Fixed rail transport equipment and transport system for warehouse cargo shelving.

Abstract

The present invention provides a fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves. The system includes a lateral rail (11), a first vertical column (12), a first movable member (13), and a connecting mechanism for a task unit (14). The lateral rail (11) is fixed to the cargo shelf (10), the first vertical column (12) is mounted vertically on the lateral rail (11) and is slidable laterally, the first movable member (13) is mounted on the first vertical column (12) and is slidable along the first vertical column (12), and the connecting mechanism for a task unit (14) is installed on the first movable member (13). The task unit (14) loads and unloads cargo boxes and / or cargo by being driven by the first movable member (13), and places the cargo boxes and / or cargo into or out of a transfer assembly of a cargo transport robot (17) operating at the bottom (16) of the cargo shelf. Compared to conventional warehouse storage systems, this system can significantly improve warehouse space efficiency, cargo loading and unloading speed, and sorting efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross-reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority based on a Chinese application filed with the Chinese Patent Office on March 27, 2023, with an application number of 2023103256998 and a title of "Fixed Rail Conveying Equipment and Conveying System for Warehouse Cargo Shelves", and all of its content is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application belongs to the technical field of rapid sorting, and particularly relates to fixed rail conveying equipment and a conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves.

Background Art

[0003] Warehouse storage is the most costly part in cargo transportation. In the case of conventional warehouse storage systems, it is necessary to build a warehouse storage base or a warehouse storage center in any case, and under the warehouse storage environment, the loading and unloading of cargo boxes / cargo is realized by a warehouse storage cargo conveying robot.

[0004] As is well known, in a large warehouse storage center, a warehouse storage cargo conveying robot needs to move to the position of a cargo box / cargo based on an order, and pull out the cargo from the cargo shelf by a fork lift and move it to a designated position. To realize this operation, it is necessary to ensure a distance corresponding to the size of at least two cargo conveying fork lifts between the cargo shelves in the warehouse storage system, which is a waste of space from the perspective of saving warehouse storage space.

[0005] In order to increase the traveling speed and further improve the traveling stability of the cargo conveying robot, the ground of the warehouse storage environment where the warehouse storage cargo conveying robot is arranged is required to have relatively high smoothness. Therefore, the cost requirements and maintenance requirements for the manufacture of the warehouse storage ground are further increased.

[0006] Furthermore, in the conventional process from warehouse to sorting area, goods are unloaded from warehouse shelves by warehouse cargo transport robots, and then transported to sorting tables or sorting systems by the same warehouse cargo transport robots. However, using this conventional form of warehouse storage, transport, and exchange poses several drawbacks: it occupies a large area, transport efficiency is limited by the warehouse cargo transport robots, a dedicated sorting system is required, it is time-consuming, and the deployment costs are very high.

[0007] Therefore, conventional warehousing and transportation systems have technical problems such as reduced efficiency in loading and unloading goods in warehouses, decreased space efficiency, and high ground costs. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0008] The embodiments of this application provide a fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves that significantly improves warehouse space efficiency, cargo loading / unloading speed, and sorting efficiency compared to conventional warehouse storage systems.

[0009] A fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves includes a lateral rail, a first vertical column, a first movable component, and a task unit connection mechanism, wherein the lateral rail is fixed to the cargo shelf, the first vertical column is installed vertically on the lateral rail and is slidable laterally, the first movable component is installed on the first vertical column and is slidable along the first vertical column, the task unit connection mechanism is installed on the first movable component, and the task unit loads and / or loads cargo boxes and / or cargo by driving the first movable component, and loads or unloads cargo boxes and / or cargo into a transfer assembly of a cargo transport robot operating at the bottom of the cargo shelf.

[0010] Optionally, the transport equipment further includes a second vertical column and a second movable part, the second vertical column being vertically mounted on the lateral rail and slidable laterally, the second movable part being mounted on the vertical column and slidable along the second vertical column, a task unit connection mechanism being installed on the second movable part, the task unit being installed between the first vertical column and the second vertical column via the connection mechanism, and the first and second movable parts driving the task unit to locate and move it to a cargo location or delivery location in the warehouse cargo rack.

[0011] Optionally, in the aforementioned transport equipment, the cargo transport robot is a ground cargo transport robot that operates on the ground at the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves.

[0012] Optionally, regarding the connection mechanism of the task unit, if the task unit is a cargo box push / pull member, the connection mechanism of the task unit is equipped with an assembly for fixing the cargo box push / pull member and a transport assembly for the cargo box push / pull member to slide on a support structure.

