Apparatus and method for assembling shelving units

Abstract

An apparatus is described for assembling a shelving unit consisting of a frame and a plurality of detachable shelves supported by the frame. The apparatus comprises a supply section for supplying a shelf, a testing section for inspecting the supplied shelf, a positioning section for gripping an approved shelf and subsequently mounting the shelf in the frame, and a control unit for controlling the apparatus. It is used in particular for carts for the transport of plants.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of international application no. PCT / EP2006 / 069154 filed on Nov. 30, 2006, which was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The current invention relates to an apparatus and a method for assembling or putting together shelving units, in particular trolleys for transporting flowers, plants and the like. The invention further relates to systems comprising in combination a plurality of such shelving units and an apparatus for assembling the shelving units.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Shelving units are known in various fields. Particularly in commercial fields, such shelving units may be assembled for use and subsequently require dismantling for the purpose of transport or storage. At certain locations, such as at the wholesaler's, this process m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]According to the preferred embodiment, the supply section supplies shelves, one by one, from a stack. The stack is located e.g. on a cart. The supply section may be a similar apparatus to that described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 660,316, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. According to that device, belts mounted over rollers grip the stack of shelves. The belts may be inflated to grip the shelves and may also be actuated to rotate such that the gripped shelves may be supplied to the upper side of the belts in a controlled manner. By supplying the shelves on the same level as the testing section, the speed of the apparatus may be maximized.

[0021]The current invention also provides a method for assembling a shelving unit, wherein the shelving unit comprises a frame and a plurality of detachable shelves supported by the frame, the method comprising: supplying a shelf to an testing section; measuring a number of features of the shelf and comparing the measurements with predetermined requirements; approving a shelf that meets the requirements; gripping the approved shelf; and mounting the gripped shelf in the frame. In this way, because each operation may be carried out mechanically, such a shelving unit may be put together accurately and correctly with little effort and manpower.

[0023]According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the measuring, approving, gripping, mounting and optionally also supplying a shelf, occurs at a substantially constant height, as a result of which movement of the shelf is reduced and an increased process speed may be realized.

Problems solved by technology

Supplied shelves may be deformed to such an extent that they would no longer fit into the frame.

In particular, they may be twisted or bent.

Also, the support elements which rest on the frame, may be bent or even absent.

Such deviations from a standard size may hamper or obstruct assembling a shelving unit.

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