EP0376159B1 - Handling appliance for storing-boxes - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a known handling device for storage boxes made of plastic, in particular standard containers according to the preamble of the main claim. The standardized plastic containers have recesses for handling at different points, for example a horizontal drawing groove on the lower edge, elongated holes on the inside of the side walls or a horizontal groove on the outside of the two longer side walls. Two prongs of a fork-shaped part of a carrying device, which has a U-shaped outline, can be inserted into these horizontal grooves from one of the end faces. At the apex of the U-shape, a bracket connects as a further part of the carrying device, which initially runs normal to the level of the fork-shaped part and then is first bent in the longitudinal center plane of the U-shape and then bent back into a vertical course, so that its end ends approximately in the center of the surface of the U-shape of the fork-shaped part. An eyelet is attached to it, by means of which the carrying device can be hung on the hook of a hoist.

With this known carrying device, the storage boxes can be picked up or put down when there is a sufficiently large movement space for the carrying device on one of the end faces of the storage box. This movement space must be somewhat larger than the length of the storage box, because the tines of the fork-shaped part of the carrying device have approximately the length of the storage box. The possible uses of this carrying device are thus considerably restricted.

The invention specified in claim 1 is based on the task, for such storage boxes made of plastic, which have two pairs of openings in the edge area accessible from above of the two mutually parallel walls, each of which is followed by an extension on the underside of the edge area, a handling device to create, with which these storage boxes can be picked up and put down when there is practically no movement space in the vicinity of the storage box for such support devices that cooperate with the longitudinal grooves on the outside of the longitudinal walls of the storage box.

Lifting claw pairs for holding objects are already known from cranes, for example from 'Soviet Inventions Illustrated' sections P, Q week 8614 14.05.86, but not in connection with a supporting frame, as is part of the invention.

Characterized in that in the handling device according to the invention the pairs of lifting claws on the supporting frame are in the same layout as the openings in the edge region of the storage box and can be pivoted and folded against one another by means of the actuating device, the supporting frame can be lowered onto a storage box with the lifting claw pairs in the rest position until the pairs of lifting claws enter the openings in the edge area of the storage box.
Because the lifting claw pairs can be spread apart by means of the actuating device, their lifting lugs can be brought below the surface area of the edge region surrounding the opening into a position in which they stand outside the edge of the openings and, when the support frame is lifted, come into contact with the surface areas from below of the edge area and lift the storage box when lifting the support frame. After the bearing box has been moved, the actuating device can be used to pivot the lifting lugs on the lifting claws back into their rest position, in which they can be freely pushed out of the openings in the edge region of the bearing box. In any case, no space outside the floor plan of the storage box is used.

In an embodiment of the handling device according to claim 2 or 3, the number of actuating elements for pivoting the individual lifting claws can be reduced by half and thus also the costs for the handling device can be reduced.

An embodiment of the handling device according to claim 4 creates a very simple and reliable operating device. With an embodiment of the handling device according to claim 5, the lifting claws can be operated comfortably from each end face, but also from each longitudinal side, so that it does not matter which side of the handling device the operator is currently on.

In an embodiment of the handling device according to claim 6, the ramp surfaces on the pairs of lifting claws ensure that the pairs of lifting claws center themselves on the openings on the storage box and thereby facilitate insertion.

Characterized in that in one embodiment of the handling device according to claim 7, the lifting claws are not connected to the supporting frame via a fixed pivot bearing, but at least the part of their pivot bearing connected to the lifting claws is guided in an adjustable manner in height, and in that the lifting claws are provided with a lifting device coupled, they can be raised to an inoperative position during an empty run and when setting down on a storage box, in which they either not at all or only as far down from the underside of the support frame
protrude that this protrusion does not interfere. It is most expedient to provide the rest position of the lifting claws so that the lifting lugs on the lifting claws are raised at least to the underside of the support frame, they have disappeared to a certain extent in the support frame, and that only one centering part of the lifting claws is left protrudes downwards. This usually wedge-shaped centering part facilitates the alignment of the support frame on the Storage box and does not interfere with an empty run of the support frame. This configuration of the handling device also takes into account the fact that the bearing openings on the storage boxes are not located at the highest edge region of the side walls but at a lower shoulder of the side walls. Since the supporting frame is generally only lowered onto the upper edge of the storage box on this, the lifting claws must have a sufficiently large length that they can extend into the supporting openings when the supporting frame is lying on top and their lifting lugs can grasp the edge of the supporting openings from below.

With a configuration of the handling device according to claim 8, a very simply constructed and relatively inexpensive to produce vertical longitudinal guide for the lifting claws is created. This longitudinal guide is also robust and requires little maintenance.

With an embodiment of the handling device according to claim 9, the number of parts required for mutual coupling and for lifting the lifting claws is reduced to a minimum.

An embodiment of the handling device according to claim 10 ensures that the lifting claws always assume a precisely defined raised rest position, and
regardless of whether other device parts, such as an existing piston drive, in turn have a stop to limit the movement distance.

With an embodiment of the handling device according to claim 11, an actuating device is created which, on the one hand, is of simple construction and reliable and, on the other hand, can be incorporated into an automatic operating sequence in a simple and easy manner. By further developing this handling device according to claim 12, the number of piston drives for the actuating device is in turn reduced.

In an embodiment of the handling device according to claim 13, the extensive combination of the lifting device and the actuating device reduces the number of required parts of these devices to a minimum, the manufacture and assembly of these parts is simplified and cheaper, and at the same time increases the operational safety of these devices.

Characterized in that in a configuration of the handling device according to claim 14, the length of the longitudinal beam can be adjusted to several operating positions, in which the average distance between the pivot planes of the lifting claw pairs on the cross beams is matched to the nominal distance of the support holes on the storage boxes, the handling device can Storage boxes of different sizes can be set without the handling device on the hoist having to be replaced. This greatly accelerates and facilitates the transfer of storage boxes of different sizes. The storage boxes are currently available in three common sizes. They have external dimensions in relation to the walls with the support openings of 600 mm, 400 mm and 200 mm. The support openings are arranged within the plan area of the side walls. The mean distance of the support holes,
which also determines the mean distance between the swiveling planes of the lifting claws, is 553 mm, 355 mm and 157 mm for the three common sizes of the storage boxes. These three mean distances are referred to in the following as the nominal distances of the swivel planes or in short as the nominal distances.

By designing the handling device according to claim 15, a central receptacle of a storage box with respect to the hoist is at least approximately achieved, which leads to a reasonably uniform loading of the handling device itself within the framework of the load distribution in the storage box.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the middle part and the two pull-out parts of the length-adjustable longitudinal support have a rectangular cross section. This prevents the pull-out parts from rotating relative to the central part and increases the stability of the handling device.

Fig 1

eine zum Teil schematisierte perspektivische Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels des Handhabungsgeräts zusammen mit einem Lagerkasten;

Fig.2

eine zum Teil ausschnittweise dargestellte Stirnansicht des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig.3

eine ausschnittweise und zum Teil geschnitten dargestellte Draufsicht des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig.4

einen ausschnittweise dargestellten Vertikalschnitt des Handhabungsgerätes nach der Schnittverlaufslinie A - A in Fig. 2;

Fig.5

eine ausschnittsweise und zum Teil geschnitten dargestellte Seitenansicht des Handhabungsgerätes mit einem Teilabschnitt des Lagerkastens;

Fig.6

eine ausschnittweise und zum Teil geschnitten dargestelle Draufsicht einer Koppelvorrichtung zweier Hubklauen des Handhabungsgerätes.

Fig.7

eine zum Teil schematisierte perspektivische Ansicht einer abgewandtelten Ausführungsform es Handhabungsgerätes zusammen mit einem Lagerkasten;

Fig. 8a und Fig. 8b

eine teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Stirnansicht dieses Handhabungsgerätes in zwei ververschiedenen Höhenstellungen eines Teils seiner Baugruppen;

Fig. 9

eine ausschnittweise und teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Draufsicht des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 8a;

Fig. 10

eine ausschnittweise und teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Seitenansicht des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 8b;

Fig. 11 bis Fig. 13

eine teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Stirnansicht einer Baugruppe des Handhabungsgerätes in verschiedenen Betriebsstellungen der Teile;

Fig. 14 und Fig. 15

einen ausschnittweise dargestellten Vertikalschnitt des Handhabungsgerätes nach der Schnittverlaufslinie A ... A bzw. B ... B in Fig. 8a bzw. Fig. 8b;

Fig. 16

eine zum Teil schematisierte perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren abgewandelten Ausführungsform des Handhabungsgerätes zusammen mit einem Lagerkasten;

Fig. 17 bis 19

einen Vertikalschnitt, bzw. eine Draufsicht, bzw. einen Querschnitt des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 16;

Fig. 20 bis 22

eine Seitenansicht bzw. eine teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Draufsicht bzw. einen Querschnitt einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig. 23 bis 25

eine Seitenansicht bzw. eine teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Draufsicht bzw. einen Querschnitt eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispieles des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig. 26

eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig. 27

eine teilweise geschnitten dargestellte Draufsicht des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 und 29

eine Stirnansicht bzw. einen Querschnitt des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 26;

Fig. 30

eine Stirnansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig. 31 und 32

eine Seitenansicht bzw. eine Draufsicht des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 30;

Fig. 33

eine zum Teil schematisch dargestellte Stirnansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Handhabungsgerätes;

Fig. 34 und 35

eine Seitenansicht bzw. eine Draufsicht des Handhabungsgerätes nach Fig. 17.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a partially schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the handling device together with a storage box;

Fig. 2

a partially cut front view of the handling device;

Fig. 3

a partial and partially cut top view of the handling device;

Fig. 4

a fragmentary vertical section of the handling device according to the section line A - A in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

a fragmentary and partially cut side view of the handling device with a portion of the storage box;

Fig. 6

a fragmentary and partially cut view of a top view of a coupling device of two lifting claws of the handling device.

Fig. 7

a partially schematic perspective view of a modified embodiment of the handling device together with a storage box;

8a and 8b

a partially sectioned front view of this handling device in two different heights of part of its assemblies;

Fig. 9

a fragmentary and partially sectioned plan view of the handling device of FIG. 8a;

Fig. 10

a fragmentary and partially sectioned side view of the handling device of FIG. 8b;

11 to 13

a partially sectioned end view of an assembly of the handling device in different operating positions of the parts;

14 and 15

a fragmentary vertical section of the handling device according to the section line A ... A or B ... B in Fig. 8a or Fig. 8b;

Fig. 16

a partially schematic perspective view of a further modified embodiment of the handling device together with a storage box;

17 to 19

a vertical section, or a plan view, or a cross section of the handling device of FIG. 16;

20 to 22

a side view or a partially sectioned plan view or a cross section of a modified embodiment of the handling device;

23 to 25

a side view or a partially sectioned plan view or a cross section of a further embodiment of the handling device;

Fig. 26

a side view of another embodiment of the handling device;

Fig. 27

a partially sectioned plan view of the handling device of FIG. 26;

28 and 29

an end view or a cross section of the handling device of FIG. 26;

Fig. 30

an end view of another embodiment of the handling device;

31 and 32

a side view and a plan view of the handling device of FIG. 30;

Fig. 33

a partially schematic front view of another embodiment of the handling device;

34 and 35

17 shows a side view and a top view of the handling device according to FIG. 17.

The handling device 10 shown as a whole in FIG. 1 is used for handling storage boxes 11 made of plastic, which has four side walls running at right angles to one another, the two longitudinal walls 12 and 13 and the two end walls 14 and 15. The storage box is made of plastic. Its four side walls are therefore hollow box-shaped so that they have a certain dimensional stability and yet the weight of the storage box 11 is not too high. On the outside of the two longitudinal walls 12 and 13, a longitudinal groove 16 and 17 is formed, into which the prongs of a fork-shaped part of a known support device can be inserted. The longitudinal walls 12 and 13 each have an edge region 18 and the two end walls 14 and 15 each have an edge region 19, through which the inside of the wall in question is connected to the outside and through which the longitudinal walls 12 and 13 are completely and in the end walls 14 and 15 for the most part the hollow box-shaped interior of these walls is closed or covered from the outside.

In the edge region 19 of the two end walls 14 and 15 there are two openings 21 and 22 each, which have a certain length in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the end wall 15 and a certain width transversely thereto. The two openings 21 and 22 have a certain center distance from one another. Below the edge region 19 adjoins each of the openings 21 or 22 on both sides in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the end wall, an extension 23 and 24 (FIG. 2), which is only at a certain distance from the longitudinal edges 25 and 26 of the opening from a vertical wall 27 or 28 can be limited.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the handling device 10 has a support frame 29. This is equipped with a bow-shaped coupling element 31, by means of which the support frame 29 can be hung on the hook of a hoist.

The support frame 29 has a side member 32 and two cross members 33 and 34, which are combined in an I-shape. The longitudinal member 32 and the two cross members 33 and 34 preferably each consist of a section of a rectangular tube which are welded together.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, two pairs of lifting claws 35 and 36 are present on each crossbeam, shown here on the crossbeam 33. These pairs of lifting claws each have a lifting claw 37 and a lifting claw 38, which differ from one another only with regard to an actuating tab 39 on the lifting claw 38.

The two lifting claws 37 and 38 are each pivotably mounted on the cross member 33 by means of a pivot bearing 41 or 42 (FIGS. 2 and 4). These pivot bearings 41 and 42 each have a bearing pin 43 (FIG. 4), which passes through two aligned through holes in the vertical aligned profile walls of the cross member 33 is inserted so that it protrudes to a certain extent on the outside. As the second part of the pivot bearing 42, each lifting claw has a circular cylindrical through hole 44 which is matched to the bearing pin 43. The lifting claw 38, which is attached to the bearing pin 43, is secured by means of a locking ring 45.

The two lifting claws 37 and 38 of a lifting claw pair 35 are coupled to one another by means of a coupling device 46 in such a way that they always execute their pivoting movements possible by the pivot bearings 41 and 42 in opposite directions. This coupling device 46 is formed by a circular-cylindrical coupling bolt 47 and by a recess 48 or 49 in the form of a hollow cylinder section which is matched thereto (FIG. 6). The recesses 48 and 49 are arranged on that side edge 51 and 52 of the lifting claws 37 and 38 which faces the respective other lifting claw 38 and 37 (FIG. 2).

The cylinder axis of the coupling pin 47 and the cylinder axis of the two recesses 48 and 49 are aligned parallel to the pivot axis of the two pivot bearings 41 and 42. The recesses 48 and 49 are preferably provided on the side edge 51 and 52 of the relevant lifting claw 37 and 38 at a point at which, in a central pivot position of the two lifting claws 37 and 38, the cylinder axis of the two recesses 48 and 49 is at least approximately on the connecting line the axes of the two pivot bearings 41 and 42 is located. Deviations from this position are possible within certain limits, namely in such a way that the cylinder axis of the recesses 48 and 49 in the operating position of the two lifting claws 37 and 38 shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 on the connecting line of the pivot axes of the two pivot bearings 41 and 42 lies.

The coupling bolt 47 has a countersunk head 50 on each end face (FIG. 6). On the lifting claws 37 and 38, the recesses 48 and 49 are therefore recessed in a hollow cone on their two end faces in a corresponding manner. In this way, the coupling bolt 47 is held by itself after the assembly of the two lifting claws 37 and 38 without further aids, and it also does not protrude beyond the lifting claws 37 and 38 to the outside, either on the front or on the back.

The side edge facing each other in the two lifting claws 37 and 38 of a lifting claw pair 35 is designed above the recesses 48 and 49 such that these two side edge sections 53 and 54 abut one another (FIG. 2, right). As a result, the two lifting claws 37 and 38 are mutually supported when they are loaded by a load attached to them, such as the storage box 11. The section of the side edge 51 and 52 located below the recess 48 and 49 is flat. The plane of alignment passes through the cylinder axis of the associated recess 48 or 49. The side edges 51 and 52 are inclined relative to the side edge sections 53 and 54 by a certain acute angle, which is based on the length of the openings 21 and 22 in the edge region 19 of the bearing box 11 and on the shape and dimensions of the lower sections of the lifting claws 37 and 38 judges.

Each lifting claw 37 and 38 has a lifting lug 55 and 56, respectively, for accommodating such a bearing box 11 on the longitudinal section located a certain distance away from the pivot bearing 41 and 42, respectively. These lifting lugs 55 and 56 are designed so that their contact surface is at least approximately horizontally aligned in the operating position of the lifting claws 37 and 38. The lifting lugs 55 and 56 of the two lifting claws 37 and 38 of a pair of lifting claws 36 have a horizontal distance from one another which is smaller than the horizontal distance between their pivot bearings 41 and 42 with a vertical load on the lifting lugs 55 and 56, a pivoting torque is exerted on the lifting claws 37 and 38, which additionally urges them into their operating position. This additional pivoting moment is absorbed by the abutment of the side wall regions 53 and 54, so that it cannot lead to a lateral overloading of the longitudinal edges 25 and 26 of the openings 21 and 22 on the bearing box 11.

An actuating device 57 is provided for the pivoting movement of the lifting claws 37 and 38 from the rest position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 on the left-hand side to the operating position shown in reverse and vice versa.

The actuation device 57 has an actuation shaft 58 which extends from the outside of the one cross member 33 through the longitudinal member 32 to the outside of the second cross member 34. For this purpose, each cross member has in the vertically aligned side walls of its rectangular profile one through hole 61 and 62 matched to the actuating shaft 58, the wall surface of which at the same time forms a pivot bearing for the actuating shaft 58. By this arrangement on the support frame 29, the actuating shaft 58 is also aligned parallel to the pivot axes of the pivot bearings 41 and 42.

As a further part of the actuating device 57, a cylindrical hub body 63 is plugged onto each end face of the support frame 29 onto the stub shaft of the actuating shaft 58 protruding therefrom and connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the actuating shaft 58 by means of a spring pin 64. The longitudinal section of the hub body 63 facing away from the cross member 63 is designed as a circular eccentric 65 (FIGS. 2 and 3). At this circular eccentric two connecting rods 66 and 67 are articulated with their one connecting rod eye 68 and 69, respectively. There they are secured by means of a washer 70 and a locking ring 71 which are attached to the free shaft end of the actuating shaft 58. The connecting rod 66 extends extends from the circular eccentric 65 toward the pair of lifting claws 35 on the left in FIG. 2, whereas the connecting rod 67 extends toward the pair of lifting claws 36 on the right in FIG. 2. The respective second connecting rod eye 70 and 71 of the two connecting rods 66 and 67 is articulated to the actuating tab 39 of the lifting claw 38. For this purpose, a hinge pin 72 is inserted from the rear of the actuating tab 39 into a matching through hole with a driver seat fit. The connecting rod eye 70 or 71 is secured by a locking ring 73 on the hinge pin 72. So that the head of the hinge pin 72 does not protrude rearward beyond the outline of the lifting claw 38, the actuating tab 39 is recessed sufficiently deep on its rear.

Instead of one circular eccentric 65, two circular eccentrics can also be formed on the hub body 63 or connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner in the form of circular eccentric disks. These two eccentric circles are arranged with opposite eccentricity. The two connecting rods, which in this case are at least approximately the same length, are articulated with their second connecting rod eye to that lifting claw of the two pairs of lifting claws 35 and 36 which perform a counter-rotating movement. For this purpose, for example, the lifting claws 37 and 38 of one of the lifting claw pairs 35 or 36 can be attached to the cross member 33 in the reverse order. In addition, the recess for the head of the pivot pin 74 would have to be made on the other flat side of the actuating tab 39.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the lifting claws with the lifting lugs 55 and 56 into the openings 21 and 22 on the bearing box 11, the lifting claws 37 and 38 have an extension 76 and 77 at their free end (FIG. 2). In this length section of the lifting claws 37 and 38, a ramp surface 78 and 79 adjoins the lifting lug 55 and 56, respectively. It extends from the lifting nose 55 or 56 to the free end of the lifting claw the plane of symmetry of the pair of lifting claws 35 at a certain angle of inclination. The ramp surfaces 78 and 79 only end at the side edge 51 and 52 located on the inside of the lifting claws 37 and 38. The angle of inclination between the second edge sections 51 and 52 on the one hand and the side edge sections 53 and 54 is thus to the length of the lifting claws 37 and 38 to the end of the extension 76 or 77 and matched to the length of the opening 21 and 22, that even in the operating position of the lifting claws 37 and 38 shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, the wedge-shaped ends of their extensions 76 and 77 are at a distance from one another, which is smaller than the distance between the edges 25 and 26 of the openings 21 and 22. This ensures that even if the lifting claws 37 and 38 are accidentally lowered into their operating position on a storage box 11, the ramp surfaces 78 and 79 die Hoist claw pairs 35 and 36 can center on the openings 21 and 22 so that they immediately after swiveling the hoist claws 37 and 38 in their rest position in the Open openings 21 and 22.

For the pivoting of the lifting claws 37 and 38 by means of the actuating device 57, a handle 81 with a spherical button 82 is either arranged detachably on each hub body 63 or is preferably fixedly connected to it, in particular welded (FIG. 5). The orientation of the handle 81 on the circumference of the hub body 63 is selected so that in the rotational position of the rotary eccentric 65 corresponding to the operating position of the lifting claws 37 and 38, its eccentricity at least approximately matches the top position or extended position of the two connecting rods 66 and 67, and that at least the ball knob 82 and the immediately adjacent length section of the handle 81 'are sufficiently far from the cross member 33 so that they can be gripped with one hand without difficulty. The swivel position of the handle 81 is expediently in the rest position of the lifting claws 37 and 38 chosen at least approximately symmetrically to the operating position. The two end positions of the actuating device result from the mutual abutment of the side edges 51 and 52 or the side edge sections 53 and 54 of the two lifting claws 37 and 38. This makes it possible to determine the length of both lifting claws 37 and 38 on the lifting claw 38 determine the degree of eccentricity of the circular eccentric 65 required for the pivoting movement of the lifting claws, from which the mentioned pivoting angle range of the handle 81 results.

Instead of the handle 81, the actuating device 57 can also be coupled to a power drive, which is switched on and off via a control attached to the handling device or also by a remote control, so as to pivot the lifting claws 37 and 38 from the rest position into the operating position and vice versa .

The power drive can be designed as a rotary drive or as a longitudinal drive. In the case of a longitudinal drive, the longitudinal movement of the drive member can be converted into the pushing and pulling movement of the connecting rods 66 and 67 via the angle lever and handlebar linkage. However, control cams with tracking links can also be used for this.

the lifting claws determine the required degree of eccentricity of the circular eccentric 65, from which the mentioned swivel angle range of the handle 81 results.

Instead of the handle 81, the actuating device 57 can also be coupled to a power drive, which is switched on and off via a control attached to the handling device or also by remote control, so as to pivot the lifting claws 37 and 38 from the rest position into the operating position and vice versa .

The power drive can be designed as a rotary drive or as a longitudinal drive. In the case of a longitudinal drive, the longitudinal movement of the drive member can be converted into the pushing and pulling movement of the connecting rods 66 and 67 via the angle lever and handlebar linkage. However, control cams with tracking links can also be used for this.

A modified embodiment of the handling device in which the lifting claws can be raised and lowered relative to the supporting frame is explained below with reference to FIGS. 7 ... 16. With regard to the storage box, reference is made to its explanation in connection with the first embodiment.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, the handling device 90 has a support frame 91. This is equipped with a bow-shaped coupling element 92, by means of which the support frame 91 can be hung on the hook of a hoist. This coupling element can also be designed differently depending on the type of hoist.

The support frame 91 has a side member 93 and two cross members 94 and 95, which are combined in an I-shape. The longitudinal member 93 and the two cross members 94 and 95 preferably each consist of a section of a rectangular tube which are welded together.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, two pairs of lifting claws 96 and 97 are present on each cross member, shown in FIG. 8 on the cross member 94. These pairs of lifting claws each have a lifting claw 98 and a lifting claw 99.

The two lifting claws 98 and 99 are each pivotably mounted on the cross member 94 by means of a pivot bearing 101 and 102, respectively (FIGS. 12 and 13). These pivot bearings 101 and 102 each have a bearing pin 103 (FIG. 14), which in a through hole of the lifting claw in question, in FIG. 14 the lifting claw 99 is inserted. The fit between the two parts is selected so that the bearing pin 103 has a tight fit in the lifting claw 99. The bearing pin 103 protrudes by a certain amount on both sides of the lifting claw 99. The bearing part connected to the cross member 94 is designed as a bearing shell 104 with a semicircular cylindrical bearing surface (FIG. 11), which is open at the top and whose bearing surface has a radius that is matched to the radius of the journal 103.

As is indicated in FIG. 8 and is even clearer from a comparison with FIGS. 11 and 12, the pairs of lifting claws 96 and 97 are adjustable in height relative to the cross member 94. A longitudinal guide 105 is used for this purpose (FIG. 11). It is formed by a vertically aligned guide groove 106 and 107, respectively, which is provided in a cheek part 108 and 109 of the cross member 94 and which directly adjoins the bearing shell 104. Their width and depth are matched to the bearing journal 103. At their upper end, the two guide grooves 106 and 107 are each delimited at the top by a semicircular cylindrical end surface 111. In the raised position of the lifting claws 98 and 99 of a pair of lifting claws, the two end faces 111 together form a height stop 112 for the bearing journal 103.

As can be seen from Fig. 11 ... Fig. 13, the two lifting claws 98 and 99 of the lifting claw pair 97 have a mirror-inverted elevation. It is therefore sufficient to produce the lifting claws 98 and 99 in a single embodiment and to use them on the cross member 94 in a mirror-image arrangement in such a way that they are directly adjacent to one another on both sides of the central plane or plane of symmetry 113 (FIG. 11) represented by a chain line. The two pivot bearings 103 and 104 have a certain distance from the plane of symmetry 113 and thus also a certain mutual distance.

Each lifting claw 98 and 99 has a lifting lug 114 and 115, respectively, for receiving a bearing box 11 on the longitudinal section located a certain distance away from the pivot bearing 103 and 104, respectively. These lifting lugs 114 and 115 are designed so that their bearing surfaces 116 and 117 are at least approximately horizontally aligned in the operating position of the lifting claws 98 and 99 (FIG. 13). The lifting lugs 114 and 115 are at a horizontal distance from one another which is smaller than the horizontal distance from their pivot bearings 103 and 104. As a result, when the lifting lugs 114 and 115 are loaded vertically, a pivoting moment is exerted on the lifting claws 98 and 99, which they additionally exert in their Operating position is pressing. In the folded rest position of the two lifting claws 98 and 99 (FIG. 11), the nose ridges 18 and 19 of the lifting lugs 114 and 115 each form a wedge surface with respect to the plane of symmetry 113.

The lifting claws of a pair of lifting claws are simultaneously pivoted in opposite directions between their folded rest position (FIG. 11, with respect to the pivoting movement also FIG. 12) and their spread-apart operating position (FIG. 13) by means of a coupling device 121. For this purpose, they have a rectangular recess 122 or 123 on the side edge facing each other. These recesses are located approximately at the level of the connecting line between the two pivot bearings 103 and 104. Coupling device 121 also includes a coupling member 124 which engages in both recesses 122 and 123.

A lifting device 125 provides for the lifting movement of the lifting claw pair 97. It has a lifting armature 26 with two hammer head-like end sections. The hammer head 127 located below engages in the two recesses 122 and 123 on the lifting claws 98 and 99 and thus also forms the coupling member 124 of the coupling device 121. The hammer head 128 located on both sides rests on a shoulder 129 of two support members 131 and 132, respectively. These two Support members are fixedly connected to a yoke 133 arranged above and parallel to the cross member 94, which in turn is coupled to a piston drive 134 as a further part of the lifting device 125 (FIG. 8). In exactly the same way, the pair of lifting claws 96 is coupled to the common yoke 133 and thus to the lifting device 125.

An actuating device 135 is provided for spreading the two lifting claws 98 and 99 apart. For each lifting claw, this has a ramp surface 136 or 137, which is attached to a lateral extension 138 or 139 of the two support members 131 and 132. The ramp surfaces 136 and 137 form an acute angle with the perpendicular direction of movement of the support members 131 and 132. For the lateral guidance of these vertically moving parts of the actuating device, at least on one side, e.g. on the side of the inner support member 131, a guide bar 140 is present, which is screwed to the cross member 94.

On the lifting claws 98 and 99, as an additional part of the actuating device 135, there is an actuating tab 141 and 142, respectively, which extends upwards from the connecting line of the two bearing pins 103 and 104. The outer upper corner of these operating tabs 141 and 142 is rounded. As a result, it forms a tracking member 143 or 144 for the associated ramp surface 136 and 137.

Since the ramp surfaces 136 and 137 form an acute angle with the direction of movement of the actuating device 135, so that the frictional force between them and the tracking members 143 and 144 does not become so great, when the two lifting claws 98 and 99 are spread apart, the movement distance of the two link members 131 and 132 with the two ramp surfaces 136 and 137 is considerably greater than the distance by which the two recesses 122 and 123 and the hammer head 127 of the lifting device 125 engaging in them can be lowered due to the pivoting movement of the lifting claws 98 and 99. For this reason, the shoulder 129 is offset so far down at the upper edge of the two support members 131 and 132 that the recess 145 for the upper hammer head 128 is sufficiently large so that the hammer head 128 moves relative to the two support members 131 and 132 can move freely upwards so that it does not yet abut the yoke 133 arranged above, even when the support members 131 and 132 are completely lowered (FIG. 13).

To support the actuating device 135, a small coil spring 146 is arranged as a compression spring above the lifting armature 126 (FIG. 11). It is supported on the one hand on the upper hammer head 128 and on the other hand on the yoke 133. It is guided by a dowel pin 147 which is inserted into a blind hole on the hammer head 128 and which extends freely into a somewhat further through hole 148 in the yoke 133. The lower face 149 of the hammer head 128 is designed as a cylindrical surface. The curvature of the cylinder surface is selected so that it lies above all in the spread position of the lifting claws 98 and 99 (FIG. 13) in the vicinity of the inner edge of the recesses 122 and 123. As a result, the torque exerted by the helical spring 146 on the lifting claws 98 and 99 in the direction of their spreading position has a maximum value.

As can be seen from FIG. 8, the piston 151 of the lifting device 125 connects the cylinder 151 to the yoke 133. For this purpose, the yoke 133 has a parallelepiped-shaped central part 152 in its longitudinal center (FIG. 9). A vertically aligned threaded hole 153 is provided therein, into which the receiving thread of the cylinder 151 is screwed. The piston rod 154 is screwed with its threaded end into a matching threaded hole in the end face of a connecting plate 155.

This connecting bracket 155 is articulated to the cross member 94 by means of a pivot pin 156. The pivot pin 156 is inserted into a through hole in the connecting bracket 155 and into a through hole in each of the two cheek parts 108 and 109 of the cross member 94.

Due to the articulated coupling of the piston drive 134 to the cross member 94, the piston drive 134 is largely spared bending forces if the yoke 133 should adjust obliquely when the two pairs of lifting claws 96 and 97 are raised. This could happen if one of the pairs of lifting claws remains behind when lifting due to some obstacle to the other pair of lifting claws. Then the free-moving pair of lifting claws can be lifted up to the abutment at its height stop 112 (FIG. 15). Thereafter, the lifting force of the piston drive 134 acts solely on the remaining pair of lifting claws via the yoke 133 and is therefore generally also able to pull this pair of lifting claws into its raised position.

The lifting device 125 and the actuating device 135 are actuated together by the piston drive 134 via the yoke 133. If for some reason the yoke 133 and / or the piston drive 134 cannot be arranged in the manner shown, each of the lifting claw pairs can also be equipped with its own piston drive, which is then arranged, if possible, in the line of alignment of the lifting armature 126 . In this case, the cylinder of the piston drive is expediently coupled to the cross member 94 via a U-shaped bracket, while the piston rod of the piston drive is connected to a coupling member which is matched to the dimensions of the two support members 131 and 132 and which replaces the continuous yoke 133.

Embodiments of the handling device which can be adjusted to different sizes of the storage boxes are explained below with reference to FIGS. 16 ... 35. It is assumed that the storage boxes are designed in terms of the features for handling with the handling device to be the same or at least very similar to the storage boxes that were explained in connection with the first exemplary embodiment.

As can be seen from FIG. 16, the handling device 160 has a support frame 161. This is equipped with a bow-shaped coupling element 162, by means of which the support frame 161 can be hung on the hook of a hoist. This coupling element can also be designed differently depending on the type of hoist.

The support frame 161 has a side member 163 and two cross members 164 and 165, which are combined in an I-shape. Two pairs of lifting claws 166 and 167 are provided on each of the cross beams 164 and 165. Each lifting claw of these pairs of lifting claws is pivotally mounted on the associated cross member. They are pivoted back and forth by means of an actuating device 168 with a pneumatic piston drive 169 between a folded rest position and a spread-apart operating position. The lifting claws of a pair of lifting claws each have a lifting lug on the side facing away from one another. These are designed and arranged so that they can be inserted in the rest position of the lifting claw pairs (Fig. 16) in the aligned with them carrying opening 21 or 22 of the bearing box 11 and that they spread out the side edges of the support openings 21 or 22 of the lifting claw pairs reach underneath and thus lock the storage box with the handling device 160 so that the storage box 11 can be raised.

As can be seen from FIG. 16, the longitudinal beam 163 is formed in several parts. It has a central part 171 and two pull-out parts 172 and 173. The pull-out parts 172 and 173 can be adjusted by means of a longitudinal guide relative to the central part 171 in the axial direction to different pull-out positions, in which the lifting claw pairs of the cross member 164 and those of the cross member 165 have an average distance which corresponds to the average distance between the support openings 21 and 22 one of the two side walls 14 and 15 is at least approximately the same. Thus, 160 can be handled with the handling device storage boxes 11, which have different dimensions overall, but above all in terms of the distance between the side walls 14 and 15 with the support openings 21 and 22. In general, there are very specific dimensions. Three sizes of the storage boxes 11 are commercially available, the outer dimensions of which are 600 mm, 400 mm and 200 mm with respect to the side walls 14 and 15. Since the support openings 21 and 22 are in the central region of the plan area of the side wall in question, the average distance between the support openings 21 and 22 of one side wall is slightly smaller than that of the other side wall, namely by an average of approximately 45 mm.

17 to 35, various exemplary embodiments with regard to the design and mutual arrangement of the central part 171 and the two pull-out parts 172 and 173 and their longitudinal guides are explained below. 17 to 24, the longitudinal guides of the pull-out parts are provided with slide guides. 26 ... 35, the longitudinal guides are provided with rolling element guides, so-called roller guides.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 ... 19, the central part 174 is formed by a plate 175 and by a section of a square tube 176. The two pull-out parts 177 and 178 are also designed as sections of a square tube. The shape and dimensions of the outer contour of the first pull-out part 177 match the inner contour of the square tube 176 of the middle part 174. In a corresponding manner, the outer outline of the second pull-out part 178 is matched to the inner outline of the first pull-out part 177. In this way, the second pull-out part 178 is guided in the first pull-out part 177 and the first pull-out part 177 is guided in the middle part 174.

19 shows the three mutually interacting square tubes 176, 177 and 178 with a square cross-sectional shape or a square outline, in such a way that these three tube sections fit flush into one another. In practice, this ideal case is difficult to achieve. With regard to the manufacturing tolerances of the square tubes alone, it is better to provide certain minimum distances between the interacting square tubes and to compensate for these distances in some other way. In this sense, the square tube of the pull-out part 177 is shown lower in FIG. 17 than the square tube 176. In a longer end section of the pull-out part 177, sliding pieces 179 made of plastic are arranged on the horizontally aligned wall parts and bridge the differences between the outer contour of the pull-out part 177 and the inner contour of the square tube 176 of the middle part 174. At the same time, these sliders 179 serve to reduce the frictional force between the pull-out part 177 and the central part 174 and to facilitate an adjustment movement.

