GB1594872A

GB1594872A - Storage assembly

Info

Publication number: GB1594872A
Application number: GB2083677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BAR PRODUCTIONS BROMSGROVE Ltd
Current assignee: BAR PRODUCTIONS BROMSGROVE Ltd
Priority date: 1977-05-18
Filing date: 1977-05-18
Publication date: 1981-08-05
Also published as: AU3614178A; NZ187326A

Description

(54) STORAGE ASSEMBLY (71) We, BAR PRODUCTIONS (BROMS GROVE) LIMITED, a British Company, of Sherwood Road, Bromsgrove, B60 3DU, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a storage assembly of the kind in which a plurality of storage units are arranged in a row so as to be movable along the length of the row, each unit being provided with independent drive means to move it in opposite directions along the length of the row and control means to initiate said movement of the unit in either direction so as to allow a gangway to be opened up between the confronting faces of any two adjacent units.

In storage assemblies of the aforesaid kind, it is known to provide control means in the form of manually operable switch means that is located on an end face of the unit at a convenient height for manual operation.

This arrangement is generally convenient for most purposes, but it does sometimes happen that an operator has both hands occupied when he wishes to operate the switch means.

This is particularly prone to happen in those storage assemblies where the units are loaded and unloaded by hand, for example, where office files and documents are stored in the units.

The present invention consists in providing a storage assembly of the aforesaid kind in which the control means includes switch means that is located on an end face of the unit near ground level so that it can be operated by foot to initiate said movement of the unit in either direction.

The invention therefore allows an operator to open up a selected gangway without using his hands so that he is free to carry loads as he wishes.

Further, with storage units that each com prise a mobile base unit carrying storage means, such as a rack, it is possible to mount the switch means on the base unit so that this incorporates the whole of the drive means and associated control means. A storage assembly can then be more easily assembled on site by providing the base units as preassembled units, and mounting the storage means on these units without having to make or disturb any control connections. Also, this type of construction allows the use of any form of proprietary storage means without the need to modify the latter to accommodate any control means.

Preferably, the switch means is mounted with other associated control components on a carrier unit that is movable relative to the storage unit to allow access for servicing or repair. For example, the carrier may be mounted in the storage unit so as to be removable like a drawer, the switch means, for example, in the form of separate switches for initiating movement in said opposite directions, being mounted on a front panel of the carrier.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a storage assembly according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of a mobile storage unit in the assembly of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is the electrical circuit diagram for each storage unit of the assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows the general layout of the storage assembly comprising a plurality of mobile storage units 1 that are arranged in a row between two outer fixed storage units 2, the storage units 1 and 2 being rectangular in plan and being arranged with their longer sides parallel to one another so that the mobile units I are movable along the row perpendicular to said longer parallel sides. A space is left between the two fixed units 2 so that the mobile units I can move to open up a gangway 3 between any two units for removal or depositing of goods in these units.

Each mobile unit I comprises a base 4 that carries storage means such as racking 5 on it.

The base 4 has pairs of wheels 6 at spaced points along its length, each pair of wheels 6 running on a rail 7 that extends along the whole length of the row. One or more reversible electric drive motors 8 are mounted on the base and each is drivingly coupled to a wheel 6 so as to be able to move the storage unit in either direction along the rails 7.

The motor or motors 8 of each base 4 are connected in a control circuit with push button switches comprising a switch 9 to initate leftwards movement (as seen in Figure 1), a switch 11 to initiate rightwards movement, and a switch 10 to stop movement of the base. These switches 9 to 11 are grouped together on the front panel of a drawer unit 12 on the end face of the base near ground level so that they can be operated by foot.

A trip bar 13 is mounted so as to extend horizontally along each longer side of each base 4 so as to be operated by engagement with the trip bar on the adjacent longer side of an adjacent base 4 when two mobile units 1 close on one another, as shown at 14 in Figure 1, or by engagement with an adjacent fixed storage unit 2, as shown at 15 in Figure 1. Each trip bar 13 is mounted so as to move backwards towards its respective unit when operated, thereupon operating an electric switch 16 that is mounted behind the trip bar and is connected in the control circuit of the respective motor or motors 8 so as to deenergise these motors when operated. The trip bars 13 and switches 16 may be as described in our British Patent No. 1 469293.

