FR2778897A1 - Plate glass storage and manipulating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus utilizes a frame (1) fixed to the ground which forms a circulation platform for the plate support chassis. A central fixed web (3) is positioned on its support (5) and two sets of side chassis, with heads (t1,t2), are each mounted on a movable support (2). Each chassis is independent and provided with locking pegs (8) which can be activated or deactivated. A single translation of the chassis head by the actuator (4) creates the space necessary handling. An Independent claim is included for a procedure for the storage and manipulation of glass plates using the described apparatus.

Description

Dynamic storage, especially for

plates of glass.

  The present invention relates to the technical sector of dynamic storages for large planar objects, such as plates, and more specifically, but not specifically

limiting, glass plates.

  It is necessary to store a large number of such plates and

  extract or otherwise deposit them to fulfill orders.

  The problem is all the more acute as the product is a mass product or mass consumer, because it is then necessary to handle a large number of objects and donations have access to their storage medium with sufficient volume to use resources mechanical

  like transport trolleys, etc ... and their maneuvering arms.

  Access time, either for the deposit or for the extraction, is therefore a

key factor.

  Another key factor is the optimization of the storage volume, that is to say (hereinafter abbreviated as <cad >>) in fact the reduction of this volume to as low a value as possible. It is therefore necessary to tighten the storage elements. In doing so, it is impossible or very difficult

  the movement operations of objects.

  The general solution adopted in the prior art has been to tighten the elementary storage means, by providing means for creating on demand a temporary space between two adjacent elements.

  In the field, the following prior art is known.

  First of all, there is a series of documents dealing with shelves or other storage space, on rails or a similar system, for example to increase the storage volume and optimize this volume by reducing the intervals, and so

spaces and volumes, lost.

  Thus known patent CH 510 569 which operates using an endless chain and relates to a particular handling system

  vertical relative to the chain, for containers or the like.

  Patent FR 2 143 996 describes a system for handling library elements. According to patent FR 1 584 837, the movement of lockers is controlled

  by simple electromechanical means.

  Patent FR 1 125 331 describes a simple mechanical principle of

  moving lockers to save space.

  1o None of these documents relates to a method or an apparatus for storing and extracting, conveniently and quickly, one or more

  items loaded in receptacles or shelves or racks.

  In the more specific field of glass plate handling, patent NL 84 03373 describes a system for unloading supports for glass plates. In known manner, the supports are in << V >> inverted forming an acute angle (as acute as possible to limit the bulk, but sufficiently open nevertheless to ensure a

  good support of the glass plate on the inclined support, by gravity).

  The teaching of this document is limited to rails 8 telescopic or sliding, capable of projecting laterally out of the transport vehicle that is desired to unload; these rails rest on folding supports 10. We can then slide the support 13 as indicated by the arrow. The support in << V,> is then simply raised

by means of square brackets 14.

  It is therefore a storage system on individual or elemental "V" elements, ie each pair of glass plates is positioned on a "V". In addition, the unloading is operated by

  a simple translation then removal by a crane.

  This document does not therefore address the problem of rational storage of glass plates and the sampling of a particular plate,

easy and fast way.

  EP 0 588 394 discloses a mobile chassis magazine for storing glass plates. His teaching would be (page 1 lines 7 to 11) to have elementary frames able to move in translation perpendicular to their plane, ie in the longitudinal direction of a support frame (2) placed on the ground, to remove or insert items to be stored on the chassis. This movement is carried out by mounting each frame 1 on a carriage 3 movable on the support frame 2 in the general shape of a rail or the like with rollers 4. The movement is by a chain 8. The purpose is to create a space between two groups of chassis, to operate an item deposit, or a levy, on the frame thus released. It is specified (page 3 lines 1 and 2) that it is necessary to provide as many control means as chassis to release. An example is given by a set of hydraulic cylinders 10 (FIG 3) each of which controls a chassis over a distance obviously small, which is that of the stroke of the cylinder. One can also associate a motor to each carriage / chassis. Moreover, this document only teaches an application to chassis which are "all

  inclined on the same side "(figures and claim 1).

  This document uses inverted "V" type known frames, mobile on a ground-mounted support, and can be motorized individually to create a space between the element n and the element (n-1) or (n + This is therefore the principle described above for the displacement of library elements for example, where it is also sought to create, according to the access needs, a sufficient space between

two adjacent elements.

  A major disadvantage of this system is the obligation to individually maneuver each frame (or carriage). Accessibility is therefore long for commodities of great diffusion, since the extraction (or the deposit) of X articles requires the maneuver

  successive X cylinders or individual motors.

  According to the invention, there is provided a device that solves these problems.

  The device according to the invention comprises a metal frame fixed to the ground and forming, in a known manner, a platform for the circulation of the support frames of objects, by means of a system also known of guide rails or the like, the chassis moving laterally on these rails cad longitudinally with respect to the rails, and is characterized in that: - the carrier frames of objects are divided into three groups * a central core * a set of elementary frames located on one side of said soul and * another set of elementary frames located on the opposite side to said core * said "leading" frame of each set being located at a distance from said core corresponding at least to the value of the spacing to be created between two adjacent elementary frames to manipulate the objects they carry: - the frame of each group which is closest to the soul (head frame) is connected to it by a means n able to operate the translation of said frame relative to the core, at least over said distance, in both directions; and each elementary frame, including the headframe, of each group, has its own support and rolling means on the frame 1, and is independent of the frame immediately following it, but is connected to this frame immediately following it by a way of

  solidarization that can be activated or deactivated individually.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central core

  consists of a "V" shaped chassis, inverted.

  According to a also preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame side assemblies are formed of inclined frames like the two faces of the core, but at an inverted angle as shown

in the single figure.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent

  upon reading the description which follows, and referring to the drawing

  attached, in which: - the single figure shows a schematic side view of a non-limiting embodiment of the general means according to the invention. It can be seen that a frame 1 supports the assembly, and thus the fixed central core 3 positioned on its support 5, as well as the two lateral frame groups, whose head elements are respectively t1 and t2, each mounted on a support 2 movable in longitudinal translation relative

on the frame 1.

  Naturally, the objects, and in particular flat objects or plates of any size, in particular glass plates, are placed against the inclined face of each frame, resting on said face by

  gravity, and on the upper face of pedestals 2 and 5.

  Each elementary frame n-1, n, n + 1, is separated from the previous and the next, ie each of them is independent and detachable from the preceding and the following, and comprises its own means of support and of

  displacement on the frame 1, not shown by simplicity as known.

  However, an important element of the invention lies in the fact that each frame n can be secured or disconnected at will n + 1 chassis or chassis n-1. For this purpose, there is provided between each elementary frame means 8 for joining which can be activated or deactivated. In the single figure, there is shown in hatched mode a frame with

  its plate support and translation means, as well as its element 8.

  To avoid burdening the design, the other chassis were not detailed.

  According to a preferred embodiment, such a means 8 consists of locking / unlocking fingers of known type and known operation, cooperating with appropriate housings, also of

known way.

  The fixed central core may preferably support a large load, for example of the order of 20 t, to store products of large diffusion, ie all identical and to be stored and handled

In large numbers.

  To manipulate (deposit or extract) an object stored on, for example, the elementary frame n, the operator must create a space between the chassis n and n-1 allowing him to insert his transport carriage and the arms and

other organs of it.

  According to the invention, it is sufficient to lock by locking means 8 (for example mechanical fingers or other) all the chassis being (in the example chosen) behind the head member tl, and to unlock the particular finger 10 between the n-1 chassis and the n chassis. The translation means 4, which is preferably a hydraulic jack, a pneumatic jack, a motor coupled to a chain system or the like, are then actuated in order to bring the head member t1 closer to the core 3. The frame of head tl drives all the chassis that are secured, ie to the chassis n-1 included, but the chassis n, and the following n + 1, n + 2 etc .... remain fixed. It is thus created between the chassis n-1 and the chassis n a space equal to the translation distance, here e, which is by definition sufficient to manipulate an object

placed on the chassis n.

  This space e is adapted so that the operator can remove or store plates at a time on the central core or on the first element.

all security.

  It can thus be seen that, according to the invention, the operator can, on the one hand, have access to 4 outlets of products of wide diffusion, by the faces a, b, c and d, and on the other hand can have very rapid access to to any chassis n by simply unlocking the corresponding fastening means n-1

  and performing a single translation.

  Moreover, according to the invention, three-sided access areas are created, ie the 2 initial faces on the unused side, and one side on the side where a space has been created according to the invention. An access surface disappears because the initial space e has been filled on one side of the central core by the displacement of the used side of the chassis, but it nevertheless retains

three access faces.

  The glass plates can be stored and retrieved using a lifting beam with gripping cups, the support frame forming platform allowing the operator to enter between two elements

to remove the desired plate.

  All systems that can be used to store and retrieve plates

  will appear to the skilled person.

  The two chassis groups can be ordered separately in

function of the products to handle.

  The last element of each chassis series can be free or fixed, or

  still fixed but maneuverable at will, according to various achievements.

  The device according to the invention can naturally be motorized, automated, remotely controlled by any known means including a computerized control, and be equipped with all known and appropriate means of security, such as a system of photocells or the like, a carpet sensitive, etc ..... all being known or imaginable

  easily by any tradesman.

