System and method for weighing containers

A method for weighing containers in a carousel port comprising a rotatable container carousel for conveying containers between a container loading position and a container accessing position, the rotatable container carousel being rotatable about a central axis and comprising a hub with at least one carousel arm attached at one end to the hub and at another end attached to a support structure which carries a container tray at a radial distance from the central axis of the rotatable container carousel supported on top of the support structure, wherein load from the support structure, the container tray and any container carried on the container tray is carried by at least one wheel mounted to the support structure of each carousel arm of the at least one carousel arm as the at least one wheel rotates over a surface of a base of the carousel port, the method comprising the following steps:

• loading a container onto a container tray supported by a carousel arm of the at least one carousel arm of the carousel port,
• rotating the carousel arm with the container tray with the container loaded onto it to the container accessing position,
• arranging the at least one wheel attached to the carousel arm rotated to the container accessing positioned to rest on a load cell,
• registering a weight measurement output from the load cell, and
• subtracting from the weight measurement a weight measurement taken by the load cell when the container tray is empty.

A system for weighing containers in a carousel port in an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:

• a plurality of container handling vehicles;
• and
• a framework structure forming a three-dimensional storage grid structure for storing storage containers for storing items, and where the framework structure comprises a rail system, the rail system providing available routes for the container handling vehicles handling and transferring the storage containers to and from storage columns of the automated storage and retrieval system, and
• wherein the carousel port can receive a container lowered by a container handling vehicle operating on the rail system of the automated storage and retrieval system,
• wherein the automated storage and retrieval system comprises a rotatable container carousel for conveying containers between a container loading position and a container accessing position, the rotatable container carousel being rotatable about a central axis and comprising:
• a base;
• a hub;
• and
• at least one carousel arm attached at one end to the hub and at another end attached to a support structure which carries a container tray at a radial distance from the central axis of the rotatable container carousel supported on top of the support structure,
• wherein load from the support structure, the container tray and any container carried on the container tray is carried by at least one wheel mounted to the support structure of each carousel arm of the at least one carousel arm as the at least one wheel rotates over a surface of the base of the carousel port, and
• wherein each carousel arm of the at least one carousel arm is able to pivot about a horizontal axis extending through a center of an attachment point of the carousel arm to the hub, and
• wherein the base is provided with a load cell which is positioned so that when the at least one carousel arm is in the container accessing position, the at least one wheel is resting on the load cell to register a weight applied by the at least one wheel.