Conveyor System Side-by-Side Unit Load Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Logistics systems face challenges in increasing throughput without high mechanical stress on conveyor components and in managing space requirements for parallel operation, which complicates the storage and retrieval of unit loads in high-bay racking.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system that transports multiple unit loads side by side using a single conveying means, reducing mechanical load and increasing transport volume, combined with a storage and retrieval device featuring carriages that accommodate and release unit loads without the need for lifting mechanisms, optimizing storage and retrieval processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the speed of conveyor systems is increased to achieve higher throughput, then productivity increases, but the mechanical load on conveyor components greatly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into multiple parallel conveyor elements (first conveyor element, second conveyor element) that can operate simultaneously. Each conveyor element handles a portion of the unit loads, allowing the system to achieve higher overall throughput without requiring any single conveyor to operate at excessively high speeds that would create excessive mechanical stress.
2Productivity
If multiple identical components are used for parallel operation to increase capacity, then throughput increases, but space requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple conveyor elements are merged into a unified system with integrated control and coordinated operation. The first and second conveyor elements work together with the storage and retrieval device, sharing common infrastructure and control mechanisms, which reduces overall system complexity compared to completely separate parallel systems while still achieving increased throughput.
3Productivity
If multiple identical components are used for parallel operation to increase capacity, then throughput increases, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single linear conveyor arrangement to a multi-dimensional layout where conveyor elements are arranged in parallel and can operate simultaneously. The first conveyor element and second conveyor element are positioned to handle different streams of unit loads, utilizing spatial arrangement to achieve parallel processing without requiring proportional increases in total facility space.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention refers to a conveyor system (10) for conveying unit loads (16), comprising at least one conveyor element (12), said conveyor element (12) comprising conveyor means for transporting at least two unit loads (16) in a conveying direction, the at least two unit loads (16) being arranged side by side in a direction transverse to the conveying direction (P) and to a storage and retrieval device (19) comprising at least one carrier (19a) and a load bearing module, wherein the load bearing module has at least two carriages. The invention further refers to a logistics system for storage, retrieval and collation of unit loads, comprising at least a store for storing unit loads, and at least one conveyor system. Moreover, a method of operating a logistics system with at least one storage and retrieval device and/or a conveyor system is disclosed, wherein at the storage and retrieval device and/or the conveyor system at least two unit loads are operated at the same time.