Multi-storey goods storage arrangement

• US 10,173,837 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logevo AB (Kamprad Family)
• Original Assignee: Logevo AB (Kamprad Family)
• Inventors: Lindblom, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Glenn F
• Application Number:
  US15/115,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20160340122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 414758, 414279, 414498, 414282, 414284
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0414 provided with satellite cars adapted to travel in storage racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0464 with access from above
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50388 Integrated loader, shuttle transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A multi-story goods storage arrangement comprising a plurality of levels of storage lines arranged in parallel and transport lines extending between opposing ends of said storage lines, wherein a transfer cart is operable along each transport line. It further comprises a top shuttle suspending from top rail arrangement on said transfer cart and moveable out from said transfer cart into a suspension rail arrangement in said storage lines, and lifting means arranged on said top shuttle to lift goods stored in said storage lines and to transport lifted goods to the transfer cart.

Claims

1. A multi-story goods storage arrangement comprising:

a plurality of levels of storage lines arranged in parallel and transport lines extending between opposing ends of sets of said storage lines, wherein a transfer cart is operable along each transport line;

a first shuttle supported on a rail system in a lower section of the transfer cart, said first shuttle is arranged to transport pallets with goods to and from selected positions along said storage lines by moving away from the transfer cart into said storage lines, supported by a corresponding rail system along said storage lines,

a top shuttle suspending from a top rail arrangement of said transfer cart and moveable out from said transfer cart into a suspension rail arrangement in said storage lines; and

a lift arranged on said top shuttle to lift goods from a pallet stored in said storage lines and to transport lifted goods to a pallet placed on the transfer cart.

2. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lift comprises a lifting yoke suspended from said top shuttle.

3. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lifting yoke is suspended in a plurality of hoisting belts winded on hoisting wheels.

4. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lifting yoke comprises a suction device for engaging and lifting goods.

5. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lifting yoke comprises a plurality of distributed suction devices for engaging and lifting goods.

6. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top shuttle is provided with a vision sensor directed downwards toward goods to be lifted.

7. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top shuttle is provided with sensor co-operating with markers distributed along said storage lines, and with a processor receiving data from said sensors and determining a present position based on said data received from said sensor.

8. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said markers are formed as apertures in said horizontally extending suspension rail arrangement.

9. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processor is operatively connected to a control system for reporting position of said top shuttle and for receiving instructions for handling goods.

10. A multi-story goods storage arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a horizontally extending first conveyor and a horizontally extending second conveyor arranged in a tube shaped element rotatable in a vertical plane to receive and hold between them a pallet with goods received for storage in the multi-story goods storage arrangement, wherein said tube shaped element is arranged to turn said received pallet upside-down.