Horizontal
Carousels
As a storage device, a horizontal carousel
consists of a fixed number of adjacent storage
columns or bays that are mechanically linked to
either an overhead or floor mounted drive
mechanism to form a complete loop. Each column
is divided into a fixed number of storage
location or bins which in most applications are
constructed of a welded wire frame. Loads
consisting of containers or totes may be
inserted and retrieved either manually or by an
automatic inserter/extractor mechanism.
However, rotation of the carousel, whereby a
specific storage location is brought to the
picking location, is almost always controlled
automatically.
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Vertical
Carousels
As a storage device, a vertical carousel
provides for closed loop automatically
controlled rotation of the basic storage unit,
which in this case may be a shelf that can be
subdivided into multiple bin locations.
However, a shelf or a given vertical position
need not be divided in order to handle large
items such as a bolt of fabric or a roll of
carpet. Because storage is vertical, such
systems are popular when conserving floor
space. Although automatic insertion and
extraction of individual items or loads is
possible, it is not as common as it is with
horizontal carousel applications.
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Vertical Lift
Modules
A Vertical Lift Module, or VLM is a storage
system that consists of two parallel columns
each of which is divided into fixed shelf
locations that can hold a single storage module
such as a tray or tote. The shelving locations
are single deep. A tray or tote is inserted,
extracted and transported between storage
levels and picking locations via an
elevator-like device with an automatic shuttle
that travels up and down within the space
between the storage columns.
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Fixed-Aisle (F/A) Storage
Retrieval Systems
Fixed Aisle (F/A) Storage & Retrieval
Systems consist of one or more long, narrow
aisles framed on both sides by a steel (and
sometime extruded aluminum) storage rack
structure into and from which loads are
automatically stored and retrieved under
computer control. The storage/retrieval
function in each aisle can be performed a
variety of ways. However, the most common way
is by a machine that consists of a floor
running, traveling structural frame or vertical
mast that guides and supports a hoisting
carriage on which loads are carried. One or
more shuttles or insertion/extraction devices
on the hosted carriage manipulates loads into
and out of adjacent or opposing storage rack
positions. All three machine motions;
horizontal (down aisle), vertical and shuttle
action are independently and automatically
controlled.
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