DE102008005749B4 - Caddy - Google Patents

Abstract

Caddy with a lower floor (1), at least one intermediate floor (8) and at least two side elements (3), wherein the intermediate floor (8) is adjustable in height, wherein this at an intermediate bottom side via at least one guide element in vertically directed guides (9) of the side elements (3) guided and about this at least one guide element is pivotable, characterized by one or more deflecting elements on which the intermediate bottom (8) is supported so that an up or down movement of the guided intermediate bottom side leads to an opposite movement of the opposite intermediate bottom side, said the deflecting elements are designed hinged.

Description

The invention relates to a transport frame according to the preamble of claim 1.

Transport racks are used, for example, in the production of motor vehicles, these being used for the storage of components, such as transmissions during transport from the transmission production to an assembly line for the motor vehicles.

Such a transport frame is for example from the DE 295 00 107 U1 known. The transport frame disclosed therein has a rectangular frame frame surrounding a transport base, which is formed by a respective pair of longitudinal and transverse bars. In the longitudinal and transverse bars of this transport frame rails are provided which serve to receive and fix adapted to the contour of the component to be transported holding devices. That in the DE 295 00 107 U1 In addition, disclosed transport frame has in each of the four corners of the rectangular transport tray each have a side member whose height is measured so that it at least slightly surmounted the mounted on the transport base components. The side elements serve as spacers, which make it possible to stack a plurality of identical transport racks one above the other even in the filled state. By this stackability and in conjunction with the rectangular base of the caddies space-saving storage of the cradles and the components mounted therein can be achieved both during transport and during intermediate storage in the assembly plant.

That in the DE 295 00 107 U1 illustrated embodiment of a caddy has only a single transport floor. However, there are also known similar transport racks, in which due to a low height of the components to be transported two or more transport floors are provided, which are arranged parallel to each other. In the in the 1a of the DE 295 00 107 U1 illustrated embodiment could thus be provided to store the illustrated cylindrical components in two parallel planes, provided that a further transport floor would be provided at approximately half the height of the side elements.

A significant disadvantage in the use of the transport frames described is shown when they are loaded only on the Transporthinweg, whereas the return is carried out empty. In this case, the empty caddies occupy an unnecessarily large cargo space. In order to reduce the transport costs associated with the empty transport, it is therefore provided in some known from the prior art transport racks to reduce these in the unloaded state. For this purpose, it may be provided to design the side elements in each case by means of a joint, which is arranged in the vicinity of the lower transport tray, hinged, so that they can be pivoted for the empty transport in a horizontal position; As a result, the height of the transport frame can be significantly reduced. This possibility for the temporary reduction of the height of the transport frame is also possible with a transport frame having two parallel transport bottoms. In order to make this transport frame for the empty transport as flat as possible, it can be provided to lower the upper transport floor, which can be fixed at about half the height of the side elements, on the underlying transport floor. For this purpose, the upper transport floor is provided on one side with two guide pins, which are guided in vertically extending guide grooves of the two adjacent side elements. About a pivoting movement of the transport tray to the guide pins, in which the opposite side of the transport tray is manually pivoted up, the guide pins are released from a locking position in the guide grooves of the side elements. After that, the side of the transport floor connected to the guide pins can be lowered onto the lower transport floor, wherein the guide pins are guided in the guides of the side elements. After lowering the upper transport floor, the side elements can be pivoted about a joint in the horizontal. For reuse of the transport frame, the side elements are first raised back into the vertical and then pulled the upper transport tray by pulling on the opposite side of the guide pins in the guide grooves of the side member up until they engage in the corresponding locking positions.

When using such a caddy has been found that the process of pulling up the upper transport tray due to the significant weight of the transport tray is associated with a significant burden on the operator.

Based on this prior art, the invention therefore an object of the invention to further develop a foldable caddy to the effect that the displacement of an upper transport tray is associated with less effort.

This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The core of the invention is, in a foldable transport frame, which has an underbody, at least one intermediate bottom and at least two side elements, wherein the intermediate bottom is adjustable in height by this led to an intermediate bottom side via at least one guide element in vertically directed guides of the side elements and order this guide elements is pivotable to provide at least one deflecting element on which the intermediate floor can be supported such that an up or down movement of the guided intermediate bottom side leads to an opposite movement of the opposite intermediate bottom side, wherein the deflecting elements are formed hinged.

About such a support of the false floor by means of a deflecting the operating forces that are necessary for a displacement of the false floor can be significantly reduced. This is due in particular to the fact that a substantial part of the dead weight of the false bottom is supported by the deflecting element and a sliding movement of the intermediate bottom in the guides of the side elements can be generated by merely generating a corresponding moment about this deflecting element. An upward guidance of the guided in the guides of the side members of the intermediate bottom can thus be done by a corresponding depression of the opposite intermediate bottom side. Such handling is comfortable for the operator to handle.

The vertical orientation of the guides of the side elements is to be understood in accordance with the invention as leading to (also) vertical movement of the guide elements guided therein. An exact vertical alignment of the guides is not necessary according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the deflection elements are designed as deflection rollers. In this way, both the gift of the false bottom and its relative movement can be carried out with the least possible friction losses.

Preferably, the deflecting elements are arranged in the vicinity of the guides of the side elements. In this way, the operating forces to be applied can be reduced particularly effectively. This is due to the fact that the required operating forces can be reduced by the direct proportionality between the torque acting around the deflection element and the lever arm (distance between introduction of force and deflecting element).

