High density container support structure for use with robotic systems
Systems and methods are disclosed for a container support system which may include a container support structure and/or containers that may be positioned into and retrieved from the container support structure. Container support structures may include a base supporting a central post that may support shelf assemblies offset from one another along the central post. Each shelf assembly may include several shelf portions that together with other shelf portions form container receiving areas for receiving containers. The support structure may include multiple sides with openings to container receiving areas on each side of the support structure. Robotic pickers may approach a side of the container support structure and receive a container from one of the openings of that side of the container support structure. With openings on each side of the container support structure, robotic pickers may easily and efficiently retrieve containers from the container support structure.
1 . A support structure system comprising:
a base comprising a platform and a set of legs, the set of legs configured to position the platform a first set distance above a surface that supports the legs, the base having a rectangular profile;
a plurality of vertical supports orientated orthogonally with respect to the platform and coupled to the base;
a center post coupled to a mid-region of the platform and oriented orthogonally with respect to the platform and parallel with respect to the plurality of vertical supports;
a first shelf assembly comprising a first shelf portion, a second shelf portion, a third shelf portion, and a fourth shelf portion, each of the first, second, third, and fourth shelf portions are arranged along a first plane, oriented in a different direction than other shelf portions from the first, second, third, or fourth shelf portions of the first shelf assembly, and offset from the other shelf portions such that a first void sized to receive and couple to the center post is formed between the first, second, third, and fourth shelf portions;
a second shelf assembly comprising a fifth shelf portion, a sixth shelf portion, a seventh shelf portion, and an eighth shelf portion, each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shelf portions are arranged along a second plane, oriented in a different direction than other shelf portions from the fifth, sixth, seventh, or eighth shelf portions of the second shelf assembly, and offset from the other shelf portions such that a second void sized to receive and couple to the center post is formed between the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shelf portions, the second shelf assembly is positioned a second set distance along the center post from the first shelf assembly; and
a first set of guides coupled to the fifth shelf portion, a second set of guides coupled to the sixth shelf portion, a third set of guides coupled to the seventh shelf portion, and a fourth set of guides coupled to the eighth shelf portion;
wherein the first shelf portion, the fifth shelf portion, and the first set of guides form a first container receiving area, the second shelf portion, the sixth shelf portion, and the second set of guides form a second container receiving area, the third shelf portion, the seventh shelf portion, and the third set of guides form a third container receiving area, and the fourth shelf portion, the eighth shelf portion, and the fourth set of guides form a fourth container receiving area.
2 . The support structure system of claim 1 , wherein the first container receiving area has a first opening oriented in a first direction, the second container receiving area has a second opening orientated 90 degrees from the first direction, the third container receiving area has a third opening oriented 180 degrees from the first direction, and the fourth container receiving area has a fourth opening oriented 270 degrees from the first direction.
3 . The support structure system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third shelf assembly comprising a ninth shelf portion, a tenth shelf portion, an eleventh shelf portion, and a twelfth shelf portion, each of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth shelf portions are arranged along a third plane, oriented in a different direction than other shelf portions from the ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth portions of the third shelf assembly, and offset from the other shelf portions such that a first void sized to receive and couple to the center post is formed between the first, second, third, and fourth shelf portions,
a fifth set of guides coupled to the ninth shelf portion, a sixth set of guides coupled to the tenth shelf portion, a seventh set of guides coupled to the eleventh shelf portion, and an eighth set of guides coupled to the twelfth shelf portion; and
wherein the third shelf assembly is positioned the second set distance along the center post from the second shelf assembly.
4 . The support structure system of claim 3 , wherein the ninth shelf portion, the fifth shelf portion, and the fifth set of guides form a fifth container receiving area, the tenth shelf portion, the sixth shelf portion, and the sixth set of guides form a sixth container receiving area, the eleventh shelf portion, the seventh shelf portion, and the seventh set of guides form a seventh container receiving area, and the twelfth shelf portion, the eighth shelf portion, and the eighth set of guides form an eighth container receiving area.
5 . The support structure system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth shelf portions have an internal truss structure.
6 . The support structure system of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, wherein the first side is oriented in a first direction, the second side is oriented 90 degrees from the first direction, the third side is oriented 180 degrees from the first direction, and the fourth side is oriented 270 degrees from the first direction.
7 . The support structure system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shelf portions are formed from perforated metal.
8 . The support structure system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shelf portions are formed from two or more of metal, plastic, or fabric.
9 . The support structure system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth shelf portions are formed from wire mesh.
10 . The support structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertical supports are configured to support the first shelf assembly and the second shelf assembly.
11 . The support structure system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first container configured to be received by the first container receiving area, a second container configured to be received by the second container receiving area, a third container configured to be received by the third container receiving area, and a fourth container configured to be received by the fourth container receiving area,
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth containers are configured be to retrieved by an automated picker.
12 . The support structure system of claim 11 , wherein the first container receiving area has an opening and wherein the first shelf assembly has a retaining protrusion extending along a length of the first shelf assembly and configured to resist movement of the first container in a direction toward the opening.
13 . The support structure of system of claim 12 , wherein the retaining protrusion has a triangular cross-section.
14 . The support structure of system of claim 12 , wherein the retaining protrusion has a rectangular cross-section.