Delivery vehicle, an automated storage and retrieval system and a method of transporting storage containers between an automated storage and retrieval grid and a second location
A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.
1. A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between a first location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator, the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising:
rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system, the delivery rail system comprising:
a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first direction; and
a second set of parallel rails arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,
wherein the first set of parallel rails and the second set of parallel rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent delivery vehicle grid cells;
rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices;
a power source configured to provide propulsion power to the rolling device motors;
a container carrier configured to receive the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator; and
a displacement device configured to tilt the container carrier about a pivot axis oriented parallel to at least one of the first direction and the second direction,
wherein the container carrier comprises a base plate and a plurality of vertical side walls configured to restrict movement of the storage container and a height of the plurality of vertical side walls is equal to a height of the storage container.
2. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the rolling devices are connected to a vehicle body arranged below the container carrier.
3. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the container carrier comprises a compartment for containing at least part of the storage container.
4. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement device is configured for moving the container carrier relative to a vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle.
5. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the container carrier is a container supporting device for supporting the storage container from below.
6. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the displacement device comprises a lifting arm connected to the container carrier, and the lifting arm is operated by a tilt motor.
7. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the displacement device is configured to tilt the container carrier about the pivot axis within a tilting angle range from 2° to 60° relative to the horizontal plane.
8. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each rolling device motor for driving a corresponding rolling device is arranged at least partly within the corresponding rolling device.
9. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the rolling devices comprise wheels.
10. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the wheels comprise:
a first set of wheels, arranged at first opposite portions of the remotely operated delivery vehicle for moving the remotely operated delivery vehicle along the first direction on the delivery rail system; and
a second set of wheels, arranged at second opposite portions of the remotely operated delivery vehicle for moving the remotely operated delivery vehicle along the second direction on the delivery rail system, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.
11. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
an automated storage and retrieval grid for storage of storage containers; and
a delivery system for transport of a storage container between a first location directly below the automated storage and retrieval grid and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator;
wherein the automated storage and retrieval grid comprises:
a plurality of storage columns arranged in rows, in which storage columns storage containers are stacked, and
a delivery column arranged in the automated storage and retrieval grid for transport of the storage containers between the automated storage and retrieval grid and the delivery system;
wherein the delivery system comprises:
a remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle is adapted to receive the storage container from the delivery column for transport of the storage container between the automated storage and retrieval grid and the second location, and wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprises a container carrier, the container carrier comprising a base plate and a plurality of vertical side walls configured to restrict movement of the storage container and a height of the plurality of vertical side walls is equal to a height of the storage container.
12. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 11 ,
wherein the automated storage and retrieval grid comprises:
a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, wherein the container handling vehicle rail system comprises:
a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and
a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction,
wherein the first set of parallel rails and the second set of parallel rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells, and
wherein each of the plurality of container handling vehicles is adapted to retrieve a storage container from the plurality of storage columns and deliver the storage container to the delivery column.
13. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 12 ,
wherein the delivery system comprises a delivery rail system on which the remotely operated delivery vehicle operates, and
wherein the delivery system is situated below a delivery port of the delivery column.
14. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 13 , wherein the delivery rail system comprises:
the first set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in the first direction, and
the second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in the second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction,
wherein the first set of parallel rails and the second set of parallel rails form the grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising the plurality of adjacent delivery vehicle grid cells, and
wherein each delivery vehicle grid cell comprises:
a delivery vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of parallel rails, and
a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of parallel rails.
15. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 14 , wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle has a delivery vehicle footprint with a horizontal extent which is equal to or less than the horizontal extent of the delivery vehicle grid cell.
16. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of adjacent delivery vehicle grid cells of the delivery rail system is arranged directly below a container handling vehicle grid cell of the container handling vehicle rail system.
17. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 14 , wherein each of the first set of parallel rails and the second set of parallel rails of the delivery rail system is a double track rail comprising two parallel tracks separated by a protrusion running midway.
18. The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 13 , wherein the delivery rail system extends from a location below the delivery port and to the second location.