Stereoscopic Warehouse Layout for Dense Carrier Conveying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehouse systems using four-way shuttle vehicles face high operational costs, inflexible layout changes, and difficulties in dense storage of non-bulk cargoes due to the need for rail infrastructure and limitations in conveying apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A stereoscopic warehouse scheduling system with multiple floors connected by lifting apparatuses, utilizing first and second conveying apparatuses and container handling apparatuses to efficiently move movable carriers between floors, allowing for flexible layout adjustments and improved storage density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single computing device is used for warehouse scheduling, then device complexity is low, but processing capacity and reliability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling system reliabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling system is divided into multiple independent computing devices (first computing device, second computing device, etc.), each capable of independently executing scheduling algorithms. This segmentation increases processing capacity and system reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each computing device is designed with multi-functional capabilities, able to perform various scheduling tasks including receiving order data, determining delivery routes, calculating costs, and communicating with multiple terminals. This universality allows the system to handle diverse scheduling requirements without requiring specialized hardware for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If detailed scheduling information is provided to all terminals, then information completeness is high, but information security and access control become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling information completenessVSAvoidunauthorized information access
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different terminals are granted different levels of access to scheduling information based on their specific needs and authorization levels. For example, driver terminals receive only route and delivery information, while management terminals access comprehensive scheduling data. This local quality approach ensures information completeness for authorized users while preventing unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The computing devices act as intermediaries between the central scheduling system and various terminals. They receive comprehensive scheduling information from the system, process it according to terminal-specific authorization levels, and transmit only the appropriate subset of information to each terminal. This intermediary function maintains information security while ensuring each terminal receives necessary data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If manual scheduling methods are used, then system complexity is low, but time consumption and scheduling accuracy are excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Manual mechanical scheduling operations are replaced with automated computing devices that execute scheduling algorithms. These devices receive order data, automatically determine optimal delivery routes, calculate costs, and generate schedules without human intervention. This substitution dramatically improves scheduling efficiency and accuracy while the modular architecture keeps system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling system is designed to autonomously perform scheduling tasks without requiring manual intervention. Computing devices automatically receive order information, process it through scheduling algorithms, determine routes and costs, and communicate results to relevant terminals. This self-service capability eliminates time-consuming manual scheduling while maintaining system simplicity through automated decision-making processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4417545A1Stereoscopic warehouse scheduling system
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECH CO LTD
  • EP4417545A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4417545A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4417545A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5b

AI summary

This specification discloses a stereoscopic warehouse scheduling system. A first conveying apparatus and a second conveying apparatus are used in a stereoscopic warehouse in a combined manner, and a conveying function of a lifting apparatus in the stereoscopic warehouse is used, so that the first conveying apparatus and the second conveying apparatus can cooperate in a dense storage warehouse to convey a movable carrier; a container handling apparatus is arranged to take out goods from the movable carrier or place goods in the movable carrier, and a plurality of containers may be placed in the movable carrier, so that the utilization of storage space is improved; and the container handling apparatus is used to effectively store a container in the movable carrier or take out a container from the movable carrier, so that the sorting efficiency of the goods in the stereoscopic warehouse is improved, the warehouse operation costs are reduced, and the conveying efficiency is improved.