US 11,718,475 B2
Storage and retrieval system rover interface
Forrest Buzan, Dunstable, MA (US); Edward A. Macdonald, Somerville, MA (US); Taylor A. Apgar, Boston, MA (US); Thomas A. Schaefer, Groveland, MA (US); Melanie Ziegler, Andover, MA (US); and Russell G. Barbour, Natick, MA (US)
Assigned to Symbotic LLC, Wilmington, MA (US)
Filed by Symbotic LLC, Wilmington, MA (US)
Filed on May 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/317,659.
Application 15/598,969 is a division of application No. 14/348,786, granted, now 9,656,803, issued on May 23, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2014/026502, filed on Mar. 13, 2014.
Application 17/317,659 is a continuation of application No. 16/293,309, filed on Mar. 5, 2019, granted, now 11,001,444.
Application 16/293,309 is a continuation of application No. 15/598,969, filed on May 18, 2017, granted, now 10,221,013, issued on Mar. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/798,282, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/783,828, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/780,363, filed on Mar. 13, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0284445 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0492 (2013.01) 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an automated storage and retrieval system having more than one storage levels and at least one autonomous rover, the method comprising:
providing at least one rover entry or exit station, the at least one rover entry or exit station being in communication with at least one storage level of the more than one storage levels; and
effecting, with a controller, insertion or removal of the at least one autonomous rover via the at least one rover entry or exit station to at least one of introduce and remove the at least one autonomous rover at a predetermined storage level, and effecting, with the controller, at least one of rover load balancing and work load balancing between at least one storage levels and another of the more than one storage levels so as to balance a work load in the automated storage and retrieval system.