GOODS TRANSFER LOCK

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a goods transfer lock according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In practice, generic goods transfer locks are used, for example, for a robot, in particular a warehouse storage and retrieval system, to assemble goods in a picking system and to make them available in the goods transfer lock for further use by a user or another automated system. For example, the goods transfer lock is loaded by the robot from the rear, and the other system or the user can remove the goods from the front of the goods transfer lock. To prevent a collision between the two systems or the user and the robot, the goods transfer lock has a first access opening on a first side of a receiving space enclosed in a housing and a second access opening on a second side of the receiving space opposite the first side.In order to allow the first access opening and the second access opening to be mutually covered within the receiving space to avoid collisions, whereby the first access opening is always open when the second access opening is closed and vice versa, a blind is provided which can be moved from the first side of the receiving space to the second side of the receiving space and back and is held in a correspondingly movable manner in lateral guide rails.

[0003] Traditionally, the sliding blind is made of aluminum profiles, which, due to their rigidity, can transfer shear forces to one another, so that the desired sliding process is achieved with the optional covering of one access opening at a time by applying a sliding force to any slat.

[0004] The disadvantage of the known design is that the blind is comparatively heavy and its movement involves comparatively large resistance forces. Furthermore, the production of such a goods transfer lock is comparatively expensive.

[0005] DE 198 21 338 A1 discloses a transport system and a method for transporting objects into or out of a work space, wherein a transportable container is provided with a closable access opening and a docking area which is integrated in an outer wall of the work space and has a closable docking opening, wherein the transportable container can be connected to the docking area from the outside of the work space in such a way that when the access opening and the docking opening are open, the interior of the container is accessible from the work space and is separated from the outside of the work space.

[0006] DE 295 17 909 U1 discloses a personnel and material lock for work areas isolated from the outside. The lock is closed by roller doors.

[0007] EP 2 300 680 B1 discloses a closure device in the form of a gate.

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of improving a goods transfer lock of the type shown in such a way that the movement of the blind can be carried out with particularly low resistance and quickly and the production of the goods transfer lock can be carried out more cost-effectively.

[0009] The object of the invention is achieved by a goods transfer lock having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and particularly useful embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] A goods transfer lock according to the invention comprises a housing enclosing a receiving space. A first access opening is provided on a first side of the receiving space, and a second access opening is provided on a second side of the receiving space, which is opposite the first side. Thus, the receiving space can be accessed from both sides.

[0011] According to the invention, a blind is provided which can be deflected from the first side of the receiving space to the second side of the receiving space and back, with which the first access opening and the second access opening can be closed alternately, wherein the blind is mounted in lateral guide rails so as to be displaceable from a position covering the first access opening to a position covering the second access opening and back.

[0012] According to the invention, the blind is made of a flexible film that covers the access openings alternately.

[0013] Such a film according to the invention enables particularly easy movement of the blind, whereby the movement can be performed at comparatively high speeds. The film preferably extends from a first lower end on the first side of the receiving space across an upper side of the receiving space to a second lower end on the second side of the receiving space, whereby the film is particularly preferably permanently tensioned in its direction of movement, in particular from the first lower end to the second lower end.

[0014] The tensioning of the film can be achieved, for example, by tension springs that are connected to the first lower end and the second lower end and pull the first lower end and the second lower end downwards.

[0015] According to an alternative, particularly advantageous embodiment, which has a particularly long service life and does not require such tension springs, the film is provided with a counterweight at each of the first and second lower ends, each of which applies a downward tension to the corresponding end. This allows, on the one hand, the desired tensioning of the film from the first lower end to the second lower end to be achieved. On the other hand, by providing counterweights at both lower ends, a weight balance can be achieved, which allows the blind to be moved with particularly low forces.

[0016] The solutions with counterweight and tension spring can also be combined with each other, either by providing a counterweight at one lower end and at least one tension spring acting on the other lower end or by providing at least one counterweight and at least one tension spring at one lower end or at both lower ends.

[0017] Particularly preferably, the film has a rigid end strip, in particular with a handle element, at its first lower end and at its second lower end. The handle element can be, for example, a bar handle or a handle integrated into the end strip. This allows a user to easily grasp the end strip to slide it up or down, thereby guiding the entire blind along the guide rails to selectively expose the first or second access opening.

[0018] The counterweight and / or the at least one tension spring can engage the end strip. According to one embodiment, the counterweight is integrated into the end strip, which thus has a mass sufficient to achieve the desired tensioning of the film even when it is moved.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, a stop for an end-position damper is provided on at least one end strip or on both end strips, in particular in the area within a lateral guide rail or in both lateral guide rails. This stop is arranged in particular in the area of ​​an upper end of the first side and / or the second side of the receiving space. This dampens the movement of the blind into the respective end position, thus preventing corresponding shocks.

[0020] The end-of-travel damper can be a mechanical and / or hydraulic end-of-travel damper. In principle, such an end-of-travel damper can also be provided on one or both end strips and work together with a corresponding stop in the area of ​​the upper end of the first side and / or second side of the receiving space.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous if deflection rollers are provided in the upper area of ​​the receiving space, which support the blind in a rolling and / or sliding manner. In the first case, the deflection rollers rotate accordingly; in the second case, they could be mounted without a circumferential attachment.

[0022] To securely protect the storage space from unauthorized access, the housing can be sealed on opposite outer sides, which, together with the first side and the second side, completely enclose the storage space. In particular, the outer sides are sealed with a rigid wall.

[0023] It's particularly advantageous to secure the blinds with a positive fit in the side guide rails to prevent them from being pulled out. This can be achieved, for example, by having projections, such as buttons in the film, spaced apart from one another in the direction of movement along the edge areas positioned within the guide rails.

[0024] The goods transfer gate according to the invention can be equipped with a blind that, due to its material, is in principle rollable, but is preferably only deflected and not rolled up. This means that different sections of the blind do not overlap.

[0025] Furthermore, the goods transfer lock according to the invention preferably does not require an automated drive device, i.e. the blind can be moved solely by manual operation.

[0026] In principle, however, the blind can also be moved automatically by providing a corresponding automatic drive, in particular an electric motor drive, which acts on the blind or on the end strips.

[0027] The invention will be described below using an exemplary embodiment and the figures.

[0028] They show: Figure 1 shows a goods transfer lock in a top view obliquely onto the first side of the receiving space in the housing; Figure 2 shows a corresponding view obliquely onto the second side of the receiving space; Figure 3 shows a view from below into a guide rail; Figure 4 shows a sectional view through the area with the upper side of the receiving space; Figure 5 shows a further sectional view through the area of ​​the upper side of the receiving space.

[0029] In the Figure 1 and 21 shows a goods transfer lock in which the housing 1 encloses a receiving space 2 on all sides (except for the floor), wherein a front side - first side 2.1 -, a top side 2.3, and a back side - second side 2.2 - can be covered by a blind 4. The blind 4 extends from the first side 2.1 across the top side 2.3 to the second side 2.2 and is of such a length that, when it completely opens the first access opening 3.1 of the receiving space 2, it simultaneously completely closes the second access opening 3.2 on the opposite side. The first access opening 3.1 is arranged on the first side 2.1, and the second access opening 3.2 is arranged on the second side 2.2.

[0030] In the Figure 1 the goods transfer lock is shown in a state in which the first access opening 3.1 is completely covered by the blind 4, and in the Figure 2the goods transfer lock is shown in a state in which the second access opening 3.2 is completely covered by the blind 4.

[0031] The receiving space 2 further comprises two opposing outer sides 2.4 and 2.5, on each of which it is permanently closed by a wall.

[0032] The blind 4 is formed by a film 6 that is guided laterally in guide rails 5 and that is provided at each free end, i.e. at the first lower end 6.1 and the second lower end 6.2, with an end strip 8 that includes or forms a counterweight 7. The end strips 8 each have a handle element 9, here in the form of a bow handle, so that a user can grasp one of the two end strips 8 to move it up or down. Due to the counterweights 7 at both lower ends 6.1, 6.2, pushing an end strip 8 upwards on one side 2.1, 2.2 causes the corresponding other end strip 8 on the opposite side 2.1, 2.2 to move down. The counterweights 7 are sufficiently dimensioned to keep the film 6 constantly under tension from the first lower end 6.1 to the second lower end 6.2.

[0033] As can be seen particularly from the Figures 3and 5 As a result, the edge regions 4.1 of the blind 4, i.e. corresponding edge regions of the film 6, are positioned within the lateral guide rails 5 and are held there in a form-fitting but displaceable manner. In the exemplary embodiment shown, although not necessarily, the form-fitting is achieved by projections 13 arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of displacement, which form an undercut with the guide rails 5. Furthermore, in the region of the first lower end 6.1 and in the region of the second lower end 6.2, preferably on the end strips 8, a stop 10 is provided, which cooperates with an end position damper 11 in the guide rail 5 in the region of the upper side 2.3 of the receiving space 2 in order to dampen the stop of the blind 4 in its two end positions.

[0034] Especially from the Figures 4 and 5The deflection rollers 12 are removable in the area of ​​the upper side 2.3 of the receiving space 2, over which the film 6 runs vertically upwards and downwards when the end strips 8 are moved. These deflection rollers 12 preferably do not have a drive, but serve only to guide the blind 4.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the end strips 8 are provided with a seal 14 on their underside. However, this is not mandatory.

[0036] Housing 1 has a frame structure, allowing it to be manufactured using a lightweight construction. Housing 1 can, for example, be screwed to a floor. List of reference symbols

[0037] 1 Housing 2 Mounting space 2.1 First side 2.2 Second side 2.3 Top 2.4 Outside 2.5 Outside 3.1 First access opening 3.2 Second access opening 4 Blind 4.1 Edge area 5 Guide rail 6 Film 6.1 First lower end 6.2 Second lower end 7 Counterweight 8 End strip 9 Handle element 10 Stop 11 End position damper 12 Deflection roller 13 Projection 14 Seal

Claims

1. Goods transfer lock, having a housing (1) enclosing a receiving space (2); having a first access opening (3.1) on a first side (2.1) of the receiving space (2) and a second access opening (3.2) on a second side (2.2) of the receiving space (2) which is opposite the first side (2.1); having a shutter (4) which can be deflected from the first side (2.1) of the receiving space (2) onto the second side (2.2) of the receiving space (2) and back, with which the first access opening (3.1) and the second access opening (3.2) can be closed reciprocally, wherein the shutter (4) is mounted in lateral guide rails (5) such that it can be displaced out of a position covering the first access opening (3.1) into a position covering the second access opening (3.2) and back; characterized in that the shutter (4) is produced from a flexible film (6) which covers the access openings (3.1, 3.2) reciprocally in a planar manner.

2. Goods transfer lock according to claim 1, characterized in in that the film (6) extends from a first lower end (6.1) on the first side (2.1) of the receiving space (2) over an upper side (2.3) of the receiving space (2) up to a second lower end (6.2) on the second side (2.2) of the receiving space (2).

3. Goods transfer lock according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the film (6) is tensioned in its direction of displacement, in particular from the first lower end (6.1) to the second lower end (6.2).

4. Goods transfer lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the film (6) is provided with a counterweight (7) at each of the first lower end (6.1) and the second lower end (6.2).

5. Goods transfer lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the film (6) has in each case a rigid end strip (8), in particular with a handle element (9), at its first lower end (6.1) and at its second lower end (6.2).

6. Goods transfer lock according to claim 5, characterized in at least one or both end strips (8), in particular in the region within a lateral guide rail (5), has / have a stop (10) for an end-position damper (11) which is arranged in particular in the region of an upper end of the first side (2.1) and / or of the second side (2.2) of the receiving space (2).

7. Goods transfer lock according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that deflecting rollers (12) are provided in the region of the upper side (2.3) of the receiving space (2), which rollers support the shutter (4) in a rolling and / or sliding manner.

8. Goods transfer lock according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (1) is closed on opposite outer sides (2.4, 2.5) which, together with the first side (2.1) and the second side (2.2), completely enclose the receiving space (2) over the entire circumference.

9. Goods transfer lock according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the shutter (4) is secured in a form-fitting manner against being pulled out in the lateral guide rails (5).

10. Goods transfer lock according to claim 9, characterized in that the shutter (4) has, in edge regions (4.1) positioned inside the guide rails (5), projections (13) which are arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of displacement.