FR3136751A1 - Gravity unloading device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (10) for unloading articles (5) by gravity, the device (10) comprising: - an unloading ramp (2); and - a strut (4) movable relative to the ramp (2), the device (10) being configured to connect the strut (4) to the ramp (2). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Gravity unloading device. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to handling assistance and more particularly to mechanisms for unloading articles, in particular gas bottles.

STATE OF THE ART

According to professional statistics, the activity of delivery driver, for example when handling gas cylinders, presents a high risk of workplace accidents. In addition, by unloading these bottles by hand, drivers experience difficulty exceeding standard recommendations.

Two overarching criteria highlight the hardship experienced by drivers:

- manual handling of loads exceeding 15 kg, and

- the posture adopted during handling,

the arms being held in the air at a height above the shoulders.

To remedy this, measures are taken in particular at the biomechanical and physiological levels through training concerning the gestures and postures of drivers during handling. To contribute to compliance with these rules, this training is carried out on equipment now adapted to the prevention of risks linked to musculoskeletal disorders or work accidents.

A first solution consists of the mechanization of these handling operations. The driver handles the bottles using an exoskeleton materialized by manipulator arms or a crane integrated into the truck. However, there are still postures that can cause problems or accidents. The delivery driver shows a decrease in attention linked to the use of the solution. These solutions also have disadvantages in relation to other important criteria for the company, for example respecting the delivery rate. Finally, these same solutions turn out to be complex, cannot be adapted to other applications and are expensive.

Another solution is to use common equipment, such as a cart or step stool. Indeed, this equipment has the advantage of responding to the issues mentioned in the previous paragraph and drivers can easily use it. However, this equipment still does not meet the rate objectives and use by drivers is not uniform, which can maintain high accident risks.

One aim of the invention is to facilitate handling operations for heavy and massive objects while respecting speed requirements.

For this purpose, a device is proposed for unloading articles by gravity,

the device comprising:

- an unloading ramp; And

- a strut movable relative to the ramp, the device being configured to connect the leg to the ramp.

The ramp makes it possible to take advantage of gravity to accompany the downward movement of the items for unloading. The operator therefore has little effort to make. The device operates without electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic energy and therefore does not require the use of heavy technology or an external energy source.

The strut ensures precise positioning of the ramp relative to the initial support of the items to be unloaded, for example a locker on a vehicle. Therefore, the device allows a reduction in the difficulty felt by the drivers when lowering the items. This reduction can go up to 30% in the case of full gas bottles in lockers located on the second level on a truck.

The device is easy to use by an operator. He can easily learn to handle it. The device is easy to deploy to a large number of operators, for example on a fleet of delivery vehicles. It can be provided removable.

The device makes it possible, where necessary, to retain safety equipment that already exists, for example on gas bottle transport trucks.

It can be expected that the strut is mounted movable relative to the unloading ramp.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the strut is initially not connected to the ramp and that this connection is made by the operator during installation of the device.

It can also be provided that the strut is pivotally mounted relative to the unloading ramp.

Thus, the device is easily foldable for storage in the trunk of a heavy goods vehicle and has a reduced footprint to be usable in a maximum of point of sale configurations.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the connection between the strut and the ramp is not reduced to an articulation but includes a translation component, for example by means of a rod sliding in an opening or oblong hole.

It can be envisaged that the device comprises an upper fixing member configured to fix the ramp to an element external to the device and/or a lower fixing member configured to fix the strut to the element external to the device.

Advantageously, the or one of the fixing members comprises at least one hook.

It can be provided that the hook is pivotally mounted to the device.

Also advantageously, the ramp of the device has a profiled shape with a “U” section.

This makes guiding the item easier. He goes down the ramp with little risk of coming off before reaching the lowest point.

It can be envisaged that the device is configured to position the ramp with an inclination relative to the vertical direction of between 0 and 50° when an upper end of the ramp extends vertically from one end of the leg located at distance from the ramp.

Thus, the device offers at least one inclination of the ramp allowing the articles to slide on it at maximum speed without them being ejected.

It can be expected that the device includes:

- at least one stopper extending opposite a lower end of the ramp and mounted movable relative to the ramp; And

- means of returning the stopper towards the ramp.

Thus the stopper defines the end of descent of the article. The operator does not have to stop the item itself. The return means allow the stopper to cushion the fall of the article.

It can be envisaged that the device comprises at least two bumpers extending symmetrically with respect to a median vertical plane of the ramp.

Thus, it is particularly well suited for articles such as gas bottles which have a dome with a projecting part, in particular a handle, so that this part can be lodged between the stops when arriving at the bottom of the ramp.

It can be expected that the bumpers are united.

It can also be envisaged that the bumpers are mounted movable independently of each other.

This configuration makes it possible to cushion the arrival of the item even if it has experienced a slight rotation when descending the ramp. In fact, it can then be cushioned by one of the bumpers more than by the other.

It can be expected that the device has a mechanical resistance suitable for articles which may be full propane and butane bottles weighing up to 28.5 kg.

It can be provided that each stopper comprises at least one damping member extending over the stopper projecting towards the ramp.

The damping member makes it possible to reduce the impact surface at the end of the stroke when the article slides along the ramp, to avoid direct contact of the article with the structure of the stopper as well as to leave a space free between the damping member and the stopper to avoid jamming of fingers or a hand.

It can be envisaged that the device is configured to discharge a gas cylinder.

According to the invention, we also provide a set comprising:

- a locker ; And

- a device according to the invention and configured to be fixed to the locker in order to allow items to be unloaded from the locker.

Furthermore, according to the invention, there is provided a method of unloading articles by gravity,

the process comprising the following steps:

- we connect an unloading ramp to a vehicle;

- a strut is connected to the vehicle by moving the leg relative to the ramp; And

- we take an item loaded on the vehicle and slide the item on the ramp.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

We will now describe an embodiment of the invention and variants by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- there illustrates a device according to one embodiment of the invention;

- there illustrates the device of the in side view, the side view simultaneously representing the unfolded and folded positions of the device;

- there illustrates a first subset of the device of the in perspective ;

- there illustrates the first sub-assembly of the device of the in front view;

- there illustrates a second subset of the device of the in perspective ;

- there illustrates a third subset of the device of the in side view;

- there illustrates the device of the in a side view configuration;

- there illustrates the device of the in another configuration in side view;

- there illustrates a compartment of a device according to the invention in perspective;

- there illustrates racks of a device according to the invention placed on a heavy goods vehicle;

- there illustrates the device according to one embodiment of the invention in a closed configuration and stored in a compartment of the heavy goods vehicle; And

- Figures 12 to 14 illustrate a variant of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Device

Figures 1 to 11 illustrate a device 10 for unloading articles 5 by gravity according to one embodiment of the invention. It includes an unloading ramp 2 which includes

- a chute 20,

- two reinforcement tubes 21,

- two guide tubes 22, and

- stiffeners 23.

These elements are rigidly attached to each other.

The chute 20 here has a profiled shape with a “U” section. It is here formed by a plate, for example a piece of sheet metal, in particular made of galvanized steel. It is fixed, for example by rivets 210, to the tubes and the stiffeners. In this case, the chute 20 makes it possible to limit the wear of the ramp 2 caused by the friction of the articles 5 which fall along the ramp. The plate 20 has two folds 28, 29 parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ramp, forming three surfaces 24, 25, 26. The middle surface 25 is located between the two others and forms the base of the “U”. The median surface 25 is useful for the descent of the articles 5 and the two others 24, 26, located opposite in order to contain the article 5 in a path materialized by the guide tubes 22.

The guide tubes 22 are here number two. They are arranged at the edges of the lateral surfaces 24 and 26 opposite the central surface 25.

The structure of the ramp 2 is formed by the guide tubes 22 and reinforcement tubes 21 parallel to the latter. The stiffeners 23 are provided in order to avoid any risk of spacing of the guide tubes 22. They extend in respective planes perpendicular to the tubes, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The ramp 2 is thus configured to convey articles 5 to a low position suitable for their handling by an operator 8.

The device 10 also includes a strut 4 configured to take up forces caused by the acceleration and the weight of the article 5. The strut 4 has a slender shape, here elongated rectilinear.

The strut 4 is movable relative to the unloading ramp 2. The possible mobilities are rotation, translation or a combination of the two movements. Here, the leg 4 is mounted movable relative to the ramp 2. According to this embodiment, it is pivotally mounted relative to the ramp 2 around an axis C via a first free end 42.

It is also provided that the device 10 can be fixed on an element which is external to it via fixing members integral with the ramp 2 and the strut 4. In this case, for this purpose, the ramp 2 has two hooks 27 secured to its upper free end 220 distant from the ramp 2. Furthermore, a hook 41 is articulated around an axis D at a second free end 43 of the leg 4 opposite the ramp 2.

Thus, the device 10 forms any triangle when it is fixed on an external element 6, one of the sides of the triangle corresponds to a slope of the ramp 2, as illustrated in . The device 10 therefore advantageously presents the possibility of changing the inclination of the slope as a function of the movement of the leg 4. The device 10 thus fixed on an external element 6 via the hooks 27 of the ramp 2 and the hook 41 of the strut 4 forms a deformable triangle in which the movement of the leg 4 makes it possible to position the ramp 2 with an inclination relative to a vertical direction A crossing the two free ends of the device 10 between 0° and 50°. Thus, the strut 4 advantageously has at least one configuration in which the descent speed of the article 5 is maximum.

The device 10 comprises bumpers 3 extending opposite the lower end of the ramp 2. The two bumpers 3 extend symmetrically from one another relative to a median vertical plane of the ramp 2 and are united. Each stopper 3 is here mounted to rotate around an axis B relative to the ramp 2 and includes return means 33 in the direction of the ramp 2, here in the form of a spring. In this case, the return means 33 are dimensioned so that the device 10 presents sufficient mechanical resistance during an impact between the stopper 3 and the article 5. Each spring has one end fixed to the ramp 2 and another fixed to the stopper 3. For example, the or each stopper 3 can be dimensioned so that the device 10 has sufficient mechanical resistance with regard to the masses of the propane and butane bottles (when they are full, their maximum mass is 28, 5kg).

According to another embodiment, the two stops 3 are mounted movable independently of each other.

In addition, each stopper 3 comprises in this case at least one damping member 32, extending over the stopper 3 projecting towards the ramp 2. It is for example formed from elastomer. Each damping member 32 provides the device 10 with the following advantages:

- the impact surface with article 5 is minimized,

- metal-to-metal contact in the case where article 5 includes this type of material is avoided, and

- a free space between the surface of the article 5 in contact with the damping member 32 and the stopper 3 makes it possible to avoid trapping of the fingers.

The bumpers 3 serve as a stopping point for the unloaded articles 5 arriving in abutment on them when they slide along the ramp 2. The mobile assembly of the bumpers makes it possible to reduce the kinetic energy dissipated when the article 5 arrives in abutment . The same goes for the return means 33. The two independent stops make it possible to reduce the contact forces linked to the dynamics of the articles 5.

In this case, another damping member 34 can also be located between an upper end of each stopper 3 and the structure of the ramp 2 to prevent the deformation of these two zones when they come into sudden contact during the fall. of an article 5.

The two stops 3 have a common rotation shaft 31, of axis B, forming a spacer since it allows the two stops to be kept at a distance from each other.

According to one embodiment, the device 10 is mechanically welded.

The device 10 can have two configurations.

In a first closed configuration 1, illustrated in , the strut 4 is folded to extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ramp 2, at the rear thereof in order to limit the bulk of the device 10 when it is moved or stored. In this case, the device 10 comprises a locking member 90, for example a spring lock, comprising on the ramp 2 a movable bolt 91 and on the strut 4 a keeper 92 into which the bolt 91 penetrates in the position of lockdown.

In a deployed configuration 2, shown in , the strut 4 is deployed so as to fix the device 10 on an external element 6.

There illustrates an assembly comprising a structure for transporting articles 5, in this case gas bottles. The structure here comprises a lower compartment 61 and an upper compartment 62 identical to the first and arranged above it. The lockers have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The device 10 is configured to be fixed to the racks 61, 62 in order to allow the unloading of articles 5 from the rack 62.

For example, the articles 5 can be gas bottles each having a cap 54, a dome 53, a main body 52 and a bottom 51. For example, the dimensions and the different masses that bottles 5 can have are presented in the table below. Kind Full mass Diameter Height Butane 22.2 to 28.5 kg 300mm 572mm Propane 23 to 28.5 kg 310mm 603mm

An example of locker 61 is illustrated in . It includes in particular on its side face an upper beam 64 and a lower beam 63. The rack 61 is for example sized to store thirty-five bottles along five rows which can each accommodate seven bottles. For each row, the device 10 allows the seven bottles to be lowered without having to change its position.

Each locker 61, 62 can be loaded onto a heavy goods vehicle 7. An example of a vehicle is illustrated in on which four first racks 61 are stacked on the vehicle 7 and four second racks 62 are stacked on the first racks. The heavy goods vehicle 7 can for example have an authorized total weight (GVW) greater than 3.5 tonnes, transport up to ten racks 61, 62 and be intended for the transport and distribution of LPG cylinders. It may include in the lower part a storage compartment 71, illustrated in and 11, specifically dedicated to storing the device 10 alone, the compartment 71 being empty of any other object.

V arian of device 10

The device 10 may also have a translation means 100 in order to ensure its movement between the different rows of a rack 61, 62 in replacement of the upper hooks 27 and the lower hook 41.

In this configuration, the translation means 100 comprises a frame 101 on which vertical rollers 103 and lateral rollers 104 are mounted on its upper part 102 allowing the device 10 to move in translation relative to a rack 62. Two hooks forming guides 105 are fixed on its lower part 103 in order to accompany the movement.

The operator 8 first places the frame 101 at an angle relative to a side face of one of the second lockers 62 of the heavy goods vehicle 7 so as to position the casters 103, 104 on the upper beam 66 of the locker 62, then it tilts the frame 101 so as to position the lower hooks 105 above the lower beam 65 of the locker 62. It then lowers the assembly so as to place the casters 103, 104 in support on the locker 62 and pass the lower hooks 105 behind the lower beam 65.

When the device 10 is positioned, the frame 101 is parallel to the side face of the rack 62. The lower hooks 105 prevent the lower part 103 of the frame 101 from moving away from the racks 61, 62 when unloading the articles 5.

The advantage of such a mechanism is to facilitate the positioning of the device 10 to lower all the bottles 5 and save time, particularly during disassembly/assembly operations between the different rows. An example of such a means is illustrated in Figures 12 to 14.

Process

Unloading of articles 5, for example gas cylinders stored in a second locker 62 transported by a heavy goods vehicle, can be carried out by an operator 8 by means of the method of the invention according to the steps presented below.

The operator takes out the device 10 in closed configuration 1 from a storage compartment 71 of the heavy goods vehicle 7.

It connects the unloading ramp 2 to a vehicle 7. The ramp 2 is connected using the two upper hooks 27 on the lower beam 65 of the second locker 62.

It connects the strut 4 to the vehicle 7 by moving the leg 4 relative to the ramp 2 after having released it from the spring lock 90 so that it can rest and then lock via the hook 41 on the lower beam 63 of a first locker 61 located below the second locker 62.

The device 10 fixed to the vehicle 7 via the first locker 61 and the second locker 62 is therefore in deployed configuration 2. An example of such an implementation mode is illustrated in .

The operator takes a bottle 5 loaded on the vehicle 7 at the level of the cap 54 then places it at the upper end of the ramp.

Under the effect of gravity, the bottle slides on ramp 2

When the bottle 5 comes into contact with the stops 3, it is manipulated by the operator 8 in a suitable position in order to extract it from the device 10.

These operations can be followed by a step where the operator 8 dismantles the strut 4 of the lockers in order to fold the device 10 then blocks the leg 4 via the locking part 92 in which the bolt of the lock spring 91 is accommodated.

In this position, it is possible to change rows or store the device in the trunk 71 of the heavy goods vehicle 7.

Claims (16)

Device (10) for unloading articles (5) by gravity,
the device (10) comprising:
- an unloading ramp (2); And
- a strut (4) movable relative to the ramp (2), the device (10) being configured to connect the strut (4) to the ramp (2). Device (10) according to the preceding claim in which the strut (4) is mounted movable relative to the ramp (2). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims in which the strut (4) is pivotally mounted relative to the ramp (2). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims in which the ramp (2) comprises an upper fixing member (27) configured to fix the ramp (2) to an external element (6) to the device (10). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims in which the strut (4) comprises a lower fixing member (41) configured to fix the strut (4) to an external element (6) to the device (10). ). Device (10) according to claim 4 or 5 in which the or one of the fixing members comprises at least one hook. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims in which the ramp (2) has a profiled shape with a “U” section. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, configured to position the ramp (2) with an inclination relative to the vertical direction (A) of between 0 and 50° when an upper end of the ramp (2) is 'extends vertically from one end of the leg (4) located at a distance from the ramp (2). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising:
- at least one stopper (3) extending opposite a lower end of the ramp (2) and mounted movable relative to the ramp (2); And
- return means (33) of the stopper (3) towards the ramp (2). Device (10) according to the preceding claim comprising at least two stops (3) extending symmetrically from one another relative to a median vertical plane of the ramp (2). Device (10) according to claim 10 in which the stops (3) are mounted movable independently of each other. Device (10) according to claim 10 in which the stops (3) are integral. Device (10) according to one of claims 9 to 12 in which the or each stopper (3) comprises at least one damping member (32), extending over the stopper (3) projecting towards the ramp (2). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims configured to discharge a gas cylinder. Set including:
- at least one locker (61, 62); And
- a device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and configured to be fixed to the rack (61, 62) or to several of the racks in order to allow the unloading of articles (5) from the rack (61, 62) or from one of the lockers. Method (10) for unloading articles (5) by gravity,
the process comprising the following steps:
- an unloading ramp (2) is connected to a vehicle (7);
- a strut (4) is connected to the vehicle (7) by moving the strut (4) relative to the ramp (2); And
- we take an article (5) loaded on the vehicle (7) and we slide the article on the ramp (2).