface 4. With this supporting edge, the electric hotplate 2, in the assembled state, lies radially clamped outside an installation opening on the upper side of a built-in plate, while the part of the hotplate 2 underneath protrudes beyond the underside of the built-in plate. No hotplate parts protrude beyond the underside of the hotplate 2 or the end cover 7, which lies in a plane parallel to the cooking surface 4, such that an annular standing surface is formed when the hotplate 2 is placed on a flat supporting surface in the region of the flange edge 5.

According to the invention, a number of separate, preferably substantially identical pallet plates 10 equal to the number of stacking layers or stacking layers is provided for packaging-like stacking of a plurality of electric hotplates 2 such that all the hotplates 2 of the respective stacking position are directly and positively secured against one another. Between each pallet plate 10 and the cooking surfaces 4 of the cooking plates 2 of the adjacent stack layer, a pressure-elastic insert 11 is in a relaxed state about 3 to 4 mm thick in the form of a foam mat made of plastic, so that direct contact of the respective pallet plate 10 with these cooking surfaces 4 is completely excluded, but on the other hand there is a support with a very high coefficient of friction and with a high surface protection. Layers of stacked layers can therefore only be secured against one another by friction.

The stack composed of the hot plates 2, the pallet plates 10 and the inserts 11, delimited on its outer sides by envelope surfaces standing at right angles to one another, is expediently arranged on a carrying pallet 12 which is slightly larger in plan than the stack, so that it is on all sides vertical envelope surfaces protrudes slightly. The support pallet 12 consists essentially of a plate-shaped support grate provided on the top, which is arranged on support beams lying on the bottom and connected to one another on their underside with frame slats or a further support grate such that gaps between the support beams for the engagement of a forklift, for tensioning straps or the like remain free. The lowest pallet plate 10 is not directly on the supporting pallet 12, but there is a pressure-elastic intermediate layer in between, which is expediently formed by the bottom of the cardboard box 14 of a packaging sleeve 13, the clear width of which is almost equal to the outline of the pallet plates 10, so that the Pallet 12 protrudes slightly on all sides over the packaging sleeve 13. The cardboard box 14, which extends approximately over the entire height of the stack or by approximately two stack layers less, is closed at the top with a cardboard packaging lid 15 which closely overlaps its upper edge on the outside, the top wall of which, optionally with the interposition of an insert 11, directly on the overhead sides of the electric hot plates 2 formed by the cooking surfaces 4 in the illustrated case uppermost stack position is supported such that it can be tightened downwards without bumping against the cardboard box 14. On the top of the top wall of the packaging lid 15 is a clamping plate 16 in the form of a roughly the same basic shape as the packaging lid 15 having slatted frame so large that one slat extends over all stacking columns in a row and thus each of these rows over such a slat can be clamped down against the support pallet 12 with compression of the inserts 11. As a result, the stack layers 18 of the stack 17 can be secured against one another so immovably that even high transverse loads such as z.ß. can occur during the emergency braking of a transport vehicle, do not lead to transverse displacements within the stack 17.

Each pallet plate 10 has the same number of deep-drawn, identical or identical flat shells 19 as the number of stacking columns or hotplates 2 per stack position, which are arranged at equal intervals next to and behind one another in a rectangular row and column grid such that the outermost flat shells 19 are each provided at a distance from the adjacent outer edge of the pallet plate 10 that is at least as large or larger than the intermediate distance between adjacent flat shells 19. Each flat shell 19 has an essentially flat, thin-walled shell base 20 which is parallel to the plate plane of the pallet plate 10 and which on the outer circumference merges in one piece into a frustoconical shell shell 22 which diverges at an acute angle to the shell opening 23 at an angle of more than 45 ° or approximately 60 ° . The outer sides of the shell bottoms 20 of all the flat shells 19 of the respective pallet plate 10 facing away from the shell openings 23 form their only support surface 21 for support with respect to the adjacent stack position.

The inner height 24 of the flat shells 19, which plus the thickness or wall thickness of the shell bottom 20 is equal to the total height or thickness of the pallet plate 10, is significantly less than that of the one with less than 15 or 10 mm, for example about 6 mm Supporting edge of the support ring 9 to the bottom to be measured installation depth 25 of the electric hot plates 2, namely at most half as large or smaller. The greatest inside width of the pan base 20 or the smallest inside width of the shell jacket 22 following this is at most slightly larger than the outside width of the hotplate 2 determined by the circumference 8 of the flange edge 5 in the region of its underside, so that the outside limitation of the pan bottom 20 is approximately congruent with the outer boundary of the flange 5 and the end cover 7.

The flat shells 19 of each pallet plate 10 lie in a flat, central plate field 26 which is continuous over all flat shells 19 and has essentially straight outer boundaries which are at a smaller distance from the outer flat shells 19 than their intermediate distances and in the area of the corners of the plate field lying flat shell 19 merge into each other via quarter-circular transition sections which are curved around the central axis of the respectively associated flat shell or follow the outer boundary thereof at a constant distance. The shell openings 23 lie in the plane of this plate field 26, such that the pallet plate 10 has no parts which protrude beyond the side of the plate field 26 facing away from the shell bottoms 20.

Following the plate field 26, a channel 28 is provided which continuously surrounds it on all sides, the channel bottom 29 of which lies in the plane of the tray bottom 20 and the channel flanks of which also lie on the same side as the tray openings 23 at the same angle as the tray jackets 22 diverge.

The inner flank flank merges directly into the plate field 26 and forms its outer boundary. The outer, equally high channel flank forms a peripheral edge 27 which merges in the plane of the shell openings 23 or the channel opening into an outwardly directed edge flange 30, the width of which is substantially smaller than the channel depth and which determines the outer boundary of the pallet plate 10 with its edge . As a result, the pallet plate 10 has two substantially flat and mutually parallel outer sides, one of which is formed by the outer sides of the shell bottoms 20 and the channel bottom 29, while the other is formed by the side facing away from the flat shells 19 and the shell openings 23 perforated plate field 26 and the edge flange 30 is formed.

To secure stacked layers against each other, a slip protection 31 is provided, as already explained, which on the one hand by the insert 11 and on the other hand by roughening, profiling, projections, such as spherical cap-shaped knobs 32 or the like. is formed, which protrude slightly beyond the outside of the respective associated tray bottom facing away from the inside of the tray, in particular by less than the height 24 of the pallet plate 10 or at most by a few millimeters. The knobs 32, which are expediently projecting by less than 3 mm or even by less than the wall thickness of the pallet plate 10, are embossed out of the respective shell base 20, so that they form corresponding depressions on the inside thereof. The knobs 32 are expediently arranged in concentric rings, the outermost of which is at a distance within the standing area of the hotplate 2 determined by the flange edge 5, while the innermost can be adapted to the inner width of the central recess in the cooking area 4 of the hotplate 2, that he intervenes in this as a centering and thus a kind of positive cross-securing stacking layers lying one above the other can be achieved.

Due to the design according to the invention, the total height of the stack 17 is only slightly higher than the sum of the height extensions of the superimposed electric hot plates 2, namely only by the sum of the wall thicknesses of the pallet plates 10, for example 1.5 mm, plus that in the area of the knob-shaped ones Support surfaces 21 reduced to a fraction of a millimeter squeeze thickness of the inserts 11 larger.

The pallet plates 10 can be produced from flat plates made of a relatively pressure-resistant plastic in a one-piece form in the vacuum deep-drawing process and are advantageously made of polystyrene. After the manufacture and after removal from the stack, the pallet plates 10 can be put together to form a flat stack, immediately lying one inside the other. The basic shape of the inserts 11 is expediently at least as large as that of the plate field 26 or slightly larger, but smaller than the basic shape of the pallet plates 10, so that the inserts 11 do not protrude beyond their outer boundaries, but with their outer edges they provide protection for the outside Offer sides of the cooking surfaces 4 and the support rings 9 of the outer hot plates 2.

