NL2004865C2

NL2004865C2 - A storage system with carrier shelves moveable along a track and each having a driveable conveyor belt organ as supporting surface.

Info

Publication number: NL2004865C2
Application number: NL2004865A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Nicolaas Hyacinthus Maria Remundt
Original assignee: Remundt Beheer B V Van
Priority date: 2010-06-10
Filing date: 2010-06-10
Publication date: 2011-12-13
Also published as: WO2011155821A1; EP2580149A1

Description

P30283NL00/RR

Title: A storage system with carrier shelves moveable along a track and each having a driveable conveyor belt organ as supporting surface.

The invention relates to a storage system comprising a plurality of carrier shelves moveable along a conveying track.

Such storage systems are known in a wide variety of embodiments. For example vertical Paternoster storage systems are known which comprise a large number of horizontal 5 carrier shelves which are circulating along an oval track. Such a Paternoster storage system presently is sold by applicant for amongst others to be used for the sorting of washed textile articles during folding and just before bringing them back to where they came from in batches of washed, sorted and folded articles wrapped in suitable hygienic wrappings. For this a stationary shelf is arranged as loading and unloading station along the track. An 10 employee is then able to each time scan a bar code of a washed article in front of a bar code scanner and then start to fold it up. During the folding, the storage system in correspondence to the scanned bar code, starts rotating until a compartment on a particular carrier shelf which corresponds to the scanned bar code is lined up with the stationary shelf. Subsequently a lamp above the respective compartment lights up and the employee is able 15 to place the folded article in the correct compartment. At some point in time, for example when the storage system is fully loaded or when there are no more washed and folded articles to be placed therein, the employee can start unloading the entire system. For this, each batch of folded articles in a particular compartment is taken out, bundled with a rubber band and placed on a conveyor belt organ which transports this batch to a wrapping 20 installation. There the batch gets wrapped up in a plastic cover. This repeats itself until each of the compartments has been unloaded. Then all the batches are ready for transportation in a hygienic manner back to where they came from, for example a hospital, a nursing or rest home or the like.

A disadvantage with this known vertical Paternoster storage system is that its 25 loading and unloading processes leave to be improved. Both the loading and unloading takes up a lot of time for an employee, particularly because it is performed manually by one and the same person. This is both costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, there is the risk that the carefully folded and assembled batches of articles in the various compartments in some way get distorted during the unloading process.

30 The present invention aims to overcome one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages or to provide a usable alternative. In particular the invention aims to provide a user-friendly and efficiently operating storage system.

-2-

This aim is achieved by a storage system according to claim 1. The storage system comprises a frame and a plurality of longitudinal carrier shelves. Each carrier shelf has a supporting surface, in particular a substantially horizontal supporting surface, on top of which a number of articles can be placed such that they can be stored (temporarily) in the 5 system. The carrier shelves are positioned moveable one behind the other at fixed intervals along a conveying track, in particular a substantially vertically oriented conveying track. At least one loading and/or unloading station is arranged along the track. Furthermore, conveying means are provided for moving the plurality of carrier shelves along the track and with those movements passing the shelves along the loading and/or unloading station. This 10 makes it possible to each time have a respective one of the carrier shelves stop in front of the loading and/or unloading station in between movements of the carrier shelves along the track. According to the invention each of the carrier shelves comprises a driveable conveyor belt organ as its supporting surface. The conveyor belt organ as supporting surface advantageously makes it possible to automate the loading and/or unloading process. Each 15 time that it is for example desired to unload one of the carrier shelves it suffices to position it in front of the unloading station and then start driving the conveyor belt organ of that carrier shelf. Any articles stored on top of that conveyor belt organ can then automatically be transferred from out of that carrier shelf onto the unloading station by driving the conveyor belt organ in rotation. In a similar manner it is also possible to even automate the loading 20 process if desired. The provision of the plurality of driveable conveyor belt organs moveable at fixed intervals as an assembly along the conveyor track makes it possible to save both costs and time for a user.

The conveying track preferably is a closed loop shaped track with vertically directed longitudinal track parts along which the preferably substantially horizontally orientated 25 conveyor belt organs can be moved. The conveying means can then be designed to move the plurality of carrier shelves in one direction only or both clockwise and counter clockwise if desired. Thus a storage system of the Paternoster type can be obtained. It is also possible to use the invention in combination with other kinds and shapes of tracks. For example the conveying track may only comprise a substantially vertically directed track along which the 30 plurality of carrier shelves including their conveyor belt organs can be move up and down along a loading and/or unloading station.

It is possible to provide each of the conveyor belt organs of the carrier shelves with its own drive unit. Those drive units then need to move along with the carrier shelves during their movements along the track. In a preferred embodiment, the loading and/or unloading 35 station is equipped with a common drive unit, while furthermore an operating mechanism is provided for engaging this common drive unit with a desired conveyor belt organ when this has been stopped in front of the station. For example the common drive unit may comprise a -3- driveable pressure roller which by means of the operating mechanism can be pushed against the outside of the conveyor belt organ for driving it in rotation.

The carrier shelves preferably are of a longitudinal shape, and each comprise a set of partition walls positioned above their conveyor belt organ. The partition walls subdivide 5 each carrier shelf in a plurality of compartments along its longitudinal direction. The compartments make it possible to use the storage system not only for storing articles but also to sort them out by type, seize, colour, end user, or the like.

It is possible to provide a common conveyor belt organ for each of the compartments of a carrier shelf. It is also possible to provide conveyor belt organs for each of the 10 compartments separately. The conveyor belt organ(s) can be outlined with its (their) transportation direction parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier shelves. In a preferred embodiment the conveyor belt organs each have their longitudinal transportation direction extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the carrier shelves.

In a further embodiment, the loading and/or unloading station is equipped with a 15 displacement mechanism for moving a conveyor belt organ and set of partition walls which have been stopped in front of the station, relative to one another. This relative movement is then directed in the sideways direction substantially perpendicular to the transportation direction, and clears the way for the articles placed in the various compartments of the respective carrier shelf to be (un)loaded in one single action of driving its conveyor belt 20 organ in rotation.

In a first variant the displacement mechanism is designed for moving the conveyor belt organ stopped in front of the station sideways from underneath its corresponding set of partition walls and out of its carrier shelf. In this pulled out position the conveyor belt organ can then be driven in rotation without having its load running against the partition walls.

25 In a second variant the displacement mechanism is designed for moving the set of partition walls stopped in front of the station sideways from above its corresponding conveyor belt organ and out of its carrier shelf. In this pulled out position the conveyor belt organ can then also be driven in rotation without having its load running against the partition walls.

30 In order to save space each conveyor belt organ preferably is made of slender design. In particular this slender design is such that a maximum height between an upper and a lower track of the belt occurs which is less than 50 mm, in particular less than 10 mm. The belt can then be guided over end rollers with a low-friction guidance plate extending between the upper and lower track for proper support and guidance of the belt both during 35 storage and during (un)loading.

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If desired, for example in the case of heavy articles to be stored in the system, the conveyor belt organs may be supported on top of bottom plates which form part of the carrier shelves.

The loading and/or unloading station may comprise a stationary working platform with 5 which the conveyor belt organ of a respective one of the carrier shelves connects during a stop. For the loading station this stationary working platform makes it possible for the user to perform some kind of action to the articles before placing them onto a conveyor belt organ of an aimed carrier shelf or carrier shelf compartment. For the unloading station this stationary working platform makes it possible to pull out a respective conveyor belt organ stopped in 10 front of it and place it on top of the platform in order to drive it in rotation in this supported position.

If desired the (bottom plates of the) carrier shelves and/or the mentioned platform can be provided with roller bearings on top of which the lower side of the conveyor belt organ can rest upon when driven in rotation.

15 The loading and/or unloading station can be equipped with a stationary conveyor belt organ, or other suitable type of transportation device, with which a conveyor belt organ of a carrier shelf stopped in front of this station is able to connect. If, for example this station is the unloading station, then this stationary conveyor belt organ can lead to another type of handling apparatus, for example a wrapping installation for wrapping the various batches of 20 articles transported thereto.

Although the loading station and the unloading station can be located at one and the same position along the track, they are preferably arranged at different positions. This makes it possible to at the same time perform a loading and an unloading operation. Also it makes it possible to provide the loading station at a height which is well reachable for a user 25 to place articles manually onto the aimed carrier shelf or carrier shelf compartment, while the unloading station can then be provided along any other part of the track, for example an upper part, where it does not stand in the way to the user or other personnel.

Further embodiments are stated in the subclaims.

The storage system can be used for all kinds of purposes. In particular it is used for 30 sorting of textile articles, in particular washed textile articles to be folded and packaged.

The invention also relates to a method according to claim 17.

The invention shall be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 35 Fig. 1 a, b show a front and a side view of an embodiment of a Paternoster type storage system according to the invention during loading; -5-

Fig. 2 a, b, c show a front, a side and a top view of the system of fig. 1 ready for unloading; and

Fig. 3 a, b, c show a front, a cross sectional side and a top view of the system of fig.

1 during unloading.

5

In fig. 1-3 the entire storage system has been given the reference numeral 1. The system 1 comprises a plurality of storage/carrier shelves 2 mounted at fixed intervals to a chain 3 of a vertically orientated loop-shaped conveying track 4 (see fig. 3b in which two of the shelves are shown). Each shelf 2 has a longitudinal direction along which a number of 10 compartments 5 are positioned, ten in the shown example. The compartments 5 are separated from each other by means of partition walls 6. At the bottom side of each shelf 2 a bottom plate 7 is provided. Between this bottom plate 7 and the lower sides of the partition walls 6 a gap is present of for example 15 mm. The partition walls 6 as it where are positioned floating above the bottom plate 7. A motor is provided for driving the chain 3 in 15 rotation taking the shelves 2 along and guiding them one behind the other along the track 4. As is typical for storage systems of the Paternoster type, each of the shelves 2 is mounted to the chain 3 in such a way that all along their movement along the track 4, they are all able to maintain a position in which their bottom plate 7 is able to maintain such an orientation that articles stored in the shelves 2 do not fall of, preferably this is a substantially horizontal 20 orientation.

The rotatable assembly of conveying track 4 and shelves 2 mounted thereto is placed inside a housing 10 supported by a suitable frame 11. The housing 10 is substantially closed and is provided with a longitudinal inlet opening at a position of a loading station 14, and with a longitudinal outlet opening at a position of an unloading 25 station 15. The opening of the loading station 14 is provided at a height which makes it well possible for a user to place articles in the compartment 5 of shelves 2 via the inlet opening. In the embodiment shown this is substantially along a middle part of the vertically orientated loop shaped track 4. The outlet opening of the unloading station 15 is provided near the upper side of the track 4, preferably at a height of at least 2 m so that it does not stand in 30 the way of the user.

The loading station 14 is provided with a fixed stationary working platform 17 at the outside of the housing 10. This working platform 17 can be used by the user for performing actions to articles which are to be placed in the storage system 1.

According to the invention each carrier shelf 2 comprises a horizontally directed 35 slender driveable conveyor belt organ 20 having a total thickness of approximately 8 mm. This conveyor belt organ 20 rests on top of the bottom plate 7 and extends in the longitudinal direction underneath all of the compartments 5 including the partition walls 6 -6- separating them from each other. The transportation direction A of the conveyor belt organ 20 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shelf 2. Each conveyor belt organ 20 comprises a pair of end rollers 21 mounted in a subframe 22. A belt 23 runs over the end rollers 21. In between the end rollers 21 a low-friction plastic guidance plate 24 is provided 5 which separates the lower and upper part of the belt 23 from each other. The conveyor belt organ 20 thus has a length substantially equal to the carrier shelf 2 and extends over the larger part of the width of the installation 1.

During loading a user each time has a particular compartment 5 of a particular shelf 2 stopping in front of the working platform 17. He is then able to place a certain article which is 10 linked to that particular compartment 5. This action is repeated until there are no more articles to be stored in the various compartments 5 and/or if all the compartments 5 have become fully loaded with articles. In the embodiment shown the user places washed garments 25 in the compartments 5, with which each specific compartment 5 has been linked to a specific end user of some of those garments 25. Each time the user has the 15 storage system 1 rotate the assembly of shelves 2 in order to have a particular compartment 5 of a particular shelf 2 stop in front of the loading station 14. During this rotating of the system, the user has time to neatly fold up the garment 25 which is linked to that specific compartment 5. Thus the user is able to efficiently and quickly fold up and sort out a batch of washed garments 25 and store them temporarily in the system 1. With this the user 20 places the garments 25 stacked on their aimed compartments 5 on top of the conveyor belt organ 20 of that shelf 2. During this loading the belt 23 does not rotate but is at a stand still, and the part of the belt 23 which at moment lies on the upper side forms a suitable supporting surface.

The unloading station 15 is provided with a stationary guidance platform 30 at the 25 outside of the housing 10. The unloading station 15 comprises a displacement mechanism formed by two controllable piston-cylinder organs 31. Those piston-cylinder organs 31 are provided with hooks 32 at their outer ends with which they are able to grip into complementary openings of the subframe 22 of a particular conveyor belt organ 20 stopped in front of the unloading station 15 (fig. 2). By operating the piston-cylinder organs 31 that 30 conveyor belt organ 20 can then be moved from underneath its set of partition walls 6 in a direction X substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the transportation direction A. The conveyor belt organ 20 together with the various garments 25 stacked on top of it can thus be moved to a position in which they rest on top of the guidance platform 30 (fig. 3).

The unloading station 15 furthermore comprises a driveable pressure roller 35 at one 35 of the ends of its platform 30. As soon as one of the conveyor belt organs 20 is moved to rest on top of the platform 30, the pressure roller 35 can be pushed against one of its end rollers 21 by means of a suitable operating mechanism, for example another piston-cylinder -7- organ 35a. By then driving the pressure roller 35 in rotation, the conveyor belt organ 20 is automatically also driven in rotation. In order to reduce the friction of the belt 23 during its rotating action, the platform 30 is provided with roller bearings 36. Those roller bearings 36 also help to reduce any friction during the moving of the organ 20 in and out of its shelf 2 to 5 and from a position on top of the platform 30. This friction can further be reduced by the provision of guidance roller bearings on the subframe 22.

The platform 30 connects with a up and downwardly hingeable curved rollway 39 to a stationary transportation organ, in this case a stationary conveyor belt 40 which in turn connects to a wrapping installation. By driving the pressure roller 35, the conveyor belt organ 10 20 automatically unloads the garments 25 stored thereupon towards the conveyor belt 40. With this the stacks of garments 25 corresponding to the respective compartments 5 remain properly separated from each other. Thus each sorted out stack can be individually wrapped in the wrapping installation, before being transported back again to their end-users.

Besides the embodiment shown many variants are possible. For example the 15 numbers of shelves, the dimensions and shapes of the various parts can be varied. Also it is possible to use other types of operating and displacement mechanisms and drive units. A control unit may be provided to control the operation of the various operating and displacement mechanisms and drive units in dependence of instructions of the user. For example the garments to be sorted out may be provided with suitable tags, barcodes or the 20 like which the user can scan at the position of the working platform so that the control unit can then automatically steer the conveying means such that the corresponding shelf is stopped in front of the loading station. Likewise the control unit can suitably automate the unloading process of the shelves one after the other as soon as the user has given instructions for this. Partition walls are not necessary. The various articles stored on top of 25 the various conveyor belt organs can also be separated in another manner from each other, for example by means of the belts being provided with suitable partition ribs or by the articles being placed in suitable trays on top of the belts.

Thus according to the invention a storage system is provided which makes it able to fully automate the loading/unloading process without a user having to perform all the 30 actions. Besides the sorting of washed garments, the invention can also be used for the sorting or temporarily storing of any other kinds of articles.

Claims

A storage system, in particular of the Paternoster type, comprising: a frame; a plurality of elongated supports each having a supporting surface and being movably positioned one behind the other at fixed intervals along a conveyor track, in particular a loop-shaped track; at least one loading and / or unloading station provided along the track; and transport means for moving the plurality of supports along the track and causing the shelves to pass along the loading and / or unloading station such that between movements of the supports along the track a respective support 10 connects to the loading and / or unloading station during a stop, characterized in that each of the supports comprises a drivable conveyor belt member on its support surface.

2. Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the station comprises a common drive unit, and wherein an operating mechanism is provided for engaging the common drive unit with the conveyor belt member of the respective carrier that connects to the station during a stop

3. Storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the common drive unit 20 comprises a drivable pressure roller which can be pressed against the outside of the conveyor belt member by means of the operating mechanism for driving the belt in rotation,

4. Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein each conveyor belt member has its conveying direction extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the carrier in question.

Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein each carrying shelf comprises a set of partitions which are positioned above its conveyor belt member for subdividing its carrying shelf into several compartments in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Storage system as claimed in claims 4 and 5, wherein the station comprises a displacement mechanism for moving the conveyor belt member and the set of partitions laterally relative to each other, of the respective support shelf that connects to the station, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction 5

Storage system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the displacement mechanism is adapted for laterally moving the conveyor member from under the set of partitions

8. Storage system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the displacement mechanism is adapted for laterally moving the set of partitions from above the conveyor belt member

9. Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein each conveyor belt member is of a slim design with a height between an upper and a lower path of each conveyor belt member that is smaller than 50 mm, in particular smaller than 10 mm

The storage system of claim 9, wherein a belt of the conveyor belt member 20 is guided over end rollers with a guide plate extending between the upper and lower web.

11. Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein each carrying shelf comprises a base plate on which the conveyor member is supported on top

12. Storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the station comprises a stationary working platform with which the conveyor belt member of a respective carrier connects to the loading station during a stop 30

A storage system according to any of the following claims, wherein the station comprises a stationary conveyor belt member with which the conveyor belt member of the relevant shelf connects during a stop.

Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the unloading station connects to a packing installation. - 10

Storage system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge station is provided at a different position along the track than the loading station.

Use of the storage system according to one of the following claims for sorting textile articles, in particular washed textile articles to be folded and packaged

A method for operating a storage system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: 10. moving the plurality of elongated supports along the conveyor track; - stopping an intended carrier for the loading and / or unloading station; - the loading or unloading of the carrier stopped in front of the station by driving its conveyor belt member in rotation