WO2000066463A1

WO2000066463A1 - Storage system for goods on pallets

Info

Publication number: WO2000066463A1
Application number: PCT/FI2000/000339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pekka E. Rapeli
Original assignee: Permar Oy
Priority date: 1999-04-20
Filing date: 2000-04-19
Publication date: 2000-11-09
Also published as: FI990882A; FI990882A0; AU4122100A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a storage system for goods on pallets. It is characteristic of the system of the invention for storing goods on pallets that the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system comprises the storage rack (1), the rails (2, 3) of the storage rack (1), the wagons (4, 5, 8, 9, 35, 36) travelling on the rails (2, 3), and one or several lifts so that upon lifting and transporting the pallets, the wagons (4, 5, 8, 9, 35, 36) are transported to the place of the pallet (6), the pallet (6) is lifted up from the rails (2, 3) with the help of the wagons (4, 5, 8, 9, 35, 36) and the lift. The invention is designed for the storage needs of word-wide industrial branches, such as for the storage of goods on pallets in the car industry.

Description

Storage system for goods on pallets

The present invention relates to a storage system for goods on pallets. The invention has been designed for the needs of world-wide industrial branches, such as for the storage of goods on pallets of the car industry.

Different industrial branches, for example the car industry, are becoming more and more world-wide. In world-wide industry, factories around the world specialise in the manufacture of different components so that bigger manufacturing series may be achieved. In the manufacture, it is thus possible to increase efficiency and also decrease the unit costs for components.

For example in the car industry, cars are often assembled relatively close to the markets so that the changing needs of the markets can be better taken into account. Different parts for the assembly plant are thus often brought from factories specialising in the manufacture of these parts and situated even very far away. In the car industry, an example may be considered, in which the car assembly factory is located in Central Europe, certain sheet panel parts come from Spain, and motors and gearboxes from Mexico.

In a factory specialising in the manufacture of a certain part, such as factory specialising in the manufacture of car doors in the car industry, the part in question may thus be manufactured for the needs of several assembly plants located in various parts of the world. Thus, excellent control of material flows required in the manufacture of car doors is thus expected, for example, from a car door factory, and also efficient handling of finished product components both on the factory line and in the subsequent storage at the factory.

Parts needed by an assembly plant in a world-wide industrial branch, such as car doors for the car industry, also have to be transported to the assembly plant in an efficient way. The transport may take place, for example, by using delivery trucks, railway wagons, transport barges, and ships. In various phases of transport, the parts in question are handled in various storage depots, such as in port terminals and city terminals. In an assembly plant, the parts arriving from different parts of the world have to be handled efficiently right from the entrance storage to the assembly.

A product, for example a car, manufactured by a world-wide industrial branch, such as the car industry, also has to be transported to importers and dealers around the world. The transport may, for example, take place with delivery trucks, railway wagons, transport barges, or ships. In various phases of transport, the products in question are handled in various storage depots, such as in port terminals, city terminals, and logistics centres of the importers.

In world-wide industry, such as the car industry, transport pallets for unit cargo of various types are generally used for transporting parts and finished products. These transport pallets for unit cargo are manufactured in various sizes and constructions suitable for various purposes. In transport, the strength, resistance to vibration and load carrying capacity of the pallets are essential requirements, so that pallets manufactured more solid are used.

There also are pallets, which, among other things, make it possible to place to smaller pallets side by side on one pallet. This kind of self-supporting pallets are called large pallets, and their width may be about 2.0 - 2.5 m, and their length varies between 3.0 - 6.0 m, depending on the use. The overall weights, the freight included, can vary from 2,000 kg to unit loads of even 25,000 kg.

The automation of storage systems requires standardised transport pallets. It has to be possible to handle the pallets automatically or mechanically in each sub-process of the logistics chain. With the principal dimensions of the pallets, one thus tries to achieve compatibility with different transport and storage systems.

The object of the invention is thus to provide a solution for an intermediate storage system for goods on pallets, which is better suited for the demanding needs of the logistics chains of world-wide industry than the ones previously known. Such a storage system for goods on pallets should be suitable to be used in various parts of the world, and it should be applicable in storage depots, distribution centres and carrier vehicles in various points of the logistics chain. In world- wide industry, there has arisen a need for a storage system solution for goods on pallet, which would be better than the ones previously known, and which would be suited especially for the handling of self-supporting large pallets with high freighting ability. Thus, the object of the system of the present invention is to provide a simple and sure operation of transfer equipment and mechanisms, and to be able to apply the system in tough surroundings of use in technological control environments of different qualities around the world.

