Apparatus and method for assembling shelving units

Abstract

An apparatus is described for assembling a shelving unit consisting of a frame and a plurality of detachable shelves supported by the frame. The apparatus comprises a supply section for supplying a shelf, a testing section for inspecting the supplied shelf, a positioning section for gripping an approved shelf and subsequently mounting the shelf in the frame, and a control unit for controlling the apparatus. It is used in particular for carts for the transport of plants.

1 . Apparatus for assembling a shelving unit comprising a frame and a plurality of detachable shelves supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:
 a supply section for supplying a shelf;   a testing section for approving or rejecting the supplied shelf;   correcting elements arranged to grip the shelf with a force sufficient to distort partially distorted shelves into a desired pattern for approval by the testing section;   a positioning section for gripping an approved shelf and subsequently mounting the shelf in the frame; and   a control unit for controlling the apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the correcting elements are arranged to grip the shelf with a force of at least 1000 N. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is provided with support elements which fit on supports in the frame and wherein the correcting elements are arranged to grip the support elements. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the testing section further comprises a measuring element. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the testing section is able to determine a number of dimensions of the shelf, selected from the group consisting of: width; length; depth; degree of concavity; curvature; torsion; the presence of an edge; and the position and presence of support elements. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the control unit stores a number of standard dimensions of a shelf and the testing section compares the dimensions with the standard dimensions and rejects a supplied shelf that deviates from the standard data. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the testing section comprises a number of sensors and the sensors are mechanically adjustable. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a disposal section for removal of the rejected shelves. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is provided with support elements which rest on supports in the frame and wherein the positioning section comprises gripping elements which grip the support elements. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame consists of separate components that are each provided with supports, the apparatus further comprising a leveling system to level the heights of the supports of the separate components of the frame. 
   
   
       21 . Apparatus for assembling a shelving unit comprising a frame and a plurality of detachable shelves to be supported by the frame, the apparatus comprising:
 a supply section for supplying a shelf;   a testing section for approving or rejecting the supplied shelf;   a positioning section for gripping an approved shelf and subsequently mounting the shelf in the frame;   a lifting element for adjusting the height of the frame or the testing section such that a gripped shelf may be mounted at a height in the frame which is substantially in accordance with the height of the testing section; and   a control unit for controlling the apparatus.   
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to claim  11 , wherein the positioning section comprises the lifting element, which is arranged for lifting the frame such that a gripped shelf may be mounted at a height in the frame which is substantially in accordance with the height of the testing section. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to claim  11 , wherein the supply section supplies the shelves one by one from a stack at substantially the same height as the testing section. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the supply section comprises two belts mounted over rollers, between which belts the stack of shelves can be gripped, which belts may be actuated to rotate such that the gripped shelves may be supplied in a controlled manner. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to claim  11 , wherein the supply section comprises suction cups for placing a shelf in the testing section. 
   
   
       16 . In an apparatus for assembling a shelving unit comprising a frame and a plurality of detachable shelves, an automated method for assembling the shelving unit, comprising:
 supplying a shelf to a testing section;   testing a number of features of the shelf and comparing the features with predetermined requirements;   approving shelves that meet the requirements gripping the approved shelf; and   mounting the gripped shelf in the frame.   
   
   
       17 . Method according to  claim 16 , further comprising distorting the shelf to adjust it to the predetermined requirements. 
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 17 , wherein the distortion of the shelf occurs by gripping a part of the shelf with a correcting element with a force of more than 1000 N. 
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 17 , further comprising rejecting and removing shelves that do not meet the predetermined requirements. 
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 16 , in which the checking, approving, gripping and mounting of a shelf occurs substantially at a constant height. 
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 16 , further comprising locating the shelf to determine its position prior to mounting the shelf in the frame.