JP7754475B2 - Nesting Rack - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies. Published on April 5, 2021, https://www.sanshinkinzoku.co.jp/catalog.html. SANSHIN General Catalog, Vol. 14, April 5, 2021, Planning Department, Sanshin Metal Industry Co., Ltd.

The present invention relates to nesting racks used in factories, warehouses, etc.

Nesting racks (also known as Nesracks, Nestainers, Teners, etc.) are generally used to store items in factories, warehouses, etc., and can be stacked to provide compact storage when not in use, offering the advantage of allowing for efficient use of space depending on the amount of items stored (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-199347 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-213504

Furthermore, nesting racks have the advantage that they can be moved using a forklift or similar vehicle while still containing stored items, but it is desirable that the stored items be stored stably so that they do not move unexpectedly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a nesting rack that can store items stably.

The present invention provides the following means:

1) A nesting rack in which a plurality of shelf frames spaced apart in the vertical direction are supported by vertically extending front, rear, left and right support columns, and items to be stored are placed on each of the shelf frames,
Each shelf frame body includes a pair of left and right side arms spaced apart in the left-right direction and extending in the front-rear direction, and a rear beam extending in the left-right direction and spanning rear ends of the side arms to connect the rear ends together,
In each of the shelf frames, the upper surfaces of the side arms and the upper surface of the rear beam are continuous in the same horizontal plane as a loading surface on which items to be stored are placed.

2) A nesting rack as described in paragraph 1, in which the rear beam is supported by the left and right rear supports with at least a portion of each of the left and right rear supports fitted into a fitting recess formed by a notch in the rear surface of the rear beam.

The present invention has the following advantages:

In the preceding paragraph 1, in each shelf frame of the nesting rack, the upper surfaces of the left and right side arms and the upper surface of the rear beam are continuous in the same horizontal plane as the loading surface on which stored items are placed, so stored items placed on this loading surface are highly stable. This allows for stable storage of stored items.

In the preceding paragraph 2, the rear beam is supported by both rear supports with at least a portion of each of the left and right rear supports of the nesting rack fitted into the fitting recesses on the rear surface of the rear beam, thereby firmly supporting the rear beam on both rear supports. This improves the strength of the rear beam.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nesting rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view of the rack. FIG. 2B is a side view of the rack. FIG. 2C is a plan view of the rack. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rack showing a state in which a pallet of stored items (shown by a two-dot chain line) is placed on each shelf frame of the rack. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the racks stacked in a nested manner. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a nesting rack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a nesting rack according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Several embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

The nesting rack 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "rack 1") according to the first embodiment of the present invention is made of metal (e.g., steel) and is used to store multiple items 30 (see Figure 3) in factories, warehouses, etc. As shown in Figures 1 to 2C, it is configured symmetrically, with multiple shelf frames 2A to 2C spaced apart vertically and each of which can be adjusted in height, supported by four parallel columns (i.e., front left column 11, front right column 12, rear left column 13, and rear right column 14) extending vertically.

In this first embodiment, the shelf frames 2A-2C have three levels: a lowest level (bottom level), a middle level, and a top level.

This rack 1 is generally installed on the floor surface 40, and as shown in Figure 3, stored items 30 are stored in the rack 1 by placing them on the front of each shelf frame 2A-2C. In this first embodiment, the stored items 30 include a pallet 30a (shown by a two-dot chain line), and the main body of the stored item 30 (not shown) is mounted on the pallet 30a.

The items 30 to be stored are generally placed on each shelf frame 2A-2C using a forklift or similar device, and the rack 1 is also generally moved using a forklift or similar device.

Furthermore, in this rack 1, the height positions of the bottom, middle, and top shelf frames 2A-2C can be changed according to the height of the items 30 to be stored.

Furthermore, when not in use, the racks 1 can be stored by stacking them one on top of the other, as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figures 1 to 2C, in this rack 1, each of the posts 11 to 14 is made of rectangular pipe material with a roughly square cross section. A plurality of engagement holes 15 are drilled into the front and rear walls of each of the posts 11 to 14, spaced equally apart in the vertical direction. A plurality of through-holes 16 with a circular cross section are drilled into the left and right walls of each of the posts 11 to 14, spaced equally apart in the vertical direction.

