Long goods transport trolley and system for loading and emptying long goods storage facilities

Abstract

Long goods transport wagons, including: - a long goods handcart comprising a manually movable long goods chassis with at least one foot, preferably two feet, in the region of one longitudinal end of the long goods chassis, at least two rigid rollers in the region of the opposite longitudinal end of the long goods chassis, at least two pairs of height-adjustable, preferably swiveling, rollers that can be lowered further than the at least one foot and the at least two rigid rollers, preferably in the longitudinal direction between the at least two rigid rollers and the at least one foot, for moving the long goods handcart transversely to its longitudinal direction, and a first coupling member of a trailer coupling on the side with the at least one foot, and - an electric pallet truck comprising a, preferably detachable, second coupling element of the trailer coupling for connection to the first coupling element and a, preferably detachably attached, ballast weight, an operating station with the same and a system with the same.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a long goods transport trolley and a system for loading and emptying long goods storage facilities.

[0002] Storage facilities for long goods and bar stock are generally known. Bar stock, for example, also includes pipes and profiles. In the following, the term "long goods storage" will be used to refer to storage facilities for both long goods and bar stock.

[0003] Long goods handcarts are used for loading and unloading long goods storage areas.

[0004] From DE 10 2022 105 735 B3 a transport trolley for pipes, in particular cardboard and plastic pipes, is known.

[0005] The present invention is based on the objective of simplifying the loading and unloading of long goods storage systems.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a long goods transport wagon comprising: - a long goods handcart comprising a manually movable long goods chassis with at least one foot, preferably two feet, in the region of one longitudinal end of the long goods chassis, at least two rigid rollers in the region of the opposite longitudinal end of the long goods chassis, at least two pairs of height-adjustable, preferably swiveling, rollers that can be lowered further than the at least one foot and the at least two rigid rollers, preferably in the longitudinal direction between the at least two rigid rollers and the at least one foot, for moving the long goods handcart transversely to its longitudinal direction, and a first coupling member of a trailer coupling on the side with the at least one foot, and - an electric pallet truck which has a second coupling element of the trailer coupling, preferably removable, for connecting to the first coupling element and a ballast weight, preferably detachably attached.

[0007] In particular, it could be a long goods transport trolley that can be moved on the ground.

[0008] The rigid casters are also called fixed casters.

[0009] The long goods transport wagon can be designed and / or equipped to accommodate a long goods cassette.

[0010] Furthermore, this task is solved by a system according to claim 6.

[0011] The long-goods transport trolley may be provided with at least one push bar for manual steering of the long-goods chassis. Preferably, the long-goods chassis has at least two such push bars, preferably arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of the long-goods chassis. Particularly preferably, the two push bars can be arranged exactly opposite each other on the longitudinal sides.

[0012] Advantageously, the push bars are detachably attached to the long goods chassis.

[0013] Advantageously, the push bar(s) have / have a handle for one hand at their upper end(s).

[0014] According to a further particular embodiment of the present invention, the first coupling element comprises a ball coupling or tow ball coupling and the second coupling element comprises a ball head. In particular, the ball head can be attached to a bolt or to a ball rod.

[0015] Advantageously, the electric pallet truck has front load wheels, and the second coupling link is located in the area of ​​the front load wheels. It is particularly preferred that the second coupling link is positioned centrally between the front load wheels. This further increases maneuverability.

[0016] Advantageously, the ballast weight and the first coupling link are designed as a single, detachably attached unit on the electric pallet truck. This facilitates the replacement of the electric pallet truck, for example, in case of damage or a defect, and / or its (temporary) reuse.

[0017] The system may also include a centering plate that is movable transversely to the longitudinal direction of movement of the long goods handcart, at least between the guide rails.

[0018] The present invention is based on the surprising finding that, due to the special design of the long goods transport trolley, the long goods hand trolley is easier to maneuver even outside a long goods warehouse, thus making the loading and emptying of a long goods warehouse easier, and in particular faster.

[0019] The operating station significantly simplifies the insertion of a long goods handcart, in particular the long goods handcart of the long goods transport trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 5. This results in time savings and thus lower labor costs.

[0020] Furthermore, inserting the long goods handcart can be simplified even further by using a centering plate. This also has the added benefit of reducing wear on the main bearings of the long goods handcart.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the attached claims and the following description of a particular embodiment of the present invention with reference to the schematic drawings. This shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view obliquely from above of a system for loading and emptying long goods storage facilities by means of long goods handcarts according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 A perspective view from an oblique angle above of an electric pallet truck and a long goods hand truck of the system by Fig. 1; Fig. 3 A perspective view from below at an angle of the long goods handcart from Fig. 2; Fig. 4 A side view of the electric pallet truck shown in the previous figures driving under the long goods handcarts shown in the preceding figures, Fig. 5 a side view of the electric pallet truck and the long goods hand truck from Fig. 4 when raising the forks to couple the electric pallet truck with the long goods hand truck; Fig. 6 A side view of the electric pallet truck and the long goods hand truck from Fig. 5 after lowering additional steering wheels and lowering the forks of the electric pallet truck; Fig. 7 a perspective view obliquely from the front and above of an electric pallet truck according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 a perspective view obliquely from below of a rear longitudinal end of a long goods handcart according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 a side view, partially in section, of a coupling (trailer coupling) between the electric pallet truck according to Fig. 7 and the long goods handcart according to Fig. 8; Fig. 10a a perspective view of the long goods handcart according to Fig. 8; Fig. 10b a sectional view in the plane shown with dashed lines in the Fig. 10a; and Fig. 11 a top view of an alignment device of an operating station for loading and emptying long goods storage facilities by means of a long goods handcart, in particular a long goods handcart of a long goods transport cart according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a long goods transport trolley 10 according to a particular embodiment of the present invention in use for loading and unloading a long goods storage facility, here a steel construction long goods storage facility, 12. The long goods transport trolley 10 belongs to a system 14 for loading and unloading long goods storage facilities according to a particular embodiment of the present invention. The system 14 also includes an operating station 16 for loading and unloading long goods storage facilities according to a particular embodiment of the present invention. The operating station 16 has an inlet and outlet gate (opening) 18 for a long goods hand truck 20. The long goods hand truck 20 belongs to the long goods transport trolley 10. More precisely, the long goods transport trolley 10 includes the long goods hand truck 20 and an electric pallet truck 22.

[0023] The long goods handcart 20 has a first coupling element 24 (see Fig. 3 to 6, 8 and 9) of a trailer coupling 25 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) and the electric pallet truck 22 has a second coupling element of the trailer coupling 25 26 (see also Fig. 2, 4 to 7 and 9) for connecting to the first coupling element 24, as well as a ballast weight 28. The ballast weight 28 serves to weight (rear) drive rollers 30 (see Fig. 1, 2, 4 to 6 and 9), to transfer the drive force of the electric pallet truck 22 "to the ground". In other words, the drive rollers should not spin if possible.

[0024] In the Fig. Figure 1 additionally shows separately and by way of example that the ballast weight 28 and the second coupling element 26 can be designed as a unit 32 detachably attached to the electric pallet truck with a horizontal platform 33. More precisely, the fork 34 of the electric pallet truck 22 can be driven under the platform 33 of the unit 32 and used to receive the unit 32. The unit 32 can be raised and lowered by means of the height-adjustable fork 34. As can also be seen from the Fig. If the result is 1, then the long goods transport wagon 10 is loaded with a long goods item 36 in its longitudinal direction.

[0025] The operating station 16 has 38 funnel-shaped, upwardly projecting guide rails 40 and 42 on the floor (sa Fig. 11) for threading the long goods handcart 20 into the infeed and outfeed chute 18, and a centering plate 44 movable transversely to the longitudinal direction of movement of the long goods handcart 20 between the guide rails 40 and 42. The centering plate 44 can also extend outwards on both sides below the guide rails 40 and 42. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 2 and Fig. As 3 results, the long goods handcart 20 has a manually movable long goods chassis 46 with two feet 48 for parking. The feet 48 are located in the area of ​​the longitudinal end of the long goods chassis 46, where the second coupling element 26 is also located. The feet 48 are located on the two longitudinal sides of the long goods chassis 46 and are opposite each other.

[0026] Furthermore, the long goods chassis 46 has two rigid rollers (main rollers) 50 arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the long goods chassis 46 at a distance from each other at its longitudinal end opposite the longitudinal end with the first coupling element 24.

[0027] Furthermore, the long-goods chassis 46 has an additional pair of rigid rollers 52 both at its longitudinal end with the first coupling element 24 and at its longitudinal end with the rollers 50. The additional rollers 52 are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the long-goods chassis 46 at a distance from each other and are retractable. Preferably, the two pairs of additional rollers 52 are located longitudinally of the long-goods chassis 46 between the feet 48 and the rollers 50.

[0028] The retractable rollers 52 can be lowered so far that they protrude downwards from the long goods chassis 46 over the feet 48 and the rollers 50, in order to be able to roll and maneuver the long goods chassis 46 and thus the long goods handcart 20 over it when necessary.

[0029] Furthermore, this results in particular from the Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, that the first coupling element 24 of the long goods hand truck 20 has a ball coupling, in this example in the form of an opening / eyelet, in a cross member 55 in the long goods chassis 46, and the second coupling element 26 of the electric pallet truck 22 has a ball head. In this example, the ball head is arranged on a cross member 58 centrally between the tines 60 of the fork 34 and in the area of ​​the front load wheels 62 of the electric pallet truck 22 (see Figure 9). Fig. 7).

[0030] Furthermore, this results in particular from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, that on the longitudinal sides of the long-goods chassis 46, two push rods 64 are provided in the region of each longitudinal end for manually steering the long-goods chassis 46. More precisely, in this example, the push rods 64 are arranged in pairs opposite each other on the longitudinal sides.

[0031] The Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. Figure 6 shows the assembly of the long goods transport trolley 10 from the long goods hand trolley 20 and the electric pallet truck 22, as well as the use of the resulting long goods transport trolley 10.

[0032] The electric pallet truck 22 drives under the long goods hand truck 20 ( Fig. 4) The electric pallet truck 22, or rather its forks 34, is raised and picks up the long goods hand truck 20 via the trailer coupling 25 (first coupling link 24 and second coupling link 26); the (rear) feet 48 of the long goods hand truck 20 no longer have contact with the ground 38 ( Fig. 5).

[0033] The long goods handcart 20 is pulled out of the long goods storage area (with load) by the operating station using the electric motor (not shown) of the electric pallet truck 22 and can be moved freely, for example, within a hall. The long goods handcart 20 can be moved, for example, to a workstation / machining cell. There, the long goods handcart 20 is lowered using the electric pallet truck 22. The electric pallet truck 22 can then be used, for example, to transport another long goods handcart or for standard tasks. The long goods handcart 20 is automatically secured against rolling away by the lowering movement of the forks 34 and the contact of the feet 48 with the floor 38.

[0034] The additional rollers 52, which are steerable, can now be moved by a lifting device 66 (see below). Fig. 8 and Fig. 10a and 10b) are lowered. The long goods handcart 20 lifts off the rollers (main rollers) 50 and can then be moved, for example, 90° to the main direction of movement. The rollers 50 and the (rear) feet 48 no longer have contact with the ground 38 (see Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. 6) This makes omnidirectional operation possible.

[0035] After the load has been removed, the long goods hand truck 20 can be pushed away from the workstation, for example, by hand. The rollers 52 can be raised so that the long goods hand truck 20 is again resting on the rollers 50 and the feet 48. The electric pallet truck 22 can then be moved back under the long goods hand truck 20, and the second coupling link 26 can be raised again using the forks 34. After the coupling connection has been established, the long goods hand truck 20 can be moved back to, for example, the operating station 16.

[0036] As can be seen from the Fig. 1 and Fig. As 11 results, the long goods handcart 20 can be aligned when being inserted into the operating station 16 via the movable centering plate 44 and an alignment funnel in the form of the funnel-shaped insertion strips 40 and 42. This significantly simplifies the insertion of the long goods handcart 20 into the operating station 16.

[0037] The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments, both individually and in any combination.

Claims

[1] Long goods transport wagon (10), comprising: - a long goods handcart (20) comprising a manually movable long goods chassis (46) with at least one foot (48), preferably two feet, in the region of a longitudinal end of the long goods chassis (46), at least two rigid rollers (50) in the region of the opposite longitudinal end of the long goods chassis (46), at least two pairs of height-adjustable, preferably pivotable, rollers (52) that can be lowered further than the at least one foot (48) and the at least two rigid rollers (50), preferably in the longitudinal direction between the at least two rigid rollers (50) and the at least one foot (48), for moving the long goods handcart (20) transversely to its longitudinal direction, and a first coupling member (24) of a trailer coupling (25) on the side with the at least one foot (48), and - an electric pallet truck (22) which has a, preferably detachable, second coupling element (26) of the trailer coupling (25) for connecting to the first coupling element (24) and a, preferably detachably attached, ballast weight (28). [2] Long goods transport trolley (10) according to claim 1, wherein the long goods chassis (46) has at least one push bar (64) for manually steering the long goods chassis (46). [3] Long goods transport wagon (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first coupling member (24) has a ball coupling or ball coupling and the second coupling member (26) has a ball head. [4] Long goods transport trolley (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric pallet truck (22) has front load wheels (62) and the second coupling element (26) is arranged in the area of ​​the front load wheels (62). [5] Long goods transport trolley (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ballast weight (28) and the first coupling element (24) are designed as a unit (32) detachably attached to or on the electric pallet truck (22). [6] System (14) for loading and emptying long goods storage facilities (12), comprising a long goods transport trolley (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an operating station, wherein the operating station comprises: - an inlet and outlet sluice (18) for the long goods handcart (20) in its longitudinal direction of movement, and - funnel-shaped, upwardly projecting guide rails (40, 42) arranged on the floor (38) for threading the long goods handcart (20) into the infeed and outfeed sluice (18). [7] System (14) according to claim 6, wherein the operating station (16) further comprises: a centering plate (44) movable transversely to the longitudinal direction of movement of the long goods handcart (20) at least between the guide rails (40,42).

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