GB2153801A - Process and apparatus for the quick handling of items in a storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

Articles stored in a storage system formed by compartments arranged in rows and columns are removed by a travelling device (2) which extracts articles from an entire pre-selected column or row simultaneously. The articles may be engaged by tongs (7) which have an advancing and retracting movement, either on, or relative to a column (6) on which the tongs are rotatably mounted, to deposit the extracted articles on an endless belt lift (11) with supports (10). The lift then deposits the articles one at a time on to a slide (12) leading to a conveyor (14). In an arrangement for extracting articles from all the compartments in a single row, arms (17) can extend into the compartments, withdraw the articles, and deposit them on a belt 15, which has notches to receive the arms. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Process and apparatus for the quick handling of items in a storage system The present invention provides for a process for the quick handling of items in a so-called "dynamic storage system" (which will be hereinafter referred to also as "shelving" or "shelves"), that is of the kind comprising a plurality of tunnels, lined up the one on top of the other, in which the items are inserted, the one after the other.

A process according to the invention allows the taking from or deposit in a whole line or a whole column of such shelving several items simultaneously, through an operative cycle whereby some items are taken hold of as those just unloaded are removed.

The dynamic storage system consists of a plurality of tunnels arranged in different lines, the ones superimposed to the others and set side by side so that the final layout is by planes and columns.

The items to be stored are located inside the tunnels.

The tunnels which make up the shelving may be of the gravity type, wherein the plane is inclined and the items, after being introduced in the upper zone, tend to slide towards the opposite side.

In other cases the shifting of the items takes place by means of hooks, tines or the like, mounted on supports which move with alternate motion and cause the introduced items to move forward.

The shelving is generally of large size; the tunnels are often some ten metres long, whilst the whole shelving is sometimes some hundred metres long, reaching considerable heights too.

In order to shelve or take the items in or from a unit such as that above described, are used lifts or other analogous apparatuses, which comprise tongs or other devices to draw the items, one at a time, from inside each tunnel.

These apparatuses are then located before a chosen column, and raised up at the height of the tunnels containing the item to be taken out; they then seize and remove the opresent items, one at a time, and deposit them on chutes or conveyor belts until they are in presence of the chosen article.

Obviously, when it is necessary to take out items placed inside different tunnels, the relevant operations and costs are long and high, respectively.

To obviate the above inconvenience, the present invention provides for a process and the relating apparatus, which makes it possible to take a plurality of items at the same time from the same line or column by means of a series of tongs mounted on telescopic supports, and to make these supports shift, until the seized items are brought to collecting devices which remove them, whilst the tongs are ready for another withdrawing operation.

The apparatus for putting the process into effect may provide for a support sliding along fixed guides secured to the shelving, supporting a column on which there are mounted a plurality of the above mentioned mobile tongs, said apparatus being combined with a lift (provided with tongs too), suitable to receive the items taken from the shelves and to deposit them on a chute or guide connected with means, such as e,g, conveyor belts or the like, which carry said items away.

The present invention will now be described in detail, by mere way of non-limiting example, with special reference to the accompanying drawings, in which are schematically shown apparatus for putting the process of the invention into practice.

Figure 1 is a perspective partial view of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 2bis shows a modified form of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 3 is the partial side view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3bis shows a detail of the apparatus according to the invention; Figures 4 and 5 show a vertical section of an apparatus for taking items set in a line, during two different stages of the operation respectively; Figure 6 is the perspective view of the apparatus of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a schematic plan of the apparatus of Figure 6; Figure 8 is the perspective view of a detail of Figure 6.

With reference to the Figures 1 to 3, by No. 1 is indicated a dynamic shelving consisting of a plurality of tunnels set one on top of the other and one next to the other so that their final arrangement is by planes and columns. Along this shelving can glide a structure, indicated in its whole by No. 2, provided with means for taking a number of items from the shelving at the same time. Figure 1 shows the embodiment thereof for taking items from a number of tunnels of the same column, while Figure 4 shows the embodiment therof for taking items from a number of tunnels of the same line.

Structure 2, which lies upon base 5 mountd on rollers 26 or the like, is provided with extensions 3 that are held within guides 4 in the upper and lower part of the shelves (Figure 4).

On base 5 (see Figure 1) is mounted a column 6, to which is secured a tongs unit 7, each pair of tongs being mounted on a telescopic support 8 (as schematically shown in Figure 3). The number of tongs equal that of the tunnels making up a column, and are located at the same height thereof.

The tongs supports may be mechanical or hydraulic, of known type, and may be controlled simultaneously or independently the one from the other.

Column 6 may rotate through 90 about its own axis to displace the tongs from the tunnel mouth to a lift 9 which comprises a plurality of supports arranged as to receive the items seized by the tongs.

The movement performed by tongs 10 to pick up and lay down the items may take place either by stretching the telescopic support or (as shown in Figure 2bis) by shifting column 6 in a known manner.

An embodiment of the telescopic support 8 is shown in Figure 3bis, where said support consists of a fork 27 that slides along a pair of guides 28 secured to column 6.

The shifting may be actuated by driving, in a known manner, toothed wheels that engage with an equal number of racks 29 secured to guides 28.

Supports 10 move along a closed path (referred to by 11), in the lower part of which there is a chute 12 with openings 13 in which can pass the arms of supports 10 that, as they move downwards, lay their loads down to chute 12, whence they pass, by gravity, on a conveyor belt or the like 14.

The working of the described apparatus takes place as follows: after choosing the tunnels involved in the handling of items, (supposing e.g, that the items are to be taken from the tunnels of an entire column) the apparatus is programmed so as to operate the relevant tongs, and structure 2 is brought before the chosen column.

At this point the apparatus is ready for carrying out the process according to the following steps: a) extension of supports 8 so as to carry each pair of tongs inside the respective tunnel and make it take hold of the item nearest to the mouth; b) withdrawal of supports 8, so as to take the items out of the tunnel, whilst the subsequent ones move forward to the mouth; c) 90 rotation of the support column 6, so as to bring tongs 7 in the direction of arms 10 of the lift; d) extension, if necessary, of supports 8, so as to lay the items on arms 10 of the lift; e) recovery of tongs to the initial position, whilst the lift unloads the items on chute 12 and on belt 14.

It is possible to direct belt 14 towards sorting and collecting means or apparatuses analogous to the one described, and capable of performing the reverse cycle, e.g. for storing the items in another part of the shelving or for replacing them again in the same tunnels, as will be hereinafter described.

In the case in which items are to be taken from tunnels located on the same plane, the apparatus shown in Figures 4 to 8 may be employed. In this case the unit mounted on structure 2 consists of conveyor belts 15 associated with a movable support 16 of a series of arms 17 intended for taking the items from the inside of the tunnel.

The support 16 may horizontally slide as it approaches the shelving or as it departs from the same, along guides 18 (Figure 8) that can be set, like belts 15, at pre-determined heights.

The conveyor belt 15 has a series of notches 19 for the passage of arms 17.

In this case the working consists of the following steps: a) positioning of the carrying structure 2 before the shelving; b) positioning of the support 16 and the conveyor belt 15 at the level of the line concerned; c) movement of the support 16 to the inside of the tunnel, and taking hold of the items near the mouth; d) withdrawl of the support and setting the items on the conveyor belt 15; e) moving back of support 16 and of arms 17, to disengage the belt; f) actuation of the conveyor belt 15.

The entire system as described is controlled both by hand and automatic means; the latter are in function of the kind of work that the system is to perform.

Let us suppose, by way of example, that the system should provide for the handling of some series of items, different among them by kind and quantity; that a section of the plant be meant for the sorting of the items coming from the shelving according to the above described pick up methods; that another section of the plant be meant for sorting the items to suitable unloading stations, each corresponding to a specific object.

It is obvious that the items coming from the shelving will come up at the sorting section by a random disposition, inclusive also of non required articles; the operators in charge of this section (also called "coding section") after detecting its code, will send the item to the proper collecting station, dialling on the proper console the code of the unloading station intended for a given item; actually, the operator associates the item, and more specifically the carrier thereof (e.g. the carriage) with a certain unloading station, so that the carriage itself will autonomously attend to the unloading as soon as it comes to the predetermined station.

The items that are not to be handled are sent to a section of the plant whence they are forwarded to the storage; this operation is performed both immediately downstream of the selection section, and downstream of the sorting section itself, in an automatic manner due simply to the fact that the item was not placed in any unloading station.

Despite the high speed of the pick up unit there can be no obstructions, since both the selection and the sorting section may be easily fitted to the operative exigencies, by providing the necessary unloading stations and selection spots according to the requirements.

What results from the above description of a plant equipped with the invention apparatus is that the high output of the system may be obtained without resorting to critical speeds, which are always not advisable for the apparatuses; on the contrary, the high output is obtained by taking out a great number of items, at normal speeds, but employing suitable and flexible receiving means and sparing therefore on the costs.

The codifying operations are performed by means of known program and control electronic systems not described.

A variation of the operative system consists in the replacement of the operators employed on the sorting and coding operations by optoelectronic means for reading the item code, comparing the latter with the "data-base" with which each reading station is provided each time, and consequent allotting of a code to the unloading station.

The pick up and storage apparatus according to the invention may be operated automatically too, by computer control.

To sum up, in order to handle items in a dynamic storage system following the invention process, a support structure of the apparatuses which take out the items is brought in correspondence of the chosen tunnels; then the telescopic supports of a series of tongs are extended until said tongs, each pair of which engages a tunnel, seize at the same time the items to be shifted; then the tongs are driven to deposit the seized items down on apparatuses which remove the same, whereafter the tongs start the cycle all over again.

Thanks to the process and the apparatuses of the invention it is possible to operate very quickly in respect of the traditional methods, and to act at the same time both vertically and horizontally, on the plurality of the tunnels which make up the shelving.

Claims (6)

1. A process for the quick handling of items in a dynamic storage system, comprising the following steps: a) simultaneous advance of a series of tongs, telescopically mounted on a common support so as to bring them in correspondance of a corresponding number of items to be shifted; b) seizure of said items; c) return of the tongs to their original position; d) shifting of said support; e) second advance of the tongs towards means suitable to receive the displaced items; f) storing of the items and return of tongs and support to the original position.

2. An apparatus for carrying out a process according to claim 1, comprising a structure capable of sliding along a dynamic shelving including the following elements; a) a rotating support for a plurality of telescopic tongs to engage at the same time a corresponding number of items to be shifted; b) means to rotate said support to set the tongs in line with a lifting device; c) means to receive at the same time the items taken by said tongs; d) means to remove the items laid down by the tongs, whilst the tongs start a new cycle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotating support brings said tongs from a position corresponding substantially to the mouth of as many tunnels making up a dynamic shelving, to a second position wherein each of said pair of tongs lays the relevant item down on a support which is part of a lift.

4. An apparatus for carrying out a process according to claim 1, comprising a frame sliding along a dynamic shelving, and equipped with a plurality of independent units that can be positioned at predetermined heights, each unit including: a) A telescopic support for a series of arms fit to take up or lay down items inside the shelving; b) a conveyor belt fo said items, provided with spaces for the passage of said arms through the belt during the actuation of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus for removing or replacing articles from an entire row or column of storage spaces in a dynamic storage system, as hereinbefore defined comprising a support carrying a series of elements for engaging articles arranged in correspondence with the spaces in a row or column, reversible means for advancing the elements to engage simultaneously the articles in a selected row or column and withdraw the articles from the spaces, and conveyor means to remove the withdrawn articles from or supply articles to said elements.

6. Apparatus for removing or replacing articles from a dynamic storage system constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore desbirbed and shown in Figures 1-3 or 4-8 of the accompanying drawings.