Storage Access Station With Selective Compartment Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated storage and retrieval systems do not allow end users to collect product items automatically while ensuring safety and restricting access to only ordered items.
Innovation Solution
A station with an access barrier and a loading mechanism that transitions between loading and access configurations, using deployable covers to restrict access to specific compartments of a storage container, ensuring only ordered items are accessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If end users are allowed to collect product items automatically at the storage system location, then user convenience and productivity are improved, but safety risks increase due to potential contact with moving parts and unauthorized access to compartments
Solution Approach 1:
The station is divided into distinct functional zones: a first compartment for ordered items with user access, and a second compartment for other items restricted by a cover. The cover itself is segmented into a first portion covering the second compartment and a second portion providing user access to the first compartment. This segmentation allows simultaneous safety protection and user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary element between the user and the storage compartments. It provides a controlled interface that allows users to access their ordered items while preventing direct access to other compartments and protecting against moving parts. The cover mechanism mediates the interaction between user convenience and safety requirements.
2Ease of operation
If all compartments of a storage container are accessible to end users, then ease of collection is improved, but access control and security deteriorate as users may access items they did not order
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is segmented into a first compartment for ordered items and a second compartment for other items. The cover is correspondingly segmented with a first portion covering the second compartment and a second portion allowing access to the first compartment. This segmentation enables selective access control while maintaining ease of collection for authorized items.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cover have different properties: the first portion provides restricted access by covering the second compartment, while the second portion provides open access to the first compartment. This local differentiation of access properties allows the system to simultaneously provide ease of collection for ordered items and access control for other items.
3Ease of operation
If the access barrier provides full access to the opening, then ease of item retrieval is improved, but the ability to restrict access to specific compartments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into a first portion that covers and restricts access to the second compartment, and a second portion that provides access to the first compartment. The access barrier is correspondingly segmented with a first opening restricted by the first portion and a second opening provided by the second portion. This segmentation enables selective access restriction while maintaining ease of retrieval for authorized items.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed to be movable between different positions: a first position where it covers the second compartment entirely, and a second position where it provides access to the first compartment. This dynamic capability allows the system to transition between restricted access and ease of retrieval states as needed.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the housing completely prevents access to the opening, then safety is improved, but the ability to provide user access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented with a first opening for restricted access and a second opening for user access. The cover is segmented correspondingly with a first portion covering the first opening and a second portion providing access to the second opening. This segmentation allows the housing to simultaneously provide safety protection and user access through different portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the housing have different access properties: the first opening provides restricted access protected by the first portion of the cover, while the second opening provides open user access through the second portion of the cover. This local differentiation of access properties enables simultaneous safety protection and user convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
A station for providing access to contents in a storage container of an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:—an access barrier comprising an opening, and a plurality of covers, wherein each cover is arranged to be selectively deployed to close off a respective portion of the opening;—a loading mechanism arranged to receive the storage container and move it to the opening of the access barrier; and—a housing which is able to prevent access to the opening of the access barrier; wherein the station (10) is arranged to transition between;—a loading configuration in which access to the opening of the access barrier is prevented by the housing, and—an access configuration in which the opening of the access barrier is presented to thereby enable access to contents of the storage container through the opening. The station is configured to deploy the covers to close off predetermined portions of the opening prior to transition into the access configuration to thereby restrict or permit access to contents of the storage container through predetermined portions of the opening.