Vertical lift or carousel storage for storing long goods

Abstract

Vertical lift or carousel for storing long goods (24), such as an aluminum profile or a roof gutter, with a housing (11) which is bounded by opposing side walls (12) for receiving a plurality of trays (15) in which the long goods are received, with a first operating opening (16) which is arranged on an end face (13) of the housing (11) and with a transport device (14) for automated transport of the trays (15); characterized in that the storage rack (10) has a second operating opening (17), wherein the second operating opening (17) is arranged on the side wall (12) of the housing (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vertical lift or a carousel storage system for storing long goods, such as an aluminum profile or a roof gutter, with a housing that is bounded by opposing side walls, for receiving a plurality of trays in which the long goods are received, with a first operating opening that is arranged on an end face of the housing and with a transport device for the automated transport of the trays.

[0002] The vertical lift or carousel storage system has a housing with an operating opening. Storage and retrieval of goods is carried out by the storage unit via this opening. The goods are placed on a tray, which is then conveyed by a transport device to a storage location within the housing of the storage system. EP 0 722 894 A1 describes such a vertical lift, which has two shelves arranged at a distance from each other and an intermediate transport device.

[0003] Storing long items, such as aluminum profiles or gutters with a length of 3 to 5 meters, through the access opening of the storage rack is often difficult for the warehouse worker, as the length of the item can cause it to become jammed in the opening or on the shelf. This can also lead to damage to the stored items. Furthermore, targeted access to stored items can result in unneeded items being removed first.

[0004] Barteis Custom Storage and Transport Equipment. Direct Industry, 2019. URL: https: / / pdf.directindustry.de / pdf / karl-h-bartels-gmbh / catalog-2019 / 165559-775517.html [accessed on February 9, 2021] discloses a cassette drawer rack with a support frame for holding welded long goods cassettes. The long goods cassettes are used to hold long goods and are pulled out on guide rails of the open doors. The long goods are stored and retrieved manually or by crane.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of creating a vertical lift or a carousel storage system of the type mentioned above, which enables simple and ergonomic storage of long goods.

[0006] To solve the problem, a vertical lift or a carousel storage system with the features of claim 1 is proposed.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 10.

[0008] The vertical lift or the carousel storage system according to the invention is characterized in particular by the fact that the storage rack has a second operating opening, wherein the second operating opening is arranged on the side wall of the housing.

[0009] The second access opening provides the warehouse worker with lateral access to the tray, allowing them to insert and remove long goods along their length. This has the advantage that long goods can be stored manually by just one warehouse worker. Access via the second opening prevents the goods from becoming jammed and thus avoids damage. This enables simple, targeted, and ergonomic storage and retrieval of long goods.

[0010] The second operating opening can be positioned on the side wall in such a way as to allow access to the shelf on the work surface via the first operating opening. Alternatively, the second operating opening can be positioned in such a way as to allow access to the shelf located on the transport device.

[0011] The front edge runs along one longitudinal direction of the storage rack. A transverse direction runs along the side wall. Typically, the storage rack has a greater length than its transverse length.

[0012] Advantageously, the vertical lift features numerous storage locations formed by stacked and spaced support beams arranged in pairs on opposite side walls of the housing to hold the trays. The trays can be moved to or from the storage locations using the transport device. Such a storage rack is called a vertical lift. The area above the first access opening can therefore also be used for storage. Above all, this type of storage rack is characterized by fast storage and access times, especially when storing large parts at high density.

[0013] A carousel storage system can be equipped with a circulating transport device. The stored goods are transported to the first access opening by means of a circular movement of the transport device. Such carousel storage systems are also frequently referred to as paternoster lifts.

[0014] Advantageously, the vertical lift or carousel storage system features an extension frame for holding long goods, which is attached to the shelf. This additional extension frame is designed to be placed on top of the shelf. The shelf's base can be precisely adapted to a raised side panel of the shelf, ensuring a secure fit for the extension frame. The extension frame prevents the stored goods from rolling or sliding off the shelf, particularly during transport using the conveying system.

[0015] For this purpose, the mounting frame can have a lateral limit bar that projects vertically upwards. In an advantageous embodiment, the mounting frame has a plurality of lateral and opposing limit bars. These can further include a stabilizing web that connects the limit bars to each other, thereby increasing rigidity.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the extension frame can be coupled to the shelf. The coupling can include a detachable connection, such as a screw, a bolt, a quick-release clamp, or another suitable means. This coupling ensures that the extension frame does not tip off the shelf.

[0017] Advantageously, the extension frame features support arms for bracing the long goods. Furthermore, it is possible to store long goods in multiple layers within the extension frame using superimposed support arms. This design also results in a lightweight extension frame and further increases storage density. The support arms can be mounted between two opposing lateral support bars.

[0018] Advantageously, the stacking frame features an insertion unit, particularly a roller, that supports the long goods. This facilitates the loading and unloading of the long goods on the stacking frame. The insertion unit can consist of a roller or simply a cover made of a material to protect the long goods from damage, such as scratches. A plastic with high sliding properties, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) or polyoxymethylene (POM), can be used as the cover material. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide such an insertion unit on each support arm of the stacking frame. This allows for particularly easy and gentle movement of the stored goods.

[0019] The stacking frame advantageously features individual compartments. These compartments allow for the individual removal of long items. Individual dividers, attached to the support arms, can be provided to separate the compartments. Furthermore, stacking the long items prevents damage.

[0020] Advantageously, the second access opening features a support unit that assists the stored goods during loading and unloading. This support unit can be formed by the lower edge of the access opening or by an additional component. The support unit makes it easier for the warehouse worker to insert long goods. It can consist of one or more rollers or simply a cover made of a material with good sliding properties. Suitable materials for the cover include plastics such as polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) or polyoxymethylene (POM).

[0021] The second operating opening can be advantageously closed by means of a locking device, in particular a roller shutter or a manually or automatically sliding locking element. The locking device increases operational safety, as no lateral access is possible during normal operation. Therefore, it is not possible to accidentally enter this area.

[0022] The following describes embodiments of the vertical lift according to the invention and a mounting frame in more detail, which are shown schematically in the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a vertical lift according to the invention in perspective view; Fig. 2 a mounting frame for a vertical lift according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a section of the vertical lift according to the invention in perspective view and Fig. 4 a side view of a second embodiment of a vertical lift according to the invention.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a storage rack 10 in the form of a vertical lift according to the invention for storing long goods 24, such as an aluminum profile or a gutter, which may have a length of about 2 to 5 m.

[0024] The storage rack 10, designed as a vertical lift, comprises two shelves 34, 35 arranged at a distance from each other, each enclosed by a housing 11. The shelves 34, 35 have side walls 12 aligned parallel to each other. In each shelf 34, 35, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows a plurality of storage locations 32 arranged with superimposed and spaced support brackets 31. The storage locations 32 are designed to accommodate trays 15 on which goods or long goods 24 are stored. A transport shaft 33 is located between the racks 34, 35, in which a transport device 14 can be moved up and down. The controllable transport device 14 can place the trays 15 into or remove them from the storage locations 32 via the transport shaft 33.

[0025] For loading or unloading the stored goods 24 by a warehouse worker, the storage rack 10 has a first access opening 16 and a second access opening 17. These are located in Fig. 3 shown enlarged.

[0026] The first access opening 16 is located on an end face 13 of the storage rack 10, extending along a longitudinal direction L of the storage rack 10. The first access opening 16 has a work surface 16a onto which the tray 15 can be inserted for loading and / or unloading from the transport device 14. The warehouse worker can then manually place stored goods into the tray 15 via the first access opening 16. The storage rack 10 can also have several first access openings 16. These can be arranged side by side and / or on both sides of the opposing racks 34, 35.

[0027] The second access opening 17 is located on the side wall 12 of the storage rack 10 and extends along a transverse direction Q. The second access opening 17 provides lateral access to the work surface 16a of the first access opening 16.

