EP0685412A1 - Device for storing and dispensing larger piece-goods - Google Patents

Abstract

The storage section is a storage shaft (2) and the delivery section (3) is formed by a downwardly curving slide-surface floor (6) arranged below the shaft cross section. The delivery section has a removal opening (3a). The input opening (2a) is joined to a chute (4). The storage shaft, the delivery section and the feed chute are built into a common support frame (10). There may be a brake unit (8) between the upper and low of the shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for receiving and delivering larger piece goods.

Larger and therefore usually heavy and often unwieldy piece goods often have to be temporarily stored or stored for a certain time before they are removed or processed in a corresponding manner. If these piece goods are pieces or packaged in pieces or more or less perishable goods, it is usually important to remove the older piece goods from the stock before the freshly added piece goods.

The invention is therefore based on the object, with the most careful handling of the piece goods and with a relatively simple structural design of the device, always to ensure a sufficient storage option and removal of the longest stored piece goods.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of this invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In this device according to the invention, an essentially upright storage shaft is provided, the upper end of which has a piece goods supply opening and the lower end of which is in a piece goods discharge part passes over, which is formed with a at least in the area below the storage shaft cross-section curved bottom and is provided with a - viewed in plan of the device - staggered with respect to the storage shaft or storage shaft cross-section discharge opening. In this relatively simply constructed device, the amount of the bulk material that is preferably to be stored or stored can be determined in a simple manner by a suitable choice of the shaft height, the cross section of the storage shaft being expediently adaptable to the bulk material to be stored in each case, so that the piece goods at least in the Storage shaft can be stored individually one above the other or on top of each other. In this way, it is reliably ensured that the longest stored goods can always be output and removed from the piece goods delivery part arranged below, while the freshly refilled or checked piece goods is always stored at the upper end of the storage shaft.

Since, furthermore, the lower end of the storage chute merges - as smoothly as possible - into the general cargo delivery part, this being particularly true for the connection of the curved sliding floor to the corresponding side wall of the storage chute, care is taken in this lower general cargo delivery part that the good items, as it were, strung together can slide evenly out of the storage shaft and automatically slide or slide on the curved sliding floor in this lined-up order to the general cargo removal opening, so that the oldest good can always be removed first. The shape and size of the curvature of the sliding floor can contribute in a suitable manner that the piece goods sliding into the piece goods delivery part are braked so far that the foremost piece of goods is not automatically pushed out of the piece goods removal opening.

In the case of relatively high storage shafts, it will generally be advantageous with regard to gentle forwarding of the individual piece goods if at least one device for braking the through the piece goods feed opening is located between the upper and lower ends of the storage shaft, preferably approximately in the middle region of the shaft height freshly posted general cargo is arranged. Whether in the storage shaft at a suitable height only a single braking device or possibly several such braking devices are distributed over the height will generally depend on the total height of the storage shaft, on the maximum permissible drop height for the individual piece goods and accordingly on the sensitivity to breakage of these piece goods themselves or the packaging that receives them. Although such a braking device can generally be designed in any suitable manner and arranged in the storage shaft, braking devices in the form of at least one brake flap projecting into the interior of the storage shaft or in the form of at least one brake slide projecting into the interior of the storage shaft are particularly preferred for this purpose. Both the brake flap and the brake slide can be biased in their braking effect on the piece goods by springs which are preferably adjustable in their spring tension. It is also generally possible, for. B. to provide two opposing brake flaps or brake calipers that are relative to each other are pivotally or slidably supported to act as a suitable braking device.

For a convenient feeding of the piece goods to be stored, it is also advantageous if the piece goods feed opening at the upper end of the shaft is assigned a piece goods feed chute inclined against this feed opening.

Although this device according to the invention can generally be used for picking up and dispensing very different piece goods, a very particularly preferred application is that this device according to the invention is designed for picking up and dispensing individually packaged foods, in particular piece goods, at least all of them device parts coming into contact with the packaged food are made of food-compatible, non-oxidizing material. Especially with these mostly relatively perishable piece goods, it is of great importance that the oldest piece goods are taken from the stocks and that freshly stored piece goods (frozen goods) are not mixed with the older piece goods (frozen goods) that have been stored for a longer time. In this way, you always have particularly good and reliable control over the shelf life of these packaged food items (especially frozen goods).