[0013] Optionally, the support structure is a loading / unloading frame.

[0014] Optionally, the conveying assembly is a conveying belt.

[0015] The conveyor belt is optionally driven by a conveyor motor.

[0016] Optionally, a timing pulley driven by a motor and controlled by a reduction gear is installed, and the timing pulley drives a timing belt to support the movement of the first movable part on the slide rail of the first vertical column, and a timing pulley driven by a motor and controlled by a reduction gear is installed, and the timing pulley drives a timing belt to support the movement of the second movable part on the slide rail of the second vertical column.

[0017] Optionally, the conveying equipment further includes other lateral rails fixed to the lower part of the warehouse cargo rack, the two lateral rails being connected to the first and second vertical columns by sliding blocks, the sliding blocks moving along the lateral rails by the drive of rollers, the rollers being driven by motors.

[0018] Optionally, the ground cargo transport robot may perform route planning under server control, or it may perform route planning autonomously, and an assembly that moves on a plane and a transfer assembly that supports pushing, pulling, and placing cargo boxes may be installed.

[0019] Optionally, in the transport equipment, the partition plates at the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves are removed to ensure sufficient height for the ground cargo transport robot to operate on the ground and perform the transfer operation. Optionally, the cargo transport robot is an automated guided vehicle (AGV).

[0020] Optionally, cargo transport robots are autonomous mobile robots.

[0021] Optionally, the connection structure between the lateral rail and the first and second vertical columns can be implemented by driving a slide block with rollers to move it along the lateral rail.

[0022] A fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelving includes one or more fixed rail transport units for warehouse cargo shelving.

[0023] A fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelving includes multiple fixed rail transport units for warehouse cargo shelving.

[0024] The fixed rail conveying equipment and its system for warehouse goods shelves according to the embodiments of the present application install a lateral rail for the movement of vertical columns on the warehouse goods shelves, and drive the task unit to perform operations such as identification and loading / unloading of cargo boxes by means of movable parts installed on the vertical columns. This equipment fundamentally solves the problem of waste of warehouse space in the conventional warehouse storage system, and also avoids the need for the cargo conveying robot or sorting robot to maintain an extremely high weight or have high requirements for the warehouse floor, and can realize operations such as transfer in warehouse storage or sorting in warehouse storage. And the task unit loads and unloads the cargo box and / or cargo by driving the movable parts, puts them into the delivery assembly of the cargo conveying robot operating at the bottom of the goods shelf, or takes them out from the delivery assembly, and cooperates with the cargo box / cargo stored in the warehouse and the cargo conveying robot or sorting robot, so as to realize the warehouse storage of goods, the transfer of cargo boxes / cargo, and the sorting of cargo boxes / cargo in the warehouse storage space. Compared with the conventional warehouse storage system, the space efficiency of the warehouse, the loading / unloading speed of goods, and the sorting efficiency can be greatly improved.

[0025] The drawings described are part of the present application and are for the purpose of understanding the present application. The exemplary embodiments and their descriptions of the present application are for the purpose of interpreting the present application and do not limit the present application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the fixed rail conveying equipment for warehouse goods shelves according to the embodiments of the present application. [Figure 2] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the fixed rail conveying equipment for warehouse goods shelves according to the embodiments of the present application. [Figure 3] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the fixed rail conveying equipment for warehouse goods shelves according to the embodiments of the present application. [Figure 4] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the fixed rail conveying equipment for warehouse goods shelves according to the embodiments of the present application. [Figure 5]It is a schematic configuration diagram showing the arrangement of the fixed rail conveying equipment for a warehouse goods shelf according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] It is a schematic configuration diagram of a fixed rail conveying system for a warehouse goods shelf according to an embodiment of the present application.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0027] To make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, hereinafter, while referring to the drawings used in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described. The described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments. The components in the embodiments of the present application shown using the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various arrangement methods.

[0028] Therefore, the detailed description of the embodiments of the present application shown in the drawings is only for showing the selected embodiments of the present application, and does not limit the scope of the present application to be protected. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without using the inventive ability also belong to the protection scope of the present application.

[0029] Since the same reference numerals indicate the same things in the drawings, once defined in one drawing, it is not necessary to further define and interpret in other drawings.

[0030] In the description of the present application, the directions or positional relationships represented by terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. are based on the drawings, or the normal arrangement direction or positional relationship of the invention product, and are only for briefly and concisely explaining the present disclosure, and do not explicitly or implicitly indicate that the corresponding device or element must have a specific direction or be configured and operated in a specific direction, so it should be understood that it does not limit the present application.

[0031] Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are merely used for distinction and explanation, and do not explicitly or implicitly indicate relative importance. Furthermore, terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "gravity direction" do not mean that the components must be placed in an absolutely horizontal or vertical position; they may be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that the orientation of the configuration is more horizontal than "vertical," and does not necessarily require it to be perfectly horizontal; it may be slightly tilted.

[0032] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, terms such as "installation," "attachment," "connection," and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it could be a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection. It could also be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. Furthermore, it could be a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate object, or the internals of two elements could be in communication. A person skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] The features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, as long as there is no contradiction.

[0034] The fixed rail transport equipment and system for warehouse cargo shelves according to the embodiment of this application can significantly improve space efficiency and the efficiency of loading and unloading cargo in warehouse storage compared to conventional warehouse storage systems.

[0035] Figure 1 shows a fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves. The fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves includes a lateral rail 11, a first vertical column 12, a first movable part 13, and a connecting mechanism for a task unit 14, with the lateral rail 11 fixed to the cargo shelf 10.

[0036] The lateral rail 11 is fixed to the crossbeam or upright of the cargo rack 10. If the crossbeam of the cargo rack is relatively long, the crossbeam and upright of a single cargo rack must be used to fix the lateral rail, and the lateral rail extends to the crossbeam of the cargo rack adjacent to that cargo rack.

[0037] The first vertical column 12 is installed vertically on the horizontal rail 11 and is also slidable horizontally.

[0038] By allowing the vertical column 12 to slide laterally along the horizontal rail, the position and movement of the first movable part 13 in each row (column) of the warehouse cargo rack can be achieved.

[0039] The first movable part 13 is installed on the first vertical column 12 and is slidable along the first vertical column 12.

[0040] With the above installation, the first movable part 13 can move in the horizontal and vertical directions, thereby enabling the positioning and movement of the first movable part 13 in each tier of the cargo rack.

[0041] A connection mechanism 15 for the task unit 14 is installed on the first movable part 13.

[0042] The task unit 14 loads and unloads cargo boxes and / or cargo by driving the first movable part 13, and places them into a transfer assembly of a cargo handling robot 17 that operates at the bottom 16 of the warehouse cargo rack.

[0043] With this setup, when the task unit performs a single sorting and / or loading / unloading operation, the loaded and unloaded cargo boxes and / or cargo can be transferred, sorted, and transported to the target cargo location, sorting location, or transport location after sorting is complete, via the cargo transport robot 17.

[0044] Task unit 14 is an assembly that performs one or more tasks such as identification, retrieval, return, and gripping. Task unit 14 is positioned and moved to a storage location (slot) on the cargo rack by the drive of the first movable part 13, and the task unit connection mechanism is the basic structure that enables connection with different task units.

[0045] If the task unit is a cargo box pushing / pulling member, the task unit's connection mechanism includes, for example, a support structure for the cargo box pushing / pulling member, such as a loading / unloading frame, and a transport assembly for the cargo box pushing / pulling member, such as a transport belt. Of course, the transport belt is driven by a transport motor.

[0046] Furthermore, without limitation, if other task units are involved, the connecting components will be designed according to the specific function of the task unit.

[0047] In the above embodiment, horizontal rails are installed on the warehouse cargo shelves for the movement of vertical columns, and movable parts installed on the vertical columns drive task units to perform operations such as identifying and loading / unloading cargo boxes. This equipment fundamentally solves the problem of wasted warehouse space in conventional warehouse storage systems, and enables operations such as transport or sorting in warehouse storage without requiring cargo transport robots or sorting robots to maintain extremely high weights or place high demands on the warehouse floor.

[0048] Figure 2 shows a fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves.

[0049] Referring also to Figure 1 and its corresponding description, the conveying equipment further includes a second vertical column 21 and a second movable part 22. The second vertical column 21 is mounted vertically on the horizontal rail 11 and is slidable in the horizontal direction.

[0050] The second movable part 22 is installed on the second vertical column 21 and is slidable along the second vertical column.

[0051] The connection mechanism 23 for the task unit 14 is installed on the second movable part 22.

[0052] The task unit 14 is installed between the first vertical column 12 and the second vertical column 21 via a connecting mechanism 23.