Each electric hotplate 2 has for its electrical connection in the installed position or for its electrical connection with a manually operated switching device on its underside two or more, in particular four adjacent connecting members 33 in the form of parallel, pin-shaped plug-in members, which together form one Form connector. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting members 33 are formed by angled, straight legs or ends of connecting wires which pass through an insulating piece 34 which is fastened in the region of the bottom of a recess in the end cover 7 and which are attached to the inside of the end cover 7 with their associated ones inner, also angled legs by spot welding or the like. are directly connected to the protruding pins of the heating resistors 6. The connecting members 33 protrude from the insulating piece 34 in the direction of the outer circumference 8 of the flange edge 5, but are slightly set back in relation to this outer circumference 8 or in relation to the inner circumference of the flange edge 5 and thus in relation to the mentioned standing surface of the hotplate 2. The connecting members 33 lie over their entire length in the region of a recess formed in the underside of the end cover 7, the depth of which is at least as large as the cross-sectional width of the connecting members 33, so that they can be completely accommodated in the recess without having to stand over or To protrude underside of the hotplate 2. The connecting members 33 can be designed in the manner of resilient arms and project in the relaxed state over the underside or the standing surface of the associated electric hotplate 2. Under the stack weight or the stack tension, the connecting members 33 are then pressed into the recess by abutment on the associated shell bottom 20. As soon as the electric hotplate 2 is removed from the stack or the hotplate 2 and the pallet plate 10 receiving it in its flat shells 19 are lifted from one another, the connecting members 33 can automatically spring back over the underside of the hotplate 2, so that they are inclined these are easily accessible for mounting or connection.

The electric hot plates 2 are used for mounting in a mounting plate which is usually interspersed with three or four installation openings for receiving electric hot plates. According to FIGS. 5 to 10, a corresponding number of hot plates 2 are removed from at least one stack for assembly, the hot plates 2 generally being different and therefore being removed from a corresponding number of stacks, each with the same hot plates. are 1 and 4 are stacked, they are turned over after removal. If they are stacked upside down including the pallet plates, they do not need to be turned over. In any case, these hotplates 2 are placed in the spatial association given by the installation openings on an essentially flat supporting surface 40 with their cooking surfaces 4 and at the same time they are aligned with respect to their central axes perpendicular to the cooking surfaces 4 in such a way that their connecting members 33 or their Connectors are aligned in the desired predetermined position. This process is advantageously carried out fully automatically with at least one programmable handling device, which can have an electromagnet, for example, for holding or carrying the respective hotplate 2.

After placing the electric hot plates 2, the same or another programmable handling device or the like through a profiled sheet metal plate made of stainless steel. existing mounting plate 41 in the predetermined assignment so placed in the top position on the hot plates 2 that it receives these in their installation openings, which are usually provided in the region of elevations. The mounting plate 41 is loosely placed with its bottom upper side essentially exclusively only on the supporting edges of the supporting rings 9 of the electric hot plates 2. Now an intermediate part 45 consisting of a thicker steel sheet is placed fully automatically on the underside of the built-in plate 41 with the same or another programmable handling device, this profiled intermediate part 45 surrounding the hot plates 2 at a distance and not reaching to the outer limits of the built-in plate 41 . In addition, anti-rotation devices are created for the hotplates 2, which can be done in a simple manner together with the placement of the intermediate part 45, if this intermediate part 45 is formed, for example, in one piece with it Has anti-rotation fingers 46, each of which engages in a recess adjacent to the recess for the connecting members 33 in the end cover 7 of the hotplate 2 or in another counter member.

Then, in the top position on the intermediate part 45, a clamping part 42, which is also supported opposite the upper underside of the mounting plate 41 and is adjacent to its elevations around each electric hotplate 2, is formed, which in the area of each hotplate 2 forms a substantially flat-shell-shaped clamping shell covering its underside . The clamping part 42 is also placed fully automatically aligned with the same or another programmable handling device. Again with this or with a separate, programmable handling device, a fastening bolt 47 in the form of, for example, a cap screw is inserted through a through opening in the bottom of each clamping shell and screwed into a threaded bore in the center pin 48 of the electric hotplate 2, the clamping shell being spring-loaded in this manner that on the one hand their edge rests on one side and the support ring 9 on the other side under resilient tension on the mounting plate 41. The bottom of the clamping shell can have a shape in the area of the fastening bolt 47, the end wall of which is braced against the end face of the central pin 48.

Each clamping shell has in the area of the connecting members 33 of the associated electric hotplate 2 a window opening 49 which is continuous over part of its shell bottom and approximately over the entire height of its shell casing, through which the connecting members 33 remain accessible for connection. 8 is gripped through this window opening 49 with a lifter tool 50 and with this tool 50 the connecting members are bent by bending away from the top side of the electric hotplate 2 into the desired connection location transferred. The lifting tool 50 can be actuated fully automatically by the same or a separate handling device.

