An automated storage and retrieval system comprising a service vehicle and a service sled

Abstract

The present invention provides a storage system comprising a framework structure (100) having a plurality of storage columns (105) accommodating a vertical stack of storage containers (106), and a rail system (108) upon which vehicles (2, 201,301,401) may move in two perpendicular directions above the storage columns; the rail system comprises a first set of parallel rails (110) arranged to guide movement of the vehicles in a first direction (X) across the top of a frame structure, and a second set of parallel rails (111) arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails to guide movement of the vehicles in a second direction (Y) which is perpendicular to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of parallel rails defining a plurality of grid cells (122); wherein the storage system comprises a service vehicle (2) and at least one service sled (3), the service vehicle (2) is configured to accommodate a human operator and comprises wheels (4a,4b), for moving the service vehicle in the first direction and the second direction upon the rail system, and at least one sled connector (5) to releasably attach the service vehicle (2) to the service sled (3), and the service sled (3) is configured to slide upon the rail system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.