Shelf servicing equipment for high rack storage unit

(42) Date of commencement of the patent: 15. 6.1996 (45) Date of issue: 27. 1.1997

<td>(56) Documents:</td><td>(73) Patent owner:</td>

<td>AT 334285B DE 2509223A1 EP 0268965A2 CH 680211A5 DE 3403244A1</td><td>TGW TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT GES.MBH A-4600 WELS, UPPER AUSTRIA (AT).</td>

<td></td><td>(72) Inventor:</td>

<td></td><td>JUDGE MANFRED ING. THALHEIM / WELS, UPPER AUSTRIA (AT).</td>

CQ (54) LOAD RECEIVING MEANS OF A SHELVING OPERATOR (57) High - level storage and retrieval machine with storage channels (20) designed to accommodate a number of storage bins (A, B, C, D, E, F) and lateral supports to which the side edge areas of the storage tanks are attached Bearing container (A, B, C, D, E, F) rest, are formed and which storage and retrieval device has a raised and lowered platform (1), which is held on a movable frame along the front of the bearing. In order to enable a quick withdrawal and deposit, is planned in that the platform (1) has a width which exceeds the width of an emplacement channel (20) and an integral multiple of the extent of the storage containers (A,) running in the direction of the emplacement channels (20). B C., D e, F) has corresponding length, wherein the platform (1) has a conveying device (4) which can be moved in the direction of the storage channels (20), as well as transversely to this movable transverse conveyors (7, 8th, 9), the number of which can be placed in the direction of the storage channels (20) on the platform (1) storage container (A, B C., D e, F), which transverse conveyors (7, 8th, 9) are independently operable.

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Door 6073018

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The invention relates to a load-handling device of a storage and retrieval unit for a high-level storage with storage channels, provided for receiving a plurality of storage containers and by lateral supports, on which the lateral edge areas of the storage containers rest, are formed and which storage and retrieval unit has a raised and lowered platform, which is held on a movable along the front of the camp frame, the platform having a width exceeding the width of an emplacement channel and a length corresponding to an integer multiple of the extent of the storage containers extending in the direction of the emplacement channels, wherein the platform has a conveyor which can be extended in the direction of the storage channels, as well as transverse to this movable transverse conveyors, the number of storage containers that can be placed in the direction of the storage channels on the platform, which transverse conveyors are independently operable.

In one, for example, from CH-PS 680 211 known, means are provided on both sides of the extendable in the direction of the bearing tracks part conveyors, which are usually designed as roller conveyors.

The disadvantage of the known solution is not only the increased effort, by the on both sides of the extendable, or in the storage lanes retractable part of the platform arranged roller conveyor is conditional, but also in the consequent higher weight. This again requires that the achievable acceleration decreases and therefore the start of a specific storage position takes more time accordingly, which reduces the performance of the device accordingly.

In addition, DE-OS 25 09 223 a storage and retrieval unit was known in which between two hanging and connected in the region of their upper ends on a support frame columns, a beam is vertically displaceable, wherein the columns are transversely displaceable to the beam. On this beam, a carriage is displaceable, which carries a telescopic slide extendable transversely to the beam. In the region of the support frame, a frame which can be moved within it is arranged, on which the storage pieces can be deposited and brought into the region of the carriage which can be displaced on the beam. It is also mentioned as a variant, the possibility to provide a transversely operable to the beam transverse displacement device, which is arranged in the region of the above the shelves of the bearing movable support frame and not in the region of a vertically displaceable platform.

In this solution, the disadvantage of a very complex and heavy construction, whereby the above-mentioned disadvantages are inevitable.

Furthermore, storage and retrieval machines are known in which a platform is provided, which can accommodate only a storage container, said platform has a width which is smaller than the clear distance between the storage channel defining a cross-sectional usually L-shaped supports for the storage container to be stored, the to pick up different goods. It is usually provided for reasons of space that several storage containers are placed behind each other in each storage channel.

When outsourcing a stored in a storage channel rear storage container with such known storage and retrieval devices, a relatively large number of trips of the storage and retrieval device is required, first to bring the front storage containers to a dispensing point or to a shunting small interim storage, outsource the desired storage container and then store the previously removed storage containers from the issuing office or from the intermediate storage in the appropriate storage channel. However, this represents a relatively time-consuming operation, since the storage and retrieval unit must always go to a certain point in the system and then back to the appropriate storage channel.

The aim of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to propose a storage and retrieval unit of the type mentioned, with which the number of empty runs and preparatory trips can be largely avoided and which is characterized by a simple and lightweight structure and relatively high accelerations permits.

According to the invention this is achieved in that on the platform, and in the area of ​​extendable and retractable conveyor another, from the platform vertically raised and lowered in the direction of extendable and retractable conveyor longitudinal conveyor is provided, and on both sides of this longitudinal conveyor only shelves are provided on the platform.

The proposed measures results in a much simpler structure of the storage and retrieval unit, which this can be built according to lighter. In addition, there is also a simplification of the control, since instead of two longitudinal conveyors only one must be controlled. Nevertheless, a maneuvering of the storage items on the Regaibediengerät in a simple manner possible, thereby driving the stacker crane to places where the pieces of goods could be ranked, as was often required, can be avoided.

According to a further feature of the invention can be provided that the length of the platform of the depth of only one-side accessible storage channels or half the depth of two-sided zugängli2

AT 402 065 Β chen storage channels corresponds.

In this way, it is ensured that any manipulation of a storage container in the region of a storage channel can be performed with a single start of the relevant storage channel with the platform.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the longitudinal conveyor is formed by a Zweispurförderer, both of which circulating on rollers flexible conveyor, such as belts or chains, on both sides of in the direction of storage channels and retractable, preferably centrally held in the platform, conveyor are arranged , wherein the roles of Zweispurförderers are held vertically adjustable in the platform together.

In this way, a simple construction, which in particular, when the extendable and retractable conveyor is arranged centrally, also allows a very simple and rapid manipulation of the storage container when maneuvering.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Showing:

1 is a view of the platform of a stacker crane according to the invention,

1a and 1b sections along the line la-la in Figure 1 in the off and the retracted position of the conveyor of the platform.

2 is a plan view of the platform with removed bracket of the transverse conveyors,

Fig. 3 shows schematically the storage and retrieval of a storage container with a storage and retrieval unit according to the invention

Fig. 4 shows schematically a further example of the maneuvering possibilities of the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention.

The platform 1 is held vertically displaceable along two uprights 30, which are indicated only by dotted lines, wherein the uprights 30 are arranged on a chassis, not shown, which is displaceable along a front of a high-bay warehouse, preferably on rails. The platform 1 can be held on rotating endless traction means, such as chains or toothed belts, which rotate about corresponding deflection and drive rollers, which are held on the uprights 30.

The platform 1 has a supporting structure 2, which is connected to the sliding on the uprights 30 guide members 3. In the central region of the platform 1 is in the direction of the storage channels 20 (Fig. 3) arranged telescopically extendable conveyor 4. The width of this conveyor 4, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as an extendable slide, less than the clear width of the storage channels 20, which are formed by lateral supports 21 on which the storage containers A, B, C supported with their lateral edge regions are (Fig. 3).

Laterally of this conveyor 4 designed as Zweispurförderer 5 longitudinal conveyor is arranged. This Zweispurförderer 5 is provided with drivable rollers 31, 3Γ on which endless flexible belts 32 rotate (Fig. 1a, 1b). These rollers 31, 31 'are connected via pivotally mounted on the support structure 2 angle lever 33, 34 together of a in FIG. 1a, opposite the rearing plane 35 of the storage containers D, E, F, A, B, C lowered position, in a in FIG. 1b shown raised position jointly movable, wherein for the angle lever 33, 34, a drive 36 is provided. In this case, an unillustrated, reversible drive is provided for the rollers 31, 31 '.

On both sides of the Zweispurförderers 5 racks 6a, 6b are arranged, on which storage containers D, E, F, A, B, C can be parked and which are just with the conveyor 4 and determine with this the Aufstandsebene 35 for the storage containers.

Above the contact surface 35 for the storage containers D, E, F, A, B, C of the platform 1, transverse conveyors 7, 8, 9 are arranged, the carriers 21, 22, 23 parallel to each other and transverse to the extension direction of the conveyor 4 and over Stayers 24 are connected to the support structure 2.

Each of the transverse conveyors 21, 22, 23 has a drive 10, 11, 12, each of which is separately controllable, so that the transverse conveyors 7, 8, 9 are independently controllable. In the illustrated embodiment, each transverse conveyor 7, 8, 9 three downwardly projecting driver 13, 14, 15, with which the storage container can be moved transversely to the conveying direction of the conveyor 4 on the platform.

The operation of the stacker crane according to the invention will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3e.

In Fig. 3a, the conditions are shown at a time at which the platform 1, which is loaded with the einzulagernden storage containers D, E, F, is aligned with the corresponding storage channel 20 of the bearing. The stored storage containers D, E, F are parked on the frame 6a.

The conveyor 4 is located at the time shown in FIG. 3a in the extended state and engages in the storage channel 20 a. By appropriate lifting of the entire

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Platform 1 parked in the considered storage channel 20 storage container Α, B, C are lifted from the storage channel 20 forming supports and the conveyor 4, as shown in Fig. 3b retracted again.

The two storage containers D and A are then moved by means of the transverse conveyor 7, so that now the storage container D is on the conveyor 4 and the storage container A on the frame 6b, as can be seen from Fig. 3c.

Thereafter, the storage containers D, B and C by means of the conveyor 4, again introduced into this, as shown schematically in Fig. 3d, and turned off by lowering the entire platform 1 on the supports of the storage channel 20 and the conveyor 4 retracted again ,

Subsequently, the platform 1 can be moved to a further storage channel 20 and there outsourced another storage container and standing on the platform 1 storage containers E, F are stored.

In this way, a very rapid storage and retrieval of storage containers from and into the storage channels 20 is possible, since just the number of required trips from an input and output station, not shown, for the storage container to a storage channel and back, by the storage and retrieval unit according to the invention , can be kept much lower compared to the conventional solutions.

In the example of the sequence of storage and retrieval of storage containers shown in FIG. 3, a longitudinal conveyance of individual storage containers on the platform 1 is not necessary.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of the maneuvering possibilities in which a displacement of individual storage containers in the longitudinal direction of the platform 1 is required.

In this case, it is assumed that a time in the operation, to which the containers D and F were outsourced at previously approached storage positions P1 and P2 (not shown) from the corresponding storage channels. Now, the storage container E (Fig. 4a) is to be stored and the storage container A (Fig. 4g) to be outsourced, wherein the storage container A is in the position P3 of the bearing.

On the drive of the platform 1 from the position P2 (Fig. 4a) of the warehouse in which one of the storage containers D or F has been outsourced, the storage container E is pushed onto the conveyor 4 by means of the central cross conveyor (Fig. 4b) and after lifting the longitudinal conveyor 5 with this raised from the middle position to the left position (Fig. 4c), after which the longitudinal conveyor 5 (Zweispurförderer) again below the level of the support plane 35 (Fig. 1a) is lowered.

The storage containers D and E are provided with a transverse conveyor in the in Fig. From FIG. Moved 4d apparent position in which the storage container D is located in the region of the longitudinal conveyor 5. This is raised again above the level of the riot level 35 and brought the storage container D in a middle position (Fig. 4e) and the longitudinal conveyor 5 is lowered again. Thereafter, the storage container D with a transverse conveyor in the in Fig. From. 4f apparent position brought on the frame 6b, on which also the storage container E is.

When it reaches position P3 (FIG. 4g), the conveyor 4 is retracted into the corresponding storage channel (FIG. 4h), the platform being below the level of the storage channel. Subsequently, the platform 1 is raised, so that the storage containers Α, B, C stand up on the conveyor 4, and these can be brought to the conveyor 4 on the platform 1 (Fig. 4j).

Subsequently, the storage containers E and A are moved by means of a cross conveyor into the apparent from Fig. 4k position in which the storage container E is on the Fördereirrichtung 4 and the storage container A on the frame 6a.

Now the conveyor 4 is retracted again into the corresponding storage channel together with the storage containers E, B, C and lowered the platform 1, so that the storage container in the storage channel stand up (Fig. 41) and the conveyor 4 can be retracted again (Fig. 4m) ,

The platform can now be moved towards an exit station AUS (not shown), wherein on the way to this during a drive of the storage and retrieval device from an input station, not shown, to a likewise not shown output station, these two stations can be arranged closely adjacent, from the consecutively approached storage positions P1, P2 and P3 outsourced storage containers A, D F are pushed onto the conveyor 4 by means of the transverse conveyors (Fig. 4n) so that it can be transferred to the output station AUS.

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