Apparatus and method for charging a load handling device
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsRobert Stadie, Keith Habben
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A load handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in a storage system a grid framework structure, the load handling device including: a vehicle body housing a driving mechanism operatively arranged for moving the load handling device on the grid framework structure; a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device configured to releasably grip a container and lift the container from the stack into a container-receiving space; are chargeable power source electrically coupled to an electrical charge point for electrically coupling to a charge head of a charge station wherein; the electrical charge point includes a charge collector connectable to the charge head of the charge station under action of a magnet.
Claims22
A storage system comprising:
- i) a grid framework structure supporting a pathway arranged in a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces or grid cells;
- ii) a load handling device configured for lifting and moving containers stacked in the grid framework structure, the load handling device including:
- a) a vehicle body housing a driving mechanism operatively arranged for moving the load handling device on the grid framework structure;
- b) a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device configured to, in use, releasably grip a container and lift the container from the stack into a container-receiving space;
- said driving mechanism and the lifting drive assembly being powered by a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to an electrical charge point arranged on the vehicle body, the electrical charge point including a charge collector;
- and
- iii) a charge station including a charge head electrically coupled to a power source charger;
- wherein:
- the charge head is configured to be connectable with the charge collector to charge the rechargeable power source of the load handling device under action of a magnet an electromagnet,
- wherein the charge collector and/or the charge head is/are configured to be moveable to electrically couple with each other under action of the electromagnet;
- and wherein the charge collector and/or the charge head is configured to be extendable from or retractable within an outer housing.
A method of charging a rechargeable power source of a load handling device in a storage system, the method comprising:
- providing the storage system comprising:
- a grid framework structure supporting a pathway arranged in a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces or grid cells;
- the load handling device being configured for lifting and moving containers stacked in the grid framework structure including:
- a vehicle body housing a driving mechanism operatively arranged for moving the load handling device on the grid framework structure;
- and
- a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device configured to, in use, releasably grip a container and lift the container from a stack of containers into a container-receiving space,
- said driving mechanism and the lifting drive assembly being powered by the rechargeable power source electrically coupled to an electrical charge point arranged on the vehicle body, the electrical charge point including a charge collector;
- and
- a charge station including a charge head electrically coupled to a power source charger,
- wherein the charge head is configured to be connectable with the charge collector to charge the rechargeable power source of the load handling device under action of an electromagnet;
- a) lowering the charge head towards the charge collector of the electrical charge point;
- b) activating the electromagnet to pull and/or push the charge head towards the charge collector under a magnetic attractive force, wherein the charge collector and/or the charge head is/are configured to be moveable to electrically couple with each other under action of the electromagnet;
- and
- c) supplying current to the rechargeable power source via the charge head, wherein the charge collector and/or the charge head is configured to be extendable from or retractable within an outer housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.