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US 12,715,694 B2Granted
Trash handling arrangement for an automated storage system
AssigneeAutostore Technology AS
InventorErik Strømme
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an arrangement and system for the disposal of and/or recycling of trash, such as packaging materials, recyclable materials or other refuse The container handling vehicles of the system transport trash in a trash container from an access station, along the rail system of the storage system, to a trash port which has means for emptying the trash and advantageously diverting the trash to an appropriate receptacle.
Claims8
An automated storage and retrieval system (1) having a trash disposal arrangement, comprising:
- a. a storage grid (104) provided by a framework structure (100), the framework structure (100) comprising a rail system (108) arranged at an upper level of the framework structure, the rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails (110) arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel rails (111) arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), which first and second sets of rails (110, 111) form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane (P) comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells (112), and the storage grid defining a plurality of storage columns (105), each storage column being arranged to store a respective stack (107) of storage containers (106), wherein the storage columns (105) are located beneath the rail system (108) and wherein each storage column (105) is located vertically below a respective grid cell (112),
- b. a plurality of container handling vehicles (201/301/401) that operate on the rail system (108) for collecting and returning storage containers (106) to and from storage columns (105),
- c. one or more trash ports (600), the one or more trash ports arranged as vertical columns located below respective grid cells (112),
- d. means in connection with the one or more trash ports (600) for receiving a trash container (604) in the form of a storage container (106) containing trash from a container handling vehicle of the plurality of container handling vehicles and thereafter emptying the trash container into a receptacle.
1 more element
A method for disposing trash in an automated storage and retrieval system (1) comprising:
- a. a storage grid (104) provided by a framework structure (100), the framework structure (100) comprising a rail system (108) arranged at an upper level of the framework structure, the rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails (110) arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel rails (111) arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), which first and second sets of rails (110, 111) form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane (P) comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells (112), and the storage grid defining a plurality of storage columns (105), each storage column being arranged to store a respective stack (107) of storage containers (106), wherein the storage columns (105) are located beneath the rail system (108) and wherein each storage column (105) is located vertically below a respective grid cell (112),
- b. a plurality of container handling vehicles (201/301/401) that operate on the rail system (108) for collecting and returning storage containers (106) to and from storage columns (105),
- c. one or more trash ports (600), the one or more trash ports arranged as vertical columns located below respective grid cells (112),
- d. means in connection with the one or more trash ports (600) for receiving a trash container (604) in the form of a storage container (106) containing trash from a container handling vehicle of the plurality of container handling vehicles and thereafter emptying the trash container into a receptacle
- wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- filling the storage container (106) with trash at an access station (610), thereby forming the trash container (604),
- retrieving the trash container with the container handling vehicle (201/301/401) of the plurality of container handling vehicles,
- transporting the trash container along the rail system (108) to the one or more trash ports (600),
- lowering the trash container onto an invertible platform (602) arranged in the one or more trash ports,
- inverting the platform (602) so as to empty the contents of the trash container into the receptacle (618).
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.