High-density storage system

The SSI Schaefer Orbiter Satellite System uses a unique power technology and incorporates new safety concepts.

The Schaefer Orbiter System (SOS) uses a new concept for storage and transporting the unit, which consists of the satellite with docking station and, hence, considerably increases the efficiency and performance, as well as the safety operation, of the satellite storage concept.

The Orbiter and docking station are designed for high-density storage solutions using any type of materials handling equipment. The Orbiter and docking station are provided as a set, with lock-in pins safely securing the Orbiter into the docking station; preventing accidental slippage.

When the Orbiter is required to be located in a specific channel, the forklift picks up the docking station with the Orbiter and locates it in the front centring console of the rack face. Eliminating operator stress, the docking station is therefore easy, safe and fast to use, as it is fitted with fork pockets below the unit to avoid possible movement. Its location into the high-visibility plastic guides, which provide up to 50 mm operational clearance, can be with the same speed and safety as the location of pallets within the system, even when operating at heights of 9-10 m.

By introducing a power supply solution, the Orbiter has been designed to be recharged every time it enters the docking station. As power caps have a long life expectancy, it means the Orbiter can be used in deep-freeze applications continuously, without loss of power or operational efficiency. As the system requires no battery change, the operational cycle time for pallet movements can be increased substantially.

The Schaefer Orbiter system can be used with any conventional forklift. The Orbiter works in the storage channels fully independently, controlled by radio frequency using a remote control fixed in the cab of the forklift operator. The satellite receives its commands via the remote control (complete with easy to understand icons).

All functions, such as storage, retrieval, inventory count and shuffle mode, etc, are controlled by the forklift driver and relayed to the Orbiter using RF technology, which carries out the command automatically and returns to the station after each procedure.

Depending on the depth of each channel, it is possible for one operative to handle multiple Orbiters, thus increasing the number of pallet cycles per forklift truck. The faster running speed of 1 m/s, together with the ease and safe movement of the Orbiter from one channel to another using the docking station, will translate into more pallets cycles per hour per operative and forklift, effecting further cost savings to the storage operation.