GB2412910A

GB2412910A - Transportation and/or storage of sheet items such as vehicle windscreens

Info

Publication number: GB2412910A
Application number: GB0407811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivo Westhovens
Original assignee: Carglass Luxembourg SARL Zug Branch
Current assignee: Carglass Luxembourg SARL Zug Branch
Priority date: 2004-04-06
Filing date: 2004-04-06
Publication date: 2005-10-12
Also published as: WO2005097623A2; GB0407811D0; WO2005097623A3

Abstract

An arrangement for locating sheet items such as windscreens for transport or storage in a container comprises a releasable brake system for engaging edges of the items and means for securing the sheets in a lateral direction, which securing means has means for limiting, monitoring and controlling the force applied to the sheets. The brake system includes brake bars 25, 26 having high friction surfaces, eg rubber pads. The sheets may be slid into position along bars 9, 10, 61 having low friction surfaces, eg of PTFE, whereupon the brake bars 25, 26 may be raised to engage the edges of the sheets. Paddles 17, 18 of the securing means may then be tilted to engage the sheets laterally with a force which may be limited eg by torque limiting clutch arrangements or pressure sensors.

Description

Transportation and/or Storage of Sheet Items The present invention relates

to transportation and/or storage of sheet items. The invention particularly relates to transportation and/or storage of fragile or delicate sheet items such as vehicle windscreens or the like (which should be interpreted broadly to cover other vehicle glazing panels, such as rearscreens).

According to the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for transportation and/or storage of sheet items, the arrangement including: a releasable brake system actuatable to engage an edge portion of one or more sheet items present in the container in a brake engaged configuration, and disengage from the respective edges in a brake disengaged configuration: and/or, a side securing arrangement including at least one contact member, and adjustment means actuatable to move the contact member to an engagement position to secure the sheet items from a side orientation, sheet face adjacent, the side securing arrangement being releasable and provided with limiter means enabling the securing force applied to be monitored, limited or controlled.

It is preferred that the brake system is configured to engage with a longitudinal edge of a respective sheet item. Preferably, the brake system is configured to engage the underside edge of a respective sheet item.

Beneficially, the brake system includes a plurality of brake contact members arranged to engage at spaced portions of the edge of a respective sheet item. It is preferred that separate brake contact members are movable independently of one another between brake engaged and brake released configurations. Desirably, the brake system includes at least one elongate brake bar extending in a direction transverse to the sheet item plane. Spaced brake bars are beneficially provided, extending substantially in parallel. \\

The brake system preferably includes a brake actuation system for movement between the brake engaged and brake released configuration. The brake actuation system may comprise a cam actuator arrangement. s

Desirably, the arrangement according to the invention includes a slide arrangement, facilitating sliding of the sheet items. The slide arrangement preferably includes spaced slide elements.

It is preferred that an elongate slide element extends substantially in parallel with an elongate brake bar of the braking system.

It is preferred that in the brake engaged orientation the brake bar is at the same level or stands proud of the slide element, whereas in the brake release configuration the brake bar is retracted back from the slide element.

IS Beneficially, the brake system includes a brake element having an engagement surface of a friction or grip enhancement material.

The slide arrangement preferably includes a slide element including a hard or friction reducing surface, promoting sliding of the sheet items.

The contact member of the side securing arrangement is preferably carried by an upright restraint configured to be advanced and retracted in a direction transverse to sheet item plane.

The upright restraint preferably extends in an upright orientation for the major extent of the height of the container. The side securing arrangement beneficially includes support means 2s mounting the upright restraint, and facilitating ease of movement ofthe upright restraint. The upright restraint may be supported to be movable on a rotatable support arrangement, such as wheels, rollers or the like, and/or constrained to move along a track or the like.

A lock arrangement is advantageously provided for locking the upright restraint at a selected position. The lock arrangement may include a series of spaced lock position locators for locking the upright restraint at one or more of a defined series of positions.

lt is preferred that the contact member of the side securing arrangement is angularly reorientatable/adj ustable.

The contact member of the side securing arrangement preferably comprises a flexible or s resilient contact layer.

A contact member arrangement ofthe side securing arrangement preferably includes upper and lower contact members.

lo It is preferred that a contact member or members is mounted at a position spaced from and facing the contact member or members carried by the upright restraint. Beneficially, one or more contact members of the side securing arrangement are height adjustable It is preferred that the limiter means ofthe side securing arrangement is part ofthe adjustment IS means. The limitermeans ofthe side securing arrangement preferablycomprises a mechanical arrangement.

The adjustment means ofthe side securing arrangement beneficially includes a gauge showing force applied.

The adjustment means ofthe side securing arrangement maycomprise a resilient spring mount for the contact member, the force being applied via the resilient spring mount and/or spring deflection giving an indication of the force applied, thereby comprising the limiter means.

2s The invention may be embodied in a container. Beneficially the container is configured such that access is provided through an uppermost portion and end portion ofthe container, and the container preferably includes an access arrangement comprising a movable side panel proximate an end of the container.

The container may be of frame construction.

The container preferably has one or more openable or open ends. Thc container may have a closed end panel. Preferably the container has an openable or open top.

In a preferred embodiment of a container, the side panel proximate the access permitting end s of the container is movable to open the end side portion of the container. The side panel is preferably movable by being pivotable.

In one embodiment of a container side panels on opposed sides of the container are movable to open respective end side portions of the container. The movable side panels on opposed lo sides of the container are preferably positioned proximate opposed ends of the container.

It is preferred that a lower portion of the container includes frame openings for receiving tines of lifting apparatus. It is preferable that the upper and lower portions of the container are provided with stacking formations enabling stacking of containers one on top of another.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure I is a side view of an (upper) container embodying an exemplary arrangement according to the invention mounted atop a lower container; Figure 2 is an end view of the (upper) container of figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail view of a part of the (upper) container of the preceding figures; Figure 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary limiter arrangement for monitoring and limiting the force applied to side secure the sheet items.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in figure 1 a container 1 for use in transporting vehicle windscreens. The container will be described primarily in this context, although it should be readily appreciated that the invention extends to containers for transporting other fragile items, particularly other fragile sheet items. -s -

The container I is of welded tubular frame construction and demountably mounted atop a similarly constructed lower container 2. Both upper and lower containers 1,2 include openings 3 in their respective frames to accommodate tines of lift/transport apparatus such as fork lift apparatus.

The upper container I is provided in accordance with the invention. The container I includes an open top and a closed end wall 4. The end opposite the closed end may be open. The sides of the container I include side panels 5,6,7,8 one or more of which may comprise movable doors, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereafter. For example in the 0 embodiment shown in the drawings, doors 5 and 7 pivot on respective support posts to effectively open respective corners of the container, thereby to enhance access to the ends of the container for loading or unloading of the container. Door 5, for example is mounted by means of pivot mountings 66,67 to support post 68.

Spanning the width at the base of container I are three slide bars 9,10, 61 each having low friction hard upper surfaces. A further slide bar 62 is fixed at the bottom of the container adjacent openable door panel 5. The purpose of the slide bars 9, 10, 61 and 62 is to engage and support the lower edge of the windscreen during loading and unloading of the container.

The glass is moved to slide over the upper surface of the bars. The upper surface of the bars may comprise a low friction material such as PTFE.

A central securing column 11 is mounted on support rollers 12 which are constrained to roll along rails 52, 53 spanning the opposed sides ofthe container I.Inwardly of and alongside rails 52, 53 extend respective securing bars 14,15 including a series of spaced securing holes 16 2s along their length. The column 1 1 carries a plate 55 having at its foot respective securing bolts (not shown) which are spring biassed to engage through plate 55 within the holes 16. In this way column 11 can be moved in the width direction of the container and secured in position at the desired location. This facilitates loading and unloading the container and also makes the container adaptable to carry differing quantities of windscreens or windscreens of differing size and curvature configuration.

The movable column 1 1 provides a coarse adjustment for securing the windscreens in position.

The arrangement additionally includes a fine adjustment system for final securing of the windscreens in the container. In the embodiment shown the arrangement includes upper and lower pairs of paddles 17, 18 mounted tiltably to the column 1 1. The paddles 17, 18 are s provided with conformable face layers (for example of polyurethane foam pads) to engage the adjacent windscreen, and may be mounted to the column 11 by means of respective ball mountings giving the paddles the facility to tilt in 2 planes. This provides a great deal of flexibility for securing, however paddles tilting about a single pivot axis have been found to work satisfactorily in most situations. Such an arrangement is shown in the drawings in which lo the paddle pairs 17,18 are mounted to a tilt mount 57 to tilt in the vertical plane as shown by arrows B in figure 2. The paddles are movable into and out of approachment with the windscreens present in the container by means of actuating in rotary fashion handles 19 to rotate a threaded shaft 20 threadably mated in a threaded bore in the column 11. This causes paddle pairs 17,18 and respective tilt mounts 57 to advance or retreat accross the width of the container as shown by arrows A in figure 2.

It is greatly preferred that the fine securing adjustment system includes means for limiting the securing force applied by the paddles. This can be achieved in a number of ways, for example by using mechanical means such as torque limiting clutch arrangements or by use of load or pressure sensors to indicate when maximum permissible force has been applied. This results in less likelihood of inexperienced or careless operators overstressing and potentially damaging the windscreens in the container, or conversely failing to secure the windscreens adequately in the container.

