FULLY AUTOMATED END-LOADING OF A TRUCK

Abstract

Method and apparatus for the fully automated loading of a storage space with transport goods, in particular the fully automated loading of a storage space of a truck with cuboid transport goods, characterized in that in a first step the transport goods (of whatever kind) to be sent are deposited, in particular stacked, on a flat loading plate, in a second step the loading plate being moved until in front of the start of the storage space, and in a third step the loading plate being moved into the storage space.

Claims

1. A method for fully automated loading of a storage space with goods to be shipped, in particular the fully automated loading of a storage space of a truck with parallelepipedal goods to be shipped, the method comprising the steps of: first, placing the goods to be shipped on a flat loading plate, second, moving the loading plate with the goods thereon to an open end of the storage space, and third, moving the loading plate with the goods thereon into the storage space.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of; fourth, moving the loading plate out of the storage space again, and, before the fourth step and after the third step, blocking the goods to be shipped at the open end of the storage space against movement out of the storage space as the loading plate is moved out of the storage space during the fourth step.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the first step a plurality of the loading plates are set up by placement of goods at respective locations and the goods to be shipped on that have been placed on these loading plates are be stored thereon prior to the second step.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the placing during the first step is done such that the inner shape of the storage space in which the goods to be shipped are is taken into account, and the goods are placed on the loading plate such that they not project beyond this inner shape.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the second step, the plate and goods thereon are moved toward the open end of the storage space and the longitudinal axis of the loading plate is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the storage space.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, after alignment of the loading plate, the loading plate is moved during the second step into the storage space until an end of the loading plate that is in the storage space engages a stop in the storage space.

7. (canceled)

8. An apparatus for fully automated loading of a storage space of a truck with parallelepipedal goods to be shipped, according to claim 1.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the loading plate with has a front end provided with a bevel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the loading plate is a flat continuous plate.

Description

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the load plate is provided with a bevel on the front. This has the advantage that the goods to be shipped are prepared accordingly and, if necessary, stacked until they at most reach the inner shape of the storage space. After this is done, the accordingly prepared and stacked goods are fixed and the load plate starting with its beveled front is pushed under the prepared goods so that they move onto the load plate. Then, as already described, the loaded plate can be aligned with and moved into the storage space.

[0012] It is ideal if the goods to be shipped are loaded onto the load plate and, if necessary, stacked and fill the maximum volume of the storage space. In addition, however, understandably, partial loads and thus partial loaded storage spaces are also conceivable. The goods do not have to be parallelepipedal, but it is also conceivable for example to load machine parts, trucks and other forms of goods to be shipped on the load plate.

[0013] In a simple embodiment, the load plate is a flat, continuous plate, for example made of wood, steel, aluminum, plastic or a combination of these materials, this list not being exhaustive. It is advantageous to remember that the load plate is light as compared to the loaded weight that can be pushed into the storage space by the load transporter. This flat design of the load plate has the advantage that, in contrast to pallets, no space for runners is required, so that the available installation space can be more efficiently exploited, in addition to the advantage of fast loading. It is also conceivable that the load plate is provided with rollers, cylinders, runners or the like on its underside, in order to be able to move into the storage space without significant friction. The same also applies for the preparation of the load plate before entering the storage space. Alternatively or in addition to the provision of rollers, cylinders or the like on the underside of the charging plate, these moving elements are set in respective cutouts of the load plate. In such a case, the load plate has a honeycomb structure. The flat load plate can also have a honeycomb structure without rollers, cylinders, or runners and the like.

[0014] The single FIGURE shows an apparatus for loading goods to be shipped into a storage space shown by way of example. The right third of the upper view shows that a load plate on which several goods to be shipped of different sizes have been stacked. This takes place, for example, regardless of the location where the storage space to be loaded is located. The middle third of the upper view shows that the loaded load plate is aligned with the storage space to be loaded (left third of the upper view, shown here as a trailer of a truck. A lever-like load transporter, which can also be moved lengthways, is aligned in the upper right representation with the prepared load plate with its goods to be shipped located on it and is brought to the position shown in the middle third of the upper view. After this has occurred, the load transporter causes the inward movement (displacement) of the prepared load plate into the storage space. During this movement, the load transporter is connected to the load plate, for example by engaging its rear end. After the load transporter has moved the load plate completely into the storage space, it pivots up a little, so that the storage space blocks the goods to be shipped and prevents them from moving out of the storage space when the load plate is retracted back out of the storage space. This means that the load plate is pulled out from under the goods to be shipped, which are already in the storage space so that the undersides of the lowest goods sit directly the upper face of the floor of the storage space.

[0015] In the manner described above with the load transporter according to the invention the loading method of individual goods to be shipped is made significantly faster than the known loading methods and load transporter.