MAINTENANCE ACCESS ZONES FOR STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
First Claim
9. An automated warehouse system comprising:
- a multilevel storage structure including a plurality of storage locations arranged on sides of picking aisles disposed in rows on each level so that the picking aisles of a respective row are stacked one above the other;
at least one autonomous transport vehicle configured to travel along the stacked picking aisles for transferring items to and from the storage locations; and
maintenance access zones disposed coincident with and defined at least in part by the stacked picking aisles in at least one row, where each maintenance access zone provides access to multiple levels of the stacked picking aisles that are in communication with each other and storage locations corresponding to the multiple levels of picking aisles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the space. The system includes at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the space, at least one barrier in the space and defining a boundary of the portion of the space and configured to substantially prevent the passage of the vehicles past the at least one barrier, and a controller connected to the control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one control unit for isolating the portion of the space associated with the at least one control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the space and effects the removal from or shutting down of vehicles within the portion of the space.
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Citations
20 Claims
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9. An automated warehouse system comprising:
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a multilevel storage structure including a plurality of storage locations arranged on sides of picking aisles disposed in rows on each level so that the picking aisles of a respective row are stacked one above the other; at least one autonomous transport vehicle configured to travel along the stacked picking aisles for transferring items to and from the storage locations; and maintenance access zones disposed coincident with and defined at least in part by the stacked picking aisles in at least one row, where each maintenance access zone provides access to multiple levels of the stacked picking aisles that are in communication with each other and storage locations corresponding to the multiple levels of picking aisles. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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11-1. The automated warehouse system of claim 9, wherein the rows form a horizontal array of picking aisles that form a horizontal array of maintenance access zones.
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17. A method of operating an automated warehouse system having storage rack modules, picking aisles disposed between and defined by the storage rack modules where each picking aisle include an access gateway, and at least one autonomous transport vehicle for transferring items to and from the storage rack modules through the picking aisles, the method comprising:
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effecting operator access, with a control device connected to the access gateway, to at least one predetermined picking aisle through the access gateway; effecting, with a controller connected to the control device and the at least one autonomous transport vehicle, operation of the at least one autonomous transport vehicle and a transfer of items to and from the storage rack modules when the control device is deactivated; and providing access, with the controller upon receipt of a signal from the control device, through the access gateway to the at least one predetermined picking aisle and shutting down the at least one autonomous transport vehicle within the at least one predetermined picking aisle while allowing continued operation of other autonomous transport vehicles in picking aisles that are different than the at least one predetermined picking aisle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification