GB2252100A

GB2252100A - Storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2252100A
Application number: GB9112449A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dieter Maier; Klaus Dietrich
Original assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV
Current assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV
Priority date: 1990-06-09
Filing date: 1991-06-10
Publication date: 1992-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-10
Also published as: CH683093A5; IT1250425B; SE9101728L; AT401918B; ATA114491A; GB2252100B; DE4018477C2; FR2663010A1; ITMI911495A0; SE9101728D0; JPH06127631A; ITMI911495A1; DE4018477A1; GB9112449D0

Description

Storage System The invention relates to a storage system having a plurality of storage elements for receiving material to be stored.

Storage systems having a plurality of storage elements, each of which receives at least one workpiece, are used as storage-/buffer-/magazine systems in material handling of the first to the fourth order.

This means that the relevant storage-/buffer-/magazine system may be used for the transport of material between individual stations as well as for the transport of material from one machine to another, or even within one single machine.

Such storage systems have thus to be suitable for material handling requirements such as storing, depositing, buffering, magazine feeding as well as transport.

Though the most varied and to some extent very costly storage systems have hitherto been proposed, there is a continued need for a system which is simple and fit for automation, providing material handling elements for storing, buffering, magazine feeding and transporting material of any kind in the material handling range of the first to the fourth order.

At present, no storage system is known which, with regard to its construction and particularly its size, may easily be adapted to these respective storage requirements and which nevertheless enables an automated loading and unloading procedure without substantial adjustment.

According to the invention there is provided a storage system having a plurality of storage elements for receiving material to be stored which can be combined to form a transport and storage facility or a honeycomb capable of being handled as a single combined unit, and where material may be loaded onto or unloaded from at least one end face of each storage element, wherein a drive is provided which is arranged to displace the unit and/or to displace loading and/or unloading means for the individual storage elements in such a way that the material to be stored may be loaded or unloaded automatically at a fixed transfer station.

At least in its preferred forms, the invention provides a storage system having a plurality of storage elements for receiving material to be stored, a system which, with regard to its construction and in particular dimensions, may easily be adapted to respective storage requirements and which nevertheless enables an automatic loading and unloading procedure without substantial adjustment.

There is thus proposed a storage system having a plurality of storage elements for receiving material to be stored which may be combined to form a transport and storage facility or a honeycomb capable of being handled as a single unit, and where material may be loaded onto or unloaded from at least one end face of each storage element. This construction can ensure that the storage/buffer/magazine system is cost-effective and highly flexible for a variety of material handling requirements. This construction allows, moreover, a modular design, so that the storage system may be adjusted to the relevant product. The drive is provided in order to adjust the storage system for automation The loading and unloading means may be completely detached from the combined unit.It is thus possible to arrange the loading and unloading means so that it is fixed and to rotate the combined unit and/or displace it horizontally or vertically. It is, moreover, possible to construct the loading and unloading means so as to be able to traverse and/or rotate about the storage axis.

In so doing, the displacement of the input and output units to the individual storage elements may be programmed or force-guided via links or feed elements.

The loading and unloading itself can be carried out in many different ways and may include the utilisation of gravity as a result of the arrangement at an angle of the store/buffer/magazine or as a result of the dynamic pressure of the filler material. This facility is particularly suitable for the use of the combined unit as a transit store. Input and output may, moreover, also be carried out by means of gates, discharge nozzles, suction devices, slides or by centrifugal forces.

In addition, it is possible to use several input or output units for each storage system which operate independently of one another, for example two input and three output units. The units may be arranged on one side of the system or on the two sides facing each other.

The or each loading and/or unloading means may also have a stationary part which is connected, by means of spherical joints and longitudinal adjustment, with a part to be linked to the individual storage elements, said part being displaceable axially and radially or crosswise.

Despite its construction enabling automation, the combined unit can be transported, stacked or stored in many different ways, as a result of the disconnection between the storage and the loading and unloading components of the system.

The combined unit can be rotated, rolled, moved upwards and sideways about a centre which can be randomly chosen, and can be moved (in a cruciform movement) vertically and laterally. All the movements may of course be synchronised.

The combined unit may be transported by means of webbing, or other handling devices, such as a conveyor, belts, stackers, a slide having stoppage means etc. An auxiliary handling device having two side walls arranged parallel to the end faces is a particularly preferred arrangement of transport. The parts are thus protected from falling out. It is, moreover, possible to form stacks of transport units.

In addition, the combined unit may be stacked and stowed, as desired, for example by means of a stowing belt.

The outer contour of the combined unit may be circular, but it may also be square or hexagonal so that it is possible to construct a large combined unit store which will then also have the characteristics of the individual combined units.

The individual elements may be arranged in the combined unit in concentric circles, in a spiral or in lines and slots, i.e. in the form of a matrix.

Several combined units may be axially connected to each other by means of simple links or couplings so that an endless honeycomb" is produced. Such a honeycomb may be conveyed both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction of transport.

The individual storage elements may have any crosssection, for example a circular, oval, polygonal or rectangular cross-section. The individual elements may also be provided with internal partitions, e.g. sliding members. In so doing, they may, preferably, be constructed such that their length is much greater than their diameter.

The individual elements may be combined, by means of a band-like element, to form the combined unit. They may also be glued or welded together.

The storage elements may, moreover, be combined, by means of two end walls which have suitable receiving facilities for the individual storage elements, to form a honeycomb. A honeycomb is produced, for example, by a central connecting element which clamps the two end walls to each other or by individual or all the storage elements snapping, clipping, locking etc., into the two end walls. The end walls used may either be round or rectangular.

The storage elements may, moreover, be pivotally hinged to one another; this enables a winding or unwinding or linear arrangement of the combined unit.

Thus, a combined unit consists, in the minimum configuration, of only two types of component, namely the end walls or welded connections or tension bands and the storage elements.

The combined unit may be constructed from individual, already filled storage elements; it is, however, also possible to combine the storage elements in a non-detachable manner so that only the combined unit needs to be filled.

The drive of the combined unit may be effected, for example, on its outer contour, in particular the end faces or the e.g. cylindrical surface, via a wrap-around band or a chain or friction wheels/discs/rollers. A central shaft may also be provided which projects from the end faces of the combined unit and is equipped with couplings for the drive or which has, at its ends, bores for attaching or receiving the drive arranged so as to be flush with the combined unit.

The combined unit may be centred by means of its outer walls or it may be supported on its central axis.

In order to improve the centring of the combined unit, it is possible to use, for example two V-grooves which may be connected to the central axis of the combined unit and have a horizontal lengthwise motion facility to transport the combined unit vertically. The centring may also be effected by two back rollers or four backwheels.

The storage elements may be closed if required, for example by means of special one-way blocking elements, i.e. elements movable only in one direction which may be inserted into one end face of a storage element.

In addition, it is possible to provide a locking mechanism which may be opened and closed.

The individual storage elements may also have spring elements enabling the insertion or release of the storage material once a specific force has been achieved. This spring element may comprise, for example, four flat springs uniformly arranged over the circumference of a storage element.

The combined unit may also be closed, as a whole, by re-usable covers/closure plates which may be pushed on, hinged on, clipped on, snapped on, swivelled on or swivelled away, placed on etc.

A closure of the combined unit may also be achieved by applying sheets, in particular transparent sheets which are either shrunk on, glued on or held in the tubes by low pressure. These sheets may be removed easily, for example by being torn off, enabling a dustfree storage, keeping and transporting of parts as well as the inspection of the filler material.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 show respective constructions of a honeycomb; Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a loading and unloading unit; Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a loading and unloading unit; and Fig. 5 shows an embodiment for processing a honeycomb.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a combined unit in the form of a honeycomb, in which the individual storage elements 1 are placed into two end elements 2 having corresponding recesses for receiving the individual storage elements. The numeral 3 denotes a pivot axis for the honeycomb.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a honeycomb in which the individual storage elements 1 are held together by tension bands 2'.

Figure 3 shows loading and unloading means for a honeycomb 10 composed of storage elements 1. The loading and unloading means has tubes 5, connected via spherical joints 4, for receiving and releasing parts not shown. The honeycomb 10 may be rotated about its pivot axis 3, whereas the tube 5 for docking onto the relevant storage element 3 to be filled or emptied is vertically displaceable by means of a longitudinal guide 6.

Figure 4 shows, in cross-section, a variant of the device shown in Figure 3, in which the docked-on tubes 5 of a loading means (left of the honeycomb 10) and an unloading means (right of the honeycomb 10) may be displaced vertically, horizontally, cross-wise as well as in the form of a circle or spiral, in a programmed manner or independent of one another.

Figure 5 shows schematically a drive for a honeycomb store 10 on a rectangular spiral path 11. The drive is achieved by corresponding mounting means 12, the axis 3 of the honeycomb 10 engaging in recesses in the side walls 14 which form the spiral path 11, the side walls simultaneously closing the storage elements 1 not to be filled or emptied. However, this device also enables the implementation of other paths, by providing corresponding paths for the lateral guides in the side walls or carrier plates 14; more than one honeycomb store may be arranged on the carrier plate, thus making it possible to supply parts to several processing stations.

Claims

1. A storage system having a plurality of storage elements for receiving material to be stored which can be combined to form a transport and storage facility or a honeycomb capable of being handled as a single combined unit, and where material may be loaded onto or unloaded from at least one end face of each storage element, wherein a drive is provided which is arranged to displace the unit and/or to displace loading and/or unloading means for the individual storage elements in such a way that the material to be stored may be loaded or unloaded automatically at a fixed transfer station.

2. A storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of loading and/or unloading means are provided which may be operated independently of one another.

3. A storage system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each loading and/or unloading means has a stationary part which is connected, by means of spherical joints and longitudinal adjustment, with a part to be linked to the individual storage elements, said part being displaceable axially and radially or crosswise.

4. A storage system according to any preceding claim, wherein the combined unit can be transported, stacked or stored independently of the loading and unloading means.

5. A storage system as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in order to transport the combined unit, an auxiliary handling device having two side walls is provided, said side walls being arranged parallel to the end faces to protect material from falling out.

6. A storage system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the combined unit is axially connectable to other such units by means of joints or couplings.

7. A storage system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the individual storage elements are combined, by at least one band-like element, to form the combined unit.

8. A storage system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the individual storage elements are combined into the combined unit by means of two end walls which have suitable receiving means for the individual storage elements.

9. A storage system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the individual storage elements are pivotally hinged to one another.

10. A storage system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drive is arranged to act on the outer contour of the unit.

11. A storage system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.