Storage systems and methods

• US 10,196,209 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited (Ocado Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ocado Innovation Limited (Ocado Group PLC)
• Inventors: Lindbo, Lars Sverker Ture, Clarke, Paul, Ingram-Tedd, Andrew John, Karolinczak, Pawel
• Primary Examiner(s): Joerger, Kaitlin S
• Application Number:
  US15/555,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20180237221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/06 Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/022 Pots for vertical horticulture
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/16 Dismountable or portable greenhouses ; Greenhouses with sliding roofs
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/18 Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0047 Furniture or stationary devices with suction openings built-in suction cleaners A47L5/38
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/02 Platforms; Open load compartments flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0207 Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0212 Containers presenting local stacking elements protruding from the upper or lower edge of a side wall, e.g. handles, lugs, ribs, grooves B65D21/0211, B65D21/0215, B65D21/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0407 using stacker cranes constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0464 with access from above
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0478 for matrix-arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/065 with self propelled cars
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/22 Heat or fire protection
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/40 Safety features of loads, equipment or persons
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/03 from above
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/004 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/02 Loading or unloading land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34807 Elements integrated in a skeleton
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/18 with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions E04H6/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 : using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 : Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 : Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 : Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 : Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 : Mobile robot

Abstract

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. The containers may be provided with one or more of the following services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensing, and data logging. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage while reducing cost and inefficiency.

Claims

1. A storage system comprising:

a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces; and

a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the rails and;

at least one load handling device disposed on the grid, arranged to move laterally above the stacks on the rails, the load handling device having a lifting device arranged to lift one or more containers, or parts thereof, from a stack;

wherein a number of the containers include service means for providing services to the or each container, thereby enabling individual containers within the stacks to perform additional functions.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises:

means for lifting a lid from a container, a container, or a plurality of containers.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein a proportion of the containers comprise:

power supply means.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise

power control means.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise:

sensor means and data logging means for monitoring an output of the sensor means.

6. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all the containers comprise:

communication means for communicating with adjacent containers or with a central communications manager.

7. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise:

heating means for heating and controlling temperature of contents of the containers.

8. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise:

cooling means for cooling and controlling temperature of contents of the containers.

9. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise:

a reservoir, the reservoir acting as a fluid sink in a respective container.

10. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise:

lighting means.

11. A storage system according to claim 10, wherein the lighting means comprises

a lid removeably attached to the or each container in a stack.

12. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein an individual container in a stack is provided with a unique identity, the identity being traceable and trackable by suitable sensor and monitoring means.

13. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the containers comprise:

intelligence means such that topology of the containers can be constructed as a result of each container having knowledge of an identity of immediately adjacent containers and a bottom container in any stack having knowledge that there are no containers below.

14. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the containers comprise:

communications means arranged to allow for peer to peer communications between containers within the system.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the containers comprise:

calculating means, the calculating means being configured for communications between containers such that data intensive calculations may be conducted under control of control means located externally to the system.

16. A system according to claim 1, in combination with a supercomputer comprising:

a plurality of separate calculating means, each of the calculating means being located in a container of the storage system, the calculating means being provided with communicating means to allow communication between separate calculating means thereby enabling data intensive calculations to be carried out under control of a central utility.

17. A system and supercomputer according to claim 16, in which the communication means for communication between the calculating means comprises:

wireless communications means.

18. A method of condition monitoring a storage system having first and second sets of parallel rails, and a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks beneath the rails, the method comprising:

a. providing sensor means and data logging means within at least one storage container;

b. providing communication means to communicate data logged from the storage system to a central data logging device;

c. positioning each container within the storage system to be monitored; and

d. monitoring the data received.

19. A method of operating a storage system for cooled goods according to claim 18, comprising:

a. providing means for controlling the temperature within a select container;

b. providing means for monitoring the temperature within the select container; and

c. providing the select container with cooling means such that the select container is cooled independently of the storage system.