GB2314835A

GB2314835A - Storage of products with minimum loss of space

Info

Publication number: GB2314835A
Application number: GB9614170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heygere Philippe D
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-05
Filing date: 1996-07-05
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-05
Also published as: GB2314835B; GB9614170D0

Abstract

A device for the storage of support plates 1 bearing products detects the vertical dimension of a support plate 1 with the product thereon and places the plate onto an appropriate rail 3 with a first or second means 101, 102 which are located at different levels contacting the rail depending on the vertical dimension of the plate. Preferably support means 101, 102 are arms spaced at a distance less than that between adjacent rails 3 of the frame. A support plate for use with the device is also claimed.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE STORAGE OF PRODUCTS The present invention relates to a device for the storage of support plates bearing products into a vertical frame.

The known storage device comprises (a) a vertical frame provided with rails for suppor ting support plates; (b) a transfer element moving vertically adjacent to the frame, said element acting as means for remo ving a support plate from the frame or for storing a support plate into the frame, and (c) a system for controlling the movement of the transfer plate adjacent to the frame, and for con trolling the transfer of a support plate from the transfer element into the frame or from the frame onto the transfer element.

The major problem of the known storage device of this type is the lost of space between two adjacent support plates.

For resolving this major problem, the device of the invention is provided - with support plates having first means and second means suitable for contacting rails, said first means being located at a first level which is dis tant from the level in which the second means ex tend, - with a system suitable for selecting the rails on which a support plate has to be placed, - with a sensor for detecting a vertical dimension of the support plate provided with a product to be stored into the frame, said sensor sending a sig nal towards the system so that said system con trols the storage of said support plate in the frame by selecting the first means or the second means of the plate which have to contact the se lected rails.

Advantageously, the system of the device according to the invention selects the rails on which the support plate to be stored has to be placed and the means of the said support plate to contact the rails, so as to minimize the free space between the support plate to be stored and an adjacent support plate in the frame.

Preferably, the system has a memory containing information suitable for knowing the rails which are still free and suitable for receiving a support plate, as well as the rails which are no more suitable for receiving a support plate. For example, the system, when detecting that the maximum vertical dimension of the plate and product to be stored measured by the sensor is greater than the vertical distance between the rails on which the support plate has to be placed and the adjacent rails which are no more suitable for receiving a support plate, controls the transfer plate so as to avoid the storage of said support plate into the frame.

According to an embodiment of the device of the invention, the device further comprises a weight sensor of the plate and product to be stored. Preferably, the system has then a memory containing information for each plate-product stored in the frame, so as to know the location of the plate-product, a vertical dimension of the plate in the frame and the weight of the plate-product.

According to a specific embodiment, the system has a means controlling the transfer element so as to modify the location of support plates stored in the frame, for example so that the plate bearing product with a high weight or with a high weight/height ratio is located in the frame near its bottom.

The support plate of the device of the invention is for example provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least two, preferably three or more than three, arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame. Preferably, the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

More preferably, the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is equal to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

In most preferred examples, the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

Especially, the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to or equal to the third, preferably to the quarter of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

According to another embodiment of the device, two adjacent rails are connected together by a means for modifying the vertical distance separating said rails.

For example, two adjacent rails are linked together by two pairs of beams, for each pair of beams, an end of a first beam is hinged to a first rail, while an end of the second beam is hinged to another rail, the other ends of the said first and second beam being linked together by a hinged connection, said pair of beams being connected together by a means for modifying the distance separating the hinged connections of the beams.

The invention relates also to a support plate for a device comprising (a) a vertical frame provided with rails for suppor ting support plates; (b) a transfer element moving vertically adjacent to the frame, said element acting as means for remo ving a support plate from the frame or for storing a support plate into the frame; (c) a system for controlling the movement of the transfer plate adjacent to the frame, for control ling the transfer of a support plate from the transfer element into the frame or from the frame onto the transfer element and for selecting the rails on which a support plate has to be placed; (d) a sensor for detecting a vertical dimension of the support plate provided with a product to be stored into the frame, said sensor sending a signal towards the system so that said system controls the storage of said support plate into the frame, said support plate being provided with first means and second means suitable for contacting rails, said first means being located at a level which is distant from the level in which the second means extend, whereby the first means or the second means of the plate can be selected by the system for contacting the selected rails.

Advantageously, the support plate is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least two arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame.

For example, the support plate is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least three arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame.

Preferably, the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

According to specific embodiments, - the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is equal to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame; or - the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame; or - the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to or equal to the third, preferably to the quarter of the distance separating two adjac ent rails of the frame.

Details and characteristics of the invention will appear from the following description in which reference is made to the attached drawings.

In these drawings, - Figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a view of a detail of a device shown in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a partial view in cross section along the line III-III of Figure 2; - Figures 4 to 7 are partial views similar to Figure 3 showing the working of the transfer element; - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a support plate of the invention; - Figure 9 is a perspective view of another support plate of the invention; - Figures 10 to 12 show different positions of the support plate of Figure 9 into the frame.

Figure 1 shows as example only a schematic view of a device according to the invention for the storage of products placed on support plates 1.

Said device comprises (a) a frame 2 provided with horizontal rails 3 for sup-porting support plates 1 for the products to be stored; (b) a working table 4 on which a support plate 1 remo ved from the frame 2 or to be stored in said frame 2 can be placed; (c) a transfer element 5 for removing a support plate from the frame, for bringing a support plate on the working table 4 and for storing a support plate in the frame; (d) a system 6 for feeding power to a system 15 for moving the element 5 in a vertical direction, and (e) a sensor 7 for detecting the height of the support plate 1 provided with the product to be stored or for detecting whether or not said height is greater than a predetermined height.

The sensor 7 actuates a switch 501 of the system 6 so as to allow the movement or displacement of a support 1 placed on the working table 4 when the height detected by the sensor 7 is lower to the distance D separating the rails 3 on which the support plate 1 has to be placed and the adjacent upper rails 3.

The frame 2 consists of eight uprights 8 linked together by transverse beams 9. In fact, the frame 2 is divided in three parts namely a first part 10 for the storage of support plates, a second part 11 for moving the element 5 and third part 12 for the storage of support plates, said third part 12 further comprising the working table 4.

Between the uprights 8 of the first 10 and third part 12, pair of rails 13, 14 are placed. The rails 13, 14 of one pair stretch in a horizontal plane and are parallel the one to the other.

The vertical movement of the element 5 is obtained by means of a driving mechanism with four chains which are linked to the corner of the element of in the neighbourhood thereof. Said chains stretch in the planes 111 of the side of the second part 11 which has the lower width.

The system 6 for moving the element 5 between the uprights 8 of the second part 11 of the frame 2 comprises four pairs of gears 16, 17, the upper gears 17 being mounted on separate shafts attached to a plate 18 welded to the traverse beams 9, while for the lower gears 16, two first gears are mounted on a first shaft 19 and the two other gears are mounted on a second shaft 20. On the first shaft 13 two other gears 24, 25 are mounted, a first being intended to be linked by a chain 21 and a gear 22 to the shaft of a motor 23, while the second gear 25 being intended to be linked by chains 26 and a reverse gear box 30 to a further gear 27 mounted on the second shaft 20. A chain 28 stretches between each pair of upper gear 17 - lower gear 16. The element 5 has four arms 29, the ends of which are respectively bound to a link of a chain 28.

In this manner, due to the rotation R of the shaft of the motor 23, the element 5 can be moved in a vertical direction. Since the arms of the element 5 are linked to a part of a chain which is located in front of another part of a chain to which an arm 29 is linked, it is necessary to use between the gears 25 and 27 a reverse gear box 30.

The transfer element 5 comprises four gears wheels 31, 32, 33, 34 which act as means for gripping a support plate from the frame or from the working table and as means for transferring a support plate into the frame or to the working table.

