EP1801023B1 - Storage container with drawers - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has a base forming a lower chassis with a rectangular or square contour, and posts (2) extending from wedges of the base. Load supports (3) are presented in the form of a load bearing structure with a flat configuration, and are mounted in sliding manner on a pair of opposite lateral guiding and support rails (4, 4`) in the form of a drawer. Each load support is slidably guided in a unilateral manner on the rails. One of the rails associated with the related support ensures lateral guiding of the support.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of storage and packaging, with a view to their transport or their grouped handling, of articles, manufactured products or parts, in particular of components, elements or assemblies useful for the manufacture of machines or vehicles, especially to the chain.

The invention more particularly relates to a container of the type comprising a base forming a lower frame with generally square or rectangular shape, four uprights or two opposite walls extending from edge areas or corners of said base and at least one, preferably several, loading medium (s) extending substantially parallel to the base. Each loading support is in the form of a carrier structure of substantially flat general configuration and is slidably mounted on or in a pair of opposed parallel lateral support and / or guide rails, in the manner of a drawer, each rail being fixed rigidly on a wall or a pair of uprights.

These containers make it possible to store, preferably on several levels, parts or articles. The loading supports can generally be moved between, on the one hand, a retracted (or retracted) storage position, in which they are located in the outline of the container delimited by the base and the four uprights and, on the other hand , a position at least partially removed or extracted for the establishment or removal of the parts or articles concerned (e) s.

Current containers of the aforementioned type (see for example FR 2761920 and FR 2711629 ) have significant drawbacks related to guiding drawer-shaped loading supports.

The document FR 2,711,629 discloses a container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Indeed, they require a precise adjustment of the dimensions of the supports and the dimensions of the rails or slides ensuring their maintenance and guidance in displacement.

This dimensional adjustment forces container manufacturers to adhere to severe manufacturing tolerances and then perform tedious side adjustment operations.

In addition, because of the deformations induced by the loads supported during the lifetime of the container, it is also necessary to carry out at regular intervals corrective or replacement interventions to avoid a blockage of said supports rendering the containers unusable.

The present invention is intended in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a container of the aforementioned type, in particular a drawer storage container (s), characterized in that each loading support is slidably guided unilaterally, only one of the two support rails associated with the support concerned also ensuring its guidance in translation.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un conteneur selon l'invention, apte à recevoir quatre supports de chargement, un seul support étant représenté pour des raisons de visibilité ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective à une échelle différente du support de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle en perspective à une échelle différente du support des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle en élévation frontale d'un conteneur similaire à celui de la figure 1 également muni d'un seul support de chargement, et
• la figure 5 est une vue de détail montrant la coopération par engagement des côtés latéraux opposés du support de la figure 4 avec les rails opposés solidaires des montants du conteneur.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention, adapted to receive four loading supports, a single support being shown for reasons of visibility;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view on a different scale from the support of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a partial perspective view at a different scale from the support of Figures 1 and 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a partial front elevation view of a container similar to that of the figure 1 also provided with only one loading support, and
• the figure 5 is a detail view showing the engagement cooperation of the opposite lateral sides of the support of the figure 4 with the opposite rails secured to the amounts of the container.

The figures 1 , 4 and 5 some of the accompanying drawings show, in part only, a container 1 of the type comprising, on the one hand, a base 1 'forming a lower frame with a generally square or rectangular shape, on the other hand, two opposite side walls or four uprights 2 extending from edge areas or corners of said base 1 'and, finally, at least one, preferably several, support (s) 3 which extend substantially parallel to the base. Each loading support 3 is in the form of a carrier structure with a generally planar general configuration and slidably mounted on or in a pair of parallel rails. opposing support and / or lateral guidance 4 and 4 ', in the manner of a drawer, each rail 4, 4' being rigidly attached to a wall or a pair of uprights 2.

According to the invention, each loading support 3 is slidably guided unilaterally, only one of the two support rails 4 and 4 'associated with the support 3 concerned also ensuring its translation guidance.

By providing a unilateral guide of the support (s) 3, the invention avoids the disadvantages mentioned above in relation to the containers known in the art. Indeed, the maintenance with unguided sliding of the or each support 3 on a 3 'of its two sides 3' and 3 "coming into engagement with the rails or rails 4 and 4 'corresponding corresponding (s), makes it possible to dispense with the need for a precise adjustment between the dimensions of the or each support 3 and the rails 4, 4 'associated therewith, the spacing of said rails 4, 4' and their parallelism. Constructive constraints are thus limited to providing a constant support in all possible positions of the support concerned and a constructive fit between said rails 4, 4 'and the rolling or sliding means of the support 3 concerned.

More specifically, each pair of opposed rails 4, 4 ', cooperating for the purpose of supporting and guiding a substantially flat loading support 3 in translation, comprises, on the one hand, a first profiled rail 4 for supporting and guiding, providing a longitudinal rolling or sliding surface in the sliding direction DC simultaneously with a linear guide in the aforesaid direction, and secondly a second profiled rail 4 'of support only, providing a rolling surface or longitudinal sliding in the sliding direction DC without lateral guidance.

