US 12,448,212 B2
Automated vehicle for use in inventory management system
Alex Stevens, Moorestown, NJ (US); and Joseph Valinsky, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed by OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed on May 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/672,191.
Application 18/672,191 is a continuation of application No. 17/983,151, filed on Nov. 8, 2022, granted, now 12,017,855.
Application 17/983,151 is a continuation of application No. 16/993,933, filed on Aug. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,535,452.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/886,602, filed on Aug. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0308770 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 7/00 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/10 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01)
CPC B65G 1/1375 (2013.01) [B25J 9/1687 (2013.01); B65G 1/0471 (2013.01); B65G 1/0492 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/10 (2013.01); B65G 1/1371 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01); B65G 1/1376 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); G05D 1/0027 (2013.01); G05D 1/69 (2024.01); G05D 1/692 (2024.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an automated vehicle in an inventory management system having a rack structure defining a plurality of destination areas and a guide system, the method comprising:
rotating a first plurality of wheels to move the automated vehicle upon an underlying support surface and into a pre-climb position wherein rotatable drive elements of the automated vehicle are aligned with and engage a first portion of the guide system, wherein the first plurality of wheels are omnidirectional wheels;
rotating the drive elements to advance the automated vehicle vertically along the guide system and into a first elevated position of alignment with a first destination area of the plurality of destination areas;
while the automated vehicle is at the first elevated position, operating a transfer mechanism to extract a forward container from a lead storage position of the first destination area onto a carrying surface of the automated vehicle and to advance a trailing container to the lead storage position of the first destination; area;
rotating the drive elements to advance the automated vehicle vertically along the guide system and to align the automated vehicle with a second destination area of the plurality of destination areas;
operating the transfer mechanism to transfer the extracted container to a lead storage position of the second destination area;
rotating the drive elements to cause descent of automated vehicle such that the omnidirectional wheels contact the underlying support surface;
rotating the omnidirectional wheels in a first direction to cause the automated vehicle to enter a position beneath the rack structure;
angularly reorienting the automated vehicle, by rotating at least one wheel of a second plurality of wheels, while the automated vehicle is beneath the rack structure.