Automated Storage Tower with Independent Carousel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems are time and space-consuming when accessing storage containers deep within the grid, requiring 'digging' operations that disrupt other vehicles and reduce efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A storage tower with independently rotatable container supports allows direct access to storage containers without digging, enabling simultaneous retrieval and storage operations by multiple vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage containers are stacked deep in columns to increase storage density, then storage capacity is improved, but access time increases and digging operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from vertical stacking (single dimension access) to a carousel-based radial arrangement where containers are accessible from multiple angular positions. The carousel rotates to bring any container to the access point, effectively adding an angular dimension to the access pathway and eliminating the need for vertical digging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel is designed to rotate dynamically, allowing containers to be moved from deep storage positions to accessible positions on demand. This dynamic reconfiguration enables rapid access to any container without the time-consuming process of removing overlying containers, as the carousel can position the target container at the access point through rotation.
2Quantity of substance
If digging operations are performed to access deep containers, then storage density is maintained, but system throughput decreases due to disruptive operations
Solution Approach 1:
The carousel provides dynamic access where any container can be rapidly brought to the access position through rotation, eliminating the disruptive digging operations required in static vertical stacks. This dynamic reconfiguration allows continuous throughput as multiple vehicles can access containers simultaneously without blocking each other's operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel divides the storage system into discrete, independently accessible segments (individual containers on the carousel). Each container can be accessed independently by rotating the carousel to the appropriate position, allowing parallel operations by multiple vehicles without the need for sequential digging operations that block access to deeper containers.
3Productivity
If multiple vehicles operate on the rail system, then throughput is improved, but access to deep containers becomes more time-consuming due to coordinated digging
Solution Approach 1:
The carousel segments the storage access into independent positional units, allowing multiple vehicles to access different containers simultaneously by rotating the carousel to different positions. This eliminates the coordination bottlenecks associated with digging operations, where one vehicle must wait for another to complete removal of overlying containers before accessing deeper containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel enables continuous access operations by maintaining a constant supply of accessible containers at the access point through rotation. Multiple vehicles can continuously perform pick and place operations without interruption, as the carousel can rapidly reposition containers to match vehicle arrival rates, eliminating the idle time caused by coordinated digging sequences.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage tower for storing storage containers includes a vertically extending supporting structure having a vertical axis, and m horizontally oriented container supports arranged along the vertical axis of the supporting structure and supported by container supporting frameworks to provide different levels where storage containers can be stored. The container supports are distributed at vertical intervals and m is a positive integer of 2 or more. Each container support is rotationally connected to the support structure and configured to support at least one storage container. Each level of the l container supports that are arranged above the remaining levels of m−l container supports each displays at least one opening having a size being at least a maximum horizontal cross section of the storage containers to be stored, l being a positive integer of 1 to m−1. The l container supports can be rotated about the vertical axis independently such that at least one opening of each level of the l container supports is vertically alignable with at least one opening of the other levels of the l container supports by individual rotation of the container supports.