AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE SYSTEMS
AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE SYSTEMS
A SINGLE TETRASTACK™ CELL. ONE PIECE OF A FAR LARGER MODULAR WAREHOUSE INSTALLATION
TETRASTACK™ IN 10 SECONDS
The TetraStack™ system handles the placement, sorting and retrieval of packages within an automated storage system. Such storage systems are the heart of any logistics hub or operation in the e-commerce era.
The TetraStack™ Automated Guide Vehicle (AGV) and racking matrix allow for concurrent placement, retrieval and defragmentation of packages, thereby ensuring that package placement and package readiness is continuously optimised, minimising the energy consumed in processing each package as well as the despatch fulfilment time.
The system consists of three principle elements, namely: Crate, AGV and Racking
CRATE WITH VACUUM SECURED LID
CRATE
A specially designed box/crate in which any items or packages are placed in order for the AGV to manoeuvre them. The crates are internally reconfigurable with removable separators. Various crate sizes are envisaged.
AGV CONTAINING 4 CRATES
AGV
An automated guided vehicle that places, retrieves and manoeuvres up to 4 crates at a time. The Tetratack™ AGV is capable of de-fragmenting the system by passing crates to other AGVs in a gravity assisted process.
SINGLE FLOOR OF RACKING MODULE
RACKING
Stratified racking consists of alternating planes for AGV movement and crate storage. The modular racking matrix allows the AGV to move in two horizontal direction at any point within the racking matrix (not only at the periphery).
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
TETRA - TETRIS - TETRASTACK™
Tetra is the Greek prefix for the number four, hence the 4-block construction of the shapes in the classic game Tetris. Tetris is a tile-matching puzzle video game. The purpose of the game is to manoeuvre a sequence of 4-block shapes so as to take up the least amount of space at the bottom of a stack. It represents efficient stacking in its simplest form.
TetraStack™ mirrors this sorting action in that it continuously rearranges the crates within a racking matrix so as to consume the least amount of space, as low down in the matrix as possible. Similarities abound. The TetraStack™ system’s principle component is a square shaped AGV capable of stacking 4 crates at a time.
“TETRASTACK™ IS THE WAREHOUSING EQUIVALENT OF THE CLASSIC COMPUTER GAME TETRIS”
The TetraStack™ DESIGN ETHOS
The TetraStack™ DESIGN ETHOS
THE THREE TENETS OF GREEN WAREHOUSING
In designing the TetraStack™ system, three fundamental principles were adhered to at all times.
1. MOVE MINIMALLY
Moving mass is an energy intensive process. It is critical that every movement of a package within the system is considered in the context of the entire warehouse operation. Moving a single package a shorter distance in the present may result in many packages being further displaced in the future. All package movement must occur to minimise the nett energy used by the system.
2. MOVE LATERALLY
If a package must be moved in order to facilitate sorting, retrieval or placement, it is always preferable to move laterally. Movement in the horizontal plain requires far less energy than vertical movement since energy is only required to overcome the inertia of the object.Vertical movement requires energy to overcome both the inertia of the object and the weight thereof.
3. MOVE ONLY THE PACKAGE
If a package must move vertically it is critical that only the package is lifted. In a simple lift, energy is expended lifting both the contents of the lift and the lift mechanism itself. It is true that this cannot be entirely avoided (packages cannot manoeuvre themselves) however, minimising the moveable mass is especially critical in the case of lifting.
PACKAGES ARE STORED WITHIN CRATES FOR HANDLING
INTERNAL SEPARATORS ALLOW FOR MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS