US 11,981,510 B2
Automated storage and retrieval system and methods
Joseph Valinsky, Moorestown, NJ (US); Robert R. DeWitt, Moorestown, NJ (US); Alexander Stevens, Moorestown, NJ (US); and Dhruva Kumar, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Assigned to OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed by Opex Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/691,499.
Application 17/691,499 is a continuation of application No. 16/995,905, filed on Aug. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,332,312.
Application 16/995,905 is a continuation of application No. 16/557,100, filed on Aug. 30, 2019, granted, now 10,759,601, issued on Sep. 1, 2020.
Application 16/557,100 is a continuation of application No. 15/905,783, filed on Feb. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,633,186, issued on Apr. 28, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/463,399, filed on Feb. 24, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0194709 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/1375 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0421 (2013.01); B65G 1/0435 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A material handling system for storing or retrieving a plurality of items,
comprising:
a first rack of storage locations;
a second rack of storage locations spaced apart from the first rack forming a first aisle between the first and second racks;
a plurality of containers disposed in storage locations of the first and second racks, wherein each container comprises:
a first connector on a first end;
a second connector on a second end, wherein the first connector of one container is releasably connectable with the second connector of a second container;
a transfer element separate from the first and second connectors;
a plurality of vehicles operable within the aisle to deliver items to and retrieve items from the storage locations in the first and second storage racks wherein the vehicles each comprise a transfer mechanism configured to engage the transfer element of the containers to transfer the containers between the vehicle and the storage locations;
wherein the first and second connectors cooperate to displace the second container when the first container is displaced within one of the storage locations by the transfer mechanism of one of the vehicles.