GB2124188A

GB2124188A - Storage device for elongate objects

Info

Publication number: GB2124188A
Application number: GB08316547A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Samuel Eriksson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-18
Filing date: 1983-06-17
Publication date: 1984-02-15
Also published as: DE3321973A1; GB2124188B; SE8203789L; SE443319B; GB8316547D0

Abstract

A device for storage of elongate objects (5) of varying lengths and diameters, such as shank cutters and similar tools, comprises a series of inclined beds (7), the angle of inclination of the beds intended for long objects (5) relative to the horizontal plane being less than the angle of inclination of the beds intended for short objects (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device comprising beds positioned in compartments for storage of elongate objects Background of the Invention The subject invention concerns a device comprising beds positioned in compartments for storage of elongate objects of different sizes and diameters, such as shank cutters.

Tool such as shank cutters, drills or recessing tools, generally are stored by the user adjacent the milling machine in a pull-out drawer in a tool cupboard. Alternatively, the tools are stored in stands comprising vertical bores to accommodate drills and similar tools of different diameters above a work-bench or on a shelf in a tool cupboard.

Each one of these common storage methods suffers from serious drawbacks.

When the shank cutters are stored loosely in a pull-out drawer the cutting edges of the individual tools come into contact with one another each time the drawer is pulled out or pushed in, which may damage the edges. In addition, it is often difficult to find a particular one of the several tools stored in the drawer. It is therefore common practice among workmen to fetch a fresh cutting tool from the tool supply rather than spending time trying to find a particular tool which has been used previously but which is still fully useable. This practice obviously results in unnecessarily high milling costs in the workshop, since tools of the kind referred to are comparatively expensive, the price varying between SEK 50 and 200 depending on size.

Stands fitted with bores of different diameters to store tools in an upright, vertical position cannot, on account of the height of the tools, be stored in standard pull-out drawers. Stands of this kind usually are provided with a series of apertures or bores of different diameters to accommodate tools of different sizes. However, when several tools of equal dimension are in use, all except one have to be kept next to the stand or elsewhere in the vicinity of the stand to be close at hand. Several identical stands, positioned side by side, may of course be used but they will waste valuable space, particularly if they are only needed occasionally.

A further drawback associated with stands of the kind referred to is that tools which are provided with cutting edges at both ends, each with its particular design, will not be stored in a manner allowing the user to identify any particular tool quickly and readily.

Since one end of the tool is hidden inside the stand bore valuable time has to be spent in finding a particular tool or in regrinding another.

Summary of the Invention The subject invention is intended to make it possible to store milling and cutting tools in ordinary shallow pull-out drawers or on workbenches in a well planned and easily recognizable manner and without risk of damage to the tools owing to their contact with one another.

The invention is characterised in that the beds supporting the tools are arranged at an angle and that the angle of inclination of the tool-supporting beds intended for long objects relative to the horizontal plane is less than the angle of inclination of the tool-supporting beds intended for short objects.

Brief Description of the Drawings One embodiment of the device in accordance with the subject invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention when positioned inside a pull-out drawer in a cupboard adjacent a milling machine, Figure 2 is a view from above of the device in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a vertical section along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2, and Figure 4 is a similar sectional view along line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment A tool cupboard 1 is positioned adjacent a milling machine 2 and provided with pull-out drawers 3. Each drawer 3 is provided with an inset 4 arranged to accommodate shank cutters 5. The inset 4 is provided with twelve compartments 6 with tool-support beds 7 therein. In any one compartment 6 all toolsupport beds are of the same length but the length L (Fig. 4) of the beds 7 varies between the compartments allowing cutters of a predetermined standard length to be stored in their matching compartment.

The inset 4 is preferably manufactured in a vacuum-forming process from a strong and durable plastics material, the thickness being appr. 1 mm, making the inset light as well as cheap to manufacture. In cross-section the beds 7 are shaped as semi-circular elongated recesses formed in the compartments 6, the semi-circular diameter sizes of these recesses corresponding to the common standard sizes of shank cutters. The semi-circular diameter size of the beds is identical for ail beds within each compartment.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the beds 7 are positioned at an angle, inclining upwards from a bottom plane 8 which is common to all compartments 6. Since each shank cutter 5 thus abuts directly against the base surface 8 via the lower end of its respective bed 7 it is possible to accommodate a very large number of shank cutters, in the embodiment shown 144 cutters, inside the inset 4 without deforming the latter. The smallest compartment 6" is supported on the bottom plane 8 in two points 9 only (Fig. 3) but the rest of the compartment projects somewhat above this plane in order to allow small and short shank cutters to be picked out of the compartment with ease. The inclination of the beds 7 is adjusted to ensure that the upper ends of the shank cutters 5 are on the same level.The compartment 6" (Fig. 2) intended for shorter cutters therefore may be considerably shorter than the compartments conceived for cutters that are slightly longer, which arrangement makes it possible to provide a large number of compartments 6 in the inset. In addition, the cutters 5 in adjacent compartments overlap.

All the same, all tools are displayed so as to be easily identifiable when supported in the inset.

None of the beds 7 have an angle of inclination exceeding appr. 40 to the bottom plane 8. Consequently, there is no risk of the shank cutting tools sliding, tilting or falling out of their beds when the drawer 3 in the tool cupboard 1 is pulled out or pushed in during normal use of the drawer. If desired, the inset 4 may be lifted out of the drawer 3 and be stored on any flat horizontal or slightly sloping surface. The device in accordance with the invention thus is not restricted to use in tool cupboards fitted with pull-out drawers.

Thanks to the device of the subject invention drilling and cutting tools may be stored in a manner making each tool easily identifiable and at a low cost without risk that the cutting edges of the tools will come into contact with and thus damage one another.

The device in accordance with the invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the afore-going but several modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. The space of the inset obviously may be used differently so that a larger or smaller number of tools of a certain size may be stored in the compartments. The size of the inset naturally may be adjusted to fit the size of drawers af different sizes or intended for other specialized purposes. The inset may be manufactured with or without stiffened edge walls. Other elongate objects than shank cutters or similar cutters may be stored in the compartments.

Claims

1. A device comprising beds positioned in compartments for storage of elongate objects of varying lengths and diameters, such as shank cutters and similar tools, characterised in that the beds supporting the objects are arranged at an angle and that the angle of inclination of the beds intended for long objects relative to the horizontal plane is less than the angle of inclination af the beds intended for short objects.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the side walls of the beds diverge upwardly in a plane at right angles to the bottom faces of said beds.

3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower ends of the beds are positioned level with a common horizontal plane.

4. A device comprising beds positioned in compartments for storage of elongate objects substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.