Separating element and assembly consisting of a shelf base and a separating element

Abstract

The proposed arrangement consists of a shelf and a divider (2) that subdivides its upper surface (3). The shelf (1) comprises a base plate (4) and hollow chambers (7) beneath it. These are bounded by an outer wall (9), below by a base (10), and inwards by an inner wall (11). The divider (2) consists of a plate (12) with downward-projecting feet (13). Recesses (15) in the inner walls (11) align with transverse slots (14) in the base plate (4) arranged above them, such that a recess (15) together with a transverse slot (14) accommodates the foot (13). The plate (12) has horizontal and vertical pipe sections (31, 32) along its edges. Each foot (13) is a section of wire (30) which extends with a first wire section into a horizontal tube section (31) and with a second wire section into a vertical tube section (32).Furthermore, a separating element (2) exhibiting the aforementioned characteristics is proposed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a divider consisting of a plate to which feet are attached, protruding from the lower edge of the plate, for its attachment to a shelf. Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement comprising a shelf and a divider dividing the upper side of the shelf in the longitudinal direction of the shelf.

[0002] Shelving systems whose storage areas are divided into longitudinal sections by vertically arranged dividers are well known and are widely used in storage technology.

[0003] From DE 10 2020 102 364 A1, it is known to form two profiles on the underside of elongated shelves to stiffen them. These profiles are integral with the shelf, with the shelf and the reinforcing profiles being formed from a single sheet metal part using forming techniques. It is often desired to divide the storage area on the upper side using a dividing element. For this purpose, the shelves are provided with perforations in the form of transverse slots. The dividing element is a plate-shaped surface element, to the lower edge of which feet in the form of square tabs are formed. The feet extend through the transverse slots of the shelf and protrude with their lower ends into recesses vertically aligned with the transverse slots. The recesses are located in a wall of the stiffening profile.The divider is securely fixed by the double locking of the feet of the divider, on the one hand in a transverse slot of the shelf and on the other hand in a recess in the profile located underneath.

[0004] A similar arrangement consisting of a shelf and a divider is known from DE 85 29 412 U1. This document also proposes using a relatively delicate bracket made of a single wire instead of a flat plate as the divider. This bracket is shaped through bending processes, with the feet of the divider also being formed using the same bending process and from the same wire.

[0005] Further arrangements are known from US 1 815 304 A and DE 10 2020 102 364 A1.

[0006] In practical warehouse technology, the widths of the shelves to be used can vary, as this allows for optimal adaptation to the usual width of the goods to be stored and no space is wasted. However, with the width of the shelves, the distance between the transverse slots arranged along the left and right longitudinal edges also changes, which in turn leads to different distances between the two feet of the divider element from one shelf type to the next. This means that a certain divider element is only suitable for a certain shelf width. A shelf of a different width also requires a completely different divider element, which leads to an increased variety of parts for the manufacturer and supplier of the shelf components and is inflexible both in terms of production and manufacturing and in terms of storage.

[0007] The TaskThe invention is to provide a separating element and an arrangement of shelf and separating element, which enables more flexible solutions in terms of production technology and parts storage, in particular when the shelves to be installed have partly non-uniform basic dimensions.

[0008] To Solution To achieve this aim, a separating element having the features of claim 1 and an arrangement comprising a shelf and a separating element dividing its upper side in the longitudinal direction of the shelf having the features of claim 12 are proposed.

[0009] The separating element according to the invention is characterized in that the plate has a rectangular central region, with horizontal tube sections integrally formed on its horizontal edges and vertical tube sections integrally formed on its vertical edges. Each foot is a section of wire, with the wire being composed partly of straight and partly of bent wire sections. To secure the foot to the plate, the wire extends with a first wire section into one of the horizontal tube sections, and with a second wire section into one of the vertical tube sections.

[0010] Preferably, the foot-forming portion of the wire is arranged between the first wire portion and the second wire portion.

