DESC:BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to warehouse storage devices, more particularly to a device and a method for transporting objects between different levels of storage racks automatically.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Multilevel storage and retrieval systems may be used in warehouses for the storage and retrieval of goods. Generally, the transportation of goods into and out of the storage structure is done with lifts for transfer to a vehicle on a storage level, vehicles traveling up ramps to a predetermined storage level, or with vehicles that include lifts traveling along guideways. Goods stored within the storage and retrieval system are generally stored in storage spaces on each storage level such that a transport vehicle disposed on that level has access to one level of storage space. Generally, the lifts that transfer items to and from the storage spaces carry the vehicles between different storage levels, are incorporated into the vehicles or have a paternoster configuration where the lift payload shelves continually circulate around a frame at a predetermined rate. The problem with the available solutions, the lift needs to be traveled between the storage spaces for carrying the transport vehicle or the transport vehicle needs to be listed between the levels to carry the goods. The throughput of the existing systems is not adequate and more complex. There is a need to transport the goods between the levels of the storage racks without transporting the transporting device between the levels of the storage racks.
[0003] Accordingly, there remains a need for a device and a method of simultaneous object transporting to different levels of storage racks automatically.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments herein disclose an object transport device a tower, a plurality of cover plates, a plurality of top guide assembly, a plurality of work handling assembly and a plurality of driving assembly. The tower is formed by mounting a plurality of structured frames together. The plurality of cover plates is mounted on the tower. The plurality of cover plates includes at least one of a front cover plate, a back cover plate and a pair of side cover guide plates. The plurality top guide assembly is mounted on a top surface of the tower. The plurality of work handling assembly is mounted on the side cover guide plate of the tower using a cradle frame. The plurality of driving assembly drives the plurality of work handling assembly to deliver a plurality of objects at a plurality of object handling platforms mounted on a plurality of levels of a storage rack. When in operation, a plurality of guide rails of the side cover guide plate enables at least one guide wheel of the work handling assembly to engage on the side cover guide plate when the plurality of driving assembly drives the plurality of work handling assembly upward and downward linearly on the side cover guide plate simultaneously to transport a plurality of objects between the plurality of levels of the storage rack.
[0005] In some embodiments, the work handling assembly includes a conveyor assembly, a plurality of guide wheels and a work handling driving unit. The conveyor assembly is mounted with the cradle frame using a plurality of bolts or weldment. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor guide plate to guide a plurality of objects on the conveyor assembly. The plurality of guide wheels is mounted on the cradle frame. The plurality of guide wheels guides the work handling assembly on the side cover guide plates when the work handling assembly handles the object between the plurality of levels of storage racks. The work handling driving unit drives the conveyor assembly to handle the plurality of objects.
[0006] In some embodiments, the object transport device includes a plurality of codes on the back cover plate. The object transport device determines a desired location for the plurality of work handling assembly by decoding the plurality of codes using a control unit.
[0007] In some embodiments, the object handling device includes a plurality of positioning sensors to determine the location of the plurality of work handling assembly on the object transport device. The cradle frame accommodates the plurality of positioning sensors using a plurality of clamps.
[0008] In some embodiments, the cradle frame includes a plurality of cradle plates that are mounted with at least one of the conveyor assembly, conveyor guide plates, a plurality of cable guard covers or a plurality of supporting frames.
[0009] In some embodiments, the driving assembly includes a driving motor, a driving pulley. The driving motor is coupled with a driving shaft using a gear assembly. The driving pulleys are coupled with the plurality of work handling assembly using timing belts. The timing belts couple the work handling assembly with the driving assembly and the plurality of top guide assembly using a plurality of belt clamps.
[0010] In some embodiments, the plurality of top guide assembly includes a plurality of top guide pulleys that are mounted on the top surface of the tower using a top guide shaft. The plurality of top guide pulleys is coupled with the plurality of driving pulleys.
[0011] In some embodiments, the object handling device includes at least two side cover plates single aisle of the storage rack. The object transport device drives the plurality of work handling assembly on both sides cover guide plate simultaneously to transport the plurality of objects between the plurality of levels of the storage rack.
[0012] In another aspect, a method of transporting objects between a plurality of levels of a storage rack includes (a) conveying the objects to an object handling device using a conveyor, (b) collecting the objects from the conveyor using a work handling assembly, (c) operating the work handling assembly to a destination level using a driving assembly, (d) transporting the objects into an object handling platform from the work handling assembly and (e) transporting the objects to a transport vehicle from the object handling platform to store the objects at a destination location of the storage rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary view of an automatic storage and retrieval system that is implemented with an object transport device for transporting objects between different levels of a storage rack automatically according to some embodiments herein;
[0015] FIG. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary view of an object transport device according to some embodiments herein;
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary view of a tower of an object transport device according to some embodiments herein;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary view of a side cover guide plate of an object transport device according to some embodiments herein;
