LOAD HANDLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE
Methods, systems, assemblies, and/or the like are provided. In some embodiments, an adjustable load handling system (ALHS) includes one or more load arms, wherein the one or more load arms are configured to operably engage one or more totes; a cam assembly including: a cam wheel; and a guide plate including one or more guide slots, wherein the one or more load arms are disposed within the one or more guide slots, and wherein the one or more load arms are operably engaged with the cam wheel such that a rotation of the cam wheel causes the one or more load arms to slide along the one or more guide slots relative to the cam wheel; and a motor operably engaged with the cam assembly, wherein the motor is configured to drive the rotation of the cam wheel.
1 . An adjustable load handling system (ALHS) comprising:
one or more load arms,
wherein the one or more load arms are configured to operably engage one or more totes;
a cam assembly comprising:
a cam wheel; and
a guide plate comprising one or more guide slots,
wherein the one or more load arms are disposed within the one or more guide slots, and
wherein the one or more load arms are operably engaged with the cam wheel such that a rotation of the cam wheel causes the one or more load arms to slide along the one or more guide slots relative to the cam wheel; and
a motor operably engaged with the cam assembly,
wherein the motor is configured to drive the rotation of the cam wheel.
2 . The ALHS of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator; and
a carriage,
wherein the cam assembly is disposed on the carriage, and
wherein the actuator is configured to translate the carriage relative to the one or more totes.
3 . The ALHS of claim 2 , further comprising:
a mount plate; and
a block,
wherein the cam assembly is disposed on the block,
wherein the block is disposed on the mount plate,
wherein the motor is disposed on the mount plate, and
wherein the mount plate is disposed on the carriage.
4 . The ALHS of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more load arms comprise one or more guide pins,
wherein the cam wheel defines one or more wheel tracks, and
wherein the one or more guide pins are disposed within the one or more wheel tracks, such that the rotation of the cam wheel causes the one or more pins to slide along the one or more wheel tracks relative to the guide plate.
5 . The ALHS of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a servo motor or a stepper motor.
6 . The ALHS of claim 1 ,
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a first direction causes the one or more load arms to move closer to the guide plate, and
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a second direction causes the one or more load arms to move farther from the guide plate.
7 . The ALHS of claim 1 ,
wherein the cam wheel comprises a wheel alignment hole,
wherein the guide plate comprises a plate alignment hole, and
wherein at least a portion of the motor is disposed through the wheel alignment hole and the plate alignment hole.
8 . The ALHS of claim 1 ,
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a first direction causes the one or more load arms to operably engage with the one or more totes, and
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a second direction causes the one or more load arms to refrain from operably engaging with the one or more totes.
9 . The ALHS of claim 8 , wherein the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counterclockwise.
10 . The ALHS of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more load arms comprise a first load arm and a second load arm, and
wherein the first load arm is disposed on a first side of the cam assembly and the second load arm is disposed on a second side of the cam assembly.
11 . The ALHS of claim 10 , wherein the first load arm and the second load arm are symmetrical with respect to the guide plate.
12 . The ALHS of claim 11 ,
wherein the first load arm and the second load arm are separated by a distance,
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a first direction causes the distance to decrease, and
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a second direction causes the distance to increase.
13 . An automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) comprising:
a shuttle cart assembly comprising:
a cart frame comprising one or more frame slots;
one or more load arms,
wherein the one or more load arms are configured to operably engage one or more totes;
a cam assembly comprising:
a cam wheel; and
a guide plate comprising one or more guide slots,
wherein the one or more load arms are disposed within the one or more guide slots,
wherein the one or more load arms are operably engaged with the cam wheel such that a rotation of the cam wheel causes the one or more load arms to slide along the one or more guide slots relative to the guide plate, and
wherein the cam assembly is disposed within the cart frame; and
a motor operably engaged with the cam assembly,
wherein the motor is configured to drive the rotation of the cam wheel.
14 . The ASRS of claim 13 , further comprising:
an actuator disposed within the one or more frame slots; and
a carriage,
wherein the cam assembly is disposed on the carriage, and
wherein the actuator is configured to translate the carriage relative to the cart frame.
15 . The ASRS of claim 14 , further comprising:
a mount plate; and
a block,
wherein the cam assembly is disposed on the block,
wherein the block is disposed on the mount plate,
wherein the motor is disposed on the mount plate,
wherein the mount plate is disposed on the carriage, and
wherein the carriage is disposed on the actuator.
16 . The ASRS of claim 13 ,
wherein the one or more load arms comprise one or more guide pins,
wherein the cam wheel defines one or more wheel tracks, and
wherein the one or more guide pins are disposed within the one or more wheel tracks, such that the rotation of the cam wheel causes the one or more pins to slide along the one or more wheel tracks relative to the guide plate.
17 . The ASRS of claim 13 ,
wherein the one or more load arms comprise a first load arm and a second load arm, and
wherein the first load arm is disposed on a first side of the cam assembly and the second load arm is disposed on a second side of the cam assembly.
18 . The ASRS of claim 17 , wherein the first load arm and the second load arm are symmetrical with respect to the guide plate.
19 . The ASRS of claim 18 ,
wherein the first load arm and the second load arm are separated by a distance,
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a first direction causes the distance to decrease, and
wherein the rotation of the cam wheel in a second direction causes the distance to increase.
20 . A method of adjusting a load handling system, the method comprising:
inserting one or more load arms into a guide slot of a guide plate of a cam assembly;
aligning one or guide pins of one or more load arms with one or more tracks of a cam wheel of a cam assembly;
rotating, by a motor, the cam wheel, such that the one or more guide pins travel along the one or more tracks relative to the cam wheel and the one or more load arms slide along the one or more guide slots relative to the guide plate; and
translating, by a actuator, the cam assembly relative to a cart frame of a shuttle cart.