Robotic picking systems and devices
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsLars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Alexander James Badenoch Harvey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robotic picking device for picking items from a containerised storage system wherein items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework having a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic picking devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.
Claims14
A storage system comprising:
- a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending substantially perpendicularly to the first set of rails or tracks in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces;
- multiple bins arranged in stacks beneath the rails or tracks within a footprint of a single grid space;
- and
- a picking device having means to move laterally on the rails or tracks above any one of the bins located below the picking device to be positioned above a predetermined bin of the multiple bins, a vehicle body having a cavity and a picker located therein, and a wheel assembly including a first set of wheels for engaging the first set of rails or tracks to guide movement of the picking device in a first direction, and a second set of wheels for engaging with the second set of rails or tracks to guide movement of the picking device in a second direction,
- wherein the picker is configured to pick at least one inventory item and move the at least one inventory item from the predetermined bin to a second predetermined bin, and
- wherein at least one grid space includes raising means occupying the grid space to push the predetermined bin resting thereon in to the cavity of the picking device located above the grid space.
A method of picking customer orders on a grid based storage system using a picking device, wherein the storage system comprises:
- a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending substantially perpendicularly to the first set of rails or tracks in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces;
- multiple bins arranged in stacks beneath the rails or tracks within a footprint of a single grid space;
- and
- a picking device having means to move laterally on the rails or tracks above any one of the bins located below the picking device to be positioned above a predetermined bin of the multiple bins, a vehicle body having a cavity and picker located therein, and a wheel assembly including a first set of wheels for engaging the first set of rails or tracks to guide movement of the picking device in a first direction, and a second set of wheels for engaging with the second set of rails or tracks to guide movement of the picking device in a second direction,
- wherein the picker is configured to pick at least one inventory item and move the at least one inventory item from the predetermined bin to a second predetermined bin, and
- wherein at least one grid space includes a raising means occupying the grid space to push a bin resting thereon in to the cavity of the picking device located above the grid space;
- the method comprising:
- positioning the picking device over a bin on the raising means and
- activating the raising means to raise the bin in to the cavity of the picking device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.