The role of the transfer stacker system in the automated logistics system

The stacker is the key component of Zui in the automated warehouse. It has the advantages of saving land and manpower, and the operation is quick and accurate. Its performance directly affects the capability of the entire automated warehouse system. At the same time, its cost also determines the construction of the automated warehouse. Invest. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of the management level of tobacco enterprises and the demand for cost reduction and efficiency increase, it is a problem that must be solved to construct an automated three-dimensional warehouse that can meet the needs of the system and is relatively economical.

Since the development of the stacker, its function and structure have been very mature, and the control space for the production cost of the single machine has been very limited. However, in some special fields, if a stacker can automatically run in two or more lanes and meet the system requirements, the cost of the automated warehouse will be greatly reduced.

Based on this background, the transfer stacker system came into being. In fact, it is more of a new application concept of the stacker, not just the development and innovation of the stacker.

How the transfer stacker system works

The working mode of the transfer stacker system has the following characteristics:

Straight track working mode

The working mode of the straight track section of the transfer pile stacker system is the same as that of the general straight rail stacker. The bottom frame of the stacker is equipped with two running wheels to support the weight of the whole machine. Two sets of guide wheels are arranged near the front and rear running wheels, which together with the guide wheels installed on the upper part of the column prevent the stacker from yaw and swing, and travel by motor. The wheel moves the stacker in the direction of the heaven and earth rails; the lifting platform is suspended by the hoisting wire rope. Under the driving of the lifting motor, the cargo bed is guided by the track on the surface of the column as a lifting rail, and the lifting and lowering movement of the cargo bed is completed under the traction of the wire rope. The fork motor drives a set of motion multiplying mechanism, so that the upper fork body can complete the left and right storage and take the tray movement. The three kinds of movements are respectively under the coordinated control of the electronic control system, and the loading and warehousing of the pallet load of the roadway is completed.

Transition work mode

Taking the four lanes as an example, the A1, A2, A3, and A4 sections are the straight sections of the roadway. When the stacker runs on the corresponding track, it is the same as the normal straight-track stacker; the B section is the straight section of the transition, and the sections A1 and A4. Connected by a curve, connected to the A2 and A3 sections by a railing device. The transition device includes an ab segment curved track and a cd segment straight track.

When the stacker needs to switch from the A1 track to the A2 track, the corresponding transfer device connects the ab section bend track to the A2 track and the B track straight line according to the system command, and the stacker can run to the A2 roadway for the warehousing operation. .

When the stacker needs to switch from the A1 track to the A3 track, the corresponding track device of the A2 roadway disconnects the ab segment bend track from the B track track according to the system command, and the corresponding track device of the A3 roadway bends the ab segment according to the system command. Connected to the A3 track and the B-track straight section, the stacker can smoothly run through the A2 roadway's transfer device to the A3 roadway for outbound storage.

After the system switches to the rail-changing device, the stacking machine can be switched between any lanes, and the corresponding lanes are run according to actual needs for the inbound and outbound operations.

Track layout mode and characteristics

Orbital layout mode of ordinary stacker

(1) General straight rail stacker

Generally, the straight rail stacker runs only in fixed lanes, that is, each stacker must be equipped with a stacker. Through this configuration, the inbound and outbound operations are performed at both ends of the library area, and the system's ability to enter and exit the warehouse is large, but the investment is high. Applicable to the three-dimensional warehouse system with frequent entry and exit.

(2) U-rail stacker

The U-shaped arrangement allows a stacker to run freely in two lanes without the need for rail switching. The stacker can run directly from one lane (A1) to another lane (A2). Compared with the general straight-rail stacker, under the premise of meeting the requirements of the system's capacity for entering and leaving the warehouse, only one stacker is needed for the two roadways, which saves a certain amount of capital investment, but if the stacker fails, two It is impossible to carry out the warehousing operations in the roadway. With this arrangement, the stacker can only perform the inbound and outbound operations at one end of the library.

Track layout mode of transfer stacker

The A1 roadway and the A2, A3, and A4 roadways respectively form three U-rail modes. One stacker can work in any roadway as needed. Each stacker in the layout can be mutually prepared and one can appear. In the event of a failure, other stackers can replace the job. The system can configure the number of stacking machines with fewer lanes according to actual needs. For example, four lanes can be configured with one, two, and three stackers, respectively, to meet the requirements of the system's operational capacity, to achieve configuration, and reduce system construction costs.

It can be seen from the above arrangement mode that the large advantage of the application of the transfer pile stacker system is that a small number of stackers are arranged in multiple roadways, and other stacker replacement operations can be realized when one stacker fails, thereby not affecting the material of the roadway. The inbound and outbound warehouse not only meets the automatic handling function of the automated three-dimensional warehouse, but also greatly reduces the cost. At the same time, some defects can be seen from the layout mode. For example, the inbound and outbound operations can only be performed at one end of the library. Due to the installation of the rail changing device, the library will occupy more space. Therefore, the transfer stacker system can only be used in some special automated warehouses.

Application of transfer pile stacker system

The following describes the application of the transfer stacker system in the emergency logistics system of Jinan Tobacco Factory.

According to the actual production situation, Jinan Tobacco Factory needs to establish an emergency logistics automation warehouse. The basic requirements include: 1 allowing one end of the warehouse to complete the warehousing operation; 2 arranging 8 lanes (calculated according to the stock and warehouse space structure); 3 warehousing and flow rate 200 material units/hour (common single stacking machine can handle The reasonable flow rate is about 50 material units/hour, which is slightly different according to other factors such as stacker parameters. 4) It is required that when a stacker fails, other stacking machines can replace the operation and do not affect the warehousing operation at any time. .

If you design according to the general straight rail layout, the warehouse needs to be equipped with 8 stackers. The 8 stacking machines can meet the demand capacity of the system more than twice, the stacker capacity resources are wasted, and the stacking machines between different roadways cannot be interchanged. If one fault occurs, the materials in the roadway cannot be accessed. Library work.

If the layout is arranged according to the U-shaped track, the stacking machine is equipped with 4 stacking machines, and the stacking machine capacity is just matched with the system requirements, saving 4 stacking machines compared to the general straight rail arrangement. However, if one stacker fails, there will be two lanes that cannot be used for warehousing.

In the actual design, Jinan Tobacco Factory adopted the track layout of the transfer stacker system, and 4 stacking machines were arranged in 8 lanes, which saved 4 stackers and stackers under the premise of meeting the requirements of system loading and unloading capacity. The interchangeability is very high. According to the system scheduling, it can realize the tasks that any stacker needs to complete other arbitrary stackers. The zui final solution also makes up for the shortcomings of the general straight rail layout design and the U-shaped rail layout design. Zui exerts the capacity of the stacker to a large extent, and also saves a lot of money reasonably. At present, the system has been officially put into operation and is operating well.

Prospect of the transfer stacker system

Up to now, the transfer stacker has not realized the transfer of goods, and material access has not been realized in the straight section of the transition. It is expected that the development of the stacker can solve this problem. At that time, the transfer stacker system will be able to access the materials at both ends of the warehouse, and the functions of the automated warehouse will be better developed and utilized.