[0053] The first movable part 12 and the second movable part 21 drive the task unit 14 to locate and move to the cargo location 24 or delivery location 25 in the warehouse cargo rack 10.

[0054] The handover location 25 is the position where the task unit 14 and the cargo transport robot perform the handover of cargo from the task unit 14 after the task unit 14 has taken cargo boxes and / or cargo in and out of the cargo location on the cargo rack.

[0055] By removing the partition plates at the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves, a suitable height is secured for the ground cargo transport robot to operate on the ground and perform the transfer operation. By removing the partition plates at the bottom between adjacent vertical columns in the warehouse cargo shelves, a transfer location 25 for the ground cargo transport robot is formed.

[0056] Figure 3 shows a fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves. See also Figures 1 and 2 and their corresponding descriptions, as shown in Figure 3, the other lateral rails 31 are fixed to the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves 10. Both the lateral rails 11 and the other lateral rails 31 are connected to the first vertical column 12 and the second vertical column 21 by sliding blocks.

[0057] The slide block moves along the lateral rail driven by rollers, which are driven by motors.

[0058] In this embodiment, since the large cargo racking system requires stable rail transport equipment, two horizontal rails, one above and one below, are installed on the rail assembly, and the first vertical column 12 and the second vertical column 21 are securely fixed, thereby enabling stable execution of tasks such as loading and unloading, handing over, and sorting of cargo boxes / cargo.

[0059] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cargo transport robot is a ground-level cargo transport robot that operates on the ground at the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves. As a feasible embodiment, an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) may be used as the cargo transport robot, also commonly called an unmanned transport vehicle (AGV), or an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) may be used, also called an autonomous mobile robot.

[0060] Furthermore, to ensure sufficient disclosure, the ground cargo handling robot can utilize cargo handling robots described in already published literature.

[0061] Optionally, the ground cargo transport robot can plan its route under server control, or it can plan its route autonomously, and an assembly that moves on a plane and a transfer assembly that supports pushing, pulling, and placing cargo boxes are installed. To increase transport efficiency, the ground cargo transport robot operates directly on the ground where the warehouse cargo shelves are located, and in conjunction with the removal of the bottom divider plates of the warehouse cargo shelves, it drives movable parts to place the cargo boxes and / or cargo to be moved into the cargo transport robot's transfer assembly. The ground cargo transport robot can be a cargo transport robot or a sorting robot. Through the above collaboration, it becomes possible to realize cargo warehouse storage, cargo box / cargo transport, and cargo box / cargo sorting in the warehouse storage space.

[0062] As a feasible configuration, the movement of movable parts on sliding rails of vertical columns, based on a similar principle, is shown in the drawings. Further specific electrical control methods are not limited to and are not specifically illustrated.

[0063] A timing pulley, driven by a motor 41 and controlled by a reduction gear, is installed. The timing pulley drives a timing belt 42, thereby supporting the movement of the first movable part on the slide rail of the first vertical column.

[0064] A timing pulley, driven by a motor and controlled by a reduction gear, is installed. The timing pulley drives the timing belt, thereby supporting the movement of the second movable component on the slide rail of the second vertical column.

[0065] The above installation allows for precise positioning between the task unit and the cargo box, and significantly improves warehouse space efficiency, cargo loading / unloading speed, and sorting efficiency compared to conventional warehouse storage systems.

[0066] Figure 5 shows a portion of the fixed rail transport equipment for warehouse cargo shelves.

[0067] In this embodiment, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the connection between the lateral rail 11 and the first vertical column 12 and the second vertical column 21. As shown in Figure 3, this can be realized by driving the slide block 52 with rollers 51 to move it on the lateral rail 31, with the first vertical column 12 and the second vertical column 21 mounted around the fixed position of the slide block 52, and the rollers 51 and the lateral rail 31 coming into contact to achieve smooth movement.

[0068] The above installation is just one type of implementation method, and is not limited to it.

[0069] Figure 6 shows a fixed rail transport system for warehouse shelving. The fixed rail transport system for warehouse shelving includes one or more of the fixed rail transport equipment shown in Figures 1 to 5. In a complete fixed rail transport system for warehouse shelving, the fixed rail transport equipment can be attached to one or more warehouse shelving units and can be operated independently by a control chip and software instructions, or controlled by warehouse management software installed on the server side.

[0070] As described above, the fixed rail transport equipment and system for warehouse cargo shelves according to the embodiment of this application installs horizontal rails on the warehouse cargo shelves for the movement of vertical columns, and uses movable parts installed on the vertical columns to drive task units to perform operations such as identifying and loading / unloading cargo boxes. This equipment fundamentally solves the problem of wasted warehouse space in conventional warehouse storage systems, and avoids the need for cargo transport robots or sorting robots to maintain extremely high weights or high demands on the warehouse floor, enabling operations such as transport or sorting in warehouse storage. Furthermore, by driving the movable parts, cargo boxes and / or cargo are loaded and unloaded, placed into or retrieved from a transfer assembly of a cargo transport robot operating at the bottom of the cargo shelf, and the cargo boxes / cargo stored in the warehouse cooperate with the cargo transport robot or sorting robot, making it possible to realize warehouse storage of cargo, transport of cargo boxes / cargo, and sorting of cargo boxes / cargo in the warehouse storage space. Compared to conventional warehouse storage systems, it is possible to significantly improve warehouse space efficiency, cargo loading / unloading speed, and sorting efficiency.

[0071] While preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments if they understand the basic concept of the invention. Therefore, the claims include the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of this application.

[0072] A person skilled in the art can make modifications and alterations to this application as long as they do not deviate from the spirit and principles of this application. If such modifications and alterations to this application are within the scope of the claims of this application or the equivalent technical scope, then this application includes such modifications and alterations.

[0073] Industrial applicability As described above, the fixed rail transport equipment and system for warehouse cargo shelves according to this application can significantly improve warehouse space efficiency, cargo loading and unloading speed, and sorting efficiency compared to conventional warehouse storage systems.

Claims

1. It includes a horizontal rail, a first vertical column, a first movable part, and a task unit connection mechanism. The aforementioned lateral rail is fixed to the cargo rack, The first vertical column is installed vertically on the horizontal rail and is slidable in the horizontal direction. The first movable part is installed on the first vertical column and is slidable along the first vertical column. A connection mechanism for the task unit is installed on the first movable part. The task unit loads and / or loads cargo boxes by driving the first movable part, and places the cargo boxes and / or cargo into a transfer assembly of a cargo handling robot operating at the bottom of the cargo rack, or removes them from the transfer assembly. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves, characterized by the following features.

2. The structure further includes a second vertical column and a second movable part, wherein the second vertical column is installed vertically on the horizontal rail and is slidable in the horizontal direction. The second movable part is installed on the vertical column and is slidable along the second vertical column. A connection mechanism for the task unit is installed on the second movable part. The task unit is installed between the first vertical column and the second vertical column via the connection mechanism. The task unit is driven to locate and move to the cargo location or delivery location in the warehouse cargo rack. Fixed rail conveying equipment for warehouse cargo shelves according to feature 1.

3. The cargo handling robot is a ground cargo handling robot that operates on the ground at the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to claim 1 or 2.

4. If the task unit is a cargo box pushing / pulling member, the connection mechanism of the task unit includes: Support structure for cargo box pushing / pulling member, A transport assembly for the cargo box pushing and pulling components is installed. Fixed rail conveying equipment for warehouse cargo shelves according to feature 3.

5. A timing pulley, driven by a motor and controlled by a reduction gear, is installed, and the timing pulley supports the movement of the first movable part on the slide rail of the first vertical column by driving a timing belt. A timing pulley, driven by a motor and controlled by a reduction gear, is installed, and the timing pulley drives a timing belt to support the movement of the second movable part on the slide rail of the second vertical column. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The system further includes other lateral rails fixed to the lower part of the warehouse cargo rack, The two lateral rails are connected to the first and second vertical columns by sliding blocks. The aforementioned slide block moves along a lateral rail by the drive of a roller, and the roller is driven by a motor. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The ground cargo transport robot performs route planning under server control, or the ground cargo transport robot performs route planning autonomously, and is equipped with an assembly that moves on a plane and a transfer assembly that supports pushing, pulling, and placing cargo boxes. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

8. By removing the partition plates at the bottom of the warehouse cargo shelves, sufficient height is secured for the ground cargo transport robot to operate on the ground and perform the transfer operation. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to any one of claims 2 to 9.

9. Cargo transport robots are unmanned transport vehicles. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Cargo transport robots are autonomous mobile robots. A fixed rail conveying system for warehouse cargo shelves according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. Includes one fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves as described in any one of claims 1 to 10. A fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves, characterized by the following features.

12. Includes a plurality of fixed rail transport equipment for warehouse cargo shelves as described in any one of claims 1 to 10. A fixed rail transport system for warehouse cargo shelves, characterized by the following features.

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