Robot-Aligned Operation Door for Automated Storage Container Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehousing technologies rely heavily on manual operations, leading to inefficiencies and high time and energy consumption for users in tasks such as storage and retrieval in unmanned environments.

Innovation Solution

A self-service operating system and method utilizing robots, control systems, and operation doors to automate the transport and operation of storage containers, enabling automated and efficient article handling by aligning storage containers with operation doors for compartment access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual operations are used in unmanned warehousing, then system simplicity is maintained, but operation efficiency is low and time consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage container is designed with self-opening capability through built-in driving mechanisms that automatically open compartment doors when the container is positioned at the operation door, eliminating the need for manual door opening and enabling automated unmanned operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The storage container transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with movable compartment doors driven by driving mechanisms, allowing automatic opening and closing to improve operational efficiency in unmanned environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If storage containers are fixedly arranged, then system complexity is reduced, but operation speed and efficiency are limited due to manual retrieval

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage container incorporates movable compartment doors with driving mechanisms that can automatically open and close, transforming the static storage system into a dynamic one capable of rapid automated operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical door opening is replaced with automated driving mechanisms controlled by the control system, enabling faster and more efficient article retrieval without human intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated transport and positioning systems are introduced, then operation efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearticle operation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage container is designed as a multi-functional unit that combines article storage, self-transport capability, and automatic door opening functions, allowing a single component to perform multiple operations and reduce overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage container performs self-transport and self-positioning operations through its built-in driving mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate transport equipment and reducing system complexity while improving efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3843056B1Self-service operating system and method, and operation door
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECH CO LTD
  • EP3843056B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3843056B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3843056B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are a self-service operating system (400) and method, and an operation door (420). The system (400) comprises: a control server (410), one or more operation doors (420), at least one robot (430), and one or more storage containers (440), wherein the control server (410) is configured to respond to an item operation instruction, determine a target storage container (440) and a target operation door (420) which correspond to an item to be operated, and send a carrying instruction to the robot (430); the robot (430) is configured to respond to the carrying instruction to carry the target storage container (440) to the target operation door (420), and a plurality of box openings on the target storage container (440) respectively correspond to a plurality of box openings on the target operation door (420) on a one-to-one basis; and the control server (410) is further configured to control a box opening door of a target box opening on the target operation door (420) to open, so as to implement an item operation on the target storage container (440).