Supports: racks – Shelf type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-06-05
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Shelf type
C211S094020, C211S162000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241106
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving shelf assembly, having moving shelf main bodies capable of moving by means of wheels attached to the lower portion whose motion is guided by rails built on the upper portion. Furthermore, the present application is based on the contents of Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-182875, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of an example of a conventional moving shelf assembly. Reference
1
is the moving shelf main body,
2
a
and
2
b
are rails, and
3
are stopper shelves.
Moving shelf main body
1
is assembled by means of four poles
4
extending vertically providing multiple support for a plurality of shelving
5
arranged therebetween, and is made capable of moving by wheels
6
attached to the lower edges of poles
4
. Four plugs
7
are formed by vertically extending the upper portions of poles
4
from the upper portion of moving shelf main body
1
. A pair of rails
2
a
and
2
b
are horizontally installed on the lower surface of the ceiling of the building or in the neighborhood of the ceiling, and guiding grooves
8
are open on the lower surfaces of rails
2
a
and
2
b
. The above-mentioned plugs
7
are respectively inserted in guiding grooves
8
, and as a result moving shelf main body
1
is made capable of moving horizontally, travelling on floor
9
along the above-mentioned rails
2
a
and
2
b
. Stopper shelves
3
, which prevent moving shelf main body
1
from breaking out of the established movement range
10
, are disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of rails
2
a
and
2
b.
In addition, as indicated in
FIG. 8
, spacers
11
are attached to the upper ends of plugs
7
, and by means of the contact between the spacers
11
and the inner surface of guiding grooves
8
, moving shelf main body
1
is stabilized and moves along guiding grooves
8
without shaking.
Generally, in this type of moving shelf, a plurality of moving shelf main bodies
1
are disposed within scope of movement
10
as shown in FIG.
7
. Consequently, when taking items in and out, the troublesome operation of moving a plurality of moving shelf main bodies
1
within the scope of movement
10
in order to assure workspace around the periphery of the targeted moving shelf main body
1
is necessary. In particular, in cases where a conveyor wagon is employed for taking items in out, it is preferable for the conveyor wagon to be brought into scope of movement
10
from path
12
close to moving shelf main body
1
in order to improve the working properties. However, to ensure space around the periphery of the targeted moving shelf main body
1
for the conveyor wagon to enter, the necessity arises for large movements of the plurality of moving shelf main bodies
1
, which creates further troublesome operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The moving shelf assembly of the present invention comprises moving shelf main bodies capable of moving by means of wheels attached to the lower portion and whose motion is guided by rails built on the top portion, stopper parts capable of moving up and down attached to the top of the above-mentioned moving shelf main bodies, and height adjusting parts for adjusting the height at which the stopper parts are attached in relation to the moving shelf main bodies, and wherein plugs capable of being removably inserted into guiding grooves which are open on the lower surface of the above-mentioned rails protrude upwards from the above-mentioned stopper parts, and by means of adjusting the height at which the above-mentioned stopper parts are attached in relation to the above-mentioned moving shelf main bodies using the above-mentioned height adjusting part, the plugs are inserted into or pulled out of the above-mentioned guiding grooves when the plugs are pulled out of the above-mentioned guiding grooves, the moving shelf main body can be separated from the rails and can move freely on the wheels.
Here, it is preferable that the height adjusting part is attached in a freely rotating manner to the stopper part, and a handle is made which is operated by manual rotation from the outside of the moving shelf main body, and a plurality of engaging parts, engaged to and capable of being disengaged from the stopping parts formed on the moving shelf main body, are formed at varying intervals from the center of rotation of the handle. In this case, the height of the stopper part is adjusted by engaging and disengaging the engaging part from the stopper part.
In addition, it is more preferable that the above-mentioned moving shelf bodies are comprised of a plurality of poles, each extending vertically and separated from each other, and one or more shelves supported between the above-mentioned poles, and a shelf positioned on the upper portion of the above-mentioned moving shelf main body is used as the above-mentioned stopping part.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3570683 (1971-03-01), Dickgeisser
patent: 3658186 (1972-04-01), Lodige
patent: 3762335 (1973-10-01), Baker, Jr. et al.
patent: 3801176 (1974-04-01), Higbee
patent: 4991725 (1991-02-01), Welsch et al.
patent: 5072838 (1991-12-01), Price, Jr. et al.
patent: 5226549 (1993-07-01), Price, Jr. et al.
patent: 5285910 (1994-02-01), Chen
patent: 5624166 (1997-04-01), Theken et al.
Fujita Tsunehiko
Takenaka Tadaaki
Erecta International Corporation
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
Stodola Daniel P.
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