STORAGE SYSTEM HAVING TWO TRANSFER POSITIONS ORIENTED OBLIQUELY TO EACH OTHER

Abstract

Storage system having two transfer positions oriented obliquely to each other The invention relates to an automatic storage system (1) and a method for automatically depositing and/or retrieving storage-goods carriers (4). It is the aim of the invention to provide a storage system (1) and a method that permit a quick deposition and retrieval while requiring little space. This is achieved in a storage system (1) having a storage region (2), including a storage aisle (12) and storage spaces (6) for the storage-goods carriers (4) adjoining the storage aisle, by a conveying device (16) which is designed to be movable into two adjacent transfer positions (14, 15) oriented obliquely to each other in order to deposit a storage-goods carrier (4) into the storage region (2) and/or to retrieve a storage-goods carrier (4). Preferably, the storage-goods carrier can move from above or below the one transfer position (14, 15) by a mere pivotal movement to below or above the other transfer position (15, 14).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. Automatic storage system, having a storage region including a storage aisle and storage spaces adjoining the storage aisle for one storage-goods carrier each, having a conveying device movable in the storage aisle, and having two transfer positions obliquely oriented to each other and located one next to the other on one side of the storage region, wherein the conveying device is designed to be movable to the transfer positions to deposit a storage-goods carrier into the storage region and/or to retrieve a storage-goods carrier.

17. Automatic storage system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer positions are rotated about an axis of rotation relatively to each other.

18. Automatic storage system according to claim 17, wherein a pivoting axis of the conveying device located in one of the transfer positions extends coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation.

19. Automatic storage system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer positions are arranged obliquely to a storage opening connecting the storage region with an external surrounding of the storage system.

20. Automatic storage system according to claim 19, wherein the two transfer positions are arranged symmetrically to a mid-plane of the storage opening.

21. Automatic storage system according to claim 16, wherein the conveying device is designed to be movable up and down from at least one and/or into at least one of the transfer positions.

22. Automatic storage system according to claim 16, wherein the conveying device is designed to be pivoting from the one transfer position into the other transfer position.

23. Automatic storage system according to claim 16, wherein a storage-goods carrier seat is located at each transfer position.

24. Automatic storage system according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the storage-goods carrier seats is designed as a section of a transport path for storage-goods carriers.

25. Automatic storage system according to claim 16, wherein a space under and/or between the transfer positions is unobstructed.

26. Method for automatically depositing and/or retrieving storage-goods carriers, wherein the storage-goods carriers are moved, by a conveying device, between a storage region in which the storage-goods carriers are deposited, and one of two transfer positions are located one next to the other on one side of the storage region and oriented obliquely to each other, wherein the storage-goods carriers are discharged to outside the storage region at the transfer positions by the conveying device, or are picked up from outside the storage region.

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein the storage-goods carriers are automatically moved to a transfer position and/or away from a transfer position by a transport system located outside the storage region.

28. Method according to claim 26, wherein the conveying device discharges a storage-goods carrier at one of the transfer positions and directly subsequently picks up another storage-goods carrier at another one of the transfer positions.

29. Method according to claim 26, wherein the conveying device performs a pivotal movement from above the one transfer position to above the other transfer position or from below the one transfer position to below the other transfer positions.

30. Method according to claim 26, wherein a storage-goods carrier is pivoted by the conveying device before it reaches the transfer position.

Description

[0044] In the drawing:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a storage system;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view onto a part of the storage system of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a part of the storage system of FIG. 1 in a view III-III of FIG. 2;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a further storage system.

[0049] First, the structure of a storage system 1 is illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIGS. 2 and 3, individual parts of FIG. 1 are omitted to give a better overview.

[0050] The storage system 1 has a storage region 2 in which storage-goods carriers 4 are stored. The storage-goods carriers 4 are, for example, trays on which storage goods can be placed, and/or in particular standardized small load carriers, such as Euro boxes. The storage-goods carriers 4 are preferably individually stored in the storage region 2. One storage space 6 is associated with each storage-goods carrier 4. The storage space management can be dynamic so that one respectively free storage space 6 is associated with each storage-goods carrier 4 in the deposition process.

[0051] The storage region 2 can be surrounded by an enclosure 8. The storage region 2 can furthermore have at least two opposed storage shelves 10 between which a storage aisle 12 is provided. In a storage shelf 10, the storage spaces 6 are arranged above and below each other to be accessible from the storage aisle 12.

[0052] The storage system 1 has, on one side 11 of the storage aisle 12, two transfer positions 14, 15 where one storage-goods carrier 4 each is transferred from the storage region 2 by a conveying device 16 and is discharged for further treatment or accepted for depositing it from outside the storage region 2. The side 11 can be a front side or a side face. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the transfer positions are located at the front side of the storage aisle only by way of example.

[0053] The conveying device 16 is movable in the storage aisle 12 and to a transfer position. It transfers a storage-goods carrier, in particular one individual storage-goods carrier each, from the transfer positions 14, 15 into a storage space 6, or from a storage space 6 into one of the two transfer positions 14, 15. The conveying device 16 is furthermore designed to directly move from one transfer position 14, 15 to the other transfer position 15, 14.

[0054] As is shown in FIG. 2, the transfer positions 14, 15 can be located at least in sections in extension of the storage aisle 12.

[0055] The conveying device 16 is linearly movable along the storage aisle 12 in a horizontal direction X. Furthermore, the conveying device 16 is movable in a vertical direction Z. Moreover, the conveying device 16 is pivoting about a vertical pivoting axis 17.

[0056] The conveying device 16 can have a gripper 18 which is designed to pick up a storage-goods carrier 4. The gripper 18 can include, for example, a support 20 on which a storage-goods carrier 4 can be placed during transport. On the support 20, a storage-goods carrier 4 can be secured against slipping by positive engagement. The gripper 18 or the support 20 can each be moved to the transfer positions 14, 15 of the storage-goods carriers 4.

[0057] The gripper 18 is designed to be retractable and extendable in particular in a horizontal direction U, so that the distance of the support 20, for example from the vertical pivoting axis 17 of the conveying device 16, is variable. By the pivotal movement 8 about the pivoting axis 17, the direction U changes. However, it remains horizontal. In the transfer position 14, 15, the gripper 18 is preferably extended.

[0058] The conveying device 16 extends through a storage opening 22 in the enclosure 8 when it is in a transfer position 14, 15. The storage-goods carriers 4 are conveyed through the storage opening 22 by the conveying device 16 for deposition and retrieval. It connects the storage region 2 with an external surrounding 24 of the storage region 2. With a correspondingly large enclosure 8, the transfer positions 14, 15 can, of course, also be located completely within the enclosure.

[0059] The transfer positions 14, 15 are located one next to the other, preferably at the same level. They are arranged flush with the storage aisle 12 at least partially, that means they are located in an imaginary extension of the storage aisle at least in sections. The one transfer position 14, 15 is oriented obliquely to the other transfer position 14, 15. A storage-goods carrier 4 which is in a transfer position 14, 15 is accordingly oriented obliquely to a storage-goods carrier 4 which is or would be located in the other transfer position 15, 14.

[0060] The transfer positions, 14, 15 can be completely spaced apart from each other, that means they do not overlap, so that two storage-goods carriers 4 at a time can be located therein. In a more compact design, however, the two transfer positions can also partially overlap or cover each other, so that only one storage-goods carrier 4 each can be located in the transfer positions 14, 15.

[0061] The transfer positions 14, 15 are preferably arranged symmetrically to each other and symmetrically to an in particular vertical mid-plane 30 of the storage aisle 12. The mid-plane 30 can coincide with the mid-plane of the storage opening 22. The mid-plane 30 is perpendicular to an opening plane 32 spanned by the storage opening 22.

[0062] The transfer positions 14, 15 can be rotated about an axis of rotation 34 relative to each other. The pivoting axis 34 here in particular extends in a vertical direction. A horizontal angle between the transfer positions 14, 15 or their vertical mid-planes is between 10° and 80°, preferably between about 30° and about 60°.

[0063] If the conveying device 16 is in a transfer position 14, 15, the axis of rotation 17 of the conveying device 16 extends coaxially to the pivoting axis 34. Thus, the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18 only has to be pivoted to move from one transfer position 14, 15 to the other transfer position 15, 14.

[0064] The conveying device 16, in particular the gripper 18, can be designed to be movable up and down around the transfer positions 14, 15. By this moveability up and down, it is possible for the gripper 18 to receive, by driving below a transfer position 14, 15 and a subsequent movement vertically to the top beyond the transfer positions 14, 15, a storage-goods carrier 4 provided at this transfer position 14, 15. Vice-versa, the conveying device 16 can place a storage-goods carrier 4 at the transfer position 14, 15 or transfer it to the transfer position 14, 15 by positioning the gripper 18 including the storage-goods carrier 4 above a transfer position 14 and subsequently driving down in the vertical direction.

[0065] Depending on the purpose of application and the configuration level of the storage system, different appliances can be provided at the transfer positions 14, 15. For example, in a simple variant, a seat 35 can be simply provided at a transfer position 14, 15.

[0066] The seat can have, for example, the shape of a table (not represented), so that one individual storage-goods carrier 4 can be provided at it for further manual treatment. From there, a user 36, for example a picker or a robot (not represented), can pick up the storage-goods carrier 4 and move it to another location, or withdraw storage goods from the storage-goods carrier 4 or place them into the storage-goods carrier 4. Equally, the user 36 can place a storage-goods carrier 4 at the seat 35 for depositing it.

[0067] The seat 35 preferably has a horizontal pass-through 38 which is designed such that the conveying device 16 or its gripper 18 can travel through it in the vertical direction Z. The pass-through 38 is smaller than a storage-goods carrier 4, so that a storage-goods carrier can be placed on it without falling through the pass-through 38. The pass-through 38 is open in particular towards the storage region 2, so that the seat 35 is approximately U-shaped.

[0068] A different seat 35 is associated with each transfer position 14, 15 and is oriented equally to a storage-goods carrier 4 located in a transfer position 14, 15.

[0069] The seats 35 or the transfer positions 14, 15 can be part of one transport system 40 each which can be itself part of the storage system. For example, the seats 35 can be provided with a drive system (not shown) which conveys the storage-goods carriers 4 from the respective transfer position 14, 15 away from the storage region 2. Such a drive system can be, for example, a roller conveyor. As an alternative or in addition, the transport system 40 can move a storage-goods carrier 4 automatically into a transfer position 14, 15, so that it can be there received by the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18, respectively.

[0070] The transfer positions 14, 15 can each form one section, in particular a beginning or an end, of one transport path 42, 44 each. The transport paths 42, 44 extend obliquely towards each other in the direction towards the storage region 2 or to the respective transfer position 14, 15, at least in sections. At a predetermined distance from the storage region 2, the transport paths 42, 44 can be oriented parallel with respect to each other. A region 46 of the transport paths 42, 44 in which the transport paths 42, 44 extend obliquely to each other is here located between a region 48 in which the transport paths 42, 44 extend in parallel with respect to each other, and the storage region 2 or the transfer positions 14, 15, respectively. A different transport path 42, 44 can be associated with each seat 35. For example, the transfer position 14 can exclusively or mainly be used for depositing, and the transfer position 15 can be mainly or exclusively used for retrieving storage-goods carriers 4.

[0071] The oblique or V-shaped orientation of the transfer positions 14, 15 or the seats 35, respectively, permits the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18 to quickly move from one transfer position 14, 15 to the other transfer position 14, 15 and to thus discharge storage-goods carriers 4 quickly one after the other at a transfer position 14, 15, for example to place them onto a seat 35, and to then subsequently pick up a storage-goods carrier 4 at the other transfer position 14, 15 or the other seat 35 for deposition. Simultaneously, the oblique arrangement only requires little space and permits a better access to the storage system.

[0072] The storage system 1 can include a housing 50 that is upstream of the enclosure 8. The housing 50 can project from the enclosure 8 and cover the transfer positions 14, 15, in particular cover the transfer positions 14, 15 at least partly, preferably completely. The transport paths 42, 44 can protrude through an opening 52 of the housing 50 into the region closed by the housing 50. At the side of the region 51 enclosed by the housing 50 facing the storage region 2, the storage opening 22 can be located which connects the storage aisle 12 with the external surroundings 24.

[0073] Around the transfer positions 14, 15, in the external region 24, a safety region 53, which is, for example, fenced off, can be established and separate the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18 from an operation region accessible for the user 36.

[0074] Below, the function of the storage system 1 and in particular the transfer positions 14, 15 during the deposition and retrieval of storage-goods carriers 4 will be described.

[0075] In order to retrieve a storage-goods carrier 4, the conveying device 16 initially moves in the horizontal direction X and the vertical direction Z along the storage aisle 12 to the storage space 6 of this storage-goods carrier. The gripper 18 is here preferably in a retracted position. The gripper 18 then drives below the storage space 6 under the storage-goods carrier 4 in the direction U and subsequently to the top so that it lifts the storage-goods carrier 4 placed on the storage space 6.

[0076] Subsequently, the gripper 18 is retracted so that the storage-goods carrier 4 is completely located in the storage aisle 12. The conveying device 16 now drives to a transfer position 14, 15. During this drive, the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18 can be already pivoted to be aligned with a transfer position 14, 15.

[0077] At the end of the drive, the gripper 18 is extended until the storage-goods carrier 4 is exactly located above the transfer position 14, 15. Subsequently, the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18 is lowered until the storage-goods carrier 4 is located in the transfer position 14, 15 and is placed on a seat 35 provided there. The gripper 18 here passes through the pass-through 38. The placed storage-goods carrier 4 can now be further treated, for example be transported away by a transport path 42, 44. The gripper 18 is subsequently further lowered and pivoted to the other transfer position 15, 14 below the transfer position 14, 15. For this pivotal movement to be carried out without the gripper 18 having to be retracted, a space 54 below and between the transfer positions 14, 15 is empty. As an alternative or optionally, the gripper 18 can also be pivoted to the respective other transfer position 15, 14 above the transfer positions 14, 15 or above the seat 35, respectively.

[0078] The gripper 18 can, in the extended state, be pivoted from the one transfer position 14, 15 into the other transfer position 15, 14 without having to perform a movement in the horizontal direction. As soon as the gripper 18 or the conveying device 16 is located below the other transfer position 15, 14, the gripper 18 can be moved vertically to the top over the other transfer position 15, 14 to accept a storage-goods carrier 4 placed there for depositing it. To place a storage-goods carrier 4 onto a storage space 6, the conveying device 16 then performs the sequence of motions carried out during a retrieval of a storage-goods carrier 4 simply in reverse order.

[0079] The oblique offset arrangement of the transfer positions 14, 15 in particular rotated relatively to each other permits a swift movement of the conveying device from the one to the respective other transfer position 14, 15 and thereby a swift switching between deposition and retrieval, and saves space at the same time. By the two transfer positions 14, 15, the waiting time between the removal of a retrieved storage-goods carrier and the arrival of a storage-goods carrier to be deposited is reduced; both can now be simultaneously provided at the transfer positions 14, 15 or, with a slight overlapping of the transfer positions 14, 15, one behind the other in very short intervals.

[0080] FIG. 4 shows a storage system 1 wherein the storage opening 22 is located in a side wall 56 and not in a front wall 58 of the enclosure 8 as in FIGS. 1 to 3. At the site of the storage opening 22, a storage shelf 10 can have a recess in the storage region 2.

[0081] The transfer positions 14, 15 can in this embodiment be located inside the enclosure 8 or in the storage region 2, for example at the sites where otherwise a storage space 6 or a plurality of storage spaces 6 are located. To withdraw and place a storage-goods carrier at the transfer positions 14, 15, the conveying device 16 or the gripper 18 perform the same movement as in the deposition and retrieval of a storage-goods carrier 4 from a storage space 6. The only difference is that the conveying device is oriented obliquely to a vertical line onto the mid-plane of the bearing axis, since the transfer positions 14, 15 extend obliquely to the storage spaces 6.

[0082] Since the transfer positions 14, 15 are located in the storage region 2, the transport paths 42, 44 also project into the storage region or through the storage opening 22.

[0083] Non-depicted variations of the represented embodiments are possible.

[0084] For example, it is not necessary for a gripper to lift a storage-goods carrier 4 from a storage space 6 or a seat 35 or to place it onto a storage space 6 or a seat 35 by moving up and down. A storage-goods carrier 4 can also be insertable into a storage space 6 or a seat 35. In this case, a gripper 18 does not perform any lowering or lifting movement about a transfer position 14, 15 but is only extended or retracted for discharging or receiving a storage-goods carrier 4.

[0085] It is moreover not necessary for the gripper 18 to be extendable if, for example, the storage aisle 12 or the storage shelves 10 have a corresponding design. For example, a storage-goods carrier 4 can be pushed into a transfer position 14, 15 or pulled out of a transfer position 14, 15 by the conveying device 16. To this end, instead of a gripper 18, catches can be driven, for example via a circulating pulling means, which engage with a storage-goods carrier 4. Or else, a belt or roller conveyor can be provided at the conveying device.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0086] 1 storage system

[0087] 2 storage region

[0088] 4 storage-goods carrier

[0089] 6 storage space

[0090] 8 enclosure

[0091] 10 storage shelf

[0092] 11 side

[0093] 12 storage aisle

[0094] 14, 15 transfer position

[0095] 16 conveying device

[0096] 17 pivoting axis

[0097] 18 gripper

[0098] 20 support

[0099] 22 storage opening

[0100] 24 external surroundings of the storage region

[0101] 30 mid-plane of the storage aisle

[0102] 31 mid-plane of the storage opening

[0103] 32 opening plane

[0104] 34 axis of rotation

[0105] 35 seat

[0106] 36 user

[0107] 38 pass-through

[0108] 40 transport system

[0109] 42 transport path

[0110] 44 transport path

[0111] 46 obliquely extending region of the transport system

[0112] 48 region of the transport path extending in parallel

[0113] 50 housing

[0114] 51 region enclosed by the housing

[0115] 52 opening

[0116] 53 fenced-off safety region

[0117] 54 space below and between the transfer positions

[0118] 56 side wall

[0119] 58 front wall

[0120] S pivotal movement

[0121] U direction in which the gripper extends and retracts

[0122] X horizontal direction along the storage aisle

[0123] Z vertical direction