Robotic picking system device and method

• US 10,364,098 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• 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, Ingram-Tedd, Andrew John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumbess, Yolanda R
• Application Number:
  US15/555,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20180037411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: A62C 2/247 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/002 for warehouses, storage areas or other installations for storing goods
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/68 Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 99/0018 using gases or vapours that do not support combustion, e.g. steam, carbon dioxide
• 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: E04B 1/94 : against fire fire protection of partitions E04B2/7403, E04B2/7409; supporting constructions for ceilings having the capability of expansion in case of fire E04B9/08; fire-fighting A62C, e.g. fire prevention or containment A62C2/00; impregnation of wood or similar materials B27K; fireproof paints C09D5/18; fireproofing materials C09K21/00; flame-resistant papers D21H5/0002; coverings or linings, e.g. for walls or ceilings, in general E04F13/00; fireproof doors E06B5/16; firebreak devices for pipes or the like passing through walls F16L5/04; protection of pipes by means of non-inflammable material F16L57/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7403 : with special measures for sound or thermal insulation including fire protection
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/7409 : special measures for sound or thermal insulation, including fire protection
• 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 bin is described for use on a robotic picking system grid. The bin is capable of removing liquids from beneath a robotic picking system following spillages or sprinkler deployments.

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;

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 at least one storage container from a stack; and

at least one cleaning container that includes an absorbent means arranged on at least a portion of an external surface of the cleaning container.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cleaning container can be stacked with storage containers.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cleaning container is conveyed by the load handling device in a same manner as a storage container.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the absorbent means comprises:

an absorbent layer which covers one or more sides of the cleaning container.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the absorbent means is located on one or more edges of a base of the cleaning container.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the absorbent means is a sponge.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sponge is a super absorbent sponge.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning container is discarded following a single use.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load handling device comprises a squeezing device that includes a vessel for receiving liquid, wherein the squeezing device is configured to compress the absorbent means of the cleaning container to expel liquid from the absorbent means into the vessel.

10. The cleaning container in combination with the storage system according to claim 1, in which the absorbent means comprises:

absorbent material for absorbing liquid.

11. The cleaning container in combination with the storage system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning container comprises:

a vacuum cleaner means.

12. The cleaning container in combination with the storage system according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner means is powered by a battery in the cleaning container, the battery being rechargeable by power means supplied via the framework of the system.

13. The storage system according to claim 12, wherein the cleaning container includes a releasable connecting means for releasably connecting the battery means to the framework of the system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein when the cleaning container is located in the lowermost position of the stack of containers, the absorbent means is operable to clean a portion of the base of the storage system.

15. An automated method of removing liquids beneath a robotic picking system of a storage system, the storage system having first and second sets of parallel tracks and a load handling device arranged to move along the first and second sets of parallel tracks, the method comprising:

conveying a cleaning container by the load handling device to liquid to be removed, the cleaning container including an absorbent means arranged on at least a portion of an external surface of the cleaning container; and

urging absorbent means against the liquid to draw the liquid into the absorbent means.

16. 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;

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 a single container from a stack; and

at least one cleaning container that includes a vacuum cleaning means.

17. The storage system according to claim 16, wherein the cleaning container comprises:

an absorbent means arranged on at least a portion of an external surface of the cleaning container.