Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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StDrage Rack ~
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The invention concerns a stDrage rack for receiving workpieces with
stacking columns spaced apart from one another, which have sLIppOrts
for holding the workpieces.
In particular~ storage racks of this type are used in the
automobile industry for storing flat automobile parts after these
parts come from a press or similar shaping device and before these
parts are finished or used. For example~ a rack of this type is
described in DE-OS 3~ 11 3~0 and in German Utility Patent ~ 03
~01.4. In both cases there are stacking columns spaced apart from
one another, in or on which there are catches which provide for
holding the workpieces within the storaoe rack. In this case the
workpiece is taken from the press~ for example by a robot~ and
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inserted into the corresponding stora~e rack with the ~tacking
columns.~ When a workpiece reaches its end position on the
corresponding catches~ the next row of catches moves into a
receiving position. -
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~ These storage racks have proven themselves well in many ways~
i however they do have a disadvantage. Because the robot has to
3 bring the workpiece to the storage rack and insert it at different
heights there, this robot requires a relatively great amount of
time before it i5 able to remove the next piece from the press.
What this really means is that the press operates more rapidly than
the robot, and thus i5 dependent on the speed of the robot.
The task of the present invention is to develop a storage rack of
the above-mentioned ~ype in which this disadvantage i5 eliminated.
Mounting the stacking columns so that they are capable of rotating
around their longitudinal axes leads to the solution of this task.
This invention makes it possible 50 that a robot always stores a
workpiece in the same location in the stora~e rackj then the
workpiece is moved to another position within the storage rack by
means of rotating the stacking column Thus it is possible that
the robot always has to perform exactly the same motion and does
not have to insert workpieces into the storage rack at different
levels. This saves so much time that now the robot can work faster
than the press. This makes it possible to utili2e the full
capacity of the press.
Many versions of the support on the stacking columns are
conceivable, and are to be ~overed by the inventive idea. For
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example, the support may have a spiral shape or be made in the form
of a helix, the workpieces traveling from top to bottom by means of
a continuous movement of the stacking column. This even permits
loading the workpieces in a storage rack with hori~ontally arranged
stacking columns. Of course~ in this case the workpieces lie on
the supports almost continuously~ so that stress marks or the like
may appear here. Further, the gearing and motor cost is increased.
In a preferred specific embodiment of the invention the supports
are arranged vertically and hori~ontally offset wih respect to one
another. In this case it is recommended that the supports be
arranged in vertical rows on the stacking columns. However,
another arrangement also is to be covered by the inventive idea~
depending on the mechanical configuration of this storage rack.
In a simple specific embodiment two vertical rows of supports on
each stacking column are sufficient. The supports of one row are
offset with respect to the supports of the other row. When the
stacking columns are rotated, the workpieces drop from one support
onto the next lower support of the other vertical row.
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In order for the workpiece to be released for dropping~ the support
has to be rotated by a specific angle which depends~ among other
things, also on the length of the support. In each case an angle
of around ~0 is sufficient so that the two vertical rows can be
arranged offset with respect to one another by a horizontal angle
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of around 90. HDwever, another angle, either a smaller one or a
larger one, also is conceivable. This depends, -First of all~ on
whether the stacking columns perform a continuous rotarv motion or
back and forth rotary motion. In the case of back and forth
rotary motion, there i5 the arrangement of only two vertical rows~
which, however, horizontally include an angle of less than 1~0.
In the case of continuous rotary motion of the stacking column, the
hori~ontal angle of a majority o-f vertical rows also may be smaller
than 90, 50 that the workpiece drops down in essentially smaller
stages. Of course, then a large number of supports is required.
The supports themselves may be connected firmly with the stacking
column. For example, when making the stacking column it is
possible to mold the support to this stacking col~mn itself. It
also i5 possible to screw the supports into the stacking column, to
weld them in, to glue them in, or otherwise connect them.
