Transport vehicle, preferably a rack trolley, with a rack for storing and transporting plate-shaped elements, as well as a rack loading and / or unloading device and a method for loading and / or unloading racks.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transport vehicle, preferably a rack trolley, with a rack for storing and transporting plate-shaped elements, preferably glass panels, for example insulating glass panels, tempered safety glass panels, or laminated glass panels. The invention also relates to a rack loading and / or unloading device and a method for loading and / or unloading racks.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport vehicle, preferably a rack wagon, having a rack frame for storing and transporting flat elements, preferably glass plates, for example insulating glass plates or ESG plates or composite glass plates. The invention also relates to a rack frame loading and / or unloading device and a method for loading and / or unloading rack frames.

[0002] Flat glass is defined as any glass in the form of glass plates, regardless of the manufacturing process used.

[0003] Composite glass plates are a laminate of at least two individual glass panes, which are each connected to one another by means of an adhesive intermediate layer made of plastic, in particular by means of a highly tear-resistant, tough-elastic, thermoplastic film.

[0004] Single-pane safety glass (ESG) consists of a single, specially heat-treated glass pane. The glass pane is heated to temperatures above its transformation temperature and then rapidly cooled again, causing a pre-stress to develop in the glass pane. Due to the pre-stress, single-pane safety glass has a higher impact and break resistance compared to normal flat glass panels.

[0005] Insulating glass panes or insulating glass sheets are also referred to as multi-pane insulating glass. An insulating glass sheet has at least two glass panes arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from one another, between which a gas- and moisture-tight, closed airspace of a defined width is provided. In order to permanently ensure this predefined airspace between the panes, a surrounding spacer frame is provided between the two glass panes, which connects the two glass panes to each other in the region of their pane outer edges.

[0006] Conventional glass panes also have a thickness of 3 to 19 mm. In order to reduce the CO₂ footprint, thin glass panes are increasingly being used in the industry, for example as central glass panes in a triple-insulated glass panel. Thin glass panes are also used as display glasses for mobile phones and tablets, as well as for laptops and monitors. Thin glass panes have a thickness of 0.03 to 1.9 mm. With the same dimensions, they are thus significantly more difficult to handle than conventional glass panes, and in particular, the risk of breakage is higher.

[0007] For their later use, the glass sheets generally have to be cut to size. In particular, glass strip sheets are divided into individual glass sheet cuttings for this purpose. This is done in cutting systems known per se. After cutting, the glass sheet cuttings or the cut glass sheets are preferably further processed in a further processing plant, for example a laminated glass line or an insulating glass line or a tempering device for the production of single-pane safety glass sheets.

[0008] During the entire manufacturing process, especially before and / or after cutting, the glass sheets are sorted and stored temporarily in a manner known per se. The temporary storage is carried out in corresponding storage facilities. Generally, a distinction is made between vertical and horizontal storage facilities. In the horizontal storage facilities, the glass sheets are stored lying down or horizontally. In the vertical storage facilities, the glass sheets are stored upright, that is vertically or slightly inclined to the vertical.

[0009] The storage facilities can be, for example, stationary or fixed storage facilities or mobile storage facilities, especially mobile drawer carts.

[0010] A storage device in the form of a generic, movable filing cart is known, for example, from DE 10 2018 207 812 A1. The filing cart has a loading space and a chassis with several filing frames arranged one behind the other, which divide the loading space into individual, adjacent and parallel compartments for receiving a glass plate each, the filing frames each having several first elongated, substantially vertical, compartment dividing elements for dividing the compartments. According to DE 10 2018 207 812 A1, the filing cart also has several second elongated compartment dividing elements that laterally delimit the compartments in addition to the first compartment dividing elements. The second compartment dividing elements each extend between two first compartment dividing elements of two adjacent filing frames.

[0011] Furthermore, the file cart, preferably four, has wheels for the movement of the file cart on the ground. The wheels are attached to the bottom of the chassis. According to DE 10 2018 207 812 A1, the storage device can also be a file rack without wheels, which is moved by means of an automated guided vehicle (AGV). Such a file rack has support feet for placing the file rack on the ground.

[0012] In addition, the file cart of DE 10 2018 207 812 A1 has a roller path with several cylindrical, elongate, rotatable transport rollers arranged one behind the other in a loading direction. The transport rollers extend over the entire width of the file cart. The glass plates are transported into and out of the file cart on the transport rollers. For this purpose, the glass plates are placed on the transport rollers with their glass plate edges. Even after being fed into the file cart and during the transport of the glass plates with the file cart, the glass plates are placed on the rollers with their glass plate edges. Instead of the roller path, according to DE 10 2018 207 812 A1, other conveying means, for example conveyor belts, may also be present.

[0013] To introduce the glass plates into the compartment wagons and remove them therefrom, among other things, shuttles that can move back and forth on a fixed track are known to be used. Such shuttles have one or more compartments, and in each compartment, a single glass plate or multiple glass plates can be accommodated one behind the other or flush with each other. In addition, such shuttles, for example, have one or more grippers with which the glass plates can be conveyed, for example, from a compartment wagon onto the shuttle and from the shuttle down, for example, into a compartment wagon. However, a shuttle can also have rollers or belts, for example, for transporting the glass plates.

