US 12,145,799 B2
Automated storage and retrieval system
Trond Austrheim, Etne (NO)
Assigned to AutoStore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed by Autostore Technology AS, Nedre Vats (NO)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/340,384.
Application 18/340,384 is a continuation of application No. 17/655,308, filed on Mar. 17, 2022, granted, now 11,713,189.
Application 17/655,308 is a continuation of application No. 16/758,157, granted, now 11,299,345, issued on Apr. 12, 2022, previously published as PCT/EP2018/072968, filed on Aug. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 20171698 (NO), filed on Oct. 24, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0331480 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B66F 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0464 (2013.01) [B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B66F 9/063 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A floor element for an automated storage and retrieval system, the floor element comprising:
an upper surface with a substantially rectangular horizontal periphery suitable for being accommodated in a storage column;
lifting frame connecting elements, for releasable connection to a lifting frame, on a peripheral top section of the upper surface and a cut-out at each corner of the substantially rectangular horizontal periphery for interaction with guiding pins arranged on the lifting frame; and
rail-connecting elements at the substantially rectangular horizontal periphery,
wherein the automated storage and retrieval system comprises a three-dimensional grid, a plurality of container handling vehicles, and multiple floor elements, each floor element arrangeable at a top end of a storage column on top of a vertical stack of containers, such that an operator may stand on top of the storage column, and
wherein the three-dimensional grid comprises multiple storage columns, in which containers may be stored on top of one another in vertical stacks and each container handling vehicle comprises a container lifting device having a lifting frame for releasably connecting to a container, and is operated on rails at a top level of the grid for retrieving containers from, and storing containers in, the storage columns, and for transporting the containers horizontally across the grid.