Vehicle for transporting storage containers in an automated storage and retrieval system
A remotely operated vehicle for transporting a storage container on a rail system of an automated storage and retrieval system. The vehicle includes a first set of drivers for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the rail system and a second set of drivers for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle further includes a storage container support for carrying the storage container, which is moveably between a first position and a second position. The storage container support is configured to support the storage container from below.
1 . A remotely operated vehicle for transporting a storage container on a rail system of an automated storage and retrieval system, the vehicle comprising:
a first set of driving means for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the rail system;
a second set of driving means for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; and
a storage container support for carrying the storage container, wherein the storage container support is movable between:
a first position with a first footprint; and
a second position with a second footprint, wherein the second footprint is larger than the first footprint in at least one of the first and/or second directions,
wherein the storage container support is configured to support the storage container from below, and
wherein the vehicle is configured to carry more storage containers when the storage container support is arranged in the second position than when the storage container support arranged in the first position.
2 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container support is pivotally mounted to the remotely operated vehicle at a pivot point and movable in a pivoting motion about the pivot point between the first and second positions, such that the storage container support comprises a component in a third direction when arranged in the first position.
3 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container support is slidably mounted to the remotely operated vehicle, such that the storage container support is slidable in one of the first or second directions between the first and second positions.
4 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container support is telescopically mounted to the remotely operated vehicle, such that the storage container support is telescopically extending in one of the first or second directions between the first and second positions.
5 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container support is rotationally mounted to the remotely operated vehicle, such that the storage container support is rotating in a horizontal plane between the first and second positions.
6 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle body comprising a base, wherein the base is a wheeled base unit, and wherein the first set of driving means is a first set of wheels, and the second set of driving means is a second set of wheels.
7 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein an electrically operated actuator is arranged within the vehicle body for facilitating a movement of the storage container support.
8 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the storage container support extends in the first direction and wherein a width of the storage container support in the second direction is equal to or within the footprint of the base.
9 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the base of the vehicle body comprises a stabilizing structure extending directly below the storage container support when the storage container support is arranged in the second position.
10 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the storage container support extends in the first direction, and wherein the stabilizing structure extends from 20 to 90% of a total length of the storage container support in the first direction.
11 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the first footprint is equal to a vertical projection of the vehicle body.
12 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container support is up to 20% larger than a base area of the storage container.
13 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a rotational carousel device having a vertical rotational axis and wherein the storage container support is connected to the rotational carousel device allowing rotation of the storage container support from the first position to the second position.
14 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising a carousel arm extending radially from a central portion of the rotational carousel device,
a carousel motor configured to rotate the carousel arm around the vertical rotational axis and
wherein the storage container support is arranged at an end of the carousel arm distal to the vertical rotational axis.
15 . The remotely operated vehicle according to claim 13 ,
wherein a plurality of storage container supports are connected to the rotational carousel device.
16 . A method for operating a remotely operated vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
moving the remotely operated vehicle towards a first location for receiving a storage container while the storage container support is in the first position,
arranging the remotely operated vehicle at said first location and
moving the storage container support into the second position for receiving and storing the storage container.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
moving the remotely operated vehicle to a second location for delivering the storage container to a receiving unit while the storage container support is arranged in the second position.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the method steps are monitored and controlled by a control system receiving and sending wireless data communication to said remotely operated vehicle.
19 . An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
a rail system comprising 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, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each grid cell comprising a grid opening, a portion of a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a portions of a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails said portions delimiting the grid opening;
a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the rail system, wherein each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening;
a remotely operated vehicle for supporting at least one storage container, the vehicle being configured to move on the rail system above the storage columns,
the vehicle comprising:
a first set of driving means for moving the vehicle along a first direction on the rail system, and
a second set of driving means for moving the vehicle along a second direction on the rail system, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; and
a storage container support for carrying the storage container, wherein the storage container support is movable between:
a first position with a first footprint; and
a second position with a second footprint, wherein the second footprint is larger than the first footprint in at least one of the first and/or second directions,
wherein the storage container support is configured to support the storage container from below, and
wherein the vehicle is configured to carry more storage containers when the storage container support is arranged in the second position than when the storage container support arranged in the first position.
20 . The system according to claim 19 , further comprising a delivery device for delivering storage containers to the storage container support.
21 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a vehicle body comprising a base, wherein the vehicle body of the vehicle further comprises a vertically extending structure extending from the base, the vertically extending structure comprising a cantilever at an upper end having a lifting device for raising and lowering a storage container to and from a position below the cantilever, wherein the cantilever extends in the first direction in an opposite direction to the storage container support when arranged in the second position and the cantilever being arranged at an opposite side of the vehicle compared to a position of the storage container support.
22 . The system according to claim 21 , wherein the vehicle body further comprises a central cavity within the vehicle body comprising a lifting device for raising and lowering a storage container to and from a position within the cavity.
23 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein the system further comprises a control system receiving information with regard to the footprint of the remotely operated vehicle for use in controlling the vehicle on the rail system of the automated storage and retrieval system.
24 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein a size of the first footprint of the remotely operated vehicle is equal to the size of the grid cell.
25 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein a ratio between a size of the grid cell and a size of the first footprint of the remotely operated vehicle is from 1:1 to 1:2.