DE20302336U1 - Transport and storage frame for loose goods on pallet rotates through 90 degrees - Google Patents

Abstract

An upright stack of goods is first prepared on a pallet (T) in a U-shaped frame with a pivot (A) fixed to an attachment point. After preparation of the stack, the frame and contents are rotated through 90 to the vertical, secured by e.g. an inflatable bag (12).

Description

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Swivel unit

The present invention relates to a swivel unit for turning over stacks of goods in order to simplify their handling or transport.

There are numerous cases known in practice in which individual goods are stacked. In this case, several elements are put together or placed on top of each other to form an essentially cuboid-shaped stack with a bottom, a top and usually four sides. Several elements can also be arranged in one level of the stack. Typically, these can be bags, cans, boxes or other containers.

For the transport and storage of such stacks of goods, it is often necessary to change the size of the stacks, align them or prepare them for certain transport processes. Depending on the height of such a stack of goods, the desired measures can only be carried out to a limited extent. The alignment of the individual elements of a stack to ensure that the sides are as flat as possible can naturally only be carried out up to a height at which the individual elements are still easily accessible. In addition, the weight of the stack makes it difficult to adjust the elements in the lower part of the stack.

Changing the stack height, i.e. removing parts of the stack or dividing the stack, is also made more difficult by the height and weight of the elements in the stack. In practice, the individual elements of the stack have to be laboriously removed from the top in order to stack them into a new stack.

Depending on the requirements for transporting a stack of goods, different transport elements are often provided on which the stack is to be transported at different times. The exchange of such transport elements under a stack

is laborious and in practice only known by completely removing the stacking elements and re-piling them on another stacking element.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device with which the alignment, division or changing of transport elements and goods can be facilitated and thus the costs of handling, storage or transport can be minimized.

The object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

The invention is based on the knowledge that a stack made up of individual elements can be erected or divided more easily if it is moved from its vertical position to a horizontal position. According to the invention, a pivoting unit is provided for this purpose, which provides a substantially flat support element for supporting at least one substantially vertical stack of goods, wherein the stack of goods can rest on the support element with its stack underside or via a transport element carrying the stack. Furthermore, a rear wall adjacent to the support element is provided, against which the stack of goods rests in the upright state.

To fix the stack, a hold-down device is also provided, which grips the stack on the top side opposite the bottom side or rests against this side.

Due to the aforementioned design features, the usually cuboid-shaped stack is thus enclosed and stabilized from at least three sides (top, bottom, a rear side surface). According to the invention, the entire device can be pivoted about a preferably horizontal axis so that the stack can be pivoted from a vertical position into a preferably horizontal tilting position. In particular, it is conceivable to tilt the stack from the vertical position by a certain angle (e.g. 90°) into a horizontal position. The pivot axis can be parallel to the rear

wall so that the stack in the horizontal position essentially lies on the rear wall.

This device advantageously makes it possible to reach the individual elements of the stack, regardless of the stack height, and to move them manually if necessary. Aligning the individual stack elements is now much easier, as the weight of the stack is evenly distributed across the entire stack height by the rear wall.

Furthermore, the stack can be divided at any point by inserting a separating body, which can also be a transport element, for example, between two layers of the stack elements. The elements of the stack parts to be formed can then be moved more easily in a horizontal direction in order to create the necessary gap for the separating or transport element. If necessary, the hold-down device can be released or loosened from the top of the stack for this purpose in order to enable the stack elements or stack layers to be moved horizontally.

Since the original stack load is almost completely removed from the underside of the stack by turning it over, it is also advantageous to be able to pull out a transport element that was previously placed under the underside of the stack and replace it with another transport element. In this way, different transport elements, such as different pallets, can be exchanged as desired in order to simplify the logistics of these transport elements.

After the aforementioned measures have been taken on the stack, the stack can be swivelled back from its tilted position to its original vertical starting position. This straightens the stack and the original load distribution is restored. After swivelling back to the starting position, the stack now has - depending on the corrective measures taken - an aligned

ed side surfaces, a replaced lower transport element or other intermediate elements with which the stack was divided into individual parts. Ideally, the inserted intermediate elements are also transport elements so that they can be easily lifted off with a forklift, for example. This means that the originally continuous stack can be divided into individual stacks without any special effort, depending on the transport elements inserted in the horizontal tilting position.

If the lower transport element is replaced, the stack can be transported further on this transport element as desired.

