US 11,767,170 B2
Stack storage assembly
Michael Becker, Hainburg (DE); Jörg Cavelius, Bad Vilbel (DE); Markus Liebhaber, Oberursel (DE); and Timm Morawietz, Tholey-Überroth (DE)
Assigned to JUNGHEINRICH AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Hamburg (DE)
Filed by Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft, Hamburg (DE)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/411,550.
Claims priority of application No. 20192798 (EP), filed on Aug. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0063916 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 1/14 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/14 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0414 (2013.01); B65G 1/0471 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stack storage assembly comprising:
a plurality of container stacking spaces;
a charging space, which is arranged below the plurality of container stacking spaces in a direction of gravity; and
a charging vehicle, which is movable in the charging space, having a hoisting device to move a container into one of the container stacking spaces or out of one of the container stacking spaces,
wherein each of the plurality of container stacking spaces has, at a lower end in the direction of gravity, a retainer with at least one retaining element, which is movable, via an actuator arranged on the charging vehicle, between a retaining position in which the at least one retaining element holds the container arranged in the one of the container stacking spaces against the force of gravity, and a release position in which the container is movable past the retaining element, and
wherein the charging vehicle has at least one fixing element and, after the at least one retaining element has been positioned in the release position, the at least one fixing element is positionable to interact with and hold the at least one retaining element in the release position.
 
4. A stack storage assembly comprising:
a plurality of container stacking spaces;
a charging space, which is arranged below the plurality of container stacking spaces in a direction of gravity; and
a charging vehicle, which is movable in the charging space, having a hoisting device to move a container into one of the container stacking spaces or out of one of the container stacking spaces,
wherein each of the plurality of container stacking spaces has, at a lower end in the direction of gravity, a retainer coupled to at least one retaining element, which is movable, via an actuator arranged on the charging vehicle, between a retaining position in which the at least one retaining element holds the container arranged in the one of the container stacking spaces against the force of gravity, and a release position in which the container is movable past the retaining element,
wherein the charging vehicle has at least one fixing element positionable into a fixing position to interact with the at least one retaining element while located in the release position to hold the at least one retaining element in the release position,
wherein the at least one retaining element is arranged in the retainer arranged between the container stacking space and the charging space, and
wherein, in positioning the at least one fixing element into the fixing position, the at least one fixing element is movable in an intermediate space between the at least one retaining element located in the release position and the retainer.
 
7. A stack storage assembly comprising:
a plurality of container stacking spaces;
a charging space, which is arranged below the plurality of container stacking spaces in a direction of gravity; and
a charging vehicle, which is movable in the charging space, having a hoisting device to move a container into one of the container stacking spaces or out of one of the container stacking spaces,
wherein each of the plurality of container stacking spaces has, at a lower end in the direction of gravity, a retainer coupled to at least one retaining element, which is movable, via an actuator arranged on the charging vehicle, between a retaining position in which the at least one retaining element holds the container arranged in the one of the container stacking spaces against the force of gravity, and a release position in which the container is movable past the retaining element,
wherein the charging vehicle has at least one fixing element and, after the at least one retaining element has been positioned in the release position, the at least one fixing element is positionable to interact with and hold the at least one retaining element in the release position by moving the at least one fixing element in an intermediate space between the at least one retaining element located in the release position and the retainer,
wherein the at least one fixing element has a tapering tip,
wherein the retainer has a guide for the at least one fixing element, and
wherein the guide has a channel, which is arranged under the at least one retaining element and outside of a container movement path.
 
11. A method storing or removing a container in or from a stack storage assembly comprising:
moving a charging vehicle into a charging space below a container stacking space in a direction of gravity;
lifting a platform of the charging vehicle upwardly against the direction of gravity;
moving at least one retaining element, which is located at a lower end of the container stacking space and is movable between a retaining position, at which the at least one retaining element holds the container in the container stacking spaces, and a release position, at which the container is movable past the at least one retaining element,
wherein, in storing the container in the container stacking space, the method further comprises moving, via contact with the container, the at least one retaining element into the release position, and
wherein in removing the container from the container stacking space, the method further comprises moving, via contact with the platform of the charging vehicle, the at least one retaining element into the release position, and thereafter, moving at least one fixing element to interact with a part of the at least one retaining element opposite the platform in order to hold the at least one retaining element in the release position.