ROBOTIC DELIVERY AND RETRIEVAL OF CRATES TO AND FROM NON-UNIFORMLY SIZED STORAGE SPACES IN A VERSATILE SHELVING ARRAY

    公开(公告)号:US20210009349A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-14

    申请号:US16479680

    申请日:2018-02-21

    摘要: A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots through a network of tracks comprising intersecting vertically and horizontally oriented tracks. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.

    ROBOTIC INVENTORY HANDLING
    2.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20200031577A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-30

    申请号:US16596029

    申请日:2019-10-08

    IPC分类号: B65G1/04 B65G1/137

    摘要: An inventory handling system includes multiple shelving units for mounting over a horizontal floor. Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves on which containers are placed. One or more floor robots travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.

    METHOD FOR TURNING A RAILS-MOUNTED LIFT-ROBOT

    公开(公告)号:US20220356013A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-11-10

    申请号:US17871360

    申请日:2022-07-22

    摘要: A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails. Moving the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first motion mode to position the pinion-driven lift-robot in a first position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is turned over a corner of the intersection that is accessible from the first position and that includes continuous rails connecting a vertical track and a horizontal track, whereby positioning the pinion-driven lift-robot in a second position at the intersection. The pinion-driven lift-robot is moved in a second motion mode towards a designated direction.

    Motion-mode switching module for lift robots

    公开(公告)号:US11608227B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-03-21

    申请号:US16479715

    申请日:2018-02-21

    摘要: A direction switching module for lift robots using a pair of pinions coupled to a rack for propelling vertically and horizontally according to the track's orientation, is disclosed. In a linear motion mode both pinions rotate in the same velocity. In a direction switching mode, when changing from vertical to horizontal motion mode and vise versa, the module is capable of propelling one pinion on a vertical track and its counterpart on a horizontal track, simultaneously, each pinion in a different velocity. A bogie propelled by two pairs of said module is also disclosed, and a controller configured to drive both pinions in same velocity during linear motion and each pinion in a separate appropriate velocity during the direction switching mode. A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails and a controller for controlling the linear motion modes and the direction switching modes of the lift robot are also disclosed.

    Robotic inventory handling
    8.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10981723B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-20

    申请号:US16596029

    申请日:2019-10-08

    IPC分类号: B65G1/04 B65G1/137

    摘要: An inventory handling system includes multiple shelving units for mounting over a horizontal floor. Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves on which containers are placed. One or more floor robots travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.

    MOTION-MODE SWITCHING MODULE FOR LIFT ROBOTS

    公开(公告)号:US20210009350A1

    公开(公告)日:2021-01-14

    申请号:US16479715

    申请日:2018-02-21

    摘要: A direction switching module for lift robots using a pair of pinions coupled to a rack for propelling vertically and horizontally according to the track's orientation, is disclosed. In a linear motion mode both pinions rotate in the same velocity. In a direction switching mode, when changing from vertical to horizontal motion mode and vise versa, the module is capable of propelling one pinion on a vertical track and its counterpart on a horizontal track, simultaneously, each pinion in a different velocity. A bogie propelled by two pairs of said module is also disclosed, and a controller configured to drive both pinions in same velocity during linear motion and each pinion in a separate appropriate velocity during the direction switching mode. A method for turning a pinion-driven lift-robot in an intersection of rails and a controller for controlling the linear motion modes and the direction switching modes of the lift robot are also disclosed.

    Robotic inventory handling
    10.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10472172B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-11-12

    申请号:US15310799

    申请日:2016-06-08

    IPC分类号: B65G1/04 B65G1/137

    摘要: An inventory handling system (20, 150) includes multiple shelving units (22) for mounting over a horizontal floor (24). Each shelving unit contains a vertical array of shelves (28) on which containers (30) are placed. One or more floor robots (36) travel among the shelving units along first paths on the floor. One or more lift robots (32, 80, 120, 152) move independently of the floor robots along second paths in a vertical plane over vertical faces of the shelving units, and transfer the containers between the shelves and the floor robots.