Storage device for material boards

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage device for material boards (2), having a rail-bound main track (6) and at least one main vehicle (4), which can travel on the main track, and also a plurality of transfer paths (7) that lead to board deposit points (9), and at least one satellite vehicle (5), which can travel on the transfer paths and is able to move at least one material board (2), wherein a holding area (8) is provided on the main vehicle (4) for at least one satellite vehicle (5), wherein the main vehicle (4) has an electrical power supply, for example via a sliding contact, and a drive means comprising a main vehicle electric motor (12), and wherein the satellite vehicle (5) likewise has a drive means comprising a satellite vehicle electric motor (22). In order to make the main vehicle and the satellite vehicle more independent of one another, provision is made for the satellite vehicle electric motor (22) of the satellite vehicle (5) to be able to be supplied with power via an energy store (20) connected to the satellite vehicle (5) and for the energy store (20) to be able to be charged by means of a charging station (17) on the main vehicle (4).

Description

[0001] Storage facility for material plates

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to a storage facility for material plates with a rail-bound base track and at least one base vehicle that can be moved thereon, as well as several transfer paths leading to plate depositing points and at least one satellite vehicle that can be moved thereon and is capable of moving at least one material plate, wherein a resting place is provided on the base vehicle for at least one satellite vehicle, wherein the base vehicle has an electrical power supply, for example via a sliding contact, and a drive with a base vehicle electric motor and wherein the satellite vehicle also has a drive with a satellite vehicle electric motor.

[0004] During the production of material boards, in particular material boards that contain pressed and glued wood chips or fibers, it is necessary to temporarily store them in a warehouse. This can be the case, for example, if the material boards need to cool down after the hot press or if they are to be fed into a further processing step that does not run continuously but discretely, with interruptions in time. Such processes are often found in, for example, an edging line, a coating device, a grinding machine, or a packaging unit. In the warehouse, the material boards can lie individually on supports. However, the material boards are usually stacked to take up less storage space. The stacks of material boards can easily reach a height of between 4 and 5 meters, meaning that a single stack can weigh up to 60 tons.

[0005] The satellite vehicles are capable of moving these stack sizes and even transferring them to a base vehicle. They only need to move along the transfer paths, usually in one direction, while the base vehicle and the satellite vehicles can move across them together.

[0006] In practice, both the base vehicle and the satellite vehicle are supplied with power via electrical cables. These can be cables on drums or spiral cables, or the power is supplied via cables that supply the vehicles via sliding contacts, whereby the cables can also be the rails themselves. This requires a significant amount of electrical installation work, especially with numerous transfer routes. Alternatively, the satellite vehicles are currently supplied with electrical power via a cable from the base vehicle. This means that the base vehicle must always be within "range" of the satellite vehicle and is not available for other tasks.

[0007] It is therefore the object of the invention to make the base vehicle and the satellite vehicle more independent of each other.

[0008] The object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and in particular in that the satellite vehicle electric motor can be supplied via an energy storage device connected to the satellite vehicle and that the energy storage device can be charged by means of a charging station on the base vehicle.

[0009] The invention ensures that the satellite vehicles can charge an energy storage device on the base vehicle. This makes their electric drive completely independent of the base vehicle or other electrical lines supplying the drive motor. Charging takes place efficiently while the satellite vehicle rests on the base vehicle.

[0010] While the satellite vehicle performs tasks on a transfer path, such as depositing or picking up a stack of material plates, the base vehicle can, for example, transport another satellite vehicle to another location or pick it up from another location, e.g., via another transfer path. The satellite vehicle rests on the base vehicle and is simultaneously transported by it. In its rest or transport position on the base vehicle, the satellite vehicle is electrically connected to the charging station. The coupling is preferably activated automatically.

[0011] Preferably, at least two charging stations for each satellite vehicle are present on the base vehicle.

[0012] Two rest positions have the advantage that the satellite vehicles can either be used alternatively or, in the case of particularly large base areas of the material plate stacks, two parallel carrying satellite vehicles can be used.

[0013] The complete decoupling of the satellite vehicles from the base vehicles can be advantageously achieved by at least one satellite vehicle being controllable via radio, WLAN or Bluetooth signals.

[0014] Previously used signal or data lines between the two vehicles are thus also eliminated, meaning that, in a positive design, there is no longer a cable connection between the base vehicle and the satellite vehicle, neither for power supply nor for control. In the event that a satellite vehicle remains on one of the transfer routes for an extended period, it is preferable to have at least one additional charging station for the energy storage device of a satellite vehicle on the transfer route.

[0015] Further advantageous embodiments of the storage device can be found in further subclaims.

[0016] It is therefore advisable for each satellite vehicle to have a lifting / lowering device for at least one material plate. However, this will usually already be a high stack of material plates. In this case, the satellite vehicle should be able to carry at least 50 stacked material plates, preferably even 100. For larger material plate dimensions, two satellite vehicles can also be moved parallel to each other on the transfer paths, and these two can carry the stacks in parallel and together.

[0017] In a simple and preferred manner, each lifting / lowering device can raise the material plate or the stack of material plates above the height level of a plate placement station. The plate placement station is preferably formed by at least two spaced, horizontally extending supports. The transfer path for the satellite vehicle is ideally located exactly between two supports. If two parallel satellite vehicles are required to transport the stack of material plates, three parallel supports should be provided as the placement station. In this case, the transfer paths for the two satellite vehicles are arranged in the two spaces between them.

[0018] The satellite vehicle can use the lifting / lowering device to move the material plate or stack of material plates over the plate placement station and deposit it there. Conversely, a stack of material plates can be picked up from the plate placement station by lifting it over the deposit station using the lifting / lowering device and transporting it away. The satellite vehicle can then drive the raised stack of material plates up to the base vehicle.

[0019] The lifting / lowering device can be operated hydraulically (via an electric pump) or by an electric motor (via a spindle drive). It consists of a lifting and lowering actuator and a support for the material plate or stack of material plates. The energy required for the movement can also be drawn from the rechargeable energy storage unit.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary base vehicle with two resting places occupied by satellite vehicles according to the invention,

[0022] Fig. 2 is a front view of the base vehicle from Fig. 1 ,

[0023] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base vehicle according to the invention,

[0024] Fig. 4 is a side view of the satellite vehicle according to the invention,

[0025] Fig. 5 shows two satellite vehicles within the storage facility according to the invention, Fig. 6 shows an exemplary overall plan view of a storage facility according to the invention.

[0026] All figures show the same exemplary storage facility or components thereof. Figures 1 to 3 primarily show the base vehicle from three different perspectives, Figures 4 and 5 show the satellite vehicle, and Figure 6 provides an overview of the entire storage facility 1 according to the invention.

[0027] Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 accordingly show the base vehicle 4, which is movable on so-called base tracks 6. The base tracks 6 comprise rails 18 for the base vehicle 4, whose eight wheels 13—provided in this exemplary embodiment—are partially driven by a satellite vehicle electric motor 12. These base vehicle electric motors 12 are supplied with power, which the base vehicle 4 receives via sliding contacts on or next to the rails.

[0028] Two satellite vehicles 5 are located on two resting positions 8 above the base plate 14 of the chassis 11 of the base vehicle 4. These satellite vehicles can be deployed transversely to the base track 6 onto transfer paths 7. The satellite vehicles also have eight wheels 23, some of which are ultimately driven by a satellite vehicle electric motor 22. However, these satellite vehicle electric motors 22 do not draw their power via a cable connection between the satellite vehicle 5 and the base vehicle 4 or any other source, but are supplied by rechargeable energy storage units 20. The necessary charging stations 17 are located on the base vehicle 4. The contacts 19 on the satellite vehicle 5 are automatically connected to the charging station 17 when the satellite vehicle 5 is at its resting position 8.When the satellite vehicle or vehicles 5 are deployed onto the transfer path 7, they are then completely independent of the base vehicle, which can, for example, travel to another transfer path 7 and pick up other satellite vehicles 5 there. For this purpose, it is also intended that each satellite vehicle 5 can be controlled via radio, WLAN, or Bluetooth signals.

[0029] The satellite vehicles 5 are capable of transporting very large stacks of material plates 3, either individually or in pairs, and loading them onto the base vehicle 4. The material plates 2 rest on a material plate support 25. This, together with an actuator 16, for example a hydraulic cylinder, forms a lifting / lowering device 24 with which the stacks of material plates 3 can be placed on supports 15 on the base vehicle 4. The energy required for this lifting / lowering device 24 can also be obtained from the energy storage device 20.

[0030] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the lifting-lowering device 24 once in the raised and once in the lowered state, so that in Fig. 1 the material plate stack is still carried by the material plate support 25 and in Fig. 2 by the supports 15.

[0031] Fig. 3 illustrates in particular the top view of the positions of the motors 12 and 22 as well as the wheels 13 and 23 of both vehicles 4 and 5.

[0032] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the satellite vehicle. In this exemplary embodiment, the satellite vehicles 5 also travel on rails 26 along the transfer paths 7. They have a chassis 21, above which the material plate support 25 is arranged, connected via the actuator 16. Two wheels 23 are arranged at each end of each rail 26 in the direction of travel, with the drive system comprising the satellite vehicle's electric motor 22 also being provided at one end. Between them are several energy storage devices 20, for example, electric accumulators, which can be charged via the electrical contacts 19. As shown in Fig. 5, charging stations 28 can also be provided on the transfer paths.

[0033] Fig. 5 shows two satellite vehicles 5 traveling in parallel on rails 26. They each travel exactly between two horizontally arranged parallel supports 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, on which numerous plate depositing stations are provided. The plate stacks 3 can be deposited there, preferably on elastic supports 27. When the material plate stacks 3 are transported by the satellite vehicles 5, the material plate support 25 is initially located at a height level above the elastic supports 27. At the plate depositing stations 9, the material plate stacks 3 can be lowered with the aid of the lifting and lowering device 24 and placed on the supports. Fig. 5 shows two satellite vehicles 5 traveling in parallel because it can happen that the material plates 2 are so large that they can only be carried by two satellite vehicles 5. It should also be ensured that the satellite vehicle can preferably carry 100 material plates.

[0034] Finally, Fig. 6 shows a top view of an exemplary complete storage facility 1. Two base tracks 6 with rails 18 can be seen. One runs vertically through the middle of the transfer tracks 7. The other runs along the edge. Both show a base vehicle 4, with the base vehicle 4 on the left carrying two satellite vehicles 5, each on a resting place 8, while the base vehicle 4 on the right is empty at this time. Two pairs of satellite vehicles 5 are currently located on transfer tracks 7. Precise details cannot be seen due to the significant reduction in the size of the drawing. The material plate stacks 3 are at occupied plate storage locations 9.

[0035] indicated by small boxes. However, the boxes can already have dimensions ranging from 2,000 mm to 3,200 mm wide and 5,000 mm to 10,000 mm long. With a stack height of up to 5 meters, the current design should not exceed 60 tons in weight.

[0036] List of reference symbols

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Storage device for material plates (2) with a rail-bound base track (6) and at least one base vehicle (4) movable thereon, as well as several transfer paths (7) leading to plate storage racks (9) and at least one satellite vehicle (5) movable thereon, which is capable of moving at least one material plate (2), wherein a rest position (8) is provided on the base vehicle (4) for at least one satellite vehicle (5), wherein the base vehicle (4) has an electrical power supply, for example via a sliding contact, and a drive with a base vehicle electric motor (12), and wherein the satellite vehicle (5) also has a drive with a satellite vehicle electric motor (22), characterized in thatthat the satellite vehicle electric motor (22) of the satellite vehicle (5) can be supplied via an energy storage device (20) connected to the satellite vehicle (5) and that the energy storage device (20) can be charged by means of a charging station (17) on the base vehicle (4).

2. Storage facility according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two charging stations (17) for each satellite vehicle (5) are provided on the base vehicle (4).

3. Storage facility according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one satellite vehicle (5) can be controlled via radio, WLAN or Bluetooth signals.

4. Storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that there is no cable connection between base vehicle (4) and satellite vehicle (5).

5. Storage facility according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one further charging station (28) for the energy storage device (20) of a satellite vehicle (5) is located in a transfer path (7).

6. Storage facility according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that two satellite vehicles (5) can be moved parallel to each other on the transfer paths (7).

7. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a satellite vehicle (5) or two satellite vehicles (5) moving parallel to each other are suitable to carry a stack of material plates (3) of at least 50, preferably at least 100 material plates (2).

8. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each satellite vehicle (5) has a lifting / lowering device (24) for at least one material plate (2).

9. Storage device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each plate storage rack (9) is formed by at least two spaced-apart horizontally extending supports (10:1 ; 10:2; 10:3).

10. Storage device according to claim 9, characterized in that a transfer path (7) is located between two carriers (10:1 ; 10:2; 10:3).

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