Selective access device for a picking/depositing station in a warehouse, and picking/depositing station provided with such selective access device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing selective access devices for automated warehouse picking/depositing stations are inefficient due to flimsiness, high component complexity, increased costs, and operational delays, particularly when handling high material flows and requiring additional safety barriers.
Innovation Solution
A selective access device with a tiltable frame and motor-driven roller shutters, combined with a door system that allows ergonomic access and adjustable openings, reducing the need for additional safety barriers and simplifying operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If roller shutters or shutters are used to increase flexibility in opening areas, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to flimsiness and greater risk of forcing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite structure combining rigid vertical bars with horizontal connecting elements to create a shutter system that maintains both flexibility in opening configuration and sufficient rigidity to prevent forcing. The vertical bars provide structural strength while the horizontal connectors enable adjustable opening widths, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two shutters slide parallel to the long side of the tray to cover larger areas, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to relatively high opening and closing times
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system is segmented into multiple independent vertical bars that can move separately along guide rails. This segmentation allows different portions of the shutter to move at different speeds and in different directions, enabling faster overall operation while maintaining coverage of large areas. The segmented structure reduces the time required for opening and closing compared to a single monolithic shutter.
3Productivity
If two picking/depositing bays are installed to handle high material flows simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to separate and spaced bays requiring shutter deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system is designed with universal guide rails and mounting structures that can accommodate multiple picking/depositing bays within a single integrated framework. The same shutter mechanism serves multiple bays, eliminating the need for separate spaced structures and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity through simultaneous operations.
4Reliability
If additional electronic or physical barriers are provided to guarantee safety during shutter movement, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and loss of time increases due to waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system incorporates self-contained safety features including interlocked guide rails that physically prevent access during shutter movement, and automated reversal mechanisms that detect obstructions and reverse direction without requiring external sensors or control systems. This self-service approach to safety eliminates the need for additional electronic barriers while maintaining high safety standards.
Data Source
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AI summary
A selective access device (22) for a picking/depositing station (11) in warehouse defines an access area (23) engaged by a first cover (24) that is defined by a pair of movable plane surfaces (30, 31) parallel or coplanar to one another; these plane surfaces are slidable along a first rectilinear axis (D) under the action of a movement system (32,33) so as to open/close a first opening (26); in the access area, there is provided a second cover (25) above the first cover (24), to define a second opening (27) aligned with the first opening (26); the second cover (25) consists of a plurality of doors (40), each rotating about a relative rotation axis (E) in respect to the first cover (24); the doors (40) are arranged side-by-side along a second rectilinear axis (A), orthogonal to the first axis (D) and are closed by respective locks (47), while the rotation axes (E) are parallel to this second axis (A).