Container storage and retrieval machine with a horizontal driving device

Abstract

Container storage and retrieval machine (1) with at least two vertical supports (2) having a lower end (2a) and an upper end (2b), wherein the vertical supports (2) are connected to one another via at least one horizontal support (3), wherein each vertical support (2) is connected to at least one lateral movement device (4), and a load-bearing platform (5), wherein the lateral movement device (4) comprises: a balance beam (22), at least two carriage assemblies, wherein the carriage assemblies comprise a carriage frame which is rotatably connected to both ends of the balance beam (22) by a horizontally arranged carriage shaft journal (15), at least two steel wheels which are provided on the lower part of the carriage frame and whose axes of rotation run parallel to the carriage shaft journal (15), and wherein the vertical beams (2) are detachably connected to the lateral movement devices (4), preferably by means of screws (11).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of container storage and, in particular, to a storage and retrieval machine with a horizontal traversing device. These storage and retrieval machines are regularly used in high-bay warehouses, preferably in high-bay warehouses that have different and separate compartments for standardized containers, preferably sea containers. The compartments are arranged in blocks and have a number of compartments both vertically and horizontally. These blocks of compartments are separated by aisles provided for the storage and retrieval machines. The storage and retrieval machines are used to deliver the containers to and from the compartments. background

[0002] In a conventional container warehouse, containers are primarily stored by stacking them on top of each other. When a container needs to be retrieved, it is lifted using a crane or wheeled crane and then placed on a container truck. However, when handling containers with cranes, the center of gravity of the cranes is close to the top, creating a risk of accidents caused by tipping over during travel or handling. In high-bay warehouses, the stacker cranes used for handling containers are designed to grip the containers either from below or from above and must ensure safe transport of the containers within the high-bay warehouse, even though the load distribution within the container transfers different loads to different parts of the stacker crane, in particular its vertical beams and the attached travel devices.In addition, the maintenance effort for these container stacker cranes is high due to the loads to be handled, the mechanical stress on each individual component of the container stacker cranes during operation and the economic requirement of the warehouse operator to use the equipment continuously and without unnecessary delays or even interruptions in operation. Summary

[0003] It is an object of the invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages known from the prior art. This object is achieved by a container storage and retrieval machine having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying description and the dependent claims.

[0004] According to the invention, a container storage and retrieval machine is provided with at least one horizontal travel device capable of more evenly distributing the loads acting on the storage and retrieval machine and compensating the travel devices in cases of uneven load distribution or uneven surfaces within the aisles. The present invention can effectively reduce the wheel pressure of the steel wheels and compensate and equalize the wheel pressure between the steel wheels to limit the horizontal deviation of the container storage and retrieval machine and thereby prevent derailments. Furthermore, the invention provides a container storage and retrieval machine whose main components can be replaced in the shortest possible time, since at least the vertical supports and the travel devices are detachable from one another and the individual components can be replaced as quickly as possible, preferably with stored and kept components.

[0005] The invention provides a container storage and retrieval machine comprising at least two vertical beams having a lower and an upper end, the vertical beams being connected to one another via at least one horizontal beam, each vertical beam being connected to at least one lateral movement device, and having a load-bearing platform, the lateral movement device comprising a stabilizing beam, at least two carriage assemblies, the carriage assemblies comprising a carriage frame which is rotatably connected to both ends of the stabilizing beam by a horizontally arranged carriage shaft bolt, at least two steel wheels being provided on the lower part of the carriage frame, the axes of rotation of which wheels run parallel to the carriage shaft bolt, and the vertical beams being detachably connected to the lateral movement device, preferably by means of screws.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical supports have a substantially rectangular cross-section, with at least one screw provided on each side of the rectangular cross-section for releasably connecting the vertical support to the lateral movement device, preferably the load-bearing platform or load-carrying platform. This enables secure attachment of the vertical supports to the movement device, in particular the load-bearing platform, and easy access to the screws when the vertical support needs to be detached from the movement device, in particular for maintenance purposes, or when a damaged component needs to be replaced.

[0007] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one pair of horizontal guide rollers or wheels is arranged symmetrically on both sides of the steel wheels. This ensures safe and stable transport of the container stacker crane during use, particularly when the stacker crane carries a heavy load and / or must deliver heavy loads to high compartments within the high-bay warehouse.

[0008] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the container storage and retrieval machine comprises a load-bearing platform which is pivotally connected to the balance beam by a horizontally arranged balance beam shaft journal, two trolley assemblies which are pivotally connected to both ends of the balance beam by a horizontally arranged trolley shaft journal, wherein a rotating shaft of the trolley shaft journal is arranged perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the balance beam shaft journal, the trolley assemblies comprise a trolley body, at least two steel wheels and at least one pair of horizontal floor rail guide wheels, wherein the trolley body is pivotally connected to the two ends of the balance beam by the trolley shaft pin, the at least two steel wheels are provided on a lower part of the trolley body,The rotating shafts of the steel wheels are arranged parallel to the trolley shaft pin, and the horizontal floor rail guide wheels are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the steel wheels. This combination of features enables stable and safe travel of the container stacker crane along its aisle and compensates for any uneven load distribution that must be accommodated by the stacker crane itself and, in particular, its travel devices.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the container storage and retrieval machine comprises at least two carriage assemblies, each of which is pivotally connected to both ends of the stabilizing beam by a horizontally arranged carriage sliding pin, with the axis of rotation of the shaft pin perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the stabilizing beam shaft pin. This enables a structure to compensate and balance movements and loads acting on the structure as a whole in all spatial directions.

[0010] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the trolley assemblies further comprise a drive unit that drives the steel wheels to rotate, wherein the horizontal guide wheels move on the floor rail following the rolling motion of the steel wheels, even more preferably, an upper portion of the drive unit is connected to the balance beam, and an output shaft at a lower portion of the drive unit drives the steel wheels. This enables easy movement of the container stacker crane within its aisle using easily accessible equipment.

[0011] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a lower surface of the supporting platform is provided with a first hinge projection projecting downwardly, wherein the first hinge projection is pivotally connected to the balance beam; lower surfaces of both ends of the balance beam are provided with a second hinge projection projecting downwardly, wherein the second hinge projection is pivotally connected to the balance beam. This structure creates a system of components with which the technical effects of the invention can be reliably achieved.

[0012] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the container storage and retrieval machine comprises a stacker and at least one horizontal fork whose length can be extended and retracted telescopically. Alternatively, the container storage and retrieval machine comprises a stacker and at least two, preferably four, rotary locking pins that can engage in corresponding receptacles at the upper corners of a container. These alternative solutions enable the containers to be gripped from below or from above, depending on the conditions or the loads to be handled in the high-bay warehouse. Short description of the characters

[0013] Other features, objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a high-bay warehouse with aisles in which container stacker cranes run on rails, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the container storage and retrieval machine according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a traveling device used in a container stacker crane according to the invention. Detailed description of the characters

[0014] The implementations of the present application are explained in conjunction with specific examples, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present application with reference to the contents disclosed in the present application. The system of the present application may also be implemented or applied by other specific implementations. Various details in the

[0015] The present application may also be modified or changed in any way according to different aspects and application systems without deviating from the spirit of the present application. It should be noted that the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present application may be combined with each other as long as there is no conflict.

[0016] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the application. The present application can be implemented in various ways, but is not limited to the embodiments described here.

[0017] In the illustrations of the present application, illustrations with reference to the term "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a particular example," or "some examples," or the like, mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or property illustrated in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. Furthermore, the particular feature, structure, material, or property illustrated may be combined in one or more embodiments or examples in any suitable manner. Furthermore, one skilled in the art may incorporate and combine various embodiments or examples and features of various embodiments or examples presented in the present application, as long as this does not constitute a contradiction.

[0018] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply a relative importance or the number of specified technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly encompass at least one of the features. In the illustrations of this application, the term "plural" means two or more, unless expressly and specifically defined otherwise.

[0019] In order to clearly explain the present application, components that are not relevant to the explanation are omitted, and the same or similar components are identified by the same reference symbols throughout the description.

[0020] When the description discloses that a particular component is "connected" to another component, this includes not only the case of a "direct connection" but also the case of an "indirect connection" by interposing other elements. When a particular component is said to "include" a particular constituent element, this does not mean that it excludes other constituent elements, but rather that other constituent elements may also be included, unless there is a specific entry to the contrary.

[0021] When it is disclosed that a particular component is "above" another component, it may be directly above another component, but it may also be accompanied by other components between them. When a component is comparatively said to be "directly" "above" another component, there are no other components between them.

[0022] Although terms such as "first" and "second" are used in some cases herein to represent different elements, those elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one element from another, for example, representations of a first interface and a second interface. Furthermore, singular forms such as "a," "an," "an," and "the" used herein should be construed to include a plural form unless the context indicates otherwise. It should further be understood that the terms "include" and "including" indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, assemblies, items, types, and / or groups, but do not preclude the presence, occurrence, or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, assemblies, items, types, and / or groups.As used herein, the terms "or" and "and / or" are interpreted as encompassing or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, "A, B, or C" or "A, B, and / or C" means "one of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C." Exceptions to this definition occur only when the combination of elements, functions, steps, or operations is mutually exclusive in some way.

[0023] The term "rectangular" as used herein encompasses not only the exact geometric shape, but also deviations from it, particularly through rounded edges or corners, as long as the rectangular shape still has two pairs of substantially parallel sides of substantially the same length. However, the two pairs of sides may have the same length or different lengths.

[0024] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting of this application. The singular forms used herein include the plural forms unless the contrary intent is clearly expressed. The terms "include" and / or "including" are used in the description to specify particular features, ranges, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of other features, ranges, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are additionally interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the relevant technical literature and the present disclosure, and are not to be unduly interpreted to have an ideal or highly formulaic meaning unless defined.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the horizontal and lateral movement device 4 of the container stacker crane 1 of the present disclosure operates in a high-bay warehouse 16 comprising a large number of compartments 17 arranged in blocks both vertically and horizontally. The high-bay warehouse 16 also includes a series of aisles 18 in and along which the container stacker cranes 1 move on rails 19. The container stacker cranes 1 have a width corresponding to the width of the aisles 18 and utilize forks capable of gripping and depositing containers 20 into the compartments 17 by telescopically extending the fork from the aisle 18 into the area of ​​the compartment 17 of the high-bay warehouse 16. The fork can be used to support the containers 20 from below or suspended by means of locking pins connected to the fork. Fig. 1 shows in An enlarged view also shows the guides 21 attached to the supporting members 22, onto which the containers 20 are loaded. The guides 21 serve as an alignment aid during the downward movement of the containers 20 during loading and unloading from the container storage and retrieval machine 1 and for securing the containers 20 in adverse weather conditions or upon impact with a moving element.

[0027] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the container stacker crane 1 comprises a horizontal and lateral movement device 4, a stacker, and a horizontal fork. The container stacker crane has a frame-like structure with at least two vertical beams 2 having a base end 2a and an upper end 2b, wherein the upper ends 2b of the at least two vertical beams 2 are connected via a horizontal beam 3. The horizontal movement unit moves along the aisle of a high-bay warehouse. The stacker is attached to the transverse shifting device. The horizontal fork consists of a support frame body and a container fork. Both sides of the support frame body perpendicular to the second rail are each provided with side openings for the entry and exit of a container, wherein the support frame body is raised or lowered by the stacker.The container fork is provided within the support frame body and is driven by a drive motor to extend horizontally from or retract horizontally into one of the side openings of the support frame body to handle the container horizontally. The container fork supports a central portion of a bottom surface of the container so that both ends of the bottom surface of the container are suspended. The container stacker crane 1 of the present disclosure breaks the traditional mode in which the existing container 20 must be lifted and stacked, and can support the container 20 to travel in the container rack, and independently place or handle each container 20 in the container rack 16 in a horizontal manner.The support frame body is a cuboid frame structure, with the container fork located at a lower part of the support frame body, and a loading space for receiving a container 20 formed between the container 20 and an upper part of the support frame body. The upper part of the frame structure is provided with a pulley (movable pulley) that interacts with the traction cable of the stacker. The stacker consists of several outriggers, a winch, and a traction cable. The various outriggers are attached to the lateral movement device 4. The winch is attached to the lateral movement device 4. The traction cable runs from the winch through the pulley on the upper parts of the outriggers and then pulls the support frame body up. The winch raises or lowers the container fork that supports the container 20.On the outer sides of the two ends of the support frame body, pulleys (pulleys) are provided, respectively, which slide along the supports to an inner side surface of the support frame body to limit the vertical raising or lowering of the support frame body. A plurality of container racks are distributed along two sides of the second rail, the container racks comprising a plurality of load-bearing posts. The load-bearing posts are provided with limiting support portions extending along a vertical direction and configured to support the two ends of the bottom surface of the container or four corners of the bottom surface to form an independent container storage space, and a gap between containers in a vertical direction forms an insertion space for the container fork.Each container-independent storage space is arranged in a single-layer matrix along a vertical plane on the base of the supporting post, the distance between the limiting support sections being greater than the width of the container fork, wherein a central part of the bottom surface of the container located in the container-independent storage space is suspended so as to be supported by the container fork.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3 is a side view of the horizontal movement device 4, which is part of the container stacker crane according to the present invention. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 3, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a horizontal traveling device 4 of a container stacker crane (not fully illustrated), comprising a balance beam 22, a load-bearing platform 5, and two trolley assemblies. The load-bearing platform 5 is pivotally hinged via the balance beam 22 by means of a horizontally arranged balance beam shaft pin 13. The load-bearing platform 5 serves as a base for a vertical beam 2, which is an essential part of the frame-like structure of the stacker crane 1.The vertical support 2 has a rectangular cross-section, and each side of its cross-section is fastened to the load-bearing platform 5 with at least one screw 11, preferably with at least two screws 11 on each side of the vertical support 2, most preferably with at least 4 screws 11 on the long sides and at least two screws 11 on the short sides of the rectangular cross-section of the vertical support 2.The two trolley assemblies are each pivotally connected to both ends of the balance beam 22 by a horizontally arranged trolley shaft pin 15, wherein a rotation axis of the trolley shaft pin 15 is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the balance beam shaft pin 13; the trolley assemblies comprise a trolley body, at least two steel wheels, and at least one pair of horizontal floor rail guide wheels or rollers 12a, 12b, wherein the trolley body is pivotally connected to the two ends of the balance beam 22 by the trolley shaft pin 15, the at least two steel wheels are provided at a lower part of the trolley body, the rotation shafts of the steel wheels are parallel to the trolley shaft pin 15, and the horizontal floor rail guide wheels 12a, 12b are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the steel wheels.The rotating shafts of the horizontal guide wheels 12a, 12b of the floor rail are perpendicular to the journal of the trolley shaft 15 and the journal of the balance beam shaft 13. The horizontal floor rail guide wheels 12a, 12b jointly clamp both sides of a crossbeam of the rail 23, thus preventing derailment. An upper part of the drive unit is connected to the balance beam 22, and an output shaft at a lower part of the drive unit drives the steel wheels. A lower surface of the load-bearing platform 5 is provided with a first hinge lug projecting downward, wherein the first hinge lug is pivotally connected to the balance beam 22; lower surfaces of both ends of the balance beam 22 are provided with a second hinge lug projecting downward, wherein the second hinge lug is pivotally connected to the balance beam 22.The carriage assemblies comprise two steel wheels, with the rotating shaft of the carriage shaft bolt being arranged on a vertical bisector of the rotating shafts of the steel wheels.

[0029] The above content is a further detailed description of the present disclosure in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, and the specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to these descriptions. Those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make several simple changes or substitutions without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, which should be considered to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

[1] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) with at least two vertical supports (2) having a lower end (2a) and an upper end (2b), wherein the vertical supports (2) are connected to each other via at least one horizontal support (3), wherein each vertical support (2) is connected to at least one lateral movement device (4), and a load-bearing platform (5), wherein the lateral movement device (4) comprises: a balance beam (22), at least two carriage assemblies, wherein the carriage assemblies comprise a carriage frame which is rotatably connected to both ends of the balance beam (22) by a horizontally arranged carriage shaft journal (15), at least two steel wheels which are provided on the lower part of the carriage frame and whose axes of rotation run parallel to the carriage shaft journal (15), and wherein the vertical beams (2) are detachably connected to the lateral movement devices (4), preferably by means of screws (11). [2] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the vertical supports (2) have a substantially rectangular cross-section and that at least one screw (11) is provided on each side of the rectangular cross-section for detachably connecting the vertical support (2) to the lateral movement device (4), preferably a load-bearing platform (5). [3] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that at least one pair of horizontal guide wheels (12a, 12b) is arranged symmetrically on both sides of steel wheels. [4] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bya supporting platform (5) which is pivotally connected above the balance beam (22) by a horizontally provided balance beam journal (13), two trolley assemblies which are pivotally connected to both ends of the balance beam (22) by a horizontally provided trolley journal (15), wherein a rotary shaft of the trolley journal (15) is perpendicular to a rotary shaft of the balance beam journal (13), the trolley assemblies comprise a trolley body, at least two steel wheels and at least one pair of horizontal floor rail guide wheels (12a, 12b), wherein the trolley body is pivotally connected to the two ends of the balance beam (22) by the trolley journals (15), the at least two steel wheels are provided at a lower part of the trolley body, the rotary shafts of the steel wheels are parallel to the Trolley shaft journals (15) are arranged and the horizontal floor rail guide wheels (12a,12b) are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the steel wheels. [5] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the at least two slide assemblies are each rotatably articulated at both ends of the compensating beam (22) by a horizontally arranged slide displacement bolt, wherein the axis of rotation of the shaft bolt is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the compensating beam shaft journal (13). [6] Container storage and retrieval device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the floor rail horizontal guide wheels (12a, 12b) are distributed symmetrically on both sides of the car body and roll along both side surfaces of the aisle (18), preferably on at least one rail (23). [7] Container storage and retrieval device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the axes of rotation of the horizontal floor rail guide wheels (12a, 12b) extend perpendicularly both to the trolley shaft pin (15) and to the balance beam shaft journal (13). [8] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the trolley assemblies further comprise a drive unit that drives the steel wheels to rotate, the horizontal guide wheels (12a, 12b) moving on the floor rail by following the rolling of the steel wheels. [9] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein an upper part of the drive unit is connected to the balance beam (22) and an output shaft on a lower part of the drive unit drives the steel wheels. [10] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a lower surface of the load-bearing platform (5) is provided with a first hinge lug which projects downwards, wherein the first hinge lug is hingedly connected to the balance beam (22), and that the lower surfaces of both ends of the balance beam (22) are provided with a second hinge lug which projects downwards, wherein the second hinge lug is hingedly connected to the balance beam (22). [11] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container storage and retrieval machine (1) has a stacker and at least one horizontal fork which is designed to be telescopically extendable and retractable in its length. [12] Container storage and retrieval machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized bythat the container storage and retrieval machine (1) comprises a stacker and at least two, preferably four, twistlock bolts which can engage in corresponding receptacles provided at the upper corners of a container (20).

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