[0011] Preferably, the section of the wire forming the foot is composed of a bent wire section forming the foot end, of two further bent wire sections and of a straight wire section between the wire section forming the foot end and the further bent wire sections.

[0012] Preferably, the horizontal and / or vertical pipe sections are provided with longitudinal slots such that the pipe sections enclose the interior of the pipe by less than 360°. This facilitates the installation of the feet by snapping them into the pipe sections. This can be further enhanced if the longitudinal slots of at least the horizontal pipe sections have at least two different slot widths along their length, with the largest slot width being located where the first wire section extends into the horizontal pipe section.

[0013] In order to also fix the upper edge of the separating element, it can be provided that arms projecting from the upper edge of the plate are also attached to the plate, wherein each arm is a section of a one- or two-part wire body, and the wire body extends with a first wire section into a horizontal tube section and with a second wire section into a vertical tube section.

[0014] The invention further proposes an arrangement comprising a shelf and a partition element designed and developed as described above, which divides the shelf's upper side in the longitudinal direction of the shelf. The shelf consists of a base plate forming a goods storage area and hollow chambers along the longitudinal edges of the base plate. Each hollow chamber is bounded at the top by an edge strip of the base plate, at the outward end by an outer wall, at the bottom by a base, and at the inward end by an inner wall arranged between the base and the base plate.

[0015] Recesses in the inner walls are aligned with transverse slots in the base plate arranged above them, with each recess together with the corresponding transverse slot accommodating one of the feet.

[0016] The advantage of this arrangement of shelf and divider is that it enables a more flexible design in terms of production technology and parts storage, particularly in cases where the shelves to be installed have non-uniform basic dimensions depending on the shelf type.

[0017] With regard to the flexibility achieved, it is particularly noteworthy that the same wire and thus the same fitting can be used to create either the left or right leg of the divider, resulting in a reduced number of parts. In particular, even with different shelf widths, only this single fitting type is required. In the divider, only the plate is specifically dimensioned for the respective shelf width. This plate, however, is a simple component that can be manufactured cost-effectively from sheet metal.

[0018] For a play-free or at least low-play fastening of the separating element, the recess with which the inner wall of the shelf is provided is preferably designed such that a bent wire section, which is a component of the foot, can be supported on the recess.

[0019] The transverse slot arranged in vertical alignment above the recess can be designed to support two bent wire sections of the wire, which are also components of the foot.

[0020] To secure the divider element at its upper edge, arms can be attached to the plate, protruding from the upper edge of the plate, to secure it relative to an additional shelf arranged above. Each arm is a section of a one- or two-part wire body. This wire body extends with a first wire section into a horizontal tube section and with a second wire section into a vertical tube section. In this case, the arms are designed to engage recesses in the inner walls of the additional shelf arranged above.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a shelf and a separating element dividing the upper side in the longitudinal direction of the shelf; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the shelf only; Fig. 3 shows the separating element only; Fig. 4 shows one of the four corner areas of the separating element, here with a separate illustration of a plate and a wire; Fig. 5 shows another corner area of the separating element and its attachment to the shelf; Fig. 6 shows the objects according to Fig. 5 in a view in the longitudinal direction of the floor; Fig. 7a a still undeformed sheet metal blank for the central region of the separating element; Fig. 7b a still undeformed sheet metal blank for a separating element of a different size; Fig. 8 in a second embodiment, an area in which two separating elements are attached to a shelf at the same time; Fig. 9 the separating element in the case of the second embodiment; Fig. 10 one of the corner regions of a separating element in a third embodiment.

[0022] The Figures 1 , 5 and 6show an arrangement of a rectangular shelf 1 and a separating element 2 dividing its upper side 3 in the longitudinal direction of the shelf. Figure 2 shows only a section of the shelf, and the Figures 3 and 4 show only the separating element 2 or details thereof.

[0023] A base plate 4 of the shelf 1 forms a storage area with its upper side 3. The base plate 4 has two transverse edges 5 - in Fig. 1 only one is shown - and two longitudinal edges 6. A hollow chamber 7 is arranged along each longitudinal edge 6. The base plate 4 is provided with a series of transverse slots 14 along edge strips 8 located above the respective hollow chamber 7. The transverse slots 14 extend transversely to the longitudinal extent of the shelf 1 and are distributed, preferably at constant intervals, over the length of the shelf.

[0024] In the Figures 2 , 5 and 6Each of the two hollow chambers 7 is shown in profile cross-section. The profile cross-section of the hollow chamber is bounded at the top by the edge strip 8 of the base plate 4, at the outside by an outer wall 9, at the bottom by a base 10, and at the inside by an inner wall 11. The inner wall 11 and the outer wall 9 each connect the base 10 to the plate 4.

[0025] The separating element 2 consists, among other things, of a plate 12, which is designed to divide the goods support 3 of the shelf into two areas, and of two feet 13 at the lower edge of the plate 12. The feet 13 protrude downwards from the lower edge of the plate 12, so that the feet 13 fix the separating element 2 in the shelf 1, while the plate 12 is supported with its lower edge on the base plate 4.

[0026] The base plate 4 is provided with transverse slots 14 above the inner walls 11, which in turn are vertically aligned with recesses 15 in the inner walls 11. The recesses 15 are vertical slots in the respective inner wall 11, whereby the respective foot 13 of the separating element 2 can be inserted vertically into the recesses 15.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall 11 is arranged perpendicular to the base plate 4, but this need not be the case. Base plate 4, base 10, outer wall 9, and inner wall 11 are formed as a single piece from a single sheet metal part.

[0028] The transverse slots 14, together with the recess 15 located directly below them in the inner wall 11, are designed to accommodate the base 13 of the separating element 2 placed above them. The recesses 15 are comb-like slots distributed along the length of the inner wall 11.

[0029] The profile cross-section is therefore preferably a closed cross-section over its circumference, and thus particularly stable. For this purpose, the inner wall 11 is provided with a strip 16 ( Fig. 2 ) is attached from below to the base plate 4, e.g. by welding points.

[0030] The inner wall 11 is preferably arranged at right angles to the base plate 4 and to the floor 10. The inner wall 11 connects the floor 10 to the underside of the base plate 4 in a straight line and without kinks or steps.

[0031] The recesses 15 are comb-like slots in the inner wall 11. The slots extend vertically for most of their length. The slots also continue into the strip 16, which directly attaches the inner wall 11 to the underside of the base plate 4. The slot-shaped recesses 15 can end in the bent strip 16, or they can be designed as open slots.

[0032] The transverse slots 14 in the base plate 4 are located, relative to the shelf center line, with part of their length inwards of the position of the inner wall 11, and with the remaining part of their length outwards of the position of the inner wall 11.

[0033] The shelf 1 can alternatively have a different height, and in particular a different height of the hollow chambers 7, e.g., for reasons of stability. However, even then, it is possible to attach the same divider element 2 with, in particular, the same feet 13. Thus, with different profile heights, it is possible to use uniform divider elements 2 with uniform feet 13.

[0034] The separating element 2 divides the overall relatively long storage area 3 into two longitudinal sections, which may, for example, be of equal length. In this way, in a rack warehouse with a plurality of such storage areas 3, goods cannot be transferred from one section to the other, or rather, goods are stored in one section from one side of the rack warehouse and in the other section from the other side of the rack warehouse, and retrieved accordingly.

[0035] The divider element 2 is inserted into the shelf base 1 from above with its two downwardly projecting feet 13. The divider element 2 is sufficiently secured by a transverse slot 14, together with the recess 15 located underneath, accommodating the respective foot 13. This is preferably done with little play in the longitudinal direction of the shelf base 1.

[0036] The plate 12 of the separating element 2 is preferably closed. However, it can also have openings, provided these do not negatively affect the separating function and stability of the separating element. The plate 12 has a rectangular, flat central region 20, with horizontal tube sections 31 formed on each of its horizontal edges 21 and vertical tube sections 32 formed on each of its vertical edges 22.

[0037] The horizontal and vertical pipe sections 31, 32 are integral with the central region 20. This is achieved in a cost-effective manner by using a single stamped metal sheet as the starting product for the design of the plate 12.

[0038] In the Figures 7a and 7bSuch a metal sheet is shown, initially completely flat and plate-shaped. Its center is formed by the rectangular central region 20. Rectangles 23 and 24, respectively, adjoin the two horizontal edges 21 and the two vertical edges 22 of the central region 20. The horizontal tube sections 31, open at both ends, are formed from the rectangles 23 by forming. The vertical tube sections 32, open at both ends, are formed from the rectangles 24 by forming. Overall, the plate 12 is therefore a cost-effectively produced stamped and bent part.

[0039] The Fig. 7b shows the plate-shaped stamped part in a comparison to Fig. 7a longer version. This is used when the divider element 2 made from it is to be placed on a wider shelf 1.

[0040] What is uniform in both variants, and also in the case of variants of different heights, is that the horizontal tube sections 31 created during the subsequent forming are shorter than the horizontal edges 21 of the central region 20 along which they extend. In contrast, the vertical tube sections 32 can be of the same length as the vertical edges 22 of the central region 20 along which they extend.

[0041] Another advantage, especially when assembling the partition element, is that the plate 12, including its central region 20, the horizontal tube sections 31, and the vertical tube sections 32, is designed symmetrically with respect to the horizontal center line mh of the plate 12. Furthermore, the plate 12 is also designed symmetrically with respect to the vertical center line mv of the plate 12, which simplifies assembly on the shelf 1.

[0042] As a punched and bent part that can be produced cost-effectively in various dimensions, the plate 12 has no inherent structure for attachment to the shelf base 1. In particular, the plate itself has no feet. Instead, separate fittings serve as the structure for attaching the separating element 2 to the shelf base. The fittings form the feet 13, which are subsequently attached to the already formed plate 12.

[0043] Wires 30 or wire segments formed by bending processes are used as fittings. The wires 30 or wire segments consist partly of straight and partly of bent wire segments. The diameters of the wires or wire segments are dimensioned according to the loads occurring in the shelf and can, for example, be between 4 mm and 10 mm. Accordingly, the tube segments 31, 32 also have a diameter between approximately 4 mm and approximately 10 mm. The wires 30 are preferably arranged at all four corners of the partition element 2.

[0044] Each foot 13 is formed by a central longitudinal section of the wire 30. The same wire 30 extends with a first straight wire section 33 into the adjacent horizontal tube section 31, and with a second straight wire section 34 into the adjacent vertical tube section 32. The section of the wire forming the actual foot 13 is arranged between the first wire section 33 and the second wire section 34. Overall, a precise and play-free attachment of the wire or wire piece 30 to the plate 12 is achieved.

[0045] The section of the wire 30 forming the foot 13 is composed of a bent wire section 40 forming the foot end, two further bent wire sections 41 and a straight wire section 42 between the wire section 40 forming the foot end and the further bent wire sections 41.

[0046] With regard to the desired flexibility through a low variety of parts, it should be emphasized that one and the same wire 30 can be used either for the left foot 13 or the right foot 13.

[0047] Wire sections 30 are also attached to the two upper corners of the separating element 2. However, these do not require a foot function, so it is sufficient if they consist only of the first wire section 33, the second wire section 34, and a 90° bend in between.

[0048] The recess 15 in the inner wall 11 of the shelf is designed such that the wire section 40 forming the foot end can be supported on its two edges, with the result that the foot 13 is supported largely without play.

[0049] The feet 13 are thus simultaneously fixed in the transverse slot 14 in the base plate of the shelf and in the recess 15 located underneath. The recess 15 supports the foot 13 through its facing edges. This type of fixing of the foot 13 has the advantage that the height of the shelf, which in turn is determined by the height of the hollow chambers 7, can be selected largely independently of the length of the foot 13.

