Selective access device for a picking / storage station in a warehouse and a picking / storage station provided with such a selective access device

Abstract

A selective access device (22) for a picking / storage station (11) in an automated warehouse (1), the selective access device (22) defining an area (23) accessible after forming a passage (26) having a front edge (29), a rear edge (30) and two side edges (27, 28) opposite to each other; the device is provided with a first cover (25) and a second cover (24), the first cover (25) being engaged with the area (23) and comprising a roller shutter (31), the roller shutter (31) Operable to open to define a front edge (29) of the channel, a second cover (24) engages with the area (23) above the first cover (25), is defined by a plurality of doors (40; 40a) arranged side by side along a first linear axis (A) and operable to open to define side edges (27, 28) of the channel; the doors (40; 40a; 40b) can slide to open and close along respective second axes (B) orthogonal to the first axis (A) so as to define a rear edge (30) of the channel when the second cover (24) is open.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims the benefit of Italian Patent Application No. 102020000000985, filed on January 20, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a selective access device for a picking / putting-away station in an automated warehouse. Background Art

[0004] Typically, automated warehouses are equipped with a storage area with multiple locations for accommodating individual containers or pallets, which typically have a rectangular shape in plan view. Automated warehouses are also typically equipped with compartments for accommodating the stored objects. These warehouses also have pick / put-away stations or compartments that users can access to store and / or retrieve items. Using a motor-driven automated mechanism, pallets are transferred from their locations within the housing of the pick / put-away station and positioned so that the sidewall of the pallet, corresponding to one side of its rectangular shape, is positioned in front of the user.

[0005] In some warehouses, the picking / storage area is further provided with a selective access device which, for safety reasons, is arranged above the housing to prevent access and is configured to open only where the compartment below must be accessed by a user.

[0006] In some known solutions, such as EP1404595B1 and EP2203365B1, the selective access device is a door device. In other solutions, such as patent application ITTO2014A000385 in the name of the present applicant, or document EP3120826A1, the selective access device comprises a roller shutter or a rolling shutter to increase the flexibility of the opening area above the tray to be larger or smaller.

[0007] In patent applications IT 102017000089864 and WO 2019 / 026042 in the name of the applicant, a selective access device uses two overlapping covers, one formed by two roller shutters or roller shutters and the other formed by a series of pivoting doors in order to increase the level of security, i.e. to reduce the risk of forced opening.

[0008] There is a felt need to improve the latter solution, in particular in order to increase the overall reliability and / or reduce the components, thereby reducing the cost of the device and / or simplify the movement of the door and / or reduce the space required by the door during movement and / or improve user safety. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a selective access device for a picking / putting-away station in a warehouse which meets the above-mentioned needs in a simple and economical manner.

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a selective access device for a picking / putaway station in a warehouse as defined in an embodiment of the invention.

[0011] Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a picking / putting-away station in a warehouse as defined in an embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting embodiments of the invention, and in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automated vertical warehouse with a picking / putting-away station, parts of which are removed for clarity, wherein the picking / putting-away station is provided with a preferred embodiment of the selective access device according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, which partially shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of one of the pick / put away stations;

[0015] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A schematic cross section along section line III-III;

[0016] Figure 4 and Figure 2 Similarly, the pick / put away station is shown in an open operational position; and

[0017] Figure 5 and Figure 6 and Figure 4 Similarly, various variations of the selective access device according to the present invention are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] exist Figure 1 In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an automated warehouse comprising a fixed structure 2 and having a plurality of predetermined locations 3 for storing respective loading units 4, in particular defined by containers or pallets. Each loading unit 4 has a base 5 with a rectangular perimeter defined by a pair of long sides 6 and 7 parallel to each other and a pair of short sides 8 and 9 orthogonal to the long sides 6 and 7. According to a variant not shown here, the loading unit 4 has a substantially square base.

[0019] Each loading unit 4 has side walls projecting upwardly from the periphery of the base 5 and a plurality of inner walls dividing the total volume of the loading unit 4 into sectors or compartments (not shown) in which different articles (not shown) may be accommodated.

[0020] The warehouse 1 further comprises one or more picking / depositing stations 11 which define respective access points to the warehouse 1 in that they allow one or more users (not shown) to remove items from the compartments of the loading units 4 and to deposit and store items in these compartments.

[0021] The warehouse 1 further includes: a motor-driven conveying device, such as an elevator 12, configured to convey the loading unit 4 between the location of the loading unit 4 and the station 11; and a processing and control unit 13 (shown schematically), configured with appropriate software regarding the management and storage of items (for example, configured to control the elevator 12 and thereby control the conveyance of the loading unit 4 based on user commands and / or settings; select the loading unit 4 to be sent to the station 11 based on an optimization strategy; provide instructions or other information to the user at the station 11; monitor inventory status; etc.).

[0022] In the particular embodiment shown here, the station 11 is recessed in the structure 2 of the warehouse 1. According to an alternative not shown here, the station 11 is defined by an island protruding from the structure 2.

[0023] The station 11 comprises a front wall 15 ( Figure 1 ) and two vertical side members 16 ( Figure 2 ). In the following, terms such as "side", "lateral", "front", "in front of", "rear", "behind", etc. are referred to with reference to the perspective of a user standing in front of the station 11 during retrieval / storage of items.

[0024] Reference Figure 4 The station 11 has a housing 17 of such dimensions that it accommodates at least one loading unit 4, for example, behind the wall 15 and between the side pieces 16. The station 11 comprises supporting means (not shown) coupled to the side pieces 16 so as to carry the loading unit 4 in the housing 17. The supporting means is, for example, a known supporting means and comprises a pair of guides or channels 19, which are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the axis A, respectively carried by the side pieces 16 and configured to receive the loading unit 4 when it is transferred from the elevator 12 into the housing 17.

[0025] According to an embodiment, such a support device is fixed relative to the side element 16. According to an alternative solution not shown here, the support device is movable due to the action of an actuator device controlled by the unit 13, so as to rotate about an oscillation axis parallel to the axis A, if necessary in combination with a translational movement towards the user, between a first operating state in which the base 5 of the loading unit 4 supported in the housing 17 is in a horizontal position for transport to and from the elevator 12, and a second operating state in which the base 5 is tilted at an angle other than 0° and 90°. In this case, one or more stop means are provided to prevent the loading unit 4 from sliding downwards due to its own weight during tilting. The unit 13 is configured to automatically rotate (or rotate-translate) the support device immediately after the loading unit 4 enters the housing 17 and before it is transported out.

[0026] Reference Figure 2 The station 11 further comprises a selective access device 22 coupled to the side piece 16 in a fixed position and defining an access area 23 having a rectangular shape and arranged above the housing 17. In particular, the rectangular perimeter of the area 23 has two long sides parallel to the axis A and two short sides parallel to the axis D, the axis D being orthogonal to the axis A.

[0027] The area 23 is aligned with the housing 17 along the axis C: in the embodiment shown herein, the device 22 and the area 23 are arranged horizontally, so that the axis C is vertical and fixed; according to a variant not shown herein, the device 22 and the area 23 are arranged at a predetermined fixed inclination relative to the horizontal direction, so that the axis C is fixed and inclined relative to the vertical direction; finally, according to a further variant not shown herein, the entire device 22, together with the device supporting the loading unit 4, can be rotated (or rotated-translated) between a horizontal position and an inclined position around an axis parallel to the axis A by an actuator controlled by the unit 13, so that in this particular case, the axis C is also movable.

[0028] according to Figure 4 The device 22 comprises two covers 24 and 25 engaged with the zone 23 and arranged along respective parallel planes, overlapping each other and orthogonal to the axis C, so as to prevent unauthorized access to the housing 17 from the top.

[0029] The covers 24 and 25 can be opened independently but in a coordinated manner to form a passage 26 through the area 23, which allows the user to access only those items and / or compartments to which they are authorized from above. The perimeter 26 of the passage is formed by two sides 27 and 28 parallel to the axis D and two sides 29 and 30 parallel to the axis A, whereby the side 29 is the side closer to the user, i.e. the wall 5, and the side 30 is the opposite side, i.e. the side further away.

[0030] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the width of the channel 26 varies along the axis A in a discrete manner and along the axis D in a continuous manner.

[0031] According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, after opening the device 22 ( Figure 4 ), cover 24 defines edges 27 , 28 and 30 of channel 26 , while cover 25 defines edge 29 .

[0032] The cover 25 is preferably defined by a single roller shutter or shutter 31 which is operated by motor drive means (not shown) defined, for example, by a cord or belt arrangement controlled by the winding device or unit 13 .

[0033] The rolling shutter 31 has a width along the axis A equal to that of the area 23 and is composed, for example, of rigid strips or flexible sheets parallel to the axis A and connected to each other in an articulated manner, or of cloth, or of a mesh structure, etc., so that it can be bent once or several times with a bending axis parallel to the axis A.

[0034] The side edges of the roller shutter 31 engage in a sliding manner respective guides 34 arranged at the side element 16 and comprising an upper straight section 37 parallel to the axis D at the region 23 and a lower section 38 joined to the section 37 .

[0035] The roller shutter 31 has at its end a portion 32 which slides in a segment 37 of a guide 34 along the axis D. Obviously, the roller shutter 31 can slide along the guide 34 between a closed position, in which the roller shutter 31 completely blocks the area 23, and an open position, in which the roller shutter 31 at least partially releases the area 23 so that the edge 29 of the channel 26 is defined by the end edge of the portion 32.

[0036] According to an aspect of the invention, the cover 24 is composed of a series of doors 40 that are coplanar with one another in a plane defined by axes A and D and that are slidable along respective axes B that are parallel to axis D.

[0037] The door 40 is supported by a frame 41 arranged above the guides 34 and fixed relative to the side pieces 16 and / or the guides 34. The frame 41 comprises a front crossbar 42 and two lateral arms 44 joined to the crossbar 42. The latter is parallel to the axis A and is arranged at the front wall 15, close to the user during use, so that it occupies one of the long sides of the perimeter of the area 23, while the arms 44 are parallel to the axis D and are arranged along and above the segments 37 of the side pieces 16 and / or the guides 34, so that they occupy the short sides of the perimeter of the area 23.

[0038] The cover 24 may be configured to be in a closed position ( Figure 2 ) and open state ( Figure 4 ), wherein, in the closed state, the doors 40 are adjacent to each other along the axis A and their respective end edges 43 rest on the crossbeam 42 so as to completely close the area 23 and cover the portion 32 of the rolling shutter 31, and, in the open state, at least one of the doors 40 is translated backwards, with its end edge 43 spaced apart from the crossbeam 42; in this case, the edge 30 of the channel 26 is defined by the end edge 43 of the door that has been translated, while the edges 27 and 28 of the channel 26 are defined by the sides of the two adjacent doors in which the translated door is located (or, if the translated door is arranged at one of the lateral ends of the area 23, they are defined by one of the arms 44 of the frame 41 and by the side of a single adjacent door).

[0039] The doors 40 are preferably coupled to each other and to the arms 44 ( Figure 3 ), the guides 44a allow them to slide along axis B and, at the same time, are configured to support the door 40 along axis C to prevent the cover 24 from falling downwards or bending downwards, i.e. falling or bending towards the cover 25 and / or the housing 17; the support exerted by the guides 44a and / or the height of the door 40 are preferably such as to avoid the use of possible frame elements other than the crossbeam 42 and the arms 44.

[0040] exist Figure 2 In the closed state, the axial length of each door 40 is at least equal to the depth of the area 23. At the same time, the space between the arms 44 of the frame 41 along the axis A is divided into a plurality of sections, each of which is closed by a respective door 40 in a selective and independent manner.

[0041] The opening and closing of the lid 24 , ie the translation of the door 40 , is preferably achieved by means of a motor-driven movement device 45 controlled by the unit 13 .

[0042] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device 45 comprises a respective linear or rotary actuator 45a for each of the doors 40. According to this example, the actuators 45a are supported by a reference member 46 (illustrated schematically) arranged in a fixed position at the opposite end of the crossbar 42, for example, below the door 40. Thus, the actuators 45a move the respective door 40 back and forth along the respective axis B relative to this member 46. For example, the actuators 45a are defined by rotary motors that operate the doors 40 via respective rack-and-pinion transmissions 47. The transmissions 47 may also be belt drives or other types of transmissions.

[0043] exist Figure 5 In the example of the device 45 shown schematically, the doors 40 carry respective actuators 45b, which are preferably controlled by wireless technology and include respective clutch elements, for example defined by respective vertical pins and operated to engage and release the drag member 49, which is movable along the axis D due to the action of a motor not shown, thereby causing the engaged door 40 to translate.

[0044] In any case, the type and configuration of the device 45 are not very important. In fact, the door 40 can be moved manually. For this purpose, the door 40 includes respective handle portions that are shaped to be easily grasped by hand and are arranged close to the end edge 43.

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, a stop system is provided, controlled by the unit 13 , so as to stop the travel of each door 40 along the axis B at the position necessary to define the width of the passage 26 requested by the management system.

[0046] The stop system may preferably be defined by a motor or actuator that applies a resistance torque controlled based on the translation stroke when the door 40 moves backward. More preferably, in the first example above, for Figure 2 , the stop system is defined by the actuator 45a itself; in the second example above, for Figure 5 , the immobilization system is defined by a motor acting on the translation of the drag member 49 .

[0047] The device 22 may also include a separate electric lock (not shown) for each door 40, which is carried by the crossbar 42 and holds the door 40 in the closed position. These electric locks are controlled independently of each other by the unit 13. For example, when a user is authorized to move the corresponding door 40 and access the compartment below, the lock is released by the unit 13. The lock may also be absent, and the locking function may be achieved by the above-mentioned detent system.

[0048] If necessary, the unit 13 may unlock and open two or more adjacent doors 40 depending on the width of the compartment to be accessed.

[0049] according to Figure 5 In a variant, the cover 24 comprises telescopic doors 40a, i.e., each door is composed of a respective row of elements 50 coupled to one another so as to be able to slide relative to one another along axis B, thereby presenting a compact configuration and limiting the space occupied by the device 22 behind the housing 17 when the doors 24 are open. Each door 40a preferably comprises a respective front element 50a defining an end edge 43 and a respective rear element 50b opposite the element 50a. The elements 50b are preferably fixed and each supports the other sliding elements in front of them. In this case, the guides 44a described above for the sliding connection between the doors 40 may not be present, as the support and guiding functions can be achieved by the sliding connection between the elements 50.

[0050] The device 45 and / or the stop system act on the element 50a. Figure 5 In the example shown, as described above, in the closed state of the lid 24, the actuator 45b is carried by the element 50a and the drag member 49 is translatable and arranged above or below the element 50a so that it can be engaged by an engagement element of this actuator 45b.

[0051] According to a variant not shown here, the device 45 and / or the locking system are arranged inside the telescopic door 40a. For example, the device 45 and / or the locking system comprises an element 50b and an actuator carried by a respective belt drive or a pull rod drive to pull the element 50a back and forth by means of its end edge 43.

[0052] according to Figure 6 In a variant, the cover 24 comprises doors 40 b each consisting of a respective row of elements or portions 52 coupled to one another so as to be rotatable relative to one another about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis A. Each row consists of two or three elements 52 , preferably two elements 52 .

[0053] In this way, the element or portion 52 of each door 40b, upon leaving the area 23 during the opening operation, rotates or bends downwardly so as to limit the space occupied by the device 22 behind the housing 17. In particular, the element 52 of each door 40b is guided (e.g., by Figure 3 guides 44a) so that when they are at region 23 they remain aligned along their respective axes B and are free to rotate downwards behind region 23 during rearward movement, for example due to their own weight.

[0054] A suitable realignment system is provided (e.g. defined by guide walls) so that when the door 40b is reclosed, the element 52 of each door 40b is rotated upwards and realigned along its respective axis B. Figure 3If the rack and pinion transmissions 47 are used to drag the elements 52 along their respective axes B, the pinion of each transmission 47 can also help to lift and realign the elements 52 during closing of the corresponding door 40b.

[0055] As described above, during operation of the device 22 according to the invention, the unit 13, after ensuring that the user is authorized and identifying the loading unit 4 and the compartment to be accessed, controls the elevator 12 to move the loading unit 4 into the housing 17. Then, if a motor-driven tilting (or rotation-translation) system is provided, the unit 13 controls it to tilt the loading unit 4.

[0056] Immediately thereafter, the unit 13 controls the operation of the lid 25 so as to place the end edge of the roller shutter 31, which is required to define the position of the edge 29 of the passage 26, in alignment with the corresponding front edge of the compartment to be accessed. In particular, this movement occurs when the lid 24 is closed.

[0057] The unit 13 then unlocks one or more doors 40 / 40a / 40b corresponding to the width of the compartment to be accessed, thereby obtaining the edges 27, 28 and 30 of the passage 26. As mentioned above, the movement can be manually operated, with a final stop, or it can be motor-operated. The translation stops at the rear edge of the requested compartment.

[0058] After the removal and storage operations have been performed, the already opened door 40 / 40a / 40b is closed again manually or automatically and finally locked in the closed state by the unit 13. The unit 13 also controls the closing of the roller shutter 31 before, during or after the lid 24 is closed.

[0059] For the reasons stated above, it is clear that device 22 represents an ideal compromise between flexibility of use and safety in the event of attempted modifications. Indeed, the cover 24, made of a door, allows device 22 to achieve robustness, since it prohibits direct access to the roller shutter 31, while the latter allows for continuous adjustment of the edge 29 of the channel 26. In particular, compared to a revolving door solution, a sliding solution:

[0060] Makes it more difficult to force opening with a destruction tool,

[0061] Allows to minimize the amount of free space accessible when covers 24 and 25 are open,

[0062] Relatively simple, since it does not require roller shutters, thus reducing costs and increasing reliability compared to the solution of IT 102017000089864,

[0063] Reduce the risk of shock to the user,

[0064] have a simpler actuation arrangement that is faster when opening and / or closing and can be more easily controlled, for example to obtain deceleration when approaching the crossbar 42 and / or to prevent the user from potentially trapping their hand,

[0065] have a more pleasing aesthetic appearance and are more user-friendly,

[0066] • There can be a relatively simple auxiliary manual movement (the stop system remains inactive until the required opening dimension is reached, for example by reading the position).

[0067] Furthermore, the fact of using a single roller shutter 31 for the cover 25 allows reducing the number of components, compared to known solutions, without increasing the opening and closing times of the cover 25 .

[0068] Other advantages of the proposed solution are obvious to anyone skilled in the art or can be easily deduced by him based on the construction features discussed above.

[0069] Finally, for the reasons stated above, it is obvious that the device 22 and the station 11 described with reference to the accompanying drawings may be subjected to changes and modifications without thereby exceeding the scope of protection of the present invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A selective access device (22) for use at a picking / storage station (11) in an automated warehouse (1), the device comprising: an area (23) enabling, in use, access to the housing (17) of the station (11) after forming a passage (26) through the area (23), the passage (26) having a front edge (29), a rear edge (30) and two side edges (27, 28) opposite one another; a first cover (25) engaged with said region (23) and comprising a slidable surface (31) operable to open to define said front edge (29); a second cover (24) engaged with the area (23) above the first cover (25) and comprising a plurality of doors (40; 40a; 40b), the plurality of doors (40; 40a; 40b) being arranged side by side along a first linear axis (A) and comprising respective end edges (43) and respective side faces; the second cover (24) being operable to open such that at least one of the side faces defines a respective side edge (27, 28) of the passage (26); Characterized in that the doors (40; 40a; 40b) slide open and close along respective second axes (B) orthogonal to the first linear axis (A) so that when the second cover (24) is open, at least one of the end edges (43) defines a rear edge (30) of the channel (26).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that Each of the doors (40a; 40b) is formed by a row of elements (50; 52) coupled to each other in a movably manner.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The door (40a) is telescopic.

4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that The elements (52) are rotatable relative to one another about a horizontal axis of rotation.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The area (23) is defined by a crossbeam (42) and two arms (44) joined to the ends of the crossbeam (42); the end edges (43) are arranged alongside the crossbeam (42) in the closed state and define the rear edge (30) in the open state.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first cover is defined by a single roller shutter.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that include: a first stop device configured to stop the door's opening stroke at a variable position; A control unit (13) is configured to control the first stopping device and stop the door at a desired position.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that include: a second stop configured to stop the door in a closed position; A control unit (13) is configured to control the unlocking of the second stopper and release at least one of the doors when it is necessary to open the second cover (24).

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that include: a moving device (45) configured to drive the doors to translate independently of each other; A control unit (13) is configured to control the movement device to translate at least one of the doors toward a desired position.

10. A picking / storage station (11) of an automated warehouse (1), said station comprising: a housing (17) having a size for accommodating at least one loading unit (4) for picking items from said loading unit (4) and / or for depositing items into said loading unit (4), and The selective access device (22) according to claim 1, arranged above the housing (17) for allowing / preventing access to the loading unit (4) from above.

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