FR2459770A1 - WAREHOUSE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A WAREHOUSE OF GOODS DEPOSITED ON PALLETS IN TRACKS 10 FROM A CORRIDOR BY A FIRST AND A SECOND CARRIAGE 18, 22, THE SECOND CARRIAGE 22 BEING EQUIPPED WITH A PLATFORM 24. THE WAREHOUSING ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE SURFACE OF THE PLATFORM 24 OF THE SECOND CARRIAGE IS SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO RECEIVE SIMULTANEOUSLY ALL THE LOADS WHICH CAN BE PLACED IN A CELL 10, THE PART OF THIS PLATFORM ON WHICH THE WHEEL FIRST TROLLEY ON EXIT OR ENTRY OF THE ALVEOLE BEING MOUNTED ON A TURNING PLATE 26 THAT CAN PIVOT AT LEAST A QUARTER OF A TURN ON ITSELF AROUND A VERTICAL AXIS 29.

Description

WAREHOUSE

  The evolution of freight traffic, influenced by

  the means of transport and the generalization of the

  the promotion of large sales areas and large goods storage

  output are more or less automated.

  In many cases, these goods arrive directly

  of the producer who manufactures them in more or less constant quantities according to his possibilities, and leaves in very irregular quantities according to the needs of the market.

  which vary a lot with the product considered and the season.

  The most advanced modern means, such as:

  Perforated machines, cardboards, computers, etc., allow at any time, especially to know where and when

  product is stored, to act in such a way that for each

  first product entered in the store is also the first

  to get out of it, to draw up an inventory of products and

  movements, and greatly facilitate management operations.

  In addition, some of these facilities make it possible to constitute the loading of each pallet which leaves at the

  request from the recipient, by grouping together

  duits who arrived on different pallets of the same

or from various sources.

  Given the land and building prices, it is important that the land be well used and that the ratio of the building's external volume containing the store to the useful volume stored be at a minimum. In other words,

  the storage density must be very strong.

  Many systems have been proposed. In some cases, the storage volume is cut by several service corridors equipped with mechanical means allowing direct access to all the niches located on several floors.

  each side of the corridor. This system has the advantage of allowing

  be direct access to each niche of the store. The time

  To deposit or re-assemble a pallet is enough -2- short provided that the installation contains enough mechanical gear. But it has the disadvantage of being quite expensive, because the volume utilization factor is hardly favorable, because of the presence of many corridors, and that it becomes necessary to equip several corridors, even

  all, of a mechanical installation to ensure a rapid

enough.

  In other cases, the storage volume that has the form

  of a rectangular parallelepiped is in columns, on several

  sieurs ranks and several levels. The installation comprises a carrier structure of corresponding shape on which each pallet is placed. A first corridor allows access to all the boxes of the last row and is used for the entry of

  pallets that are deposited in these boxes. A second corri-

  placed in front of the first row of the structure is used

  for the goods issue. Each column of the structure

  ture is slightly inclined from the back to the front, the

  pallets resting by means of an auxiliary carriage

  re or includes an appropriate mechanical system, such

  that the pallet deposited in a box of the last row

  automatically until it occupies the first

  free box and comes to the first place where it will be

  Vee. In this case, along each column, the products

  are classified chronologically. The principle "first in -

  first out "is automatically respected.

  the advantage of a good speed of entry and exit and

  good use of space, as long as the number

  rows of a column of pallets is sufficiently large.

  It has the disadvantage of requiring a mechanical system related to the fixed structure or pallets for moving them along a column. The principle of storage

  "first-in, first out" is sometimes an im-

  bearing, because it implies that all pallets located in the same column all contain the same product, conditioned in the same way, which has the disadvantage of allowing only a partial filling of many columns, -3-

  and reduces the volume utilization factor accordingly.

  Finally, warehouses have been proposed where a machine running in a corridor can take

  which stored pallet, in several rows and on several

  levels, on one or both sides of a corri- dor. If these systems have the advantage of a good use of the volume and a permissible pallet exit time,

  they have the disadvantage of using mechanical systems

  complicated, related to the supporting structure, to

  Laterally pallets placed in the same column

  and in front of that sought and thus make it accessible.

  This lateral displacement is quite difficult because, as the case may be, it may concern all the pallet columns of the warehouse.

  Refrigerated warehouses at low or very low temperatures

  temperature where the conservation is done for example at -30 C,

  poses, in addition to the same problems as above,

  otherwise difficult, related to the exceptional temperature

  tional. Indeed, these stores must simultaneously be automatic to reduce or avoid the presence of personnel

  in the warehouse, and very safe, because a failure of an orga-

  even minor could result in damages and costs

  considerable, out of all proportion to the value of that

  born. In addition, the volume utilization factor must be particularly high, because at the actual value of the

  in addition to the low temperature maintenance costs,

  erosion, which increases with the external surface of the warehouse.

  The present invention relates to a warehouse structure

  pallets arranged on several levels and aligned in several rows and columns, comprising a mechanical device for depositing a pallet in any empty box and resume it. All the boxes of the supporting structure can be simultaneously filled. The

  structure is simple and consists only of

  storage faces carried by uprights. It does not include any mechanical or electrical member used for moving the pallets in one direction or the other, or

  auxiliary trolleys to be placed under each pallet.

  More specifically, the invention relates to a warehouse of goods deposited on pallets or placed in

  containers constituting loads, comprising a zone of

  and a goods-leaving area, areas that may be merged, and a carrier structure constituting transverse-axis cells arranged on at least one level, next to each other, and aligned along a corridor

  longitudinal, these cells comprising a storage surface

  ge on which the charges are deposited and on which transversely rolls at least a first carriage which, when

  storage, carries the loads one after the other

  from the corridor and drop them at the bottom of the cell

  and vice versa when they leave, this first carriage

  taking load wheels of which at least one is driving and

  a part that can be slipped under the load for the

  lift, carry and deposit at least one second

  movable carriage along the corridor, equipped with a platform

  form that can be brought in line with the surface

  this cell storage, surface on which rolls the first carriage which can then go from the cell on the

  platform and vice versa, and be brought before another

  vola or other means of transport, bringing the loads of the entrance or taking them to the exit, characterized in that the surface of the platform of the second carriage is large enough to simultaneously receive all the loads that can be placed in a cell , the part of this platform on which rolls the first trolley to

  exit or at the entrance of the cell being mounted on a

  than rotating that can rotate at least a quarter of a turn

  on itself around a vertical axis.

  The attached drawing represents, schematically and by way of

  for example, an embodiment of the invention and variations

  smiling. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the fixed structure.

  FIG. 2 is an end view of a disposal cell.

  ge. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first

transfer trolley.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second carriage

  transfer in a first use position.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of the carriage shown in FIG.

  Figure 4 in a second position of use.

  Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the second

my cart.

  Figure 7 is a partial view in longitudinal section

of the second carriage.

  Figure 8 is a plan view of a corridor with a

  the only second cell access transfer trolley

killed on one side of the corridor.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view of a corridor with two second access transfer trolleys located at the alveoli

on both sides of the corridor.

  Figure 10 is a front elevational view of a handling tower, and a second maneuvering carriage, combined

with a freight elevator.

  Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the tower

  handling equipment, and a second maneuvering trolley

born with a freight elevator.

  Figure 12 is a plan view of the manutent tower.

  and a second maneuvering trolley, combined with

a freight elevator.

  FIG. 1 represents in perspective the structure

  and the arrangement of the various cells where the charges can be deposited. The term "load" covers all elements that can be used for storage and

  handling of goods placed on pallets,

  in containers, etc. The weight of these charges, which is often one ton, can be up to two or even three tons depending on the case. The storage volume is, in

  the case of this figure, divided into two partial volumes situ-

  On either side of a median plane, each of these partial volumes is cut in two by a corridor 1, 2. In each corridor, a first carriage carried by a second carriage is moved to be placed in front of the cell constituting the

  head of column where is the box where one will pose or pre-

lift a pallet.

  The storage is in three main directions X (3) is a transverse direction, Y (4) is a longitudinal division, Z (5) is an elevation direction. The two storage blocks have marks 6 and 7 for the first and 8 and 9 for the second. The literal numbering of the drawing allows, taking into account the reference of the block 6, 7, 8 or 9, to designate each box of this set of storage; for example, box 8; X = c; Y = f; Z = b is located precisely, the mark 10 designates a cell which is in the block 9 and comprises the four boxes a, b, c, d according to g, d according to Y and b according to Z.

  Figure 2 shows by way of example a form of implementation

  the supporting structure. This is constituted by the uprights 11 which rest on the ground and carry by

  intermediates of elements 12, plates 13 of various

  calves that are represented here as if they were constituted

  of solid sheets folded at the ends at 14 and 15, and

  forced by some ribs 16 stiffening. The folded edges 14 and 15 may serve to guide the load 17 during its movement along the cell and contribute to the strength of the assembly. In the case of this figure, the floor 13 of the cells is constituted by a sheet, but

  could be carried out otherwise, for example by

  the construction being lightened accordingly. The guide of the loads 17 by the folded edges 14 and 15 of the sheet 13 could be made differently, in particular by welding auxiliary ribs 14 'and 15' surrounding the central wood of the pallet 17, as shown at the top of FIG. 2 Or by forming, by folding of the sheet 13, grooves in the transverse direction X, guiding grooves

to the wheels of the first carriage 18.