[0014] For example, a sorting device for sorting plate-shaped elements, preferably glass plate cutouts, is derived from DE 10 2018 218 141 A1. The sorting device has a receiving station with several, preferably arranged side by side in a rack arrangement, racks and a separate sorting station downstream of the receiving station in a processing sequence, also with several, preferably arranged side by side in a rack arrangement, racks. Both the sorting station and the receiving station each have a shuttle that can travel back and forth along a fixed predetermined path parallel to the respective rack arrangement.

[0015] In order to be able to position the magazine racks exactly with respect to the respective shuttle, it is known that the magazine carts are driven into individual boxes for this purpose. The boxes each have, in particular, hydraulic and / or mechanical positioning means for the height / side and longitudinal positioning of the magazine carts.

[0016] DE 20 2009 012 179 U1 discloses a device for archiving and / or intermediate storage of coated glass sheets in clean rooms, with a plurality of roller conveyors for feeding glass sheets, a plurality of roller conveyors each combined with a cross conveyor in the form of several individually driven rollers, a number of devices for aligning glass sheets, a plurality of container boxes for horizontal stacking of glass sheets, a number of loading stations with a portal frame having a lifting device for container boxes, a number of portal box converters with a lifting device and telescopic forks for converting container boxes, the portal box converters being movable, and a number of container racks.

[0017] AT 402 194 B discloses generic file wagons with several adjacent and parallel to each other compartments and rollers for the operation of the file wagons.

[0018] The object of the present invention is to provide a transport vehicle, preferably a panel van, with a panel frame for vertically storing and transporting flat elements, preferably glass plates, which ensures a fast and gentle loading and unloading of the flat elements into and out of the panel frame of the transport vehicle.

[0019] A further object of the invention is to provide a panel frame loading and / or unloading device and a method for loading and / or unloading panel frames, which also ensures a fast and gentle loading and unloading of the flat elements into and out of the panel frames.

[0020] These tasks are solved by a transport vehicle, preferably a pallet truck, according to claim 1, a pallet rack loading and / or unloading device according to claim 13, and a method according to claim 21. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the respective subsequent subclaims.

[0021] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to a drawing. It shows: Fig. 1: A perspective view of a pallet rack of the pallet truck according to the invention without compartment elements Fig. 2: A side view of the pallet truck according to the invention Fig. 3: A simplified, perspective view of the pallet rack loading and / or unloading device according to the invention Fig. 4: A further simplified, perspective view of the pallet rack loading and / or unloading device according to the invention Fig.5: Simplified top view of the rack support and / or unloading device according to the invention Fig. 6: Side view of the rack wagon and a shuttle according to the invention Fig. 7: Side view of the rack wagon and a shuttle when lowering the rack support from a lower carriage of the rack wagon Fig. 8: Side view of the rack wagon and a shuttle with the rack support completely lowered from the lower carriage Fig. 9: Perspective view of an area of the rack support during the loading or unloading of glass sheets into or out of a compartment of the rack support Fig. 10: Enlarged detail from the perspective view according to Fig. 9

[0022] The transport vehicle 1 according to the invention ( Fig. 2-8) has a lower carriage 2 and a rack support 3 arranged thereon.

[0023] The transport vehicle 1 is also an aisle conveyor vehicle or aisle conveyor. Aisle conveyor vehicles are known conveying means used on flat ground for the horizontal transport of goods. The transport vehicle 1 can be driven without tracks or rails, track-bound or rail-bound, or guided by a path or path-bound. Preferably, the transport vehicle 1 is a pallet truck 44.

[0024] Furthermore, the transport vehicle 1 has a first horizontal vehicle direction 1a, preferably the vehicle longitudinal direction or the vehicle loading and / or unloading direction 1a, a horizontal vehicle direction 1b perpendicular thereto, preferably the vehicle width direction 1b, and a vehicle height direction 1c perpendicular to the first and second vehicle directions 1a; 1b.

[0025] In addition, the transport vehicle 1 has a first, preferably front, vehicle end 4a or a vehicle loading and unloading side or a vehicle loading and unloading end, and a second, preferably rear, vehicle end 4b or a vehicle rear side opposite thereto in the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a. If loading and unloading takes place when the rack 3 is arranged on the sub-vehicle 2, glass panels 5 are introduced into the transport vehicle 1 in the vehicle loading and unloading direction 1a from the vehicle loading and unloading end 4a.

[0026] As a result, the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a corresponds to the direction in which loading and unloading takes place if loading and unloading takes place when the rack 3 is arranged on the sub-vehicle 2. This direction generally also corresponds to the direction in which the transport vehicle 1 preferably travels.

[0027] The undercarriage 2 has a front undercarriage end 6a and a rear undercarriage end 6b opposite to this in the longitudinal direction 1a of the goods wagon.

[0028] In addition, the undercarriage 2 has an undercarriage frame 7. If the transport vehicle 1 is a goods wagon 44, then the undercarriage is an undercarriage 45 which has several, preferably four, wheels 8 for moving the goods wagon 44 on the respective ground.

[0029] The undercarriage frame 7 preferably has two undercarriage frame longitudinal beams 9 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction 1a of the goods wagon and at least one, preferably several, undercarriage frame cross beams 10.

[0030] Preferably, the undercarriage 2 also has, at its rear undercarriage end 6b, two bars 11 projecting upward from the undercarriage frame 7 and having grips 12 for a operator 41 to grasp and push the transport vehicle 1, preferably the filing cabinet 44. Fig. 4). Thus, the transport vehicle 1, preferably the filing cabinet 44, can be manually driven by an operator 41.

[0031] However, the undercarriage 2 can also be configured as a driverless undercarriage (AGV = Automated Guided Vehicle). As is well known, a driverless vehicle is a floor-bound vehicle with its own drive that is automatically controlled and contactlessly guided. Preferably, the driverless undercarriage 2 or the driverless transport vehicle 1 is track-bound or rail-bound.

[0032] According to the invention, the rack frame 3 is now mounted on the underbody 2 so as to be movable back and forth in a non-locked or non-fixed position parallel to a horizontal travel direction 46, preferably parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a or also to the vehicle transverse direction 1b, and can thus be removed from the underbody. Thus, the rack frame 3 is detachably connected to the underbody 2.

[0033] The rack frame 3 has a horizontal rack frame longitudinal direction 3a parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a, a horizontal rack frame transverse direction 3b perpendicular thereto and parallel to the vehicle transverse direction 1b, and a rack frame height direction 3c perpendicular to the rack frame longitudinal direction 3a and to the rack frame transverse direction 3b and parallel to the vehicle height direction 1c.

[0034] To enable the detachable connection of the magazine frame 3 to the undercarriage 2, the undercarriage 2 has corresponding means for the movable storage of the magazine frame 3. Preferably, the undercarriage 2 has two transport roller tracks 14 for this purpose ( Fig. 5). The two transport roller tracks 14 are arranged opposite each other in the vehicle width direction 1b and each have several transport rollers 15 arranged one behind the other in the vehicle length direction 1a. The transport rollers 15 are each rotatable about rotational axes parallel to the vehicle width direction 1b and are mounted on one of the undercarriage frame longitudinal beams 9. Preferably, the transport rollers 15 are freely rotatable about the rotational axes. However, they can also be rotatable in a driven manner.

[0035] If the transport rollers 15 are driven by corresponding drive means and are rotatable, they consequently serve to drive the magazine frame 3 relative to the undercarriage 2 in the travel direction 46. If the transport rollers 15 are freely rotatable, the magazine frame 3 is freely movable and is manually operated in this case.

[0036] In addition, the transport rollers 15 are preferably arranged inside on the respective undercarriage longitudinal beam 9. Inside means on the side facing the other undercarriage longitudinal beam 9. According to an embodiment of the invention, the two undercarriage longitudinal beams 9 are L-shaped in cross-section and have a first, plate-shaped, vertically extending L-leg 16a and a second, perpendicular thereto, plate-shaped L-leg 16b. The transport rollers 15 are preferably mounted inside on the first L-leg 16a.

[0037] The preferably cuboid-shaped frame structure 3 of the transport vehicle 1 according to the invention has two lower frame longitudinal beams 17a which extend in particular parallel to the frame longitudinal direction 3a, two upper frame longitudinal beams 17b which extend in particular parallel to the frame longitudinal direction 3a, several lower frame cross beams 18a which extend in particular parallel to the frame width direction 3b, several upper frame cross beams 18b which extend in particular parallel to the frame width direction 3b, and several connecting struts 19 which extend in particular parallel to the frame height direction 3c. The lower frame cross beams 18a extend from one to the other of the two lower frame longitudinal beams 17a and are fixedly connected to them.The upper shelf frame crossbars 18b extend from one to the other of the two upper shelf frame longitudinal bars 17b and are fixedly connected thereto. The connecting struts 19 each extend from one of the two lower shelf frame longitudinal bars 17a to one of the two upper shelf frame longitudinal bars 17b and are fixedly connected thereto..

[0038] Furthermore, the shelf frame 3 preferably has a plurality of upper and lower fastening strips 20a; b for fastening first shelf partition elements 21, preferably shelf partition rods and / or shelf partition cables. The fastening strips 20a; b preferably extend parallel to the shelf frame width direction 3b and are each fastened to the lower or upper shelf frame crossbars 18a; b.

[0039] The first shelf partition elements 21 serve to divide the shelf frame 3 into individual compartments 22 that are adjacent to one another in the shelf frame width direction 3b ( Fig.10). The mutually adjacent and mutually parallel panels 22 are open towards the front end 4a of the panel carriage and preferably also towards the rear end 4b of the panel carriage.

[0040] As a result, the horizontal vehicle width direction 1b or the horizontal panel frame width direction 3b corresponds to the direction in which the panels 22 are arranged side by side, and the horizontal vehicle length direction 1a or the horizontal panel frame length direction 3a is perpendicular thereto. The transport vehicle 1 may have a smaller extent in the vehicle length direction 1a than in the vehicle width direction 1b, or the panel frame 3 may have a smaller extent in the panel frame length direction 3a than in the panel frame width direction 3b.

[0041] The first sectional elements 21 are upright, that is, vertical or substantially vertical. Substantially vertical means that the first sectional elements 21 are slightly inclined with respect to the vertical or to the stacker frame height direction 3c. Preferably, they are inclined towards the rear stacker end 4b or away from it. They can also be inclined additionally towards one side of the stacker frame 3. The inclination can also be variable. All of this is known per se.

[0042] The first sectional elements 21 are arranged flush with each other in the stacker frame longitudinal direction 3a such that they laterally, that is, in the stacker frame width direction 3b, limit the individual stacks 22. In addition, the first sectional elements 21 of the individual stacks 22 are arranged adjacent to each other in the stacker frame width direction 3b.

[0043] Preferably, the stacker frame 3 also has several second sectional elements 23 ( Fig.9), preferably on partition bars or rods. The second partition elements 23 each extend between the first partition elements 21 arranged one behind the other in the direction of the partition frame length 3a.

[0044] For the sake of clarity, the first and second partition elements 21; 23 are not shown or only partially shown in the figures.

[0045] Preferably, the first and second partition elements 21; 23 are formed and arranged as described in DE 10 2018 207 812 A1.

[0046] In the context of the invention, it is also the case that the division of the compartments 22 of the compartment frame 3 is carried out by other components than the described compartment dividing elements 21; 23, even if these are preferred. So, in general, the compartment frames 3 are storage devices with several compartments 22 arranged side by side for receiving at least one upright glass plate 5. Thus, several glass plates 5 can also be arranged one behind the other in a compartment 22.

[0047] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the lower compartment frame crossbars 18a are used for storing the glass plates 5 during the storage of the glass plates 5 in the compartment frame 3. For this purpose, the lower compartment frame crossbars 18a have a, preferably horizontal, crossbar upper side 24. In particular, the lower compartment frame crossbars 18a have a rectangular cross-section. Expediently, they are also tubular in shape.

[0048] It is advantageous that the glass plates 5 with their glass plate edges rest on the flat, horizontal, crossbeam upper side 24 along a contact line with a uniform line load and not only punctually as on the transport rollers of the known file cart with a maximum force above the roller axis. Thereby, the load on the glass plate edges is reduced and damage to the glass plate edges and glass breakage are significantly reduced. This is particularly advantageous for thin glass plates since these are less stable than conventional glass plates.

[0049] In order to further protect the edges of the glass plate, preferably, on the upper sides 24 of the cross members, there is also in each case a protective pad 25 made of a soft material. The edges of the glass plate then do not lie directly on the upper sides of the cross members, but indirectly, namely directly on the protective pads 25, but also along a contact line. Preferably, the protective pads 25 are made of felt and / or of plastic, preferably of rubber.

[0050] In addition, the frame 3 can also have a protective fence 26, which is arranged at the rear end 4b of the frame carriage. The protective fence 26 serves in a known manner to avoid injury to the operator from the often sharp-edged glass plates.

[0051] The two lower tray frame longitudinal carriers 17a preferably also have a region with a U-shaped cross section, which serves as a guide rail 27 for the transport rollers 15 of the undercarriage 2. The two guide rails 27 thus serve to guide and receive the transport rollers 15. For this purpose, the guide rails 27 are open towards the outside. The transport rollers 15 are arranged in the guide rails 27 and can roll off in them. As a result, the tray frame 3 is movably connected to the undercarriage 2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a back and forth. Or the tray frame 3 is movably mounted on the undercarriage 2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a back and forth and can, according to the invention, be driven down from and onto this in a tray frame loading and / or unloading device 28, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0052] Preferably, the transport vehicle 1 also has fixing means or locking means 13 for fixing or locking the magazine frame 3 on the undercarriage 2 during the operation of the magazine wagon 1 on the ground. This corresponds to the basic position of the magazine frame 3. After releasing the fixing or locking, the magazine frame 3 is movably connected to the undercarriage 2 back and forth parallel to the travel direction 46, preferably parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a. Or the magazine frame 3 is relatively movable or movable with respect to the undercarriage 2 parallel to the travel direction 46, preferably parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction 1a. Preferably, the fixing means are hooks or latches. Or it can also be braking means for braking the transport rollers 15.If the transport rollers 15 are braked, they are no longer rotatable and cannot roll in the guide rail 27 anymore, and thereby the carrier frame 3 for the transport is sufficiently fixed or arrested on the undercarriage 2 due to the frictional engagement.

[0053] In the context of the invention, of course, there are also other fixing means 13. It is only important that the tray frame 3 is sufficiently fixed by means of the fixing means 13, taking into account the actually occurring or acting forces, in particular the actually occurring or acting acceleration forces, deceleration forces and / or gravitational forces when the transport path is inclined during the transport of the undercarriage 2. This can be achieved in various ways. For example, it can be hydraulic or electromagnetic fixing means 13. And / or the fixing can be effected, for example, by positive fit and / or frictional engagement (= power connection).

[0054] The tray frame loading and / or unloading device 28 according to the invention ( Fig.3 - 5) has at least one access area 29, preferably several access areas 29, a loading and / or unloading track 30 and preferably several security doors 31.

[0055] The access areas 29 are each used to accommodate a transport vehicle 1, preferably a pallet truck 44. They are arranged side by side in a row along the loading and / or unloading track 30 or in the track longitudinal direction 30a.

[0056] In addition, the access points 29 each preferably have at least one positioning rail 32 for positioning the respective transport vehicle 1, preferably the respective compartment vehicle 44. For this purpose, the positioning rails 32 each have two spaced-apart rail strands 32a. In addition, the positioning rails 32 are arranged on the ground. For positioning, a front and a rear wheel 8 of the compartment vehicle 44 to be positioned are each inserted into the space between the two rail strands 32a, and the compartment vehicle 44 is thereby aligned with the respective security gate 31 and the loading / unloading track 30. The compartment vehicles 44 are positioned or aligned such that the front vehicle end 4a points towards the loading / unloading track 30 in each case.

[0057] Preferably, there is a security gate 31 at access point 29. The security gate 31 is arranged between the access point 29 and the loading and / or unloading track 30 and serves to ensure that the loading and / or unloading track 30 is not freely accessible when no transport vehicle 1 is standing on the respective access point 29. This is known per se. Preferably, the security gates 31 are formed as rolling gates.

[0058] The loading and / or unloading track 30 has at least one movable, floor-bound shuttle 33. The shuttle 33 is movable back and forth along a predefined travel path 34, preferably on rails, parallel to the row of access points or in the track longitudinal direction 30a, preferably automatically.

[0059] In addition, the shuttle 33 has a shuttle longitudinal direction 33a, which is perpendicular, in particular horizontal, to the track longitudinal direction 30a, a shuttle width direction 33b, which is perpendicular thereto, in particular horizontal, and a shuttle height direction 33c, which is in particular vertical. The shuttle 33 is movable along the travel path 34 parallel to the shuttle width direction 33b.

[0060] In addition, the shuttle 33 has a chassis 35 and a shuttle structure 36 arranged thereon. The shuttle structure 36 has several shuttle transport rollers 37 arranged adjacent to one another in the shuttle longitudinal direction 33a for transporting the glass sheets 5. The shuttle transport rollers 37 are rotatable about roll axes parallel to the shuttle width direction 33b, preferably rotatably driven. For this purpose, the shuttle 33 has corresponding drive means with which the shuttle transport rollers 37 can be driven to rotate about the roll axes. In addition, the shuttle transport rollers 37 are movable up and down or back and forth in the vertical shuttle height direction 33c. For this purpose too, the shuttle 33 has corresponding drive means with which the shuttle transport rollers 37 can be driven to move up and down.

[0061] The loading and / or unloading path 30 also has several transport bridges 38 that span the driving path 34 in a bridge-like manner. The shuttles 33 can pass under the transport bridges 38. The transport bridges 38 are used to transport the tray assembly 3, which will be discussed in more detail below. For this purpose, the transport bridges 38 have several bridge transport rollers 39 arranged side by side in the shuttle longitudinal direction 33a. The bridge transport rollers 39 are rotatable about roll axes parallel to the path longitudinal direction 30a, preferably freely rotatable. However, they can also be at least partially driven rotatably. The bridge transport rollers 39 form a bridge transport roller path 40.

[0062] In the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, only one bridge transport roller 39 each is shown for illustration without the transport bridge 38.

[0063] The rack storage and / or unloading device 28 according to the invention serves, as already explained, for loading the racks 3 with glass sheets 5 and / or unloading the glass sheets 5 from the racks 3.

[0064] For this purpose, the transport vehicles 1 loaded with the glass plates 5, preferably the loaded pallet cars 44, are driven to one of the access areas 29 each. This is done either manually by an operator 41 or automatically if the under-vehicle 2 is an AGV. In this case, a front wheel 8 and the rear wheel 8 arranged behind it of the respective pallet car 44 are inserted into the positioning rail 32 of the respective access area 29. Thereby, the pallet car 44 is positioned and aligned in the access area 29. The front vehicle end 4a faces the loading and / or unloading track 30. In addition, the transport roller paths 14 of the under-vehicle 2 are aligned in the longitudinal direction 1a of the pallet car and arranged at the same height as one of the transport roller paths 40 of the transport bridges 38. The security gate 31 is still closed.

[0065] After the transport vehicle 1 has been properly positioned, the security gate 31 is opened. Now, the rack frame 3 is driven down from the undercarriage 2 and onto the transport bridges 38. This can be done manually or automatically. First, the transport rollers 15 of the undercarriage 2 are arranged in the two guide rails 27 of the rack frame 3. During the movement of the rack frame 3 relative to or on the undercarriage 2, the transport rollers 15 of the undercarriage 2 roll off in the guide rails 27. Since one of the transport roller paths 40 of the transport bridges 38 is connected to one of the transport roller paths 14 of the undercarriage 2, the bridge transport rollers 39 of the transport bridges 38 are gradually introduced into the guide rails 27 of the rack frame 3 and roll off in them until the rack frame 3 has been completely driven down from the undercarriage 2 and is arranged on the transport bridges 38.

[0066] Now, the shuttle 33 moves under the respective rack 22 of the rack frame 3 to be unloaded. The shuttle transport rollers 37 of the shuttle 33 are extended upward so that they bear against the glass table edge of the glass table 5 to be unloaded and lift this from the upper sides of the cross members 24 of the lower rack frame cross members 18. In doing so, the shuttle transport rollers 37 of the shuttle 33 pass through between two lower rack frame cross members 18 each. Subsequently, the shuttle transport rollers 37 are driven in such a way that they convey the glass table 5 in the shuttle longitudinal direction 33a out of the respective rack 22 and out of the rack frame 3 and convey it into its next station or its next destination 42. The next destination 42 is thus arranged in the shuttle longitudinal direction 33a opposite the transport vehicle 1.

[0067] For example, the destination 42 is a fixed memory or another magazine rack.

[0068] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the destination 42 is another shuttle 43 ( Fig. 5), which can move back and forth in the track longitudinal direction 30a on a fixed track opposite the loading and / or unloading track 30 relative to the access points 29. The further shuttle 43 has, in a manner known per se, a vertical shuttle wall for placing the glass sheets 5 on. The glass sheets 5 are then preferably conveyed from the further shuttle 43 to a further processing plant, for example an insulating glass line or an edge processing device or a drilling machine or a washing machine or a laser machine.

[0069] The further shuttle 43 preferably does not have grippers for gripping the glass sheets 5.

[0070] In addition, the two shuttles 33; 43 can also be mechanically coupled to each other such that they can be moved back and forth together or synchronously in the longitudinal direction 30a of the track. Thus, there is only one drive means for both shuttles 33; 43. In addition, in this case, the transport bridges 38 preferably do not have a support at their end facing the further shuttle, but are formed to project freely.

[0071] The transport vehicle 1 is loaded in the reverse order.

[0072] The advantage of the two-part transport vehicle 1 according to the invention, preferably the file wagon 44, and the file rack loading and / or unloading device 28 according to the invention is that the loading and unloading of the glass sheets 5 into and out of the file rack 3 by means of the shuttle 3 is very fast, whereby the cycle times can be reduced. In particular, the loading and unloading is possible faster than with a shuttle having a gripper. The glass sheets 5 are also conveyed from the shuttle 33 to the further shuttle 43 without a gripper.

[0073] In addition, the loading and unloading without a gripper is gentler. In particular in the case of thin glass, this results in significantly fewer glass breakages.

[0074] In addition, with the shuttle 33, several, for example two, glass plates 5 can also be arranged one behind the other in a compartment 22 and transported in and out simultaneously or successively. This multiple occupancy of a compartment 22 leads to a significantly higher utilization of the transport vehicles 1. The number of compartment racks 3 can thus be significantly reduced.

[0075] Since the shuttle 33 can pass beneath the transport bridges 38 and the compartment racks 3 arranged thereon, the operation of the shuttle 3 during the process of the compartment racks 3 being moved onto the transport bridges 38 and back down again is not restricted either.

[0076] In addition, the positioning of the inventive compartment cart 44 relative to the shuttle 33 is very simple. The elaborate boxes are no longer necessary for this. In particular, an elaborate mechanism for precise positioning in all three spatial directions is eliminated.

[0077] Moreover, the positioning rails 32 can even be dispensed with, especially when using driverless underfloor vehicles 2. Because these can position themselves precisely autonomously. In addition, the positioning of the drawer units 3 is carried out via the transport bridges 38 and the positioning accuracy can be lower due to the omission of grippers in the shuttle 33. The drawer unit loading and / or unloading device 28 according to the invention therefore allows for a coarser positioning and is thus significantly less prone to errors and requires less maintenance.

[0078] As already explained, it is also advantageous that the glass plates 5 with their glass plate edges rest on the horizontal, cross-member top side 24 of the lower vehicle cross-member 18a along a contact line with a uniform line load, rather than just at points as on the transport rollers of the known file wagon. This reduces the load on the glass plate edges and significantly reduces damage to the glass plate edges and glass breakage. Thus, even thin glass plates can be easily stored in the transport vehicle 1 and transported in a shock-resistant manner in it.

[0079] In addition, due to the uniform load per unit length during transportation, the glass plates 5 are significantly more stable, and in particular, they rotate less and "flutter" less. This also reduces the load on the glass plates 5. This is further improved by the protective supports 25, since the edges of the glass plates 5 engage or press into the protective supports 25. As a result, even the number of sectional elements 21;23 and the vehicle cross members 18a can be reduced, which saves weight and costs.

[0080] Also, the loading and unloading using the shuttle transport rollers 37 is gentler, especially for thin glass plates, i.e., loading and unloading with grippers. In particular, the risk of breakage and scratching is lower.

[0081] Loading and unloading by means of the shuttle transport rollers 37 is possible in particular due to the two-part design of the transport vehicle 1. Because of this, the magazine frame 3 can be positioned above the shuttle 33 and the shuttle transport rollers 37 can penetrate the spaces between the lower magazine vehicle cross members 18a. This is of course also possible if the vehicle cross members 18a are designed differently, for example with cylindrical, elongated transport rollers, as described above. However, the embodiment with the flat, horizontal cross member surface 24 is preferred.

[0082] In the case of the cylindrical transport rollers, it is also possible for the shuttle 33 to have a circulating shuttle transport belt instead of the shuttle transport rollers 37 (not shown). The shuttle transport belt is also movable up and down, so that it can be brought into contact with the elongate transport rollers and drive them thereby.

