Transfer Robot With Telescoping Case Fetching for Compact Warehouses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional 'storage container-to-worker' picking methods in warehousing and logistics require robots to move entire containers, leading to increased load and resource waste, inefficient space utilization, and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A transferring robot with a movable chassis, temporary storage shelf, and fetching assembly that allows for direct fetching and placing of target cases between storage containers and the shelf without turning, utilizing a telescoping adjustment assembly to extend or retract horizontally, enabling efficient case transfer and optimizing warehouse layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robot moves the entire storage container to the picking area, then the goods can be picked, but the load of the robot increases and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is segmented into multiple individual cases, and the robot is designed to transfer only the specific case containing the target goods rather than moving the entire container. This segmentation allows selective retrieval of individual cases, significantly reducing the weight and volume the robot must handle while maintaining picking efficiency.
2Productivity
If the robot moves the entire storage container to the picking area, then the goods can be picked, but space utilization of the warehouse is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the storage system into container-level storage and case-level retrieval, the warehouse can maintain compact container arrangements while the robot accesses only individual cases as needed. This reduces the need for wide aisles and large maneuvering spaces, improving overall warehouse space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from horizontal container movement to vertical case handling within containers. The robot operates at the case level within the container structure, utilizing the vertical dimension for case storage and retrieval, which reduces the horizontal space requirements and improves warehouse layout efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fetching assembly extends or retracts horizontally perpendicular to the chassis movement direction, then case fetching and placing is enabled, but the structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fetching assembly employs a telescopic mechanism that dynamically extends and retracts horizontally, allowing the robot to reach cases at different positions within containers. This dynamic adjustment capability enables versatile case access without requiring multiple fixed-position grippers, balancing adaptability with structural efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transferring robot is disclosed in the disclosure. The transferring robot includes a movable chassis configured to move along a path among adjacent warehouse storage containers; a temporary storage shelf provided on the movable chassis, the temporary storage shelf being configured to store a target case; a fetching assembly provided on the movable chassis, the fetching assembly being configured to extend or retract horizontally relative to the movable chassis, so as to realize fetching and placing of the target case between the storage containers and the temporary storage shelf, where a direction along which the fetching assembly extends or retracts horizontally is perpendicular to a moving direction. A warehousing and logistics system includes the foregoing transferring robot. The disclosure further discloses a warehousing system and an item transferring method.