FR2645129A1 - Improvement to flow-storage installations - Google Patents

Abstract

The pallet flow-storage installation which is the subject of the invention is of the type consisting of a channel with rollers or rolls, which is inclined from upstream where the said pallets 6 are introduced towards downstream where they are taken up in the order of introduction onto the said channel. This installation is equipped, at its downstream end, with a fixed stop 8 which stops and holds the first stored pallet 6a; it is also equipped with a device 10 for separating the pallets 6, of the type consisting of a retractable stop 17 and of a control lever 14 for this stop 17. The installation includes means actuating the separation device 10 in order to isolate the group consisting of at least the first and second pallets 6 from the group of the other pallets 6 which are arranged upstream of the said group. These means consist, on the one hand, in that the lever 14 is arranged upstream of the first pallet 6a and, on the other hand, in that the stop 17 is located upstream of the pallet which actuates and holds the said lever 14 in the position of actuating the stop 17.

Description

 The present invention relates to the field of dynamic storage facilities for loads such as pallets; it relates more particularly to the type of "first inlet, first output", provided with a pallet separation device.

 The dynamic storage corridors of the FIFO type (first load input-first load output) consist of a set of rails or rails supporting rollers or rollers mounted parallel to each other.

The rails are inclined from the upstream or are introduced the pallets, downstream or they are repeated in the order of introduction on said corridor.

 In such installations, it is known to provide, at the downstream end of the corridor, a pallet separation device intended to isolate the first load, situated downstream on the installation and blocked by an end stop, of the other pending loads, upstream. These devices allow the extraction of end pallets by means of a forklift avoiding problems of pressure exerted on the end load by the accumulation of all pallets arranged one after the other.

 A pallet separation device is described in document FR-A-2 566 376. This separation device is positioned at the downstream extraction end of a FIFO-type dynamic storage installation. I1 comprises a pedal or lever, articulated around a transverse axis and subjected to a spring for reminding it in the raised position. This control lever is intended to be actuated by the pallets arriving at the extraction station: it cooperates with a movable stop, arranged at the rear, to retain the penultimate load and the following which progress by simple gravity.

 When the lever is placed in the active position by the first load, the upstream separation stop protrudes above the raceway, via a connecting rod. When the load is extracted from the installation, the lever raises.provoking the retraction of the stop in the inactive position.

 Despite the sometimes complex mechanisms associated with these load separation devices1 to delay the complete retraction of the upstream separation stop as far as possible, the operator may not have sufficient time to clear the front end load. the arrival of the second charge. In this case, the shock between the two loads may unbalance the one being extracted.

 The invention aims to overcome this drawback and it proposes an installation allowing a sufficient margin of time to the operators to realize the extraction of the pallets of extremite, in complete safety, and this without these end loads do not undergo significant pressure by the upstream pallets. The installation according to the invention makes it possible to avoid significant shocks between charges, in the time necessary for their extraction.

 The dynamic pallet storage facility, object of the invention, is of the type consisting of a corridor with rollers or rollers, inclined upstream or are introduced said pallets, downstream or they are included in the order of introduction on said corridor. This installation is provided at its downstream end with a fixed stop which stops and maintains the first storage pallet; it is also provided with a pallet separation device. According to the invention, this installation comprises means, causing the separation device to act to isolate the group consisting of at least the first and second pallets of all other pallets arranged upstream of said group.

 This feature makes it possible to split the string of pallets into several groups on the storage aisle so that the end pallet does not undergo significant pressure from the upstream pallets during its extraction.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the installation is provided with a pallet separation device, of the type constitutes a retractable stop and a control lever of this stop. The control lever is disposed downstream of said stop e and operates directly by the pallets to move the stop from the inactive position to the active position.The means causing the separation device to isolate the first group is at least the first and second pallets of the second group constituted by the upstream pallets consist, on the one hand, in the fact that said lever is disposed upstream of the first pallet, and on the other hand in that said stop is upstream of the pallet which actuates and maintains said lever in the position of actuation of the stop.