[0083] Another advantage of the two-part transport vehicle 1 according to the invention is that it is constructed simply and cost-effectively. In particular, there does not have to be a sub-vehicle 2 for each rack frame 3. While the rack frame 3 is arranged on the transport bridges 38, the sub-vehicle 2 can be used for another rack frame 3. This saves material and costs and is particularly advantageous in the case of automated loading and unloading by means of driverless sub-vehicles 2.

[0084] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the shuttle 33 is also arranged sunk in the ground. Thereby, the transport vehicles 1, in particular the tray wagons 44 together with the undercarriage 2 can be positioned directly on the loading and / or unloading track 30 above the shuttle 33 for loading and unloading. In this case, the transport vehicles 1 do not have to be designed in two parts. Or the tray frames 3 without the undercarriage 2 can be positioned directly on the loading and / or unloading track 30 above the shuttle 33 for loading and unloading. The transport bridges 38 are then no longer necessary. The tray frames 3 may or may not have support feet for this purpose.

[0085] The undercarriages 2 can also be arranged to be movable on rails 47 instead of being freely movable (in Fig.5 are the rails 47 schematically indicated). They are then rail-bound. This has already been explained. In this case, they do not have to be formed as a vehicle 2a with wheels 8 either, but can for example have sliding rails which are guided on the rails.

[0086] In particular, the undercarriages 2 can be movable on rails 47 which extend parallel to the loading and / or unloading track 30 and which are arranged adjacent to this. The transport vehicles 1 are then moved on the rails 47 to the access area 29 and automatically positioned correctly. In this case, a single access area 29 suffices and the positioning rails 32 are no longer necessary.

[0087] In addition, the rack frames 3 can also be transported with forklifts or other aisle transport vehicles instead of with the described undercarriages 2.

[0088] As already explained, the rack frames 3 can also have support feet, even if they are detachably connected to the undercarriage 2. The support feet can be folded in and out.

[0089] According to an embodiment, the rack frames 3 are not detachably connected to the undercarriage and have, for example, wheels for moving on the ground and additionally foldable support feet. The support feet are extended when the rack frames 3 are placed on the ground. For the movement of the rack frames 3, the rack frames 3 are then placed on the undercarriage 2 such that the wheels of the rack frames 3 still remain on the ground.

Claims

[1] Transport vehicle (1), preferably a compartment wagon (44), for storing and transporting plate-shaped elements, preferably glass panes (5), wherein the transport vehicle (1) comprises an undercarriage (2) for moving the transport vehicle (1) and a compartment rack (3) arranged on the undercarriage (2), wherein the compartment rack (3) has a plurality of compartments (22) which are adjacent to one another in a vehicle width direction (1b) of the transport vehicle (1) and are parallel to one another, each for receiving at least one plate-shaped element, wherein for subdividing the compartments (22) the compartment rack (3) preferably comprises in each case a plurality of first elongate compartment divider elements (21), preferably compartment divider rods and / or compartment divider cables, which are adjacent to and spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction (1b) and in a vehicle longitudinal direction (1a) of the transport vehicle (1), characterized in that the compartment rack (3) is fixed in a basic position on the undercarriage (2) by means of releasable fixing means (13), wherein the compartment rack (3), when the fixing is released, is mounted on the undercarriage (2) so as to be movable back and forth parallel to a, preferably horizontal, traversing direction (46), preferably parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction (1a) or to the vehicle width direction (1b), and is slidable out from the undercarriage parallel to said traversing direction (46). [2] Transport vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized thereby , that the rack frame (3) has several lower rack frame cross members (18a) extending parallel to the vehicle transverse direction (1b) and arranged adjacent to and spaced from one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction (1a) for storing edges of the plate-shaped elements, preferably edges of the glass panes (5) of the glass panes. [3] Transport vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized thereby, that the lower shelf frame crossbars (18a) have a flat, preferably horizontal, crossbar upper side (24) for storing the edges of the plate-shaped elements, preferably the glass plate edges of the glass plates (5). [4] Transport vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized thereby , that on the crossbar upper sides (24) there is in each case a protective pad (25) made of a soft material, the protective pads (25) preferably consisting of felt and / or of plastic, preferably of rubber. [5] Transport vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby, that the undercarriage (2) for storing the magazine frame (3) has two transport roller tracks (14) with several transport rollers (15) arranged one behind the other in the transport direction (46), the transport rollers (15) each being rotatable about horizontal roller axes perpendicular to the transport direction (46), the transport rollers (15) preferably being rotatable freely or driven. [6] Transport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby , that a) the fixing means (13) effect a fixing of the magazine frame (3) on the undercarriage (2) via form fit and / or frictional fit, and / or b) the fixing means (13) are hydraulic and / or electromagnetic fixing means. [7] Transport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby , that the fixing means (13) are hooks or latches. [8] The transport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby , wherein the fixing means (13) are braking means, preferably braking means for braking the transport rollers (15), such that the transport rollers (15) are no longer rotatable about the roller axes of rotation. [9] The transport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby , wherein the transport vehicle (1) is an aisle conveyor vehicle, and the transport vehicle (1) is preferably drivable without rails, rail-bound or track-bound. [10] The transport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby , wherein the transport vehicle (1) is manually drivable or the transport vehicle (1) is configured as a driverless transport vehicle (AGV = Automated guided vehicle). [11] The transport vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby, that the transport vehicle (1) is a gondola car (44) and the undercarriage (2) is an underframe (45), the underframe (45) having several, preferably four, wheels (8) attached thereto for moving the gondola car (44) on the respective ground. [12] Transport vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby , that the gondola frame (3) is movable freely or driven parallel to the travel direction (46) relative to the undercarriage (2) when the fixation is released. [13] Rack storage and / or unloading device (28) for storing and retrieving plate-shaped elements, preferably glass plates (5), in and out of racks (3), wherein a rack (3) has a plurality of mutually adjacent and parallel grooves (22) in a rack width direction (3b) of the rack (3) for receiving at least one plate-shaped element, preferably a glass plate (5), preferably for storing and retrieving plate-shaped elements, preferably glass plates (5), in and out of racks (3) of transport vehicles (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: a) a loading and / or unloading track (30) with a track longitudinal direction (30a), wherein the loading and / or unloading track (30) has at least one shuttle (33) which can move back and forth along a fixed predetermined path (34) in the track longitudinal direction (30a), preferably automatically, b) at least one access area (29) for an exchangeable drawer frame (3) arranged adjacent to the loading and / or unloading path (30), c) means for positioning the drawer frames (3) above the conveying path (34), wherein at least one shuttle (33) is passable under the drawer frames (3) positioned above the conveying path (34) and means for transporting at least one plate-shaped element, preferably a glass plate (5), out of a compartment (22) of a drawer frame (3) positioned above the conveying path (34) and / or for transporting at least one plate-shaped element, preferably a glass plate (5), into a compartment (22) of a drawer frame (3) positioned above the conveying path (34). [14] The drawer frame loading and / or unloading device (28) according to claim 13, characterized thereby, that the rack storage and / or unloading device (28) has, for each access point (29), at least two transport bridges (38) that span the travel path (34), are assigned to the access point (29), for receiving the rack (3) lowered from the under-vehicle (2) and for positioning the rack (3) above the travel path (34), and that at least one shuttle (33) is drivable under the transport bridges (28). [15] Rack storage and / or unloading device (28) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized thereby , that the shuttle (33) has a chassis (35) and a shuttle structure (36) arranged thereon, and that the shuttle structure (36) preferably has several shuttle transport rollers (37) arranged adjacent to one another in the shuttle longitudinal direction (33a) for transporting the plate-shaped elements, preferably the glass sheets (5). [16] Rack storage and / or unloading device (28) according to claim 15, characterized thereby, that the shuttle transport rollers (37) are rotatable about horizontal roller axes of rotation, preferably rotatable in a driven manner. [17] Tray rack loading and / or unloading device (28) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized thereby , that the shuttle transport rollers (37) are movable up and down in the vertical direction. [18] Tray rack loading and / or unloading device (28) according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized thereby , that an access area (29) has at least one positioning rail (32) arranged on the ground, with two spaced-apart rail strands (32a) each for receiving a front and a rear wheel (8) of the tray cart (44) to be positioned between the rail strands (32a) for positioning the tray cart (44). [19] Tray rack loading and / or unloading device (28) according to one of claims 13 to 18, characterized therebythat the rack loading and / or unloading device (28) has a further shuttle (43) which, in addition to the loading and / or unloading track (30), is movable back and forth in the track longitudinal direction (30a) on a fixed track opposite the at least one access point (29), the further shuttle (43) having a vertical shuttle wall for placing the plate-shaped elements, preferably the glass plates (5). [20] Rack loading and / or unloading device (28) according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized thereby that the rack loading and / or unloading device (28) has rails (47) extending parallel to the loading and / or unloading track (30) in addition to the loading and / or unloading track (30), on which at least one transport vehicle (1) is movable. [21] Method for storing plate-shaped elements, preferably glass plates (5), from rack structures (3) using a rack loading and / or unloading device (28) according to one of claims 13 to 20, with the following method steps: a) Positioning a rack structure (3) on an access area (29), b) Positioning the rack structure (3) above the transport path (34), c) Transporting at least one plate-shaped element, preferably a glass plate (5), out of a compartment (22) of the rack structure (3) positioned above the transport path (34) by means of the shuttle (33), d) Returning the rack structure (3) to the access area (29) and removing the rack structure (3) from the access area (29). [22] Method according to claim 21, characterized thereby, that the plate-shaped element, preferably the glass pane (5), is inserted by the shuttle (33) into a stationary storage or another, replaceable rack assembly (3) or the other shuttle (43). [23] The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized thereby , that a transport vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 is used and the method has the following method steps: a) Positioning a transport vehicle (1) with a rack assembly (3) on an access area (29), b) Lowering the rack assembly (3) from the undercarriage (2) and positioning the rack assembly (3) above the track (34), c) Transporting out at least one plate-shaped element, preferably at least one glass pane (5), from a compartment (22) of the rack assembly (3) positioned above the track (34) by means of the shuttle (33), d) Driving the magazine frame (3) onto the undercarriage (2) and removing the transport vehicle (1) from the access area (29).

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