Storage Bin Transport Robot Layout for Stable High-Speed Lifting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remotely operated vehicles for storage systems face issues with stability, maximum handling weight, space utilization, and efficiency in lifting and transporting storage bins due to their design, which limits access to all storage columns and causes torque and speed reduction.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated vehicle with a centrally arranged cavity and symmetrically distributed rolling means allows movement in two directions, providing higher stability and enabling the lifting and transportation of bins of varying heights with improved speed and space efficiency, using a vehicle body design that covers less lateral area in one direction and more in the other, with position sensing means for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the robot uses a yoke/overhang design in the upper section, then it can receive storage bins, but it causes speed reduction at the final lifting stage and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the yoke/overhang structure from the upper section of the robot. Instead, the vehicle body directly receives the storage bin in its upper section, eliminating the intermediate yoke structure that caused speed reduction and instability during lifting operations.
2Power
If the robot has a specific design with integrated yoke, then it can lift bins, but it causes high torque during lifting and limits maximum handling weight
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated yoke structure is completely removed from the design. The vehicle body itself serves as the receiving structure, which reduces the overall mass and moment of inertia, thereby reducing the torque required for lifting and increasing the maximum handling weight capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the yoke receive the bin and transfer it to the vehicle body, the design inverts this sequence: the vehicle body directly receives the bin in its upper section, eliminating the transfer operation and associated torque demands.
3Ease of operation
If the robot has a specific design, then it can operate on rails, but it prevents access to all storage columns
Solution Approach 1:
The simplified vehicle body design without integrated yoke provides more flexible geometry, allowing the robot to access storage columns at various positions including edge columns. The design maintains rail operation capability while gaining universal access to all storage columns in the system.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the robot uses integrated yoke design, then it can maintain structure, but it necessitates speed reduction at final lifting stage
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke structure is removed entirely. The vehicle body's upper section directly engages with the storage bin, eliminating the intermediate structure that caused speed reduction. The vehicle body maintains sufficient structural integrity through its inherent design as the primary load-bearing structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention concerns a remotely operated vehicle for picking up storage bins from a storage system, as well as a storage system comprising the vehicle and a method using the vehicle. The inventive vehicle or robot comprises a vehicle body comprising a first section for storing vehicle driving means and a second section for receiving any storage bin stored in a storage column within the storage system, a vehicle lifting device at least indirectly connected to the vehicle body for lifting the storage bin into the second section, a first set of vehicle rolling means connected to the vehicle body allowing movement of the vehicle along a first direction within the storage system during use and a second set of vehicle rolling means connected to the vehicle body allowing movement of the vehicle along a second direction in the storage system during use, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second section comprising a centrally arranged cavity within the vehicle body, the cavity having one bin receiving opening facing towards the storage columns during use, at least one of the two sets of vehicle rolling means are arranged fully within the vehicle body, both sets of vehicle rolling means comprise four wheels, and both sets of vehicle rolling means are symmetrically distributed around the centrally arranged cavity near the lower corners of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises position sensing means to allow measurements of the vehicle position within the storage system during use.