WO2003017750A1

WO2003017750A1 - Container assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2003017750A1
Application number: PCT/NL2002/000567
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wilhelmus Henricus Antonius Jansen
Original assignee: W/M Systems B.V.
Priority date: 2001-08-28
Filing date: 2002-08-28
Publication date: 2003-03-06
Also published as: NL1018842C2

Abstract

Container system comprising a number of containers arranged in rows, such as propagation trays in a greenhouse. The propagation trays bear via ball units on supports and thus can be moved in at least two perpendicular directions. There are supports and further supports on which the containers and a vehicle can be moved. The vehicle operates in a transport area and can be coupled to the containers in order to move these into the transport area and to change their position.

Description

Container assembly

The present invention relates to a container assembly comprising a number of containers such as propagation trays, which are placed alongside one another in two directions, said containers can be moved in a first direction along beam-shaped supports, a transport area, in which the propagation trays can be moved, being arranged alongside a row of containers, as well as a vehicle that can be moved in said transport area.

A container system of this type is generally known in the art. Roll containers containing large quantities of plants, for example pot plants are placed one after the other in rows in, for example, greenhouses. If a roll container has to be removed from a row, for example for treating the plants concerned, a special vehicle is used that can be moved in the transport area adjoining the rows of roll containers. This vehicle is a fork-lift-like construction. The vehicle is able to move in a transport track and engage underneath the containers, which are then moved from the supports. The roll containers roll over the supports, which in general are constructed as tubes.

The vehicle concerned is of relatively heavyweight construction and bears on the floor of the production unit, that is to say is located below the supports on which the roll containers are arranged. Such a construction is complex and the vehicle used with it is expensive. This is partly caused by the fact that the vehicle must be capable of fully supporting the roll containers. Consequently, stringent requirements are imposed with regard to the stability and as a result the weight of the vehicle will increase, which in turn imposes more stringent requirements on the remainder of the construction.

The aim of the present invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to provide a container system with which it is possible in a simple manner to take containers out of a row and move them into the transport area for carrying out a treatment.

This aim is realised with a container system as described above, in that said supports extend into said transport area and are constructed to support said vehicle and in that there are further beam-shaped supports extending essentially perpendicularly to said supports for moving said vehicle and said containers in a second direction essentially perpendicular to said first direction.

According to the invention the containers are no longer carried by the vehicle but are towed over the supports that are common to the vehicle and the containers. That is to say the vehicle can be of relatively lightweight construction and is responsible only for the transport of the containers.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the supports and the further supports are arranged in a grid such that two tracks are delimited in the transport area: a first relatively wide track for the containers and second relatively narrow track for the vehicle. During transport the vehicle is located alongside the container and tows this to the desired position.

The invention also relates to a vehicle to be used with the system according to the invention, for moving containers, such as propagation trays, comprising at least two sets of driven wheels, wherein the axes of said wheels are essentially perpendicular to one another and wherein said sets can be moved vertically with respect to one another.

More particularly, the vehicle is provided with coupling means for engaging with a container and these coupling means are designed to engage said vehicle without play.

The invention also relates to a container to be used in the container system described above, comprising at least four bearers equipped with roller elements to bear on said supports, wherein said roller elements are designed to operate essentially in two perpendicular directions.

The operative roller elements can comprise all roller elements known in the state of the art, such as castors and the like. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, such roller elements are, however, constructed as ball units. Surprisingly it has been found that these can be obtained particularly inexpensively and are able to take particularly high loads and, of course, allow movement of the containers in at least two mutually perpendicular directions.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to illustrative embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the container system according to the invention in a first position;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the container system according to the invention in a second position;

Fig. 3 shows, diagrammatically in cross-section, the vehicle according to the invention in a first position;

Fig. 4 shows, diagrammatically in cross-section, the vehicle according to the invention in a second position;

Fig. 5 shows, diagrammatically in cross-section, part of a roll container according to the invention; and

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a lift construction; Fig. 7 shows a turntable;

Fig. 8 shows an alternative for the construction shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 9 shows positioning thereof on a rail; and

Fig. 10 shows a crossing of two rails.