The element 5 (see figure 2) comprises - a first plate 35 having two pairs of openings 36, 37, the openings 36 of a first pair being located near a first edge 38 of the plate, while the ope nings 37 of the other pair are located near the edge 39 opposed to said first edge 38; - a second plate 40 attached to said first plate 35; four gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34, a part of which stretches through the openings 36, 37; - shafts 41, 42 on which the gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34 are mounted, said shafts being driven by a mo tor 43 beared by the second plate; - a third plate 46 provided with guiding means 44 for the assembly first-second plates and bound to said assembly by a jack 45 so that said assembly can be moved in a substantially horizontal direc tion, and - a fourth plate 47 linked to the third plate 46 by four jacks 48 for displacing the third plate 46 in a substantially vertical direction.

Instead of using jacks other linking elements allowing linear movements between two parts may be used.

Such elements is for example elements comprising guiding means for having a linear movement.

Each arm 29 of the element 5 bears a sensor 49 actuating a switch 50 mounted in the circuit 6 for feeding power to the motor 23 so as to move said element 5 up to a predetermined place, for example up to the moment that the element 5 is in front of guiding means on which a support plate is placed or has to be placed.

In fact, for the removal of a support from the frame 2 the sensor 49 opens the circuit 6 when it detects guiding means or rails on which stays the support to be removed, while for storing a support into said frame, the sensor 49 opens the circuit 6 when it detects guiding means or rails on which no support stays.

The rails 13 are constituted by L beam provided with a layer 52 of Ertalons or another product intended to facilitate the sliding of the support 1. The rails 13, 14 can be clipped on the uprights 8. However, the L beams can preferably slide in U beams forming the uprights 8. A first L-beam 13 is connected to an adjacent L-beam 13 by a system for modifying the distance D between said L-beams 13. The connection of said two L-beams is made by means of two pairs of rods 53, 54.

One end of the rods of a pair is hinged to a L-beam or rail 13, while the other ends of said rods are hinged together. The system 55 for modifying the distance D between two L-beams consists of a bolt 56 attached to the hinge of a first pair of rods and of a motor 57 attached to the hinge of the second pair of rods, the shaft of said motor bearing a screw 58 engaged into the bolt 56. By actuating the motor 57, the screw 58 rotates so that the distance between the L-beams 13 is modified. The length of the rods 53, 54 is lower to the half of the length of the rail or L-beam 13. A similar system 55 links two adjacent L-beams 14.

The sensor 7 can actuate a switch 59 mounted in the circuit 71 for feeding power to said motor. When said sensor 7 detects that the height of the support provided with a product to be stored is higher than the distance D separating the rails 13, 14 on which the support 1 has to be placed and the rails 13, 14 located just above, the switch 59 is actuated so that the motor 57 drives the screw 58, i.e. so as to modify the distance D.

The sensor 7 can also actuate said switch 59 so that said distance D substantially corresponds to the height of the support 1 to be stored, i.e. the distance D is diminished or increased respectively when the height is lower to the initial distance or greater than said initial distance D. For example when the distance D is higher than the height of the support provided with the product to be stored, the upper rail 13b is moved towards the lower rail 13a so that the distance D corresponds to said height.

For moving the upper rail 13b towards the lower rail 13a, the motor 57 is driven so that the bolt 56 moves towards the motor 57 and so that the rods 53, 54 rotate around their hinge 70 (arrow W). The power is fed to the motor 57 by a circuit such as an electrical circuit 71 in which the switch 59 actuated by the sensor 7 is mounted. In a similar manner, upper rail 14 is moved towards lower rail 14.

The device according to the invention is advantageously connected to a computer system with memory for a good working of the various steps for the storage or removal of a support plate 1.

A possible working of the transfer element will be described hereafter, for the removal of a plate 1 from the frame 2.

The element 5 is moved by the chain 28 driven by the motor 23 up to the moment when the sensor 49 detects rails 13 on which the support 1 to be removed stays.

When such a detection is made by the sensor 49, the switch 50 is actuated so as to stop the motor 23.

At this moment the upper part of the gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34 are substantially at a level L corresponding to the horizontal plane wherein racks 60, 61 attached to the support plate 1 stretch.

In order to transfer the support plate 1 into the element 5, the following steps are necessary in the embodiment shown in the attached figures.

The jacks 48 are actuated so as to move the third plate 46 in the direction of the fourth plate 47, i.e. so that the upper part of the gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34 are at a level L1 under the level corresponding to the horizontal plane L wherein the racks 60, 61 stretch (arrow A in figure 4).

The jack 45 is then actuated so as to slide the first and second plates and thus the gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34 with respect to the third plate 46. In this manner the gears are located under the racks 60, 61 (arrow B in figure 5).

By actuating the jacks 48, the third plate 46 is spaced from the fourth plate 47 (arrow C in figure 6) so that teeth of the gear wheels are engaged into openings of the racks 60, 61.

The motor 43 is then actuated (rotation of the shaft : arrow P in figure 2) so as to move the support plate 1 on to the element 5 (arrow E in figure 7).

At the end of the gripping operation of a support from the frame 2, a sensor 62 when detecting the plate 1 actuates a switch 63 mounted in the circuit 64 for feeding power to the motor 43 so as to stop the rotation of the shaft of said motor 43, i.e. to stop the rotation of the gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34.

The jack 45 is finally actuated so as to move back the first and second plates 35, 40 in their initial position with respect to the fourth plate 47.

The motor 23 then drives the chains 28 so as to move the transfer element 5 in front of the working table 4.

When the transfer element 5 is in front of said working table 4, the motor 43 drives the gear wheels 31, 32, 33, 34 so as to move the support 1 in the direction of the working table. At the end of the transfer operation, a sensor 65 no more detects the pre sence of the support 1 and actuates a switch 66 so as to stop the motor 43 and the jack 45 so as to displace the first and the second plates of the element towards the working table 4.

Thereafter the third plate 46 is moves towards the fourth plate 47 (due to the action of the jacks 48) so that theet of gear wheels are no more engaged into openings of the racks 60, 61 the first and second plates 35, 40 are moved back to their initial position (due to the jack 45) and finally the jacks 48 space the third plate 46 with respect to the fourth plate 47 so that the element 5 is in its initial position.

The element 5 is also provided with sensors 671, 672 for detecting the end of a gripping operation of a support from the working table 4 and for detecting the end of a transfer operation of a support 1 into the frame 2. There are two sensors for detecting the end of the transfer of a support 1 into the frame 2, a first 671 is intended to detect the end of the transfer of a support in part 10 of the frame 2 while the other 672 is intended to detect the end of the transfer of a support in part 12 of the frame 2.

Figures 8 and 9 shows two embodiments of a support plate 1 suitable to be used in a device of the invention. Said support plate is provided with first means 100 and second means 101 suitable for contacting rails 3, said first means 100 being located at a level which is distant from the level in which the second means 101 extend, whereby the first means 100 or the second means 101 of the plate 1 can be selected by the system 6 for contacting the selected rails 3.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, the support plate 1 is provided at its opposite lateral edges 1A,1B with at least two arms 100, 101 distant from each other, said arms 100, 101 being adapted for contacting rails 3 of the frame.

In this embodiment, the distance DD between the two adjacent arms 100, 101 of the plate is adapted so as to be lower to the distance separating two adjacent rails 3 of the frame. Said distance is in this example equal to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails 3 of the frame.

In the embodiment of Figure 9, the support plate 1 is provided at its opposite lateral edges 1A, 1B with three arms 100, -101, 102 distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails 3 of the frame. The distance DD between two adjacent arms 100, 101; 101, 102 of the plate is substantially equal to 0.33 x the vertical distance separating two adjacent rails 3 of the frame.

For placing a support plate 1 in the frame, the system selects the rails 32 on which the support plate to be stored 12 has to be placed. As said system 6 has a memory containing the location, the height and weight of the support plates stored, the said system knows the space which is free in the frame, the rails which are still free and suitable for receiving a support plate, as well as the rails which are no more suitable for receiving a support plate. Having these information, the system 6 selects the arms 100 or 101 or 102 which have to be used for contacting the rails 32.

This selection is made so as to minimize the lost of space, i.e. in the example of Figures 10 to 12 so as to minimize the distance EE between the bottom of the plate to be stored 12 and the top T of the product or plate 1 located below said plate 12. In Figure 10, the arms 100 of the plate 12 contact the rails 32, in Figure 11, the arms 101 of the plate 12 contact the rails 32, and in Figure 12, the arms 102 of the plate 12 contact the rails 32. The plate of the invention allows thus a very efficient use of the space of the frame provided with fixed rails or provided with rails provided with means for modifying their location.

The system 6 can also be used for modifying the location of the support plates, for example in function of their weight, in function of their demand, etc.

For example, after removal of one or several support plates, the system can displace the plates still stored so as to minimize the lost of space, so as to have the plate(s) bearing product with a high weight or with a high weight/height ratio located in the frame near its bottom. In this case, the system is associated with a means for measuring the weight of the plate to be stored.

Claims

1. Device for the storage of support plates bearing products into a vertical frame, said device comprising (a) a vertical frame provided with rails for suppor ting support plates, said support plates being provided with first means and second means sui table for contacting rails, said first means being located at a level which is distant from the level in which the second means extend; (b) a transfer element moving vertically adjacent to the frame, said element acting as means for remo ving a support plate from the frame or for storing a support plate into the frame; (c) a system for controlling the movement of the transfer plate adjacent to the frame, for control ling the transfer of a support plate from the transfer element into the frame or from the frame onto the transfer element and for selecting the rails on which a support plate has to be placed; (d) a sensor for detecting a vertical dimension of the support plate provided with a product to be stored into the frame, said sensor sending a signal to wards the system so that said system controls the storage of said support plate in the frame by se lecting the first means or the second means of the plate which have to contact the selected rails.

2. The device of claim 1, in which the system selects the rails on which the support plate to be stored has to be placed and the means of the said support plate to contact the rails, so as to minimize the free space between the support plate to be stored and an adjacent support plate in the frame.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, in which the system has a memory containing information suitable for knowing the rails which are still free and suitable for receiving a support plate, as well as the rails which are no more suitable for receiving a support plate.

4. The device of claim 3, in which the system, when detecting that the maximum vertical dimension of the plate and product to be stored measured by the sensor is greater than the vertical distance between the rails on which the support plate has to be placed and the adjacent rails which are no more suitable for receiving a support plate, controls the transfer plate so as to avoid the storage of said support plate into the frame.

5. The device of anyone of the preceeding claims, which comprises a weight sensor of the plate and product to be stored.

6. The device of claim 5, in which the system has a memory containing information for each plate-product stored in the frame, so as to know the location of the plate-product, a vertical dimension of the plate in the frame and the weight of the plate-product.

7. The device of anyone of the claims 3 to 6, in which the system has a means controlling the transfer element so as to modify the location of support plates stored in the frame.

8. The device of anyone of the preceeding claims, in which the support plate is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least two arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame.

9. The device of claim 8, in which the support plate is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least three arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame.

10. The device of claim 8 or 9, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

11. The device of claim 8 or 9, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is equal to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

12. The device of claim 8 or 9, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

13. The device of claim 8 or 9, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to or equal to the third, preferably to the quarter of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

14. The device of anyone of the claims 1 to 13, in which two adjacent rails are connected together by a means for modifying the vertical distance separating said rails.

15. The device of claim 14, in which two adjacent rails are linked together by two pairs of beams, for each pair of beams, an end of a first beam is hinged to a first rail, while an end of the second beam is hinged to another rail, the other ends of the said first and second beam being linked together by a hinged connection, said pair of beams being connected together by a means for modifying the distance separating the hinged connections of the beams.

16. Support plate for a device comprising (a) a vertical frame provided with rails for suppor ting support plates; (b) a transfer element moving vertically adjacent to the frame, said element acting as means for remo ving a support plate from the frame or for storing a support plate into the frame; (c) a system for controlling the movement of the transfer plate adjacent to the frame, for control ling the transfer of a support plate from the transfer element into the frame or from the frame onto the transfer element and for selecting the rails on which a support plate has to be placed; (d) a sensor for detecting a vertical dimension of the support plate provided with a product to be stored into the frame, said sensor sending a signal to wards the system so that said system controls the storage of said support plate into the frame, said support plate being provided with first means and second means suitable for contacting rails, said first means being located at a level which is distant from the level in which the second means extend, whereby the first means or the second means of the plate can be selected by the system for contacting the selected rails.

17. The support plate of claim 16, which is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least two arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame.

18. The support plate of claim 17, which is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at least three arms distant from each other, said arms being adapted for contacting rails of the frame.

19. The support plate of claim 17 or 18, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

20. The support plate of claim 17 or 18, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is equal to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

21. The support plate of claim 17 or 18, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

22. The support plate of claim 17 or 18, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to or equal to the third, preferably to the quarter of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. Device for the storage of support plates bea rng products nto a vertical frame said. device compr- sing : (a) a vertical frame provided with rails for suppor ting support plates, said support plates being provided with first means and second means sui table for contacting rails, said first means being located at a level which is distant from the level in which the second means extend; (b) a transfer element moving vertically adjacent to the frame, said element acting as means for remo ving a support plate from the frame or for storing a support plate into the rame; (c) a system for controllIng the movement of the transfer plate adjacent to the frame, for control ling the transfer of a support plate from the transfer element into the frame or from the frame onto the transfer element and for selecting the rails on which a support plate has to be placed; (d) a sensor for~detèctinaa vertical dimension of the support plate provided with a product to be stored into the frame, said sensor sending a signal to wards the system so that said system controls. the storage of said support plate in the frame by se lecting the first means or the second means of the plate which have to contact the selected rails.

2. The device of claim 1, in which the system selects the rails on which the support plate to be stored has to be placed and the means of the said support plate to contact the rails, so as to minimize the free space between the support plate to be stored and an actace-: support plate n the frame.

4. The device of claim 3, in which the system, when detecting that the maximum vertical dimension of the plate ana product to be stored measured bv the sensor is greater than the vertical distance between the rails on which the support plate has to be placed and the adjacent rails which are no more suitable for receiving a support plate, controls the transfer plate so as to avoid the storage of said support plate into the frame 5. The device of anyone of the preceeding claims, which comprises a weight sensor of the plate and product to be stored.

6. The device of 'claim 5, in which the system has a memory containing information for each plate-product stored in the frame, so as to know the location of the plate-product, a vertical dimension of the plate in the frame and the weight of the plate-product.

7. The device of anyone of the claims 3 tofl,Win which the system has a means controlling the--, transfer element so as to modify the location of support plates stored in the frame.

8. The device of anyone of the preceeding claims, n which the support plate is provided at its opposite lateral edges witn at least two arms distant from each ot:er, sala arms being adapted for contacting rails cf -,e frame.

9. The device of claim 8, in which the support pate is provided at its opposite lateral edges with at east three arms distant from each other, said arms being ted for contacting rails of the frame.

10. The device of claim 8 or 9, in which the dis .ance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to ..e aistance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

16. Support plate for a device comprising (a) a vertical rame provided with rails for suppor ng support plates; (b) a transfer element moving vertically aa,acen: to the frame, said element acting as means for remo ving a support plate from the frame or for storing a support plate into the frame; (c) a system for controlling the movement of the transfer plate adjacent to the frame, for control ling the transfer of a support plate -om the transfer element into the frame or from the frame onto the transfer element and for selecting the rails on which a support plate has to be placed; (d) a sensor for detecting a vertical dimension of the support plate provided with a product to be stored into the frame, said sensor sending a signal to wards the system so that said system controls the storage of said support plate into the frame, said support plate being provided with first means, second means and third means suitable for contacting rails, said first means being located at a level which is distant from the level in which the second means extend and from the level in which the third means extend, while the second means is located at a level which is distant from the level in which the third means extend, whereby the first means or the second means or the third means of the plate can be selected by the system for contacting the selected rails.

17. The support plate of claim 16, which is provi ted at its opposite lateral edges with at least three arms distant rcrt each other, said arms being adapted contacting rails cf the frame.

18. The support plate of claim 17, n wnich the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

19. The support plate of claim 17, n wnich the distance between wo adjacent arms of G plate is equal to the half of the distance separating two adjacent ras of the rze.

20. The support plate of claim 17, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to the half of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

21. The support plate of claim 17, in which the distance between two adjacent arms of a plate is lower to or equal to the third, preferably to the quarter of the distance separating two adjacent rails of the frame.

22. Device for-storage of support plates substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A support plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.