Space-saving safety gate for stored goods type 2

Abstract

A lock for the safe receipt of stored goods on a higher level, characterized in that the floor area is used in a space-saving manner by the arrangement of the outer and inner gates, in order to use as little space as possible for the construction of the actual lock and at the same time to have plenty of space for the stored goods to be locked.

Description

[0001] Many storage systems that hold materials utilize more than one level. Heavy goods, especially palletized goods, are typically lifted or lowered to a higher level, the platform, using a forklift. The safe receipt of goods by employees at this higher level is the function of the airlock.

[0002] The airlocks described above come in various designs. What they all have in common is the temporary separation from access to the edge of the platform, so that access for the stored goods is free, while access for people is denied in order to prevent a fall at that very edge.

[0003] State-of-the-art manually operated airlocks consist of horizontally or vertically moving partitions which, due to their design, require considerable space for their movements. This space is used in width or height and is therefore not available for the stored goods during the airlock process. Special feature

[0004] The lock presented here Fig. 1 (page 8) represents a combination of a mechanism in conjunction with a special design. Together, these enable space-saving use of the floor space and storage goods whose height is not limited by the lock (page 16).

[0005] Type 2 of the airlock, which is the subject of this explanation, is a further development of type 1 for the purpose of placing an airlock in a very confined space between two rows of shelves, while simultaneously taking advantage of the static stability of the shelves. Fig. 12 (page 14). The structure

[0006] Except for a few small parts, the following components are made of steel. The dimensions of the described lock can vary, but are approximately 2 x 2 m.

[0007] The Type 2 security gate described here is constructed similarly to Type 1. In the Fig. 2 (page 9) shows the essential components of the lock. The outer gate component (1) is located at the edge of the stage and is shown here in the closed position. The lock is connected by the base (4), which holds both components in place. Fig. 2 (page 9) and the connection to the shelf supports (20) in Fig. 8 (page 12) attached.

[0008] The base of the lock creates a connection between the outer and inner gates. Fig. 2 (page 9). Both gates are movable and linked by a mechanism in the base. The mechanism is described in more detail below.

[0009] Type 2 airlocks are installed between two rows of shelves, unlike Type 1, which is placed freely at the edge of the stage without being directly fixed to a shelf. Fig. 12 (page 14).

[0010] Being positioned between the rows of shelves offers several advantages. Firstly, the aisles between these shelves, which are usually quite narrow, can be optimally utilized for the stored goods without taking up much space for the airlock structure itself. Secondly, the shelves in this area remain available for storage even when the outer door is closed. Thus, the same space can be used for two purposes.

[0011] During operation, the airlock alternately opens either the outer or the inner gate, ensuring that one gate is always closed and thus preventing falls at the stage edge. Both gates are connected to the aforementioned mechanism, which couples their movements, closing one gate while opening the other. The mechanism is located in the base (4) in Fig. 9 (page 13) of the lock are housed.

[0012] In the Fig. 5 (page 11) shows the movement of the inner gate, which corresponds to the sequence of numbers. , ...is marked. Initially, when the inner gate (2) is closed, , with a horizontal movement by the employee, the gate is opened by 90°. During this movement, which is around the rotating ring (3) in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 (page 9) is carried out, the force is transferred through the axis (21) into Fig. 3 (page 9), which is connected to the slewing ring, is forwarded downwards into the mechanism in the base.

[0013] The mechanics, in turn, are located in the hollow body (4) Fig. 9 (page 13) of the base of the railing is protected. The mechanism itself consists of the connecting rod (9) in Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the smaller eccentric (10) Fig. 10 and the larger eccentric (11) in Fig. 11, (all three figures on page 13). The small eccentric is connected to the outer gate and the large eccentric to the inner gate, each by means of axles. When the inner gate (2) is opened, the directly connected large eccentric (11) rotates in Fig. 11 by max. 90° and meets at point (13) in Fig. 11 inside against the metal body of the housing (4) in Fig. 11 (all on page 13).

[0014] Shortly before this, the aforementioned eccentric (11) overcomes the culmination point (12) in Fig. 11 (page 13), which prevents the inner gate, and therefore also the outer gate, from swinging back uncontrollably and ensures the gates remain in position. Only with sufficient force from the employee can the point of maximum movement be overcome, and the gates are then free to move.

[0015] The movement is driven by the large eccentric (11) in Fig. 11 via the connecting rod (9) to the small eccentric (10) in Fig. 10 (all on page 13) and thus passed on to the outer gate. Since the eccentrics are of different sizes, they describe a path of different lengths on their respective radii. The 90° rotation of the inner gate thus becomes a 135° rotation of the outer gate, both in Fig. 9 (page 13). The advantage of the 135° opening of the outer gate is the improved loading of the lock from the outside with a forklift, since the gate is not in the way of the stored goods; one does not have to maneuver excessively precisely.