  Figure 3 shows one embodiment of the first chain of

  riot that has the same appearance as a well-known pallet truck. It differs in the fact that none of its load wheels 20 can pivot relative to the forks 19 and can be remotely controlled via the

  21. In other words, this first truck can

  one part to move forward and backward and, on the other hand, to lift and

  a load, these operations are remotely controllable.

  The carriage includes one or more cylinders, not visible

  in the figure, acting on the wheels 20 and causing the

  raising or lowering the complete truck during loading

or unloading a load.

  Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment of the second carriage 22 equipped with a turntable 26. In the case of Figure 4, this plate is in its position

  cross-section, corresponding to the passage of

  from the cell 10 to the second carriage 22 and vice versa.

  Here, the cells have also been drawn on one side of the corridor. On the other hand, figure 5 concerns the case o

  the turntable 26 is oriented for the inter-

  load on the second carriage 22, and where

  it is used to access the cells 10 located in the two

sides of the corridor.

  FIGS. 6 and 7 show the first carriage 18 carried by the second carriage 22, whose turntable 26 is in its transverse position, ie that corresponding to the

  Figure 4. In the case of Figure 7, the view is partial.

  The carriage 22, carried by four wheels, rolls on two rails 23 in the longitudinal direction of the corridor 1 or 2. Its platform 24 comprises three parallel strips 25 of rollers

  cylindrical axis 27 perpendicular to these bands which facilitate

  read the transfer of charges that rest on them. This

  The carriage carriage further comprises a turntable 26 secured to the carriage 22 via a pivotable stop 28.

  allowing it to rotate around an axis of vertical rotation

  cal 29. This rotation is carried out through

  a mechanical device controlled by a motor. These elements have not been represented in the drawing so as not to over-

  charging by well-known devices that can be

  orders. The turntable 26 further comprises two tracks 30, horizontal, whose spacing corresponds to that of the wheels

  20 of the first carriage 18. These tracks 30 can be prolonged

  by passages 34, visible in FIGS. 4 and 6, filling the free space existing between the end of

  tracks 30 and the beginning of the bottom 13 of the cell 10. These passengers

  34 carried by levers 35 oscillating about a horizontal axis 36 secured to the turntable 26 can

  to be retracted, lowered by the effect of cylinders, not

  in the drawing, to facilitate the movement of the platform 24, as well as the rotation of the turntable. They are put in the position shown in Figures 4 and 6, before the passage of the first carriage from the cell 10 to the second carriage 22 or vice versa. As shown in Figure 6, the turntable 26 further comprises a mast 32 carrying a reel 33 on which automatically winds the second end of the connection 21, the first end is attached to the first carriage 18. When this carriage leaves the turntable 26 of the second carriage 22 to enter the cell 10, the connection cable 21 is unwound due to the operation of the winder 33 and vice versa when the

  carriage returns to the second carriage 22.

  The operation of the installation is as follows: it brings the platform 24 in front of the cell of which it is desired, for example to remove a load, and after having placed its plate

  rotating in the position corresponding to that of FIG.

  re 4, and put his tracks 30 and 34 at the same level and in the

  lineally from those of the selected cell, the first trolley

  18 leaves the platform 24, rolls on the floor of the alveo-

2459r70 -9-

  on the 10th and may, after having lifted the load

  first row of this alveolus, back off while driving,

  10 on the tracks 30 of the turntable 26, and this until the end of the race, that is to say when it comes to abut against the knocker 31 to occupy the position represented

shown in Figure 6.

  After a quarter turn to the right, the platform

  takes me the position shown in Figure 5. After placing the load through the cylinders of the first carriage, it no longer rests on the latter, but on the mechanical means of transferring the load, here constituted by strips 25 of rollers 27, used for the transfer of loads. These strips are constituted by a series of cylindrical rollers parallel to each other, one or more of which can be driven in

  rotation through a motor.

  Instead of using tapes, it is possible to use

  other suitable devices, such as freely mounted balls allowing movement in all directions of the load, or air nozzles acting under the loads, lifting them very slightly and facilitating their sliding. Thus, a load propulsion element which could, for example, consist of endless chains having fingers that bear against the load,

  can train them in the desired direction.

  When the turntable 26 occupies the position according to FIG. 5, it suffices to drive the rollers 27 mounted on

  the turntable in rotation to cause its movement

  in the longitudinal axis of the corridor. So this charge

  arrives on bands 25 of this platform and is

  up to the end of these.

  Once the first charge is moved, the platform 24

  is turned a quarter turn and the carriage 18 goes away

  search one after another for the charges filed in

  vole, repeating the same maneuvers as above. Lors-

  the carrier of the desired load, the turntable

  -1 0- 26 te pivots not a quarter turn to the right, but a quarter turn to the left, and its rollers 27 are rotated in the opposite direction to the previous one. The load is thus displaced to the right of the carriage 26 on the strips 38 of rollers 39 identical to those of the strips 25. The loads placed provisionally on the left are brought back one after the other in the cell by displacements opposite to those of output. Once this operation is complete, the second carriage is moved along the corridor to deposit the right load at the bottom of the latter on another mechanical transfer means which brings it to the exit zone of the warehouse.

represented in the drawing.

  To avoid the waiting time da to the reinstatement

  loads occupying the first rows of the cell and

  provisionally on the left side of the trolley, the

  right side of the second carriage can be separated from this

  it and constitute a third trolley 37 whose platform

  form 40 carries three strips 38 of rollers 39 located at a

  same level as the strips 25 of the second carriage. This third

  the second carriage 37 rolling on the same rails 23 as the second

  trolley 22, can be moved to the right and made

  immediately kill the load transfer of the second truck

  to the mechanical output device.

  Figure 8 is an overview on a smaller scale

  the installation according to Figure 4; it shows, located at

  right end of corridor 1, a forklift 41

  to receive the load borne by the third chain.

  riot 37 and dismount or assemble it, to deposit it on another means of transport going to the exit, or

  from the store entrance. The platform of this hoist

  load 41 is represented here in the form of a fork whose arms, suitably strung on the load, can after a slight lift stroke, to take the weight, release the third carriage 37 which can then be brought back

  to the second carriage 22 for the next operation.

  FIG. 9 is an overall view on a smaller scale of the installation according to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show the disposition of the cells 10 located on either side of the corridor 1 equipped with a raceway. 23. In this case,

  the installation comprises two second carriages 22 independently

  of each other, each equipped with a turntable 26 which can serve both sides of the corridor 1 and a third carriage 37 each going to one end of the

corridor 1.

  The doubling of these platforms and trolleys makes it possible

  llow the flow of entry and exit of goods. The

  two ends of the corridor may be equipped with a

  load 41, not shown in the drawing, like that of Figure 8, or any other mechanical element ensuring the transfer of goods to the outlet or bringing them from the

entrance area.

  Figures 10, 11, 12 show three views, the first

  in front elevation, the second side elevation and

  the third in plan of a mobile tower equipped with a platform

  form constituting a second carriage. In this case, the way

  23 is unique for all storage levels.

  The mechanical installation is constituted in the form of a tower 42 movable along the rails 23, carrying amounts

  vertical lines 43 along which the platform 24 moves.

  This platform consists of the same elements as the

  platform 24 of the second carriage 22.

  In this case, the third carriage which was previously horizontally movable, is replaced by a freight elevator 44 which brings the loads to the platform 24 or removes them from

  the latter to deposit them on a transfer device placed

  for example, between the rails constituting track 23,

  positive not shown in the drawing can be constituted by a treadmill or a conveyor belt with rollers or

  still by other known devices.

  The operation of the installation is, in the

  lines, the same as before. It differs here

  during the fact that the platform 29 can be brought

! 4! 977Q

  -12- before all the cells leading to the corridor by a

* vertical displacement along the tower, and by moving

  length of tower 42 on its track 23. This tower

  serves the cells located on one side of the corridor.

  As before, it would have been possible to equip the platform 24 with a turntable that can serve both sides of the corridor, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

  Neither the drawings nor the text mention the building

  surrounding the store and, where appropriate, the thermal insulation

  mically from the outside atmosphere. Likewise, o

  the storage includes means of transfer as

  on the transport of loads from the entrance to the store when

  storage and vice versa at the exit.

  The installation can be automated in the sense that

  all the operations to be carried out for the establishment of

  charge in a particular box, respectively its pre-

  this box can be ordered consecu-

  in the desired order, for example by a computer which

  can be provided with a memory in which all the opera-

  made. Access to this memory

  puts an inventory of the store at all times and

  monitor the turnover of products.

