Stacker crane is the most important lifting and transportation equipment in a three-dimensional warehouse. The main function of a stacker crane is to run back and forth in the aisle of a three-dimensional warehouse, storing goods located at the entrance of the aisle into the shelves' compartments, or retrieving goods from the compartments and transporting them to the entrance of the aisle.
There are many classification methods for stacker cranes. The main classification forms are as follows: based on the presence or absence of guide rails, it can be divided into track stacker cranes and trackless stacker cranes. Among them, tracked stacker crane refers to a stacker crane that runs along the track in the tunnel, and trackless stacker crane is also known as bridge forklift. The main operating equipment used in the three-dimensional warehouse includes track stackers, trackless stackers, and ordinary forklifts. Classified by different heights, it can be divided into low-level, intermediate level, and type. The low-level stacker crane refers to a lifting height of less than 5 meters, mainly used for split type high-rise warehouses and simple three-dimensional warehouses; Mid level stacker crane refers to a lifting height of 5-15m, while high-rise stacker crane refers to a lifting height of over 15m, mainly used for comprehensive high-rise warehouses. According to different driving methods, it can be divided into upper driving type, lower driving type, and upper lower combination driving type. According to the degree of automation, it can be divided into manual, semi-automatic, and automatic stacker cranes. Manual and semi-automatic stacker cranes are equipped with a driver's cab, while automatic stacker cranes do not have a driver's cab and are controlled by an automatic control device. They can automatically address and load/unload goods.
Stackers can be divided into bridge stackers and aisle stackers according to their different uses. Bridge stacker crane refers to a stacker crane that stacks goods and is guided by suspension columns; Tunnel stacker crane refers to the upper and lower support of metal structures. The crane runs along the warehouse tunnel and is a stacking crane for loading and unloading goods.
The heavy-duty stacker crane can better achieve a load capacity of 5000 kilograms. Compared with forklifts, its uniquely designed telescopic arm allows the stacker crane to transport heavy objects without worrying about bumps or overturning, and its efficiency far exceeds that of forklifts. Stacker cranes can achieve zero emissions and are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to forklifts. By storing goods on pallets or containers, the damage rate of goods significantly decreases. So in many ways, stacker cranes have significant advantages over forklifts.
