WO2023220780A1 - Améliorations apportées à des systèmes logistiques - Google Patents

Améliorations apportées à des systèmes logistiques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023220780A1
WO2023220780A1 PCT/AU2023/050415 AU2023050415W WO2023220780A1 WO 2023220780 A1 WO2023220780 A1 WO 2023220780A1 AU 2023050415 W AU2023050415 W AU 2023050415W WO 2023220780 A1 WO2023220780 A1 WO 2023220780A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vertical position
platform member
platform
generally
upright support
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2023/050415
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Parag Gajanan KORGAONKAR
Original Assignee
Contech Engineering Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2022901310A external-priority patent/AU2022901310A0/en
Application filed by Contech Engineering Pty Ltd filed Critical Contech Engineering Pty Ltd
Publication of WO2023220780A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023220780A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/52—Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices
    • B65G47/64—Switching conveyors
    • B65G47/641—Switching conveyors by a linear displacement of the switching conveyor
    • B65G47/643—Switching conveyors by a linear displacement of the switching conveyor in a vertical plane
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/34—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor 
    • B65G47/46—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points
    • B65G47/51—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
    • B65G47/5104—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G1/00—Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
    • B65G1/02—Storage devices
    • B65G1/04—Storage devices mechanical
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G41/00—Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
    • B65G41/001—Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames with the conveyor adjustably mounted on the supporting frame or base
    • B65G41/003—Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames with the conveyor adjustably mounted on the supporting frame or base mounted for linear movement only

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in logistics systems, and to apparatus and methods used in the manufacture and/or movement of goods from one location to another. It has particular, although not exclusive application to apparatus and equipment used in the manufacture or movement of commercial goods such as packaged food products (such as cases containing bottles or cans of soft drinks, by way of example). The background to the invention will therefore be described by way of example with specific reference to this application of the invention, to which its use is particularly suited.
  • Cans or bottles of a soft drink beverage are not usually dispensed from a manufacturing plant individually for delivery to commercial customers. Rather, they are typically aggregated into packages that contain two or more units of the can (or bottle, as the case might be, in the case of bottled soft drinks). It is commonplace in modern manufacture for cans or bottles of a soft drink product to be aggregated into packages that - for example - contain one or two dozen units of the product.
  • the cans or bottles that are so aggregated are typically packaged in cardboard boxes or through the use of plastic wrapping materials (such as plastic shrink-wrapping).
  • the cases/cartons must then be moved and presented to a dispatch point in the logistics system concerned, so that they may then be transported onwards to the desired locations (ie, to customers and/or distributors/re-sellers of the goods). Even at this stage in the manufacturing or logistical process, achieving efficient throughput for mass-produced goods is essential in modern business.
  • the equipment may take the form of an inclined ramp that gradually raises or lowers the object by gradually elevating it via an inclined ramp so as to convey the object from one location to another.
  • an alternative design that has been used for such a conveyor is a spiral-ramp.
  • the company’s web site at the address https://www.radiforz.com/spiral-conveyor provides additional details of its spiral conveyor designs.
  • this approach also requires a not inconsiderable amount of floor space.
  • the approach generally takes the form of a rotatable belt when viewed in side elevation.
  • This approach is generally referred to in the art as a “vertical belt conveyor system”).
  • the “belt” component additionally contains a plurality of platforms that are mounted on and spaced apart around the belt, each of which projects outwardly from the belt. This arrangement effectively defines a carousel (containing multiple platforms on which goods may temporarily be loaded) that is designed to be rotated around an axis located within the loop defined by the belt.
  • each of the platforms is configured so that in use of the apparatus, during such time as a given platform is disposed in a generally horizontal orientation relative to the ground while the belt rotates around the axis, the platform is capable of receiving and carrying an object (such as a package containing cans or bottles of soft drink).
  • an object such as a package containing cans or bottles of soft drink.
  • a goods item such as, for example, a package containing an aggregated quantity of soft drink cans or bottles
  • a goods item such as, for example, a package containing an aggregated quantity of soft drink cans or bottles
  • the belt is rotated by a motor that cooperates with a shaft which in turn rotates the belt around the axis defined by the shaft.
  • Such movement of the belt achieves vertical movement, in turn, of the platforms located on the belt, around the axis.
  • the platform on which the package was placed at the input feed height will move either up or down from that height, depending on the direction in which the belt is rotated.
  • the platform on which the package was loaded can be moved up or down to another height (ie, to the output height), at which point, the package can - as desired - be removed from the platform and processed further according to subsequent logistics steps as might be desired in a given instance.
  • further platforms will eventually be moved to the desired starting position, and when located in that position, second and subsequent packages can be loaded sequentially onto the platforms, and eventually unloaded as and when desired.
  • the Qimarox apparatus has a relatively large spatial “footprint”, in terms of the ground space area that it occupies.
