High-rise shelf warehouse for empty containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-rise shelf warehouse for storing and removing containers, comprising a plurality of separate shelf compartments which are arranged horizontally next to one another and vertically one above the other, and storage channels which are arranged between groups of shelf compartments and run parallel to one another, the invention relates to a high-rise shelf warehouse having a plurality of storage channels, in which at least one shelf operator can be moved back and forth, and which is designed to move containers vertically and horizontally and into and out of shelf compartments, the high-rise shelf warehouse having at least one region in addition to separate shelf compartments, the areas are designed and suitable for receiving empty containers stacked on top of each other. The invention further relates to a method for storing and removing and re-storing containers in such a high-rise shelf warehouse.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a high-bay warehouse for storing and removing containers and to a method for storing and removing or re-storing containers in such a high-bay warehouse. Background Art

[0002] High bay warehouses or HBS (High Bay Storage) are well known from the prior art and are often used in particular in transshipment facilities in seaports or inner ports. High bay warehouses usually have a plurality of individual shelf compartments arranged horizontally side by side and vertically one above the other, and storage aisles arranged between the groups of shelf compartments and extending parallel to one another, in which at least one storage manipulator can be moved back and forth and is designed to move containers vertically and horizontally and into and out of the shelf compartments.

[0003] An example for such a high-bay warehouse is disclosed in WO 2015 / 1243482 A1. In this high-bay warehouse, standard containers are received by a rack operator at a transfer point in the high-bay warehouse and subsequently transported by the rack operator to a predetermined shelf compartment and stored in the latter. The container is grabbed from above in a suspended manner and stored laterally in the corresponding shelf compartment by means of a telescopic system, so that the longitudinal side of the container is oriented parallel to the storage aisle. Since the storage aisle only has to be designed slightly wider than the corresponding end side of the container, this achieves maximum space utilization in the rack warehouse.

[0004] Furthermore, the suspended transport of containers by means of a storage manipulator and the use of a telescopic system, by means of which the containers are transported from the region of the storage aisle into the desired storage compartment, allow the structure of the high-bay warehouse to be reduced overall. In general, the shelf bottom in the corresponding storage compartment can be completely omitted, provided that a support point is provided in each storage compartment for at least the corner region of the container. Such a support can preferably be arranged on a vertical support of the high-bay warehouse structure itself, so that a design of the high-bay warehouse structure that is as lightweight as possible can be achieved with optimal use of space.

[0005] When containers are transferred, especially in seaports or inner ports, it is necessary not only to store and remove containers equipped with goods, but also to transport empty containers. However, since empty containers do not have to be placed in independent or separate rack compartments in high-bay warehouses, special storage areas for empty containers are usually provided near high-bay warehouses. In this storage space, a stack of empty containers, usually 5 to 8 containers high, is formed, wherein the empty containers in this special storage space can be transported and removed by means of special transport vehicles suitable for this purpose, so-called "empty container handlers (ECH)".

[0006] In these areas, containers are stacked directly on top of each other, new empty containers are placed on the existing stacks if necessary, and the required empty containers are removed from the existing stacks in a circulation process, without any need to remove specific containers, as long as the desired size, properties and number of containers are ensured to be available.

[0007] As is known to date, the handling of empty containers is therefore hardly automated and requires more effort than would be desired both in terms of time and in terms of manpower. Summary of the invention

[0008] Purpose of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a high-bay warehouse and a method for storing, removing or re-storing containers in such a high-bay warehouse, which are suitable for overcoming the problems known from the prior art and achieving a higher degree of automation and safety as well as a higher exchange rate of empty containers per unit time. According to the invention, this object is achieved with a high-bay warehouse including the features of claim 1 and with a method including the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in particular in the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the present invention, a high-rise rack warehouse for storing and removing containers is provided, which has a plurality of storage spaces for containers arranged horizontally side by side and vertically above each other, storage channels arranged between groups or planes of the storage spaces and extending parallel to each other, and at least one rack operator can move back and forth in the storage channels respectively, wherein the rack operator is designed to move the container vertically and horizontally and move it into and out of the storage space. Usually, such a group of storage spaces is modularly arranged to extend over almost the entire length and height of the rack warehouse. The storage space is preferably arranged as an independently arranged shelf compartment and can therefore also be approached independently by at least one shelf operator in order to store or remove the container. Therefore, the container is received in the shelf compartment individually or in pairs at most in the case of half the standard length, wherein only enough space is required above the container for the transport tool of the shelf operator, in particular the telescopic system, which can be used to support the container in a suspended manner and move it perpendicular to the storage channel into the shelf compartment.

