WO2025062245A1

WO2025062245A1 - Storage system for storing products and a method of using the storage system

Info

Publication number: WO2025062245A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/058835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Domenico MARCHI
Original assignee: Marazzi Group Srl
Priority date: 2023-09-19
Filing date: 2024-09-11
Publication date: 2025-03-27

Abstract

A storage system (100) for storing products and/or semi-finished products (10), preferably slab-shaped products such as ceramic slabs, carried on supports (200), wherein said system (100) comprises: • - a plurality of uprights (110); • - a plurality of support elements (120) for the supports (200) arranged on said uprights (110) so as to define a plurality of storage positions (130) of the respective supports (200) arranged vertically in sequence along said uprights (110) to define column storage units (140); - wherein an access path (A) to said storage positions (130) is defined between said uprights (110) for said supports (200), and wherein said access path (A) is a vertical path.

Description

Storage system for storing products and a method of using the storage system.

The present invention concerns a storage system for storing products or semi-finished products. More specifically, the present invention refers to a storage system for storing slab-shaped elements such as ceramic slabs, natural- or reconstructed-stone slabs and/or wood-based panels.

As is well known, in recent years, the production of ceramic cladding and flooring has evolved toward the production of increasingly large products, moving from traditional tiles to today’s large-format slabs with sides potentially more than three meters long. The large sizes of the new formats complicate the logistical management of the production plants, which require more space for handling and/or storing the slabs.

Therefore, new solutions need to be found to maximize the storage capacity of the warehouses.

One purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, using a simple, rational, low-cost solution. These objectives are achieved by the features of the invention set out in the independent claim. The dependent claims set out preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

A first independent aspect of the invention provides a storage system for storing products and/or semi-finished products carried on supports, wherein said system includes:

- a plurality of uprights;

- a plurality of support elements for the supports arranged on said uprights so as to define a plurality of storage positions of respective supports arranged vertically in sequence along said uprights to define column storage units;

- wherein an access path to said storage positions is defined between said uprights for said supports, and wherein said access path is a vertical path. Since the column storage unit is accessed via a vertical path, the storage space can be optimized since there is no need for space beside the column storage unit for handling products and supports. Preferably, the storage system may include a plurality of column storage units adjacent to each other, for example bordering each other. For example, said column storage units are substantially in contact with each other. This enables the size of the storage system itself to be reduced. In the preferred embodiment, at least one column storage unit of the system is bordered by a column storage unit on each of the sides thereof. According to some embodiments, two adjacent column storage units may share one or more uprights.

Preferably, the storage system may comprise at least one lift designed to move at least one of said supports between the respective storage position and a free position. For example, said free position is arranged vertically beneath said storage position, preferably beneath a first and lower storage position of the column storage unit. This enables the support carrying the products to be stored to be placed in said free position, beneath the column storage unit, and from there raised to the respective storage position. In the preferred embodiment, the lift can also be designed to remove said support from the storage position thereof.

In the preferred embodiment, said uprights are fastened to a base, wherein a horizontal corridor is defined between said base and a first and lower storage position of said column storage unit. This enables the supports to be moved in said corridor beneath the column storage units, thereby obviating the need to provide said corridors between the storage units and maximizing storage capacity. In particular, the free positions of the column storage units are in communication with each other through said corridor.

In the preferred embodiment, said lift is mounted on a mobile carrier. This enables said supports to be loaded onto the carrier, for example at any position including away from the column storage unit, brought to the free position and from there raised to the storage position, and vice versa for removal, without the product having to pass between multiple carriers and/or lifts.

Preferably, said carrier may comprise a frame, movement means connected to the frame (for example wheels connected to a motor, advantageously to an electric motor) and said lift connected to the frame.

In the preferred embodiment, the lift may be mounted above the frame, partially or preferably completely overhanging it so as to minimize the footprint of the carrier.

Advantageously, said lift may be a scissor lift, preferably electrically actuated. Indeed, the scissor mechanism has the advantage of having an extremely compact retracted state, and an extended state that can reach relatively large heights. This makes the lift, especially when mounted on the carrier, compact and easy to position, or move, beneath the column storage unit. Advantageously, said mobile carrier is an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV). This means that, since the carrier does not require a driving cab, the footprint of the carrier, and therefore of the entire storage system, can be further reduced.

Preferably, said support elements comprise a moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support and a passive position in which it does not interact with said support; and/or wherein each of said supports comprises one moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support element and a passive position in which it does not interact with the respective support element. This allows the support to be locked in the respective storage position when the moveable member is in the active position. Advantageously, when the moveable member is in the passive position, the respective support is able to travel along the access path. For example, when the mobile member is in said passive position, the footprint of the support is reduced.

In the preferred embodiment, each support comprises a plurality of said moveable members.

In the preferred embodiment, in which said support comprises one or more moveable members, the support elements may comprise a bracket on which the moveable member bears, or a housing accommodating the moveable member, when in the active position.

Advantageously, each of said supports and/or of said support elements comprises means for holding said moveable member in the active position. This improves the stability of the supports in the storage positions.

Said moveable members can be advantageously actuated between the active position and the passive position by means of appropriate actuators. According to a preferred embodiment, said lift comprises said actuators. This enables the construction of the supports, as well as any maintenance on said actuators, to be simplified.

Advantageously, said supports are trays or pallets.

Advantageously, the system may comprise a control unit on which a management program for the storage system itself is installed.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said products and/or semi-finished products are slab-shaped elements such as ceramic slabs, natural- or reconstructed-stone slabs, and/or wood-based panels.

A second independent aspect of the invention provides a storage system for storing products and/or semi-finished products carried on supports, wherein said system includes:

- a plurality of uprights;

- a plurality of support elements for the supports arranged on said uprights so as to define a plurality of storage positions of respective supports arranged vertically in sequence along said uprights; wherein said support elements comprise a moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a support and a passive position in which it does not interact with said support; and/or wherein each of said supports comprises one moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support element and a passive position in which it does not interact with the respective support element. As shown, the storage system of the second independent aspect may include one or more of the features described above with reference to the first independent aspect. Furthermore, a third independent aspect of the invention provides a method of using a storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support is placed in an access position beneath said column storage element, and said support is lifted vertically to a respective storage position, and wherein said support interacts with said support elements of the respective storage position.

The carrier provided with the lift used in the system according to the first independent aspect can also be an independent solution. Hence a fourth independent aspect of the invention provides a carrier for a storage support, comprising a frame, movement elements connected to said frame, a lift for said support associated with said frame, wherein said support can be arranged above said frame.

Preferably, said carrier is an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV).

Advantageously, said lift is a scissor lift.

In the preferred embodiment of the fourth independent aspect, said lift comprises at least one actuator able to drive a moveable member of the support between a respective active position and a respective idle position.

The support provided with movable members used in the system according to the first independent aspect can also be an independent solution. Hence a fifth independent aspect of the invention provides a support for products and/or semi-finished products comprising at least one moveable member that can be moved between an active position in which it is designed to interact with a support element of a storage system and an idle position in which it is designed not to interact with said support element.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear by reading the following examples, which are provided as non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the system according to the first independent aspect of the invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the system according to the first independent aspect of the invention.

Figure 3 is a magnified view of the detail III in figure 1.

Figure 4 is a magnified view of the detail IV in figure 1.

Figure 5 is an axonometric bottom view of a support of the system in figure 1.

Figure 6 is a magnified view of the detail VI in figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side view of a carrier of the system in figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a portion of a storage system 100 for products or semi-finished products 10 carried on supports 200. Preferably, said products 10 are large-format ceramic slabs stacked on said supports 200.

The storage system 100 comprises a plurality of uprights 110 fastened to a base B. Each upright 110 comprises a plurality of support elements 120 designed to support the supports 200. Each support element 120 of an upright 110 works with other support elements 120 on other uprights 110, arranged at the same height in relation to the base, to define a storage position 130. In the example shown, each storage position 130 is defined by four support elements 120 mounted on four respective uprights 110.

In the example, a plurality of storage positions 130 are defined between said four uprights 110, said positions being aligned vertically in sequence to define a column storage unit 140. In the example, said column storage unit is defined between four uprights 110, but in other embodiments said column storage unit 140 may be defined between a different number of uprights 110 (a greater or lesser number).

As shown in figure 2, the storage system 100 comprises a plurality of column storage units 140 adjacent to each other. Preferably, two adjacent column storage units 140 that border one another are substantially in contact with each other, in particular sharing one or more uprights. As shown in figure 2, one or more column storage units 140 are bordered by other column storage units 140 on each of the sides thereof, so that said column storage unit 140 can only be accessed from above or below.

Between said four uprights 110, a vertical access path A is defined to said storage positions 130 for the supports 200. In particular, the supports 200 may be supported in a removeable manner by the support elements 120 and are moveable within the column storage unit 140. In some embodiments, access to said storage positions 130 for said supports 200 in a horizontal direction, or in any direction other than the vertical direction, may be prevented.

Within each column storage unit 140, the supports 200 are moveable along the access path A between the respective storage position 130 and a free position 150 located beneath a first and lower storage position 130 of the column storage unit 140. To be stored in the column storage unit 140, the support 200 must be raised from the free position 150 to the respective storage position 130 and, conversely, to be removed, it must be lowered from the storage position 130 to the free position 150 where it can be moved horizontally.

In particular, a horizontal corridor 160 that allows the supports 200 to move horizontally is defined beneath the first and lower storage position 130. The free positions 150 of the multiple column storage units 140 are in communication with each other via said corridor 160.

As shown in figures 3 and 4, the support elements 120 comprise a bracket 122 provided with a support surface 124 on which a portion of the support 200 bears, in particular a moveable member 210 of said support 200, as further described below. The support elements 120 also comprise means of holding said mobile member 210 in a respective active position in which it can bear against the support member 120. In the example shown, said holding means are represented by a projection 126, such as a bolt, projecting upwards from the bearing surface 124.

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the support 200 according to the preferred example. The support 200 is provided in the form of a pallet and is provided with a substantially flat base 220 that enables the products 10 to be loaded and transported. The supports 200 have grooves 230 to engage the forks of a forklift truck (not shown). The support 200 comprises a plurality of said moveable members 210 accommodated, at least partially, in respective housings 240 formed in the base 220. In particular, the moveable members 210 are moveable between an active position 210 in which they can interact with the support elements 120 and in which they project from the respective housings 24, and a passive position in which they cannot interact with the support elements 120 and are accommodated within the respective housings 240 along most of the length thereof, preferably the entire length thereof. In the example, the moveable members 210 are tubular. In figure 5, the moveable members 210 are shown in the passive position.

Figure 6 is a magnified view of a detail in figure 5 with the movable members 210 in the active position. As shown in figure 6, each moveable member 210 comprises a first seat 212 able to accommodate the projection 126 from the support elements 120. In the example, said first seat 212 is in the form of a slot formed in the moveable member 210 near to one end of the moveable member 210.

In addition, each moveable member 210 comprises a second seat 214 able to accommodate an actuator designed to drive the moveable member 210 between the active position and the passive position, as further described below. In the example, said second seat 214 is a slot formed in the moveable member 210 in a distal position with respect to the end of the moveable member 210 provided with the first seat 212.

Figures 5 and 6 also show that the housings 240 comprise a slide slot 242 defining a slide path for said actuator. The slide slot 242 and the second seat 214 at least partially overlap, enabling the second seat 214 to be accessed through the slide slot 242.

Preferably, the support 200 is made at least partially of metal.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a mobile carrier 300 able to transport at least one support 200, which is also visible in figures 1 and 2.

The mobile carrier 300 comprises a frame 310 with associated movement means 320, for example wheels connected to one or more motors, preferably electric motors. In the example, the carrier 300 is an automated guided vehicle (AGV). A lift 330 is attached on top of the frame 310 able to lift the support 200 from the free position 150 to the respective storage position 120.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figure, the lift 330 comprises a scissor mechanism 332 and a lifting platform 334 able to bear the support 200. Figure 7 shows the scissor mechanism 332 in a retracted state, and said lifting platform 334 is arranged substantially on top of the frame 310 in plan view.

In the preferred embodiment, the lift 330 comprises actuators 336 able to drive the moveable members 210 of the support 200. In the example, said actuators 336 are linear actuators and comprise a pushing element 338 that can be inserted into the respective second seat 214 of the moveable member 210, as shown in figure 4.

Returning to figure 2, the system 100 comprises a control unit 400 on which a control program for the storage system 100 itself is installed. Advantageously, the control unit 400 comprises one or more communication devices 410 able to communicate with communication devices 410 installed on the carriers 300 and connected to control devices 420 of the carriers themselves. Said control program can control the movement of the carriers 300, the lift 330 and the actuators 336. Preferably, said communication devices 410 are remote or wireless communication devices.

As shown in figures 3, 4 and 7, when the lift 330 is in the retracted state and, for example, the support 200 is in the free position 150, the moveable members 210 are in the passive position. The lift 330 then switches to an extended state to lift the support to the storage position 130. Since the moveable members 210 are accommodated in the respective housings 240, movement within the access paths A is possible. As shown in figure 4, the lift 330 raises the support 200 slightly above the height of the respective storage position 130. At this height, the actuators 336 drive the moveable members 210 into the active position. The lift 330 is then lowered to bring the support 200 to the storage position 130 with the moveable members 210 bearing against the brackets 122 and the projections 126 inserted into the respective first seats 212. The lift 330 can then be returned to the retracted state, by removing the pushing members 338 from the respective second seats 214, and the carrier 300 can move through the corridor 160 to reach a loading zone C to receive a new support 200. To remove the support 200, the lift 330 is raised to the storage position where the actuators are moved to a position that enables the pushing members 338 to be inserted into the second respective seats 214. The lift 330 lifts the support 200 slightly to remove the projections 126 from the first seats 212, and the actuators bring the moveable members 210 into the respective passive positions. The lift 330 can then be lowered until the support 220 is in the free position, at which point the carrier 300 can be moved to an unloading zone S for the support 200.

In addition, as is clear from the content of the description, the present invention relates to one or more of the items listed below.

1. A storage system for storing products and/or semi-finished products carried on supports, wherein said system comprises:

- a plurality of uprights;

- wherein an access path to said storage positions is defined between said uprights for said supports, and wherein said access path is a vertical path.

2. The system according to item 1, comprising a lift designed to move at least one of said supports between the respective storage position and a free position.

3. The system according to item 2, wherein said free position is arranged vertically beneath said storage position.

4. The system according to item 2 or 3, wherein said lift is mounted on a mobile carrier.

5. The system according to item 4, wherein said mobile carrier is an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV). 6. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said support elements comprise a moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a support and a passive position in which it does not interact with said support; and/or wherein each of said supports comprises one moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support element and a passive position in which it does not interact with the respective support element.

7. The system according to item 6, wherein each of said supports and/or of said support elements comprises means for holding said moveable member in the active position.

8. The system according to items 2 and 6, wherein said lift comprises actuators able to drive said moveable member between the active position and the passive position.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said supports are trays or pallets.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding items, comprising a plurality of column storage elements adjacent to one another.

11. The system according to item 10, wherein two adjacent column storage units share one or more uprights.

12. The system according to any one of the preceding items, comprising a control unit on which a management program for the storage system itself is installed.

13. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said uprights are fastened to a base, and wherein a horizontal corridor is defined between said base and a first and lower storage position of said column storage unit.

14. The system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said products and/or semi-finished products are slab-shaped elements such as ceramic slabs, natural- or reconstructed-stone slabs, and/or wood-based panels.

15. A storage system for storing products and/or semi-finished products carried on supports, wherein said system comprises:

- a plurality of uprights;

- a plurality of support elements for the supports arranged on said uprights so as to define a plurality of storage positions of respective supports arranged vertically in sequence along said uprights; wherein said support elements comprise a moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a support and a passive position in which it does not interact with said support; and/or wherein each of said supports comprises one moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support element and a passive position in which it does not interact with the respective support element.

16. A method of using a storage system according to any one of the preceding items, wherein said support is placed in an access position beneath said column storage element, and said support is lifted vertically to a respective storage position, and wherein said support interacts with said support elements of the respective storage position.

17. A carrier for a storage support, comprising a frame, movement elements connected to said frame, a lift for said support associated with said frame, wherein said support can be arranged above said frame.

18. The carrier according to item 17, being an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV).

19. The carrier according to item 17 or 18, wherein said lift is a scissor lift.

20. The carrier according to any one of items 17 to 19, wherein said lift comprises at least one actuator able to drive a moveable member of the support between a respective active position and a respective idle position.

21. A support for products and/or semi-finished products comprising at least one moveable member that can be moved between an active position in which it is designed to interact with a support element of a storage system and an idle position in which it is designed not to interact with said support element. The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above, but said covering elements and systems may be made according to different variants without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A storage system (100) for storing products and/or semi-finished products (10), preferably slab-shaped products such as ceramic slabs, carried on supports (200), wherein said system (100) comprises:

- a plurality of uprights (110);

- a plurality of support elements (120) for the supports (200) arranged on said uprights (110) so as to define a plurality of storage positions (130) of respective supports (200) arranged vertically in sequence along said uprights (110) to define column storage units (140);

- wherein an access path (A) to said storage positions (130) is defined between said uprights (110) for said supports (200), and wherein said access path (A) is a vertical path.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a lift (330) designed to move at least one of said supports (200) between the respective storage position (120) and a free position (140).

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said free position (140) is arranged vertically beneath said storage position (130).

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said lift (330) is mounted on a mobile carrier (300).

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mobile carrier (300) is an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV).

6. The system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support elements (120) comprise a moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with the support (200) and a passive position in which it does not interact with said support (200); and/or wherein each of said supports (200) comprises at least one moveable member (210) having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support element (120) and a passive position in which it does not interact with the respective support element (120).

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said supports (200) and/or of said support elements (120) comprises means (126) for holding said moveable member (210) in the active position.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claims 2 and 6, wherein said lift (330) comprises actuators (336) able to drive said moveable member (210) between the active position and the passive position.

9. The system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supports (200) are trays or pallets.

10. The system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of column storage elements (100) adjacent to one another, preferably wherein two adjacent column storage units (140) share one or more uprights (110).

11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein two adjacent column storage units (140) share one or more uprights (110).

12. The system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (400) on which a management program for the storage system (100) itself is installed.

13. The system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said uprights (110) are fastened to a base (B) and wherein a horizontal corridor (150) is defined between said base (B) and a first and lower storage position (130) of said column storage unit (140).

14. The system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said products and/or semi-finished products (10) are slab-shaped elements such as ceramic slabs, natural- or reconstructed-stone slabs, and/or wood-based panels.

15. A storage system (100) for storing products and/or semi-finished products (10) carried on supports (200), wherein said system (100) comprises:

- a plurality of uprights (110);

- a plurality of support elements (120) for the supports (200) arranged on said uprights (110) so as to define a plurality of storage positions (130) of the respective supports (200) arranged vertically in sequence along said uprights (120); wherein said support elements (120) comprise a moveable member having an active position in which it interacts with the support (200) and a passive position in which it does not interact with said support (200); and/or wherein each of said supports (200) comprises one moveable member (210) having an active position in which it interacts with a respective support element (120) and a passive position in which it does not interact with the respective support element (120).

16. A method of using a storage system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support (200) is placed in a free access position (150) beneath said column storage element (140), and said support (200) is lifted vertically to a respective storage position (130), and wherein said support (200) interacts with said support elements (120) of the respective storage position (130).

17. A carrier (300) for a storage support (200), comprising a frame, movement elements (320) connected to said frame (310), a lift (330) for said support associated with said frame (310), wherein said support (200) can be arranged above said frame (310).

18. The carrier (300) as claimed in claim 17, being an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV).

19. The carrier (300) as claimed in either of claims 17 and 18, wherein said lift (330) comprises a scissor mechanism (332), which is preferably electrically actuated.

20. The carrier as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein said lift (330) comprises at least one actuator able to drive a moveable member (210) of the support (200) between a respective active position and a respective idle position.

21. A support (200) for products and/or semi-finished products (10) comprising at least one moveable member (210) that can be moved between an active position in which it is designed to interact with a support element (120) of a storage system (100) and an idle position in which it is designed not to interact with said support element (120).