Three-dimensional automated pick module

A storage system, comprising:

• at least two storage racks disposed in an opposing manner, the storage racks each including two or more levels that have one or more rack conveyors upon which items are stored;
• a vertical transport disposed between the storage racks, the vertical transport including a cross-belt conveyor configured to load the items from the rack conveyors onto the vertical transport, the cross-belt conveyor including
• one or more carriages horizontally moveable in a travel direction along the one or more rack conveyors, and
• each of the one or more carriages having a powered belt mounted generally perpendicular to the travel direction so that items moved with the powered belt move generally perpendicular to the travel direction of the carriage;
• and
• an elevator configured to move the vertical transport vertically between the levels.

A storage system, comprising:

• a storage rack including two or more levels that have one or more rack conveyors, wherein the rack conveyors are configured to store items
• a cross-belt conveyor located along a side of the storage rack for transporting the items, the cross-belt conveyor including
• one or more carriages horizontally moveable in a travel direction along the one or more rack conveyors, and
• each of the one or more carriages having a powered belt mounted generally perpendicular to the travel direction to move the items generally perpendicular to the travel direction of the carriage;
• and
• an elevator coupled to the cross-belt conveyor to move the cross-belt conveyor vertically between the levels of the storage rack.

A method, comprising:

• loading a first item from a first rack conveyor at a first rack level onto a cross-belt conveyor;
• moving the item in a lateral direction that is transverse to the first rack conveyor with the cross-belt conveyor;
• depositing the first item from the cross-belt conveyor at a loading area that is offset in the lateral direction from the first rack conveyor;
• moving the cross-belt conveyor in a vertical direction to a second rack level that is offset in the vertical direction from the first rack level;
• loading a second item from the second rack level onto the cross-belt conveyor;
• wherein the cross-belt conveyor includes one or more carriages moveable in the lateral direction and each of the one or more carriages having a powered belt mounted generally perpendicular to the lateral direction;
• and
• wherein said loading the first item includes powering the powered belt to move the first item in a direction that is transverse to the lateral direction.

A storage system, comprising:

• at least two storage racks disposed in an opposing manner, the storage racks each including two or more levels that have one or more rack conveyors, wherein the rack conveyors are configured to store items;
• a vertical transport disposed between the storage racks, the vertical transport including one or more robotic arms being secured to the vertical transport to move vertically in unison with the vertical transport, the vertical transport having one or more loading areas, the robot arms being configured to load items from the racks onto the loading areas of the vertical transport;
• an elevator configured to move the vertical transport vertically between the levels so that the robotic arms are able to load the items from the rack conveyors onto the loading areas of the vertical transport, wherein the loading areas move vertically with vertical transport when the elevator vertically moves the vertical transport;
• wherein the vertical transport has one or more guide rails upon which the robotic arms hang, wherein the guide rails extend above the loading areas in a longitudinal direction between the racks;
• wherein the robotic arms are configured to move longitudinally above the loading areas along the guide rails for loading items along the length of the vertical transport;
• wherein the rack conveyors are unpowered;
• a conveyor driver configured to move to power two or more of the rack conveyors;
• and
• wherein the conveyor driver is configured to move horizontally along one of the levels.

A storage system, comprising:

• at least two storage racks disposed in an opposing manner, the storage racks each including two or more levels that have one or more rack conveyors, wherein the rack conveyors are configured to store items;
• a vertical transport disposed between the storage racks, the vertical transport including one or more robotic arms being secured to the vertical transport to move vertically in unison with the vertical transport, the vertical transport having one or more loading areas, the robot arms being configured to load items from the racks onto the loading areas of the vertical transport;
• an elevator configured to move the vertical transport vertically between the levels so that the robotic arms are able to load the items from the rack conveyors onto the loading areas of the vertical transport, wherein the loading areas move vertically with vertical transport when the elevator vertically moves the vertical transport;
• wherein the vertical transport has one or more guide rails upon which the robotic arms hang, wherein the guide rails extend above the loading areas in a longitudinal direction between the racks;
• wherein the robotic arms are configured to move longitudinally above the loading areas along the guide rails for loading items along the length of the vertical transport;
• wherein the rack conveyors are unpowered;
• a conveyor driver configured to move to power two or more of the rack conveyors;
• and
• wherein the conveyor driver is configured to move vertically between the levels for indexing rack conveyors on different levels so that the robotic arms are able to load the items from the rack conveyors on different levels while the vertical transport remains vertically stationary.

A storage system, comprising:

• at least two storage racks disposed in an opposing manner, the storage racks each including two or more levels that have one or more rack conveyors, wherein the rack conveyors are configured to store items;
• a vertical transport disposed between the storage racks, the vertical transport including one or more robotic arms being secured to the vertical transport to move vertically in unison with the vertical transport, the vertical transport having one or more loading areas, the robot arms being configured to load items from the racks onto the loading areas of the vertical transport;
• an elevator configured to move the vertical transport vertically between the levels so that the robotic arms are able to load the items from the rack conveyors onto the loading areas of the vertical transport, wherein the loading areas move vertically with vertical transport when the elevator vertically moves the vertical transport;
• wherein the vertical transport has one or more guide rails upon which the robotic arms hang, wherein the guide rails extend above the loading areas in a longitudinal direction between the racks;
• wherein the robotic arms are configured to move longitudinally above the loading areas along the guide rails for loading items along the length of the vertical transport;
• wherein the rack conveyors are unpowered;
• a conveyor driver configured to move to power two or more of the rack conveyors;
• and
• wherein the conveyor driver is secured to the vertical transport.