A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between 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 comprising: rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices, and a power source configured to provide propulsion power to the rolling device motors. The remotely operated delivery vehicle further comprises a container carrier configured to receive 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 lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.

A temporary storage shelf board, a goods shelf, a control method, an apparatus and a system are provided. The temporary storage shelf board is used for providing multiple temporary storage positions. The temporary storage shelf board is provided with fork pockets, and the fork pockets is used for cooperating with a fork arm of a first robot. A goods storage and retrieval channel of the first robot is formed below the temporary storage shelf board, and when goods are stored and retrieved, the first robot is located at the goods storage and retrieval channel, and the fork pockets cooperate with the fork arm on the first robot to store and retrieve the goods. Thus, the efficiency of goods storage and retrieval can be improved.

A system may include a vehicle for delivering items and a plurality of racks having a plurality of storage locations. The racks may be arranged to form one or more aisles. The vehicles are configured to drive horizontally along a path that may extend along a path under the racks that is parallel to the aisles. Additionally, the vehicles may be operated to turn while the vehicle is positioned under one of the racks. The vehicles may travel under the racks and cross one or more aisles to reach a particular column in one of the aisles. The vehicle climbs upwardly within the particular column to retrieve an item from a storage location in the column.

A cup dispenser comprising a cup-holder turret comprising a plurality of columns containing respective stacks of cups and each provided with an associated cup release device operable to release individual cups from the stack of cups; and an electronically-controllable actuator assembly comprising a first electric actuator to rotate the cup-holder turret; and a second electric actuator to operate the cup release devices of the columns.

A bin exchange system is disclosed that includes a plurality of automated carriers, each of which is adapted to be remotely movable on an array of track sections, at least one input station by which bins may be introduced to the array of track sections, at least one processing station in communication with the array of track sections wherein objects may be moved between bins, and at least one output station by which bins may be removed from the array of track sections.

A stacking storage arrangement includes multiple container receiving spaces, a loading space arranged below the container receiving spaces, in which the container receiving spaces are held at a first height above the loading space; and a loading vehicle movable between the loading space and a transfer region. The loading vehicle includes a container seat with a container contact surface, and the container seat is movable in a lifting direction. In the container contact surface, the container seat further includes at least two notches opening to at least one side, and at least one transfer device includes transfer fingers configured to match the notches in the container contact surface.

A storage system (20; 300) for storing loads (32) has: a plurality of carriers (30; 330), for holding respective loads; a plurality of uprights (46; 346); a plurality of flooring levels, one above another, supported by the uprights; a plurality of carrier supports (66; 366); at least one wheeled automated vehicle (50; 350), for carrying said carriers along the flooring levels and including a lifting surface (200; 400) for supporting a supported one of the carriers and shiftable between a lowered condition and a raised condition; and means (52A, 52B) for moving the at least one wheeled automated vehicle between the flooring levels.

A storage system includes a storage grid structure and multiple container handling vehicles. The storage grid structure includes vertical column profiles defining multiple storage columns, in which storage containers can be stored one on top of another in vertical stacks, and at least one transfer column, the column profiles are interconnected at their upper ends by top rails forming a horizontal top rail grid upon which the container handling vehicles may move in two perpendicular directions, the container handling vehicles are able to retrieve storage containers from, and store storage containers in, the storage columns, and transport the storage containers on the storage grid structure. The storage grid structure includes at least one horizontal transfer section. The storage system includes multiple container transfer vehicles and transfer rails forming a transfer rail grid upon which the container transfer vehicles may move in at least one horizontal direction.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle. The vehicle tilting device comprises a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure, wherein the tiltable platform comprises guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform. The tiltable platform is arranged to be connected to a delivery grid cell of a delivery rail system such that that there is a path to and/or from the tiltable platform for the delivery vehicle via the delivery grid cell. The invention is also related to an access station, a delivery system and a method of accessing a storage container.