[0050] To insert the wire pieces 30 at the lower corners and the wire pieces 30 at the upper corners into the preformed plate, the second wire section 34 is first pushed longitudinally into the vertical tube section 32. The wire is then pivoted about the thus formed axis, allowing the first wire section 33 to snap into the horizontal tube section 31.

[0051] To simplify this snapping-in process, the horizontal tube section 31 undergoes a deformation during the forming process such that it is not designed as a tube closed over its entire circumference. Rather, the horizontal tube section 31 has a longitudinal slot extending along the horizontal edge 21. As a result of the longitudinal slot, the tube section 31 encloses the interior of the tube by less than 360°, for example, by 270°. The longitudinal slot thus formed is capable of expanding under appropriate pressure from the first wire section 33, so that the wire section 33 can then snap into the horizontal tube section 31 in a form-fitting manner.

[0052] Since the longitudinal slot of the horizontal tube section 31 is only important in the area of the locking of the foot and less so on the remaining length of the tube section 31, the longitudinal slot can have at least two different slot widths over its length, wherein the slot section with the larger slot width is located where the horizontal first wire section 33 is located after snapping in.

[0053] Shelves 1 of the type described are usually arranged in several levels one above the other. Therefore, it may be useful to also lock the dividers 2 upwards, i.e., relative to a shelf 1 arranged above, which is usually identical in design.

[0054] For this purpose, as the Figures 8 to 10show, the plate 12 or the dividing element 2 is provided with arms 45, also made of wire, projecting from the upper edge of the plate and angled at 90°. These arms 45 are located at the two upper corners of the dividing element 2. The angled free ends of the arms 45 are designed to engage the recesses 15 in the inner walls 11 of the shelf 1 arranged above, possibly together with the feet 13 of the dividing element 2 arranged above.

[0055] Each arm 45 is a section of a one- or two-part wire body 30 made of straight and bent wire sections. This wire body 30 also extends with the first wire section 33 into the adjacent horizontal tube section 31 and with the second wire section 34 into the adjacent vertical tube section 32 for its play-free attachment.

[0056] The wire body forming, among other things, the arm 45 can be one-piece or two-piece. Figures 8 and 9 show a two-part wire body in which the protruding part of the arm 45 is welded to the remaining wire body.

[0057] The Fig. 10 shows a variant in which the wire 30 forming the arm 45 consists of a single piece of wire which has at least two opposite bends. Fig. 10 The first wire section 33 and the second wire section 34 of the wire 30 are shown, although they are inserted into the respective tube section and concealed within it. In this variant, the tube section 31 is divided at the upper edge of the separating element 2 into three separate longitudinal sections with two interruptions 46 between them. Through the respective interruption 46, the respective arm 45 can protrude upward from the longitudinal axis of the tube section 31.

[0058] With regard to the desired flexibility through a low variety of parts, it should be emphasized that one and the same wire body can be used either as the left or as the right arm 45. List of reference symbols

[0059] 1Shelf 2Divider 3Top, product support 4Base plate 5Cross edge 6Longitudinal edge 7Hollow chamber 8Edge strip 9Outer wall 10Floor 11Inner wall 12Plate 13Foot 14Cross slot 15Recess, slot 16Strip 18Start of slot 20Central area 21Horizontal edge 22Vertical edge 23Rectangle 24Rectangle 30Wire, piece of wire 31Horizontal tube section 32Vertical tube section 33First wire section 34Second wire section 40Bent wire section 41Bent wire section 42Straight wire section 45Arm 46Interruption mhhorizontal midline mvvertical midline

Claims

1. Separating element (2) consisting of a panel (12) to which are fastened feet (13) projecting from the lower edge of the panel (12) for disposing the latter on a shelf base, wherein the panel (12) has a rectangular central region (20) on the horizontal peripheries (21) of which horizontal tubular portions (31) are in each case integrally moulded, and on the vertical peripheries (22) of which vertical tubular portions (32) are in each case integrally moulded, wherein each foot (13) is a portion of a wire (30) of straight and curved wire portions, and wherein the wire (30) extends by way of a first wire portion (33) into one of the horizontal tubular portions (31), and by way of a second wire portion (34) into one of the vertical tubular portions (32).

2. Separating element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first wire portion (33) and the second wire portion (34) are in each case straight wire portions.

3. Separating element according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the portion of the wire (30) forming the foot (13) is disposed between the first wire portion (33) and the second wire portion (34).

4. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the portion of the wire (30) forming the foot (13) is composed of a curved wire portion (40) forming the end of the foot, of two further curved wire portions (41) and of in each case one straight wire portion (42) between the wire portion (40) forming the end of the foot and the further curved wire portions (41).

5. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the horizontal tubular portions (31) are shorter than the horizontal peripheries (21) of the central region (20) along which the former extend.

6. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the vertical tubular portions (32) have the same length as the vertical peripheries (22) of the central region (20) along which the former extend.

7. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized by longitudinal slots in the horizontal and / or the vertical tubular portions (31, 32) of such type that the tubular portions (31, 32) enclose the interior of the tube by less than 360°.

8. Separating element according to Claim 7, characterized in that the longitudinal slots of the horizontal tubular portions (31) have across their length at least two different slot widths, wherein the maximum slot width is situated where the first wire portion (33) extends into the horizontal tubular portion (31).

9. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that moreover arms (45) which project from the upper edge of the panel (12) are fastened to the panel (12), wherein each arm (45) is a portion of a single-part or two-part wire member, and the wire member extends by way of a first wire portion into one of the horizontal tubular portions (31), and by way of a second wire portion into one of the vertical tubular portions (32).

10. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the panel (12) including its central region (20), the horizontal tubular portions (31) and the vertical tubular portions (32) is designed to be symmetrical in terms of the horizontal centreline (mh).

11. Separating element according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the panel (12) including its central region (20), the horizontal tubular portions (31) and the vertical tubular portions (32) is designed to be symmetrical in terms of the vertical centreline (mv).

12. Assembly consisting of a shelf base (1) and of a separating element (2) dividing the upper side of the latter in the longitudinal direction of the base, wherein the shelf base (1) is composed of a basic panel (4), forming a goods storage area, and of cavities (7) along the longitudinal peripheries (6) of the basic panel (4), and each cavity (7) is delimited towards the top by a peripheral strip (8) of the basic panel (4), and towards the outside by an external wall (9), towards the bottom by a base (10), and towards the inside by an internal wall (11) which is disposed between the base (10) and the basic panel (4), and wherein clearances (15) in the internal walls (11) are co-aligned with transverse slots (14) which are in each case disposed thereabove in the basic panel (4), and one clearance (15) conjointly with the associated transverse slot (14) receives in each case one of the feet (13), characterized in that the separating element (2) is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 11.

13. Assembly according to Claim 12, characterized in that the clearance (15) is designed to support a curved wire portion (40) which is a constituent part of the foot (13).

14. Assembly according to Claim 13, characterized in that the associated transverse slot (14) is designed to support two curved wire portions (41) which are constituent parts of the foot (13).

15. Assembly according to Claim 14, characterized in that the foot (13) has in each case straight wire portions (42) between the curved wire portion (40) and the two curved wire portions (41).

16. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that arms (45) which project from the upper edge of the panel (12) are fastened to the panel (12) for fixing the latter in relation to a further shelf base (1) disposed thereabove, in that each arm (45) is a portion of a single-part or two-part wire member, and in that the wire member extends by way of a first wire portion (33) into a horizontal tubular portion (31), and by way of a second wire portion (34) into a vertical tubular portion (32).

17. Assembly according to Claim 16, characterized in that the arms (45) are designed to engage in clearances (15) in the internal walls (11) of the further shelf base (1).

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