Storage equipment
Storage equipment that influences storage conditions in warehousing processes includes:
• storage devices
• air conditioning and ventilation equipment
• fire protection equipment
• security equipment.
Storage devices. These are devices whose design allows for stacking, supporting, or hanging goods stored in a warehouse. The classification of storage devices into groups and types is defined in the standard PN-78/M-78330 Warehouse management equipment. Storage devices. Names, definitions, classification, and symbols. Based on functional features, storage devices are divided into the following groups:
• racks
• stands
• hangers
• pallets/bases
• bins
• specialized devices.
Individual groups of devices are divided into types based on their functional features. The general classification scheme for storage devices is shown in Fig. 1.
Racks. Racks are multi-level spatial structures designed for storing inventory directly on their structural elements or, using auxiliary devices, directly on the structural elements of fixed or mobile racks. Within the rack group, the following types are distinguished: fixed, mobile, and specialized. Fixed racks are devices whose structural load-bearing supports, whether or not attached to the floor on which they are placed, maintain a fixed position during the storage process. The classification scheme for fixed racks is shown in Figure 2.
Fixed racks are distinguished as:
• free-standing – assembled independently of the warehouse building structure
• load-bearing (self-supporting) – in addition to storage, they also serve as the load-bearing structure for the warehouse building (example in Figure 3).
Based on their construction, fixed racks – both free-standing and load-bearing – can be divided into:
• frame racks – racks whose structure is characterized by a frame system assembled from repeating elements
• cantilever racks – racks whose structure is characterized by a system of repeating columns with arms or cantilever supports.
Based on the storage location for assortments, fixed frame racks can be distinguished as:
• shelf-less, where load units are stored directly on load-bearing crossbeams that are elements of the device’s frame structure; generally handled using internal transport equipment (Figure 4)
• shelf racks, where inventory is placed on fixed or sliding shelves, and their handling, depending on the type and weight of the loads, is carried out manually or using mechanical equipment (Figure 5)
• shelf-less/shelf hybrid, where in some parts load units are stored on load-bearing crossbeams, and in others on shelves; most often handled using internal transport equipment
• flow racks, where load units move (gravitationally or forced) along load-bearing tracks, and storage takes place on them.
In practice, fixed frame shelf-less, shelf, and hybrid racks can appear as: single-row single-sided or double-sided, or double-row. On the other hand, fixed frame flow racks can appear as:
• gravity-fed, handled – manually (Figure 6), – using internal transport equipment (Figure 7),
• forced-drive, handled using internal transport equipment, currently very rarely used in practice
• partially forced-drive, handled using internal transport equipment (known in English as “push-back“) – Figure 8.