Storage Bin Transport Robot With Central Cavity and Symmetric Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remotely operated vehicles for storage bin retrieval in storage systems face issues with access to all storage columns, stability during lifting and transportation, limited maximum handling weight, and speed reduction due to design constraints.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated vehicle with a central cavity for bin reception, symmetrically arranged rolling means for enhanced stability, and a design that allows movement in two directions, reducing torque and enabling higher handling weights and efficient space use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the robot uses an integrated yoke/overhang design in the upper part, then it can receive storage bins, but it necessitates an undesired speed reduction at the final stage of the lifting process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the yoke/overhang component from the robot design, replacing it with a direct bin receiving structure. This removal eliminates the speed reduction issue while maintaining the bin receiving function through the centrally arranged cavity with opening(s) that directly interface with storage columns.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the robot lift the bin and then transfer it to a separate yoke structure, the invention inverts the approach by having the bin be directly received into the robot's central cavity during the lifting process, eliminating the intermediate transfer stage that caused speed reduction.
2Ease of operation
If the robot design includes an integrated yoke/overhang structure, then it can handle storage bins, but it causes potential instability problems and high torque during lifting and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke/overhang structure is completely removed from the design. The bin handling function is replaced by a central cavity structure that receives bins directly, eliminating the source of instability and high torque while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric placement of the central cavity opening(s) to optimize bin reception geometry, allowing the opening to face towards the storage columns in a configuration that minimizes torque and maximizes stability during lifting and transportation.
3Ease of operation
If the robot uses a particular design with integrated yoke, then it can receive bins, but it prevents access to all storage columns in the storage system
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictive yoke/overhang structure is removed, replacing it with a flexible central cavity design that can accommodate bins from various storage column positions, enabling the robot to access all columns in the storage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The central cavity design serves multiple functions: it can receive bins from any storage column position, accommodate different bin orientations, and interface with various column configurations, making the robot universally applicable throughout the entire storage system.
4Ease of operation
If the robot design includes integrated yoke/overhang, then it can handle storage bins, but it limits the maximum handling weight
Solution Approach 1:
The weight-limiting yoke/overhang structure is removed. The central cavity design directly supports bins through its structure and opening configuration, increasing the maximum handling weight capacity while maintaining the bin handling function.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a remotely operated vehicle or robot for picking up storage bins from a storage system. The inventive vehicle or robot comprises a vehicle body, which vehicle body further comprises a first section for storing vehicle driving means and a second section for receiving any storage bin stored in a storage column within the storage system, a vehicle lifting device which is at least indirectly connected to the vehicle body in order to lift the storage bin into the second section, a first set of vehicle rolling means connected to the vehicle body in order to allow movement of the vehicle along a first direction (X) within the storage system during use and a second set of vehicle rolling means connected to the vehicle body in order to allow movement of the vehicle along a second direction (Y) in the storage system during use. The second direction (Y) is oriented perpendicular to the first direction (X). The inventive vehicle is characterized in that the second section comprises a cavity arranged centrally within the vehicle body. This cavity has at least one bin receiving opening facing towards the underlying storage columns during use. In addition, at least one of the two sets of vehicle rolling means is arranged fully within the vehicle body.