US 12,246,919 B2
Robotic processing system and method
Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Hatfield (GB); Paul Clarke, Hatfield (GB); and Paul Heideman, Hatfield (GB)
Assigned to OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED, Hatfield (GB)
Appl. No. 16/338,298
Filed by OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED, Hatfield (GB)
PCT Filed Sep. 29, 2017, PCT No. PCT/EP2017/074913
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 29, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/060504, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 5, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1616559 (GB), filed on Sep. 29, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0017302 A1, Jan. 16, 2020
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); A21B 3/00 (2006.01); B24B 31/02 (2006.01); B24B 31/06 (2006.01); B65D 88/32 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 53/36 (2006.01); C12C 11/00 (2006.01); C12C 13/10 (2006.01); C12H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1373 (2013.01) [A21B 3/00 (2013.01); B65D 88/32 (2013.01); B65G 1/0464 (2013.01); B65G 53/36 (2013.01); C12C 11/006 (2013.01); C12C 13/10 (2013.01); C12H 1/00 (2013.01); B24B 31/02 (2013.01); B24B 31/06 (2013.01); B65G 2201/025 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated storage and processing system comprising:
a series of bins located in stacks within a framework, the framework including:
a grid structure defining a series of grid spaces, each grid space being defined by a footprint of a stack of bins, and
a series of tracks or rails above the stacks of bins,
at least one load handling device operable on the tracks or rails, the at least one load handling device configured for:
lifting at least one bin from a stack in to the at least one load handling device, and
moving on the tracks or rails to move at least one bin of the series of bins as required by a process being undertaken within the system, to other locations within the system or to an output port of the system,
each bin having a first portion of for storing raw materials to be processed, and a second portion having one or more components configured to perform a processing operation on the raw materials stored within the first portion of the bin;
dispensing means for passing the processed materials from one bin in the series of bins to another bin in the series of bins, a processing of the raw materials from a first bin to a last bin in the series of bins being conducted without user intervention such that raw materials input into each bin in the series of bins are processed in accordance with a predetermined series of steps performed to achieve an end result, each of the steps being conducted in accordance with the one or more components configured to perform the processing operation on the raw materials in a predetermined bin,
the dispensing means forms one or more inner walls and a bottom surface of at least one bin in the series of bins, wherein the one or more inner walls have a specified shape for directing the raw materials through an opening at the bottom surface of the at least one bin to transfer the raw materials to another bin in the series of bins.