Storage Rack Platform Layout to Remove Horizontal Bar Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems often have insufficient accessibility, requiring additional resources and time for workers to access products due to obstructive horizontal bars that hinder pathway access to products on opposite sides.
Innovation Solution
A storage system design featuring adjacent support platforms with a predetermined aisle between them, allowing unobstructed access to products by removing the need for horizontal bars that extend between platforms, and incorporating vertically positioned columns and support bars that create additional storage units without obstructing pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If horizontal bars extend between storage systems to provide structural support, then structural stability is improved, but accessibility to products on the opposite side deteriorates due to obstruction of the pathway
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the horizontal bar that extended between storage systems, extracting the obstructive element while maintaining structural support through alternative means (vertical columns and platforms), thereby eliminating the pathway obstruction and improving worker accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from horizontal support bars to a vertical platform structure, changing the dimensional approach to structural support. The platforms extend vertically from columns, providing support in a different spatial configuration that does not obstruct horizontal pathways
2Productivity
If workers access products on opposite sides of horizontal bars, then product retrieval is possible, but additional time and resources are required due to navigating around or climbing over obstructive structures
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the horizontal bar obstruction, workers can directly access products on both sides of what would have been the obstruction point, eliminating the need to navigate around or climb over structures and significantly reducing access time
Solution Approach 2:
The platforms are positioned at predetermined distances to create aisles that are optimized for worker access, allowing workers to directly reach products without additional navigation steps
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed that provides a storage system designed to allow pickers to easily and efficiently pull products from all portions of the storage system from a single side of the storage system. The storage system includes a first storage rack that has a first plurality of columns and a first platform extending from one of the first plurality of columns. An outer edge of the first platform forms an end of the first storage rack. Positioned adjacent to the first storage rack is a second storage rack with a second plurality of columns and a second platform that extends from one of the second plurality of columns, where an outer edge of the second platform forms an end of the second storage rack. An aisle is formed by a predetermined distance between the outer edges of the first and second platforms.