NL2010518C2

NL2010518C2 - A storage system with carrier shelves moveable along a track with height adjustable station and control.

Info

Publication number: NL2010518C2
Application number: NL2010518A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Nicolaas Hyacinthus Maria Remundt
Original assignee: Remundt Beheer B V Van
Priority date: 2013-03-26
Filing date: 2013-03-26
Publication date: 2014-09-29
Also published as: WO2014158017A1

Abstract

A storage system comprises a plurality of carrier shelves (2) each having a supporting surface (7) and being moveable along a vertically oriented conveying track (4). A working platform (17) of a loading and/or unloading station (14) as well as an inlet and/or outlet opening of a housing (10) is arranged height adjustable. Control means are provided which are operable for having the working platform (17) and the inlet and/or outlet opening positioned at a selected operating height (H1), and for controlling conveying means (3) in such a way that during a stop a respective one of the carrier shelves (2) gets to automatically fit up to the working platform (7) in dependence of the selected operating height (H1).

Description

Title: A storage system with carrier shelves moveable along a track with height adjustable station and control.

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 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 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. Instead of using a bar code it is also known to use other types of identification means. During the folding, the storage system in correspondence to the scanned bar code or other identification 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 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 and placed on a conveyor belt organ which transports this batch to a wrapping 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. For example WO 2011/1558212 shows such a storage system.

A disadvantage with this known vertical Paternoster storage system is that its 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. In order to be able to easily reach all of the compartments during loading and unloading, the operator mostly is taking a standing position behind the shelf of the system. Together with the other actions to be taken behind the shelf, like the folding of the articles, this long-lasting standing behind the shelf makes it a demanding and heavy task to perform. For having the operator being able to keep on concentrating on the job, and not starting to make mistakes because of starting to get tired, it is important that the working conditions are as optimal as possible. However for example lengths of operators may differ considerably. Also sometimes it may occur that the operator for a specific task wants to sit down behind the shelf. In order to prevent the operators from getting back pains or other kinds of injuries because of the shelf being too high or low for them, it is now common to use some kind of platform, mostly a wooden pallet, to stand upon. Such a pallet however is not always available, has a specific limited height, is heavy to lift and displace, and has openings inside which a foot of the operator easily can get trapped. If the operator the chooses a smaller platform which is less heavy, then this may cause the danger for him or her to accidentally fall of.

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.

This aim is achieved by a storage system according to claim 1. The storage system comprises a frame and a plurality of 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 system. The carrier shelves are positioned moveable one behind the other at fixed intervals along a 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 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 the at least one loading and/or unloading station is arranged height adjustable relative to the frame. Control means are provided which on the one hand are operable for having the loading and/or unloading station positioned at a selected operating height. On the other hand the control means are designed for controlling the conveying means in such a way that during a stop the respective one of the carrier shelves gets to automatically fit up to the loading and/or unloading station in dependence of the selected operating height.

Thus the invention is based on the insight that it is not necessary to have the operators use different heights of platforms to stand upon in front of the system, and that it is neither necessary to displace the entire system of frame, carrier shelves and track upwards or downwards in order to have it adjusted each time to a specific length of an operator. Advantageously, the invention offers a combined height adjustability option of not only the loading and/or unloading station but also for a suitable controlling/programming of the conveying means to have the carrier shelves stop at other positions along the track when the station is adjusted to another height.

The conveying track preferably is a closed loop shaped track with vertically directed longitudinal track parts along which the carrier shelves 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 plurality of carrier shelves including their conveyor belt organs can be moved up and down along the loading and/or unloading station.

The carrier shelves preferably are of a longitudinal shape, and each comprise a set of partition walls positioned above the supporting surface. The partition walls subdivide 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 have each of the carrier shelves comprises a driveable conveyor belt organ as its supporting surface as is described in WO 2011/155821 which was filed in the name of the same applicant. The conveyor belt organ as supporting surface then advantageously makes it possible to automate the loading and/or unloading process. Each 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 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 loading and/or unloading station may comprise a working platform with which the respective one of the carrier shelves connects during a stop. This working platform is then provided sideways of the conveying track, in particular in front thereof. For the loading station this working platform makes it possible for the user to perform some kind of action, like folding, to the articles before placing them onto an aimed carrier shelf or carrier shelf compartment.

In a preferred embodiment this working platform is height adjustable. The working platform can be set manually into its aimed height. Preferably however the control means are then designed for automatically having the working platform positioned at the selected operating height. For example the working platform can be supported by one or more operable hydraulic cylinders.

