BLOCK STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A block storage system with a block storage element, which includes a carrier frame and a load-bearing element, and a vehicle and a method for operating the block storage system. The method includes, via the vehicle, at least one of detaching the load-bearing element from the carrier frame or engaging the load-hearing element with the carrier frame.

Claims

1. A method for operating a block storage system with a block storage dement, which includes a carrier frame and a load-bearing element, and a vehicle, the method comprising: via the vehicle, at least one of detaching the load-bearing element from the carrier frame or engaging the load-hearing element with the carrier frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after detaching the load-bearing element from the carrier frame, the method further comprises transferring the load-bearing element to a conveying device, while the carrier frame remains on the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device is configured to at least one of move or dean at least one of the load-bearing element or the carrier frame.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the load-bearing element and the carrier frame are at least one moved or clean by the conveying device independently of each other.

5. The method according to claim 1., wherein block storage system further includes at least one second carrier frame, and the carrier frame and the at least one second carrier frame each have an upper stack geometry and a lower stack geometry, wherein the carrier frame is positionably arranged above the second carrier frame in a block storage, so that the upper stack geometry of the at least one second carrier frame is detachably engaged with the lower stack geometry of the first carrier frame.

6. A block storage system comprising: a block storage element having a load-bearing element and a carrier frame; and a vehicle, wherein the load-bearing element and the carrier frame arc detachably engagable with each other, and wherein the carrier frame and the load-bearing element arc separatable from each other and mergeable together by the vehicle.

7. The block storage system according to claim 6, wherein the load-bearing element has a plant receiving area.

8. The block storage system according to claim 6, wherein the load-bearing element has at least one of a liquid or nutrient supply.

9. The block storage system according to claim 6, wherein the carrier frame has a lighting system.

10. The block storage system according to claim 6, further comprising at least one second block storage element that includes a second carrier frame, wherein the carrier frame and the second carrier frame each have an upper stack geometry and a lower stack geometry, and wherein, in a block storage, the block storage element is arranged above the second block storage element in the direction of gravity, such that the lower stack geometry of the carrier frame is detachably engaged with the upper stack geometry of the second carrier frame.

11. The block storage system according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle has a hoisting device for separating and merging the load-bearing element and the carrier frame.

12. The block storage system according to claim 6, wherein the hoisting device comprises a first hoisting device, and the vehicle further has a second hoisting device that interacts with the carrier frame.

13. The block storage system according to claim 6, further comprising a conveying device, wherein at least one of the load-bearing element or the carrier frame are movable independently of each other by the conveying device in a separated arrangement, in which the carrier frame is separated from the load-bearing element.

14. The block storage system according to claim 6, wherein the conveying device has a cleaning device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0039] FIGS. 1A-1F schematically illustrate a transfer of a load-bearing element from a vehicle to a conveying device;

[0040] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a load-bearing element separated from the carrier frame on a vehicle;

[0041] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a vehicle with a carrier frame; and

[0042] FIGS. 4A-4F schematically illustrate a transfer of a carrier frame from the vehicle to a conveying device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied. in practice.

[0044] FIGS. 1A to 1F show a transfer of a load-bearing element 1 to a conveying device 4 proceeding from a vehicle 2 with a carrier frame 3. To this end, the vehicle 2 with a block storage element comprised of the carrier frame 3 and the load-bearing element 1 approaches the conveying device 4. The conveying device 4 has a cross conveyor 5 with two arms, which lead to a longitudinal conveyor 6. Both the cross conveyor 5 and the longitudinal conveyor 6 comprise part of the conveying device 4.

[0045] In FIG. 1A, the vehicle 2 complete with the block storage element has approached the conveying device 4. In transferring the load-bearing element 1 from the carrier frame 3 to the conveying device 4, the block storage element is initially lifted in vehicle 2. In this regard, vehicle 2 can include a lifting mechanism for lifting/lowering the block storage element in vehicle 2. Such a lifting mechanism can be located, e.g., in the corners of vehicle 2 or along the closed lateral sides of vehicle 2, and can be formed by, e.g., pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder drives, electric drives, chain drives or other suitable drives for lifting/lowering load-bearing element 1 or carrier frame 3.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1B, the load-bearing element 1 is separated from the carrier frame 3. To this end, the load-bearing element 1 is lifted by a hoisting device (see FIGS. 2 and 3) located on the vehicle 2, so as to separate the load-bearing element I from the carrier frame 3.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1C, the vehicle 2 has traveled toward the longitudinal conveyor 6 with load-bearing element I separated from the carrier frame 3. In this manner, cross conveyor 5 is located between the load-bearing element 1 and the carrier frame 3,

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1D, the vehicle 2 lowers the carrier frame 3, so that the load-bearing element 1 remains behind on the cross conveyor 5.

[0049] The vehicle 2 complete with carrier frame 3 then drives out from under cross conveyor 5, as shown in FIG. 1E.

[0050] The cross conveyor 5 transfers the load-bearing element 1 to the longitudinal conveyor 6, and can now be moved by the conveying device 4. This is shown in FIG. 1F.

[0051] The process takes place in the reverse sequence for positioning a load-bearing element 1 on a carrier frame 3.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the load-bearing element 1 separated from the carrier frame 3. The load-bearing element I is here separated from the carrier frame 3 by a first hoisting device 7.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows the vehicle 2 with a carrier frame 3. The first hoisting device 7 can he designed as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder drive, but it is understood that first hoisting device 7 can also be designed using an electric drive or other suitable drive for lifting load-bearing element 1.

[0054] FIGS. 4A to 4F show a process of transferring the carrier frame 3 from the vehicle 2 to the conveying device 4.

[0055] To this end, the vehicle 2 approaches the conveying device 4, as shown on FIG. 4A.

[0056] FIG. 4B shows the carrier frame 3 lifted by the vehicle 2 to a position suitable for the cross conveyor 5 to find space below the carrier frame 3.

[0057] FIG. 4C shows the vehicle 2 with lifted carrier frame 3 has approached the longitudinal conveyor 6, and the cross conveyor 5 are positioned or located between the lifted carrier frame 3 and the vehicle 2.

[0058] The vehicle 2 then releases the carrier frame 3 by virtue of the vehicle 2 lowering a second hoisting device (not shown). The second hoisting device here interacts with the carrier frame 3. The second hoisting device can be, e.g., the lifting mechanism for lifting/lowering the block storage element or the carrier element alone in vehicle 2 or the part of such a lifting mechanism. Such a lifting mechanism can be located, e.g., in the corners of vehicle 2 or along the closed lateral sides of vehicle 2. Moreover, by way of non-limiting, example, the second hoisting device can use a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder drive, an electric drive, a chain drive or other suitable drive or mechanism for lifting/lowering carrier frame 3, with or without load-bearing element 1, within and above vehicle 2.

[0059] FIG. 4E shows the vehicle 2 driven forward from under cross conveyor 5, which is supporting carrier frame 3. Thus, carrier frame 3 remains behind on the cross conveyor 5.

[0060] FIG. 4F shows the carrier frame 3 transferred from the cross conveyor 5 to the longitudinal conveyor 6.

[0061] In addition, FIG. 4B to 4F show a carrier frame 3, which has stack geometries 8.

[0062] Described below is how the carrier frame 3 is transferred to the vehicle 2 from the conveying device 4. To this end, the carrier frame 3 is first transferred from longitudinal conveyor 6 to the cross conveyor 5. The vehicle 2 drives under carrier frame 3 supported by on cross conveyor 5 and then lifts the carrier frame 3 from the cross conveyor 5 via the second hoisting device. The vehicle 2, with lifted carrier frame 3, then drives away from cross conveyor 5, so that carrier frame 3 can be lowered by the second hoisting device to be located on vehicle 2.

[0063] After vehicle 2 has received a carrier frame 3, it can now receive a load-bearing element 1. To this end, a load-bearing element 1 is transferred from longitudinal conveyor 6 onto the cross conveyor 5 or another cross conveyor. The vehicle 2 drives under the cross conveyor 5, so that it is suitably positioned for receiving the load-bearing element 1. The second hoisting device then moves the carrier frame 3 in such a way that the carrier frame 3 is positioned under the cross conveyor 5, and the first hoisting device 7 can be actuated or moved to interact with the load-bearing element 1. The first hoisting device 7 is initially activated to lift the load-bearing element 1 from the cross conveyor 5. Once the load-bearing element 1 is lifted from the cross conveyor 5, the vehicle 2 moves away from cross conveyor 5 and, via first hoisting device 7, load-bearing element I is lowered onto the carrier frame 3. The carrier frame 3 and the load-bearing element I now form the block storage element, which can be further lowered in vehicle 2.

[0064] The block storage element can be stocked in a block storage (not shown).

[0065] When the block storage element is to be retrieved again, it is removed from the block storage by vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 then moves to the conveying device 4, while the load-bearing element 1 is separated from the carrier frame 3.

[0066] To this end, the vehicle 2 lifts the carrier frame 3 together with load-bearing element 1 by way of the second hoisting device. The vehicle 2 subsequently separates the load-bearing element 1 from the carrier frame 3 by way of the first hoisting device 7. This results in a gap between the carrier frame 3 and the load-bearing element 1 into which the cross conveyor 5 can be introduced.

[0067] To this end, the vehicle 2 with lifted carrier frame 3 and load-bearing element 1 lifted from carrier frame 3 travels toward conveying device 4, so that the cross conveyor 5 is positioned between the load-bearing element 1 and the carrier frame 3. The load-bearing element 1 is subsequently lowered onto the cross conveyor 5. The carrier frame 3 remains on the vehicle 2, and can be stocked in the block storage or a buffer (not illustrated), for example. As an alternative thereto, the carrier frame 3 can be transferred to conveying device 4.

[0068] In order to retrieve the carrier frame 3, carrier frame 3 can be lifted by the second. hoisting device on vehicle 2, so that the carrier frame 3 is positioned above the cross conveyor 5 in the direction of gravity.

[0069] Then, vehicle 2 can subsequently travel toward conveying device so that cross conveying device 5 is arranged under carrier frame 3, and then lower the carrier frame 3 onto the cross conveyor 5. The cross conveyor 5 can transfer the carrier frame 3 to the longitudinal conveyor 6. From there, the carrier frame can be further moved by the conveying device 4.

[0070] Both the carrier frame 3 and the load-hearing element 1 can be transferred to an cleaning device (not shown) by way of the conveying device 4. The cleaning device can clean the load-bearing element 1 and/or the carrier frame 3 according to its respective needs.

[0071] The load-bearing element 1 can further have a plant receiving area, so that the load-bearing element .1 can be placed in a greenhouse system. To this end, the load-bearing element 1 further has a. liquid and/or nutrient supply. The liquid and/or nutrient supply can be used to supply the load-bearing element 1 and plants located therein with liquid.

[0072] The carrier frame 3 can further have a lighting system, which radiates downward when the carrier frame 3 is stocked in the block storage. The stack geometries 8 of adjacent carrier frames 3 and/or block storage elements are detachably engaged in the block storage, wherein the carrier frames 3 and/or block storage elements comprise a container stack.

[0073] For example, if a first carrier frame 3 is arranged above a second carrier frame 3, the lighting system of the first carrier frame 3 illuminates the second carrier frame 3. If a load-bearing element 1 is now arranged. on the second carrier frame 3, the load-bearing element 1 is illuminated by the lighting system of the first carrier element 3.

[0074] As a result, plants can be grown in the block storage system in any growth stages. The advantage here is that the load-bearing element 1 can be stocked with new seedlings or seeds, wherein the load-bearing element simultaneously also serves as a possible transportation for the sale of grown plants. Therefore, the plants need not be replanted or harvested on site, so that the plants are not exposed to any further stress, and can thus be kept fresh until reaching the end user.

[0075] In a plant-related application, the carrier frame 3 can additionally be cleaned independently of the load-bearing element I, so that attention can be paid to both plant needs and to the requirements of the carrier frame 3, in particular in relation to its associated electronics. This increases ease of maintenance on the one hand, and improves the life of the load-bearing element 1 and the carrier frame 3 on the other.

[0076] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although. the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to he limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

REFERENCE LIST

[0077] 1 Load-bearing element [0078] 2 Vehicle [0079] 3 Carrier frame [0080] 4 Conveying device [0081] 5 Cross conveyor [0082] 6 Longitudinal conveyor [0083] 7 First hoisting device [0084] 8 Stack geometries