Access Station Crank Hatch Mechanism for Compact Safe Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional access stations in automated storage and retrieval systems require large mechanisms for opening hatches, occupying significant space and reducing efficiency, and lack effective safety mechanisms to protect users from potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
An access station with a hatch system featuring a movable hatch cover operated by a crank and actuator, which minimizes the footprint and enhances safety through a perpendicular elongate guide and releasable coupling, allowing ergonomic and safe access to storage containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If large mechanisms such as belts are used to open hatches, then the hatch can be opened and closed, but the space between the hatch and the front of the access station increases, reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional belt mechanism with a crank and guide mechanism. The crank converts rotational motion from the actuator into linear reciprocating motion of the guide, which directly moves the hatch cover. This substitution eliminates the need for large belt mechanisms while achieving the same hatch opening function, thereby reducing the access station footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a belt that pulls the hatch open from behind, the invention uses a crank mechanism where the actuator rotates the crank, and the reciprocating guide translates this rotation into direct linear motion of the hatch cover. This inverted approach to motion transmission achieves hatch operation with significantly reduced space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If large mechanisms are used for opening hatches, then the hatch can be operated, but the distance between the front side and rear side of the access station increases, reducing transporting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The crank and guide mechanism replaces space-consuming belt systems, allowing the hatch to be operated within a compact access station structure. This reduction in internal space directly improves the efficiency of transporting bins between the user and the grid, as the same mechanism achieves hatch operation without extending the distance between the front and rear sides of the access station.
3Ease of operation
If mechanisms such as belts are used, then the hatch can be opened, but power is required to open and close the hatch continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The crank and guide mechanism is designed so that the actuator's rotational motion is directly converted into the linear motion needed to open and close the hatch. The mechanism itself provides the mechanical advantage needed to move the hatch cover without requiring continuous power input, as the reciprocating guide ensures efficient force transmission throughout the motion cycle.
4Reliability
If safety mechanisms are added to protect users, then user protection is improved, but the complexity of the access station increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reciprocating guide acts as an intermediary safety mechanism. Its elongate shape with restricted movement zones creates a physical barrier that prevents users from accessing dangerous areas of the mechanism. The guide's design inherently limits where components can move, providing passive safety without adding complex active protection systems.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an access station for accessing a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the access station comprises: a panel with an access aperture providing access to a container compartment; a hatch system for opening and closing the access aperture of the panel, wherein the hatch system comprises: a hatch cover movable between a closed state in which the hatch cover is preventing access to the container compartment via the access aperture of the panel and an open state in which the hatch cover is allowing access to the container compartment via the access aperture of the panel; a crank having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the crank is reciprocating in an elongate guide which is attached to the hatch cover; and an actuator configured to move the hatch cover between the closed state and the open state by rotating the crank between a first position and a second position.