Automated storage and retrieval system
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorsJoseph Valinsky, Robert R. DeWitt, Alexander Stevens, Dhruva Kumar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for storing or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas that are positioned along the path. The destination areas are configured such that the destination areas have a depth to accommodate a plurality of containers in a horizontal line one behind another. The containers may be releasable interconnected so that retrieving one of the interconnected containers displaces one or more connected containers.
Claims28
A material handling system for storing or retrieving a plurality of storage containers, comprising:
- a plurality of vehicles for delivering and retrieving storage containers, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle;
- a first rack of storage locations;
- a second rack of storage locations spaced apart from the first rack with an aisle between the first and second racks;
- wherein the vehicles are displaceable in a vertical direction within the aisle and horizontally transverse the vertical direction;
- a plurality of storage locations wherein each storage location is configured to receive a plurality of the storage containers;
- wherein a first of the storage containers comprises a first connector at a first end and a second of the storage containers comprises a second connector at a second end, wherein the first connector is releasably connectable with the second connector to releasably connect the first and second storage containers at one of the storage locations;
- wherein each vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism configured to displace the first and second storage containers between the vehicle and the one storage location wherein the releasable connection between the first and second containers is operable to displace the second storage container when the transfer mechanism displaces the first storage container.
A material handling system for storing or retrieving a plurality of storage containers, comprising:
- a plurality of independently operable vehicles for delivering and retrieving storage containers, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle;
- a first rack of storage locations wherein a plurality of the storage locations are vertically spaced apart from one another forming a first vertical column;
- a second rack of storage locations wherein a plurality of the storage locations are vertically spaced apart from one another forming a second vertical column spaced apart from the first vertical column with an aisle between the first and second vertical columns;
- a track configured to guide the vehicles to the storage locations;
- wherein the vehicles are displaceable in the aisle in a vertical direction along the track and displaceable horizontally transverse the vertical direction;
- a plurality of storage containers wherein each storage location is configured to receive a plurality of the storage containers so that a first container positioned in a first storage location is adjacent the aisle and a second container positioned in the first storage location is spaced from the aisle by the first container;
- wherein the first storage containers comprise a first connector at a first end and the second the storage containers comprises a second connector at a second end, wherein the second connector is releasably connectable with the first connector to releasably connect the first and second storage containers at the first storage location;
- wherein each vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism configured to displace the first and second storage containers between the vehicle and the first storage location wherein the releasable connection between the first and second containers is operable to displace the second storage container when the transfer mechanism displaces the first storage container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.