AutoStore Technology AS

The invention relates to a system and method of controlling a plurality of storage volume temperatures in an automated grid-based storage and retrieval system. A plurality of storage volumes is arranged adjacent one another below horizontal rails. A cooler system is provided to draw air from an input, cool the air, and blow the cooled air through an output. For each of the plurality of storage volumes, a first air damper and a second air damper are provided, with the first air damper connected between the output of the cooler system and an air release area above the storage volumes. A controller for each of the plurality of storage volumes adjusts airflow through the first air damper to control an overpressure and air temperature in the air release area, and adjusts airflow through the second air damper to control a pressure differential through the storage volume.

The present invention provides a storage system comprising a framework structure ( 100 ) having a plurality of storage columns ( 105 ) for accommodating a vertical stack of storage containers ( 106 ), and a rail system ( 108 ) upon which a container handling vehicle ( 201,301,401 ) may move in two perpendicular directions above the storage columns, the rail system comprises a first set of parallel rails ( 110 ) and a second set of parallel rails ( 111 ) forming a rail grid, wherein each of the rails of the first set of rails ( 110 ) and the second set of rails ( 111 ) comprises rail portions ( 6,7 ) having at least one longitudinal aluminium profile ( 1,2,3 ) featuring a hollow section ( 4,5 ) extending along the whole length of the profile; wherein each of the rails of the first set of rails ( 110 ) and the second set of rails ( 111 ) has heat providing means passing through the hollow section.

The invention relates to an automated, grid-based storage and retrieval system ( 1 ), said system ( 1 ) comprising a frame-work structure ( 100 ) comprising vertically extending members ( 102 ) and a grid of horizontal rails ( 110, 111 ) provided at upper ends of said vertical members ( 102 ), wherein remotely operated vehicles for handling goods holders ( 106 ) operate on top of the grid, the framework structure ( 100 ) comprising vertically extending storage columns ( 105 ) providing a storage volume ( 500 ) for storing goods holders ( 106 ). The storage volume ( 500 ) is disposed below the horizontal rails ( 110, 111 ) and at a distance from said horizontal rails ( 110, 111 ). Said system ( 1 ) further comprises a temperature management system ( 20 ) for the storage volume ( 500 ) comprising means ( 22 ) for providing air at a first temperature, and a horizontally extending air duct ( 24 ) for conveying air at the first temperature to the storage volume ( 500 ), the air duct being disposed along a middle of the storage volume ( 500 ), wherein air at the first temperature is released in an upper section ( 500 U) of the storage volume ( 500 ). The invention further relates to a method for managing air in an automated, grid-based storage and retrieval system ( 1 ).

An automated grid based storage and retrieval system includes a framework structure including upright members and a grid of horizontal rails provided at upper ends of the upright members. The framework structure defines at least one storage volume below the horizontal rails. The at least one storage volume is open against the horizontal rails such that storage container vehicles may lower and raise storage containers into and out of the storage volume. The at least one storage volume includes a plurality of storage columns arranged adjacent one another, a plurality of walls surrounding the at least one storage volume; a void extending beneath the storage columns; and a cooler system adapted to draw air from the void, cool the air, and release the cooled air into an air release area arranged below the horizontal rails. The cooler system is arranged within an cooler enclosure arranged inside the plurality of walls and adjacent the plurality of storage columns. The cooler enclosure includes at least one opening from the void for the cooler system to draw air from the void, and a conduit for releasing the cooled air in the air release area.

An automated grid based storage and retrieval system includes a framework structure including upright members and a grid of horizontal rails provided at upper ends of the upright members. The framework structure defines a plurality of storage volumes arranged adjacent one another below the horizontal rails. The storage volumes are open against the horizontal rails such that storage container vehicles may lower and raise storage containers into and out of the storage volumes. The system includes a plurality of vertical walls surrounding each of the plurality of storage volumes, and a cooler system adapted to draw air from an input of the cooler system, cool the air drawn from the input, and blow cooled air through an output of the cooler system. For each of the plurality of storage volumes, the system further includes a first air damper connected between the output of the cooler system and an air release area above the storage volume, and a second air damper connected between a void beneath the storage volumes and the input of the cooler system. The system includes a controller. The controller is adapted, independently for each of the plurality of storage volumes, to adjust airflow through the first air damper associated with that storage volume to control an overpressure and air temperature in the air release area, and to adjust airflow through the second air damper associated with that storage volume to control an underpressure in the void, such that a storage volume temperature is controlled separately for each of the plurality of storage volumes. The storage volume temperature is regulated by the air temperature in the air release area and by controlling a pressure differential between the overpressure in the air release area and the underpressure in the void in each of the storage volumes.

A system and method for a variable temperature zone ( 503, 504, 505, 506, 507 ) in a storage and retrieval system ( 1 ), wherein the storage and retrieval system comprises a framework structure ( 100 ) which includes a rail system ( 108 ) comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of a container handling vehicle ( 201, 301, 401 ) in a first direction (X) across the top of the framework structure, and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails to guide movement of the container handling vehicle in a second direction (Y) which is perpendicular to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of parallel rails dividing the rail system into a plurality of grid cells, the framework structure comprising upright members ( 102 ) defining storage columns ( 105 ) for storing containers ( 106 ) within the framework structure, wherein the storage and retrieval system comprises at least one container handling vehicle configured to operate on the rail system wherein the different temperature zones are separated by an insulated curtain ( 501 ) that can be lowered and raised from the roof and can be moved up and down the length and/or the width of the grid system, and storage containers stacked on top of each other to create an insulating wall in the grid system.

An automated grid based storage and retrieval system includes a framework structure. The framework structure includes upright members and a grid of horizontal rails provided at upper ends of the upright members. The framework structure defines at least one storage volume below the horizontal rails. The at least one storage volume includes a plurality of storage, a plurality of walls, a first plenum, a first plurality of transversally directing air ducts, a first and second plurality of horizontally directing air ducts, and a cooling system. The plurality of storage columns are arranged adjacent one another. The plurality of walls surround an outer extent of the plurality of storage columns. The first plenum extend horizontally beneath the storage columns. The first plurality of transversally directing air ducts are connected to at least one fan adapted to draw air from outside the at least one storage volume. The first plurality of horizontally directing air ducts are positioned to distribute the air horizontally below the horizontal rails to provide a first horizontal air curtain. The cooling system is adapted to draw air from the first plenum, cool the air, and blow cooled air from an output of the cooling system as a cooled airflow. The second plurality of horizontally directing air ducts are adapted to receive the cooled airflow from the cooling system through a first air damper, the second plurality of horizontally directing air ducts being positioned at a level below the first plurality of horizontally directing air ducts to distribute at least a first portion of the cooled airflow horizontally above an uppermost layer of the storage columns.

A framework structure for a storage system includes a plurality of vertical column profiles and a horizontal rail system supported upon the vertical column profiles. At least a lower section of each of the column profiles is thermally divided from the rail system by a thermal break positioned at each column profile between a lower section of the column profile and a connection to the rail system. The thermal break is configured to restrict thermal conductivity between the lower section of the column profile and the rail system.

A storage system includes a framework structure featuring multiple storage columns in which storage containers are stored stacked on top of one another in vertical stacks, and at least one of the storage columns includes a cover and a pair of cover interaction elements. The cover includes a horizontal cover plate, having a periphery that can be accommodated within an inner periphery of the storage column, and at least two cover holding assemblies arranged at opposite sides of the cover plate. The cover interaction elements are arranged each at opposite sides of the inner periphery of the storage column. Each of the cover holding assemblies includes a stop and an actuator portion, and is pivotably connected relative to the cover plate such that the stop is moved in a horizontal direction outwardly beyond the inner periphery of the storage column, from a first position to a second position, when the actuator portion is deflected inwardly of the inner periphery of the storage column by interaction with a corresponding cover interaction element during lowering of the cover relative to the storage column. The stop is biased towards the first position and arranged to hold the cover at a predetermined level by interaction with a ledge at the inner periphery of the storage column when in the second position.

An automated, grid-based storage and retrieval system includes a framework structure and a cooler system. The framework structure includes vertically extending members and a grid of horizontal rails provided at upper ends of said vertical members. The framework structure defines a storage volume disposed below the horizontal rails, and an air release volume disposed below the horizontal rails and above the storage volume. The cooler system is for releasing cooling air into the air release volume. The cooler system includes at least one air deflecting element provided in the air release volume. The at least one air deflecting element extends between vertically extending members. The at least one air deflecting element is arranged to deflect a flow of released cooling air from the cooler system downward to the storage volume. The deflected cooling air is introduced into the storage volume from above and propagates in a vertical direction downward through the storage volume.