In a further embodiment a screen is provided which covers a front side part of the frame and carrier shelves. A height adjustable inlet and/or outlet opening is then provided in this screen where the loading and/or unloading station is foreseen. Through this inlet and/or outlet opening one of the carrier shelves is accessible during a stop. The fact that the opening also can be positioned at different heights has the advantage that it is possible to shield of remaining parts of the system and only give access to the carrier shelve stopped in front of the station. This improves the safety of the system. Preferably the control means are then designed for automatically having the inlet and/or outlet opening positioned at the selected operating height.

The inlet and/or outlet opening can be provided in various ways in the screen. Preferably a fixedly arranged shielding segment and an adjustably arranged door segment are provided. The door segment then delimits the inlet and/or outlet opening and is adjustable into the selected operating height, whereas the fixedly arranged shielding segment keeps covering the remaining part of the front side of the system.

In a variant the door segment then may comprise two parts which on the one hand are adjustable together into the selected operating height while leaving the inlet and/or outlet opening open therebetween. On the other hand the two door segment parts then may be adjustable relative to each other. This makes it possible to not only position the opening at the selected operating height, but also to fully shut the inlet and/or outlet opening whenever this is desired. This may for example be desired during a relative long stand-still of the system, or when a cleaning operation of the environment is desired.

The height adjustability of the loading/unloading station, the working platform and/or of the inlet/outlet opening may be stepped, but preferably is of the infinite type. As part of the control means a switch button can be provided via which an operator can automatically and with one common operation adjust the heights of the station, platform and/or opening until respective heights are reached which correspond to his or her optimum working height when standing or sitting in front of the system. It is also possible that the system comprises an automated scanning system for scanning a personal/individual information carrier, which comprises or is linked to specific height info about that individual which can be fused by the control means for having it adjust the various heights.

Further embodiments are stated in the subclaims.

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

The invention also relates to a method according to claim 14.

The invention shall be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a front and a cross sectional side view of a Paternoster type storage system according to the invention at a selected operating height;

Fig. 2 is a view according to fig. 1 adjusted to a lower operating height; and

Fig. 3 is a view according to fig. 1 adjusted to a higher operating height.

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 (merely three of which are shown) mounted at fixed intervals to a chain 3 of a vertically orientated loop-shaped conveying track 4. Each shelf 2 has a longitudinal direction along which a number of 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. A motor is provided for driving the chain 3 in 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 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/outlet opening at a position of a loading/unloading station 14. The opening of the station 14 is provided at a height which makes it well possible for an operator to place articles in the compartments 5 of the shelves 2 via the opening.

The station 14 is provided with a height adjustable working platform 17 at the outside of the housing 10. The working platform 17 is destined to be used by the operator for performing actions to articles which are to be placed in the storage system 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 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 operator places washed garments in the compartments 5, with which each specific compartment 5 has been linked to a specific end user of some of those garments. Each time the user has the 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 station 14. During this rotating of the system, the operator has time to neatly fold up the garment which is linked to that specific compartment 5. Thus the operator is able to efficiently and quickly fold up and sort out a batch of washed garments and store them temporarily in the system 1. With this the operator places the garments stacked on their aimed compartments 5 on top of the bottom plate 7 or other suitable supporting surface of that shelf 2.

According to the invention the station 14 is adjustable in height such that a particular operator can accurately adjust the system to his/her wishes. For this a control means (not shown) is provided which is operable for having the station 14 positioned at a selected operating height. In particular the working platform 17 is adjustable in height in this manner and for this is placed upon two operable hydraulic cylinders 18. In fig. 1 the height H1 of the platform 17 has been adjusted to approximately 1000mm, whereas in fig. 2 the height H2 has been adjusted to approximately 850mm. and in fig. 3 the height H3 has been adjusted to approximately 1150mm. As soon as the platform 17 gets positioned at a specific operating height H by means of a suitable operation of the control means, those same control means are programmed to automatically control the motor for driving of the chain 3 in such a way that during each stop an aimed shelve 2 gets automatically lined up to that specific operating height at which the working platform 17 has gotten positioned into In other words the respective shelve 2 then each time gets automatically stopped in front of the platform 17 with its bottom plate 7 at substantially the same height h as the height H at which the working platform 17 has been adjusted into. In the drawings this is about 30mm higher, so for a working platform height H1 of 1000mm, the bottom plates 7 each time get to be stopped at heights hi of about 1030mm.

