	US 11,851,276 B2
	Systems and methods for order processing
Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Hatfield (GB); Andrew John Ingram-Tedd, Hatfield (GB); Stuart Richard North, Hatfield (GB); and Robert Rolf Stadie, Hatfield (GB)
Assigned to OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED, Hatfield (GB)
Filed by Ocado Innovation Limited, Hatfield (GB)
Filed on May 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/144,133.
Application 18/144,133 is a continuation of application No. 17/951,865, filed on Sep. 23, 2022, abandoned.
Application 17/951,865 is a continuation of application No. 16/786,333, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,453,552, issued on Sep. 27, 2022.
Application 16/786,333 is a continuation of application No. 15/790,704, filed on Oct. 23, 2017, granted, now 10,556,742, issued on Feb. 11, 2020.
Application 15/790,704 is a continuation of application No. 14/899,367, granted, now 9,796,080, issued on Oct. 24, 2017, previously published as PCT/IB2014/062165, filed on Jun. 12, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. 1310784 (GB), filed on Jun. 17, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271778 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01); G06Q 10/08 (2023.01); B25J 9/00 (2006.01); B65D 21/02 (2006.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); G06Q 10/083 (2023.01)

CPC B65G 1/0464 (2013.01) [B25J 9/0093 (2013.01); B25J 9/0096 (2013.01); B65D 21/02 (2013.01); B65D 21/0209 (2013.01); B65D 21/0233 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/1378 (2013.01); G05B 19/4189 (2013.01); G06Q 10/083 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01); Y10S 901/01 (2013.01); Y10S 901/02 (2013.01)]

30 Claims

1. A system for storing and retrieving goods, the system comprising:

a plurality of delivery containers each configured to carry one or more of a plurality of picked items to a delivery destination;

a plurality of storage containers each configured to store one or more of a plurality of inventory items, the plurality of storage containers each being configured to contain one or more of the plurality of delivery containers to form a combined container, the plurality of storage containers comprising a first storage container that contains at least one of the plurality of inventory items and a second storage container that contains at least one of the plurality of delivery containers to form one combined container;

a structural framework defining a grid of storage locations, the grid being configured to store the plurality of storage containers in stacks arranged in rows and columns; and

a plurality of robotic load handlers configured to:

move along a top of the grid;

transport the first storage container and the second storage container to and from different storage locations within the grid; and

transport the first storage container and the second storage container to an order picking station.

22. A method operable by one or more robotic load handlers to store and retrieve goods, the method comprising:

transporting, by a first robotic load handler, a first storage container of a plurality of storage containers above a structural framework that defines a grid of storage locations for storing the plurality of storage containers in stacks arranged in rows and columns, the first storage container containing at least one of a plurality of inventory items;

storing the first storage container in a first storage location within the grid;

storing a second storage container of the plurality of storage containers in a second storage location within the grid, the second storage container containing at least one of a plurality of delivery containers to form a first combined container, the plurality of delivery containers being different from the plurality of storage containers;

retrieving, by a second robotic load handler, the second storage container from the second storage location within the grid; and

transporting, by the second robotic load handler, the second storage container above the grid to an order picking station.

28. A system for storing and retrieving goods, the system comprising:

a plurality of delivery containers each configured to carry one or more of a plurality of picked items to a delivery destination;

a plurality of storage containers each configured to store one or more of a plurality of inventory items and each being configured to contain one or more of the plurality of delivery containers to form a combined container, the plurality of storage containers comprising a first storage container that contains at least one of the plurality of inventory items and a second storage container that contains at least one of the plurality of delivery containers to form one combined container;

a structural framework defining a grid of storage locations, the grid being configured to store the plurality of storage containers in stacks arranged in rows and columns;

a plurality of robotic load handlers configured to move above the grid and transport the plurality of storage containers to and from different storage locations within the grid; and

at least one processor configured to:

control one or more of the plurality of robotic load handlers to store the first storage container within the grid;

control the one or more of the plurality of robotic load handlers to store the second storage container within the grid; and

control the one or more of the plurality of robotic load handlers to retrieve the second storage container from the grid and deliver the second storage container to a conveyor which is configured to provide the second storage container to an order picking station.