US 11,713,189 B2
Automated storage and retrieval system
Trond Austrheim, Etne (NO)
Assigned to Autostore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed by Autostore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/655,308.
Application 17/655,308 is a continuation of application No. 16/758,157, granted, now 11,299,345, previously published as PCT/EP2018/072968, filed on Aug. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0204262 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0464 (2013.01) [B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising a three-dimensional grid and a plurality of container handling vehicles,
wherein:
the three-dimensional grid comprises multiple storage columns, in which containers may be stored on top of one another in vertical stacks;
each container handling vehicle comprises a container lifting device having a lifting frame for releasably connecting to a container, and is operated on rails at a top level of the grid for retrieving containers from, and storing containers in, the storage columns, and for transporting the containers horizontally across the grid;
the automated storage system comprises multiple floor elements, each floor element arrangeable at a top end of a storage column on top of a vertical stack of containers, such that an operator may stand on top of the storage column;
each of the floor elements comprises rail-connecting elements at a horizontal periphery thereof, the rail-connecting elements being able to connect to the rails at the top end of the storage column, such that each of the floor element is held at a desired level relative the top level of the grid; and
the floor elements may be stored on top of one another in a vertical stack arranged in a storage column in the grid or arranged in a dedicated column having a cross-section able to accommodate a floor element having a larger cross-section than the containers.