WO1998004482A1 - Systeme de stockage et de recherche automatise pour produits laitiers sans palettes - Google Patents

Systeme de stockage et de recherche automatise pour produits laitiers sans palettes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998004482A1
WO1998004482A1 PCT/US1997/013123 US9713123W WO9804482A1 WO 1998004482 A1 WO1998004482 A1 WO 1998004482A1 US 9713123 W US9713123 W US 9713123W WO 9804482 A1 WO9804482 A1 WO 9804482A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
storage
support rails
support
articles
rails
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/013123
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Daniel Labell
Original Assignee
Westfalia Technologies, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Westfalia Technologies, Inc. filed Critical Westfalia Technologies, Inc.
Publication of WO1998004482A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998004482A1/fr

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G1/00Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
    • B65G1/02Storage devices
    • B65G1/04Storage devices mechanical
    • B65G1/0407Storage devices mechanical using stacker cranes
    • B65G1/0414Storage devices mechanical using stacker cranes provided with satellite cars adapted to travel in storage racks
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02Articles
    • B65G2201/0202Agricultural and processed food products
    • B65G2201/0211Fruits and vegetables

Definitions

  • This invention is generally directed to the field of automated storage systems and more particularly to an automated system for receiving, storing and returning palletless dairy cases from storage racks.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,971,507 to Wegglaar discloses a storage system wherein a carriage extendable from a fork-lift truck moves within rails provided in a multi-tiered rack to deposit or retrieve palletized goods.
  • the carriage is able to access each level of the multi-tiered rack using a vertically extending mast on the fork-lift truck. Due to the limited extension of the mast, however, the height of the storage rack must be restricted.
  • the system requires a person to control and operate the fork-lift truck and carriage.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,333,982 to Tanizawa which teaches a plurality of electrically driven cargo carriers that run on multi-level routes disposed one over another between two rows of opposing assemblies of cargo storage shelves
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,395,181 to Loomer which discloses an automated storage system comprising a vehicle for transporting loaded pallets within a plurality of tracks that form a storage rack.
  • the disclosed vehicle in Loomer comprises extendable lift mechanisms for elevating pallets above the level of the tracks during vehicle traversal and for lowering the pallets onto support surfaces formed on the tracks for storage.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,817,406 to Sawada et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,252,217 to Benjamin, and U.S. Patent No. 4,459,078 to Chiantella et al. disclose automated warehousing systems that employ a crane device in combination with a movable shuttle that is able to access each level of a storage rack.
  • the designs of these automated warehousing systems do not require the amount of manpower necessary to operate effectively the Wegglaar system discussed above. Benjamin, however, does require an operator to control the disclosed crane device.
  • all of the above-noted systems appear to be limited in the amount of goods that can be transported in a single "run.”
  • PCT/EP95/00738 filed on March 1, 1995 to Upmeyer which shows a pallet shelf system having multiple tiers and comprising supporting and running guides for supporting pallets thereon and a pallet transporting car movable within the supporting and running guides for depositing and retrieving palletized goods.
  • the supporting and running guides form a running tub to provide air circulation to the palletized goods, such as perishable fruit.
  • Two pallet transporting cars may be coupled together in the Upmeyer system for movement within two adjacent channels formed by a pair of touching inner support rails for supporting a single pallet and for forming the inner guides for the coupled pallet transporting cars.
  • a still more specific object of the subject invention is to provide a compact automated storage system having multiple storage lanes and including a set of support rails located within each storage lane, wherein the set includes a pair of outer support rails for providing vertical support to articles located in stored positions within the storage lane and at least one pair of inner support rails for providing additional vertical support to the stored articles, and wherein the pair of inner support rails are spaced, respectively, from the outer support rails by a distance sufficient to allow a transported shuttle to pass therebetween when transporting an article along the storage lane, and wherein inner support rails are spaced apart by a substantial horizontal distance to provide distributed support to articles stored directly on the rails, whereby the storage system can provide undergirding support that is adequately distributed to accommodate palletless articles.
  • a compact automated storage system for receiving, storing and returning palletless articles
  • a storage rack having a rigid support framework containing a plurality of open ended storage lanes having a cross sectional extent sufficient to allow the palletless articles to be conveyed into and out of the storage lanes.
  • the open ends of the storage lanes are generally positioned adjacent a shelving pathway extending along the storage rack.
