WEIGHING SUPPORT BRACKET

Abstract

A weighing plate supporting a dismantlable rack, comprising a deformable portion in proximity to the load-bearing rear edge of the weighing plate; the deformable portion comprises at least one deformable cut-out and at least one strain gauge unit mechanically coupled to the deformable portion that is adapted to measure deformation when at least one load is arranged on the shelf of the rack; and the at least one strain gauge unit is arranged in shear mode for measuring the deformation of the deformable portion.

Claims

1. A weighing plate supporting a shelf of a dismantlable rack; characterized in that the weighing plate (211) comprises a deformable portion (212) in proximity to the load-bearing rear edge (214) of the weighing plate (211); wherein the deformable portion (212) comprises at least one deformable recess (213) and at least one strain gauge unit (217) mechanically coupled to the deformable portion (212) that is adapted to measure deformation if at least one load (112) is arranged on the shelf of the rack.

2. Plate according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strain gauge unit (217) is arranged in shear mode for the deformation measurement of the deformable portion (212).

3. Plate according to claim 2, wherein the at least one strain gauge unit (217) is disposed within the deformable portion (212) between the load-bearing rear edge (214) of the weighing plate (211) and the at least one load (112) disposed on the shelf of the rack.

4. Plate according to claim 1, wherein the at least one deformable recess (213) has the shape of an elongated groove, cavity, or the like.

5. Plate according to claim 1, wherein the weighing plate (211) has a triangular, square or similar shape.

6. Plate according to claim 5, wherein the weighing slat (211) comprises at least one angled load-bearing recess (215, 311) arranged in proximity to the upper vertex formed by the load-bearing rear edge (214) and the upper edge of the weighing plate (211).

7. Plate according to claim 6; wherein the angled load-bearing recess is of the right-angled load-bearing recess type (215), acute-angled load-bearing recess (311), or the like.

8. Plate according to claim 5, wherein the weighing plate (211) comprises at least one protruding recess (216) in proximity to the lower vertex formed by the load-bearing rear edge (214) and the hypotenuse of the weighing support plate (211).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] A more detailed explanation of the device according to the embodiments of the invention is given in the description below , based on the attached figures in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a conventional removable shelf rack support plate;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of a weighing support plate comprising a deformable portion including deformable recesses, made by partial emptying, for regulating the elasticity of the deformable portion and a strain gauge unit for measuring the deformation caused by the vertical load diagram of the shelf of the rack; and

[0034] FIG. 3 shows an elevation view of the weighing support plate with a plurality of recesses regularly distributed on the load-bearing rear edge of the weighing support plate.

DESCRIPTION

[0035] With regard to FIG. 1, which shows an elevation view of a conventional flat support plate 111 for supporting a shelf of a rack, wherein at least one load 112 is disposed.

[0036] The flat support plate 111 has a triangular or square basic geometric configuration that is deformable by application of a vertical load diagram 112 on the upper edge of the support plate 111. The support plate 111 comprises load-bearing recesses regularly arranged along the load-bearing rear edge of the support plate 111.

[0037] With regard to FIGS. 2 and 3, which show a weighing plate for supporting a shelf of a dismantlable rack, where the weight plate 211 comprises a deformable portion 212 in proximity to the load-bearing rear edge 214 of the weighing plate 211.

[0038] The deformable portion 212 comprises at least one deformable cut-out 213 regularly distributed along a vertical axis parallel to the load-bearing rear edge 214, and at least one strain gauge unit 217 mechanically coupled to the deformable portion 212, which is adapted to measure the strain caused by the load 112 arranged above on the shelf of the rack.

[0039] The deformable portion 212 is arranged in proximity to a load-bearing rear edge 21 of the support plate 211. Thus, the weighing support plate 211 is configured to determine the weight value of a load diagram 112 disposed above the shelf of the rack regardless of the relative position of the load above the flat surface of the shelf, where the load 112 is disposed from the rear edge of the shelf of the rack.

[0040] The deformable portion 212 comprises at least one deformable cut-out 213. The deformable cut-out 213 is shaped as a recess, groove, elongated groove, or other alternative geometric shapes. The deformable cut-out 213 is realizable by partial emptying of the deformable portion 212.