The object of the present invention is to provide such a storage system for goods on pallets, with which the problems presented above may be solved and defects may be corrected. For achieving this, it is characteristic of the system of the invention for the storage of goods on pallets that the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system comprises as a combination a storage rack, rails for the storage rack, wagon pairs which travel on different rails and which may be interlocked, and one or several lifts so that upon lifting and transporting the pallets, the wagons are transported to the place of the pallet, the pallet is lifted from the rails with the wagons, each of which may be moved in the vertical direction essentially with one rope, and the pallet is transported to a desired place using the wagons and the lift. The wagon pair refers to a system formed by two wagons, the first wagon being movable on the first rail, and the second wagon being movable on the second rail, and it being possible to move the wagons together. In the system of the invention transport pallets for unit cargo according to the corresponding patent application are used.

Forms of embodiments of the storage system of the invention are shown in claims 2 - 35. Special advantages of the storage system of the present invention are that short wagons may be connected together to form series so that big and even heavy pallets may be moved in an easy and reliable way and a track transverse to the rails of the storage rack and transverse wagons travelling on the rails. Further it is advantageous that the transverse wagons may be connected into series on the same storage plane and on superimposed storage planes.

By interlocking short wagons, it is possible to provide the wagons with more flexibility and reliability of operation. The use of short wagons is in itself more advantageous than the use of long wagons, as the short wagons are lighter, easier to install, handle and service, and they may be changed more quickly when a possible failure has occurred.

By interlocking transverse wagons, the advantage is achieved that such a combination may be controlled and moved with one line winch only. Thus, the loading and unloading capacity in the logistics centres and storage depots increase considerably. From one to five pallets may preferably be moved onto such a combination of transverse wagons.

It is also possible to move pallets in transverse direction also with other arrangements than transverse wagons, for example with various pick-up arrangement known as such. In the storage system of the present invention, the pallets are transferred from a transverse wagon, for example, to a lift, or vice versa, by using a pick-up arrangement, which lies on the lift plate in its longitudinal direction. It is also possible to transfer the pallets from the transverse wagon or to the transverse wagon in lateral direction by using an arrangement designed for this purpose. Pick-up arrangements may also be used in embodiments, in which no transverse wagons are used.

In the storage system of the invention, it further is possible to lock the pallets into a storage rack, if required. Various embodiments of locking systems are shown in more detail in Figures 15-29. Locking systems may. for example, be used in carrier vehicles to prevent the pallets from moving due to accelerating and breaking forces, and for example in sea transport, due to heeling over. Locking arrangements may also be used for locating the pallet in a storage system.

The storage system of the invention enables the mechanised, even automatic handling of unit cargo in various carrier vehicles in a logistics chain; it is also possible to handle unit cargo automatically in various storage depots in the logistics chain. The automated storage system makes it possible for the products to pass the storage depots in a shorter time than before, thus improving the efficiency of the overall process. It is also easier to perform various sorting tasks in the storage depots so that materials on pallets coming from different factories may be pre-sorted into desired lots according to the customer, or into loading entities. Further, the storage system of the present invention makes it possible to build multi-storey storage depots so that their use is easy and reliable, and achieving considerable saving of land areas for other purposes.

The storage system of the invention for goods on pallets is excellently suited for the demanding needs of world-wide industrial logistics chains. The storage system of the invention is easy to introduce in various parts of the world, and it is applicable in storage depots in different points of the logistics chain. The car and paper industries may be given as examples, as well as other industrial branches, in which a reliable and user-friendly distribution and storage process is needed for large production volumes.

The storage system of the invention for goods on pallets is especially suited for the handling of self-supporting large pallets with high freighting ability. The transfer equipment and mechanisms of the system of the invention are simple and reliable. The system of the mvention is thus excellently suitable for a demanding operating environment in technological control surroundings of different quality around the world.

The invention is next described in more detail referring to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the basic principle of the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a wagon part in the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a wagon part in the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the third embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 8 shows the coupling of lever lift wagons of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 9 shows the coupling of inclined plane wagons of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 10 shows the structure of the storage plane of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 11 shows the transverse wagon in the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 12a shows a first embodiment of the coupling of transverse wagons in the lifting and transport system of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 12b shows a second embodiment of the coupling of transverse wagons in the lifting and transport system of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 13 shows the coupling of transverse wagons in the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 14 is a top view of the structure of the storage plane of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 15 shows a first embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet of the invention; Fig. 16 shows a second embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the transport pallet of the invention; Fig. 17a shows a third embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 17b shows the third embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet of the storage system of the invention in a different angle from that in Fig. 17a; Fig. 18 shows the basic principle of a fourth embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 19 shows the basic principle of a fifth embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 20 shows the basic principle of a sixth embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet of the storage system of the invention; Fig. 21 is a cross-section of a basic principle of the locking device for the pallet of the storage system of the invention and a first embodiment of the locking arrangement for lateral transfer; F Fiigg.. 2 222 is a cross-section of a second basic principle of the locking device for the pallet of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the locking arrangement for lateral movement of the pallet of the storage system of the invention; F Fiigg.. 2 244 shows the arrangement of fastening pins for the pallet of the storage system of the invention to the side flange of the pallet;

Fig. 25 shows a first embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement for pallets of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 26 shows the movability of the first embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement for pallets of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 27 shows a second embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement for pallets of the storage system of the invention;

Fig. 28 shows the movability of the second embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement for pallets of the storage system of the invention; F Fiigg.. 2 299 shows a third embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement of the transport pallet for unit cargo of the invention; and

Fig. 30 shows the structure of the storage system of the invention. In Fig. 1, there is shown the basic principle of the lifting and transport system for pallets of the storage system of the present invention. The lifting and transport system for the pallet 6 consists of two wagons 4, 5 travelling on the rails 2, 3 of the storage rack 1. In the storage system of the invention, the wagons 4, 5 are transported to the place of the pallet 6, and the pallet 6 with its load 7 is then lifted up from the rails 2, 3 by using the wagons 4, 5 and transported to the desired place. The pallets of the storage system of the invention are self-supporting, i.e. they can rest on the rails 2, 3 on the side of the storage structure, even when loaded.

It is advantageous to fasten the vertical pillars of the storage rack 1 shown in the figure to each other either at the place of the second or third plane. It is possible to connect these fastenings to the support structures of the rails 2, 3.

The systems according to the basic principle of the invention have the advantage that the wagons 4, 5 used for transferring the pallets leave the space between the rails 2, 3 free so that it is possible to provide it, for example, with service planes, etc. On the other hand, as is disclosed above, it is advantageous to fasten the pillars to each other at regular intervals. These fastenings may also be intermediate planes, which may be used as service planes, and to which it is also possible to integrate, for example, organs enabling transverse transfer.

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. The wagon 8, 9 shown in the figure comprises the upper wagon part 10, the lower wagon part 11, and the wheels 12, 13 of the lower wagon part. The number of wheels in the lower wagon part depends on the surface pressure directed to the wagon. The wagon 8, 9 travels on the rails 2, 3 of the storage rack with the help of the wheels 12, 13 of the lower wagon part 11. The wagon 8,9 is transported by a wire draw system driven by an electric motor, the wire draw system comprising the transfer wire 14, the transfer drum 15, and the transfer wheel 16. For locating the wagon with a control computer, a localization detector 17 may be used, which indicates the location of the wagon, for example, on the basis of the rounds of the transfer drum of the wagon, or on the basis of the movement of the wire 14.

In Figure 3, there is shown the second embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. The storage system according to the second embodiment comprises the wagon 35, 36, comprising the upper part 18 and the lower part 19, the transfer drum 20, the localisation detector 17, the transfer wire 21 and the wire wheel 22, the lifting wire 23, and the hydraulic cylinder 24 for tightening the wire. The wagon 35. 36 travels on the rails 2. 3 of the storage rack with the help of wheels 25, 26 of the lower wagon part 18. The transfer and localisation of the inclined plane wagon 35. 36 is conducted in the same way as that of the lever lift wagon, using the electric motor, the transfer drum 20, the localisation detector 17, and the transfer wire 21 and the wire wheel 22.

Figure 4 shows the first embodiment of the wagon part of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention, i.e. the lever lift wagon. The wagon comprises the upper wagon part 10, the lower wagon part 11, the wheels 12, 13 of the wagon lower part, and the lift linkage 27, 28, 29, 30. 31 for the wagon. A pallet on the wagon is lifted or lowered by using a wire system driven by an electric motor, the system including the lift drum, the wire wheel and the lift linkage 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 for the wagon. The wagon body consists of two body parts 10, 11, from which the lower wagon part 22 travels on rails of the storage rack with the help of the rollers 12, 13. The upper wagon part rests on the lift pins 33 of the levers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 fastened to the lower wagon with shafts. The lifting or lowering is conducted by using the wire 14 of the lifting system so that the lift pin 33 moves in the rotation groove 33a. The wire 14 is fastened to the upper end 34 of each lever 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. The lifting or lowering takes place, as the wagon 38 is at its place under the wagon. The coupling then releases the transfer drum from the shaft of the electric motor, and the motor shaft only turns the lifting drum, so that the movement of the wire 14 turns the levers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 to the desired direction, causing the wagon to lift or lower the pallet above the wagon. Upon lifting, the lift pin 33 is tightened to the top dead centre, in which it, in principle, could remain also without wire tension. Thus, if the wire should break, the wagon would remain in the upper position. The lifting margin may typically be about 10-30 mm.

In Figure 5, there is shown the second embodiment of the wagon part of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention, i.e. the inclined plane wagon. The inclined plane wagon of the second embodiment comprises the upper part 18 and the lower part 19, the transfer wire 21, the lifting wire 23, the wire wheel 37 for the lower wagon part 19, the wire wheel 38 for the upper wagon part 18, and the rollers 39, 49, 41, 42, 43 for the upper surface of the lower wagon part.

The lifting and lowering movement of the inclined plane wagon of the storage system of the invention is conducted with the help of a wire system, comprising the lifting wire 23, the wire wheel 37 of the lower wagon part 19, the wire wheel 38 of the upper wagon part 18, the hydraulic cylinder for tightening the wire, or the wire drum driven by an electric motor. The second end of the lifting wire 23 is attached, for example, to the storage rack. As the wagon has stopped to the desired place on the storage rails, the lifting wire 23 is tightened or loosened so that the tightness of the wire 23 causes the upper wagon part 18 to move on the rollers 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 of the upper surface of the lower wagon part. As the wire 23 is tightened, the upper wagon part 18 rises to its upper position 44, and respectively, as the wire 23 is loosened, the upper wagon part lowers to its lower position 45, i.e. to the position in which the upper part 18 is in its rest position. As the wagon has lifted the pallet from the rail of the storage rack and the tightness of the wire 23 is constant, the wagon may move to another place on the rails without changing the tightness of the lifting wire, because the lifting wire 23 rotates around the wire wheel 37 of the lower wagon part and the wire wheel 38 of the upper wagon part.

Figure 6 presents the third embodiment of the wagon part of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. The inclined plane wagon of the third embodiment is similar to that in Fig. 7, comprising the upper part 18 and the lower part 19, and the wheels 25, 26 of the lower wagon part 19. It is characteristic of the third embodiment that the upper part 18 of the inclined plane wagon glides between plastic gliding grooves. In this case, a plastic with a low friction coefficient and sufficient resistance to surface pressure has to be chosen as the material for the sliding grooves.

In Figure 7, there is shown a cross-section of the third embodiment of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. The figure shows the upper wagon part 18, the lower wagon part 19, the wheels 26, 46 of the lower part, the wire wheel 38 of the upper wagon part 18, the wire wheel 37 of the lower wagon part 19, and the plastic sliding groove 47.

Figure 8 presents the coupling of the lever lift wagons in the storage system of the invention. The lever lift wagons 8 may be coupled to each other with a mechanical, detachable coupling 48 so that the lever arm bars are coupled together by using a bayonet connection, for example mechanically with the bar 49. The coupling method may be used to connect an even or an uneven number to each other so that pallets larger than the wagon 8 may then be transferred.

In Figure 9, there is shown the coupling of inclined plane wagons in the storage system of the invention. An even number of inclined plane wagons 35 may be coupled to each other so that the wagons 35 have to be turned to be situated reversed in pairs. The connection is conducted by using a mechanical coupling 50. The reversed pairs make it possible for the wire 21 to move freely between the wagons 35.

Figure 10 presents the structure of the storage plane in the storage system of the invention. The storage plane consists of several parallel pallet lines 51, 52, 53, in each of which there moves a wagon pair 35, 36 controlled by a control arrangement 54, the wagon pair transferring the storage pallet 6 to the desired storage place. Further, the figure shows the transverse wagon 55, which is more closely described later. It has to be noted that the solution shown in the figure is not dependent on the type of wagon used (in the figure, inclined plane wagons have been used).

Figure 11 shows a transverse wagon for the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. In the figure, there are shown the rails 2, 3, the transfer wagons 8, 9, the transverse wagon 55, on the corner mouldings 56, 57 of which the pallet is transferred, and the control arrangement 54 for the transfer wagon pair 8, 9. The pallets are transferred to the transverse wagon 55 and away again in the way described later. The transverse wagon 55 is transferred with the help of the wheels 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 in the groove transverse to the rails 2, 3. From the transverse wagon 55, the pallets are transferred to a lift by using known techniques.

The transverse wagon 55 may also move on the same plane as the transfer wagons 8, 9, so that intersections will appear in the rail system. The transverse wagon 55 may be transferred with a draw wire 64 and a winch, or by using other known techniques. The structure of the transverse wagon is similar to what is shown in the case in which the transfer wagons are inclined plane wagons. In addition, it is possible to use solutions different from those shown in the figure for transferring the transverse wagons. For example, the transverse wagons may travel on the same plane with the upper surface of the longitudinal rails 2, 3, so that the problems related with intersecting rail systems may be solved by known techniques. Further, it is possible to use, for example, different kinds of pick-up solutions. Further, it has to be noted that the solution shown in the figure is not dependent on the type of wagon used.

Figure 12a presents the first embodiment for the coupling of two adjacent transverse wagons of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention, and the movability of such a combination. In the figure, there are shown two transverse wagons 55, which have been mechanically coupled together with the fastening module 123 so that the combination may be moved on the track 65 with the help of the wire 124. Thus, it is possible to move two wagons with one wire. Longitudinal rails at the place of the other transverse wagon are not shown in the figure. Further, for clarity, the track 65 has not been drawn in front of the transverse wagons. It has to be noted that the solution in the figure is not dependent on the type of wagon used.

In Figure 12b, there is shown the second embodiment for the coupling of transverse wagons of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. The figure shows two transverse wagons 55, which are coupled together in a stationary way with uniform lateral mouldings 125. For clarity, the track 65 is not shown in front of the wagons in this figure, either. It has to be noted that the solution in the figure is not dependent on the type of wagon used.

Figure 13 presents the coupling of wagons of the lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system of the invention. Adjacent wagons 4, 5 are mechanically coupled to each other with the fastening module 66 so that the combination may be moved in the grooves 2, 3 with the wire 67. Thus it is possible to move two wagons with one wire. In this case it also has to be noted that the flanges of the inner surfaces of the grooves 4, 5 have to be made lower so that the fastening module 66 can be attached to the side of both wagons 4, 5.

In Figure 14, there is shown the structure of the storage plane of the storage system of the invention seen from above. The storage plane consists of several adjacent pallet lines 68-77, the wagon pair 4, 5 controlled with the control arrangement 54 moving on each of the lines for transferring the storage pallet to the desired storage place. Further, the storage plane comprises the transverse line 78, in which a transverse conveyor controlled by a control arrangement moves between the pallet lines 65-77, transferring the storage pallet to the desired pallet line 68-77 in its own storage plane. The transverse line 78 and the transverse conveyor are provided separately for each storage plane.

Figure 15 presents the first embodiment of the locking device for the longitudinal movement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The locking device comprises a detachable locking surface arranged to the lateral profile or bottom of the pallet, and a counterpart for the locking surface arranged to the edge of a shelf, etc. of the storage system. The locking device has advantageously been arranged to the lateral profile of the pallet. The locking device in the figure comprises two mating surfaces 79, 80 with a wavelike profile and arranged to the lateral profile 81 and the shelf surface 82. Between the male and female patterns there is a certain clearance, which makes it possible to put the pallet into place without failures. Further, lateral guide rollers may be used to assist in placing the pallet. The advantage of this kind of locking system is that it is automatic so that the effect of human errors is eliminated.

In Figure 16, there is shown the second embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The locking device shown comprises the pin-like locking comb 83 arranged to the lateral profile 81 of the pallet, and the mating surface 84 arranged to the shelf 82, etc. The locking surfaces may be arranged otherwise than in the figure. Further, the locking comb 83 may have one comb only, or it may extend along the entire side of the pallet. The locking surfaces may, for example, be drilled or cut to the lower surface of the lateral profile of the pallet, or they may be changeable, or they may be inserted to the surfaces as a continuous plastic, aluminium or other similar strip.

Figure 17a shows the third embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The locking device shown comprises a pin/aperture locking surface 85 arranged to the lateral profile 81 of the pallet, and a mating surface 86 arranged to the upper surface 82 of the shelf, etc. The pin may, for example, be cylindrical, conical, circular, or trapezoidal from the side.

In Figure 17b, the taper pins 86 of Figure 17a are seen from above.

Figure 18 presents the basic principle of the fourth embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The fourth embodiment comprises the serrated female piece 87 and the serrated male piece 88. In the figure, the basic shape of the pieces in the relation of length to height and the pitch angles of the serration may vary according to the use.

Figure 19 shows the basic principle of the fifth embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The fifth embodiment comprises the trapezoidal locking profiles 89, 90.

In Figure 20, there is shown the basic principle of the sixth embodiment of the locking device for longitudinal movement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention, i.e. the trapezoidal locking comb 89, 90, which has a higher upper part 1 than the solution in Figure 19. Figure 21 presents the basic principle of the locking device in cross-section. In the figure, there is shown the lateral profile 92 of the pallet, the guide projection 93 of the pallet, and the first embodiment of the locking arrangement 96 for the upper part of the locking device 94, the lower part 96 of the locking device 95 and for preventing lateral transfer. In the figure, there is shown the chamfering of the outer surface 97 of the upper part of the locking device, with the help of which the pallet may be guided to the right place in the locking device; the chamfering of the lateral surfaces of the lower part of the locking device (the angles may vary); and the chamfering of the lateral surfaces of the lateral locking arrangement 96. Sufficient clearances serving practical needs have to exist between all these arrangements.

In Figure 22, there is shown a cross-section of the basic principle of the locking device of a pallet in accordance with another storage system of the invention. In this solution, the pallet is locked in the longitudinal direction by fitting the lower locking part 98 into the lower locking part 99.

Figure 23 is a longitudinal section of the second embodiment of a prevention system for lateral displacement. The pallet is locked in the longitudinal direction, for example, by using a locking system shown in the figure. The transverse displacement is prevented by fitting the upper part 100 of the locking arrangement to the counter part 102, 103 preventing the lateral displacement arranged to the lower part 101 of the locking pattern. In the figure, there are shown two counter parts 102, 103 of a different shape.

In Figure 24, there is shown the orientation of the fastening pin of the pallet to the lateral flange of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The lateral flange 104 is shown with three fastening pins 105, 106, 107, but it is obvious for one skilled in the art that a required number of pins will be used.

Figure 25 shows the first embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The rail assembly of the storage system of the invention comprises the pallet 6, the fastening pins 105-107 in the lateral flange of the pallet 6, the storage rack 1, the console 108 for the storage rack 1, the rail 109 attached to the console 108, the pits 110-112 in the rail 109, and the wagon part 4 of the lifting and transport system for the pallet 6. As the wagon part 4 of the lifting and transport system for the pallet 6 in the storage system of the invention is in its lower position, the pallet 6 on the rails 109 attached to the console 108 of the storage rack 1 is locked into the pits 110-112 in the rail by using the fastening pins 105-107 in the lateral flange of the pallet 6. Figure 26 describes the movability of the first embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The rail construction of the storage system of the invention comprises the pallet 6, the fastening pins 105-107 in the lateral flange of the pallet 6, the storage rack 1, the console 108 of the storage rack 1, the rails 109 attached to the console 108, the pits 110-112 in the rail 109, and the wagon part 4 of the lifting and transport system for the pallet 6. As the wagon part 4 of the lifting and transport system for the pallet 6 in the storage system of the invention has been lifted to its upper position, the pallet 6 on the rails 109 fastened to the console 108 of the storage rack 1 is released, and the fastening pins 105-107 in the lateral flange of the pallet 6 rise from the pits 110- 112 in the rail. As the pallet 6 has been lifted to its transfer position, the transfer rollers on the sides of the pallet 6 and meeting with the lateral rail 1 are of assistance.

In Figure 27, there is shown the second embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The arrangement comprises the storage rack 1 with the console 108, to which the locking member 126 is arranged. The guide projection 127 of the pallet 6 is provided with a counter part 128 for the locking member 126, so that the pallet 6 locks into place. In storage and ship applications, the lateral movement of the pallet is controlled with the help of guide rollers 129 placed to the frame structures, the rollers having a mating surface in the lateral profiles of the pallets. The lateral guiding rollers 129 are then placed to the storage structures, for example, to the place of the pillars.

Figure 28 describes the movability of the second embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. The pallet 6 may be lifted for removing the locking so that the pallet is made to slide into place and away again. In ship storage application, the overturning of the pallet 6 in a so-called freight tube may be prevented with a solution resembling the flange 130. In this case, the lateral profile of the pallet 6 is the receiving surface.

In Figure 29, there is shown the third embodiment of the shelf fastening arrangement of the pallet in the storage system of the invention. This embodiment works similarly to that shown in Figs. 27 and 28, but the counterpart 128 of the locking member 126 has been arranged to the lower part of the pallet 6, instead of the guide projection 127.

Figure 30 presents the structure of the storage system of the invention. The storage depot consists of several superimposed storage planes 113-1 16. Each storage plane comprises several parallel pallet lines 117-120, and one transverse line 121. The pallet is transferred from one plane to another by a lift, which travels in the lift tower 122 at the opposite end of the track of the transverse conveyors on the transverse line 121. The lift transports the pallets to the distribution lines on the lower plane 116 for sorting and transporting to clients. The figure shows only one storage unit, although a required number of these units may be arranged parallel and superimposed. The pallets may be moved between the storage units, for example so that the rail assemblies of adjacent storage units are uniform for enabling the transfer of the pallets from one unit to another even past the transverse lines.

Depending on the volume of the storage depot, there may be several transverse lines 121. It is also possible to have several loading lift towers 122, for example, own lift shafts at the beginning and the end of the storage, so that the principle of FIFO buffer storing (FIFO, first in first out) may more easily be followed in storing. The storage system of the invention for goods on pallet requires the versatile use of information systems. The control of the pallet locations in the storage is based on real-time control information, which is based on the travel of the winch wire (which is followed by localization detectors). The pallets themselves may be provided, for example, with barcodes or various passive or active carrier memory units. Thus it is possible to read the contents of the pallet automatically in different stages of the chain and, if required, make changes in the control.

It is obvious for one skilled in the art that the storage system of the invention for goods on pallets is not restricted to the examples disclosed above, but that it is based on the following claims.

Claims

1. A storage system for goods on pallets, characterised in that a lifting and transport system for pallets in the storage system comprises as a combination a storage rack (1); - a rails (2, 3) of the storage rack (1); a wagon pairs (4,5; 8,9; 35,36), which travel on the different rails (2, 3) and which may be coupled together; one or several lifts; so that in the lifting and transport of pallets (6) - the wagons (4, 5, 8, 9, 35, 36) may be transported to the place of the pallet (6); the pallet (6) may be lifted from the rails (2, 3) with the help of the wagons (4, 5, 8, 9, 35, 36), each of the wagons being movable in the vertical direction substantially with one rope, and the pallet (6) may be transported to a desired place with the help of the wagons (4, 5, 8, 9, 35, 36) and the lift.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, characterised in that the system further comprises a track (65) transverse to the rails (2, 3) in the storage rack (1), and transverse wagons (55) travelling on the track (65).

3. A storage system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pallet (6) may be transported to the desired place with the help of the transverse wagons (55).

4. A storage system according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the system further comprises a localization detector for locating the wagon (4,

5. 8, 9, 35, 36).

5. A storage system according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the wagon part of the lifting and transport system for pallets is a lever lift wagon (8, 9), comprising a upper wagon part (10) and a lower wagon part (11), wheels (12, 13) of the lower wagon part (11), and lift leverage (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) of the wagon.

6. A storage system according to a claim 1 - 4, characterised in that the wagon part of the lifting and transport system for pallets is an inclined plane wagon (35,

36), comprising a upper wagon part (18), a lower part (19), a lift wire (23), a wire wheel (37) of the lower wagon part (19), a wire wheel (38) of the upper wagon part (18), wheels (25, 26) of the lower wagon part (19), and rollers (39, 40, 41,42, 43) of an upper surface of the lower wagon part (19).

7. A storage system according to one of the claims 1 - 5, characterised in that the pallet (6) arranged on the lever lift wagon (8, 9) may be lifted and lowered with a wire system driven by a motor, the system comprising a lift drum, a wire wheel and a lift leverage (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) of the lever lift wagon so that the body of the lever lift wagon (8, 9) consists of two body parts (10, 11), of which the lower part (11) of the lever lift wagon (8, 9) travels on rollers (12, 13) on the rails (2, 3) of the storage rack (1), and the upper part (10) of the lever lift wagon (8, 9) rests on lift pins (33) of the lift levers (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) fastened to the lower part (11) of the lever lift wagon (8, 9) by shafts.

8. A storage system according to claim 7, characterised in that the lifting or lowering of the pallet (6) arranged on the lever lift wagon (8, 9) is conducted by using a wire (14) fastened to an upper end (34) of each lift lever (27, 28, 29, 30, 31), as the lever lift wagon (8, 9) is in place below the pallet (6) so that the coupling releases a transfer drum from a motor shaft, and the motor shaft turns only the lift drum so that the movement of the wire (14) turns the levers to the desired direction of the lift leverage (27, 28, 29, 30, 31), the upper part (10) of the lever lift wagon (8, 9) then lifting or lowering the pallet (6) above the lever lift wagon (8, 9).

9. A storage system according to one of the claims 1 - 5, 7, 8, characterised in that the lever lift wagons (8, 9) may be coupled to each other.

10. A storage system according to claim 9, characterised in that the lever lift wagons (8, 9) may be coupled together with a mechanical bayonet coupling (49).

11. A storage system according to one of the claims 1 - 4, 6, characterised in that the pallet (6) arranged on the inclined plane wagon (35, 36) may be lifted and lowered with the help of a wire system, the wire system comprising a lift wire (23), a wire wheel (37) of the lower part (19) of the inclined plane wagon (35, 36), a wire wheel (38) of the upper part (18) of the inclined plane wagon (35, 36), and a wire drum driven by a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor for tightening the wire (23).

12. A storage system according to claim 1 1, characterised in that the lifting or lowering of the pallet arranged on the inclined plane wagon (35, 36) is conducted as the inclined plane wagon (35, 36) has stopped to the desired place on the storage rails, so that the lift wire (23) may then be tightened or loosened, so that the tightness of the wire (23) causes the upper part (18) of the inclined plane wagon (35, 36) to move on the rollers (39, 40, 41, 42. 43) of the upper surface of the lower part (19) of the inclined plane wagon (35, 36).

13. A storage system according to one of the claims 1 - 4, 6, 11, 12, characterised in that an even number of inclined plane wagons (35, 36) may be coupled together so that the inclined plane wagons (35, 36) are situated opposite each other in pairs.

14. A storage system according to claim 13, characterised in that the inclined plane wagons (35, 36) may be coupled together with a mechanical coupling (59).

15. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wagon (8, 9, 35, 63) may be transported on the rails (2, 3) of the storage rack with the help of the wheels (12, 13. 25, 26) of the lower wagon part (11, 19).

16. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wagon (8, 9, 35, 36) may be transported with a wire draw system driven by an electric motor, the system comprising a transfer wire (14, 21), a transfer drum (15, 20), and a transfer wheel (16, 22).

17. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that upon transferring the pallets (6), the upper part (10, 18) of the wagon (8, 9, 35, 36) may be lifted 10 - 30 mm.

18. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wagons (8, 9, 35, 36) travelling on adjacent rails (2, 3) of the storage rack may be mechanically coupled together with a fastening module (66).

19. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that two or several adjacent transverse wagons (55) may be coupled together.

20. A storage system according to claim 19, characterised in that two or several adjacent transverse wagons (55) may be coupled together with a mechanical fastening module (123).

21. A storage system according to claim 19, characterised in that two or several pallets may be moved with one multi-pallet transverse wagon (125).

22. A storage system according to one of the claims 19 - 21, characterised in that the adjacent, coupled transverse wagons (55) may be moved with one wire (124) connected to an electric motor or a winch.

23. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pallet (6) on the rails (2, 3) of the storage rack (1) in the storage system may be locked to pits (110, 111, 112) in the rail (2, 3) with fastening pins (105, 106, 107) in a lateral flange of the pallet (6), as the pallet (6) is lowered to rest on the rails (2, 3) of the storage rack (1).

24. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a locking arrangement of longitudinal movement has been arranged both to the storage system and the pallet (6).

25. A storage system according to claim 24, characterised in that the locking arrangement comprises two locking surfaces with mating patterns.

26. A storage system according to claim 24 or 25, characterised in that the patterning of the locking surface has a wave-like, trapezoidal or pin-like side profile.

27. A storage system according to one of the claims 24 - 26, characterised in that the detachable locking surface of the pallet is arranged to a lower surface of the pallet (6) or to a lower surface of a side profile of the pallet (6); advantageously the locking surface has been arranged to the lower surface of the side profile of the pallet (6).

28. A storage system according to one of the claims 24 - 27, characterised in that the locking surface is achieved to the pallet (6) and the counter part by cutting, drilling, or by attaching a strip or a sheet with the desired locking pattern to the surface of the pallet (6) and/or the counterpart.

29. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a locking arrangement of transverse movement has been arranged both to the storage system and the pallet (6).

30. A storage system according to claim 29, characterised in that the locking arrangement of transverse movement comprises a flange (95).

31. A storage system according to claim 29 or 30, characterised in that the locking system of transverse movement comprises a counterpart (102, 103) preventing transverse movement and arranged to a lower part of the locking pattern of the locking surface of longitudinal movement.

32. A storage system according to one of the claims 24 - 31. characterised in that there is a clearance between the locking arrangements when the pallet (6) is locked to the storage system.

33. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the storage plane of the storage system consists of several parallel pallet lines

(117, 1 18, 119, 120). each of which includes the wagon pair (4, 5) controlled with a guiding arrangement moving the pallet (6) to the desired storage point; and further of a transverse line (121), in which the transverse wagon (55) controlled by a guiding arrangement and transferring the pallet (6) to the desired pallet line (117, 118, 119, 120) on its own storage plane moves between the pallet lines (117, 118, 119, 120).

34. A storage system according to claim 33, characterised in that the storage consists of several superimposed storage planes (113, 114, 115, 116) so that the pallet (6) is transferable from one plane to another by the lift, which travels in a lift tower (122) at the other end of the track for the transverse wagons (55) of the transverse line (121).

35. A storage system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pallets are transferable between storage units.