Storage System

Abstract

Storage system, comprising a plurality of shelving units that are each driveably movable in a width direction wherein the storage system further comprises a safety system for determining whether movement is permitted, wherein the safety system comprises at least one camera, configured to provide an image of an interspace between a first shelving unit and a second shelving unit adjacent to the first shelving unit and a control device, for controlling the movement of the shelving units, and for executing a command if the first and second camera images show more than a predetermined amount of correspondence and ignoring the command if the first and the second camera images show more than a predetermined amount of deviation.

Claims

1. Storage system, comprising: a plurality of shelving units that: extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction; and are each driveably movable in a width direction, transverse to the longitudinal direction, for whether or not in dependence on each other: varying a position of each of the shelving units; varying an interspace between two adjacent shelving units; and varying an aisle width and a position between two adjacent shelving units; wherein the storage system further comprises: a safety system for determining whether movement of the shelving units is permitted, wherein the safety system: comprises a control device, for controlling the movement of the shelving units, the control device being arranged for: receiving a command to move a first shelving unit and a second shelving unit towards each other; executing the command as long as at least one of the shelving units has not reached an intended position; once all shelving units are at their intended positions, keeping track of actual positions of all shelving units; as soon as the actual position of one of the shelving units changes, again executing the command as long as at least one of the shelving units has not reached its intended position.

2. Storage system according to claim 1, wherein the safety system further comprises: one or more cameras configured to provide one or more images of an interspace between the first shelving unit and the second shelving unit adjacent to the first shelving unit; and at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is a PIR sensor; wherein the control device is arranged for: receiving the one or more images from the one or more cameras; saving a first camera image of the interspace between the first and the second shelving units, at a moment when the interspace between the first and second shelving units is or has been created; receiving the command to move the first and second shelving units towards each other: capturing a second camera image via the one or more cameras on or after a moment of receiving the command; comparing the first and the second camera images; executing the command if the first and second camera images show more than a predetermined amount of correspondence; ignoring the command if the first and the second camera images show more than a predetermined amount of deviation.

3. Storage system according to claim 2, wherein each shelving unit is provided on its end side with at least one camera on a side adjacent to another shelving unit, wherein the at least one camera is designed to provide an image of the interspace between the respective shelving unit and the adjacent shelving unit.

4. Storage system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one camera is accommodated in a holder which is movably coupled to each shelving unit, between an ejected position in which the camera is located in a position in the interspace between the respective shelving unit and the adjacent shelving unit, and a retracted position, wherein the camera and the holder are located within a contour of the respective shelving unit for a larger part than in the ejected position, and preferably are at least largely within the contour of the respective shelving unit.

5. Storage system according to claim 4, wherein the camera is accommodated in a support that is resiliently projecting from the respective shelving unit, wherein the support can be at least partially retracted into the respective shelving unit, in particular in an end wall thereof, by moving the respective shelving unit against an adjacent shelving unit.

6. Storage system according to claim 2, further comprising a control panel for providing the command for moving the first and second shelving units towards each other, wherein the control panel is arranged in particular on the respective shelving unit.

7. Storage system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to provide a signal that indicates whether an object is located in the interspace between the first shelving unit and the second shelving unit adjacent thereto.

8. Storage system according to claim 6, further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured for determining that a change takes place in the interspace between the first shelving unit and the second adjacent shelving unit, such as a person entering the interspace, during a displacement of the first shelving unit, based on the signal from the sensor.

9. Storage system according to claim 7, further comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured for determining that a change takes place in the interspace between the first shelving unit and the second adjacent shelving unit, such as a person entering the interspace, during a displacement of the first shelving unit, based on the first camera image and/or the second camera image.

10. Storage system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to use a previously stored first camera image in case of a determined change, for comparing the first and the second camera images.

11. Storage system according to claim 2, wherein the storage system is configured to issue a visible or audible or digital alarm signal.

12. Storage system according to claim 2, wherein the one or more cameras for providing one or more images of the interspace between the first shelving unit and the adjacent second shelving unit are directed at a floor surface between the first shelving unit and the adjacent second shelving unit.

13. Storage system according to claim 12, wherein a viewing range of the one or more cameras is limited in order to prevent changes outside an area between two shelving units leading to ignoring of the command and/or an alarm.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

Description

[0033] The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a storage system according to the present invention; and

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a detail of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a storage system 1 according to the present invention. The system 1 comprises a plurality of shelving units 2-7 that extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction L and are each driveably movable in a width direction W, transverse to the longitudinal direction L, for whether or not in dependence on each other varying the position of each of the shelving units 2-7, varying the interspace 8 between two adjacent shelving units (in the case shown shelving units 4 and 5; and varying an aisle 8 width and position between two adjacent shelving units, wherein the storage system further comprises cameras (only cameras 9 and 10 are visible), configured to provide an image of an interspace 8 between a first shelving unit 4 and a second shelving unit 5 adjacent to the first shelving unit 4 and a control device (not visible), for controlling the movement of the shelving units, the control device being arranged for receiving images from one or more cameras 9, 10, saving a first camera image of an interspace 8 between the first and the second shelving unit 4, 5, at the moment an interspace between the first and second shelving unit is or has been created; receiving a command, for instance from a user interface 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 to move the first and second shelving unit 4, 5 towards each other, capturing a second camera image from the same camera or cameras 9, 10 on or after the moment of receiving the command, comparing the first and the second camera image, executing the command if the first and second camera images show more than a predetermined amount of correspondence, and ignoring the command if the first and the second camera images show more than a predetermined amount of deviation.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a detail from the storage system 1 from FIG. 1. Each shelving unit is provided on its end side with at least one camera (9 and 10 depicted) on each side adjacent to another shelving unit, wherein the cameras 9, 10 are designed to provide an image of the interspace 8 between the respective shelving unit 4 and the adjacent shelving unit 5. FIG. 2 shows a range of view 16 of camera 10, which extends between borders 17 and 18. Camera 9 has a similar view range, wherein the view ranges may at least partially overlap, depending on the distance D between the shelving units 4, 5. The cameras are accommodated in a holder 19, 20 which is movably coupled to the shelving unit, in particular in a head end or end wall 4a, 5a thereof, between an ejected position (shown) in which the camera 9, 10 is located in a position in the interspace 8 between the shelving unit 4 and an adjacent shelving unit 5, and a retracted position, shown dashed 21 for camera 9, wherein the camera 9, 10 and the holder 19, 20 are located within the contour of the shelving unit for a larger part than in the first position, and preferably are at least largely within the contour of the shelving unit. In this view, the contour is formed by or comprises the edge 4b, 5b of the shelvings 4, 5. The holders 19, 20 may be resiliently (for instance by means of a spring) projecting from the shelving unit, which support can be at least partially retracted into the shelving unit, in particular in an end wall or head end 4a, 5a thereof, by moving the shelving unit 4 against an adjacent shelving unit 5.

[0038] The above examples are exemplary only and do not limit the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.