Receptacle with temperature controlled lid for automated storage and retrieval system

A storage rack for storage of goods at different temperatures and having a control system comprises:

• a storage rack defining a plurality of storage locations;
• a plurality of storage receptacles configured to be stored at storage locations in said storage rack;
• a storage receptacle cover coupled to said storage rack at at least some of said storage locations, wherein each of said receptacle covers is selectively operable to cover an open portion of one of said storage receptacles present at a particular one of said storage locations;
• a microclimate control device coupled with each of said receptacle covers and operable to monitor and regulate environmental conditions within one of said storage receptacles covered by a corresponding one of said receptacle covers, wherein each of said microclimate control devices are individually addressable by the control system;
• wherein the control system is operable to control each of said microclimate control devices to maintain and adjust the environmental conditions of corresponding ones of said storage receptacles stored in said rack such that the environmental conditions of storage receptacles covered with one of said receptacle covers can be maintained and adjusted at different levels.

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 having a plurality of storage locations, a receptacle cover coupled to the automated storage and retrieval system at at least some of the storage locations and configured to cover a storage receptacle at the corresponding one of the storage locations, and a microclimate control device at each of the receptacle covers, each microclimate control device is operable to monitor and regulate environmental conditions within the corresponding storage receptacle;
• covering storage receptacles with respective receptacle covers at storage locations when the storage receptacles arrive at the particular storage locations;
• monitoring the environmental conditions within each of the storage receptacles with the warehouse control system, which is operable to individually address each of the microclimate control devices via a communication network disposed throughout the automated storage and retrieval system;
• 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 of the goods stored within that storage receptacle;
• and
• uncovering selected storage receptacles with the receptacle covers at the particular storage locations when the selected storage receptacles are to be removed from the particular storage location.