Ceiling storage system and control method thereof

A ceiling storage system comprising:

• a first overhead rack in which a plurality of storage areas and a plurality of maintenance areas are alternately arranged;
• first and second support rails above the first overhead rack and extending in one direction;
• a first driving rail above the first overhead rack and between the first support rail and the second support rail;
• a second driving rail coupled to the first and second support rails and the first driving rail and configured to move along the first and second support rails and the first driving rail;
• a first transport vehicle including a carriage coupled to move along the second driving rail and configured to move along the second driving rail, and a hoist and hand unit installed on the carriage and configured to load and unload an article to and from the first overhead rack;
• a first interface port adjacent to the first overhead rack;
• a second interface port below the first overhead rack and having an opened upper surface;
• and
• a second transport vehicle configured to move along an overhead rail,
• wherein the first transport vehicle is configured to pick up the article from the first overhead rack and to move the article to the first interface port, and the second transport vehicle is configured to pick up and move the article from the first interface port, and
• wherein the first transport vehicle is configured to pick up the article from the first overhead rack and move the article to the second interface port through the opened upper surface,
• wherein the ceiling storage system is configured such that an operator or an autonomous mobile vehicle can pick up and move the article from the second interface port, and
• wherein the second interface port is configured to receive the article from the first transport vehicle and hold the article inside the second interface port prior to the article being picked up by an entity, the entity including at least one of the operator or the autonomous mobile vehicle.

A control method of a ceiling storage system, the control method comprising:

• providing the ceiling storage system including a first overhead rack, a first support rail, a second support rail, a first driving rail disposed above the first overhead rack and extending in a first direction, a second driving rail movably coupled to the first support rail, the second support rail, and the first driving rail, a first transport vehicle movable along the second driving rail, a first interface port disposed to be adjacent to the first overhead rack, and a second interface port disposed below the first overhead rack and having an opened upper surface, the second interface port being configured to receive an article from the first transport vehicle and hold the article inside the second interface port prior to the article being picked up by an entity, the entity including at least one of an operator or an autonomous mobile vehicle;
• moving the second driving rail along the first driving rail in the first direction;
• moving the first transport vehicle along the second driving rail in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• extending a hoist of the first transport vehicle in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction;
• and
• picking up articles loaded on the first overhead rack by a hand unit of the first transport vehicle.