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary view of a top guide assembly of an object transport device according to some embodiments herein;
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary view of a work handling assembly of an object transport device according to some embodiments herein;
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary view of a driving assembly of an object transport device according to some embodiments herein; and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method of automatically transporting objects between different levels of a storage rack using an object transport device of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0023] An objective of the current invention is to provide a device for transporting objects in different levels of storage racks automatically in an automatic storage and retrieval system and that removes or at least lessens the limitations mentioned above. These goals are accomplished using the method described in the appended description. As mentioned, there remains a need for a device for transporting objects between different levels of storage racks automatically. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 through 8, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, preferred embodiments are shown.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system view of automatic storage and retrieval system 100 that is implemented with an object transport device 102 for transporting objects between different levels 106A-N of a storage rack 104 automatically according to some embodiments herein. The automatic storage and retrieval system 100 includes the object transport device 102, the storage rack 104, a conveyor assembly 108 and one or more transport vehicles 110A-N. In some embodiments, the storage rack 104 includes the one or more levels 106A-N that are formed using at least one of vertical bracing, horizontal bracing, diagram bracing, column posts, beams, connectors or decks. In some embodiments, a warehouse includes one or more storage racks that are spaced each other to provide aisles for the one or more transport vehicles 110A-N. In some embodiments, each aisle accommodates one or more rails for the one or more transport vehicles 108A-N. The one or more transport vehicles 108A-N includes at least one of one or more driving assemblies, one or more guiding assemblies, a transport control unit, a work handling assembly or one or more object handling devices. In some embodiments, the one or more transport vehicles 108A-N are run on the rails provided on each row of the storage rack 104 to perform at least one storage or retrieval operation. The conveyor assembly 108 includes at least one of one or more conveyor rolls, one or more conveyor belts, a conveyor stand, or a conveyor driving assembly. In some embodiments, the conveyor assembly 108 transports the objects from or to storage rack 104. The object transport device 102 is installed next to the storage rack 104 where the objects are delivered or collected. In some embodiments, the storage rack 104 includes one or more object handling platforms 112A-N. The one or more object handling platforms 112A-N are mounted at each level of the storage rack 104 to transfer the one or more objects from the object transport device 102 and the one or more transport vehicles 108A-N.
[0025] In some embodiments, the one or more transport vehicles 110A-N includes one or more driving assemblies and one or more guiding assemblies. In some embodiments, the object handling platforms 112A-N includes an object transport device conveyor assembly that transports the one or more object from the object transport device 102 and the one or more transport vehicles 110A-N.
[0026] The object transport device 102 collects the one or more objects from the conveyor assembly 108. The object transport device 102 is communicatively connected with a control device. The control device communicates one or more operation commands to collect and deliver the one or more objects between the conveyor assembly 108 and the one or more object handling platforms 112A-N. In some embodiments, the one or more transport vehicles 110A-N handles the objects between the one or more object handling platform 112A-N and the one or more levels 106A-N of the storage rack 104. The object transport device 102 collects or delivers the objects at any row of the one or more object handling platforms 112A-N. The one or more object handling platforms 112A-N transport the objects between the object transport device 102 and the one or more transport vehicles 108A-N. In some embodiments, the object transport device 102 mounts at least two work handling assembly 208 at each side with an offset. In some embodiments, the offset avoids a collusion of the at least two of the work handling assembly 208.
[0027] With reference to the FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary view of the object transport device 102 according to some embodiments herein. The object transport device 102 includes a tower 202, a plurality of cover plates 204A-N, a plurality of top guide assembly 206A-N, a plurality of work handling assembly 208A-N and a plurality of driving assembly 210A-N. In some embodiments, the tower 202 is formed using a plurality of structured frames. The tower 202 includes at least one of a front cover plate, a back cover plate and a pair of side cover guide plates. In some embodiments, the plurality of top guide assembly 206A-N includes a plurality of top guide pulleys. The plurality of top guide pulleys is mounted on the top surface of the tower 102 using a shaft. The plurality of top guide pulleys is coupled with a plurality of driving pulleys of the plurality of driving assembly 210A-N. The top guide assembly 206 guides at least one work handling assembly 208A-N on the side cover guide plates when moving up and down linearly on the side cover guide plates. The plurality of driving assembly 210A-N is mounted on at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the tower 202.
[0028] The driving assembly 210 includes at least one of a motor that is coupled with at least one of a gear assembly, a driving shaft, a plurality of driving pulleys, a plurality of bearings, and a plurality of bearing plates or timing belts. In some embodiments, the work handling assembly 208A-N is coupled with the driving assembly 210 using the at least one timing belt using clamps. The work handling assembly 208 is mounted on a cradle assembly that is mounted on the side cover guide plate using at least one of the guide wheel assemblies. The work handling assembly 208 is mechanically coupled with the driving assembly 210 using at least one of the driving pulleys, the timing belts or the shafts. In some embodiments, the plurality of driving assembly 210A-N receives command signals from the control device to enable the linear up and down movement of the work handling assembly 208A-N on the side cover guide plate.
[0029] With reference to the FIG. 2, FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary view of the tower 202 of the object transport device 102 according to some embodiments herein. The tower 202 includes one or more horizontal bracing 302A-N, one or more uprights 304A-N, one or more diagonal bracing 306A-N and one or more supporting frames. In some embodiments, the one or more horizontal bracing 302A-N and the one or more uprights 304A-N are coupled using one or more bolts. In some embodiments, the one or more horizontal bracing 302A-N and the one or more uprights 304A-N welded to form the tower 202. The one or more diagonal bracing 306A-N and one or more supporting frames are coupled or welded with at least one of the one or more horizontal bracing 302A-N or the one or more uprights 304A-N to provide strength and stability to handle objects between the different levels of the storage rack. In some embodiments, the front cover plate, back cover plate and pair of side cover guide plates are mounted on the at least one of the horizontal bracing 302 and the upright columns 304.
[0030] With reference to the FIG. 2, FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary view of a side cover guide plate 400 of the object transport device 102 according to some embodiments herein. The side cover guide plate 400 includes one or more guide rails 402A-N and a canal surface 404. In some embodiments, a sheet metal plate is bent to form the side cover plate 400. In some embodiments, the sheet metal plate is bent to form one or more guide rails 402A-N for guiding the work handling assembly 208A-N. The side cover plate includes one or more openings to accommodate at least one guide wheel of the work handling assembly 208A-N.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary view of the top guide assembly 206 of the object transport device 102 according to some embodiments herein. The top guide assembly 206 guides the linear up-and-down movement of the work handling assembly 208 on the side cover guide plate 400. The top guide assembly 206 is mounted on the top surface of the tower 102 using bolts. The top guide assembly 206 includes a top guide shaft 502, a bearing 504, a plurality of top guide pulleys 506 and a pair of side plates 508A and 508B. The top guide shaft 502 is mounted on the top surface of the tower 102 using the pair of side plates 508A and 508B. The top guide shaft 502 is mounted with the pulley 506 using the bearing 504. The pulley is connected to the timing belt that is driven by the at least one driving assembly among 210A-N.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary view of the work handling assembly 208 of the object transport device 102 according to some embodiments herein. The work handling assembly 208 includes a cradle frame 602, one or more guide wheels 604A-N, one or more supporting frame 606A-N, a conveyor assembly 608, one or more object guide plates 610A-N and one or more clamps 612A-N. The cradle plate 602 includes one or more openings to accommodate at least one guide wheel 604A-N. In some embodiments, the cradle plate 602 is an L-shaped plate. The one or more openings include one or more clamps to mount the one or more guide wheels 604A-N. The one or more supporting frames 606A-N are mounted on the cradle plate 602 to mount the conveyor assembly 608. In some embodiments, the conveyor assembly 608 includes at least rollers that are driven by a conveyor drive assembly. The one or more object guide plates 610A-N guide the objects on the work handling assembly 208 when performing storing and retrieving operations. The one or more clamps 612A-N are mounted on the cradle frame 602. In some embodiments, sensors are mounted on the work handling assembly 208 using one or more clamps 612A-N.
[0033] With reference to the FIG. 2, FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary view of the driving assembly 210 of the object transport device 102 according to some embodiments herein. The driving assembly 210 includes a motor 702, a gear assembly 704, a drive shaft 706, a drive shaft bearing 708 and a pulley 710. The motor 702 and the gear assembly 704 are mounted together. A first end of the drive shaft 706 is coupled with the gear assembly 704. In some embodiments, the gear assembly 704 includes one or more gear bearings to mount the shaft 706. A second end of the drive shaft 704 is coupled with the pulley 710 using the drive shaft bearing 708. In some embodiments, the pulley 710 is coupled with the work handling assembly 208 using the timing belts. The work handling assembly 208 is moved up and down linearly on the side cover guide plate when the motor 702 is actuated based on the control signals communicated from the control unit.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method of automatically transporting objects between different levels of a storage rack using an object transport device of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments herein. At step 802, objects are conveyed to the object transport device 102 on the conveyor 108. At step 804, the work handling assembly 208 collects an object using conveyor assembly 608. At step 806, the work handling assembly 208 is operated to a destination level using the driving assembly 210. At step 808, the object is transported into the object handling platform 112. At step 810, the object is transported to the transport vehicles 108 to store the object at the destination location of the storage rack 104. In some embodiments, the operation is reversed for retrieval of the object from the storage rack 104.
[0035] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An object transport device (102) comprising
a tower (202) that is formed by mounting a plurality of structured frames together;
a plurality of cover plates (204A-N) that are mounted on the tower (202), wherein the plurality of cover plates (204A-N) comprises at least one of a front cover plate, a back cover plate and a pair of side cover guide plates (400);
a plurality top guide assembly (206A-N) that is mounted on a top surface of the tower (202);
a plurality of work handling assembly (208A-N) that are mounted on the side cover guide plate (400) of the tower (202) using a cradle frame (602),
a plurality of driving assembly (210A-N) that drive the plurality of work handling assembly (208A-N) to deliver a plurality of objects at a plurality of object handling platforms (112A-N) mount on a plurality of levels (106A-N) of a storage rack (104),
wherein when in operation,
a plurality of guide rails (402A-N) of the side cover guide plate (400) enables at least one guide wheel (604) of the work handling assembly (208) to engage on the side cover guide plate (400) when the plurality of driving assembly (210A-N) drives the plurality of work handling assembly (208A-N) upward and downward linearly on the side cover guide plate (400) simultaneously to transport a plurality of objects between the plurality of levels (106A-N) of the storage rack (104).

2. The object transport device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the work handling assembly (208) comprises
a conveyor assembly (608) that is mounted with the cradle frame (602) using plurality bolts or weldment, wherein the conveyor assembly (608) comprises a conveyor guide plate to guide a plurality of objects on the conveyor assembly (608);
a plurality of guide wheels (604A-N) that is mounted on the cradle frame (602), wherein the plurality of guide wheels (604A-N) guides the work handling assembly (208) on the side cover guide plates (600) when the work handling assembly (208) handles the object between the plurality of levels (106A-N) of storage racks; and
a work handling driving unit that drives the conveyor assembly (608) to handle the plurality of objects.

3. The object transport device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object transport device (102) comprises a plurality of codes on the back cover plate, wherein the object transport device (102) determines a desired location for the plurality of work handling assembly (208) by decoding the plurality of codes using a control unit.

4. The object transport device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object handling device (102) comprises a plurality of positioning sensors to determine the location of the plurality of work handling assembly (208A-N) on the object transport device (102), wherein the cradle frame (602) accommodates the plurality of positioning sensors using a plurality of clamp (612A-N).

5. The object handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle frame (602) comprises a plurality of cradle plates that are mounted with at least one of the conveyor assembly (608), conveyor guide plate, a plurality of cable guard covers or a plurality of supporting frames (606A-N).

6. The object handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving assembly (210) comprises
a driving motor (702) that is coupled with a driving shaft (706) using a gear assembly (704);
a driving pulley (710) that are coupled with the plurality of work handling assembly (208A-N) using timing belts, wherein the timing belts couple the work handling assembly (208) with the driving assembly (210) and the plurality of top guide assembly (206A-N) using a plurality of belt clamps.

7. The object handling device (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of top guide assembly (206) comprises a plurality of top guide pulleys (506A-N) that are mounted on the top surface of the tower (202) using a top guide shaft (502), wherein the plurality of top guide pulleys (506A-N) is coupled with the plurality of driving pulleys (710A-N).

8. The object handling device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object handling device (102) comprises at least two side cover plates (400) single aisle of the storage rack (104), wherein the object transport device (102) drives the plurality of work handling assembly (208A-N) on both side cover guide plate (400) simultaneously to transport the plurality of objects between the plurality of levels (106A-N) of the storage rack (104).

9. A method of transporting objects between a plurality of levels (106A-N) of a storage rack (104) comprising
conveying the objects to an object handling device (102) using a conveyor (108);
collecting the objects from the conveyor (108) using a work handling assembly (208);
operating the work handling assembly (208) to a destination level using a driving assembly (210);
transporting the objects into an object handling platform (112) from the work handling assembly (208);
transporting the objects to a transport vehicle (112) from the object handling platform (112) to store the objects at a destination location of the storage rack (104).