Granted Patent B2

US 10,000,338 · App. 15/699,700 · Granted Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A multilevel storage array for use within an automated warehouse storage system, comprising:

storage locations distributed one or more aisles configured to receive items for storage from a robotic vehicle traveling along the one or more aisles, wherein an aisle has a set of storage levels and each level has the storage locations distributed along the aisle;

a vertical transition guideway disposed within the aisle connecting a first storage level of the set of storage levels with a second level of the set of storage levels; and

a motor-driven vertical drive affixed to the vertical transition guideway for engaging a feature on the robotic vehicle, the motor-driven vertical drive configured to transport the robotic vehicle between the first and second storage levels.

2. The multilevel storage array of claim 1 , wherein the motor-driven vertical drive comprises a motor-driven chain.

3. The multilevel storage array of claim 1 , wherein the chain is rotatably affixed to the vertical transition guideway.

4. The multilevel storage array of claim 1 , wherein the robotic vehicle is inactive during transport by the motor-driven vertical drive and is passively transported by the motor driven vertical drive.

5. The multilevel storage array of claim 1 , wherein the feature on the robotic vehicle engaged by the motor-driven vertical drive is a hook.

6. The multilevel storage array of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the motor-driven vertical drive.

7. The multilevel storage array of claim 1 , wherein the motor-driven vertical drive is configured to drive the robotic vehicle up and down an inclined ramp.

8. A multilevel storage array for use within an automated warehouse storage system, comprising:

storage locations distributed along one or more aisles configured to receive items for storage from a robotic vehicle traveling along the one or more aisles, wherein an aisle has a set of storage levels and each level has the storage locations distributed along the aisle;

a vertical transition guideway disposed within the aisle connecting a first storage level of the set of storage levels with a second level of the set of storage levels; and

a motor-driven chain drive affixed to the vertical transition guideway, the motor-driven chain drive configured to engage the robotic vehicle and configured to transport the robotic vehicle between the first and second storage levels without reliance on a drive motor in the robotic vehicle.

9. The multilevel storage array of claim 8 , further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the motor-driven vertical drive.

10. The multilevel storage array of claim 8 , wherein the motor-driven vertical drive is configured to drive the robotic vehicle up and down an inclined ramp.

11. An automated warehouse storage system, comprising:

a multilevel storage array comprising storage distributed along one or more aisles, wherein an aisle has a set of storage levels and each level has storage locations distributed along the aisle;

a guideway network associated with the storage locations;

a vertical transition guideway disposed within the guideway network and connecting a first storage level of the set of storage levels with a second level of the set of storage levels;

a robotic vehicle configured to move along the guideway network, the robotic vehicle comprising a motor configured to move the robotic vehicle horizontally along the first and second storage levels; and

a motor-driven vertical drive affixed to the vertical transition guideway configured to engage a feature on the robotic vehicle, and configured to transport the robotic vehicle between the first and second storage levels.

12. The multilevel storage array of claim 11 , wherein the motor-driven vertical drive comprises a motor-driven chain.

13. The multilevel storage array of claim 11 , wherein the robotic vehicle is inactive during transport by the motor-driven vertical drive and is passively transported by the motor driven vertical drive.

14. The multilevel storage array of claim 11 , wherein the feature on the robotic vehicle engaged by the motor-driven vertical drive is a hook.

15. The multilevel storage array of claim 11 , further comprising a controller for controlling operation of the motor-driven vertical drive.

16. A method of moving items around a multilevel storage array comprising storage locations, for storing the items, distributed in rows and columns, the method comprising:

(a) moving the items horizontally along the rows by a robotic vehicle having a motor and a horizontal drive system including wheels for horizontal travel; and

(b) moving the items along the columns, between two or more rows, within the robotic vehicle by a motor-driven vertical drive affixed to the multilevel storage array, the motor-driven vertical drive engaging the robotic vehicle to carry the robotic vehicle between the two or more rows.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said step (b) of moving the items between two or more rows by the motor-driven vertical drive comprises the step of moving the items between two or more rows by a chain included as part of the motor-driven vertical drive.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the chain is rotatably affixed to the storage array.

Assignments (10)

Cited By (7)

US 12,286,301 US 12,304,678 US 12,384,410 US 12,503,311 US 12,522,436 US 12,617,612 US 12,686,563