GB2189779A - A warehouse utilizing forklift trucks - Google Patents

Abstract

A warehouse utilising forklift trucks as the conveying means has a plurality of tall and elongate storage racks (31, 32) arranged in rows on the floor to define passage(s) (5) therebetween wide enough to allow a forklift truck to be operated therein. One or more sets of tracks (35, 36) on which a forklift truck can move are provided in each passage at a preselected height above the floor, the tracks extending along the length of the storage racks. A platform (19) (Figure 1, not shown) is provided at the end of the passages to allow truck movement therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A warehouse for utilizing a forklift truck The present invention relates to a warehouse, for example, which uses a forklifttruck as the conveying means.

As services, such as those forthe carry-in, carry-out and storage of various goods, have become more complex in their distribution, warehouses that are equipped to meet the current system of goods have drawn much more attention than those merelyfortheir storage. As the cost of land and construction rises, the storage efficiency of a warehouse inevitably becomes an important factor. In addition, increasing labour costs inevitably lead to mechanization, speed-up, and/or to the elimination or reduction of the labourforce and to the elevation ofthewarehouse. Forthese reasons, automated warehouses forthree-dimensional storage in which the storage operation is computerized have become important.

The present invention provides such an automated warehouse or a rack structure directed to storage of goods.

In conventional warehouses, the storage racks are arranged in columns on the floorto leave aisles where means, such as a stacker crane or a forklift truck, are provided to carry goods in or outthe warehouse.

Stacker cranes facilitate an increased elevation of the warehouse because of the relatively long mast, but unfavourably require the laying of rails and severe controls for acceleration and deceleration during its operation. This hinders speedy carry-in and carry-out operations with stacker crane.

Forklift trucks have the serious disadvantage that the construction cost of the warehouse rises because the restricted lifting-up height of the forklifttruck restricts the height of the storage racks. In addition, when the warehouse is multistoried, the upperfloor orfloors must have a reinforced construction.

However, forkl if t trucks do have the advantages that they require no rails, that they speedily carry goods in and out; that they are superiorly mobile; and that they are relatively low-cost.

Thus, there is a need for a low-cost warehouse of substantial height able to use forklifttrucks as the conveying means.

According to the present invention, there is provided a warehouse utilizing a forkl if t truck as the conveying means, comprising: a plurality oftall and elongate storage racks arranged in rows on a floor to definetherebetween passages wide enough to allow a forklifttruckto be operated therein; one or more sets of tracks along which a forklift truck can move, provided in each passage at a predetermined level above said floor along the length ofthe storage racks; and platform means provided outside the passages and communicating the tracks at the same level.

Embodiments ofthe present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a transverse section of a warehouse of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure2 shows an elevation, partly in section, of a warehouse of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation ofthe embodiment shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates a track obtained by assembling a support member and a plate member, and Figure 5 illustrates another type of track obtained by assembling a joint member and a plate member.

Referring now to Figure 1, storage racks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 are arranged in rows on the one floor of a warehouse H so as to define therebetween passages S wide enough to allow a forklift truckto be operated therein. The inner spaces of the storage racks are appropriately separated by partitions 9 to form compartments A1 and A2. Between respective pairs of adjacent storage racks 1,2; 3,4; 5,6; and 7,8, sets of two tracks 11,12; 13,14; 15,16; and 17,18 are provided such that a forklifttruckoan move therealong. These tracks are communicated by a wide platform 19, provided at one end of the routes, for transporting means, such as a motortruck, to park to supply or receive goods.

In the illustrated arrangement, when goods stored in the compartments A1 and A2 are to be retrieved, the operator of a forklift truck (not illustrated) drives it into, and along, the tracks 11 and 12 to the front of the compartment A1. The goods are taken out of the compartment A1 by the forklift truck which is then driven back to the platform 19 where the goods are put on the deck of a motortruck (not illustrated) waiting on the platform 19. The forklift truck is then similiarydriven along tracks 17 and 18, and isthen used to convey goods from the compartment A2to the deck ofthe motortruck.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, substantially horizontal rack plates 30 are attached to vertical frames 21,22,23 24 and 25 and/orto vertical frames 26,27,28 and 29, provided on the one floor 20 of a warehouse, to form compartments 31 and 32, and/or compartments 33 and 34forthe storage of goods G. In the passage between two adjacent storage racks, horizontal plate members 35 and 36 are attached to the compartments 31 and 32, orto the compartments 33 and 34 at a height equal to or above the maximum lift oftheforklifttruck such that either or both ends of the or each plate member 35, 36 projects into the passages to form a setoftwo tracks on which the forklift truck can move.Guide members 38,39 and 40, such as channel bars, are provided and are arranged to cooperate with counterparts, such as guide rollers (not shown) on the sides of the forklifttruckto prevent the forklift truck fro falling.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, horizontal support members 42 each having an engaging part 41 of an appropriate shape are provided on a vertical frame 43. A plate member 44, for example, a steel plate, is placed on the upper parts of the support members 42.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 instead of the support members 42, joint members 46, for example, of structural steel, are attached to extend horizontally between a vertical frame 45 of two adjacent storage racks. Two lines of plate members 47, such as steel plates, are placed in parallel on the upper parts of the joint members 46 along with the extension of the storage racks to provide a set of two tracks foraforklifttruck.Awarehouse constructed in this way has an increased resistance to wind and quake.

The inner space of a warehouse of the invention can be separated into two parts byway of a heat-insulating material. One ofthe parts may be used, for example, for low-temperature storage; whilst the other part is used for normal temperature storage.

With the invention, the direction ofthe storage rack arrangement may be varied on every floor. For example, on the first and second floors, the storage racks could be arranged in rows extending east to west, and, on the third floor, south to north. In this case, by providing platforms at both ends ofthe tracks the forklift truck can supply or receive goods to orfrom the transporting means much more speedily.

Awarehouse with superior material-handling efficiency can be obtained by providing one or more ramp ways outside the warehouse.

The arrangement of the present invention enables a warehouse using a forklifttruckto be constructed to a substantial height without upper floor(s) of reinforced construction and without the main structural body ofthe warehouse being covered with fire-proof material. This means that the storage ability of a warehouse can be increased by a factor of two or more in terms ofthe pal lets per unit floor area.

Thus, the present invention has an economic advantage in thatthe construction cost ofthe warehouse per pallet is extremely reduced.

Furthermore, a warehouse of the invention has the additional economicadvantagethat,sincethe warehouse has no upperfloor,the number of auxiliaries, such as those for illumination, fire alarm and air-conditioning, is minimized by providing them in the well spaces between the storage racks.

By joining adjacent storage racks with joint members, and placing two lines of plate members on the upper parts ofthe joint members to form tracks for forklifttrucks, the resistance of the warehouse to wind and quake is greatly increased.

Sincethetracks at the same level communicate with each other by way of the platform means, a forklift truck can be freely driven into all the tracks at the same level. For this reason, a warehouse ofthe invention requires no other conveying means, such as a belt conveyor, as is necessary in a conventional warehouse to provide communication between, for example, a stacker crane and a motortruck.

The maintenance of a forklift truck is easy because, unlike a stacker crane, a forklift truck does not carry any elevating means.

Claims (11)

1. A warehouse utilizing a forklifttruck as the conveying means, comprising: a plurality oftall and elongate storage racks arranged in rows on a floorto definetherebetween passages wide enough to allow a forklifttruckto be operated therein; one or more sets of tracks along which aforklift truck can move, provided in each passage at a predetermined level above said floor along the length of the storage racks; and platform means provided outside the passages and communicating the tracks at the same level.

2. Awarehouseasclaimed in Claim 1,wherein each said track is formed by: substantially horizontal support member supported by a vertical frame ofthe storage rack; and a plate member placed on the upper part ofthe support member and extending along the storage rack.

3. Awarehouse as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said plate member is a structural steel.

4. Awarehouse as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said plate member is a steel plate.

5. Awarehouseasclaimed inclaim 1,wherein each said track is formed by: a substantially horizontal joint memberforjoining two adjacent storage racks; and a plate member placed on the upper part of said joint member and extending along the storage rack.

6. Awarehouseasclaimed in ClaimS,wherein said plate member is a steel plate.

7. Awarehouse as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a ramp way is provided outside the warehouse.

8. A warehouse as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein both ends of the tracks are communicated by an additional platform.

9. A warehouse as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said storage rack comprises: a plurality of vertical frames provided on the floor ofthe warehouse; a plurality of horizontal frames provided across the vertical frames; and a plurality of plate members placed on the upper parts ofthe horizontal frames.

10. A warehouse as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the warehouse does not have an upperfloor.

11. A warehouse substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.