Automated storage and retrieval system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10940998-B2
Application number	US-201815905810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2018
Priority date	Feb 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for storing or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas that are positioned along the path. The destination areas are configured such that the destination areas have a depth to accommodate a plurality of containers in a horizontal line one behind another. The containers may be releasable interconnected so that retrieving one of the interconnected containers displaces one or more connected containers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A material handling system for storing or retrieving a plurality of storage containers, comprising:
a plurality of vehicles for delivering and retrieving storage containers, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle;
a first rack of storage locations;
a second rack of storage locations spaced apart from the first rack with an aisle between the first and second racks;
wherein the vehicles are displaceable in a vertical direction within the aisle and horizontally transverse the vertical direction;
a plurality of storage locations wherein each storage location is configured to receive a plurality of the storage containers;
wherein a first of the storage containers comprises a first connector at a first end and a second of the storage containers comprises a second connector at a second end, wherein the first connector is releasably connectable with the second connector to releasably connect the first and second storage containers at one of the storage locations;
wherein each vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism configured to displace the first and second storage containers between the vehicle and the one storage location wherein the releasable connection between the first and second containers is operable to displace the second storage container when the transfer mechanism displaces the first storage container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a track for guiding the vehicles, wherein the track comprises:
a plurality of horizontal track sections spaced apart from one another and extending in a generally horizontal direction;
a plurality of vertical track sections spaced apart from one another and extending in a generally vertical direction, wherein the vertical track sections intersect the horizontal track sections to form a loop; and
an intersection where one of the horizontal track sections intersects one of the vertical track sections, wherein the intersection provides a first path in a generally horizontal direction and a second path in a generally vertical direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connection of the first and second connectors impedes horizontal displacement of the first container relative to the second container.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the connection of the first and second connectors is sufficient to support the weight of the second container during horizontal displacement such that displacing the first container horizontally displaces the second container horizontally when the first and second connectors are connected.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the connection of the first and second connectors permits vertical displacement of the first container relative to the second container.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second connectors are configured such that vertical displacement of the vehicle along the track disconnects the first and second connectors.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second connectors are configured such that displacement of the first connector vertically relative to the second connector disconnects the first connector from the second connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first connector comprises a tongue and the second connector comprises a groove configured to receive the tongue.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage location in which the first and second containers are located is configured to house the first and second containers in horizontal alignment wherein the first container is positioned in front of the second container.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein when one of the vehicles is aligned with the first container, the first container separates the second container from the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one of the storage locations has a depth and the first and second container each have a length, wherein the depth of the one storage location is at least as long as the combined length of the first and second containers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicles comprise a generally planar platform for receiving the containers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a pick station is disposed at an end of the aisle, wherein the vehicles deliver containers to the pick station so that operators can retrieve items from the containers at the pick station.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the vehicles comprise drive wheels that engage the track and wherein the racks are positioned relative to the track so that the containers project horizontally into the aisle beyond the track.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the containers contain one or more engagement elements configured to engage the transfer mechanism of the vehicles.

16. A material handling system for storing or retrieving a plurality of storage containers, comprising:
a plurality of independently operable vehicles for delivering and retrieving storage containers, wherein each vehicle comprises an on-board motor for driving the vehicle;
a first rack of storage locations wherein a plurality of the storage locations are vertically spaced apart from one another forming a first vertical column;
a second rack of storage locations wherein a plurality of the storage locations are vertically spaced apart from one another forming a second vertical column spaced apart from the first vertical column with an aisle between the first and second vertical columns;
a track configured to guide the vehicles to the storage locations;
wherein the vehicles are displaceable in the aisle in a vertical direction along the track and displaceable horizontally transverse the vertical direction;
a plurality of storage containers wherein each storage location is configured to receive a plurality of the storage containers so that a first container positioned in a first storage location is adjacent the aisle and a second container positioned in the first storage location is spaced from the aisle by the first container;
wherein the first storage containers comprise a first connector at a first end and the second the storage containers comprises a second connector at a second end, wherein the second connector is releasably connectable with the first connector to releasably connect the first and second storage containers at the first storage location;

wherein each vehicle comprises a transfer mechanism configured to displace the first and second storage containers between the vehicle and the first storage location wherein the releasable connection between the first and second containers is operable to displace the second storage container when the transfer mechanism displaces the first storage container.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the track comprises:
a plurality of horizontal track sections spaced apart from one another and extending in a generally horizontal direction;
a plurality of vertical track sections spaced apart from one another and extending in a generally vertical direction, wherein the vertical track sections intersect the horizontal track sections to form a loop; and
an intersection where one of the horizontal track sections intersects one of the vertical track sections, wherein the intersection provides a first path in a generally horizontal direction and a second path in a generally vertical direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the connection of the first and second connectors impedes horizontal displacement of the first container relative to the second container.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the connec

Assignees

• Opex Corp

Inventors

• Valinsky Joseph
• Dewitt Robert R
• Stevens Alexander
• Kumar Dhruva

Classifications

• B65G2814/0352

  Feeding or discharging devices operated by cars · CPC title

• B65G1/1373 Primary

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• B65G1/10

  with relatively movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles {(cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down A47B51/00; cabinet system, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets A47B53/02)} · CPC title

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B65G1/0435 Primary

  with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area · CPC title