EP0372191B1 - Transporting and storage rack for three-dimensional unstable objects - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a transport and storage rack for three-dimensional, inherently unstable objects according to the preamble of claim 1.

Three-dimensional objects of the type mentioned above are, for example, plastic films for dashboards in motor vehicles. These foils, referred to in the technical jargon as skins, are generally deep-drawn in a manufacturing plant and further processed by further processing companies, for example automobile factories, by back-foaming into ready-to-install dashboards.

When transporting the skins in large quantities, the problem arises of storing them in such a way that they are not damaged by the transporter vibrations. If too many skins are simply stacked on top of each other, the skins lying below rub against each other during the transport due to the vibrations and sometimes get an unsightly shiny appearance (bacon rind effect). In order to avoid this, the hides were previously stacked in units of five, and these units were then packed separately in boxes. A lot of storage and transport volume is lost due to the type of packaging described. So almost a euro truck train has only so far about 560 skins packaged in this way, although the permissible loading weight is far from being exhausted.

From the Patent Abstracts of Japan, Volume 9, No. 286, on which JP-A-60 128 105 is based, a shelf arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset is known, which consists of a frame with a horizontal and a vertical frame part and of several shelf plates . The shelves are cascaded and hinged on top of each other on the vertical frame part. Support feet are located on the sides of the shelf plates opposite the fastening legs.

The purpose of this design is to facilitate the storage of objects on the shelves. For this purpose, the shelves can first be swung up so that they are approximately vertical. After the horizontal frame part, which is also used for storing objects, is fitted, the next higher shelf can be folded down, so that the footprint comes into a horizontal position and the support feet are supported on the horizontal frame part of the frame. After this shelf is also loaded with objects, the next shelf is folded down, which then also assumes a horizontal position of its storage surface and is supported with its support feet on the shelf below.

The invention has for its object to provide a transport and storage rack for three-dimensional, inherently unstable objects, which allows a very high packing density with optimal protection of the objects from damage caused by vibrations.

This task is done with a transport and storage rack solved according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features specified in the characterizing part.

The transport and storage rack according to the invention makes it possible to store the three-dimensional objects, for example in the same units of five each as in the above-described type of packaging, in one another by means of the cascaded holders arranged one above the other without, however, touching and rubbing different units. In contrast to the packaging in boxes, the storage of the units in one another results in a saving in storage and transport volume, which corresponds approximately to the base area of the objects multiplied by the maximum elevation of one of the objects.

The design of the brackets as a pair of interconnected support legs, which end at one end in trunnions and at the other end in trunnions, ensures that the brackets without mutual interference in the local arrangement and possibly mobility in the shells for receiving the objects can intervene. They ensure a very small distance with the consequence of a high packing density between the uppermost object of a unit and the shell located above it.

By decreasing the distance of the support legs of each bracket from the bearing pin-side ends to the support pin-side ends, a partially wedge-shaped configuration of the support legs is created, which makes it possible to perform a pivoting movement of each individual bracket without causing a collision with the other neighboring brackets. The brackets can thus be moved one above the other at a short distance, with their Legs can pass through the space formed by the legs of the mounts above them or create such a space for an underlying mounts.

In connection with the particularly mentioned skins for dashboards in motor vehicles, the transport and storage rack according to the invention increases the transport capacity of Euro truck trains from 560 to 2,000 skins.

The invention thus leads to a considerable saving in transport costs. As a result of the reduced transport volume for the same number of items the required storage space also drops if the objects have to be temporarily stored before and / or after transport. In addition, there is no labor-intensive packaging of the objects in boxes and gluing them, the subsequent opening, unpacking and handling of the empty cardboard material or the relatively small packaging units.

The brackets preferably each consist of a pair of supports on which a tray for receiving the objects rests.

In this embodiment of the holders, since the shell supports and maintains the shape of the objects, the supports can be equipped with relatively small contact surfaces and can thus be made small and mobile.

The top of the shell is preferably adapted to the shape of the objects.

In this way it is achieved that the objects are supported over the whole area and thus no kinking or heavy surface loading of individual areas is to be expected, which could then lead to possible damage. Furthermore, in the case of three-dimensional objects, this configuration becomes form-fitting, so that the objects cannot slide back and forth on the shell.

In a further embodiment of the support legs, these are connected by a cross bar in the vicinity of the end on the support pin side.

The support legs are coupled by this measure during holding and handling, but it is possible to press the ends of the trunnion pin together so as to insert or remove one or more support legs with their trunnions in corresponding bearings in the frame. Such a process takes place once during the initial assembly, but may also be necessary if the special design of the objects provides for a corresponding design of the supports and thus the replacement of differently designed supports is necessary. A preferred embodiment provides that the support pins engage under the shell.

In many cases, the same carriers can thus be used with different possibilities of variation of the objects, since their shape does not make it important to hold the objects themselves, but rather only to hold the shell supporting the objects.

When reaching under the shell, it is also ensured that due to the three-dimensional design of the shell adapted to the shape of the objects, the shell is also fixed with respect to the carrier Slipping takes place.

The bearing journals are preferably mounted in bearings on the support side.

This measure ensures that the supports are movable relative to the supports, thus creating the possibility of providing a working position in which the trays with the objects can be placed on the supports and a rest position in which the supports located therein are do not interfere with the loading of the trays with objects on the supports in the working position.

A particularly expedient embodiment provides that the support-side bearings consist of horizontal bores embedded in the supports as well as bearing shells which frame the bores below and laterally and are arranged on the supports.

The holes in the supports represent a very simple and easy-to-manufacture design of the bearings. The bearing shells make it easier to insert the trunnions into the holes by simply pressing the supports onto the bearing shells by pressing the support legs and releasing them. The bearing journal of the support legs then automatically slide into the horizontal holes in the supports. When inserting the carrier, the bearing shells also take over a lateral guidance.

In a further development, the carrier legs of the carriers rest on one of the flanks of the bearing shells.

With the same configuration of the bearing shells, the flanks also assume a limit stop for the pivoting movement of the carrier. One flank represents a pivoting end position of the carrier, which corresponds to a working position, and the other flank provides a pivoting end position, which corresponds to a rest position.

A very useful development of the invention provides that the frame is provided with rollers at the lower end.

It is then possible to move the frame even when fully loaded with little effort or with the help of a tool. Such a shift can e.g. be necessary in order to remove a transport and storage rack from a plurality of similar transport and storage racks, to insert them into a gap or to make corresponding correction shifts when loading and unloading a truck.

A practical development provides that the frame on its cross members for connecting the upright supports with at least one bracket Recording a fork of a forklift is provided.

This configuration is useful in order to provide the forklift driver with clues where he expediently picks up the frame, and on the other hand to secure the frame against slipping when it is picked up on the fork or during transport with the forklift.

In addition, it is provided in a practical development that the supports are provided with receiving openings for coupling brackets.

This training is useful to z several transport and storage racks. B. firmly connected to each other during transport in the truck, so that the frame does not hit against each other and there are particularly abrupt movements of the objects to be transported, which can then lead to damage to the surface due to the extreme impulse loads on long transport routes.

Further developments and advantageous refinements of the invention result from the claims, the description and the drawing, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Transport- und Lagergestells nach der Erfindung im beladenen Zustand,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Transport- und Lagergestells nach der Erfindung im unbeladenen Zustand,

Fig. 3

eine Teilansicht aus Fig. 1 oder 2, welche ein stützenseitiges Lager zeigt,

Fig. 4

einen einzelnen Träger, und

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Schale.

The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

2 shows a perspective view of a transport and storage rack according to the invention in the loaded state,

Fig. 2

2 shows a perspective view of a transport and storage rack according to the invention in the unloaded state,

Fig. 3

2 shows a partial view from FIG. 1 or 2, which shows a bearing on the support side,

Fig. 4

a single carrier, and

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a bowl.

Fig. 1 shows a transport and storage rack with the features of the invention in the loaded state and Fig. 2 shows the frame in the unloaded state. Objects 10 to be stored are thermoformed plastic films for dashboards in motor vehicles.

