IL128518A - Storage and handling device for elongated items - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotatory storage and handling device for elongated items comprising a horizontally-displaced, essentially cylindrical member (18) that is fixedly mounted onto a rotatable main axle (11) such that said main axle passes coaxially through the centre of said member, and further comprising means for causing rotation of said main axle together with said essentially cylindrical member, and wherein said member has one or more longitudinally-displaced storage shelves (10) attached thereto, each of said storage shelves being provided with means (12) for securing the items to be stored thereon. 3239 ה' בכסלו התשס" ג - November 10, 2002

Description

D¾n«ia o a e np'nsi noayn ,ιιοπ'κ^ ι ηπ STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE FOR ELONGATED ITEMS -1- 128518/2 STORAGE AND HANDLING DEVICE FOR ELONGATED ITEMS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for storing and handling elongated items such as poles, pipes, tubes and rods. More specifically, the device of the present invention is a mechanical device that allows selective loading and unloading of items stored thereon.

Background of the Invention A problem commonly encountered in many manufacturing industries is the excessively large areas of floor space that are required for the storage of elongated items such as metallic or plastic rods, pipes, tubes and poles, and wooden planks. Such elongated items may represent the raw materials of a particular industry, intermediate stages in the manufacture of a given item, or said finished item itself. Although there have been some attempts to solve this problem, these have generally required the stored items to be stacked in an essentially vertical arrangement. Whilst such an arrangement may indeed substantially reduce the floor area required to store the items, these solutions are generally accompanied by several problems related to the loading of said items on the storage devices and the unloading of same. Thus, in many cases, it may be necessary to use a lifting device such as a crane or winch in order to move the stored items from a higher level to a working surface or vehicle. In addition to the lifting device operator, two or more workers may be required to manually guide the loading or unloading process, thus -2- 128518/2 rendering these devices very expensive in terms of the manpower required for their operation. A further problem associated with some of the prior art devices is one of industrial safety, in view of the large weight of each of the potentially very large stored items, which may be arranged in a high vertical stack, thereby posing problems of mechanical stability on loading and unloading.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a device for storing elongated items in a relatively small area .

It is another object of the invention that the abovementioned device facilitates the storage of a large number of elongated items in a mechanically stable manner.

It is a further purpose of the invention that the aforementioned device allows for convenient loading and unloading of the elongated items from, and onto the desired working surfaces or vehicles.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a storage and handling device that permits the convenient loading and unloading of stored items by a minimal number of workers or operators.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. -3- 128518/2 Summary of the Invention It has now been found that it is possible to provide a rotatory device that permits the economical storage of elongated items such as tubes, pipes, rods, poles and planks. Such a device has the advantage of occupying a relatively small footprint area on the floor of the factory, plant or warehouse in which it is installed. In addition, controlled rotation of the device may be performed in order to perform selective unloading of particular stored items onto a desired surface such as a working table or vehicle. Similarly, loading of items onto the device may be achieved by the controlled rotation thereof, such that vacant storage regions of said device are brought into close proximity with the surface or vehicle upon which said items are currently located.

The present invention is primarily directed to a rotatory storage and handling device for elongated items comprising a horizontally-displaced, essentially cylindrical, member that is fixedly mounted onto a rotatable main axle such that said main axle passes coaxially through the centre of said member, and further comprising means for causing rotation of said main axle together with said essentially cylindrical member, said axle being arranged such that the portions thereof that are not located within the essentially-cylindrical member are supported at at least two points by rotatable bearings, and wherein said member has one or more longitudinally-displaced storage shelves attached thereto, each of said storage shelves being provided with means for securing the items to be stored thereon. -4- 128518/1 The term "elongated items" as used throughout this application is used to indicate items that have one geometric axis ("long axis") substantially longer than any of its other axes of symmetry. Such items may be of any length, and non-limitatively include: tubes, pipes, rods, wires, poles, planks and bolts.

The means for causing rotation of said main axle and said essentially cylindrical member may be provided by any suitable mechanical or electro-mechanical devices, including, but not limited to, manually-operated gearing devices, electric motors and hydraulically-operated motors. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for causing rotation of said main axle and said essentially cylindrical member is a hydraulically-operated motor.

