Suspension system for autonomous transports
AssigneeSymbotic LLC
InventorsRobert Sullivan, Stephen C. Toebes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot including a drive section assembly having at least one motor and a pair of drive wheels coupled to the motor, a frame configured to support a payload, a transfer arm connected to the frame and configured for the autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a suspension system movably connecting the drive section assembly and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section assembly.
Claims12
An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
- a storage array with storage locations arranged along a transport surface;
- and
- an autonomous transport vehicle for transporting, on the transport surface, a payload between the storage locations of the storage array, the autonomous transport vehicle comprising
- a frame having at least four corners and at least four support wheels, the four support wheels being distributed at least proximate the at least four corners of the frame, to support the frame on and to contact the transport surface on which the autonomous transport vehicle travels, where the frame defines a payload support section;
- at least one steerable wheel mounted to the frame and configured to contact the transport surface and steer the frame along the transport surface;
- a drive section;
- a payload justification system configured for at least one degree of freedom payload positioning within the frame;
- and
- a suspension system movably connecting the drive section and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section.
A method for transporting a payload within an automated storage and retrieval system with an autonomous transport vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing the autonomous transport vehicle with a drive section, a frame having at least four corners, and at least four support wheels, the four support wheels being distributed at least proximate the at least four corners of the frame, to support the frame on and to contact the transport surface on which the autonomous transport vehicle travels, where the frame defines a payload support section;
- providing at least one steerable wheel on the frame where the at least one steerable wheel contacts the transport surface and steers the frame along the transport surface;
- justifying, with respect to the frame, the payload with a payload justification system having at least one degree of freedom payload positioning;
- and
- providing a suspension system movably connecting the drive section and the frame allowing relative movement between the frame and the drive section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.