Transferring shuttle for three dimensional automated warehouse

• US 8,790,061 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dematic GmbH (KION GROUP AG)
• Original Assignee: Dematic Accounting Services GmbH (KION GROUP AG)
• Inventors: Yamashita, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): SNELTING, JONATHAN D
• Application Number:
  US12/446,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20110008138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,101 Days
• Field of Search: 414278-280, 414/807, 414/281
• US Class Current: 414/280
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0435 with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0492 with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles

Abstract

A transferring shuttle, which transfers package(s) between a pair of layered stacked racks in a three dimensional automated warehouse, includes a mobile platform which runs between the stacked racks; elastic mechanisms, which include telescoping rails that extend into the stacked racks and surround a package; and terminal fingers placed at the ends of the rails, which can move between an extended position, which allows the package to be engaged and a contracted position. The rails also contain inner fingers between the terminal fingers. The inner fingers can push the package further into the stacked rack than previously possible.

Claims

1. A transferring shuttle for use in a three-dimensional automated warehouse equipped with a pair of stacked racks for travelling between and passing and receiving packages (P) to and from said pair of stacked racks, said shuttle comprising:

a mobile platform which can move horizontally in a direction of motion between said racks, said mobile platform including a package carrying area that is adapted to carry a package (P);

extendable units on opposite sides of said carrying area in the direction of motion, each comprised of a fixed rail oriented in a storage direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of said shuttle, a first sliding rail oriented in the storage direction and slidingly attached to said fixed rail and a second sliding rail oriented in the storage direction and slidingly attached to said first sliding rail so that said second rail can slide in the same direction as the first sliding rail;

a first terminal finger positioned adjacent a first end of each of said second sliding rails;

a second terminal finger positioned adjacent a second opposite end of each of said second sliding rails;

a first inner finger positioned between said first and second terminal fingers on each of said second sliding rails; and

a second inner finger separated from said first inner finger and positioned between said first and second terminal fingers on each of said second sliding rails, wherein said fingers can be operated between extended positions protruding toward said package carrying area and contracted positions receding away from said package carrying area, wherein the first inner finger is closer to the first terminal finger than to the second terminal finger, wherein a distance D1 between said first inner finger and said second terminal finger is large enough so that a package (P) can be placed in between said first inner finger and said second terminal finger, wherein said second inner finger is closer to the second terminal finger than to the first terminal finger, wherein a distance D2 between said second inner finger and said first terminal finger is large enough so that a package (P) can be placed in between said second inner finger and the first terminal finger, wherein said extendable units are extendable into both said stacked racks and wherein distances D1 and D2 are each greater than half a dimension of the mobile platform in the storage direction, wherein a package (P) having a dimension in the storage direction that is greater than half the mobile platform can be stored to and retrieved from two rows on each of said pair of stacked racks with said first and second sliding rails, wherein the two rows are at different distances from said mobile platform, wherein one of said inner fingers that is positioned closest to said mobile platform can store a package (P) to a farthest one of said rows that is farthest from said mobile platform with said first and second sliding rails fully extended and wherein one of said terminal fingers that is positioned farthest from said mobile platform can retrieve a package (P) from the farthest one of said rows with said first and second sliding rails fully extended.

2. The shuttle of claim 1 further including an actuator for moving said first sliding rail on said fixed rail and said second sliding rail on said first sliding rail, said actuator including an endless belt with cog-teeth on its outer perimeter and a rack positioned on the first sliding rail which meshes with said endless belt.

3. The shuttle of claim 1 wherein said mobile platform includes a first set of wheels riding adjacent a first shelf positioned along a first side of said shuttle and a second set of wheels riding adjacent a second shelf positioned along a second, opposite side of said shuttle.

4. The shuttle of claim 1 wherein said carrying area is large enough to carry a package (P) oriented selectively at one side of said platform that is closest to one of said racks and an opposite side of said platform that is opposite from said one side and is closest to the other of said racks and wherein said inner and terminal fingers are configured to store a package (P) to said furthest row from either said one side or said opposite side of said mobile platform and retrieved from said furthest row to either the one side or the other side of said mobile platform using said terminal fingers and inner fingers.

5. A transferring shuttle for use in a three-dimensional automated warehouse and adapted to move forward and backward in a first direction oriented parallel to a longitudinal extent and between a pair of stacked racks, said shuttle comprising:

a mobile platform adapted to move in said first direction between the racks, said mobile platform including a carrying area that is adapted to carry a package (P);

at least two fixed rails spaced apart from each other and supported on said mobile platform in on opposite sides of said carrying area in said first direction, at least two first sliding rails adapted to move along said at least two fixed rails, respectively, and at least two second sliding rails adapted to move along said at least two first sliding rails, respectively, between extended and retracted positions in a second direction transverse to said first direction;

a pair of first terminal fingers, each positioned adjacent a first end of one of said second sliding rails, a pair of second terminal fingers, each positioned at a second end opposite said first end of one of said second sliding rails;

a pair of first inner fingers, each positioned between said first end and said second end of one of said second sliding rails; and

a pair of second inner fingers spaced from said first inner fingers, each of said second inner fingers positioned between said first end and said second end of one of said second sliding rails, each of said fingers adapted to move between an extended position adapted to contact the package (P) in said carrying area and a retracted position adapted to avoid the package (P) in said carrying area;

wherein said first inner fingers are closer to said first terminal fingers than to said second terminal fingers wherein a distance D1 between said first inner fingers and said second terminal fingers is large enough so that a package (P) can be placed in between said first inner fingers and said second terminal fingers and said second inner fingers are closer to said second terminal fingers than to said first terminal fingers on respective ones of said at least two second sliding rails wherein a distance D2 between said second inner fingers and said first terminal fingers on respective ones of said at least two second sliding rails is large enough so that a package (P) can be placed in between said second inner fingers and said first terminal fingers and wherein said first sliding rails and said second sliding rails are extendable into both said stacked racks and wherein distances D1 and D2 are each greater than half a dimension of the mobile platform in the second direction, wherein a package (P) having a dimension in the second direction that is greater than half the mobile platform can be stored in either of two rows on each of said pair of stacked racks, with said first and second sliding rails, wherein the two rows are at different distances from said mobile platform, wherein one of said inner fingers that is positioned closest to said mobile platform can store a package (P) to a farthest one of said rows that is farthest from said mobile platform with said first and second sliding rails fully extended and wherein one of said terminal fingers that is positioned farthest from said mobile platform can retrieve a package (P) from the farthest of said rows with said first and second sliding rails fully extended.

6. The shuttle of claim 5 wherein said mobile platform includes a first set of wheels adapted to ride adjacent a first shelf positioned along a first side of said shuttle and a second set of wheels adapted to ride adjacent a second shelf positioned along a second, opposite side of said shuttle.

7. The shuttle of claim 5 further including an actuator for moving said first sliding rail on said fixed rail and said second sliding rail on said first sliding rail, said actuator including an endless belt with cog-teeth on its outer perimeter and a rack positioned on the first sliding rail which meshes with said endless belt.

8. The shuttle of claim 5 wherein said carrying area is large enough to carry a package (P) oriented selectively at one side of said platform that is closest to one of said racks and an opposite side of said platform that is opposite from said one side and is closest to the other of said racks and wherein said inner and terminal fingers are configured to store a package (P) to said furthest row from either said one side or said opposite side of said mobile platform and retrieved from of said furthest row to either said one side or said other side of said mobile platform using said terminal fingers and inner fingers.