Article Storage With Dual Rack Raising And Lowering Conveyors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article storage facilities face inefficiencies in loading and unloading articles from multiple multilevel racks due to limitations in the capacity of a single raising and lowering apparatus to handle a large number of articles within a predetermined time.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two independent raising and lowering apparatuses for each multilevel rack, along with standby conveyors and transfer shuttles, allows for simultaneous and efficient transfer of articles between multiple levels, enhancing the loading and unloading process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single raising and lowering apparatus is used to operate between multiple multilevel racks, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to limited article transfer capacity within predetermined time
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single raising and lowering function into multiple independent raising and lowering apparatuses (first raising and lowering apparatus and second raising and lowering apparatus). Each apparatus operates independently between the standby station and specific multilevel racks, enabling parallel article transfer operations that increase overall productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a standby station as an intermediate dimensional element between the raising and lowering apparatuses and the multilevel racks. This standby station with its conveyors creates an additional operational dimension, allowing articles to be transferred to intermediate positions before final placement, thereby increasing transfer capacity without proportionally increasing the number of raising and lowering mechanisms
2Volume of stationary object
If shelves are provided on many levels in multilevel racks to increase storage capacity, then volume of storage is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to limited ability to load and unload articles efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The standby station with its conveyors acts as an intermediary system between the raising and lowering apparatuses and the multilevel racks. This intermediary enables efficient article handling by providing intermediate transfer points, allowing parallel operations to different levels, and reducing the time required to load and unload articles from high-volume storage configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the article transfer process into multiple independent pathways through multiple raising and lowering apparatuses, each serving specific rack levels. This segmentation allows simultaneous loading and unloading operations across different levels, maintaining high productivity even when shelves are provided on many levels to maximize storage capacity
Data Source
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AI summary
An article storage facility (1) includes: a first multilevel rack (2) including first shelves (13); a second multilevel rack (3) including second shelves (14); a standby station (4) that is disposed between the first multilevel rack (2) and the second multilevel rack (3) and include a standby conveyor (15); a transfer shuttle (5) that transfers articles (22) between the standby conveyor (15), the first shelves (13), and the second shelves (14); a first raising and lowering apparatus (6) that is disposed between the first multilevel rack (2) and the standby station (4) and includes a first raising and lowering mechanism (17) that raises and lowers a first raising and lowering conveyor (16) that transfers the articles (22) to and from the standby conveyor (15); and a second raising and lowering apparatus (7) that is disposed between the second multilevel rack (3) and the standby station (4) and includes a second raising and lowering mechanism (20) that raises and lowers a second raising and lowering conveyor (19) that transfers the articles (22) to and from the standby conveyor (15).