Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02379689 2002-01-25
Doc. No. 35-82 CA Patent
Method And Device For Managing An Installation For
Intermediate Storage Of Flat Articles
The invention is situated in the field of storage engineering and concerns a
method and a
device according to the generic terms of the corresponding, independent
claims. Method and
device serve for managing an installation for intermediate storage of flat
articles, in particular of
printed products, wherein for intermediate storage large numbers of the
articles are combined in
storage formations (e.g., wound into rolls), wherein storage formations (e.g.,
rolls) are
intermediately stored and wherein following intermediate storage the articles
are once again
released from the storage formations (e.g., unravelled from the rolls).
Corresponding installations
comprise stations for establishing storage formations (e.g., winding stations
for rolling up),
stations for dissolving storage formations (e.g., unwinding stations for
unravelling), a plurality of
supporting elements for carrying or holding together storage formations (e.g.,
roll stands with
roll cores or roll cores only) and a storage area with storage spaces for
supporting elements with
storage formations, or for supporting elements without storage formation
(loaded and empty
supporting elements).
Part of the management of such an installation are in particular the following
steps:
Positioning empty or loaded supporting elements (e.g., roll stands) in
stations for establishing
storage formations (e.g., winding stations) or in stations for dissolving
storage formations (e.g.,
unwinding stations), retrieving loaded or empty supporting elements from the
stations,
depositing loaded and empty storage elements in storage spaces, retrieving
loaded and empty
supporting elements from storage spaces and transporting empty and loaded
supporting elements
from storage spaces to stations, from stations to storage spaces and if so
required from one
storage space to another one.
The large number of the steps necessary to be carried out for a predefined
management
process in a predetermined time sequence is co-ordinated by a superordinate
intelligence and is
carried out with a higher or lower degree of automation.
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In the field of printing, in many instances rolls are used as storage
formations. These rolls
consist of a roll core and an imbricated formation of a large number of
products being wound
around the core with the help of a winding tape. The rolls are handled as such
(the supporting
element being the roll core only) or positioned on roll stands on which the
roll core is rotatably
mounted. The rolls have usually a diameter of up to two metres and a weight
reaching one ton.
The axial width of the rolls substantially corresponds to the width of the
rolled-up products and
amounts for example to 30 to 50 cm. Roll stands suitable for such rolls (also
designated as roll
cartridges) and methods for handling roll stands are described, for example,
in the publications
DE-3236866 (or US-4587790), EP-149058 (or US-4676496), EP-242607 (or US-
4703901), EP-
333648 (or US-5161933) or EP-243837 (or US-4768768).
The roll stands are as simple as possible, mobile (if so required passively
displaceable)
stable standing devices, on which a roll core is mounted rotatable around a
horizontal axis and
which in many cases also comprise a device for winding and unwinding the
winding tape. An
empty roll stand comprises an empty roll core without any printed products
rolled onto it; in a
loaded roll stand, the roll core carries an imbricated formation of printed
products or of other flat
articles wound onto it. Roll stands are positioned at correspondingly equipped
winding stations
and are usually matched to the winding stations in such a manner, that in an
unwinding station,
an imbricated formation wound onto the roll stand is directly unravelled, or
in a winding station,
the imbricated formation is directly wound onto the roll core of a roll stand.
In the printing field, it is not only usual to intermediately store printed
products in rolls
carried by roll stands, but it is also usual to intermediately store the
printed products, for
example, in rolls lying on pallets, spirally rolled to form towers being
supported by suitable
supporting elements or else in rods, wherein all these arrangements of printed
products represent
storage formations and are carried and/or held together by suitable supporting
elements.
It is the object of the invention to create a method and a device for managing
an
installation for intermediate storage of storage formations of flat articles,
in particular of printed
products, wherein the installation comprises at least one station for
establishing storage
formations, at least one station for dissolving storage formations, a
plurality of mobile supporting
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elements and a store with a plurality of storage spaces for storage formations
or for supporting
elements respectively and wherein the management of the installation comprises
the steps of
positioning supporting elements with or without storage formations in stations
for establishing or
for dissolving storage formations and retrieving them from such stations,
depositing supporting
elements with or without storage formations in storage spaces and removing
them from storage
spaces, and transporting supporting elements with or without storage
formations between stations
and storage spaces or between storage spaces. Management according to the
invention is to be as
simple and as efficient as possible and it shall impose as few as possible
spatial conditions on
positions for storage spaces and stations and therefore, demand as little
space as possible. The
device for implementing the management method is to be capable of being
operated easily and
efficiently in the most diverse spatial conditions. It shall require as little
space as possible and it
shall be easily expandable.
This objective is achieved by the method and by the device as defined in the
independent
claims.
The method according to the invention is based on the central idea of
splitting-up the as
such complex management function into partial functions and of providing
various simple partial
devices for the purpose of carrying out these partial functions, the partial
devices being highly
independent of one another. Due to the fact, that they are only responsible
for partial functions,
these partial devices are simple and all the same highly efficient.
The interaction necessary between partial devices becomes simple and efficient
as a result
of the fact, that supporting elements with or without storage formations are
not transferred from
one partial device to another. This is achieved, in that primary partial
devices handle supporting
elements with or without storage formations, in that secondary partial devices
handle primary
partial devices loaded with supporting elements carrying storage formations or
being empty or
empty primary partial devices, in that tertiary partial devices handle
secondary partial devices
loaded with loaded or empty primary devices or empty secondary partial
devices, etc.. This
means that when retrieving a supporting element (empty or loaded) from a
storage space or from
a station for establishing or for dissolving a storage formation, a coupled
pair of a supporting
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element and a primary partial device is formed and the pair is separated only
on depositing the
supporting element in a storage space or at a station for establishing or
dissolving a storage
formation. Between retrieving and positioning a specific supporting element,
the pair is handled
as a unit in any secondary or tertiary steps.
Positioning and retrieving of supporting elements (e.g., roll stands) in
stations for
establishing or dissolving storage formations (e.g., winding stations) as well
as positioning and
retrieving supporting elements in storage spaces are tasks of the primary
partial devices, which
advantageously retrieve the supporting elements by pulling them or carrying
them behind
themselves and deposit them by pushing them or by carrying them in front of
themselves. The
transportation steps to be carried out between the steps of retrieving and
positioning may
comprise any number, e.g. three partial steps carried out by a primary, a
secondary and a tertiary
partial device, wherein, however, the pair of supporting element (loaded or
empty) and primary
partial device is not separated, before the supporting element has reached its
destination, i.e., is
positioned at the station or in the storage space.
The device in accordance with the invention comprises at least two types of
partial
devices: a positioning device (primary partial device), with the help of which
loaded and empty
supporting elements (e.g., roll stands) are positioned at stations for
establishing or dissolving
storage formations (e.g., winding stations) and in storage spaces and with
which loaded or empty
supporting elements are retrieved from stations or from storage spaces, and an
orienting device
(secondary partial device) for orienting the positioning device in the way
necessary for
positioning or retrieving. In addition, the positioning device carries out
primary transport steps to
be carried out immediately before or after positioning/retrieval and the
orienting device carries
out secondary transport steps to be carried out between primary transport
steps. For further
(tertiary) transport steps and if so required for further orientation steps to
be carried out between
secondary transport steps, further (tertiary) partial devices may be provided.
The hierarchy of partial steps and of partial devices in accordance with the
invention
allow management of a store extending in all directions and of an equally free
arrangement of
stations for establishing or dissolving storage formations without the
necessity of transferring
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supporting elements with or without storage formations from one partial device
to another partial
device and without transport devices having to be equipped for complicated
shunting
manoeuvres. Resulting from this fact is a great simplicity of the partial
devices and a very high
efficiency of the method. Advantageously there is a plurality of each type of
partial device
(primary, secondary, tertiary, etc.) provided in such a manner, that
management steps of the
same hierarchic level can be carried out simultaneously. As pairs comprising a
supporting
elements and a primary partial device or comprising a primary and a secondary
partial device are
formed temporarily, the method according to the invention also has a very high
flexibility.
The positioning devices advantageously are equipped in such a manner, that
they are able
to pull and push passively displaceable supporting elements (e.g., roll stands
equipped with
rollers) or that they are capable of lifting supporting elements not being
equipped for
autonomous movement (e.g., roll stands without rollers or pallets) and of
carrying them in front
of or behind themselves (lifting truck). The positioning devices travel
actively in the store along
(primary) transport paths, which, for example, are defined by corresponding
guide means (e.g.,
rails or electrically defined guide lines) and run parallel to one another.
Along the primary
transport paths storage spaces for supporting elements with or without storage
formations are
provided. The storage spaces advantageously do not comprise any stationary
store aids, so that
they do not have to be permanently reserved for supporting elements, but can
rather be used with
a very high degree of flexibility.
