Shelf for order picking systems

A rail for an order picking shelf frame, said rail having a cross-sectional shape including a bottom flange having a bottom flange terminal edge and an opposite bottom flange edge, a rail upper portion extending upwardly from said opposite bottom flange edge and in a direction back toward said bottom flange terminal edge, said rail upper portion terminating in an upper edge spaced above said bottom flange adjacent said bottom flange terminal edge, and a plurality of uniformly spaced notches along said upper edge.

A shelf for an order picking system comprising:

• a generally rectangular frame defined by opposite side frame members and front and rear rails, said rails having an integral one-piece, homogeneous bent sheet metal construction of uniform thickness, track members extending across said frame between said rails and having a width substantially less than the width of said frame members between said side frame members, each of said rails having bottom support means for supporting said track members and each of said rails having a plurality of uniformly spaced apart teeth forming notches therebetween, said notches having notch bottoms, said teeth being spaced above said support means, said track members having a web portion extending between opposed downwardly extending leg portions, a spacing between said leg portions being equal in width to an integral multiple of the distance between said notch bottoms such that said leg portions may be received in said notches and supported by said support means and further, said track members having a length approximately equal to but slightly less than the perpendicular distance between opposed ones of said notch bottoms of said front and rear rails such that said leg portions may be guided through said notches onto said support means without movement of said track members occuring in a longitudinal direction with respect to said frame.

A shelf according to claim 10, 11, 16 or 17, wherein said track members are selectively adjustable across said frame in a direction between said frame members by lifting said track members generally upwardly in a perpendicular direction with respect to said frame, by transverse shifting of said frame members with respect to said frame, and by lowering said track members in a direction generally downwardly and perpendicular with respect to said frame.

A rail for an order picking shelf frame, said rail having a cross-sectional shape including an upper straight portion, an inclined portion merging with one end of said upper edge, a generally vertical downwardly extending portion merging with the opposite end of said straight portion, and a terminal flange portion integral with said vertical portion, extending outwardly from said cross-sectional shape and generally perpendicular to said downwardly extending portion, said terminal flange having a plurality of uniformally spaced apart teeth forming notches therebetween.

A shelf for an order picking system comprising:

• a generally rectangular frame defined by opposite side frame members and front and rear rails, said rails having an integral, one-piece, homogeneous bent sheet metal construction of uniform thickness, each of said rails having an upper flange extending inwardly of said frame, said flange having a plurality of uniformally spaced apart teeth forming notches therebetween, said notches having notch bottoms, track members extending across said frame between said rails and having a width substantially less than the width of said frame between said side frame members, said track members being of an inverted U-shaped having a web portion extending between opposed downwardly extending leg portions, the spacing between said leg portions being equal in width to an integral multiple of the middle distance between said notch bottoms such that said leg portions are received in said notches, and further said track members having a length approximately equal to but slightly less than the perpendicular distance between opposed ones of said notch bottoms of said front and rear rails such that said leg portions may be guided through said notches without movement of said track members occuring in a longitudinal direction with respect to said frame, said track member web portion engaging the top surface of and being supported by said teeth.

A shelf for an order picking system comprising:

• a generally rectangular frame defined by opposite side frame members and front and rear rails, each of said rails having upwardly facing bottom support surfaces inside of said frame, each of said rails having a plurality of uniformly spaced apart teeth forming notches therebetween above said support surfaces with said notches opening inwardly of said frame, each of said bottom support surfaces being on bottom flanges having bottom flange edges inside said frame, said notches and said teeth being defined on an upper rail flange spaced above said bottom flange, said teeth having teeth ends spaced in a direction outwardly of said frame from said bottom flange edges, track members extending across said frame between said rails and having a width substantially less than the width of said frame between said side frame members, said track members supported on said support surfaces and having edge portions received in certain of said notches, and said track members being selectively adjustable across said frame in a direction between said side frame members by lifting same upwardly of said frame for transverse shifting and then lowering to a new position.