Suspension shackle

Abstract

This invention discloses a suspension shackle for suspended storage of products, which has at least one suspension surface (1) and a fastening element (6) for connecting the product, and it is provided with at least two transition surfaces (5). The suspension surface (1) is preferably arranged on an upper-inner edge of a suspension opening (2) formed on the suspension shackle.

Description

[0001] Suspension shackle

[0002] This invention relates to a suspension shackle for suspended storage of products, which has at least one suspension surface and a fastening element for connecting the product.

[0003] During handling of articles in a warehouse - if the properties of the products to be managed show a significant difference, for example in size, material, texture - it is difficult or impossible to automate the handling, transport, and movement of individual products.

[0004] The common feature of the state of the art solutions is that the products are transported by uniform means, called "packs", which can be trays, pallets, crates, etc. The disadvantage of this is that it creates a significant additional volume and usually results in a significant excess material flow, since the pack itself must also be handled. A typical problem in an automatic warehouse handling e.g. pallets is that there are several products on the same pallet, but in order to pick out one item, the entire pallet must be moved to the picking point, and then the pallet must be moved back to the warehouse together with the rest of the products or empty. Picking is still a human job, as these systems cannot independently select the desired product.

[0005] Therefore, US 2022 / 0029368 publication document proposes a suspended storage and picking system that has a storage point for receiving and transporting products to be stored, as well as a product container that is arranged after the storage point. The products are placed in uniform hanging bags at the storage point. After the product storage point, there is a picking station, which is connected to the product storage point with a return conveyor belt. There is a hanging product sorting device at the first and second receiving station, which is connected to the product storage point via a transport system. The delivery system is designed in such a way that the suspended products are placed in the product storage in a product-specific manner, where a control system is used during picking, which is configured to control the hanging and grouping of the incoming product according to a program, the picking orders are processed, and at least one ordered product is directed to the picking station. Products stored in suspended hanging bags are hung by hanging the hook attached to the hanging bag on the hanging element, where the wheels of the hanging element roll on the transport system and have replaceable hanging elements for the hook. The disadvantage of this solution is that standardized storage elements, in this case hanging bags with a hook, are needed for hanging products, and the product must be placed in the hanging bag before storage and then removed from it at the picking station.

[0006] We realized that hanging storage of products has a significant advantage if no additional storage element is needed to hang the products, which needs to be handled even when not in use.

[0007] Our object with this invention is to develop a solution for suspended storage of products, where the product can be suspended directly, regardless of its shape, without the use of any additional pack, and can be transported in a transport system to the place of suspended storage, and then recalled from there.

[0008] In order to achieve this object a suspension shackle is needed whose geometry enables uniform handling of various, very different products. Thanks to this, there could be no need for any pack to move or store individual products, so the pack does not need to be handled separately. Due to the form of the suspension shackle, it enables the machines working in different parts of the storage process to manipulate, transfer and receive the products, regardless of the size and shape of the product. This solution also enables easy determination of the dimensions and weight of the product at any point of the loading and unloading process, thereby enabling continuous monitoring and control.

[0009] Our object is achieved by providing a suspension shackle for suspended storage of products, which has at least one suspension surface and a fastening element for connecting the product, and it is provided with at least two transition surfaces.

[0010] The suspension surface is arranged advantageously on an upper-inner edge of a suspension opening formed on the suspension shackle.

[0011] The transition surface is arranged on an upper-inner edge of each displacing opening formed on the suspension shackle.

[0012] The displacing openings are formed in the same plane as the suspension opening, next to two opposite sides of the suspension opening.

[0013] The transition surfaces formed on the suspension shackle are arranged between the suspension surface and the fastening element.

[0014] A hole is formed on the fastening element.

[0015] A support surface is formed on the fastening element.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing. In the drawing

[0017] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0018] Figure 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention as shown in Figure 1 in a suspended position, Fig. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention as shown in Fig. 1, while being lifted from the storage bar, Fig. 4 shows a further preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention in a front view, and

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention as shown in Figure 4.

[0020] In Fig. 1 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention is shown, designed for suspended storage of products. In this embodiment, the suspension shackle has at least one suspension surface 1 arranged on the inner surface of the rim of suspension openings 2 formed on the suspension shackle, which is arranged on the upper inner rim of the suspension opening 2 of the suspension shackle formed as a plate 12 in the illustrated embodiment. There are two outer hanging openings 3,4 for providing possibility of hanging a product over. The suspension surface 1 can be supported by a rod-shaped storage rod 13 known to the person skilled in the art for suspended storage of products, e.g. in the storage system, as it is shown in Figure 2, which extends through the suspension opening 2 in a storage and / or transfer position and holds the suspension shackle. A fastening element 6 is connected to the plate 12 of the suspension shackle, which serves to hold and / or fix the stored product. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the fastening element 6 is a plate perpendicular to the plate 12, on which e.g. a support surface l lis provided, on which stored products, e.g. boxes, can be placed and fixed if necessary. The hanging opening 2 in the middle thus play a role during storage and transport, while the two outermost hanging openings 3, 4 allow the product to be hung over, that is handed over.

[0021] In the event that the product stored in this way is to be transferred from the storage system to the picking workstation, as shown in Figure 3, the transition surfaces 5 of at least two transition openings 3,4 formed in the plate 12 on both sides of the hanging opening 2 in the same plane as the hanging opening 2 are supported e.g. by branches 14 of a lifting fork, and the suspension shackle is lifted off the storage rod 13 by lifting the branches 14, and the fastening element 6 is delivered to the picking station together with the product stored on it. Here, the necessary quantity of the products stored on the fastening element 6 is removed from the fastening element 6, then the suspension shackle is transported back to the previous or subsequently designated storage point and hung back on the storage rod 13 by means of the branches of the fork 14. In this embodiment, the transition surface 5 is arranged on the upper, inner edge of each of the transition openings 3, 4 formed on the suspension shackle. In the embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention as shown in Fig. 4, which represents another preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention in a front elevational view, the transition surfaces 5 on the suspension shackle are arranged between the suspension surface 1 and the fastening element 6. In this embodiment, the fastening element 6 is a plate in which e.g. holes 9 shown in Figure 5 are formed. In the 9 holes, e.g. a hook connected to the product can be placed. Figure 5 shows the preferred embodiment of the suspension shackle according to the invention shown in Figure 4 in perspective view. In this embodiment, the suspension surface 1 is not arranged in a suspension opening 2, but on a cross beam, and similarly, the transition surface 5 is located on another cross beam.

[0022] It can be seen that the location of the suspension surfaces 1 and transition surfaces 5 can be of different designs. These can be arranged both horizontally (horizontally) and vertically (vertically) for each design. An example of a geometry with a horizontal form is the embodiment shown in Figure 1, where the three-window design of the upper part ensures the transferability of the product. The central hanging opening 2 or window plays a role during storage and transport, while the two outer hanging openings 3,4 or windows provide the possibility of transition, i.e. handing over.

[0023] An example of a hanging point with a vertical arrangement is the embodiment shown in Figure 4. The upper hanging surface 1 plays a role during storage and transport, while the two lower hanging surfaces 5 provide the possibility of transferring, i.e. handing over.

[0024] A part of the suspension shackle connected to the product can be realized in different forms, depending on the properties of the product, but the common feature of all suspension shackles is that the geometry of the upper part can be formed identically in each case according to a freely chosen design. In this way, it forms a kind of bridge between the handling process of products with different properties and unifies their handling. In summary, the suspension shackle according to the invention is used for suspended storage of products, which has at least one suspension surface 1 and a fastening element 6 for connecting the product, and it is provided with at least two transition surfaces. The suspension surface 1 is preferably arranged on an upper- inner edge of a suspension opening 2 formed on the suspension shackle, and the transition surface 5 is arranged on an upper-inner edge of each transition opening 3,4 formed on the suspension shackle. The transition openings 3, 4 are formed in the same plane as the suspension opening 2, next to two opposite sides 7, 8 of the suspension opening 2, and the transition surfaces 5 formed on the suspension shackle are arranged between the suspension surface 1 and the fastening element 6. Furthermore, a hole 9 and a support surface 11 is formed on the fastening element 6.

[0025] The most important advantage of the invention compared to solutions according to the state of the art is that it can be suspended directly, regardless of the shape of the product, without the use of any additional pack, and can be forwarded in a transport system to the place of suspended storage, and then recalled from there.

Claims

Patent claims1. Suspension shackle for suspended storage of products, which has at least one suspension surface (1) and a fastening element (6) for connecting the product, characterized in that it is provided with at least two transition surfaces (5).

2. Suspension shackle according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension surface (1) is arranged on an upper-inner edge of a suspension opening (2) formed on the suspension shackle.

3. Suspension shackle according to claim 2, characterized in that the transition surface (5) is arranged on an upper-inner edge of each transition opening (3,4) formed on the suspension shackle.

4. Suspension shackle according to claim 3, characterized in that the transition openings (3, 4) are formed in the same plane as the suspension opening (2), next to two opposite sides (7, 8) of the suspension opening (2).

5. Suspension shackle according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition surfaces (5) formed on the suspension shackle are arranged between the suspension surface (1) and the fastening element (6).

6. Suspension shackle according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that a hole (9) is formed on the fastening element (6).

7. Suspension shackle according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that a support surface (11) is formed on the fastening element (6).

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