Apparatus and method for charging a load handling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12589668-B2
Application number	US-202117796486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2021
Priority date	Jan 30, 2020
Publication date	Mar 31, 2026
Grant date	Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

A load handling device is disclosed for lifting and moving containers stacked in a storage system having a grid framework structure supporting a pathway arranged in a grid pattern above the stacks of containers. The load handling device includes a vehicle body housing a driving mechanism, the driving mechanism being powered by a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to an electrical charge point for electrically coupling with a charge head of a charge station; and a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device, wherein the lifting device includes the electrical charge point such that charging of the rechargeable power source occurs by the lifting device engaging with the charge head.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A load handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in a storage system having a grid framework structure supporting a pathway arranged in a grid pattern above the stacks of containers, the load handling device comprising:
a vehicle body housing a driving mechanism operatively arranged for moving the load handling device on the grid framework structure, said driving mechanism being powered by a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to an electrical charge point for electrically coupling with a charge head of a charge station in use; and a lifting device having a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device configured, in use, to releasably grip a container and lift the container from the stack into a container-receiving space, wherein the lifting device includes the electrical charge point such that in use charging of the rechargeable power source occurs by the lifting device engaging with the charge head of the charge station, and wherein the grabber device is suspended from the vehicle body of the load handling device by a tether configured to be extended and retracted from the load handling device to move the grabber device vertically.

2 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical charge point comprises:
at least two charge receiving pads configured and arranged to be connectable to at least two charge providing pads of the charge head.

3 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the grabber device comprises:
the electrical charge point.

4 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the lifting drive assembly comprises:
a motor; and a winch arranged to be driven by the motor.

5 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the grabber device is suspended from the vehicle body of the load handling device by four tethers.

6 . The load handling device of claim 5 , wherein the electrical charge point is electrically coupled to the rechargeable power source by:
one or more electrical cables each having a first end electrically coupled to the rechargeable power source in the vehicle body of the load handling device; and a second end electrically coupled to the electrical charge point.

7 . The load handling device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more electrical cables is at least partially covered in an electrically insulating sheath.

8 . The load handling device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more electrical cables is/are one or more of the tethers used to suspend the grabber device from the vehicle body of the load handling device.

9 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical charge point is mounted to the grabber device such that the lifting device is configured to raise and lower the electrical charge point relative to the container receiving space so that in a lowered position the electrical charge point is engageable with the charge head of the charge station.

10 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the grabber device is configured to releasably latch to the charge head of the charge station.

11 . The load handling device of claim 10 , wherein the grabber device comprises:
at least two gripper elements to releasably latch to the charge head of the charge station.

12 . The load handling device of claim 11 , wherein the electrical charge point comprises:
the at least two gripper elements.

13 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical charge point comprises: two interface pins configured to be receivable into two corresponding receiving portions of the charge head.

14 . The load handling device of claim 13 , wherein the electrical charge point is configured and arranged to cooperate with the charge head by a plug and socket type configuration.

15 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical charge point is configured and arranged to cooperate with the charge head by a floating electrical connector.

16 . The load handling device of claim 15 , wherein the electrical charge point and the charge head of the charge station are configured to transfer power by induction.

17 . The load handling device of claim 1 , wherein the rechargeable power source is a battery or a capacitor.

18 . A charge station comprising:
a charge head connected to a power source charger configured and arranged for cooperating with an electrical charge point of a load handling device of claim 1 .

19 . The charge station of claim 18 , wherein the charge head is configured to cooperate with the electrical charge point of the lifting device by a plug and socket type connection or a floating electrical connection.

20 . The charge station of claim 19 , wherein the charge head comprises:
at least two charge providing pads configured and arranged to be connectable to charge receiving pads of the electrical charge point.

21 . The charge station of claim 18 , wherein the charge head is mounted to a platform.

22 . The charge station of claims 21 , wherein the charge station is a calibration tool configured for calibrating the lifting drive assembly of the lifting device, wherein the platform comprises:
one or more locking features for engaging with the grabber device of the lifting device.

23 . The charge station of claim 21 , wherein the platform is mounted on a plinth or pillar.

24 . A storage system comprising:
a first set of parallel pathways and a second set of parallel pathways running transversely to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces or grid cells; a plurality of stacks of containers located beneath the first set of parallel pathways and second set of parallel pathways, wherein each of the stacks of containers occupies a single grid space or grid cell; and a load handling device as claimed in claim 1 , configured and arranged to traverse along the first set and the second set of parallel pathways over the plurality of grid spaces or grid cells such that when positioned above a stack of containers occupying a grid space or grid cell, the lifting device is arranged to lift at least one container from said stack of containers wherein: at least one of the grid spaces or grid cells includes a charge station having the charge head configured to electrically charge the rechargeable power source of the load handling device.

25 . The storage system of claim 24 , wherein the charge station is sized to fit inside a grid space or grid cell.

26 . The storage system of claim 25 , wherein the load handling device is configured and operatively arranged to traverse over a grid space or grid cell occupying a charge station and charge the rechargeable power source by engaging the grabber device with the charge station.

27 . The storage system of claim 24 , wherein the grabber device is configured to engage with and/or disengage from the charge station in response to a signal from a controller.

28 . The storage system of claim 27 , wherein the grabber device is configured to electrically couple with the charge station when the grabber device engages with the charge station.

29 . The storage system of claim 27 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate an actuator to engage with and/or disengage from the grabber device from the charge station.

30 . The storage s

Assignees

• Ocado Innovation Ltd

Inventors

• Benfold James
• Stadie Robert

Classifications

• B65G1/0478

  for matrix-arrangements · CPC title

• B60L53/34

  Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles (positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38) · CPC title

• B60L53/16

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T90/12

  Electric charging stations · CPC title