  • An article transporter is movable within the shelving pathway between loading/unloading stations in which the article transporter is alignable with corresponding open ends of the storage lanes.
  • the article transporter includes at least one shuttle for moving an article along a storage lane when the article transporter is aligned with the open end of the storage lane and for moving an article into and out of a stored position within the storage lane.
  • the automated storage system further includes a plurality of support rail sets mounted on the support framework, respectively, within the plurality of open ended storage lanes, each support rail set including a pair of outer support rails for providing vertical support to articles located in stored positions within the corresponding storage lane and at least one pair of inner support rails for providing additional vertical support to the articles.
  • the pair of inner support rails are spaced, respectively, from the outer support rails by a distance sufficient to allow the shuttle to pass therebetween when transporting an article along the storage lane.
  • the inner support rails are spaced apart by a substantial horizontal distance to provide distributed support to articles stored directly on the rails, whereby the storage system can provide undergirding support that is adequately distributed to accommodate palletless articles.
  • the support rails also allows palleted articles to be triple supported to limit the deflection of the pallets and thus, increase their useful life.
  • the automated storage system further includes at least one bridge which connects at least two of the inner support rails and provides a support platform for supporting palletless articles stored thereon.
  • a shuttle bridge may further be provided to connect two or more shuttles together for travelling along respective storage lanes. The shuttle bridge provides an electrical connection between the shuttles travelling within respective storage lane to provide power and other special control features.
  • the outer support rails and inner support rails of the support rail set are spaced apart in a manner that facilitates the storage of at least two twenty-four quart dairy cases stored side-by-side on the support rail supported without an undergirding pallet; two sixteen quart cases stored side-by-side on the support rail with or without an undergirding pallet; and articles supported by a pallet conforming with the standards of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA).
  • GMA Grocery Manufacturers Association
  • the automated storage system may include support rail sets comprising at least two troughs formed from galvanized steel in which one or more shuttles are movable.
  • the support rail sets have lip portions at their side edges for guiding the dairy cases as they are moved within the storage lanes and for supporting palletless articles.
  • This embodiment of the present invention further includes a sprinkler system positioned adjacent to the outer support rails for spraying down the trough.
  • the sprinkler system includes a washdown pipe and nozzle which are activated to removes leakage from the palletless articles that seep onto the troughs. The leakage is forced towards a drip pan outlet which guides the leakage to a designated area for removal.
  • a bridge support is provided to further support palletless articles stored thereon.
  • the automated storage system retrieves and deposits an article using the multiple shuttles which move along the support rails until they locate a load to be moved.
  • the multiple shuttles activate a chain conveyor included on the shuttles for engaging the article to be moved and conveys or removes the article from the shuttle bed.
  • the multiple shuttles then move within the rail system toward or away from the article transporter, depending on the desired function. Once the article is on the article transporter it is carried to a designated location in the warehouse for removal.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention used in a warehouse environment in accordance with the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 2 shows a front elevational view of the warehouse storage racks and rail design used for supporting stacked goods in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3a shows a magnified front elevational view of the rail design in the preferred embodiment of the present invention for supporting dairy cases without a pallet
  • Fig. 3b shows a magnified front elevational view of the rail design of the preferred embodiment of the present invention for supporting dairy cases with a pallet
  • Fig. 3c shows a magnified front elevational view of the rail design of the preferred embodiment of the present invention for supporting stackable goods with a Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet;
  • GMA Grocery Manufacturers Association
  • Fig. 4a shows a side elevational view of a shuttle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4b shows a plan view of two shuttles coupled together in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5a shows a front elevational view of a distance "X" between the center rails of the support rail system and two shuttles coupled together in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5b shows a front elevational view of a distance "X"' between the center rails of the support rail system and two shuttles coupled together in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5c shows a front elevational view of the center rails of the support rail system in an abutting relationship and two shuttles coupled together in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 6a shows a front elevational view of supporting guide rails forming a trough and having a sprinkler system for cleaning , the trough periodically in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 6b shows a front elevational view of a storage rack having support rails with drip pans attached thereto in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 7 shows a front elevational view of t e support rail system in a warehouse environment with dairy cases stacked thereon and two shuttles coupled together in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 8 shows a side elevational view of the shuttle carrying dairy cases thereon in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention which includes an automated storage and retrieval system 1 that is suitable for storing and retrieving articles, such as in a warehouse or other environments. While Figure 1 illustrates a warehouse environment having palletized goods, the invention has particular utility when used to store and retrieve articles, such as dairy cases, or other types of cases that are palletless. The embodiment illustrating dairy case storage is discussed in further detail with regard to Figures 2, 3a-c, 5a-c, and 7. One skilled in the art should recognize, however, that the present invention may be used in any environment where automated storage and retrieval is desired for goods stored with or without pallets.