[0011] According to the invention, the high-bay warehouse has at least one area which is designed and suitable for receiving empty containers in a stacked manner. In this area for the empty containers located in the high-bay warehouse according to the invention, therefore, no separate shelf compartments are provided, but at least one area is provided which does not have separate shelf compartments which are otherwise provided for containers. In the at least one area for the empty containers, the empty containers can be arranged directly in a stacked manner on top of each other and can nevertheless still be reached by means of a storage manipulator. A high-bay warehouse which is designed only for receiving empty containers is particularly preferred, and therefore preferably separate shelf compartments can be completely omitted instead of storage space.

[0012] This ensures that, on the one hand, separate stacking space outside the high-bay warehouse can be dispensed with and, on the other hand, empty containers can be handled automatically, preferably fully automatically, by a storage manipulator in the high-bay warehouse.

[0013] In this respect it is preferred that at least one area for empty containers has at least one horizontal and / or vertical row of storage spaces or a partial length thereof. In this respect it is particularly preferred, for example, that the area for empty containers extends over a vertical row of independent storage compartments or is arranged in a plurality of vertical rows over a row of independent storage compartments.

[0014] However, it is particularly preferred that the area for empty containers extends to both sides of the storage aisle and that the associated storage and retrieval machines are designed only for depositing, removing and re-depositing empty containers. In this case, at least one storage and retrieval machine can be designed in the storage aisle adjacent to the area for empty containers in such a way that it can move only one or, if necessary, a plurality of empty containers together. This creates a high-bay warehouse in which the tools provided for the respective purpose are optimally utilized with the least possible use of material.

[0015] In this respect, it is particularly preferred that at least one area for empty containers is dimensioned in such a way that it can accommodate at least three empty containers, preferably more than 15 empty containers, stacked one on top of the other. In this type of high-bay warehouse, usually more than 10, preferably 11 independent shelf compartments for loaded containers are arranged one above the other in each vertical row. Since the space required for the independent handling of the individual containers must be reserved in such a vertical row with independent shelf compartments between the individual containers, more empty containers can be arranged in the area for empty containers in the corresponding vertical row of the storage space at the same height. Since empty containers can be stored directly one above the other in this area, the corresponding space in the high-bay warehouse can be optimally utilized, wherein at least one more container can be accommodated in the vertical row of empty containers than in the independent shelf compartments arranged in the vertical row for accommodating loaded containers.

[0016] Preferably, the storage space or the independent rack compartment is designed and suitable for receiving a 20'-standard container (1TEU, Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) or a 40'-standard container (2TEU), or for receiving two standard containers with half the length arranged one behind the other in their longitudinal direction. Therefore, in a storage space or an independent rack compartment designed for receiving a 40'-standard container, two 20'-standard containers adjacent to each other at their end sides can also be stored, or in a storage space or an independent rack compartment designed for receiving a 20'-standard container, two 10'-standard containers (0.5TEU) can also be stored. This realizes a high-bay warehouse that can also realize fully automated handling of containers with optimal space utilization.

[0017] In this context, it is also particularly preferred that at least two rows of storage spaces, preferably storage compartments, are arranged adjacent to each storage aisle on both sides ("double depth") and that the storage handling machine can transport containers into and out of the storage spaces, preferably storage compartments, by means of a telescopic system. In a suitable embodiment of the telescopic system at the storage handling machine, this special handling and storage of containers is also achieved by being able to operate two adjacently arranged storage spaces, preferably storage compartments, respectively, on each side, starting from each storage aisle, thus operating a total of four storage spaces, preferably storage compartments ("double depth").

[0018] The number of storage aisles in such a rack warehouse can thus be further reduced, and a high-rise rack warehouse can be realized which has two horizontal and vertical rows of storage space laterally, followed by a first storage aisle, followed by four horizontal and vertical rows of storage space, followed by a second storage aisle, etc. This achieves optimal space utilization in the high-rise rack warehouse and reduces the number of storage aisles to the minimum value required for the operation of the high-rise rack warehouse. The design of a high-rise rack warehouse as a "double-depth" rack warehouse is particularly suitable for handling empty containers or containers with only slight loading if necessary.

[0019] In this context, it is particularly preferred that the storage manipulator can move the container with its longitudinal side oriented parallel to the storage aisle into and out of the storage space, preferably the storage compartment. This allows, on the one hand, the arrangement of two rows of storage spaces, preferably storage compartments, on each side of the storage manipulator, which has already been described as preferred, to be particularly advantageously supported, and, on the other hand, this also allows for a minimum width of the storage aisle required for the storage manipulator.