If the side surfaces are aligned, i.e. if any individual elements that may have slipped are corrected to create an orderly and stable stack, the stack can be transported more safely and in a more space-saving manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rear wall is divided in its longitudinal and/or transverse direction into at least two wall elements that can be moved relative to one another. This design feature advantageously ensures that a stack that has been brought into the horizontal tilted position can be divided into several parts simply by pushing the wall elements away from one another so that a natural gap is created between them. In the tilted position, part of the stack rests on one of the two wall elements, while the other part of the stack rests on the other wall element. If these two wall elements are now pulled apart, the stack on top of it splits and allows a separating element or a transport element to be inserted. This division of the stack can take place in the longitudinal direction of the original stack, resulting in several "narrower" stacks with the original stack height. The division can also take place transversely to the original longitudinal direction of the stack if the rear wall is divided accordingly. Finally, a combination of the two division variants is also possible, so that a stack can be divided lengthwise and transversely to it at the same time.

Of course, it is possible to divide the rear wall into more than two wall elements. The wall elements can also be moved apart automatically using appropriate drives and, if necessary, a control system.

The reverse procedure also applies to the movable wall elements. Two stacks standing on top of each other, each carried by a transport element, can then easily be formed into a continuous stack in the horizontal position. To do this, the wall elements would be moved apart so that the two stacks would initially lie horizontally, separated from each other. After the transport element of the upper stack has been removed and the wall elements then moved together, the underside of the upper stack would lie directly on the top of the lower stack. After the now complete stack has been swung back into the upright position, the newly formed complete stack could then be moved further.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that at least two essentially opposite clamping elements are provided, between which the at least one stack can be fixed via its side surfaces. These clamping elements can preferably engage the three free side surfaces of the stack (the fourth side surface rests against the rear wall). The clamping elements are particularly preferably provided in such a way that they support the stack on two opposite side surfaces. This additionally stabilizes the stack and prevents it from falling apart or slipping during the tipping process. The clamping elements can advantageously be pivotable or movable, moving towards or away from the side surfaces.

It is also conceivable to support the stack side surfaces on all three free sides of the stack by providing three clamping elements. In the case of non-cuboidal stacks, which for example have a triangular, round or polygonal cross-section, the clamping elements are suitable for the circumference or the side

surfaces. In their longitudinal orientation, they can extend over the entire height of the stack or only touch parts of it.

It is particularly advantageous that the clamping elements can be released from the side surfaces or pressed onto them on request in any position of the stack. This advantageously ensures that the side surfaces of the stack can only be relieved where access to the stack is required - for example, to align the side surfaces or to insert a transport element.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the clamping elements have at least one compensating element to compensate for unevenness in the side surfaces. This compensating element serves to at least partially fill unevenness in the side surfaces so that all elements of the stack are supported as well as possible. An elastic compensating element is suitable here, which adjusts to any possible misalignment of the elements or gaps in the surface when placed on the side surface of the stack or fills them. A cushion-like element or otherwise soft material is conceivable here, which takes on the shape of this surface as well as possible when approaching the side surface. In addition, such a compensating element offers protection for the elements of the stack, which are thus softly enclosed and protected against possible tilting or displacement.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, such or a comparable compensating element is also provided for the hold-down device. The stack is fixed on its upper side by the hold-down device in such a way that the compensating element adjusts to unevenness on the upper side of the stack. In particular, in the case of stacks that are not completely stacked or partially broken stacks in which individual elements of the uppermost covering layer are missing, the compensating element can be used to completely and safely support the entire upper side of the stack. The compensating element

As with the clamping elements, the element is then located on the side surfaces between the hold-down device and the top of the stack.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the compensating element of the hold-down device and/or the compensating elements on the clamping jaws are designed as airbags or cushions. The airbag has the advantage that when inflated, it adapts its shape directly to the respective side or surface of the stack without any additional mechanical movement of the clamping elements or the hold-down device being required. In addition, the pressure in the airbag allows the contact or stabilization force to be selected in advance. By suddenly releasing the airbag, the surfaces of the stack that have been impacted are released again quickly and without the need for any mechanical movement.

In contrast, the technically less complex pad offers the possibility of being permanently attached directly to the clamping elements or the hold-down device with little maintenance. Simply by moving the hold-down device or the clamping elements towards the corresponding surface of the stack, the pad is pressed into any recesses or unevenness in the stacking surface and thus stabilizes the corresponding surface overall. Stabilized in this way, the stack can be erected or tipped more stably.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides a vibrating element with which the stack can be set into vibration, preferably in the tilted position, in order to realign individual elements of the stack. The vibrating element is designed in such a way that the pivoting unit vibrates or is shaken at least in the area of the rear wall. Unevenly stacked elements or gaps between the elements or an offset on the outer surfaces can be eliminated by the individual elements sliding relative to one another through the vibration and thus forming a tighter bond. If necessary, the pressure forces of the low-pressure

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holder or clamping elements or possible compensating elements can be reduced so that realignment of the elements of the stack during vibration is facilitated.

After realignment, the clamping elements and/or the hold-down device can be pressed against the surface of the stack again with increased pressure to stabilize it in this compact form. By subsequently tilting the stack back into the upright position, it is made available for further transport in this homogeneous and compact form.

The vibrating element can be implemented, for example, using an eccentric or some other moving imbalance. Several vibrating elements at different points on the swivel unit are also conceivable.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the hold-down device can be moved along the rear wall and/or pivoted about an axis parallel to the rear wall in order to fix and/or release the top of the stack. This feature allows the hold-down device to be moved towards or away from the top of the stack by means of a folding movement or a moving movement. In particular, the possibility of moving the hold-down device allows it to adapt to any stack height. This advantageously ensures that stacks of different sizes can be fixed equally well by the hold-down device. A combination of the folding movement with the moveability of the hold-down device is also conceivable, with the hold-down device being able to be moved, for example, to any position along the rear wall and there being able to be moved towards or away from the top of the stack by means of a folding movement. A possible pivot axis of the hold-down device is preferably aligned parallel to the support element.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is further characterized in that the rear wall, the support element and the hold-down device (if necessary also the vibrating element) can be tilted from the tilting position about the pivot axis into a position relative to the starting position

can be swiveled into a second vertical position rotated by 180°. This means that the entire stack can be turned upside down. In particular, it is possible to replace a transport element provided under a stack by placing another transport element on the top of the stack and then rotating the stack by 180° around a horizontal axis. The transport element that was previously on top becomes the loaded lower transport element on which the stack rests. The transport element that was previously on the bottom now rests unloaded on the new top of the stack and can be removed.

The tilting movement by 180° preferably takes place around an axis that is located approximately halfway up the stack height. Such a device is particularly suitable for stacks where the stacking order is irrelevant, i.e. the individual elements and thus the stack could also be stacked upside down.

The tilting position in which replacement, alignment or division measures are to be carried out on the stack should preferably be selected horizontally. However, a different angle to the horizontal is also conceivable if, for example, the swivel movement is restricted by tight space conditions or if the stacked elements already allow the aforementioned measures to be carried out even at a selectable tilted position due to their low weight.

Further advantages and application examples arise from the subclaims.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention is explained below using an example figure. The figures show

Fig. 1 is a side view of the swivel unit according to the invention in a vertical and a horizontal position,

Fig. 2 a front view of the swivel unit

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In the right-hand part of Fig. 1, the swivel unit according to the invention is shown in a vertical position. A rear wall 7 extending upwards at a right angle to an essentially horizontal support element 5 is adjacent to it. A transport element T is placed on the support element 5, which in the present example is intended to be a pallet. A stack of goods 2 composed of several elements rests on the pallet with its underside 21. The stack of goods 2 is closed off vertically at the top by a top side 22. The surface 22 can also be formed by elements of the stack stacked at different heights, as shown in Fig. 1.

A hold-down device 9 is movably arranged on the rear wall 7, wherein the hold-down device 9 is aligned essentially parallel to the support element 5. The hold-down device 9 has the task of exerting an adjustable force on the upper side 22 of the stack of goods 2 in order to stabilize and fix the stack.

An airbag 12 is provided as a compensating element on the side of the hold-down device 9 facing the stack 2. The airbag 12 fills a gap between the hold-down device 9 and the surface 22 that can be preselected or determined by the surface 22 when it is inflated. This results in a largely homogeneous distribution of force from the hold-down device 9 to the top 22 of the stack.

In addition, a vibrating element R is provided in the area of the rear wall 7. The vibrating element R is designed such that it can cause the swivel unit 1 or at least the rear wall 7 to vibrate.

The arrangement shown in the right-hand part of Fig. 1 is in a vertical position L1. In the area of the rear wall 7 or the support element 5 there is a pivoting device S with which the rear wall 7, the hold-down device 9 and the support element 5 or all components connected to them can be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis A from the vertical position L1 into a horizontal position L2.

This essentially horizontal arrangement, which is referred to as the tilting position L2, can be seen in the left part of Fig. 1. The arrangement can therefore be brought from an essentially vertical to a horizontal position by pivoting through approximately 90°. A stack of goods 2 provided in the system is also moved, so that it is shown in the left part of Fig. 1 with one side surface resting on the rear wall 7.

