Storage system
A container lift for a container storage and retrieval system includes a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly is suspended from one or more lifting elements and is arranged to be raised or lowered in order to raise or lower an accompanying storage container within the storage and retrieval system. The lifting assembly includes a lifting frame part for releasable attachment to a storage container, and a guide shuttle arranged to guide the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container as the lifting frame part is raised and lowered within the storage and retrieval system. The guide shuttle includes guide elements which are each arranged to interact with a corresponding guide surface of the storage and retrieval system to stabilise and maintain horizontal alignment of the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container during the raising and lowering of the lifting frame part.
1. A container lift for a container storage and retrieval system, comprising:
a lifting assembly which is suspended from one or more lifting elements and arranged to be raised or lowered in order to raise or lower an accompanying storage container within the storage and retrieval system,
wherein the lifting assembly comprises a lifting frame part for releasable attachment to a storage container and a guide shuttle arranged to guide the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container as the lifting frame part is raised and lowered within the storage and retrieval system,
the guide shuttle comprising guide elements which are each arranged to interact with a corresponding guide surface of the storage and retrieval system to stabilise and maintain horizontal alignment of the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container during the raising and lowering of the lifting frame part,
wherein the guide elements comprise sliding devices, roller assemblies or any combination thereof.
2. A container lift according to claim 1 , wherein the guide shuttle is arranged above the lifting frame part.
3. A container lift according to claim 1 , wherein each guide element is arranged to interact with at least one guide surface of the storage and retrieval system.
4. A container lift according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the guide elements comprises a roller assembly having at least one rotatable circumference arranged to interact with a corresponding vertical guide surface of the storage and retrieval system.
5. A container lift according to claim 2 , wherein the roller assembly comprises at least one rotatable circumference arranged to interact with the corresponding vertical guide surface of the storage and retrieval system.
6. A container lift for a container storage and retrieval system, comprising:
a lifting assembly which is suspended from one or more lifting elements and arranged to be raised or lowered in order to raise or lower an accompanying storage container within the storage and retrieval system,
wherein the lifting assembly comprises a lifting frame part for releasable attachment to a storage container and a guide shuttle arranged to guide the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container as the lifting frame part is raised and lowered within the storage and retrieval system,
the guide shuttle comprising guide elements which are each arranged to interact with a corresponding guide surface of the storage and retrieval system to stabilise and maintain horizontal alignment of the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container during the raising and lowering of the lifting frame part, wherein the guide shuttle comprises four vertically extended corner sections, wherein at least one guide element is arranged at each corner section.
7. A container lift according to claim 6 , wherein the container lift is a container lift vehicle comprising a vehicle body, into which a storage container may be lifted by the lifting assembly, and at least one set of wheels configured to move the container lift vehicle in a horizontal direction on a top rail grid of the storage and retrieval system.
8. A container lift according to claim 7 , wherein the vehicle body comprises a framework featuring internal guide surfaces arranged to interact with the guide elements of the guide shuttle when the lifting assembly is arranged inside the vehicle body, such that the horizontal alignment of the lifting frame part is stabilised and maintained.
9. A container lift for a container storage and retrieval system, comprising:
a lifting assembly which is suspended from one or more lifting elements and arranged to be raised or lowered in order to raise or lower an accompanying storage container within the storage and retrieval system,
wherein the lifting assembly comprises a lifting frame part for releasable attachment to a storage container and a guide shuttle arranged to guide the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container as the lifting frame part is raised and lowered within the storage and retrieval system,
the guide shuttle comprising guide elements which are each arranged to interact with a corresponding guide surface of the storage and retrieval system to stabilise and maintain horizontal alignment of the lifting frame part and any accompanying storage container during the raising and lowering of the lifting frame part, wherein the guide surfaces comprise internal vertical surfaces of a grid column within the storage and retrieval system.
10. A container lift according to claim 9 , wherein the container lift comprises a gantry extending over at least a section of a top rail grid of the storage and retrieval system.
11. A container lift according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more lifting elements are spoolable lifting elements attached to at least one lifting shaft.
12. A method of transferring a storage container in a container storage and retrieval system, comprising:
moving the container lift of claim 9 to a position above the storage column of the storage and retrieval system in which a storage container is arranged;
lowering the lifting assembly of the container lift;
releasably connecting the lifting frame part of the lifting assembly to the storage container; and
raising the lifting assembly and the storage container,
wherein guide elements of the guide shuttle interact with corresponding guide surfaces of the storage and retrieval system to stabilise and maintain horizontal alignment of the lifting frame part during the raising and lowering of the lifting frame part.