Transporting device, storage system and method of relocating a transporting device
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsAndrew John Ingram-Tedd, David Sharp, Joseph Zammit, Ben Thomas, Sean Clark, Graham Deacon
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Abstract
A storage system as disclosed can maximize storage capacity whilst remaining scalable. A transporting device is arranged to form a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology. A transporting device can cooperate with a portion of a surface, and with at least one other transporting device in a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology. An item receiving space and a relocating unit permit relocation of the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction with the portion of the surface.
Claims25
A transporting device arranged to cooperate with a portion of a surface, and the transporting device arranged to cooperate with at least one other transporting device in a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology, the transporting device comprising:
- an item receiving space;
- a relocating unit configured to provide relocation of the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction with a portion of the surface;
- and
- an engagement unit configured to engage with the at least one other transporting device.
A storage system comprising:
- a surface;
- and
- a plurality of transporting devices, wherein each transporting device is configured to cooperate with a portion of the surface and each transporting device is arranged to cooperate with at least one other transporting device in the plurality of transporting devices, each transporting device including:
- an item receiving space;
- a relocating unit configured to provide relocation of the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction with a portion of the surface;
- and
- an engagement unit configured to engage with the at least one other transporting device,
- wherein the plurality of transporting devices are arranged in a three-dimensional cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology.
A transporting device configured to cooperate with at least one other transporting device in a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology, the transporting device comprising:
- an item receiving space;
- a relocating unit configured to permit relocation of the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction with the at least one other transporting device;
- and
- an engagement unit configured to engage with the at least one other transporting device.
A storage system comprising:
- a plurality of transporting devices, wherein each transporting device is is configured to cooperate with a portion of the surface configured to cooperate with at least one other transporting device in the plurality of transporting devices, each transporting device including:
- an item receiving space;
- a relocating unit configured to provide relocation of the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction with a portion of the surface;
- and
- an engagement unit configured to engage with the at least one other transporting device;
- wherein the plurality of transporting devices are configured in a three-dimensional cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology.
A method of relocating a transporting device arranged in a cluster with a reconfigurable physical topology, the method comprising:
- causing the transporting device to cooperate with at least one other transporting device in the cluster;
- relocating the transporting device within the cluster by way of interaction between the transporting device and the at least one other transporting device;
- and
- engaging the transporting device with the at least one other transporting device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.