Storage Equipments
MHE
By: Molalign M.
Mechanical Engineering Department, EiT
EiT--Mekelle
December 2012
December,
Storage equipments are used for holding or buffering materials
over a period of time. The major types of storage equipments are:
Block stacking (no equipment)
Selective pallet rack
Drive‐through rack
Drive‐in rack
Flow‐through
Flow through rack
rack
Push‐back rack
Sliding rack
Cantilever rack
St ki f
Stacking frame
Shelves/bins/drawers
Storage carousel
Automatic storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS)
g y ( )
Unit load AS/RS
Miniload AS/RS
Man‐on‐board AS/RS
Deep‐lane AS/RS
p
Split case order picking system
Mezzanine 2
The most common reason for storing a product allows
the other elements of production to operate more
efficiently on a per‐unit
per unit basis because the fixed costs
associated with utilizing the element can be spread over
more products; e.g., storing up to a truckload of product
in a facility reduces the per‐unit costs of shipping.
Other potential reasons for storage include:
Time bridging:‐ allows product to be available when it is
needed (e.g., storing spare machine parts at the facility);
Processing:‐
g for some p products ((e.g.,
g , wine),
), storage
g can be
considered as a processing operation because the product
undergoes a required change during storage; and
Securing:
Securing:‐ e.g.,
e g nuclear waste storage.
storage
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Bulk storage using block stacking can result in the
minimum cost of storage g since cube utilization is
high and no storage medium is required, but
material accessibilityy is low since onlyy the top
p of
the front stack is accessible and loads at bottom of
q
a stack must not require support.
pp
Storage racks are used when support and/or
better material accessibility is required.
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Interlocking units that enable stacking of a load so that crushing
does not occur during block stacking.
Can be disassembled and stored compactly when not in use.use
Pallet frames can be used to enable multilevel block stacking.
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Pallet
Crate
Pallet Box Tote pans
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Carton
Bag
Slipsheet
Container
Drum Skid
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Most popular type of storage rack.
Pallets are supported between load‐supporting beams.
Special attachments and decking can be used to make
the racks capable of supporting other types of unit loads
besides pallets (e.g.,
(e g coils,
coils drums,
drums skids).
skids)
Selective racks can be used for the following types of
g
storage:
Standard:‐ single‐deep storage using a counterbalanced lift
truck.
Narrow‐Aisle:‐
Narrow Aisle: storage using a narrow‐
narrow aisle lift truck.
truck
Deep‐Reach:‐ greater than single‐deep storage (typically
double‐deep storage).
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Loads are supported by rails attached to the upright beams.
Lift trucks are driven between the upright beams.
Requires similar‐width
similar width loads.
loads
Open at both ends, allowing access from both sides.
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Same as drive‐through rack, except closed at one end, allowing
entry from only one side.
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Loads are supported on an inclined to enable gravity‐based
movement of the loads within the rack (via, e.g., a gravity roller
conveyor).
y )
Loaded at the higher end and unloaded at the lower end.
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Same as flow‐through rack, except loaded and unloaded at the
lower end and closed at the higher end.
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Only one mobile aisle is used to access several rows of racks.
Location of the aisle is changed by sliding the rows of racks along
guide rails in the floor.
floor
Typically found in library stacks.
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Loads are supported by cantilever "arms“.
Used to store long loads (e.g., bar stock, pipes, lumber).
Similar to pallet racks,
racks except the front upright beams and the front
supporting beams are eliminated.
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A carousel consists of a set of vertically or horizontally
revolving storage baskets or bins.
Materials (and the storage medium) move to the
operator for end‐of‐aisle picking.
Each
E h level
l l off the
th carousell can rotate
t t independently
i d d tl ini a
clockwise or counter‐clockwise direction.
Control ranges from manually activated push buttons
to automated computer controlled systems.
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Consists of an integrated computer‐controlled system that
combines the storage medium, transport mechanism, and
controls with various levels of automation for fast and accurate
random storage of products and materials.
Storage/retrieval (S/R) machine in an AS/RS operates in narrow
aisle serving
aisle, ser ing rack slots on both sides of aisle;
aisle can travel
tra el in
horizontal (along the aisle) and vertical (up and down a rack)
directions at same time.
Advantages:‐ fewer material handlers, better material control and
more efficient use of storage space.
Disadvantages:‐
g high
g capital
p and maintenance costs,, and difficult
to modify.
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Used to store/retrieve loads that are palletized or unitized and
weigh over 500 lbs ~ 225 Kg.
Stacking heights up to 130 ft ~ 40 m.
m high,
high with most ranging from
60 to 85 ft ~ (20 ‐25 m) high; 5 to 6 ft ~(1.5‐2 m) wide aisles;
single‐ or double‐deep storage racks.
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Used to store/retrieve small parts and tools that can be
stored in a storage bin or drawer.
End‐of‐aisle
E d f i l order d picking
i ki andd replenishment.
l ih
Stacking heights range from 12 to 20 ft ~ (3.5‐6 m).; bin
capacities range from 200 to 750 lbs ~ (90‐350 Kg).Kg)
Termed a "micro‐load AS/RS" when used in assembly,
g, and testingg operations
kitting, p to deliver small containers
of parts to individual workstations, where workstations
are typically located on the sides of a pair of racks and
the S/R machine operates between the racks to move
containers to openings in the racks (storage lanes)
located next to each station.
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Used for in‐aisle picking; operator
picks from shelves, bins, or drawers
within the storage structure.
Manual or automatic control.
S/R
/ machine is similar to an order
picker or tower truck and can
sometimes operate as an industrial
truck when outside an aisle, except
the S/R is guided along a rail when
operating
i in
i an aisle.
il
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Similar to unit load AS/RS, except loads can be stored
to greater depths in the storage rack.
A rack‐entry
k vehicle
hi l is
i usedd to carry loads
l d into
i the
h racksk
from the S/R machine, and is controlled by the S/R
machine.
Termed an "automated item retrieval system" when
used to automatically retrieve individual items or cases,
with replenishment (storage) taking place manually
from the rear of a flow‐through storage lane and items
are pushed forward with a rear
rear‐mounted
mounted pusher bar for
automatic picking from the front of the storage lane.
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Unlike an AS/RS, a split‐case order picking system
enables fully automated picking of individual items.
Two general categories of split‐case order picking system
are robotic based systems and magazine/dispenser
based systems.
systems
Robotic based systems are similar in construction to robotic
pick and place palletizers.
Magazine/dispenser based systems are similar to vending
machines, but larger in scale.
"A‐Frame"
A Frame dispenser system (pictured) is popular within
pharmaceutical distribution centers; items are dispensed
onto a belt conveyor that carries them into a container.
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Inexpensive means of providing
additional storage
g or office space.
p
Makes use of clear space over
activities not requiring much
h d
headroom (
(e.g., restrooms, block
bl k
storage, etc.)
At least 14 ft ~ 4 m.
m of clear space
is needed for a mezzanine.
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