  Finally, since the access to the boxes of the first rows is faster than that of the boxes of the last ranks, it may be interesting, when leaving a charge stored at the bottom of a cell, to rest in the cells the charges that had been momentarily taken out, as far as possible from the cell, to leave the cells of the first rows of cells free, which will accelerate

  the introduction of new charges entering the store.

  Similarly, as the outputs of the store loads are made according to certain forecasts, it is possible to design the control system such that, for example, during a waiting time, the mechanical installation modifies

  the order of storage of the charges in the cells, of

-13- f

  to place in the front rows the charges whose

  is requested for a next delivery.

  -14- R E V E N D I A T I 0 N S 1. Warehouse placed on pallets or placed in containers constituting loads (17)

  including an entrance area and a market exit zone.

  goods, areas which may be confused, and a structure

  carrier structure constituting cavities (10) of transverse axis

  sal arranged on at least one level, next to each other

  very, and aligned along a longitudinal corridor (1, 2),

  these cells comprising a storage surface (13) on the

  the charges are deposited and on which

  at least one first carriage (18) which, when

  storage, transports the charges one after the other from the corridor and deposits them at the bottom of the cell (10) and

  conversely when they leave, this first carriage (18) com-

  bearing wheels (20), at least one of which is

  trice and a portion (19) that can be slipped under the load (17) to lift, carry and deposit, at least a second carriage movable along the corridor, equipped

  platform (24) which can be brought into the

  of the cell storage surface (13), the surface on which rolls the first carriage (18) which can then pass from the cell to the platform (24) and vice versa, and be brought before another cell or other means transporting the loads from the entrance or bringing them to the exit, characterized in that the surface of the platform (24) of the

  second trolley is large enough to receive simul-

  all the loads (17) that can be placed

  in a cell (10), the part of this platform on the-

  which rolls the first carriage at the exit or entry of the cell being mounted on a turntable (26) pivotable at least a quarter turn on itself around a

vertical axis (29).

  2. Warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that the first carriage (18) is horseshoe-shaped, its two long legs (19) being threadable under the load (17), each of these branches (19) with a

  carrier wheel (20) of the carriage and at least one surface of the

  Vage movable vertically by the effect of a mechanism for slightly lift the load (17) and rest. 3. Warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform (24) of the second carriage comprises mechanical transfer means for performing on

  itself the displacement of the loads (17) along the axis of the cor-

ridor (1, 2).

  4. Warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion of the platform (24) of the second pivotally mounted carriage comprises mechanical means for performing the translation of the load in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the long branches. (19)

first carriage (18).

  5. Warehouse according to claim 1, characterized in

  it comprises at least a third carriage (57) moving

  çable along the corridor (1, 2), equipped with a platform

  (40) the level of the bearing surface corresponds to

  calf of the surface of the second carriage, this third carriage

  having a mechanical system (38) for translating

  of the loads (17) of the second carriage (22) to the

  third carriage (37) and vice versa.

  Warehouse according to any one of the claims

  3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the transfer means of the

  on the platform (24) of the second carriage, respec-

  of its turntable (26), or the third carriage, comprise rollers (27, 39) whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to that of the corridor, rollers placed in a horizontal plane, arranged next to each other, for

  constitute at least one load transfer surface.

  7. Warehouse according to any one of the claims

  4, 5 and 6, characterized in that at least one of the rollers (27, 39) of a transfer surface of the second carriage, of

  turntable or the third carriage, may be

-16-

rotated by a motor.

  Warehouse according to one of the claims

  4, 5, 6 and 7, characterized in that at least two rollers (27, 39) of a transfer surface of the second carriage, of its turntable or of the third carriage, are uniformly connected to each other. the other via a transmission member, so that the rotation of one of the rollers causes that of all those connected thereto.

  9. Warehouse according to all of claims 1 to 8,

  comprising a plurality of storage surfaces arranged one above the other and aligned along a corridor (1, 2), characterized in that each surface comprises its own corridor served by at least a first carriage (18) and a

second carriage (22).

  10. Warehouse according to all of claims 1 to 8,

  comprising several storage surfaces arranged one

  on the others and aligned along a corridor (1, 2),

  characterized in that the second carriage is executed under the

  shape of a movable tower along a corridor (1, 2)

  the tower, carrying the platform (24) by means of a lifting means (44), which platform

  can be brought in front of each cell of the warehouse by de-

  horizontal placement of the tower and vertical

  me. Warehouse according to claim 10, characterized in that

  what the tower includes a freight elevator (44) moving vertically

  tically the loads from the input level to the platform

  (24) of the second carriage, respectively of this platform

form (24) to the output.