US3741419A

US3741419A - Shelf loader for long materials

Info

Publication number: US3741419A
Application number: US00065227A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Bergerhoff; T Becke
Original assignee: Demag AG
Current assignee: Mannesmann Demag AG
Priority date: 1969-10-10
Filing date: 1970-08-19
Publication date: 1973-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-26
Also published as: DE1951143B2; DE1951143A1; DE1951143C3; CH502931A

Abstract

A shelf loader for long materials comprises an elongated frame which is movable on wheels between shelf compartments and which carries a lift frame which is movable upwardly and downwardly on a side thereof. The lift frame provides a stand for one or more operators and it includes a telescoping member having a load carrier thereon which may be shifted laterally in a direction toward the shelf compartments for the purpose of lifting long elements from the shelves or inserting them on the shelves. In one form the load carrier is attached to the lifting frame by hinged braces which permits it to be lifted upwardly and shifted laterally, and in another arrangement it is carried on a car which may be moved transversely along the lifting frame from one shelf side to an opposite shelf side. The lifting frame is adapted to carry a removable hoist. The load bearing platform is advantageously carried on a support truss which is vertically movable in order to shift the load off the carrier to permit the shifting movement of the carrier and the realignment of the load therewith at a laterally spaced location. The load carrier itself includes transversely shiftable portions so that the load may be shifted by a combination of movements of the shiftable load carrier portions and the lifting truss.

Description

United States Patent [191 Bergerhoff et a1.

[ June 26, 1973 SHELF LOADER FOR LONG MATERIALS [75] Inventors: Klaus-Peter Bergerhoff, Waldheim Kr. Aachen; Theobald Becke, Hagen, both of Germany [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 10,1969 Germany P 19 51 14314 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/l959 Alimanestiano 2l4/l6.l CB 3,063,579 11/1962 Alimanestiano 2 l4/l6.l CB 3,561,620 12/1969 Willis 2l4/l6.4 A

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 252,119 2/1967 Austria 214/164 A 1,217,874

5/1966 Germany 214/l6.4 A

Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-R. B. Johnson Attorney-McGlew and Toren [5 7] ABSTRACT A shelf loader for long materials comprises an elongated frame which is movable on wheels between shelf compartments and which carries a lift frame which is movable upwardly and downwardly on a side thereof. The lift frame provides a stand for one or more operators and it includes a telescoping member having a load carrier thereon which may be shifted laterally in a direction toward the shelf compartments for the purpose of lifting long elements from the shelves or inserting them on the shelves. In one form the load carrier is attached to the lifting frame by hinged braces whichpermits it to be lifted upwardly and shifted laterally, and

in another arrangement it is carried on a car which may be moved transversely along the lifting frame from one shelf side to an opposite shelf side. The lifting frame is adapted to carry a removable hoist. The load bearing platform is advantageously carried on a support truss which is vertically movable in order to shift the load off the carrier to permit the shifting movement of the carrier and the realignment of the load therewith at a laterally spaced location. The load carrier itself includes transversely shiftable portions so that the load may be shifted by a combination of movements of the shiftable load carrier portions andthe lifting truss.

1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JUN 2 6 I975 SHEET'IBF3 Fig. 1

Inventors KiAUS-PETER fitkmmp WEB/1L0 EEC/(E SHELF LOADER FOR LONG MATERIALS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of a shelf loader and in particular, to a new and useful shelf loader particularly for long materials including a long lifting frame disposed between two guide columns and load carriers and which is movable from side to side into shelf compartments on either side of the shelf loader and which includes one or more telescopic parts for facilitating transfer of the load and which also defines a stand for one or more operators.

The known shelf loaders are suited for loading and unloading long materials into and out of shelf compartments from one side. Shelf loaders for loading from the front are also known and they may be equipped with strands for operators. The known shelf loaders for long materials are suited only for complete loading and unloading of the shelf compartments. Consigning, mean- .ing the assembly of orders from various shelves is not possible with these machines.

In accordance with the present invention a shelf loader for long materials-is provided which is suited both for the loading and unloading of the shelf compartments and the assemblying or orders. This problem is solved by an arrangement of a centrally located telescoping part on the load carrier which may be shifted around on the lifting frame in the direction toward the shelf compartments. The lifting frame is made wider than the load carrier in order to form a stand. The shelf loader travels in aisles between the shelf compartments. In order to assemble orders the central telescoping part is shifted to the shelf side in which the desired long material is stored. Then there is a free side on the lifting frame which forms a stand for the operators who reach over the material bins resting on the load carriers at the shelf side. In order to take material out of the respective shelf side the central telescoping part is moved to the other shelf side. The operators stand at the ends of the stand while the central telescoping part is shifted.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the load carriers may be attached to the lifting frame by hinged braces which permit the raising and lowering of the load carriers and the lateral shifting thereof or they may be carried on cars or sliding boxes which are movable transversely along the lifting frame. The use of the hinged braces entails the disadvantage that the load must be lifted in order to pivot the hinge braces. Suited for this purpose, according to the invention, is an overhead hoist which is disposed on the lifting frame and is movable above the load carrier in the direction toward the shelf compartments. It may be even used for consigning heavy parts. It is disposed between the guide columns and readily movable in order not to interfere when the material bins are moved into the shelf compartments.