In the same way, the distances between the second pull-out part 178 and the first pull-out part 177, not shown in the drawing, are bridged and the relative movement is facilitated. Such sliders are also used for horizontal guidance.

With the free ends of the pull-out parts 177 and 178, the cross members 181 and 182 are firmly connected, generally welded to it.

A pneumatic piston drive can be arranged on either side of the middle part 174, which is indicated in FIG. 18 by a dash-dot line. In this case, the cylinder is expediently connected to the middle part 174 and the piston rod in each case to the pull-out part 177 or 178. If the extension length of these piston drives is at least approximately equal to the adjustment path of the pull-out parts 177 and 178, the piston drives can be used both as a stop and as a securing means for the Serve parts.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, the central part 185 also has a square tube 186 and a plate 187 welded thereon. The two pull-out parts 198 and 199 are each formed by two profile bar sections 191 and 192 or 193 and 194. In the simplest case, it is bar sections with a slim rectangular cross section, the dimensions of which are matched to the inner contour of the square tube 186. Here, too, it is expedient to arrange plastic sliders between the section bar sections and the square tube 186 and also between the section bar sections themselves. The two associated profile bar sections 191 and 192 and 193 and 194 are welded at their free ends to the adjacent cross members 195 and 196, respectively.

A piston drive 187 and 188 are again arranged on each side of the middle part 185.

21 that the two profile bar sections of each of the two pull-out parts 188 and 189 are offset by half the thickness of the profile bar sections with respect to the plane of symmetry of the central part 185. As a result, the two pull-out parts 188 and 189 with the associated cross members 195 and 196 the same floor plan, can be pushed into one another in an alternating arrangement. If this slightly asymmetrical arrangement of the pull-out parts 188 and 189 should interfere, the two pull-out parts can also be designed in such a way that in both pull-out parts the two profile bar sections are arranged symmetrically to the central plane of the central part 185, namely the profile bar sections of the one pull-out part closely adjacent to one another and the profile bar sections of the other pull-out part with a clear distance which is at least equal to the outer dimension of the two profile bar sections of the one pull-out part. Plastic sliders can also be used here.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 ... 25 is very similar to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 20 ... 22 described above. Here, too, the middle part 200 has a square tube 201. The two pull-out parts 202 and 203 are likewise formed by two profile rod sections 204 and 205 or 206 and 207, the cross-sectional area of which is an upright, slim rectangle. The square tube 201 of the middle part 200 has such a large internal width in the horizontal direction that the profile bar sections of the two pull-out parts 202 and 203 can be arranged with a larger clear distance. The profile bar sections are arranged symmetrically to the central plane of the middle part 200, that is, the profile bar sections 206 and 207 of the pull-out part 203 lie on the inside of the perpendicularly oriented walls of the square tube 201, while the profile bar sections 204 and 205 of the pull-out part 202 on the inwardly facing wall surface of the Profile bar section 206 and 207 abut. The interior space between the innermost two profile bar sections 204 and 205 is so large that the two piston drives 208 and 209 can be accommodated therein, preferably one above the other.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 26 ... 29, the middle part 211 has a profile section 212 which has two wall surfaces 213 and 214 which run parallel to one another and which are aligned perpendicularly (FIG. 29). In the simplest case, this profile section is formed by a bar section with a rectangular cross-sectional area, which is arranged upright. The two pull-out parts 215 and 216 (FIG. 26) are identical to one another. They have two profile sections 217 and 218, which are spaced apart and aligned parallel to one another. Their length is less than half the length of the middle part 211. The profile sections 217 and 218 have a perpendicularly oriented wall surface 219 and 220, at least on their side facing each other. They are therefore most easily formed by a steel bar section with a rectangular cross-section, which is arranged upright.

The pull-out parts 215 and 216 are each slidably guided on the central part 211 by means of a longitudinal guide 221. Each longitudinal guide 221 has two roller drawers 222 and 223. They are designed as telescopic roller drawers and therefore have a primary pull-out rail 224, a secondary pull-out rail 225 and a tertiary pull-out rail 226. The roller tracks of the primary pull-out rail 224 are furthest out. The roller tracks of the secondary pull-out rail 225 are furthest inside and the double roller tracks of the tertiary pull-out rail 226 are in between. Apart from the roller conveyors, the three pull-out rails have at least approximately a C-shaped profile. In the retracted state, the two roller pull-outs 222 and 223 have a length which is less than half the length of the middle part 211 and which is expediently at least approximately the same as the length of the pull-out parts 217 and 218.

Of the two roller pull-outs 222 and 223 of a pull-out part, one pull-out rail, and preferably the primary pull-out rail 224, is connected to the adjacent wall surface 213 or 214 of the profile section 212 of the central part 211, for example screwed or riveted. The secondary pull-out rail 225 is connected on the inner wall surface 219 or 220 to the adjacent profile section 217 or 218 of the associated pull-out part 215 or 216. The tertiary pull-out rail 226 runs loosely between the other two pull-out rails.

The profile section 212 extends over the entire length of the middle part 211. Therefore, the two pull-out parts 215 and 216 are arranged in the same common alignment line. One of the crossbeams 227 and 228 is welded to each of its ends facing away from one another. The lifting claw pairs 229 (FIG. 26) are arranged therein. Each pair of lifting claws 229 is actuated by its own pneumatic piston drive 230.

In this embodiment, the force transmission takes place from the pull-out parts 215 and 216 via their longitudinal guides 217 to the middle part 211 in the middle of the plane of symmetry or longitudinal center plane of the middle part 211. Because of the limited overall length of the pull-out parts 215 and 216 and their longitudinal guides 217, the setting possibility is limited to two size levels , that is to the size levels of 200 mm and 400 mm or 400 mm and 600 mm.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 30 ... 32, the middle part 231 has two profile sections 232 and 233, each of which has at least one perpendicular wall surface 234 or 235. These wall surfaces are aligned parallel to each other. They have a certain clear distance from one another which is greater than the horizontal dimension of the piston drives 236 which are used to actuate the lifting claw pairs 237 (FIG. 30). The profile sections 232 and 233 are expediently sections of one L-shaped profile. For this, sharp-edged shaped steel sections with an L-shaped cross-sectional area can be used. This has the advantage that their respective second profile legs 238 can be screwed or welded to a holding plate 239 connecting the two profile steel sections.

The two pull-out parts 241 and 242 each have at least one profile section 243 or 244, which also has a vertically aligned wall surface 245 or 246. The simplest way of forming the two profile sections 243 and 244 is by one of the two legs of a profile steel section with an L-shaped cross-sectional area, the other profile leg 247 of which is firmly connected at one free end of the relevant pull-out part to the cross member 248 arranged there.

The pull-out parts 241 and 242 have at least approximately the same length as the middle part 231. The pull-out part 241 is therefore arranged on one side and the pull-out part 242 on the other side of the plane of symmetry of the middle part below the associated part of the middle part 231 (FIGS. 30 and Fig . 32). As a result of this eccentric arrangement of the pull-out parts 241 and 242, the associated cross member 248 is connected asymmetrically to the pull-out part (FIG. 32).

