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EP-4737357-A1 - RACK GUIDED ASRS

EP4737357A1EP 4737357 A1EP4737357 A1EP 4737357A1EP-4737357-A1

Abstract

Storage comprising at least two multi-level storage racks with an aisle in between and at least one automated storage and retrieval machine (ASRS) that runs on and is guided by at least two travel rails that run longitudinally in parallel to scaffolding of one of the racks and facing the aisle at differing levels to service the length and height of both racks, one travel rail located at the top or near top of the rack, and one travel rail located on the upper half of the rack, wherein the ASRS comprises a vertical ladder-type mast with cross beams, a bifacial load handling means travelling vertically along the mast for loading and unloading items to sides of the aisle, a top trolley located in the top area of the mast for engaging the upper travel rail of the at least two travel rails and an intermediate trolley located in the upper half of the mast for engaging the intermediate travel rail of the at least two travel rails, at least one of the trolleys is driven, wherein the travel rails are fixed to longitudinal support rails of the scaffolding of the rack which supports the stored loads.

Inventors

  • YAMASHITA, SHIN
  • CHEUNG MEI SAI, Steve

Assignees

  • Dematic Pte. Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241030

Claims (18)

  1. Storage comprising at least two multi-level storage racks with an aisle in between and at least one automated storage and retrieval machine (ASRS) that runs on and is guided by at least two travel rails that run longitudinally in parallel to scaffolding of one of the racks and facing the aisle at differing levels to service the length and height of both racks, one travel rail located at the top or near top of the rack, and one travel rail located on the upper half of the rack, wherein the ASRS comprises a vertical ladder-type mast with cross beams, a bifacial load handling means travelling vertically along the mast for loading and unloading items to sides of the aisle, a top trolley located in the top area of the mast for engaging the upper travel rail of the at least two travel rails and an intermediate trolley located in the upper half of the mast for engaging the intermediate travel rail of the at least two travel rails, at least one of the trolleys is driven, characterized in that the travel rails are fixed to longitudinal support rails of the scaffolding of the rack which supports the stored loads.
  2. Storage according to claim 1 characterized in that the travel rails and longitudinal support rails of the scaffolding are connected by a Z-shaped bracket.
  3. Storage according to claim 1 characterized in that the travel rails and longitudinal support rails of the scaffolding are bolted to each other.
  4. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized by a third bottom area travel rail located at the bottom area of the rack and a bottom trolley located in the lower area of the mast for engaging the bottom area travel rail.
  5. Storage according to claim 4 characterized in that all travel rails are fixed to the scaffolding of the rack or the bottom area travel rail is fixed to the floor.
  6. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that at least one travel rail contains a bus bar for power supply to the ASRS using the corresponding trolley, preferably at least two travel rails contain bus bars.
  7. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that the cross beams of the mast are positioned to face the rack and positioned to coincide with the longitudinal support rails of the scaffolding of the rack.
  8. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that the travel rails are u-shaped and wheels of trolleys run therein.
  9. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized by having a second top trolley that is connected to a top traverse that extends from the mast to the other rack across the aisle that has a corresponding travel rail located at the top of the rack therefore.
  10. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized by having more than four trolleys per mast.
  11. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized that the trolleys are all driven or only some of the trolleys are driven and alternate left and right on the mast in longitudinal direction of the rack.
  12. Storage according to claim 11, characterized in that the driven trolleys are partially put in idle when positioning is performed and the driven trolley to be put in idle is selected depending on the load handling means targeted height.
  13. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that lower trolleys have variable rate spring loaded wheels and/or top and/or bottom trolleys have springless or harder spring wheels and/or the trolley wheels are bogie wheels with a frame that carries a wheelset.
  14. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that trolleys have a pair of spaced guiding rollers that are guided by an outer vertical flange of the travel rails that is situated in the space.
  15. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that the load handling means is suspended from one or both vertical beams of the ladder-type mast.
  16. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized in that the ASRS has a tensioning means (steel rope, belt etc.) running between the top area and bottom area of the mast and connected (reeved around distance variable rollers of platform) to the load handling means such that a counter-acting force is generated that counters deflection of load handling means.
  17. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized by an additional adjacent aisle with two multi-level storage racks with the adjacent aisle in between and at least one further automated storage and retrieval machine for the that aisle, wherein the one of the racks is arranged back-to-back with one of the racks of the first aisle and the ASRS are both attached to the back-to-back racks.
  18. Storage according to any preceding claim characterized by an additional ASRS in the same aisle but attached to the other rack.

