Container handling vehicle with direct drive on lifting axle(s), associated methods and system

Abstract

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a rail system including 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. The first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent grid cells. Each adjacent grid cell includes a grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of neighboring tracks of the second set of tracks; and a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns located beneath the rail system. Each storage column is located vertically below a grid opening. A container handling vehicle includes a transport mechanism for transport of the vehicle on the rail system, a lifting assembly for picking up storage containers from the storage columns to a position above the lowest level of the transport mechanism. The lifting assembly includes a lifting frame connectable to a storage container, a first lifting shaft and a second lifting shaft. The first and second lifting shafts are mainly parallel, and each of the first and second lifting shafts are supported in an upper portion of the vehicle. Two lifting elements extend from each of the first and second lifting shafts to the lifting frame. A motor drive assembly includes at least a first motor, and a force transferring assembly rotatably connecting the first and second lifting shafts via a force transferring element.