3D Warehouse Carrier Track Switching for Dense Container Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing logistics warehouses face inefficiencies in energy consumption, collision risks, and limited space utilization due to the use of mobile racks that require extensive movement and have high power consumption, especially when handling high stacks of goods.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional warehousing system with suspended carrier vehicles and track-switching devices that allow for precise movement and storage of containers on multiple tiers, utilizing a track structure that serves as both a running track and load-bearing platform, and includes a transition track for efficient switching between parallel tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile racks are used to transport goods on tracks, then goods can be moved between storage locations, but energy consumption increases significantly due to the weight of the racks and collision losses
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the traditional mobile rack into separate components: a stationary rack structure and a lightweight carrier that moves on the rack. This segmentation allows the heavy rack to remain fixed while only the light carrier moves, dramatically reducing energy consumption during goods transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the movement function from the heavy rack structure and transfers it to a lightweight carrier. The rack itself remains stationary and serves only as a support structure, while the carrier handles all movement operations, eliminating the energy waste associated with moving the entire rack system.
2Ease of operation
If the entire rack system is activated and moved as a whole for sorting and loading operations, then goods can be accessed, but power consumption increases and power utilization rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the rack into stationary structural components and mobile carrier components. Only the carrier is activated for sorting and loading operations, while the rack structure remains fixed. This eliminates the ineffective power consumption of moving the entire rack system when only goods need to be accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is equipped with its own driving device and can autonomously move to different rack positions for sorting and loading operations. This self-service capability eliminates the need to activate the entire rack system, reducing power consumption and improving power utilization efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If racks are arranged in multiple tiers to improve efficiency, then storage capacity increases, but the weight of each rack increases leading to higher energy consumption during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-tier rack structure is segmented into stationary support tiers and mobile carriers. The heavy multi-tier rack provides high storage capacity while remaining fixed, and lightweight carriers move between tiers to transport goods. This segmentation allows high storage capacity without the penalty of moving heavy structures, dramatically reducing energy consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a lateral moving device with transfer device is used for inter-switching of rack tracks, then racks can be transferred between tracks, but the heavy rack weight requires high load-bearing strength and power of the transfer device
Solution Approach 1:
The track switching function is segmented from the heavy rack and assigned to lightweight carriers. Carriers move laterally on lateral tracks to switch between main tracks, while the rack structure remains stationary. This eliminates the need for high-power transfer devices capable of moving heavy racks, reducing device complexity and power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral moving function is extracted from the rack system and implemented through dedicated lateral tracks and lightweight carriers. This separation allows track switching without requiring the transfer device to handle the full weight of multi-tier racks, significantly reducing load-bearing and power requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1-1
Figure 1-2~1-3
Figure 1-4~1-5
AI summary
A three-dimensional warehousing system, for use in implementing precision operation and management of the placement and retrieval of stored goods in a warehouse, and increasing the storage utilization rate of the space of the warehouse, thus implementing high-density storage and goods-to-person storing and picking operations. The technical solution comprises racks (6-1), several containers, a load-carrying trolley, and track switching apparatus (6-2). The racks comprise a track structure and define at least one load-supporting platform. The track structure comprises several running tracks (3-2). The at least one load-supporting platform is arranged below the running tracks. The containers are used for storing goods. At least some of the containers are stacked and placed on the at least one load-supporting platform. The load-carrying trolley runs back and forth on the several running tracks so as to perform access operations with respect to the containers in the container storage system. The track switching apparatus are constructed for use in switching the load-carrying trolley from the current running track on which the load-carrying trolley is located to a target running track.