Delivery Rail Transfer for ASRS Container Column Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face congestion issues around delivery columns, leading to inefficiencies and reduced operational capacity.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a remotely operated delivery vehicle with a container carrier that transports storage containers between the storage grid and a second location, utilizing a dedicated delivery rail system to manage container movement independently of the container handling vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If container handling vehicles use delivery columns to transport storage containers, then storage containers can be delivered to and retrieved from the storage grid, but congestion occurs around delivery columns reducing operational capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the delivery function from the storage grid by introducing an independent delivery rail system with delivery vehicles. This segments the container handling process into two independent subsystems: the storage grid with container handling vehicles, and the delivery system with delivery vehicles. The delivery column becomes merely a transfer interface rather than a bottleneck, as delivery vehicles can independently transport containers to second locations without blocking the storage grid operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery column serves as an intermediary transfer point between the storage grid and the delivery rail system. Storage containers are transferred from container handling vehicles to delivery vehicles through this intermediary interface. This mediator approach allows the two independent rail systems to communicate and transfer loads without direct interference, eliminating congestion while maintaining operational flow.
2Ease of operation
If delivery ports are used for transferring storage containers between container handling vehicles and delivery vehicles, then container transfer is enabled, but availability of delivery ports is reduced due to congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables preliminary transfer of storage containers to delivery vehicles at the delivery port before the container handling vehicle needs to return for another container. This preliminary action allows delivery vehicles to depart with containers while container handling vehicles are still completing their storage or retrieval tasks, thereby maintaining continuous availability of delivery ports without waiting for vehicle cycles to complete.
3Productivity
If a dedicated delivery rail system is introduced to reduce congestion, then delivery port availability increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery vehicles are designed with universal functionality to operate on the delivery rail system and interact with the storage grid through delivery columns. The container handling vehicles retain their original storage grid functions while also serving as sources for the delivery system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for completely separate dedicated infrastructure, as existing vehicles and structures serve dual purposes in the integrated system.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container from a container handling vehicle to a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column, and further adapted for transport of a storage container from the delivery port to the container handling vehicle. The storage container is configured to be stored in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle, which includes a container carrier adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.