The push button switches 9 to 11 and trip switches 16 are connected in the control circuit with a motor 8 as shown in Figure 3.

The leftwards-movement, push button switch 9 is connected in series with the trip switch 16 behind the left-hand trip bar 13, and with a relay 17 that switches power via contacts 17' to the motor 8 to cause it to drive the mobile unit I towards the left. Thus, if the left-hand trip bar is not operated (i.e. if there is room for the mobile unit to move leftwards), the switch 9 can be operated by foot to energise relay 17 and cause the motor 8 to move the unit towards the left. Once relay 17 is energised, it holds itself energised via contacts 17" connected across switch 9.

Leftwards movement of the unit therefore continues until the left-hand trip bar 13 is operated by engagement with an adjacent trip bar or fixed storage unit 2, the relay 17 thereby being de-energised to interrupt power to the motor 8. Similarly, once relay 18 is energised it holds itself energised via contacts 18" connected across switch 11.

It will be appreciated that the trip bar 13 will also be operated to stop the mobile unit l should it engage an obstruction in a gangway, the trip bar 13 thereby serving a safety function as well as defining an extreme stop position for the mobile unit.

The rightwards-movement, push button switch 11 is connected in series with the trip switch 16 behind the right-hand trip bar 13, and with a relay 18 that switches power to the motor 8 via contacts 18' to cause it to drive the mobile unit 1 towards the right. This series circuit 11, 16, 18 operates to control rightwards movement of the mobile unit in the same way as the series circuit 9, 16, 17 operates to control leftwards movement of the mobile unit, as described above.

Operation of the two series circuits is interlocked via the switches 9' and 11' that are ganged with the switches 9 and 11, respectively, but are each connected in the other of the two series circuits so that if either of switches 9 or 11 is closed, the ganged switch 9' or 11' is opened to disable the other series circuit. Similarly, each relay 17, 18 controls a respective contact 17"', 18"' in the other series circuit to disable the other circuit when the relay is energised.

The stop, push button switch 10 is connected in series with both of the series circuits so that when operated it breaks them to de-energise relay 17 or 18 and thereby stop corresponding leftwards or rightwards movement of the unit.

The push button switches 9 to 11 are mounted on the front panel of the drawer 12, and the other switches and contacts and relays illustrated in Figure 3 are mounted in the drawer behind the front panel. A pair of bolts 19 secure the drawer closed but these are removed to allow the drawer to be pulled open for servicing or repairs. The bolts 19 cooperate with limit switches 20 that are connected in the control circuit so as to disconnect power when the bolts are removed, thereby rendering the circuitry safe.

Connections between the circuitry in drawer 12 and the motor or motors 8 and switches 16, and a power supply connection 21 complete the control circuit.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A storage assembly of the kind in which a plurality of storage units are arranged in a row so as to be movable along the length of the row, each unit being provided with independent drive means to move it in opposite directions along the length of the row and switch means located on an end face of the unit near ground level so that it can be operated by foot to initiate said movement of the unit in either direction to open up a gangway between the confronting sides of any two adjacent units.

2. A storage assembly as claimed in claim I in which each storage unit comprises a mobile base unit carrying said drive means and switch means, and on which is mounted storage means.

