Warehouse Storage Layout With Temporary Buffer and Dual Robot Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warehousing systems face inefficiencies due to excessive storage actions required by robots, leading to low efficiency in in-warehouse and ex-warehouse operations.

Innovation Solution

A warehousing apparatus with a temporary storage layer board and separate channels for first and second robots, allowing direct access and transfer of cargoes without extending robot arms, and optimizing robot pathways to enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If robots use integrated automatic climbing and moving capabilities to access and transfer cargoes, then the system can perform storage actions, but the efficiency of in-warehouse and ex-warehouse operations becomes low due to excessive storage actions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvein-warehouse and ex-warehouse efficiencyVSAvoidrobot operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the robot fleet into two specialized types: first robots dedicated to accessing cargoes on the temporary storage layer board, and second robots dedicated to transferring cargoes between the temporary storage layer board and storage layer boards. This segmentation eliminates the need for single robots to perform multiple complex operations, thereby improving efficiency while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temporary storage layer board serves as an intermediary structure between the docking platform and the storage shelves. First robots access cargoes directly on this intermediate layer, avoiding the need to extend robot arms to shelf layer boards, thus simplifying operations and improving efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the first robot and second robot share the same driving channel, then the system structure is simplified, but the driving efficiency of the robots decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobot driving efficiencyVSAvoidchannel structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving channel system is segmented into separate channels: a first robot channel for first robots to access the temporary storage layer board, and a second robot channel for second robots to transfer cargoes. This spatial segmentation allows simultaneous operation of different robot types without interference, improving driving efficiency while maintaining structural organization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4074627B1Storage device and system and control method
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 WUXI QUICKTRON INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4074627B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4074627B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4074627B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are a storage device and system and a control method. The storage device (1000) comprises: a temporary storage layer board (120), with the temporary storage layer board (120) being used for providing a temporary storage station; a plurality of shelves (100), with each shelf (100) comprising at least one storage layer board (130) and a plurality of stand columns (110) arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, the storage layer board (130) being spaced apart from the temporary storage layer board (120) in the vertical direction by means of the stand column (110), and the storage layer board (130) being used for providing a storage position; a first robot passage for a first robot (200) to travel in, with the first robot (200) being used for storing goods on and taking goods to the temporary storage layer board (120); and a sec-ond robot passage for a second robot (300) to travel in, with the second robot (300) being used for carrying the goods between the temporary storage layer board (120) and the storage layer board (130). The storage device and system and the control method can improve the efficiency of goods entering and exiting a warehouse.