Description

The invention relates to a storage comprising at least two multi-level storage racks with an aisle in between and at least one automated storage and retrieval machine (ASRS) according to claim 1. Automated storage and retrieval machines (ASRS), also referred to as stacker cranes, handle the automatic storage and retrieval of conveyance goods in storages, i. e. automatic mini-load or unit-load warehouses and automatic pallet high-bay warehouses, regardless of whether storage is single, double or multi-deep. These devices have a mast extending the height of the racks that travels along a travel rail(s) attached on the single side of rack and depends on variant on the floor in the aisle between two racks and is depending on height usually also guided and supported at the top or near top of one or both side of the racks. They have a load handling means that travels vertically along the mast for placing loads into storage bays or retrieving such. Usually, these load handling means can operate to both sides of the aisle, i.e. interface with both racks of an aisle. In some embodiments, the mast is a dual mast (ladder-type frame), which supports the load handling means or carriage at both sides of the frame. The mast connects to the trolley for running on the rail and to the head crossbeam for guidance. Depending on the application, single or double mast versions are possible. The lifting carriage is guided along the mast. However, the mast may also contain other components such as the hoist with the rope or chain drive, the main control cabinet, platforms and access ladders with the personal protective equipment (PPE), power supply lines to the main control cabinet and to the lifting carriage via conductor lines or cable chains. Usually, an ASRS is installed for each rack aisle. Changing the rack aisle would require a considerably more complex design and significantly increase the access times to a storage bay. Nevertheless, they are however manufactured known, as so called 'curve-going' ASRS. Pairs of ASRS are also useful for each aisle, one dedicated to each rack. It is not only the desired operating time that determines the choice of solutions, but also payloads, building heights, storage strategies, etc. The head crossbeam contains the upper trolley and connects the two masts if necessary. The upper trolley consists of guide rollers that are guided in a rail on the rack yoke (upper connecting structure of the rack rows). In the case of single mast units that cannot negotiate curves, the top cross beam can sometimes even be omitted. To simplify the mast and reduce the weight of the ASRS it is known to provide a rack-guided ASRS, in which the ASRS is lightweight and is guided and runs on rails that are arranged on the face of the rack itself. Such ASRS with guides on the rack top and bottom areas are for example known from Libiao Robotic (see EP 4 286 065 A1 Figure 2; https://www.libiaorobot.eom/en/solution#item1) or Blue Sword (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh59rFxtDiw ; https://www.voutube.com/watch?v=3dc Ut2KDYA). These systems include a lightweight double mast on which a shuttle-type load handling carriage travels, wherein the mast runs on a bottom rail and a top rail and is also guided and supported by an intermediate rail that are all supported by and connected to the rack itself. This construction allows the rack to carry part of the loads so that the ASRS itself can be made light weight. Object of the invention is to improve the mechanical stability of such ASRS. This object is achieved by the storage of claim 1. In accordance with the invention an inventive storage comprising at least two multi-level storage racks with an aisle in between and at least one automated storage and retrieval machine (ASRS) that runs on and is guided by at least two travel rails that run longitudinally in parallel to scaffolding of one of the racks and facing the aisle at differing levels to service the length and height of both racks, one rail travel located at the top or near the top of the rack, and one travel rail located on the upper half of the rack, wherein the ASRS comprises a vertical ladder-type mast with cross beams, a bifacial load handling means travelling vertically along the mast for loading and unloading items to sides of the aisle, a top trolley located in the top area of the mast for engaging the upper travel rail of the at least two travel rails and an intermediate trolley located in the upper half of the mast for engaging the intermediate travel rail of the at least two travel rails, at least one of the trolleys is driven, has the travel rails fixed to longitudinal support rails of the scaffolding of the rack which supports the stored loads. In contrast to the prior art, where the travel rails are connected to the upright, this allows for simple but sturdy implementation without deflection. In other words, by connecting the travel rails to the support beams of the racking the travel rails are stiffen