Method storing or restacking goods carriers in multi-storied warehouse
First Claim
1. A method of conveying an item to be stored with respect to a storage rack having a plurality of storage levels with a plurality of storage locations on each storage level and a plurality of selectable storage positions within each storage location, using a conveyor device which is movable along the storage rack and which has a support member for carrying the item, the method comprising:
- a) moving the conveyor device so that the support member is positioned at a selected target storage location;
b) moving the item on the support member into an optimized final position on the support member relatively corresponding to a selected target storage position at which the item is to be deposited in the selected target storage location;
c) moving the support member with the item thereon into the selected target storage location;
d) depositing the item from the optimized final position on the support member into the selected target storage position in the selected target storage location; and
e) withdrawing the support member from the selected target storage location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus are particularly suitable for storing, unstoring, or relocating goods carriers of various dimensions, such as loaded or empty freight containers, in a multi-storied storage facility. The storage facility includes a storage rack having several storage levels with several storage locations or compartments on each storage level. A storage conveyor device is horizontally and vertically movable along the storage rack to carry a freight container to a selected storage compartment on a selected storage level. Depending on the dimensions of the freight container, and whether several containers are to be stored in a single storage compartment, each container can be deposited at a particular position within the storage compartment. The particular final position of each container within the storage compartment can be predetermined. Each container is first prepositioned at a preliminary position on the conveyor device corresponding to the preselected final position at which the container is to be deposited within the storage compartment. Then, the goods conveyor deposits the container at the preselected final position within the preselected storage compartment.
110 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of conveying an item to be stored with respect to a storage rack having a plurality of storage levels with a plurality of storage locations on each storage level and a plurality of selectable storage positions within each storage location, using a conveyor device which is movable along the storage rack and which has a support member for carrying the item, the method comprising:
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a) moving the conveyor device so that the support member is positioned at a selected target storage location; b) moving the item on the support member into an optimized final position on the support member relatively corresponding to a selected target storage position at which the item is to be deposited in the selected target storage location; c) moving the support member with the item thereon into the selected target storage location; d) depositing the item from the optimized final position on the support member into the selected target storage position in the selected target storage location; and e) withdrawing the support member from the selected target storage location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of conveying a goods carrier with respect to a storage rack having a plurality of storage levels with a plurality of storage locations on each storage level, using a conveyor device which is movable along the storage rack and which has a goods carrier support member for carrying the goods carrier, wherein the storage rack has a plurality of support strips arranged at each of the storage locations and an alleyway arranged alongside the storage rack, wherein the conveyor device is arranged movably along the alleyway and among the storage levels, wherein the support member includes a conveyor platform and a roller table, wherein the roller table includes a plurality of driveable and stoppable support rollers, a plurality of driveable and stoppable running rollers that are arranged to be rollable along the conveyor platform and the support strips to support the roller table, and a height adjustable mechanism connecting the support rollers with the running rollers so that the support rollers are height adjustable relative to the conveyor platform and the support strips;
- the method comprising;
a) moving the conveyor device so that the support member is positioned at a selected target one of the storage locations; b) positioning the goods carrier into a preliminary position on the support member, corresponding to a selected final position in which the goods carrier is to be placed in the selected target storage location; c) moving the support member with the goods carrier thereon into the selected target storage location; d) depositing the goods carrier at the final selected position in the selected target storage location; and e) withdrawing the support member from the selected target storage location; wherein said step a) comprises at least one movement selected from the group consisting of moving the conveyor device along the alleyway and moving the support member among the storage levels, said step b) comprises driving and stopping the support rollers as needed to position the goods carrier at the preliminary position on the support member, said step c) comprises driving the running rollers to roll along the conveyor platform and the support strips, said step d) comprises actuating the height adjustable mechanism to lower the support rollers below a supporting plane of the support strips, and said step e) comprises driving the running rollers to roll along the support strips and the conveyor platform in a direction opposite that of said step c).
- the method comprising;
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18. A method of conveying a goods carrier with respect to a storage rack having a plurality of storage levels with a plurality of storage locations on each storage level, using a conveyor device which is movable along the storage rack and which has a goods carrier support member for carrying the goods carrier, wherein the conveyor device includes a rail extending substantially horizontally in an alleyway arranged alongside the storage rack, a carriage arranged movably along the rail, a mast extending substantially vertically from the carriage, a slide collar movably arranged on the mast, a plurality of platform support arms connected to the slide collar, and a plurality of conveyor platforms respectively mounted on the support arms;
- the method comprising;
a) moving the conveyor device so that the support member is positioned at a selected target one of the storage locations; b) positioning the goods carrier into a preliminary position on the support member, corresponding to a selected final position in which the goods carrier is to be placed in the selected target storage location; c) moving the support member with the goods carrier thereon into the selected target storage location; d) depositing the goods carrier at the final selected position in the selected target storage location; and e) withdrawing the support member from the selected target storage location; wherein said step a) comprises at least one movement selected from the group consisting of moving the carriage along the rail and moving the conveyor platform along the mast, and comprises positioning at least one selected conveyor platform in alignment with a corresponding selected target storage location.
- the method comprising;
Specification