These foils, also called skins, already have a three-dimensional shape, but are inherently unstable. Only after back-foaming takes place after transport do you receive the stiffening necessary for your application. The shape of the later stable shape is already determined by the deep-drawing process.

The transport and storage rack receiving the objects 10 comprises a frame 12 with interconnected upright supports 14, 16, 18 and 20. In these supports 14, 16, 18 and 20, holders 22 for the objects are cascaded one above the other.

The brackets 22 each consist of a pair of carriers 24 and 26, on which a shell 28 for receiving the objects 10 rests. The respective bracket 22 thus includes the arranged at the same level, opposite carriers 24 and 26 and the shell 28 resting on the carriers.

The height levels of the brackets 22 are expediently arranged such that a unit of five three-dimensional objects lying on a shell 28 projects straight into the upper shell adapted to the shape of the objects 10, but without contact between the shell 28 and the uppermost object 10 the unit below can be done. In this way, a maximum packing density can be achieved without the objects rubbing against one another and being damaged by vibrations when the surface pressure is too high.

In the illustrated transport and storage rack, eight different height levels are indicated, with three pairs of beams 24 and 26 in a transport position and a pair of beams 24 and 26 in a rest position. For the loading and unloading process, it is expedient if both carriers 24 and 26 of a pair of carriers can be pivoted from a transport position into a rest position. Taking into account a certain disability during loading and unloading, however, it would also be conceivable to make only one carrier 24 or 26 of a pair of carriers movable and to arrange the other firmly.

In particular, each carrier 24, 26 consists of a pair of interconnected support legs 30, 32, which end at one end in support pins 34, 36 and at the other end in support pins 38, 40. Fig. 4 shows such a carrier in detail. The support pins 34, 36 are angled relative to the support legs 30, 32 so that they provide an approximately horizontal support surface for the shell 28 when the supports 24 and 26 are in the transport position. At the same time, they also fix the shell 28 against slipping sideways and the shell 28 in turn, the top of which is adapted to the shape of the objects 10, fixes the objects. This ensures stable handling of the units from the objects 10 together with the tray 28 as well as in the transport and storage rack together with other units.

The bearing pins 38 and 40 are also angled relative to the support legs 30 and 32, but in contrast to the support pins 34 and 36 they form a common axis. You can thus intervene in the corresponding support-side bearings 44 and 46 and be stored there. This storage offers the prerequisite for a swiveling movement by one horizontal swivel axis.

As can be seen in the drawing, the support legs 30 and 32 are connected in the vicinity of the end on the support pin side by a cross bar 42. This crossbar 42 couples the two support legs together, but allows compression of the carrier 24 and 26 at the lower end, so that the journals 38 and 40 can be pressed towards one another and thus be inserted or removed from the supports 44 and 46 in a simple manner these can be removed.

The carriers 24 and 26 are designed such that the distance between the support legs 30 and 32 decreases from the ends on the journal side to the ends on the journal side. The carriers can thus be arranged one inside the other and also pivoted without interfering with one another during the pivoting movement.

The support-side bearings 44 and 46, in which the journals 38 and 40 of the supports 24 and 26 engage, consist of horizontal bores 48 and 50 which are embedded in the supports 14, 16, 18 and 20. In the perspective view of FIGS. 1 and 2 are the bearings of the supports 16 and 20, so that they have not been specified.

Bores 48 and 50 are framed below and laterally by bearing shells 52 and 54. These bearing shells 52 and 54 project laterally from the supports 14, 16, 18 and 20 inwards.

The bearing shells 52 and 54 perform several functions. On the one hand, they provide a guide for the journals 38 and 40 when the carriers 24 and 26 are inserted into the bores 48 and 50, which makes assembly easier. On the other hand, they represent a stop for the support legs 30 and 32 in both pivoting end positions, that is to say both in the transport position and in the rest position. Finally, they offer a widened bearing surface for the bearing pins 38 and 40, as a result of which the bearing pins 38 and 40 wear out and the walls of the supports 14, 16, 18 and 20 in the area of the bores 48 and 50 is reduced.

It is also provided that the frame 12 is provided with rollers 56 and 58 at the lower end. This makes it possible to move the fully loaded transport and storage rack over short distances without that this requires the use of a grant.

A further embodiment provides tabs 68 on one of the cross members 60, 62, 64 and 66, which connect the upright supports 14, 16, 18 and 20 to one another.

This tab 68 is used to receive a fork of a forklift truck, around the transport and storage rack e.g. to be lifted from the floor onto the loading area of a truck or unloaded from there. The tab 68 then provides a guide, so that the transport and storage rack cannot slide off the side of the fork during maneuvering movements of the forklift.

On the supports 14, 16, 18 and 20 there are receiving openings 70, 72, 74 and 76, into which coupling clips can be inserted. With their help, several transport and storage racks standing on the loading surface of a truck can then be connected to one another, so that they form a stable unit and the frames 12 are prevented from colliding during transport.

The procedure for loading a transport and storage rack is as follows. First, the three-dimensional plastic films are e.g. placed as units of five pieces on a tray 28, as shown in Fig. 5. The shell 28, which is adapted to the shape of the plastic films, is stable in itself, in contrast to these, so that it keeps the films true to shape even when it is only supported by relatively small supporting pins 34 and 36 of the carriers 24 and 26.

The bowl 28 with the objects 10 is now placed on the two lower supports 24 and 26 in the frame 12. For this purpose, these carriers are in the transport position, while all the carriers arranged above them are in the rest position and thereby allow free access to the lower carriers.

Subsequently, the pair of supports 24 and 26 lying above is pivoted into the transport position and a further unit consisting of objects 10 lying on a tray 28 is placed on these supports. The process is then repeated accordingly until all pairs of carriers 24 and 26 are aligned in the transport position and also the upper pairs of carriers 24 and 26 accommodate a unit with objects 10.

When unloading, the procedure is expediently carried out in the opposite direction, i.e. the upper unit consisting of objects 10 and tray 28 is lifted and removed and the supports 24 and 26 are then pivoted into the rest position.

Claims (11)

1. Transportation and storage rack for three-dimensional, unstable objects (10), especially deep-drawn plastics sheets for dashboards in automobiles, consisting of a frame (12) having interconnected, upright columns (14, 16, 18, 20), in which holders (22) for the objects (10) are mounted in cascade above one another pivotally movable in the upright columns (14, 16, 18, 20), characterized in that the holders (22) each comprise a pair of interconnected support arms (30, 32) which continue at one end into support journals (34, 36) and at the other end into bearing journals (38, 40), and that the spacing of the support arms (30, 32) of each holder (22) decreases from the ends nearest the bearings to the ends nearest the support journals.
2. Transportation and storage rack according to Claim 1, characterized in that the holders (22) each consist of a pair of beams (24, 26), on which a dish (28) for receiving the objects rests.
3. Transportation and storage rack according to Claim 2, characterized in that the upper face of the dish (28) is adapted to the shape of the objects (10).
4. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support arms (30, 32) are connected together in the vicinity of the end nearest the support journals by a transverse bar (42).
5. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the support journals (34, 36) fit underneath the dish (28).
6. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the bearing journals (38, 40) are journalled in bearings (44, 46) at the side of the columns.
7. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bearings (44, 46) at the column sides consist of horizontal bores (48, 50) penetrating into the columns (14, 16, 18, 20) and of bearings shells (52, 54), framing the bores (48, 50) at the bottom and sides and disposed on the columns (14, 16, 18, 20).
8. Transportation and storage rack according to Claim 7, characterized in that the support arms (30, 32) of the beams (24, 26) bear against one of the flanks of the bearing shells (52, 54).
9. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the frame (12) is provided at the lower end with rollers (56, 58).
10. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the frame (12) is provided, on its transverse members (60, 62, 64, 66) for interconnecting the upright columns (14, 16, 18, 20), with at least one lug (68) for receiving a fork of a fork-lift truck.
11. Transportation and storage rack according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the columns (14, 16, 18, 20) are provided with receiving openings (70, 72, 74, 76) for coupling clamps.

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