US 11,905,117 B2
Transporting device
Sean Clark, Hatfield (GB); and David Sharp, Hatfield (GB)
Assigned to OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED, Hatfield (GB)
Filed by Ocado Innovation Limited, Hatfield (GB)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/053,137.
Application 18/053,137 is a continuation of application No. 17/041,543, granted, now 11,492,203, previously published as PCT/EP2019/057498, filed on Mar. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1804867 (GB), filed on Mar. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0097961 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B60B 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1378 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0464 (2013.01); B60B 19/003 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01); B65G 2209/04 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transporting device configured to transport a container stored in a facility which has a plurality of stacks and a plurality of pathways arranged in cells so as to form a grid-like structure above the stacks, wherein the grid-like structure extends in a first direction and in a second direction, the transporting device being configured to operate on the grid-like structure, the transporting device comprising:
a vehicle body configured to accommodate one or more containers;
an omnidirectional driving unit configured to drive the transporting device in a first direction and in a second direction of a grid-like structure, the omnidirectional driving unit having plural driving components, each of the plural driving components configured to apply a driving force to the grid-like structure and move the transporting device in the first direction and the second direction; and
a supporting unit arranged to support the transporting device at an operating distance from the grid, the supporting unit configured to apply a force to the transporting device that counteracts the force of gravity acting on the vehicle body of the transporting device.