Transferring Robot Fetching Assembly for Narrow-Aisle Case Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional warehousing and logistics methods require robots to move entire storage containers to picking areas, leading to resource waste and inefficiency due to the need for wide paths and multiple turns, which affects space utilization and transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A transferring robot with a movable chassis, temporary storage shelf, and fetching assembly that allows direct fetching and placing of target cases between storage containers and the shelf without turning, using differential drive and telescoping mechanisms to optimize path utilization and simplify operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If robots move entire storage containers to picking areas, then goods can be picked up, but space utilization decreases and transfer efficiency lowers due to wide path requirements and multiple turns
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is segmented into individual cases that can be independently transferred. Instead of moving the entire storage container, the robot transfers only the specific case containing the target goods to the picking area, significantly reducing the space and path width required for operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fetching assembly extends horizontally perpendicular to the movement direction of the robot chassis. This dimensional change allows the robot to access and retrieve cases from storage containers without requiring wide turning paths, as the fetching operation occurs in a different spatial dimension than the robot's travel path.
2Productivity
If robots move entire storage containers, then goods can be accessed, but resource waste increases due to transporting unnecessary items
Solution Approach 1:
The fetching assembly extracts only the specific case containing the ordered goods from the storage container, leaving other cases in place. This selective extraction eliminates the resource waste of transporting entire storage containers or unrelated cases, as only the necessary item is moved to the picking area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the storage container into individual transferable cases, enabling selective retrieval of only the required case rather than moving the entire container. This segmentation allows precise targeting of needed goods and eliminates unnecessary transportation of other items.
3Ease of operation
If traditional storage container-to-worker method is used, then picking can be performed, but operation complexity increases due to multiple turns and positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The fetching assembly operates in a horizontal dimension perpendicular to the robot's movement path, allowing case retrieval without requiring the robot to turn or reposition extensively. This dimensional approach simplifies operations by enabling direct access to cases during the robot's linear travel between storage containers and the picking area.
Data Source
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.