Multi bin vehicle
AssigneeAutostore Technology AS
InventorsTrond Austrheim, Jørgen Djuve Heggebø
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A container-handling vehicle picks up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system. The container-handling vehicle has a vehicle body and wheels for moving the vehicle in two perpendicular directions on the grid. The vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other. Each lifting device is independently controlled and arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity. The vehicle includes at least one vertical frame guiding element arranged inside the cavity. The frame guiding element extends between the lifting devices.
Claims12
A container-handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system, comprising:
- a vehicle body and wheels for moving the vehicle in two perpendicular directions on the grid;
- the vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other, each lifting device is independently controlled and arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity, and
- the vehicle comprises at least one vertical frame guiding element arranged inside the cavity, the frame guiding element extending between the lifting devices.
A method of retrieving at least one storage container from an automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three-dimensional grid and at least one container-handling vehicle,
- wherein the grid comprises multiple storage columns, in which storage containers may be stored on top of one another in vertical stacks, and a port column for receiving and transporting a storage container to an access station;
- wherein the container handling vehicle is operated on rails at a top level of the grid for retrieving storage containers from, and storing storage containers in, the storage columns, and for transporting the storage containers horizontally across the grid;
- wherein the container-handling vehicle comprises at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device arranged such that they may retrieve and/or store a storage container from/in at least two adjacent storage columns at the same time, and at least one vertical frame guiding element extending between the first lifting device and the second lifting device;
- and
- the method comprising:
- identifying a first storage container to be retrieved;
- moving the container-handling vehicle, such that the first lifting device is centred relative a first storage column comprising the first storage container;
- retrieving a second storage container by the first lifting device, the second storage container arranged in the first storage column at a level above the first storage container;
- moving the container-handling vehicle, such that the second lifting device is centred relative the first storage column;
- and
- retrieving the first storage container by the second lifting device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.