WO2014139824A1

WO2014139824A1 - Load carrier for use in a logistics system

Info

Publication number: WO2014139824A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/054087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Buse
Original assignee: Heinz Buse
Priority date: 2013-03-11
Filing date: 2014-03-03
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: DE102013204161A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a load carrier (1) for use in a logistics system, in order to be transferred from the loading area of a vehicle or container in a conveying direction, or to be transferred to the loading area of the vehicle. The dimensions of the load carrier (1) are substantially adapted to the loading area of the vehicle and said carrier has a plurality of load carrier segments (3, 5, 7) that can be coupled to and uncoupled from one another in the conveying direction, each segment having a main body. In addition, the load carrier has a wall (9) attached to a first end load carrier segment (3) and a tractive means (13) for pulling the load carrier in the conveying direction (A), said means being capable of being coupled to and uncoupled from the first end load carrier segment and the length of said means at least corresponding to or exceeding the length of all coupled load carrier segments in the conveying direction.

Description

Load carriers for use in a logistics system

The present invention relates to a load carrier for use in a logistics system to be taken from the bed of a vehicle or container in a direction of transport or transferred to the bed of the vehicle, wherein the load carrier has substantially dimensions adapted to the bed of the vehicle are, and a plurality of in the conveying direction coupled to each other and can be decoupled from each other carrier segments having a respective base body.

Load carriers of the type described above are known, for example, from the present applicant and are used in logistics systems in order to enable the rapid unloading and loading of vehicles or containers. The charge carriers are each designed to transfer a large amount of goods, either in the form of palletized goods or as general cargo, with a single movement of the load carrier from the vehicle or container to a logistics system, or from the logistics system those carriers to the vehicle to hand over. Apart from completely loaded load carriers, it often happens that also tarry load carriers have to be moved from one location, for example a first logistics center, to a second location, for example a second logistics center. The known from the prior art carriers are basically stackable, but it can not be transported too many carriers simultaneously in a vehicle. As a result, a large number of "empty trips" are necessary in the transport case of many load carriers in the unloaded state, this is perceived as a disadvantage in the prior art, even though the load carriers basically participate in a very efficient logistics system. Restrictions of a logistical nature are in the known logistics systems with the known load carriers in the loading or packaging of the respective charge carriers. These must be loaded and unloaded by the logistics service providers, as long as they are not cached as a whole unit with their load in high-bay warehouses or similar conditions adapted for the load carriers. The unloading and loading of the load carriers in the direction of transport from a vehicle or container also always requires a certain area to be kept clear in the direction of transport behind the vehicle or container, which restricts the operating location for unloading and loading vehicles with the known load carriers.

The invention was therefore based on the object to remedy the disadvantages found in the prior art as much as possible. The invention was in particular the object of specifying a charge carrier that is easier to transport. Furthermore, the invention was in particular the object of specifying a charge carrier, which provides a higher flexibility with respect to its loading and unloading process.

The invention solves its underlying object in a charge carrier according to the type described by a mounted on a first end-side carrier segment wall, and a traction means for pulling the carrier in the conveying direction, which is coupled to the first end-side load carrier segment and decoupled from it and has a length which equals or exceeds at least the length of all coupled cargo segments in the transport direction.

In the context of the present invention, a loading surface adapted to the dimensions of a vehicle is understood to mean that the charge carrier is received on the loading surface of the vehicle substantially free of lateral play. In this case, play-free means that there is at most as much play that no tilting of the charge carrier can occur. Under the direction of transport is understood in the context of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the charge carrier.

The invention is based on the finding that the charge carrier, if it has a segment-like structure, is easier to stack, and can be better exploited given space conditions for storing and / or transporting the empty charge carriers. Furthermore, the invention is based on the finding that the charge carrier enables a particularly simple handing when discharging: The charge carrier according to the invention is first transferred with the endseifigen charge carrier segment in a vehicle or on the loading area. The wall is thus located on the opposite side of a loading opening on the back of the vehicle. Due to its length, the traction means extends from the first end-side charge carrier segment past all other carrier segments to the end of the opposite second end-side carrier segment. Thus, the traction means is accessible from the side of the opening of the vehicle or container to the loading area, and it can be achieved by simply pulling the traction means that the entire load carrier is moved in the direction of transport from the vehicle or container. In this case, the segment-like structure of the charge carrier is particularly advantageous. After the charge carrier has just been pulled out of the vehicle or container so far that an entire load carrier segment has left the loading surface, it is possible to unload this load carrier segment, while the remaining load carrier segments, which are still on the loading surface, remain in the loaded state. After the charge carrier segment has been completely discharged, it can, because it can be decoupled, be released from the remaining charge carrier segments of the charge carrier and be thrown off to the side. This is also possible in a very small space, which would not allow complete unloading of a non-segmented charge carrier. Furthermore, the unloading by means of simple pulling on the traction means is possible, and it is no further hardware, for example in the form of a longitudinal conveyor unit or transfer station, necessary.

The process of sequentially discharging the carrier segments and successively removing these carrier segments from the remainder of the carrier may be repeated until the entire carrier is depleted of charge. The isolated carrier segments can be stowed individually or as a convolute, for example, on the back of the vehicle or container, leaving plenty of room for more carriers, or alternatively for other conventionally stored goods. Preferably, the traction means of the first endseit ^'tgen carrier segment can be decoupled and again koppeibar with him, for example in order to ensure an exchange in case of damage.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the traction means is formed in a single-limb or multi-limbed manner, wherein the member or members are selected from the list consisting of: drawstring, drawstring, traction cable, drawbar.

Preferably, the charge carrier can be coupled to a second end-side charge carrier segment, which is arranged opposite the first end-side charge carrier segment in the conveying direction, and can be decoupled from it.

Weather preferably, the traction means between the cargo area and the carrier segments is laid substantially in the direction of transport. This ensures that the actuation of the traction means remains unaffected by goods stored on the carrier segments.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the load carrier segments each have on their underside in the conveying direction a recess for at least partially receiving the traction means. By partial lowering of the traction means in the recesses, which are preferably aligned with each other, so that forms a continuous recess over the charge carrier segments, the overall height of the carrier can be reduced because the traction means no additional height within the cargo space of the vehicle or container occupies, or at least less height. As a result, the available cargo space is increased. Another advantage of the recesses provided in the charge carrier segments lies in a lateral guidance possibility for the traction means.

In a preferred embodiment, the charge carrier segments each have on their underside a plurality of rolling elements, by means of which the charge carrier can be moved. Alternatively, the charge carrier segments each have on their underside a plurality of slide rails or areas with reduced surface friction in comparison to the rest of the load carrier segments, by means of which a displacement of the charge carrier is simplified. In the case of a trained with Wäfzkörpern charge carrier is preferred if the depth of the recess and the diameter of the rolling elements are chosen such that the traction means can run without jamming between the carrier and the loading area in the recess. As rolling elements are preferably rollers, rollers, wheels or the like. For use.

In a further preferred embodiment of the charge carrier according to the invention, the charge carrier segments each have a male detent unit on their front sides in the direction of transport and a female detent unit on the opposite side.

Preferably, the male detent unit and the female detent unit can each be coupled to one another by insertion, preferably by clicking. Furthermore, the male detent unit and the female detent unit can preferably be decoupled by means of an angle of a charge carrier segment relative to the adjacent segment.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the male and female locking units are formed exclusively on the side surfaces of the carrier segments. In particular, this designates the end faces of the carrier segments in the conveying direction.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality, preferably all, of the charge carrier segments have the same length in the conveying direction. Here, the advantage is seen that the carrier segments are stackable to a uniformly wide package.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall of the first end-side load carrier segment can be erected, preferably connected foldable to the main body. This has the further advantage that the wall can not be lost, but can be stacked together with the end-side charge carrier segment and optionally the remaining charge carrier segments.

Particularly preferably, the wall is formed in one or more parts, wherein each part of the wall has a height which corresponds at most to the length of the base body. Further preferably, the wall is formed in several parts, and the plurality of parts of the aufstelibaren wall are folded together, or can be plugged together. Because each of the parts of the wall has the same length as the carrier segments, all components of the carrier can be stacked in a segmented state and thus optimally stackable, so that several carriers can be stored side by side in a small space with little volume consumption. In a typical embodiment of the invention, 30 to 40 segmented and stacked charge carriers are storable in a standard container.

The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a truck, having a loading space which has a loading area and a loading area opening delimiting the loading area in a conveying direction, and a load carrier which can be arranged in the loading space and can be removed from the loading space. Under vehicle here is understood to mean both a self-propelled and a non-self-propelled vehicle, including, for example, trailer or trailer fall. The invention solves the problem, which is also based on a charge carrier of the previously known type, of improving flexibility in loading and unloading in connection with charge carriers and in their transport by designing the charge carrier in the vehicle according to one of the above-described preferred embodiments of the invention. The invention further relates to a container, in particular designed as a swap body, with a loading space, which has a loading area and a loading space defining loading space opening in a conveying direction, and a transportable both in the loading space and removable from the loading space carrier. The invention also solves the problem underlying the container, the flexibility in handling of carriers and their transport to improve by the carrier is designed according to one of the preferred embodiments of the invention described above.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached figures with reference to a preferred embodiment. Hereby show: 1 is a schematic perspective view of a charge carrier according to the invention according to the preferred embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows an alternative view of the charge carrier according to FIG. 1, FIG.

3 shows a detailed view of a component of the charge carrier according to FIGS. 1 and 2,

4 shows a load carrier according to the invention in a container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention,

5 shows charge carriers and containers according to FIG. 4 in an alternative state,

6 shows charge carriers and containers in a further alternative state,

Fig. 7 charge carriers and containers in yet another alternative state, and

Fig. 8 charge carriers and containers in still an alternative state.

In Fig. 1, a charge carrier 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The charge carrier 1 has a first charge carrier segment 3 in the conveying direction A, on which a wall 9 is arranged. The wall 9 is in the orientation shown perpendicular to the main body of the end-side load carrier segment 3. According to the preferred embodiment, the wall 9, a first wall segment 9a and a second wall segment 9b, which are preferably zusammenfalfbar together.

The first end-side charge carrier segment 3 is coupled to a charge carrier segment 5. Some further charge carrier segments 5 are coupled to the charge carrier segment 5, and a second end-carrier charge carrier segment 7 is coupled to a charge carrier segment 5 at the end of the charge carrier 1, which is opposite to the first end-side charge carrier segment 3 in the transport direction A.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, a plurality of rollers is formed on the underside of the charge carrier 1. The rollers are arranged in four roller conveyors 11a-d on the respective charge carrier segments 3, 5, 7, substantially in the middle of the underside of the charge carrier 1 extends a traction means 13, formed here as a band, in the conveying direction A over the entire charge carrier 1. The traction means 13 is coupled both to the first end-side charge carrier segment 3 and to the second end-side charge carrier segment 7. By coupling the traction means 13 with the second end-side carrier segment 7, the possibility is opened to seize the entire carrier segment for the initial pulling of the carrier 1 from a transport position in a vehicle or container, instead of grasping and pulling only the traction means 13. Both are basically possible in corresponding embodiments of the invention.

The first end-side charge carrier segment 3 is shown alone in FIG. The main body of the load carrier segment 3 has a length L in the conveying direction A. The segments 9a, 9b of the wall 9 each also have the length L. The first wall segment 9a can be folded or folded onto the main body of the load carrier segment 3. The second wall segment 9b can be folded or folded onto the first wall segment 9a. Thus, the first end-side carrier segment 3 can be folded to a very compact size. In the erected state, the wall is preferably fixed in the upright position by means of further support means, not shown, in order to be able to catch moments of inertia and / or forces when pulling the load carrier 1, which act on it by the charge.

Figures 4 to 8 illustrate the advantages of the charge carrier according to the invention in its use. First, in Fig. 4, a container 100 is shown according to the invention. The same statements as below with reference to the container 100 can also be made for a vehicle which differs from the container only in that additionally a vehicle substructure, for example for a semi-trailer or a truck, is provided. For reasons of clarity, this description is omitted here.

The container 100 according to FIGS. 4 to 8 has an interior space 103, which is accessible from a loading space opening 101. The load compartment opening 101 can be closed by two load compartment doors 101a, b. In FIGS. 4 to 8, the doors 101a, b are open or hidden. Inside the container 100, a charge carrier 1 according to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 is arranged. The carrier 1 is loaded with a plurality of goods 200. The goods can be, for example, palletized goods. In the state according to FIG. 4, the load carrier 1 is arranged completely in its transport position in the container 100.

By moving the load carrier 1 in the direction of the carriage A, the state of FIG. 5 is reached. By grasping either the second end-side carrier segment 7 or the traction means 13, the carrier 1 has been pulled out of the container 100 by a first distance. By provided on the underside of the charge carrier 1 rolling elements for this no particularly large force is necessary, even with fully laden charge carrier. The erected wall 9 on the charging cavity opening opposite side of the charge carrier 1 prevents goods 200 fall from the carrier 1. They are guided through the wall 9 and the side walls of the container 100.

The now released in the state shown in FIG. 5 and accessible from the outside goods 200 have been removed in the state shown in FIG. 6 from the carrier 1. A first segment, namely the second end-side carrier segment 7, is exposed. The remaining goods 200 are located on the further load carrier segment of the load carrier 1, and still in the container 100. In very cramped Piatzverhäftnissen in the vicinity of the container 100, it may now be advantageous or necessary to create before a continued unloading of the carrier 1 more space. This is achieved according to the invention in a simple manner by removing the second end-side carrier segment 7,

This condition is shown in FIG. Instead of the second end-side load carrier segment 7, only the traction means outside the container 100 is now visible. By further actuation of the pulling means 13, further goods 200 are now pulled out of the container 100 starting from the state according to FIG. 7, and further charge carrier segments 5 are conveyed out of the container 100. By stepwise unloading of the goods 200 after each removal of another carrier segment 5 more and more goods 200 are discharged from the container 100, without requiring further space for action would be necessary. The isolated goods 200 can be removed to the side. Fig. 8 finally shows a state in which the traction means has been operated so far that only the first end-side carrier segment 3 and the erected wall 9 are located inside the container 100, and only residual goods 200 remain in the container. The interior 103 of the container 100 is almost completely emptied. To completed unloading of the charge carrier 1 and the rest of the charge carrier 1, the first end-side carrier segment 3 can be folded and placed together with the other carrier segments 5, 7 on a stack. The traction means 13, provided sufficient flexibility, preferably arranged to zusammenzuspannen the stacked ensemble of carrier segments 3, 5, 7 and the wall 9 in a bundle, so that none of the individual parts is lost or slipped. Storing or transporting the segmented charge carrier 1 requires significantly less space capacity than the transport of a conventional charge carrier in non-segmented form. Another advantage of the present invention is that the charge carrier segments themselves can be made much thinner, ie with a flatter base body, than known charge carriers. Furthermore, for example, the possibility has been created to produce the carrier segments from wood elements, while recourse has been made in the known charge carriers to steel or aluminum components. The additional provision of the traction means makes excessively stable Verriegeiungs- or locking mechanisms between the adjacent carrier segments superfluous, because not a segment next "pulls", but always the wall 9 via the traction means 13, the force on the goods and the carrier 1 transfers total.

Claims

claims

A load carrier (1) for use in a logistics system for being picked up from the bed of a vehicle or container (100) in a direction of transport or transferred to the bed of the vehicle, the load carrier

- Has substantially dimensions that are adapted to the bed of the vehicle, and

having a plurality of carrier segments {3, 5, 7) which can be coupled to one another in the conveying direction and can be decoupled from one another, having a respective main body,

marked by

- One at a first end-side carrier segment (3) mounted wall (9), and

- A traction means (13) for pulling the carrier in the conveying direction (A), which is coupled to the first end-side carrier segment and decoupled from and has a length which corresponds to at least the length of all coupled carrier segments in the conveying direction, or exceeds.

2. Carrier according to claim 1,

characterized in that the traction means is formed einliedrig or mehrgliedrig, wherein the one or more members are selected from the list consisting of: drawstring, pull chain, pull rope, pull rod.

3. Carrier according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the traction means is koppefbar to a second end-side carrier segment (7) and decoupled from this.

4. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the traction means between the loading surface and the carrier segments is laid substantially in the conveying direction.

5. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the charge carrier segments each have on their underside in the conveying direction a recess for at least partially receiving the traction means.

6. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the charge carrier segments each have on their underside a plurality of rolling elements, mitteis of which the charge carrier is movable.

7. A carrier according to claim 6,

characterized in that the depth of the recess and the diameter of the WäSzkörper are chosen such that the traction means Kiemmfrei can run between the carrier and the loading area in the recess.

8. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the charge carrier segments each have a male detent unit and opposite a female detent unit at their end faces in the conveying direction.

9. The charge carrier according to claim 8,

characterized in that the male detent unit and the female detent unit can each be coupled to one another by means of insertion, and can be decoupled by means of an angle of a charge carrier segment relative to the adjacent segment.

10. A charge carrier according to claim 8 or 9,

characterized in that the male and female locking units are formed exclusively on the side surfaces of the carrier segments.

11. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that several, preferably all, carrier segments in the conveying direction have the same length.

12. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the wall of the first end-side charge carrier segment can be erected, preferably connected foldable with the base body.

13. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the wall is formed in one or more parts, wherein each part of the wall has a height which corresponds at most to the length of the base body.

14. Carrier according to claim 13, characterized in that the wall is formed in several parts, and the plurality of parts of the wall are folded together, or are plugged together.

15, vehicle, in particular truck, with

a loading space, which has a loading area and a load space defining loading space opening in a conveying direction, and

a charge carrier (1) which can be arranged in the loading space as well as being removable from the load compartment in the direction of transport,

characterized in that the charge carrier is designed according to one of claims 1 to 14. 6. Container (100), in particular swap, with

characterized in that the charge carrier is designed according to one of claims 1 to 14.