Modular storage systems and methods

{
  "publication_number": "US11370578B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Modular storage systems and methods",
  "abstract": "A customisable, modular storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. The stacks are contained within towers formed of stacks of bin receiving units. A grid network of tracks is provided on the top of the bin receiving units upon which load handling devices run. The load handling 30 devices take containers from the stacks and deposit them at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A storage system comprising: a plurality of base plates each having one or more interlocking means, wherein the plurality of base plates are configured and arranged to interlock one another to form a grid for receiving bin receiving units; a plurality of stacking bin receiving units each having one or more interlocking means, wherein the bin receiving units interlock one another and interlock the base plates to form towers for receiving stacks of bins within the towers; a plurality of stacks of bins; a plurality of rails comprising a plurality of interlocking track sections, wherein the track sections interlock the bin receiving units to form a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces; and at least one load handling device.",
    "2. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlocking means comprise: male or female parts.",
    "3. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stacks of bins are located within the towers of bin receiving units.",
    "4. The storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one load handling device is disposed on the rails, arranged to move laterally on the rails above the stacks of bins.",
    "5. A method of constructing or deconstructing a storage system having a plurality of base plates each with one or more interlocking means, wherein the plurality of base plates are configured and arranged to interlock one another to form a grid for receiving bin receiving units; a plurality of stacking bin receiving units each having one or more interlocking means, wherein the bin receiving units interlock one another and interlock the base plates to form towers for receiving stacks of bins within the towers; a plurality of stacks of bins; a plurality of rails comprising a plurality of interlocking track sections, wherein the track sections interlock the bin receiving units to form a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern having a plurality of grid spaces; and at least one load handling device, the method comprising: interlocking or detaching a plurality of base plates, to or from a plurality of bin receiving units.",
    "6. The method as claimed in claim 5, comprising: interlocking or detaching a plurality of track sections to or from a plurality of bin receiving units."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to storage systems. More specifically but not exclusively, it relates to modular, customisable, storage system which can be quickly and easily constructed and deconstructed.\n\nSome commercial and industrial activities require systems that enable the storage and retrieval of a large number of different products. One known type of system for the storage and retrieval of items in multiple product lines involves arranging storage bins or containers in stacks on top of one another, the stacks being arranged in rows. The storage bins or containers are accessed from above by load handling devices, removing the need for aisles between the rows and allowing more containers to be stored in a given space.\n\nMethods of handling containers stacked in rows have been well known for decades. In some such systems, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,065, to Bertel comprise free-standing stacks of containers arranged in rows in order to reduce the storage volume associated with storing such containers but yet still providing access to a specific container if required. Access to a given container is made possible by providing relatively complicated hoisting mechanisms which can be used to stack and remove given containers from stacks. The cost of such systems are, however, impractical in many situations and they have mainly been commercialised for the storage and handling of large shipping containers.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65G 1/0464",
    "B61B 3/00",
    "B65D 1/22",
    "B65D 19/06",
    "B65D 19/385",
    "B65D 19/44",
    "B65D 21/02",
    "B65D 21/0212",
    "B65D 2501/24554",
    "B65D 2501/2456",
    "B65D 2501/24573",
    "B65G 1/02",
    "B65G 1/0478",
    "B65G 2201/0235"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65D 1/22",
    "B65D 19/06",
    "B65D 19/38",
    "B65D 19/44",
    "B65D 21/02",
    "B65G 1/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ocado Innovation Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo",
    "Paul Clarke",
    "Andrew John INGRAM-TEDD"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-05-16",
  "publication_date": "2022-06-28",
  "grant_date": "2022-06-28",
  "priority_date": "2017-05-17",
  "application_number": "US-201816614026-A",
  "family_id": "59201721",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
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}