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EP-4735355-A1 - MULTI-LEVEL STORAGE SYSTEM

EP4735355A1EP 4735355 A1EP4735355 A1EP 4735355A1EP-4735355-A1

Abstract

A storage system comprises a first and a second grid structure of first or second storage columns, each storage column being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage containers, a plurality of upright floor support components, an intermediate floor comprising a floor panel, and a plurality of container handling vehicles The grid structures each comprise a rail system having two perpendicularly arranged sets of parallel rails, wherein the storage columns of the grid structures are arranged beneath the associated rail system. The container handling vehicles are configured to move on the rail systems of the grid structures. The upright floor support components and the floor panel form a support framework on a ground with the intermediate floor in a selected vertical position on the upright floor support components, wherein the first grid structure is arranged beneath the intermediate floor and wherein the second grid structure is arranged on the intermediate floor.

Inventors

  • AUSTRHEIM, TROND
  • FAGERLAND, Ingvar

Assignees

  • AutoStore Technology AS

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240613

Claims (15)

  1. CLAIMS 1. Multi-level storage system (600, 700), comprising: a first grid structure (624, 701) of first storage columns, each first storage column being arranged to accommodate a stack of storage containers, a second grid structure (625, 703) of second storage columns, each second storage column being arranged to accommodate a stack of storage containers (106), a plurality of upright floor support components (602), and an intermediate floor (619), wherein each of the first grid structure (624, 701) and the second grid structure (625, 703) comprises an associated rail system (108), wherein each associated rail system is configured to receive a respective container handling vehicle thereon, wherein the storage columns of the first grid structure (624, 701) and second grid structure (625, 703) are arranged beneath their associated rail system (108), wherein the upright floor support components (602) are configured to form a support framework extending from a base floor, with the intermediate floor arranged at a vertical distance from the base floor, wherein the first grid structure (624, 701) is arranged beneath the intermediate floor (619) and wherein the second grid structure (625, 703) is arranged on the intermediate floor (619).
  2. 2. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) of claim 1, wherein the intermediate floor (619) comprises a floor panel (618), and wherein the upright floor support components (602) and the floor panel are configured to form a support framework extending from a base floor with the intermediate floor arranged at a vertical distance from, the base floor by supporting the floor panel using the upright floor support components (602).
  3. 3. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each associated rail system (108) has a first set of parallel rails (110) arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction (X), and a second set of parallel P224605WO 31 rails (111) arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), which first and second sets of rails (110, 111) form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane comprising a plurality of adjacent grid columns, each comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails (110) of the first set of rails (110) and a pair of neighboring rails (111) of the second set of rails (111).
  4. 4. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) of any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of container handling vehicles (201, 301, 401) for handling storage containers (106), wherein a first plurality of container handling vehicles (201, 301, 401) are configured to move on the rail system (108) of the first grid structure (624, 701) and a second plurality of container handling vehicles are configured to move on the rail system (108) of the second grid structure (625, 703).
  5. 5. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the upright floor support components (602) comprise a planar truss.
  6. 6. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, wherein the upright floor support components (602) comprise a metal material.
  7. 7. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the upright floor support components (602) comprise a pallet racking frame.
  8. 8. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of support devices (621) attachable to the upright floor support components (602).
  9. 9. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to claim 5, wherein the support device (621) comprises a support bracket. P224605WO 32
  10. 10. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support device (621) comprises a support beam (620) configured to extend perpendicularly to the upright floor support component (602), to which the support device (621) is coupled, optionally wherein the support beam (620) is rigidly attached to the support bracket.
  11. 11. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, wherein the upright floor support components (602) have a base plate configured to be anchored to the base floor (601).
  12. 12. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, wherein the second grid structure (625) has a smaller height than the first grid structure (624).
  13. 13. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to any preceding claim, wherein the rail system (108) of the second grid structure (625, 703) comprises a rail system extension that extends beyond the second storage columns and the intermediate floor (619) to form a delivery section (626, 627, 704, 705, 706), and wherein the delivery section (626, 627, 704, 705, 706) is arranged vertically directly above the first grid structure (624, 701), such that container handling vehicles (201, 301, 401) on the rail system (108) of the second grid structure (625, 703) are capable of retrieving storage containers (106) from or lowering storage containers (106) into the first grid structure (624, 701).
  14. 14. The multi-level storage system (600, 700) according to claim 13, wherein the delivery section (626, 627, 704, 705, 706) extends along at least one side of the second grid structure (625, 703). P224605WO 33
  15. 15. A method of creating a multi-level storage system of any of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising: providing a first grid structure (624, 701) of first storage columns, each first storage column being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage containers, on a ground, arranging a plurality of upright floor support components (602) on the ground and coupling a floor panel (618) with the upright floor support components (602) in a selected vertical position on the upright floor support components (602) to form a support framework on the ground with an intermediate floor arranged in a vertical distance to the ground, and providing a second grid structure (625, 703) of second storage columns, each second storage column being arranged to accommodate a vertical stack of storage containers (106), on the intermediate floor (619). P224605WO 34

Description

MULTI-LEVEL STORAGE SYSTEM FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates to a multi-level storage system having a first grid structure and a second grid structure, as well as a method of creating a multi-level storage system. BACKGROUND [0002] Fig. 1 discloses a prior art automated storage and retrieval system 1 with a framework structure 100 and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 disclose three different prior art container handling vehicles 201,301,401 suitable for operating on such a system 1. [0003] The framework structure 100 comprises upright members 102 and a storage volume comprising storage columns 105 arranged in rows between the upright members 102. In these storage columns 105 storage containers 106, also known as bins, are stacked one on top of one another to form stacks 107. The members 102 may typically be made of metal, e.g. extruded aluminum profiles. [0004] The framework structure 100 of the automated storage and retrieval system 1 comprises a rail system 108 arranged across the top of framework structure 100, on which rail system 108 a plurality of container handling vehicles 201,301,401 may be operated to raise storage containers 106 from, and lower storage containers 106 into, the storage columns 105, and also to transport the storage containers 106 above the storage columns 105. The rail system 108 comprises a first set of parallel rails 110 arranged to guide movement of the container handling vehicles 201,301,401 in a first direction X across the top of the frame structure 100, and a second set of parallel rails 111 arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails 110 to guide movement of the container handling vehicles 201,301,401 in a second direction Y which is perpendicular to the first direction X. Containers 106 stored in the columns 105 are accessed by the container handling vehicles 201,301,401 through access openings 112 in the rail system 108. The container handling vehicles 201,301,401 can move laterally above the storage columns 105, i.e. in a plane which is parallel to the horizontal X-Y plane. [0005] The upright members 102 of the framework structure 100 may be used to guide the storage containers during raising of the containers out from and lowering P224605WO 1 of the containers into the columns 105. The stacks 107 of containers 106 are typically self-supporting. [0006] Each prior art container handling vehicle 201,301,401 comprises a vehicle body 201a,301a,401a and first and second sets of wheels 201b, 201c, 301b, 301c,401b,401c which enable the lateral movement of the container handling vehicles 201,301,401 in the X direction and in the Y direction, respectively. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 two wheels in each set are fully visible. The first set of wheels 201b,301b,401b is arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the first set 110 of rails, and the second set of wheels 201c,301c,401c is arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the second set 111 of rails. At least one of the sets of wheels 201b, 201c, 301b,301c,401b,401c can be lifted and lowered, so that the first set of wheels 201b,301b,401b and/or the second set of wheels 201c,301c,401c can be engaged with the respective set of rails 110, 111 at any one time. [0007] Each prior art container handling vehicle 201,301,401 also comprises a lifting device for vertical transportation of storage containers 106, e.g. raising a storage container 106 from, and lowering a storage container 106 into, a storage column 105. The lifting device comprises one or more gripping / engaging devices which are adapted to engage a storage container 106, and which gripping / engaging devices can be lowered from the vehicle 201,301,401 so that the position of the gripping / engaging devices with respect to the vehicle 201,301,401 can be adjusted in a third direction Z which is orthogonal the first direction X and the second direction Y. Parts of the gripping device of the container handling vehicles 301,401 are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 indicated with reference number 304,404. The gripping device of the container handling device 201 is located within the vehicle body 201a in Fig. 2 and is thus not shown. [0008] Conventionally, and also for the purpose of this application, Z=1 identifies the uppermost layer available for storage containers below the rails 110,111, i.e. the layer immediately below the rail system 108, Z=2 the second layer below the rail system 108, Z=3 the third layer etc. In the exemplary prior art disclosed in Fig. 1, Z=8 identifies the lowermost, bottom layer of storage containers. Similarly, X=1…n and Y=1…n identifies the position of each storage column 105 in the horizontal plane. Consequently, as an example, and using the Cartesian coordinate system X, Y, Z indicated in Fig. 1, the storage container identified as 106’ in Fig. 1 can be said to occupy storage position X=17, Y=1, Z=6. The container handling vehicles 201,301,401 P224605WO 2 can be said to travel in layer Z=0, and each storage column 105 can be identified by its X and Y coo