These rails 4, 4 'can be secured directly to the uprights 2 or be fixed to intermediate fastening parts.

The sliding of the support (s) in the rails 4 and 4 'can be made by sliding (prediction of low friction surfaces).

Nevertheless, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and as shown by the Figures 2 to 5 appended drawings, each loading support 3, with a substantially square or rectangular contour according to the outer peripheral contour square or rectangular of the base 1 ', comprises along each of its two opposite lateral sides 3' and 3 ", designed to come into abutment or sliding engagement in the profiled bearing and / or guide rails 4, 4 ', a plurality of rolling means 5 such as rollers, rollers, ball or needle bearings or the like, fixed spaced along the concerned side 3 'or 3 ", the rail 4 of the pair of rails of opposed support 4, 4 'which also ensures the translation guide comprising a raceway 6 groove or groove, preferably with automatic alignment properties or self-centering on a rectilinear trajectory in the direction of sliding DC.

This advantageous embodiment allows the storage of heavy parts and provides optimum comfort of use.

The support between the rolling means 5 and the rolling surfaces at the level of the rails 4 and 4 'is preferably of the surface type. However, a linear or quasi-linear support may be tolerated between the rolling means 5 and the rail 4 also guiding, if such support is necessary to obtain the desired sliding properties and without jamming.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in particular emerging from figures 4 and 5 the grooved or grooved raceway 6 of each support and guide rail 4 has opposite rolling faces 6 'inclined toward the bottom of said groove or groove and on which the rolling means 5 bear and run. mounted on the relevant side 3 'of the loading support 3 engaging said support rail 4 and guiding in translation.

The raceways provided by the two rails 4 and 4 'are positioned such that the loading supports 3 are arranged substantially parallel to the base 1' and remain parallel to the latter during their movement.

The rollers, bearings, rollers or the like forming the guided rolling means may optionally have contact faces with the raceway of the corresponding support and guide rail 4, which are inclined in the opposite direction to make a surface contact. between these faces and the rolling faces of said rail 4.

According to a very advantageous characteristic of the invention, it can be provided that the rails 4 and 4 ', providing bilateral sliding support for the loading supports 3, consist of C-sections, mounted in pairs, with their longitudinal openings 4 "facing each other and with a profiled wing 7 serving as a bearing surface for the rolling means 5 of the loading support 3 received by said pair of opposite rails 4, 4 'considered ( figures 4 and 5 ).

In addition, one of the rails 4, 4 'of each pair of opposite rails 4, 4', forming a support and guide rail, comprises, at its lower flange 7 serving as a bearing surface for the bearing means 5 of the loading support 3 concerned, a longitudinal recess or a V-shaped cross sectional section 8, the upper wings 7 'of the rails 4, 4' which do not serve as bearing surfaces extending to short distance above said rolling means 5.

Such an embodiment of the pairs of rails 4, 4 'in the form of two C-shaped profiles facing makes it possible to guarantee a conservation of the engagement of the supports 3 in said rails 4, 4' whatever the sliding position of said supports ( the rolling means 5 may possibly bear on the upper wings 7 'when the supports 3 are in the extracted position) or whatever the lateral stresses to which these supports are subjected (lateral setting with play).

In accordance with a simple and economical practical embodiment of the invention, each support 3 may comprise, on the one hand, a rectangular frame 9 sized to fit between the two walls or the four uprights 2 in the retracted or retracted position of said support 3 and bearing on two lateral sides of the rolling means 5, on the other hand, one or more site (s) 10 for receiving part (s) or article (s) 11 intended (s) to be stored in the container 1, this (s) site (s) 10 being located (s) inside the aforementioned frame 9 and formed (s) by a solid structure provided with a fingerprint adapted or for a tubular or screened perforated structure, providing, if appropriate, an indexed positioning for this piece (s) or article (s) 11 and, finally, at least one stop means 12 limiting the extraction of said loading support 3 in the extended position, for example intended to come into contact with cooperating means forming a stop or counter stop, present on the extraction side of said support 3.

Preferably, each loading support 3 is extractable on two opposite lateral sides of the container 1, the frame 9 of at least one loading support 3 being provided with gripping means 13 for sliding training, such as handles or the like.

In addition, there may be provided, for each loading support 3, a means 12 "for locking or detachably holding in the retracted or retracted position in which said loading support 3 is entirely arranged in the outline of the container 1, in particular between the four amounts 2.

Each means 12 "may for example consist of a lug biased laterally projecting, for example by the action of a spring.Compression of said spring, and thus a corresponding retraction of the lug, then allow a displacement of the support 3 concerned out of this retracted position centered.

As it is possible to deduce from the figure 1 , the container 1 will comprise at least two loading supports 3 extending parallel to the base 1 ', each being associated with a pair of support rails 4 and 4', one of which also ensures the unilateral guidance of the corresponding support 3.

In order to provide a lightweight and easily stackable container, the base 1 'may have a tubular constitution adapted to be handled by a handling trolley, preferably pallet-shaped to standard dimensions, and said base 1' may comprise at its level. corners of the lugs 14 adapted to be fitted into the openings of the upper ends of the uprights 2 of another container 1 or in cups 14 'attached to these ends, so as to allow stacking of two containers 1.

Alternatively or additionally, the base 1 'can be equipped with rolling means, such as for example rollers, rollers or wheels, possibly for some pivoting around an axis. perpendicular to the plane of the base 1 '(not shown).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. Container (1) of the type comprising, on the one hand, a base (1') forming a lower frame with a generally square or rectangular contour, on the other hand, two opposite side walls or four posts (2) extending from the edge areas or the corners of said base (1'), and lastly, at least one, preferably several, load supports (3) extending substantially parallel to the base, each load support (3) being in the form of a support structure with a virtually plane configuration and mounted with the ability to slide on or in a pair of opposite parallel bearing rails and/or lateral guide rails (4 and 4') in the manner of a drawer, each rail (4, 4') being fixed rigidly onto a wall or a pair of posts (2), the container (1) being characterised in that each load support (3) is guided in a sliding manner in a unilateral manner, only one (4) of the two bearing rails (4 and 4') connected to the support (3) concerned ensuring its guiding in translation.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that each pair of opposite rails (4, 4'), which cooperate for supporting and guiding in translation a load support (3) that is substantially planar, comprises, on the one hand, a first profiled bearing and guiding rail (4) providing a longitudinal rolling or sliding surface in the sliding direction (DC) with simultaneously linear guiding in the said direction and, on the other hand, a second profiled rail (4') for bearing only, providing a longitudinal rolling or sliding surface in the sliding direction (DC) without lateral guiding.
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each load support (3) with a square or rectangular contour according to the virtually square or rectangular exterior peripheral contour of the base (1'), comprises along the length of each of its two lateral opposite sides (3' and 3"), designed to bear or enter into sliding engagement with the profiled bearing and/or guiding rails (4, 4'), a plurality of rolling means (5) such as rollers, wheels, ball bearings or needle roller bearings or the like, fixed spaced apart along the relevant side (3' or 3"), the rail (4) of the pair of opposite bearing rails (4, 4') which also ensures guiding in translation comprising a grooved or fluted rolling path (6), preferably with automatic alignment properties or autocentring properties on a rectilinear trajectory in the direction of sliding (DS).
4. Container according to claim 3, characterised in that the grooved or fluted rolling path (6) of each bearing and guiding rail (4) comprises opposite rolling faces (6') inclined towards the base of the said groove or fluting and on which the rolling means (5), which are mounted on the relevant side (3') of the load support (3) engaging said rail (4) for bearing and guiding in translation, bear and circulate.
5. Container according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the rails (4 and 4'), providing a sliding bearing for the load supports (3), consist of C-profiles, mounted in pairs with their longitudinal openings (4") mutually opposite one another and with a profiled blade (7) used as a bearing surface for the rolling means (5) of the load support (3) received by said relevant pair of opposite rails (4, 4').
6. Container according to claim 5, characterised in that one (4) of the rails (4, 4') of each pair of opposite rails (4, 4'), forming a bearing and guiding rail, comprises at the level of its lower blade (7) used as a bearing surface for the rolling means (5) of the relevant load support (3) a longitudinal indentation or profile with a V-shape cross section (8), the upper blades (7') of the rails (4, 4') which do not use bearing surfaces extend a short distance above said rolling means (5).
7. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that each load support (3) comprises, on the one hand, a rectangular (9) frame dimensioned to be fitted between the two walls or four posts (2) in a retracted or returned position of said support (3) and bearing on two lateral sides of the rolling means (5), on the other hand, one or more sites (10) for receiving part(s) or article(s) (11) intended to be stored in the container (1), said site(s) (10) being located on the inside of the said frame (9) and formed by a solid structure provided with an adapted indentation or a tubular or meshed lattice structure, supplying if necessary an index positioning for said part(s) or article(s) (11), and lastly at least one stop forming means (12) limiting the extraction of said load support (3) in an output position, for example designed to come into contact with a cooperating means (12') forming a stop or counter stop on the extraction side of said support (3).
8. Container according to claim 7, characterised in that each load support (3) is extractable on two opposite lateral sides of the container (1), in that the frame (9) of at least one load support (3) is provided with gripping means (13) for driving in a sliding manner, such as handles or the like, and in that for each load support (3) there is a locking means (12") or securing means for holding in a retracted or returned position in which said load support (3) is arranged completely within the contour of the container (1), in particular between the two lateral walls or four posts (2).
9. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it comprises at least two load supports (3) which extend parallel to the base (1'), each one associated with a pair of support rails (4 and 4'), one of which (4) also ensures the unilateral guiding of the corresponding support (3).
10. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the base (1') has a tubular form able to be manipulated by a handling carriage, preferably in the form of a pallet of standard dimensions, and in that said base (1') has pins (14) in the corners which are suitable for slotting into the openings of the top ends of the tubular posts (2) of another container (1) or into cups (14') attached to the ends, in such a way as to allow the stacking of the two containers (1) in question.
11. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the base (1') is equipped with rolling means such as for example rollers, castors or wheels, some pivoting around an axle perpendicular to the plane of the base (1').

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