Sensor Apparatus

Abstract

A sensor apparatus for connection to a storage rack, the sensor comprising a body which defines a housing; a power source located within the housing; one or more impact and/or proximity sensors located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source; a processor located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source and the or each sensor; and a signal emitter located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source and the processor, wherein the signal emitter emits a signal in response to an activation signal from the processor.

Claims

1. A sensor apparatus for connection to a storage rack, the sensor comprising a body which defines a housing; a power source located within the housing; one or more impact and/or proximity sensors located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source; a processor located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source and the or each sensor; and a signal emitter located within the housing and electrically connected to the power source and the processor, wherein the signal emitter emits a signal in response to an activation signal from the processor.

2. A sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes at least one impact sensor, the activation signal is transmitted by the processor in response to an impact sensed by the or one of the impact sensors and the emitted signal includes data relating to the force of the impact.

3. A sensor apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor apparatus includes one or more impact sensors and one or more proximity sensors, wherein the sensors are electrically connected to the power source and the processor, and the signal emitter further emits an alert signal in response to a proximity activation signal from the processor.

4. A sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor apparatus includes one or more proximity sensors, the activation signal is transmitted by the processor in response to an object in proximity to the apparatus sensed by the or one of the proximity sensors, and the signal emitter emits an alert signal in response to an activation signal from the processor.

5. A sensor apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the or each proximity sensor is configured to sense the proximity of a body to the apparatus within the range 0 cm to 100 cm.

6. A sensor apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the or each proximity sensor is configured to sense the proximity of a body within a single pre-determined distance or within a plurality of pre-defined distances.

7. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the processor transmits an activation signal to the signal emitter when a body is sensed to be within a pre-determined distance from the sensor apparatus or when the impact sensors sense an impact with the housing.

8. A sensor apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the signal emitter emits an audible alert signal, a visual alert signal, an electronic alert signal or combinations thereof.

9. A sensor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the electronic signal is a wireless signal.

10. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

11. A sensor apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the or each battery is rechargeable.

12. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the processor includes a data memory component which is configured to record data from the or each sensor.

13. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the apparatus includes one or more attachment elements for securing the body to a storage rack.

14. A sensor apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the body includes or defines the or each attachment element.

15. A sensor apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the body includes one or more resiliently deformable anchor elements extending from a main body portion of the body.

16. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the body has an arcuate cross-section.

17. A sensor apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the arcuate cross-section defines an arc of between 60° and 270°.

18. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the body is formed from a polymeric material and is resiliently deformable.

19. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the body includes an impact-absorbent outer layer.

20. A sensor apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the body includes a fire-resistant and/or fire retardant material.

21. A storage racking assembly including at least one upright component and a sensor apparatus as defined in any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the sensor apparatus is secured to the upright component.

22. A storage racking assembly according to claim 21, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a body including one or more resiliently deformable anchor elements in the form of arms which extend from a main body portion of the body, wherein the resiliently deformable arms snap-fit around the upright component.

Description

[0041] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sensor apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, showing schematically a housing defined within a body of the apparatus;

[0043] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the sensor apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sensor apparatus shown in FIG. 1 connected to an upright member of a storage rack; and

[0045] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a storage racking assembly according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0046] For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “width”, “above”, “below”, etc. refer to the orientation of the components of the invention when installed for normal use as shown in the figures.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a proximity sensing apparatus 2 according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0048] The proximity sensing apparatus 2 comprises a curved body 4 formed from a polymeric material. Defined within the body 4 and shown schematically in FIG. 1 is a housing 6. Within the housing 6 is located an electrical power source 8. The electrical power source is connected to and powers a processor 10. The processor 10 is electrically connected to a pair of sensors 20 (shown in FIG. 2) and an alert emitter 12. In the subject embodiment, the alert emitter 12 is an audible sound emitter which emits an audible alarm in response to a signal received from the processor 10. In order to allow the audible alarm to be heard, an array of through holes 14 are formed through the wall portion adjacent to the alert emitter 12. The alert emitter is electrically connected to and powered by the power source 8.

[0049] Although an audible alarm is described as the alert emitter 12 in this embodiment, the skilled person will appreciate that the alert emitter 12 may additionally or alternatively include other forms of alert emitter, such as a visual alert emitter in the form of a light source which may flash and/or an electronic wireless signal which may be transmitted to a remote receiver.

[0050] Extending rearwardly from the main body portion are six resiliently deformable anchor elements in the form of arms 16. The arms 16 may be deflected outwards by an external force. After the external force has been removed, the arms 16 will snap back to their rest configuration.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a rear elevational view of the body 4. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, spacing elements 18 having a planar contact surface are provided on the rear of the main body portion. These spacing elements 18 ensure that sensors 20 located between the spacing elements are spaced from components of a storage racking assembly to which the proximity sensing apparatus 2 is coupled in use, thereby minimising the risk of damage to the sensors. In addition, the planar contact surface of the spacing elements permits the correct orientation of the proximity sensing apparatus 2 relative to the storage racking assembly.

[0052] The sensors 20 in this embodiment are capacitive sensors, such as the type sold by Texas Instruments under the reference number FDC1004. However, it will be appreciated that alternative proximity sensors, such as ultrasonic sensors may be used in the context of the subject invention.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows the proximity sensing apparatus 2 coupled to an upright component 30 of a storage racking assembly. The upright component 30 is secured to a floor via a base plate 32 and a plurality of bolts 34 which pass though the base plate 32 and into the floor. In order to secure the proximity sensing apparatus 2 to the upright component 30, the arms 16 are urged apart until they define a gap between opposed arms which is greater than the width of the upright component. The body 4 is then urged towards the upright component 30 until the planar contact surface of the spacing elements 18 contact the front surface of the upright component 30. In this configuration, the arms 16 are able to snap back to their rest configuration and in so doing, the arms 16 secure the apparatus 2 to the upright component 30.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a storage racking assembly 38 according to the second aspect of the invention. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the storage racking assembly comprises four upright components 30 arranged as the points of a rectangle. The opposed upright components 30 which define the longer sides of the rectangle are connected by first horizontal braces 40 and the opposed upright components 30 which define the shorter sides of the rectangle are connected by second horizontal braces 42. The opposed upright components 30 which define the shorter sides of the rectangle may include additional bracing components as shown in FIG. 4. However, the bracing between the opposed upright components 30 which define the longer sides of the rectangle is limited owing to the need to access the storage area defined between the upright components 30.

[0055] The opposed upright components 30 which are located adjacent to an access aisle are each provided with a proximity sensing apparatus 2 as described above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0056] In use a mechanical handling apparatus approaches the racking assembly 38 along an access aisle (not shown) defined in front of the racking assembly 38. The proximity of the mechanical handling apparatus to the upright components 30 to which the proximity sensing apparatus 2 have been secured is sensed by the sensors 20. If the sensors 20 sense that the spacing between the respective upright component 30 and the mechanical handling apparatus is less than a predetermined spacing, the processor 10 transmits an activation signal to the audible signal emitter 12 and an alarm is emitted by the signal emitter 12. The alarm signal should alert the operator of the mechanical handling apparatus that he or she is too close to the racking assembly 38 and that remedial action needs to be taken to avoid a collision.