In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises an automatic control system that permits the controlled rotation of the essentially cylindrical member such that a pre-selected shelf is moved to a predetermined position.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for loading elongated items onto a rotatory storage device fitted with storage shelves or for unloading elongated items therefrom, comprising causing said storage device to rotate such that the shelf onto which it is desired to load said items, or from which it is desired to unload said items, is positioned alongside a loading or unloading surface, and loading said items from said surface onto said -5- 128518/1 shelf or unloading said items from said shelf onto said surface .

The aforementioned working surface may be any conveniently placed surface, including a table, cutting machine table, storage container or transport vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the loading or unloading surface is a working table.

All the above and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the following illustrative and non-limitative examples of preferred embodiments thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings Pig. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of one embodiment of the storage and handling device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 presents a lateral view of the device depicted in Fig. 1, showing a working table situated alongside one of the storage shelves.

Pig. 3 presents an end-view of the device depicted in Fig. 1, illustrating the relative locations of the storage shelves . -6- 128518/1 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The device disclosed herein is intended for use as an efficient, controllable and safe means for the storage and handling of elongated items. These items may be in various different physical forms, such as tubes, pipes, rods, poles, wires or planks, arranged either individually or in bundles or groups. The aforementioned items may be constructed of a variety of different materials including metals, metallic alloys, thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, glass and wood. The device of the present invention may be constructed with shelves of any desired length, in accordance with the length of the items to be stored thereon. Whilst in many cases, the stored items will have a length similar to, but slightly shorter than, the length of the storage shelves, it is also possible to arrange for the orderly storage of items having a length substantially shorter than that of the shelves, by dividing each shelf lengthwise into distinct storage regions .

Pig. 1 shows a general view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, the main axle 11 is a discontinuous, divided axle, in that it does not support the essentially-cylindrical member 18 along its entire length. Rather, the axle 11 is divided, such that one section supports the left end of the member 18, whilst a separate axle section supports the right end thereof. In other embodiments of the device of the invention, the main axle may be undivided, coaxially situated along the entire length of the essentially-cylindrical member. -7- 128518/1 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each of the main axle sections 11 is supported by rotatable bearings located in a bearing housing 16. Each bearing housing is fixed to a base unit 30 which in turn is secured to the floor, either directly or by means of a baseboard (not shown) . The device illustrated in this figure is fitted with several storage shelves 10, displaced longitudinally with respect to member 18 and fixed thereto by any suitable means such as welding, riveting or the use of bolts. The long free edge of each shelve is bent upwards at an angle of approximately 90 °, in order to assist in securing the items to be stored thereon. The shelves 10 are also fitted with lockable arms 12 at several points along their length. In the embodiment depicted in Pig. 1 and Fig. 2, the medial end of each arm is inserted into a hole bored in the side of the essentially cylindrical member 18. The distal end of each lockable arm is bent downwards at approximately 90° and secured by means of a locking pin 14. An end view of the device of the invention showing the relative positions of the storage shelves 10 and the lockable arms 12 is depicted in Fig. 3. The arrangement of the locking arms shown in these figures is only one possible arrangement. Of the many other possible embodiments of this feature, one preferred embodiment of the lockable arm incorporates a hinge located at its medial end, in close proximity to the essentially cylindrical member, said hinge permitting said arm to be rapidly and easily elevated or lowered into its open or closed positions, respectively. -8- 128518/1 The means for causing rotation of the main axle 11 and member 18 in the embodiment of the device of the invention depicted in Fig. 1 is a hydraulically-operated motor 20. This motor is operated by means of hydraulic unit 24 comprising a hydraulic fluid tank and pump, the latter component being operated by electric motor 22. The hydraulic unit 24 and its associated electric motor 22 are firmly mounted on a separate baseboard 26.

The embodiment depicted in Pig. 1 also comprises an automatic control system 28, the purpose of which is to permit the movement of a pre-selected storage shelf to a desired position by means of pressing a numbered button or switch. Typically, such a control system will comprise a microprocessor and output elements such as electrically-operated hydraulic valves and electrical contacts. Any suitable commercially-available control system (or components thereof) may be used, and the details of the construction of said system do not form part of the invention as claimed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the automatic control system is omitted, and the operation of the hydraulic motor is performed by means of hydraulic levers, the purpose of which is to control the release of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic unit into said hydraulic motor. In a further, simplified version of the device of the invention, the hydraulic motor is omitted, the means for rotating the main axle being provided by a simple electric motor. Finally, in an even more simplified embodiment of the invention, the main axle (and essentially cylindrical -9- 128518/1 member) are caused to rotate by means of a manually- operated gear wheel system. The previous two, simplified, systems are clearly not intended for use in cases where the device of the invention is to be used for storing and handling large or heavy items, for which a more powerful hydraulically-operated motor will be similar.