In a further characteristic of the invention support trusses are arranged below the carriers for the loads and they are equipped with load indicators. The height adjustment of the support trusses serve for the lifting of the long materials of material bins off the load carriers so that the latter can be moved underneath the long material into the position in which loading of the material into the desired compartments is possible. Raising the support trusses may be accomplished either mechanically or hydraulically. The load carrier itself may include an intermediate part which may be disposed in a manner such that it is between the telescoping part and the load carrier and it can move as far as possible into the shelf compartments beyond the center row telescopic part in order to position the materials for loading and unloading as desired.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shelf loader constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the shelf loader indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of the lifting frame of the shelf loader;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 5a to 5b, 5c, 5d, and 5e are schematic side elevational views indicating the manner in which the load carrier and support trusses cooperate during a shifting operation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIGS. 1 and 2 and 3 comprises a shelf loader generally designated'50 which comprises a guide frame having guide columns 3, 3' and longitudinal beams 4, 4' carrying wheels 5, 5' which permit the device to be moved along a trackway 2 between rows of shelves generally indicated and designated I and 1', respectively.

In accordance with the invention a lifting platform or frame 6 is supported on

lifting cables

52, 52 and may be moved upwardly and downwardly in respect to the loader frame 50 under a control of a motor 19.

The lifting frame 6 supports a stand 14 which is equipped at its end faces with a laterally lengthadjustable protective railing 15. As shown in particular in FIG. 3, the platform 14 provides a mounting for a load supporting assembly 54 which includes a central telescoping part 7 which is supported on braces 11, 11' which are parallelly arranged and pivotally supported. The

braces

11, 11 support the central telescopic part 7 of the load bearing device or load support 54 which also includes an intermediate part 8 and an outer or load carrier carrying part 9 which may be shifted laterally to the extended position indicated in FIG. 3. In this embodiment an overhead hoist 17 which is carried on an upright member or support 18 and the support 18 is removably carried on the lifting frame 6. In FIG. 3, the load carrying device 54 is shown in an extended position in which material bin 13 is oriented in a position at which it may be deposited within the shelves 1. There is ample space on the platform 14 for an operator between the load carrier mechanism 54 and the edge of the stand 14 and this is made safe for the operator by a protective railing l5 and a bar 16 which is atreadily removable.

In the embodiment'indicatedin FIG. 4, a lifting frame 6' includes a load supporting mechanism 54"which is arranged directly adjacent a lifting truss 10' which includes a fixed lower part loa having eittensible support- 1 ing arms 10b on each endwhichQfor example, rnaylbe fluid piston and cylinder sets for raisingand lowering a supporting platform portiorr 10'c of the trussin orderj n to facilitate the lifting of the load ontoand offuof the loading device 54. In this embodiment theloading de- 1 vice 54 also includes the platform portion7",8 ands similar to that of FIG. 13 embodiment. lnwthis construction, the central telescoping part 7' is supported on a1 .15 wardly and forwardly on the platform 14 between the sliding box member 12 which may be shifted

backshelf compartments

1a and 1a on each side thereof.

In the schematicshowing of FIGS. 5a to Se, the sequence of operations which are necessaryto transfer a material bin 13 from one side of the shelf lato another aide 1a is shown. The material bin 13 for storinglo'ng materials is at rest on theleft sideof the shelfloadei' on the platform portion 9' and; it arrives atitsposition as indicated in FIG. 5a as a result of the materialbin 13 being lifted out of the shelf compartments lanThe mafterialbin 1a is thenliftedoff the load carrier platform I by the supporting truss 10" asindicated in FIG. 5b; In aposition of Sc, the load carrier-platform 9 is moved to the leftand in Sb the material bin 13is lowereddown "on the load carrying platform 9; once lagainif 'lhe sup portingtrusslo' is lowered furthersothatthematerial {bin 13 can be moved to therightaccordingtothe show I 3 lrA shelf loader forloading.rhaterialsonone or more 'i I shelf compartments arranged. in rows; comprising a. loader frame adaptedlto bemo ed between t he rows of th e shelf compartments, a lift platform, means support 4 mg said 'lift platform onsaid loaderframe for and l down erticalmovernent thereon, a supportingplate carried on said lift platform,a boxmember movable" along said'platforrn from side to side thereof and earrylfing said supporting plate, at least oneload plate on saidsupporting plate and being shiftablelater ally in respect; to said supporting plate in directionsto ward and awaytrom the shelf compartments on each side or said lift platform, and lift truss means fon said I box member and connected to said supportinglplate and including amembenrno able belowsaidsupport ing plate to. engage a load onf'said plate and liftritfup f I wardly therefrom.

er carrier H

Claims

1. A shelf loader for loading materials on one or more shelf compartments arranged in rows, comprising a loader frame adapted to be moved between the rows of the shelf compartments, a lift platform, means supporting said lift platform on said loader frame for up and down vertical movement thereon, a supporting plate carried on said lift platform, a box member movable along said platform from side to side thereof and carrying said supporting plate, at least one loader carrier plate on said supporting plate and being shiftable laterally in respect to said supporting plate in directions toward and away from the shelf compartments on each side of said lift platform, and lift truss means on said box member and connected to said supporting plate and including a member movable below said supporting plate to engage a load on said plate and lift it upwardly therefrom.