The container system according to the invention is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. This system consists of a number of propagation trays or roll containers 5, 6 positioned next to one another and one after the other. These propagation trays or roll containers bear on transverse supports 1, 2.

The vehicle 7 is shown in Fig. 1 on the right of roll container 5. This vehicle is provided with sets of wheels 10, 11 that are perpendicular to one another. The sets of wheels 10 can be raised and lowered with the aid of an operating mechanism, as a result of which the trolley bears either on the wheels 11 or on the wheels 10. The axes of the wheel axles concerned are perpendicular to one another, as a result of which it is possible to move the vehicle either in the direction of the longitudinal supports 3, 4 or in the direction of the transverse supports 1, 2. The vehicle is preferably an electrically driven vehicle and energy can be generated via solar panels 8. However, it is also possible to install batteries in the vehicle or to provide the vehicle with power via the supports or in some other way. Such energy sources can also be used in combination.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that vehicle 7 is provided with a locking device 9. Starting from the position shown in Fig. 1, the wheels 10 on either side of the trolley are raised and the trolley is able to move along the transverse supports 1, 2. This movement is continued until the position shown in Fig. 2 is reached. In this position the vehicle 7 locks on to the roll container 5. Details of this locking mechanism can be seen in Fig. 3. It can be seen from this figure that there is a deformable part 14. This is optionally inflatable. What is achieved by this means is that there is play-free contact between the vehicle 7 and the roll container when locking engagement takes place.

Fig. 3 also shows the presence of two hydraulic lifting/pushing cylinders 13 by means of which the axle for wheels 10 can be moved upwards and downwards. Each roll container is provided with a ridge 16 on which an arm 17 of a locking cylinder 15 is able to engage.

After locking vehicle 7 to roll container 5 the vehicle/roll container combination is moved, with the wheels 10 in the up position, over the transverse supports 1, 2 until the vehicle is in the position as drawn in Fig. 1. With this combination, the roll container 5 is moved with the vehicle the same distance to the right.

The cylinders 13 are then operated and the wheels 10 lowered and the vehicle 7 can be moved together with the roll container 5 along the longitudinal supports. A subsequent roll container can then be collected by a further vehicle or by the vehicle 7 after uncoupling the roll container concerned. Roll containers can be put back in the same way.

Details of the roll container can be seen in Fig. 5. The roll container is indicated in its entirety by 5 (Figs 1 and 2) and consists of a supporting frame 20 on which a tray has been placed. Ball units 21 are fitted beneath it close to the four corners. Such ball units are available relatively inexpensively and make movement in mutually peφendicular directions possible.

The difference between the longitudinal sections 1 and 2 can also be seen from Fig. 5. Section 2 is constructed in a channel shape such that the ball 19 is centred towards the middle thereof. The base of the channel in Fig. 1 is made horizontal so that various positions in the horizontal plane are possible in a stable manner.

The same differences in construction apply for the longitudinal sections 3 and 4. By means of the construction with the ball units a particularly simple universal support for the roll containers can be obtained. It will be understood that the sections shown here can seamlessly merge into one another and can easily be joined to one another by insertion and/or welding.

As far as the vehicle is concerned, a wide variety of variants are possible. Preferably, in each case two wheels located opposite one another are driven. The reason for this is to prevent deviations from the desired path. A differential construction can optionally be used.

By means of the present invention it is possible, using a relatively small number of vehicles, to move a large number of roll containers in a completely automated manner and to move them from a greenhouse or other environment into a position where treatment takes place. Optionally it is possible to separate the rolcontainers close to a terminus from the vehicle and to mount the supports for the vehicle above or preferably below the supports for the roll container, such that the vehicle is able to "overtake" the roll container. A construction of this type is shown in Fig. 6. This drawing shows the situation as a mirror image of what has been shown in Fig. 1. That is to say, the narrower track made up of the supports 3 for vehicles is at the front. A first vehicle 7 coupled to a roll container 5 moves over this track. A second vehicle that can be moved along supports 24 and transverse supports 23 is indicated by 27. Dotted lines show that part 23 can separate from the adjacent longitudinal supports 24 and can move upwards to the supports 1 and 2, respectively. If there is a vehicle 27 on part 23, this will also be moved upwards.

