Throughput Analysis of S/R Shuttle Systems and Ideal Geometry for High Performance

Shuttle systems are used in high performance automated storage/retrieval unit load systems. Each storage level is serviced by one transfer car. There is a lift for storage and retrieval on the front side of the load system. A different number of buffer slots are located between the lifts and the respective levels. These systems are already used in various scientific papers and there is also a VDI guideline, but there is only one analytical approach of sufficient accuracy. The problem with all methods for the description of shuttle systems is the geometry of the rack. In automated storage/retrieval unit load systems, the basic geometry of a storage aisle is critical for the throughput. The present study is intended to fill this gap.