Warehouse Shelf Track Assembly for Stable High-Level Robot Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehousing systems face instability and safety hazards due to shaking and toppling of shelves when robots access high-positioned material boxes, leading to reduced storage capacity and increased installation difficulty.
Innovation Solution
A shelf device with a track assembly above the channel, comprising lateral and vertical bars forming track walls to stabilize the robot's position, and a sliding assembly with pulleys to enhance stability and prevent sideways tilting, allowing for adjustable height compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the robot accesses material boxes at high positions, then the storage capacity is improved, but the shelf stability deteriorates causing shaking and toppling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a track assembly that extends in the vertical dimension above the channel, providing lateral constraint to the robot. This vertical track structure prevents the shelf from shaking and toppling when the robot accesses high-positioned material boxes, thereby maintaining shelf stability while enabling high-position storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The track assembly serves as an intermediary element between the robot and the shelf structure. It provides a stable guiding path for the robot while isolating the shelf from direct lateral forces during robot operation, thus preventing shelf shaking and toppling while still allowing access to high-position boxes.
2Quantity of substance
If the shelf height is increased to enhance storage capacity, then the storage capacity is improved, but the installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The track assembly is designed as a detachable component that can be separately installed above the channel. This segmentation allows the track assembly to be installed independently of the shelf structure, simplifying the overall installation process and enabling flexible configuration for different warehouse heights without increasing installation difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The track assembly is designed to be detachable and adaptable to different heights, providing dynamic flexibility in installation. This allows the system to be configured for various warehouse heights without requiring complex custom installations, thereby enhancing storage capacity while maintaining ease of installation.
3Ease of operation
If the robot moves along the channel without position limitation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the shelf stability deteriorates causing sideways toppling
Solution Approach 1:
The track assembly acts as an intermediary guiding mechanism that provides lateral constraint to the robot while allowing smooth movement along the channel. The robot's top surface is slidably fitted with the track walls, enabling easy operation and movement while preventing sideways toppling of the shelf through the track's lateral constraint.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the track assembly is fixedly connected to the shelves, then the shelf stability is improved, but the adaptability to different warehouse heights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The track assembly is designed as a detachable component that can be separately installed and adjusted to different heights. This segmentation maintains shelf stability through secure connection while allowing the system to be adapted to different warehouse heights by repositioning or removing the track assembly, thus providing height versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable design of the track assembly provides dynamic adaptability to different warehouse heights. The track can be installed at appropriate heights and securely connected to provide stability during operation, while also being removable or repositionable to accommodate different warehouse configurations, thus maintaining both stability and adaptability.
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
Improves the stability and success rate of robot access to material boxes, reduces toppling probability, enhances storage capacity, and facilitates installation in various warehouse heights, while maintaining safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a sliding assembly provided with pulleys, and two pulleys are fitted in a rolling manner with two track walls of the track, respectively
Implementation Method 2
the top of the robot is adapted to be located between the two track walls and is slidably fitted with the two track walls
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Disclosed are a shelf device (100), a robot (200) and a warehousing system (1). The shelf device (100) comprises: at least two shelves (10) spaced apart, a channel (10a) being defined between two adjacent shelves (10); a track assembly (20) located above the channel (10a) and detachably connected to tops of the two adjacent shelves (10). The track assembly (20) is provided with a track (20a) extending in a passing direction of the channel (10a). The track (20a) is adapted to be fitted with a robot (200) moving along the channel (10a) to limit its position. The stability of the overall structure of the shelf device (100) can be improved and the deformation efficiency of the shelves (10) can be reduced, thereby improving the stability and success rate of the robot (200) to access the material boxes.