Shuttle elevator for shelf system, shelf system, and method for displacing a shuttle

Abstract

The invention relates to a shuttle elevator (30) for a shelf system (1) with at least one shuttle (8) and at least two levels (21.x) for storing load carriers (12), wherein the shuttle elevator (30) comprises a displacement unit (32). The invention further relates to a shelf system (1) with a shuttle elevator (30). The invention further relates to a method for moving a shuttle with a shuttle elevator from one level to a further level of a shelf system (1), with the following method steps: - displacement of the shuttle (8) from its travel position, - displacement of the shuttle (8) to another level (21.x) of the shelf system (1), - displacement of the shuttle (8) to its travel position.

Description

[0001] Shuttle lift for reqal system, reqal system and method for relocating a shuttle

[0002] This application claims priority from German patent application DE 10 2022 108 761 .1 of April 11, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0003] The invention relates to a shuttle lift for a shelving system, in particular for a shuttle warehouse for small load carriers, a shelving system and a method for moving a shuttle from one level to another level of the shelving system.

[0004] In automated warehousing technology for small load carriers, i.e., load carriers with maximum dimensions of 400x600mm and a maximum weight of 50kg, the load carriers, which are often designed as boxes, are usually transported by a shuttle system in a shelving system, which is therefore also referred to as a shuttle warehouse. The shelving system comprises several shelves arranged next to one another, each of which usually has several levels. Between every two shelves, there are aisles for at least one shuttle each. This shuttle transports the load carriers to a shelf compartment assigned by the logistics system and stores them there, or removes a load carrier from a shelf compartment and transports it to a transfer area.This is usually located at one end of the rack and has at least one transfer point per rack system on each level and one or more lifts that transport the load carriers to the various levels of the racks.

[0005] During storage, the load carriers are fed into the shelving system via conveyor technology at a feed level, which may be located on the floor of a hall, for example. They are then picked up by the elevator using a load-handling device and transported to the predetermined level of the shelving. There, the load carrier is transferred by the elevator to a transfer point, which may be equipped with driven and / or non-driven rollers or supports. From the transfer point, the load carrier is picked up by the shuttle using the shuttle's load-handling device and subsequently transported by the shuttle to the assigned shelf compartment. There, the shuttle is positioned at the shelf compartment, and the load carrier is stored in the shelf compartment.

[0006] The shelving systems can be designed in such a way that not every level of the shelving system has a shuttle available, but rather a shuttle is used on different levels as needed. The shuttle is moved from one level to another by so-called shuttle lifts, which are also located on one end of the shelving system. Typically, the lift for load carriers is located on one end of the shelving system and the shuttle lift is located on the opposite end. This has the disadvantage that this arrangement results in very long travel distances for the shuttles from their last relocation of a load carrier on one level to the shuttle lift and back to the load carrier lift.For example, if a shuttle for retrieving a load carrier is positioned at the end of the shelving system used for storage and retrieval in the transfer area, the load carrier must travel the entire length of the shelving system to the other end of the shelving system before it can be transported to another level using the shuttle elevator located there. Shuttle elevators integrated into the load carrier elevator are also available, but these have the disadvantage that the load carrier and shuttle can only be transported together. This severely limits the flexibility and thus the storage capacity of the shelving system—that is, the number of load carriers that can be stored or retrieved at any given time.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a shuttle elevator and a shelving system that eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for quickly moving a shuttle from one level to another in the shelving system.

[0008] This object is achieved by the devices and the method with the features of the independent claims. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments and variants of the invention. A shuttle lift according to the invention for a shelving system with at least one shuttle and at least two levels for storing load carriers is characterized in that the shuttle lift comprises a displacement unit. The displacement unit is designed to displace the shuttle from its travel position. The travel position of the shuttle is defined in the sense of the application such that the shuttle is arranged in the rack at a predetermined level of the shelving system and is ready to travel in this level, i.e. can be controlled by the overall control system of the shelving system to retrieve or store a load carrier in the level.The driving position is therefore located in the aisle of the rack, from which the load carriers can be loaded into or unloaded from the rack.

