Multi-tier Warehouse Shuttle Elevating Platform Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional roaming-type automated storage/retrieval systems reduce the number of transferring shuttles, but the lifting movement of shuttles limits throughput performance due to the time required for lifting operations.
Innovation Solution
An automated storage/retrieval system with a shuttle elevating platform and load elevating platforms that move upward and downward in alignment, allowing for load handover during shuttle movement, reducing the need for shuttles to carry loads during lifting and enabling efficient transfer between tiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the number of transferring shuttles is reduced in a roaming-type automated storage/retrieval system, then the whole cost of the system is reduced, but the lifting movement of shuttles takes time, thereby limiting the throughput performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the transferring shuttle into two independent functional parts: a shuttle body that moves horizontally along shelves, and a load that is separately transported by dedicated load elevating platforms. This segmentation allows the shuttle to be reused across multiple tiers while loads are independently managed, reducing the total number of shuttles needed while maintaining high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
A single transferring shuttle body can serve multiple tiers by being transported vertically by the shuttle elevating platform to different levels. The shuttle horizontally traverses along shelves at each tier, making one shuttle perform the function of multiple shuttles that would otherwise be needed for each tier, thus reducing overall system cost.
2Device complexity
If a conventional roaming-type automated storage/retrieval system is used, then the number of transferring shuttles is reduced, but loads must wait on the transferring shuttle during lifting movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the shuttle's horizontal transporting function from the load's vertical movement function. The shuttle body moves horizontally along shelves at each tier, while dedicated load elevating platforms independently transport loads vertically. This eliminates the need for loads to wait on shuttles during lifting, as loads and shuttles operate on independent parallel paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The load elevating platforms act as intermediaries between the shuttle elevating platform and the shelves. Loads are transferred from shelves to load elevating platforms, which then transport them vertically independently of the shuttle's horizontal movement, eliminating waiting time and decoupling the movement sequences.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-tier automated warehouse includes first and second stacking racks having multiple tiers of shelves and being positioned facing one another in parallel; loading shuttles which are capable of horizontal travel between the stacking racks, and which carry out loading and unloading of cargo upon the shelves; and an elevator device for moving the loading shuttles to different tiers. The elevator device further includes masts which are positioned adjacent to the stacking racks; a shuttle elevator platform, which is positioned elevatably on the inner side of the masts, for elevating the loading shuttles; and cargo elevator platforms, which are positioned elevatably on the outer side of the masts, for elevating the cargo. In a state where the shuttle elevator platform is aligned with the cargo elevator platforms, it is possible for the loading shuttles on the shuttle elevator platforms to carry out cargo loading and unloading to the cargo elevator platforms, allowing handling cargo even while the loading shuttles are being elevated, obviating the need for wasteful waiting for cargo. As a result, it is possible to implement high performance.