Ocado Innovation Limited

Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo

Andrew John Ingram-Tedd

Paul Clarke

Matthew Robert Whelan

Pawel Karolinczak

Robert Rolf Stadie

Christopher Richard James Brett

Christopher Brett

Stuart Richard North

James Waddilove

Martyn Lee Bates

Siddique Shaikh

Alexander James Badenoch Harvey

Paul Stewart

Jonty Angel

Gion-Otto Presser-Velder

Mark Fryer

Timothy Deighton Steiner

James Lloyd-Jones

Matthew D Engle

Martin Roland Akerblad

Carl Edvin Von Otter

William Bjorn David Bruce

Mark Stubbs

David Gerken

Kevin Faux

Siddique Shaihk

Paul Heideman

Andrew John Ingram-tedd

Alexander Howard Whitaker

A load handling device is disclosed for retrieving, transporting, and delivering containers in a storage system having a grid structure formed of two substantially perpendicular sets of rails or tracks located above stacks of containers. An exemplary load handling device can include a wheel assembly, a container receiving space, and a plurality of vehicle modules. The wheel assembly can include a first set of wheels to guide movement of the load handing device in a first direction and a second set of wheels to guide movement of the load handing device in a second direction. Each of the vehicle modules can include a container lifting means arranged to lift a container into the container receiving space and each of the vehicle modules can be moveable to adjust the spacing of the containers in the load handling device.

Method and apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system

Storage, growing system and methods for storing, germinating, propagating and or growing living organisms, exemplary systems including stackable growth tray(s) containing: a drainage system, the drainage system including: an inclined growing surface, inclined in a direction to at least one drainage hole; a drainage routing structure positioned over the at least one drainage hole, and having a down-pipe and a connecting routing pipe, wherein the down-pipe is for receiving fluid from an adjacent-above stackable item and transmitting the fluid to an adjacent-below down-pipe or a drain-pipe, and the connecting routing pipe is for receiving fluid from an adjacent-above drainage hole and routing the fluid to the down-pipe, and wherein fluid propagating from the inclined growing surface or an adjacent-above stackable item is directed through the growth tray to a down-steam point in the drainage system.

Storage, growing systems and methods

Systems, methods, and machine-executable coded instruction sets are disclosed for fully- and/or partly automated handling of goods. The disclosure provides improvements in the storage and retrieval of storage and delivery containers in order processing systems.

Systems and methods for order processing

A system for picking items from a containerised storage system is described. The items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework comprising a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting so as to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.

Picking systems and methods

A vehicle for use with an object handling system, the object handling system including two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a first grid, a plurality of first uprights supporting the first grid, a plurality of containers arranged in stacks, each stack being located underneath the first grid, one or more robotic load handling devices configured to drive on top of the rails of the first grid, the one or more load handling devices including means for removing or replacing at least one container from the stacks. The vehicle includes two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a second grid substantially at the top of the vehicle above a storage space for carrying containers. The second grid interfaces with the first grid to allow the one or more load handling devices to drive from the rails of the first grid onto the rails of the second grid.

Object handling system and method

A customisable modular storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. The stacks are contained within towers formed of stacks of bin receiving units. A grid network of tracks is provided on the top of the bin receiving units upon which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit them at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out.

Modular storage systems and methods

A robotic processing system and method are disclosed for processing materials using a series of containers stored in an automated storage and picking system. Each of the containers performs a specific function on the materials stored therein. The materials are passed from bin to bin via a suitable dispensing and transferring system. For example, a system is disclosed for delivering ingredients to a micro-brewery, as are methods for brewing small or test batches of beer according to customers' individual requirements.

Robotic processing system and method

A storage system is disclosed which includes a series of fire detection, suppression and extinguishing capability. The system can include containers formed as structural composites. The containers can have multiple portions of a structural or storage nature. The system can use the containers and the system itself to reduce a likelihood of fire spreading through large grid based systems.

Storage systems and methods

A storage system and a load handling device for lifting and moving containers stacked in the storage system are described. The storage system includes a plurality of rails or tracks arranged in a grid pattern above the stacks of containers. The grid pattern can include a plurality of grid spaces and each stack is located within a footprint of only a single grid space. The load handling device is configured to move laterally on the rails or tracks above the stacks. The load-handling device includes a container-receiving space located above the rails or tracks in use and a lifting device arranged to lift a container from a stack into the container-receiving space. The load handling device has a footprint that, in use, occupies only a single grid space in the storage system.

Apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system

A storage system is disclosed where goods can be stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of rails (e.g., tracks) on which load handling devices can run. To take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked. The framework may be provided with one or more of the following exemplary services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensors, and data logging devices. The provision of these services within the framework rather than across the system as a whole, can allow for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

A system and method for picking items is disclosed. The system includes a grid-based storage area and an order assembly area. The system includes an array of presentation positions, the presentation positions being configured and adapted so as to present storage containers delivered to the presentation positions so as to enable picking of items contained therein.

System and method for picking items

A robotic picking device for picking items from a containerised storage system wherein items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework having a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic picking devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.

Robotic picking systems and devices

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. Each container may be provided with connectors having a push fit male connector located at a top edge of the container and a female connector at a bottom edge of the container. Adjacent containers in a stack can be linked by routing means, which form moldings on each container. The connectors can also have spring-loaded contacts. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

A storage system Includes a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces. A plurality of stackable storage containers are arranged in stacks, the stacks of storage containers being located beneath the rails or tracks. Each stack is located within the footprint of a grid space. A load handling device is arranged to move laterally on the rails or tracks above the stacks of storage containers. The load handling device includes a lifting device arranged to lift storage containers from a top of a stack. The lifting device includes a cable to provide a service from a service source in the load handling device to the one or more storage containers.

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. The framework may be provided with one or more of the following services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensing, and data logging. A method of partitioning the storage system prevents the spread of fire or prevent damage caused by sprinkler activation.

Growing community of inventors

Hatfield, United Kingdom

Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo