Storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189641-B2
Application number	US-201314442410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2013
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A storage system includes a first grid structure of storage cells, each cell being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins, and the first grid structure having a top level. The system further includes a first vehicle, arranged to move horizontally at the top level of the first grid structure, and a bin lift device, arranged to convey a bin in a vertical direction between the top level of the grid structure and a delivery station. The first vehicle is further arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the first grid structure and to deliver the storage bin to the bin lift device. The bin lift device is arranged to receive a bin from the vehicle at the top level of the first grid structure and to convey the bin to the delivery station.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A storage system, comprising
a first grid structure of storage cells, each storage cell of the first grid structure being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins, the first grid structure having a top level,
a first vehicle, arranged to move horizontally at the top level of the first grid structure, wherein the first vehicle is on top of rails that are provided in the top level of the first grid structure,
a second grid structur of storage cells, each storage cell of the second grid structure being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins, the second grid structure being arranged at a different vertical level than the first grid structure,
a second vehicle, arranged to move horizontally at the top level of the second grid structure, wherein the second vehicle is on top of rails that are provided in the top level of the second grid structure,
a third grid structure of storage cells, each storage cell of the third grid structure being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage bins, the third grid structure being arranged on a different vertical level than the first grid structure and the second grid structure,
a third vehicle, arranged to move horizontally at the top level of the third grid strucutre, wherein the third vehicle is on top of rails that are provided in the top level of the third grid structure,
a bin lift device, arranged to receive a bin from said vehicles and convey the bin, without said vehicles, in a vertical direction between the top levels of the first grid structure, the second grid structure, the third grid structure, and a delivery station,
wherein the first vehicle is further arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the first grid structure and to deliver the storage bin to the bin lift device, wherein the bin lift device is arranged to receive the storage bin from the first vehicle, and wherein the bin lift device is further arranged to convey the storage bin, without the first vehicle, in a vertical direction from the top level of the first grid structure to the delivery station,
wherein the second vehicle is further arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the second grid structure and to deliver the storage bin to the bin lift device, wherein the bin lift device is arranged to receive the storage bin from the second vehicle, and wherein the bin lift device is further arranged to convey the storage bin, without the second vehicle, in a vertical direction from the top level of the second grid structure to the delivery station,
wherein the third vehicle is further arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the third grid structure and to deliver the storage bin to the bin lift device, wherein the bin lift device is arranged to receive the storage bin from the third vehicle, and wherein the bin lift device is further arranged to convey the storage bin, without the third vehicle, in a vertical direction from the top level of the third grid structure to the delivery station, and
wherein the second grid structure is arranged below the first grid structure, and the third grid structure is arranged below the second grid structure.

2. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second grid structures are arranged on separate floors or mezzanines in a building.

3. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the delivery station is arranged below the level of the second grid structure.

4. The storage system according to claim 3 , wherein the delivery station is arranged on the ground floor in a building.

5. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising additional vehicles arranged to move at the top level of the first grid structure and arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the first grid structure.

6. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising additional vehicles arranged to move at the top level of the second grid structure and arranged to receive a storage bin from a storage cell at the top level of the second grid structure.

7. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional grid structure of storage cells, arranged on a vertical level different from the vertical levels of other grid structures in the system.

8. The storage system according to claim 7 , wherein the first grid structure is an upper grid structure and the second grid structure is an intermediate grid structure, and wherein the at least one additional grid structure includes a lower grid structure.

9. The storage system according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the grid structures is a consolidation grid, wherein the consolidation grid is a grid for storing a plurality of bins.

10. The storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the bin lift device is further arranged to receive a storage bin from the second vehicle at the top level of the second grid structure and to convey the storage bin in a vertical direction to the top level of the first grid structure.

11. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional bin lift device, arranged to receive a storage bin from the first vehicle at the top level of the first grid structure and to convey the storage bin in a vertical direction to the top level of the second grid structure.

12. The storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit and network communication devices configured to provide wireless communication between the control unit and said vehicles.

Assignees

• Jakob Hatteland Logistics As
• Autostore Tech As

Inventors

• Hognaland Ingvar

Classifications

• B65G1/0478

  for matrix-arrangements · CPC title

• B65G1/0464 Primary

  with access from above · CPC title

• B65G2201/0258

  Trays, totes or bins · CPC title

• B65G1/06

  with means for presenting articles for removal at predetermined position or level (B65G1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title