A method of fulfilling orders from a queue of a plurality of orders in an automated storage facility with storage of items of the same kind in receptacles stored in a rack. When items to complete an order are available, automatic storage and retrieval devices retrieve and transport receptacles containing items for fulfillment of an order to a picking station. Each aisle is connected to one of the picking stations and receptacles containing items for orders to be fulfilled at such connected picking station are stored within the connected aisle. When the specific receptacle for the order is retrieved it is checked according to predetermined criteria whether the same item is needed for fulfillment of further orders and if so items from the receptacle are placed into separate receptacles for storage in different aisles according to picking station assignment for the further orders.

A temporary storage system includes a travel rail having first rails and second rails, the first rails and the second rails being disposed in a grid pattern on a same plane and disposed to surround a transfer port for receiving an article in a two-dimensional view; a vehicle having a travel part and a transfer part including an elevator; and storages each configured to store the article, in which the travel rail is disposed such that the vehicle is accessible to a stop position where the transfer part is disposed immediately above the transfer port from a side with the storage for the transfer port and the vehicle is accessible to another stop position where the transfer part is disposed immediately above the storage.

A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between an automated storage and retrieval grid, which is configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and an access station for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and human operator. The remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising; a vehicle body comprising a motor for driving a plurality of rolling devices for moving the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane; a control unit for controlling the remotely operated delivery vehicle; anda container carrier (35) provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container. The remotely operated delivery vehicle comprises a safety device which transmits a signal to the control unit such that it performs an action of operating the remotely operated delivery vehicle, in the event that a collision is detected. The collision is caused by a force (F) acting on the remotely operated delivery vehicle (30) and is detected by a collision mechanism (60) of the safety device and the collision mechanism is a container carrier displacement device (60) arranged such that it trips the safety device upon displacement of the container carrier (35) relative to the motorized vehicle body (31), which first position is the undisplaced position and the second position is the displaced position.

A holding device with a holder holding an operation vehicle is transported by a transporter from a loader and is placed on a mount located along a travel path. The state of the holder in the holding device placed on the mount is changed to a non-holding state and an elevator lowers the operation vehicle to place the operation vehicle on the travel path.

A vehicle tilting device for tilting a delivery vehicle for increasing access to items from a storage container transported on the delivery vehicle includes a base structure and a tiltable platform connected to the base structure. The tiltable platform includes guiding features adapted to guide the delivery vehicle onto the tiltable platform, and a tilting actuator arranged for lifting the tiltable platform at a second platform side which is opposite to a first platform side, such that the tiltable platform is tilted towards the first platform side.

A shelving block comprises a first and second shelving units facing from opposite sides of an aisle. The first shelving unit defines a first crate storage location and a second crate storage location that different in height. The first crate storage location is accessible to a robot between a pair of neighboring horizontal rails having a first vertical spacing between them defining a height of the first crate storage location. The second crate storage location is accessible to the robot between another pair of neighboring horizontal rails having a second vertical spacing between them defining a height of the second crate storage location. The first vertical spacing is larger than the second vertical spacing. The robot carries crates according to instructions from a computerized control.

A system and method for picking items is disclosed. The system includes a grid-based storage area and an order assembly area. The system includes an array of presentation positions, the presentation positions being configured and adapted so as to present storage containers delivered to the presentation positions so as to enable picking of items contained therein.

A method for handling malfunctioning vehicles (240,340) on a rail system (108,308) constituting part of a storage and retrieval system (1) configured to store a plurality of stacks (107) of storage containers (106), wherein the storage and retrieval system (1) comprisesa plurality of remotely operated vehicles (230,330,240,340,250,350) configured to move laterally on the rail system (108,308) anda control system (109) for monitoring and controlling wirelessly movements of the plurality of vehicles (230,330,240,340,250,350), the control system (109) forms by wireless data communication at least the following steps: A. registering an anomaly in an operational condition of a vehicle (this 240,340) on the rail system (108,308), B. registering the vehicle with the anomalous operational condition as a malfunctioning vehicle (240,340), C. bringing the malfunctioning vehicle (240,340) to a halt, D. registering a halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle (240,340) relative to the supporting rail system (108,308), E. setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone (225) within the rail system (108,308) into which the malfunctioning vehicle (240,340) is halted and F. updating movement pattern of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles (230,330, 250,350) outside the two-dimensional shutdown zone (225) such that entrance into the two-dimensional shutdown zone (225) is avoided.

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.

The present invention provides a storage system comprising a storage grid comprising vertical column profiles defining a plurality of grid columns, the grid columns comprise storage columns, in which storage containers can be stored one on top of another in vertical stacks, the storage grid comprising at least one rail grid at the upper ends of the column profiles, a first container handling vehicle and a second container handling vehicle, the first and the second container handling vehicles each comprising at least one wheel base unit (2) and a first container handling module (13) or a second container handling module (12 or 14), respectively, connected to the wheel base unit 82), each wheel base unit (2) having a wheel arrangement for movement of the wheel base unit in two perpendicular directions upon a rail grid of the storage system, and a horizontal periphery fitting within the horizontal area defined by a grid cell of the rail grid such that wheel base units may pass each other on any adjacent grid cells of the rail grid, each of the wheel base units comprises an upper surface configured as a connecting interface for connection to any of the first and second container handling modules, and the first container handling module is a different type of container handling module to the second container handling module.