LOAD CARRIER FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING A CONTAINER

Abstract

A load carrier for loading and unloading a container includes rigid load-carrier segments, each having a length and width in first and second directions, respectively, and an upper side in a third direction. In a first state, the upper sides are parallel to one another and, in the first direction, one behind the other, to form a planar loading surface. The segments are mutually connected in an articulated manner such that they are pivotable to one another about pivot axes parallel to the second direction. In the first state, a respective segment which, in the first direction, follows a respectively other segment, is pivotable, by its upper side, toward the upper side of the other segments, so that, by the segments being rolled up in spiral form, the load carrier is transferrable from the first into a second state and, by unrolling, is transferrable back into the first state.

Claims

1: A load carrier (1) for loading and unloading a container (9), comprising rigid load-carrier segments (6, 6), wherein the load-carrier segments (6, 6) each have an upper side (7, 7) facing in a third direction (12) and a segment length (13) extending in a first direction (10) and a segment width (14) extending in a second direction (11), wherein the first direction (10), the second direction (11) and the third direction (12) are disposed mutually normal to one another, wherein, in a first state of the load carrier (1), the upper sides (7, 7) of the load-carrier segments (6, 6) are arranged substantially parallel to one another and, as seen in the first direction (10), one behind the other in order to form a substantially planar loading area (8), wherein the load-carrier segments (6, 6) are connected to one another in an articulated manner such that the load-carrier segments (6, 6) can be pivoted in relation to one another about pivot axes (16) extending parallel to the second direction (11), wherein, in the first state, a respective one of the load-carrier segments (6), which, as viewed in the first direction (10), follows a respectively other one of the load-carrier segments (6), can be pivoted with its upper side (7) in the direction of the upper side (7) of the other load-carrier segment (6) in order to be able to transfer the load carrier (1) from the first state into a second state by at least sectionally rolling up the load-carrier segments (6, 6) in spiral form, wherein the load carrier (1) can be transferred from the second state into the first state by unrolling, wherein the load-carrier segments (6, 6) each have at least one cover plate (20), wherein the cover plates (20) have grooved structures (21) which form the upper sides (7, 7) of the load-carrier segments (6, 6), wherein the cover plates (20) are preferably produced by extrusion, wherein the load-carrier segments (6, 6) each have at least two carrier slats (22) to which the at least one cover plate (20) is fastened, in particular screwed tightly, wherein the carrier slats (22) of the respective load-carrier segment (6, 6) extend in the second direction (11) and are arranged parallel to one another, wherein in each case two of the carrier slats (22) of the respective load-carrier segment (6, 6) are arranged one behind the other, as seen in the first direction (10), wherein the carrier slats (22) are preferably produced by extrusion, and wherein the carrier slats (22) of successive load-carrier segments (6, 6) are shaped in such a way that, in the first state of the load carrier (1), they overlap in sections in the first direction (10).

2: The load carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein, in the first state of the load carrier (1), the respective one of the load-carrier segments (6) can be pivoted with its upper side (7) in the direction of the upper side (7) of the respective other load-carrier segment (6) by a first pivoting angle (17) which is at most 45, preferably at most 30, and wherein, in the first state of the load carrier (1), the respective one of the load-carrier segments (6) can be pivoted with its upper side (7) away from the upper side (7) of the respective other load-carrier segment (6) by a second pivoting angle (18) which is a maximum of 3, preferably a maximum of 1, particularly preferably 0.

3: The load carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein, for the articulated connection of the load-carrier segments (6, 6), the load-carrier segments (6, 6) each have a plurality of, preferably two, pivoting links (19, 19), wherein the pivoting links (19, 19) of two successive load-carrier segments (6, 6) pivotably engage in one another.

4: The load carrier (1) according to according to claim 2, wherein the magnitude of the first pivoting angle (17) and the magnitude of the second pivoting angle (18) are limited by positive locking of the interlocking pivoting links (19, 19) of successive load-carrier segments (6, 6).

5: The load carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein, in order to guide the load carrier (1) during rolling up and unrolling, the load-carrier segments (6, 6) each have a plurality of, preferably two, guide links (23) which, as viewed in the second direction (11), are arranged one behind the other, wherein preferably the guide links (23), as viewed parallel to the second direction (11), delimit the respective load-carrier segment (6, 6) outwardly at least in sections.

6: The load carrier (1) according to claim 5, wherein the guide links (23) along the first direction (10) have a contour that is curved at least in sections.

7: The load carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein the load-carrier segments (6, 6) comprise a first load-carrier segment (24) and a last load-carrier segment (25), wherein, as viewed in the first direction, the remaining load-carrier segments (6, 6) are arranged between the first load-carrier segment (24) and the last load-carrier segment (25) when the load carrier (1) is in the first state, and wherein at least one first connecting element is provided in the region of the first load-carrier segment (24) for connecting the load carrier (1) to a pulling and pushing device (3).

8: The load carrier (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one wall element (26) projecting in the third direction (12) is provided in the region of the last load-carrier segment (25).

9: A system comprising the load carrier (1) according to claim 1 and a pulling and pushing device (3) for pulling the load carrier (1) in a pulling direction (29) out of a container (9) and for pushing the load carrier (1) in an opposite pushing direction (30) into a container (9), wherein the pulling and pushing device (3) has at least one second connecting element for connection to the load carrier (1), as well as a storage unit (2) having guide means (39), in particular guide rollers, for rolling up the load carrier in order to store it at least in sections in the second state.

10: The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one second connecting element is connected to a connecting piece (27), which connecting piece (27) is movable by the pulling and pushing device (3) and comprises a plurality of rigid connecting piece segments (28) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner, substantially like the load-carrier segments (6, 6) of the load carrier (1), in order to be able to store the connecting piece (27) together with at least one section of the load carrier (1) in the second state in the storage unit (2).

11: The system according to claim 9, wherein the pulling and pushing device (3) comprises a friction wheel drive for moving the load carrier (1), which is arranged in front of the storage unit (2) as seen in the pulling direction (29).

12: The system according to claim 9, wherein a continuing conveyor (5) is provided for conveying in a conveying plane which encloses an acute angle (33) with the first direction (10) of the load-carrier segments (6, 6) of the load carrier (1) in the first state, wherein a transition piece (4) is provided upstream of the continuing conveyor (5), which transition piece is arranged to slide with an underside (31) on the upper side (7, 7) of the load-carrier segments (6, 6), wherein preferably the underside (31) of the transition piece (4) has a grooved structure (32).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of an exemplary embodiment. The drawings are exemplary and are intended to illustrate the idea of the invention, but in no way to restrict it or even to reproduce it conclusively.

[0068] In the drawings:

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a system comprising a load carrier according to the invention for loading and unloading a container at a loading/unloading bay;

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a schematic axonometric view of the load carrier in a first state;

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a schematic axonometric detail view of several load-carrier segments of the load carrier according to FIG. 2;

[0072] FIG. 4 shows a schematic axonometric detail view of a single load-carrier segment;

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a plurality of load-carrier segments of the load carrier in a second state;

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view analogous to FIG. 5, with guide links blanked out;

[0075] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of a plurality of load-carrier segments of the load carrier in the first state;

[0076] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged sectional view of the system of FIG. 1;

[0077] FIG. 9 shows a detailed axonometric view of a transition piece of the system of FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0078] In the schematic sectional view of FIG. 1, a container 9 is shown at a loading/unloading bay 34, wherein a system according to the invention comprising an embodiment of a load carrier 1 according to the invention for loading and unloading the container 9 is recognizable. The load carrier 1 is in a first state and is arranged in the container 9 and covers the bottom thereof, with piece goods 40 (indicated by dashes) being arranged on the load carrier 1.

[0079] The load carrier 1, which is shown in FIG. 2 in an axonometric view, comprises rigid load-carrier segments 6, 6, which can be seen again in more detail in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The load-carrier segments 6, 6 each have an upper side 7, 7 facing in a third direction 12, on which the piece goods 40 can be arranged, as indicated in FIG. 1. The load-carrier segments 6, 6 extend with a segment length 13 in a first direction 10, with a segment width 14 in a second direction 11 and with a segment height 15, cf. FIG. 5, in the third direction 12. The first direction 10, the second direction 11 and the third direction 12 are mutually normal to one another. Typically, the segment length 13 is in a range of 0.1 m to 1 m (e.g. 0.2 m), the segment width 14 is in a range of 1 m to 5 m and the segment height 15 is in a range of 0.015 m to 0.1 m (e.g. 0.025 m).

[0080] In the first state of the load carrier 1, the upper sides 7, 7 of the load-carrier segments 6, 6 are arranged substantially parallel to one another and one behind the other as seen in the first direction 10 to form a substantially flat loading area 8. Clearly, the dimensions of the load carrier 1 may be matched to the dimensions of the container 9, such that the loading area 8 covers substantially the entire bottom of the container 9 and all of the piece goods 40 placed in the container 9 are arranged on or above the loading area 8 when the load carrier 1 is fully arranged in the container 9 in its first state.

[0081] In the first state, the load carrier 1 extends, as viewed against the first direction 10, from a first load-carrier segment 24 to a last load-carrier segment 25, between which the remaining load-carrier segments 6, 6 are arranged.

[0082] The load-carrier segments 6, 6 are connected to one another in an articulated manner in such a way that the load-carrier segments 6, 6 can be pivoted relative to one another about pivot axes 16 extending parallel to the second direction 11, cf. FIG. 5. In this context, in the first state, in each case one of the load-carrier segments 6, which, as viewed in the first direction 10, follows a respective other one of the load-carrier segments 6, can be pivoted with its upper side 7 in the direction of the upper side 7 of the other load-carrier segment 6, in order to be able to transfer the load carrier 1 from the first state into a second state by at least sectionally spirally rolling up the load-carrier segments 6, 6, wherein the load carrier 1 can be transferred from the second state into the first state by unrolling.

[0083] Accordingly, in the second state, the load carrier 1 can be stored or kept in a storage cassette 2, which is part of the system shown in FIG. 1, in a very space-saving manner.

[0084] During or due to the rolling up, the load carrier 1 can be pulled out of the container 9 in a pulling direction 29, whereby the container 9 is unloaded or the piece goods 40 are conveyed out of the container 9.

[0085] In order to ensure that, as far as possible, no piece goods 40 can slip off the load carrier 1 against the pulling direction 29 during unloading and that the container 9 is completely emptied, a wall element 26 is provided in the embodiment shown, which projects vertically in the third direction 12 from the last load-carrier segment 25. The wall element 26 is dimensioned in such a way that the cross-sectional area of the interior of the container 9 is completely covered, so that no piece goods 40 remain in the container 9 during unloading.

[0086] For articulated connection, the load-carrier segments 6, 6 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment each have two pivoting links 19, 19, wherein the pivoting links 19, 19 of two successive load-carrier segments 6, 6 pivotably engage in one another, cf. FIG. 6. The pivoting links 19, 19 are shaped in such a way that, in the first state of the load carrier 1, the respective one of the load-carrier segments 6 can be pivoted with its upper side 7 in the direction of the upper side 7 of the respective other load-carrier segment 6 by a first pivoting angle 17 (upward), which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is at most 30, and that, in the first state of the load carrier 1, in each case one of the load-carrier segments 6 can be pivoted with its upper side 7 away from the upper side 7 of the respective other load-carrier segment 6 by a second pivoting angle 18 (downwards), which in the exemplary embodiment shown is at most 3. This means that the pivoting angle range is, or the pivoting angles 17, 18 are, limited by form fit of the pivoting links 19, 19, as a result of which the load carrier 1 can not only be pulled without difficulty in the pulling direction 29, but can also be pushed or pressed without difficulty in an opposite pushing direction 30, in order to push the load carrier 1 together with the piece goods 40 arranged thereon into the container 9 and thus to load the container 9.

[0087] As viewed in the second direction 11, the pivoting links 19 of the load-carrier segment 6 are arranged one behind the other and in opposite end regions of the load-carrier segment 6.

[0088] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the load-carrier segments 6, 6 each have a plurality of cover plates 20, which are arranged one behind the other as seen in the second direction 11. The cover plates 20 are each provided with a grooved structure 21 and thus form the upper sides 7, 7. The grooved structure 21 proves to be favorable for holding the piece goods 40 on the load carrier 1. Furthermore, the grooved structure 21 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is utilized for the gentlest possible transition to a continuing conveyor 5 of the system according to the invention, in that a transition piece 4 of the system is interposed, which has a corresponding grooved structure 32 on an underside 31, which engages in the grooved structure 21 of the load-carrier segments 6, 6, cf. FIG. 1 and FIG. 9. This allows the transition piece 4 to underrun the piece goods 40 arranged on the cover plates 20, in order to enable low-resistance, stepless sliding of the piece goods 40 onto the transition piece 4 (more precisely onto an upper side of the transition piece 4 opposite the underside 31) and subsequently onto the continuing conveyor 5. The continuing conveyor 5, which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is designed as a belt conveyor, is provided for conveying in a conveying plane which encloses an acute angle 33 (in the illustrated exemplary embodiment approximately 22) with the first direction 10 of the load-carrier segments 6, 6 of the load carrier 1 in the first state or with the pulling direction 29. This inclination allows the piece goods 40 to be quickly brought to a higher level, higher than that of the loading/unloading bay 34, in order to facilitate further transport.

[0089] In the illustrated embodiment of the load carrier or system according to the invention, as seen in the first direction 10, a slide-off plate 37 is provided downstream of the wall element 26 and extends obliquely from the wall element 26 in the direction of the loading area 8. However, the slide-off plate 37 does not end on the loading area 8 (or the upper side 7 of a load-carrier segment 6), but already somewhat above the latter. This means that there is a small gap between the loading area 8 and the slide-off plate 37, as a result of which the slide-off plate 37 can be driven under in sections by the transition piece 4. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, this gap is covered by a spring-loaded flap 38, which is pivotably mounted on the slide-off plate 37 and is arranged between the loading area 8 and the slide-off plate 37. The flap 38 is thus pressed away from the transition piece 4 when the slide-off plate 37 moves in the pulling direction 29 towards the transition piece 4 and comes sufficiently close to it so that the transition piece 4 contacts the flap 38. In this case, the transition piece 4 is arranged with an initial area under the slide-off plate 37, wherein a form fit prevents the slide-off plate 37 from being completely driven under by the transition piece 4. Thus, all piece goods 40 can slide onto the transition piece 4 and finally be moved onto the continuing conveyor 5.

[0090] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the cover plates 20 are fastened to carrier slats 22 by bolting, with the cover plates 20 being arranged behind the carrier slats 22 as viewed in the third direction 12. Each load-carrier segment 6, 6 has exactly two carrier slats 22 which extend in the second direction 11 and are arranged parallel to one another. The two carrier slats 22 of the respective load-carrier segment 6, 6 are arranged one behind the other, as seen in the first direction 10.

[0091] In FIG. 7, it can be seen that the carrier slats 22 of successive load-carrier segments 6, 6 are shaped in such a way that they overlap in sections in the first direction 10 in the first state of the load carrier 1. Among other things, this enables the carrier slats 22 to be supported against one another in the overlapping region if, for example in the case of heavy piece goods 40, a particularly high load acts on the load-carrier segments 6, 6 parallel to the third direction 12.

[0092] In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it can be seen particularly clearly that in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the load-carrier segments 6, 6 each have two guide links 23 which serve to guide the load carrier 1 during rolling and unrolling. As viewed in the second direction 11, the guide links 23 of the respective load-carrier segment 6, 6 are arranged one behind the other and in mutually opposite end regions of the load-carrier segment 6, 6, wherein they delimit the respective load-carrier segment 6, 6 outwardly.

[0093] The guide links 23 are provided for cooperation with spirally extending guide profiles 39 in the storage cassette 2 acting as sliding guides, cf. FIG. 8. The guide links 23 have a curved contour along the first direction 10, cf. FIG. 5. The latter proves to be particularly advantageous with regard to especially precise guidance, because the curved contour permits planar guidance, simultaneously on large sections of the guide profiles 39 (or with large contact surfaces).

[0094] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the guide links 23 as well as the pivoting links 19, 19 are made of steel (e.g. by laser cutting or milling), whereas the cover plates 20 and the carrier slats 22 are made of an aluminum alloy by extrusion.

[0095] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a pulling and pushing device 3 for pulling the load carrier 1 in the pulling direction 29 out of the container 9 and for pushing the load carrier 1 in the pushing direction 30 into the container 9.

[0096] For connection to the pulling and pushing device 3, the load carrier 1 has at least one first connecting element in the region of the first load-carrier segment 24, which may comprise hooks or eyelets (not shown), for example. The pulling and pushing device 3 correspondingly has at least one matching second connecting element, which may comprise, for example, eyelets or hooks (not shown), wherein the first and second connecting elements can be coupled to one another. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the at least one second connecting element is connected to and arranged on a connecting piece 27 of the pulling and pushing device 3. Accordingly, the connecting piece 27 can be moved by the pulling and pushing device 3 and comprises a plurality of rigid connecting piece segments 28 which are constructed substantially like the load-carrier segments 6, 6 of the load carrier 1 and are connected to one another in an articulated manner in order to be able to store the connecting piece 27 together with at least a portion of the load carrier 1 in the second state in the storage unit 2. In particular, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the connecting piece 27 has a design restriction of the pivoting angle range of the connecting piece segments 28 analogous to the restriction of the pivoting angle range of the load-carrier segments 6, 6, in order to make pushing or pressing during unrolling particularly effective and safe: 30 in one (pivoting) direction and 3 in the other (pivoting) direction.

[0097] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the pulling and pushing device 3 comprises a shaft 41 centrally arranged in the storage cassette 2, which is drivable by means of an electric motor (not shown), in a first direction of rotation as well as in an opposite second direction of rotation. The connecting piece 27 is secured to the shaft 41 by a first end portion, the first end portion being opposite a second end portion and the second connecting element being fastened in the second end portion, i.e., the second end portion adjoins the first load-carrier segment 24. Upon rotation of the shaft 41 in the first direction of rotation (counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8), the connecting piece 27 and, subsequently, the load carrier 1 connected to the connecting piece 27 are correspondingly spirally rolled up or wound up around the shaft 41 according to the guide profiles 39, whereby the load carrier 1 can be pulled out of the container 9 by means of the connecting piece 27. With subsequent rotation of the shaft 41 in the second direction of rotation (clockwise in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8), the load carrier 1 and subsequently also the connecting piece 27 are unwound from the shaft 41 accordingly, whereby the load carrier 1 can be pushed or pressed into the container 9 via the connecting piece 27.

[0098] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the storage cassette 2 is combined with the pulling and pushing device 3 including the connecting piece 27 as well as with the continuing conveyor 5 and the transition piece 4 in a portable loading/unloading unit 35. The storage cassette 2 is arranged under the continuing conveyor 5 to save space. A housing of the loading/unloading unit 35 protects the individual components against external influences. The loading/unloading unit 35 can be guided to and arranged at a gate 36 of the loading/unloading bay 34 as required in order to load or unload containers 9 at the loading/unloading bay 34. It is understood, however, that a permanent installation of the loading/unloading unit 35 at the loading/unloading bay 34 would also be conceivable.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0099] 1 Load carrier [0100] 2 Storage cassette [0101] 3 Pulling and pushing device [0102] 4 Transition piece [0103] 5 Transition piece [0104] 6, 6 Load-carrier segment [0105] 7, 7 Upper side of the load-carrier segment [0106] 8 Loading area [0107] 9 Container [0108] 10 First direction [0109] 11 Second direction [0110] 12 Third direction [0111] 13 Segment length [0112] 14 Segment width [0113] 15 Segment height [0114] 16 Pivot axis [0115] 17 First pivoting angle [0116] 18 Second pivoting angle [0117] 19, 19 Pivoting link [0118] 20 Cover plate [0119] 21 Grooved structure of the cover plate [0120] 22 Carrier slat [0121] 23 Guide link [0122] 24 First load-carrier segment [0123] 25 Last load-carrier segment [0124] 26 Wall element [0125] 27 Connecting piece [0126] 28 Connecting piece segment [0127] 29 Pulling direction [0128] 30 Pushing direction [0129] 31 Underside of the transition piece [0130] 32 Grooved structure of the transition piece [0131] 33 Angle [0132] 34 Loading/unloading bay [0133] 35 Loading/unloading unit [0134] 36 Gate [0135] 37 Slide-off plate [0136] 38 Spring-loaded flap [0137] 39 Guide profile [0138] 40 Piece goods [0139] 41 Shaft