Picking systems and methods
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsLars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for picking items from a containerised storage system is described. The items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework comprising a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting so as 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.
Claims20
A storage system in combination with a picking system, the combination 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 in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern with a plurality of grid spaces;
- a set of uprights, the uprights supporting the first and second sets of rails or tracks, the uprights and the rails or tracks together defining a framework;
- a plurality of bins located beneath the first and second sets of rails or tracks and within the framework, a portion of the bins occupying a space below a grid space;
- and
- a robotic picking device being movably mounted at one edge of the storage system including a picker disposed above at least a portion of the bins, the picker configured to pick at least one inventory item from at least one bin of the plurality of bins and deposit the at least one inventory item into at least one delivery container.
A method of picking inventory items from a storage system, the storage system including a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending substantially perpendicularly to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern with a plurality of grid spaces, a set of uprights, the uprights supporting the first and second sets of rails or tracks, the uprights and the rails or tracks together defining a framework, a plurality of bins located beneath the first and second sets of rails or tracks and within the framework, a portion of the bins occupying a space below a grid space, and a robotic picking device being movably mounted at one edge of the storage system including a picker disposed above at least a portion of the bins, the picker configured to pick at least one inventory item from at least one bin of the plurality of bins and deposit the at least one inventory item into at least one delivery container, the method comprising:
- picking an inventory item from a bin using the picker and placing the inventory item in a target delivery container under control of a centralized control utility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.