MX2007010026A - Powered mobile storage system with select and drag operation and selectable aisle width feature - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a mobile storage system that includes a number of mobile storage units movably disposed with respect to one another and including a logic system. A signal from a motion control actuator on a mobile storage unit which is to move where an aisle is desired directs a run signal to at least one unit to cause one or multiple units to be driven successively away from a desired aisle. If multiple units are moved together, a motion control actuator on the unit adjacent the closing aisle is operated to move the actuated unit and the other units. The logic system remembers and maintains each new open aisle width and closed aisle width after the termination of a particular movement.

Description

MOBILE STORAGE SYSTEM WITH A SELECTION AND TRAILER OPERATION AND WITH CONFIGURATION OF SELECTION OF WIDTH OF A CORRIDOR Figures 1-10 illustrate an intelligent mobile storage system 20 that includes a series of vertical storage units 22 ag, each of which generally includes a shelf or cabinet 24 and a base configuration including a single mobile cart (not shown). illustrated) to which the shelf or cabinet 24 is mounted. Each cabinet 24 is mounted to its mobile cart respectively for lateral movement within the intelligent storage system 20. Each storage unit 22 ag moves along for example a set of rails (not illustrated) by a main motor as for example an electric motor connected to a drive wheel that runs along at least one of these rails. In the manner illustrated a scissor-type pantograph (not shown) extends between adjacent storage units 22 ag to route energy and communication cables to the components of the mobile storage intelligent system 20. The general construction and Operation of this type of mobile storage system is known in the art and is available from Spacesaver Corporation of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Each of the storage units 22 a-g, is configured to move alternately and selectively from left to right as illustrated, to establish at least one access to aisles between the storage units 22 a-g as chosen by the operator. In figs. 1-10, there are seven mobile storage units 22 a-22 g, configured to move rectilinearly in relation to one another to establish access to the aisle between them. In one inclusion, the final storage units 22 a and 22 g may be stationary. It should be understood that at the beginning where the improved mobile storage system 20 described herein is described is adapted to control the system that has fewer storage units than those illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 and that the final storage units 22 a and 22 g can be moved.

In the illustrated embodiment, the storage units 22 b-22 f are generally identical in construction and operation. A common unit 22 c has an entry of information to the controller by the operator represented by the marked rectangle 26, which can be mounted at one end of the storage unit 26 or at any other satisfactory location. A button or switch 28 is included to open the aisle and is included in the controller 26. The controller 26 may include other features such as an emergency stop button 8 not shown) as well as indicator lights of the operating status. The button to open the aisle 28 is pressed by an operator to initiate the corridor opening procedures discussed in more detail below.

A variety of known security mechanisms can be employed with the intelligent mobile storage system. For example, the safety mechanism may be in the form of a safety switch or switch to notify the control system associated with the drive configuration of each storage unit to stop movement of the storage unit if an obstacle is encountered or impediment of movement. Examples of the security mechanisms are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,743,078 and 4,733,923, disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, an electric photo photo is disclosed, for example in U.S. Patent No. 5, 121, 975, the disclosure is incorporated herein by reference and may also be used. Another alternative includes the system shown in US Patent No. 6, 707,028 also incorporated by reference, which illustrates an object detection system used to detect the presence of an object within a space that includes a pair of emitters / receivers with localized lights on the outer face of each side of the space and a series of reflectors located outward from each side of the space.

The flgs. 1-10 illustrate a series of alternative positions of the storage units 22 a and 22 g of the intelligent storage system 20 according to the present invention. As mentioned above, at each end of the intelligent mobile storage units 20, a stationary unit can be provided or the last mobile unit can be located adjacent to a wall or other stationary structure. When at least one of the mobile storage units 22 to 22 g moves or separates away from the adjacent mobile storage unit 22 a and 22 g, a corridor or space is formed between them. The aisle provides access to the contents of the mobile storage units 22 a-22 g on each side of the aisle. Before the corridor is formed, an object detection system or monitoring unit 60 of the logic system 58 (Fig. 11) according to the invention, is employed to ensure that there are no obstructions in the path of movement of the units. storage mobiles 22 a, 22 g before starting the operation of the motors associated with the storage units 22 a, 22 g when necessary to close the aisle. In addition, as described in more detail below, when a corridor is to be formed, the logic system 58 employs a distance sensor unit 62 and. an intelligent unit 64 for monitoring the distance between the storage units 22 a- 22 g, and uses the information to determine how wide a single aisle can be opened, what aisle to open if there are individuals or objects in the existing aisle as well as what aisles are open based on the determination of which aisle is used most frequently.

According to the present invention, the intelligent mobile storage system 20 is programmed to maintain a maximum aisle space (MAS) in one inclusion, the MAS is 60 inches, however a variety of MAS widths can be maintained depending on the requirements of the system. The MAS can be divided in a variety of ways within the intelligent mobile storage system 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the MAS can be divided between two aisles 36 and 38. Alternatively as illustrated in fig. 3, the MAS can be used to form a single widened aisle 34 which can be used for example to provide access to wheelchairs or loading and unloading equipment of the units. In the illustrated embodiment, the activation of the button to open the aisle 28 in a mobile storage unit 22 a-22 g, causes a series of individual storage units to move to form a corridor. Once the aisle has been opened, the aisle activation button 28 is activated a second time which causes the aisle to open further to create a hallway with a width equal to the MAS. A variety of operation sequences will be described in Figs. 1-10 illustrating the advantages of the intelligent mobile storage system 20. FIG. 1 illustrates an intelligent mobile storage system 20 with aisles 36 and 38 open. As mentioned above when two aisles are open, the MAS is equally divided between the two aisles. In the illustrated inclusion, the aisles 36 and 38 can each have a width of 30 inches. Assuming that the operator wishes to open a corridor between the mobile storage units 22 c and 22 d, the operator presses the button 28 on the controller 26 located in the mobile storage unit 22 c. once activated, the logical system 58 of the intelligent storage system 20 must make a "decision" based on a variety of factors. In the inclusion illustrated in fig. 1 a monitoring unit 60 of the intelligent mobile storage system 20 will perform a review to detect an empty hall 38 as well as the presence of an object such as the person shown at 30 in an open hallway 36. Accordingly, the intelligent system mobile storage 20 will initiate movement so that said corridor remains open and corridor 38 closes to form corridor 34 as illustrated in fig. 2. the aisle 38 is closed and the aisle 34 is opened by the movement of the mobile storage unit 22 c to a position adjacent to the mobile storage unit 22 b. the distance sensor unit 62 maintains the distance of 30 inches in the aisles 34 and 36.

As illustrated in fig. 2, operator 30 has emptied aisle 36. Since aisle 36 is not occupied it can be closed in a subsequent action. If, for example, an operator wants to further open the aisle 34 to create access for wheelchairs, the operator presses the same open button of the aisle 28 in the controller 26 located in the mobile storage unit 22 c. once activated, the logical system 58 of the intelligent mobile storage system 20 must again make a "decision". In the inclusion illustrated in fig. 2, the security surveillance unit 60 of the intelligent mobile storage system 20 will detect that the aisle 36 is empty. Accordingly, the intelligent storage system 20 will initiate movement by causing the storage units 22 d and 22 e to move adjacent to the mobile storage unit 22 f by closing the aisle 36 and widening the aisle 34 with a width equal to the MAS. The distance sensing unit 62 will maintain a width of 60 inches for the aisle 34.

Returning now to fig. 4, an obstacle such as the person shown at 30 is present within the widened corridor 34. Accordingly, if the operator wishes to open another corridor, for example, between 22 f and 22 g the intelligent mobile storage system 20 will not perform said function. . The distance sensing unit 62 will indicate that the MAS has been employed and the security unit 60 will indicate the presence of a person 30 within the open hallway 34. A signal will be sent to prevent the movement of the mobile storage unit 22 c and 22 d adjacent to the busy hall 34. As a result, by activating the button 28 to open the hallway in the controller 26 located in the mobile storage unit 22 f, the intelligent storage system 20 will generate a message indicating that the specified function can not be performed . However, as illustrated in FIG. 5, once the person 30 has left the aisle 34 and is no longer busy, the aisle 34 can be closed in a subsequent action.

As illustrated in figs. 5 and 6, a pair of operators shown 31, 33 can simultaneously open aisle, for example the mobile units 22 by 22 c and the mobile units 22 f and 22 g, activate the open button 28 in the controllers 26 located in the units of storage 22 c and 22 f respectively. Once activated, the logical system 58 of the intelligent mobile storage system 20 must again take the "decision". The security unit 60 of the intelligent mobile storage system 20 will not detect the presence of an obstacle or object present in the open passage 34. Accordingly, the system 20 will move the mobile storage unit 22 c as well as the group of storage units 22 df in order to simultaneously form corridors 40 and 42 illustrated in fig. 6. the aisle 34 is closed by the movement of the mobile storage unit 22 c as well as the group of units 22 d-f. The distance sensing unit 62 will divide the MAS between the two aisles 40 and 42 so that each one is 30 inches wide. Operators 31 and 33 now have access to corridors 40 and 42.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate another unique feature of the intelligent mobile storage system 20, which is the ability to make "decisions" based on the frequency of use of a particular hallway. An intelligent unit 64 is included in the logical system 56 that maintains the information concerning the frequency of use of a particular corridor. The frequency of use may be defined by the user or determined in a continuous process by the intelligence unit 64 of the logical system 58. As illustrated in FIG. 7 the corridors 40 and 42 are open and unoccupied and the user wishes to open a passage between units 22 d and 22 e. in the illustrated example, the aisle 42 is used more often than the aisle 40. When the operator wishes to open a passage between the mobile storage units 22 d and 22 e, the operator presses the access button 28 on the controller 26 located in the mobile storage unit 22 e. once activated, the intelligent unit of the logical system 58 of the intelligent storage system 20 must make the "decision" as to which aisle to close. Because the monitoring unit 60 of the logic system 58 indicates that both aisles 40 and 42 are unoccupied, it takes its "decision" on the frequency of use of each of the aisles 40 and 42. As mentioned above, the aisle 42 it is used more frequently than the aisle 40. Consequently the aisle 42 remains open and the aisle 40 closes to form the aisle 44 as illustrated in fig. 8. the corridor 40 is closed by the movement of the mobile unit 22 c and 22 d and the corridor 44 is opened. The distance sensor unit 62 will divide the MAS between the two corridors 44 and 42 in such a way that each one has a width of 30 inches. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a similar example of the intelligent mobile storage system 20, making a "decision" based on the frequency of use of a particular aisle. As illustrated in fig. 9 corridor 44 and 42 are open and unoccupied. A user wishes to open a corridor between mobile units 22 a and 22 b. in the illustrated example the aisle 44 is used more frequently than the aisle 42. Assuming that the operator wishes to open the aisle between the units 22 a and 22 b the operator presses the button 28 on the controller 26 located in the mobile storage unit 22 b. once activated, the intelligence unit 64 of the logical system of the mobile storage intelligent system 20 must take the "decision". as to which aisle to close. Because the security unit 60 of the intelligent storage system 20 indicates that both aisles 42 and 44 s are unoccupied, it bases its "decision" on the frequency of use. As mentioned above, the passageway 44 is used more frequently, and consequently the passageway 44 remains open and the passageway 42 closes to form the passageway 46 as illustrated in FIG. 10. The aisle 42 is closed by the movement of the mobile storage units 22 e and 22 f. the aisle 46 is opened by the movement of the mobile storage units 22 b and 22 d. corridor 44 is maintained by e! movement of 22 b-d and 22 e-f. the distance sensing unit 62 will divide the MAS between the two aisles 46 and 44 so that both have a width of 30 inches.

It can be appreciated that the intelligent mobile storage system 20 provides a storage system capable of providing multiple access to multiple aisles within the mobile storage system as well as generating a single, wider aisle, or two narrower aisles. The system monitors the presence of people and objects located within the corridor, the distance between the corridors and the corridors used more frequently to be able to make "smart" decisions when a particular corridor is opened or closed. As a result, the productivity of the system is increased. This is in contrast to the mobile prior art storage system where the adjacent mobile storage units move to close a hall regardless of the frequency of use of a particular hallway.

Although the system has been shown and described with respect to a specific inclusion, it is contemplated that certain details may be varied from the specific construction as disclosed, being within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the reference "positions" throughout the application is for illustrative purposes only and is not limiting in any way. Furthermore, although this invention has been described and shown with seven mobile storage units, it is understood that it is only an illustrative number and that any other number of mobile storage units can be employed. In the same way, although this invention has been shown and described with two narrower aisles or one wider, any number of aisles can be generated within the system depending on the general needs and use of the system.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS We vindicate.

1. A plurality of mobile storage units, defining a maximum aisle space between adjacent storage units and wherein said maximum aisle space can be used to form a single aisle or at least two aisles and; A control system that monitors the frequency of use of the corridors and closes the corridors based on the frequency of use of the corridors.

2. The mobile storage system of claim 1 wherein the control system has a distance sensing or sensing unit that distributes a maximum aisle space between a single aisle or between at least two aisles.

3. The mobile storage system of claim 2 wherein the control system includes a monitoring unit configured to monitor the presence of individuals and objects within the aisles.

4. The mobile storage system of claim 2 wherein the maximum aisle space is between 30 to 100. inches.

5. the mobile storage system of claim 4 wherein the maximum space is 60 inches.

6. The mobile storage system of claim 2 wherein the mobile storage units include a button to open the aisle that causes a plurality of adjacent storage units to move to form aisles.

7. The storage system of claim 6 wherein upon pressing the opening button of the aisle a single time opens a corridor that has a thickness or width less than the maximum aisle space and where by pressing the open button a second Once it opens the corridor that has width equal to the maximum aisle space.

8. The mobile unit system that includes: A plurality of mobile storage units defining at least one aisle between a pair of adjacent storage units and wherein the storage units include a drive configuration adapted to move the storage units to form selectively a corridor between the adjacent storage units; and A control system connected to the drive configuration to distribute a maximum aisle space between a corridor or a pair of aisles.

9. The storage unit system of claim 8 wherein an operator wishes to create a corridor between a pair of storage units, the control system is operated to close an open corridor pair based on a predetermined criterion.

10. The mobile storage system of claim 9 wherein the predetermined criteria are programmed into the control system.

11. The mobile storage system of claim 10 wherein the predetermined criteria are based on the frequency of use. SUMMARY The present invention is a mobile storage system that includes a number of mobile storage units that move with respect to each other and that includes a logical system. A signal from a motion control mechanism placed in a mobile storage unit that moves to move to a desired aisle and directs a start signal for at least one unit that causes one or multiple units to be successfully removed from a desired aisle . If multiple units are moving at the same time, a motion control mechanism in the unit adjacent to the nearest corridor is operated to move the unit that is in motion and the other units in motion. The logical system remembers and maintains each new aisle width open and each aisle width closed after the completion of a particular movement. 10 operating a motion control actuator on a mobile storage unit adjacent an existing isolation; and where said said mobile storage adjacent said existing isolate moves to said said existing isolate, and drags any other mobile storage units between said unit adjacent said existing isolate and said selected isolate to be formed. 00074590.DOC / 2