3. A storage assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the switch means is mounted on the front panel of a carrier unit that houses other components of a control system controlling the drive means, the carrier unit being movable relative to the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. coupled to a wheel 6 so as to be able to move the storage unit in either direction along the rails 7. The motor or motors 8 of each base 4 are connected in a control circuit with push button switches comprising a switch 9 to initate leftwards movement (as seen in Figure 1), a switch 11 to initiate rightwards movement, and a switch 10 to stop movement of the base. These switches 9 to 11 are grouped together on the front panel of a drawer unit 12 on the end face of the base near ground level so that they can be operated by foot. A trip bar 13 is mounted so as to extend horizontally along each longer side of each base 4 so as to be operated by engagement with the trip bar on the adjacent longer side of an adjacent base 4 when two mobile units 1 close on one another, as shown at 14 in Figure 1, or by engagement with an adjacent fixed storage unit 2, as shown at 15 in Figure 1. Each trip bar 13 is mounted so as to move backwards towards its respective unit when operated, thereupon operating an electric switch 16 that is mounted behind the trip bar and is connected in the control circuit of the respective motor or motors 8 so as to deenergise these motors when operated. The trip bars 13 and switches 16 may be as described in our British Patent No. 1 469293. The push button switches 9 to 11 and trip switches 16 are connected in the control circuit with a motor 8 as shown in Figure 3. The leftwards-movement, push button switch 9 is connected in series with the trip switch 16 behind the left-hand trip bar 13, and with a relay 17 that switches power via contacts 17' to the motor 8 to cause it to drive the mobile unit I towards the left. Thus, if the left-hand trip bar is not operated (i.e. if there is room for the mobile unit to move leftwards), the switch 9 can be operated by foot to energise relay 17 and cause the motor 8 to move the unit towards the left. Once relay 17 is energised, it holds itself energised via contacts 17" connected across switch 9. Leftwards movement of the unit therefore continues until the left-hand trip bar 13 is operated by engagement with an adjacent trip bar or fixed storage unit 2, the relay 17 thereby being de-energised to interrupt power to the motor 8. Similarly, once relay 18 is energised it holds itself energised via contacts 18" connected across switch 11. It will be appreciated that the trip bar 13 will also be operated to stop the mobile unit l should it engage an obstruction in a gangway, the trip bar 13 thereby serving a safety function as well as defining an extreme stop position for the mobile unit. The rightwards-movement, push button switch 11 is connected in series with the trip switch 16 behind the right-hand trip bar 13, and with a relay 18 that switches power to the motor 8 via contacts 18' to cause it to drive the mobile unit 1 towards the right. This series circuit 11, 16, 18 operates to control rightwards movement of the mobile unit in the same way as the series circuit 9, 16, 17 operates to control leftwards movement of the mobile unit, as described above. Operation of the two series circuits is interlocked via the switches 9' and 11' that are ganged with the switches 9 and 11, respectively, but are each connected in the other of the two series circuits so that if either of switches 9 or 11 is closed, the ganged switch 9' or 11' is opened to disable the other series circuit. Similarly, each relay 17, 18 controls a respective contact 17"', 18"' in the other series circuit to disable the other circuit when the relay is energised. The stop, push button switch 10 is connected in series with both of the series circuits so that when operated it breaks them to de-energise relay 17 or 18 and thereby stop corresponding leftwards or rightwards movement of the unit. The push button switches 9 to 11 are mounted on the front panel of the drawer 12, and the other switches and contacts and relays illustrated in Figure 3 are mounted in the drawer behind the front panel. A pair of bolts 19 secure the drawer closed but these are removed to allow the drawer to be pulled open for servicing or repairs. The bolts 19 cooperate with limit switches 20 that are connected in the control circuit so as to disconnect power when the bolts are removed, thereby rendering the circuitry safe. Connections between the circuitry in drawer 12 and the motor or motors 8 and switches 16, and a power supply connection 21 complete the control circuit. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A storage assembly of the kind in which a plurality of storage units are arranged in a row so as to be movable along the length of the row, each unit being provided with independent drive means to move it in opposite directions along the length of the row and switch means located on an end face of the unit near ground level so that it can be operated by foot to initiate said movement of the unit in either direction to open up a gangway between the confronting sides of any two adjacent units.

mobile storage unit to allow access to said other components.

4. A storage assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which the carrier unit is in the form of a drawer.

5. A storage assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the switch means comprises separate switches to initiate movement in each of said opposite directions.

6. A storage assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said switch means comprises a switch to stop said movement of the storage unit.

7. A storage assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which trip bars are provided along the confronting sides of adjacent units so as to be operated at extreme stop positions when the units close on one another, each trip bar being provided with an associated trip switch that is operated by the trip bar to stop the drive means when the trip bar is operated.

8. A storage assembly as claimed in claim 7 in which confronting trip bars are operated by engagement with one another when said adjacent units close on one another.

9. A storage assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the drive means comprises a reversible electric motor and the switch means comprise electrical push button switches.

10. A storage assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Il. A mobile storage unit for a storage assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A mobile storage unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.