WO2002043529A1 - Multiple rack for stacking and handling barrels and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The rack has two parallel longitudinal beams. A series of regularly spaced V-shaped elements that are connected to the longitudinal beams by their vertex and to one another by their opposite arms are attached on said longitudinal beams, thereby defining alignments of V-shaped elements capable of receiving barrels or similar elements in tangential position between the arms of the V-shaped elements. The longitudinal beams have plates with holes and the top ends of the V-shaped elements have conical bolts to enable vertical stacking of the racks.

Description

 MULTIPLE COT FOR STACKING AND

MΆNTPTTT.ΆΓ.TONE OF BARRELS AND SIMILAR

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

The present invention relates to a multi-type cradle intended for stacking and handling a group of barrels or similar bodies, providing sensitive characteristics of novelty and inventive activity.

The multiple cradle object of the present invention is intended for use in warehouses for the storage of barrels and places for storage of barrels or other bodies with similar physical structure.

The objective of the present invention is to achieve a multiple cradle of simple construction characteristics, lightness of weight and capacity to receive several barrels or similar elements, being preferably carried out based on modules of four to six barrels, another characteristic that is desired to achieve in The multiple cradle object of the present invention is the easily stackable character of the different cradles until considerable heights of stacking are achieved, for example, of six, eight or more levels.

Another feature that is intended to be achieved in the present invention is to facilitate the mechanized handling of the cradles and their transport by forklifts of the type commonly used in warehouses, warehouses and the like.

Also, another feature of the present invention is to allow the possible Robotization of cradle storage, that is, to enable the constitution of a barrel storage and handling system that can be controlled by a set of automated handling means.

To achieve the objectives pursued, the present invention provides for the realization of a basic multi-cradle module based on two stringers in parallel arrangement with each other, of which V arm assemblies are extended upwards, preferably arranged in pairs therein flat, connecting some or all said pairs of support arms of one and another stringer to give rise to a complete cradle with two or more rows of barrels or the like, being able to limit in one case to four pairs of elements in V in each stringer, thus enabling the reception of two barrels in each of the alignments of the cradle, resulting in a module for stacking four barrels, or in other cases, the arms of some of the pairs opposite each other can be extended V-inclined supports to give rise to sufficient space, delimited by two crossbars, to receive two other barrels in upper arrangement, in which ca So the module will admit a total of six barrels or similar.

The length of the arms may be reduced in the case of a modular cradle for six barrels or they may have a longer length, ending superiorly in supports for the stacked displacement of the different cradles.

For your better understanding are attached, by way of example, drawings of preferred embodiments of cradles according to the present invention, whose embodiments are explanatory but not limiting.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a multiple cradle with two alignments for receiving barrels with a total capacity of four barrels.

Figures 2 and 3 are front elevation views and a plan view of the cradle of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the cradle of Figure 1 itself.

Figures 5 and 6 show two sectional and side elevation views of the coupling of two stacked cribs.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a barrel support device and the like according to the present invention.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show respectively a front elevation view, a plan view and a side elevation view of a device according to Figure 7.

Figures 11 and 12 respectively show a schematic front view of the stacking of the devices made according to Figures 1 to 4 according to a front elevation view and a side elevation view respectively.

As can be seen in the drawings, the present invention provides for the realization of a multiple cradle for the stacking and handling of barrels and the like which basically comprises two lower stringers -1- and -2- preferably rectangular in cross section, arranged in parallel each other and that they constitute the base for some elements of steel profiles, for example, tubular of rectangular section, which start from said stringers adopting a shape substantially in V, constituting the arms -3- and -4- for the stringer -1- and -5 - and -6- for the beam -2-, along which said stringers are provided a variable number of said V-assemblies such as four in total in the represented figure, an embodiment that is intended for a cradle for four barrels or the like. In this figure the arms of one of the sides of the cradle corresponding to different successive elements in V have been represented with the numerals -3'-, -3 ", which are joined to the arms of the adjacent elements in upper elements of similarly tubular structure or another in vertical arrangement indicated with the numerals -7-, -8-, -9- and -10-. As can be seen, the profiles -4- and -5- are repeated in all the longitudinally arranged elements in the stringers -1- and -2-, giving rise to a frame with four V elements of equal characteristics for each stringer , which will allow the placement of two barrels longitudinally according to each stringer, using for each of them two of the V elements. For greater reinforcement of the V elements, they can be provided with reinforcing crossbars close to their vertex, such as indicated with the numerals -11- and -12- for the frontal elements of the two alignments, whose crossbars are repeated in each of the V-elements of the cradle. Also in the upper part of the lateral arms -3- and -6- and successive arms of the other elements in V, vertical upper sections are arranged such as those indicated with numerals -13- and -14- that are joined together by reinforcing stringers -15- and -16-.

By means of the aforementioned constitution, it is possible to constitute a very light and high-strength cradle, which is also easily stackable by providing plates with holes in the lower part and centering pins in the upper part, to allow vertical stacking. Said plates have been represented with numerals -17- and -18- for one of the successive sets of elements in V and with numerals -19- and -20- for the other set of elements in V. Said plates are provided with holes, for example, two holes, as represented by numerals -21- and -22- for plate -17-, which are intended to coincide with centering pins of other cradles corresponding to those represented at the upper ends of the elements -13-, -14- and their counterparts at the ends -13'- and -14'-, all of which have centering pins of substantially conical type -23-, -24-, - 25- and -26-. A similar arrangement is made in the profiles of the central alignment -7- and -10-, which also show centering pins that have not been numbered for clarity of the figures.

In figures 5 and 6, details of the constitution of said centering pins and their coupling have been shown, a stringer -27- bearing two side profiles -28- and -29- joined, for example, by means of screws or another system, which have respective holes -30- and -31- for the accommodation of pythons -32- and -33- corresponding to a plate -34- welded or otherwise joined to the upper end of the vertical tubular profile -35-. The pythons can be mounted using screws such as -36- and -37-, which will allow easy disassembly, or by other systems, such as welding, etc.

A variant embodiment of the cradle according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 7 and following, in which it is observed that the stringers -38- and -39- carry alignments of steel profiles in V -40-, -41 - as well as -42- and -43-, of short length, alternated with other elements in V such as those indicated with numerals -44- and -45-, which are longer and receive reinforcing crossbars that join them two to two, such as those indicated by numerals -46- and -47-. Longitudinally said elements -44- and -45- and others arranged in parallel on the same stringers are joined by longitudinal braces -48-, -49- and -50-. Through this arrangement a cradle for six barrels is achieved, since each of the cradle's beams allows the placement of a barrel at one of its ends, placing two other barrels between the arms of the elements -44- and -45- and of the other two parallel elements -51- and -52-. Also in this case, side profiles -53- are provided with centering holes with upper pythons arranged at the ends of the struts -48-, -49- and -50-, one of said centering pins having been represented with the numeral - 54-.

In figure 11, the stacking of several of the cribs depicted in figures 1 to 4 is shown. Said cots, for example, those indicated with numerals -55- and -56-, sit on the floor -57- by means of their lower stringers and they receive superiorly other cradles by stacking as explained above, having indicated the cradles stacked in the upper part with the numbers -58- and -59-. The resulting arrangement is three-sided, but with the advantage that the edges of the stacks are not decreasing towards the inside of the stack, as is usual in currently known systems. As can be seen in Figure 12, each of the cribs allows the arrangement of two barrels successively, in each longitudinal alignment, such as -60- and -61-.

The materials used for the manufacture of the cradles object of the present invention will be variable, so that the desirable strength and ease of manufacturing characteristics can be achieved. Likewise, the treatments of the materials may vary widely to avoid their oxidation, being able to use different surface coating methods to prevent oxidation and achieve a longer life, such as galvanic treatments, coatings with paints or plastic materials, etc. In particular, the parts in contact between the cradles in their stacking will be made of stainless steel, to avoid the appearance of oxides.

Likewise, the areas in contact between the barrels and the cradles, that is, the points of tangency between the barrels and the V elements of the supports or other parts thereof, will be protected by elements of food-grade plastic material, to avoid marks and breakdowns in the staves of the barrels. In a preferred case, elements will be available hairpieces in the form of plugs or bridges with a substantially U-shaped shape, fixedly strung in the V-elements at the points of contact with the barrels. As can be seen from the previous description, which refers to preferred examples of the present invention, the intended objectives of lightness, strength, ease of handling are achieved, and the stackable and nestable nature of the cradles is also achieved, it is that is, they may be stacked preferably in a load situation, supported by the planned centers, or that they may be arranged in an embedded position in one another at rest, that is, storage of the cradles themselves without load, facilitating its storage occupying a small space and also its transport.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Multiple cradle for the stacking and handling of barrels and the like, characterized by comprising two parallel stringers in which a series of V elements connected by their vertices in the stringers and connected to each other by means of their separations are connected with regular separations. opposite arms, determining alignments of V elements that are likely to receive barrels or similar elements in tangent position between the arms of the V elements, the beams of hole plates being provided and possessing the upper ends of the V elements conical pythons to allow the vertical stacking of cribs. 2. Multiple cradle for the stacking and handling of barrels and the like according to claim 1, characterized by the arrangement of crossbars close to the angles for the reinforcement of the V elements, both in each of the V elements itself as in the areas of union of the elements in V of two adjacent alignments of the cradle. 3. Multiple cradle for stacking and handling barrels and the like, according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the V elements are extended in vertical sections joined by longitudinal stringers and provided with the centering pins. 4. Multiple cradle for the stacking and handling of barrels and the like, according to claim 1, characterized in that some of the arms of the elements in V adopt a short length and without joining crossbars, combining with other long lengths and with crossbars and connecting stringers to allow the formation of six barrel cradles, two of them at the ends of each of the stringers supported by pairs of short-arm V elements , and the other two supported on the upper part of the intermediate V elements of greater length and the corresponding reinforcing crossbars. 5. Multiple cradle for the stacking and handling of barrels and the like, according to claim 1, characterized in that the centering pythons are conical and replaceable type.