  • Manufacturing plants, warehouses and distributions facilities are by their very nature, spatially finite, where floor space is often at a premium, due to the number and array of logistics equipment and componentry that must be located within them.
  • ground floor space of necessity finds expression in the cost of the land on which any item is built or housed.
  • a vertical overhead belt conveyor occupies more rather than less ground floor space, its footprint will of necessity impact on what other equipment and facilities can be located in the remaining space.
  • a typical condition would be that upon the lease coming to an end, the operator of the facility (ie, the tenant) would have to “make good” (ie, it would have to restore the premises to their original condition, before the excavations). This is a typical requirement of many commercial leases, and is by no means a trivial obligation for any tenant to have to meet.
  • Case elevators that incorporate a rotatable belt drive mechanism to move platforms either up or down typically use a chain that contains multiple links as part of the mechanism in order to rotate the belt (and thus, to rotate adjacent platforms on the rotatable belt).
  • the height difference between adjacent platforms on the belt drive mechanism is of necessity defined by the dimensions of the individual links (and on the space that the links occupy when coupled to one another).
  • the spatial dimensions of the individual links and of their linkage couplings in turn, of necessity, define the spacing between adjoining platforms on the belt assembly, and thus, consequently impact on (a) the vertical height of objects that can be loaded onto a given platform in the assembly, and (b) the total vertical height of the rotatable belt assembly (and as to how many platforms the belt can contain).
  • the present invention generally provides an apparatus for moving an object from a first vertical position to a second vertical position, the apparatus comprising:
  • each of the first platform member and the second platform member comprises or defines a generally planar upper surface, and where the generally upright support means support or locate:
  • the generally upright support means would take the form of a three-dimensional frame element or like structure.
  • the generally upright support means will be described with specific (although non-limiting) reference to this particular broad embodiment of the invention.
  • the upright support means could comprise one or more walls or like upstanding structures of a building or a like structure (or structures, where applicable) that support or locate:
  • the generally upright support means could, for example, take the form of two opposed upright walls of a building spaced in parallel to one another, and the first and second platform members could be mounted horizontally at the first vertical position so as to be supported between those two walls.
  • Such an arrangement would define a generally upright three-dimensional open enclosure for supporting and locating the first and the second platform members as apprehended by the apparatus aspects of the invention, and for carrying out the methods or process aspects of the invention.
  • the arrangement of the features in such an embodiment would also provide means for the vertical movement of the second platform member to the second (and any subsequent) vertical position in accordance with the invention (such as, for example, a vertical lifting or pulley means for raising or lowering the second platform member).
  • the arrangement could also provide means for the object to be placed on the first platform member, and for the object to be removed from or to exit the apparatus once it has been moved to the second (or a subsequent desired) vertical position.
  • the generally upright support means could comprise one upright wall of a building or like structure, in combination with a partial frame element that cooperates with the wall so as to define an otherwise open enclosure which supports or locates:
  • the generally upright support means could comprise a single wall, which supports a three-sided frame element, so that between them, the wall and the three-sided frame element define a generally upright three-dimensional open enclosure, on which the first and second platform members are in turn located and supported for use so as to carry out the methods or process aspects of the invention.
  • the first vertical position is a position which is lower in vertical height relative to the second vertical position (in which case, in use of the apparatus of the present invention, when the object is moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the object is elevated to a higher vertical position than the first vertical position); or
  • the first vertical position is at a greater vertical height relative to the second vertical position (in which case, in use of the apparatus, when the object is moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position, the object is moved to a lower vertical position than the first vertical position).
  • the generally upright support means may take the form of or comprises a generally rectilinear three dimensional structure on which each of the first and the second platform members is located (or with which either of or both the first and/or the second platform members is otherwise associated).
  • the generally upright support structure takes the form of a generally open enclosure structure, such as a frame element.
  • the frame element takes the form of an upright structure that comprises four sides.
  • the generally upright support means may take alternative forms to that of such a frame.
  • the second platform member is located on, or is associated with the generally upright support means in such a way that it (and thereby, an object loaded upon the second platform member) may be moved from the first vertical position to the second vertical position (or vice-versa, where applicable).
  • the arrangement might be that the first platform member is also configured for such vertical movement, in addition to the configuration of the second platform member to undergo such movement.
  • each of the first and the second platform members comprises a structure that generally defines an upper horizontally disposed planar surface on which the object to be moved may be received, temporarily stored, and then moved in accordance with the movement means discussed hereafter.
  • Each of the first and the second platform members comprises means (also called “horizontal movement means”) for moving the object horizontally as between the first and the second platform members.
  • the horizontal movement means may comprise providing either or both of the first and the second platform members with one or more rollers upon which the object may be received (and after being received on either platform member, then subsequently moved horizontally along the general planar surface of that platform member).
  • the arrangement of the one or more rollers in the first and/or the second platform members could be such that when actuated to roll by suitable actuation means, the roller (or each of the rollers, where more than one roller is used in a given embodiment) would rotate about an axis within or generally parallel to the plane of the horizontally disposed planar surface, in such a way as to move the object horizontally from an initial location (being a location on the first platform member) to a subsequent location (being a location on the second platform member).
  • each of the first and the second platform members would comprise two or more rollers which, so that acting in cooperation within a given such platform member, the two or more rollers would define the horizontally disposed planar surface on the platform member concerned (and in turn, the upper surface of the general plane extending between the two members when they act in cooperation to define that general plane).
  • each of the two or more rollers within a given platform member would rotate so as by cooperative action between them, to roll (and in so doing, thereby) move the object horizontally between the first and the second platform members in the direction desired.
  • the upper surface of either the first or the second platform members could be static, and different horizontal movement means could be deployed for moving the object as between the first and the second platform members.
  • the horizontal movement means could take the form of or could comprise any of the following:
  • Such alternative horizontal movement means could - optionally - also be deployed in addition to the roller means discussed previously, as might be desired in individual embodiments.
  • the choice of which means should be deployed in a given embodiment in order to move the object horizontally between the initial and the subsequent location would be a matter which the Applicant envisages that ordinary persons of skill in the art would be able to apprehend and determine.
  • the apparatus moves the object horizontally to the subsequent location, it must then be moved from the first vertical position to a second vertical position.
  • the apparatus additionally comprises means for elevating or lowering the second platform member to the second vertical position, after the object has been moved from the first platform member.
  • the means for raising or lowering the second platform member vertically could optionally also comprise sensor means for detecting when the object has been moved from the first platform member to the second platform member at the first vertical position (and thus, such sensor means could be used to determine when the object is ready to be moved vertically to the second position).
  • sensor means for detecting when the object has been moved from the first platform member to the second platform member at the first vertical position (and thus, such sensor means could be used to determine when the object is ready to be moved vertically to the second position).
  • Such means could - optionally - be coupled with, or would cooperate with, means for actuating the movement of the second platform member from the first to the second vertical position, once the sensor means detect the arrival of the object at the second platform member (or at a predetermined or designated location at the first vertical position) after the object has been moved from the first platform member.
  • the Applicant envisages that the nature of suitable detection means for this general purpose would be apparent to those of skill in the art.
  • the apparatus would be configured such that once the second platform member is moved to the second vertical position:
  • a third platform member is also located at that second vertical position, such that when the second platform member arrives at the second vertical position, the second and the third platform members would generally be aligned at the second vertical position so as to define a general horizontal platform extending between them;
  • the second platform member would additionally be configured so as to be able to move the object horizontally in the second vertical position, to the third platform member.
  • movement of the object in the second vertical position from the second to the third platform member could be achieved in any of the ways (discussed previously) by which horizontal movement of the object as between the first platform member to the second platform member is achieved at the first vertical position.
  • the third platform member (or an adjoining platform member) could optionally be configured so as to be elevated or lowered to a yet further (or “third”) vertical position. At such a third vertical position:
  • the apparatus could comprise a “further” (or “fourth”) platform member also located at that third vertical position, such that when the third platform member (or an adjoining platform member) arrives at the third vertical position, the third (or adjoining) and the further platform members would generally be aligned at the third vertical position so as to define a general horizontal platform extending between them; and
  • the third (or adjoining) platform member would additionally be configured so as to be able to move the object horizontally in the third vertical position, to the further platform member.
  • the apparatus comprises:
  • the invention generally allows an apparatus to be created having as many vertically located platforms as are desired in a given application, so that objects may be moved from one vertical position to another, as desired.
  • This schema thus allows the invention to be used to customise the movement of objects in vertical dimensions either up or down, with considerably greater design flexibility than has previously been possible.
  • the number of platforms that an apparatus in accordance with the invention may comprise is not constrained by the limitations of the belt- or chain- driven mechanisms (previously described) that until now, have had to be used.
  • an apparatus constructed in accordance with these features of the invention would be capable of continuous or repeated operation, under either manual, partially automated or completely automated control, so that in any given period of time, multiple (and indeed, ideally, many) objects could be moved as desired in given applications of the invention.
  • the operation of such an apparatus would be controlled by suitable control means.
  • control means In the context of modern technologies that operate or control logistics systems, such means would invariably comprise appropriate computer hardware and software elements and/or appropriate servomechanisms. The Applicant believes that the nature of such control mechanisms would be apparent to ordinary persons of skill in the field of the invention.
  • additional monitoring and control means could also be used in association with the invention.
  • additional monitoring and control means would include, by way of example, monitoring and detection systems to provide feedback to either a human being or team, or to a computer-controller system, on predetermined facets of the performance of the apparatus or system.
  • an “object” is generally any physical object of the kind that is desired to be moved from one location to another.
  • an object for this purpose may be either a finished, an unfinished or a partially finished goods item (such as, by way of example of a partially finished object, a pre-manufactured component for use in the manufacture of an electrical or electronic product, where the component is desired to be moved from one location to another within a manufacturing facility).
  • the object may be either a filled or an empty container for another item.
  • the object could be either an empty can or bottle intended to be filled with a beverage, a foodstuff, a pharmaceutical composition or a chemical substance (or alternatively again, the object could be a container already filled with any such material) that is desired to be moved from one location to another as part of a manufacturing facility or logistics system.
  • the object could be a package that contains one or more containers filled with a foodstuff, a beverage, a pharmaceutical composition or a chemical substance.
  • an apparatus in accordance with the invention could, for example, be used to move packages or cartons filled with manufactured bottles of a beverage item, such as an alcoholic beverage or a non-alcoholic beverage (such as cartons containing bottles of soft drink).
  • a beverage item such as an alcoholic beverage or a non-alcoholic beverage (such as cartons containing bottles of soft drink).
  • the object may be initially received on the apparatus by appropriate means.
  • means that could be suitable for use in accordance with the invention include manually placing the object(s) on the first platform member at the first vertical position, or by using mechanised means for presenting the object, or (as would be more typical in modern manufacturing and logistics processes) multiple objects to the first or initial platform member at the first vertical position.
  • the objects would be presented sequentially to the first or initial platform member at the first vertical position by using a conveyor means or by similar means.
  • suitable means could be provided so that the object(s) may exit the apparatus and progress to its/their desired next location.
  • suitable means for this purpose could include chutes, conveyor means or claw means for picking up the object(s) and placing it/them on or onto a desired output means (such as a conveyor belt, a pallet forming apparatus or system, or - in some instances - even directly onto a delivery vehicle for transporting the object(s) elsewhere).
  • a desired output means such as a conveyor belt, a pallet forming apparatus or system, or - in some instances - even directly onto a delivery vehicle for transporting the object(s) elsewhere.
  • the Applicant believes that the nature of suitable means for use in removing the object(s) from the apparatus for onward processing would, in any given embodiment, be evident to ordinary persons of skill in the field of the invention.
  • the present invention generally provides a method or process for moving an object from a first vertical position to a second vertical position, the method comprising the following steps: providing an apparatus that comprises:
  • a generally upright support means or structure along a vertical dimension of which, two or more vertical positions are or may be defined;
  • the platform members are adapted to co-operate with one another so as to define a generally horizontal planar surface extending between them at a given vertical position, on which an object may be received and across which it may be moved;
  • one of the platform members comprises means for receiving the object at an initial location on its planar surface
  • the initial platform member comprises means for moving the object to a subsequent location at that vertical position, where the subsequent location is one at the second (or a secondary) platform member at that vertical position;
  • the secondary platform member comprises means for moving the object to a subsequent vertical position (where the subsequent vertical position is either higher or lower than the first vertical position);
  • the present invention generally provides a method or process for moving an object from a first vertical position to second vertical position in an apparatus of the kind previously described, the method or process comprising the following steps:
  • the generally upright support means may take the form of a frame element or any of the other forms that this feature may take, as described earlier.
  • the method or process may be used so as to move the object (or two or more, and preferably, many objects) not only to a second vertical position, but also to third and subsequent vertical positions. And it is also preferred in the method or process aspects of the invention, that the method or process may be capable of being performed repeatedly or even continuously, so as to enable the movement of many objects during a given unit of time.
  • the present invention provides a system for moving an object from a first to second or subsequent vertical position, in an apparatus of the kind previously described.
  • the system comprises an apparatus that includes: (1 ) a generally upright support means, along a vertical dimension of which, two or more vertical positions are or may be defined;
  • the platform members co-operate with one another so as to define a generally horizontal planar surface extending between them at a given vertical position, on which an object may be received and across which it may be moved;
  • one of the platform members comprises means for receiving the object at an initial location on its planar surface
  • the first platform member comprises means for moving the object to a subsequent location at that vertical position, where the subsequent location is one at the second (secondary) platform member at that vertical position;
  • the secondary platform member comprises means for moving the object to a subsequent vertical position (where the subsequent vertical position is either higher or lower than the first vertical position);
  • the generally upright support means may take the form of a frame element or any of the other forms that this feature may take, as described earlier.
  • Fig 1 depicts an apparatus (generally denoted as (1 ) in the accompanying drawings), for moving an object (denoted 3) from a first vertical position to a second vertical position.
  • apparatus (1 ) comprises a generally upright three-dimensional support structure in the exemplary form of a frame element (5), and several horizontal platforms (denoted (7), (9), (11 ) and (13), respectively). Views of the apparatus in various different orientations are depicted in Fig 2, and the view in each orientation depicted is identified in Fig 2.
  • the upright frame element (5) has a generally rectilinear three-dimensional frame portion (6), defined by each of four upright post elements (8), and cross-braced by horizontal members (generally denoted as (10)).
  • the illustrated frame (5) at the base of each upright post (8), there is a foot (15) provided to engage an underlying floor or ground surface (37).
  • the configuration of the posts (8) and cross-braces (10) is such as generally to define a rectilinear and upright three-dimensional open enclosure (denoted 17) within the boundaries of frame element (5).
  • the frame element (5) is associated with several platforms (denoted (7), (9), (11 ) and (13) respectively in the accompanying drawings).
  • the first (and lowermost) platform (7) comprises two separate platform members (denoted (27) and (29) respectively in the accompanying drawings).
  • each of the platform members (27) and (29) defines a generally flat upper surface (31), bounded on two opposed sides (denoted (28) and (30) respectively) by a pair of oblong polygonal flanges (each denoted (33)) spaced in parallel to one another, such that the flat upper surface (31 ) is rectilinear in shape when viewed in plan.
  • the generally flat upper surface (31 ) is defined by the prevailing upper facing surfaces (32) of a series of spaced rollers (34) arranged in parallel between the spaced pair of side boundary flanges (33).
  • the arrangement of these partial platforms (27) and (29) is generally so as to define a flat upper surface (31 ) constituted by the rollers (34), which rotate in the direction shown by the arrow 47A, so as, in use of apparatus (1 ), effectively to achieve horizontal movement of an object (3) placed on the flat upper surface (31 ), in the direction shown by the arrow (58).
  • each of the platform members (27) and (29) is associated with the frame element (5) and located at a first vertical position (35). From Fig 1 , it will be seen that the first platform member (27) is associated with the frame element (5) by being secured to two upright posts ((8A) and (8B)) of the fame element (5). As Figs 3 and 4 show, the second platform member (29) is, in contrast, associated with the frame element (5) by being secured to a sub-frame (77) as part of a sub-frame assembly (which, in the embodiment shown, comprises the sub-frame (77) and the second platform member (29) and the corresponding partial platform members (101 ) and (105) that lie immediately above it).
  • the sub-frame assembly (77) is configured so as to move up or down in the manner depicted in Figs 3, 4, 5 and 6 within the confines (17) of the open enclosure of the frame element (5).
  • the sub-frame assembly (77) also has several further platform members (denoted (101 ) and (105) in Figs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings) secured to it. These platform members each correspond in their physical shape, configuration and appearance to the second platform member (29), however, they are secured to the sub-frame (77) and disposed vertically above the second platform member (29) in the spaced arrangement shown in Fig 5.
  • the first platform member (27) is arranged within the confines (17) of the open enclosure defined by frame (5), in such a way that the plane (31 ) defined by its upper surface is parallel with and generally horizontal relative to the ground or floor (37) on which the apparatus (1 ) rests, and disposed at one side (38) of the open enclosure (17), such that the leading edge (39) of the first platform member (27) faces inwardly within the enclosure (17).
  • the second platform member (29) is located horizontally within the open enclosure at the first vertical position (35) in much the same manner as for the first platform member (27), except that its leading edge (41) faces inwardly towards the leading edge (39) of the first platform member (27). Between them, (and as shown more particularly in Fig 11 , the first platform member (27) and the second platform member (29) therefore cooperate so as to define a generally horizontal planar surface (43 [also 31]) located at the first vertical position and extending between the first and the second platform members, on which an object may be received, and upon which it may be stored at least temporarily.
  • each of the first (27) and the second (29) platform members defines a “partial” generally horizontal platform at the first vertical position (35), and between them, when both the “partial” platform members (27) and (29) are arranged in parallel at the first vertical position (35), they cooperate to define a generally horizontal planar surface (43) (ie, the first platform (7)) located at the first vertical position (35) and extending between the first (27) and the second (29) platform members.
  • an object (3) (such as the package or container depicted) is received at the first vertical position (35) on the upper surface (31 ) of first platform member (27).
  • the object (3) may be presented to that location by any number of suitable means.
  • means suitable for presenting an object to the first platform member at the first vertical position (35) would typically take the form of a conveyor feed, although as ordinary persons of skill in the field of the invention would readily understand, many alternative ways of presenting the object to the first platform member (27) are available (examples being manually placing the object there, or using a mechanised claw or gripping apparatus to collect and then place the object there).
  • Fig 1 , 7 and 11 also show, once an object is presented to the first platform member at the first vertical position, it is presented to the upper surface (31) of that member.
  • the rollers (34) are powered by a means (denoted 57, although not shown) that rotate a midline roller (47) [which is generally positioned at a point (49) intermediate the outlying members (53) in the series of rollers (34)] so as to rotate in the direction shown (57) around an internal spindle or axis (50), in the manner shown in Fig 11 .
  • the arrangement is that the interposed rollers (51 ) in the series (being those that are immediately next in the series to the outlying rollers (53)) are disposed so that the rollers (52) that are immediately adjacent an on each side of the midline roller (47) are sufficiently in contact with the midline roller (47), such that when the midline roller (47) is rotated, the adjacent rollers on that platform (which in the embodiment shown are passive but configured to rotate when moved by extrinsic rotation forces, such as by the rotation of midline roller (47)) are also caused, in turn, to rotate in the same direction.
  • outlying rollers (53) (which are each configured so as to be sufficiently in contact with at least one adjacent roller (52)), are also caused to rotate in unison when the midline roller (47) undergoes rotation, as described above. And as the sequence of drawings in Fig 11 shows, this synchronous movement of the rollers (34) causes the object (3) to move in the direction shown, namely, towards the second platform member (29).
  • Rotation of the midline roller (47) could be achieved by any number of suitable means, the nature of which would readily be evident to ordinary persons of skill in the art.
  • rotation of the midline roller (47) could be initiated once the presence of an object on the upper surface (31 ) of the first platform member is detected by a detection means (not shown).
  • a detection means not shown.
  • the rollers (34) would essentially be configured not to rotate or would be stationary, as desired.
  • suitable detection means for this purpose would - again - be readily understood by ordinary persons of skill in the art.
  • suitable detection means would include optical/visual detection means (which would scan for the visual presence of an object presented to the first platform member) and force/pressure sensors (which would detect when an object has physically come into contact with the first platform member (27), once the means detect that a sufficient threshold force has been applied by the object to the upper surface of that platform member).
  • optical/visual detection means which would scan for the visual presence of an object presented to the first platform member
  • force/pressure sensors which would detect when an object has physically come into contact with the first platform member (27), once the means detect that a sufficient threshold force has been applied by the object to the upper surface of that platform member.
  • combinations of two or more of these (and/or other suitable) means could be used in order to optimise the accuracy of detection.
  • the object could be placed on the first platform member by means which position it there, by (for example) applying a horizontal force to the object.
  • examples of such means would include a rod, bar or the like that is capable of moving horizontally within or into the interior enclosure (17) of the frame element (5) at the first vertical position (35), so as to move the object in a direction towards the second platform member by pushing it into position.
  • Such means could be used to present the object onto the first platform member, and - as desired - also to move it to the second platform member.
  • the means for moving the object horizontally (a) onto the first platform member, and/or (b) from the first platform member onto the second platform member could take the form of or comprise the application of a jet of air or another gas so as to apply a force which moves the object as desired.
  • the horizontal movement means for moving the object onto the first platform member and/or to the second platform member could potentially take, in specific embodiments of the invention.
  • These horizontal movement means could equally be applied so as to achieve horizontal movement of an object between adjacent platform members at the second and any further vertical positions.
  • ordinary persons of skill in the field of the invention would readily be able to identify and implement options such as these or others, without departing from the inventive concept.
  • the first platform member (27) is shown as comprising a series of rollers (34) that define the generally flat upper surface (31 ) on which the object is received.
  • a unitary rotatable belt structure (12) which in use would rotate about a spindle or axis (the spindle is not expressly depicted, although it is notionally denoted 47A in Fig 8, and the direction of rotation of the belt is notionally denoted by the arrow 57A), and thereby achieve an equivalent horizontal movement function as that of the platform member (34) shown in Figs 1 to 7 and 10 to 13, in the direction shown by the arrow 58.
  • the platform member depicted in those drawings being called a “multi-roller platen” in the remainder of this description).
  • FIG. 9 A yet further design of these “partial” platform members as used in the invention is shown in Fig 9.
  • the platform member depicted comprises a generally flat surface (31 B), which does not rotate about any axis, but which instead is a fixed and stationary structure that does not move appreciably in any horizontal direction.
  • this yet further version of the design of a partial platform or platen could be used in an apparatus according to the invention either in place of all the platform members, or for some of them.
  • the horizontal movement means for moving the object as between adjacent partial platforms would generally comprise extrinsic means such as a rod, bar or slider to move the object horizontally as desired at any given vertical position (or by using a jet of air or gas in order to achieve such movement).
  • the second platform member (and indeed, any “receiving” platform member) could be configured in such a way that once the object has moved sufficiently in a horizontal direction from the first (or “initial”) platform member to the second (or any “receiving”) platform member further horizontal movement of the object is discouraged or prevented.
  • the same outcome could be ordained once the object has moved horizontally from the first or initial platform member to a predetermined location on the second or receiving platform member, Such an outcome could be achieved in any of a number of different ways.
  • sensor means could be provided on or for use in association with the second/receiving platform member, in order to detect once a sufficient or predetermined horizontal movement of the object has taken place at the first (or other) vertical position, such that further such horizontal movement is no longer desired.
  • sensor means could also be configured to cooperate with means that prevent such further horizontal movement of the object, such as - for example - by providing a detent means on or to cooperate with the second platform member, so as to inhibit or prevent further movement of the object.
  • the various exemplary forms of horizontal movement means described above serve to move the object from the first platform member to the second platform member at the first vertical position. Once the object reaches the second platform member, further movement of the object is required, however the next significant movement step performed by the apparatus is to move the object from the first vertical position to a second vertical position.
  • the second vertical position may be located either above or below that of the first vertical position.
  • the second vertical position (61 ) is in each instance shown as being above (that is, vertically higher than) the first vertical position.
  • the movement from the first to the second vertical position may instead be downwards relative to the first (or earlier) vertical position.
  • the apparatus (1 ) then moves it to the second vertical position (61 ), which (as indicated in the last paragraph) is - in the illustrated embodiment - a position higher than the first vertical position.
  • the second platform member (29) is secured to a sub-frame assembly (77).
  • the sub-frame assembly (77) is in turn mounted on the frame element (5) in such a way as enables it to move upwards (and downwardly) relative to the frame, as desired in a given phase of operation of the apparatus (1 ).
  • the sub-frame (77) could be mounted within the interior enclosure (17) of the frame element (5), so as - for example - to be able to slide vertically up and down within the frame element, as desired. As Figs 15 to 17 show, this could be achieved by - for instance - providing each of the two posts (53) of the sub-frame (77) with a coupling sleeve (55) which engages both the post of the sub-frame (77), and a track (58A) associated with the adjacent post (8) of the frame element (5).
  • the interior portion (59) of coupling sleeve (55) comprises a spaced pair of channels (59A) in which ball bearings (60) are fitted, which bear against the rail/track (58A) so that the sub-frame is able to slide vertically up and down relative to the posts (8) onto which the sub-frame is mounted.
  • Vertical sliding movement of the sub-frame (77) relative to the frame (5) is therefore enabled by an arrangement such as this.
  • the sub-frame assembly (77) is mounted for vertical sliding movement by reference to a rail or track (58A) that comprises ball bearings
  • a rail or track (58A) that comprises ball bearings
  • the track (58) could - for example - comprise internal wheels.
  • the exemplary apparatus in any event additionally comprises means (not shown) for raising or lowering the sub-frame assembly.
  • Such means could, by way of example, be or comprise a pneumatic or hydraulic lifting or lowering system, a pulley system, or an alternative mechanical or electromechanical means for raising or lowering the sub frame as desired for the intended use of the apparatus in a given instance.
  • the apparatus would also comprise detent or other means - as desired in a given application or embodiment - for holding the second platform (29) when it is in the second vertical position (or in any other predetermined or desired vertical position, for that matter).
  • FIG. 18 An embodiment of an apparatus that embodies the concept of the invention, and which is configured to move an object through more than two vertical positions is depicted in Figs 18 through to 29 of the accompanying drawings.
  • a presentation means not shown, but which could, for example, be a conveyor belt or any of the other presentation means previously described
  • each of the first platform member (27) and the second platform member are provided with multiple rollers, which are actuated by extrinsic means (not shown) to roll and thereby move the object horizontally from the first platform member (27) to the second platform member (29) as shown in Figs 18 and 19.
  • the apparatus then moves the object to the second vertical position (61 ).
  • the second platform member (29) is associated with sub-frame (77)
  • the overlying platform levels (9) and (11 ) (which are also associated with the sub-frame (77), and which correspond, respectively to platform members (103) and (107)) are moved vertically in unison (as shown in Fig 20).
  • the second platform member (29) is at substantially the same vertical position as a third platform member (101 ), which is configured in essentially the same way as the first platform member (27).
  • the second platform member (29) is configured to move the object (3) horizontally towards the third platform member (101 ).
  • the horizontal movement means required for this purpose may comprise any of the means previously discussed as being suitable “horizontal movement means” for the purposes of the invention.
  • Figs 20 and 21 show, once the horizontal movement means move the object to the third platform member, the next step in the process is that the sub-frame (77) moves downwards so as to return the second platform member (29) to the first vertical position (35).
  • a fourth platform member (103) is by the same movement, brought into horizontal alignment with the third platform member (101) at the second vertical position (61 ).
  • the object (3) is then moved horizontally by the apparatus onto the fourth platform member (103) by horizontal movement means of the kind previously described.
  • Fig 24 depicts, the sub-frame is again moved upwards, so that the fourth platform member is brought into horizontal alignment at a third vertical position (111) with a fifth platform member (105).
  • the object (3) is then moved via essentially the same process performed at the second vertical position, so that, sequentially:
  • Fig 27 shows, at the third vertical position, the apparatus next moves the object (3) horizontally from the fifth to a sixth platform member (107).
  • the seventh platform member (109) also comprises a laterally disposed exit ramp extension (119), so that by virtue of horizontal movement means, when the object (3) arrives at the fourth vertical position (115), the object may - as desired - exit the apparatus (1 ) to undergo whatever further processing step or steps may be contemplated (for example, for to be transported by a conveyor belt (not shown) that receives the output from the exit ramp extension (119) and thereby moves the object to another part of a manufacturing, processing, distribution or other logistics system of which the apparatus (1 ) forms part.
  • the materials from which the components of an apparatus or system according to the invention might be made would, the Applicant believes, be readily appreciated by persons of skill in the field of the invention.
  • the basic infrastructure components such as the frame (where one is used), and the various platforms, would generally be made from metallic materials, and would - as required - typically also comprise the use of suitable plastics, rubber and other like materials typically used in such apparatus and systems.
  • an apparatus or system according to the invention would, in many instances, be capable of automated or substantially automated operation. Desirably, such an apparatus/system would also be capable of moving multiple (and indeed, many) objects (of whatever desired nature) during a given unit of time, so as to be commercially and operationally efficient. Accurate coordination of the alternating movements of the apparatus when performing the process aspects of the invention would therefore ordinarily be considered essential in most commercial applications.
  • An apparatus or system in accordance with the invention could be installed de novo in a desired facility, or alternatively could be retro-fitted to an existing facility (and, where applicable, to replace existing equipment or systems).
  • the applications of the invention are not limited either to new installations or retro-fitted facilities, but extends to both.
  • an apparatus or system of the invention would also be configured in practice so as to be capable of cooperating inter- operably with not only hardware infrastructure for the intended application(s) for which it would be used, but also with software and information technology systems that are used in modern manufacturing, distribution or logistics practice.
  • the technical use of the invention would desirably be configured in practice to interact cooperatively with, for example, software that monitors the number of units of a given object that are moved or processed by the apparatus/system (or associated systems) in unit time, and inventory control or manufacturing process control technologies.
  • Such functionality would therefore allow the use of the invention in cooperation with other modern logistics systems or technologies, to optimise the benefits of using the invention, such as those previously described.
  • a further example of an embodiment of an apparatus, system and process according to the present invention is provided by the operation of the apparatus featured in a YouTube video clip at the following address on the World Wide Web portion of the Internet: https://youtu.be/VCaHtwDVK18.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne, de manière générale, un appareil permettant de déplacer un objet d'une première position verticale à une seconde position verticale, comprenant : (a) un moyen de support généralement vertical : (b) un premier élément de plateforme situé sur ou associé au moyen de support vertical à une première position verticale, pour recevoir l'objet à cette position ; et (c) un second élément de plateforme situé sur ou associé au moyen de support généralement vertical généralement dans la première position verticale, où : lors de l'utilisation, le premier élément de plateforme et le second élément de plateforme coopèrent pour définir une surface plane généralement horizontale au niveau de la première position verticale, et le second élément de plateforme est conçu pour se déplacer de la première à la seconde position verticale. L'invention concerne en outre un système, des procédés et des processus permettant de déplacer un objet d'une première position verticale à une seconde position verticale, qui utilisent l'appareil de l'invention.
PCT/AU2023/050415 2022-05-16 2023-05-16 Améliorations apportées à des systèmes logistiques WO2023220780A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2022901310 2022-05-16
AU2022901310A AU2022901310A0 (en) 2022-05-16 Improvements in logistics systems

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WO2023220780A1 true WO2023220780A1 (fr) 2023-11-23

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6557724B1 (en) * 2000-08-30 2003-05-06 Jervis B. Webb Company Vertical conveyor
US20190127153A1 (en) * 2017-10-31 2019-05-02 Itoh Denki Co., Ltd. Lifting and lowering apparatus
US20200122935A1 (en) * 2017-06-22 2020-04-23 Itoh Denki Co., Ltd. Lifting device and sorting device
WO2020185081A1 (fr) * 2019-03-12 2020-09-17 Qimarox Patenten B.V. Système de prise de commandes comprenant un transporteur continu et procédé d'utilisation d'un tel système
CN114435921A (zh) * 2021-12-24 2022-05-06 苏州富强科技有限公司 一种产线避让输送设备

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6557724B1 (en) * 2000-08-30 2003-05-06 Jervis B. Webb Company Vertical conveyor
US20200122935A1 (en) * 2017-06-22 2020-04-23 Itoh Denki Co., Ltd. Lifting device and sorting device
US20190127153A1 (en) * 2017-10-31 2019-05-02 Itoh Denki Co., Ltd. Lifting and lowering apparatus
WO2020185081A1 (fr) * 2019-03-12 2020-09-17 Qimarox Patenten B.V. Système de prise de commandes comprenant un transporteur continu et procédé d'utilisation d'un tel système
CN114435921A (zh) * 2021-12-24 2022-05-06 苏州富强科技有限公司 一种产线避让输送设备

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