Modular Warehouse Storage Layout With Vertical Transfer Decks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse storage structures face challenges with excessively long travel paths and aisles, leading to increased travel times and reduced throughput due to the need to balance storage capacity and aisle length, which affects efficiency and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A storage and retrieval system utilizing autonomous vehicular transport robots, multilevel vertical conveyors, and modular storage structures that allow for efficient transfer of goods between storage aisles and conveyors, minimizing travel distances and optimizing storage capacity through scalable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the storage aisle length is increased to store more goods, then the storage capacity is improved, but the travel time and transport time increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-level horizontal storage layout to a multi-level vertical storage structure with transfer decks at different heights. This dimensional change allows goods to be accessed through vertical elevators rather than traversing long horizontal aisles, dramatically reducing travel time while maintaining or increasing storage capacity through stacked storage levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage structure is divided into multiple independent storage levels or tiers, each accessible via transfer decks. This segmentation allows the system to break down the single long travel path into multiple shorter vertical and horizontal segments, reducing the maximum travel distance required to access any stored item.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of storage aisles is increased to reduce individual aisle length, then the storage capacity is improved, but the travel path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vertical dimension with multiple transfer decks at different heights, allowing the system to add storage capacity vertically rather than horizontally. This eliminates the need to increase the number of horizontal aisles, as each vertical level provides additional storage space accessible through the same transfer deck infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If the storage structure width is adjusted to decrease storage aisle length, then the storage aisle accessibility is improved, but the building space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits vertical space by creating multiple stacked transfer decks at different heights, allowing the system to increase storage capacity and maintain aisle accessibility without expanding the building's horizontal footprint. The vertical elevation of transfer decks enables three-dimensional utilization of building space.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage and retrieval system is provided and includes a transfer deck having a longitudinal axis, a first storage section and a second storage section. The first storage section and second storage section are located on opposite sides of the transfer deck and are substantially symmetrically opposed to one another about the longitudinal axis, where each of the first and second storage sections includes storage aisles that are in communication with the transfer deck.