A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.

A remotely operated delivery vehicle transports a storage container between a location directly below an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle may include a rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system. Additionally, rolling device motors are provided for driving the rolling devices. A power source provides propulsion power to the rolling device motors. A container carrier receives the storage container from above and onto or at least partly into the container carrier so that contents of the storage container are accessible by the at least one of the robotic operator and the human operator.

An inversion mechanism inverts a first container held by a holding mechanism with a first opening directed upward, and directs the first opening downward. A movement mechanism moves the holding mechanism so that the first opening directed downward faces a second opening from above. The opening and closing drive mechanism brings an opening and closing member into the closed state while the holding mechanism is inverted by the inversion mechanism and while the holding mechanism is moved by the movement mechanism, and brings the opening and closing member into the open state in response to the first opening facing the second opening.

An inversion mechanism inverts a first container held by a holding mechanism with a first opening directed upward, and directs the first opening downward. A movement mechanism moves the holding mechanism so that the first opening directed downward faces a second opening from above. The opening and closing drive mechanism brings an opening and closing member into the closed state while the holding mechanism is inverted by the inversion mechanism and while the holding mechanism is moved by the movement mechanism, and brings the opening and closing member into the open state in response to the first opening facing the second opening.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system, which is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle. The remotely operated delivery vehicle includes a vehicle body, rolling devices connected to the vehicle body, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices in a horizontal plane, and a power source connected to the rolling device motors. A container carrier is adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system and a delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system, which is for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles, includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. The delivery column is adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The delivery system includes a remotely operated delivery vehicle. The remotely operated delivery vehicle includes a vehicle body, rolling devices connected to the vehicle body, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices in a horizontal plane, and a power source connected to the rolling device motors. A container carrier is adapted to support the storage container. The delivery vehicle is further adapted to transport the storage container between a delivery port and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated delivery vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to latch to a motorized vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle, and to lock the remotely operated delivery vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator. The locking device is arranged to unlock the remotely operated delivery vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated delivery vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to latch to a motorized vehicle body of the remotely operated delivery vehicle, and to lock the remotely operated delivery vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator. The locking device is arranged to unlock the remotely operated delivery vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.

A system for collecting waste objects for recycling including a reverse vending machine, RVM, and a carrier arrangement adapted to receive a devaluated waste object at a first location having a first elevation, and adapted to transport and deliver the devaluated waste object to a second location having a higher elevation than the first location and an inlet of the RVM. The system further includes a buffer arrangement adapted to receive the devaluated waste object from the RVM at a third location and to deliver the devaluated waste object to the carrier arrangement at the first location. The carrier arrangement includes at least one carrier adapted to move repeatedly between the first location and the second location. Further, a process of transporting and collecting waste objects.

A system for collecting waste objects for recycling including a reverse vending machine, RVM, and a carrier arrangement adapted to receive a devaluated waste object at a first location having a first elevation, and adapted to transport and deliver the devaluated waste object to a second location having a higher elevation than the first location and an inlet of the RVM. The system further includes a buffer arrangement adapted to receive the devaluated waste object from the RVM at a third location and to deliver the devaluated waste object to the carrier arrangement at the first location. The carrier arrangement includes at least one carrier adapted to move repeatedly between the first location and the second location. Further, a process of transporting and collecting waste objects.