However, since having a robot remove the workpieces from the
storage rack also has been taken into account, the supports may be
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made 50 that they are tippable. They should be tippable from an
approximately hori~ontal holding position into a vertical position
until a workpiece on them can slide forward. ~
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If the workpieces concerned are particularly sens~tive, the
supports may be provided with cushions or they may be coated with
3 protection against wear. Further, rollers, balls, or the like,
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which rDll on the underside of the workpiece durinq the rotation of
the stacking column, also may be integrated into the supports.
Damage to the workpiece also i5 avoided in this way.
In a preferred specific embodiment, each stacking column is
surrounded by a protective section~ as is shown7 for example~ in
German Utility Patent 92 03 ~01.4. ~mong other things~ this has
the advantage that a part of the protective section itself may
serve as a stopbar for the workpieces without an additional
section. The motion of the support does not exclude the
possibility that the workpiece may be pushed back and forth
horizontally within the storage rack. Motion of this kind is
prevented either by a corresponding elongation of the protective
section or by separate sections or vertical strips on the
protective sections. If no protective sections are provided~ as a
rule, separate stops for the workpieces would have to be provided.
In the individual case it is also conceivable that the stacking
columns are arranged on or in a corresponding protective section.
This is carried out in a way similar to that described in German
Utility Patent ~ 03 ~01.4. Only the ablilty of the stacking
columns to rotate has to be provided. For example. it is
conceivable that a stub shaft of the stacking column engages in an
upper horizontal cover plate~ ~hich covers the t-op of the
protective section. This cover plate may be provided with a
longitudinal hole in which the stub shaft is guided movable in a
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limited range and adjustable so that the stacking column may be
tipped in a desired range.
The stacking columns may be rotated in any way and manner. They
may be driven manually, by motor, hydraulically, pneumatically, or
the like. The appropriate method of driving the columns depends on
whether a continuous rotary motion of the stacking columns is to be
performed in one direction or the motion is to be performed back
and forth. In the case of a continuous rotation, for example, the
use of an electric motor is conceivable. Pneumatic or hydraulic
cylinders are more suited for back and forth motion.
3n the case of a continuous rotation of the stacking columns, the
speed is matched to the speed of the robot, 50 that in each case
the uppermost supports always are free at the correct moment. In
the case of a cyclic rotation, which may be performed either back
and forth or only in one direction, for example, the motion of the
robot may trigger a pulse which initiates this motion
Further, as a rule~ all stacking columns of one storage rack should
perform a uniform rotary motion. Only then is it guaranteed that
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the workpiece actually is released from one support and received by `~
; another one. It is now conceivable that each stacking column have
its own drive, which drives preferably are connected together
mechanically or electrically~ ~s a rule~ however, a single drive
should be sufficient, the other stacking columns then being ;~
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connected with the driven stacking column via corresponding
coupling elements. For example~ a chain which wraps around
corresponding toothed wheels ~n the stacking columns may be used as
a coupling element. Of course, a chain of this type has to be
maintained and tightened. Therefore the individual stacking
columns are to be connected with one another by means of other
connecting elements, such as, for example, connecting rods~ The
coupling i5 made so that the rotary mDtion of one stacking column
necessarily i5 transmitted to all other ones via the connecting
rods. The stacking columns are mounted on a base plate in order
that the storage rack may be transported. ~Iso, for transporting
the storage rack the stacking columns should be ~ble to be fastened
50 that accidental rotation does not cause a no longer desirable
shifting of the workpieces within the storage rack.
~s soon a5 the stDrage rack is at the desired location, it may be
unloaded. Speed plays no role in the unloading, so that here the
workpieces ~ay be removed either upward on the storage rack or to
the side.
In many cases transport andJor storage of the workpieces in the
vertical position also is desired. For this purpose it is possible
to tip the storage rack laterally by 90~ so that the workpieces may
be transported and more easily removed in this posi~tion. The
current fork lifts are capable of such a rotation. In this case
the supports are locked after the storage rack is filled and before
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it is emptied so that the workpieces are held between them.
If the supports are made as screws, the storage racks may be filled
even with workpieces vertically arranged and carried by the robot
in this position.
Qs sDDn as the storage rack is emptied, it should be returned to
the filling station. ~ centering plate which has the corresponding
centering pin for the base plate may be provided 50 that the rack
is reoriented with respect to the filling robot resp. with respect
to the press. ~ further advantage of this arrangement is that not
every storage rack has to have its own drive~ but that a drive
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which has a releasable connection with at least one stacking column
is associateJ with the centering plate. For example, this drive
may be a hydraulic cylinder which operates a pusher via a piston
rod. For the sake of simplicity~ this pusher has a recess into
which a lever is inserted7 this lever, moreover, being firmly
connected with a stacking column. However~ here also it is
possible to have many versiDnS~ which are to be covered by the
inventive idea.
Moreover, the stacking columns themselves may have different cross~
sectional shapes. In practice it has proven to be the case that~
first o~ all, a cross-sectionally rectangular stacking cDlumn is
preferred7 since it presents a certain guiding edge for the
workpiece.
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Furthermore, there may be more than four columns within a storage
rack. There may be even six or more columns, six columns being
¦ provided when very large parts are to be stored. More columns are
provided if several parts are to be stored beside one ano~her.
I In a preferred embodiment of the invention~ one more unloading
device is to be coordinated with the stacking columns. Qne
advantage of the present invention is to be seen in the fact that
in the case of loading by hand, insofar as this takes place, the
operator no longer has to bend. However, this is not the case for
the persons who unload the storage rack. They do have to bend, and
the lower the workplece to be unloaded lies, the lower they have to
bend. This disadvantage is eliminated by means of an unloading
device, which, for e~ample, for the sake of simplicity, may consist
of a skid which can be guided under the lowest workpiece. If now
the stacking columns is rotated, the lowest workpiece drops onto
the skid and may be removed from the storage rack with the skid.
simple unloading capability is provided in this way.
Q further advantage of ~he unloading device is the fact that in no
case does the support any longer have to be made so that it can
swivel. This saves considerable manufacturing costs Further, the
supports may be placed much closer to one another vertically so
that a known storage rack may be filled with approximately twice as
many workpieces. Further, then the storage rack may require
considerably fewer mechanical parts which have to be maintained
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~ andJor may wear.
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Q drive which also may have any configuration should be coordinated
with the unloading device. It only has to Dperate so that the
unloading device i5 pushed between the stacking columns and pulled
back again. ~ll possible drives are covered by the inventive idea.
The same also obtains for the guiding of the unloading device,
which, for example5 i5 performed by means of rails in corresponding
guides.
O-f course, the drive should be connected with the drive 15, 50 that
i the drive 15 is actuated only when the skid is located under the
I lowest workpiece.
Further advantages~ features, and details of the invention result
from the following specific embodiments as well as from the
drawing; here
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Fig. 1 shDws a perspective view o-f a storage rack in accordance ~ ;
with the invention;
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Fig. ~ shows a perspective view Df a further specific embodiment of
a storage rack in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 3 shows a sketch of a further specific embodiment of a ~-`
storage rack in accordance with the invention;
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Fig 4 shows a top view of the storage rack shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 shows a top view of a centering piece for a storage rack
with a drive;
Fig. b shows a perspective view of a further specific embodiment of
a storage rack in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the storage rack shown in Fig.
~ in a further workiny position,
Fig. 8 shows a schematic side view of a further specific embodiment
of a storage rack;
Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a specific embodiment of an
unloading device in accordance with the invention.
~ storage rack R, made in accordance with the invention~ shown in
Fig. 1, has a base plate 1, on which there are four staking
columns ~a, ~b, ~c, and ~d. Each stacking column ~ may be rotated
aro~nd its longitudinal axis ~, each stacking column 2 resting in
a corresponding pivot bearing on the base plate 1. The pivot
bearing ~ is mentioned only for example, it is only essential that
the stacking column ~ be pivotable around the longitudinal axis.
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~ large number of supports 4, which in the working position serve
for hwlding a workpiece 59 are coordinated with the stacking column
2. This support 4 may be a fixed attachment to a stacking column
It is also possible to have a simple bolt, which is inserted
into the stacking column ~. Of course, it is preferable to have a
support 49 which is mounted 50 that it may tip in the stacking
column ~, and for which support the stacking column has a
corresponding recess 6.
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In the specific embodiment shown, four vertical rows of supports 4
in each case are arranged offset with respect to one another at a ;;i~
horizontal angle of ~0. In this case each support 4 of one
vertical row is located at a height of approximately half the
distance between two supports of an adjacent vertical row. It goes
without saying, and also is to be covered by the inventive idea,
that only two, or also more than four such vertical rows may be
provided. Qlso the vertical and horizontal offset of the supports
with respect to one another may be configured differently. ~ -~
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The stacking c:olumn 2 is turned by means of a drive9 it being
possible for each stacking column to have its own drive. In the
preferred specific embodiment, however, the stacking columns ~ are
to be connected with one another by means of corresponding coupling
ele~nents 50 that one drive is sufficient for turning all stacking
columns ~ around the longitudinal a~es Pt
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~ccording to Fig. 1 this coupling element is a chain 7, which is
laid over toothed wheels 8 as an endless chain. Each toothed wheel
8 pre-Ferably is connected torsionally with a stacking column 2.
For example, only one motor 9 mounted in the stacking column 2c is
sufficient for turning stacking column 2c. Of cDurse this motor ~
also may be located in the base plate l; further, the motor ~ may
rest on the base plate 1 between two stacking columns 2 and have a
corresponding connection to the chain 7.
If a continuous rotary motion of the stacking columns ~ is desired,
the motor turns continuously; if a timed back and forth motion of
the stacking columns 2 around their respective longitudinal axes
is desired, a correspondingly timed motor is used.
The mode of operation of the present invention is as follows:
For example, a corresponding workpiece 5, for example an automobile
part, is removed from a press. This workpiece 5 is inserted into
the storage rack R 50 that it lies on the uppermost support 4.
Now, while a robot fetches the next workpiece from the press, the
stacking column ~ performs a rotary motion, the support being
guided under the workpiece outward until the workpiece 5 is
released. ~t the moment when the workpiece 5 is released from the
supports 4, the supports of the adjacent vertical row already are
under the workpiece 5, so that the workpiece 5 drops onto this
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support. However, the support here is the second uppermost
support, SD that the uppermost support again is ready for receiving
anDther workpiece.
In this way, with each rotary motion of the stacking colu~ns by not
entirely 90, the workpiece 4 always drops one stage lower; this
also is the case when several workpieces already are present in the
storage rack R. In the case of the rotation of the stacking
column, all workpieces drop down in stages. The same effect al50
is obtained if the stacking column ~ does not rotate around the
longitudinal axis continuously, but in each case cycles in one
direction or moves back and forth within the framework of
appro~imately 90.
It goes without saying that the supports 4, onto which the
workpieces 5 drop in stages, are correspQndingly cushioned.
Further, the supports may be equipped with rollers or balls so that
there is no damage to the workpieces. No limit i5 set on the
inventive idea here.
The specific embodiment of a storage rack R1 shown in Fig.
differs in that each stacking column 2 is coordinated with a
protective section 10. This protective section 10 is described in
greater detail in Utility Patent 4~ 03 901~4, the content of this
utiiity patent with respect to the protective section 10 also being
the subject of the present protected right.
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~d Figs. 3 and 4 show a specific embodiment of a storage frame R~ in
j the case of which the stacking columns ~ are not connected by means
of a chain, but by means of a rod 11. In this way adjacent
) stacking columns ~ in each case are coupled with one another by
J, means of an excentrically mounted connecting rod 1~, the connecting
rod 12 in each case being connected via corresponding swivels 13a
and 13b excentrically with a pivot bearing 3a and 3b of a stacking
column ~a, respectively ~b. ~-
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pivot bearing 3b, for example of the stacking column ~b, is
engaged by a piston rod i4 of a drive, for example a hydraulic
cylinder 15, and set in rotary motion. The rotary motion is
¦ transmitted to the pivot bearing 3 of the adjacent stacking column
via the connecting rod 1~. Since in this case this is a matter of
a back-and-forth rotary motion, two vertical rows of supports are
sufficient.
~ large number of users of storage racks of this type utilize a
centering plate 1~, as shown in Fig. 5, for centering the bearing
rack in relation to a robot, a press, or the like. This centering
plate 16 always remains fixed in one location, while the storage
rack is transported as soon as it is filled. In order that the
storage rack can resume a desired position opposite a press, a
robot, centering pins 17 and 18, which work together with
corresponding recesses in the storage rack, are located on the
centering plate 1~.
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In according with the invention7 a drive may now be provided on
this centering plate lb so that this drive may be used for a large
number of storage racks. In the present specific embodiment, the
drive again has the hydraulic cylinder 15 mentioned in Fig. 4,
which engages a pusher with its piston rod~ The pusher 19 i5
guided in rails 20 and 21, the pusher 1~ being able to move in the
direction of the double arrow ~2.
The pusher lY has a recess ~3 into which a lever ~4~ which is shown
only with a dashed line in Fig. 5, may be inserted. The lever 24
is firmly connected with a pivot bearing 3. The recess 23 i5 made
as a slot in order to make a connection between the lever 24 and
the pusher 1~ possible.
In the further specific embodiment of a storage rack shown in Figs.
b and 7~ the base plate i5 replaced by a base frame ~5. The
stacking columns 2 rest in the corner areas of this base frame 25
and are mounted so that they may turn correspondingly there.
protective frame 26 is connected to the base frame 25 at an angle
of approximately ~0. This protective frame essentially consists
of si~e pDsts 27 and 28 as well as a cross-beam 2~ connecting them
and is supported against the base frame by means of diagaonal
trussing 30. Both frames 25 and 26 have feet.
The operating position of the storage rack R3 shown in Fig. ~ i5
suitable for loading with workpieces. ~fter the loading, the
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storage rack i5 rotated by ~0 and thus transported and placed.
The workpieces are located in a vertical position, the supports
preferably are locked. The workpieces may be removed from this
position.
In accordance with the invention, Fi~. 8 shows an unloading ~evice
E coordinated with a storage rack R. This unloading device E may
be moved in the direction ~, it being capable of engaging between
the stacking columns 2. The movement in direction x is performed
by any drive 3~. For example, this may be a hydraulic or pneumatic
cylinder or an electric drive.
If the unloading device E is driven in the direction x between
stacking columns Z by means of the drive 32, in the operating
position a skid 33 engages under the lowest workpiece. This lies
on the lowest supports 4. If the stacking columns Z rotate further
now, the lowest workpiece 5 drops onto the skid 33. I-f the
unloading device E then is driven from the storage rack R opposite
the direction ~ by means of the drive 3Z, the workpiece 5 remains
on the skid 33 and also moves from the storage rack R. Qn operator
now can easily take it from the skid and deliver it for its further
use.
Qn example of an unloading device E is shown in Fig. ~. For the
sake of simplicity, here the skid 33a consists of a frame which is
connected with rails 35 by straps 34. The rails 35 here are made
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angular 50 that they can easily be guided into cbrrespondingly
shaped guide grooves. It al50 is possible that these rails 35 also
are guided on or in the centering plate 1~. However, this is only
one specific embodi~ent of a loading device E1. The present
invention includes many conceivable options.
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