Semi-Trailer Stacker Crane Vertical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-bay warehouses face challenges in reducing access times and efficient storage of semi-trailers due to overcrowded parking and rest areas, which are often inefficient and environmentally detrimental, and existing parking devices require significant space and materials.
Innovation Solution
A stacker crane system with a handling unit and lifting unit, capable of horizontal and vertical movement, is designed to efficiently load and unload semi-trailers from high-bay warehouses, utilizing a fifth wheel coupling and tines to support and lift semi-trailers, allowing for compact storage and reduced access times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional parking devices are used to store semi-trailers, then a large number of parking spaces are provided, but the access time becomes relatively long and the device becomes massive requiring high material usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal parking arrangements to vertical stacking, utilizing the third dimension (height) to increase storage capacity. Multiple parking levels are created vertically, allowing more semi-trailers to be stored in the same footprint area, thereby reducing access time while maintaining high storage density without requiring massive horizontal expansion
2Quantity of substance
If conventional parking devices are used to store semi-trailers, then parking spaces are provided, but the device becomes massive requiring high material usage and large number of individual parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple support functions into a single integrated frame structure. The frame structure serves as both the structural backbone and the support mechanism for multiple parking levels, eliminating the need for separate support elements for each level. This merging approach reduces the total number of individual parts and material consumption while providing numerous parking spaces
3Quantity of substance
If large parking and rest areas are provided for semi-trailers, then storage capacity is increased, but land sealing increases having negative consequences for the ecosystem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical space to increase storage capacity without expanding horizontal footprint. By stacking parking levels vertically, the system accommodates more semi-trailers while minimizing land sealing, thereby reducing negative environmental impacts while maintaining high storage capacity
4Productivity
If more trailer parking spaces are provided at road and rail junctions, then loading and unloading capacity is increased, but the infrastructure footprint increases in highly dense areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs vertical stacking to increase loading and unloading capacity by providing multiple parking levels accessible by the storage and retrieval machine. This vertical expansion allows high productivity at road and rail junctions without increasing the horizontal infrastructure footprint, making the system suitable for dense urban areas
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a storage and retrieval machine (1) for operating a high-bay warehouse (100), in particular for loading and unloading a parking device for semi-trailers (200). The storage and retrieval machine has a handling unit (2) coupled to a frame structure (3), wherein the frame structure is designed to be horizontally movable in at least one spatial direction and the handling unit (2) is designed to be vertically movable along the frame structure and is designed to be movable relative to the frame structure in a longitudinal direction of the handling unit from a first position to at least a second position.The handling unit comprises a lifting unit (4) with a fifth wheel coupling, preferably movably mounted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handling unit, for receiving a kingpin of a semi-trailer (200), and a fork carriage (5), wherein the fork carriage extends away from the lifting unit in the longitudinal direction of the handling unit and has at least one fork (6). The lifting unit is configured to perform a lifting movement in the vertical direction relative to the fork carriage.