  • automated storage system 1 is shown to include a storage rack formed from a rigid framework containing a stacked array of generally aligned storage lanes within which articles may be received, stored and retrieved.
  • the storage system further includes an article transporter 5, and a pair of shuttles 7, carried by the transporter 5 to an appropriate storage lane where the shuttles are adapted to deposit and retrieve articles.
  • Within each storage lane are a set of support rails 9 upon which the articles are vertically supported during storage. As will be explained more thoroughly below, the arrangement of these support rails serves the crucial function of guiding shuttle 7 and providing distributed undergirding support to the stored articles in a way that permits the elimination of the need to use pallets in certain circumstances.
  • the support rails provide triple support to limit the deflection of the pallets and thus, increase their useful life.
  • the transporting shuttles are guided by support rails 9 to travel beneath the stored articles and to lift the articles out of contact with the support rails so that they may be carried to and from the transporter 5.
  • the pair of shuttles are substantially spaced apart within at least some of the storage lanes of the storage racks.
  • automated storage system 1 utilizes a storage rack 2 having a rigid support framework 6 containing a plurality of open ended storage lanes 8 which facilitate the conveyance of palletless articles therein and therefrom.
  • the open ends of the storage lanes 8 are generally positioned adjacent a shelving pathway extending along the storage rack 2.
  • Article transporter 5 is movable along a track 3 for guiding article transporter 5 along the shelving pathway extending between storage racks 2, as shown in Figure 1, and is further guided by an uppermost rail 11 on which article transporter 5 is movably attached by rollers 4 which engage rail 11 to align itself with the corresponding open ends of the storage lanes 8 for depositing and retrieving stored goods.
  • Article transporter 5 includes two vertically extending masts 13 which rigidly attach to a lower base member 15 that is parallel to guide rail 3. Lower base member 15 directly engages and is propelled along rail guide 3 via motors 17 which are mounted to the lower base member and arranged to propel transporter 5 horizontally in either direction by being rotationally linked to a support roller, not illustrated, which engages track 3. Additional support for article transporter 5 is provided by guide support bars 19 which help to secure masts 13 onto lower base member 15.
  • the masts of the article transporter form a unitary, rigid structure, preferably formed from metal but is sufficiently lightweight to allow easy mobility along the storage racks.
  • An elevator structure 21 is positioned between and movably supported by masts 13 for movement among vertically spaced loading and unloading stations generally aligned with the open ends of the various storage lanes 8.
  • the elevator structure includes a rectangular frame 23 and multiple arms 25 which support a pair of shuttles 7 discussed in still more detail below. Elevator structure 21 extends vertically to each tier of storage racks 2. Since this entire system is automated through computerized control, article transporter 5 is able to locate a stack of dairy cases or a pallet that has been identified and recorded into an external computer system (not shown). Article transporter 5 is guided by commands generated by the external computer system to the appropriate storage lane for depositing or retrieving an identified stack of dairy cases stored in a lane. A multitude of article transporters may be used simultaneously in a warehouse environment to facilitate a large or small amount of storage and retrieval as desired by the warehouse operator.
  • Shuttle 7 provides a means for placing and retrieving articles within each storage lane.
  • shuttle 7 is carried on horizontally extending arms 25 of the article transporter 5 while article transporter 5 is locating the desired storage lane 8 in storage rack 2.
  • shuttle 7 is activated and rolls towards the identified dairy cases for retrieval.
  • shuttle 7 Upon retrieving the stacked dairy cases, shuttle 7 returns back to arms 25 where the dairy cases are transported on article transporter 5 to a designated location in the warehouse for removal.
  • FIG. 2 shows a front plan view of the set of support rails 9, associated with each storage lane, which are shown supporting stacked articles, in particular, dairy cases 31.
  • storage rack 2 includes four tiers, however, it may have more or less tiers depending on the amount of storage space desired.
  • Dairy cases 31 are shown as stored in storage lanes 8 of the top three tiers of this rack structure and are sectioned accordingly. Each tier is sectioned so that one set of stacked dairy cases 31 and one or more sets of support rails 9 are provided in each section. In this embodiment, an operator or worker is able to safely work on the ground floor of the warehouse below the stacked dairy cases and support rails 9.
  • a gravity flow conveyor 27 is provided for rolling or moving the stacked dairy cases 31 off of the article transporter 5 shown in Figure 1.
  • the gravity flow conveyor 27 includes rollers or wheels and is declined to allow gravity to move a stack of dairy cases in a predefined direction.
  • Dairy cases 31, illustrated in Figure 2 are stacked side by side and six high in each storage lane 8.
  • more rows of dairy cases may be added or removed and the dairy cases may be stacked higher or lower than six depending on the desired storage arrangement.
  • additional sets of support rails 9 would be needed and additional shuttles 7, shown in Figure 1, would be added to facilitate removing the increased load.
  • This feature would provide added versatility in retrieving and storing palletless and palletized goods.
  • the ability of the present invention to remove and deposit a large volume of dairy cases at one time further increases warehouse operation efficiency. Thus, a warehouse is able to satisfy a customer's order, for example, in a very efficient manner using the present invention.
  • This feature of adding or removing automated storage components is a much needed improvement over the conventional systems noted in the Background section discussed supra.
  • Figures 3 a, 3b and 3c show different storage configurations utilized with the present invention.
  • Figure 3a shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention by illustrating a fragmented view of dairy cases 31 resting on support rails 9. In this embodiment, twenty four quart dairy cases are stored on support rails 9 without a pallet.
  • 3a-3c support rails 9 include outer support rails 30 and inner support rails 32.
  • the outer support rails include an upper lip portion 34 and a lower lip portion 38 which extend inward towards inner support rails 32.
  • Rigidly attached to the upper portion of outer support rails 30 is an outer lip attachment 33 which extends horizontally outward for a predetermined distance and tapers upward at its ends.
  • Outer lip attachment 33 prevents dairy cases 31 from sliding off of support rails 9 as the dairy cases are moved within the storage lanes.
  • the automated storage system is designed to withstand reasonable amounts of seismic activity.
  • outer lip attachment 33 prevents the dairy cases from vibrating off of support rails 9 during an earthquake.
  • outer lip attachment 33 contains any leakage from the dairy cases stored thereon in so that the storage lanes may be subsequently cleaned.
  • Inner support rails 32 are positioned between outer support rails 9 and include an upper lip portion 39 and a lower lip portion 40 which extend outward towards the outer support rails 30.
  • the inner support rails provide support for various types of loads, such as dairy cases in the preferred embodiment, and other similar palletless or palletized loads.
  • Both the outer support rails and inner support rails are manufactured from a rigid material such as galvanized steel.
  • Inner support rails 32 are spaced, respectively from outer support rails 30 by a distance sufficient to allow shuttle 7 to pass therebetween when transporting an article along a storage lane.
  • the inner support rails are further spaced apart by a substantial horizontal distance to provide distributed support to dairy cases stored directly on the rails.
  • a bridge 65 is used to connect at least two of the inner support rails and provides a support platform for supporting palletless articles stored thereon.
  • Figure 3b shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention for storing sixteen and/or twenty four quart dairy cases 35 on support rails 9.
  • the present invention is designed to store dairy cases, such as sixteen and twenty- four quart dairy cases, directly on support rails 9 without the need for an undergirding pallet.
  • Figure 3b illustrates these types of dairy cases used with a pallet
  • pallet 36 provides additional support for smaller dairy cases that are stacked on support rails 9.
  • the pallet used in this embodiment is smaller and easier to manipulate than the conventional Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet used in the industry.
  • GMA Grocery Manufacturers Association
  • outer lip attachment 33 guides pallet 36 along the storage lanes and prevents the pallet from sliding or vibrating off of support rails 9 during seismic activity.
  • a GMA pallet 37 is used and stored on support rails 9.
  • the GMA pallet 37 is a large, standard industry pallet (measuring, generally, 48" x 40" x 5.5") and is conventionally used with forklifts to manipulate stacked goods stored thereon. Because many warehouses still use the GMA pallet, the present invention has been designed to facilitate the GMA pallet design shown.
  • automated storage system 1 provides a warehouse with a wide range of versatility with regard to product storage.
  • the design of Figure 3a is more preferable in the industry because the use of pallets adds an undesirable element to storage operation.
  • the conventional GMA pallet 37 shown in Figure 3c tends to take up space and adds to the overall operation cost of the warehouse.
  • pallets when articles are completely removed or "picked" from a pallet, the pallet must be manually moved to a designated return lane for later usage.
  • the time needed to manipulate pallets decreases the efficiency of warehouse operation.
  • the warehouse operator can reduce the amount of storage space needed and does not have to worry about maintaining a fresh inventory of pallets.
  • pallets can break and require replacement which adds to the cost of maintaining warehouse operation.
  • the lateral distances between the inner support rails of each support rail set arranged beneath each palletless article may range between five and fifty percent of the lateral distance between one outer support rail and its respective inner support rail to provide a variety of storage configurations.
  • the preferred distance with respect to the lateral distance between the inner support rails of one support rail set is three and seven-eighths inches.
  • the preferred distance with respect to the lateral distance between one outer rail and its respective inner rail is seventeen inches. These distances, however, may vary depending on the desired storage configuration.
  • Figure 4a shows a side elevational view of shuttle 7 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the type of shuttle depicted herein is described and illustrated in International Application No. PCT/EP95/00738 filed on March 1, 1995 to Upmeyer.
  • An appropriate type of shuttle is manufactured by WESTFALIA-WST-SYSTEMTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG, Industriestrasse 11, D-33829 Borgholzhausen, Germany, and sold under the trademark SATELLITE®.
  • Shuttle 7 is controlled through a cable 42 which is linked to article transporter 5.
  • information with regard to the storage and retrieval of dairy cases is sent from an external computer system (not shown) to the article transporter 5. This command information is transferred to shuttle 7 via cable 42 to accomplish a desired task.
  • Shuttle 7 also receives its power through cable 42.
  • shuttle 7 includes a series of wheels 41 which move shuttle 7 along support rails 9 as shown in Figures 5a-5c discussed below. Wheels 41 allow forward and backward movement along support rails 9 for the storage and retrieval process.
  • Chain conveying wheels 43 are positioned along the sides of shuttle 7 to engage chain 45 for lifting and depositing dairy cases.
  • Rail brush wheel 44 is provided to clean support rails 9 as the shuttle moves therein.
  • the shuttle further includes horizontal side wheels 47 which help to guide and center the shuttle by engaging the inner surface of the support rails. Upper side wheels 49 are also employed for this purpose.
  • Figure 4b illustrates a side fragmented view of two shuttles employed in the present invention.
  • Shuttle 7 includes a propulsion motor 51 for controlling wheels 41 and rail brush wheel 44 and a chain conveying motor 52 for controlling chain conveying wheels 43. Both motors are powered through cable 42 and can operate in forward or reverse as desired for movement of shuttle 7 within support rails 9 or to lift or deposit a load.
  • the shuttles are coupled together using a shuttle bridge 67 which is electrically conductive and rigidly attaches two or more shuttles together such that each shuttle moves with respect to the other.
  • the shuttle bridge is shorter than the length of the shuttles and rides above bridge 65 during shuttle operation.
  • Shuttle bridge 67 contacts electrical connectors 53 on each shuttle so that the shuttles are electrically connected. This allows power and control information supplied to one shuttle via cable 42 to be supplied to other shuttles through shuttle bridge 67. Additional shuttles may be used in connection with the two shuttles of Figure 4b should the storage lanes be designed with sufficient width and additional inner support rails be added. Such additional shuttles could be added or removed from the system as needed. Alternatively, a shuttle may be used independently within each storage lane without being coupled to other shuttles via shuttle bridge 67. In this embodiment, the shuttles do not have to move in unison to store or retrieve palletless articles. This embodiment, however, requires each shuttle to be powered and controlled independently through a separate cable 42. The preferred embodiment only requires one cable 42 for powering and controlling multiple shuttles.
  • FIGS 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate two shuttles 7 within support rails 9. These figures are provided to illustrate different embodiments of the present invention where the distance between the inner support rails 32 is increased or decreased depending on the environment in which the automated storage system is used.
  • the shuttles 7 are shown from different perspectives.
  • the left shuttle illustrates a front view of its chain conveyer components as discussed with regard to Figures 4a and 4b.
  • the right shuttle illustrates a front view of its propulsion components as also discussed in reference to Figures 4a and 4b.
  • only the lateral distances between the rails are changed to accommodate various storage configurations and not the dimensions of the shuttle.
  • Figure 5a has been labeled completely to show the components discussed above. The same labels are purposely excluded from Figures 5b and 5c since these identified components are common to all three figures. Also common to Figures 5a-5c are bridge 65 and shuttle bridge 67 which includes downwardly extending lip portions 75 and 77 for connecting the shuttles. The horizontal section of bridge 65 covers the upper lip portions of the inner support rails 32 as shown in the figures.
  • the distance denoted by "X” in Figure 5a represents the distance between inner support rails 32. This distance is significant, in that, these rails may be moved inwardly or outwardly to provide distributed vertical support and facilitate different types of cartons or goods stored thereon.
  • the support rails 9 may accommodate certain types of dairy cases or other loads which do not require a large center support, such as larger sized dairy cases.
  • These types of loads may include certain palletized loads where the pallet could simply rest on the upper lip of the outer support rails as well as the flat upper surface of bridge 65. This design allows the pallets to be triple supported to limit deflection of the pallet and increase its useful life.
  • Figure 5b shows a larger distance "X"' between inner support rails 32 and is the preferred rail design for the present invention.
  • This support rail design has a longer upper bridge surface which covers the inner support rails 32 and also has a wide enough distance "X"' to facilitate the storing and retrieval of dairy cases preferably twenty-four quarts in size. Because of the distance between outer support rails 30 and bridge 65, this rail design provides adequate support for dairy cases having a twenty-four quart capacity. This rail design, however, also facilitates other palletized and palletless load configurations which may be stored on outer support rails 30 and inner support rails 32 via bridge 65.
  • Figure 5c shows another alternative embodiment of support rails 9 wherein inner support rails 32 are in an abutting relationship with one another.
  • there is no distance "X" or “X”' between the two inner support rails and bridge 65 covering the upper lip portions of inner support rails 32 is shortened in length with respect to the above embodiments.
  • bridge 65 may further be lengthened to accommodate sixteen quart dairy cases or other similar sized cases that are stored on support rails 9 without an undergirding pallet.
  • the rail design system of the present invention may be configured in any manner which would facilitate the storage of any palletized and palletless load.
  • Figures 6a and 6b are directed to an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the support rails are designed to collect leakage, if any, from the dairy cases stored thereon and remove the leakage from the support rails to a predetermined location.
  • rail system 81 includes a double trough 82 and bridge support 84 manufactured and folded from one piece of galvanized steel. This rail design facilitates the storage of dairy cases 31 thereon but further allows any spillage collected in the trough to be washed away using a sprinkler system 83.
  • Sprinkler system 83 includes a set of washdown pipes and nozzles for spraying down the troughs of rail system 81 either continuously or at predetermined intervals.
  • rail system 81 may be cleaned manually by having personnel use the shuttles to position themselves at strategic locations on the storage racks to spray down the troughs.
  • the troughs are able to drain via drip pan outlet 85 shown in Figure 6b.
  • This drip pan outlet 85 is attached to the storage racks and is positioned at an angle to allow the dairy case leakage to drain off into a designated area.
  • shuttle 7 is activated via cable 42, shown in Figures 4a and 4b, while resting in the arms of article transporter 5 shown in Figure 1.
  • Shuttle 7 begins to move along support rails 9 until the desired load is located.
  • chain 45 of shuttle 7 is activated and engages the desired load.
  • the top plane of shuttle 7 is slightly curved to allow chain 45 to effectively "grab" the dairy cases and pull them onto the shuttle surface, as shown in Figure 8.
  • the shuttle moves in the opposite direction of the chains in a synchronized fashion and at the same speed to lift the dairy cases off of the support rails. Once the load is centered, the chains deactivate and the shuttle returns to the article transporter.
  • the method is reversed, in that, the load is carried by the shuttle to a specified location on storage racks 2 where the load is to be deposited.
  • chain 45 is again activated and the load is "rolled off by the conveying chain of the shuttle platform while the shuttle moves in the opposite direction of the chains in a synchronized fashion.
  • shuttle After depositing the load, shuttle returns to article transporter 5.

Abstract

Système de stockage automatisé permettant de réceptionner, de stocker et d'aller chercher des produits laitiers (31) stockés sans palettes. De manière spécifique, le système de stockage automatisé comprend un transporteur (5) d'articles, constitué d'une navette (7) qui dépose et va chercher les produits laitiers stockés dans les couloirs de stockage (8) d'un casier de stockage (2), et d'un système de rails (9) qui supporte la navette et les produits laitiers stockés. Une ou plusieurs navettes, couplées par un pont (67), peuvent être utilisées dans le système de stockage et de recherche automatisé. Le système de rails comprend deux ou plusieurs rails supports externes et deux ou plusieurs rails supports internes, qui supportent la navette et les produits laitiers. Le bord inférieur du système de rail est de type 'bac récepteur', de façon à contenir les fuites provenant des produits laitiers. Ce 'bac récepteur' permet au personnel de marcher en toute sécurité dans les couloirs de stockage.
PCT/US1997/013123 1996-07-30 1997-07-28 Systeme de stockage et de recherche automatise pour produits laitiers sans palettes WO1998004482A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68909996A 1996-07-30 1996-07-30
US08/689,099 1996-07-30

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WO1998004482A1 true WO1998004482A1 (fr) 1998-02-05

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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EP1772399A3 (fr) * 2005-10-06 2007-11-28 Still Gmbh Système de rayonnage
WO2008019842A1 (fr) * 2006-08-17 2008-02-21 Westfalia Logistics Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Ensemble de stockage
WO2008136659A1 (fr) * 2007-05-03 2008-11-13 Scarabee Id B.V. Système et procédé de stockage de marchandises
WO2009132730A1 (fr) * 2008-04-30 2009-11-05 SSI Schäfer AG Mécanisme de levage pour une navette de dispositif de stockage à travées et procédé de levage et d'abaissement d'un pont de chargement de la navette
CN106232503A (zh) * 2014-02-21 2016-12-14 万德兰工业有限公司 用于储存产品的系统、用于使用此系统的方法及布置成在此系统中操作的中央控制单元
EP3524543A1 (fr) * 2018-02-13 2019-08-14 Logevo AB Unité de support de transport prémonté pour un système de stockage et procédé d'assemblage d'un tel système de stockage
EP3581522A1 (fr) * 2018-06-13 2019-12-18 Logevo AB Système de stockage et agencement de support de transport pré-monté
WO2021244995A1 (fr) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 Dieffenbacher Panelboard Oy Système de stockage pour stocker des piles de panneaux en rangées de stockage, destiné à être utilisé dans des usines de fabrication de panneaux

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EP1772399A3 (fr) * 2005-10-06 2007-11-28 Still Gmbh Système de rayonnage
WO2008019842A1 (fr) * 2006-08-17 2008-02-21 Westfalia Logistics Technologies Gmbh & Co. Kg Ensemble de stockage
WO2008136659A1 (fr) * 2007-05-03 2008-11-13 Scarabee Id B.V. Système et procédé de stockage de marchandises
WO2009132730A1 (fr) * 2008-04-30 2009-11-05 SSI Schäfer AG Mécanisme de levage pour une navette de dispositif de stockage à travées et procédé de levage et d'abaissement d'un pont de chargement de la navette
CN106232503A (zh) * 2014-02-21 2016-12-14 万德兰工业有限公司 用于储存产品的系统、用于使用此系统的方法及布置成在此系统中操作的中央控制单元
EP3524543A1 (fr) * 2018-02-13 2019-08-14 Logevo AB Unité de support de transport prémonté pour un système de stockage et procédé d'assemblage d'un tel système de stockage
WO2019158556A1 (fr) * 2018-02-13 2019-08-22 Logevo Ab Unité pré-montée d'aide au transport pour système de stockage et procédé d'assemblage d'un tel système de stockage
EP3581522A1 (fr) * 2018-06-13 2019-12-18 Logevo AB Système de stockage et agencement de support de transport pré-monté
WO2021244995A1 (fr) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 Dieffenbacher Panelboard Oy Système de stockage pour stocker des piles de panneaux en rangées de stockage, destiné à être utilisé dans des usines de fabrication de panneaux

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