US 12,473,147 B2
Device for picking and/or depositing items for automated warehouses
Paolo Del Popolo, Azzano San Paolo (IT); and Enrico Comotti, Azzano San Paolo (IT)
Assigned to AUTOMHA S.P.A., Azzano San Paolo (Bergamo) (IT)
Appl. No. 17/910,383
Filed by AUTOMHA S.P.A., Azzano San Paolo (IT)
PCT Filed Mar. 17, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/052221
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 9, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/186358, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000005632 (IT), filed on Mar. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0140603 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0492 (2013.01) [B65G 1/0435 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for picking or depositing an item from or into a compartment of an automated warehouse, said device comprising:
a supporting structure provided with first moving means for moving said device along a main direction (X) in said automated warehouse;
a temporary resting zone for said item;
primary electrical power supply means for said device connected to said supporting structure;
a pair of forks facing each other comprising second moving means for moving said forks relative to said supporting structure in at least one transverse direction (Y) relative to said main direction (X) between a retracted position at said temporary resting zone and an extended position in direction of said compartment, each fork of said pair of forks comprising an end section provided with at least one thrust element positionable in at least one operating position, in which said at least one thrust element is suitable for resting on said item and is suitable for resting in at least one idle position in which said at least one thrust element does not interfere with said item, the end section of each fork of said pair of forks comprising third moving means for moving said at least one thrust element; and
a central control unit integral with said supporting structure,
wherein said end section comprises a peripheral control unit for said third moving means, said peripheral control unit and said central control unit being configured for a wireless communication with each other, wherein said end section further comprises rechargeable secondary electrical power supply means suitable to power said peripheral control unit and said third moving means,
and wherein said peripheral control unit and said third moving means are mounted on an outer side of the end section of a respective fork of said pair of forks.