Method for fetching a target bin stored in a storage system
A method for fetching a target bin stored in a storage system, wherein the storage system includes a three-dimensional storage grid containing a plurality of bins stacked in vertical stacks, supporting rails on the grid structure, and a plurality of vehicles, controllably arranged to move individually on the supporting rails. The method is performed by a control device in the system and comprises controlling at least one non-target vehicle to operate as intermediate storage for a bin located vertically above the target bin; controlling a target vehicle to pick up the target bin, and controlling the at least one non-target vehicle and the target vehicle to be positioned adjacent to each other in a linear manner on the supporting rails. A corresponding storage system has also been disclosed.
1. A method for fetching a target bin stored in a storage system,
wherein the storage system includes,
a three-dimensional storage grid containing a plurality of bins stacked in vertical stacks, further comprising supporting rails on the grid structure,
a plurality of vehicles, controllably arranged to move individually on the supporting rails, the method comprising:
controlling at least one non-target vehicle to operate as intermediate storage for a bin located vertically above the target bin;
controlling a target vehicle to pick up the target bin, and
controlling the at least one non-target vehicle and the target vehicle to be positioned adjacent to each other in a linear manner on the supporting rails,
wherein the step of controlling at least one non-target vehicle to operate as intermediate storage for a bin located vertically above the target bin further comprises:
controlling a non-target vehicle to move to a target location above the target bin;
controlling the non-target vehicle to pick up a bin from the vertical stack at the target location;
controlling the non-target vehicle to rest at a neighbor location; and
repeating the controlling steps until the target bin has become the upper bin in the vertical stack at the target location.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of controlling the target vehicle to pick up the target bin comprises:
controlling the target vehicle to move to the target location; and
controlling the target vehicle to pick up the target bin from the vertical stack at the target location.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling the at least one non-target vehicle to return and unload its bin to the target location.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
each non-target vehicle is arranged to operate as intermediate storage for a single bin.
5. A storage system, comprising,
a three-dimensional storage grid containing a plurality of bins stacked in vertical stacks and further comprising supporting rails on the grid structure;
a plurality of vehicles, controllably arranged to move on the supporting rails, and a control device,
wherein the control device is configured to enable fetching of a target bin stored in the storage system by
controlling at least one non-target vehicle to operate as intermediate storage for a bin located vertically above the target bin;
controlling a target vehicle to pick up the target bin; and
controlling the at least one non-target vehicle and the target vehicle to be positioned adjacent to each other in a linear manner on the supporting rails,
wherein the control device is configured to control the at least one non-target vehicle to operate as intermediate storage for a bin located vertically above the target bin by:
controlling a non-target vehicle to move to a target location above the target bin;
controlling the non-target vehicle to pick up a bin from the vertical stack at the target location;
controlling the non-target vehicle to rest at a neighbour location; and
repeating the controlling steps until the target bin has become the upper bin in the vertical stack at the target location.
6. The storage system according to claim 5 , wherein the control device is configured to control the target vehicle to pick up the target bin by:
controlling the target vehicle to move to the target location; and
controlling the target vehicle to pick up the target bin from the vertical stack at the target location.
7. The storage system according to claim 5 , wherein the control device is further configured to
control the at least one non-target vehicle to return and unload its bin to the target location.
8. The storage system according to claim 5 , wherein each non-target vehicle is arranged to operate as intermediate storage for a single bin.