Container Delivery Rail Grid With Conveyor Queues for Safer Throughput
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face challenges in ensuring operator safety and maximizing delivery capacity to access points, particularly when handling storage containers by human or robotic operators.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system comprising a delivery rail grid, a delivery vehicle, and a container accessing station with conveyor lines, allowing efficient transport of containers between storage locations and access points, reducing waiting time, and enabling simultaneous handling of multiple containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If delivery vehicles wait at access points for operators to finish handling containers, then operator safety is ensured, but delivery capacity and productivity decrease due to increased waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having delivery vehicles queue up at access points before operators finish handling containers. Multiple vehicles are positioned in advance, so when one vehicle is being serviced, another is already ready to take over, eliminating idle waiting time while maintaining safety protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining a continuous flow of delivery vehicles at access points. Vehicles transition smoothly from handling to queuing to serving, ensuring that the delivery operation never stops while operators are occupied with container handling
2Productivity
If multiple delivery vehicles are positioned at access points simultaneously, then delivery capacity increases, but system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the delivery vehicle fleet into distinct groups assigned to different access points. Each access point has its own dedicated queue of vehicles, preventing congestion and simplifying coordination. This segmentation allows multiple vehicles to operate simultaneously without creating system-wide complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system resolves spatial constraints by utilizing the time dimension - vehicles are distributed across multiple access points simultaneously rather than queuing sequentially at a single point. This dimensional approach allows parallel operations without increasing physical space requirements
3Reliability
If delivery vehicles spend more time at access points ensuring safe handling, then operator safety is improved, but waiting time and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles perform preliminary positioning and preparation actions while approaching access points, so they are ready to service immediately when operators complete container handling. This eliminates idle waiting time while maintaining safety protocols during the actual service interaction
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system for transport of a container to an access point for handling of items held in the container by a human and/or robotic operator, the delivery system comprising: a delivery rail grid, a delivery vehicle and a container accessing station comprising at least one conveyor line extending into the access point. The delivery vehicle is arranged for delivering/receiving the container to/from the at least one conveyor line and wherein the at least one conveyor line is arranged for transport of the container between the delivery vehicle and the access point. The invention is also directed to an automated storage and retrieval system and a method of transporting a container to an access point.