Storage logistics method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage systems lack efficient automation for monitoring and managing inventory levels across multiple compartments, leading to inefficiencies in restocking and inventory tracking.
Innovation Solution
A storage system with sloping shelves and a sensor system that uses unique addresses for compartments, allowing for spatial scanning and automatic detection of occupancy levels, connected via a data bus for real-time communication and remote management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual inventory monitoring is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and accuracy of inventory management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage system is divided into multiple compartments, each with its own sensor assembly that independently monitors occupancy. This segmentation allows the system to track inventory levels in each compartment separately, improving overall inventory management efficiency while keeping each individual sensor unit simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assemblies serve multiple functions: they detect occupancy status, generate electrical signals, and communicate with the control unit. This multi-functionality improves productivity by consolidating monitoring capabilities into unified components rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
2Measurement precision
If sensor systems are integrated into each compartment, then measurement precision of occupancy levels improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each compartment is equipped with a dedicated sensor assembly that provides localized occupancy detection. This local quality approach ensures high measurement precision for each specific compartment while maintaining simplicity through standardized, identical sensor units that can be easily replicated across multiple compartments.
Solution Approach 2:
The same sensor assembly design is copied and installed in each compartment. This standardization allows for precise occupancy measurement in every location using identical, proven components, reducing the complexity that would arise from designing unique sensor systems for each compartment.
3Loss of time
If automatic detection devices are deployed, then loss of time in inventory tracking is reduced, but manufacturing precision and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assemblies are pre-configured and tested before installation. The control unit is pre-programmed with the compartment layout and sensor locations. This preliminary preparation reduces installation time and minimizes the precision requirements during actual installation, as the systems are designed to be plug-and-play compatible.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assemblies automatically detect and report their own occupancy status without requiring manual configuration or calibration during installation. The system self-configures by receiving signals from each sensor assembly, eliminating the need for precise manual setup and reducing installation complexity while maintaining fast inventory tracking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simplified warehousing by automatically detecting low inventory levels, facilitating timely restocking and providing remote query capabilities for stock sufficiency, thus improving inventory management and reducing manual errors.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor designed as a reflex light barrier is located at the base of a recess and comprises a light transmitter and a receiver arranged in the immediate vicinity. Depending on whether a tool is in the recess or not, the emitted light is reflected or not, so that the receiver only generates a signal when a tool is present in the recess.
Implementation Method 2
The sensor assembly (100) has a multiplicity of sensor elements (20), in particular a signal generator (21) and a signal receiver (22), which are arranged in such a way that an emitted signal (S) from the signal generator (21) can be received by the signal receiver (22) through the shelf (410).
Implementation Method 3
The shelf may be a sloping floor shelf and the shelves may slope towards a removal side of the sloping floor shelf.
Data Source
Figure 1~3c
Figure 4a~4e
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a storage system (600) comprising at least one shelf (400). The shelf (400) has multiple shelf bases (410) arranged one over the other, each shelf base (410) being logically divided into multiple adjacently arranged compartments (TB). Each of the compartments (TB) is assigned a unique address. The storage system also comprises a sensor system (200) for detecting an occupancy of the compartments (TB), said sensor system (200) being designed for a spatial scan of the occupancy of one of the compartments (TB) in order to generate occupancy information (710) which indicates the degree of occupancy of the pertinent compartment (TB), and a data bus (620) which is connected to the sensor system (200) and a communication device (630). The storage system is designed to carry out the following steps: - detecting respective occupancy information (710) of the compartments (TB) using the sensor system (200), - transmitting the occupancy information (710) with the address assigned to the compartment (TB) from which the occupancy information (710) was detected from the sensor system (200) to the communication device (630) via the data bus (620), and - establishing a network connection (640) using the communication device (630) in order to transmit occupancy information (710) to a server (650) or control information to the storage system (600) in uni- or bidirectional communication.