GB2052457A - Warehouse installation - Google Patents

Abstract

A warehouse installation includes pigeon-holes on both sides of a warehouse corridor. A platform (24) equipped with a turntable (26) is movable the length of the corridor on rails (23). A pallet (18) permits the transfer of a load of a pigeon-hole onto the turntable (26) of the platform (24) which includes parallel bands (25) of cylindrical rollers (27) permitting the transfer of loads onto other means of transport and vice versa. The entire unit operates by remote control. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Merchandise warehouse The development of merchandise traffic, influenced by improvements in the means of transport and the widespread use of container cargo tends to promote the development of large selling spaces and great storehouses for merchandise stockpiling where the operations of accepting merchandise, stocking it, and shipping it are more or less automated.

In many cases, this merchandise arrives directly from the producer which produces it in more or less constant quantities according to his possibilities, and is shipped out in very irregular amounts according to the requirements of the market place which vary greatly according to the product under consideration and the season.

The most advanced modern means, such as perforated cards, card files, computers, etc. permit one to know at any moment where and when each product is stored, to act so that for each type of product the first items entering the store are also the first to be shipped out, to establish an inventory of products and shipments, and to greatly facilitate the management operations.

In addition, certain units permit one to determine the load of each pallet leaving at the request of the purchaser by grouping on it products which have arrived on different pallets of the same or of different sources.

In light of the cost of land and of construction, it is important that the land is well used and that the relationship between the external volume of the building containing the store and the useful stocked volume is at the minimum. In other terms, the density of the stockpiled area must be quite high.

Numerous systems have been proposed. In some cases, the volume of storage is cut away by several service corridors equipped with mechanical devices permitting direct access to all the locations situated on several floors of each side of the corridor. This system has the advantage of permitting direct access to each location of the store. The time necessary to place and remove a pallet is quite short since the unit includes enough mechanical devices. But it has the drawback of being quite burdensome, because the volume used is quite high, proportionally, because of the presence of numerous corridors, and because it becomes necessary to equip several corridors, indeed all of them, with a mechanical device to assure sufficient speed.

In other cases, the volume of storage, which has the shape of a parallelepiped rectangle, is arranged in columns, on several rows and several levels. The unit includes a carrying structure of corresponding shape on which each wagon is placed. A first corridor permits access to all the compartments of the last row and serves as the entry point for the pallets which are placed in the compartments. A second corridor placed in front of the first row of the structure is used for the exit of merchandise. Each column of the structure is slightly inclined from the rear to the front, with the wagons resting by means of an auxiliary car or includes an appropriate mechanical system so that the wagon placed in a compartment of the last row advances automatically, untii it occupies the first free compartment and arrives at the first row, where it will be unloaded.In this case, the length of each column, the products are arranged chronologically. The principle of "first in, first out" is automatically followed. This system has the advantage of speed of entry and exit and of efficient use of space, provided that the number of rows of a column of wagons is large enough. It has the drawback of requiring a mechanical system linked to a fixed structure orto wagons for moving the pallets the length of a column. The storage principle of "first in, first out" is sometimes an important handicap, because it implies that all the pallets situated in the same column include, each one, the same product, loaded in the same way, which has the drawback of calling forthe partial resupplying of numerous columns, and reduces the use of space.

Finally, warehouses have been proposed where a device circulating in a corridor permits one to retrieve no matter which stocked pallet, on several rows and on several levels, from one or two sides of a corridor. If these systems have the advantage of a good use of space and of an acceptable time for the removal of the pallet, they have the drawback of requiring complicated mechanical systems linked to the carrying structure, to unload laterally the pallets placed in the same column and before the desired one and thus making it accessible. This lateral movement is quite difficult because, according to the specific case, it may involve all the columns of pallets of the warehouse.

Refrigerated warehouses with low or extremely low temperature, when conservation occurs for example at -300C, poses, in addition to the same problems as those above, problems of an additional nature, linked to the exceptional temperature. In fact, these storehouses must simultaneously be automated to reduce or avoid the presence of personnel in the warehouse, and very reliable, because a breakdown, even a minor one, of the equipment could involve considerable damage and expensive, quite out of proportion to the value of the equipment. In addition, the use of the space must be particularly high, because the costs of maintaining the low temperature are added to the value of the space, properly speaking, and these expenses of the low temperature increase with the external surface of the warehouse.

The present invention concerns a warehouse structure of pallets arranged on several levels and aligned in several rows and columns, including a mechanical device permitting one to put a pallet in an empty compartment and to retrieve it. All of the compartments of the carrying structure may be simultaneously filled. The carrying structure is simple and is composed only of storage surfaces supported by pillars. It does not include any mechanical device or electrical device whatever for the movement of wagons in one direction or the other, nor of auxiliary trucks to be placed under each pallet.

According to the present invention, there is provided a warehouse installation for merchandise placed on wagons orin containers constituting loads including a merchandise entry zone and exit zone, which zones may be combined, comprising: a sup port structure providing transverse pigeon-holes disposed on at least one level, side by side, and aligned along the length of a longitudinal corridor, with these pigeon-holes having a storage surface for receiving the loads and on which at least a first truck rolls transversely which, at the time of entry of goods into the store, transports the loads one after the other from the corridor and places them in the pigeon-hole and vice versa at the time of their removal; this first truck having support wheels, at least one of which is driven and one part may be inserted under the load to lift it, transport it, and place it; at least a second truck is moveable along the corridor, equipped with a platform which may be brought into position as an extension of the storage surface of the pigeon-holes, on which surface the first truck rolls, which may then pass from the pigeon-hole onto the platform and vice versa, and be brought before another pigeon-hole or another means of transport, bringing the loads from the entry zone or taking them to the exit zone, the surface of the platform of the second truck being sufficiently large to receive, simultaneously, all of the loads which may be placed in a pigeon-hole; the part of thins platform on which the first truck rolls upon exit from or entry into the cell being mounted on a turntable which can pivot at least one-quarter turn on itself around a vertical axis.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is a perspective view of the support structure; Fig. 2 is a view from the end of the storage pigeon-hole; Fig. 3 is a view in perspective from the first truck; Fig. 4 is a view of the second truck for transfer of the load in a first utilization position; Fig. 5 is a view of the truck shown in Fig. 4 in a second utilization position; Fig. 6 is a transverse cutaway view of the second truck; Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal cutaway view of the second truck; Fig. 8 is a view of a corridor with a single second transfer truck with access to the pigeon-holes situated on one side of the corridor;; Fig. 9 is a view of a corridor with two second trans fertruckswith access to the pigeon-holes situated on both sides of the corridor; Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of the front of a stocking tower and of a second truck combined with a load-lifter; Fig. 11 is a view from the side of the stocking tower and a second car combined with a load-lifter; and Fig. 12 is a view of the stocking tower and of a second truck combined with a load-lifter.

Fig. 1 represents in perspective the support structure and the arrangement of various pigeon-holes where the loads may be arranged. The term "load" covers all the elements which may be used for storage and stocking merchandise placed on pallets, placed in containers, etc. The weight of these loads which is often one ton, may go up to two, even three tons according to the case. The storage space is, in the case of this drawing, divided into two partial spaces located on one side and on the other of a median plan, with each of these partial spaces being cut in two by a corridor, 1, 2. In each corridor, a first truck carried by a second truck moves to the front of the pigeon-hole constituting the head ofthe column where the compartment is located, where the pallet will be placed or removed.

Storage is done in three main directions: X(3) is a transverse direction, Y(4) is a longitudinal division, and Z(5) is a vertical direction. The two storage blocks have guide marks 6 and 7 for the first one, and 8 and 9 for the second. The letter marking of the drawing permitsthe designation of each compartment of all of the storage area, taking into account the guide mark of block 6,7,8 or 9. For example, for compartment 8, X=c, Y=f; Z=b, and these are located with precision, the guide mark 10 referring to a pigeon-hole which is in block 9 and includes the four compartments a, b, c, d according to X, d according to Y and b according to Z.

