DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STORING ITEMS USING A RACK

Abstract

A device for storing items having a rack that is provided with storage compartments, and having a rack serving apparatus. In order to place items into storage and to remove them from storage, the rack serving apparatus and the rack can move horizontally and vertically relative to one another, with the rack having a variable adjustment of the storage compartments by way of storage compartment divisions that can be variably set both in the horizontal and also in the vertical direction and bear the item.

Claims

1. A device for storing items comprising: a rack, the rack being provided with storage compartments; and a rack serving apparatus; wherein the rack serving apparatus and the rack are moveable horizontally and vertically relative to one another in order to place items into storage and to remove items from storage, and wherein the rack comprises settable storage compartment divisions that can be variably set both in the horizontal direction and also in the vertical direction and bear items to provide a variable adjustment of the storage compartments with the settable storage compartment divisions being formed in a pin-like manner, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are placed with the aid of a particular item when the particular item is being placed into storage, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are placed with the aid of the storage compartment of another item below the particular item and/or laterally of the particular item, and wherein the rack comprises on a rear wall side of the rack a fastening matrix extending over a width and a height of the rack for fastening the settable storage compartment divisions.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are set by a horizontally and vertically positionable storage compartment division setter during placement of items into storage.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the storage compartment division setter is part of the rack serving apparatus.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack serving apparatus comprises a height-variable lifting platform with a positionable transverse stop and a positionable longitudinal stop.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack serving apparatus is attached to a supply conveyor.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lifting platform comprises a transfer pusher which extends over the end of the supply conveyor.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack is mobile.

8. A device for storing items comprising: a rack, the rack being provided with storage compartments; and a rack serving apparatus; wherein the rack serving apparatus and the rack are moveable horizontally and vertically relative to one another in order to place items into storage and to remove items from storage, and wherein the rack comprises settable storage compartment divisions that can be variably set both in the horizontal direction and also in the vertical direction and bear items to provide a variable adjustment of the storage compartments with the settable storage compartment divisions being formed in a pin-like manner, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are placed with the aid of a particular item when the particular item is being placed into storage, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are placed with the aid of the storage compartment of another item below the particular item and/or laterally of the particular item, and wherein the rack comprises on a rear wall side of the rack a fastening matrix extending over a width and a height of the rack for fastening the settable storage compartment divisions, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are set by a horizontally and vertically positionable storage compartment division setter during placement of items into storage and the rack serving apparatus is attached to a supply conveyor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the storage compartment division setter is part of the rack serving apparatus.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rack serving apparatus comprises a height-variable lifting platform with a positionable transverse stop and a positionable longitudinal stop.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lifting platform comprises a transfer pusher which extends over the end of the supply conveyor.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rack is mobile.

13. A method for loading a rack with items, with the rack being provided with storage compartments and a rack serving apparatus configured to move horizontally and vertically in order to place items into storage and remove items from storage, said method comprising: adapting the size of a storage compartment to the size of a respective item both vertically and horizontally during loading of the respective item to the storage compartment, wherein the rack comprises storage compartment divisions and wherein the storage compartment divisions are variably set in both a horizontal direction and vertical direction to set the size of the storage compartment.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage compartment divisions are set by a horizontally and vertically positionable storage compartment division setter during placement of items into storage.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the storage compartment division setter is part of the rack serving apparatus.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rack serving apparatus comprises a height-variable lifting platform with a positionable transverse stop and a positionable longitudinal stop.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rack serving apparatus is attached to a supply conveyor.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lifting platform comprises a transfer pusher which extends over the end of the supply conveyor.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rack is mobile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rack for storing items;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1 with a lifting device;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1 with a lifting device and a rack serving apparatus as well as a supply conveyor;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 3 during loading;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 4 from below;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the rack of FIG. 1 in the loaded state; and

[0028] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1 in the partially loaded state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the following written description correspond to like-numbered elements in the figures.

[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures a device, designated as a whole by 1, is shown for storing items, having a rack 2 and a rack serving apparatus 11, wherein in order to place the items 100 into storage and to remove them from storage the rack serving apparatus 11 and the rack 2 are able to move horizontally and vertically relative to one another.

[0031] The rack 2 has a frame formed from lateral and rear vertical struts 3, 7 and a base plate 4 as well as lateral transverse struts 5 and a rear-side transverse strut 6. A multiplicity of transverse beams 8 at different heights are attached in a matrix-like manner to the rear vertical struts 7 and each comprise a multiplicity of fastening threads 9 along their extension, into which pin-like storage compartment dividers 21, to be described below, can be screwed.

[0032] The rack 2 is vertically displaceable by means of a lifting mechanism 10 and so items 100 to be placed into storage can be positioned at the predetermined position, although the rack serving apparatus 11 and the supply belt conveyor 12, which delivers the items 100 to be placed into storage, are vertically stationary.

[0033] At the end of the supply belt conveyor 12, a pusher 14, driven and guided on a linear guide, takes the items 100 and places them on a platform 13 against a positionable transverse stop 16 and a positionable longitudinal stop 17 which have been prepositioned according to the precalculated position of the respective item 100 in the rack 2. The transverse stop 16 then pushes the item 100 against the rear vertical struts 7.

[0034] At the same time, the necessary number of pin-like storage compartment dividers 21 are fastened by a storage compartment division setter 18 into the fastening threads 9 below the platform 13 or the item 100 on the transverse beams. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage compartment division setter 18 comprises the actual screw-in device 19 and a magazine 20 for supplying pin-like storage compartment dividers 21.

[0035] Subsequently, depending on the next item 100, laterally next to the last-positioned item 100, further pin-like storage compartment dividers 21 can be attached. Thus, e.g. gradually a loading pattern as illustrated in FIG. 6 is created. It will be recognized that in comparison to conventional racks there is practically no wasted space. The rack 2 can then be loaded e.g. into a transporter. If the rack 2 serves for transportation purposes, the pin-like storage compartment dividers 21 can also be fitted with load-securing protrusions. Different lengths of pin-like storage compartment dividers 21 can also be used. Once it has been emptied, the pin-like storage compartment dividers 21 can be removed and the rack 2 can be divided up again.

[0036] Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.