US 12,404,100 B2
Grid framework structure
Ian Parks, Hatfield (GB); Adam Gullick, Hatfield (GB); Enrique Rodal, Hatfield (GB); Stephen Bohan, Hatfield (GB); Aditya Dwivedi, Hatfield (GB); Neil Carstairs, Hatfield (GB); Mike Banfi, Hatfield (GB); Scott Emmett, Hatfield (GB); and Michael Magnier, Hatfield (GB)
Assigned to OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED, Hatfield (GB)
Appl. No. 17/908,665
Filed by Ocado Innovation Limited, Hatfield (GB)
PCT Filed Mar. 2, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/055219
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 1, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/175874, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2003056 (GB), filed on Mar. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0122567 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0478 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0464 (2013.01); B65G 2207/20 (2013.01); B65G 2207/30 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A grid framework structure for supporting a load handling device operative to move one or more containers in a stack, said grid framework structure comprising:
a plurality of upright columns lying in a vertical plane and arranged to form a plurality of vertical storage locations for containers to be stacked between the upright columns and be guided by the upright columns in a vertical direction;
the plurality of upright columns are interconnected at their top ends by a first set of grid members extending in a first direction and a second set of grid members extending in a second direction, the second set of grid members running transversely to the first set of grid members in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid having a grid structure that includes a plurality of grid cells or grid spaces;
the first and the second sets of grid members include a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks arranged respectively for a load handling device to move one or more containers on the grid framework structure;
a sub-group of upright columns rigidly joined together by at least one bracing assembly having a plurality of diagonal braces to form a braced tower; and wherein:
the sub-group of upright columns includes three upright columns lying in a same plane such that two of the three upright columns are laterally disposed either side of a middle upright column, the two laterally disposed upright columns being rigidly connected to the middle upright column by the plurality of diagonal braces;
the middle upright column includes a plurality of joining plates spaced apart along a longitudinal length of the middle upright column, each joining plate occupying a respective slot extending through the middle upright column in a horizontal direction parallel to a plane in which the three upright columns lie; and
the plurality of diagonal braces are connected to the middle upright column via the plurality of joining plates.