It is to be noted that the rotating means of the device claimed herein are not to be limited to the examples given above (i.e. hydraulic system, simple electric motor and manually-turned axle) , but rather may be provided by any suitable mechanical or electro-mechanical elements as are well known to the man skilled in the art.

The mode of operation of the device of the invention will be described in relation to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In this figure, a table 32 is depicted alongside the storage and handling device of the invention. The storage shelf 10 marked by encircled numeral 1 is positioned alongside, parallel to and at the same height as the working surface of table 32. Thus in the position depicted in Pig. 2, shelf number 1 may be loaded with items (such as poles, rods or tubes etc.) that are currently arranged on table 32. This is achieved by withdrawing the locking pins 14 and subsequently unlocking and removing the lockable arms 12. The items to be loaded may then be rolled or otherwise moved from table 32 onto shelf number 1. The lockable arms 12 are then replaced and secured in position by inserting locking pins 14. If, for the purpose of illustration, it is then desired to load further items onto the storage shelf designated by encircled numeral 2, it -10- 128518/1 will be necessary to rotate the device in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, such that shelf 1 moves upwards (with its contents firmly secured in place by means of the lockable arms 12), its position alongside table 32 being replaced by shelf 2. This rotation is achieved by firstly switching on the electric motor 22 (shown in Fig. 1) , by means of selecting the appropriate switch on automatic control panel 28. Selection of another preset button on said control panel will then cause the hydraulic unit 24 to operate the hydraulic motor 20 such that shelf 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow until it is precisely positioned alongside table 32. Unloading of the items from loaded shelves is achieved by precisely the opposite procedure to that described above. In each desired operation (unloading or loading) the hydraulic motor is switched on, and a preset button is then depressed in order to bring the desired shelf to its loading/unloading position alongside the table. In an alternative embodiment, the automatic control panel 28 is so constructed that the hydraulic system is operated each time a preset button is selected, thus obviating the need for a separate switch for the hydraulic unit 24.

In the simplified embodiment described hereinabove, wherein the automatic control panel is omitted and the operation of the hydraulic unit is controlled by a hydraulic lever, movement of the required shelf into the desired position is achieved by first switching on the hydraulic unit 24 and then moving the hydraulic lever until said shelf reaches its final designated position alongside table 32. -11- 128518/1 In another embodiment of the invention, two tables may be employed, one on each side of the device. In a further embodiment, items may be loaded from, or unloaded onto, surfaces other than tables including transportation containers, open-back trucks etc.

The storage and handling device of the present invention as described hereinabove is simple to operate and has further been shown to be economical in terms of a substantial reduction in the manpower needed for its use (approximately 40% fewer operators than other prior art methods), and also in relation to the greatly reduced floor space required for storage of a plurality of elongated items.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out in practice by skilled persons with many modifications, variations and adaptations, without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims (7)

-12- 128518/1 Claims

1. A rotatory storage and handling device for elongated items comprising a horizontally-displaced, essentially cylindrical, member that is fixedly mounted onto a rotatable main axle such that said main axle passes coaxially through the centre of said member, and further comprising means for causing rotation of said main axle together with said essentially cylindrical member, and wherein said member has one or more longitudinally-displaced storage shelves attached thereto, each of said storage shelves being provided with means for securing the items to be stored thereon.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means for causing rotation of the main axle is a hydraulically-operated motor.

3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising an automatic control system for controlling the rotation of the essentially cylindrical member such that a pre-selected shelf is moved to a pre-determined position.

4. A. A method for loading elongated items onto a rotatory storage device fitted with storage shelves, or for unloading elongated items therefrom, comprising causing said storage device to rotate such that the shelf onto which it is desired to load said items, or from which it is desired to unload said items, is positioned alongside a loading or unloading surface, and loading said items from -13- 128518/1 said surface onto said shelf or unloading said items from said shelf onto said surface.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the loading or unloading surface is a working table.

6. A device according to claim 1, substantially as described in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A method according to claim 4, substantially as described in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings.