BLOCK STORAGE ARRANGEMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a block storage arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating a block storage arrangement according to claim 6.

[0003] Such a block storage arrangement and a method are known, for example, from DE 22 52 584 A1. DE 22 52 584 A1 discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] A block storage system describes a storage arrangement with at least one container stacking area into which block storage elements, such as containers, can be stored, moved, and retrieved. For this purpose, the container is transferred from the loading area into the container stacking area or removed from the container stacking area and transferred to the loading area. When transferred from the loading area to the container stacking area or vice versa, the container passes through the through opening located between the container stacking area and the loading area. The container is always transferred through the through opening in the direction of gravity. When several containers are stored in a container stacking area, a container stack is created. Other names for block storage are stack storage or container stack storage.

[0005] The holding arrangement can assume two positions: a release position and a holding position. In the holding position, a container or a container stack is held in the container stacking space. If the holding device is in the release position, it is possible to remove one or more containers from the container stacking space. The number of containers to be removed depends on the number of containers in the container stacking space. One or more containers can also be transferred into the container stacking space when the holding device is arranged in the release position. Another block storage arrangement is known from US 3 964 619 A.

[0006] DE 10 2019 130 354 A1 describes an automated storage system for goods in which the goods can be stored in containers arranged separately from one another, one above the other. The containers can be divided in various ways.

[0007] EP 3 929 106 A1 shows a method for operating a storage arrangement in which containers can be stored from below into container receiving spaces and removed downwards from the container receiving spaces.

[0008] WO 2015 / 197709 A1 shows another block storage arrangement in which containers can be stored from above in container receiving spaces and removed from the container receiving spaces upwards.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to propose an arrangement by which good flexibility of the block storage arrangement is achieved.

[0010] This object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 6. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0011] The block storage arrangement of the type mentioned above has at least two through openings of different sizes. Accordingly, it is possible to store containers of different sizes through the differently sized through openings. Accordingly, for example, first articles can be stored in a first container and second articles can be stored in a second container, wherein the first containers can be stored and retrieved through first through openings and the second containers through second through openings. The first containers are, for example, smaller than the second containers. Likewise, further containers of different sizes can be stored and retrieved through corresponding through openings, so that the invention can also be applied to more than two through openings of different sizes. This achieves good flexibility of the block storage arrangement.

[0012] A loading vehicle is movable within the loading area. It is equipped with a lifting device with which a container can be stored from the loading area in a container stacking area or removed from the container stacking area. The lifting device is attached to one side of a chassis of the loading vehicle. The loading vehicle can automatically transfer a container to a container stacking area. For this purpose, the loading vehicle, for example, picks up a container. As soon as the loading vehicle has picked up the container, the loading vehicle transfers the container from the loading area to a container stacking area. The loading vehicle can also remove a container from the container stacking area and transport it to a destination. The lifting device is arranged on one side, resulting in a compact loading vehicle with a small footprint.By using a loading vehicle, the block storage arrangement can be operated flexibly and automatically.

[0013] The loading vehicle is a first loading vehicle and a second loading vehicle is movable in the loading area synchronized with the first loading vehicle, with the lifting device of the first loading vehicle being opposite the lifting device of the second loading vehicle. This arrangement allows the two loading vehicles to jointly move a large, second container and transfer it into or out of a container stacking area with a correspondingly large through-opening. To do this, the two loading vehicles jointly take over the second container and transfer it to a position below a corresponding container stacking area. Once there, the two loading vehicles unlock a holding device so that the holding device is transferred to the release position and the second container can be stored in the container stacking area by the two loading vehicles.As soon as the second container has been stored in the container stacking area, the holding device is returned to the holding position and the second container is placed on the holding device. As an alternative to transporting the large, second container by the two loading vehicles, each loading vehicle can also transport a small, first container alone and store it in or remove it from the container stacking area. This process is carried out in a similar way to the storage and retrieval of the large, second container. By using multiple loading vehicles, containers of different sizes can be transported and stored in container stacking areas through appropriately large through openings. This allows for good flexibility in the block storage arrangement.

[0014] Preferably, the through-opening of each container stacking space is adapted to the base area of ​​the container stacking space. By adapting the through-opening to the base area of ​​the container stacking space, it can be ensured, for example, that only containers up to a certain size can be stored in the corresponding container stacking space. Furthermore, adapting the through-opening ensures that a container stack located in the container stacking space is sufficiently guided by the boundaries of the container stacking space, thus preventing the container stack from tipping over.

[0015] The holding device preferably has at least two holding pawls that are arranged diametrically opposite one another. The containers are held in the container stacking space by the holding device with at least two holding pawls. The holding pawls are moved into a release position when a container is being stored. As soon as the holding device with its holding pawls is in the release position, a container can be stored in the container stacking space. When the container is arranged within the container stacking space, the holding device is moved into a holding position so that the container or the container stack is held in the container stacking space. The diametrically opposite arrangement of the holding pawls ensures that the container or the container stack is held securely.

[0016] Preferably, the two loading vehicles have a common control system. The common control system of both loading vehicles allows for simple control of both vehicles, as they can be operated as a group or tandem.

[0017] Preferably, the control system is configured as a master / slave control system. With the master / slave control system, one of the two loading vehicles is controlled as the master vehicle and the other as the slave vehicle. The master vehicle is the dominant vehicle, which the slave vehicle follows. This allows the slave vehicle to align itself with the master vehicle, allowing simple and precise control of both vehicles.

[0018] Furthermore, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a method according to claim 6.

[0019] The procedure comprises the following steps: a. Selecting a container stacking space depending on the size of the container, b. Storing at least one container in the container stacking space starting from the loading space, c. Removing the at least one container from the container stacking space into the loading space.

[0020] Containers of different sizes can be transferred to corresponding container stacking spaces through the differently sized through-openings. For this purpose, a container is transferred from the loading space into the container stacking space through a corresponding through-opening. To remove the container, the container is transferred from the container stacking space through the through-opening to the loading space. Within the container stacking spaces, the containers are held by a holding device. If several containers are arranged in a container stacking space, these form a container stack, which is also held by the holding device. The holding device holds the container stack when the holding device is arranged in a holding position.When the holding device is positioned in a release position, one or more containers can be removed from the container stacking area and transferred to the loading area. By using the differently sized through-openings, containers of different dimensions can be stored in the corresponding container stacking areas, thus achieving a high degree of flexibility in the block storage arrangement.

[0021] Steps b. and c. are carried out by at least one loading vehicle with a lifting device, wherein the lifting device is arranged on one side of a chassis of the loading vehicle. By using the loading vehicle, the block storage arrangement can be operated automatically, which leads to good flexibility. By arranging the lifting arrangement on the chassis of the loading vehicle, the footprint or floor area of ​​the loading vehicle is kept small. Preferably, the at least one loading vehicle actuates the holding device. By actuating the holding device by the loading vehicle, it is possible to remove containers from the container stacking space or to add them to it. As a result, containers are securely held within the container stacking space.

[0022] Preferably, the loading vehicles are controlled by a common control system. By controlling both loading vehicles together, simple control of both vehicles is achieved. This minimizes the computational and control effort. The control system preferably operates based on the master / slave principle. With the master / slave principle, one of the two loading vehicles, which jointly transport a large container, is selected as the master vehicle, and the other is the slave vehicle. The master vehicle assumes the leading role, while the slave vehicle follows the master vehicle. This achieves simple control of both vehicles.

[0023] The invention is described below using a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a loading vehicle, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of two loading vehicles transporting a large container, Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a block storage arrangement, and Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the block storage arrangement.

[0024] Fig.1 shows a loading vehicle 1 with a chassis 2, on which a lifting device 3 is arranged on one side. Furthermore, the loading vehicle 1 has a release device 4, through which a holding device 12 ( Fig. 3 ) of a block storage arrangement 8. The lifting device 3 has a container holder 5 through which a Fig. 1 container not shown can be accommodated.

[0025] Fig. 2shows two loading vehicles 1, which jointly accommodate a container 6. The container 6 has two receiving areas 7 at two opposite end areas of the container 6, wherein the receiving areas 7 can interact with the container receptacle 5 of the loading vehicle 1.

[0026] The loading vehicles 1 and the container 6 are used in the block storage arrangement 8. The block storage arrangement 8 has several container stacking spaces 9 and a loading space 10 arranged below the container stacking spaces 9 in the direction of gravity. A through-opening 11a, 11b is arranged between each container stacking space 9 and the loading space 10, through which a container can be transferred from the loading space 10 into the container stacking space 9 or from the container stacking space 9 into the loading space 10. The through-opening 11a, 11b has a holding device 12 that can be actuated by the release mechanism 4 of the loading vehicle 1. The release device 4 allows the holding pawls 13 of the holding device 12 to be transferred from a release position to a holding position and vice versa.In the holding position, the holding device 12 holds the containers located in the container stacking space 9, with several containers forming a container stack. In the release position, however, a container can be transferred into the container stacking space 9 and removed from this container stacking space 9. For this purpose, the holding device 12 has two or more holding pawls 13, which are, for example, diametrically opposed to one another. The release device 4 is configured according to the arrangement of the holding pawls 13.

[0027] As mentioned, a passage opening 11a, 11b is arranged between the container stacking space 9 and the loading space. A base area of ​​the container stacking space 9 is adapted to this passage opening 11a, 11b. At least two of the passage openings 11a, 11b have different sizes, so that containers of different sizes can be stored and retrieved from suitable container stacking spaces 9 through corresponding passage openings 11a, 11b.

[0028] Thus, first containers 6 can be loaded and unloaded through first through-openings 11a, and second containers 6 through second through-openings 11b. This process is carried out with the aid of one or more loading vehicles 1. First containers are transported by one loading vehicle 1, and second containers 6 are transported by two loading vehicles 1, i.e., loaded, unloaded, and relocated. The second containers 6 are, for example, larger than the first containers.

[0029] For example, several first containers can be transported by one of the loading vehicles 1 each, with the same loading vehicles 1 subsequently transporting second containers 6 in a combination or tandem. Accordingly, loading vehicles 1 can also first transport second containers 6 and then first containers.

[0030] As in Fig. 2As shown, two loading vehicles 1 can pick up a large container 6. For this purpose, the two loading vehicles 1 are arranged accordingly so that the container receptacles 5 of the respective loading vehicles 1 can interact with the receiving areas 7 of the container 6. The loading vehicles 1 are arranged such that the lifting devices 3 of the loading vehicles 1 point outwards, while the container receptacles 5 of the loading vehicles face each other. As soon as the two loading vehicles 1 have picked up a container 6, they move synchronously. This means that the container 6 is raised, lowered and moved synchronously. The two loading vehicles are controlled by a common control system. Due to the common control system, the two loading vehicles 1 act as a unit, so that simple control is possible.Furthermore, the control system can be configured, for example, as a master / slave control system. With a master / slave control system, one of the two loading vehicles 1 is selected as the master and the other as the slave. The slave loading vehicle 1 is oriented toward the master loading vehicle 1. List of reference symbols

[0031] 1 Loading vehicle 2 Chassis 3 Lifting device 4 Release device 5 Container holder 6 Container 7 Pick-up area 8 Block storage arrangement 9 Container receiving space 10 Loading space 11 Passage opening 12 Holding device 13 Holding latch

Claims

1. Block storage assembly with several container stacking spaces and a loading space arranged in the direction of gravity below the container stacking spaces, wherein between each container stacking space and the loading space is arranged a passage opening through which a container (6) can be moved from the loading space into the container stacking space or out of the container stacking space into the loading space and which has a holding device, wherein at least two passage openings have different sizes, characterized in that a first loading vehicle (1) and a second loading vehicle ( 1) can be moved in synchronization with the first loading vehicle (1), wherein the loading vehicles (1) each have a lifting device (3) with which a container (6) can be stored from the loading space into a container stacking space or removed from the container stacking space , wherein the lifting device (3) is attached on one side to a chassis (2) of the loading vehicle and the lifting device (3) of the first loading vehicle (1) is located opposite the lifting device (3) of the second loading vehicle (1).

2. Block storage assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage opening of each container stacking space is adapted to the base area of the container stacking space.

3. Block storage assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding device has at least two holding latches that are diametrically opposed to each other.

4. Block storage assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two loading vehicles (1) have a common control system.

5. Block storage assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the control system is designed as a master / slave control system.

6. Method for operating a block storage assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5 having a plurality of container stacking spaces and a loading space arranged in the direction of gravity beneath the container stacking spaces, a passage opening which has a holding device being arranged between each container stacking space and the loading space, at least two passage openings having different sizes, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. selecting a container stacking space as a function of the size of the container (6), b. storing at least one container (6) in the container stacking space starting from the loading space, c. removing the at least one container (6) from the container stacking space into the loading space, steps b and c being carried out by at least one loading vehicle (1) having a lifting device (3), the lifting device being arranged on one side of a chassis (2) of the loading vehicle (1).

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one charging vehicle (1) actuates the holding device.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the charging vehicles (1) are controlled by a common control system.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the control operates based on the master / slave principle.