Matrix-picking
The present invention relates to a system for storing and organizing materials comprising: at least a first tier, which comprises a plurality of storage places arranged in rows in two horizontal directions, perpendicular to each other, and serving to accommodate boxes; a plurality of boxes accommodated individually in these storage places, above the first tier at least partially an assembly area is provided; the assembly area comprises a first transport network, with a plurality of first rail tracks oriented horizontally along the first direction, adapted to accommodate mobile actuating devices along them for their transportation, a plurality of second rail tracks oriented horizontally along the second direction, the second rail tracks are arranged at least within or below the first tier and are adapted to accommodate mobile transporting devices within or below the first tier along the second rail tracks for their transportation.
1 . A system for storing and organizing materials comprising:
at least two tiers ( 100 ) arranged on top of each other, each comprising a plurality of storage places arranged in rows in two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, a plurality of boxes accommodated individually in the storage places and at least two of the tiers comprising the storage places;
a first transport network ( 120 ) with a plurality of first rail tracks ( 121 ) crosswise connected and horizontally arranged within each tier, wherein the first rail tracks are adapted to accommodate mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) for their transportation;
wherein each of the plurality of mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) is adapted to pick up, accommodate, and transport a box from a storage place and move the box along the respective first rail tracks ( 121 ) towards or away from or between the storage places of the tier ( 100 ), or any combination of these directions, wherein the mobile transporting devices are configured to carry the box while passing completely through the corresponding storage place from one side to the opposite side, wherein the first transport network of each tier is provided below the position of a storage place; and
an assembly area provided at least partially above the first tier ( 100 ), wherein the assembly area comprises a second transport network ( 140 ), with a plurality of second rail tracks ( 141 ) oriented horizontally and parallel to each other, adapted to accommodate mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) along them for their transportation, wherein each of the plurality of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) is provided with a gripper adapted to grab and transfer a box or at least some content thereof within the first tier, any further tier arranged below the first tier, or any combination of the tiers, while such box and one of the mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) are arranged above each other, wherein each of the mobile transporting devices is configured to hold the box stationary below the assembly area such that the box becomes temporarily stored on the mobile transporting device, enabling the mobile actuating device ( 170 ) to access the contents of the box while it remains on the mobile transporting device.
2 . System according to claim 1 , wherein first rail tracks ( 121 ) of a single tier are at least partially interlinked such that the mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) can move along more than one of the first rail tracks ( 121 ) and between those rail tracks.
3 . System according to claim 1 , wherein tiers that are arranged on top of each other are connected by a delivery system that grants mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) located on one tier access to another tier.
4 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the second ( 141 ) and first rail track(s) ( 121 ) have at least one point of vertical intersection that gives a direct view from the second rail track to a first rail track, allowing for transport or deployment of goods by a mobile actuating device ( 170 ), or any combination thereof to/from a mobile transporting device ( 160 ) of the first tier, and of any tier below the first tier.
5 . System according to claim 1 , wherein the movement of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) or mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) or any combination thereof is fully automated.
6 . System according to claim 1 , wherein a terminal ( 150 ) is provided that inputs and outputs boxes from the system.
7 . System of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to perform a method of storing and organizing materials by:
transporting boxes by one or more mobile transporting devices ( 160 ); and
organizing or assembling contents of the boxes by the mobile actuating devices ( 170 ).
8 . System according to claim 1 further comprising a manipulator ( 176 ) dimensioned such that it can simultaneously access two or more adjacent storage boxes, within the first tier or any further tier arranged below the first tier, and exchange the contents of the adjacent boxes via a gripper or manipulator, without relocating the manipulator.
9 . System according to claim 1 further comprising a connecting transport system configured to allow the mobile transporting devices to move independently between the tiers of the storage system, enabling transfer of boxes between different levels without manual intervention.
10 . System according to claim 1 , wherein first rail tracks ( 121 ) of a single tier are at least partially interlinked such that the mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) can move along more than one of the first rail tracks ( 121 ) and between those rail tracks, wherein tiers are arranged on top of each other and are connected by a delivery system that grants mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) located on one tier access to another tier, wherein the second and first rail tracks have at least one point of vertical intersection that gives a direct view from the second rail track to a first rail track, allowing for transport or deployment of goods by a mobile actuating device ( 170 ), or any combination thereof to/from a mobile transporting device ( 160 ) of the first tier, and of any tier below the first tier, wherein the movement of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) or mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) or any combination thereof is fully automated, wherein a terminal ( 150 ) is provided that inputs and outputs boxes from the system.
11 . System according to claim 10 , further comprising a connecting transport system configured to allow the mobile transporting devices to move independently between the tiers of the storage system, enabling transfer of boxes between different levels without manual intervention.
12 . System according to claim 10 further comprising a manipulator ( 176 ) dimensioned such that it can simultaneously access two or more adjacent storage boxes, within the first tier or any further tier arranged below the first tier, and exchange the contents of the adjacent boxes via a gripper or manipulator, without relocating the manipulator.
13 . A system for storing and organizing materials comprising:
at least two tiers ( 100 ) arranged on top of each other, each comprising a plurality of storage places arranged in rows in two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, a plurality of boxes accommodated individually in the storage places and at least two of the tiers comprising the storage places;
a first transport network ( 120 ) with a plurality of first rail tracks ( 121 ) crosswise connected and horizontally arranged within each tier, wherein the first rail tracks are adapted to accommodate mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) for their transportation;
wherein each of the plurality of mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) is adapted to pick up and accommodate at least one box from a storage place and move the accommodated box along the respective first rail tracks ( 121 ) towards or away from or between the storage places of the tier ( 100 ), or any combination of these directions, wherein the mobile transporting devices are configured to carry the box while passing completely through the corresponding storage place from one side to the opposite side, wherein the first transport network of each tier is provided below the position of a storage place;
an assembly area provided at least partially above the first tier ( 100 ), wherein the assembly area comprises a second transport network ( 140 ), with a plurality of second rail tracks ( 141 ) oriented horizontally and parallel to each other, adapted to accommodate mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) along them for their transportation, wherein each of the plurality of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) is provided with a gripper adapted to grab and transfer at least some content of a box within the first tier, any further tier arranged below the first tier, or any combination of the tiers, while such box and one of the mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) are arranged above each other; and
a connecting transport system configured to allow the mobile transporting devices to move independently between the tiers of the storage system, enabling transfer of boxes between different levels without manual intervention.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the connecting transport system comprises at least one inclined track, ramp, or lifting platform facilitating the movement of the mobile transporting devices between tiers.
15 . System according to claim 13 , wherein the connecting transport system comprises a ramp facilitating the movement of the mobile transporting devices between tiers, wherein the ramp connects the first rail tracks ( 121 ) of one tier with the first rail tracks ( 121 ) of one or more of the other tiers.
16 . System according to claim 13 , wherein first rail tracks ( 121 ) of a single tier are at least partially interlinked such that the mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) can move along more than one of the first rail tracks ( 121 ) and between those rail tracks, wherein tiers are arranged on top of each other and are connected by a delivery system that grants mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) located on one tier access to another tier, wherein the second ( 121 ) and first rail track(s) ( 121 ) have at least one point of vertical intersection that gives a direct view from the second rail track to a first rail track, allowing for transport or deployment of goods by a mobile actuating device ( 170 ), or any combination thereof to/from a mobile transporting device ( 160 ) of the first tier, and of any tier below the first tier, wherein the movement of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) or mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) or any combination thereof is fully automated, wherein a terminal ( 150 ) is provided that inputs and outputs boxes from the system.
17 . System according to claim 16 , wherein the connecting transport system comprises a ramp facilitating the movement of the mobile transporting devices between tiers, wherein the ramp connects the first rail tracks ( 121 ) of one tier with the first rail tracks ( 121 ) of one or more of the other tiers.
18 . A system for storing and organizing materials comprising:
at least two tiers ( 100 ) arranged on top of each other, each comprising a plurality of storage places arranged in rows in two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, a plurality of boxes accommodated individually in the storage places and at least two of the tiers comprising the storage places;
a first transport network ( 120 ) with a plurality of first rail tracks ( 121 ) crosswise connected and horizontally arranged within each tier, wherein the first rail tracks are adapted to accommodate mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) for their transportation;
wherein each of the plurality of mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) is adapted to pick up and accommodate at least one box from a storage place and move the accommodated box along the respective first rail tracks ( 121 ) towards or away from or between the storage places of the tier ( 100 ), or any combination of these directions, wherein the mobile transporting devices are configured to carry the box while passing completely through the corresponding storage place from one side to the opposite side, wherein the first transport network of each tier is provided below the position of a storage place;
an assembly area provided at least partially above the first tier ( 100 ), wherein the assembly area comprises a second transport network ( 140 ), with a plurality of second rail tracks ( 141 ) oriented horizontally and parallel to each other, adapted to accommodate mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) along them for their transportation, wherein each of the plurality of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) is provided with a gripper adapted to grab and transfer at least some content of a box within the first tier, any further tier arranged below the first tier, or any combination of the tiers, while such box and one of the mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) are arranged above each other; and
a manipulator ( 176 ) dimensioned such that it can simultaneously access two or more adjacent storage boxes, within the first tier or any further tier arranged below the first tier, and exchange the contents of the adjacent boxes via a gripper or manipulator, without relocating the manipulator.
19 . System according to claim 18 further comprising a connecting transport system configured to allow the mobile transporting devices to move independently between the tiers of the storage system, enabling transfer of boxes between different levels without manual intervention.
20 . System according to claim 18 , wherein first rail tracks ( 121 ) of a single tier are at least partially interlinked such that the mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) can move along more than one of the first rail tracks ( 121 ) and between those rail tracks, wherein tiers are arranged on top of each other and are connected by a delivery system that grants mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) located on one tier access to another tier, wherein the second ( 121 ) and first rail track(s) ( 121 ) have at least one point of vertical intersection that gives a direct view from the second rail track to a first rail track, allowing for transport or deployment of goods by a mobile actuating device ( 170 ), or any combination thereof to/from a mobile transporting device ( 160 ) of the first tier, and of any tier below the first tier, wherein the movement of mobile actuating devices ( 170 ) or mobile transporting devices ( 160 ) or any combination thereof is fully automated, wherein a terminal ( 150 ) is provided that inputs and outputs boxes from the system.