GUIDE ROLLERS FOR STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL UNITS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a guide roller arrangement (10) for a storage and retrieval unit, comprising: a connection portion (12) configured to enable rigid attachment to a cross beam of the storage and retrieval unit, a girder portion (18) pivotally linked to the connection portion (12) by means of a spindle (16), a guide roller (20) rotatably borne by the girder portion (18), a supporting unit (22) rigidly connected to the cross beam, and a resilient element (38), which is in direct or indirect contact with the girder portion (18) on one side and a contact surface (36) of the supporting unit (22) on the other side in such a way as to bias the girder portion (18) toward rotation about the spindle (16) in the direction of the cross beam. The invention further relates to a storage and retrieval unit (100) comprising at least one such guide roller arrangement, and to a method for mounting a guide roller arrangement of this kind.

Claims

1. A guide roller arrangement (10) for a storage and retrieval unit (100), comprising: a connection portion (12) configured to enable rigid attachment to a cross beam (102) of the storage and retrieval unit (100); a girder portion (18) pivotally linked to the connection portion (12) by means of a spindle (16); a guide roller (20) rotatably borne by the girder portion (18); a supporting unit (22) rigidly connected to the cross beam (102); and a resilient element (38), which is in direct or indirect contact with the girder portion (18) on one side and a contact surface (36) of the supporting unit (22) on the other side in such a way as to bias the girder portion (18) toward rotation about the spindle (16) in the direction of the cross beam (102).

2. The guide roller arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the girder portion (18) is formed having two parts, each extending on one side of the guide roller (20) in relation to the axis of rotation thereof.

3. The guide roller arrangement (10) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the resilient element (38) is formed by a helical spring (38).

4. The guide roller arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting unit (22) comprises a sleeve portion (34), which extends from the contact surface (36) and houses the resilient element (38) at least in some portions.

5. The guide roller arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient element (38) is rigidly attached to the supporting unit (22).

6. The guide roller arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting unit (22) comprises a main body (26) rigidly connected to the cross beam, and an adjustment element (32), which is movable relative to the main body (26), wherein the contact surface (36) is associated with the adjustment element (32).

7. The guide roller arrangement (10) according to claim 6, wherein the main body (26) comprises a threaded rod (26) and the adjustment element (32) comprises an internal thread and possibly a lock nut (30) screwable thereon.

8. A storage and retrieval unit (100) comprising at least one guide roller arrangement (10) according to any of the preceding claims, preferably a plurality of such guide roller arrangements (10), which furthermore are preferably arranged in pairs such that the guide rollers (20) are each guided on a rail opposite one another.

9. The storage and retrieval unit (100) according to claim 8, wherein the two guide rollers (20) are mechanically coupled in terms of their rotation.

10. Method for mounting a guide roller arrangement (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7 on a storage and retrieval unit (100), said method comprising the following steps: attaching the connection portion (12) to a cross beam (102) of the storage and retrieval unit (100); and attaching the supporting unit (22) to the cross beam (102) together with the resilient element (38) in such a way that the resilient element (38) is in direct or indirect contact with the girder portion (18) on one side and a contact surface (36) of the supporting unit (22) on the other side.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the guide roller arrangement (10) is one according to any of claims 6 and 7, further comprising the step of moving the adjustment element (32) into a working position, wherein, in the working position, a small distance is preferably left between the supporting unit (22), in particular the sleeve portion (34), and the girder portion (18) in relation to the pivot direction of the girder portion (18) about the spindle (16).

Description

[0018] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of an embodiment when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a guide roller arrangement according to the invention; and

[0020] FIG. 2: is an isometric view of two of the guide roller arrangements from

[0021] FIG. 1 in a state mounted on a cross beam of a storage and retrieval unit.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a guide roller arrangement according to the invention for a storage and retrieval unit, said guide roller arrangement being denoted in general terms by reference numeral 10. First, the arrangement 10 comprises a connection portion 12, which can be attached to a cross beam (not shown in FIG. 1) of a storage and retrieval unit by means of fasteners 14, such as rivets or screws. A girder portion 18 is pivotally linked to the attachment portion 12 by means of a spindle 16 and in turn rotatably bears a guide roller 20.

[0023] Since the sectional plane in the illustration shown in FIG. 1 extends through the guide roller 20 and, in accordance with the mounted state from FIG. 2, the arrangement 10 is viewed from above, only one part of the girder portion 18 located beneath the guide roller 20 is shown; in the embodiment illustrated, however, a second part not initially visible in FIG. 1 is also provided, said part extending in parallel with the illustrated part and symmetrically with the other, i.e. top, side of the guide roller 20 in relation to the sectional plane.

[0024] A further fastening point of the guide roller arrangement 10 to the cross beam (not shown in FIG. 1) of the storage and retrieval unit is associated with a supporting unit 22, at which point a connecting element 24, such as a screw or a rivet, likewise establishes said connection. In turn, the supporting unit 22 comprises a main body 26, which is in the form of a threaded rod and extends between the two parts of the girder portion through a pressure chock 28 associated therewith.

[0025] Furthermore, an adjustment element 32 having an internal thread is also provided, screwed onto the threaded rod 26, and is additionally locked by a lock nut 30. The adjustment element 32 further comprises, on one side, a sleeve portion 34, which extends substantially concentrically with the threaded rod 26, and, on the other side, a contact surface 36, which forms a first bearing surface for a helical spring 38 held inside the sleeve portion 34. At its other end, the helical spring 38 is supported against the above-mentioned pressure chock 28, and accordingly provides a bias for the girder portion 18 in terms of rotation about the spindle 16 in the downward direction in FIG. 1.

[0026] Lastly, reference is made to the distance 40 provided between the lower end of the sleeve portion 34 in FIG. 1 and the pressure chock 28 as a result of the adjustment of the adjustment element 32. This distance 40 limits the possible spring deflection provided by the helical spring 38 since, when it is exceeded during rotation of the girder portion 18 about the spindle 16 in the upward direction in FIG. 1, the sleeve portion 34 strikes the pressure chock 28 and the spring deflection is thus firmly limited.

[0027] Providing the spring element 38 ensures that, during operation of the arrangement 10, the roller 20 is in constant contact with a rail (not shown) at all times, the rebound of the roller 20 together with its girder portion 18 when traveling over surface irregularities on the rail being limited by the pressure chock 28 striking the sleeve portion 34.

[0028] FIG. 2 now shows two of the guide roller arrangements 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a state mounted on a cross beam 102 of a storage and retrieval unit 100. In this case, the two guide roller arrangements 10 are positioned opposite one another such that between their two rollers 20 it is possible to hold a rail with which the two rollers 20 are in contact on both opposite sides. Furthermore, the two-part structure of the two girder portions 18 can be seen in FIG. 2, as can the two protruding threaded rods 26 on which the sleeve portions 34 are mounted, inside which the helical springs 38 providing the contact pressure of the two rollers 20 on the rail are held.