Automated shuttle systems for multi-depth storage racks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021284444-A1
Application number	US-202117196423-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2021
Priority date	Mar 16, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and associated apparatus are provided for retrieving an object from a multi-depth object storage. The method includes retrieving, via a shuttle, at least a first object from a first depth of a storage location and a second object from a second depth of the storage location. The first depth is less than the second depth, such that the first object positioned at the first depth interferes with retrieval of the second object positioned at the second depth. The method also includes manipulating the first object and the second object, such that the first object is positioned to be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains disposed on the shuttle. The method further includes disposing the first object into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of retrieving an object from a multi-depth object storage, the method comprising:
retrieving, via a shuttle, at least a first object from a first depth of a storage location and a second object from a second depth of the storage location, wherein the first depth is less than the second depth, such that the first object positioned at the first depth interferes with retrieval of the second object positioned at the second depth; manipulating the first object and the second object, such that the first object is positioned to be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains disposed on the shuttle; and disposing the first object into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle defines an object load bed, wherein the object load bed is configured to hold the first object and the second object upon retrieval from the storage location.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the shuttle comprises at least a first shuttle load arm and a second shuttle load arm configured along the sides of the object load bed, wherein each of the shuttle load arms define one or more fingers configured to engage with the given object during operation.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the shuttle comprises at least a first shuttle load arm and a second shuttle load arm, wherein the first shuttle load arm is configured along the side of the load bed and the second shuttle load arm is configured at approximately the center of the object load bed, wherein each of the shuttle load arms define one or more fingers configured to engage with the given object during operation.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the shuttle further comprises one or more pushing mechanisms to move the given object laterally.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the object load bed defines a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are each configured to support at least one object therein.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the shuttle defines a third load arm that is at least substantially centrally located relative to the width of the object load bed.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the shuttle defines a third load arm that is at least substantially centrally located relative to the width of the object load bed and a fourth load arm positioned adjacent to the third load arm that is at least substantially centrally located relative to the width of the object load bed, wherein the third load arm comprises one or more arm fingers configured to engage with objects in the first chamber and the fourth load arm comprises one or more arm fingers configured to engage with objects in the second chamber.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the third load arm separates the first chamber and the second chamber and retrieving the first object and the second object from the storage location comprises:
retrieving the first object via the first load arm and the third load arm such that the first object is disposed in the first chamber of the object load bed; moving the shuttle, such that the second chamber is aligned with the storage location; and retrieving the second object via the second load arm and the third load arm such that the second object is disposed in the second chamber of the object load bed.

10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the object load bed comprises a lifting mechanism to move the given object in a first direction during operation, wherein the manipulating the first object and the second object comprises moving the second object in the first direction, via the lifting mechanism, such that the first object may be disposed into the storage location, wherein the first direction is defined in a vertical or horizontal direction.

11 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the manipulating the first object and the second object comprises rotating the object load bed of the shuttle at least approximately 180 degrees such that the first object may be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle.

12 . A shuttle configured for retrieving an object from a multi-depth object storage, the shuttle comprising an object load bed configured to hold at least a first object and a second object upon retrieval from a storage location and a plurality of load arms, each load arm with at least one finger, the shuttle configured to:
retrieve at least the first object from a first depth and the second object from a second depth of the storage location, wherein the first depth is less than the second depth, such that the first object positioned at the first depth interferes with retrieval of the second object positioned at the second depth; manipulate the first object and the second object, such that the first object is positioned to be disposed into the storage location while the second object remains disposed on the shuttle; and dispose the first object into the storage location while the second object remains on the shuttle.

13 . The shuttle of claim 12 , wherein the shuttle comprises at least a first shuttle load arm and a second shuttle load arm configured along the sides of the object load bed, wherein each of the shuttle load arms define one or more fingers configured to engage with the given object during operation.

14 . The shuttle of claim 12 , further comprising at least a first shuttle load arm and a second shuttle load arm, wherein the first shuttle load arm is configured along the side of the load bed and the second shuttle load arm is configured at approximately the center of the object load bed, wherein each of the shuttle load arms define one or more fingers configured to engage with the given object during operation.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising one or more pushing mechanisms to move the given object laterally.

16 . The shuttle of claim 12 , wherein the object load bed defines a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are each configured to support at least one object therein.

17 . The shuttle of claim 16 , wherein the shuttle further comprises a third load arm that is at least substantially centrally located relative to the width of the object load bed.

18 . The shuttle of claim 17 , wherein third load arm separates the first chamber and the second chamber and retrieving the first object and the second object from the storage location further comprises:
retrieving the first object via the first load arm and the third load arm such that the first object is disposed in the first chamber of the object load bed; moving the shuttle, such that the second chamber is aligned with the storage location; and retrieving the second object via the second load arm and the third load arm such that the second object is disposed in the second chamber of the object load bed.

19 . The shuttle of claim 14 , wherein the object load bed comprises a lifting mechanism to move the given object in a first direction during operation, wherein the manipulating the first object and the second object comprises moving the second object in the first direction, via the lifting mechanism, such that the first object may be disposed into the storage location, wherein the first direction is defined in a vertical or horizontal direction.

20 . The shuttle of claim 14 , wherein the manipulating the first object and the second object comprises rotating the object load bed of the shuttle approximately 180 degre

Assignees

• Intelligrated Headquarters Llc

Inventors

• Ranjith Kumar Krishna Praveen
• Gudi Srinivasa Rao
• Urukonda Santhosh Kumar

Classifications

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• B65G1/065

  with self propelled cars · CPC title