Delivery Grid Access Point Layout for Warehouse Congestion Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face congestion issues around pick-up and drop-off ports due to inefficient vehicle movements and separate drop-off and pick-up ports, leading to reduced system efficiency and increased space requirements.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a delivery rail system with multiple paths to and from an access point, allowing remotely operated delivery vehicles to efficiently transport storage containers between the storage grid and an access point, thereby reducing congestion and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate drop-off and pick-up ports are used, then container handling can be organized, but congestion occurs around delivery columns and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate drop-off and pick-up ports into a single integrated access point where delivery vehicles can perform both operations. This merging eliminates the need for vehicles to travel between separate ports, reducing congestion around delivery columns and improving system efficiency while maintaining organized container handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it acts as both a drop-off port and a pick-up port. Delivery vehicles can deposit containers and retrieve containers at the same location, making the access point universal and eliminating the inefficiencies of separate specialized ports.
2Productivity
If multiple delivery vehicles operate simultaneously, then delivery capacity increases, but congestion around access point increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple access points distributed across the storage grid, transforming the single-point access model into a multi-point access model. This dimensional change in the access architecture allows multiple delivery vehicles to operate simultaneously at different locations, increasing delivery capacity while reducing congestion at any single access point through improved spatial distribution.
3Device complexity
If delivery vehicles travel to separate pick-up and drop-off ports, then container routing is simplified, but vehicle travel time and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging pick-up and drop-off functions into a single access point, the patent eliminates the need for vehicles to travel between separate ports. This reduces vehicle travel time and the space required for vehicle movements, while the integrated design maintains clear routing logic through unified access management.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid for storage of storage containers and a delivery system for transport of said storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system. The access point is adapted for handling of items held in the storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator. The delivery system includes a delivery rail system including at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells, the access point, and a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the storage containers. The delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system. The delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and/or from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells. The remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return the storage container to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid. The access point is provided in a container accessing station, said station being arranged for separating the robotic or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle. The container accessing station comprises a cabinet comprising walls and a top cover supported thereon, wherein the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point is reachable through an opening in the top cover.