 The control of the separation device is provided by a pallet of the first group, which is arranged upstream of the end pallet.

 This feature maintains the active position of the separation stop by a pallet other than the one being extracted and thereby increases the time of maintaining the active position of said stop. Indeed, the latter is released and goes into the inactive position only when the pallet that holds the control lever is fully released in rotation. Given the kinematics of the loads on the storage corridor, this confers sufficient time for the extraction of the end pallet before the pallet blocked by the separation stop comes into contact with the downstream pallet or pallets.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the distance separating the downstream end fixed abutment and the control lever is between one and two times the length of the pallets, so that the second stoked pallet operates and maintains said lever in the actuation position of the stop. The distance between said lever and said separation stop is greater than the length of a pallet to separate the first group constitutes first and second pallets of the second group constituted by the upstream pallets.

 In this preferred embodiment, only the second pallet exerts a push on the end pallet, when the latter is extracted. During this extraction, it keeps the control lever in the active position until its upstream end exceeds the level of said lever. The kinematics of this second pallet on the corridor, as well as that blocked and disengaged by the separation stop, leave a sufficient time for a problem-free extraction of the end pallet.

 According to another embodiment of the invention, the installation is provided with a complementary device for separating the pallets. This device is intended to separate a downstream pallet from an upstream pallet; it consists of a braking roller secured to at least one roller disposed downstream, via an endless belt. Said braking roller is disposed upstream of the stored downstream pallet and said rollers support said downstream pallet, which immobilizes the braking roller via the connecting belt so that said roller retains the upstream pallet.

 According to a particular embodiment, this braking roller is disposed upstream of the first pallet and downstream of the control lever.

 This device makes it possible to ensure a complementary separation of the first and second stored pallets to improve the extraction and to limit as much as possible the contacts between the pallet during extraction and the upstream pallets.

 The installation according to the invention can be intended for the dynamic storage of three pallets. In this case, the corridor may consist of three rails with rollers and rollers, parallel, the central rail being equipped with the pallet separation device and a braking roller disposed substantially upstream of the separation stop, under the downstream part. the third pallet stored. This third pallet is separated from the group constituted by the first two by the separation stop.

 According to another embodiment of the invention, the installation is intended for the dynamic storage of four pallets. It then comprises three roller rails and parallel rollers; the central rail is equipped with the pallet separating device and two braking rollers. One of these braking rollers is disposed substantially under the upstream portion of the first stored pallet and the other in the middle of the third pallet stored, which is separated from the group constituted by the first two by the separation stop.

 According to another embodiment of the invention, in which the installation is intended for the dynamic storage of five or more pallets, the corridor comprises three parallel roller rails and the two lateral rails are each equipped with a separating device. pallets. The central rail is equipped with braking rollers arranged for one, substantially below the downstream portion of the second pallet stored, and for others, substantially in the middle of the other pallets stored, except the first and the last.

 In these different embodiments, the braking rollers are arranged to create a particular kinematioue charges on the corridor to allow efficient separation of loads by the separating device, to minimize shocks between loads and thereby facilitate the extraction of the end pallet.

 Still according to the invention, the installation comprises non-return means disposed downstream of the control lever and upstream of the first pallet stockee. These non-return means may consist of an abutment articulated around a horizontal axis, which abutment is naturally placed in the active position by gravity and has the possibility of slipping only in one direction during the passage of the pallets.

 This non-return mechanism has a tilting mechanism and protects the separation mechanism arranged upstream, particularly against unintentional operating errors during the extraction of the pallets, for example in the case of a wrong engagement of the fork of the extractor carriage. under the pallet.

 Still according to the invention and to prevent friction and braking of the pallets by the control lever, the latter is provided at its end, at least one roller or roller, mounted on a horizontal axis.

 However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of various embodiments, given purely by way of indication and shown in the accompanying drawings in which - FIG. 1 is a top view of an installation. according to the invention for the storage of three pallets - Figure 2 is a side view of this installation, showing the support frame of the storage corridor - Figure 3 is a side view showing the corridor being loaded; - Figure 4 is an enlarged partial view showing the position of the control lever, the separation stop and the non-return stop in the loading frame shown in Figure 3; - Figure 5 shows the installation charged ;; FIG. 6 shows the positioning of the control lever, the separation stop and the non-return movement on the loaded rail, FIG. 5 shows, seen from above, another embodiment of the invention provided with FIG. 8 is an enlarged view, on the side, showing the details and the positioning of the additional separation device with braking roller and connecting belt with the downstream rollers; FIG. 9 is a top view of A dynamic storage facility according to the invention for storing four pallets - Figure 10 is a top view of an installation according to the invention for storing five pallets.

 The dynamic storage installation shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, consists of a storage corridor consisting of three parallel rails 1, 2, 3, carrying, in a conventional manner, rollers 4 and / or rollers 5 mounted parallel to one another.

 As can be seen in FIG. 1, the lateral rails 1 and 3 support rollers 4 and the wider rail 2 supports rollers 5.

 As can be seen in Figure 2, the storage corridor formed by the rails 1, 2 and 3 is inclined downwardly from the upstream slope or are introduced the loads or pallets 6, downstream or they are included in the order of introduction on said corridor. Such an installation is commonly referred to as the "FIFO" type; it consists, on the dynamic storage corridor, to take the first stored pallet first. The inclined corridor is supported by a frame 7 made of longitudinal members or bars of steel or aluminum.

 To facilitate understanding, the various pallets 6a, 6b, 6c ... are respectively identified according to their order of introduction on the storage corridor. the pallet 6a being introduced and stored first.

 Each rail of the storage corridor according to the invention is provided, at its downstream end, with a fixed stop 8 intended to stop and maintain the first pallet 6a stored. The installation according to the invention also comprises, at its upstream end, removal areas 9 consisting of simple horizontal plates integral with the rails 1, 2 and 3 and ensuring the reception of the pallets.

 The corridor is also provided with a pallet separating device 10, arranged between the end stop 8 and the removal pads 9, on the central rail 2. This separation device 10, which is conventional in its principle, consists of a control member 11 associated with a separating device 12 via a connecting rod 13.

 The control device 11 consists of a lever 14 articulated on a fixed axis 15. Means in the form of return springs are intended to position the lever 14, in an inactive situation, above the rolling plane 9a of the pallets, which is constituted by the upper generatrix of the rollers 4 and 5 rollers. This control device It is intended to cooperate with the loads or pallets 6 circulating on the storage corridor. When a pallet 6 passes on the lever 14, it forces the latter to slip, in the active position, under the rolling plane 9a causing traction on the connecting rod 13, which acts on the separating member 12 to achieve the immobilization of the pallet 6 upstream.As can be seen Figures 1 and 4, the upper end of the lever 14 which protrudes from the rolling plane 9a, in the inactive position, is provided with a set of rollers 16 mounted on a horizontal axis, parallel to the axes of the rollers 4 and rollers 5. These rollers 16 limit the friction and braking of the vanes 6 when they come into contact with the control device 11.

 The separating member 12 consists of a retractable stop 17 positioned under the rolling surface 9a of the pallets 6, in the inactive position, when the control lever 14 is itself in the non-active position, above the rolling plane. 9a. When the latter is actuated by the pallets 6, the retractable stop 17 rises above the running surface to block the following pallets.

 FIG. 4 shows the separation device 10 in the non-active position and FIG. 6 in the active position.

 As has been shown, in particular FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the control device 10 is placed on the installation so that the control member 11 is arranged upstream of the first stored pallet 6a and of such so that the separation member 12 is located upstream of the pallet 6 which actuates and maintains the control lever 14 in the actuated position of the retractable abutment 17.

 In the embodiment shown in the figures, the control lever 14 is positioned substantially upstream of the first stored pallet 6a. The distance between the fixed end stop 8 and the control lever 14 is slightly greater than the length of the pallets 6; thus the lever 14 is placed, on the corridor, at the downstream part of the storage location of the second pallet 6b, so that the second pallet 6b stored actuates and maintains said lever 14 in the setting position in operation of the retractable stop 17.The distance between the control lever 14 and the separation stop 17 is greater than the length of a pallet 6 and the separation of the group constituted by the first pallet 6a and the second pallet 6b is carried out group or upstream pallet 6c.

