Transport vehicle for automated operation of a warehouse

Abstract

A transport vehicle (3) for the automated operation of a warehouse, comprising a storage structure in which orthogonally aligned storage locations are formed in a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse direction (z), and a vertical direction (y), and comprising a rail grid (10) adapted to the storage structure and defining longitudinal transport paths in the x-direction and transverse transport paths in the z-direction for the transport vehicle (3), comprising a vehicle body (18) with four side walls (24) that laterally delimit a substantially box-shaped cavity (17) accessible from an underside of the transport vehicle (3) for receiving transported goods within the vehicle body (18), wherein each of the four side walls (24) is assigned a chassis (19) connected to the vehicle body (18), wherein the chassis (19) are each arranged on an outer side of the respective side wall (24),wherein the chassis (19) comprise two x-chassis arranged on opposite side walls (24) of the vehicle body (18), each having wheels (20) oriented in the x-direction for movement of the transport vehicle (3) along the longitudinal transport paths, and wherein the chassis (19) comprise two z-chassis arranged on opposite side walls (24) of the vehicle body (18), each having wheels (20) oriented in the z-direction for movement of the transport vehicle (3) along the transverse transport paths, wherein each of the chassis (19) is assigned a lifting device (21) designed to effect a vertical movement of the respective chassis (19) in the y-direction, wherein the lifting devices (21) are each arranged on an outer side of the respective side wall (24) and are designed such that they do not project upwards beyond the cavity (17) formed within the vehicle body (18), characterized in thatthat each chassis (19) has a chassis support structure (22) which is movable in the height direction (y) and which is guided linearly in the height direction (y) by means of two vertical profile rails (25) mounted at a distance from one another on the corresponding side wall (24).

Claims

[1] Transport vehicle (3) for the automated operation of a warehouse with a storage structure in which orthogonally aligned storage locations are formed in a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse direction (z) and a vertical direction (y), and with a rail grid (10) adapted to the storage structure and defining longitudinal transport paths in the x-direction and transverse transport paths in the z-direction for the transport vehicle (3), comprising a vehicle body (18) with four side walls (24) which laterally delimit a substantially box-shaped cavity (17) accessible from an underside of the transport vehicle (3) for receiving transported goods within the vehicle body (18), wherein each of the four side walls (24) is assigned a chassis (19) connected to the vehicle body (18), wherein the chassis (19) are each arranged on an outer side of the respective side wall (24), wherein the chassis (19) comprise two x-chassis arranged on opposite side walls (24) of the vehicle body (18), each having wheels (20) aligned in the x-direction for movement of the transport vehicle (3) along the longitudinal transport paths, and wherein the chassis (19) comprise two z-chassis arranged on opposite side walls (24) of the vehicle body (18), each having wheels (20) aligned in the z-direction for movement of the transport vehicle (3) along the transverse transport paths, wherein each of the chassis (19) is assigned a lifting device (21) which is designed to effect a vertical movement of the respective chassis (19) in the y-direction, wherein the lifting devices (21) are each arranged on an outer side of the respective side wall (24) and are designed such that they do not project upwards beyond the cavity (17) formed within the vehicle body (18), characterized by that each chassis (19) has a chassis support structure (22) which is movable in the height direction (y) and which is guided linearly in the height direction (y) by means of two vertical profile rails (25) mounted at a distance from one another on the corresponding side wall (24). [2] Transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lifting devices (21) together with the respective associated chassis (19) have a structural depth in a direction orthogonal to the respective side wall (24) of less than 100 mm, preferably of 40 mm or less. [3] Transport vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each chassis (19) has two wheels (20) coupled to the respective lifting device (21) via the chassis support structure (22) or wherein each chassis (19) is designed as a crawler chassis coupled to the respective lifting device (21). [4] Transport vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lifting devices (21) each have a spindle device (28) which is preferably driven by an electric motor and which acts directly or indirectly on the respective chassis (19). [5] Transport vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lifting devices (21) each have a preferably cylindrical lifting actuator (26) as drive units. [6] Transport vehicle according to claim 4 and 5, wherein the lifting actuator (26) and the spindle device (28) are arranged offset from one another on the respective side wall (24) and are coupled by means of a belt drive (27), a rack, a toothed chain or the like. [7] Transport vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lifting devices (21) each have a linear motor or magnetic actuator directly or indirectly coupled to the respective chassis (19). [8] Transport vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lifting devices (21) each have a lifting mechanism in the form of a double toggle lever, preferably acting on the chassis support structure (22). [9] Transport vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vehicle body (18) has a load-carrying means (16) fitted into the cavity (17) and movable in the height direction (y). [10] Transport vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the side walls (24) have outer claddings which at least largely cover the lifting devices (21) and the chassis (19). [11] Storage system, characterized by that the storage system comprises at least one transport vehicle (3) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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