System and method for configuration of buildings or storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11174103-B2
Application number	US-201916716615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2019
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

Abstract

A modular building system or storage system can include a number of stacks of container, each stack being positioned within a frame structure having uprights and a horizontal grid disposed above the stacks. The grid can include substantially perpendicular rails on which load handling devices can run. Containers having functions associated with a number of residential or commercial uses are moved in to and out of the stacks by the robotic handling devices running on the grid. The containers disposed in the stacks are selected by function on demand by a user, the building being reconfigurable to take into account required uses.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A robotic storage system comprising:
a framework structure having a plurality of containers including at least one self-storage unit accessible by at least one user, the containers being disposed in stacks within the framework structure, the containers being arranged and configured to support a container immediately above in the stack, the framework structure having a series of substantially vertical uprights having a substantially horizontal grid mounted thereon, the grid including two substantially perpendicular sets of rails configured for operation of at least one load handling device, at least one of the containers disposed in the stacks is connected to one or more services through the framework;
the at least one load handling device having a body mounted on wheels, a first set of the wheels configured and arranged to engage with at least two rails of a first set of the rails, a second set of the wheels being arranged to engage with at least two rails of a second set of the rails, the first set of wheels being independently moveable and driveable with respect to the second set of wheels such that when in motion only one of the first and second set of wheels will engage with the grid at any one time to enable movement of the load handling device along the rails to a position on the grid by driving only the set of wheels of the first and second set of wheels engaged with the rails; and
user access means for accessing at least one predetermined container of the plurality of containers.

2. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the containers are configured to receive items requiring storage within one or more of said plurality of containers.

3. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the robotic storage system is arranged to be located adjacent to a building.

4. A robotic storage system according to claim 3 , comprising:
items requiring storage which items are closely related to the adjacent building.

5. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more services of the robotic storage system comprise:
a deoxygenated, nitrogen rich or chilled environment.

6. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , the at least one load handling device comprising:
plural load handling devices.

7. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the containers are configured and sized to fit items stored therein.

8. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein designated items are stored in a small or micro version/sized robotic storage system relative to larger items stored outside the small or micro version/sized robotic storage system.

9. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the containers are configured and sized to accommodate trolleys, operating tables, lamps, pharmaceuticals, drugs, bandages, medical equipment, furniture, vehicles, cars, vans, bicycles, scooters, goods to be sold in a shopping centre, booms, journals, and/or magazines.

10. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , in which supports form corners of the containers, each container being configured for supporting a container above, the supports being load bearing members of the robotic storage system.

11. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , comprising:
a control system including identifying means, monitoring means and locating means, the identifying means identifying a container of the plurality of containers in the robotic storage system to be located in the system and locating means for locating a container within the stack to enable a load handling device of the at least one load handling device to retrieve each container on demand.

12. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , configured to determine a location of each item and to trace changes in location of each item in order to facilitate removal of each item from the robotic storage system.

13. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the robotic storage system comprises:
a self-storage depot.

14. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , comprising:
an access code entry device configured to allow a user interface to allow a user to purchase or rent one or more containers within the robotic storage system.

15. A robotic storage system according to claim 1 , comprising:
a code entry device configured for a user to access to a storage container of the plurality of containers, via an access code entered at the code entry device, the at least one load handling device being operable to remove a required container of the plurality of containers from the stack and transport the required container to an access point.

16. A method of providing a robotic storage system, comprising:
providing a plurality of containers;
stacking the plurality of containers in a stack within a framework;
connecting at least one of the containers in the stack to one or more services provided through the framework;
providing a robotic load handling device on a grid above the stack of containers of the containers;
disconnecting the one or more services of containers to be moved or removed; and
moving or removing the containers disconnected from the one or more services on demand as a result of a user access request.

17. A method of providing a robotic storage system according to claim 16 , comprising:
identifying, monitoring and locating a requested container within the stack; and
controlling the robotic load handling device to retrieve a container of the plurality of containers on demand as a result of the user access request.

18. A method of providing a robotic storage system according to claim 16 , comprising:
receiving a user input access code via a code entry device to access a user container of the plurality of containers.

Assignees

• Ocado Innovation Ltd

Inventors

• Clarke Paul
• Lindbo Lars Sverker Ture
• Ingram-Tedd Andrew John
• Waddilove James
• Angel Jonty

Classifications

• B65G1/0464 Primary

  with access from above · CPC title

• A01G31/06

  Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers · CPC title

• A01G9/022

  Pots for vertical horticulture · CPC title

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B65G2207/22

  Heat or fire protection · CPC title