The orienting devices are equipped for bringing positioning devices from one
of the
parallel, primary transport paths to another one and for orienting a
positioning device for its
subsequent primary transport step. The (secondary) transport path along which
the orienting
device is actively displaceable is e.g. defined by rails and arranged
transverse to the direction of
the primary transport paths.
Further, tertiary partial devices can be provided e.g. for transporting
orienting devices
onto a second or third level (tertiary transport paths).
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The method according to the invention and some exemplary embodiments of the
device
for implementing the method are described in detail on the basis of the
following Figures. The
Figures and the corresponding descriptions relate to the application of the
method and device in
accordance with the invention in an installation for intermediate storage of
printed products or of
other flat articles in rolls, which rolls are established and unravelled in
winding stations and
which rolls are carried by roll stands. The selection of this application in
no way at all constitutes
a limitation of the invention to this application. Method and device according
to the invention
may in the same manner be used for other storage formations usual in the
printing field and for
corresponding supporting elements, examples of which are mentioned further
above.
Figures 1 to 8 show an exemplary sequence of management steps carried out in
an
installation for intermediate storage of rolls of flat articles according to
the inventive method
using a positioning device and a one-space orienting device;
Figure 9 shows the use of a two-space orienting device for exchanging roll
stands at a
winding station;
Figure 10 shows an example of an installation serving for intermediate storage
of rolls of
flat articles, e.g., printed products, and being managed according to the
inventive method;
Figure 11 shows as an example of a supporting element with a storage
formation, an
exemplary embodiment of a roll stand applicable in the method according to the
invention;
Figure 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of a positioning device applicable in
the
method according to the invention;
Figures 13 and 14 show two exemplary embodiments of an orienting device
applicable in
the method according to the invention.
Figures 1 to 8 illustrate an exemplary step sequence of the method according
to the
invention used for retrieving a loaded or empty roll stand (as an example of a
supporting
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element) from a storage space, for bringing it to a winding station (as an
example of a station for
establishing or dissolving storage formations) and for positioning it in the
winding station. All
these Figs. show in a plan view part of an installation for intermediate
storage of flat articles
wound into rolls (as an example of a storage formation) for intermediate
storage.
The shown part of the installation encompasses four very schematically
illustrated
winding stations 1(1.1 to 1.4), in which a roll stand 2 is inserted through an
entrance and from
which a roll stand is retrieved by being pulled out in the opposite direction.
The shown part of
the installation further encompasses a plurality of storage spaces for roll
stands 2, the spaces
being partially occupied by a roll stand (depicted with an unbroken line and
designated with 2.1)
and partially empty (depicted with a dot-dash line and designated with 2.2).
The storage spaces
2.1 and 2.2 are arranged in rows on a plurality of primary transport paths 3
in such a manner, that
the roll axes A are oriented perpendicular to these primary transport paths 3.
The entrances of the
winding stations are aligned with primary transport paths 3. All primary
transport paths 3
intersect a secondary transport path 4.
Figs. 1 to 8 further illustrate a positioning device 5 being actively
displaceable in two
directions along primary transport paths 3, and an orienting device 6 being
actively displaceable
in two directions along the secondary transport path 4. At least a part of the
orienting device is
rotatable around a vertical axis B. The orienting device 6 is single-space,
i.e. equipped for
handling one positioning device 5 at a time. The illustrated installation is
managed according to
the invention using the two partial devices 5 and 6.
For not overburdening the Figs. only Fig. 1 contains all reference numerals,
while Figs. 2
to 8 only show the relevant ones. Each one of Figs. 1 to 8 shows the situation
following a
management step and indicated with arrows, the following management step.
The individual steps of the step sequence as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8 are
the following
ones:
taking hold of a roll stand 2 in a storage space 2.1 with the positioning
device 5, i.e.,
establish a pair comprising a roll stand and a positioning device (Fig. 1);
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driving the loaded positioning device 5/2 along the primary transport path 3,
if so
required through further, empty storage spaces 2.2, to the orienting device 6
being
correspondingly positioned on the secondary transport path 4 and positioning
it in the area of the
orienting device 6 or on the orienting device 6 (Fig. 2);
taking hold of the loaded positioning device 5/2 with the orienting device 6,
for example,
by running underneath it and lifting it (Fig. 3);
transporting the loaded orienting device 6/5/2 to the area of the winding
station 1.1 along
the secondary transport path 4 and simultaneously re-orienting it by rotating
it around axis B
(Figs. 4 and 5);
releasing the loaded positioning device 5/2 from the orienting device 6, for
example, by
putting it down and removing the underrun (Fig. 6);
driving the loaded positioning device 5/2 along the primary transport path 3
to the
entrance of the winding station 1.1 and positioning the roll stand 2 in the
winding station, i.e.,
separate the pair of roll stand and positioning device (Fig. 7);
driving the empty positioning device 5 along the primary transport path 3 back
to the area
of the orienting device 6 (Fig. 8).
In an analogous manner, loaded and empty roll stands are retrieved from
winding
stations, are transported to any storage space and are deposited there. Also
in an analogous
manner, if so required roll stands are re-located from one storage space to
another one. Also in
these cases, the pair consisting of roll stand and positioning device is
formed on retrieving and
remains unchanged up to positioning.
For exchanging a roll stand in a winding station, the following steps are
carried out in the
manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8: bringing an empty positioning device to
the winding station;
taking hold of a first roll stand in the winding station; bringing the loaded
positioning device to a
first storage space; depositing the first roll stand; bringing the empty
positioning device to a
second storage space; taking hold of a second roll stand deposited there;
bringing the loaded
positioning device to the winding station; positioning the second roll stand;
driving the empty
positioning device away.
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Before and after every step of positioning or retrieving a roll stand at or
from a storage
space or at a winding station by a positioning device, a primary transport
step is necessary.
Depending on the position of the winding station and of the two storage
spaces, re-orientation
and/or a secondary transport step is necessary between two primary transport
steps. Re-
orientation and secondary transport are carried out by the orienting device,
if so required
simultaneously. Two immediately successive, primary transport steps, i.e.,
crossing the
secondary transport path without re-orientation is not possible in the
installation in accordance
with Figs. 1 to 8.
The installation, of which Figs. 1 to 8 show only a part has primary transport
paths 3 and
a secondary transport path 4 aligned perpendicular to one another and being
straight, the primary
transport paths 3, on which the storage spaces 2.1 and 2.2 are located,
running parallel to one
another. This is an advantageous embodiment, it does not, however, represent a
condition for the
method in accordance with the invention. Both the primary transport paths 3 as
well as the
secondary transport path 4 may comprise curves and/or they can intersect at an
oblique angle,
also in an irregular manner.
Figs. 1 to 8 show clearly that with the method according to the invention it
is quite well
possible to provide storage spaces 2.1 and 2.2 for roll stands 2 in several
depths (with differing
distances from the secondary transport path 4) and on both sides of the
secondary transport path
4. The positioning device 5 is only capable of accessing roll stands or
storage spaces, which can
be reached directly from the secondary transport path 4, i.e., which are not
separated from it by
an occupied storage space.
Figs. 1 to 8 also show, that the distance between adjacent, primary transport
paths 3 have
to be wide enough for the positioning device 5 to be able to pass roll stands
2 on adjacent
primary transport paths and if more than one positioning device is used, they
have to be wide
enough for two positioning devices to cross one another on adjacent, primary
transport paths 3.
For the method illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8, it is supposed that at least their
horizontal
projection, supporting elements (e.g., roll stands) carrying a storage
formation (e.g., a roll), and
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empty supporting elements require substantially the same space and that all
supporting elements
present are essentially the same. This does not represent a condition for the
method in
accordance with the invention. Because the storage spaces do not require any
stationary storage
aids, they can be changed in any way required during implementation of the
method and they can
be utilised for articles of different sizes.
Figure 9 shows in the same, schematic mode as Figs. 1 to 8 a further
embodiment of an
orienting device 6'. This one has two spaces, i.e. it comprises two spaces for
a positioning device
5.1 and 5.2 each and the rotation axis B passes between the two spaces. The
positioning devices
5.1 and 5.2 are arranged parallel to one another in the orienting device 6'
and have opposite
orientations.
The two-space orienting device 6' allows a roll stand exchange at a winding
station 1 in a
significantly more simple manner, than is the case with the one-space
orienting device 6 in
accordance with Figs. 1 to 8, if for this exchange it carries an empty
positioning device 5.1 and a
loaded positioning device 5.2. A roll stand exchange with a two-space
orienting device 6' loaded
in this manner, has the following step sequence: positioning the orienting
device 6' on the
primary transport path 3 in such a manner, that the first, empty positioning
device 5.1 is oriented
for the primary transport step towards the winding station 1; driving the
first positioning device
5.1 to the winding station 1 and retrieving the roll stand; driving the first,
now loaded positioning
device 5.1 back; rotating the orientation device by 180 , so that the second,
loaded positioning
device 5.2 is oriented for the primary transport step towards the winding
station 1; driving the
second positioning device 5.2 to the winding station and positioning the roll
stand; driving the
second, now empty positioning device back.
Figure 10 shows in the same, very schematic mode as Figs 1 to 9 an exemplary
installation, which is managed in accordance with the invention by positioning
devices 5 and
orienting devices 6 (if so required also two-space orienting devices 6'). The
installation
comprises a chessboard-like arrangement of storage spaces 2.1/2.2 for roll
stands 2, a row of
winding stations 1, a plurality of primary transport paths 3 aligned parallel
to an x-axis and two
secondary transport paths 4.1 and 4.2 aligned parallel to a y-axis. The
storage spaces 2.1/2.2 are
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situated on the primary transport paths 3 and the entrances of the winding
stations 1 are aligned
with the primary transport paths 3.
The installation further comprises tertiary partial devices 10 situated at the
ends of the
secondary transport paths 4. Every tertiary partial device 10 is a sort of
elevator and is equipped
for transporting a loaded or unloaded orienting device 6 along a tertiary
transport path in the
direction of the z-axis onto a further level above or below the level depicted
in Fig. 9 and for
positioning it on a further secondary transport path there. In this, it is not
a condition, that on this
further level, the secondary and primary transport paths are aligned parallel
to those on the
depicted level, provided that the tertiary partial device is equipped for re-
orienting the orienting
device 6. The tertiary partial device 10 (elevator) is actively displaceable
along the tertiary
transport path and this both empty or loaded with an orienting device 6, which
orienting device 6
is empty or is loaded with one (or two) empty or loaded positioning device (or
devices 5).
Obviously and in contrast to the installation part as shown in Figs. 1 to 8,
in the
installation according to Fig. 9 it is possible to take hold of a roll stand
for transporting it from
the store to a winding station and to deposit it without using the orienting
device 6. This is the
case if the storage area is the only one occupied or to be occupied on the one
primary transport
path 3 being aligned with the one winding station 1. The positioning device 5
loaded with the roll
stand crosses the secondary transport path 4.1 extending between the store and
the winding
stations 1 without the need of an orienting device 6.
Advantageously but in no way of necessity, in the installation as illustrated
in Fig. 10, the
secondary transport path 4.1 extending at the bottom of the Fig. past the
winding stations 1 is
utilised above all for serving the winding stations 1, while the secondary
transport path 4.2
extending on top of the Fig. and passing no winding stations is reserved for
rearranging winding
stands within the store. If, as is depicted in Fig. 10, storage spaces are
only provided on one side
of the upper, secondary transport path 4.2, it is not necessary to equip
orienting devices 6
running on this transport path with a rotation function.
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Obviously, an installation as depicted in Fig. 10 is capable of being expanded
in a very
simple way. Further storage spaces can e.g. be provided in several depths on
the still unoccupied
side of the secondary transport path 4.2 extending on top of the Fig.
Furthermore, both secondary
transport paths 4.1 and 4.2 can be extended either in a straight line or
curved and transverse to it
further primary transport paths 3 with storage spaces and/or winding stations
can be provided.
Figure 11 shows in a side view an exemplary embodiment of a roll stand 2
applicable in
the inventive method as a supporting element for a storage formation. The
depicted roll stand 2
carries a roll 12 wound onto a roll core 12 (storage formation), which roll
e.g. consists of an
imbricated formation of printed products. The roll stand 2 comprises a simple,
not passively
displaceable support 13, under which a correspondingly equipped positioning
device (e.g., a
forklift truck) can be run. The roll core 11 is arranged on the support 13, as
articulated and
rotatable.
As mentioned further above, roll stands of the type illustrated in Fig. 11 are
known and
can be adapted for the method according to the invention in a simple manner by
one skilled in
the art.
Figure 12 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a positioning device 5
applicable as
primary partial device in the method according to the invention. The
positioning device is
depicted loaded with a full roll stand 2. It is an elevating truck 20 with a
forklift 21 having
supporting rollers at its distal end. A primary transport path 3 suitable for
the positioning device
5 and e.g. defined by rails for the positioning device extends in Fig. 11 as
indicated by the double
arrow.
Elevating trucks, as illustrated in Fig. 11, are available in the market and
if so required
can easily be adapted by one skilled in the art for the method according to
the invention.
A further device applicable as a positioning device in the method according to
the
invention is described, for example, in the publication EP-333648 (or US-
5161933) already
mentioned further above.
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Figure 13 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an orienting device 6
applicable as
secondary partial device in the method in accordance with the invention. The
orienting device is
depicted loaded with a loaded positioning device 5. A secondary transport path
suitable for
active displacement of the depicted orienting device (secondary transport
steps) extends
perpendicular to the paper plane of Fig. 12.
The orienting device 6 comprises a supporting beam being displaceable on a
pair of rails
31. Arranged as actively rotatable on the supporting beam 30 is a supporting
frame 32 adapted to
a positioning device 5 as e.g. depicted in Fig. 12. In the lower part of the
supporting frame 32,
for example, a running substratum 33 (e.g., corresponding stretches of rail)
is provided, onto
which the positioning device 5 drives actively over a pivoting run-up ramp 34.
As indicated for
the orienting device in Figs. 1 to 8, it is possible also to provide instead
of the running
substratum 33 swivelling parts being swivelled under the positioning device 5
for lifting the
latter.
The rotation function of the supporting frame 32 is advantageously implemented
in such
a manner, that the vertical rotation axis B passes approximately through the
centre of gravity of a
loaded positioning device 5 positioned in the orienting device 6.
For taking hold of and re-orienting an empty or loaded positioning device 5
with the help
of the orienting device 6 represented in Fig. 13, the run-up ramp 34 is
swivelled down, so that
the running substratum 33 connects with a primary transport path, the
positioning device 5 is
driven onto running substratum 33 over the run-up ramp 34, the run-up ramp is
swivelled up and
the supporting frame 32 is then rotated. Advantageously, the orienting device
6 is equipped in
such a manner, that the supporting frame 32 can be rotated while being
displaced along the
secondary transport path or along the rails 31 respectively.
Figure 14 illustrates a further, exemplary embodiment of an orienting device 6
applicable
in the method according to the invention. The orienting device 6 is depicted
unloaded. The same
as the embodiment of Fig. 13, it comprises a supporting beam 30 and a
supporting frame 32 with
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running substratum 33 rotatably mounted on it and it is actively displaceable
along a pair of rails
31. In the sense of an additional function, the supporting frame 32 is
elevatable to at least one
further level 41 (or also lowerable) e.g. by synchronously drivable chain
hoists 40, which act on
the supporting beam 30. On the further levels, a loaded positioning device can
be released onto
further primary transport paths. An analogous elevating mechanism may be used
also for slightly
raising a positioning device held on the orienting device 6 e.g. by swivelling
parts swivelled
underneath it, in order to re-orient it and/or transport it along the
secondary transport path.
Fig. 14 depicts the supporting frame on the base level with an unbroken line
and with a
dot-dash line on the further, upper leve141.
The swivelling run-up ramp 34 arranged on one side of the running substratum
33 serves
the additional function (elevation or lowering to further levels) also. It is
in the swivelled up
position during raising or lowering to a further level and it is swivelled
down, as soon as the
supporting frame 32 is in a position, in which a positioning device can drive
up onto it or away
from it.
For re-orientation associated with a level change of a positioning device
loaded onto the
orienting device 6 in accordance with Fig. 14, the following partial steps are
necessary: driving
the positioning device, e.g., on the base level onto the running substratum 33
of the
correspondingly positioned supporting frame 32; swivelling up the run-up ramp
34; raising the
supporting frame 32 to a further leve141 and advantageously simultaneously
rotating it and if so
required displacing it along a secondary transport path; swivelling down the
run-up ramp 34;
driving the positioning device off.
With the orienting device 6 in accordance with Fig. 14, it is possible to
arrange storage
areas and if so required also winding stations on more than one level, without
the installation
requiring tertiary partial devices 10 (as indicted in Fig. 9), and all levels
can be jointly managed
with the same positioning devices. Because transport along the secondary
transport path,
displacement from one level to another one and re-orientation can be carried
out simultaneously,
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CA 02379689 2002-01-25
Doc. No. 35-82 CA Patent
the method according to the invention with the aid of this embodiment of
orienting device
becomes particularly efficient.
Knowing the function of the orienting device, one skilled in the art can
easily implement
embodiments of orienting devices in accordance with Figs. 13 and 14 or other
embodiments
derived from these, the devices having one or two spaces for positioning
devices. Therefore, the
devices do not need to be described in further detail.
