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US 2024/0391698 A1Published application
System and method of order fulfilment
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsAndrew John INGRAM-TEDD, Lars Sverker LINDBO, Matthew Robert WHELAN
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Abstract
A system and method of order fulfilment is described. The system comprises a storage and retrieval system, a transfer system and at least one pick station. The transfer system further comprises conveyance means disposed between the storage and retrieval system and the pick station such that items delivered to the transfer system from the storage and retrieval system may be conveyed to the pick stations independently of the normal operation of the pick station.
Claims20
A fulfilment system, comprising:
- a storage and retrieval system including a grid-based storage system having at least one load handling device operative on a series of tracks located on top of a framework of uprights, the storage and retrieval system including containers arranged in stacks within the framework, accessible from above by the at least one load handling device,
- a pick station configured such that an operative is able to pick an item from a storage container and transfer the picked item to a delivery container, the pick station having a storage item side and a picked item side, the storage item side including a storage container input and a storage container output, the storage container input and output respectively having an output and input chute or a single chute of the storage and retrieval system for a storage container to be lowered or lifted by a lifting mechanism of the at least one load handling device, the storage item side and the picked item side are arranged to meet such that, in normal operation, an item in a storage container may be moved by an operative located at the pick station into a delivery container;
- and
- a transfer system positioned between the storage and retrieval system and the pick station for conveying items to the pick station independently of the normal operation of the pick station, the transfer system having a transfer station and conveyance means linking the transfer station to the storage item side of the pick station such that a portion of picked items to be placed into delivery containers at the pick station is supplied to the pick station by the conveyance means, the transfer station comprising a robotic picking device capable of picking particular types of items.
1 more element
A method of handling items in a fulfilment system having a storage and retrieval system including a grid-based storage system having
- at least one load handling device operative on a series of tracks located on top of a framework of uprights, the storage and retrieval system including containers arranged in stacks within the framework, accessible from above by the at least one load handling device, a transfer system positioned between the storage and retrieval system and the pick station for conveying items to the pick station independently of the normal operation of the pick station, the transfer system having a transfer station and conveyance means linking the transfer station to the storage item side of the pick station such that a portion of items to be picked in to delivery containers at the pick station is supplied to the pick station by the conveyance means, and a pick station configured such that an operative is able to pick an item from a storage container and transfer the picked item to a delivery container, the pick station having a storage item side and a picked item side, the storage item side including a storage container input and a storage container output, the storage container input and output respectively having an output and input chute or a single chute of the storage and retrieval system for a storage container to be lowered or lifted by a lifting mechanism of the at least one load handling device, and the storage item side and the picked item side are arranged to meet such that, in normal operation, an item in a storage container may be moved by an operative located at the pick station into a delivery container, the method comprising:
- retrieving a container having items from the storage and retrieval system;
- transferring items from the retrieved container to a transfer station in the transfer system;
- transferring at least one item from the transfer station to conveyance means;
- conveying the at least one transferred item to the pick station;
- and
- picking the at least one item from the conveyance means at the pick station.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.