Side-Accessible Goods Holder Dynamic Closure Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems face challenges in accessing items from storage containers without the need for destacking or using container handling vehicles for digging or transport.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a side-accessible goods holder that allows access to product items from the side while preventing items from falling out during movement, using a method where the side-access opening is closed with a barrier during transport and opened when the goods holder is placed in a stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a side-access opening is provided in the goods holder to allow customer access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates because product items may fall out during transport by the lifting device
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall of the goods holder is designed to be dynamically changeable between an open configuration (providing side access for customers) and a closed configuration (preventing product items from falling out during transport). This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to serve two opposing functions at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting device is equipped with a closing element that proactively closes the side-access opening before the goods holder is transported. This preliminary action prevents the potential harmful effect of product items falling out during transport, addressing the reliability concern before the transport operation begins.
2Ease of operation
If the side-access opening remains open during transport, then ease of operation is improved for loading/unloading, but object-generated harmful factors worsen as product items may fall out
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device performs a preliminary action by closing the side-access opening with its closing element before the goods holder is lifted and transported. This ensures that the opening is secured in advance, preventing product items from falling out during the subsequent transport operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A closing element acts as an intermediary between the lifting device and the side-access opening. This closing element can be operated by the lifting device to seal the opening during transport, while still allowing easy access during loading and unloading operations when the closing element is retracted or opened.
3Reliability
If the goods holder is designed with a closed structure for secure transport, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as customer access requires opening the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is designed as a dynamic structure that can transform between closed and open states. During transport, the lifting device closes the side-access opening to ensure reliability. During customer access operations, the closing element is retracted or opened to provide easy access to the storage area, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary closing of the side-access opening before transport operations begin, ensuring reliability is established in advance. For customer access, the closing element can be quickly opened or retracted, providing easy access without requiring complex structural changes or manual disassembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a side-accessible goods holder (130) comprising a storage area for storing product items and a closable side-access opening, the goods holder being configured to interact with a moving device to close the side opening while being moved to an access position by the moving device, and open the side access opening when the goods holder is at the access position, a method and a system.