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US 9,796,080 B2Granted
Systems and methods for order processing
AssigneeOcado Innovation Limited
InventorsLars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Stuart Richard North
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems 1000, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets for the fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. In particular, the disclosure provides improvements in the storage and retrieval of storage and delivery containers in order processing systems.
Claims23
A system for managing shipment containers, the system comprising:
- a storage-and-retrieval system comprising:
- a structural framework defining a grid of storage locations configured for receiving a plurality of shipment containers including storage containers and delivery containers;
- a plurality of robotic load handlers for retrieving shipment containers from any one of the storage locations;
- and
- at least one rail arranged about the grid to enable access to each of the storage locations by at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers;
- and
- at least one processor configured to:
- generate signals for instructing or controlling at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers to store, in the storage and retrieval system, the storage containers containing stored items;
- generate signals for instructing or controlling at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers to retrieve from the storage and retrieval system at least one storage container containing stored items for delivering the retrieved at least one storage container to an order picking station;
- and
- generate signals for instructing or controlling at least one of the plurality of robotic load handlers to store at least one delivery container in the storage and retrieval system, the at least one delivery container containing at least one picked item from the retrieved at least one storage container,
- wherein the storage containers are of a first size and gauge for transport by at least one of the robotic handlers exclusively within the storage and retrieval system and the delivery containers are of a second size and gauge for transport outside of the storage and retrieval system for delivery and within the storage and retrieval system by at least one of the robotic handlers for storage prior to delivery.
9 more elements
A method of operating an order processing system including a goods storage and retrieval system, the method comprising:
- storing, via at least one robotic load handler, in at least one of a plurality of storage locations in the storage and retrieval system a plurality of storage containers containing stored items;
- storing, via the at least one robotic load handler, in at least one of the plurality of adjacent stacks a plurality of delivery containers;
- retrieving, via the at least one robotic load handler, from at least one of a plurality of storage locations a plurality of storage containers containing at least one of the delivery containers, and delivering the retrieved containers to an order picking station;
- transporting the plurality of storage containers exclusively within storage and retrieval system via the at least one robotic load handler;
- and
- transporting the plurality of delivery containers outside of the storage and retrieval system for delivery and within the storage and retrieval system by at least one of the robotic handlers for storage prior to delivery.
3 more elements
A system for managing storage and retrieval of containers, comprising:
- a storage and retrieval system including:
- a structural framework defining a grid of storage locations for receiving a plurality of containers;
- a plurality of robotic load handlers each configured to access any one of the storage locations in the grid of the structural framework;
- and
- a controller configured to control at least one robotic hander in transporting at least one of the plurality of containers to/from any one of the storage locations in the grid,
- wherein the plurality of containers includes storage containers configured to store products to be ordered, delivery containers configured to store products at least partially fulfilling an order, and combined containers including at least one delivery container nested within a storage container.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.