The housing 10 at its front side has a fixed shielding segment 20, and a height adjustable door segment 21. In the door segment 21 the longitudinal inlet/outlet opening is left open at the position of the loading/unloading station 14. Since the door segment 21 is height adjustable, the inlet/outlet opening therein is also height adjustable. The door segment 21 comprises a plate-shaped shield which at its lower and upper sides has overlaps with the fixed shielding segment 20. During height adjustments, the door segment 21 slides with its lower and upper sides along the fixed shielding segment 20 in such a way that the overlaps are maintained. The door segment 21 is connected to the platform 17 and moves up and down with it during height adjustments. Thus the hydraulic cylinders 18 form common driving means for adjusting the height of the platform 17 as well as for the door segment 21 with its inlet/outlet opening.

A flexible shield 25 is provided along an upper edge side of the inlet/outlet opening. The shield 25 can be unrolled downwards for covering the opening when the system is not in use. Driving means can be provided for driving a rolling axis of the shield 25. In the alternative it can also be manually operated.

Besides the embodiment shown many variants are possible. For example the numbers of shelves, the dimensions and shapes of the various parts can be varied. Also it is possible to use other types of height adjustment mechanisms and drive units. The garments to be sorted out may be provided with suitable tags, barcodes or the 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 at the adjusted operating height. Partition walls are not necessary. The various articles stored on top of the various shelves can also be separated in another manner from each other, for example by means of the bottom plates being provided with suitable partition ribs or by the articles being placed in suitable trays on top of the supporting surfaces of the shelves. The loading and/or unloading station can be equipped with a conveyor belt organ, or other suitable type of transportation device, with which 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 articles transported thereto. The loading station and the unloading station can be located at one and the same position along the track. They can also be 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 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.

Thus according to the invention a storage system is provided which makes it able to easily and quickly adjust the loading/unloading process in dependence of aimed working conditions and in dependence of different operators without those operators first having to perform all kinds of adjustment 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 carrying frames, each having a supporting surface, which are movably positioned one behind the other at fixed intervals along a vertically oriented conveyor track, in particular a loop-shaped track; - at least one loading and / or unloading station provided along the track; and - transporting means for moving the plurality of carrying frames along the track and causing the carrying frames to pass along the loading and / or unloading station such that between movements of the carrying frames along the track, one of the carrying frames connects to the loading and / or unloading or unloading station during a stop, characterized in that the at least one loading and / or unloading station is adjustable in height relative to the frame, control means are provided which can be operated around the loading and / or unloading station at a chosen working height for positioning, and for controlling the transport means such that during a stop the respective of the carrying frames comes to connect automatically with the loading and / or unloading station in dependence on the chosen working height.

2. Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height-adjustable working platform is provided laterally of the conveyor track, in particular at the front thereof, with which working platform the relevant of the carrying racks comes to connect during a stop.

3. Storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control means are operable for automatically moving the work platform in dependence on the chosen working height.

A storage system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the working platform is supported by at least one operable hydraulic cylinder.

5. Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein a screen is provided which covers a front part of the frame and carrying racks, wherein a height-adjustable inlet and / or outlet opening is provided at a position of the loading and / or unloading station, via which inlet and / or outlet opening the relevant shelf is accessible during a stop.

A storage system according to claim 5, wherein the control means are operable to cause the inlet and / or outlet opening to move automatically depending on the chosen working height.

7. Storage system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the screen comprises a fixedly arranged screen segment and an adjustable door segment, wherein the door segment limits the inlet and / or outlet opening and is adjustable depending on the chosen working height.

A storage system according to claim 7, wherein the door segment comprises two parts which are adjustable together depending on the chosen working height, and which are adjustable relative to each other between an open and a closed position for the inlet and / or outlet opening.

9. Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 7-8, wherein the door segment comprises a substantially flexible shield, and wherein drive means are provided for rolling up the shield to a greater or lesser extent.

10. Storage system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 7-9, wherein the door segment comprises a substantially rigid shield, wherein drive means are provided for shifting the shield up or down to a greater or lesser extent.

Storage system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the height adjustment is in a range of +/- 200 mm.

A storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height adjustment is continuously adjustable.

Use of the storage system according to one of the preceding 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 one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: - operating the control means for positioning the loading and / or unloading station at a selected working height, and for controlling the transport means that during a stop the carrier in question comes automatically to connect to the loading and / or unloading station in dependence on the chosen working height; - moving the plurality of support frames along the conveyor track; - stopping an intended support for the loading and / or unloading station in dependence on the chosen working height; and - the loading or unloading of the carrier stopped in front of the station.