Maintenance access zones for storage and retrieval systems
First Claim
1. A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the storage and retrieval space, the maintenance access system comprising:
- at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the storage and retrieval space;
at least one barrier located in the storage and retrieval space and defining a boundary of the portion of the storage and retrieval space, the at least one barrier being configured to substantially prevent the passage of the automated transport vehicles past the at least one barrier; and
a controller connected to the maintenance access control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one maintenance access control unit for isolating the portion of the storage and retrieval space associated with the at least one maintenance access control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the storage and retrieval space and effects the removal of operative automated transport vehicles from and shutting down of inoperative autonomous transport vehicles within the portion of the storage and retrieval space while allowing continued operation of autonomous transport vehicles in other portions of the storage and retrieval space.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
146 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A maintenance access system for a storage and retrieval system having a storage and retrieval space and automated transport vehicles disposed in the storage and retrieval space, the maintenance access system comprising:
-
at least one maintenance access control unit associated with a portion of the storage and retrieval space; at least one barrier located in the storage and retrieval space and defining a boundary of the portion of the storage and retrieval space, the at least one barrier being configured to substantially prevent the passage of the automated transport vehicles past the at least one barrier; and a controller connected to the maintenance access control unit, the controller being configured to receive a signal from the at least one maintenance access control unit for isolating the portion of the storage and retrieval space associated with the at least one maintenance access control unit, where the controller in response to the signal closes the at least one barrier isolating the portion of the storage and retrieval space and effects the removal of operative automated transport vehicles from and shutting down of inoperative autonomous transport vehicles within the portion of the storage and retrieval space while allowing continued operation of autonomous transport vehicles in other portions of the storage and retrieval space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A storage and retrieval system comprising:
-
a multilevel storage structure including a plurality of storage locations arranged on sides of picking aisles where the picking aisles are connected to each other and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor by a transfer deck, the transfer deck being disposed between each of the picking aisles; at least one autonomous transport vehicle configured to travel along the picking aisles and transfer deck for transferring case units between the storage locations and the at least one conveyor; and a maintenance access system including vertically stacked maintenance access zones disposed coincident with and defined at least in part by the picking aisles, where each maintenance access zone provides access to at least multiple levels of picking aisles and storage locations corresponding to the multiple levels of picking aisles. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification