Racking Lifting Unit Vertical Positioning for Safe Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing racking systems face challenges in ensuring safe access to hazard areas for operating personnel, as masts can block access and lifting units move autonomously, posing risks of collision and injury.
Innovation Solution
The method involves moving lifting units to a lowest or preferred height and securing them vertically, either manually or automatically, to prevent falls and ensure safe access. This can be achieved through various drive device arrangements and the use of safety chains or braking devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If masts are installed in front of storage racks to support lifting units, then the lifting units can be moved vertically to serve storage racks, but the masts block operating personnel's access to the lifting units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the drive device from a vertical arrangement on the mast to a horizontal arrangement at the base of the mast. This dimensional change allows operating personnel to access the drive device from the side or front without needing to pass through or work around the vertical mast structure, thereby resolving the access blockage problem while maintaining the mast's support function.
2Productivity
If lifting units move autonomously in the vertical direction, then automated storage and retrieval operations are enabled, but operating personnel face risks of collision and injury from falling or moving lifting units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary safety actions by automatically moving lifting units to a predetermined safe position (either the lowest position or a preferred maintenance position) before granting access to operating personnel. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the risk of falling or moving lifting units injuring personnel during maintenance operations, while preserving automated productivity during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the automated lifting unit and the operating personnel. It mediates the conflict by receiving access requests, automatically positioning the lifting unit to a safe state, and then permitting personnel access. This intermediary control mechanism enables both automated operation and safe maintenance access.
3Reliability
If operating personnel manually secure lifting units by disconnecting drive devices from power supply, then safety is improved, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service safety securing by automatically positioning lifting units to a safe state through the control unit, eliminating the need for operating personnel to manually disconnect drive devices or perform complex securing procedures. This self-securing mechanism maintains high reliability while significantly reducing the time and complexity of the safety preparation process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for safe access to a hazard area in a racking system using simple means is provided, wherein the racking system has a rack storage unit with a storage rack and a rack operating device for operating the storage rack. The storage rack has one or more compartments for stored goods in one rack level or in several rack levels arranged one above the other. The rack operating device has a lifting unit that is movable in a vertical direction. The method comprises 1) requesting access to the hazard area, 2) interrupting any operation of the storage rack by the rack operating device, and 3) granting access to the hazard area. After requesting access to the hazard area, the lifting unit is moved in a vertical direction to a lowest height and/or to a preferred height and secured at the preferred height in the vertical direction.