Object storage

• US 20050144194A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fernando Gracia Lopez
• Original Assignee: Fernando Gracia Lopez
• Inventors: Lopez, Fernando Gracia
• Application Number:
  US10/881,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/22 characterised by use of movable platforms for horizontal transport , i.e. cars being permanently parked on palettes
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/285 using car-gripping transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/422 Automatically operated car-parks

Abstract

An automated, multi-tiered system and process for storing objects includes the ability to efficiently store and retrieve objects. The system may include a number of object entrance ports, object exit ports, elevators, horizontal transportation systems, and storage levels, each storage level including a number storage bays. The horizontal transportation systems may move objects after they have been mounted on frames. The movements of an object entering and departing the multi-tiered system may be based on ordered, anticipated tasks, for the purpose of enhancing the system layout and operation.

Claims

1. An object storage system, the object storage system comprising:

a multi-level structure for storing objects mounted on frames, the structure comprising;

a port to receive incoming objects,

a plurality of object storage levels comprising frame mounted object storage bays, and

a port to release departing objects;

an elevator to move frame mounted objects between levels; and

a transfer carriage system on each object storage level to receive frame mounted objects from the elevator, move frame mounted objects between the elevator and at least some of an object storage level'"'"'s storage bays, and horizontally deposit frame mounted objects in the storage bays.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevator comprises:

a first drive system operable to engage a frame mounted object and move it along a first axis; and

a second drive system operable to engage a frame mounted object and move it along a second axis.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a frame mounted object may be unloaded along either the first axis or the second axis on an object storage level.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the elevator comprises an object support platform to receive a frame mounted object, the object support platform operable to be coupled to an elevator shaft while receiving a frame mounted object.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the elevator comprises a cage, the cage operable to be decoupled from the object support platform while receiving a frame mounted object.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elevators.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein more than one of the elevators may be used for moving an incoming object to one of the object storage levels.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein more than one of the elevators may be used for moving a departing object to the object release port.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of transfer carriage systems on each object storage level.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein adjacent transfer carriage systems are operable to exchange a frame mounted object across an elevator shaft.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a horizontal transportation system for moving a frame mounted object between the object receiving port and the elevator.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of object transportation frames, the object transportation frames operable to be mounted independently of each other to an object for support and facilitating movement in the object storage system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the horizontal transportation system comprises a guide set for each object transportation frame of a frame mounted object, each guide set comprising a plurality of guides, wherein an object transportation frame may be conveyed on different guides in a guide set depending on the size of an object.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein an object transportation frame is operable to expand to receive an object'"'"'s wheels on a first object axis and to contract to engage the wheels.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein an object transportation frame comprises rollers that allow the frame to move along two axes.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising an object mounting system, the object mounting system operable to mount an object on an object transportation frame.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a frame recycling system, the recycling system operable to receive frames at the object release port and to convey them to the object mounting system.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the horizontal transportation system comprises a subsystem for moving a frame mounted object along one axis and a subsystem for moving a frame mounted object along another axis.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the horizontal transportation system comprises an axis transfer subsystem operable to transfer the frame mounted object between the axial transportation subsystems.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the axis transfer subsystem comprises:

a cam drive system;

a ramping cam; and

a cam following apparatus coupled to one of the axial transportation subsystems.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the horizontal transportation system is operable to center a frame mounted object for at least one of the axial transportation systems based on the outer dimensions of the object.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the object receiving port comprises an object measuring system, the object measuring system operable to determine the weight and dimensions of an object.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising an object aligning system, the object aligning system operable to align the longitudinal centerline of the object.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the object aligning system comprises:

a pair of parallel arms; and

a centering compensation apparatus coupled to the arms, the apparatus allowing the arms to move apart in parallel relation to each other while supplying a restoring force to the arms.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising an object orientation system located between the object receiving port and the elevator.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the object orientation system is operable to center a frame mounted object based on the outer dimensions of the object.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a horizontal transportation system for moving a frame mounted object if the object release port is occupied; and

a second port to release departing objects, the second port operable to receive an object from the horizontal transportation system if the first object release port is occupied.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer coupled to the object receiving port, the computer operable to:

detect a signal indicating that an object has been received; and

determine a route to one of the storage bays.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein determining a route comprises selecting one of a plurality of elevators.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the computer is further operable to determine how to orient an object for an object release port.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the computer is further operable to:

detect a signal indicating that a stored object has been requested;

determine the location of the object; and

determine a route to an object release port for the object.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the computer is also coupled to the elevator, the transfer carriage system, the storage bays, and the object release port, the computer operable to manage the reception, movement, storage, and release of frame mounted objects in the object storage system by controlling the operations of the object receiving port, the elevator, the transfer carriage system, the storage bays, and the object release port.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer is operable to analyze one or more criteria in managing the object storage system.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the criteria comprise storage time for an object.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the criteria comprise occupancy density for the storage bays.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the criteria comprise expended power.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer is also coupled to an object mounting system, an object orientation system, and a horizontal transportation system, the computer operable to manage the reception, movement, storage, and release of frame mounted objects in the object storage system by further controlling the operations of the object mounting system, the object orientation system, and the horizontal transportation system.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein objects comprise vehicles.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein objects comprise containers with integrated object transportation frames.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the object receiving port comprises the object release port.

41. A method for object storage, the method comprising:

determining whether an object in a multi-level object storage system is to be moved; and

if an object is to be moved, determining a route based on object storage system movements already in progress.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the movements comprise simultaneous multi-task movements.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein determining a route is further based on object storage system movements waiting to commence.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein determining a route further comprises one or more criteria.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the criteria comprise routing time.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the criteria comprise power consumption.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the criteria comprise occupancy density for storage bays.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein:

determining whether an object is to be moved comprises determining that an object has been received for storage at an object receiving port; and

determining a route comprises determining a route from the object receiving port to an object storage bay.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein determining a route from the object receiving port to an object storage bay comprises:

selecting a bay in a grid-patterned layout of bays and elevators; and

selecting an elevator in the grid-patterned layout.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein selecting a bay comprises analyzing storage bay occupancy.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising controlling movement of an object from the object receiving port to the selected storage bay.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling movement of an object comprises:

monitoring the position of the object;

moving the object; and

moving a transportation subsystem to receive the object.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising mounting the object on an object transportation frame.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein mounting the object on an object transportation frame comprises:

expanding the frame to receive wheels on a first object axis; and

contracting the frame to engage the wheels.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling movement of an object comprises moving the object to a preselected elevator.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein moving the object to a preselected elevator comprises moving the object along two different horizontal axes.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein moving the object along two different horizontal axes comprises transferring the object between transportation systems for each axis.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling movement of an object comprises centering the object for at least one horizontal transportation system based on the outer dimensions of the object.

59. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

determining how to orient an object for an object release port; and

reorienting the object in conformance with the determined orientation.

60. The method of claim 51, further comprising decoupling an object support platform of an elevator from the elevator before loading the object.

61. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

determining along which of two horizontal axes to unload the object from an elevator; and

unloading the object from the elevator along the selected axis.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling movement of an object comprises moving the object from an elevator to an entrance of the selected storage bay.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising horizontally depositing the object in the selected storage bay.

64. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

measuring an object at the object receiving port; and

determining whether the object is acceptable based on the measurements.

65. The method of claim 41, further comprising simultaneously controlling a plurality of transfer carriage systems on an object storage level.

66. The method of claim 41, wherein:

determining whether an object is to be moved comprises determining that an object being stored in a storage bay has been requested; and

determining a route comprises determining a route from the storage bay to an object release port.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein determining a route comprises selecting an elevator in a grid-patterned layout of bays and elevators.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein determining a route comprises analyzing release port occupancy.

69. The method of claim 66, further comprising controlling movement of the object from the storage bay to the object release port.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein controlling movement comprises:

monitoring the position of the object;

moving the object; and

moving a transportation subsystem to receive the object.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the transportation subsystem comprises a transfer carriage system, and further comprising centering the object on the transfer carriage system based on the outer dimensions of the object.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein controlling movement comprises exchanging the object across an elevator shaft between transfer carriage systems.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein controlling movement comprises loading the object on a preselected elevator.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising decoupling an object support platform of the elevator from the elevator before loading the object.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

determining along which of two axes to load the object on the elevator; and

loading the object on the elevator along the selected axis.

76. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

determining whether the selected object release port is occupied; and

if the selected object release port is occupied, moving the object to a second object release port.

77. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

determining along which of two axes to unload the object from the elevator; and

unloading the object from the elevator along the selected axis.

78. The method of claim 73, further comprising dismounting the object from an object transportation frame.

79. The method of claim 73, further comprising conveying object transportation frames from the object release port to an object mounting system.

80. The method of claim 41, wherein:

determining whether an object is to be moved comprises determining that a container being stored in a storage bay has been requested; and

determining a route comprises determining a route from the storage bay to an object access location.

81. A system for object storage, the system comprising:

a computer comprising;

memory operable to store data regarding a multi-level object storage system and objects therein; and

a processor operable to;

determine whether an object is to be moved, and

if an object is to be moved, determine a route object based on object storage system movements already in progress.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the movements comprise simultaneous multi-task movements.

83. The system of claim 81, wherein the processor is operable to analyze object storage system movements waiting to commence to determine a route.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein the processor is operable to analyze one or more criteria to determine a route.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the criteria comprise routing time.

86. The system of claim 84, wherein the criteria comprise power consumption.

87. The system of claim 84, wherein the criteria comprise occupancy density of storage bays.

88. The system of claim 81, wherein the processor is operable to:

determine that an object has been received for storage at an object receiving port to determine whether an object is to be moved; and

determine a route from an object receiving port to an object storage bay to determine a route.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein, to determine a route from an object receiving port to an object storage bay, the processor is operable to:

select a bay in a grid-patterned layout of bays and elevators; and

select an elevator in the grid-patterned layout.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the processor is operable to analyze storage bay occupancy to select a bay.

91. The system of claim 88, wherein the processor is further operable to control movement of an object from an object receiving port to a selected storage bay.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein, to control movement of an object, the processor is operable to:

monitor the position of the object;

issue commands to move the object; and

control movement of a transportation subsystem to receive the object.

93. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is further operable to control mounting of an object on an object transportation frame.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein, to control mounting of an object on an object transportation frame, the processor is operable to control:

expanding the frame to receive wheels on a first object axis; and

contracting the frame to engage the wheels.

95. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is operable to control movement of an object to a preselected elevator to control movement of an object.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein the processor is operable to control movement of an object along two different horizontal axes to control movement to a preselected elevator.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the processor is operable to control transfer of an object between transportation systems for two different horizontal axes to control movement along two different horizontal axes.

98. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is further operable to control centering of an object for at least one horizontal transportation system based on the outer dimensions of the object to control movement of an object.

99. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine how to orient an object for an object release port; and

control reorienting of the object in conformance with the determined orientation.

100. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is further operable to control decoupling of an elevator object support platform from an elevator before loading an object.

101. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine along which of two horizontal axes to unload an object from an elevator; and

control unloading along the selected axis.

102. The system of claim 91, wherein the processor is operable to control movement of an object from an elevator to an entrance of a selected storage bay to control movement of an object.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein the processor is further operable to control horizontal depositing of the object in the selected storage bay.

104. The system of claim 81, wherein the processor is further operable to simultaneously control a plurality of transfer carriage systems on an object storage level.

105. The system of claim 81, wherein the processor is operable to:

determine that an object being stored in a storage bay has been requested to determine whether an object is to be moved; and

determine a route from a storage bay to an object release port to determine a route.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein the processor is operable to select an elevator in a grid-patterned layout of bays and elevators to determine a route.

107. The system of claim 105, wherein the processor is operable to analyze release port occupancy to determine a route.

108. The system of claim 105, wherein the processor is further operable to control movement of an object from a storage bay to an object release port.

109. The system of claim 108, wherein, to control movement, the processor is operable to:

monitor the position of the object;

issue commands to move the object; and

control movement of a transportation subsystem to receive the object.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the processor is further operable to control centering of the object on the transportation subsystem based on the outer dimensions of the object.

111. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is operable to control movement of an object across an elevator shaft to control movement of an object.

112. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is operable to control loading of an object on a preselected elevator to control movement of an object.

113. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is further operable to control decoupling of an elevator object support platform from an elevator before loading an object.

114. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine along which of two axes to load an object on an elevator; and

control loading along the selected axis.

115. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether a selected object release port is occupied; and

if the selected object release port is occupied, control movement of the object to a second object release port.

116. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine along which of two axes to unload an object from an elevator; and

control unloading along the selected axis.

117. The system of claim 108, wherein the processor is further operable to control dismounting of an object from an object transportation frame.

118. The system of claim 81, wherein the processor is operable to:

determine that a container being stored in a storage bay has been requested to determine whether an object is to be moved; and

determine a route from a storage bay to an object access location to determine a route.

119. An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions operable to cause one or more machines to perform operations comprising:

determining whether an object is to be moved; and

if an object is to be moved, determining a route based on object storage system movements already in progress.

120. The article of claim 119, wherein the movements comprise simultaneous multi-task movements.

121. The article of claim 119, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to analyze object storage system movements waiting to commence to determine a route.

122. The article of claim 119, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to analyze one or more criteria to determine a route.

123. The article of claim 119, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine that an object has been received for storage at an object receiving port to determine whether an object is to be moved; and

determine a route from an object receiving port to an object storage bay to determine a route.

124. The article of claim 123, wherein, to determine a route from an object receiving port to an object storage bay, the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to:

select a bay in a grid-patterned layout of bays and elevators; and

select an elevator in the grid-patterned layout.

125. The article of claim 124, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to analyze storage bay occupancy to select a bay.

126. The article of claim 124, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to move an object from an object receiving port to a selected storage bay.

127. The article of claim 126, wherein, to move an object, the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to:

monitor the position of the object;

move the object; and

move a transportation subsystem to receive the object.

128. The article of claim 126, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to mount an object on an object transportation frame.

129. The article of claim 128, wherein, to mount an object on an object transportation frame, the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to:

expand the frame to receive wheels on a first object axis; and

contract the frame to engage the wheels.

130. The article of claim 126, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to move an object to a preselected elevator to move an object.

131. The article of claim 130, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to move an object along two different horizontal axes to move an object to a preselected elevator.

132. The article of claim 131, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to transfer an object between transportation systems for two different horizontal axes to move an object along two different horizontal axes.

133. The article of claim 123, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to center an object for at least one horizontal transportation system based on the outer dimensions of the object.

134. The article of claim 123, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine how to orient an object for an object release port; and

reorient the object in conformance with the determined orientation.

135. The article of claim 123, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to decouple an elevator object support platform from an elevator before loading an object.

136. The article of claim 123, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine along which of two horizontal axes to unload an object from an elevator; and

unload along the selected axis.

137. The article of claim 123, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to move an object from an elevator to an entrance of a selected storage bay.

138. The article of claim 137, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to horizontally deposit an object in a selected storage bay.

139. The article of claim 119, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine that an object being stored in a storage bay has been requested to determine whether an object is to be moved; and

determine a route from a storage bay to an object release port to determine a route.

140. The article of claim 139, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to select an elevator in a grid-patterned layout of bays and elevators to determine a route.

141. The article of claim 139, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to analyze release port occupancy to determine a route.

142. The article of claim 139, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to move an object from a storage bay to an object release port.

143. The article of claim 142, wherein, to move an object, the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to:

monitor the position of the object;

move the object; and

move a transportation subsystem to receive the object.

144. The article of claim 143, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to center the object on the transportation subsystem based on the outer dimensions of the object.

145. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to move an object across an elevator shaft to move an object.

146. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are operable to cause one or more machines to load an object on a preselected elevator to move an object.

147. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to decouple an elevator object support platform from an elevator before loading an object.

148. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine along which of two axes to load an object on an elevator; and

load along the selected axis.

149. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine whether a selected object release port is occupied; and

if the selected object release port is occupied, move the object to a second object release port.

150. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine along which of two axes to unload an object from an elevator; and

unload along the selected axis.

151. The article of claim 142, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to dismount an object from an object transportation frame.

152. The article of claim 119, wherein the instructions are further operable to cause one or more machines to:

determine that a container being stored in a storage bay has been requested to determine whether an object is to be moved; and

determine a route from a storage bay to an object access location to determine a route.

153. An object storage system, the object storage system comprising:

an object transportation frame comprising;

two parallel outer frame members, the outer frame members operable to engage wheels on an axis of an object; and

a telescopic device coupled between the outer frame members, the telescopic device operable to allow the outer frame members to controllably expand relative to each other.

154. The system of claim 153, wherein the telescopic device comprises:

two arms, one arm coupled to one of the outer frame members, the other arm coupled to the other outer frame member; and

a locking housing coupled to the arms, the locking housing operable to allow the arms to controllably extend.

155. The system of claim 154, wherein:

the arms comprise teeth; and

the locking housing comprises a detent that controllably meshes with the teeth.

156. The system of claim 153, wherein the object transportation frame comprises movement devices to allow movement of the frame along two horizontal axes.

157. The system of claim 156, wherein the first horizontal axis and the second horizontal axis are orthogonal to each other

158. The system of claim 156, wherein the movement devices comprise:

rollers for facilitating movement along the first horizontal axis; and

rollers for facilitating movement along the second horizontal axis.

159. The system of claim 158, wherein the rollers are connected to the outer frame members.

160. The system of claim 156, wherein the movement devices comprise:

a sprocket chain for facilitating movement along the first horizontal axis; and

a sprocket chain for facilitating movement along the second horizontal axis.

161. The system of claim 160, wherein the sprocket chains are connected to the outer frame members.

162. The system of claim 153, wherein the outer frame members are adapted to support the wheels of an object.

163. The system of claim 153, wherein the axis comprises an axle of a vehicle.