Conveying device and rack store
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023765213
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-05
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-01
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing storage systems are inefficient in handling and storing long goods, such as containers and trucks, due to the requirement of large spaces and inability to store or retrieve them fully automatically, especially in metropolitan areas with limited space.
A conveyor device with a chassis and load-carrying mechanism that moves at an angle other than 90 degrees, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of long goods by aligning the storage spaces in a parallelogram configuration, reducing the space needed outside the building and enabling the use of existing warehouse dimensions.
This solution allows for the efficient storage and retrieval of long goods, including containers and trucks, by optimizing space usage within existing warehouse dimensions, particularly in metropolitan areas where space is limited, and ensures stable handling of heavy loads.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Conveyor and rack storage
[0002] The invention relates to a conveyor device, in particular a conveyor device for storing stored goods in a storage location and / or for retrieving stored goods from a storage location. The conveyor device comprises a chassis with a drive device for moving the conveyor device in and against a direction of travel along the storage locations. The conveyor device is moved at least partially parallel to a horizontal plane or partially along a horizontal plane. For moving the stored goods, the conveyor device comprises at least one load-handling device which is configured to bring stored goods into one of the storage locations or to remove them from one of the storage locations. The invention further relates to a rack warehouse for storing such stored goods.
[0003] The stored goods are preferably general cargo, which is in particular provided with a loading aid, for example a pallet or the like.
[0004] It has been discovered that some goods are particularly long, making it impossible to fully automatically store or retrieve them from existing storage areas or warehouses. These goods require a great deal of space for handling. This is especially true when storing containers or even entire trucks.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device and a rack storage system with which even particularly long items can be efficiently stored or retrieved. This object is achieved by a conveyor device having the features of claim 1 and by a rack storage system having the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
[0006] The conveyor device according to the invention comprises a chassis with a drive device, which is configured to move the conveyor device in and against a direction of travel along storage locations, at least in sections parallel to or along a horizontal plane. The conveyor device also comprises at least one load-handling device, which is configured to introduce stored goods into one of the storage locations or to remove them from one of the storage locations. This load-handling device is configured to introduce the stored goods into one of the storage locations or to remove them from one of the storage locations parallel to or along the horizontal plane at an angle α with respect to the direction of travel, wherein the angle α differs from a 90-degree angle. Preferably, however, the angle α also differs from any integer multiple of a 90-degree angle.
[0007] This conveyor device has the advantage that longer goods can be stored in existing buildings with fixed dimensions. In order to bring the longer goods into the building, less space is also required outside the building for feeding the stored goods. This is particularly useful in metropolitan areas where there is limited space or free area available. For long goods that are to be brought vertically into a storage building, more space is required around the building than is the case if - which corresponds to one of the basic ideas of the present invention - the stored goods are brought into the building at a "flatter" angle. A fewer number of storage spaces can be accepted.
[0008] It has proven advantageous if the angle a is between 45 degrees and 80 degrees. This allows for effective use of the available space in an existing warehouse. To store long containers (e.g., 40-foot containers or 20-foot containers), it has proven preferable for the angle a to be between 60 degrees and 75 degrees. The angle a is preferably approximately 70 degrees. This angle has proven advantageous with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor because it allows not only containers but also entire trucks to be loaded into or unloaded from the storage areas.
[0009] In principle, the conveyor's floor plan, and thus its chassis, in particular its chassis frame, can be designed with any cross-section. The chassis frame can, for example, be diamond-shaped or rectangular, as long as it is ensured that the storage and retrieval of the stored goods in one of the storage compartments can take place at an angle a relative to the conveyor's direction of travel, which angle is different from a 90-degree angle and any integer multiple of a 90-degree angle. The angle a should also be an angle different from zero degrees.
[0010] Since the goods being stored or retrieved are heavy-duty goods, it has proven advantageous for the conveyor's chassis to include at least four wheels, and for the four wheels to form a parallelogram, which is different from a rectangle. This design allows the stored goods to be reliably loaded into or unloaded from the storage locations.
[0011] In this context, it has also proven advantageous if the chassis includes a chassis frame, and if the chassis frame essentially spans a parallelogram, which is different from a rectangle. This design also gives the conveyor greater stability, allowing heavy loads, such as containers or entire trucks, to be safely loaded into or removed from storage areas.
[0012] It is preferred that the parallelogram also differs from a rhombus, with the load-handling device traversing a path parallel to the long edges of the parallelogram during storage or retrieval operations. This way, the conveyor itself also requires very little space and can easily load or unload long goods into or from storage locations.