Fig. 2 shows, for the sake of example, a way of constructing the support structure. This is composed of uprights 11, which rest on the ground and carry, via elements 12, metal sheets 13, at different levels which are shown here as if they were composed of full sheets folded up at the edges 14 and 15, and reinforced by several support rods 16. The folded edges 14 and 15, may serve to guide the load 17, when it moves along the length ofthe pigeon-hole and contributes to the solidity of the entire structure.

In the case of this figure, the floor 13 of the pigeonholes is composed of a sheet, but it could be constructed differently, for example, by metal grids, which would lighten the structure. The guiding of the loads 17bytheturned up edges 14 and l5ofthe sheet 13 could also be carried out differently, especially by soldering additional rods 14' and 15' surrounding the central wood rib of the pallet 17, as shown at the top of Figure 2, or by forming, by folding the sheet 13, grooves in the transverse direction X which would guide the wheels of the first truck 18.

Fig. 3 shows one way of carrying out the first truck which has the same appearance of a well known "transpallet" truck. It is differentiated in this respect: none ofthe support wheels 20 may pivot in relation to the forks 19 and it may be guided by remote control by meansoftheconnection 21. In otherwords, this first truck may advance and withdraw, on the one hand, and lift and place a load, on theother, with these operations being done by remote control.

The truck includes one or several jacks, not visible inthe figure, acting on the wheels 20 and causing the raising or the lowering of the entire truck at the time of loading or unloading.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent one way of carrying out the second truck 22, equipped with a turntable 26. In the case of Figure 4, this table is in the transverse position, i.e. the position which corresponds to the passage of the loads of pigeon-hole 10 to the second truck 22, and vice versa. Here, the pigeon-holes are only drawn from a single side of the corridor. In con trast, Fig. 5 concerns the case where the turntable 26, is turned for the temporary storage of loads on the second truck 22, and where the second truck is used for access to pigeon-holes 10, located on both side of the corridor.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the first truck 18, carried by the second truck 22, with the turntable 26, in its transverse position, i.e. that corresponding to Fig. 4. In the case of Fig. 7, the view is partial. Truck 22, carried by four wheels, rolls on two rails 23 in the longitudinal direction of the corridor 1 or 2. Its platform 24 includes three parallel bands 25 of cylindrical rollers 27 on an axis perpendicular to these bands which facilitate the transfer of the loads which rest on them. This second truck includes in addition a turntable 26, set on truck 22 via a pivoting lug 28 which permits it to turn around an axis of vertical rotation 29. This rotation is carried out by the intermediary of a mechanical device directed by a motor.These elements have not been shown in the drawing, in order not to overload it by devices which are well known, these devices being able to be run by remote control.

The turntable 26, includes in addition two tracks 30, horizontal, whose distance from each other corresponds to that of the wheels 20 of the first truck 18.

These tracks 30, may be prolonged by passages 34, visible in Fig. 4 and 6, filling the empty space between the end ofthetracks 30 and the beginning of the rear 13 of the pigeon-hole 10. These passages 34 carried by levers 35 oscillating around a horizontal axis 36 which is of one piece with the turntable 26 may be shuttled, lowered by the effect of the lugs, not shown in the drawing, to facilitate the movement of the platform 24 as well as the rotation of the turntable. They are put in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, before the passage of the first truck of pigeon-hole 10 to the second truck 22, or vice versa.

As Fig. 6 shows, the turntable 26 includes a pole 32 carrying a winding device 33, on which are automatically wound the second end of the connection 21, the first of whose ends is attached to the first truck 18. When this truck leaves the turntable 26 of the second truck 22, to enter the pigeon-hole 10, the connection cable 21 unwinds because of the operation of the winding device 33, and vice versa when the truck returns to the second truck 22.

The operation of the unit is as follows: first bring the platform 24 in front of the pigeon-hole from which one desires to withdraw a load, and after having placed the turntable in the position corresponding to that of Figure 4, and positioned its tracks 30 and 34 at the same level and in the alignment with those of the chosen pigeon-hole, the first truck 18, leaves the platform 24, rolls on the floor of the pigeon-hole 10, and may, after having raised the load situated at the first row of this pigeon-hole, withdraw by rolling, passing from pigeon-hole 10 on the tracks 30 of the turntable 26, and this continues to the end of the course, i.e. when it runs up against the buffer 31, to occupy the position shown in Fig. 6.

In order to avoid waiting time due to the replacement of loads occupying the first rows of the pigeon-hole and placed for the time being on the left part of the truck, the right part of the second truck may be separated from it and constitute a third truck 37, whose platform 40 carries three bands 38 of rollers 39 located at the same level as the bands 25 of the second truck. This third truck 37, rolls on the same rails 23 as the second truck 22 and may be moved toward the right and carry out, without delay, the transfer of the load of the second truck toward the mechanical exit device.

Fig. 8 is a view on a smaller scale of the unit according to Fig. 4; it shows, located at the right end of the corridor, 1 a fork-lift 41, permitting one to receive the load carried by the third truck 37, and to lower it or raise it, in order to place it on another means of transport going toward the exit, or coming from the entry of the store. The platform of this forklift 41 is represented here in the form of a fork whose arms, conveniently drawn underthe load, may after a slight elevation take up the weight again, free the third truck 37, which may then be brought toward the second truck 22 for the next operation.

Fig. 9 is a view on a smaller scale of the unit according to Figs. and 6, which show the arrangement of the pigeon-holes 10, situated on one side and the other of the corridor 1, equipped with a rolling path 23. In this case, the installation includes two second trucks 22, independent of each other, each equipped with a platform 26, which may serve both sides of the corridor 1 and of a third truck 37, each going to one of the ends of corridor 1.

The doubling of these platforms and trucks permits the speeding up of the entry and exit of merchandise. The two ends of the corridor may be equipped with a fork-lift 41, not shown on the drawing, as that of Fig. 8 or of any other mechanical element assuring the transfer of merchandise toward the exit or bringing merchandise from the entrypoint.

Figs. 10,11,12 present three views, the first the front elevation, the second the side elevation, and the third a view of a mobile tower equipped with a platform constituting a second truck. In this case, the rolling path 23 is unique for each storage level; there are no others. The mechanical arrangement is com posed of a tower 42, movable the length of the rails 23, and carrying vertical supports 43, over the length of which the platform can move. This platform is composed of the same elements as the platform 24 of the second truck 22.

In this case, the third truck which was formerly movable horizontally, is placed by a fork-lift 44, which brings loads to the platform 24 or takes them from the platform to put them on a transfer device placed, for example, between the rails composing the path 23, this device not being shown in the design. The device can be composed of a moving belt or a band moving on rollers or by other known devices.

The operation of the unit is, in an overall view, the same as before. It is different, however, in this respect: the platform 29 may be brought before all of the pigeon-holes opening onto the corridor by aver- tical movement the length of the tower, and by a longitudinal movement of the tower 42 on its path 23. This tower serves the pigeon-holes located on one side of the corridor. As before, it would have been possible to equip the platform 24 with a turnt able able to serve both sides of the corridor, as shown in Figs. and 6.

Neither the drawings not the text mentions the building which surrounds the store and, if necessry, isolates it from the temperature of the surrounding air. Also, the areas where storage occurs include means for transferring the loads from the entrance to the store at the time of storage and vice versa at the time of exit of the load.

The unit may be automated in the sense that all the operations to be carried out for putting a load into a certain compartment, or its removal from this compartment, may be ordered consecutively in the desired order or sequence, for example by a compu terwhich may have a memory in which all of the operations carried out are stored. The access to this memory permits one to do the inventory of the store at any moment and to oversee the turnover of the products.

Finally, the access to the compartments of the first rows is more swift than for the compartments ofthe last rows, so it may be advantageous, at the time of the exit of a load stored in the rear of a pigeon-hole, to store in the pigeon-holes the loads which had been retrieved for the moment, as far back as possible in the pigeon-hole, which will permit the speeding up of the stocking of new loads entering the store.

Also, since the retrieval of the loads of the store is carried out according to certain plans, it is possible to envision the system of command so that, for example, during a waiting period, the mechanical device changes the order of placement of the loads in the pigeon-holes, so as to place in the first rows the loads whose retrieval is required for an approaching delivery.

Claims (11)

1. A warehouse installation for merchandise placed on wagons or in containers constituting loads including a merchandise entry zone and exit zone, which zones may be combined, comprising: a support structure providing transverse pigeon-holes disposed on at least one level, side by side, and aligned along the length of a longitudinal corridor, with these pigeon-holes having a storage surface for receiving the loads and on which at least a first truck rolls transversely which, at the time of entry of goods into the store, transports the loads one after the other from the corridor and places them in the pigeon-hole and vice versa at the time of their removal; this first truck having support wheels, at least one of which is driven and one part may be inserted under the load to lift it, transport it, and place it; at least a second truck is moveable along the corridor, equipped with a platform which may be brought into position as an extension of the storage surface of the pigeon-holes, on which surface the first truck rolls, which may then pass from the pigeon-hole onto the platform and vice versa, and be brought before another pigeon-hole or another means of transport, bringing the loads from the entry zone or taking them to the exit zone, the surface of the platform of the second truck being suffi ciently large to receive, simultaneously, all of the loads which may be placed in a pigeon-hole; the part ofthis platform on which the first truck rolls upon exit from or entry into the cell being mounted on a turntable which can pivot at least one-quarter turn on itself around a vertical axis.

2. A warehouse installation according to claim 1, in which the first truck is in the shape of a horseshoe, with its two long arms capable of being inserted under the load, eachofthese arms including a support wheel ofthe truck and at [east one lifting surface, vertically displaceable by the effect of a mechanism permitting the gentle lifting and setting down of the load.

3. A warehouse installation according to claim 1, in which the platform ofthe second truck includes mechanical transfer means permitting the movement of the loads on the platform along the axis of the corridor.

4. Awarehouse installation according to claim 1, in which the pivotally mounted part of the platform of the second truck includes mechanical means permitting it to transport the load in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the long arms of the first truck.

5. Awarehouse installation according to claim 1, in which it includes at least a third truck moveable along the corridor and equipped with a platform, the level of which corresponds to the level of the platform of the second truck, this third truck including a mechanical arrangement permitting the displacement of the loads on the second truck to the third truck and vice versa.

6. A warehouse installation according to claims 3,4 or 5, in which the mechanical transfer means for loads, on the platform of the second truck on its turntable, or on the third truck, include rollers whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to that of the corridor, said rollers being placed in a horizontal plane, arranged side-by-side to constitute at least one surface on which the displacement of loads is facilitated.

7. A warehouse according to claims 4, 5 or 6, in which at least one of the rollers of the transfer surface of the second truck, of its turntable, and/or of the third truck, is rotated buy a motor.

8. A warehouse installation according to claims 4, 5, 6, or 7, in which at least two rollers of the transfer surface of the second truck, of its turntable or of the third truck, are angularly connected to one another, via a transmission device, so that the rotation of one of the rollers causes the rotation of all of the others which are linked to it.

9. Awarehouse installation according to one of the claims 1 to 8, including several storage surfaces arranged one on the other along a corridor, each surface having its own corridor served by at least one first truck panda second truck.

10. A warehouse installation according to one of the claims 1 to 8, including several storage surfaces arranged one on the other and arranged along a corridor, the second truck being constructed as a tower which is moveable along a corridor in front of the pigeon-holes, this tower carrying the platform by the intermediary of a lifting means; this platform may be brought in front of each pigeon-hole of the warehouse installation by horizontal movement of the tower and vertical movement of the platform.

11. A warehouse installation according to claim 10, in which the tower includes a fork-lift for moving the loads vertically from the entry level toward the platform of the second truck and, respectively from this platform towards the exit.