US 12,358,720 B2
Container handling vehicle with direct drive on lifting axle(s), associated methods and system
Ivar Fjeldheim, Haugesund (NO); Børge Bekken, Haugesund (NO); and Trond Austrheim, Etne (NO)
Assigned to AutoStore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed by Autostore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/333,810.
Application 18/333,810 is a continuation of application No. 17/810,957, filed on Jul. 6, 2022, granted, now 11,745,945.
Application 17/810,957 is a continuation of application No. 16/771,407, granted, now 11,420,822, issued on Aug. 23, 2022, previously published as PCT/EP2019/050228, filed on Jan. 7, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 20180031 (NO), filed on Jan. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0322484 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0464 (2013.01) [B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0235 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns, and
a container handling vehicle comprising:
a transport mechanism for transport of the vehicle, and
a lifting assembly for picking up storage containers from the storage columns,
wherein the lifting assembly comprises:
a lifting frame connectable to a storage container,
a first lifting shaft and a second lifting shaft, the first and second lifting shafts being mainly parallel, and each of the first and second lifting shafts being supported in an upper portion of the vehicle,
two lifting elements extending from each of the first and second lifting shafts to the lifting frame, and
a motor drive assembly comprising at least one motor including a first motor, and a force transferring assembly rotatably connecting the first and second lifting shafts via a force transferring element,
wherein the force transferring element comprises an endless belt with an inner surface and an outer surface, and
wherein the first lifting shaft is in contact with one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the belt and the second lifting shaft is in contact with another of the inner surface and the outer surface of the belt.