Control system for storage and retrieval systems
First Claim
1. A method for storing loads in a storage and retrieval system having at least one storage rack with storage areas for holding differing loads, the method comprising:
- variably sizing the storage areas with a controller of the storage and retrieval system; and
assigning, with the controller, each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding differing load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method for storing loads in a storage and retrieval system having at least one storage rack with storage areas for holding differing loads, the method comprising:
-
variably sizing the storage areas with a controller of the storage and retrieval system; and assigning, with the controller, each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding differing load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for storing loads in a storage and retrieval system having at least one storage rack having storage spaces disposed in storage areas, the method comprising:
-
analyzing, with a controller of the storage and retrieval system, unoccupied storage areas; dynamically re-allocating the unoccupied storage areas, with the controller, into one or more re-allocated storage spaces according to a changed size of a respective unoccupied storage area; and effecting, with the controller, transport of a predetermined load to a predetermined re-allocated storage space. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for storing loads in a storage and retrieval system, the method comprising:
-
providing an array of multilevel storage rack modules having at least one transfer deck, picking aisles and variable storage areas disposed along the picking aisles, where the variable storage areas are capable of holding at least one load; providing a transport system configured to transport independent loads to the variable storage areas, each of the loads having differing dimensions; and creating, with a controller of the storage and retrieval system, each of the variable storage areas depending on the dimensions of a corresponding load and causing the transport system to place each independent load in a respectively established storage area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A storage and retrieval system comprising:
-
an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking aisles and at least one storage rack disposed along the picking aisles, each storage rack having storage spaces disposed in storage areas, each storage space being configured to hold a load; and a controller configured to substantially continuously resize empty storage areas as the differing loads are placed on the at least one storage rack so that the storage spaces are free from having a predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A storage and retrieval system comprising:
-
an array of multilevel storage racks, each level of the multilevel level storage racks having storage spaces configured to hold a respective load; at least one vertical lift at a fixed planform location within the array of multilevel storage racks, the at least one vertical lift being configured to at least transport loads from each level of the multilevel storage racks, each level having a vertical lift transfer location corresponding to each fixed planform location of the at least one vertical lift; and a controller configured to select a vertical lift transfer location for transport of loads from a respective level of the multilevel storage racks based on a predetermined characteristic of load fill sequencing of a first load in a load fill sequence with respect to another load in the load fill sequence. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification