Granted Patent B2

US 12,252,335 · App. 17/770,851 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Inventor: Trond Austrheim (Etne, NO)

Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS

B65D88/528B65D11/1873F16B5/0052

Abstract

Claims (42)

1. A set of moulded panels which can be assembled together to form a storage container for an automated storage and retrieval system, the set of panels comprising a rectangular base panel and four side panels, wherein:

the base panel comprises four sides and each side is moulded with a perimeter profile comprising a number of wedge-shaped profile elements;

each of the side panels corresponds to one of the four sides of the base panel, and is moulded with a lower edge profile comprising a corresponding number of complementary wedge-shaped profile elements, wherein the wedge-shaped profile elements and the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements form a dovetail-type of connection between the base panel and the respective side panels;

the lower edge profiles of each side panel are configured to be slidingly engaged with the perimeter profile of the corresponding one of the four sides of the base panel by sliding in a respective sliding engagement direction toward the corresponding side of the base panel and parallel to a base plane of the base panel during assembly of the storage container;

wherein:

when the lower edge profiles of each side panel are configured to be slidingly engaged with the corresponding one of the four sides of the base panel, the wedge-shaped profile elements and the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements are configured to transmit load carried by the base panel into the side panels;

at least one wedge-shaped profile element of a side of the base panel comprises a first wall having a deflectable finger portion, with a latch provided in an outer end of the deflectable finger portion;

wherein at least one corresponding complementary wedge-shaped profile element of the corresponding side panel comprises a complementary wall having an inner end, and a cut-out adapted to receive the latch at an outer end, the inner end of the complementary wall being configured to deflect the deflectable portion of the first wall to permit movement of the corresponding side panel relative to the latch and toward the base panel in the sliding engagement direction, and the cut-out being adapted to allow the deflectable portion to rebound so that the latch is received by the cut-out the latch and the cut-out being configured to oppose movement of the corresponding side panel away from the side of the base panel in a direction opposite to the sliding engagement direction; and

each of the side panels are moulded with side edge profiles which are to be slidingly engaged with the side edge profiles of adjacent side panels during assembly of the storage container.

2. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements of the lower edge profiles of the side panels are wider in a direction along the lower edge than the wedge-shaped profile elements of the perimeter profile.

3. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the base panel comprises a storage area, and wherein the perimeter profile forms a protrusion in a horizontal direction away from the storage area.

4. The set of panels according to claim 3 , wherein the protrusion formed by the perimeter profile is a continuous protrusion along the circumference of the storage area.

5. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the lower edge profiles are slidingly engaged and interlocked with the perimeter profile during assembly of the storage container.

6. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the side edge profiles are shaped to maintain a position of the respective side panels in relation to adjacent side panels.

7. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the edge profiles of a first side panel and a second side panel of the four side panels comprise protruding elements, wherein the edge profiles of a third side panel and a fourth side panel of the four side panels comprise apertures, and wherein the protruding elements are adapted for insertion into respective apertures during assembly of the storage container.

8. The set of panels according to claim 7 , wherein the protruding elements are shaped to prevent separation of the protruding elements from the apertures.

9. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the edge profiles are slidingly engaged and interlocked with the side edge profiles of adjacent side panels during assembly of the storage container.

10. The set of panels according to claim 1 , wherein the edge profiles are interlocked with the side edge profiles of adjacent side panels by means of additional fasteners provided through openings in the respective side panels.

11. An assembled storage container for an automated storage and retrieval system, the storage container comprising:

a rectangular base panel comprising four sides, wherein each side has a perimeter profile comprising a number of wedge-shaped profile elements;

four side panels, each of the side panels corresponds to one of the four sides of the base panel and comprises a lower edge profile comprising a corresponding number of complementary wedge-shaped profile elements, and a side edge profile;

wherein the wedge-shaped profile elements and the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements form a dovetail-type of connection between the base panel and the respective side panels;

wherein the lower edge profiles of each side panel are slidingly engaged with the perimeter profile of the corresponding one of the four sides of the base panel by sliding in a respective sliding engagement direction toward the corresponding side of the base panel;

wherein:

the wedge-shaped profile elements and the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements are configured to transmit load carried by the base panel into the side panels;

at least one wedge-shaped profile element of a side of the base panel comprises a first wall having a deflectable portion with a latch provided in an outer end of the deflectable portion;

at least one corresponding complementary wedge-shaped profile element of the corresponding side panel comprises a complementary wall having an inner end, and a cut-out at an outer end, the inner end of the complementary wall being configured to deflect the deflectable portion of the first wall to permit movement of the corresponding side panel relative to the latch and toward the base panel in the sliding engagement direction, and the cut-out being adapted to allow the deflectable portion to rebound so that the latch is received by the cut-out to oppose movement of the corresponding side panel away from the side of the base panel in a direction opposite to the sliding engagement direction; and

each side edge profile is slidingly engaged with the side edge profiles of adjacent side panels.

12. A method for assembling a storage container for an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the method comprises:

providing a rectangular base panel comprising four sides, each side being moulded with a perimeter profile comprising a number of wedge-shaped profile elements;

providing first, second, third, fourth side panels, wherein each of the side panels corresponds to one of the four sides of the base panel, and is moulded with a lower edge profile comprising a corresponding number of complementary wedge-shaped profile elements, and wherein each of the side panels is moulded with side edge profiles;

wherein the wedge-shaped profile elements and the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements form a dovetail-type of connection between the base panel and the respective side panels;

slidingly engaging the lower edge profile of the first side panel with the perimeter profile of a first side of the rectangular base panel by sliding the first side panel in a first sliding engagement direction toward the first side of the rectangular base panel and parallel to a base plane of the base panel;

slidingly engaging the lower edge profile of the second side panel with the perimeter profile of a second side opposite of the first side of the rectangular base panel by sliding the second side panel in a second sliding engagement direction toward the second side of the rectangular base panel and parallel to the base plane of the base panel;

slidingly engaging the lower edge profile of the third side panel with the perimeter profile of a third side of the rectangular base panel by sliding the third side panel in a third sliding engagement direction toward the third side of the rectangular base panel and parallel to a base plane of the base panel, and at the same time slidingly engaging the side edge profiles of the third side panel with adjacent side edge profiles of the first and second side panels;

slidingly engaging the lower edge profile of the fourth side panel with the perimeter profile of a fourth side of the rectangular base panel opposite of the third side by sliding the fourth side panel in a fourth sliding engagement direction toward the fourth side of the rectangular base panel and parallel to a base plane of the base panel, and at the same time slidingly engaging the side edge profiles of the fourth side panel with the adjacent side edge profiles of the first and second side panels;

wherein:

when the lower edge profiles of each side panel are slidingly engaged with the corresponding one of the four sides of the base panel, the wedge-shaped profile elements and the complementary wedge-shaped profile elements are configured to transmit load carried by the base panel into the side panels;

at least one wedge-shaped profile element of a side of the base panel comprises a first wall having a deflectable portion with a latch provided in an outer end of the deflectable portion;

and at least one corresponding complementary wedge-shaped profile element of the corresponding side panel comprises a complementary wall having an inner end, and a cut-out at an outer end, the inner end of the complementary wall being configured to deflect the deflectable portion of the first wall to permit movement of the corresponding side panel relative to the latch and toward the base panel in the respective sliding engagement direction, and the cut-out being adapted to allow the deflectable portion to rebound so that the latch is received by the cut-out to oppose movement of the corresponding side panel away from the side of the base panel in a direction opposite to the respective sliding engagement direction.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

interlocking the edge profiles with the side edge profiles of adjacent side panels by means of additional fasteners provided through openings in the respective side panels.

Assignments (3)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (33)