Adjustable Display for Automatic Warehouse Ergonomics

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic warehouses have limited user handling and design flexibility due to permanently installed display devices that do not allow for ergonomic adjustments, leading to uncomfortable user postures during extended operations.

Innovation Solution

The automatic warehouse features a display device mounted on or within the housing walls or access door, with a display that can be vertically adjusted using control commands based on user habits or size, allowing for ergonomic positioning and increased design freedom.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a permanently installed display device is used in conventional automatic warehouses, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but the user ergonomics deteriorate due to fixed positioning that cannot be adjusted to user habits or size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser ergonomicsVSAvoiddisplay device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is made adjustable in the vertical direction through a drive mechanism controlled by the control device. The display can be positioned at different heights according to user requirements, transforming the static display structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different users and operating conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational comfort and device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If viewing windows are required for monitoring the storage area, then safety monitoring is improved, but the housing wall design freedom deteriorates due to restrictions on line of sight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidhousing wall design freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing physical viewing windows in the housing walls, the system uses cameras to capture images of the storage area and displays them on the adjustable display device. This creates a visual copy of the interior space, allowing users to monitor the storage area without requiring direct line-of-sight openings in the housing walls, thereby maintaining design freedom while ensuring safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If the display is arranged in portrait format with elongated rectangular shape, then vertical display section adjustment is enabled for ergonomic positioning, but the display area utilization deteriorates due to unused space above and below the display section

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic positioningVSAvoiddisplay area utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into multiple sections: a main display section for primary information and additional display sections that can be positioned in the unused vertical space above and below the main section. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the ergonomic benefits of vertical adjustment while effectively utilizing the total display area by distributing different types of information across multiple segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4132869B1Automatic warehouse for storing objects and method for controlling an automatic warehouse
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 GEBR WILLACH
  • EP4132869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4132869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4132869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an automatic warehouse (1) for storing objects, comprising a storage region having multiple storage areas for the objects, wherein the storage areas can be operated for storing and removing the objects or for removing the objects from a manipulator, wherein the storage region is at least partially surrounded by housing walls (3), wherein an access door (5) is arranged preferably in at least one of the housing walls (3), comprising a control device for controlling the manipulator and for managing the storage regions and comprising a display device (9) having a display (11), wherein there is a data communication between the display device (9) and the control device, wherein the display device (9) is arranged on or in one of the housing walls (3) or on or in the access door (5), wherein the display (11) has an elongated, rectangular shape and is arranged in the portrait position, and wherein the control device controls a position of a display section (13) that can be displayed on the display (11) in the vertical direction by means of a control command generated according to control data and/or according to an input command.