Automated storage and retrieval system
There is provided an automated storage and retrieval system including: a rack storing a plurality of bins for containing items; a picking station for picking the item from the bin; and a transportation robot for transporting the bin between the rack and the picking station. The picking station defines a plurality of picking positions at which a plurality of the transportation robots transporting the bins are simultaneously aligned to enable picking work of the item from the bin.
1 . An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
a rack storing a plurality of bins for containing items, the rack includes a plurality of floors, each floor of the plurality of floors stores the plurality of bins;
a picking station for picking an item from a bin of the plurality of bins;
a transportation robot for transporting the bin of the plurality of bins between the rack and the picking station, the transportation robot configured to run along a surface of the plurality of floors; and
one or more transportation elevators for transporting the transportation robot between the plurality of floors,
wherein the picking station defines a plurality of picking positions at which a plurality of transportation robots transporting the bins of the plurality of bins are simultaneously aligned to enable picking work of an item from the bin,
wherein the plurality of picking positions is defined on at least one floor of the plurality of floors.
2 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the picking station further defines one or more loading positions at which a plurality of shipment bins for loading the items are arranged.
3 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of picking positions is defined at an edge of a floor of the plurality of floors which continues from the surface of the floor of the plurality of floors.
4 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the bin containing an item of a higher inventory turnover ratio is stored in a lower floor of the plurality of floors.
5 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the length of at least one side of the transportation robot is smaller than the length of each side of the storage bin.
6 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein each transportation elevator is arranged in one section in the movement route of the transportation robot on each floor.
7 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the transportation robot can run along a line by tracing the line drawn on the floor of the rack.
8 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of picking stations is defined at the rack.
9 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 8 , wherein the transportation robot is configured to transport the bin between the plurality of picking stations.
10 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the transportation robot which has transported the bin to the picking station stays in a space below a bin at the picking station during the picking work at the picking station.
11 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 10 , wherein the transportation robot operates to return the bin from the picking station to the rack after the picking work at the picking station.
12 . The automated storage retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein each floor of the rack being defined with a plurality of sections aligned along plane and each floor being supported by a plurality of supporting columns arranged at corner portions of the each section of the floor.
13 . The automated storage retrieval system according to claim 12 , wherein each bin of the plurality of bins occupies the one section of the floor.
14 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein the transportation robot is configured to change its height between a first configuration in which an upper surface of a housing is set to a first height, and a second configuration in which the upper surface of the housing is set to a second height higher than the first height.
15 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 14 , wherein in the first configuration, the transportation robot is adapted to enter the space below a bin main body from between the plurality of support legs of the storage bin, and upon changing from the first configuration to the second configuration, the transportation robot lifts and holds the storage bin on the upper surface of the housing.
16 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of bins is received on the floor the plurality of floors by a plurality of support legs extending from bottom surfaces of the plurality of bins, and
the transportation robot is configured to enter a space below the bin between a bottom surface of the bin and the floor of the plurality of floors, and supports the bin so as to enable transportation of the bin by lifting the bottom surface of the bin in the space below.
17 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 16 , wherein an outline of the transportation robot is defined on an inner side of an outline of the bin in plan view in a case where the transportation robot enters the space below the bin.
18 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 16 , wherein
each floor of the plurality of floors defines a storage area storing the plurality of bins, and a movement route allowing the transportation robot to run outside the storage area, and
each of the plurality of bins faces the movement route.
19 . The automated storage and retrieval system according to claim 18 , wherein the storage area of the plurality of floors allows the transportation robot to run.