A turntable for the vehicle is shown in Fig. 7. By this means it is possible to turn vehicles 7 though 180°. After all, these vehicles are of different construction on either side. The construction consists of the supports 1 and 2, described above, into which support parts 27, mounted on construction 28, connect. This construction 28 can be rotated with the aid of a live ring 29. Live ring 29 is mounted on construction 30.

Instead of the above blocks with roller members shown in Figure 5, it is also possible to implement a different type of construction by means of which it is possible to execute a movement in two peφendicular directions.

Such a construction is shown in Figs 8 - 10 and is indicated in its entirety by 31. This construction consists of a block 26 on which rollers 32 are mounted on four sides. A sliding projection is indicated by 33. Positioning of the construction shown in Fig. 8 on a rail is shown in Fig. 9. This rail or support is indicated in its entirety by 35 and has a recessed portion 34. This portion is recessed to such an extent that sliding projection 33 just does not come into contact with it. Furthermore, the recess 34 is constructed such that the wheels having an axis peφendicular to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 9 likewise do not come into contact with rail 35.

Fig. 10 shows an intersection, which is indicated in its entirety by 36. This intersection can comprise an intersection as shown in Fig. 1 for supports 1 and 3 and/or 2 and 4. The rails crossing one another, all of which indicated by 35, are each provided with recesses 34. In principle, all four rollers 32 bear on the intersection. When part 31 arrives at the intersection, two rollers 32 located opposite one another will be providing support just before the intersection. However, on the intersection these rollers sink into the recess 34 extending transversely thereto. At that point in time the part 33 protruding downwards, the sliding projection, takes over the function of all wheels 32 and in principle makes movement in the same direction or in a direction peφendicular^' thereto possible.

Immediately thereafter the relevant rollers 32 again engage on the higher part of the rails.

It will be understood from the above description of the variant that numerous modifications are possible. These fall within the scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Container assembly comprising a number of containers such as propagation trays (5, 6), which are placed alongside one another in two directions, said containers can be moved in a first direction along beam-shaped supports (1, 2), a transport area, in which the propagation trays can be moved, being arranged alongside a row of containers as well as a vehicle (7, 27) that can be moved in said transport area, characterised in that said supports extend into said transport area and are constructed to support said vehicle and in that there are further beam-shaped supports (3, 4) extending essentially peφendicularly to said supports for moving said vehicle and said containers in a second direction essentially peφendicular to said first direction.

2. Container system according to Claim 1, wherein the supporting surfaces of said supports and said further supports are essentially in one plane.

3. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first relatively wide track for said containers and a second relatively narrow track for said vehicle, which tracks adjoin one another, are delimited in said transport area by said supports and said further supports.

4. Container system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said supports and said further supports are provided, at least alternately, with a channel-shaped surface.

5. Vehicle to be used with the system according to one of the preceding claims, for moving containers, such as propagation trays, comprising at least two sets of driven wheels, wherein the axles of said wheels are essentially peφendicular to one another and wherein said sets can be moved vertically with respect to one another.

6. Vehicle according to Claim 5, comprising coupling means for engaging on and coupling to a container.

7. Vehicle according to Claim 6, wherein said coupling means are constructed for play- free coupling of said vehicle and said container.

8. Container to be used in a transport system according to one of Claims 1 - 4, comprising at least four bearers equipped with roller elements to bear on said supports, wherein said roller elements are designed to operate essentially in two peφendicular directions.

9. Container according to Claim 8, wherein said roller elements comprise ball units.

10. Container according to Claim 8, wherein said roller elements comprise an essentially rectangular block (26) provided with rollers (32) on all sides.