[0020] Empty containers are stacked directly on top of each other, unlike loaded containers, but due to discontinuities in the corner areas of the containers, the so-called "corner castings", increasing stack height may lead to instability of the stack, which in the worst case may lead to tipping of the entire stack or parts thereof, possibly into the aisle of the stacking machine. In order to eliminate this problem, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, holding devices can be provided on the high-bay warehouse itself, which in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention are preferably mounted at regular intervals on both sides of the stack or the area for the empty containers. Very preferably, such holding devices are horizontally arranged struts, which are mounted on vertical supports of the high-bay warehouse.

[0021] In this context it is particularly preferred that the holding devices, in particular in the form of horizontal struts, are beveled at the top and bottom so that handling of empty containers which must be lifted above the holding devices during loading and unloading is only minimally restricted and there is no risk of damaging the empty containers.

[0022] Preferably, at least one storage aisle is arranged adjacent to the two rows of areas for empty containers on both sides, and the storage manipulator can transport empty containers into and out of the areas for empty containers by means of a telescopic system. This enables a high-bay warehouse which uses the same system for handling loaded containers in the area for empty containers with optimal space utilization. This supports not only the reliable operation of the high-bay warehouse, but also the degree of automation for handling both loaded and empty containers.

[0023] In this respect, it is particularly preferred that the high-rise rack warehouse is designed so that it can store more than 2500 standard containers (2500 TEU / ha), preferably more than 3000 TEU / ha, and very preferably more than 5000 TEU / ha per hectare (ha). The unit TEU / ha shown here represents a commercially common measure for port logistics and the capacity of high-rise rack warehouses in particular. The stacking area for empty containers outside the high-rise rack warehouse described above and the operation of specially provided transport means, such as cranes, ECH or the like, achieve a site utilization rate of no more than 2500 TEU / ha. The high-rise rack warehouse according to the present invention can increase the site for not only transporting loaded but also transporting empty containers, preferably fully automatically, beyond this known measure.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for storing and removing or re-storing containers in a high-bay warehouse according to the first aspect of the invention described above is provided. In the high-bay warehouse, loaded containers are received by means of a storage manipulator, transported to corresponding bays and stored therein, or in the case of empty containers, stored in an area in the high-bay warehouse that is designed and suitable for receiving empty containers stacked on top of each other.

[0025] The containers, both loaded and empty containers, are preferably transported fully automatically in the high-bay warehouse. The empty containers are preferably arranged in the high-bay warehouse in a stacked manner with optimal space utilization in an area provided for this purpose, preferably in vertical or horizontal rows of the high-bay warehouse or in parts of these rows, wherein in the area, the empty containers are removed from above from the corresponding stack or are placed on an already existing stack of empty containers.

[0026] In this context, it is particularly preferred that groups of empty containers, preferably groups of three empty containers stacked one above the other and connected to one another, are received by means of a storage manipulator, moved together in the high-bay warehouse and transported into or out of the area for empty containers.

[0027] It can also be preferred to provide a horizontal central crossbeam in the area for empty containers, by means of which the area can be divided into at least two stacking areas for empty containers. The stacking height for empty containers can thus be reduced by easy means without significantly affecting the receiving capacity of the area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to three figures, from which preferred embodiments of the invention can be derived. The figures are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention.

[0029] in:

[0030] Figure 1 shows a cut-away side view of a high-bay warehouse according to the invention, which is designed only for storing empty containers.

[0031] Figure 2 A view from above onto a high-bay warehouse according to the invention, which is designed only for storing empty containers, is shown.

[0032] Figure 3 The invention shows a sectional view of the end side of a high-bay warehouse, which is designed only for storing empty containers, and

[0033] Figure 4 The present invention shows a sectional view of the end face of a high-bay warehouse which is designed to store both loaded and empty containers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1A cut-away side view of a high-bay warehouse 1 is shown, which has a plurality of vertical rows 9 and horizontal rows 8 of storage space spaces 15 for empty containers 7. Behind the shown face of the vertical rows 9 and horizontal rows 8 for empty containers 7, a shelf operator 5 is arranged in a storage channel (not shown), which can move the empty containers 7 from left to right and from top to bottom or in the opposite direction in the high-bay warehouse 1 and store them in the corresponding storage space 15 and remove them therefrom. The empty containers 7 can be arranged in the vertical rows 9 shown here directly and without spacing relative to each other in a stacked manner. The shelf operator 5 can manipulate any arbitrary position in the rows 6a, 6b for empty containers 7, wherein the empty containers 7 are usually stored from the bottom and removed from the top. If each or all vertical rows 9 (not shown) should have a horizontally extending middle bottom, multiple stacks of empty containers can also be formed in each row 9 and removed independently by the shelf operator 5.

[0035] Figure 2 Shown from above to Figure 1 A top view onto a high-bay warehouse 1 according to the invention. The high-bay warehouse 1 is surrounded by transport paths 11a, 11b, via which empty containers 7 can be transported to and from the high-bay warehouse 1. The empty containers 7 are delivered from the transport paths 11a, 11b into the high-bay warehouse 1 by suitable transport equipment 12, which is designed and set up to exchange the empty containers 7 between the transport paths 11a, 11b and the high-bay warehouse 1, and to remove the empty containers 7 from the transport means 13 when depositing them and to transport them to the area by a (not shown) storage machine in the storage aisle 4. There, the empty containers 7 are received by a storage machine that is movably arranged in the storage aisle 4 and is not shown, and are then transported by the storage machine to a suitable storage space 15 in the high-bay warehouse 1.

[0036] Figure 3A cut-away end view of a high-bay warehouse 1 according to the invention is shown, in which it can be seen that each storage aisle 4 and the storage handling machine 5 arranged therein are respectively assigned two storage spaces 15 of vertical rows 9 arranged adjacent to each side. This arrangement of the empty containers 7 in the high-bay warehouse 1, which is called "double deep stacking", can be achieved in that each storage handling machine 5 is assigned a telescopic system 14, by means of which the corresponding empty container 7 can be transported in a suspended manner to any desired position in the vertical row 9 and into each storage space 15. In the case shown, this (viewed from left to right) results in an arrangement of two lateral vertical rows 9, followed by a storage aisle 4 with a storage handling machine 5, followed by four vertical rows 9 of storage spaces 15, followed again by a storage aisle 4 with a corresponding storage handling machine 5 on the opposite side, and finally followed again by rows 9 of storage spaces 15 arranged one above the other. In the lower plane of the high-bay warehouse 1, empty containers 7 taken from a transport path (not shown) by a transport means (not shown) are transported into the area of ​​the high-bay warehouse 1 by means of a transport device 12, so that they can then be received by the correspondingly assigned storage manipulator 5. In the case of removing an empty container 7 from the high-bay warehouse 1, the opposite is done by removing the empty container 7 from the corresponding storage space 15 and placing the corresponding empty container 7 on the transport device 12, so that it can then be transported out of the high-bay warehouse 1 by the transport device 12.

[0037] Figure 4The end section of a high-bay warehouse 1 according to the invention is shown, which has a sequence of independent shelf compartments 3 and storage aisles 4 for vertical rows 9 of loaded containers 2, in which at least one storage manipulator 5 is arranged in each case. Each independent shelf compartment 3 has sufficient space 13 for engagement by a telescopic system 14 of each storage manipulator 5, and the corresponding upper regions 6a, 6b of each vertical row 9 are designed in such a way that at least three storage space spaces 15 arranged one above the other are provided for empty containers 7. These empty containers 7 can be arranged directly in the regions 6a, 6b in a stacked manner and can be gripped from the bottom to the top in a built-up manner by the telescopic system 14 of the storage manipulator 5 and removed from the regions 6a, 6b again from the top to the bottom. In the present embodiment, the transport of loaded containers 2 and empty containers 7 into the high-bay warehouse 1 is carried out on a transport plane 16 arranged below the plane of the lowest bay compartment 3 by means of a transport device 12 or a transport path 11 provided there, which is used to move to a position below the storage manipulator 5 by means of a suitable transport means, such as, for example, a truck (not shown). The loaded container 2 or the empty container 7 is then removed from the truck or the transport device 12 (not shown) below the travel plane 17 for the storage manipulator 5 and lifted vertically upwards to the vicinity of the corresponding bay compartment 3 or to the vicinity of the areas 6a, 6b for the empty containers 7. The loaded container 2 is then introduced laterally into the corresponding bay compartment 3 by means of a telescopic system 14, or the empty container 7 is placed in the areas 6a, 6b, if necessary, on top of an empty container 7 already present there.

[0038] List of reference numerals:

[0039] 1 High-Rack Warehouse

[0040] 2 Containers

[0041] 3 Shelf Compartments

[0042] 4 Storage channels

[0043] 5 Shelf manipulator

[0044] 6a Area for empty containers

[0045] 6b Area for empty containers

[0046] 7 Empty Containers

[0047] 8 horizontal rows

[0048] 9 Vertical

[0049] 10 Vertical supports

[0050] 11a Transport route

[0051] 11b Transport Path

[0052] 12 Transportation Equipment

[0053] 13 Space for telescopic system

[0054] 14 Telescopic system

[0055] 15 Storage space

[0056] 16 Transport plane

[0057] 17 is used for the travel plane of the rack manipulator.

Claims

1. A high-bay warehouse (1) for storing and removing containers (2), the high-bay warehouse having: a plurality of storage spaces (15) for containers (2) arranged horizontally side by side and vertically one above the other, and storage aisles (4) arranged between groups of storage spaces (15) and extending parallel to each other, at least one storage manipulator (5) being able to move back and forth in each of the storage aisles, and the storage manipulator being designed to move the containers (2) vertically and horizontally and into and out of the storage spaces (15), wherein: The high-bay warehouse (1) has at least one area (6) which is designed and suitable for receiving empty containers (7) in a stacked manner on top of each other.

2. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage location space (15) at least partially includes independent shelf compartments (3).

3. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that: At least one area (6) for empty containers (7) has the dimensions of at least one transverse row (8) and / or vertical row (9) of storage space (15) or an individual shelf compartment (3) or a partial length thereof.

4. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The at least one area (6) for empty containers (7) is dimensioned in such a way that it can accommodate at least three empty containers (7), preferably more than 16 empty containers (7), stacked one on top of the other.

5. A high bay warehouse (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The high-bay warehouse is designed only to receive empty containers (7).

6. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The high-bay warehouse has more than 10, preferably 11, individual shelf compartments (3) arranged vertically one above the other in vertical rows (9) with individual shelf compartments (3).

7. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The storage space (15) of the vertical row (9) is capable of accommodating more than 14, preferably 16, empty containers (7).

8. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The storage space (15), preferably the independent shelf compartment (3), is designed and suitable for receiving a 20-foot standard container (1TEU) or a 40-foot standard container (2TEU), or for receiving two standard containers with half the length (10-foot or 20-foot standard container) arranged one after the other in their longitudinal direction.

9. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The storage channel (4) is arranged on both sides adjacent to at least two rows (9a, 9b) of storage space (15), preferably shelf compartments (3), and the shelf manipulator (5) can transport the containers (2, 7) into and out of the storage space (15), preferably the shelf compartments (3) by means of a telescopic system.

10. The high-bay warehouse (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The storage manipulator (5) is capable of moving the containers (2, 7) with their longitudinal sides oriented parallel to the storage aisle (4) into and out of the storage space (15), preferably the storage compartment (3).

11. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The storage warehouse operating machine (5) is capable of transporting the container (2, 7) in a suspended manner and supported from above.

12. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The storage compartments (3) each have a support at least for the lower corners of the container (2), preferably a support connected to a vertical support (10) of the high-bay warehouse (1).

13. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: At least one storage channel (4) is arranged on both sides adjacent to two rows of areas (6a, 6b) for empty containers (7), and the storage manipulator (5) can transport the empty containers (7) into and out of the area (8) for empty containers (7) by means of a telescopic system.

14. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The high-bay warehouse (1) is designed and suitable for transshipping more than 2500 TEU / ha, preferably more than 3000 TEU / ha, very preferably more than 5000 TEU / ha.

15. The high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: The high-bay warehouse is part of a transshipment facility, in particular a seaport or an intermodal terminal.

16. Method for storing and removing or re-storing containers (2) in a high-bay warehouse (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The container (2) is received by means of the storage manipulator (5), transported to a corresponding storage location space (15), preferably a storage compartment (3) and stored therein, or, in the case of an empty container (7), stored in an area (6) designed and suitable for receiving empty containers (7) in a stacked manner.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The container (2) is stored with its longitudinal sides parallel to the storage channel (4) not only in the storage space (15), preferably in the storage compartment (3), and is moved therefrom, but also in the area (6) for empty containers (7), and is moved therefrom.

18. The method according to any one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that The transport of the containers (2, 7) within the high-bay warehouse (1) is carried out fully automatically.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that Groups of empty containers (7), preferably three groups of empty containers (7) stacked one above the other and connected to one another, are received by means of a storage manipulator (5), moved together in the high-bay warehouse (1), and transported into or out of the area (6) for the empty containers (7).

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