Easy-access storage rack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rack for storing and / or transporting elements, in particular glazing elements, of a type comprising a structure (3) provided with receiving means and front protection means capable of receiving and holding these elements. [Solution] The rack of the present invention is characterized in that the protection means can occupy two positions: a deployed position in which they block access to the interior of the rack, and a retracted position in which they allow free access to the interior of the rack.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rack intended for storing and / or transporting glazing elements, in particular glazing intended for motor vehicles, such as for example windscreens, rear windows or side windows. [Background technology]

[0002] Racks of this type generally consist of mechanically welded tubular elements forming a receiving cradle inside which the glazing elements are placed so that they rest with their edges parallel to one another.

[0003] It can be seen that to load the racks with glazing elements, whether manual or automatic, an operator faces the front face of the rack, starts loading the rack from the rear part of the rack and continues loading towards its front part. As a result, especially at the start of loading, this position creates significant overhang problems insofar as the operator is remote from the zone in which the glazing elements are to be placed. These overhang problems are either very harmful over time to the health of the operator if the installation is done by hand, or generate mechanical stresses in the installation if the installation is done mechanically. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a rack that improves the position of the operator in relation to the rack and makes it possible to minimize the overhanging position of the operator during loading or unloading operations on the rack.

[0005] The subject of the invention therefore relates to a rack for storing and / or transporting elements, in particular glazing elements, of a type including a structure provided with receiving means capable of receiving and holding these elements, as well as front protection means.

[0006] This rack is characterized in that the protection means can occupy two positions: a deployed position, in which the protection means blocks access to the interior of the rack, and a retracted position, in which the protection means allows free access to the interior of the rack.

[0007] In the deployed position, the main function of these front protection means is to allow the passage of straps for holding the glazing elements, said straps being deployed in a transverse mid-plane. Without such front protection means, the operator would have to position such straps inside the two openings (7a, 7b) formed in the front base (5a, 5b). However, such positioning of the straps would have the double drawback of making it more difficult to insert the forks of the pallet truck into these openings, and of significantly increasing the wear of the straps during the same insertion of the forks. The claimed invention provides a solution to this technical problem.

[0008] The retractability of these front protection means likewise makes it possible to ensure that they remain fixed on the rack during loading / unloading operations, offering an undoubted advantage, particularly in the context of use in factories, where the positioning of each mechanical element must be predefinable and controllable throughout the entire loading / unloading phase in order to meet safety constraints.

[0009] According to the invention, the structure includes a base formed by a frame, the front portion of which may include a pedestal, the pedestal and likewise the front portion of the frame being interrupted substantially at its midpoint by an access controlled space.

[0010] The front base may have two windows through which the gripping means of the lifting device can be introduced. The side parts of the frame may likewise be provided with bases which may have two windows through which such gripping means can be introduced.

[0011] The front part of the frame may comprise at least one tubular component and the protection means may consist of at least one slider mounted for sliding movement within said component.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the front part of the frame may include two tubular components separated by an access control space, and the protection means may consist of two sliders assembled for sliding movement within each of the tubular components.

[0013] These sliders may have means by which they can be fixed when they are in the deployed position. These fixing means may consist of magnetic means by which they can be held when they are both in the deployed position.

[0014] The rack structure according to the invention may advantageously be made of mechanically welded tubes.

[0015] Finally, the protection means may consist of at least one closure device mounted to rotate about a vertical axle fixed to the structure.

[0016] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack equipped with access control means according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a partial top view of the rack shown in FIG. 1 in a storage or transport position. [Diagram 3] 2 is a partial top view of the rack shown in FIG. 1 in a loading or unloading position. [Figure 4] 1 is a partial longitudinal section of a front cross member of a rack equipped with a slider according to the present invention; [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the slider shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a partial front view of an alternative embodiment of the means for holding a slider provided on a rack according to the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the means for braking the slider; [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are partial cross-sectional views of a means for connecting two sliders, respectively before and after fastening. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are partial cross-sectional views of a means for connecting two sliders, respectively before and after fastening. [Figure 10] 13A-13C are partial cross-sectional views of one variation of a rack with a single slider, respectively, before and after its deployment. [Figure 11] 13A-13C are partial cross-sectional views of one variation of a rack with a single slider, respectively, before and after its deployment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of one embodiment of two sliders in a deployed position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the sliders shown in FIG. 12 with the right slider in a retracted position and the left slider in a partially retracted position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The rack 1 according to the invention, which in this embodiment is made from machine-welded tubes, comprises a frame 3 having a rectangular base, a front face provided with a pedestal 5a which is slightly wider than the frame 3, and a side face provided with a pedestal 5b.