According to claim 1, the deflecting elements are designed hinged. This is to be understood that the deflection elements, on which the intermediate bottom is supported at least for the displacement, can be brought out of contact with the intermediate floor, so that it can be stored directly on the subfloor for a flat as possible training of the folded caddy. According to the invention, hinging is thus understood to mean not exclusively a pivoting, but any configuration by which the deflecting elements are moved out of a contact position with the intermediate bottom.

Further preferably, the side elements are designed to be adjustable in length for reducing the height of the transport rack. This can be done, for example, by providing one joint per side element, so that the side elements can be brought to reduce the height of the transport rack in a horizontal position. Of course, other embodiments are possible by which the side elements are adjustable in length. For example, it may also be possible to make the side elements telescopically collapsible.

If the length-adjustable side elements are designed to be foldable by the provision of a joint, it can preferably be provided to arrange the deflection elements at the level of the joints.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

In the drawings shows:

1 : an inventive transport frame and

2 : the lower part of the in the 1 illustrated transport frame.

That in the 1 illustrated, inventive transport frame has an underbody 1 on, which serves as a lower transport floor and by a plurality of welded together longitudinal and transverse beams 2 consists. On two opposite outer sides of the transport frame is in each case a side member 3 intended. Each of these page elements 3 consists of a total of two columns 4 , which are fixed at the end to the corresponding outer side of the transport frame. The two supports 4 a page element 3 are by cross struts 5 connected with each other. The pillars 4 serve as spacers, so that several similar transport racks - even in loaded condition - can be stacked. For this is each of the supports 4 at its upper end with a square in cross-section opening 6 provided in the corresponding circular foot elements 7 a stacked transport rack can intervene. This allows a secure nesting of several caddies. That in the 1 illustrated caddy also has an intermediate floor 8th on, so that components, for the storage and transport of the transport frame is provided, can be stored in a total of two levels of the caddy. The intermediate floor 8th is positioned at about half the height of the supports. In order to ensure a secure mounting of the components on the transport floors, holding elements (not shown) can be fixed to this, the contour of which can be adapted to the shape of the components.

In order to allow a space-saving transport of the transport racks in the unloaded state, that is in the 1 illustrated transport frame formed collapsible. This is the intermediate floor 8th on one side over a respective guide pin (not shown) in each case a guide 9 the two side elements 3 guided, with the vertical orientation of the guides 9 a vertical displacement of the false floor 8th allows. By this configuration is made possible, the intermediate floor 8th if it is in its upper position, over the guides 9 Move it down until it reaches the subfloor 1 of the transport frame comes to rest. After moving the false floor 8th can the tops 10 the page elements 3 each with a swivel joint 11 in each of the supports 4 with the corresponding lower part 12 of the page element 3 are pivoted, are pivoted in the direction of the transport trays, thereby increasing the height of the transport frame to the height of the lower parts 12 the page elements 3 can be reduced.

In the 2 is only the lower part of the in 1 shown transport frame shown. The lower part of the transport frame consists of the underbody 1 as well as the two parts 12 the page elements 3 , The in the 2 View shown allows a clear view of the deflection mechanism according to the invention. The deflection mechanism consists of two pulleys 13 that are right next to the guides 9 are arranged and on which the intermediate floor 8th via corresponding support struts 14 supported on one side. The pulleys 13 are on one axis each 15 stored, in turn, each on a torsion bar 16 is attached. The torsion bars 16 each run between two supports 4 the page elements 3 , where the torsion bars 16 are mounted so that they are rotatable about their own longitudinal axis. This embodiment makes it possible, the pulleys 13 from the illustrated, horizontally inwardly directed position by pivoting about the longitudinal axis of the torsion bars 16 to get out of a contact area with the false floor.

Lowering the false floor 8th to rest on the subfloor 1 runs as follows. The intermediate floor 8th is manually raised on the side opposite to the guided side, this being a pivotal movement about the pulleys 13 or performs the guide pins. This pivotal movement is superimposed on a translational movement through which guided in the guides side of the false floor 8th towards the subsoil 1 is moved. This movement is carried out until the guided side of the false floor 8th on the subsoil 1 comes to rest. At this time is the intermediate floor 8th due to the continuous support on the pulleys 13 Almost vertically aligned. To the intermediate floor 8th Now align again horizontally and put it in a full overlay on the subfloor 1 to be able to bring is provided, the leadership roles 13 to pivot in a downward movement. For this purpose, two blocking elements must be in advance 17 be solved, such a pivotal movement of the pulleys 13 otherwise would prevent. After pivoting the pulleys 13 can the intermediate floor 8th be pivoted back into the horizontal, without causing a collision with the pulleys 13 comes.

Claims (6)

Caddy with a subfloor ( 1 ), at least one intermediate floor ( 8th ) and at least two side elements ( 3 ), the intermediate floor ( 8th ) is height-adjustable, wherein this at an intermediate bottom side via in each case at least one guide element in vertically directed guides ( 9 ) of the page elements ( 3 ) is guided and about this at least one guide element is pivotable, characterized by one or more deflection elements, on which the intermediate floor ( 8th ) is supportable such that an up or down movement of the guided intermediate bottom side leads to an opposite movement of the opposite intermediate bottom side, wherein the deflecting elements are formed hinged. Caddy according to claim 1, characterized in that the deflection elements as pulleys ( 13 ) are formed. Caddy according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deflecting elements next to the guides ( 9 ) of the page elements ( 3 ) are arranged. Caddy according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side elements ( 3 ) are adjustable in length to reduce the transport rack height. Transported according to claim 4, characterized in that the side elements ( 3 ) are each formed hinged by means of a hinge. Caddy according to claim 5, characterized in that the deflecting elements are arranged at the level of the joints.

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