A rack system for the storage of receptacles, configured to be served by one or more automated guided vehicles, the or each vehicle being configured to collect receptacles of the rack system for the storage of said receptacles, said vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body equipped with rolling and driving means for the vehicle;
- a loading and unloading device connected to the vehicle body and comprising:
- a gripping device comprising at least a base support equipped with gripping means configured to grip or release a receptacle,
- a lifting system comprising means for raising and lowering the gripping device, configured to raise and lower the base support of the gripping device as well as the receptacle held by the gripping device, relative to said vehicle body, along a third direction which is vertical,
- said loading and unloading device comprising said gripping means which is lateral movement-enabled relative to the base support and is configured to transfer the gripped receptacle from the base support to the rack system, or conversely from the rack system to the base support,
- said rack system comprising:
- shelving units comprising at least one shelving assembly comprising a first shelving unit and a second shelving unit which are arranged relative to each other in a first direction, the first shelving unit and the second shelving unit extending lengthwise in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first shelving unit and the second shelving unit being spaced apart in the first direction, leaving between them a circulation aisle extending lengthwise in the second direction between the two shelving units,
- and wherein at least the first shelving unit and the second shelving unit each comprise one or a plurality of columns of cells, the cells of each column being superimposed vertically, said plurality of columns of cells being offset in the second direction, the cells having lateral access openings enabling loading of cells with receptacles from the circulation aisle or conversely unloading of receptacles contained in the cells into said circulation aisle,
- a track arranged on the rack system, above said shelving units, comprising first rails oriented in the first direction and configured for movement of the vehicle along said first direction, and second rails oriented in the second direction and configured for movement of the vehicle in the second direction, said track being configured to cooperate with the rolling and driving means of the automated guided vehicle to enable movement of the vehicle above the shelving units and above said circulation aisle along the first direction and along the second direction with the gripping device in a raised position, said track comprising one or more passages for the gripping device, aligned with one or more circulation shafts of the circulation aisle, the passage(s) being configured to allow a selective descent of the gripping device in said circulation shafts,
- a system of covers which close off the shelving units from above, comprising removable covers configured for removably closing said passage(s),
- and wherein the cells of the first shelving unit and/or of the second shelving unit have said lateral access openings allowing the cells to be loaded with receptacles from the circulation shafts of said circulation aisle, from a first position of the lateral movement-enabled gripping means in which the receptacle is retracted relative to the base support in said circulation shaft, to a second position in which the receptacle is moved into said cell.