Storage Container Access Station With Compartment-Selective Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems do not allow end users to collect product items automatically without risking personal injury and without ensuring access to only the ordered items.
Innovation Solution
A station with an access barrier and a loading mechanism that transitions between loading and access configurations, using deployable covers to restrict access to specific compartments of a storage container, ensuring only the ordered item is accessible to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If end users are allowed to access storage containers directly, then user convenience is improved, but safety risks increase due to moving parts and unauthorized access to other items
Solution Approach 1:
The access barrier is divided into multiple independent covers, each controlling access to specific compartments. This segmentation allows users to access only authorized compartments while other compartments remain protected, resolving the contradiction between user convenience and safety by providing targeted access control.
Solution Approach 2:
An access barrier with movable covers serves as an intermediary between the user and the storage container contents. This intermediary mechanism allows controlled access to specific compartments while preventing direct access to moving parts and unauthorized compartments, thus maintaining safety while enabling user convenience.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all compartments are accessible to users, then access flexibility is improved, but unauthorized access to non-ordered items increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access barrier comprises multiple independent covers corresponding to different compartments. Each cover can be independently opened or closed, allowing flexible access to specific compartments while maintaining control over others. This resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability for authorized access while ensuring reliability of access control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the access barrier have different access states - some covers are open to allow access to ordered items, while other covers remain closed to prevent unauthorized access. This local differentiation of access quality resolves the contradiction between access flexibility and control reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the access barrier remains open for user access, then access ease is improved, but exposure to moving parts and safety hazards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading mechanism completes all loading operations and positions items before the access barrier is opened. This preliminary action ensures that the storage container is stationary and safe for user access before any covers are opened, resolving the contradiction between access ease and safety by eliminating exposure to moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The access barrier uses movable covers that can be dynamically opened or closed based on access requirements. This dynamic design allows the system to transition between protected and accessible states, providing ease of access when needed while maintaining protection against moving parts when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A station for providing access to contents in a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:—an access barrier comprising an opening, and a plurality of covers, wherein each cover is arranged to be selectively deployed to close off a respective portion of the opening;—a loading mechanism arranged to receive the storage container and move it to the opening of the access barrier; and—a housing which is able to prevent access to the opening of the access barrier; wherein the station is arranged to transition between;—a loading configuration in which access to the opening of the access barrier is prevented by the housing, and—an access configuration in which the opening of the access barrier is presented to thereby enable access to contents of the storage container through the opening. The station is configured to deploy the covers to close off predetermined portions of the opening prior to transition into the access configuration to thereby restrict or permit access to contents of the storage container through predetermined portions of the opening.