In the arrangement shown in figure 4, the upright column 11 carries a mechanical fine adjustment arrangement 80. Handle 19 rotates a threaded shaft 20 threadably mated in a bore of nut 81. This advances or retracts push plate 82, depending upon the sense of rotation.

Advancement or retraction of push plate 82 causes advancement or retraction of paddle mount 57. There is a spring connection (springs 83) between the paddle mount 57 and the push plate 82. Guide rods 84 are fixed with respect to the upright column 11 and the paddle mount 57 and pass through clearance bores in the push plate 82. As the paddles are advanced to engage with the windscreens present in the container, as increasing force is applied via the springs 83, the spacing between the push plate 82 and the paddle mount 57 will decrease. A gauge finger 86 is positioned to show the maximum applicable force is applied when the push plate lines up with the end of the finger 86. The maximum force capable of being applied is preferably about 24Kg.

The side of the container opposite the column 11 is provided with complementary pairs of paddles 21, 22 tiltably mounted to a post 23 at the side of the container. The paddles may be height adjustable on the column 11 or post 23. In the arrangement shown the paddles 21 22 are height adjustable on brackets 24, 25 mounted to post 23.

The container additionally includes a brake system intended to restrict longitudinal movement of windscreens present in the container. The brake system is re-configurable between a brake engaged condition and a brake released condition. The brake arrangement comprises a pair of brake bars 25,26 running alongside the slide bars 9,10 so as to be positioned below the edge I S of the windscreens present. In the brake release configuration, the upper surfaces of the brake bars 25,26 are positioned below the level of the upper surface of the slide bars 9,10. This permits the lower edges of the windscreens to slide over the upper surface of the slide bars 9,10 without hindrance from the brake bars 25,26. In the brake engaged configuration, the brake bars are raised such that the upper surfaces of the brake bars engage the dower edges of the windscreens present. In the brake engaged position, the upper surface of the brake bars 25, 26 will typically be positioned just above the upper surface level of the slide bars 9,10.

In the embodiment shown, reconfiguration of the brake system between the engaged and released configurations is achieved by means of respective lever and cam arrangements for the brake bars 25,26. Levers 28,29 are operated to rotate a shaft below the bars 25,26, the shaft including offset cams which raise or lower the bars 25,26 dependent upon the rotary position of the shaft.

The upper surface of the brake bars is beneficially of friction enhancement or grip enhancement material. A conformable pad layer of rubber or other such like grip material may be provided for this purpose. !

The container unit is provided with upper and lower corner mounting bosses 30 to 37 permitting like container units to be stacked one on top of the other, or alternative container units to be stacked. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the windscreen container unit may be stacked on top of a container unit used for storing other fitting materials. This arrangement is shown in figure 1, in which the windscreen storage unit 1 is mounted on top of a container unit 2 for storing other handling or fitting items. The lower container unit 2 includes slide doors 40, 41 for accessing the interior of the container 2.

In use the container can be conveniently loaded in a warehouse or other environment. The 0 lower fork lift tine receptor openings 3, make the container particularly suitable for this purpose. The slide bars enable the windscreens to be readily positioned longitudinally. The openable end side doors provide enhanced operator access. The movable column can be retracted from the opposed wall in stages as the container is loaded. The paddles are then urged into securing engagement without overstressing the windscreens. This secures the is windscreens from movement in the width direction of the container. The brake system can then be activated to engage the brake bars with the underside of the windscreens. This secures the package of screens against longitudinal movement. Containers may then be stacked for optimum space conservation during transport. Typically soft packaging material will be positioned intermediatelybetween adjacent windscreens. At the unloading location, the brake system can be disengaged and the paddles released. The open top, end, and openable end side door permits any individual screen from the batch to be readily retrieved by operators.

The container is particularly suitable for use for transportation and/or storage of a batch of different size and or shape (for example curvature) windscreens, due to the flexibility of re configuration ofthe container, the securing against both longitudinal and transverse movement of the windscreens and the facility to guard against over or under tightening of the transverse securing mechanism.

The invention has been primarily described in use in a container embodiment. However it is envisaged that the invention is suitable for use in other embodiments. For example the arrangement of the invention could be utilised in mobile vehicles, where the arrangement could be fitted in a space in the interior of the vehicle. -9 -

Claims

Claims: 1. an arrangement for transportation and/or storage of sheet

items, the arrangement including: s a releasable brake system actuatable to engage an edge portion of one or more sheet items present in the container in a brake engaged configuration, and disengage from the respective edges in a brake disengaged configuration: lo and/or, a side securing arrangement including at least one contact member, and adjustment means actuatable to move the contact member to an engagement position to secure the sheet items from a side orientation, sheet face adjacent, the side securing arrangement being releasable and provided with limiter means enabling the securing force applied to be monitored, limited or controlled.