A floor-contact member 17 with a recessed portion that opens downward is fixedly attached to the lower end of each support pillar 11-14. A support member 18 with a convex portion that protrudes upward is fixedly attached to the upper end of each support pillar 11-14. When multiple racks 1 are stacked upward, the convex portions of the support members 18 of each support pillar 11-14 of the lower rack 1 fit into the concave portions of the floor-contact member 17 of each support pillar 11-14 of the upper rack 1, thereby stacking the upper rack 1 without misalignment relative to the lower rack 1.

Each shelf frame 2A-2C is configured symmetrically. Specifically, it consists of a pair of left and right side arms 3, 3 that are spaced apart laterally and extend parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction, and a rear beam 4 that extends laterally between the rear ends of the side arms 3, 3 and is arranged in a bridged state between the rear ends of the side arms 3, 3, connecting these rear ends. Each side arm 3, 3 and rear beam 4 are made of rectangular pipe material with a roughly square cross section. The side arms 3, 3 and rear beam 4 are connected (formed) into a roughly U-shaped frame shape in plan view that opens forward, so that the upper surfaces 3a of the side arms 3, 3 (hatched areas in Figure 1) and the upper surface 4a of the rear beam 4 (hatched areas in Figure 1) are continuous in the same horizontal plane.

In each shelf frame 2A-2C, the upper surfaces 3a of the side arms 3, 3 and the upper surface 4a of the rear beam 4 form a loading surface S on which the stored item 30 is placed; that is, the stored item 30 is placed in contact with these upper surfaces 3a, 3a, 4a (see Figure 3).

Furthermore, in the shelf frames located above the bottom shelf frame 2A, i.e., the middle shelf frame 2B and the top shelf frame 2C, no other frame members (frames, etc.) that make up the shelf frame are present in the inner space surrounded by the side arms 3, 3 and the rear beam 4. This reduces the weight of each shelf frame 2B, 2C.

In the lowest shelf frame 2A, the front ends of both side arms 3, 3 are connected via a front beam 5 made of rectangular pipe material with a roughly square cross section that extends left and right while being spaced apart from each other. This connects (forms) the side arms 3, 3, rear beam 4, and front beam 5 into a roughly rectangular frame shape in plan view. The inner space surrounded by the side arms 3, 3, rear beam 4, and front beam 5 does not contain any other frame members (frames, etc.) that make up the shelf frame 2A. This reduces the weight of the shelf frame 2A.

Furthermore, as described above, the side arms 3, 3, rear beam 4, and front beam 5 of the lowest shelf frame 2A are connected (formed) in a roughly rectangular frame shape in plan view. Therefore, when moving the rack 1 using a forklift, the forks of the forklift are inserted into the space below the lowest shelf frame 2A from the front and lifted up, so that the rear beam 4 and front beam 5 rest on the forks, allowing the rack 1 to be moved reliably and stably by forklift.

Next, the structure of each shelf frame 2A-2C will be explained in detail below.

For each shelf frame 2A-2C, left and right bracket plates 4b, 4b with an approximately U-shaped cross section and an upward opening are fixedly attached to the left and right ends of the rear beam 4.

The rear end of the left side arm 3 is fitted into the left bracket plate 4b and connected to the left bracket plate 4b with a bolt and nut b1, thereby connecting the rear end of the left side arm 3 and the left end of the rear beam 4 to each other.

In addition, with the rear end of the right side arm 3 fitted into the right bracket plate 4b, the rear end of the right side arm 3 is connected to the right bracket plate 4b with a bolt and nut b1, thereby connecting the rear end of the right side arm 3 and the right end of the rear beam 4 to each other.

As a result, as described above, the two side arms 3, 3 and the rear beam 4 are connected (formed) into a roughly U-shaped frame shape in plan view that opens forward.

Next, the connection structure between the top shelf frame 2C and the support posts 11-14 will be described below. Here, the top shelf frame 2C and the middle shelf frame 2B are the same, i.e., they have the same configuration. Furthermore, the connection structure between the top shelf frame 2C and the support posts 11-14 is also the same as the connection structure between the middle shelf frame 2B and the support posts 11-14.