[0013] Even if the parallelogram differs from a rhombus, depending on the dimensions of the goods to be stored, it may be advantageous if the load handling device executes a travel path that is aligned parallel to the short edges of the parallelogram during storage or retrieval operations.
[0014] In order to correctly align the stored goods to be loaded into or unloaded from the storage locations, it has proven advantageous if the load-handling device is mounted on a rotating device that can be rotated between at least two fixed, predetermined rotational positions. Preferably, the rotating device can be rotated between a fixed, predetermined first rotational position, in which a stored good can be transferred to the load-handling device for storage or in which a stored good can be released from the load-handling device for retrieval, and a second rotational position corresponding to the angle α, in which the load-handling device can load a stored good into one of the storage locations or remove it from one of the storage locations.It is possible for the rotation device to assume more than two fixed rotational positions, which is particularly important if not all storage locations are aligned parallel to one another.
[0015] To reduce the complexity of the conveyor, it has proven advantageous to mount the load-handling device in a rotationally fixed manner at an angle a relative to the conveyor's direction of travel. This reduces the number of moving parts required for storage operations, which also minimizes the conveyor's weight.
[0016] It is expedient for the conveyor to comprise a lifting device that is adjustable vertically with respect to the direction of travel in and against a lifting direction. The load-handling device is preferably accommodated or can be accommodated by the lifting device, wherein the load-handling device is configured to insert stored goods into or remove them from one of the storage locations essentially vertically with respect to the lifting direction.
[0017] The lifting device is designed to move the load-handling device between different levels of a rack. The rack is, in particular, part of a high-bay warehouse, with a first level of the rack being different from a second level. The levels are, in particular, arranged vertically offset from one another. The levels are aligned parallel to one another. The conveyor is equipped with the lifting device to serve the different levels.
[0018] It is possible for the load-handling device to be configured as a channel vehicle, which is designed to enter a storage channel from one of the storage locations or to exit a storage channel from one of the storage locations. In this way, the stored goods, for example, the container or truck, can be reliably brought into the respective storage location or removed from the respective storage location. It is possible for the load-handling device to be configured from a plurality of such channel vehicles, each of which transports a portion of the stored goods and which are adjustable synchronously with one another.
[0019] The channel vehicle then preferably comprises (vertically) adjustable lifting elements in a conventional manner to lift stored goods, in particular piece goods, from a shelf compartment or lower them onto a shelf compartment. Furthermore, the stored goods can be picked up from or delivered to a transfer station using the lifting elements. The lifting elements can also be used to deposit the stored goods picked up by the channel vehicle onto the conveyor or onto the conveyor's lifting device (lifting table) and to pick them up again from there for storage operations.
[0020] The advantages and advantageous configurations and effects mentioned in connection with the conveyor device according to the invention apply equally to the rack storage system according to the invention, which is equipped with such a conveyor device. The rack storage system comprises at least one rack that comprises a plurality of storage locations, with a rack aisle extending at least partially along the rack, in which a conveyor device configured as a storage and retrieval system is present.
[0021] Due to the angled positioning of the shelves, very long goods can be stored in such a racking warehouse, especially if the dimensions are already specified in the building's floor plan or the available storage space outside the building. To accommodate a wide variety of goods and within the racking warehouse, the storage locations are preferably arranged on different levels.
[0022] In particular, it is provided that the storage locations of the rack are aligned at an angle with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor that is different from a 90-degree angle and an integer multiple of a 90-degree angle.
[0023] It is advantageous for the storage locations of a first level to be aligned at an angle relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor that differs from a 90-degree angle and an integer multiple of a 90-degree angle, and for the storage locations of a second level to be aligned at a 90-degree angle relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor, with the first level of the rack differing from the second level of the rack. To serve the different levels, the conveyor is then equipped with a lifting device. The lifting device can comprise a rotation device to serve the differently aligned storage locations on the first level and the second level.It is possible for the lifting device to not have a rotation device, but instead for a rotating mechanism to be present in the rack aisle to rotate the conveyor as a whole around a vertical axis so that the differently aligned storage locations can be served. It has proven advantageous if the storage locations are designed in such a way that a load handling device can be aligned with them in order to insert stored goods into the storage location or remove them from the storage location. It is also advantageous if a load handling device can enter or exit the storage locations in alignment; for example, if the load handling device is a channel vehicle or a shuttle.
[0024] In order to make sensible use of the available space, the advantage is that the storage areas, viewed in the direction of fall, i.e. in plan view, essentially span a parallelogram, which is different from a rectangle.
[0025] Preferably, the two long edges or the two short edges of the parallelogram defined by the storage locations are aligned parallel to the two long edges of the parallelograms spanned by the wheels or the chassis frame of the associated conveyor.
[0026] In addition, the travel path of the load-handling device can be aligned parallel to one of the two long edges or parallel to one of the two short edges of the parallelograms spanned by the storage locations in plan view. This facilitates the storage and retrieval process for the stored goods.
[0027] It is possible to have at least one transfer zone extending through at least one of the racks, for transferring stored goods to be stored to the conveyor for storage or for discharging stored goods from the conveyor for retrieval. This allows the conveyor to serve racks on both sides, with the transfer of stored goods taking place through one of the two racks.
[0028] The transfer zone can be operated bidirectionally, so that both storage and retrieval of the stored goods takes place via this transfer zone.
[0029] However, for a good flow in the rack warehouse, it is advantageous if only a unidirectional transfer zone is present, whereby a first transfer zone is used to transfer an item of storage to be stored to the conveyor for storage, and whereby a second transfer zone is used to take over an item of storage to be retrieved from the conveyor for retrieval and then output it.
[0030] For the storage of containers that are delivered to or picked up by trucks, it has proven advantageous if a receiving area for storage is located on a side of a first rack facing away from the rack aisle, and if an output area for retrieval is located on a side of a second rack facing away from the rack aisle, with the first rack and the second rack being arranged on either side of the rack aisle and forming the rack aisle between them. In this way, on the one hand, only the storage goods are fed in, while on the other hand, only the storage goods are removed. If, on the other hand, entire trucks are stored, they can easily drive into the rack storage or its receiving area at a "flat" angle that is different from a 90-degree angle and from an integer multiple of a 90-degree angle.The extension at the output area also occurs at an angle that is different from a 90-degree angle and from an integer multiple of a 90-degree angle.
[0031] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments are also to be considered encompassed and disclosed by the invention that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which emerge and can be produced through separate feature combinations from the explained embodiments. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention emerge from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments, and from the drawings. In the drawings:
[0032] Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a rack storage system in the form of a high-bay warehouse with a conveyor device, and
[0033] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the conveyor in the rack aisle, where the horizontally sketched points indicate the continuation of the rack, which has been hidden there for the sake of clarity.
[0034] Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a high-bay warehouse 200. The high-bay warehouse 200 comprises two rows of shelves 202. Each shelf 202 comprises a plurality of storage locations 204 arranged at different levels. A shelf aisle 206 extends along the shelves 202, which in this case is formed by the two spaced-apart rows of shelves. Shown in this shelf aisle 206 is a conveyor device 100 configured as a storage and retrieval machine, which comprises a chassis 102 with a drive device configured to move the conveyor device 100 in and against a direction of travel 104 along the storage locations 204 parallel to a horizontal plane 300 or along the horizontal plane 300.
[0035] The shelves 202 of the high-bay warehouse 200 are arranged in a building in the present case, which, purely by way of example, is accessible from a street. It is not absolutely necessary for a building shell to be present. Rather, the shelf 202 or the entire high-bay warehouse 200 can also be located outdoors. In order to bring stored goods into the warehouse, the high-bay warehouse 200 has a receiving area 212 for storage. This receiving area 212 is adjoined by a transfer zone 210 in order to transfer a stored good, for example a container or even an entire truck, to the storage and retrieval machine in the rack aisle 206. It can be seen that the orientation of the shelves 202 is inclined with respect to the rack aisle 206, which on the one hand requires a "flatter" angle than 90 degrees for feeding the stored goods from the street, which is illustrated by the solid (upper) arrow.If the shelves 202 were arranged vertically with respect to the building envelope, the long stored goods would have to be fed to the shelf storage 200 beyond the opposite lane, which is illustrated by the dashed (upper) arrow.
[0036] The storage and retrieval of the stored goods can take place via the same transfer zone 210 if it can be operated bidirectionally. If, however, the transfer zone 210 can be operated unidirectionally, an output area 214 serving for retrieval can be provided, to which a transfer zone 210 is also assigned. Due to the inclined arrangement of the shelves 202, a "flatter" removal of the stored goods, for example a "flatter" removal of a truck, is also possible at the output area 214, as illustrated by the solid (lower) arrow. If the shelves 202 are not arranged inclined at an angle α, a very large radius would again have to be traveled during removal, as illustrated by the dashed representation of the (lower) arrow. The inclined orientation therefore makes it possible to limit the area required around the building of the rack warehouse 200 for storage or retrieval.This is particularly advantageous in urban areas where there is no free space available for alternative routes.
[0037] In short, in the present case, a receiving area 212 serving for storage is provided on a side of a shelf 202 facing away from the shelf aisle 206, and an output area 214 serving for retrieval is provided on a side of a second shelf 202 facing away from the shelf aisle 206. The first shelf 202 and the second shelf 202 are spaced apart from one another and thus define the shelf aisle 206 in which the conveyor device 100 is located. It should be noted at this point that two of the conveyor devices 100 or three of the conveyor devices 100 can also be present in the shelf aisle 206. In a further embodiment, more than three of the conveyor devices 100 are present in the shelf aisle 206.In any case, each conveyor 100 movable along the rack aisle 206 comprises a load-handling device 106 configured to introduce the stored goods into one of the storage locations 204 or to remove them from one of the storage locations 206 parallel to the horizontal plane 300 or along the horizontal plane 300 at an angle α with respect to the direction of travel 104. The angle α, which differs from zero degrees, differs from a 90-degree angle and from any integer multiple of a 90-degree angle. This ensures that stored goods can be introduced into the rack storage 200 in a "flat" manner, and that, in particular, very long stored goods can be stored in a high-bay warehouse with existing dimensions due to their angular orientation in the rack 202.
[0038] The angle α is approximately 70 degrees in this case. However, it is preferably in a range from 45 degrees to 80 degrees and depends in particular on the type of goods to be stored. The goods are preferably piece goods and in this case can be provided, for example, on a pallet that can be placed into the storage locations 204. As can be seen from Figure 1, the chassis 102 comprises a chassis frame 110, wherein the chassis frame 110 essentially spans a parallelogram, which differs from a rectangle and from a rhombus. During storage or retrieval processes, the load handling device 106 executes a travel path which, in this case, is aligned parallel to the long edges of the parallelogram. The load handling device 106 is mounted in this case in a rotationally fixed manner at the angle α with respect to the direction of travel 104.
[0039] Figure 2 shows that the chassis 102 comprises at least four wheels 108, which can be moved in the rack aisle 206 either on rails or without rails. These four wheels 108 also form a parallelogram between them, which differs from a rectangle and a rhombus. It can be seen that the conveyor additionally comprises a lifting device 112, which is adjustable vertically with respect to the direction of travel 104 in and against a lifting direction 114, wherein the load-handling device 106 is received or can be received by the lifting device 112. The load-handling device 106 is configured to insert stored goods into one of the storage locations 204 of the rack 202 or to remove them from one of the storage locations 204 of the rack 202 essentially vertically with respect to the lifting direction 114.
[0040] In the present case, the load-handling device 106 is designed such that it can move into or out of the storage locations 204. The load-handling device 106 can, for example, be designed as a load fork. In the present case, however, a load-handling device 106 is used which is designed as a channel vehicle 116. The channel vehicle 116 is configured to move into a storage channel 208 of the storage locations 204 or to move out of a storage channel 208 of the storage locations 204. It is possible for several of the channel vehicles 116 to have space on the lifting device 112 and for them to move into or out of the storage channels 208 synchronously. For this reason, the storage locations 204 are also designed such that a load-handling device 106 can move into or out of them in alignment.
[0041] Analogous to the design of the chassis frame 110 or the arrangement of the wheels 108, the storage locations 204, viewed in the direction of travel, i.e. in plan view, are essentially also formed in the shape of a parallelogram, which differs from a rectangle and, in this case, also from a rhombus. In this way, particularly long goods can be stored in or retrieved from the racks 202. In this case, the two long edges of the parallelogram defined by the storage locations 204 are aligned parallel to the two long edges of the parallelograms spanned by the arrangement of the wheels 108 and the chassis frame 110, respectively. The travel path of the load handling device 106 is aligned parallel to the two long edges of the parallelograms spanned by the storage locations 204.
[0042] To store a stored item in the rack warehouse 200, it is provided at the receiving area 212, which is located on a side of a first rack 202 facing away from the rack aisle 206. Using the transfer zone 210 there, the stored item is transferred to the load-handling device 106 of the conveyor 100. The conveyor 100 is then moved along the rack aisle 206 until it reaches the position in the warehouse where the desired storage location 204 is located. If necessary, the lifting device 112 is actuated simultaneously with or following the movement in order to assume the correct height for storage before the stored item is brought into the desired storage location 204 using the load-handling device 106. To retrieve a stored item from the rack warehouse 200, it is first removed from one of the storage locations 204.The conveyor 100 is then moved along the rack aisle 206 until it reaches the position in the warehouse at which it has reached the transfer zone 210 of the output area 214. If necessary, the lifting device 112 is actuated simultaneously or subsequently to the movement in order to assume the correct height for the transfer zone 210 before the stored goods are delivered to the output area 214 using the load handling device 106 in the transfer zone 210. In the present case, the output area 214 is located on a side of a second rack 202 facing away from the rack aisle 206, with the first rack 202 and the second rack 202 being arranged on either side of the rack aisle 206 and forming the rack aisle 206 between them.
[0043] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0044] 100 Conveyor device (e.g. storage and retrieval machine)
[0045] 102 chassis
[0046] 104 Direction of travel
[0047] 106 load handling equipment
[0048] 108 wheels
[0049] 110 chassis frame
[0050] 112 Lifting device
[0051] 114 Stroke direction
[0052] 116 sewer vehicle
[0053] 200 rack storage
[0054] 202 Shelf
[0055] 204 storage space
[0056] 206 shelf aisle
[0057] 208 storage channel
[0058] 210 Transfer zone
[0059] 212 Recording area
[0060] 214 Output area
[0061] 300 horizontal plane
Claims
CLAIMS Conveyor device (100), comprising: - a chassis (102) with a drive device which is designed to move the conveyor in and against a direction of travel (104) along storage locations (204) at least in sections parallel to or along a horizontal plane (300), and - at least one load-handling device (106) which is configured to introduce a stored item into one of the storage locations (204) or to remove it from one of the storage locations (204), characterized in that the load-handling device (106) is configured to introduce the stored item into one of the storage locations (204) or to remove it from one of the storage locations (204) parallel to or along the horizontal plane (300) at an angle (α) with respect to the direction of travel (104) which differs from a 90-degree angle. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle (α) is from 45 degrees to 80 degrees, preferably from 60 degrees to 75 degrees, preferably approximately 70 degrees. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chassis (102) comprises at least four wheels (108), and that the four wheels (108) form a parallelogram among themselves which differs from a rectangle.Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the chassis (102) comprises a chassis frame (110), and that the chassis frame (110) essentially spans a parallelogram which differs from a rectangle. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the parallelogram also differs from a rhombus, and in that the load-handling means (106) executes a travel path during storage or retrieval operations that is aligned parallel to the long edges of the parallelogram. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the parallelogram also differs from a rhombus, and in that the load-handling means (106) executes a travel path during storage or retrieval operations that is aligned parallel to the short edges of the parallelogram.Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the load-handling means (106) is mounted on a rotation device that is rotatable between a fixed, predetermined first rotational position, in which a stored item can be transferred to the load-handling means (106) for storage or in which a stored item can be released from the load-handling means (106) for retrieval, and a second rotational position corresponding to the angle (α), in which the load-handling means (106) can introduce a stored item into one of the storage locations (204) or remove it from one of the storage locations (204). Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the load-handling means (106) is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner at the angle (α) with respect to the direction of travel (104).Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a lifting device (112) is provided which is adjustable perpendicularly with respect to the direction of travel (104) in and against a lifting direction (114), that the load-carrying means (106) is received or can be received by the lifting device (112), and that the load-carrying means (106) is arranged. is to introduce stored goods into one of the storage locations (204) or to remove them from one of the storage locations (204) essentially perpendicularly with respect to the lifting direction (114).
10. Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the load-carrying means (106) is formed as a channel vehicle (116) which is designed to enter a storage channel (208) of one of the storage locations (204) or to exit a storage channel (208) of one of the storage locations (204).
11. A shelf warehouse (200) with at least one shelf (202) comprising a plurality of storage locations (204), and with a shelf aisle (206) extending at least partially along the shelf (202), in which at least one conveyor device (100) designed as a storage and retrieval device according to one of claims 1 to 10 is present.
12. Rack storage (200) according to claim 11, characterized in that the storage locations (204) are designed such that a load-carrying means (106) can move into them in alignment or move out of them in alignment.
13. Rack storage (200) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the storage locations (204) essentially span a parallelogram, which differs from a rectangle, when viewed in the direction of fall.
14. Rack storage (200) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that at least one transfer zone (210) is present which extends through at least one of the racks (202) in order to transfer a storage item to be stored to the conveyor device (100) for storage or to output a storage item to be retrieved from the conveyor device (100) for retrieval.
15. Shelf storage (200) according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that a receiving area (212) serving for storage is arranged on one of the Shelf aisle (206) is present, and that an output area (214) serving for retrieval is present on a side of a second shelf (202) facing away from the shelf aisle (206), wherein the first shelf (202) and the second shelf (202) are arranged on both sides of the shelf aisle (206) and form the shelf aisle (206) between them.