Stereoscopic Warehouse Carrier Scheduling for Dense Container Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse systems using four-way shuttle vehicles face high operational costs, inflexible layout changes, and difficulties in dense storage of non-bulk cargoes due to the need for rail infrastructure and limitations in conveying apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A stereoscopic warehouse scheduling system with multiple floors connected by lifting apparatuses, utilizing first and second conveying apparatuses and container handling apparatuses to manage movable carriers and optimize storage and retrieval tasks, allowing for flexible layout adjustments and efficient dense storage of various cargo types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If four-way shuttle vehicles with rails are used for automatic transportation, then conveying efficiency is improved, but device complexity and construction costs increase due to rail infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rail infrastructure from the conveying system, replacing it with mobile robots that navigate autonomously on the warehouse floor. This removes the complex fixed rail infrastructure while maintaining automated conveying capabilities through software-based navigation and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rail-based conveying system with an electronic/software-controlled mobile robot system. The navigation and task coordination are achieved through electronic communication and software algorithms rather than mechanical rail guidance, reducing physical infrastructure complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If four-way shuttle vehicles are deployed for dense storage operations, then space utilization is improved, but adaptability decreases due to fixed rail arrangements limiting layout flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic, mobile robots that can adapt their paths and positions based on changing warehouse layouts and storage requirements. Unlike fixed rail systems, these robots can dynamically adjust to reconfigured storage areas, maintaining high space utilization while enabling layout flexibility through software-controlled navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot system serves multiple functions: it can operate in various warehouse layouts, handle different cargo types, and adapt to changing storage configurations. This universal system replaces the specialized rail infrastructure, providing both dense storage capability and layout adaptability through a single flexible platform.
3Productivity
If four-way vehicles carrying pallets are used, then bulk cargo transportation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates as dense storage of non-bulk cargoes becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cargo interface parameters by providing customizable cargo interfaces and adjustable carriers that can accommodate different cargo types and sizes. This allows the same mobile robot system to precisely handle both bulk cargo on pallets and individual non-bulk items, achieving dense storage precision across different cargo categories through parameter-adjustable carrying mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
This specification discloses a stereoscopic warehouse scheduling system. A first conveying apparatus and a second conveying apparatus are used in a stereoscopic warehouse in a combined manner, and a conveying function of a lifting apparatus in the stereoscopic warehouse is used, so that the first conveying apparatus and the second conveying apparatus can cooperate in a dense storage warehouse to convey a movable carrier; a container handling apparatus is arranged to take out goods from the movable carrier or place goods in the movable carrier, and a plurality of containers may be placed in the movable carrier, so that the utilization of storage space is improved; and the container handling apparatus is used to effectively store a container in the movable carrier or take out a container from the movable carrier, so that the sorting efficiency of the goods in the stereoscopic warehouse is improved, the warehouse operation costs are reduced, and the conveying efficiency is improved.