AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTS FOR STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. An automated case unit storage system for handling case units that are adapted for being palletized for shipping to or from a storage facility, the automated case unit storage system comprising:
- an array of multilevel storage racks having predefined storage areas at each rack level so that at least one corresponding predetermined storage area is disposed in a common level of each rack level;
a controller configured to effect dynamic allocation of case units of dissimilar sizes into dynamically allocated and sized storage areas of the at least one corresponding storage area on each rack level in the array of multilevel storage racks, wherein at least one case unit of the case units of dissimilar sizes is an individual item unit or includes more than one individual item in the at least one case unit; and
an independent autonomous transport vehicle operatively connected to the controller, the independent autonomous transport vehicle being configured for independently traversing an aisle or deck within one level of the multilevel storage racks and for transferring the case units to or from the predefined storage areas, the independent autonomous transport vehicle includingan independent frame,a support shelf adapted for holding at least one case unit thereon, the support shelf being movably connected to the independent frame so that the support shelf is movable between extended and retracted positions,a drive system mounted to the independent frame, andguiding devices mounted to the independent frame;
where the independent autonomous transport vehicle is configured to effect dynamic allocation of the case units of dissimilar sizes into the dynamically allocated and sized storage areas so that a mix of the dissimilarly sized case units, including the at least one case unit, are each disposed by the autonomous transport vehicle into corresponding dissimilarly sized storage areas of the dynamically allocated and sized storage areas of the common level of the at least one corresponding storage area of each rack level of the multilevel storage racks in the array of the multilevel storage racks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame configured to traverse the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor, and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor.
7 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automated case unit storage system for handling case units that are adapted for being palletized for shipping to or from a storage facility, the automated case unit storage system comprising:
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an array of multilevel storage racks having predefined storage areas at each rack level so that at least one corresponding predetermined storage area is disposed in a common level of each rack level; a controller configured to effect dynamic allocation of case units of dissimilar sizes into dynamically allocated and sized storage areas of the at least one corresponding storage area on each rack level in the array of multilevel storage racks, wherein at least one case unit of the case units of dissimilar sizes is an individual item unit or includes more than one individual item in the at least one case unit; and an independent autonomous transport vehicle operatively connected to the controller, the independent autonomous transport vehicle being configured for independently traversing an aisle or deck within one level of the multilevel storage racks and for transferring the case units to or from the predefined storage areas, the independent autonomous transport vehicle including an independent frame, a support shelf adapted for holding at least one case unit thereon, the support shelf being movably connected to the independent frame so that the support shelf is movable between extended and retracted positions, a drive system mounted to the independent frame, and guiding devices mounted to the independent frame; where the independent autonomous transport vehicle is configured to effect dynamic allocation of the case units of dissimilar sizes into the dynamically allocated and sized storage areas so that a mix of the dissimilarly sized case units, including the at least one case unit, are each disposed by the autonomous transport vehicle into corresponding dissimilarly sized storage areas of the dynamically allocated and sized storage areas of the common level of the at least one corresponding storage area of each rack level of the multilevel storage racks in the array of the multilevel storage racks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for handling case units that are adapted for being palletized for shipping to or from a storage facility, the method comprising:
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providing an array of multilevel storage racks having predefined storage areas at each rack level so that at least one corresponding predetermined storage area is disposed in a common level of each rack level; providing case units of dissimilar sizes for storage in the array of multilevel storage racks, wherein at least one case unit of the case units of dissimilar sizes is an individual item unit or includes more than one individual item in the at least one case unit; effecting with a controller, dynamic allocation of the case units of dissimilar sizes into dynamically allocated and sized storage areas of the at least one corresponding storage area on each rack level in the array of multilevel storage racks; and transferring the at least one case unit to or from the predefined storage areas with an independent autonomous transport vehicle operatively connected to the controller, the independent autonomous transport vehicle being configured for independently traversing an aisle or deck within one level of the multilevel storage racks and including an independent frame, a support shelf adapted for holding at least one case unit thereon, the support shelf being movably connected to the independent frame so that the support shelf is movable between extended and retracted positions, a drive system mounted to the independent frame, and guiding devices mounted to the independent frame; and effecting, with the independent autonomous transport vehicle, dynamic allocation of the case units of dissimilar sizes into the dynamically allocated and sized storage areas so that a mix of the dissimilarly sized case units, including the at least one case unit, are each disposed by the autonomous transport vehicle into corresponding dissimilarly sized storage areas of the dynamically allocated and sized storage areas of the common level of the at least one corresponding storage area of each rack level of the multilevel storage racks in the array of the multilevel storage racks. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one vertical lift having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle comprising:
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a frame configured so that the autonomous transport vehicle traverses, as a unit, the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one vertical lift for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one vertical lift; and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one vertical lift and to effect dynamic allocation of case units of dissimilar sizes into dynamically allocated storage areas in the array of multilevel storage racks. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A transport system for a storage and retrieval system having an array of storage levels, each storage level having respective storage areas, the transport system comprising:
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a vertical lift having a frame and support shelves movably coupled to the frame, each support shelf being configured to hold one or more uncontained case units in predetermined areas of the support shelf; and transfer vehicles disposed on respective ones of the storage levels, the transfer vehicles being configured to transfer the uncontained case units substantially directly between each support shelf and the storage areas in substantially one transfer vehicle picking operation. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for handling case units that are adapted for being palletized for shipping to or from a storage facility, the method comprising:
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providing an array of multilevel storage racks having predefined storage areas; and positioning an autonomous transport vehicle within the array of multilevel storage racks for dynamically allocating case units of dissimilar sizes into dynamically allocated storage areas. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification