The present invention relates to automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a track system comprising a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks of the second set of tracks; a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the track system, wherein each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening; a plurality of container handling vehicles for lifting and moving storage containers stacked in the stacks, the container handling vehicles being configured to move laterally on the track system above the storage columns to access the storage containers via the grid openings, wherein each of the plurality of container handling vehicles comprises: a wheel assembly for guiding the container handling vehicle along the track system; wherein the container handling vehicle has a footprint with a horizontal extension which is equal to or less than the horizontal extension of a grid cell. Each container handling vehicle comprises: a protruding section which extends horizontally beyond the footprint of the load handling vehicle and, when the container handling vehicle is positioned above a grid cell, into a neighbouring grid cell; and a recessed section arranged to accommodate the protruding sections of other container handling vehicles when it operates over a neighbouring grid cell.The present invention also relates to a container handling vehicle for such an automated storage and retrieval system and a method of operating such an automated storage and retrieval system.
AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
AUTOMATISIERTES LAGER- UND ENTNAHMESYSTEM
SYSTÈME AUTOMATISÉ DE STOCKAGE ET DE RÉCUPÉRATION
2025-05-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B65G TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS , Transport- oder Lagervorrichtungen, z.B. Förderer zum Laden oder Abladen / B60L PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES , Antrieb von elektrisch angetriebenen Fahrzeugen / B60S SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR , Warten, Reinigen, Instandsetzen, Unterstützen, Anheben oder Rangieren von Fahrzeugen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen |