BLOCK STORAGE ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a block storage arrangement with several container receiving spaces, at least one container, a loading space arranged in the direction of gravity below the container receiving spaces, a through-opening between each container receiving space and the loading space, and a holding device at the through-opening, which has at least one holding latch that is pivotable between a holding position and a release position, wherein the holding latch has a cutout that, in the holding position, is directed into the through-opening.

[0002] DE 198 49 391 A1 discloses a block storage arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1, in which containers are stored in several stacks arranged side by side and / or one behind the other. The lowest container of each stack is held by opposing retaining pawls, which can be pivoted from a locked position, in which they hold the container, to a release position, in which the container can be moved past the retaining pawls. The retaining pawls have a recess that forms a control surface with which switching elements can interact to pivot the retaining pawl from the locked position to the release position.

[0003] Another block bearing arrangement is known, for example, from EP 3 782 930 A1.

[0004] A block storage arrangement is also referred to as a "stack storage arrangement".

[0005] In a block storage arrangement, containers are stored in stacks. Each stack is then arranged in a container receiving area. Because the containers are stacked on top of each other, a high packing density can be achieved vertically (i.e., in the direction of gravity), thus ensuring good utilization of the available space. The container receiving areas can be positioned relatively close together, allowing for good utilization of the available space horizontally as well.

[0006] In this case, the containers are inserted into the container receiving areas from below and also removed from the container receiving areas from below. For this purpose, the respective container is guided through the opening between the container receiving area and the loading area.

[0007] To hold a stack of containers, or even a single container, within the container receiving area, a holding device is provided. This device uses one or more retaining pawls to secure the bottom container of a stack when the pawl is in the holding position. To remove a container, the container or stack of containers is first lifted until the bottom container is released from the retaining pawl. The retaining pawl is then pivoted into the release position, and the container can be moved downwards past the pawl in the direction of gravity.

[0008] To accommodate a larger number of containers in a stack, the retaining latch must engage sufficiently with the container. To ensure the necessary contact area of ​​the container on the retaining latch when the latch is in the holding position, the container must have a protrusion that extends into its interior. This means that the interior of the container cannot be fully utilized, so for an item with external dimensions of 600 x 400 mm, such as a cardboard box of this size, either a correspondingly larger container is required, or the box cannot be accommodated at all.

[0009] In turn, increasing the container's interior space leads to a suboptimal utilization of the installation space in a block storage arrangement.

[0010] JP 2009-40554 A describes a container loading device in which several containers can be stacked on top of each other. However, the containers are not all arranged in a single stack; the bottom container is separated from the stack. The containers are inserted into a receiving chamber through a side opening at the top and removed from the receiving chamber through a side discharge opening at the bottom. A container positioned in front of the discharge opening pushes apart two legs of a retaining latch, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing above these two legs. This causes the upper ends of the retaining elements to pivot inwards and hold the bottom container of the stack securely. When the bottom container is removed, springs pull the legs together, releasing the bottom container, which then falls to the ground. As it falls, the legs spread again, allowing the next container in the stack to be held.The upper end of the retaining elements is bent inwards and has a recess.

[0011] NL 7 611 143 A describes a storage device for parallelepiped bodies where the orientation of the bodies within the stack can be achieved in two alternative positions. The storage device has two guides at each of its corners, with one body being placed in the guide with the even number of positions, and the next body being placed in the guide with the odd number of positions. This results in an angular offset of the bodies about a vertical axis, thus preventing them from interlocking.

[0012] JP S58-162440 A shows a workpiece storage device for receiving workpieces that are to be loaded from below and unloaded from above. The workpieces are lifted by a lifting device and held by feed fingers. When the lifting device is raised, the workpieces are guided past holding fingers, which are pivoted upwards. When the lifting device is lowered, the workpieces come to rest on the holding fingers, and the feed fingers are pivoted upwards so that they can pass by the workpiece.

[0013] The invention is based on the objective of making good use of the installation space of a block storage system for storing objects.

[0014] In a block storage arrangement of the type mentioned above, this task is solved by adapting the cutout to the shape of a corner geometry of the container.

[0015] When the retaining latch is in the locked position, the container can be inserted into the recess of the latch. The resulting space eliminates the need for a protruding part of the container's interior. The interior of the container therefore remains completely free to hold objects, such as boxes, even if these objects are cuboid in shape. A cuboid object, such as a box, can also be inserted into the container and completely fill it, thus making optimal use of the available space.By adapting the shape of the recess to the shape of the corner geometry of the container, it is possible to coordinate the container and the retaining latch so that the retaining latch can engage the container sufficiently when the retaining latch is in the holding position, without having to provide a protrusion on the container that extends into the interior of the container.

[0016] Preferably, the retaining latch has a pivot axis that forms an angle of less than 75° with both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the through-opening. The retaining latch is thus positioned at a corner of the through-opening and can act on the container in both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the through-opening.

[0017] Preferably, the cutout is V-shaped. A V-shaped cutout allows the retaining latch to support the container with two "arms," ​​the arms pointing in opposite directions. This makes it possible to adequately support the container in the directions of the two arms, thus preventing it from tipping over.

[0018] Preferably, the cutout has two side flanks whose ends, facing the through-opening, form an angle between 75° and 105°. Preferably, this angle is approximately 90°, so that the retaining latch can optimally accommodate a container with a rectangular base.

[0019] Preferably, the container has an opening surrounded by a wall, and the corner geometry is located at the end of the wall furthest from the opening. The container is then supported at its lower end (in the direction of gravity) so that the wall is not subjected to the weight of the stored material.

[0020] Preferably, the container wall has a recess in the area of ​​the corner geometry. This creates a contact surface on the container, allowing it to rest on the retaining latch.

[0021] Preferably, the container has a base, and the corner geometry extends towards the container opening to a maximum extent equal to the length of the base. The corner geometry can then be limited to a height that lies within the container base. Everything located above the base can then be designed without obstruction, so that the entire interior of the container is available for storing goods, which is particularly advantageous when these goods are in the form of cuboid boxes or packages.

[0022] Preferably, the container wall has a longitudinal side and a transverse side, which are arranged essentially at right angles to each other and connected by a connecting wall. This connecting wall is located between the corner geometry and the container opening and forms an angle of up to 150° with both the longitudinal and transverse sides. Preferably, the connecting wall forms an angle of approximately 135° with both the longitudinal and transverse sides. The connecting wall is thus arranged diagonally to both the longitudinal and transverse sides. This allows for a wall to be located directly above the retaining latch, capable of withstanding even larger loads, such as those resulting from a stack of numerous containers in the container receiving area.

[0023] Preferably, the retaining pawl is recessed in a groove of a guide element in the release position. Thus, the retaining pawl does not protrude in the release position, but forms a largely smooth surface with the guide element, preventing the container from jamming when being lifted or lowered through the opening. This increases the operational reliability of the block storage arrangement.

[0024] Preferably, the guide element has a contour adapted to the shape of the connecting wall. The contour need not be identical to the shape of the connecting wall. The contour can be at a certain distance from the connecting wall when the container moves through the opening. However, the guide element can ensure a certain positioning of the container, thus facilitating the transfer of the container to a loading vehicle moving within the loading area.

[0025] Preferably, the guide element has an insertion chamfer on its upper side (in the direction of gravity) and / or on its lower side (in the direction of gravity). The insertion chamfer is slightly beveled to facilitate the insertion of a container into the through-opening.

[0026] The invention is described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a block bearing arrangement, Fig. 2 a part of a through-opening of the block bearing arrangement, Fig. 3 a corner connector with retaining latch, Fig. 4 a container in perspective view and Fig. 5 the container of Fig. 4 in perspective from a different viewpoint.

[0027] Fig. 1The figure shows a highly schematic representation of a block storage arrangement 1 with several container receiving spaces 2, arranged side by side in rows and one behind the other in columns. The container receiving spaces 2 are thus arranged in a matrix-like configuration. Each container receiving space 2 can hold one container or a stack of several containers.

[0028] In the direction of gravity, below the container receiving spaces 2, is a loading space 3. Between the container receiving spaces 2 and the loading space 3, a frame arrangement 4 is arranged, which has a through-opening 5 for each container receiving space 2. The through-opening 5 is designed such that a container 6 ( Figs. 4 and 5 ) can be moved from loading room 3 to container receiving room 2 or from container receiving room 2 to loading room 3.

[0029] A holding device 7 ( Fig. 2) is arranged at each passage opening 5. The retaining device 7 has at least one retaining latch 8, which is located between a in Fig. 2 and 3 The device can be pivoted between the depicted holding position and a release position. In the holding position, it can hold a container 6. In the release position, the passage opening 5 is free for the passage of a container 6.

[0030] The passage opening 5 has two longitudinal beams 11 on its long side 9, one of which is in Fig. 2 is shown. Furthermore, the passage opening 5 has two crossbeams 12 on its transverse side 10, one of which is also in Fig. 2 is shown. A longitudinal beam 11 and a transverse beam 12 are connected via a corner connector 13 ( Fig. 3 ) connected to each other. The retaining latch 8 is arranged in the corner connector 13.

[0031] The retaining latch 8 has a pivot axis 14 which forms an angle of less than 75° with both the longitudinal side 8 and the transverse side 10. Preferably, the pivot axis 14 forms an angle of approximately 45° with both the longitudinal side 9 and the transverse side 10.

[0032] The retaining latch 8 has a cutout 15 which, in the retaining position ( Fig. 2 and 3 ) is directed into the through-opening 5. The cutout 15 is V-shaped. The cutout 15 has a first side flank 16 and a second side flank 17. At least the ends of the side flanks 16, 17, which are directed into the through-opening 5, form an angle with each other in the range of 75° to 105°; preferably, the ends of the two side flanks 16, 17 form an angle of approximately 90°.

[0033] The corner connector 13 has a guide element 18 for each through-opening 5, which has a slightly chamfered insertion chamfer 19 on its upper side in the direction of gravity. Additionally or alternatively, the guide element 18 may also have an insertion chamfer 19 on its lower side in the direction of gravity.

[0034] The guide element 18 has a recess or indentation 20 into which the retaining pawl 8 is engaged when the retaining pawl 8 is pivoted into the release position. In this case, the retaining pawl 8 no longer protrudes beyond the side of the guide element facing the through-opening 5, so that a container 6 can easily pass through the through-opening 5 when the retaining pawl 8 is in the release position. However, when the retaining pawl 8 is in the holding position ( Fig. 2 and 3 ), then a container 6 can be placed on the retaining latch 8.

[0035] A container 6 that is particularly suitable for this purpose is in the Figs. 4 and 5 The block storage arrangement 1 comprises at least one such container, which is arranged in a container receiving space 2. The container 6 has a corner geometry 21. The shape of the cutout 15 is adapted to the shape of the corner geometry 21 of the container 6. In other words, the inner contour of the recess 15 corresponds to the outer contour of the corner geometry 21.

[0036] The container 6 has a container opening 22, which is surrounded by a container wall 23. The corner geometry 21 is located at the end of the container wall 23 facing away from the container opening 22. In intended use, when the container opening 22 is located at the top in the direction of gravity, the corner geometry 21 is therefore located at the bottom end of the container 6 in the direction of gravity.

[0037] The corner geometry 21 has a recess 24. The container 6 has a container bottom 25, wherein the corner geometry 21 extends in one direction towards the container opening 22 at most as far as the container bottom 25.

[0038] The container wall 23 has a longitudinal side 26 and a transverse side 27, which are arranged essentially at right angles to each other. Between the longitudinal side 26 and the transverse side 27 is a connecting wall 28, which is angled with respect to both the longitudinal side 26 and the transverse side 27, with each angle being a maximum of 150°. In this case, the connecting wall forms an angle of 135° with both the longitudinal side 26 and the transverse side 27.

[0039] The guide element 18 has a contour adapted to the shape of the connecting wall 28. In simplified terms, the contour of the guide element 2 has lateral flanks 29, 30 which are essentially at right angles to each other and which, when the container 6 is guided through the through-opening 5, are parallel to the longitudinal side 26 and the transverse side 27, and an intermediate section 31 which is arranged at the same angle as the intermediate wall 28 to the longitudinal side 26 and the transverse side 27.

[0040] The block storage arrangement 1 has several uprights 32 that rest on the frame 4. The uprights 32 are arranged at the corners of the container receiving spaces 2 and are connected to each other by longitudinal struts 33 and transverse struts 34. The uprights 32 are connected to the frame 4 via clamping elements 35, 36. Each upright 32 rests on a corner connector 13 and is secured there.

Claims

1. Block storage arrangement (1) having a plurality of container receiving spaces (2), at least one container (6), a loading space (3) arranged in the direction of gravity beneath the container receiving spaces (2), a through-opening (5) between each container receiving space (2) and the loading space (3), and a holding device (7) at the through-opening (5), which has at least one holding latch (8) that can be pivoted between a holding position and a release position, wherein the holding latch (8) has a cutout (15) which, in the holding position, is directed into the through-opening (5), characterized in that the cutout (15) is adapted to the shape of a corner geometry (21) of the container (6).

2. Block storage arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding latch (8) has a pivot axis (14) which encloses an angle of less than 75° with both a longitudinal direction (9) and a transverse direction (10) of the through-opening (5).

3. Block storage arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cutout (15) is V-shaped.

4. Block storage arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cutout (15) has two side flanks (16, 17) whose ends directed into the through-opening (5) form an angle in the range from 75° to 105° with one another.

5. Block storage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container (6) has a container opening (22) which is surrounded by a container wall (23), and the corner geometry (21) is arranged at that end of the container wall (23) which faces away from the container opening (22).

6. Block storage arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the container wall (2) has a recess (24) in the region of the corner geometry (21).

7. Block storage arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the container (6) has a container bottom (25) and the corner geometry (21) extends in the direction of the container opening (22) at most as far as the container bottom (25).

8. Block storage arrangement according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the container wall (23) has a longitudinal side (26) and a transverse side (27) which are arranged essentially at a right angle to one another and are connected to one another by a connecting wall (28) which is arranged between the corner geometry (21) and the container opening (22) and encloses an angle of at most 150° with the longitudinal side (26) and the transverse side (27) in each case.

9. Block storage arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that in the release position the holding latch (8) is sunk into a depression (20) of a guide element (18).

10. Block storage arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide element (18) has a contour which is matched to the shape of the connecting wall (28).

11. Block storage arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the guide element (18) has an insertion chamfer (19) on its upper side and / or on its lower side in the direction of gravity.