Safety system for an automated storage and picking system and method of operation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11474537-B2
Application number	US-201816482555-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

A safety system for an automated storage and picking system is described. The storage system includes load handling devices operating above a series of stacked containers located within a framework, the top of which includes tracks on which the load handling devices operate. The safety system includes a transmitter located in close proximity to the storage system and a receiver located on each of the load handling devices. The transmitter can continually transmit a signal that is detected by the receivers on the load handling devices. In the event of an emergency or a breach of the storage system, the transmission of the signal is cut. Once the receiver no longer receives the signal from the transmitter, power to each load handling device drive is cut to render the storage system safe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A safety system for an automated storage and picking system, the storage and picking system having a first set of parallel rails or tracks, and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the rails, the safety system comprising:
at least one load handling device operable to move on rolling means laterally above stacks on rails;
a transmitter for transmitting a signal, the transmitter having activation means configured upon activation to stop transmission of the signal from the transmitter;
each load handling device having a receiver portion, the receiver portion having a circuit configured to receive the signal from the transmitter such that the load handling device will continue to move on rolling means laterally above the stacks on the grid on receipt of the signal, the safety circuit having switch means to cut power to the rolling means of the load handling device when transmission of the signal by the transmitter is stopped such that the signal is not received by the receiver portion.

2. The safety system of claim 1 , in which activation of the activation means causes the transmitter to stop transmitting the signal to the load handling device in a controlled or emergency operation, in which the period of time to stop transmission in the controlled operation is longer than in the emergency operation.

3. A safety system according to claim 1 , wherein the activation means comprises external means having interlock means located on any openable access point on or adjacent the storage system.

4. A safety system according to claim 3 , in which the interlock means is configured to automatically activate on opening of the access point.

5. A safety system according to claim 1 , in which at least one load handling device comprises:
lifting means configured for lifting containers from stacks within a storage system.

6. A safety system according to claim 1 , in combination with a storage system comprising:
controlling means for controlling operation of each load handling device on the storage system, said safety system comprising:
communication means for communicating with the controlling means, such that when the controlling means is activated, the communication means transmits a request to a remote computing system to stop operation of each load handling device on the storage system.

7. A safety system according to claim 6 , in which on activation of the activation means, the switch means is configured to cut power to each load handling device and each load handling device will stop on the storage system thereby allowing access on to the grid in a safe manner.

8. A safety system according to claim 6 , in which each load handling device is sized to occupy at least one grid space in the storage system.

9. A safety system according to claim 6 , in which the storage and picking system comprises:
an interface to an online retail system.

10. A safety system according to claim 9 , comprising:
containers containing items to be stored, customer orders or empty bags awaiting filling.

11. A safety system according to claim 6 , wherein the activation means comprises external means having button or switch means located adjacent the storage system, said button or switch means being configured for operation by a user of the system in an event of an emergency.

12. A safety system according to claim 11 , wherein, when the signal is not received by the receiver portion, the switch means is configured to cut power to each load handling device and each load handling device will stop on the storage system thereby allowing access on to the grid in a safe manner.

13. A safety system according to claim 12 , in which the storage and picking system comprises:
an interface to an online retail system.

14. A safety system according to claim 13 , in which each load handling device is sized to occupy at least one grid space in the storage system.

15. A safety system according to claim 14 , in which at least one load handling device comprises:
lifting means configured for lifting containers from stacks within a storage system.

16. A method of safely stopping a plurality of load handling devices operating on a storage and picking system, the storage and picking system having a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the rails and at least one load handling device disposed on the grid and operable to move on rolling means laterally above the stacks on the rails, the method comprising:
transmitting a signal via a transmitter of the storage system, the transmitter having activation means configured upon activation to stop transmission of the signal from the transmitter;
receiving at a load handling device receiver portion, the signal from the transmitter such that the load handling device will continue to move on rolling means laterally above the stacks on the grid on receipt of the signal, the receiver portion having switch means for cutting power to the rolling means of the load handling device when transmission of the signal by the transmitter is stopped such that the signal is not received by the receiver portion; and
activating the activation means by external means of the transmitter, said activation interrupting transmission the signal from the transmitter, the interruption in the signal causing the switch means of the receiver portion to cut power to the rolling means of each load handling device, thereby stopping each load handling device on the storage system.

Assignees

• Ocado Innovation Ltd

Inventors

• Shields Jennifer Jane
• Steiner Timothy Deighton
• Butler Nicholas John
• Campbell Pete

Classifications

• B66F9/063

  Automatically guided · CPC title

• B65G1/137

  with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed · CPC title

• G05B19/41895

  using automatic guided vehicles [AGV] (control of position or course of AGV's G05D1/00) · CPC title

• G05B19/409

  characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters (G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65G1/065

  with self propelled cars · CPC title