[0009] In particular, the transfer unit can be configured to transfer the shuttle horizontally to the shuttle's travel direction. Horizontal in this context means in the plane of the rack in which the shuttle is currently located, or at least temporarily parallel to that plane. This contrasts with the transfer known from the prior art using a shuttle lift. This lift picks up the shuttle at the end of the rack by driving the shuttle up and then moves it up or down to another plane, i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the rack, as defined.

[0010] Furthermore, the shuttle lift can be configured to lift the shuttle from its travel rail. For this purpose, a transfer unit can be connected to the shuttle, allowing the shuttle lift to lift the shuttle from the travel rail. Through the horizontal transfer, the shuttle can be transferred from the travel rail into the shuttle lift according to the invention.

[0011] In addition, the shuttle lift can be designed to lift a partial rail of a shuttle's travel rail with the shuttle arranged on this partial rail.

[0012] In particular, the relocation unit can be configured to relocate the partial rail of the travel rail with the shuttle arranged on the partial rail. For this purpose, the relocation unit can be relocated beneath the travel rail and the shuttle and accommodate the shuttle and the partial rails on a relocation platform. The shuttle lift connected to the relocation unit can lift the relocation unit with the relocation platform and the travel rail arranged thereon, as well as the shuttle. The relocation unit can then relocate the partial rail and the shuttle across the travel rail, which is arranged in an aisle between two racks of the racking system, into the area of ​​a rack, i.e., into the part of the racking system in which the load carriers can also be stored.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the transfer unit can comprise a lifting device. The lifting device can perform the function of lifting the transfer unit with the partial rail arranged on the transfer platform and the shuttle arranged thereon. This has the advantage that the shuttle lift only needs to move to one position to pick up the shuttle (with the partial rail).

[0014] In particular, the displacement unit may comprise at least one locking device.

[0015] Furthermore, the locking mechanism can lock the shuttle, a shuttle displacement unit, and the partial rail, thereby preventing the components from slipping when the shuttle is moved. The locking mechanism can be implemented by pins or bolts arranged on the displacement platform and engaging corresponding recesses in the displacement unit, the partial rail, and the shuttle.

[0016] A shelving system according to the invention comprises a shuttle elevator according to one of the embodiments described above.

[0017] Furthermore, the shelving system can include a travel rail with a removable partial rail. As explained above, the partial rail can be moved by the shuttle lift with the shuttle mounted on the partial rail.

[0018] In addition, the guide rail can include connecting elements for mechanically connecting the partial rail to the guide rail. The connecting elements can be passive. The partial rail can be inserted into the guide rail, which has corresponding bevels, using bevels formed on both sides. If the shuttle accelerates or brakes on the partial rail, the forces acting on the partial rail can cause the partial rail to slip relative to the guide rail along the bevel. The connecting elements, designed, for example, as tenons or pins and corresponding recesses or fitting holes, can advantageously prevent this slipping by blocking the movement of the partial rail in the direction of travel.

[0019] Furthermore, the connecting elements can also be designed to be active. The connecting elements, such as pins or bolts, can be operated, for example, by actuators, simple magnetic switches, or pneumatically, to actively connect the partial rails fitted into the guide rail.

[0020] In particular, the guide rail can include a plug connection for electrically connecting the partial rail to the guide rail. The guide rail, which is powered by a power rail to supply the shuttle's drive, is disconnected when the partial rail is removed. The plug connection, which can be designed, for example, with a plug on the partial rail and a socket on the guide rail, enables easy connection of the power rail. Ideally, the guide for aligning the partial rail to the guide rail is designed such that the plug and socket are aligned with sufficient precision to automatically engage when the partial rail is inserted into the guide rail.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the shuttle elevator can be arranged within a rack for storing load carriers of the racking system. The rack is the area of ​​the racking system in which the load carriers can be stored in shelf compartments. In contrast, there are areas arranged at the front or rear of the racking system, into which the load carriers are transported by conveyor systems to or from the shuttle warehouse, thus representing the interface of the shuttle warehouse to the overall warehouse. Typically, the elevators for moving the load carriers to different levels of the racking system are arranged in this interface area, whereas the shuttle elevators used to exchange or move the shuttles to other levels are arranged on the opposite side of the rack.The advantage of locating the shuttle lift within the storage area of ​​the racking system is that, by locating the lift in the center of the warehouse, the shuttle's path to the shuttle lift is shorter than with a shuttle lift mounted at the ends of the racking system. This results in a shorter transfer time for a shuttle from one level of the racking system to another. Furthermore, with the same floor space of the racking system, more space can be used for storing load carriers, further increasing storage density.

[0022] A method according to the invention for moving a shuttle with a shuttle lift from one level to another level of a shelving system comprises the following method steps:

[0023] - Relocation of the shuttle from its driving position,

[0024] - Moving the shuttle to another level of the shelving system,

[0025] - Moving the shuttle into its driving position.

[0026] The driving position has already been defined above.

[0027] In particular, the movement of the shuttle from its travel position can include a translational movement. As mentioned above, this can include a horizontal movement relative to the travel direction.

[0028] Furthermore, the movement of the shuttle from its travel position can comprise a rotational movement. A rotational movement can be useful, for example, if a deflection of the displacement unit caused by the shuttle's weight when it is lifted is to be maintained in order to prevent the shuttle from slipping off the displacement unit. It is also conceivable to at least partially minimize the stroke for lifting the partial rail out of the travel rail by means of a rotational movement. In a further embodiment of the invention, the movement of the shuttle from its travel position can comprise two translational movements executed perpendicular to one another. These can, for example, comprise lifting the shuttle from the travel rails, if necessary also lifting the shuttle with the partial rails out of the travel rails and a subsequent horizontal movement in the direction of travel.The rotational movement explained above can also be combined with the two translational movements.

[0029] Furthermore, the shuttle can be moved to another level of the shelving system within the shelving system's shelf. The advantages of this method have already been explained above.

[0030] In addition, the movement of the shuttle into the shuttle's travel position can correspond to the movements from the travel position in reverse order.

[0031] In the following, embodiments and variants of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a shelving system known from the prior art,

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a shelving system according to the invention,

[0034] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a shelving system according to the invention in a sectional view to explain a method according to the invention,

[0035] Figures 4a, 4b show a schematic detailed representation of a shuttle elevator according to the invention,

[0036] Figure 5 shows a detailed view of a rail of the shelving system,

[0037] Figure 6 shows a further detailed view of the rail of the shelving system,

[0038] Figure 7 shows a further detailed view of the travel rail of the shelving system, and Figure 8 shows a flow chart for a method according to the invention.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a plan view of a section of a level 21 of a shelving system for small load carriers, designed as a shuttle warehouse 1 and known from the prior art, in which two shelves 3 of a shelving system 1 are shown. Small load carriers 12 typically have a base area of ​​400 x 600 millimeters and a maximum weight of 50 kg, with a maximum height of 600 millimeters, and are also referred to below as load carriers. Between the two shelves 3, an aisle 6 is arranged with a guide rail 9, which is attached to risers 4 of the two adjacent shelves 3. A shuttle 8 with a load-handling device 10 transports a load carrier 12, designed as a box in the example shown, along the aisle 6.The load carriers 12 are transferred to a transfer station 13, which can be driven or non-driven, in a transfer area 22 arranged on the upper end face of the shelves 3 shown in Figure 1 by elevators 14, which transport the load carriers 12 to the individual levels 21 of the shelves 3. The transfer station 13 can be driven or non-driven. From the transfer station 13, the load handling device 10, with the aid of the transfer unit 15, takes the load carrier 12 and transports it to a shelf compartment 7 in the shelves 3 provided for storage. The movement of the shuttle 8 in the aisle 6 is illustrated in the figure by a double arrow. The load carrier 12 is stored by the load handling device 10 in one of the four possible positions in the shelf compartment 7 shown in the example.For this purpose, the displacement unit 15 comprises a lifting device (not shown in Figure 1) for lifting the load carrier 12 and a horizontal drive designed as a telescopic drive 17. The load handling device 10, including the lifting device, is pushed into the shelf compartment 7 by the telescopic drive 17 on support profiles 11, which are arranged on the risers 4 on each side of the shelf compartment 7. The load carrier 12 is lifted by the lifting device in such a way that it hovers above the support profiles 11 at a distance of 1 mm to 25 mm. At the predetermined position in the shelf compartment 7, the load carrier 12 is lowered by the lifting device so that it comes to rest on the support profiles 11. In the example shown, the support profiles 11 are designed such that they can be used both as a rail for the load handling device 10 and as a support for the load carrier 12.Alternatively, the rail for the load-handling device 10 and the support for the load carrier 12 can also be designed as two independent components. On the opposite lower end of the aisle 6 of the shelving system 1, shown in Figure 1, there is a shuttle lift 18 which can move the shuttle 8 from the level 21 of the shelving system 1, shown in Figure 1, to another level (not shown) of the shelving system 1. In addition, the shuttle lift 18 can also be used to move the shuttle 8 in the event of maintenance or a failure of the shuttle 8. The embodiment of the shelving system 1 shown in Figure 1 has a smaller number of shuttles 8 than levels in the shelving system 1, so that the shuttle lift 18 is used to move the shuttle 8 between the levels of the shelving system 1. By moving the shuttle 8 between the levels of the shelving system 1, all levels can be used.Depending on the required storage capacity, i.e. the number of load carriers 12 stored or retrieved, and the costs for the shelving system 1, the number of shuttles 8 can be determined.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a shelving system according to the invention designed as a shuttle warehouse 1, with a shuttle elevator 30 arranged in the shelf 3 of the shelving system 1, wherein the transfer area 22 of the shelving system 1 is identical to the area described in Figure 1. The shuttle elevator 30 according to the invention is arranged within the shelf 3, i.e. within the area provided for the storage of the load carriers 12. The arrangement of the shuttle elevator 30 in the shelf 3 leads to an advantageous saving of installation space, since only the installation space of one of the two shelves 3 of the shelving system 1 is required for the shuttle elevator 30. The shuttle elevator 18 shown in Figure 1 and arranged on the lower end face can thus be omitted, creating more storage spaces for load carriers 12 with the same floor space of the shelving system 1.The arrangement of the shuttle lift 30 in the center of the rack 3 shown in Figure 2 further has the advantage that the paths of the shuttle 8, particularly after retrieving a load carrier 12, are shortened compared to the arrangement shown in Figure 1. As a result, the time required to move a shuttle 8 from one level to another can be effectively reduced, thereby increasing the time available for the shuttle 8 to move load carrier 12.

[0041] Compared to an integrated shuttle lift 18 as explained in Figure 1, the additional shuttle lift 30 has the advantage that the shuttle 8 and the load carriers 12 can be moved independently of one another, thereby advantageously optimizing the storage capacity of the shuttle warehouse 1. The shuttle lift 30 comprises a displacement unit (not shown in Figure 2) which laterally displaces the shuttle 8 from its travel position. The travel position is the position from which the shuttle 8 can be moved in the aisle 6 or in which the shuttle 8 can store or retrieve a load carrier 12 from a transfer station 13 or a shelf compartment 7; i.e., the travel position is the position in which the shuttle 8 is ready for operation.

[0042] The shuttle elevator 30 then moves the shuttle 8 to a level assigned by the logistics system. Once the desired level is reached, the shuttle 8 is returned to its travel position on the travel rail 9 of the shelving system 1 by the transfer unit, making it ready for operation at the new level.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a shelving system 1 according to the invention in a sectional view with eight levels 21.x. The shuttle 8 is arranged on level 21.4 and is to be moved to level 21.6. The shuttle elevator 30 is moved to level 21.4 and positioned to receive the shuttle 8.

[0044] The transfer unit 32 moves a transfer platform 33 for receiving the shuttle 8 under the shuttle 8 and the travel rail 9. In the embodiment explained in Figure 3, the shuttle 8 is lifted on a removable partial rail 38 of the travel rail 9, i.e. together with the partial rail 38. The lifting of the transfer platform 33 is effected by the shuttle elevator 30, whereby an additional lifting device 34 is also conceivable, which is shown in dashed lines in Figure 3. The optional lifting device 34, like the transfer unit 32, is arranged in an elevator container 31, which serves to receive the shuttle 8 and the partial rail 38 during the transfer from level 21.4 to level 21.6. The elevator container 31 has a floor on which the lifting device 34 and the transfer unit 32 are arranged. A belt (not shown) is attached to the underside of the floor to drive the shuttle elevator 30.The floor is connected via side parts to a lid of the elevator container 31, which supports the weight of the elevator container 31 and the shuttle 8 with the partial rail 38. The lid is also connected to a second end of the belt (not shown). The elevator container 31 is open towards the travel rails 9 so that the transfer platform 33 can be extended to transfer the shuttle 8 with the partial rail 38 into the elevator container 31. The transfer unit 32 is designed to be tilted relative to the elevator container 31 to compensate for the deflection of the transfer platform 33 caused by the leverage and the weight of the shuttle 8. When unloaded, the transfer platform 33 is therefore not aligned parallel to the travel rail 9, but at a slight angle that compensates for the deflection caused by the weight of the shuttle 8.The lifting and insertion of the partial rail 38 is thereby effected for both travel rails 9, as a result of which canting or jamming of the partial rail 38 with the travel rail 9 can be advantageously avoided. Alternatively, only the shuttle 8 can be lifted from the travel rail 9, in which case all components which could prevent the shuttle 8 from being lifted off the travel rail 9, such as current collectors, must be relocated. The relocation platform 33 with the shuttle 8 on the partial rail 38 is retracted into the elevator container 31 after lifting, and the shuttle elevator 30 moves to the target level 21.6. In level 21.6, the shuttle 8 with the partial rails 38 is inserted back into the travel rail 9 by the relocation unit 32. The partial rail 38 can be relocated together with the shuttle 8, since normally only one shuttle 8 is used per level 21.x is used because it is not possible for two shuttles 8 to approach the transfer area 22 of the load carriers 12 at the front of the shelving system 1 within an aisle 6. In the case of more than one shuttle 8 in an aisle 6, these only move in certain areas of the aisle 6 in order to avoid collisions, so that in this case a shuttle lift.

[0045] 30 can be set up for each area. If a shuttle 8 is removed from an area of ​​aisle 6, no other shuttle 8 will continue to travel to that area, so the absence of partial rail 38 does not pose a problem.

[0046] Figure 4a shows a schematic detailed representation of a shuttle elevator 30 according to the invention in a sectional view, in which a shuttle 8 is shown before lifting. The displacement platform 33 is already connected to the shuttle 8 and the partial rail 38. The connection is effected via locking devices 35, 36, 37, which are designed as pins and are intended to prevent lateral movement or slipping of the shuttle 8, the displacement unit 15 arranged on the shuttle 8, or the partial rail 38 on the displacement platform 33 during displacement of the shuttle 8. The lifting device 19, which is also arranged on the shuttle 8, does not need to be additionally secured in the embodiment explained in Figure 4a. Depending on the embodiment of the shuttle 8, other components of the shuttle 8 can also be locked.Alternatively, the connection of the displacement platform 33 with the shuttle 8 and the partial rails 38, as well as the locking means 35, 36, 37 of the displacement unit 15 of the shuttle 8 can also be realized by two diagonally arranged locking means (not shown) designed as pins (not shown) below the displacement unit 15.

[0047] The partial rail 38 is separated at an interface 42 of the travel rail 9, which will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 6. The elevator container 31 is connected to a belt 44 of the shuttle elevator 30 via a belt fixation 45. The belt 44 is guided over several deflection rollers (not shown) and is attached to a second, not shown, belt fixation on the underside of the elevator container.

[0048] 31. The belt 44 is connected to a drive (not shown).

[0049] Figure 4b shows the shuttle 8 lifted by the shuttle elevator 30 with the partial rail 38. The lifting is effected by a movement of the shuttle elevator 30 and lifts the partial rail 38 with the shuttle 8 to such an extent that, when the transfer platform 33 is moved into the elevator container 31 by the transfer unit 32, the partial rail 38 can be moved above the travel rail 9, which is firmly connected to the rack 3. Once the transfer platform 33 is fully retracted, the shuttle elevator 30 can move the shuttle 8 to another level 21.x, in which the partial rail 38 is reinserted into the corresponding recess in the travel rail 9.

[0050] Figure 5 shows a detailed sectional view of the partial rail 38. In the example shown, a reinforcement element 39.1 and a filling 40.1 serve to stiffen the partial rail 38. The reinforcement element 39.1 is designed to correspond to the U-shaped partial rail 38 and is in turn filled with the filling 40.1. The filling 40.1 serves both as reinforcement and as a receptacle for the locking device 37 explained in Figure 4a. The guide rail 9 (not shown) has an identical stiffener in the area of ​​the interface 42.

[0051] Figure 6 shows a further detailed view of the guide rail 9 with the partial rail 38 in the area of ​​the interface 42 in a sectional view. The interface 42 is divided into three interfaces 42.1, 42.2, and 42.3 by the stiffening explained in Figure 5. The interfaces 42.1, 42.2, and 42.3 between the individual elements of the stiffened area around the interface 42—that is, the guide rail 9 and the partial rail 38, the reinforcing element 39.1 and the reinforcing element 39.2, and the filling 40.1 and the filling 40.2—are offset such that they overlap. The interface 42.1 is thus designed such that the end of the partial rail 38 rests on the reinforcing element 39.2 of the running rail 9, illustrated in Figure 5, and the flanks of the U-shaped partial rail 38 enclose the flanks of the likewise U-shaped reinforcing element 39.2. The reinforcing element 39.1 of the partial rail 38, in turn, rests partially on the filling 40.2 of the running rail 9 and encloses it. The filling 40.1 of the partial rail 38, with its end face 41.1 inclined at an angle of less than 90° to the direction of travel, comes into contact with the correspondingly inclined end face 41.2 of the filling 40.2 of the running rail 9. The end faces 41.1, 41.2 serve to prevent tilting or jamming when inserting the partial rail 38 into the running rail 9 and, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, have a two-stage profile. In the upper area of ​​the end faces 41.1, 41.2, a steeper angle in the range of 60 to 70 degrees, in particular 65 degrees, is formed to the running surface 43 of the running rail 9, whereby the movement of the partial rail 38, which is pre-centered via a pin (not shown) guided in a corresponding recess, is slowed down as little as possible by friction between the end faces 41.1, 41.2.For damping and optimal force transmission between the partial rail 38 and the running rail 9, the end faces 41.1, 41.2 have a bend 53, from which the gradient of the end faces 41.1, 41.2 is flatter in the lower area, in a range of 40 to 50 degrees, in particular at 45 degrees. To prevent the partial rail 38 from slipping out of the running rail 9 along the inclined interfaces 42.1, 42.2, 42.3 when forces are transferred to the partial rail 38 via the wheel 20 due to acceleration and / or braking processes of the shuttle 8, the partial rail is additionally secured against slipping in the direction of travel by a pin 46. The pin 46 is arranged in the guide rail 9 and, when the partial rail 38 is connected to the guide rail 9, is inserted into a recess 47 in the reinforcement element 39.1 of the partial rail 38.The partial rail 38, which is held in the guide rail 9 only by its weight, is thus additionally secured against horizontal movement, i.e., in the direction of travel of the shuttle 8. Alternatively, a magnet, particularly an electromagnet, can be installed instead of the pin 46, which additionally supports the weight force and further strengthens the protection against slipping.

[0052] Figure 7 shows a further detailed view of the running rail 9, in which a plug 49 is shown for the electrical connection of a conductor rail (not shown) running in the partial rail 38 and in the running rail 9. The shuttle 8 is supplied with power via a conductor rail arranged on the running rail 9, which the shuttle 8 takes from the conductor rail via current collectors, also not shown. When the partial rail 38 is lifted out, the electrical connection of the conductor rail must therefore also be disconnected and reconnected when inserted. This electrical disconnection is effected via a plug connection 48, with a plug 49 being connected to the partial rail 38 via an adapter 51 and a socket 50 being connected to the running rail 9 via an adapter 52.

[0053] Figure 8 describes a possible method for moving a shuttle 8 with a shuttle elevator 30 from one level 21.x to another level 21.x of a shelving system 1. In a first method step 61, the shuttle 8 is moved from its travel position.

[0054] In a second method step 62, the shuttle 8 is moved to another level 21.x of the shelving system 1. In a third method step 63, the shuttle 8 is moved to its travel position.

[0055] List of reference symbols

[0056] 1 shuttle warehouse

[0057] 1 shelving system

[0058] 3 shelves

[0059] 4 Steiger

[0060] 6 Alley

[0061] 7 shelf compartments

[0062] 8 Shuttle

[0063] 9 Running rail

[0064] 10 load handling devices

[0065] 11 supporting profiles

[0066] 12 load carriers

[0067] 13 Transfer station

[0068] 14 Elevator load carrier

[0069] 15 Relocation unit shuttle

[0070] 17 Telescopic drive shuttle

[0071] 18 Shuttle elevator state of the art

[0072] 19 Lifting device shuttle

[0073] 20-wheel shuttle

[0074] 21.1-21.8 level shelving system

[0075] 22 Transfer area

[0076] 30 Shuttle elevator

[0077] 31 elevator containers

[0078] 32 Relocation unit shuttle elevator

[0079] 33 relocation platform

[0080] 34 Lifting device

[0081] 35 Locking mechanism for displacement unit

[0082] 36 Shuttle locking mechanism

[0083] 37 Rail locking mechanism

[0084] 38 Partial rail .1 , 39.2 Reinforcing element .1 , 40.2 Filling rail .1 , 41.2 Front side filling , 42.1 - 42.3 Interface rail

[0085] Running surface of the running rail

[0086] belt

[0087] Belt fixation

[0088] Pin

[0089] Recording

[0090] Plug connection busbar

[0091] Plug

[0092] socket

[0093] Adapter plug connection running rail

[0094] Adapter plug connection removable guide rail

[0095] kink

[0096] Process step 1

[0097] Process step 2

[0098] Process step 3

Claims

Patent claims 1. Shuttle lift (30) for a racking system (1) with at least one shuttle (8) and at least two levels (21.x) for storing load carriers (12), characterized in that the shuttle lift (30) comprises a transfer unit (32).

2. Shuttle lift (30) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transfer unit (32) is configured to transfer the shuttle (8) horizontally to the direction of travel of the shuttle (8).

3. Shuttle lift (30) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the shuttle lift (30) is designed to lift the shuttle (8) from its guide rail (9).

4. Shuttle lift (30) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the shuttle lift (30) is configured to lift a partial rail (38) of a guide rail (9) of the shuttle (8) with the shuttle (8) arranged on this partial rail (38).

5. Shuttle lift (30) according to claim 4, characterized in that the transfer unit (32) is configured to transfer the partial rail (38) of the guide rail (9) with the shuttle (8) arranged on the partial rail (38).

6. Shuttle lift (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer unit (32) comprises a lifting device (34).

7. Shuttle lift (30) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer unit (32) comprises at least one locking device (35, 36, 37).

8. Shuttle lift (30) according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking device (35, 36, 37) locks the shuttle (8), a displacement unit (15) of the shuttle (8) and the partial rail (38).

9. Racking system (1 ) with a shuttle lift (30) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Racking system (1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the racking system (1 ) comprises a guide rail (9) with a removable partial rail (38).

11. Racking system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide rail (9) comprises connecting elements (46, 47) for mechanically connecting the partial rail (38) to the guide rail (9).

12. Shelving system (1 ) according to claim 11 , characterized in that the connecting elements (46,47) are passively designed.

13. Shelving system (1 ) according to claim 11 , characterized in that the connecting elements (46,47) are actively designed.

14. Racking system (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the guide rail (9) has a plug connection (48) for electrical connection the partial rail (38) with the guide rail (9). Racking system (1) according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the shuttle lift (30) is arranged within a rack (3) for storing load carriers of the racking system (1). Method for moving a shuttle (8) with a shuttle lift from one level to another level of a racking system (1) comprising the following method steps: - Relocation of the shuttle (8) from its driving position, - Relocation of the shuttle (8) to another level (21.x) of the racking system (1 ), - Relocation of the shuttle (8) into its travel position. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the movement of the shuttle (8) from its travel position comprises a translational movement. Method according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the movement of the shuttle (8) from its travel position comprises a rotational movement. Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the movement of the shuttle (8) from its travel position comprises two translational movements performed perpendicular to each other. Method according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the movement of the shuttle (8) is performed into another plane (21.x) of the racking system (1) within the rack (3) of the racking system (1). Method according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the movement of the shuttle (8) into the driving position of the shuttle (8) corresponds to the movements from the driving position in reverse order.

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