Through this device according to the invention, a kind of combined storage and dispensing device is thus formed, in which preferably z. B. packed in sacks or bags (loosely packed or shrink-wrapped) foods such as more or less irregular Pieces of meat, pieces of bacon, portions of fruit and vegetables or the like can be stored temporarily or generally stored until they are used or sold. Of course, other regular or irregular larger piece goods can also be stored, stored and released in the manner described.

Fig.1

einen Vertikalschnitt durch ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, mit einer im Speicherschacht angeordneten Bremsklappe;

Fig.2

eine Querschnittsansicht etwa entlang der Linie II-II in Fig.1;

Fig.3

eine Perspektivansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispieles der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, bei dem u. a. ein Bremsschieber im Speicherschacht angeordnet ist;

Fig.4

eine Teil-Seitenansicht des Speicherschachtes im Bereich des Bremsschiebers;

Fig.5

eine Perspektivansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispieles der Vorrichtung in vollkommen geschlossener Ausführung mit isolierten Wänden;

Fig.6

eine Teil-Vertikalschnittansicht des oberen Speicherschachtendes, zur Erläuterung einer Ausführungsvariante zum Beispiel der Fig.5.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show in this partially schematic drawing

Fig. 1

a vertical section through a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, with a brake flap arranged in the storage shaft;

Fig. 2

a cross-sectional view taken approximately along the line II-II in Figure 1;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which, inter alia, a brake slide is arranged in the storage shaft;

Fig. 4

a partial side view of the storage shaft in the area of the brake valve;

Fig. 5

a perspective view of another embodiment of the device in a completely closed design with insulated walls;

Fig. 6

a partial vertical sectional view of the upper storage shaft end, to explain an embodiment variant, for example, Fig.5.

A first embodiment of the device according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. According to this, the receiving and dispensing device 1 contains the main parts of an essentially upright storage shaft and a lower piece goods delivery part 3.

The storage shaft 2 will generally be oriented approximately vertically, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and mostly preferred because of a good use of space, although a storage and output effect which is essentially the same can be achieved with a position which is oriented obliquely to one side or the other . At its upper end, the storage shaft 2 has a piece goods supply opening 2a which is generally open in the present example, and at its lower end 2b it merges into the piece goods discharge part 3 without steps or steps (see FIG. 1).

The piece goods feed opening 2a at the upper end of the storage shaft 2 is assigned a piece goods discharge chute 4 inclined against this feed opening 2a. It can be advantageous here if the side wall 2c of the storage shaft 2 opposite this piece goods feed chute 4 - as shown in FIG. 1 - is pulled a little higher in order to prevent freshly supplied piece goods 5 from falling out.

The piece goods delivery part 3 of the device 1 directly adjoining the storage chute 2 at the bottom is at least in the area below the cross section of the storage chute downwardly curved sliding floor 6 and provided with a freely accessible general cargo removal opening 3a, which is offset in relation to the storage shaft 2, as viewed in plan. This sliding base 6 is preferably - viewed in vertical section (FIG. 1) - curved in the form of an arc with a substantially constant radius of curvature R. It is further preferred that the sliding base 6 with this curvature preferably extends from the transition at the lower storage shaft end 3b to the general cargo removal opening 3a (as illustrated in FIG. 1).

In the embodiment described so far, it will generally be expedient if the piece goods feed opening 2a, the storage shaft 2 have a substantially constant clear cross section with respect to the passage of the piece goods 5 over its entire height and the piece goods discharge part. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage shaft 2 can be straight and vertical, and as shown in FIG. 2 it preferably has an essentially rectangular cross-section, although generally more or less round or rounded cross-sectional shapes are also possible within the scope of the invention are. In this context, it should also be mentioned that in this first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage shaft 2 and essentially also the piece goods delivery part 3 have essentially closed side walls, with the exception of the openings mentioned.

Especially in the case of piece goods that themselves or their packaging are relatively sensitive to impact, it is advantageous if the minimum height is sufficient of the storage shaft between the upper and lower ends of this storage shaft 2, at least one device for braking the piece goods 5 freshly fed in through the piece goods feed opening 2a is arranged. How many braking devices are actually necessary and must be arranged along the shaft height will generally depend on the total shaft height and the impact sensitivity of the thrown-in piece goods. In many cases, it will already be sufficient, according to the example in FIG. 1, to provide only one such braking device, preferably in the central region of the shaft height.

According to this first exemplary embodiment, the braking device (or each braking device) is formed by a brake flap 8 which is pivotably mounted on one side of the shaft or side wall 2d via a pivot axis 7 and projects into the interior 2e of the storage shaft 2 and which is formed by springs 9 (for example a kind of leaf springs) is biased in the direction of the shaft interior 2e or on the opposite shaft side wall 2c. Instead of the leaf springs 9 indicated in FIG. 1, it is of course also possible to use all other suitable springs or spring devices which serve the same purpose and can preferably be adjusted in their spring tension, the latter by directly adjusting the spring force or by replacing individual springs with such springs can be achieved with weaker or stronger spring tension. In any case, this spring-loaded brake flap 8 should act in such a way that piece goods placed in the storage shaft 2 from above are braked optimally in their falling speed and gently passed on downward can (but without being able to pinch them).

The storage shaft 2 and the piece goods delivery part 3 and the piece goods feed chute 4 can - as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 - in a common frame 10 and - as already indicated above - except for the piece goods supply opening and the piece goods Removal opening 3a can be formed with essentially closed side walls.

Due to the z. T. roughly drawn piece goods 5 can be easily recognized the function of the receiving and dispensing device 1 according to the invention already briefly described above. It can thus be ensured for a gentle loading and feeding of fresh piece goods 5, for a sufficient stockpiling of these piece goods and for a reliable removal of the oldest piece of goods in each case, the formation of the piece goods delivery part 3 with the curved sliding base 6 for a reliable and orderly sliding the stored piece goods 5 takes care up to the removal opening 3a and the individual goods can be removed at a convenient height from this piece goods removal opening 3a if the latter is arranged approximately according to FIG. 1.

The second exemplary embodiment of the receiving and dispensing device 1 'illustrated with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is constructed largely similarly to the first exemplary embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, so that similar components with the same reference numerals with the addition of a dash are designated and thus a further detailed explanation in general is unnecessary.

A first noticeable difference between the first exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment can be seen in the fact that the storage shaft 2 'and the piece goods delivery part 3' and the piece goods feed chute 4 'assigned to the piece goods feed opening 2a' are formed in a common frame 10 ' are, for which a largely open design of the device 1 'is selected, with only the opposite side walls 2c' and 2d 'of the shaft side walls and essentially all side walls and the downwardly curved sliding floor 6' of the lower piece goods delivery part 3 can be closed. The substantially open wall areas of the frame 10 'can, however, be designed by means of corresponding struts in such a way that no stored good item can fall out laterally.

Furthermore, this second exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the first exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) in the design of the braking device for the piece goods arranged there in the storage shaft 2 '. 3 and 4, namely, this braking device is formed by at least one brake slide 11, which slidably protrudes from the one shaft side (shaft side wall 21d ') into the interior 2e' of the storage shaft 2 'and which is supported by springs 12 in the direction of the shaft interior 2e 'is biased and has an inclined sliding surface 11a on its top, which can be formed, for example, by a sufficiently steep or inclined sliding plate. As in Fig.3 and 4 can also be seen, the springs 12, which are preferably in the form of helical springs (compression springs), are arranged on adjusting spindles 13 in such a way that the spring tension with which the brake slide 11 is slidable in the direction of the double arrow 14 is in the required manner can be adjusted.

In this second exemplary embodiment, the brake slide 11 is slidably guided on its opposite ends in two parallel guide rails 15, which run at right angles to the side wall or shaft side 2d 'into which the brake slide 11 can be moved from the outside. These guide rails 15 and / or the side parts of the brake slide 11 which are in sliding engagement with them are produced from a material with a low coefficient of friction, in particular a corresponding plastic material. This sliding mobility in the guide rails 15 (in the direction of the double arrow 14) and the choice or setting of the springs 12 ensures that a good item thrown into the storage shaft 2 'from above can be braked gently and sufficiently in terms of its falling speed , and on the other hand there is no risk of jamming of a dropped piece of material on the part of the slide 11. The sliding surface 1a of the brake slide 11 will be inclined in such a way that a sufficient horizontal component is exerted on the side of a dropped piece of material on the brake slide 11, so that the latter despite the sufficient braking effect, can also move in the direction of arrow 14 (to the left in Fig. 4) in order to then allow the good to slide downwards.

The piece goods delivery part 3 'with its piece goods removal opening 3a' and the sliding base 6 'is otherwise of the same design and connected to the lower end of the storage shaft 2' as in the first embodiment.

The third exemplary embodiment of the receiving and dispensing device 1 '' shown in FIG. 5 as a perspective view represents a further development of the first exemplary embodiment illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, so that again essentially identical components with the same reference numerals with the addition of a double line are provided and a further detailed description of these components can be omitted.

In this third exemplary embodiment of the device 1 ″, it is initially noticeable that the general cargo feed opening 2a ″ at the upper end of the storage shaft 2 ″ can be closed by a cover which is preferably designed as a hinged cover 16; and also the general cargo removal opening 3a ″ of the general cargo delivery part 3 ″ adjoining the lower end 2b ″ of the storage shaft 2 ″ can be closed by a cover which is preferably designed as a hinged cover 17. In this way, not only are the side walls of the storage shaft 2 ″ and the piece goods delivery part 3 ″ (including its sliding floor) in the common frame 10 ″ formed completely closed, but also the piece goods feed opening 2a ″ and that General cargo removal opening 3a '' can be closed, which can be advantageous and therefore desirable in the case of various general cargo, for example foods.

Especially in this third embodiment of the device 1 '' and in the event that the foodstuffs to be stored and packaged in the form of packaged goods are chunky frozen goods which, among other things. U. should also be stored a little longer, it can also be particularly advantageous if at least some side walls of the storage shaft 2 '' and / or general cargo delivery part 3 '' and at least the hinged lid 16 of the general cargo supply opening 2a '' - as only 5 schematically indicated in dashed lines by snakes - are formed as insulating walls with cooling devices arranged therein, preferably with lines or coils 18 through which coolant flows.

While in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5 a separate general cargo feed chute 4 ″ (as in the previous exemplary embodiments) is also assigned to the general cargo feed opening 2a ″, according to the embodiment variant of FIG. 6 there is also the possibility of the general cargo feed chute 24 in the form of a hinged lid in such a way that when the general cargo feed opening 2a '' is open - as shown by solid lines in FIG. 6 - this component 24 forms the general cargo feed chute in its open position - as mentioned - while it is in its - to the left in FIG. 6 - the position pivoted in the direction of arrow 25 and shown in dash-dotted lines takes over the function of a hinged lid which closes the unit feed opening 2a ″. This combined hinged lid / feed chute 24 can be pivotally supported on one side via a pivot axis 26 at the upper end of the corresponding shaft side wall 2c ″.

If the receiving and dispensing device according to the invention is preferably to be used in the manner described for receiving, storing and dispensing piece-shaped or piece-wise packaged foods, then it is expedient if at least all parts of the device which come into contact with the packaged foods are made of food-compatible, non-oxidizing Material are made. Accordingly, these device parts can be made of stainless steel (e.g. V2A or the like) or of a suitable plastic material or also of a suitable combination of stainless steel and plastic parts.

Especially when this device according to the invention - as described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 - is equipped with coolant lines in the corresponding walls, this results in a kind of freezer at the same time, so that no special cooling space is necessary and this device can be set up independently anywhere. The device according to the invention can also be used universally in various sizes, for example in supermarkets, canteen kitchens, restaurants and the like. More. When the completely closed device, which is at least partially provided with coolant lines, is designed to be completely closed, all walls and lids can be equipped with suitable insulating material (for example foam material).

With all shown and explained design and installation options, this device according to the invention can be manufactured relatively simply and cost-effectively, whereby in each embodiment it is suitable for a particularly space-saving and very orderly storage or storage of the respective piece goods ensures.

Claims (16)

Device for receiving and delivering larger piece goods, with an essentially upright storage section, the upper end of which has a piece goods supply opening and the lower end of which merges into a piece goods discharge part,
characterized by the combination of the following features: a) the storage section is provided in the form of a storage shaft (2, 2 ', 2'') and the piece goods delivery part (3, 3', 3 '') is formed with a sliding base (6, 6 ') which is curved downward below the storage shaft cross section as well as - viewed in plan - provided with a general cargo removal opening (3a, 3a ', 3a'') offset from the storage shaft, the curvature extending from the transition at the lower end of the storage shaft (2b) to the general cargo removal opening; b) a piece goods feed chute (4, 4 ', 4'') is assigned to the piece goods feed opening (2a, 2a', 2a ''); c) the storage shaft (2, 2 ', 2''), the piece goods delivery part (3, 3', 3 '') and the piece goods feed chute (4, 4 ', 4'') are in a common frame (10, 10 ', 10''). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that between the upper and lower ends of the storage shaft (2, 2 ', 2'') preferably approximately in the middle of the shaft height, at least one device (8, 11, 8'') for braking the freshly fed in through the general cargo feed opening (2a, 2a', 2a '') General cargo (5) is arranged. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the braking device is formed by at least one brake flap (8, 8 '') which is pivotably mounted on one side of the shaft (2d) and projects into the interior (2e) of the storage shaft (2, 2 '') , which is biased by springs (9) in the direction of the shaft interior - preferably with adjustable spring tension. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the braking device is formed by at least one brake slider (11) which projects from one side of the shaft (2d ') into the interior (2e') of the storage shaft (2 '') and is slidably supported by Springs (12) in the direction of the shaft interior - preferably with adjustable spring tension - is biased and has an inclined sliding surface (11a) on its top. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that two parallel guide rails (15) for slidably holding the brake slide (11) are arranged in the region of two opposite side walls of the storage shaft (2 '). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the piece goods feed opening (2a, 2a ', 2a'') on is assigned to the upper shaft end a piece goods feed chute (4, 4 ', 4'', 24) inclined towards this feed opening. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding base (6, 6 ') in the piece goods loading part (3, 3', 3 '') - viewed in vertical section - is formed in the form of an arc with a substantially constant radius of curvature (R) . Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the piece goods feed opening (2a, 2a ', 2a' '), the storage shaft (2, 2', 2 '') over its entire height and the piece goods delivery part (3, 3 ' , 3 '') have a substantially constant clear cross section, preferably a rectangular clear cross section. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (10 ') is formed with partially closed side walls. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (10, 10 '') is designed with completely closed side walls. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the piece goods supply opening (2a '') at the upper end of the storage shaft (2 '') and the piece goods receiving opening (3a '') of the piece goods discharge part (3 '') each by a cover, preferably a hinged lid (16, 17) can be closed. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the piece goods feed chute (24) is designed in the form of a flap which is pivotably mounted on one side in such a way that it simultaneously forms the hinged cover for the piece goods feed opening (2a ''). Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that at least some side walls of the storage shaft (2 '') and the piece goods delivery part (3 '') and at least the cover (16) associated with the piece goods feed opening (2a '') as insulating walls with them arranged cooling devices, preferably with lines (18) through which coolant flows. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed for receiving and dispensing individually packaged food, in particular chunky frozen food, at least all parts of the device which come into contact with the packaged food being made of food-compatible, non-oxidizing material. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that at least all parts of the device which come into contact with the packaged foods are made of stainless steel. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that at least all parts of the device which come into contact with the food are made of plastic material.

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