 In order to improve the kinematics of the pallets 6 on the storage aisle, a braking roller i8, of conventional type, is positioned on the central rail 2, substantially upstream of the retractable abutment 17. This braking roller 18 is positioned under the part downstream of the third stored pallet 6c, retained by the retractable stop 17.

 A nonreturn stop 19 is disposed downstream of the control lever 14 and upstream of the first stored pallet 6a. This nonreturn stop 19 makes it possible to isolate the separating device 10 from the first stored pallet 6a by preventing the latter from moving upstream, for example during a maneuvering error during extraction.

The abutment 19 consists of a metal plate 20 provided with lateral wings 20a secured to the rail 2 by means of a hinge pin 21. The base plate 20 is weighted or shaped so that it moves naturally in active position by simple gravity. In this position, its lower part is in contact with the bottom of the rail 2 and its upper part protrudes above the rolling plane 9a of the pallets. Given its characteristics, it has the ability to slip only in the natural direction of movement of the pallets 6, from upstream to downstream. This eclipsing takes place by the pallets 6 themselves which press on the upper part of the plate 20, which upper part is located above the rolling plane 9a, so as to rotate the stop 19 about its axis 21.Because of the blocking of said stop 19 against the bottom of the rail 2, in the active position, a movement of the end pallet 6a from the downstream to the upstream is impossible, the latter abut against the upper part of the plate 20 which protrudes.

 The storage and loading operation of the dynamic storage corridor for three pallets 6a, 6b, 6c is represented in FIGS. 3 and 5.

 The first pallet 6a is deposited at the upstream end of the corridor, on the landing pads 9. It then moves by simple gravity to the downstream end of the installation. At first it is braked by the roller 18, it then actuates the control lever 14 and passes on the non-return stop 19. After having passed the level of the control lever 14 and the stop 19, these two elements.

are repositioned above the rolling surface 9a and the pallet 6a is placed at the end of the corridor against the fixed stop downstream 8.

 The second pallet 6b placed on the removal pads 9 is braked by the roller 18 and then comes gradually to be placed against the end pallet 6a, while actuating and maintaining the lever 14 in the active position. The abutment 17 protrudes above the running surface and will block the third pallet stored to separate the latter from the first two pallets 6a and 6b. The corridor thus loaded is represented in FIG. 5, with the separating device 10 in the active position as shown in an enlarged manner, FIG.

 When extraction of the end pallet 6a is performed, its lifting does not act directly on the separating device 10 arranged upstream. The second pallet 6b, in contact with this end pallet 6a, exerts a slight pressure on the latter, from upstream to downstream, without this adversely affecting a good quality of extraction. As the extraction progresses, the pallet 6b moves progressively towards the downstream abutment 8 and only when its upstream portion has exceeded the level of the control lever 14 does the separating abutment 17 release the third pallet 6c.

When the release of this third pallet 6c is achieved, the operator has had sufficient time to fully extract the end pallet. This time may be more or less important following the kinematics of the second pallet 6b and the location of the control lever 14 under the latter in the storage position. Advantageously this lever 14 is disposed as close as possible to the downstream end of the second pallet 6b.

 The dynamic storage facilities are intended for the storage of the most diverse products, generally arranged on a pallet 6 receiving. For fragile objects, it is advantageous to prevent the different pallets 6 from coming into contact with each other. For this purpose, the invention proposes a complementary separation device represented in FIGS. 7 and 8.

 In these two figures, the complementary separation device 22 is positioned such that it allows the separation of the first pallet 6a and second pallet 6b.

Such a device described below can of course also be arranged upstream e for the purpose of separating any pallets in contact.