In this position L2, the weight of the elements of the stack of goods 2 no longer acts on the pallet T, but essentially on the rear wall 7, which is now horizontal. By relaxing the airbag 12, the stack is additionally relieved in its longitudinal direction, so that individual elements can be moved more easily or even shifted in a horizontal direction.

As shown in the horizontal position L2, the rear wall 7 is divided into a first wall element Wl and a second wall element W2. The two wall elements Wl and W2 can be moved relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the elements or the rear wall 7. In particular, the wall element Wl can be moved to the left in the illustration according to Fig. 1, while the wall element W2 maintains its position. In this way, it is possible to divide the stack of goods 2 into two separate stacks, with a first stack lying on the wall element Wl, while the second part of the stack lies on the wall element W2. Depending on the displacement of the two wall elements Wl, W2 relative to one another, the gap G between them becomes so large that, for example, another transport element can be inserted.

Fig. 2 shows a simplified front view of the swivel unit according to Fig. 1.

This front view is obtained if the swivel unit according to Fig. 1 is viewed from the right. In Fig. 2, the support element 5 and the hold-down device 9 opposite at the upper end of the stack of goods 2 can be seen. Below the hold-down device 9, a first airbag 12 is provided, which in turn is mounted on the surface of the

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stack 2. The hold-down device 9 and the support element 5 are connected via the rear wall 7, which in Fig. 2 is essentially covered by the stack 2.

Two clamping elements Kl, K2 are also provided on both sides of the stack of goods 2. The clamping elements Kl, K2 extend essentially parallel to the side walls of the stack of goods 2 from bottom to top. On their side facing the stack of goods 2, the clamping elements Kl and K2 each have a compensating element 12, which can also be an airbag.

The clamping elements Kl and K2, like the support element 9, can be moved essentially at right angles to or away from the stack. This movement option is indicated by double arrows in Fig. 2. In particular, the clamping elements Kl and K2 can be moved so far towards the side walls of the stack of goods 2 that the airbags 12 provided on the clamping elements Kl and K2 come to rest on the side surfaces of the stack and act on these surfaces with a preselectable pressure. In this way, the individual elements of the stack are fixed in their position, in particular against slipping out.

Claims (10)

1. Swivel unit ( 1 ) for turning over preferably cuboid-shaped stacks of goods (2) having a top, side surfaces and a bottom, a) with a substantially flat support element ( 5 ) for supporting at least one substantially vertical stack of goods (2) with its stack bottom side ( 21 ) or a transport element (T) carrying the stack ( 2 ), and b) with a rear wall ( 7) adjacent to the support element (5 ) for supporting the at least one stack of goods (2), the rear wall ( 7 ) preferably extending vertically upwards from the support element ( 5 ), and c) with a hold-down device ( 9 ) opposite the support element ( 5 ) for fixing the at least one stack of goods (2) to a stack top side ( 22 ) opposite the stack bottom side ( 21 ), and d) with a pivoting device (S) with which the rear wall ( 7 ), the support element ( 5 ) and the hold-down device ( 9 ) can be pivoted together about an axis (A) running essentially horizontally and parallel to the rear wall ( 7 ) from a preferably vertical position (L1) into a preferably horizontal tilting position (L2). 2. Swivel unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear wall ( 7 ) can be divided in the longitudinal direction and/or transverse direction into at least two wall elements (W1, W2) which can be moved relative to one another. 3. Pivoting unit according to claim 2, characterized in that a stack of goods (2) lying in a tilted position (L2) on the rear wall ( 7 ) can be separated into at least two stacks by moving the at least two wall elements (W1, W2). 4. Pivoting unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two substantially opposite clamping elements (K1, K2) are provided, between which the at least one stack ( 2 ) can be fixed via its side surfaces. 5. Swivel unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping elements (K1, K2) have at least one compensating element ( 12 ) for compensating unevenness in the stack side surfaces. 6. Pivoting unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hold-down device ( 9 ) has at least one compensating element ( 12 ) to compensate for unevenness in the top of the stack. 7. Pivoting unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the at least one compensating element ( 12 ) is an airbag or a cushion. 8. Swivel unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a vibrating element (R) is provided with which the stack can be set into vibration, preferably in the tilting position (L2), for the realignment of individual elements of the stack. 9. Pivoting unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hold-down device ( 9 ) can be moved along the rear wall ( 7 ) and/or pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis in order to fix and/or release the top of the stack. 10. Pivoting unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear wall ( 7 ), the support element ( 5 ) and the hold-down device ( 9 ) can be pivoted from the tilted position (L2) about the axis (A) into a vertical position (L3) rotated by 180° relative to the position (L1).