US 12,515,881 B2 · Automated storage and retrieval system with microclimate-controlled receptacles

Abstract

An automated warehouse system and method are provided for controlling the internal microclimate of receptacles within a warehouse or order fulfilment facility. The system provides independent environmental condition monitoring and regulation for each tote. The system enables individual totes to be maintained at adequate or substantially ideal conditions, independent of its position within a storage system or the environmental conditions of adjacent totes in the storage system. The totes may include self-contained environmental control systems and/or the storage system may include environmental control inputs to adjust or maintain the environmental conditions within a particular tote. The system is operable to monitor and control the microclimate of a tote while it is stored at a storage location within the storage system or in a buffer, and may be operable to monitor and/or control the microclimates of the totes while they travel throughout the system.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An automated warehouse system for storage of goods at different temperatures and having a warehouse control system controlling said system, said system comprising:

an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a storage rack defining a plurality of storage locations;
and
a plurality of storage receptacles configured to be stored at storage locations in said automated storage and retrieval system, wherein each of said storage receptacles is individually addressable by the warehouse control system, and wherein environmental conditions within each of said storage receptacles is regulated via the warehouse control system when said storage receptacles are stored at said storage locations;
wherein the warehouse control system is operable to monitor, maintain and adjust the environmental conditions of each of said storage receptacles stored in said automated storage and retrieval system based on information received regarding the corresponding one of said storage receptacles, and wherein the warehouse control system is operable to separately maintain and adjust the environment conditions of each of said storage receptacles.

1 more element

A method for controlling microclimates inside of individual storage receptacles within an automated warehouse system having a warehouse control system, said method comprising:

storing a plurality of storage receptacles in an automated storage and retrieval system;
monitoring the environmental conditions within each of the storage receptacles with the warehouse control system, which is operable to individually address each of the storage receptacles via a communication network disposed throughout the automated storage and retrieval system;
and
regulating the environmental conditions within particular ones of the storage receptacles if the storage receptacles require adjustment of their respective environmental conditions based on said monitoring to meet the requirements for the goods stored within the particular storage receptacles.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated storage and retrieval system with microclimate-controlled receptacles

Life of this patent

Automated storage and retrieval system with microclimate-controlled receptacles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19