AUTOMATED ITEM STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to an article storage system (1) comprising: a plurality of article storage levels (N1, N2), each level comprising an intermediate base (6, 6') oriented in a first direction, a storage shelf (2) and a shuttle (4) arranged to move articles from the intermediate base (6, 6') to the storage shelf (2), an elevator (51), an infeed conveyor (7), arranged to bring articles (3) to be stored to the elevator (51) in a second direction, wherein said elevator (51) comprises a rotating base (53) capable of being oriented in the second direction for a transfer of an article (3) from the infeed conveyor (7) to the rotating base (53), and of being oriented in the first direction for a transfer of an article (3) between the rotating base (53) and the intermediate base (6, 6') of a storage level (N1, N2). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: AUTOMATED STORAGE SYSTEM FOR ITEMS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of intralogistics and concerns a vertical movement system and an automated storage system for items comprising such a vertical movement system. State of the art

[0002] In certain types of automated storage solutions, the stock is structured into several storage levels. Each storage level comprises one or more stacked storage shelves. Items entering or leaving the stock are transported by conveyors connecting the stock to the input and output circuits.

[0003] Generally, a plurality of elevators provides the link between the conveyors and the storage levels. Items transported by an elevator to a storage level are retrieved by a storage shuttle and taken to their designated storage location on one of the shelves. To retrieve an item from storage, the same shuttle takes it from its location and moves it to the elevator.

[0004] A simplified and partial example of such a system 100 is illustrated in [Fig. 1], as viewed from above. The infeed conveyor 700 and the outfeed conveyor 800 transport the items to and from the elevator 500. The elevator takes them to the storage level where the items are first transferred via a conveyor 602 to a first rotating intermediate base 600. This base rotates the items 90° to present them in the correct orientation so that the storage shuttle (not shown) can pick them up and store them. To retrieve items from storage, the storage shuttle moves them from their shelves and deposits them in a second rotating intermediate base 601 located on the same storage level, just below the first base of the conveyor 602.

[0005] The problem with such storage systems is the need for a large number of rotary tables; for example, if a warehouse has about twenty storage levels and five elevators, about one hundred rotary tables are required. This significantly increases the cost of the inventory and results in a loss of storage space occupied by the rotary tables.

[0006] The objective of the invention is to provide a solution to overcome the problems described below. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an automated item storage system comprising: - a plurality of item storage levels, each level comprising an intermediate base oriented in a first direction, at least one storage shelf, and a shuttle system arranged to move items from the intermediate base to the storage shelf and vice versa, - an elevator designed to move items to and from said storage levels, - an infeed conveyor, arranged at an infeed level to bring in items to be stored until the elevator follows a second direction, different from the first direction. - in which, said elevator comprises a rotating base capable of being oriented in the second direction when the elevator is at the entry level for a transfer of an item from the entry conveyor to the rotating base and of being oriented in the first direction for a transfer of an item between the rotating base and the intermediate base of a storage level.

[0008] This system has the advantage of being able to orient the items correctly thanks to a rotating base on the elevator platform and properly place the items in the intermediate bases. This significantly reduces the number of rotating bases required and therefore eliminates the need for rotating bases on each floor.

[0009] This on the one hand simplifies the stock structure, reduces the space occupied by the rotating bases and allows for significant savings on costly rotating bases.

[0010] Advantageously, the system may further include an output conveyor, arranged at an output level to bring items out of stock from the elevator in a third direction different from the first direction.

[0011] The third direction may be different from the second direction, but it may also be equal to it.

[0012] Advantageously, the rotating base of the elevator may include a roller and / or belt conveyor. This facilitates the transfer of items from said base.

[0013] Advantageously, the rotating base of the elevator may include a telescopic fork. Such a fork facilitates the picking up of items from the infeed conveyor or an intermediate base.

[0014] Advantageously, the rotating base can be configured to switch from the second direction to the first direction during the movement of the elevator between the entry level and a storage level.

[0015] Advantageously, the rotating base can also be configured to switch from the first direction to the third direction during the movement of the elevator between a storage level and the exit level.

[0016] This saves time in orienting the rotating base without making the elevator wait and thus quickly transfer the items, consequently increasing the storage throughput.

[0017] Advantageously, the first direction and the second direction can be substantially perpendicular.

[0018] Advantageously, the elevator may include a platform arranged along a fourth oblique direction relative to the first and second directions.

[0019] This limits the movement of the rotating base and reduces the time required to synchronize the elevator and the rotating table. It also allows for a more compact automatic storage system, since the elevator guidance system occupies less space in this position.

[0020] The invention also relates to a method of storing articles using a storage system according to the above description.

[0021] The process may include the following steps: - an item is transported by the incoming conveyor to the elevator, - with the rotating base of the elevator oriented in the direction of the incoming conveyor, the item is transferred to said rotating base of the elevator, - The elevator is moved to a storage level and the rotating base of the elevator is oriented in the first direction; for example, the orientation can be changed during the elevator's movement to save time. - the item is transferred from the rotating base of the elevator to the intermediate base of said storage level, - the storage shuttle takes the item and moves it to the storage shelf to be deposited. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in relation to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

[0023] [Fig.1] [Fig.1] partially represents an example of an automated storage system known from the prior art;

[0024] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a partial top view of an automated storage system according to the invention;

[0025] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an enlarged view of a vertical displacement system according to the invention.

[0026] In the rest of the description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions will be designated by the same references. Detailed description

[0027] Figure 2 partially represents an example of an automated storage system 1 according to the invention, as viewed from above. The system 1 comprises storage shelves 2 extending along parallel racks 20. As shown in Figure 3, each storage level N1, N2 can have a plurality of shelves 2 on which items 3 can be placed. A storage shuttle 4 is arranged to travel along an aisle 40 to deposit or pick up items 3 onto or from a shelf using a fork 41 in a manner known per se.

[0028] Vertical movement systems 5 are arranged to serve storage levels N1, N2. In [Fig. 2], only two systems 5 are shown, but an automated storage system may include a vertical movement system for each pair of parallel racks 20. Each elevator 51 is served by an infeed conveyor 7 to bring items 3 to be stored up to the elevator. An outfeed conveyor 8 is also arranged to transport items 3 out of storage.

[0029] In the example of [Fig. 3], the vertical movement system 5 comprises a frame 50 in which a lift 51 is arranged so as to be moved vertically by traction and guidance means 54 such as belts. The vertical movement allows the lift 51 to transport items 3 to and from storage levels N1, N2.

[0030] The elevator 51 includes a platform 52 and a rotating base 53 which rotates on said platform 52.

[0031] The rotating base 53 is able to be oriented along the direction of the infeed conveyor (called above second direction) for a transfer of one or more item(s) 3 from the infeed conveyor 7 to the rotating base 53, and to be oriented along the direction of the intermediate base 6, 6' (first direction) for a transfer of one or more item(s) 3 between the rotating base 53 and the intermediate base 6, 6' of a storage level NI, N2.

[0032] The intermediate base 6 is arranged to receive items transferred from the rotary base 53, which are then picked up by the storage shuttle 4 to move them to their storage location. The second intermediate base 6' is arranged to receive items deposited by the shuttle 4, which are then transferred to the rotary base 53 to move them to the outfeed conveyor 8.

[0033] It is not necessary to have two separate intermediate databases; it is possible, according to embodiments not illustrated, to use a single intermediate database per storage level.

[0034] As shown in [Fig. 3], the rotating base includes rollers, which may or may not be motorized. In other cases, the rotating base may include a belt conveyor. It is also possible for the rotating base to include a telescopic fork.

[0035] To increase the speed, the rotating base 53 can be configured to switch from the second direction to the first direction during the movement of the elevator 51 between the input level and a storage level NI, N2. It can also be configured to switch from the first direction to the direction of the output conveyor 8 (third direction) during the movement of the elevator 51 between a storage level NI, N2 and the output level.

[0036] In the case of [Fig. 1], the direction of the input conveyor 7 is the same as the direction of the output conveyor 8. In other examples, the two conveyors may be oriented in two different directions.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular. In other, unillustrated examples, the orientation of the inlet / outlet conveyors and that of the intermediate bases may be different.

[0038] Advantageously, to gain in system compactness by reducing the space occupied by the vertical movement system, the elevator platform 52 can be arranged along a fourth oblique direction relative to the first and second directions.

[0039] The system according to the invention can be used according to the following steps: - an item 3 is transported by the incoming conveyor 7 to elevator 51, - with the rotating base 53 of the elevator oriented in the direction of the inlet conveyor 7, article 3 is transferred to said rotating base 53 of the elevator 51, - Elevator 51 is moved to a storage level N1,N2 and the rotating base 53 of the elevator is oriented in the first direction, - Article 3 is transferred from the rotating base 53 of elevator 51 to the intermediate base 6 of said storage level NI, N2, - the storage shuttle 4 takes item 3 and moves it to storage shelf 2 to deposit it.

Claims

Demands

1. An automated item storage system (1) comprising: - a plurality of item storage levels (NI, N2), each level comprising a rectangular intermediate base (6, 6') oriented in a first direction, a storage shelf (2), and a shuttle (4) arranged to move items from the intermediate base (6, 6') to the storage shelf (2) and vice versa, - an elevator (51) arranged to move items (3) to and from said storage levels (NI, N2), - an infeed conveyor (7) arranged at an infeed level to bring items (3) to be stored to the elevator (51) in a second direction different from the first direction, - wherein said elevator (51) comprises a rotating rectangular base (53) capable of being oriented in the second direction for the transfer of an item (3) from the infeed conveyor (7) to the rotating base (53),and to be oriented along the first direction for the transfer of an item (3) between the rotating base (53) and the intermediate base (6, 6') of a storage level (NI, N2).

2. System (1) according to claim 1 further comprising an output conveyor (8), arranged at an output level to bring articles (3) out of stock from the elevator (51) in a third direction different from the first direction, the rotating base (53) being able to move from the first direction to the third direction.

3. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotating base (53) of the elevator (51) comprises a roller and / or belt conveyor.

4. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotating base (53) comprises a telescopic fork.

5. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotating base (53) is configured to move from the second direction to the first direction during the movement of the elevator (51) between the entry level and a storage level (NI, N2).

6. System (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the rotating base (53) is configured to move from the first direction to the third direction during the movement of the elevator (51) between a storage level (NI, N2) and the exit level.

7. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular.

8. System (1) according to the preceding claim in which the elevator (51) comprises a platform (52) arranged in a fourth direction oblique to the first and second directions.

9. An automated storage method for articles (3) using a system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the following steps are carried out: - an article (3) is transported by the infeed conveyor (7) to the elevator (51), - the rotating base (53) of the elevator being oriented in the direction of the infeed conveyor (7), the article (3) is transferred to said rotating base (53) of the elevator (51), - the elevator (51) is moved to a storage level (NI, N2) and the rotating base (53) of the elevator is oriented in the first direction, the first direction being the direction of the intermediate base, and is different from the direction of the infeed conveyor, - the article (3) is transferred from the rotating base (53) of the elevator (51) to the intermediate base (6) of said storage level (NI, N2),- The storage shuttle (4) takes the item (3) and moves it to the storage shelf (2) for deposit.

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