US 12,296,864 B2
Delivery system with an access point and a method of accessing an access point of the delivery system
Trond Austrheim, Etne (NO)
Assigned to AutoStore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed by Autostore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/514,691.
Application 18/514,691 is a continuation of application No. 15/734,855, granted, now 11,873,014, previously published as PCT/EP2019/065189, filed on Jun. 11, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 20180813 (NO), filed on Jun. 12, 2018; application No. 20181005 (NO), filed on Jul. 19, 2018; and application No. 20181581 (NO), filed on Dec. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0227870 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B61B 13/00 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 47/06 (2006.01); B65G 47/52 (2006.01); B65G 57/03 (2006.01); B65G 63/06 (2006.01); B65G 65/23 (2006.01); B65G 67/24 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01); B66F 9/19 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/221 (2024.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); B60W 50/00 (2006.01); B65G 43/00 (2006.01); B65G 63/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/224 (2024.01); G05D 1/43 (2024.01); G05D 1/611 (2024.01); G05D 1/639 (2024.01); G05D 1/646 (2024.01)
CPC B61B 13/00 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0414 (2013.01); B65G 1/0457 (2013.01); B65G 1/0464 (2013.01); B65G 1/0471 (2013.01); B65G 1/0478 (2013.01); B65G 1/0485 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/1375 (2013.01); B65G 47/06 (2013.01); B65G 47/52 (2013.01); B65G 57/03 (2013.01); B65G 63/06 (2013.01); B65G 65/23 (2013.01); B65G 67/24 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01); B66F 9/19 (2013.01); G05D 1/0011 (2013.01); G05D 1/021 (2013.01); G05D 1/0291 (2013.01); G05D 1/221 (2024.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); B60W 50/0098 (2013.01); B60W 2710/06 (2013.01); B60W 2720/10 (2013.01); B60W 2720/24 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); B65G 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 63/004 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0258 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01); G05D 1/02 (2013.01); G05D 1/0229 (2013.01); G05D 1/0231 (2013.01); G05D 1/0259 (2013.01); G05D 1/0289 (2013.01); G05D 1/2244 (2024.01); G05D 1/43 (2024.01); G05D 1/611 (2024.01); G05D 1/639 (2024.01); G05D 1/646 (2024.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
a storage grid for storing a plurality of storage containers; and
a delivery system for transporting said plurality of storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system, the access point being adapted for handling items held in the plurality of storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator;
wherein the delivery system comprises:
a delivery rail system comprising at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X) and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first set of parallel rails and the second sets of parallel rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells,
the access point, and
a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the plurality of storage containers;
wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system,
wherein the delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells;
wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return it to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid;
wherein the access point is provided in a container accessing station, said container accessing station being arranged for separating the robotic operator or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle; and
wherein the container accessing station comprises a wall and the access point is an area corresponding to one or more delivery grid cells of the delivery grid that is/are arranged on a delivery grid side of the wall in a position where the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle can be reached by the robotic operator or human operator reaching over the wall.