[0016] The inner door has an additional feature resulting from the confined space between the rows of shelves. There isn't enough room for a large door. The special feature is that this door can be folded upwards to free up the limited space in the aisle (see Fig. 5 (page 11). The inner gate is first rotated horizontally by 90°, as already explained, in order to then, in the second step, open via the folding mechanism of the articulated crossbar (5) and (6) into Fig. 5 (page 11) to be flipped up.

[0017] When folded up, the connecting rod (7) restricts in Fig. 5 (page 11) firstly, the movement of the segmented crossbar (5) and (6) is controlled according to a predetermined geometric sequence, and secondly, the connecting rod (7) is connected to the part (5) of the crossbar via a coil spring, which prevents said rods from falling back down when folded up. Only an operator can overcome the spring force and fold the rods back down, similar to the culmination point (12) described above.

[0018] If the inner gate is closed to prevent employees from accessing the now open outer gate, the inner gate must not be able to be raised. This function is performed by the lock (8) in Fig. 7 (page 12). At the same time, this component also secures the airlock to the shelf, as can be seen in Fig. 8 (page 12). Locking procedure

[0019] The stored goods, for example a pallet loaded with merchandise, are lifted from the warehouse floor to the level of the platform (and the airlock) using a forklift. The actual airlock process is very similar to airlock type 1.

[0020] The lock operation is depicted on page 15, with a perspective view on the left and a top view on the right. The same process is thus shown from two different perspectives. For clarity, the cargo itself is not shown in the perspective views.

[0021] The lock is in the position as in Fig. 13 A or B, the outer gate is open and the inner gate is closed. The pallet is moved into the airlock and placed there. Fig. 13 B. An employee opens the inner gate, while the force is transferred to the outer gate at the base via the mechanism already described, Fig. 14 A and B. The inner gate opens while the outer gate closes simultaneously. The outer gate now provides the safety measure against falls from the stage edge, which was previously provided by the inner gate.

[0022] As previously described, the inner gate can be folded up to keep it out of the way. The pallet is accessible from the inside and can be pulled out of the airlock, for example, using a pallet jack. Fig. 15 A and B.

[0023] For the reverse journey of the stored goods, the process of moving them from the stage back down, the described process simply needs to be reversed. Note regarding the stage edge

[0024] The lock described here is secured with standard railings at any open edge of the platform to the left or right of the lock. These railings are not part of the lock itself and were not mentioned in the text above, as they are irrelevant to the actual locking process.

[0025] Furthermore, according to current technology, railings on the outer edges of the platforms are secured with a roll-off protection device to prevent small parts from falling off. This safety device is also installed at the outer gate (1), but is less important for the entry procedure.

Claims

[1] Lock for the safe receipt of stored goods at a higher level, characterized by , that the floor area is used in a space-saving manner by the arrangement of the outer and inner gates, in order to use as little space as possible for the construction of the actual lock and at the same time to have plenty of space for the stored goods to be locked through. [2] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by , that the shelves to which the lock connects and thus provide part of the static stability of the lock. [3] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by The design of the lock ensures that the height of the goods being transported is not limited. The arrangement of the outer and inner gates plays a crucial role in this. Furthermore, the gates must not move directly above the goods being transported. This prevents any restriction on the height of the stored goods. [4] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by, that the lock, by opening the outer gate (1) to 135°, allows the storage goods to be driven in from the outside, for example by a forklift, without time-consuming threading. [5] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by , that the lock can be folded up by the folding mechanism of the articulated crossbar of the inner gate (2) and thus takes up hardly any space. [6] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by , that only by operating the inner gate (2) the outer gate (1) is also opened or closed, without an employee having to step forward to the edge of the stage to operate the outer gate and thus being exposed to the risk of falling. [7] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by that the shelves in the area of ​​the lock can still be used as storage, since the outer gate takes over the fall protection function, while the inner gate is open and allows access to those shelves. [8] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by The inner gate (2) is closed by the mechanism (interaction of the connecting rod (9), the eccentrics (10) and (11)) when the outer gate is open, and the outer gate is closed when the inner gate is open. Thus, a gate is always closed, preventing the employee from falling off the edge of the stage. [9] Lock according to claim 1, characterized by , that the culmination point (i.e., the securing of the gates against swinging back) prevents the gates from opening uncontrollably and losing their fall-protection function.

Images