GB2303346A

GB2303346A - Belt driven storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2303346A
Application number: GB9605688A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus Schaefer
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1995-03-20
Filing date: 1996-03-19
Publication date: 1997-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-19
Also published as: GB9605688D0; FR2731994B1; GB2303346B; FR2731994A1; DE19511122A1

Description

1 2303346 STORAGE APPARATUS WITH BEARING UNITS CONVEYABLE ALONG A CLOSED

CIRCUIT The invention relates to a storage apparatus with bearing units conveyable along a closed circuit.

A horizontal carousel storage apparatus of this type and comprising guided bearing units suspended on a rail is known from EP 0517271 Al. Each of the bearing units is guided on the rail by means of two travelling mechanisms. The travelling mechanisms are pivotably connected with the bearing units by means of perpendicularly oriented bearing axles. The bearing axles are connected together by means of connecting rods, such that the bearing axles and the connecting rods form an endless chain held on the rail by means of the travelling mechanisms. Accordingly, the rail is also of endless construction and consists essentially of two parallel, straight rail portions, whose ends are connected by means of two curved rail portions. In the region of these curved rail portions there is arranged a chain wheel rotatable about a perpendicular axis for driving the travelling mechanisms and deflecting the chain. In accordance with the chain pitch, the chain wheel has a large angular pitch and, to drive the travelling mechanisms, teeth which engage in the bearing axles of the travelling mechanisms.

This horizontal carousel storage apparatus has proven disadvantageous, since the chain pitch has to correspond to the length of the bearing units in the conveying direction. The chain pitch determines the angular pitch and thus the diameter of the chain wheel. Manufacture of the chain wheel has proven very difficult owing to its large diameter and is thus cost-intensive. Moreover, construction of the chain formed of the connecting rods and bearing axles is very expensive, since, mainly for reasons of ease of 2 maintenance, the connecting rods have to be specially mounted at all hinge points and the bearing axles are provided, in the region of the plane of engagement with the chain wheel, with a f rictionreducing coating preferably constructed as a roller.

An accumulating conveyor with conveyor belt is also known from German Patent No. 41 17 509. The conveyor belt is constructed as a flat belt, on which are vulcanised axle brackets of resilient material. The axle brackets are provided with bores for receiving roller supports.

It is an object of the invention to provide a storage apparatus with bearing units conveyable along a closed circuit, especially a horizontal carousel storage apparatus, which may be driven smoothly and is easily maintained.

A storage apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises bearing units conveyable along a closed circuit and at least one endless traction means connecting the bearing units for driving the bearing units, wherein the traction means is a belt.

A number of advantages are achieved by using a belt as the traction means. In comparison to the known chain formed of connecting rods and bearing axles, a belt is characterized by a longer useful life and ease of maintenance. A similar degree of ease of maintenance can only be achieved with chains by elaborate measures which lead to higher manufacturing costs. Moreover, a belt may be up to approximately 60% lighter than the chain. This leads to lower operating costs for the storage apparatus, because of the reduction in the weight to be driven.

Likewise, storage apparatus frame design may be optimised. The storage units may be driven at higher rotational speeds 3 with a belt drive than with a large pitch chain. In this way, the necessary bearing units may be transported more rapidly to the point of removal. Furthermore, smaller deflection diameters are possible with a belt than with a large pitch chain. A reduction in deflection diameter is impossible with a large pitch chain, since the polygon effect due to the small number of teeth would become too great. As a result of the smaller roller deflection diameters obtainable with a belt, the distance between the two straight rail portions may be minimised, and thus exploitation of the storage space is optimised. Moreover, noise development is diminished by use of a belt, since, on the one hand, the vibrations arising from the large polygon ef f ect of the large pitch chain do not occur and, on the other hand, the noise-emitting engagement of the deflection wheel with the bearing bolts does not happen.

The drive forces between the belt and the bearing units are preferably transmitted via axle brackets arranged on the belt. This ensures that the distance between the axle brackets may be selected to be whatever is desired at manufacture and thus all desired bearing unit widths may be obtained.

A resilient material is suitably used for the axle brackets and connection thereof with the belt is achieved by vulcanisation. This leads to transmission of the drive forces with good damping characteristics.

The axle brackets are preferably arranged only on the longitudinal side of the belt which enables the belt to be driven by driving drums with a flat drive surface. In this way the manufacturing costs are reduced compared to a chain wheel.

In a preferred embodiment, two travelling mechanisms are 4 provided per bearing unit, which travelling mechanisms are connected with the bearing units by means of axles pivotable at right angles to the conveying direction. The bearing axles are held in bores in the axle brackets. In order to compensate the difference in length between the belt guided curvedly around the deflection roller and the bearing unit arranged chordally between the two travelling mechanisms, one of the bores in the axle brackets is advantageously constructed as an elongate hole extending in the conveying direction.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a horizontal carousel; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a storage apparatus driving drum of the carousel of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the carousel of Fig. 1 from the area of the bearing unit suspension.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a storage apparatus constructed as a horizontal carousel with bearing units 1 (shown in part). The horizontal carousel comprises a bearing frame 3 standing on the f loor 2. At the end of the bearing frame 3 remote from the floor 2 there is suspended a rail 4. The rail 4 is preferably constructed as a tube and is suspended on the bearing frame 3 on its side remote from the bearing units 1. The rail 4 forms a closed circuit for the bearing units 1. This circuit has, in the figurative sense, the f orm of a stadium racetrack, i.e. it consists of two parallel, straight rail portions, whose free ends are connected together by curved rail 1 portions. The bearing units 1 are suspended on the oreferably horizon-tally rail 4 by means of travelling mechanisms 5. The travelling mechanisms 5 are connected with the bearing units 1 via bearing axles 6 rotatable about perpendicular axes. Connection of the bearing axles 6 with the bearing units 1 is effected by means of a crossbar 7 arranged at the end of the bearing unit 1 remote from the floor 2. The crossbar 7 extends over the entire width of the bearing unit 1 and comprises two bores in the centre for rotatable accommodation of the bearing axles 6. The bearing units 1 consist essentially of the above-mentioned crossbar 7 and a rack 8 formed of lattice walls and lattice floors. At the end of the bearing units remote from the rail 4 there are arranged guide rollers 9, which roll on a guide rail 10. The guide rail 10 is constructed to conform to the rail 4.

Drive of the bearing units 1 or the travelling mechanisms 5 is effected by a belt 11. The belt 11 is preferably endless and constructed as a steel cable- or aramide-reinforced flat belt. Axle brackets 12 of resilient material are vulcanised onto the belt 11. These axle brackets are each provided with a bore 13, 14. The bearing axles 6 of the travelling mechanisms 5 are held in these bores 13, 14. Thus, the travellina mechanisms 5 and the bearing units 1 are connected to a unit revolving around the endless rail via the belt 11. The axle brackets 12 are arranged only on the side of the belt 11 facing outwards, such that the inside of the belt 11 is flat. in this way, it is possible to drive the belt 11 on the inside by frictional enaagement over driving drums 15 arranged in the region of the preferably arcuate portions of the rail 4. The driving drums 15 are mounted to rotate about perpendicular drive axles 16 and are driven by a motor 17. The motor 1-7 is Dreferably constructed as a frequencyreculated aear motol- with a disDlacement lpickup. to ensure reproducible Positioning of the hearina units 1.1 - 1 in addition te oood start character-ist-i--s thereof. The drivinQ axles 16 wth the -c-nt.rc-c. -1' t Ihe d' r v in Q -1'-ru m s. 1. 5 nre- f e r-;,!-, -1 -j j r t e - S c.

6 of the arcuate port-inns of the rail 4. The edge. face of the driving drum 15 facing the belt 11 is of convex construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view from the region of the driving drum 15. It may be seen that the driving drum 15 is connected frictionally with the flat inside of the belt 11. An axle bracket 12,shown in section,is vulcanised onto the outside of the belt 11 remote from the driving drum 15. The axle bracket 12 is provided with a vertical bore 13 oriented perpendicularly to the conveying direction F. The bearing axle 6 is guided through this bore 13, which bearing axle 6 is held at one end in a bore in the crossbar 7 and at the other end in a bore in the travelling mechanism 5. The travelling mechanism 5 consists essentially of a yoke 18 and two runnina wheels 19 mounted thereon. The yoke 18 is a Ushaped member whose free lea ends are preferably bent outwards to accommodate the running wheels 19The frame 18 encloses the rail preferably constructed as a tube at a distance therefrom and from below. The running wheels 19 are mounted on the free legs of the U-shaped frame. Mounting of the running wheels. 19 is effected in such a way that they roll on the top of the rail 4 and their carrying axles 20 are arranged approximately at right angles to each other.

Fig. 3 shows an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1 from the region in which a bearing unit 1 is suspended. It may be seen from this Figure that in a preferred embodiment two travelling mechanisms 5 are connected via a crossbar 7 with "c compensate the difference in length each bearring unit 1. 1 in the rec'Lon c-' the def lection of the lbelt 1211 the dr-l-,,.-.I'.ng drum 15 between the arcuately guided belt 11 and the crossb,7r 7 chordally intersecting the def-lection radius of the driving drum 15.. the f irst bore 13 in the axle bracket 12 is of circular construction to accommodate the bearing axle 6 and the second bore 14 in the other bracket 12 is constructed aS -n eloncate hole.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A storage apparatus comprising bearing units conveyable along a closed circuit and at least one endless traction means connecting the bearing units for driving the bearing units, wherein the traction means is a belt.

2. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the belt is connected with the bearing units via axle brackets.

3. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the axle brackets are made of resilient material and vulcanised onto one side of the belt and the belt is f lat on the longitudinal side remote from the axle brackets.

4. A storage apparatus as claimed in either Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the bearing units are movable along the closed circuit by means of travelling mechanisms, the travelling mechanisms being pivotable about bearing axles oriented perpendicularly to the conveying direction, and wherein the axle brackets are provided with bores extending perpendicularly to the conveying direction, in which bores the bearing axles of the travelling mechanisms are held.

5. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each bearing unit is provided with at least two travelling mechanisms arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction and wherein the bearing axle of one of the travelling mechanisms is held in an axle bracket with a round bore and the bearing axle of the other travelling mechanism is held in an axle bracket with a bore in the form of an elongate hole extending in the conveying direction.

6. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bearing units are arranged suspended on a rail which forms the closed circuit.

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7. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the rail is a tube suspended at its top on a bearing frame.

8. A storage apparatus as claimed in either Claim 6 or Claim 7, as dependent upon either Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the travelling mechanisms comprise two running wheels mounted on the legs of a yoke which encloses the rail at a distance therefrom and from below and wherein the running wheels are displaceable on the top of the rail, the axles of the wheels being arranged substantially at right angles to each other.

9. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the bearing axles are mounted in the base of the yoke.

10. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the bearing units are guided at the end remote from the suspension via guide rollers on a guide rail arranged on a bearing frame.

11. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the belt is guided around driving drums and is frictionally drivable thereby and wherein the driving drums are rotatable about driving axles arranged at right angles to the conveying direction.

12. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 as dependent upon any one of Claims 2 to 10, wherein the axle brackets are arranged on the side of the belt remote from the driving drums.

13. A storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

13. A storage apparatus as claimed in either Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the belt has a rectangular cross section and is positioned with one of its longitudinal sides facing circumferential surface of the driving drums.

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14. A storage apparatus as claimed inn any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the closed circuit comprises two spaced and parallel straight rails, the ends of which straight rails are connected by means of semicircular rails and wherein the driving drums are arranged with their driving axles in the centre of the curved rails.

15. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closed circuit extends in a plane.

16. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closed circuit extends in a horizontal plane.

17. A storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefor described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

to Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A storage apparatus comprising bearing units conveyable along a closed circuit extending in a horizontal plane and formed by a rail, the bearing units being suspended from the rail, and at least one endless belt traction means connecting the bearing units for driving the beaxing units, wherein the belt is connected with the bearing units via axle brackets.

2. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the axle brackets are made of resilient material and vulcanised onto one side of the belt and the belt is flat on the longitudinal side remote from the axle brackets.

3. A storage apparatus as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bearing units are movable along the closed circuit by means of travelling mechanisms, the travelling mechanisms being pivotable about bearing axles oriented perpendicularly to the conveying direction, and wherein the axle brackets are provided with bores extending perpendicularly to the conveying direction, in which bores the bearing axles of the travelling mechanisms are held.

4. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each bearing unit is provided with at least two travelling mechanisms arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction and wherein the bearing axle of one of the travelling mechanisms is held in an axle bracket with a round bore and the bearing axle of the other travelling mechanism is held in an axle bracket with a bore in the form of an elongate hole extending in the conveying direction.

5. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the rail is a tube suspended at its top on a bearing frame.

11 6. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 as dependent upon either Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the travelling mechanisms comprise two running wheels mounted on the legs of a yoke which encloses the rail at a distance therefrom and from below and wherein the running wheels are displaceable on the top of the rail, the axles of the wheels being arranged substantially at right angles to each other.

7. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the bearing axles are mounted in the base of the yoke.

8. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bearing units are guided at the end remote from the suspension via guide rollers on a guide rail arranged on a bearing frame.

9. A storage apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the belt is guided around driving drums and is frictionally drivable thereby and wherein the driving drums are rotatable about driving axles arranged at right angles to the conveying direction.

10. A storage apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the axle brackets are arranged on the side of the belt remote from the driving drums.

11. A storage apparatus as claimed in either Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the belt has a rectangular cross section and is positioned with one of its longitudinal sides facing the circumferential surface of the driving drums.

12. A storage apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the closed circuit comprises two spaced and parallel straight rails, the ends of which 12- straight rails are connected by means of semi-circular rails and wherein the driving drums are arranged with their driving axles in the centre of the curved rails.