Access Barrier Station With Selective Covers for Safe Item Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems do not allow end users to collect product items automatically without risking personal injury and do not restrict access to only the ordered items, lacking secure access to dedicated compartments within storage containers.
Innovation Solution
A station with an access barrier and deployable covers that transitions between loading and access configurations, ensuring only the ordered item is accessible by moving the storage container to a secure access point where the user can retrieve it, using a housing to prevent unauthorized access and a loading mechanism to manage the storage container's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the storage container is made accessible to end users, then users can collect items automatically, but the risk of personal injury from moving parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically transporting the storage container to the access barrier and positioning the opening before user interaction. The container is delivered to the stationary access barrier in advance, eliminating the need for users to approach moving vehicles or moving containers, thus preventing personal injury while enabling automatic collection
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary access barrier acts as an intermediary between the moving storage container and the user. It provides a fixed interface where users can safely access items without direct exposure to moving parts. The barrier includes safety features like sensors and controlled openings that mediate the interaction between the automated system and the user
2Ease of operation
If the entire storage container is made accessible, then users can retrieve any item, but unauthorized access to non-ordered items increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access barrier provides selective access to specific local areas (compartments) within the storage container rather than making the entire container accessible. Each compartment can be individually opened or closed based on the ordered item, ensuring users can only access their designated items while other compartments remain secured
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container is segmented into multiple compartments, and the access barrier can selectively open only the relevant compartment containing the ordered item. This segmentation allows independent control of access to different sections, preventing unauthorized access to other items while maintaining ease of retrieval for the ordered item
3Reliability
If a housing structure is added to prevent unauthorized access, then security improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides security by preventing unauthorized access, guides the storage container during delivery, supports the access barrier mechanism, and protects internal components. By combining these functions into a single integrated structure, the complexity increase is minimized while achieving reliable access control
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the storage container is moved to a stationary access barrier, then user safety improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is designed to be self-sufficient during transport, with its own structure and positioning features that facilitate automatic handling. The container can be autonomously transported by the vehicle and automatically positioned at the access barrier without requiring complex external manipulation mechanisms, thereby improving safety while limiting complexity increase
Data Source
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AI summary
A station for providing access to contents in a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising: - an access barrier comprising an opening, and a plurality of covers, wherein each cover is arranged to be selectively deployed to close off a respective portion of the opening; - a loading mechanism arranged to receive the storage container and move it to the opening of the access barrier; and -a housing which is able to prevent access to the opening of the access barrier; wherein the station (10) is arranged to transition between; - a loading configuration in which access to the opening of the access barrier is prevented by the housing, and - an access configuration in which the opening of the access barrier is presented to thereby enable access to contents of the storage container through the opening. The station is configured to deploy the covers to close off predetermined portions of the opening prior to transition into the access configuration to thereby restrict or permit access to contents of the storage container through predetermined portions of the opening.