Load handling method and system
AssigneeKone Corporation
InventorsJukka Pohjonen, Pekka Heikkila, Jouko Tolonen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of and system for handing variable sized loads by transferring the loads between a storage base and a transport base by engaging a portion of at least one engagement member, e.g. a suction cup, with an engagement surface on a side or end of a load, and displacing the engagement member to thereby pull a load onto the transport base for transport by the transport base or to push a load from the transport base onto the storage base. The engagement surface has a size at least equal to that of the portion of the engagement member. The system includes a system for determining load position and size.
Claims10
A system for handling a plurality of loads in a warehouse shelving arrangement having a plurality of shelves for storing respective loads, said system comprising:
- (a) a travelling base laterally displaceable with respect to said shelving arrangement;
- (b) elevating means disposed on said travelling base;
- (c) a transport base operably mounted on said elevating means, said transport base being laterally and vertically displaceable by means of said travelling base and said elevating means, respectively, between operative positions opposite respective storage shelves, said transport base including:
- (c1) a conveyor drivably mounted on said transport base for movably supporting a load;
- (c2) an engagement unit operatively disposed above said conveyor for movably engaging the load;
- (c3) an engagement member movably mounted on said engagement unit for linear movement in a direction toward and away from the storage shelf;
- (c4) at least one engagement means disposed on said engagement member, said engagement means being operatively engageable with a surface of the load for moving the load between said transport base and a respective shelf;
- and
- (c5) position detecting means disposed on said transport base for detecting a position of the load on said conveyor with respect to said transport base, said engagement unit and said storage shelf, said position detecting means being vertically displaceable with respect to said conveyor means for detecting a height of the load on said conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.