Each pull-out part 241 and 242 is guided by means of its own longitudinal guide 251 and 252 with the middle part 231 so as to be longitudinally displaceable. The longitudinal guides 251 and 252 each have two roller drawers 253 and 254 and an intermediate member 255. For the sake of clarity, the roller drawers 253 and 254 are only shown schematically in FIG. 30. The roller drawers 253 and 254 and the intermediate members 255 have a length which is at least approximately equal to the length of the middle part 231 and thus at the same time the length of the two pull-out parts 241 and 242.

Each of the intermediate links 255 preferably has the shape of an upright, plane-parallel plate with a rectangular outline, so that at least on the side facing the profile sections 232 and 233 as well as 243 and 244 they have a wall surface 256 parallel to their wall surfaces.

The parts of the longitudinal guides 251 and 252 and the middle part 231 and the two pull-out parts 241 and 242 are (with reference to the longitudinal guide 251) assigned to one another in the manner indicated below: The roller pull-out 253, which is closest to the middle part 231, is one Pull-out rail, preferably the primary pull-out rail, firmly connected to the profile section 232 of the central part 231, generally screwed or riveted. The second pull-out rail of this roller pull-out 253 is connected to the intermediate member 255. Of the roller pull-out 254, which is closer to the pull-out part 241, the one pull-out rail, generally the secondary pull-out rail, is also connected to the intermediate member 255. Finally, the other pull-out rail of the roller pull-out 254 is connected to the profile section 243 of the pull-out part 241. In this way, the pull-out part 241 is first connected to the middle part 231 in a longitudinally displaceable manner via the lower roller guide 254, via the intermediate member 255 and finally via the upper roller guide 253. In view of the fact that the intermediate member 255 can be displaced by approximately half the length with respect to the middle part 231 and the pull-out part 241 can be displaced with respect to the intermediate member 245 by approximately half its length, in this embodiment the handling device can be adjusted to three size levels Storage boxes 11 can be set.

With regard to the triple adjustment possibility of the handling device, it is expedient that each pull-out part is equipped with two actuating devices, namely with two piston drives 257 and 258 (FIGS. 30 and 31).

From the first piston drive 257, the cylinder is connected to the middle part 231 and the piston rod to the intermediate part 255. In the second piston drive 258, the cylinder is connected to the intermediate member 255 and the piston rod to the pull-out part 241. In this way, the two piston drives 257 and 258 are connected in series. Each of the two piston drives causes the pull-out part 241 and the cross member 248 connected to it to be extended by a pull-out distance which corresponds to half the value of the difference in size of the three different sizes of the storage boxes 11. First, the first piston drive 257 moves the intermediate member 255 by half the adjustment path, the cross member 248 remaining retracted relative to the intermediate member 255. For the next size level, the second piston drive 258 displaces the pull-out part 241 by the same distance relative to the intermediate member 255, so that the maximum adjustment path is then reached.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 33 ... 35 is also suitable for adjusting the handling device to three different sizes of the storage boxes 11. In this case, however, the power transmission takes place again in the center of the plane of symmetry of the middle part and thus largely without torsional loads on the transmission parts. The middle part 261 and the two pull-out parts 262 and 263 are arranged in the plane of symmetry of the middle part 261, namely one pull-out part 262 below and the other pull-out part 263 above the middle part 261 (FIGS. 33 and 34).

The middle part 261 has two profile sections 264 and 265, which are arranged vertically one above the other and which are expediently formed by a plane-parallel plate with a rectangular tear-open area and extending over the entire height of the two profile sections. At the transition point of the two profile sections 264 and 265, two plane-parallel holding plates 266 and 267 are firmly connected to the central part 261 on both sides, in general welded to it. It is even better if for the two profile sections 264 and 265 and the two holding plates 266 and 267 consist of one piece and are therefore profile sections of a profile bar section which has a cross-shaped end view. On the free longitudinal edge of the two holding plates 266 and 267, a plate-shaped strut 268 and 269 are attached, generally screwed. At its upper longitudinal edge, the two plate struts 268 and 269 are screwed to a support plate 271, with which the coupling element, not shown, for connecting to a hoist is then connected. The two profile sections 264 and 265 and the two holding plates 266 and 267 together form the middle part 261 in the narrower sense of the word. The plate struts 268 and 269 and the support plate 271 together form a type of holder for the central part 261.

The two pull-out parts 262 and 263 have at least one profile section 272 and 273, each of which has a vertically oriented wall surface 274 and 275 or 276 and 277 on two sides facing away from one another. For better connection of these profile sections with the subsequent cross member, the pull-out parts 261 and 262 each have a horizontally aligned holding plate 278 and 279, respectively. The holding plate and the associated profile section together have a T-shaped cross section. Therefore, a sectional steel section with a T-shaped cross-sectional shape is expediently used for the pull-out parts 262 and 263.

Each of the two pull-out parts 262 and 263 is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the central part 261 by means of a separate longitudinal guide 281 and 282, respectively. Each of these longitudinal guides 281 and 282 has two pairs of roller drawers 283 and 284, which are only shown schematically in FIG. 33. In addition, each of the longitudinal guides 281 and 282 has two intermediate links 285 and 286, which are firmly connected to one another by an intermediate web 287, so that these three parts together have an H-shaped cross-sectional shape (FIG. 33).

The interaction of the parts of the longitudinal guides 281 and 282, the middle part 261 and the two pull-out parts 262 and 263 is similar to the interaction of the corresponding parts in the embodiment according to FIGS. 30 ... 32, with the difference that here the parts are formed on two sides or are arranged twice and thus everything is arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal center plane. The pull-out part 262, for example, is connected to the two intermediate members 285 and 286 so as to be longitudinally displaceable via the pair of roller pull-outs 283. The two intermediate links 285 and 286 are in turn slidably connected to the profile section 264 of the central part 261 by means of the pair of roller drawers 284. The same applies to pull-out part 263.

The pull-out parts 262 and 263 and the parts of their longitudinal guides 281 and 282 have at least approximately the same length as the middle part 261. Since the pull-out parts 262 and 263 are arranged with their longitudinal guides in the central plane of the middle part 261, namely below and above the Middle part 261, the pull-out parts 262 and 263 can each be extended either in two stages or all at once by an extension which is at least equal to the length of the middle part 261. The cross members 288 and 289 connected to the pull-out parts 262 and 263 can thus be set to three size levels of the storage boxes 11. In Fig. 35, cross members 288 and 289 are shown extended in the retracted position and dashed in the most extended position.

For the extension and retraction of the cross members 288 and 289, each of the pull-out parts 262 and 263 is coupled to two piston drives 291 and 292, of which the first piston drive 291, the intermediate members 285 and 286 opposite The middle part 261 moves and the second piston drive 282 moves the pull-out part 262 or 263 relative to the respective intermediate members.

The lifting claw pairs 293 are actuated by means of a separate piston drive 294 each.

As already mentioned and as can be seen from FIG. 34, the pull-out part 262 is arranged below the central part 261 and the pull-out part 263 above the core of the central link 261. Since the crossbeams 288 and 289 are arranged at the same height, in the crossbeam 289 the distance to the pull-out part 263 arranged further up is bridged by an intermediate member 295, which is preferably box-shaped in order to give it the required rigidity.

Claims (16)

1. Device for handling a storage crate (11) made of plastic with elongated holes (21, 22), in particular a standard container:

   - in which a carrying frame (29) is present with at least one coupling element (31) for attachment to lifting gear;

   - with the carrying frame (28) displaying at least one longitudinal carrier (32), the length of which can be adjusted in relation to the distance between the elongated holes on the storage crate (11);

   - and with two crossways carriers (33, 34) arranged at a right-angle to the longitudinal carrier (32) and fixed rigidly to it;

   - with two lifting claws (55, 56) arranged on each crossways carrier (33, 34) which can be inserted into the elongated holes (21, 22) of the storage crate (11) and which can be moved by an actuating mechanism (57) from the rest position into an operating position gripping the storage crate (11) from behind, this being made possible by lifting protrusions (55, 56);

   characterised by:

   - the lifting claws (37, 38) being moved by a swivelling motion from the rest position into the operating position,

   - the lifting claws (37, 38) being formed in each case as a pair of lifting claws (35, 36),

   - the two pairs of lifting claws (35, 36) on each of the two crossways carriers (33, 34) being capable of being made to swivel together by means of an actuating mechanism (57) between an operating position in which they are spread apart and an rest position in which they are folded together,

   - the lifting claws (37, 38) of each pair of lifting claws (35, 36) displaying the lifting protrusion (55, 56) on the sides turned away from one another,

   - the lifting claw pairs (35, 36) of each crossways carrier (33, 34) be arranged at one common level, with these levels being at a certain distance from the two crossways carriers (33, 34),

   - the central distance between the two pairs of lifting claws (35, 36) being the same for each of the crossways carrier (33, 34),

   - each of the lifting claws (37, 38) of either pair of lifting claws (35, 36) on the crossways carrier (41, 42) being mounted with swiveling axes arranged parallel to one another at the same level around a certain swivelling angle,

   - and by the two lifting claws (37, 38) of each of the pairs of the lifting claws (35, 36) being capable of being swivelled in opposite directions towards one another by means of a coupling device (46).
2. Handling device along the lines of Claim 1, characterised by the lifting claws of each pair of lifting claws meshing together with one another with teeth on the sides facing one another.
3. Handling device along the lines of Claims 1 and 2, characterised by a bolt (47) serving to provide the mesh by gripping into the corresponding cut-outs (48, 49) in each of the two lifting claws of the lifting claw pairs.
4. Handling device along the lines of Claims 1 to 3, characterised by:

   - the actuating mechanism (57) displaying an actuating shaft (58) which is arranged on the crossways carrier (33), or on a part mounted on it, in such a way as to permit it to rotate, and the axis of which is at least roughly parallel to the swiveling axis of the swiveling bearing (41, 42) of the lifting claws (37, 38),

   - two connecting rods (66, 67) being mounted with their one shaft-bearing (68, 69) on the eccentric cam (68, 69), from which one connecting rod (66) reaches out in the direction of one of the lifting claw pairs (35) and the other connecting rod (67) in the direction of the other lifting claw pair (38),

   - the connecting rods (66, 67) being mounted with their other shaft-bearing (72, 73) on the lifting bearing (38) which can be moved in the same direction on the two lifting claw pairs (35, 36).
5. Handling device along the lines of Claims 1 to 4, characterised by:

   - the actuating shafts (58) of the actuating mechanism (57) on the two crossways carriers (33, 34) being linked rigidly to one another by a connecting shaft so that they cannot rotate in relation to one another,

   - a lever (81) being mounted in the area of each of the two crossways carriers (33, 34) and joined to the actuating shaft (58) rigidly so that it cannot rotate.
6. Handling device along the lines of Claims 1 to 5, characterised by a sloping face (78, 79) adjoining each of the lifting claws (37, 38) on the sides of the lifting claws of each lifting claw pair facing away from one another on the lifting protrusion (55, 56), which runs away at an angle from the lifting protrusion (55, 56) towards the open end of the lifting claw (37, 38) after the symmetrical level of the lifting claw pair (37, 38).
7. Handling device along the lines of Claims 1 to 6, characterised by:

   - each of the lifting claws being led from the swivel bearing (101, 102) with the bearing part (103) connected with the lifting claw in an approximately vertical direction opposite the crossways carrier (94) by means of a longitudinal guide (105) so that it can be adjusted in height by means of the swivel bearing (101, 103), to be precise between a lowered, operating position, in which the lifting claw (98, 99) can be inserted into the carrying aperture of the storage crate, and a raised, rest position in which at most a centring part (118, 199) of the lifting claw (98, 99) projects downwards beyond the underside of the crossways carrier (94),

   - a lifting device (125) being present by means of which the lifting claws (98, 99) of each of the two pairs of lifting claws (96, 97) can be raised from the operating position to the rest position and lowered again.
8. Handling device along the lines of Claim 7, characterised by:

   - the bearing part of the swivel bearing (101, 102) connected with the lifting claw (98, 99) being made in the form of a cylindrical bearing pin (103),

   - the bearing part connected with the crossways carrier (94) being made in the form of a bearing dish (104) which is open upwards and shaped to fit the bearing pin (103),

   - the longitudinal guide (105) is made in the form of a vertical guide groove, the width and depth of which fits the bearing pin (103) and which connects directly upwards with the bearing dish (104).
9. Handling device along the lines of Claims 7 or 8, characterised by the lifting device (125) displaying a lifting anchorage (126), from each of the two sides of which one such anchorage grips into an opening (122, 123) in the lifting claw (98, 99) alongside it.
10. Handling device along the lines of one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by:

    - the lifting device (125) displaying a height stop (112), and

    - the height stop (112) being shaped by an upper connecting surface (111) on the guide groove (106, 107) for the bearing pin (103) of the lifting claw (98, 99).
11. Handling device along the lines of one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by:

    - the actuating mechanism (135) for each lifting claw (98, 99) of either pair of lifting claws (97) each displaying a sloping surface (136, 137) which forms a certain angle with the direction of movement of the actuating mechanism (135), and

    - a further guide link (143, 144) being present on each lifting claw (98, 99) which is arranged in the track of the sloping surface (136, 137) in such a way that, when the lifting claws are moved, this causes a swivelling movement of the lifting claw (98, 99) in at least one of the directions of actuation from the rest to the operating position.
12. Handling device along the lines of Claim 11, characterised by the actuating mechanism (135) for both pairs of lifting claws (96, 97) displaying a common yoke (133), and by the yoke (133) being capable of being moved by means of a double-action piston drive (134) in relation to the crossways carrier (94) of the carrying frame (91).
13. Handling device along the lines of Claim 12, characterised by:

    - the lifting mechanism (125) and the actuating mechanism (135) for the two pairs of lifting claws (96, 97) being linked to one another in such a way that the lifting anchor (126) of the lifting mechanism (125) can be coupled with the actuating mechanism (135) in the direction of lift, and

    - the lifting anchorage (126) displaying a further hammer head (128) which is arranged in the movement track leading upwards at a stop surface (129) on the actuating mechanism (135).
14. Handling device along the lines of one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the longitudinal carrier (163) being formed in a variable way along its length and being capable of being adjusted to at least two different operating settings.
15. Handling device along the lines of Claim 14, characterised by the longitudinal carrier (163) displaying a central part (171) and two telescopic slide parts (172, 173) which can be moved by means of a guide on the central part (171) in an axial direction.
16. Handling device along the lines of Claims 14 and 15, characterised by the central part (171) and the two slide parts (172, 173) displaying a rectangular cross-section.

Images