On the top shelf frame 2C, a left mounting member 3b is fixedly provided at the front end of the left side arm 3 for detachably mounting the front end of the left side arm 3 to the left front support column 11. A right mounting member 3b is fixedly provided at the front end of the right side arm 3 for detachably mounting the front end of the right side arm 3 to the right front support column 12.

Each of the left and right mounting members 3b includes a support frame 3c made of a rectangular pipe with a substantially square cross section that protrudes outward from the front end of the corresponding side arm 3, and a bracket plate 3d formed at the tip of the support frame 3c and having a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens rearward. Each bracket plate 3d extends vertically. The corresponding front support column 11, 12 is fitted into the corresponding bracket plate 3d, and a plurality of engaging claws 3f (see FIG. 2A ) cut and bent downwardly on each bracket plate 3d releasably engage with a plurality of engaging holes 15 located at a desired height in the corresponding front support column 11, 12, thereby supporting the front end of each side arm 3 at a desired height in the corresponding front support column 11, 12 by the corresponding mounting member 3b.

The upper surfaces 3ca, 3ca of both support frame portions 3c, 3c are continuous in the same horizontal plane with the upper surfaces 3a, 3a of both side arms 3, 3 and the upper surface 4a of the rear beam 4, and the upper surface 3ca of the support frame portion 3c can also function as the mounting surface S.

Furthermore, to prevent the engagement claws 3f, 3f of each bracket plate 3d, 3d from accidentally disengaging from the engagement holes 15, 15 of the corresponding front support posts 11, 12, lock pins r1, r1 (see Figure 2A) are inserted removably through through holes 3g, 3g drilled in each bracket plate 3d, 3d and through holes 16, 16 in the front support posts 11, 12.

The rear surface 4e of the rear beam 4 is formed flat and continuous in the left-right direction. Left and right bracket plates 4c, 4c with a roughly U-shaped cross section and an opening toward the rear are fixedly provided by welding or the like near the left and right ends of the rear surface 4e of the rear beam 4. Each bracket plate 4c extends in the up-down direction.

The left rear support column 13 is fitted into the left bracket plate 4c, and multiple engagement claws 4f (see Figure 2A) cut and formed into a downwardly protruding shape on the left bracket plate 4c releasably engage with multiple engagement holes 15 located at the desired height on the left rear support column 13, thereby supporting the left end of the rear beam 4 at the desired height on the left rear support column 13 via the left bracket plate 4c.

The right rear support column 14 is fitted into the right bracket plate 4c, and multiple engagement claws 4f (see Figure 2A) cut into and raised in a downwardly protruding shape on the right bracket plate 4c releasably engage with multiple engagement holes 15 located at the desired height on the right rear support column 14, thereby supporting the right end of the rear beam 4 at the desired height on the right rear support column 14 via the right bracket plate 4c.

Furthermore, to prevent the engagement claws 4f, 4f of each bracket plate 4c, 4c from accidentally disengaging from the engagement holes 15, 15 of the corresponding rear support posts 13, 14, lock pins r2, r2 (see Figure 2A) are inserted removably through through holes 4g, 4g drilled in each bracket plate 4c, 4c and through holes 16, 16 in the rear support posts 13, 14.

As described above, the connection structure between the middle shelf frame 2B and the supports 11 to 14 is the same as the connection structure between the top shelf frame 2C and the supports 11 to 14. Furthermore, above the top shelf frame 2C, a space is formed that is surrounded by the upper parts of the bracket plates 3d, 3d, 4c, 4c that support the top shelf frame 2C on the supports 11 to 14.

Next, the connection structure between the bottom shelf frame 2A and the supports 11-14 will be explained below.

On the bottom shelf frame 2A, left and right bracket plates 5b, 5b with a generally L-shaped cross section that opens upward and forward are fixedly attached to the front ends of the left and right side arms 3, 3. The front beam 5 extends left and right within the bracket plates 5b, 5b and is positioned so that both left and right ends protrude outward beyond the side arms 3, 3. The front beam 5 is connected to the bracket plates 5b, 5b with bolts and nuts b2, b2. This connects the front ends of the side arms 3, 3 via the front beam 5.

The upper surface 5a of the front beam 5 is continuous with the upper surfaces 3a, 3b of both side arms 3, 3 and the upper surface 4a of the rear beam 4 in the same horizontal plane, and the upper surface 5a of the front beam 5 can also function as the support surface S.

A left bracket plate 5d, which has a generally U-shaped cross section and is open rearward, is fixedly attached to the left end of the front beam 5. The left bracket plate 5d extends vertically. The left front support pillar 11 is fitted into the left bracket plate 5d, and a plurality of engaging claws 5f (see FIG. 2A) formed on the left bracket plate 5d and protruding downward are releasably engaged with a plurality of engaging holes 15 located at a desired height in the left front support pillar 11, thereby supporting the left end of the front beam 5 at a desired height on the left front support pillar 11.
It is supported at a desired height on the pillar 11.

Furthermore, to prevent the engagement claw 5f of the left bracket plate 5d from accidentally disengaging from the engagement hole 15 of the left front support column 11, the left front support column 11 is releasably connected to the left bracket plate 5d by a bolt and nut b3 that connects the through hole 5g drilled in the left bracket plate 5d with the through hole 16 in the left front support column 11.

A right bracket plate 5d, which has a generally U-shaped cross section and is open rearward, is fixedly attached to the right end of the front beam 5. The right bracket plate 5d extends vertically. The right front support pillar 12 is fitted into the right bracket plate 5d, and a plurality of engaging claws 5f (see FIG. 2A ) formed on the right bracket plate 5d and protruding downward are releasably engaged with a plurality of engaging holes 15 located at a desired height in the right front support pillar 12, thereby supporting the right end of the front beam 5 at a desired height on the right front support pillar 12.

Furthermore, to prevent the engagement claw 5f of the right bracket plate 5d from accidentally disengaging from the engagement hole 15 of the right front support 12, the right front support 12 is connected to the right bracket plate 5d with a bolt and nut b3 that connects the through hole 5g drilled in the right bracket plate 5d with the through hole 16 of the right front support 11.

Right and left bracket plates 5c, 5c with a roughly U-shaped cross section and an opening at the rear are fixedly attached near the left and right ends of the rear surface of the rear beam 4.

The left rear support column 13 is fitted into the left bracket plate 5c, and multiple engagement claws 5h (see Figure 2A) cut and formed into a downwardly protruding shape on the left bracket plate 5c releasably engage with multiple engagement holes 15 located at the desired height on the left rear support column 13, thereby supporting the left end of the rear beam 4 at the desired height on the left rear support column 13.

The right rear support pillar 14 is fitted into the right bracket plate 5c, and multiple engagement claws 5h (see Figure 2A) cut and formed into a downwardly protruding shape on the right bracket plate 5c releasably engage with multiple engagement holes 15 located at the desired height on the right rear support pillar 14, thereby supporting the right end of the rear beam 4 at the desired height on the right rear support pillar 14.

Furthermore, to prevent the engaging claws 5h of each bracket plate 5c from accidentally disengaging from the engaging holes 15 of the corresponding rear support columns 13, 14, the rear support columns 13, 14 corresponding to each bracket plate 5c, 5c are detachably joined by bolts and nuts b4, b4 (see FIG. 2A) that connect through holes 5i, 5i (see FIG. 2B) drilled in each bracket plate 5c, 5c with through holes 16, 16 of the corresponding rear support columns 13, 14. Also, below the lowest shelf frame 2A, a space is formed that is surrounded by the lower parts of the bracket plates 5d, 5d, 5c, 5c that support the lowest shelf frame 2A on the supports 11 to 14.

Furthermore, on the bottom shelf frame 2A, guide base members 6, 6 formed by bending metal plate are fixedly attached to the underside of each of the left and right side arms 3, 3. Furthermore, the front-to-rear intermediate portions of each of the left and right side arms 3, 3 are connected to the left and right front supports 11, 12 via left and right guide stays 7, 7 extending diagonally upward and forward from the front-to-rear intermediate portions of each of the side arms 3, 3.

When multiple racks 1 are stacked in a nested manner, as shown in Figure 4, the left and right guide base members 6, 6 of the upper rack 1 are placed on the left and right side arms 3, 3 of the lowest shelf frame 2A of the lower rack 1, and the left and right guide stays 7, 7 of the upper rack 1 are placed on and parallel to the left and right guide stays 7, 7 of the lower rack 1.

In the nesting rack 1 of this first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in each shelf frame 2A-2C, the upper surfaces 3a, 3a of the left and right side arms 3, 3 and the upper surface 4a of the rear beam 4 are continuous in the same horizontal plane as the loading surface S on which the stored items 30 are placed. This ensures that the stored items 30 placed on this loading surface S are highly stable. This allows the stored items 30 to be stored stably. Therefore, for example, when the rack 1 is moved by a forklift or the like with the stored items 30 stored inside, it is possible to prevent the stored items 30 from accidentally moving.

In the nesting rack 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5, the rear surface 4e of each shelf frame 2A-2C of the rear beam 4 has locally cut-out mating recesses 4j, 4j with a roughly U-shaped cross section that open rearward near each of its left and right ends. Approximately the front half of the corresponding rear support column 13, 14 is fitted into each mating recess 4j, 4j via the corresponding bracket plate 4c, 4c. In this state, the rear beam 4 is supported at the desired height of both rear support columns 13, 14 via the bracket plate 4c, 4c, just as in the first embodiment.

The rest of the configuration of this rack 1A is the same as that of the rack 1 in the first embodiment described above.

In the rack 1A of this second embodiment, the rear beam 4 is supported by the rear supports 13, 14 with at least a portion of the front half of each of the left and right rear supports 13, 14 fitted into the corresponding fitting recesses 4j, 4j on the rear surface 4e of the rear beam 4, so the rear beam 4 is firmly supported by the rear supports 13, 14. This increases the strength of the rear beam 4, and each shelf frame 2A-2C has a high load-bearing capacity.

The depth D of the fitting recess 4j is not limited, but it is preferable that D be in the range of 15 mm to W/2, where W (mm) is the width of the rear beam 4. Furthermore, it is preferable that the width W of the rear beam 4 be in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the width of each rear support 13, 14.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the rack 1 has three shelf frames, consisting of a lowest (bottom), middle, and top shelf. However, in the present invention, the number of shelf frames is not limited to three. For example, in the present invention, the number of shelf frames may be two, consisting of a lowest (bottom) and top shelf, as in the nesting rack 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 6, or may be four or more, although this is not shown.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the length of the support posts used is not limited, and the length of the support posts to be used can be selected depending on the number of shelves in the shelf frame, the height of the items to be stored, etc.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is particularly desirable that all of the shelf frames on multiple levels of the rack are supported on supports so that their height positions can be changed, but this is not limited to this. Alternatively, for example, only the shelf frames located above the lowest shelf frame among the multiple shelf frames (in the first embodiment above, the middle shelf frame 2B and the top shelf frame 2C) may be supported on supports so that their height positions can be changed.

This invention can be used for nesting racks used in factories, warehouses, etc.

1: Nesting racks 2A to 2C: Shelf frame 3: Side arm 3a: Upper surface of side arm 4: Rear beam 4a: Upper surface of rear beam 4j: Fitting recess 5: Front beams 11 to 14: Support 30: Stored item 30a: Pallet S: Placement surface

Claims (1)

A nesting rack in which a plurality of shelf frame bodies spaced apart in the vertical direction are supported by front, rear, left, and right support columns extending in the vertical direction, and items to be stored are placed on each of the shelf frame bodies for storage,
Each shelf frame body includes a pair of left and right side arms spaced apart in the left-right direction and extending in the front-rear direction, and a rear beam extending in the left-right direction and spanning rear ends of the side arms to connect the rear ends together,
In each of the shelf frames, the upper surfaces of the side arms and the upper surface of the rear beam are continuous in the same horizontal plane as a loading surface on which stored items are placed,
Each shelf frame body of the plurality of stages includes a bracket plate into which each support post is fitted, and is supported by each support post in a height position changeable manner with the corresponding support post fitted into each bracket plate,
Each of the bracket plates extends in the vertical direction,
A space surrounded by lower parts of the bracket plates that support the lowest shelf frame on the support posts is formed below the lowest shelf frame of the plurality of shelf frames ,
A nesting rack in which a space is formed above the top shelf frame of the multiple shelf frame bodies, surrounded by the upper parts of each of the bracket plates that support the top shelf frame body on each of the supports.