FR3140869A1 - STORAGE CONTAINER AND AUTOMATED ITEM STORAGE SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (7) for transporting articles in an automated storage system comprising a shelf (21) capable of receiving said container and an aisle (22) along said shelf (21) in which can circulate an autonomous mobile robot (4) for depositing said container (7) on said shelf (21) or taking it back from it, the container comprises: a main container (7A) adapted to receive articles (5), said main container (7A) comprising a side wall (7A2) and having an external contour, a base (7B) comprising a lower wall (7B1) and a side wall (7B2) having an internal contour substantially identical to the external contour of the main container (7A) and attached thereto, at least one outer surface of said bottom wall has higher wear resistance than that of the main container (7A). The invention also relates to a system and a method using such a container. Figure for abstract: Figure 2.

Description

STORAGE CONTAINER AND AUTOMATED ITEM STORAGE SYSTEM Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of intralogistics and relates to a container and an automated article storage system using this container.

State of the art

In such a system, items are transported by autonomous mobile robots to specific storage positions to be deposited for a certain duration, then found by the system for transport outside, for example for delivery to a customer.

Storage can in particular be done in a container then placed by the autonomous mobile robot on a shelf. To do this, the robot transporting the container uses a gripper equipped with telescopic arms, fitted with finger-shaped hooks, which are placed at the front or back of the container. This allows it to be pulled or pushed in order to move it by translation from the robot towards the shelf or in the other direction.

During this transfer, the container experiences friction with the shelf which can accelerate its wear, and therefore the frequency with which this container must be changed. This is particularly true when the material of the container is fragile, for example cardboard, the economic and ecological interest of which can justify its use. However, wear and tear on the container can cause it to break, resulting in the items in the container being scattered. Frequently replacing a large number of containers in an automated storage system can be expensive, so it is necessary to find a solution to reduce wear on the container while keeping the container inexpensive to manufacture.

In addition, to carry out the transfer when there are several containers on the shelf, it is necessary to provide sufficient space between the containers in order to be able to slide the arms of the gripper into this space. If, after removing the container, an intervention causes the excessive reduction of this space, recovery of the container may become impossible. It is therefore necessary to anticipate this type of problem.

The objective of the invention is therefore to provide an inexpensive, lightweight, recyclable and wear-resistant storage container so as to reduce the frequency of its replacement and also having characteristics that always allow easy gripping by a gripper.

• un contenant principal adapté pour recevoir des articles, ledit contenant principal comprenant une paroi latérale et présentant un contour externe,
• une base comprenant une paroi inférieure et une paroi latérale présentant un contour interne sensiblement identique au contour externe du contenant principal et fixée à celui-ci, au moins une surface extérieure de ladite paroi inférieure présente une résistance à l’usure plus élevée que celle du contenant principal.

To this end, the invention relates to a container adapted for transporting articles in an automated storage system having a storage level comprising a shelf configured to receive said container and an aisle along said shelf in which a robot can circulate autonomous mobile device for placing said container on said shelf or taking it back from there, the container comprising:

• a main container adapted to receive articles, said main container comprising a side wall and having an external contour,
• a base comprising a bottom wall and a side wall having an internal contour substantially identical to the external contour of the main container and fixed thereto, at least one exterior surface of said bottom wall has a higher wear resistance than that of the main container.

Advantageously, the lower wall can have higher wear resistance than that of the main container.

Advantageously, the base can have higher wear resistance than that of the main container.

By using a more wear-resistant base (or the bottom wall, or at least the underside thereof) we increase the duration of use of the container and consequently reduce the frequency with which it is necessary to clean it. to change. In addition, by only reinforcing the base, the container remains inexpensive overall.

According to exemplary embodiments, the base can be fixed to the main container by interlocking.

The interlocking can be reversible, so it will be possible to replace the main container or the base separately, further reducing costs. The base can also be made separately from a more durable material.

According to exemplary embodiments, the base is integral with the main container and forms with it a single body. This simplifies the manufacturing process.

According to exemplary embodiments, the side wall of the base has two opposite sides whose thickness is greater than half the thickness of a telescopic arm of the gripper of the autonomous mobile robot used to move the container by translation from the robot to the shelf and vice versa.

This always ensures space for the gripper arms of the autonomous mobile robot to pass through, even when the containers are stuck together.

The side wall of the base may have two second sides orthogonal to the first sides and opposite each other, each of the second sides has a thickness greater than half the thickness of a finger of said gripper configured to be placed in contact with one of said second sides. This ensures space to pass the finger of the gripper, especially when two containers are arranged one after the other in a direction perpendicular to the robot's moving aisle.

The wall can for example have four sides, the latter can have the same thickness.

According to exemplary embodiments, the base comprises a protective coating. This strengthens the base and makes it more resistant to wear.

According to exemplary embodiments, the base comprises a coating with a low coefficient of friction. The coating helps reduce friction and therefore wear.

The protective coating can also be low friction.

According to exemplary embodiments, the main container and/or the base is made of cardboard.

Cardboard has, among other things, the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to transport and recycle. For example, it can be transported in the form of pre-cut cardboard sheets for assembly on site.

Advantageously, the base comprises a means allowing the detection of wear, for example on the underside. For example, the underside may include a colored band at a certain depth. For example, when a detection means detects a change in color of the lower face,

Advantageously, the base or part of it can be made of denser material than the main container. For example, the base can be made from compact cardboard (also called wood cardboard).

According to exemplary embodiments, the main container may have no bottom wall. This further reduces the cost of the container.

The invention also relates to a system and method for automated storage of articles using a container according to the invention.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below in relation to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

there represents an example of a storage system according to the invention;

there is a top view of a storage level with containers according to the invention;

there is a schematic side view showing the form of container according to the invention.

In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same references.

detailed description

There schematically represents a simplified example of an automated storage system according to the invention. The storage system in this example includes a stock formed by three-dimensional shelving 1 and a plurality of autonomous mobile robots 4. The shelving 1 may include a plurality of storage levels 2, each storage level 2 may include locations for storing items 21, for example in the form of a shelf. Each storage level 2 may include an aisle 22 in which an autonomous mobile robot 4 can circulate to transport items to be stored or removed from stock.

In embodiment examples not illustrated, a storage level 2 may include a plurality of aisles for the circulation of autonomous mobile robots 4. An aisle 22 may also serve parallel shelves 21.

The shelving 1 may further comprise one or more columns 3 (in the form of wells) connecting the plurality of storage levels 2 and allowing the robots 4 to move from one level 2 to another, or between a storage level 2 and an input/output level. For example, in the the entry/exit level can be the lowest level (ground level), but it can also be the highest level (the roof). In examples not shown, the lowest level may be an input (or output) and the highest level an output (or input).

There shows a top view of a storage level 2 comprising a location 21 for storing articles 5 and an aisle 22 in which an autonomous mobile robot 4 circulates. For example, robot 4 can travel on rails 220.

In the example, items 5 are stored in three containers 7A, 7B arranged side by side in location 21 along aisle 22.

The robot 4 includes telescopic arms 6A, 6A for moving a container 7 from the storage location 21 to the robot and vice versa.

A container 7 comprises a main container 7A in which the articles 5 are placed. The main container 7A comprises a lower wall 7A1 and a side wall 7A2.

In examples not illustrated, the main container 7A may not include a bottom wall.

The container 7 also comprises a base 7B comprising a lower wall 7B1 and a side wall 7B2 having an internal contour substantially identical to the external contour of the main container 7A to which it is fixed. The attachment can be permanent when the two are either bonded after manufacture or manufactured at the same time. The base can also be fixed by reversible interlocking to the main container to be able to replace it alone or replace the main container alone.

To move the assembly containing 7A, 7B, the robot 4 comprises a gripper composed of two telescopic arms each comprising a first part 6A and a second part 6B arranged to extend the first part 6A. In addition, a hook 6C (also called finger) is arranged at the end of the second part 6B. The finger 6C is configured to come into contact with the wall of the container when it comes to moving it from the storage location to the robot. Each telescopic arm can also include at least one second hook that can be used when it comes to moving the container 7A, 7B from the robot to the storage location 21.

There schematically shows a side view showing a storage location 21 in the form of a shelf on which two containers 7 are placed side by side, each main container 7A carries stored items 5. The bases 7B of the two containing 7 have thicknesses making it possible to keep a distance d greater than the thickness of the arms 6 of the robot gripper. This ensures that it is always possible for the robot to pass the gripper arms on both sides of a container 7A, 7B.

The base 7B is more resistant to wear than the main container, this is advantageous because this part is more subject to stress during the translation of the container between the robot 4 and the storage location 21.

Advantageously, a protective coating 8 can be added. The coating 8 can also have a low coefficient of friction.

Claims (10)

Container (7) adapted for transporting articles in an automated storage system (1) having a storage level (2) comprising a shelf (21) adapted to receive said container and an aisle (22) along said shelf (21) in which an autonomous mobile robot (4) can circulate to place said container (7) on said shelf (21) or pick it up from there, the container is characterized in that it comprises:

• a main container (7A) adapted to receive articles (5), said main container (7A) comprising a side wall (7A2) and having an external contour,
• a base (7B) comprising a lower wall (7B1) and a side wall (7B2) having an internal contour substantially identical to the external contour of the main container (7A) and fixed thereto, at least one external surface of said lower wall has higher wear resistance than that of the main container (7A).

Container (7) according to the preceding claim in which the base (7B) is fixed to the main container (7A) by interlocking. Container (7) according to claim 1 in which the base (7B) is integral with the main container (7A) and forms with it a single body. Container (7) according to one of the preceding claims in which the side wall (7B2) of the base has two first opposite sides whose thickness is greater than half the thickness of a telescopic arm (6) of the gripper of the autonomous mobile robot (4) used to move the container (7) by translation from the autonomous mobile robot (4) towards the shelf (21) and vice versa. Container (7) according to the preceding claim in which the side wall (7B2) of the base has two second sides orthogonal to the first sides and opposite each other, each second side has a thickness greater than half of the thickness of a finger (6C) of said gripper, configured to come into contact with one of said second sides. Container (7) according to one of the preceding claims in which the exterior surface of the lower wall of the base (7B) comprises a protective coating (8). Container (7) according to the preceding claim in which the coating (8) has a low coefficient of friction. Container (7) according to one of the preceding claims in which the main container (7A) and the base (7B) are made of cardboard. Automated article storage system using a container (7) according to one of the preceding claims. Method of storing articles in an automated storage system using a container (7) according to one of claims 1 to 8.