[0028] The second operating opening 17 has a insertion unit 18 that supports the long goods 24 during loading and unloading. The insertion unit 18 is arranged higher than the work surface 16a. Fig. 1 this insertion unit 18 is shown as a roll, whereas the insertion unit 18 in Fig. 3 is shown as covering the lower edge of the second operating opening 17.

[0029] Furthermore, the second operating opening 17 has a locking device 19 that can close access to the work surface 16a. The locking device can be designed as a roller shutter.

[0030] As in Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a mounting frame 20 is arranged on the shelf. The mounting frame 20 is in Fig. 2 shown separately. This can be permanently connected to the shelf 20 using a coupling device.

[0031] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the mounting frame 20 has longitudinally spaced support arms 21 and lateral limit bars 25, which form storage compartments 23 for long goods 24. The limit bars 25 shown are connected via a stabilizing web 26. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the support arms 21 can be arranged one above the other. Furthermore, additional limit bars 25 can be arranged on the support arms 21, forming a plurality of compartments 23. To facilitate the loading or unloading of long goods 24, the extension frame 20 can have a slide-in unit 22. This unit can be designed as a roller or simply as a cover made of a plastic material with good sliding properties, such as PTFE or POM. The cover can be attached to any of the support arms 21.

[0032] The in Fig. The storage rack shown in section 4, number 10, represents another possible configuration of the [unclear text]. Fig. 1 and Fig.The storage rack shown in Figure 3 represents 10. Identical or functionally equivalent components may have the same reference numerals.

[0033] In this embodiment of the storage rack 10, each of the rack 34 and the rack 35 is assigned a second operating opening 17a, 17b. These are separated by the transport shaft 33 and arranged side by side on the side wall 12.

[0034] The second access opening 17 allows the warehouse worker to insert or remove long goods 24 from the storage rack 10 in a particularly ergonomic manner. Damage to the long goods 24 is avoided because they are inserted lengthwise. The extension frame 20 facilitates orderly storage of the long goods 24. Reference symbol list 10 storage racks 11 cases 12 side wall 13 Front 14 Transport device 15 shelves 16 First operating opening 16a Work area 17 Second operating opening 17a, 17b Second operating opening 18 Insert unit 19 Locking device 20 mounting frames 21 Support arm 22 Insert unit 23 compartments 24 long goods 25 Side boundary rod 26 stabilizing bridge 30 Control unit 31 carrier print run 32 storage spaces 33 Transport shaft 34 shelves 35 shelf L Longitudinal direction Q transverse direction

Claims

[1] Vertical lift or carousel storage for long goods (24), such as an aluminium profile or a roof gutter, with a housing (11) which is bounded by opposing side walls (12) for receiving a plurality of trays (15) in which the long goods are received, with a first operating opening (16) which is arranged on an end face (13) of the housing (11) and with a transport device (14) for automated transport of the trays (15); characterized by , that the storage rack (10) has a second access opening (17), wherein the second operating opening (17) is arranged on the side wall (12) of the housing (11). [2] Vertical lift according to claim 1, characterized bya plurality of storage places formed by superimposed and spaced support supports (31) arranged in pairs on the opposite side walls (12) of the housing (11) to accommodate the trays (15), wherein the trays (15) can be delivered to or removed from the storage places by means of the transport device (14). [3] Carousel storage system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the carousel storage system is equipped with a circulating transport device (14). [4] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a mounting frame (20) for receiving the long goods, which is received on the tray (15). [5] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to claim 4, characterized by , that the mounting frame (20) can be coupled with the shelf (15). [6] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by , that the mounting frame (20) has support arms (21) for supporting the long goods. [7] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to any one of claims 4 to 6 characterized by , that the mounting frame (20) has an insertion unit (22), in particular a roller, on which the long product is supported. [8] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by , that the essay frame (20) has individual compartments (23). [9] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to any one of claims 4 to 8 characterized by , that the second operating opening (17) has an insertion unit (18) which supports the stored goods. [10] Vertical lift or carousel storage system according to any one of claims 4 to 9 characterized by , that the second operating opening (17) can be closed by means of a closing device (19), in particular a roller shutter or a closing element.

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