Modular mold, modular device, universal insert for straightening profiles and corresponding method for straightening profiles

Abstract

A mold, a device, an insert and method for repairing a profile which has been bent out of an original position. The profile is a profile of warehouse rack uprights for mounting of warehouse rack girders, where an inner space accessible from an open side is defined in the profile, where the mold is adapted to the form of the outer surface of the profile, and where the mold partly encloses the profile during use. The mold is modular and includes a plurality of mold parts, each mold part having a surface adapted to a respective part of the outer surface of the profile.

1 . A device for repairing a profile which has been bent out of an original position, the profile being in particular a profile of warehouse rack uprights for mounting of warehouse rack girders, wherein an inner space accessible from an open side is defined in the profile, the device comprising:
 a mold for repairing the profile which has been bent out of an original position, wherein the mold is adapted to the form of an outer surface of the profile, and wherein the mold partly encloses the profile during use,   an insert configured to shape at least part of an inner surface of the profile, wherein during use the insert is arranged in the inner space of the profile via the open side, and   a pressing unit for pressing the mold against the outer side of the profile and pressing the insert against the inner side of the profile with pressing force such that at least part of the profile is bent back into its original position.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a universal insert comprising an insert head, a first insert part and a second insert part, wherein the first and the second insert parts are each connected to the insert head by a hinge and are configured such as to form, in use, inner corners of the profile, and wherein the first and second insert parts are configured such as to swivel around the hinges away from each other, straighten an inner surface of the profile against the mold and form the inner corners, when the pressing unit presses the insert head in the pressing direction. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the profile comprises a front surface facing away from the open side of said profile and side surfaces, wherein the first and second insert parts are arranged to straighten an inner front surface of the profile against the mold up to inner corners of the mold, to define the inner corners of the profile between the front surface of the profile and the side surfaces of the profile. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second insert parts are dimensioned to form inner corners of profiles of different width, and wherein, when not in use, the first and second insert parts are configured to swivel towards each other such that the insert has a width smaller than the width of the open side of the profile. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a first and second insert parts being arranged as separate elements, each having an external form which is adapted to a corresponding part of the given profile and wherein the pressing unit is adapted to press the first and second template parts against the profile through mutual displacement of the inserts parts, wherein the insert comprises a pressing head with which the first and second template parts can be pressed against the profile, wherein the pressing head is selected, based on the profile to be repaired, from a plurality of pressing heads for repairing the plurality of different upright profiles. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The device according to the  claim 7 , wherein the selected pressing head has an external form which is adapted to a central part of the inner front surface of the given profile. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second template parts is provided with a chamfered positioning edge and the pressing head is wedge shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressing unit comprises a pressing mechanism for engaging with the insert, and a frame for engaging both with the mold and the pressing mechanism, wherein the frame comprises at least one of: a plurality of frame elements and at least one frame connecting mechanism for connecting the frame elements together, a groove wherein the mold comprises a protruding bar to be arranged in the groove of the frame. 
     
     
         12 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An insert for repairing a profile which has been bent out of an original position, the profile being in particular a profile of warehouse rack uprights for mounting of warehouse rack girders, wherein an inner space accessible from an open side is defined in the profile, wherein the insert is configured to shape an inner surface of the profile, wherein during use the insert is arranged in the inner space of the profile via the open side, and wherein the insert comprises an insert head and a first and a second insert parts. 
     
     
         17 . The insert according to  the previous claim , wherein the insert is universal and wherein each insert part is connected to the insert head by a hinge, to form, in use, inner corners of the profile, wherein the first and second insert parts are configured such as to swivel around the hinges away from each other, straighten an inner surface of the profile against the mold and form the inner corners, when the pressing unit presses the insert head in the pressing direction. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The insert according to  claim 16 , wherein the profile comprises a front surface facing away from the open side of said profile and side surfaces, wherein the first and second insert parts are arranged to straighten an inner front surface of the profile against the mold up to inner corners of the mold, to define the inner corners of the profile between the front surface of the profile and the side surfaces of the profile. 
     
     
         20 . The insert according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second insert parts are dimensioned to form inner corners of profiles of different width and wherein, the first and second insert parts are configured, when not in use, to swivel towards each other such that the insert has a width smaller than the width of the open side of the profile. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The insert according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second insert parts are arranged as separate elements, each having an external form which is adapted to a corresponding part of the given profile and wherein the pressing unit is adapted to press the first and second template parts against the profile through mutual displacement of the inserts parts, wherein the insert comprises a pressing head with which the first and second template parts can be pressed against the profile, wherein the pressing head is selected, based on the profile to be repaired, from a plurality of pressing heads for repairing the plurality of different upright profiles. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The insert according to  claim 22 , wherein the selected pressing head has an external form which is adapted to a central part of the inner front surface of the given profile. 
     
     
         25 . The insert according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the first and second template parts is provided with a chamfered positioning edge and the pressing head is wedge shaped. 
     
     
         26 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . Mold for repairing a profile which has been bent out of an original position, the profile being in particular a profile of warehouse rack uprights for mounting of warehouse rack girders, wherein an inner space accessible from an open side is defined in the profile, wherein the mold is adapted to the form of the outer surface of the profile, and wherein the mold partly encloses the profile during use, characterized in that said mold is modular and comprises a plurality of mold parts, each mold part having a surface adapted to a respective part of the outer surface of the profile, wherein the plurality of mold parts comprise:
 a front mold part having a surface adapted to a front outer surface of the profile to be repaired, the front outer surface of a profile facing away from the open side of said profile, and   two side mold parts, each having a surface adapted to a side outer surface of the profile to be repaired.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The mold according to  claim 32 , wherein the side mold parts are selected, based on the profile to be repaired, from a plurality of side mold parts for repairing the plurality of different upright profiles. 
     
     
         35 . The mold according to  claim 32 , wherein the front mold parts are selected, based on the profile to be repaired, from a plurality of front mold parts for repairing the plurality of different upright profiles. 
     
     
         36 . The mold according to  claim 32 , wherein the mold further comprises at least one of:
 at least two extension mold parts arranged in between a front mold part and a respective side mold part for adapting the width of the mold, and   at least one mold connecting mechanism for connecting all the mold parts together.   
     
     
         37 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The mold according to  claim 36 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a plurality of rods for passing through all the mold parts and a plurality of nuts engaging with the rods for connecting all the mold parts together.