US 2026/0217462 A1Published application

Systems and methods for transferring containers to a storage structure

AssigneeSymbotic LLC

InventorsAlan J. Grant, Julian D. Warhurst

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Abstract

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to transfer containers to a storage structure in an automated storage and retrieval system. A system for transferring containers to a storage structure includes a workstation cooperated with a storage structure. A chute has an originating end in the storage structure and a terminal end at the workstation. The chute receives containers provided by mobile robots in the storage structure and the containers travel down the chute to the workstation. An elevator at the workstation transports containers from the workstation to the storage structure. The elevator includes an automatic door to open when the carriage arrives at the workstation and to close after the container is received by the carriage. The elevator includes an ejector to eject the container from the carriage to a mobile robot in the storage structure.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for transferring containers to a storage structure, comprising:

a workstation cooperated with a storage structure, the storage structure comprising multiple vertically spaced levels that each have multiple storage locations;
a chute extending vertically along the storage structure, the chute having an originating end disposed at a level of the storage structure and a terminal end disposed at the workstation, wherein the chute is to receive containers provided by mobile robots through an upper opening at the originating end of the chute and to guide the containers to a lower opening at the terminal end of the chute, and the chute is to hold multiple containers stacked at the terminal end;
and
an elevator to vertically transport containers via a carriage from the workstation to levels of the storage structure and to return the carriage to the workstation, the elevator comprising:
the carriage for receiving a container;
an automatic door to open when the carriage arrives at the workstation and to close after the container is received by the carriage;
and
an ejector to eject the container from the carriage to a mobile robot once the carriage has arrived at a particular level of the storage structure.

5 more elements

A method for transferring containers to a storage structure, comprising:

receiving, at a workstation, a container from a terminal end of a chute, wherein the chute extends vertically along a storage structure, the storage structure comprising multiple vertically spaced levels that each comprise multiple aisles having storage locations, and the chute having an originating end disposed at a level of the storage structure and the terminal end disposed at the workstation, wherein the chute is to receive containers provided by mobile robots through an upper opening at the originating end of the chute and to guide the containers to a lower opening at the terminal end of the chute, and the chute is to hold multiple containers stacked at the terminal end;
opening, caused by a control circuit to execute a set of computer executable instructions, an automatic door of an elevator when a signal is received indicating that a carriage of the elevator is at the workstation, wherein the elevator is to vertically transport containers via the carriage from the workstation to levels of a storage structure and to return the carriage to the workstation;
receiving the container into the carriage of the elevator;
closing, caused by the control circuit, the automatic door of the elevator when a signal is received indicating that the container has been received by the carriage;
and
ejecting, by an ejector associated with the elevator, the container from the carriage to a mobile robot once the carriage has arrived at a particular level of the storage structure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.