Storage container, a system comprising one or more of the storage containers and methods of assembling the storage containers

An automated storage and retrieval system comprising a two-dimensional rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of container handling vehicles in a first direction across a top of a frame structure, and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of parallel rails to guide movement of the container handling vehicles in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein a plurality of container handling vehicles operate on the rail system, and wherein the system comprises one or more storage container(s) configured to be stacked in a stack of storage containers where an underlying storage container supports the storage container(s) positioned above, the storage container being adapted to be lifted by grippers on a lifting device such that the storage container can be lifted from above, wherein the storage container comprises:

• a base;
• four sides, each hingedly connected to an edge of the base;
• and
• four corner posts, each configured to interconnect a pair of adjacent sides to each other in a horizontal direction when the sides are positioned substantially 90 degrees relative the base and relative each other,
• wherein each of the sides comprises a top edge and two opposed side edges, and wherein each of the sides has been folded forming a fold at the side edges to provide an outwardly extending rib at each side edge, and wherein each corner post comprises a pair of grooves extending in a longitudinal direction thereof for receiving the respective outwardly extending ribs from the pair of adjacent sides.

A method of transporting a storage container and assembling the storage container on-site, wherein the storage container comprises:

• a base;
• four sides, each hingedly connected to an edge of the base;
• and
• four corner posts, each configured to interconnect a pair of adjacent sides to each other in a horizontal direction when the sides are positioned substantially 90 degrees relative the base and relative each other, wherein each of the sides comprises a top edge and two opposed side edges, and wherein each of the sides has been folded forming a fold at the side edges to provide an outwardly extending rib at each side edge, and wherein each corner post comprises a pair of grooves extending in a longitudinal direction thereof for receiving the respective outwardly extending ribs from the pair of adjacent sides;
• and, wherein the method comprises:
• partially folding each of the sides relative to the base between 20 and 85 degrees;
• stacking the partially folded sides and bases at least partly into or within each other on a common transport platform;
• positioning the corner posts on a platform;
• transporting stacks of partially folded sides and bases and the corner posts to a site of an automated storage and retrieval system, ASRS;
• assembling the storage containers on site.

A method of assembling a storage container on a site of an automated storage and retrieval system, ASRS, the storage container configured to be stacked in a stack of storage containers where an underlying storage container supports the storage container(s) positioned above, the storage container being adapted to be lifted by grippers on a lifting device such that the storage container can be lifted from above, wherein the storage container comprises:

• a base;
• four sides, each hingedly connected to an edge of the base;
• and
• four corner posts, each configured to interconnect a pair of adjacent sides to each other in a horizontal direction when the sides are positioned substantially 90 degrees relative the base and relative each other, wherein each of the sides comprises a top edge and two opposed side edges, and wherein each of the sides has been folded forming a fold at the side edges to provide an outwardly extending rib at each side edge, and wherein each corner post comprises a pair of grooves extending in a longitudinal direction thereof for receiving the respective outwardly extending ribs from the pair of adjacent sides;
• wherein the method comprises:
• folding each of the sides fully so that each extend at 90 degrees from the base;
• sliding each of the corner posts from above into locking engagement with edges of the pair of adjacent sides;
• snap locking the corner posts to a flange portion of the storage container such as to bring the corner posts into the locking engagement with the edges of the adjacent sides.