[0019] The pedestals 5a and 5b have two openings 7a and 7b, respectively, passing through them, intended to allow the forks of a pallet truck type lifting operator to pass through. A portion of the front pedestal 5a located between the two openings 7a and the front part 3a of the frame 3 is interrupted so as to create an access controlled space 6 of width e opening into the interior of the rack 1, as shown in FIG.

[0020] The two ends of the front pedestal 5a terminate in a front vertical longitudinal member 11a, the tops of which are each joined by a cross member 13 to the tops of two upstanding vertical longitudinal members 11b at the rear corners of the frame. Moreover, the two rear vertical longitudinal members 11b are joined together by a cross member 14.

[0021] The base frame 3 is provided with two transverse longitudinal members 15, the upper surface of which is provided with transverse notches 17 over its entire length, which are intended to receive the edges of glazing elements 16 intended to be stored / transported, in particular the windshield or rear window of a vehicle, and to hold these elements in a substantially vertical position.

[0022] According to the invention, the access controlled space 6 of the rack 1, when deployed, has means which make it possible, on the one hand, to block off the access controlled space 6 during transport or storage and, on the other hand, to allow the passage of straps for holding the glazing elements 16. Such means therefore make it possible to protect the glazing elements 16. These means can also allow access to this space 6 during loading / unloading operations when transitioning to the storage position, which improves access to the glazing elements, in particular those stored in the rear part of the rack.

[0023] For this purpose, as shown in the figure, the front tubes 3a of the frame 3 located on either side of the front opening 7a each receive a slider 19 which is frictionally mounted within the tube and can thus occupy two positions, namely a deployed position (Figure 2) or a transport / storage position and a storage position (Figure 3) or a loading / unloading position.

[0024] To control the deployment of these sliders, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, these sliders have a longitudinal window 21 passing through their upper face, with a screw 23 passing through the upper wall of the tube 3a, which corresponds to and forms a stop that enters the window 21. It can be seen that by the positioning of the screw 23 and the length of the window 21, it is possible to control both the stroke to which each slider 19 can be deployed and, conversely, the stroke to which it can re-enter the tube 3a.

[0025] Preferentially, the free end of the slider 19 may be provided with a damping means which may consist, for example, of a pad 25 of elastic material such as rubber.

[0026] In a variant embodiment of the invention, the free end of the slider 19 may be provided with means for holding the slider when in the deployed position. Thus, it is possible to arrange a magnetized pad at the end of one slider and an iron pad or a magnetized pad of polarity opposite to the first polarity at the end of the other slider.

[0027] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to assemble a hook 27 on the free end of one of the sliders 19, which is assembled to rotate about an axle 29 and which will lock onto a stud 31 at the free end on the other slider during storage / transport.

[0028] It is also possible to provide means for adjusting the level of friction between the slider 19 and the interior of the tube 3a in which it is mounted so as to slide. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 7, it is possible to provide a gap between the slider 19 and the interior of the tube 3a and to crimp a bending spring 33 onto the slider 19, which will bear against the inner surface of the tube 3a.

[0029] Similarly, as shown in Figure 8, it is also possible to embed a metal insert 35 in the free end of one of the sliders 19, which insert 35 is to be housed in the free end of the other slider, as shown in Figure 9, in a position for storing / transporting the glazing element 16.

[0030] It is possible to create a vertical hole 37 through the insert 35 of one slider and a hole 39 through the end of the other slider, which holes are made in such a way that they will align when the two sliders are in abutment as shown in Figure 9. The sliders can then be immobilized with a pin 41 that passes through holes 37 and 39.

[0031] In another embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 10 and 11, the rack 1 may have only a single slider 19 which is longer than the access controlled space 6 and which is assembled to slide in a tube 3a on one side of the rack and which, in the storage / transport position, has a free end which is to be housed in an opening in the opposite tube 3a as shown in Figure 11. A screw 43 forming a stop passes through this opposite tube 3a to immobilize the travel of the slider 19.

[0032] Of course, according to the invention, the slider can perform other movements than sliding to move from its deployed position to its retracted position: the slider can in particular also perform a rotational movement.

[0033] Thus, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, one of the ends of the two tubular closure elements 19 can be fixed to one element of a hinge 45, the other element of which is fixed to the frame 3a in such a way that the axial rod 45a of this hinge 45 is vertical. Each closure element can thus occupy a deployed position, which closes the entrance to the rack, shown in Figure 12, and a stored position, which allows access to the rack. The present disclosure includes the following aspects of the present invention: <Aspect 1> A rack for storing and / or transporting elements, in particular glazing elements (16), of the type comprising a structure (3) provided with receiving means (17) capable of receiving and holding these elements, and with front protective means (19, 19'), characterized in that said protective means (19, 19') can occupy two positions, namely a deployed position, in which said protective means (19, 19') blocks access to the interior of the rack, and a retracted position, in which said protective means (19, 19') allows free access to the interior of the rack. <Aspect 2> 2. A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure comprises a base formed by a frame (3), the front part of which comprises a pedestal (5a), the pedestal and likewise the front part (3a) of the frame being interrupted substantially at its midpoint by an access controlled space (6). <Aspect 3> 3. A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 2, characterised in that the base (5a) has two windows (7a) passing through it for the introduction of gripping means of a lifting device. <Aspect 4> 4. The storage and / or transport rack according to any one of aspects 2 and 3, characterized in that at least the front part (3a) of the frame (3) comprises at least one tubular element and that the protection means consists of at least one slider (19) assembled for sliding within this element. <Aspect 5> 5. The storage and / or transport rack according to any one of aspects 2 to 4, characterized in that the lateral portion (3b) of the frame (3) is provided with a base (5b) having two windows (7b) passing through the base for introducing the gripping means of a lifting device. <Aspect 6> 6. A storage and / or transport rack according to any one of aspects 2 to 5, characterized in that the front part of the frame (3) is formed by two tubular elements (3a) separated by the access control space (6) and in that the protection means consist of two sliders (19) assembled to slide within each of the tubular elements (3a). <Aspect 7> 7. A storage and / or transport rack according to aspect 6, characterised in that the sliders (19) are provided with means (27, 41) by which they can be fixed when they are in the deployed position. <Aspect 8> A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 7, characterized in that the free ends of the sliders (19) are provided with magnetic means capable of holding both sliders when they are both in the deployed position. <Aspect 9> A storage and / or transport rack according to any one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that the structure (3) is made of mechanically welded tubes. <Aspect 10> A storage and / or transport rack according to any one of aspects 2 and 3, characterized in that the protection means consist of at least one closing device (19') mounted to rotate about a vertical axis (45') fixed to the structure (3).

Claims

1. A rack for storing and / or transporting elements, of the type including a structure (3) provided with receiving means (17) capable of receiving and holding these elements, and with front protection means (19, 19'), in which: said protection means (19, 19') can be placed in two positions, namely a deployed position, in which said protection means (19, 19') block access to the interior of the rack, and a retracted position, in which said protection means (19, 19') allow free access to the interior of the rack; said structure comprises a base formed by a frame (3), the front part of which comprises a pedestal (5a), said pedestal and said front part (3a) of said frame being interrupted at their midpoint by an access controlled space (6); the front part of the frame (3) is formed by two tubular components (3a) separated by the access control space (6), and the protection means consists of two sliders (19) mounted so as to slide within each of the tubular components (3a); Characterized by: rack.

2. 2. A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (5a) has two windows (7a) passing through it for the introduction of gripping means of a lifting device.

3. 3. A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lateral parts (3b) of the frame (3) are provided with a base (5b) having two windows (7b) passing through the base for the introduction of gripping means of a lifting device.

4. 4. A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliders (19) are provided with means (27, 41) by means of which they can be fixed when in the deployed position.

5. 5. A storage and / or transport rack according to claim 4, characterized in that the free ends of the sliders (19) are provided with magnetic means capable of holding both sliders when both are in the deployed position.

6. Storage and / or transport rack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the structure (3) is made of mechanically welded tubes.

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