Container-Manoeuvring Apparatus

A system comprising:

• a container-storage system having a first set of parallel rails, or tracks, extending in an X-direction, and a second set of parallel rails, or tracks, extending in a Y-direction transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces;
• a framework structure located beneath the rails for a plurality of stacks of containers to be located within the framework structure, and arranged such that each stack will be located within a footprint of a single grid space;
• a transporting device arranged to selectively move in the X and/or Y directions above the stacks on the rails, and configured to transport a container;
• one or more carriage tracks located beneath the framework structure;
• and
• one or more carriages arranged to move along a carriage track wherein, in use, the transporting device is configured to load/unload a container onto/from a carriage.

A method of maneuvering a container, the method comprising:

• maneuvering the container between a storage system and a carriage, the storage system having:
• a container-storage system having a first set of parallel rails, or tracks, extending in an X-direction, and a second set of parallel rails, or tracks, extending in a Y-direction transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces;
• a framework structure located beneath the rails for a plurality of stacks of containers to be located within the framework structure, and arranged such that each stack will be located within a footprint of a single grid space;
• a transporting device arranged to selectively move in the X and/or Y directions above the stacks on the rails, and configured to transport the container;
• one or more carriage tracks located beneath the framework structure;
• and
• one or more carriages arranged to move along a carriage track wherein, in use, the transporting device is configured to load/unload the container onto/from a carriage, the carriage having a unitary construction with respect to the container, the method comprising:
• arranging the carriage within a stack of containers by the transporting device.