 This additional separation device 22 consists of a braking roller 23 secured to two conventional rollers 24, 25, arranged downstream, via a belt or connecting strip 26, endless. This connecting strip 26, stretched around the brake 23 and the roller 25, is held in place by the presence'une groove provided in the central portion of the braking roller 23 and in which it is inserted. A grooved system may also be provided at the roller 25; advantageously, the belt or strip 26 protrudes out of these grooves to make contact with the pallets. This endless band 26 may be made of a material used for conventional conveyor belts, for example based on polyurethane. Advantageously, it is flexible but has very low elongation possibilities; this band may, for example, be of the "Habasit" type (registered trademark), have a length of 30 mm and a thickness of 2.5 mm. A return tensioning roller 27 may be disposed on the installation so as to achieve a permanent tension on the strip 26.

 This strip separation device 22 is disposed on the installation so as to allow effective separation between the end plate 6a and the second pallet 6b which actuates the control lever 14. For this purpose, the braking roller 23 is arranged downstream of the control lever 14 and upstream of the end pallet 6a in the storage position. At least one of the rollers 24, 25 supports this end pallet 6a, in the storage position; in the case shown, the two rollers 24, 25 are support rollers of the end pallet. When the latter is placed on the storage corridor, it arrives on the braking roller 23 which plays its braking role and continues its movement to the end stop 8. In this position, its upstream portion remains in contact with the strip 26 which immobilizes the braking roller 23. The second pallet 6b stored starts by actuating the separating device 10 and then comes into contact with the braking roller 23 immobilized. This immobilization locks the second pallet, substantially at the braking roller 23.

A space is thus made between the first pallet 6a and the second pallet 6b (FIGS. 7 and 8); this space is a function of the kinematics of the pallets on the corridor and of the length and positioning characteristics of the complementary separation device 22. This separation makes it possible to avoid friction between the two pallets 6a and 6b during the extraction of the end pallet 6a. When the latter is extracted, its lifting above the rolling surface eliminates the pressure exerted on the band 26 and releases the braking roller 23 allowing the pallet 6b to move towards the end stop 8.

 The embodiment of the dynamic storage installation described above is particularly suitable for the dynamic storage of three pallets. It is obvious that such an installation can be used for storage of four, five or even an unlimited number of pallets.

In this case some arrangements can be made on the installation to ensure proper kinematics pallets and get the desired result.

 FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of an installation intended for the storage of four pallets 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d. The embodiment shown does not include additional devices for separating the pallets. however, it is possible to predict at will.

 This installation comprises three parallel roller rails 1, 2, 3. The central rail 2 is wider than the side rails 1 and 3; it is provided with rollers 5 and the roller side rails 4. This central rail 2 is equipped with the pallet separating device 10 and two braking rollers 28 and 29. The roller 28 is disposed substantially under the upstream portion of the first pallet 6a in the storage position and the other braking roller 29 is disposed substantially in the middle of the third stored pallet 6c. The upstream pallet group consisting of the pallets 6c and 6d is separated from the group formed by the first two pallets 6a and 6t by the separation stop 17.

 An installation for the storage of five pallets is shown in Figure 10, again without additional separation device. This installation also comprises three parallel rails 1, 2, 3, each rail having an identical width and supporting rollers 5. The two side rails 1 and 3 are each equipped with a device 10 for separating pallets, identical and arranged at the same level to achieve the separation between the second pallet 6b and third pallet 6c. The central rail is equipped with braking rollers 30, 31, 32 arranged to obtain a kinematics of the pallets 6 compatible with the result to obtain. The first braking roller 30 is disposed substantially below the downstream portion of the second pallet 6b in the storage position. The other rollers 31 and 32 are respectively disposed substantially in the middle of the pallets 6c and 6d stored. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the first pallet 6a and the last pallet 6e are not associated with any braking roller, in the storage position.

 The two separation devices 10 are intended to provide a space between the group of upstream pallets 6c, 6d and 6e and the downstream group consisting of the end pallet 6a and second pallet 6b.

 The referenced signs inserted after the technical features mentioned in the claims are intended only to facilitate the understanding of the latter and in no way limit the scope.