  The invention also relates to a method for the storage and handling, on frames, of planar objects of any size, and in particular of plates, in particular glass plates, according to claim 13, characterized in that to manipulate ( deposit or extraction) an object stored on, for example, the elementary frame n, the operator must create a space between the chassis n and n-1 allowing it

  to insert his transport cart and the arms and other organs of that-

  ci, in that locking means 8 (for example mechanical fingers) by locking all the chassis behind the head member tl, and unlocks the particular finger 10 between the chassis n-1 and the chassis n, the translation means 4, which is preferably a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a motor coupled to a chain system or the like, are then actuated in order to bring the head element t1 closer to the core 3, which moves the assembly formed by the head frame tl and all the frames which are secured to it, ie

  up to and including frame n-1, chassis n, and the following n + 1, n + 2 etc.

  ... DTD: remaining fixed, which thus creates between the chassis n-1 and the chassis n a space equal to the translation distance, here e, which is sufficient for

  manipulate an object placed on the chassis n.

  Those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the above principle to any particular use, in terms of the nature of the plates, which are not necessarily glass, dimensions, in particular of e which is

  depending on the size of the handling equipment, etc.

  According to a nonlimiting example for glass plates, e = 800 dimension of (10) = 400 dimension of the supports (20) of plates on each frame = 180 number of frames on each side of the central core = 17 total dimension p of each frame = 300 vertical height h of each frame = 3300 inclination of each frame / vertical = 5

Claims (12)

  1 - Device for the storage on frames of planar objects of any size, including plates, in particular glass plates, of the type which comprises a metal frame fixed to the ground and forming a platform for the circulation of support frames of objects, by means of a system also known guide rails or the like, the frames moving laterally in translation on these rails longitud longitudalement with respect to the rails, characterized in that: - the carriers carrying objects are divided in three groups * a fixed central core * a set of elementary frames located on one side of said core and * another set of elementary frames located on the opposite side to said core * the so-called "head" frame of each assembly being at a distance from said core corresponding at least to the value of the spacing to be created between two adjacent elementary frames to manipulate the objects they carry; ssis of each group that is closest to the core (headframe) is connected thereto by means capable of translating said chassis relative to the core, at least over said distance, in both ways; and each elementary frame, including the headframe, of each group, has its own support and rolling means on the frame 1, and is independent of the frame immediately following it, but is connected to this frame immediately following it by a way of   solidarization that can be activated or deactivated individually.   2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the soul   central consists of a chassis in the form of << V, inverted.   3 - Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame side assemblies are formed of inclined frame as the two faces of the core, but at an inverted angle.   4 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that a frame 1 fixed to the ground supports the central core 3 in <V, inverted positioned on its support 5, and the two groups of side frames, inclined inversely with respect to the faces facing the soul, whose head elements are respectively tl and t2, the two groups being each mounted on a support 2 movable in   longitudinal translation with respect to the frame 1.   - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that each elementary frame n-1, n, n + 1, is separated from the preceding and the following, ie each of them is independent and detachable from the preceding and the following, and comprises its own support means and moving on the mount 1   6 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that each frame n can be secured or   disconnected at will from chassis n + 1 or chassis n-1.   7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that 1 is provided between each elementary frame means 8 for joining which can to be activated or deactivated.   8 - Device according to claim 7, characterized in that such a means 8 consists of locking / unlocking fingers cooperating with appropriate housing   9 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that the central core supports a large load, for example of the order of 20 t, to store products of great diffusion.   - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,   characterized in that the translation means 4 is a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or a motor coupled to a chain system.   1 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that the two frame groups can be   ordered separately according to the products to be handled.   12 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,   characterized in that the device can be motorized, automated, remotely controlled by any known means including computerized control, and equipped with all known and appropriate security means, such as a photoelectric cell system or the like, a sensitive mat and the like.   13 - Process for storing and manipulating, on frames, planar objects of any size, in particular plates, in particular glass plates, characterized in that:   a device according to any one of the claims is used 1 to 12.   14 - Process for the storage and manipulation, on frames, of planar objects of any size, including plates, in particular glass plates, according to claim 13, characterized in that for handling (deposit or extraction) an object stored on, for example, the elementary frame n, the operator must create a space between the frame n and n-1 allowing him to insert his transport carriage and the arms and other organs thereof, in that locking means 8 (for example mechanical fingers) by locking all the chassis behind the head element t1, and unlatching the particular finger 10 located between the chassis n-1 and the chassis n, then actuates the translation means 4, which is preferably a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, a motor coupled to a chain system or the like, in order to bring the head member t1 closer to the core 3, which displaces the set formed by the c headframe tl and all the chassis that are secured to it, ie up to the chassis n-1 included, the chassis n, and the following n + 1, n + 2 etc .... remaining fixed, which creates between the chassis n-1 and the chassis n a space equal to the translation distance, here e, which is sufficient to manipulate an object placed on the chassis n.