Automated storage and retrieval system structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347541-A1
Application number	US-201615231340-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an autonomous rover and a multilevel rack structure. The multilevel rack structure includes columns connected by rail beams transversely spanning between the columns. The rail beams define storage and transport levels and provide riding surfaces for the autonomous rover. The rail beams include integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures.

First claim

1 . An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
an autonomously guided rover vehicle; and a multilevel rack structure, the multilevel rack structure including columns connected by rail beams transversely spanning between the columns, where the rail beams define storage and transport levels and include
riding surfaces for the autonomously guided rover vehicle so that the autonomously guided rover vehicle is supported by and traverses the multilevel rack structure riding on the riding surfaces, and
integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures wherein the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures are disposed and have a configuration established based on autonomously guided rover vehicle induced load cycles in the riding surfaces.

2 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the autonomously guided rover vehicle includes sensors for detecting the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures.

3 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the rail beams include fatigue resistant connections for coupling the rail beams to the columns.

4 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures include an encoder.

5 . An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
an autonomously guided rover vehicle; and a multilevel rack structure, the multilevel rack structure including columns connected by rail beams transversely spanning between the columns, where the rail beams define storage and transport levels and include
riding surfaces for the autonomously guided rover vehicle so that the autonomously guided rover vehicle is supported by and traverses the multilevel rack structure riding on the riding surfaces, and
integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures wherein the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures are disposed and have a size and shape determined by autonomously guided rover vehicle induced load cycles in the riding surfaces.

6 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 5 , wherein the autonomously guided rover vehicle includes sensors for detecting the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures.

7 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 5 , wherein the rail beams include fatigue resistant connections for coupling the rail beams to the columns.

8 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 5 , wherein the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures include an encoder.

9 . An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
a multilevel rack structure with columns connected by substantially rigid rail beams transversely spanning between the columns, the substantially rigid rail beams include riding surfaces for an autonomously guided rover vehicle so that the autonomously guided rover vehicle is supported by and traverses the multilevel rack structure riding on the riding surfaces; a transport deck connected to the columns and interfaced with the substantially rigid rail beams through mating isolation plates; and an adjustable coupling joining the substantially rigid rail beams with the columns, the adjustable coupling having three degrees of freedom adjustment to position isolation plates of the substantially rigid rail beams relative to isolation plates of the transport deck.

10 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9 , wherein the substantially rigid rail beams include integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures.

11 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 10 , wherein the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures are disposed and have a configuration established based on the autonomously guided rover vehicle induced load cycles in the riding surfaces.

12 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 10 , wherein the integral fatigue resistant rover location apertures include an encoder.

13 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9 , wherein the adjustable coupling provides adjustment along at least one of a linear axis and a rotational axis.

14 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9 , wherein the adjustable coupling includes at least one locking mechanism configured to rigidly secure the substantially rigid rail beams to the columns.

15 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9 , wherein the adjustable coupling includes a first, second and third support plate.

16 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 15 , wherein
the first support plate is movably mounted to the columns, the second support plate is movably mounted to the first support plate, and the third support plate is movably mounted to the second support plate.

17 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 16 , wherein the first, second and third support plates are movably mounted in the X, Z and Y direction respectively.

18 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9 , wherein the mating isolation plates include fingers that interleave with each other.

19 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 18 , wherein the fingers include a riding surface for the autonomously guided rover vehicle to pass over the interleaved fingers of the mating isolation plates.

20 . The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9 , wherein the mating isolation plates are mounted with a ball type joint.

Assignees

• Symbotic Llc

Inventors

• Keating John F
• Perry Thomas G
• Johnson Jr William
• Kepple Todd E
• Margagliano Lawrence A

Classifications

• B65G1/0492

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B65G2207/20

  Earthquake protection · CPC title

• B65G1/02 Primary

  Storage devices (furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F) · CPC title