Claims (11)

- Claims  1.- Dynamic pallet storage installation, of the type consisting of a roller or roller corridor, inclined upstream or are introduced said pallets, downstream or they are included in the order of introduction on said corridor, which installation is provided, at its downstream end, with a fixed stop (8) which stops and maintains the first stored pallet (6a), and comprises a pallet separation device (10), characterized in that it comprises means making the separating device (10) act to isolate the group consisting of at least the first and second pallets of all the other pallets arranged upstream of said group.  2.- dynamic storage installation according to claim 1, provided with a pallet separation device of the type consisting of a retractable stop (17) and a control lever (14) of this stop (17), this lever (14) being disposed downstream of said stop (17) and actuated directly by the vanes (6) to move the stop (17) from the inactive position to the active position, characterized in that the means causing the device to act separating means (10) for isolating the first group consisting of at least the first and second pallets of the second group consisting of the upstream pallets consist, on the one hand, in the fact that said lever (14) is arranged upstream of the first pallet (6a) and, secondly, in that said abutment (17) is located upstream of the pallet (6) which actuates and maintains said lever (14) in the actuation position of the stop (17>.  3.- dynamic storage installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the distance between the downstream end stop (8) and the control lever (14) is between one and two times the length of the pallets (6). ), so that the second stored pallet (6b> actuates and maintains said lever (14) in the position of actuation of the stop (17), the distance between said lever (14) and said separation stop (17) being greater than the length of a pallet (6), to separate the first group consisting of the first and second pallets of the second group of upstream pallets.  4.- dynamic storage installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one additional device 22 for separating pallets, which device (22X, intended to separate a pallet downstream of a upstream pallet is constituted by a braking roller (23) secured to at least one roller (24, 25) arranged downstream by means of an endless belt (26), said braking roller (23) being disposed in upstream of the stored downstream pallet and said rollers (24, 25) supporting said downstream pallet in storage position, which downstream pallet immobilizes the braking roller (23) via the connecting strip (26) so that said roller ( 23) retains the upstream pallet.  5.- Dynamic storage installation according to claims 3 and 4 taken together, characterized in that the braking roller (23) is disposed upstream of the first pallet (6a) and downstream of the control lever (14>.  6.- Installation according to any one of claims 3 to 5, for the dynamic storage of three pallets, characterized in that it comprises three rails (1, 2, 3) with rollers and rollers, parallel, the central rail ( 2) being equipped with the pallet separating device (10) and a braking roller (18) disposed substantially upstream of the separation stop (17), under the downstream portion of the third stored pallet (6c), said third pallet (6c) being separated from the group consisting of the first two <6a and by said separation stop (in).  7.- Installation according to any one of claims 3 to 5, for the dynamic storage of four pallets, characterized in that it comprises three rails (1, 2, 3) with rollers and rollers, parallel, the central rail ( 2) being equipped with the pallet separation device (10) and two braking rollers (28, 29), one (28) disposed substantially under the upstream portion of the first pallet (6a> stored, the other (29) substantially in the middle of the third pallet (6c) stored, said third pallet (6c) being separated from the group consisting of the two first (6a and 6b) by the separation stop (17).  8.- Installation according to any one of claims 3 to 5, for the dynamic storage of five pallets and more, characterized in that it comprises three rails (1, 2, 3) has parallel rollers, the two side rails (1 and 3) being each equipped with a separating device (10) pallets and the central rail (2) being equipped with braking rollers <30, 31, 32) for one (30) substantially below the downstream portion the second stored pallet (6b) and the others (31, 32) substantially in the middle of the other pallets (6) stored except the first (6a) and the last (6e).  9.- Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that it comprises non-return means (19) disposed downstream of the control lever (14) and upstream of the first pallet stockee (6a ).  10.- Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the non-return means (19) consist of a stop (20) articulated about a horizontal axis (21), which stop (20) is naturally in the active position by gravity and can only slip in one direction when the pallets (6) pass.  11.- Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the control lever (14) is provided at its end with at least one roller (16) avoiding friction and braking pallets (6).