Door and storage device

Abstract

Door (1) for a storage device (2) for covering an access opening (3), comprising: - at least two opposing guide profiles (4), wherein at least in sections a vertically extending running rail (5) is received in the guide profiles (4), - a lamellar armor (6), wherein the lamellar armor (6) consists of a plurality of articulated segments (7) and the lamellar armor (6) is received at least partially in the vertically extending guide rails (5), and wherein the lamellar armor (6) is operatively connected to a drive (8) with which the lamellar armor (6) as a whole can be moved in a vertical direction along the guide profiles (4) into a closed position and into an open position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a door for a storage device for covering an access opening and to a storage device for storing and retrieving goods.

[0002] Storage systems of the aforementioned type are known. They are usually designed as vertical storage lifts in which a large number of storage locations are arranged above and next to each other, onto which goods are stored either directly or with the aid of supporting carriers. During storage, the goods or carriers are positioned, for example, by an operator in a loading and / or unloading station, also called an access opening, in order to be picked up there by an automatic conveyor and transported to a storage location. When the stored carrier or goods are requested by the operator at a control unit of the storage system, they are transported by the conveyor from their storage location to the loading and / or unloading station and removed from storage there.

[0003] In order to protect the interior of the storage device from unauthorized access and the ingress of dirt or harmful environmental influences, and / or, for example, to minimize heat exchange with the environment of the storage device in the case of air-conditioned storage devices, the access opening is usually provided with a door, in particular a sliding door or lifting door.

[0004] For example, a single-sided actuated door element for storage systems is known from DE 10 2009 051 193 A1, which is intended to enable opening and closing with minimal delay. However, the lifting door is heavy and its construction is relatively complex, requiring a separate device, in this case a light curtain, to prevent potential hazards to operators emanating from the lifting door.

[0005] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a door for a storage device which, in particular, solves the disadvantages of the prior art described above.

[0006] The invention achieves this by means of a door according to claim 1. Furthermore, this problem is solved with a storage device according to dependent claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the description and the dependent claims.

[0007] In a first aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a door for a storage device for covering an access opening. This door comprises at least two opposing guide profiles, each of which incorporates a vertically extending track at least partially. Furthermore, the door comprises a louvered panel, the louvered panel consisting of a plurality of articulated segments and being received at least partially in the two vertically extending tracks. The louvered panel is operatively connected to a drive mechanism by which the entire louvered panel can be moved vertically along the guide profiles into a closed position and an open position.

[0008] To illustrate, the louvered panel is not, as known from the prior art, wound spirally or moved orthogonally to the access opening. Rather, the entire louvered panel is moved vertically along the guide profiles without changing direction to open or close the access opening. Since the door according to the invention consists of a louvered panel, there is no serious risk of injury to an operator, even if a body part is in the closing area. Unlike single-piece, solid doors, the door according to the invention does not produce a single impact upon contact with an obstacle, but rather a sequence of numerous small individual impacts due to the articulated connection of the segments. Therefore, the door offers a high degree of safety for operators even without a separate safety device, such as a light curtain.The door according to the invention thus allows an access opening to be closed purely mechanically, securely and hermetically, without the need for further security measures. This also makes the use of a door according to the invention cost-effective.

[0009] The invention can be further improved by the following embodiments, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with each other as desired.

[0010] In a first advantageous embodiment, an end strip is arranged at at least one vertical end of the lamella armor. This end strip can be made of a metal or plastic. Preferably, the end strip is made of a deformable, soft plastic, for example rubber, in particular polyisoprene, preferably cis-1,4-polyisoprene.

[0011] Advantageously, the segments of the lamellar armor are made of a lightweight metal and / or plastic. Preferably, the lightweight metal is aluminum. Suitable plastics include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethanes, phenolic resins, urea and melamine resins, polyester resins, or epoxy resins.

[0012] Advantageously, the guide rails have a U-shape. Preferably, the guide rails are U-profiles made of plastic. It is particularly advantageous for the guide rails to be connected to the last segment of the slat curtain, which is oriented towards the access opening. This latter connection ensures improved rigidity and guidance of the slat curtain along the guide profiles.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment, the drive is an electric motor that is operatively connected to the side of the lamellar armor facing the drive. For example, the last segment of the lamellar armor facing the drive, in particular a vertical end, has a connecting device, especially a recess, into which a drive connection device, for example a belt, engages or is embedded, thus operatively connecting the drive to the lamellar armor via a drive connection device. Instead of a belt, any other power-transmitting device is also conceivable, for example a chain.

[0014] To minimize the energy consumption during the opening and closing of the door according to the invention, a further advantageous embodiment provides that the drive is configured to move the louvered door panel vertically into an open position and is further configured to act as a brake when the louvered door panel moves from the open position to the closed position. To illustrate, the drive lifts the door vertically upwards, thus providing unobstructed access to the opening of a bearing device. When the door is returned to its closed position, the force of gravity acting on the door is utilized, and the drive, if necessary, simply brakes the door to a predefined speed.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment, the door according to the invention has a safety element. Suitable safety elements include electromechanical locks, light barriers or safety laser scanners, safety limit switches, safety pressure strips, emergency stop switches, and automated braking devices. Preferably, a safety element is arranged on the slat curtain. In a simple embodiment, this can be, for example, a hook arranged on the last segment of the slat curtain, which engages in a device provided for this purpose on the bearing assembly. Preferably, this is the segment facing the access opening. Furthermore, the safety element can also be designed in the form of a key-lock switch.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the door according to the invention, a cover is arranged on each of the guide profiles. This protects the guide profiles from external access. The covers also create a uniform appearance.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the invention provides for the door to have an operating device for opening and closing the access opening of a storage device. A simple push button, a keypad, a key switch, or a foot pedal can be suitable as the operating device.

[0018] A second aspect of the invention relates to a storage device for storing and retrieving goods, comprising an access opening for picking goods and a door according to the invention for opening and closing the access opening.

[0019] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are always used in the drawings for elements that correspond to each other in terms of function and / or structure.

[0020] As described above, a feature of the embodiment can be omitted if the technical effect associated with that feature is not relevant for a particular application. Conversely, a feature not yet present in the embodiment can also be added as described above if the technical effect of the added feature is relevant for a particular application.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 An embodiment of a storage device with a door according to the invention in a side view, Fig. 2 a detailed section of the door according to the invention Fig. 1 in a top view, Fig. 3 a further detailed section of the door according to the invention Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in a front view, as well as Fig. 4 a further detailed section of the door according to the invention Fig. 1 to 3 in a side view.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a door 1 according to the invention on a storage device 2. In the case of the Fig. The storage device 2 shown as an example is a storage lift. This storage device 2 has an access opening 3 to which storage carriers are transported from inside the storage device 2 and back again. To prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the storage device 2 and to ensure the safety of operators when the storage carriers are being moved in and out, the storage device 2 has a door 1 covering the access opening 3.

[0023] The door 1 consists of a louvered panel 6, which is arranged in guide profiles 4 on the front of the bearing assembly 2. The louvered panel 6 of the door 1 is operatively connected to a drive 8 via a drive connection device 9, here in the form of a circulating chain. When the drive 8 starts moving, the entire louvered panel 6 is moved vertically upwards along the guide profiles 4 via the drive connection device 9, thereby exposing the access opening 3. Consequently, the door 1 is then in its open position. As soon as the access opening 3 is to be closed again, the drive 8 moves the louvered panel 6 back towards the access opening 3 via the drive connection device 9 until the louvered panel 6 has returned to its original position. Thus, the door 1 is then in its closed position. The drive 8 is preferably an electric motor.This can be connected to the warehouse management software of the storage device 2, so that the drive 8 is automatically controlled to open and close the access opening 3 when storing and retrieving storage carriers from the access area 3.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows a detail of door 1 according to Fig. 1 in a top view. The lamella armor 6 is at least partially received in a guide rail 5, the guide rail 5 itself being received in the guide profile 4. The guide profile 4 is provided with a cover 12.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3 shows a further detail of door 1 according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a front view. The lamellar armor 6 is composed of a plurality of articulated segments 7. The segments 7 of the lamellar armor 6 are, at least partially, mounted at their horizontal ends in a guide rail 5. The lamellar armor 6 has an end strip 10 at one of its two vertical ends on the last segment 7, which is made of a soft and deformable plastic. The guide rail 5 is U-shaped and connected to the segment 7 that has the end strip 10. This connection can be made by screwing, riveting, or another suitable type of connection. At the opposite end of the lamellar armor 6, the last segment 7 has a recess 13 into which the drive connection device 9 engages or is embedded.

[0026] Fig. Figure 4 shows a further detail of door 1 according to the Fig.Figures 1 to 3 are shown in a side view. The louvered door panel 6 of door 1 has a locking element 11 on the last segment 7. This element is designed here in the form of a hook, which engages in a projection of the bearing device 2 to prevent movement in the horizontal direction. This prevents the door 1 from being moved towards or away from the access opening 3 in its closed position.

[0027] Thus, a door for a storage device to cover an access opening and a storage device which has a simple construction and offers increased occupational safety for operators without further safety measures are disclosed above. Reference sign 1 door 2 Storage device 3 Access openings 4 leadership profile(s) 5 guide rail(s) 6 lamellar armor 7 segment(s) 8 Drive 9 Drive connection device 10 End strip 11 Safety element 12 covers 13 recess QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2009 051 193 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Door (1) for a storage device (2) for covering an access opening (3), comprising: - at least two opposing guide profiles (4), wherein at least in sections a vertically extending running rail (5) is received in the guide profiles (4), - a lamellar armor (6), wherein the lamellar armor (6) consists of a plurality of articulated segments (7) and the lamellar armor (6) is received at least partially in the vertically extending guide rails (5), and wherein the lamellar armor (6) is operatively connected to a drive (8) with which the lamellar armor (6) as a whole can be moved in a vertical direction along the guide profiles (4) into a closed position and into an open position. [2] Door according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one vertical end of the lamellar armor (6) has an end strip (10) arranged. [3] Door according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the segments (7) of the lamellar armor (6) consist of a light metal, preferably aluminium, and / or plastic. [4] Door according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the guide rails (5) are connected to the last segment (7) of the lamellar armor (6) which is aligned towards the access opening (3). [5] Door according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the drive (8) is an electric motor which is operatively connected to the side of the lamellar armor (6) facing the drive (8). [6] Door according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the drive (8) is configured to move the lamellar armor (6) in a vertical direction into an open position, and wherein the drive (8) is configured to act as a brake when moving the lamellar armor (6) into a closed position. [7] Door according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one locking element (11) is arranged on the lamellar armor (6). [8] Door according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a cover (12) is arranged on each of the guide profiles (4). [9] Door according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it has an operating device for opening and closing the access opening (3). [10] Storage device (2) for storing and retrieving goods, comprising an access opening (3) for picking goods and a door (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9 for opening and closing the access opening (3).

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