The present invention provides a storage system (1) comprising a storage grid structure (104) and multiple container handling vehicles (200,300), the storage grid structure comprises vertical column profiles (102) defining multiple storage columns (105), in which storage containers (106) can be stored one on top of another in vertical stacks (107), and at least one transfer column (119,120), the column profiles are interconnected at their upper ends by top rails (110,111) forming a horizontal top rail grid (108) upon which the container handling vehicles (200,300) may move in two perpendicular directions, the container handling vehicles are able to retrieve storage containers (106) from, and store storage containers in, the storage columns (105), and transport the storage containers on the storage grid structure, wherein the storage grid structure (104) comprises at least one horizontal transfer section (2); and the storage system comprises multiple container transfer vehicles (6) and transfer rails (110′,111) forming a transfer rail grid (5) upon which the container transfer vehicles (6) may move in at least one horizontal direction, and the transfer section (2) is arranged at a level below the top rail grid (108) and extends from an external side (12) of the storage grid structure (104) to a position below the at least one transfer column (119,120) and comprises at least a section of the transfer rail grid (5) upon which section the container transfer vehicles (6) may pass each other and move in two perpendicular horizontal directions; and each of the container transfer vehicles comprises a container carrier (38) for carrying a storage container (106) and a wheel arrangement (32a,32b) for moving the container transfer vehicle (6) in two perpendicular directions upon the transfer rail grid (5); and wherein the at least one transfer column (119,120) extends from the top rail grid (108) to the transfer section (2), such that a storage container (106) may be transferred between the top rail grid (108) and the container carrier of one of the container transfer vehicles (6).

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of storage container handling vehicles. Each vehicle includes a vehicle body, a thereto connected wheel assembly configured to guide the vehicle along the track system, a container picking device for releasably attaching to a storage container, which include one or more arms. The configuration of the container picking device is such that it is movable between a first lifting position enabling the container picking device to lift at least one storage container from a position outside the horizontal extent of the vehicle body and a second transport position enabling the container picking device to hold the at least one storage container at least partly inside the horizontal extent of the vehicle body.

A warehouse for the storage and retrieval, by a distribution vehicle, of goods placed on load carriers, includes aisles which are located in a frame and along which the distribution vehicle is able to travel. It further includes storage locations in the frame for the load carriers. The aisles comprise guideways which are fastened to the frame and which each have a rail along which the distribution vehicle is able to travel, as well as side walls along the rail. In order to reduce vibrations in the region of the fastenings of successive guideways and crossings the guideways are each fastened, at their mutually facing ends, by means of at least one connecting element to a horizontal support surface fixed to the frame. The connecting element is located laterally outside the rail and laterally outside the plane in which each side wall extends.

A transport vehicle (2) that travels along a container shelf (1) provided with a plurality of levels of shelf portions (11) arranged in a vertical direction (Z) and configured to support containers (W), thereby transporting the containers (W). The transport vehicle (2) is provided with a support region where a container (W) is supported, a first transfer apparatus (23) that inserts/takes the container (W) into/out of the container shelf (1), and a second transfer apparatus (24) that loads/unloads the container (W) on/from the support region. The second transfer apparatus (24) is configured such that a container (W) can be moved to the support region so as to allow a plurality of the containers (W) to be supported in a stacked state in the support region.

A stack storage assembly with container stacking spaces, a charging space arranged below the container stacking spaces, and a charging vehicle movable in the charging space having a hoisting device to move a container into or out of a container stacking space. Each of the container stacking spaces has, at a lower end, a retaining device with at least one retaining element, which is movable, via an actuating device arranged on the charging vehicle, between a retaining position in which the at least one retaining element holds the container arranged in the container stacking spaces and a release position in which the container is relocated past the retaining element. The charging vehicle has at least one fixing element positionable into a fixing position to interact with the at least one retaining element located in the release position, and to hold the at least one retaining element in the release position.

A system for storing and transporting storage containers includes an automated storage and retrieval grid including vertical members defining multiple storage columns for storing storage containers on top of each other in vertical stacks. The vertical members are interconnected at their upper ends by a container handling vehicle rail system arranged to guide at least one container handling vehicle being configured to raise storage containers from, and lower storage containers into, the storage columns, and to transport the storage containers above the storage columns. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the first 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 first 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. A transfer column is adapted for transport of a storage container between the container handling vehicle and a delivery space is situated at a lower end of the transfer column. A delivery system includes a first delivery rail system having at least one set of parallel rails arranged in a second horizontal plane guiding at least one delivery vehicle thereon. The delivery vehicle is adapted to receive and/or deliver a storage container at a storage container delivery location arranged below the delivery space of the transfer column and to move between the storage container delivery location and a second location, the first delivery rail system covers at least an area extending from the storage container delivery location to the second location. A vehicle lift device is for transfer of the at least one delivery vehicle between a first lift stop position adjacent the second location in the second horizontal plane and a second lift stop position adjacent a third location arranged in a third horizontal plane being at a different vertical level than the second horizontal plane.

There is provided a container maneuvering apparatus arranged to provide an interface between a container-conveying system and a container-storage system. More specifically, there is disclosed a container maneuvering apparatus arranged to load/unload a container into/from a carriage. Optionally, the carriage is a Magway carriage. The carriage can be made stationary before loading/unloading the container by the container-conveying system. The carriage and container can match velocities so that both are moving, but at the same velocity, whilst loading/unloading operations are performed by the container maneuvering apparatus.

Warehouse automation and methods of controlling material flow can be used to streamline order fulfillment processes. For example, according to some embodiments described herein, systems and methods for enhancing automated material handling and storage systems by facilitating multi-level accessibility of materials moving into and out of a three-dimensional storage and retrieval system can be used to enhance the efficiency of warehouses and order fulfillment processes.

A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.

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.