After removal of the spoon-like lifter tool 50, for example, a connector 43 is brought fully automatically through the window opening 49 to the connecting members 33 with the same or a separate handling device in such a way that its freely projecting connecting counter-members 51 come into engagement with the connecting members 33 and two of these members each lie in pairs next to each other, the inherently rigid but resiliently articulated connecting members 33 automatically aligning themselves with guide and threading surfaces which are provided on the counter members 51 or on an insulating body of the connecting piece 43 receiving them. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 43 is not designed for the plug connection, but for a spot weld connection with the connecting members 33. To establish this connection, a multi-fine-point welding gun 52 is introduced to the pairs of connecting and counter-links fully automatically with a programmable handling device either through the window opening 49 or a separate, further window opening in the clamping shell, this welding gun 52 being one of the number of these pairs has a corresponding number of individual pliers. Before the welding tongs 52 are brought up or through them, a transverse movement of the connecting piece 43 can ensure that the connecting and counter-members 33, 51 for the production of the welded connections already abut one another in a punctiform manner. All welded connections for all connecting members 33 are made simultaneously. The connecting counter-members 51 are electrically conductively connected to insulated, inherently rigid connecting lines 44 which connect to the connecting piece 43 or its insulating body on the side remote from the counter-members 51. The Connector 43 is then completely within the clamping shell, while the connecting lines 44 are led out through the window opening.

After the fully automatic extraction of the welding gun 52, the window opening 49 or the window openings can be covered with a cover or the like. are closed fully automatically except for the passage of the connecting lines 44 with the same or a separate handling device. Any existing earth connection, which can be fastened to the tensioning part 42, and a connection strain relief for the connection piece 42 can also be attached fully automatically using the same or a separate handling device.

Finally, the mounting plate assembled in the manner described is removed from the assembly table or from the supporting surface 40 using the same or a separate programmable handling device and placed on a stack, so that a further assembly cycle can begin. The training according to the invention is not only for mounting plates made of sheet metal, but also for those made of tempered glass or the like. suitable, as described for example in DE-OS 33 17 624, which is referred to for further details and effects.

The fact that the hotplates 2 are arranged in the stacking columns with the same axis results in very secure removal access in every stack position. The pallet plates 10 can have mutually alignable or stacked engagement members 53 in the form of holes, for example, which are provided outside the plate field 26 in the region of their corners in the channel bottom. These engagement members are suitable for the pallet plates, for example, by inserting rods reaching above the stack height 10 aligned with each other. However, they can also serve as markings for a sensor of the handling device in order to detect the position of the stack. Furthermore, orientation aids for a search camera or a similar sensor can be attached to the four corners of the plate pallets or to their parts or regions of the stack, which pass on the information for alignment to the robot. These orientation aids are formed in particular by the links 53.

Claims (11)