2. an arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the brake system is configured to engage with a longitudinal edge of a respective sheet item.

3. an arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the brake system is configured to engage the underside edge of a respective sheet item.

4. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the brake system includes 2s a plurality of brake contact members arranged to engage at spaced portions of the edge of a respective sheet item.

5. an arrangement according to claim 4, wherein separate brake contact members are movable independently of one another between brake engaged and brake released configurations.

6. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the brake system includes at least one elongate brake bar extending in a direction transverse to the sheet item plane.

7. an arrangement according to claim 6, wherein spaced brake bars are provided, extending substantially in parallel.

8. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the brake system includes a brake actuation system for movement between the brake engaged and brake lo released configuration.

9. an arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the brake actuation system comprises a cam actuator arrangement.

11. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, further including a slide arrangement, facilitating sliding of the sheet items.

12. an arrangement according to claim 1 1, wherein the slide arrangement includes spaced slide elements.

13. an arrangement according to claim 1 1 or claim 12, wherein an elongate slide element extends substantially in parallel with an elongate brake bar of the braking system.

14. an arrangement according to claim 13, wherein, in the brake engaged orientation the 2s brake bar is at the same level or stands proud of the slide element, whereas in the brake release configuration the brake bar is retracted back from the slide element.

15. an arrangement according to any preceding clam, wherein the brake system includes a brake element having an engagement surface of a friction or grip enhancement material.

16. an arrangement according to any of claims I 1 to 15, wherein the slide arrangement includes a slide element includes a hard or friction reducing surface, promoting sliding of the sheet items.

17. an arrangement according to anyprecedingclaim, wherein the contactmemberofthe side securing arrangement is carried by an upright restraint configured to be advanced and retracted in a direction transverse to sheet item plane.

18. an arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the upright restraint of the side lo securing arrangement extends in an upright orientation for the major extent of the height of the container.

19. an arrangement according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the side securing arrangement includes support means mounting the upright restraint, and facilitating ease of movement of the upright restraint.

20. an arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the upright restraint is supported to be movable on a rotatable support arrangement, such as wheels, rollers or the like, and/or constrained to move along a track, or the like.

21. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a lock arrangement is provided for locking the upright restraint at a selected position.

22. an arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the lock arrangement includes a series of spaced lock position locators for locking the upright restraint at one or more of a defined series of positions.

23. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact member of the side securing arrangement is angularly reorientatable.

24. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact member of the side securing arrangement comprises a flexible or resilient contact layer.

25. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a contact member arrangement of the side securing arrangement includes upper and lower contact members. s

26. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a contact member or members is mounted at a position spaced from and facing the upright restraint.

27 an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more contact lo members of the side securing arrangement are height adjustable 28. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the limiter means of the side securing arrangement is part of the adjustment means.

29. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the limiter means of the side securing arrangement comprises a mechanical arrangement.

30. an arrangement according to claim 29, wherein the adjustment means includes a gauge showing force applied.

31. an arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment means of the side securing arrangement includes a spring mount for the contact member, the force being applied via the spring mount and/or spring deflection giving an indication of the force applied, thereby comprising the limiter means.

32. a container including an arrangement according to any preceding claim.

33. a container according to claim 32, wherein access is provided through an uppermost portion and end portion of the container, and an access arrangement comprising a movable side panel proximate an end of the container.

34. a container according to claim 32 or claim 33 wherein the container is of frame construction.

35. a container according to any of claims 32 to 34, wherein the container has one or more openable or open ends.

36. a container according to any of claims 32 to 35 having a closed end panel.

37. a container according to any of claims 32 to 36, wherein the container has an i o openable or open top.

38. a container according to any of claims 32 to 37, wherein the side panel proximate the access permitting end of the container is movable to open the end side portion of the container.

39. a container according to claim 38, wherein the side panel is movable by being

pivotable.

40. a container according to any of claims 32 to 39, wherein side panels on opposed sides of the container are movable to open respective end side portions of the container.

41. a container according to claim 40, wherein the movable side panels on opposed sides of the container are positioned proximate opposed ends of the container. 2s

42. a container according to any of claims 32 to 41, wherein a lower portion of the container includes frame openings for receiving tines of lifting apparatus.

43. a container according to any of claims 32 to 42, wherein the upper and lower portions of the container are provided with stacking formations enabling stacking of containers one on top of another.