[0041] The load diagram 112 applied along the upper edge 219 of the weighing support plate 211 elastically deforms the weighing plate 211; wherein the deformation is a function of the arrangement and number of deformable cut-outs 213 comprised within the deformable portion 212 and the type of material from which the weighing plate 211 is made. The applied load diagram 112 deforms the deformable cut-outs 215 of the deformable portion 213.

[0042] The at least one strain gauge unit 217 is integrally coupled in the deformable portion 212. The strain gauges convert the deformation of the deformable portion 212 to a measurable electrical signal proportional to the weight value associated with the weight of the shelf itself and the load 112 arranged on the shelf of the rack.

[0043] The strain gauge unit 217 is disposed within the deformable portion 212 between the load-bearing rear edge 21 of the weighing plate 211 and the load 112 disposed above on the shelf of the rack. The at least one strain gauge unit 217 is arranged in the shear deformation measurement mode of the deformable portion 212.

[0044] The strain gauges 217 are preferably arranged on the neutral fiber where, by their own definition, the bending torque is zero and the stress and shear deformation is maximum, thereby optimizing the electrical signal generated and minimizing the effects of bending deformations.

[0045] The weighing support plate 211 comprises at least one angled load-bearing recess 215, 311 arranged in proximity to the upper end vertex formed by the load-bearing rear edge 214 and the upper edge 219 of the weighing plate 211 for assembly within an assembly slot of a rear vertical pillar of the shelf.

[0046] The angled load-bearing recess is of the right-angled load-bearing recess type 215, acute-angled load-bearing recess 311, or the like.

[0047] The weighing plate 211 comprises at least one protruding recess 216 in proximity to the lower vertex formed by the supporting rear edge 214 and the hypotenuse of the supporting weighing plate 211, which is assembled within a lower assembly slot provided in the same rear vertical pillar of the shelf.

[0048] In inclined-angle weighing plates 211, the acute-angle load-bearing recess 311 comprises at least one hole 312 distributed regularly along the lower edge of the acute-angle load-bearing insert, which allows the upper vertex of the weighing plate 211 to be moved away from the rear vertical pillar of the shelf for an inclined positioning of the shelf, which facilitates the visibility and display of the load 112 arranged and stored on the shelf.

[0049] Thus, for example, shelves arranged at greater relative heights with respect to the rack support floor must have a greater inclination to facilitate the display of the loads arranged on the shelves.

[0050] In a practical way, the angled load-bearing inserts 215, 311 can be linked in order to be able to arrange the weighing plates 211 and, therefore, the shelves horizontally and/or inclined. In these cases the solution is valid as the deformations are proportional to the weights and vertical loads supported. The strain gauges 217 arranged in shear mode transform the deformation measured in the deformable portion 212 of the weighing support plate 211 to a measurable electrical signal proportional to the value of the weight transmitted by the shelf of the rack.

[0051] By combining the electrical signals, either analogue or their corresponding digital transformations, from the weighing support plates 211, the total weight supported by a single shelf is obtained.

[0052] The digital signals provided at an output of the strain gauge sensor 217 are transmittable electrically or by radio to a controller unit that, in response to the received digital signals, is capable of determining the weight disposed on the shelf or the number of loads on it if the loads 112 have a uniform weight, from the weight of a single load 112.

[0053] The strain gauges 217 are configured in shear mode; in this case the main deformations are at 45° to the vertical axis of the weighing support plate 211; +45° in compression and −45° in traction.

[0054] The strain gauges 217 are connected either in a Wheatstone bridge in each weighing support plate 211, which allows to measure the weight supported by each weighing support plate 211, or in a half Wheatstone bridge completing the same with a second weighing support plate 211 for the same shelf, with which the total weight would be measured. The sum of the loads 112 can be done electrically by interconnecting the bridges or externally in the controller that combines the signals.

[0055] Alternatively, at the upper edge 219 there may be shelf supports to transmit the total load 112 in front of the position of the strain gauges 217, such that the strain gauges 217 will measure the strain of the entire load 112.

LIST OF NUMERICAL REFERENCES

[0056] 111 conventional support plate

[0057] 112 load diagram

[0058] 211 weighing support plate

[0059] 212 deformable portion

[0060] 213 deformable cut-out

[0061] 214 load-bearing rear edge

[0062] 215 right-angle load-bearing recess

[0063] 216 protruding recess 217 acute angle load-bearing recesss strain gauge unit

[0064] 218 upper edge

[0065] 311 acute angle load-bearing recess

[0066] 312 orifice