Rack Shuttle Drive Layout Without External Vertical Lifts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage and retrieval machines (SRMs) in racking systems require external lifts for vertical movement, which are prone to defects and complex control, affecting reliability and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A shuttle with integrated drive systems for both horizontal and vertical movement, featuring a wheel system with traction and engagement sections, allowing autonomous operation within a passive racking system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external lifts are used for vertical movement of SRMs, then vertical transport capability is achieved, but system reliability deteriorates due to lift defects and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vertical and horizontal drive systems into a single integrated shuttle unit. The drive system includes wheels with traction sections for horizontal movement on rails and engagement sections for vertical movement on toothed rails. This merging eliminates the need for separate external lifts, thereby improving reliability by removing a complex external component while maintaining both vertical and horizontal transport capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive system on the shuttle is designed to perform multiple functions: it enables both horizontal movement along rails and vertical movement along toothed rails using the same wheel assembly. The wheels can switch between traction mode (horizontal) and engagement mode (vertical), providing universal movement capability that eliminates the need for specialized external lift equipment.
2Ease of operation
If external lifts are used for vertical movement, then vertical transport is enabled, but operational complexity increases due to lift control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control systems for vertical and horizontal movement are merged into a single integrated control unit on the shuttle. This unified control approach simplifies operation by eliminating the need to coordinate separate lift control systems, while the underlying drive mechanism maintains full vertical and horizontal capability through its dual-mode wheel design.
3Ease of repair
If external lifts are used, then vertical movement capability is provided, but maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
All drive functionalities are merged into the mobile shuttle unit, which can be easily removed and replaced as a single component. This eliminates the need for complex external lift infrastructure that would require specialized maintenance. If the drive system needs repair, the entire shuttle can be swapped out, simplifying maintenance significantly compared to repairing distributed lift mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle is designed as a self-contained unit with integrated drive systems that can autonomously navigate to service areas or be easily replaced by standard maintenance procedures. The modular design allows the shuttle to serve its own maintenance needs or be quickly swapped without requiring complex external lift disassembly or specialized maintenance equipment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a shuttle (1) for a rack system (100). The shuttle (1) comprises a loading region (2) which defines a loading surface (21) in a first direction (R1) and in a second direction (R2), wherein the loading region (2) is designed to receive goods to be transported, a loading device (3) which is designed to bring goods to the loading region (2) and remove goods therefrom, at least one drive system (4) having a wheel system (41) which can be rotated about a wheel rotational axis (RD), wherein the at least one drive system (4) is designed to move the shuttle (1) in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction in the rack system (100). The invention also relates to a passive rack system (100), more particularly for a high-rack warehouse.