US 11,591,160 B2 · Multi bin vehicle for an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three dimensional grid

Abstract

A container-handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a first set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of a vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the grid; a second set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the grid, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; and the first set of wheels displaceable in a vertical direction between a first position, wherein the first set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the first direction, and a second position, wherein the second set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the second direction. The vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other, each lifting device is arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity, such that a bottom of the storage container is at a level above the lowest level of the second set of wheels.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A container-handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system, comprising:

a first set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of a vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the grid;
a second set of wheels arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle body, for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the grid, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;
and
the first set of wheels displaceable in a vertical direction between a first position, wherein the first set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the first direction, and a second position, wherein the second set of wheels allow movement of the vehicle along the second direction,
wherein the vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other, each lifting device is independently controlled and arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity, such that a bottom of the storage container is at a level above the lowest level of the second set of wheels, and
wherein the vehicle comprises at least one vertical frame guiding element arranged inside the cavity, the frame guiding element extending between the first lifting device and the second lifting device and being an integral part of the framework of the vehicle body.

3 more elements

A method of retrieving at least one storage container from an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three-dimensional grid and at least one container-handling vehicle,

wherein the grid comprises multiple storage columns, in which storage containers may be stored on top of one another in vertical stacks, and a port column for receiving and transporting a storage container to an access station;
and the container handling vehicle is operated on rails at a top level of the grid for retrieving storage containers from, and storing storage containers in, the storage columns, and for transporting the storage containers horizontally across the grid;
wherein the container-handling vehicle comprises at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device arranged such that they may retrieve and/or store a storage container from/in at least two adjacent storage columns at the same time;
and at least one vertical frame guiding element extending between the first lifting device and the second lifting device and being an integral part of the framework of the container-handling vehicle, the method comprising:
identifying a first storage container to be retrieved;
moving the container-handling vehicle, such that the first lifting device is centred relative a first storage column comprising the first storage container;
retrieving a second storage container by the first lifting device, the second storage container arranged in the first storage column at a level above the first storage container;
moving the container-handling vehicle, such that the second lifting device is centred relative the first storage column;
retrieving the first storage container by the second lifting device;
and
storing the second storage container in a second storage column.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi bin vehicle for an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three dimensional grid

Life of this patent

Multi bin vehicle for an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three dimensional grid

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16