An automated warehouse system and method for climate controlled storage and order fulfilment comprises a control system, an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) with a storage rack defining storage locations for storage receptacles for containing goods, where either at least some of the storage receptacles are individually temperature controllable or the storage rack is at least partially disposed in a frozen environment. A transportation system is coupled with the ASRS for transporting storage receptacles to and from the automated storage and retrieval system, and a workstation is in communication with the transportation system for picking goods to a temperature-controlled order receptacle. The control system directs order fulfilment operations comprising directing goods requiring stable temperature control from the ASRS to the workstation and directs an operator to pick the goods from the storage receptacle to the temperature-controlled order receptacle to maintain the goods within a required temperature range.

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.

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 storage and retrieval system comprising: a first zone comprising a storage structure, the storage structure comprising: a plurality of horizontal members arranged to form a grid pattern defining a plurality of grid cells; a plurality of upright members configured to support the horizontal members from below to define a storage area below the grid cells for storing stacks of storage containers; a second zone separated from the first zone by a divider, the divider comprising an opening such that the first and second zones are in fluid communication; a passage extending from an associated grid cell of the storage structure into the second zone via the opening in the divider such that a storage container can move between the first and second zones via the passage; and a dehumidifier system configured to draw and dehumidify air from the second zone and discharge the air into the first zone.

A storage and retrieval system comprising: a first zone comprising a storage structure, the storage structure comprising: a plurality of horizontal members arranged to form a grid pattern defining a plurality of grid cells; a plurality of upright members configured to support the horizontal members from below to define a storage area below the grid cells for storing stacks of storage containers; a second zone separated from the first zone by a divider, the divider comprising an opening such that the first and second zones are in fluid communication; a passage extending from an associated grid cell of the storage structure into the second zone via the opening in the divider such that a storage container can move between the first and second zones via the passage; and a dehumidifier system configured to draw and dehumidify air from the second zone and discharge the air into the first zone.

A multi-temperature storage system comprising a first enclosure comprising a grid framework structure comprising storage columns for storing stacks of containers, a track system for guiding a load handling device on the grid framework structure, a second enclosure configured to accommodate a load handling device; a cooling system configured to maintain a first temperature in a first temperature zone in the first enclosure lower than a second temperature in a second temperature zone in the second enclosure; an environmental controlled enclosure (ECE) comprising a first opening and a second opening for linking the first and second enclosures, an environmental control unit configured to heat or dehumidify air in the ECE; an environmental control system configured to control the environmental control unit to provide an environmental condition in the ECE in anticipation of opening the first door or the second door.

A multi-temperature storage system comprising a first enclosure comprising a grid framework structure comprising storage columns for storing stacks of containers, a track system for guiding a load handling device on the grid framework structure, a second enclosure configured to accommodate a load handling device; a cooling system configured to maintain a first temperature in a first temperature zone in the first enclosure lower than a second temperature in a second temperature zone in the second enclosure; an environmental controlled enclosure (ECE) comprising a first opening and a second opening for linking the first and second enclosures, an environmental control unit configured to heat or dehumidify air in the ECE; an environmental control system configured to control the environmental control unit to provide an environmental condition in the ECE in anticipation of opening the first door or the second door.

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 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.

A method of operating a refrigerator appliance includes directing a flow of liquid refrigerant through a sealed system of the refrigerator appliance from a condenser of the sealed system to a fresh food evaporator of the sealed system. the method also includes warming a freezer evaporator of the sealed system while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator.