WO2012076609A1

WO2012076609A1 - Goods handling system

Info

Publication number: WO2012076609A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/072105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malin Samuelsson; Emelie ÅSTRÖM; My Gullstrand
Original assignee: Ascenda Solutions Ab
Priority date: 2010-12-08
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Also published as: SE1350655A1

Abstract

A device for displaying goods, comprising a bearing structure for supporting a pallet on which the goods are disposed, a lifting unit, which is arranged to transfer the bearing structure between a first level corresponding to a ground level and a second level which is situated above said first level and is variable in relation thereto, and a side guard, which is arranged to laterally enclose the bearing structure and said lifting unit,wherein the side guard comprises a door for allowing access to the bearing structure for placement of the pallet of goods thereon.

Description

GOODS HANDLING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for displaying goods and to a method for handling goods.

BACKGROUND ART

Within the retail trade and in food stores, goods normally circulate relatively quickly. It is important for the store that it has a well-filled range and that no goods run out in the store if these are still in stock. This can involve a lot of heavy lifting for the staff when goods have to be moved from stock and placed out in the store as the goods out in the store are picked by customers.

A solution to this problem, which is adopted in most food stores, is the use of a truck for goods which are loaded on a pallet. The truck provides faster transfer of a greater quantity of goods from, for example, a stockroom, so that these goods quickly appear in the store.

Even though the truck allows faster transfer of goods from stock, this working method still involves a lot of heavy lifting for the staff. This is manifested, above all, by the fact that goods are lifted manually from a pallet up to a display surface, or the like, out in the store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem and provide a device for displaying goods which makes the work involved in handling goods easier for the staff.

A further object is to provide a device and a method which mean that the staff can avoid heavy lifting .

Yet another object is to provide a device and a method which allow goods to be safely handled without risk of personal injury. In order to achieve at least one of these objects, and also other objects which emerge from the following description, according to the present invention a device for displaying goods and a method for handling goods are indicated. Alternative embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent patent claims.

More specifically, according to the present invention a device for displaying goods is indicated, which device comprises a bearing structure for supporting a pallet on which said goods are disposed, a lifting unit, which is arranged to transfer said bearing structure between a first level corresponding to a ground level and a second level which is situated above said first level and is variable in relation thereto, and a side guard, which is arranged to laterally enclose said bearing structure and said lifting unit, wherein said side guard comprises a door for allowing access to said bearing structure for placement of said pallet with goods thereon.

This produces a device which allows goods to be well displayed, at the same time as the handling of the goods is made easier, since the need for heavy lifting can be eliminated or in any event reduced. The device eliminates or in any event further reduces the risk of personal injury in connection with the handling of goods .

The bearing structure of the inventive device can be transferred between said first and second, variable level by means of said lifting unit, and it thus becomes possible to arrange the goods on the pallet in layers and, as the stocks are emptied, to raise the bearing structure such that the uppermost goods layer ends up at an optimal height with respect to picking and display. One advantage of the present invention is thus that the device facilitates goods handling by eliminating the manual lifts which are made when staff in a food store, for example, fill up with new goods. A further advantage which is gained by virtue of the raisable and lowerable bearing structure is that the problem regarding stockkeeping is partially solved. This, above all, since store fittings often constitute structures having large empty spaces underneath and which cannot be used as storage space.

The side guard of the inventive device laterally encloses the bearing structure and the lifting unit. It hereby becomes possible to shield moving parts of the inventive device in connection with raising or lowering of the bearing structure, which in turn means a reduced or eliminated risk of crushing injuries and the like. According to one embodiment, the lifting unit is controllable for such transfer of said bearing structure to said second, variable level, so that said second, variable level corresponds to a pick height which is suitable for the goods disposed on the bearing structure .

The facility to be able to transfer the bearing structure to a pick height produces an advantage for the customers that they are spared from bending down to pick up an item or goods where a pallet of goods has been placed out in the store and where only the lower layers of goods are left.

According to another embodiment, the device can comprise a drive unit for driving said lifting unit.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor, which is arranged to detect whether said door is open or closed, wherein said drive unit is only operable if the sensor signals that said door is closed.

By detecting whether the door is open or closed, it is possible to produce a safety mechanism which means that the drive unit cannot be operated if the door is open. This further reduces the risk of crushing injuries which can arise in connection with maneuvering of the bearing structure and leads to safer goods handling .

According to another embodiment, said bearing structure comprises a framework having an open side for allowing the introduction of a pallet handling apparatus supporting a pallet of goods in the framework, and subsequent lowering of said pallet of goods onto the framework when the bearing structure is arranged at said first level.

With an open side, the placement of a pallet with the aid of, for example, a handtruck is facilitated. This since the supporting part of the handtruck, together with a pallet disposed thereon, passes into the bearing structure and allows a whole pallet to be driven in with the aid of the handtruck and then be placed on the bearing structure.

According to a further embodiment, said lifting unit is a scissor lift.

One advantage of using a scissor lift is that it allows stepless height adjustment all the way from ground level, i.e. the first level, which in turn facilitates the introduction of a pallet with the aid of a handtruck.

According to one embodiment the scissor lift includes a first set of lifting arms and a second set of lifting arms, wherein the first and the second set are separated by a space which is accessible from the door .

In another embodiment, the device comprises a crush warning sensor, which is arranged to detect whether a space between said bearing structure and said ground level is occupied by a foreign object, wherein said drive unit is only operable in response to a non- detection of such a foreign object by means of said crush warning sensor.

Should a door not be fitted on the side guard, a crush warning sensor can be used to eliminate the risk of crushing a foot, for example, which has happened to end up beneath the bearing structure when this is lowered .

According to the present invention, a method for handling goods by means of a device comprising a raisable and lowerable bearing structure and a side guard, which is provided with a door and laterally encloses said bearing structure, is further indicated, which method comprises lowering of said bearing structure to ground level, opening of said door to allow access to said bearing structure, placement of said pallet, with layers with goods disposed thereon, onto said bearing structure, closure of said door, and raising of said bearing structure in order to bring an uppermost layer of goods to a predetermined pick height .

The inventive method has in essence the characteristics and advantages which have been discussed above, whereby reference is made to the above discussion.

It will be recognized that the steps involved in the method do not have to be carried out in the order listed. For example, said bearing structure can be raised before the door is closed.

In one embodiment, the method comprises placing said goods in a plurality of load carriers, wherein each layer of goods disposed on the pallet is formed by at least one of said plurality of load carriers with goods accommodated therein.

One advantage of placing goods in load carriers is that it facilitates the stacking of goods on said pallet .

In a further embodiment, the method comprises removing each load carrier when this forms part of an uppermost layer of goods and has been emptied of goods.

Removal of the load carriers when an uppermost layer has been emptied of goods means that necessary manual labor is limited to the removal of empty load carriers, with subsequent adjustment of the pick height.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures should not be regarded as a limitation of the present invention, instead the figures are used to illustrate and obtain a better understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for displaying goods.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device shown in fig. 1, together with a handtruck carrying a pallet of goods, wherein the bearing structure of the device is arranged at a first level.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device shown in fig. 1 and supporting a pallet of goods, wherein the bearing structure of the device is arranged at a second level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In figure 1, to which reference is made, a device 1 for displaying goods according to the present invention is illustrated.

The goods displaying device 1 is arranged to facilitate the goods handling in, for example, food stores, at the same time as the goods are displayed in a manner which appeals to the customer and is pick- friendly. This can be realized by having the goods arranged at an appropriate pick level, so that the customer does not need to bend down or stretch in order to reach the goods. The device further allows goods to be handled safely, inasmuch as the risk of personal injury, such as crushing injuries, is eliminated or in any event reduced.

The goods displaying device 1 comprises a bearing structure 2, for supporting a pallet with goods disposed thereon, a lifting unit 3, which is more clearly illustrated in figure 3 and which is arranged to transfer the bearing structure between a first level corresponding to a ground level and a variable, second level, and a side guard 4, which is arranged to laterally enclose said bearing structure 2 and lift unit 3, wherein the side guard 4 comprises a door 5.

By the side guard 4 laterally enclosing the bearing structure 2 and the lifting unit 3 is meant a structure which fully covers the sides of the lifting unit and the bearing structure 2 when the door 5 is closed .

The bearing structure 2 is configured such that it allows the introduction of a pallet with the aid of a pallet handling apparatus, for example a handtruck. An alternative is that the pallet is lifted onto the bearing structure 2 with the aid of another variant of a pallet handling apparatus, for example a forklift truck. In the shown embodiment, the bearing structure 2 has a U-shaped framework to enable a handtruck with a pallet disposed thereon to drive in. The handtruck is thus allowed access via the open part of the U-shape and a pallet of goods can thus be driven in and placed onto the bearing structure 2. It will be recognized that the bearing structure 2 can have a different shape than the shown embodiment. For example, the shape can consist of two parallel tracks instead of a U-shape. Another alternative is that the bearing structure 2 is in the shape of a plate. This last-named variant does not allow access for a handtruck but can be an alternative if a forklift truck with lifting function is used, since the pallet can be lifted and placed onto the plate.

As has been stated above, the lifting unit 3 is arranged to transfer the bearing structure 2 between the first level corresponding to ground level and the second level which is situated above said first level and is variable in relation thereto. In the shown embodiment, a lifting unit 3 in the form of scissor lift is used, as is more clearly illustrated in figure 3, to which reference is now also made. The scissor lift allows transfer between the first level and the second level and can transfer the bearing structure 2 steplessly to the second, variable level, which is thus situated between the first level and a level corresponding to an upper end position for the lifting unit 3, which in the embodiment in question is constituted by said scissor lift.

The scissor lift may include a first set of lifting arms and a second set of lifting arms, the first set of lifting arms being arranged at a first side of the side guard 4 and the second set of lifting arms being arranged at a second side of the side guard 4, which second side is opposite the first side. The first and the second set are thus separated by a space which is accessible from outside the side guard 4 via the door 5.

The drive unit (not shown in the figures) is arranged to drive the scissor lift. The drive unit can be constituted by a motor, a pneumatically or hydraulically driven unit, or a spring arrangement. As an alternative to the above-stated variants, the drive unit can also be manually operable, in which transfer of the bearing structure 2 is realized with the aid of, for example, a crank. The drive unit can also comprise a control unit, which is arranged to maneuver the drive unit and thus the scissor lift with the bearing structure 2 between the first level and the second level. This can be realized, for example, by push button, remote control or the like.

The side guard 4 is arranged to laterally enclose the scissor lift and the bearing structure 2 and consists of four sides. The scissor lift with the bearing structure 2 shall be able to be transferred between the first level and the second level within the frame for the side guard 4. In figures 1-3, one of the sides is shown in dashed representation in order to illustrate the inner side of the side guard 4. A door 5 is provided on one side. The door 5 is shown in an open position in figure 1. The door 5 is arranged such that it opens one of the four sides 4 to allow the introduction of a pallet 10 of goods. The purpose of the side guard 4 is to create a safety device to avoid crushing injuries and to give the device 1 an esthetically pleasing appearance.

The device 1 can also comprise a bottom plate 6, as shown in figure 1, but it will be recognized that this can be dispensed with.

The device 1 can also be provided with a sensor (not shown in the figures), which is arranged to detect whether the door 5 on the side guard 4 is open or closed. The sensor can be, for example, a door circuit breaker. The sensor can signal whether the door 5 is open or closed. The sensor is arranged to detect whether the door 5 is open. The drive unit is inoperable should an open door 5 be detected.

The device 1 can alternatively be provided with a crush warning sensor, which is arranged to detect whether a space between the bearing structure 2 and ground level is occupied by a foreign object. Should the space be occupied, the crush warning sensor sends a signal such that that the drive unit is prevented from being operable. Should the crush warning sensor not detect a foreign object, the drive unit continues to be operable. The crush warning sensor thus allows the bearing structure 2 to be safely raised/lowered even if the door 5 is open.

The invention will be described below with reference to figure 2 and figure 3.

In figure 2, the bearing structure 2 is in its first position, so that a handtruck 7 has access to the bearing structure in order to be able to place a pallet 10 of goods 9 onto the bearing structure 2. Figure 2 illustrates how a pallet 10 of goods 9 is in the process of being applied to the bearing structure 2 with the aid of a handtruck 7.

In the shown embodiment, a pallet 10 of the Europallet type, with goods 9 disposed thereon, is used. In the shown embodiment, the load carrier 8 is shown with goods 9 disposed therein. In the shown embodiment, the load carriers 8 form a plurality of layers 11, 12, 13 comprising twelve load carriers 8 per layer. The layer 11 forms an uppermost layer.

The load carriers 8 can accommodate goods of the fruit and vegetable type, but it will be recognized that other goods 9 are also possible, for example clothing, home electronics and so on.

It will also be recognized that each layer can comprise more or less than twelve load carriers 8. A layer can also comprise just one load carrier 8.

In the shown embodiment, the respective load carrier 8 is emptied by picking of goods 9. It will be recognized that in certain cases the load carrier 8 is included when a customer picks an item, for example when the load carrier 8 is a cardboard box for home electronics .

There are also cases where there is no load carrier 8 and in which the goods 9 are loaded directly onto the pallet 10. Examples of this can be books which are stacked one on top of the other without a load carrier 8.

Even for those cases where there is no load carrier 8, layers of goods will be found.

Once a pallet 10 of goods 9 has been applied to the bearing structure 2 by means of said handtruck 7, the latter is removed and the door 5 of the side guard 4 is closed. In the shown embodiment, the uppermost layer 11 of goods will be at a predetermined pick height A (where A is measured from the ground and up to the pick height) . It will be recognized that the predetermined pick height A can be adjusted with the aid of the scissor lift. It will also be recognized that different types of goods can have different predetermined pick heights A.

Once an uppermost layer has been emptied of goods 9 and the load carriers 8 are emptied, the pick height A is adjusted by maneuvering of the scissor lift for adjustment of the second, variable level of the bearing structure 2 with goods 9, so that a new uppermost layer is brought to the predetermined pick height A. This can also be carried out for the alternative in which there is no load carrier 8 when the layer is gone. The adjustment of the pick height A can also be carried out even as the uppermost layer begins to be emptied of goods 9.

The load carrier 8 of the type which is used in handling of fruit and vegetables is typically removed manually. Should individual goods 9 be left in the load carrier 8, these goods 9 can be moved to one of the load carriers 8 in the underlying layer which is now accessible and forms the new uppermost layer.

The effect of the uppermost layer being empty is that the new uppermost layer is situated at a non- predetermined pick height. The drive unit is hereupon activated to move the bearing structure 2 such that the uppermost layer ends up at the predetermined pick height A. Should a sensor be arranged to detect whether the door 5 is open, in the event of an attempt to activate the drive unit the drive unit will not be able to be activated if the door 5 is open.

The above-described process is subsequently repeated until all the layers of goods 9 on the pallet 10 have been removed. The pallet 10 is thereafter removed manually, alternatively with the aid of a handtruck 10 or similar pallet handling apparatus. Removal of the pallet 10 expediently occurs once the pallet 10 is emptied of goods 9. It will be recognized that a change of pallet can also be made if a small number of goods are left on the existing pallet, or else when a change of goods at the location in question is desirable.

The drive unit is here activated to maneuver the scissor lift such that the bearing structure 2 returns to its first position, that is to say ground level. Should a crush warning sensor be arranged to detect whether the region beneath the bearing structure 2 is occupied by a foreign object, in the event of an attempt to activate the drive unit, the drive unit will not be able to be activated if the region beneath the bearing structure 2 is occupied by a foreign object.

It will be recognized that the process can be realized differently, for example by the pallet 10 being removed in its uppermost position and loaded with a new pallet 10 of goods 9, so as subsequently to be moved down to a level in which the uppermost layer has a predetermined pick height A.

It will also be recognized that the side guard 4 is arranged to offer a shield between the environment and the mechanics inside. The material of the side guard 4 can be non-transparent, so that the equipment inside is concealed. The foremost function of the side guard 4 is that of a safety device, however, so that crushing injuries, for example, can be avoided in goods handling operations.

Should a sensor be present in the form of, for example, a door sensor, the user is protected from crushing injuries since the drive unit is not operable when the door 5 is open. If the scissor lift is maneuverable with the door 5 open, crush warning sensors are present which ensure that the user is not at risk of getting crushed while using the device 1.

The side guard 4 further always provides protection on four sides according to the shown embodiment when the door 5 is closed.

As an alternative to a lifting unit 3 in the form of a scissor lift, spring arrangements, hydraulic or pneumatic arrangements, gear racks, screws, etc. can be used .

More variants and modifications are possible, so that the scope of the invention is exclusively defined by the patent claims.

Claims

1. A device (1) for displaying goods (9), comprising a bearing structure (2) for supporting a pallet (10) on which said goods (9) are disposed,

a lifting unit (3), which is arranged to transfer said bearing structure (2) between a first level corresponding to a ground level and a second level which is situated above said first level and is variable in relation thereto, and

a side guard (4) , which is arranged to laterally enclose said bearing structure (2) and said lifting unit (3),

wherein said side guard (4) comprises a door (5) for allowing access to said bearing structure (2) for placement of said pallet (10) of goods (9) thereon.

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting unit (3) is controllable for such transfer of said bearing structure (2) to said second, variable level, so that said second, variable level corresponds to a pick height (A) which is constant for the goods (9) disposed on the bearing structure (2) .

3. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a drive unit for driving said lifting unit (3) .

4. The device (1) as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a sensor, which is arranged to detect whether said door (5) is open or closed, wherein said drive unit is only operable should the sensor signal that said door (5) is closed.

5. The device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bearing structure (2) comprises a framework having an open side for allowing the introduction of a pallet handling apparatus (7) supporting a pallet (10) of goods (9) in the framework, and subsequent lowering of said pallet (10) of goods (9) onto the framework when the bearing structure (2) is arranged at said first level.

6. The device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lifting unit (3) is a scissor lift.

7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the scissor lift comprises a first set of lifting arms and a second set of lifting arms which first and second set of lifting arms are separated by a space which is accessible from the door.

8. The device (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, further comprising a crush warning sensor, which is arranged to detect whether a space between said bearing structure (2) and said ground level is occupied by a foreign object, wherein said drive unit is only operable in response to a non-detection of such a foreign object by means of said crush warning sensor.

9. A method for handling goods (9) by means of a device (1) comprising a raisable and lowerable bearing structure (2) and a side guard (4), which is provided with a door (5) and laterally encloses said bearing structure (2), which method comprises

lowering of said bearing structure (2) to ground level,

opening of said door (5) to allow access to said bearing structure (2),

placement of a pallet (10), with layers of goods (9) disposed thereon, onto said bearing structure (9),

closure of said door (5), and raising of said bearing structure (2) in order to bring an uppermost layer of goods (9) to a predetermined pick height (A) .

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, which method further comprises placing said goods (9) in a plurality of load carriers (8), wherein each layer of goods (9) which is disposed on the pallet (10) is formed by at least one of said plurality of load carriers (8) with goods (9) accommodated therein.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, which method further comprises removing each load carrier (8) when this forms part of an uppermost layer of goods (9) and has been emptied of goods (9) .