1. Hotplate stacking aid with centring hotplate receptacles formed by intermediate members which, as flat shells (19), define upper layers of hotplates (2) to be stacked in superimposed stacking planes of a stack (17) from reception orientations in each case fixing two sides, the particular flat shell (19) being substantially flatter than the hotplate height and its shell bottom (20) forms a support surface (21) for supporting the adjacent stack layer (18) with respect to a hotplate (2), characterized in that the shell bottom (20) and an associated shell jacket (22) of the particular flat shell (19) are formed in one piece by a flexible profile plate from substantially pressure-resistant material having a substantially constant wall thickness and are adapted to the circumference of the underlying see of the hotplate to be received in such a way that the hotplate receptacles for hotplates (2) to be stacked in directly superimposed manner define identical receptacle orientations.
2. Stacking aid according to claim 1, characterized in that several intermediate members for hotplates (2) juxtaposed in a stack layer (18) with the same orientation or with the cooking surface at the top are formed by a common profile plate in the form of a pallet plate (10) and in particular the shell bottom (20) forms the optionally profiled support surface (21) for supporting a hotplate (2), to be arranged with the same orientation, of the in each case adjacent stack layer (18).
3. Stacking aid according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that all the flat shells (19) of the particular stack layer (18) are formed by a one-piece pallet plate (10) and that in particular substantially all the superimposed pallet plates (10) are constructed as substantially identical profile plates, such as plastic deep-drawn plates.
4. Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one flat shell (19) is adapted to the circumference (8) of the underside of the hotplate (2) located in one plane and in particular formed by an outer flange edge (5) of a hotplate body (3) and which in particular has a smaller width than a support ring (9) of the hotplate (2) and/or including the total pallet plate (10) has a smaller height (24) than the mounting depth (25) of the hotplate (2) and in particular is flatter then the spacing between the underside of the hotplate (2) and a support edge of the support ring (9) and preferably all the flat shells (19) are provided in the vicinity of a central and in particular planar plate field (26) of a pallet plate (10) and project substantially by the height (24) of the pallet plate (10) over the side thereof remote from the shell openings (23).
5. Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pallet plate (10) has a circumferential edge (27) edged in particular to the side of the shell openings (23) and which preferably emanates from the bottom (29) of a channel (28) surrounding the central pallet field (26), which has approximately the same depth as the flat shells (19), that the shell bottom (20) of the particular flat shell (19) is preferably provided with a slip preventing means (31) projecting in particular over its side remote from the shell opening (23) and which is in particular formed by shaped-out studs (32) forming the support surface (21) and that preferably for the arrangement between the bottom (20) of the particular flat shell (19) and the cooking surface (4) of the hotplate (2) to be arranged in the adjacent stack layer (18), a compression elastic spacer (11) is provided and in particular a flexible foam plate extending over all the bearing surfaces of one side of the pallet plate (10).
6. Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pallet plate (10) can be stacked in centred manner directly engaging in one another, that preferably a support or standard pallet (12) made from wood or the like for the reception of a bottom stack layer (18) and which projects slightly compared with the pallet plates (10) and a packing sleeve (13) particularly constructed for the deception of the pallet stack (17), e.g. an inherently rigid sleeve made from cardboard or the like standing on the support pellet (12) and closed with a removable packing lid (15) are provided and that preferably for the engagement on the too and bottom of the pellet stack (17) or the pecking sleeve (13) two clamping plates are provided, which are in particular formed on the one hand by the support pallet (12) and on the other by a planar grating plate (16), which is located on the packing lid (15).
7. Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by markings, which are associated with the individual receptacles for the hotplates (2) in the stack (17) and in particular on the pellet plates (10) and that preferably for alignment purposes between robots and stacks orientation surfaces and particularly holes (53) are provided in the corner regions of the pellet plates (10).
8. Method for the assembly of electric hotplates (2) accompanied by the removal of the latter from the stacking aid (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, in which the particular hotplate (2) is removed from the stack (17) with a programmable handling means and, also with respect to the circumferential position, is placed in an aligned upside down position with the cooking surface (4) automatically on a support surface (40), a mounting plate (41) then being placed in the upside down position with its mounting opening on the hotplate (2) and on the same is placed a locking part (42) supported on the underside of the mounting plate (41) and is braced against the underside of the hotplate (2) and at the latest thereafter electric connecting members (33) of the hotplate (2) are automatically connected to at least one connecting piece (43) for the connecting lines (44).
9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting members (33) of the hotplate (2) which, in the stacking position, at the most extend up to the underside and the outer circumference, are swung away from the underside of the hotplate (2) prior to the joining to the connecting piece (43), that preferably the connecting members (33) are automatically welded to the connecting piece (43), particularly simultaneously, by multiple welding tongs passed through a window opening (49) of the locking part (42) and/or that on moving up the connecting piece (43), the connecting members (33) are automatically oriented with respect to the connecting piece (43) in their predetermined connection position.
10. Method according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that at the earliest prior to the application of the locking part (42) a rotation preventing means for the hotplate (2) is fitted and in particular following the engagement of the mounting plate (41) an intermediate part (45) is applied, which forms a reinforcing plate and has the rotation preventing means and that preferably prior to the mounting of the mounting plate (41) a number of hotplates (2) corresponding to the number of their mounting openings is automatically placed on the support surface (40) in an orientation or alignment corresponding to the geometrical arrangement of the mounting openings.
11. Method according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that prior to the removal of the first hotplate (2) from the stack (17), the complete stacking sleeve (13) is removed.

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