Delivery vehicle, an automated storage and retrieval system and a method of transporting storage containers between an automated storage and retrieval grid and a second location
A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator, the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising: rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices, and a power source configured to provide propulsion power to the rolling device motors. The remotely operated delivery vehicle further comprises a container carrier configured to receive the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.
1. A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator, the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising:
rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first direction (X) and a second set of parallel rails arranged in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first set of parallel rails and the second set of parallel rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent delivery vehicle grid cells;
rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices; and
a power source configured to provide propulsion power to the rolling device motors,
wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle further comprises a container carrier mounted on top of a vehicle body, wherein the container carrier comprises a base and side walls to form a volume configured to receive the storage container from above and contain an entire horizontal extent of the storage container and at least a part of a vertical extent of the storage container so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator, and
wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle has a delivery vehicle footprint with a horizontal extent which is equal to or less than a horizontal extent of the delivery vehicle grid cell such that the remotely operated delivery vehicle can pass another vehicle on adjacent delivery vehicle grid cells.
2. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the rolling devices are connected to the vehicle body arranged below the container carrier.
3. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprises a displacement device for moving the container carrier relative to the vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle.
4. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the displacement device comprises a lifting arm connected to the container carrier, which lifting arm is operated by a tilt motor.
5. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the container carrier comprises a holding device to hold any vertical extent of the storage container.
6. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the holding device comprises a support element pivotably connected to an inner top part of one of the side walls and an actuator lever pivotably connected support element, wherein the actuator lever extends at an inclined angle from the support element to protrude into the container carrier.
7. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprises a displacement device configured to tilt the container carrier about a pivot axis oriented parallel to at least one of the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y).
8. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the displacement device is configured to tilt the container carrier about the pivot axis within a tilting angle range from 2° to 60° relative to the horizontal plane.
9. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each rolling device motor for driving a rolling device is arranged at least partly within the rolling device.
10. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the rolling devices comprise wheels.
11. The remotely operated delivery vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the wheels comprise:
a first set of wheels, arranged at first opposite portions of the delivery vehicle for moving the delivery vehicle along a first direction (X) on a delivery rail system; and
a second set of wheels, arranged at second opposite portions of the delivery vehicle for moving the delivery vehicle along a second direction (Y) on the delivery rail system, the second direction (Y) being perpendicular to the first direction (X).