Automated storage and retrieval system, method of operating the system, and multi-trolley vehicle

Abstract

To provide an automatic storage and recovery system.SOLUTION: An automatic storage and recovery system comprises: a rail system (8) comprising a first set (10) of a parallel track arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X) and a second set (11) of the parallel track arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) orthogonal to the first direction (X); and a plurality of stacks (7) of a storage container (6) arranged in a storage column (5) located below the rail system (8). The system further comprises a multi-trolley vehicle (100) for transporting the storage container (6) between the storage column (5) and at least one of deployment areas (25, 26 and 80). Additionally, a method of operating the multi-trolley vehicle operated on the storage and recovery system and operating the storage and recovery system is described.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automated storage and retrieval system, a multi-trolley vehicle for moving storage containers stacked in stacks within the system, and a method for operating such an automated storage and retrieval system. [Background technology]

[0002] FIG. 1 discloses a framework 1 of a typical prior art automated storage and retrieval system, and FIGS. 2A-2C disclose different container handling vehicles 9 of such a system.

[0003] The framework 1 comprises a number of upright members 2 and a number of horizontal members 3 supported by the upright members 2. The members 2, 3 may typically be made from metal, for example extruded aluminium profiles.

[0004] Framework structure 1 defines a storage grid 4 comprising storage columns 5 arranged in rows, within which storage columns 5 store storage containers 6, also known as bins, that are stacked one on top of the other to form stacks 7. Each storage container 6 may typically hold multiple product items (not shown), and the product items within a storage container 6 may be the same or may be different product types depending on the application. Framework structure 1 prevents horizontal movement of stack 7 of storage containers 6 and guides vertical movement of the containers 6, but typically does not otherwise support the storage containers 6 when stacked.

[0005] Rail system 8 is arranged in a grid pattern across the tops of storage columns 5, and a plurality of container handling vehicles 9 are operated on rail system 8 to raise and lower storage containers 6 from and into storage columns 5, and to transport storage containers 6 above storage columns 5. Rail system 8 comprises a first set of parallel rails 10 arranged to guide movement of container handling vehicles 9 in a first direction X across the top of frame structure 1, and a second set of parallel rails 11 arranged perpendicular to first set of rails 10 to guide movement of container handling vehicles 9 in a second direction Y that is perpendicular to first direction X. Rail system 8 thus defines a grid column 12 above which container handling vehicles 9 can move laterally above storage columns 5, i.e., in a plane that is parallel to the horizontal XY plane.

[0006] Each container handling vehicle 9 includes a vehicle body 13 and first and second sets of wheels 14, 15 that enable lateral movement of the container handling vehicle 9, i.e., movement in the X and Y directions. In Figure 2A, two wheels in each of the sets 14, 15 are visible, while in Figures 2B and 2C, only two wheels in one of the sets of wheels 14 are visible. The first set of wheels 14 is arranged to engage two adjacent rails of the first set of rails 10, and the second set of wheels 15 is arranged to engage two adjacent rails of the second set of rails 11. Each set of wheels 14, 15 can be raised and lowered so that the first set of wheels 14 and / or the second set of wheels 15 can be engaged with the respective set of rails 10, 11 at any one time.

[0007] Each container handling vehicle 9 also includes a lifting device (see FIGS. 2B and 2C) for vertical transportation of storage containers 6, e.g., raising and lowering storage containers 6 from and into storage columns 5. The lifting device may be arranged inside the body 13 (as in FIG. 2A) or outside the body 13 (as disclosed in FIGS. 2B and 2C). The lifting device 16 may include a lifting frame 18 adapted to engage with the storage container 6, which can be lowered from the vehicle body 13 such that the position of the lifting frame relative to the vehicle body 13 can be adjusted in a third direction Z that is orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y.

[0008] By convention, and for purposes of this application, Z=1 identifies the top layer of grid 4, i.e., the layer immediately below rail system 8, Z=2 the second layer below rail system 8, Z=3 the third layer, etc. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 1, Z=8 identifies the bottom layer of grid 4. Consequently, by way of example, and using the Cartesian coordinate system X, Y, Z shown in FIG. 1, a storage container identified as 7' in FIG. 1 may be said to occupy grid location or cell X=10, Y=2, Z=3. A container handling vehicle 9 may be said to travel within layer Z=0, and each grid column may be identified by its X and Y coordinates.

[0009] Each container handling vehicle 9 comprises a storage compartment or space for receiving and storing the storage containers 6 as they are transported across the grid 4. The storage space may comprise a cavity centrally arranged within the vehicle body 13 (FIG. 2A), for example, as described in International Publication No. WO 2014 / 090684 A1 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference). Alternatively, the storage compartment or space can be arranged on the side of the body, as disclosed in FIGS. 2B and 2C, i.e., the container handling vehicle may have a cantilever structure, as described in International Publication No. 317366 (the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference).

[0010] The container handling vehicle 9 may have a footprint 22 (see FIG. 4), i.e., extensions in the X and Y directions that are approximately equal to the lateral or horizontal extensions of the grid columns 12, i.e., the extensions of the grid columns 12 in the X and Y directions, as described, for example, in International Publication No. WO 2015 / 193278 A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the container handling vehicle 9 may have a footprint that is larger than the lateral extensions of the grid columns 12, as disclosed, for example, in International Publication No. WO 2014 / 090684 A1.

[0011] The rail system 8 may be a single rail system, as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, the rail system 8 may be a dual rail system, as shown in Figure 4, thus allowing a container handling vehicle 9 having a footprint 22 generally corresponding to the lateral extension of a grid column 12 to travel along that row, even when another container handling vehicle 9 is positioned above the grid column adjacent to that row of grid columns.

[0012] In a storage grid, the majority of the grid columns 12 are storage columns 5, i.e., grid columns where storage containers are stored in stacks. However, the grid typically has at least one grid column that is not used to store storage containers, but that provides a location where a container handling vehicle can drop off and / or pick up a storage container so that the storage container can be accessed from outside the grid or transported to an access station where it can be transferred out of or into the grid. Within the art, such a location is typically referred to as a "port," and the grid column in which the port is located may be referred to as a port column.

[0013] Grid 4 of Figure 1 includes two port columns 19 and 20. The first port column 19 may be, for example, a dedicated drop-off port column where container handling vehicles 9 may drop off storage containers to be transported to an access or transfer station (not shown), and the second port column 20 may be a dedicated pickup port column where container handling vehicles 9 may pick up storage containers that have been transported to grid 4 from an access or transfer station.

[0014] An access station may typically be a sorting or stockpiling station where product items are removed from or placed into a storage container. At a sorting or stockpiling station, the storage container is typically never removed from the automated storage and retrieval system, but is returned to the grid once accessed. Ports can also be used to transfer storage containers off or into the grid, for example, to transfer the storage container to another storage facility (e.g., to another grid or to another automated storage and retrieval system), to a transport vehicle (e.g., a train or lorry), or to a production facility.

[0015] A conveyor system comprising conveyors is typically employed to transport storage containers between the port and the access station.

[0016] If the port and the access station are located at different elevations, the conveyor system may include a lifting device for transporting the storage containers vertically between the port and the access station.

[0017] The conveyor system may be arranged to transfer storage containers between different grids, for example as described in International Publication No. WO2014 / 075937A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0018] WO 2016 / 198467 A1 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) discloses an example of a prior art access system having a conveyor belt (FIGS. 5a and 5b of WO 2016 / 198467 A1) and a frame-mounted truck (FIGS. 6a and 6b of WO 2016 / 198467 A1) for transporting storage containers between a port and a workstation where an operator can access the storage containers.

[0019] When a storage container 6 stored within the grid 4 disclosed in FIG. 1 is accessed, one of the container handling vehicles 9 is commanded to retrieve the target storage container from its position within the grid 4 and transport it to the drop-off port 19. This operation involves moving the container handling vehicle 9 to a grid location above the storage column where the target storage container is located, retrieving the storage container from the storage column using a lifting device (not shown) on the container handling vehicle, and transporting the storage container to the drop-off port 19. If the target storage container 6 is located deep within the stack 7, i.e., one or more other storage containers are positioned above the target storage container, the operation also involves temporarily moving the above-positioned storage container prior to lifting the target storage container from the storage column. This step, sometimes referred to in the art as "locating," may be performed using the same container handling vehicle 9 subsequently used to transport the target storage container to the drop-off port 19 or using one or more other cooperating container handling vehicles 9. Alternatively, or in addition, the automated storage and retrieval system may have a container handling vehicle 9 specifically dedicated to the task of temporarily removing a storage container 6 from a storage column. Once the target storage container has been removed from the storage column, the temporarily removed storage container 6 can be repositioned in the original storage column. However, the removed storage container 6 may alternatively be relocated to another storage column.

[0020] When a storage container 6 is stored in a grid 4, one of the container handling vehicles 9 is commanded to pick up the storage container from a pickup port 20 and transport it to a grid location above the storage column where it is stored. After any storage container 6 positioned at or above the target location in the storage column stack is removed, the container handling vehicle 9 positions the storage container 6 in the desired location. The removed storage container may then be lowered back into the storage column or relocated to another storage column.

[0021] To monitor and control the automated storage and retrieval system, for example, to monitor and control the location of individual storage containers within grid 4, the contents of each storage container 6, and the movements of container handling vehicles 9 so that the desired storage containers can be delivered to the desired locations at the desired times without the container handling vehicles 9 colliding with each other, the automated storage and retrieval system typically includes a control system that is computerized and includes a database for tracking the storage containers.

[0022] A problem associated with known automated storage and retrieval systems is that the area surrounding a port can become congested with container handling vehicles ordered to drop off or pick up storage containers. This can significantly hinder the operation of the automated storage and retrieval system. In small systems, this situation can sometimes be alleviated by adding ports to the grid, as this can allow the container handling vehicles to be distributed among a larger number of ports to avoid congestion. However, when ports are added, the conveyor system infrastructure must usually be increased. This requires space that may not always be available. Also, adding conveyor system infrastructure is expensive.

[0023] Furthermore, a current trend within the automated storage and retrieval systems industry is an increasing demand for larger storage grids. Because the number of storage containers stored within a grid generally expands as the volume of the grid, but the space available for ports generally expands as the surface of the grid, increasing the number of ports will not adequately solve the congestion problem as grid size increases.

[0024] In light of the above, it is desirable to provide an automated storage and retrieval system, and a method for operating such a system, that solves or at least alleviates the aforementioned problems associated with container handling vehicle congestion at ports.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to increase capacity in terms of moving more storage containers in less time than prior art solutions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0026] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 198467 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2014 / 075937 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2014 / 090684 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2015 / 193278 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0027] The invention is set forth in the independent claims, which describe alternatives of the invention.

[0028] The present invention provides an automated storage and retrieval system, comprising: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second sets of tracks forming a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each of the plurality of adjacent grid cells comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks of the second set of tracks; a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column being positioned vertically below the grid openings; The system further comprises: a multi-trolley vehicle for transporting storage containers between a storage column and at least one spread-out area, the spread-out area providing direct access to an area outside the grid pattern, the multi-trolley vehicle comprising: 1. A trolley assembly comprising a plurality of trolleys coupled to one another along at least one of a first direction and a second direction, each trolley providing at least one container volume for storing at least one of the storage containers; each trolley includes a movement device that allows movement of the trolley assembly in at least one of the first direction and / or the second direction; At least one of the trolleys comprises a non-motorized movement device; a trolley assembly; a first drive vehicle coupled to the trolley assembly, the first drive vehicle including a motorized movement device that enables self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle in at least one of first and second directions corresponding to at least one of the first and second directions of the trolley assembly such that the multi-trolley vehicle is horizontally movable, thereby enabling self-propelled movement of the multi-trolley vehicle; and A multi-trolley vehicle equipped with The present invention relates to an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:

[0029] Thus, according to the present invention, a drive vehicle connected to a trolley assembly, also referred to as a multi-trolley vehicle, is capable of transporting one or a group of storage containers between the storage column and at least one deployment area, which provides direct access to an area outside the grid pattern. Furthermore, the rail system is preferably only the upper layer of the automated storage and retrieval system, and the storage column is a defined volume below the rail system.

[0030] The system is provided with at least one drive vehicle, i.e., a first drive vehicle, on one end of the trolley assembly or midway within the trolley assembly, thereby defining a multi-trolley vehicle. The at least one drive vehicle can therefore be considered a locomotive, towing vehicle, hauling vehicle, towing vehicle, towing machine, traction unit, tractor, i.e., any vehicle capable of being connected to a trolley assembly. Various terms are used in the following description of a system defined by at least one drive vehicle connected to a trolley assembly, including a multi-trolley vehicle. The system also includes more than one drive vehicle, e.g., a second drive vehicle, and the combination of drive vehicle and trolley assembly is still referred to as a multi-trolley vehicle. The drive vehicle may either push or pull the trolley assembly and can be arranged in front of the trolley assembly, behind the trolley assembly, and / or midway within the trolley assembly. Alternatively, the drive vehicle may also pull or pull the trolley assembly laterally. In this latter aspect, the drive vehicle and trolley are preferably configured with movement devices oriented in both the X and Y directions. The deployment area can be, in one aspect, a port, in another aspect, a factory area, in yet another aspect, a production facility, or in yet another aspect, another rail or grid system with or without a dedicated storage system. In one aspect, when the deployment area is a port or port area with access from outside the grid pattern (rail system), the port or port area can be arranged within or outside the grid pattern, either extending along an end row or extending into or out of the grid pattern. Furthermore, the at least one drive vehicle and trolley assembly can move horizontally on the rail system or in a plane above or below the rail system (e.g., on a dual rail). When driven horizontally in a plane below the rail system, the at least one drive vehicle and trolley assembly can function as a conveyor belt for storage containers.In another aspect, when the deployment area is a factory area, a production facility, or another grid or rail system, direct access to any of the latter areas outside the grid pattern is achieved. The multi-trolley vehicle can travel on the rail system, on dedicated transport rails between the rail system and the deployment area, on dual rails above or below the rail system, or a combination thereof. The multi-trolley vehicle can also transport storage containers from the deployment area to storage locations, i.e., columns within the grid. Thus, in aspects where the deployment area is far from the grid or rail system, the multi-trolley vehicle provides high-speed movement of storage containers between the rail system and the deployment area, and between the deployment area and the grid or rail system.

[0031] If the deployment area is a factory area, this may be an inspection area where inspections can be carried out manually or by machine, either on trolleys or drive vehicles.

[0032] The number of trolleys in a trolley assembly can be easily varied and adapted based on the number of columns in the deployment area and / or transfer zone; i.e., any number of trolleys can be added to or subtracted from a trolley assembly, thereby changing the number of trolleys comprising the trolley assembly. A trolley can provide lifting for more than one storage container, and a trolley may occupy more than one column along the width and / or length of a multi-trolley vehicle. In the latter case, a trolley may be configured with more than one lifting device; for example, the number of lifting devices in a trolley corresponds to the number of cells occupied by a trolley. Furthermore, the area occupied by a trolley can be smaller than or substantially equal to the size of a single cell. However, the occupied area of ​​a trolley can also be larger than a single cell.

[0033] In one aspect, the automated storage and retrieval system further comprises a plurality of container handling vehicles operated on the rail system for retrieving storage containers from the storage columns, storing the storage containers in the storage columns, and transporting the storage containers horizontally across the rail system. Additionally, the rail system may comprise at least one transfer zone with an underlying transfer column for temporarily storing the storage containers while in transit between the plurality of storage columns and the at least one deployment area, and the container handling vehicles are arranged to transport the storage containers between the storage columns and the at least one transfer zone.

[0034] Thus, container handling vehicles are utilized to transport storage containers between the storage columns and the transfer columns within the transfer zone.

[0035] The transfer zone is defined as a 2D area (in the Z and Y directions) above the rail system, i.e., the track, and storage containers can be stored below or above the rail system from Z=0 to Z=X, where X is the number of the lowest storage position in the grid.

[0036] It is easier to increase the number of transfer columns within a rail system compared to providing more ports to alleviate congestion problems. Furthermore, transfer columns within a transfer zone can be located inside the rail system, for example, at a distance within the periphery of the rail system, thus allowing container handling vehicles access to the transfer columns from both the X and Y directions. Ports, on the other hand, are typically located on the periphery of the rail system and therefore typically accessible only from one direction. The transfer columns are preferably standard columns, and the location of the transfer zone with the transfer columns within the rail system can be computer-controlled, so that the location of the transfer zone, and therefore the transfer columns, can be programmed to be in the most convenient location and can be continuously changed. The transfer columns can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ..., 10, ..., 15, or more single cells within the rail system. A single cell is the area defined by two pairs of opposing bars in the X and Y directions.

[0037] A transfer zone comprises multiple adjacent individual transfer columns. The transfer columns may also be along more than one row, e.g., two, three, or more parallel rows, either adjacent or not. The transfer zone, i.e., the transfer column, can therefore preferably be moved in the same direction as the direction of travel of the multi-trolley vehicle. The location of the transfer zone, i.e., the transfer column, is therefore preferably always temporary. This makes the release of area on the rail system dependent on the operation of the container handling vehicle and / or other vehicles moving on the rail system. For example, if the target bin is below, i.e., at Z=8, and the temporary transfer column is at Z=6, the transfer zone, and thereby the transfer column, can be easily repositioned so that the container handling device can access the container at Z=8.

[0038] Additionally, this temporary location of the transfer zone allows for flexibility and provides maximum storage capacity within the grid system.

[0039] It may be advantageous if the transfer column forms a transfer zone and the at least one port forms a port zone, the transfer zone being adjacent to the port zone. Alternatively, the transfer zone may be arranged at a distance from the port zone.

[0040] In one aspect, all of the movement devices in each trolley are non-motorized. In this aspect, at least one drive vehicle is a master vehicle and all of the trolleys in the trolley assembly are slave vehicles.

[0041] In another aspect, one or more of the trolleys comprises a powered movement device. Providing a trolley with a powered movement device can be advantageous in situations where multiple trolleys are used because the driving vehicle's towing / pushing capacity is limited, i.e., may be insufficient to tow / push multiple trolleys.

[0042] In one aspect, the mobility device comprises wheels.

[0043] In another aspect, the transfer device comprises a belt.

[0044] According to one aspect, the multi-trolley vehicles are arranged to transport storage containers between at least one transfer zone and at least one deployment area on the rail system, or in a plane located above or below the rail system. The transport of the containers can be along at least dual rails, e.g., two parallel rails. For example, by transporting the storage containers between a transfer column in the transfer zone and the deployment area in a plane on dual rails located above or below the container handling vehicle, i.e., above or below the plane along which the container handling vehicle travels across the rail system, any interference that the transfer of the storage containers between the transfer column and the deployment area may have on the movement of the container handling vehicle can be minimized. The dual rails can be suspended from the ceiling, fastened to a wall, supported on dedicated support legs, mounted on a grid structure, etc.

[0045] Each driving vehicle can occupy a single cell or more than one cell. Similarly, each trolley can occupy a single cell or more than one cell. Thus, a multi-trolley vehicle may occupy one row or may extend over more than one row, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...10 rows, to increase transport capacity. This means that, according to one aspect of the invention, at least one trolley size can occupy a single cell, or alternatively, according to another aspect of the invention, a trolley can occupy more than one cell in both the direction of travel and / or perpendicular to the direction of travel (i.e., in the X and / or Y directions on the rail system). According to this latter aspect, each trolley can be provided with multiple lifting devices, e.g., elevators, for lifting and lowering storage containers between columns in the grid and compartments for the storage containers in the trolley, the number of elevators corresponding to the number of cells occupied by the trolley. Additionally, a drive vehicle may occupy fewer rows than the trolley to which it is connected; for example, the drive vehicle may occupy one row while the trolley or trolley assembly may extend across two or more rows.

[0046] In one aspect, the system may include a second drive vehicle with a motorized drive device that enables self-propelled movement of the second drive vehicle in at least one of the first direction and / or the second direction, the second drive vehicle connectable to the second end of the trolley assembly.

[0047] In one aspect, the first drive vehicle is arranged to transport the trolley assembly in a first direction and the second drive vehicle is arranged to transport the trolley assembly in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

[0048] In one aspect, a first drive vehicle motorized movement device connected to a first end of the trolley assembly is configured to enable self-propelled unidirectional movement along at least one of a first direction and / or a second direction, and a second drive vehicle motorized movement device connected to a second end of the trolley assembly is configured to enable self-propelled unidirectional movement along at least one of the first direction and the opposite of the second direction.

[0049] The connection between each trolley in the trolley assembly and either the first or second drive vehicle may, in one aspect, allow some movement between two adjacent trolleys and / or the first or second drive vehicle in at least one direction; i.e., the connection is configured to allow movement along a direction of the connection corresponding to at least 1% of the length of the individual connection, thereby allowing the multi-trolley vehicle to follow curves in the track or climb inclines. Such a connection may be a mechanical connection, such as a pivot connection, that allows some vertical and horizontal movement between adjacent trolleys or drive vehicles, a hook system, a magnetic connection, etc. The mechanical connection may be, for example, a single bracket or two interconnectable brackets that are secured to the adjacent trolleys or drive vehicles with fastening elements and provide some flexibility in the vertical direction, i.e., in the Z direction (if the drive direction is in the X or Y direction). Therefore, potential issues associated with irregularities on the rail system surface, such as particles, are greatly reduced.

[0050] The fastening elements may be screws or bolts, or any other suitable fastening elements, or a combination thereof. To provide flexibility in capacity and size of the multi-trolley vehicle, the connections between the trolleys and any driving car may be disconnectable, allowing for easy addition or removal of trolleys from the multi-trolley vehicle.

[0051] In one aspect, the drive system in at least the first drive vehicle comprises a hub motor arranged inside each of the mobility devices. Alternatively, the drive system in at least the first, second, or any additional drive vehicles may comprise an electric drive system, a direct drive system, a master wheel driving drive element as described in International Publication No. WO 2015 / 193278 (incorporated herein by reference), a motor rotor driven by a stator, an electrical system, etc. An example of such a motor rotor drive driven by an internal stator is shown in European Patent No. EP 3050824 A1 (which document is incorporated herein by reference). When wheels or belts are used as mobility devices, the complete motor can be arranged inside the outer boundary defined by the wheels (e.g., wheel rims, etc.).

[0052] Additionally, if one or more of the trolleys in the trolley assembly comprises a motorized movement device, the drive system for the motorized movement device may comprise a similar solution as described above in connection with at least the first, second, or any additional drive vehicles.

[0053] In one aspect, each trolley may have an open bottom end and a closed top end, and an elevator device, such as an elevator, can be connected to the top end to lift and lower storage containers between the storage columns and compartments within the trolley.

[0054] The system may further include a port access vehicle, the port access vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle segments connected one to another in a train-like configuration, each of the vehicle segments configured to carry at least one storage container, and a plurality of container lifting and holding devices enabling simultaneous transport of a plurality of storage containers between the rail system and a deployment area, the port access vehicle being arranged to transport the storage containers between the rail system and at least one deployment area in a plane located above the rail system. The train-like configuration allows the port access vehicle to be easily adapted to changing conditions within a grid or rail system. The port access vehicle may be operated on a rail system, for example, arranged to travel along the rail system of a grid. Alternatively, the port access vehicle may be operated on a monorail or dual rail arranged in parallel horizontal planes above the rail system.

[0055] In one aspect, each trolley may have a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above. This is made possible, for example, by allowing the trolley assembly to cooperate with one or more stationary lifting arrangements, for example, using a port access vehicle, or using another multi-trolley vehicle operating in the same X and Y columns but at a different Z location, i.e., arranged directly above the trolley. It may be advantageous if the port access vehicle includes a first lifting and transfer device arranged to carry storage containers from one of the transfer columns to the trolley.

[0056] In order to increase the capacity of the port access vehicle, it may be advantageous if the port access vehicle is equipped with multiple container lifting and holding devices that allow the simultaneous transport of multiple storage containers between the transfer column in the transfer zone and at least one port.

[0057] The present invention further comprises: a multi-trolley vehicle operable on an automated storage and retrieval system as defined above for moving storage containers between stacks in a grid pattern formed by horizontal first and second sets of parallel tracks and a spread-out area, the spread-out area providing direct access to an area outside the grid pattern formed by the first and second sets of parallel tracks, the multi-trolley vehicle configured to travel on a rail system above the storage columns; a trolley assembly comprising a plurality of trolleys coupled to one another along at least one of a first direction and a second direction; each trolley providing at least one container volume for storing at least one of the storage containers; each trolley comprising a movement device that allows movement of the trolley assembly in at least one of the first direction and / or the second direction; At least one of the trolleys comprises a non-motorized movement device; a trolley assembly; a first drive vehicle coupled to the trolley assembly, the first drive vehicle including a motorized movement device that enables self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle in at least one of first and second directions corresponding to at least one of the first and second directions of the trolley assembly such that the multi-trolley vehicle is horizontally movable, thereby enabling self-propelled movement of the multi-trolley vehicle; and Preferably, each trolley is provided with a lifting device for lifting a storage container.

[0058] 1. A trolley assembly comprising a plurality of trolleys coupled to one another along at least one of a first direction and a second direction, each trolley having a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above; each trolley represents at least one container volume for storing at least one of the storage containers above a closed bottom end; each trolley includes a movement device that enables movement of the trolley assembly in at least one of the first direction and / or the second direction, and at least one of the trolleys includes a non-motorized movement device; a trolley assembly; a first drive vehicle coupled to the trolley assembly, the first drive vehicle including a motorized movement device that enables self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle in at least one of first and second directions corresponding to at least one of the first and second directions of the trolley assembly such that the multi-trolley vehicle is horizontally movable, thereby enabling self-propelled movement of the multi-trolley vehicle; A multi-trolley vehicle is further described, comprising:

[0059] In this latter multi-trolley vehicle, each trolley has a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above. This is possible, for example, by allowing the trolley assembly to cooperate with one or more stationary lifting arrangements, for example, using a port access vehicle, a container handling vehicle, or another multi-trolley vehicle operating in the same X and Y rows but at a different Z location, i.e., arranged directly above the trolley. It may be advantageous if the port access vehicle is arranged to transport storage containers from one of the transfer columns or includes a first lifting and transfer device that lifts or lowers storage containers onto the trolley within the port zone. It is therefore clear that the multi-trolley vehicle can function as a conveyor belt, for example, within the port zone, thereby overriding the use of conventional conveyor belts within this area.

[0060] In one aspect, the container volume of the trolley comprises a compartment for containing the storage container entirely within the body of the trolley or on the side of the body (cantilevered structure).

[0061] In one aspect, the multi-trolley vehicle further includes a second drive vehicle with an electric drive device that enables self-propelled movement of the second drive vehicle in at least one of the first direction and the second direction, the second drive vehicle connectable to the second end of the trolley assembly.

[0062] The present invention further provides a method of operating an automated storage and retrieval system, the method comprising: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second sets of tracks forming a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each of the plurality of adjacent grid cells comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks of the second set of tracks; a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column being positioned vertically below the grid openings; The method comprises: The method includes connecting a trolley assembly comprising a plurality of trolleys to at least a first drive vehicle comprising a motorized mobility device to form a multi-trolley vehicle, and utilizing the multi-trolley vehicle to transport storage containers between a storage column and at least one deployment area, the deployment area providing direct access to an area outside of a grid pattern formed by the first and second sets of tracks.

[0063] In one aspect, the method further comprises: operating a control system to define at least one transfer zone, the at least one transfer zone comprising a plurality of transfer columns for temporarily storing storage containers while in transit between the storage columns and the at least one deployment area; utilizing a container handling vehicle, the container handling vehicle being operated on the rail system to retrieve the storage container from the transfer column, store the storage container in the transfer column, and transport the storage container horizontally across the rail system; Including, The step of transporting the storage container between the transfer column and the at least one deployment area includes utilizing a port access vehicle in cooperation with the multi-trolley vehicle, the port access vehicle having a plurality of car segments connected one to the other in a train-like configuration in a horizontal plane located above the horizontal plane of the rail system on which the container handling vehicle and the multi-trolley vehicle operate, each of the car segments configured to carry at least one storage container; The trolley has a closed bottom end and is adapted to receive a storage container from above, and the method includes operating a port access vehicle to lower the storage container onto the trolley, and subsequently operating a multi-trolley vehicle to transport the storage container to the deployment area, and a second port access vehicle is arranged within the deployment area to lift the storage container from the trolley.

[0064] In the following description, numerous specific details are introduced by way of example only, so as to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the claimed systems and methods. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that these embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other components, systems, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosed embodiments. The present invention provides, for example, the following. (Item 1) 1. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a rail system (8) comprising: a first set (10) of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X); and a second set (11) of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (X), the first and second sets (10, 11) of tracks forming a grid pattern in the horizontal plane (P), the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each of the plurality of adjacent grid cells comprising a grid opening (12) defined by a pair of adjacent tracks (10a, 10b) of the first set (10) of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks (10a, 10b) of the second set (11) of tracks; A plurality of stacks (7) of storage containers (6) arranged in storage columns (5) located below the rail system (8), each storage column (5) being located vertically below a grid opening (12) of a plurality of stacks; and the system further comprises: a multi-trolley vehicle (100) for transporting storage containers (6) between said storage columns (5) and at least one spread-out area (25, 26, 80), said spread-out area (25, 26, 80) providing direct access to an area outside said grid pattern formed by said first and second sets of tracks (10, 11), said multi-trolley vehicle (100): a trolley assembly (72) comprising a plurality of trolleys (72') coupled to one another along at least one of the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y), Each trolley (72') provides at least one container volume for storing at least one of said storage containers (6); each trolley (72') is provided with a movement device (14, 15) that allows movement of the trolley assembly (72) in at least one of the first direction (X) and / or the second direction (Y); At least one of the trolleys (72') is equipped with a non-motorized movement device (14, 15); a trolley assembly (72); a first drive vehicle (70) coupled to the trolley assembly (72), the first drive vehicle (70) including motorized movement devices (14, 15) that enable self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle (70) in at least one of first and second directions corresponding to at least one of first and second directions of the trolley assembly (72) so that the multi-trolley vehicle (100) is horizontally movable, thereby enabling self-propelled movement of the multi-trolley vehicle (100); Multi-trolley vehicle (100) An automated storage and retrieval system comprising: (Item 2) Item 10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1, wherein all of the moving devices (14, 15) in each trolley (72') are non-motorized. (Item 3) 10. The automated storage and retrieval system according to any of the preceding items, wherein the moving devices (14, 15) are equipped with wheels. (Item 4) The automated storage and retrieval system of any of the preceding items further comprises a second drive vehicle (71) with an electric drive device (14, 15) that enables self-propelled movement of the second drive vehicle (71) in at least one of the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y), the second drive vehicle (71) being connectable to a second end of the trolley assembly (72). (Item 5) Item 5. The automated storage and retrieval system of item 4, wherein the motorized movement device (14, 15) of the first drive vehicle (70) connected to the first end of the trolley assembly (72) is configured to enable self-propelled unidirectional movement along at least one of the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y), and the motorized movement device (14, 15) of the second drive vehicle (71) connected to the second end of the trolley assembly (72) is configured to enable self-propelled unidirectional movement along the opposite direction of the at least one first direction (X) and the second direction (Y). (Item 6) 10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9, wherein the connection (17) between each trolley (72') in the trolley assembly (72) and the at least first drive vehicle (70) is configured to allow movement along a direction of coupling corresponding to at least 1% of the length of the individual coupling (17), thereby allowing the multi-trolley vehicle to follow curves in the track or climb inclines. (Item 7) 7. The automated storage and retrieval system according to item 6, wherein the connection (17) is detachable. (Item 8) 10. The automated storage and retrieval system according to any of the preceding items, wherein the drive system in the at least first drive vehicle (70, 71) comprises a hub motor arranged inside each of the movement devices (14, 15). (Item 9) The automated storage and retrieval system according to any one of items 2-8, wherein the multi-trolley vehicle (100) is arranged to transport the storage containers (6) between the at least one transfer zone (35) and the at least one deployment area on the rail system (8), or within a plane located below or above the rail system (8). (Item 10) The system further comprises a port access vehicle (45, 60, 75, 80, 81, 82), the port access vehicle (45) comprising a plurality of vehicle sections connected one to another in a train-like configuration, each of the vehicle sections configured to carry at least one storage container (6), and a plurality of container lifting and holding devices enabling simultaneous transport of a plurality of storage containers (6) between the rail system (8) and the deployment area (25, 26, 80), the port access vehicle (45) being arranged to transport the storage containers (6) between the rail system (8) and the at least one deployment area in a plane located above the rail system (8). (Item 11) 10. The automated storage and retrieval system according to any of the preceding items, wherein each trolley (12) has a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container (6) from a vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with a lifting device (16) and moving on or above the rail system (8). (Item 12) 10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of container handling vehicles (9) that are operated on the rail system (8) to retrieve storage containers (6) from the storage columns (5), store the storage containers (6) in the storage columns (5), and transport the storage containers (6) horizontally across the rail system (8), the rail system (8) comprising at least one transfer zone (35) with underlying transfer columns (36, 37) for temporarily storing the storage containers (6) while they are in transit between the plurality of storage columns (5) and the at least one deployment area (25, 26, 80), and the container handling vehicles (9) are arranged to transport the storage containers (6) between the storage columns (5) and the at least one transfer zone (35). (Item 13) a multi-trolley vehicle (100) operable on the automated storage and retrieval system (1) according to any one of items 1-12 for moving storage containers (6) between stacks (107) in a grid pattern formed by horizontal first and second sets of parallel tracks (10, 11) and a spread-out area (25, 26, 80), the spread-out area (25, 26, 80) providing direct access to an area outside the grid pattern formed by the first and second sets of parallel tracks (10, 11), the multi-trolley vehicle (100) being configured to move on the rail system (8) above the storage columns (5); a trolley assembly (72) comprising a plurality of trolleys (72') coupled to one another along at least one of the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y); Each trolley (72') provides at least one container volume for storing at least one of said storage containers (6); each trolley (72') is provided with a movement device (14, 15) that allows movement of the trolley assembly (72) in at least one of the first direction (X) and / or the second direction (Y); At least one of the trolleys (72') is equipped with a non-motorized movement device (14, 15); a trolley assembly (72); a first drive vehicle (70) coupled to the trolley assembly (72), the first drive vehicle (70) including motorized movement devices (14, 15) that enable self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle (70) in at least one of first and second directions corresponding to at least one of the first and second directions of the trolley assembly (72) so that the multi-trolley vehicle (100) is horizontally movable, thereby enabling self-propelled movement of the multi-trolley vehicle (100); A multi-trolley vehicle (100) comprising: (Item 14) Item 14. The multi-trolley vehicle (100) according to item 13, wherein the container volume of the trolley comprises a compartment for completely containing a storage container (6) within the body of the trolley (72'). (Item 15) A multi-trolley vehicle (100) according to item 13 or 14, further comprising a second drive vehicle (71) with an electric drive device (14, 15) that enables self-propelled movement of the second drive vehicle (71) in at least one of the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y), the second drive vehicle (71) being connectable to a second end of the trolley assembly (72). (Item 16) 1. A method of operating an automated storage and retrieval system, the automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a rail system (8) comprising: a first set (10) of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane (P) and extending in a first direction (X); and a second set (11) of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane (P) and extending in a second direction (Y) perpendicular to the first direction (X), the first and second sets (10, 11) of tracks forming a grid pattern in the horizontal plane (P), the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each of the plurality of adjacent grid cells comprising a grid opening (12) defined by a pair of adjacent tracks (10a, 10b) of the first set (10) of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks (10a, 10b) of the second set (11) of tracks; A plurality of stacks (7) of storage containers (6) arranged in storage columns (5) located below the rail system (8), each storage column (5) being located vertically below a grid opening (12) of a plurality of stacks; The method comprises: The method includes the steps of connecting a trolley assembly (72) comprising a plurality of trolleys (72') to at least a first drive vehicle (70, 71) comprising motorized movement devices (14, 15) to form a multi-trolley vehicle (100), and using the multi-trolley vehicle to transport the storage containers (6) between the storage columns (5) and at least one deployment area (25, 26, 80), which deployment area (25, 26, 80) provides direct access to an area outside the grid pattern formed by the first and second sets of tracks (10, 11). (Item 17) operating a control system to define at least one transfer zone (35), said at least one transfer zone (35) comprising a plurality of transfer columns (36, 37) for temporarily storing storage containers (6) while in transit between said storage column (5) and said at least one deployment area (25, 26, 80); utilizing a container handling vehicle (9), the container handling vehicle (9) being operated on the rail system (8) to retrieve storage containers (6) from the transfer columns (36, 37), store the storage containers (6) in the transfer columns (36, 37), and transport the storage containers (6) horizontally across the rail system (8); Including, transporting the storage containers (6) between the transfer columns (36, 37) and the at least one deployment area (25, 26, 80) includes utilizing a port access vehicle (45, 60, 75, 81) cooperating with the multi-trolley vehicle (100), the port access vehicle (45) comprising a plurality of vehicle segments connected one to the other in a train-like configuration in a horizontal plane located above the horizontal plane of the rail system (8) on which the container handling vehicles (9) and the multi-trolley vehicle (100) operate, each vehicle segment configured to carry at least one storage container (6); Item 17. The method of item 16, wherein the trolley (72') has a closed bottom end and is adapted to receive a storage container from above, the method including the steps of operating the port access vehicle to lower the storage container onto the trolley, and subsequently operating the multi-trolley vehicle to transport the storage container (6) to the deployment area (25, 26, 80), and a second port access vehicle is arranged within the deployment area to lift the storage container from the trolley (72'). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0065] The following drawings are included to facilitate understanding of the present invention.

[0066] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grid with a rail system of a prior art automated storage and retrieval system. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a first prior art container handling vehicle. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a second prior art container handling vehicle. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C is a side view of the second prior art container handling vehicle of FIG. 2B showing a lifting device, ie, an elevator, for lifting and / or lowering the storage containers. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of a prior art single rail grid. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of a prior art dual rail grid. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary system according to the present invention showing a first drive vehicle connected to a first end of a trolley assembly with six trolleys and a second drive vehicle connected to an opposite second end of the trolley assembly. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B is a side view of the system of FIG. 5A. [Figure 5C] FIG. 5C is an end view of the system of FIGS. 5A and 5B. [Figure 5D]FIG. 5D is a top view of FIGS. 5A-5C. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in which a multi-trolley vehicle, comprising first and second drive cars connected at each end to a trolley assembly, travels on dual rails above a rail system on which container handling vehicles operate. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is an example of an embodiment of the present invention in which a storage container is lowered by a container handling vehicle onto a trolley within a trolley assembly. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is an example of an embodiment of the present invention in which storage containers are lowered onto trolleys in a trolley assembly by a container handling vehicle or an upper multi-trolley vehicle operating in a horizontal plane above the trolley assemblies in a lower multi-trolley vehicle. [Figure 8A] FIG. 8A is a perspective view of first and second drive vehicles connected at opposite ends of a trolley assembly that drive on dual rails consisting of three parallel rows at an upper level of the rail system. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is an end view of the drive vehicle, dual rails, and rail system of FIG. 8A. [Figure 9A] 9A-9B are different views of the cooperation between the port access vehicle and the drive vehicle with the trolley assembly. [Figure 9B] 9A-9B are different views of the cooperation between the port access vehicle and the drive vehicle with the trolley assembly. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of FIGS. 9A and 9B. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of a grid of an automated storage and retrieval system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a port access vehicle that may form part of a system in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 13]13 and 14 are orthogonal side views of a vehicle section of the port access vehicle of FIG. [Figure 14] 13 and 14 are orthogonal side views of a vehicle section of the port access vehicle of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a top view of the rail system above the grid showing different transfer zone configurations. [Figure 16] Figures 16A, 16B, and 16C show examples of different deployment areas, where Figure 16A shows a deployment area that is another grid or rail system, Figure 16B shows a deployment area that is another storage / warehouse system, and Figure 16C shows a deployment area that is a factory area or production facility, and the drive vehicle and trolley assembly are configured to travel on double rails formed as a loop between the grid or rail system and the factory area or production facility.

[0067] In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like parts, elements, or features unless otherwise expressly stated or implicitly understood from the context. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be discussed in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are not intended to limit the present invention to the subject matter depicted in the drawings. Furthermore, even if some of the features are described only in relation to the system, they are also valid in relation to the method and multi-trolley vehicle, and vice versa, i.e., any feature described only in relation to the method is also valid in relation to the system and multi-trolley vehicle.

[0069] FIG. 3 is a top view of a cell of a grid 4 with a rail system 8 of an automated storage and retrieval system. The grid 4 comprises a framework structure 1 including a plurality of upright members 2 (see FIG. 1 ) and a plurality of horizontal members 3 supported by the upright members. As is known in the art, the upright and horizontal members may typically be made of metal, such as extruded aluminum profiles. The top surface of the grid 4 has a rail system 8. The rail system 8 includes a first set of parallel tracks 10 arranged in a horizontal plane P and extending in a first direction X, and a second set of parallel tracks 11 arranged in the horizontal plane P and extending in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. The first and second sets of tracks 10, 11 form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane P including a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each including a grid opening 12 defined by a pair of adjacent tracks 10 a, 10 b of the first set of tracks 10 and a pair of adjacent tracks 11 a, 11 b of the second set of tracks 11. The exemplary grid opening 12 of Figures 3 and 4 is part of an overall rail system 8 (see Figure 1).

[0070] A general description of the automated storage and retrieval system according to the present invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 11 . The horizontal member 3 comprises a rail system 8 arranged in a grid pattern across the top of the storage columns, on which a plurality of container handling vehicles 9 operate. The rail system 8 comprises a first set of parallel rails 10 arranged to guide movement of the container handling vehicles 9 in a first direction X across the top of the frame structure 1, and a second set of parallel rails 11 arranged perpendicular to the first set 10 to guide movement of the container handling vehicles 9 in a second direction Y that is perpendicular to the first direction X. In this manner, the rail system 8 defines grid columns 12 in the horizontal XY plane, above which the container handling vehicles 9 can move horizontally in the X and Y directions. Consequently, the horizontal area of ​​the grid column 12 can be defined by the distance between adjacent rails 10 and 11, i.e., along the X and Y directions, respectively (details of FIG. 4 ). As a result, the rail system 8 allows the container handling vehicle 9 to move horizontally in the XY plane between different grid locations, each grid location being associated with a grid column 12 .

[0071] The container handling vehicles 9 may be of any type known in the art, such as any one of the automated container handling vehicles 9 discussed in connection with Figures 1 and 2A, 2B, and 2C. It may be advantageous if each container handling vehicle 9 comprises a centrally located storage space for receiving and storing a storage container 6 as it is transported horizontally across the rail system 8, and a footprint, i.e., extension in the X and Y directions, that is approximately equal to the horizontal extension of the grid column 12. This would allow a container handling vehicle 9 to transport a storage container above a row of grid columns, even if another container handling vehicle 9 occupies a location above the grid column adjacent to the row of grid columns along which the first container handling vehicle is traveling. Alternatively, a cantilevered container handling vehicle could also be used.

[0072] 11 , grid 4 or rail system 8 comprises a storage zone 25, two port zones 26, and two transfer or buffer zones 35. Each port zone 26, e.g., three grid cells wide in the X direction and seven grid cells long in the Y direction, comprises a port 28, 29 through which storage containers may be transferred out of or into grid 4. Each transfer zone 35, the function of which will be discussed in more detail below, in the illustrated example is three grid cells wide (columns designated 38, 39, 40 in the X direction) and 43 grid cells long (in the Y direction). Storage zones 25, which make up the remainder of rail system 8, comprise storage columns 5 in which storage containers or bins 6 may be stacked one on top of the other to form stacks 7.

[0073] Figures 5A-5D show an embodiment of a system according to the present invention. Figure 5A shows a first drive car 70 connected to a first end of a trolley assembly 72 and a second drive car 71 connected to an opposite second end of the trolley assembly 72, with six interconnected trolleys 72'. This configuration is generally designated as a "multi-trolley vehicle" with the reference numeral 100. However, in its simplest form, a multi-trolley vehicle 100 may have only one drive car and a trolley assembly 72 with one trolley 72'. Figure 5B is a side view of the system of Figure 5A. Figure 5C is an end view of the system of Figures 5A and 5B, while Figure 5D is a top view of Figures 5A-5C.

[0074] An automated storage and retrieval system is disclosed that includes a three-dimensional grid 4 that includes a plurality of storage columns 5 in which storage containers are stored one on top of the other in a vertical stack (see FIG. 1 for a detailed view of storage containers 6 and stacks 7). Each trolley 72′ includes a movement device, such as a first set of wheels 14, 15, and is arranged to transport the storage containers 6. First and second drive vehicles 70, 71 include motorized movement devices, shown in FIG. 5A as motorized first sets of wheels 14, 15. Preferably, the first drive vehicle 70 is arranged to transport the trolley assembly 72 in a first direction, and the second drive vehicle 71 is arranged to transport the trolley assembly 72 in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction. However, with only one drive vehicle 70, 71, the one drive vehicle can drive in both directions (i.e., both push and pull the trolley assembly 72). In yet another aspect, the drive cars 70, 71 and trolley assembly 72 can be driven in both the X and Y directions. According to this latter aspect, the drive cars and trolleys can be provided with two sets of wheels, one set per X and Y direction, and the unused set of wheels can be temporarily lifted out of contact with the rails, as is known in the art.

[0075] The first and second drive vehicles 70, 71 are connectable to a first end of the trolley assembly 72 via connections 17. Alternatively, the drive vehicles 70, 71 can be connected midway within the trolley assembly (72). The connections 17 between each trolley 72′ and either the first drive vehicle 70 or the second drive vehicle 71 within the trolley assembly 72 allow some movement between two adjacent trolleys 72′ and / or the first or second drive vehicles 70, 71 in at least one direction. In the disclosed embodiment, a single bracket is shown connected to each adjacent trolley 72′ and / or drive vehicle 70, 71. The multi-trolley vehicle 100 is arranged to transport storage containers 6 between a storage column 5 (exemplified as transfer column 36 within transfer zone 35) and at least one deployment area (see Figures 16A-16C for illustrations of different deployment areas).

[0076] The transfer columns 36, 37 within the transfer zone 35 are preferably standard columns 5, and their location within the grid or on the rail system 8 can be computer-controlled, allowing the transfer zone 35, and therefore the transfer columns 36, 37, to be programmed and continuously varied to be in the most convenient location. The transfer columns 36, 37 can also be located along more than one row, e.g., two, three, or more rows, either adjacent or not. The transfer zone 35, and therefore the transfer columns 36, 37, can therefore preferably be moved in the same direction as the direction of travel of at least the first vehicle 70, 71 and trolley assembly 72, i.e., the multi-trolley vehicle 100. The location of the transfer zone and transfer columns 36, 37 is therefore preferably always temporary. This makes freeing up area within the grid dependent on the operation of the container handling vehicles 9 and / or other vehicles traveling on the rail system 8.

[0077] The multi-trolley vehicles 100 are arranged to travel linearly on or above the rail system 8 along at least one row 40 of the grid columns. Each drive vehicle 70, 71 can occupy a single cell or more than one cell in a direction perpendicular to the drive direction. Similarly, each trolley 72' can occupy a single cell or more than one cell in a direction perpendicular to the drive direction. The drive vehicles 70, 71 can occupy more or fewer rows than the trolley 72'.

[0078] 5B, the trolleys 72' are shown as having an extension equivalent to a single cell in the direction of travel of the multi-trolley vehicle 100, i.e., the area occupied by one trolley 72' does not extend outside of a single cell. In this configuration, adjacent trolleys 72' may pick up storage containers 6 from adjacent storage columns 5.

[0079] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in which a multi-trolley vehicle 100 having first and second drive vehicles 70, 71 connected at each end to a trolley assembly 72 travels on dual rails 79 above a rail system 8 on which a container handling vehicle 9 operates.

[0080] FIG. 6B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A.

[0081] 7A and 7B are examples of an embodiment of the invention in which a storage container 6 is lowered onto a trolley 72' in a trolley assembly 72 by a container handling vehicle 9 or another vehicle, i.e., an upper multi-trolley vehicle 100 (FIG. 7B), with the container handling vehicle 9 and multi-trolley vehicle 100 operating on a rail system 8 located above the double rails 79 on which the multi-trolley vehicle 100 operates. FIG. 7A is a perspective view, while the two views on FIG. 7B are respectively in the direction of travel of the multi-trolley vehicle 100 (left side) and a side view (right side) of FIG. 7A. As disclosed in Figures 7A and 7B, each trolley 72' in the lower trolley assembly 72 may either be provided with an open-top box that can receive a storage container 6 from above (see details in Figure 7A, the three boxes closest to the second drive vehicle 71), or alternatively, the trolleys 72' in the trolley assembly 72 may have a receiving surface in the form of a platform or floor, possibly provided with connecting and / or friction elements for receiving a storage container 6 (see details in Figure 7A, the three trolleys 72' closest to the first drive vehicle 70).

[0082] Instead of transporting the storage containers 6 away from the rail system, the multi-trolley vehicle 100 may transport the storage containers 6 onto the rail system, and a storage handling vehicle 9 or other device with a lifting device can retrieve the storage containers 6 from the trolley assemblies 72 and place them in dedicated storage columns 5 in the grid 4.

[0083] As an alternative to receiving the storage container from the storage handling vehicle 9 depicted in FIG. 7A, another vehicle operating on the rail system 8, such as another multi-trolley vehicle 100 (FIG. 7B) or a port access vehicle (see, e.g., FIG. 12), may lower the storage container 6 onto or retrieve it from the trolley 72′.

[0084] 7A and 7B, it is clear that the multi-trolley vehicle 100 can function as a conveyor belt, for example, within the port zone, thereby overriding the use of conventional conveyor belts within this area. This is made possible, for example, by allowing the trolley assembly 72 to cooperate with one or more lifting arrangements, such as a container handling vehicle 9, or another multi-trolley vehicle 100 whose trolleys are equipped with lifting devices, a port access vehicle 45, or any vehicle located in a horizontal plane above where the disclosed lower multi-trolley vehicle 100 operates. If another multi-trolley vehicle 100 is used, the present multi-trolley vehicle 100 (i.e., the disclosed upper multi-trolley vehicle 100 of FIG. 7B) preferably operates in the same X and Y columns as the disclosed lower multi-trolley vehicle 100 but at a different Z location, e.g., in the same plane as where the disclosed container handling vehicle and upper multi-trolley vehicle 100 operate (as disclosed in FIG. 7B). 8A and 8B, the multi-trolley vehicle 100 may occupy one row or may extend across more than one row 40, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...10 rows, to increase transport capacity. Thus, the size of at least one trolley 72' may occupy a single cell, or one trolley 72' may occupy more than one cell in both the direction of travel and / or perpendicular to the direction of travel (i.e., in the X and / or Y directions on the rail system 8). In the latter case, each trolley 72' may be provided with a plurality of lifting devices, e.g., elevators (e.g., as disclosed in Figures 2B and 2C, or elevators connected to the upper end of the trolley 72' for lifting and lowering the storage containers 6 between the columns 5 in the grid 4 and the trolley 72', or between the columns in the grid or rail system 8 and a volume compartment for completely containing the storage containers within the trolley 72'), the number of lifting devices corresponding to the number of cells occupied by the trolley 72'.

[0085] The dual rails 79 are shown supported on dedicated support legs 49, but may also be suspended from a ceiling, fastened to a wall, mounted on a grid structure, etc. Generally, transporting storage containers 6 between transfer columns 36, 37 or any other storage column 5 and a deployment area in a generally horizontal plane, for example, on dual rails 79 located above or below the container handling vehicles 9, i.e., above or below the plane in which the container handling vehicles 9 travel across the grid 4, will minimize any interference that the transfer of storage containers 6 between the transfer columns 36, 37 and the deployment area may have on the movement of the container handling vehicles 9.

[0086] Grid 4 in the example of FIG. 11 , which does not include port zone 26, is 36 cells wide in the X direction and 50 cells long in the Y direction. In the Z direction (see FIG. 12 ), grid 4 may be 5 cells high. However, it should be understood that grid 4 can, in principle, be any size. In particular, it should be understood that grid 4 can be significantly wider and / or longer than disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6 . For example, the grid may have a horizontal extension of more than 600×600 grid cells. Also, grid 4 can be significantly deeper than disclosed in FIG. 12 . For example, the grid can be more than 10 grid cells deep (in the Z direction). In the embodiment of FIG. 11 , multi-trolley vehicle 100 with drive vehicles 70, 71 and trolley assembly 72 can travel along any one or more of rows 38, 39, and 40 within transfer zone 35, which can be, for example, any one of rows 38, 39, and / or 40 (or alternatively, additional rows). In the specific embodiment of FIG. 11 , the transfer zone 35 on the left side of the figure, i.e., designated G1, discloses a multi-trolley vehicle 100 that is three cells wide (in the X direction) and seven cells long (in the Y direction). Thus, a multi-trolley vehicle 100 serves all three rows 38, 39, and 40 within the transfer zone 35. On the right side of the figure, i.e., designated G2, the transfer zone 35 has three multi-trolley vehicles 100 serving the transfer zone 35, with one multi-trolley vehicle 100 in each of rows 38, 39, and 40, including a multi-trolley vehicle 100 in row 38 that is one cell wide and nine cells long, a multi-trolley vehicle 100 in row 40 that is one cell wide and six cells long, and a multi-trolley vehicle 100 in row 39 that is one cell wide and four cells long. It is also possible that a multi-trolley vehicle 100 can be one cell long and two or more cells wide.

[0087] Alternatively, a multi-trolley vehicle 100 with at least one drive vehicle 70, 71 and trolley assembly 72 can travel along columns 38 and 39, while a port access vehicle 45 (features of the port access vehicle 45 described in more detail below) can be arranged to travel along column 40 or fixed in a particular column to cooperate with the multi-trolley vehicle 100.

[0088] Each transfer zone 35 includes transfer columns 36, 37 arranged to temporarily hold storage containers 6 while they are in transit between the storage zone 25 and the port zone 26. The transfer columns include drop-off columns 36, at which container handling vehicles 9 can drop off storage containers to be retrieved from grids 4, and pickup columns 37, at which container handling vehicles 9 can pick up storage containers to be stored in grids 4.

[0089] The drop-off columns 36 are arranged in rows 38 extending in the Y direction from the outlet port 28. The pickup transfer columns 37 are arranged in rows 39 extending in the Y direction from the inlet port 29. An intermediate row of grid columns 40 is positioned between rows 38 and 39. In other words, the drop-off columns 36 and the pickup columns 37 are separated by the intermediate row of columns 40.

[0090] In the disclosed embodiment, the drop-off columns 36 and pickup columns 37 occupy positions Y=1 to Y=43 in each row 38 and 39. As a result, the drop-off columns 36 and pickup columns 37 are 43 grid cells long, i.e., extend 43 grid cells into the transfer zone 35. Because the number of drop-off and pickup columns 36, 37 is greater than the number of ports 28, 29, it is unlikely that a container handling vehicle 9 will not find a vacant drop-off column 36 to which it can deliver a storage container.

[0091] FIG. 11 also discloses an example of a port zone 26 in more detail. Each port zone 26 includes seven exit ports or columns 28 through which storage containers 6 can be transported out of grid 4 and accessed from outside grid 4. Each port zone 26 also includes entry ports or columns 29 through which storage containers 6 can be transported into grid 4 and stored in storage columns 5. An access and transfer system 31 is arranged to transport storage containers between ports 28, 29 and access stations 32, which in the disclosed embodiment are sorting and stockpiling stations. The access and transfer system 31 includes a first conveyor 33 arranged below the exit ports 28 to transport storage containers from the exit ports 28 to the access stations 32, and a second conveyor 34 arranged below the entry ports 29 to transport storage containers from the access stations 32 to the entry ports 29. A rail system 8 extends within the port zones 26 of the grid 4.

[0092] The port access vehicles operate above the grid 4 to transfer storage containers 6 between the transfer zone 35 and the port zone 26. As will be discussed in more detail below, each port access vehicle 45 is arranged to transfer storage containers 6 above the plane of operation of the container handling vehicles 9, i.e., in a plane above the operating space of the container handling vehicles 9 and any multi-trolley vehicles 100, thus enabling the port access vehicle 45 to transfer storage containers across a drop-off or pickup transfer column 36, 37 even when the container handling vehicle 9 or multi-trolley vehicle 100 occupies a grid location above that drop-off or pickup transfer column 36, 37. As a result, the multi-trolley vehicles 100 and container handling vehicles 9 can deposit storage containers onto or pick up storage containers from the drop-off or pickup transfer columns 36, 37 while the port access vehicle 45 simultaneously transfers other storage containers 6 between the transfer zone 35 and the port zone 26 above the container handling vehicles 9.

[0093] The port access vehicle 45, which may form part of the system, will now be discussed in more detail with reference to Figures 4, 11-14.

[0094] A port access vehicle 45 may operate along a grid column within a row 40 (see FIG. 11), i.e., along a row of grid columns extending from the port zone 26 into the grid. The port access vehicle 45 may comprise multiple vehicle segments 46 in a train-like configuration, i.e., connected one after the other (see, for example, FIG. 12). Each vehicle segment 46 generally comprises a vehicle body 47 having a footprint corresponding to a lateral extension of a grid column 12, thus allowing the port access vehicle to pass between container handling vehicles 9 or multi-trolley vehicles 100 that are dropping off or picking up storage containers within the transfer zone. At the lower end of the vehicle body 47, a set of wheels 48 is mounted and configured to allow the vehicle segment 46 to travel on the rail system 8 in the Y direction along the row 40.

[0095] In the series of vehicle segments 46 that make up the port access vehicle 45, a set of wheels 48 of at least one of the vehicle segments 46 is electrically powered to propel the port access vehicle 45.

[0096] Vehicle section 46 is mounted on top of vehicle body 47 and comprises horizontal bars or frames 50 extending horizontally from either side of vehicle body 47 perpendicular to the dedicated direction of travel of vehicle section 46, which is the dedicated direction of travel defined by set of wheels 48. In other words, when in operation on rail system 8, or, for example, on a monorail above rail system 8, horizontal bars 50 extend in the X direction (see, for example, FIG. 4 ). On either side of vehicle body 47, horizontal bars 50 support container lifting and holding devices 53, 54. Each lifting and holding device 53, 54 comprises a container gripping device 51, 52 that can be lowered from horizontal bar 50 to grip and hold a storage container 6. The gripping devices 51, 52 can be lowered individually to pick up and drop off storage containers independently of each other.

[0097] The lifting and holding devices 53, 54 are arranged to hold the storage container 6 in a raised holding position when the port access vehicle 45 transports the storage container 6 between the transfer zone 35 and the port zone 26. The vehicle body 47 of the vehicle section 46 has a vertical extension sufficient to allow the lifting and holding devices 53, 54 to hold the storage container 6 in a holding position above the operating space of the container handling vehicle (see, e.g., FIG. 4 ).

[0098] 9A-9B, instead of providing the trolleys 72′ with lifting devices or elevators, each trolley 72′ may have a closed bottom end and an open top end (see FIGS. 7A, 7B, 9B) for receiving a storage container 6 from above. This is made possible, for example, by enabling the trolley assembly 72 to cooperate with one or more lifting arrangements, e.g., a port access vehicle 45, or by using another multi-trolley vehicle 100 located in the same X and Y rows but at a different Z location, i.e., arranged directly below or above. It is advantageous if the lifting arrangements include a first lifting device arranged to carry a storage container 6 from one of the transfer columns 36, 37 and position it in or on at least one trolley 72′ for transport to the deployment area, and a second lifting arrangement, e.g., another or the same port access vehicle 45, or a stationary lifting arrangement, arranged at the deployment area to pick up the storage container 6 from the trolley 72′. Similarly, the system can be adapted to transport storage containers 6 from the deployment area to any one of the transfer columns 36, 37 within the transfer zone 35. The multi-trolley vehicle 100 can be used to transport the storage containers 6 to the deployment area, e.g., port 26, where the same or alternatively another port access vehicle 45 can lift the storage containers 6 from the trolley 72′ and place them into individual columns, ports, or the like. The port access vehicle 45 is then either moved along the column 40 or stationarily positioned within the deployment area, factory area, or production facility 80 (see FIG. 16C), e.g., the port zone 26. When the multi-trolley vehicle 100 arrives within the port zone 26, the port access vehicle 45 lifts the storage containers 6 from above and lowers them into a grid column directly into or adjacent to the exit port column 28. The target storage container is then lowered into the exit port column 28 and positioned on a conveyor 33 (see FIG. 12) that transports the target storage container 6 to an access station 32 .Instead of a conveyor, as discussed above, at least one multi-trolley vehicle 100 may be used to transport storage containers 6 to access stations 32. Furthermore, for example, using a multi-trolley vehicle 100 instead of a conveyor belt may result in a significantly longer potential operating distance between the exit port columns 28 and the access stations 32 within the grid (i.e., the access stations 32 do not need to be near the exit port columns 28, as the multi-trolley vehicle allows for faster and longer potential transport distances between the exit port columns 28 and the access stations 32 than would be possible using a conveyor belt), and potentially faster transfer of storage containers.

[0099] 12, once accessed at access station 32, the target storage container is transferred back into grid 4 and once again stored in storage column 5 within storage zone 25. This operation is essentially the reverse of the operation discussed above of retrieving a storage container from the grid; transporting the target storage container from the access station 32 to one of the entry port columns 29 using a conveyor 34 or a multi-trolley vehicle 100 (e.g., by arranging the storage containers horizontally under different trolleys 72′ and using a lifting device in each trolley 72′ to lift the storage container 6, or if the trolleys 72′ have closed bottom ends, an operator can place the storage container directly onto the trolleys 72′); positioning a port access vehicle 45 or multi-trolley vehicle 100 within the port zone 26 with the vehicle body 47 of one of the vehicle sections 46 positioned above a grid column adjacent to the inlet port column 29, or with the trolley 72' positioned above the inlet port column; lowering the gripping device 52 of the vehicle section 46 or the lifting device of the trolley 72' into the entry port column 29 to engage the target storage container and lift it / them to a transfer position; either using a port access vehicle 45 to unload the storage container onto a trolley 72' in a trolley assembly 72 before transporting the storage container along row 40 from the port zone 26 to the transfer zone 35 using a multi-trolley vehicle 100, the port access vehicle 45 being positioned such that a vehicle body 47 of the vehicle section 46 holding the target storage container is positioned above a grid column adjacent to a pickup transfer column 37, or, if the trolley 72' is provided with a lifting device, transporting the storage container 6 using the multi-trolley vehicle 100 directly along row 38, 39, or 40 from the port zone 26 to the transfer zone 35 with the trolley 72' directly above the pickup transfer column; lowering the target storage container 9 into a pickup transfer column 37; commanding the container handling vehicle 9 to move the pickup column 37 and retrieve the target storage container; moving the container handling vehicle 9 to the storage column in which the target storage container is stored and positioning the target storage container in its intended position within the stack; accompanied by.

[0100] The port access vehicles 45 may be operated on a grid, for example, arranged to travel along the grid's rail system 8. However, as disclosed in Figures 9A, 9B and 10, the port access vehicles 45 may also be operated on a monorail 89 (or other form of overhead rail system) arranged in a horizontal plane above the rail system 8, and a multi-trolley vehicle 100 may be operated on the rail system 8.

[0101] When a container handling vehicle 9 positions a target storage container in a drop-off transfer column 36 and exits the transfer zone 35, for example, to retrieve another storage container 9 from grid 4, the multi-trolley vehicle 100 is moved along its dedicated row, i.e., row 38, 39, or 40, and positioned with one of its trolleys 72′ positioned above the grid column in the same drop-off transfer column 36 in which the container handling vehicle 9 positioned the target storage container. One of the trolleys 72′ then retrieves the target storage container 6 from the drop-off transfer column 36 by lowering the lifting device, grasping the target storage container, and lifting it into a compartment within the trolley. Similarly, if the footprint of the trolley 72′ occupies at most one cell, the other trolley 72′ can pick up a storage container from an adjacent column in the same row within the transfer zone 35. The multi-trolley vehicle 100 is then moved, for example, to the port zone 26, where the trolley 72' lowers the storage container 6 into the exit port column 28 and positions the storage container 6 on, for example, a conveyor 33 or multi-trolley vehicle 100 that transports the target storage container to the access station 32.

[0102] In the transfer zone 35, the storage containers 9 are advantageously stored in the top layer of the grid, i.e., the layer identified as Z=1. This will minimize the distance that the gripping devices of the container handling vehicles 9, the trolleys 72′ in the multi-trolley vehicle 100, and the port access vehicles 45 need to travel when dropping off and picking up storage containers 6 in the transfer zone 35, and will allow for rapid turnover of storage containers temporarily stored therein.

[0103] To allow storage containers to be temporarily stored in the top layer within individual transfer columns, each transfer column may be provided with a stopping device (not shown), for example, a clamp attached to an upright member 2 surrounding each transfer column, which clamp prevents a storage container from being lowered into the transfer column beyond height Z=1. Of course, clamps can be attached to upright members deeper down the transfer column, thus allowing storage containers to be temporarily stored at heights deeper than Z=1. Alternatively, this temporary storage can be achieved by stacking multiple empty storage containers up to location Z=1 in all of the storage columns 5 defined by the transfer zone 35.

[0104] Storage containers can be temporarily stored at different heights in different transfer columns, and in some applications it may be advantageous to simultaneously store more than one storage container in a transfer column. However, in such applications, the trolley 72' must be configured to perform a seek operation to retrieve a storage container that is temporarily stored below another temporarily stored storage container.

[0105] Due to the modular nature of the multi-trolley vehicle 100, the multi-trolley vehicle 100 can be easily adapted to different transfer zone sizes and / or deployment area configurations by adding or removing trolleys 72'. As a result, the multi-trolley vehicle 100 can be configured to simultaneously transport multiple storage containers between the transfer zone 35 and the deployment area. For example, when traveling from the transfer zone 35 to the port zone 26, each trolley 72' can be employed to carry a storage container. Similarly, when traveling from the port zone 26 to the transfer zone 35, each trolley 72' can be employed to carry a storage container.

[0106] FIG. 15 is a top view of a grid 4 of an automated storage and retrieval system according to the present invention, illustrating possible locations and shapes of transfer zones 35 and port zones 26. The dark gray shaded areas indicate transfer zones 35, and the light gray shaded areas indicate port zones 26. Each port zone includes ports 28, 29, and each transfer zone 35 includes transfer columns arranged in rows. In the disclosed embodiment, each transfer zone 35 is associated with at least one port zone 26. White grid cells indicate storage columns 5 that define storage zones 25 of the grid. Automated container handling vehicles 9 are shown as black grid cells, operating on the grid 4 or rail system 8 as previously disclosed, i.e., to transport storage containers between the storage columns 5 and the transfer zones 35. Double arrows extending along the ports and transfer zones indicate the operation of port access vehicles operating as previously disclosed, i.e., to transport storage containers between the transfer zones 35 and the port zones 26. The dark grey grid cells indicate multi-trolley vehicles 100 operating on the grid between the transfer zone 35 and the port zone 26.

[0107] The area labeled A indicates a transfer zone 35 with a non-rectangular shape. Because the length of the transfer zone 35 in the Y direction exceeds three columns, the port access vehicle 45 serving the transfer zone 35 should be configured with a bar or frame that extends or is extendable in the Y direction to access the outermost drop-off and pickup transfer columns. The bar may be, for example, a telescopically extendable bar. The area labeled B indicates a square transfer zone 35 that can be accessed by two port access vehicles, one operating in the X direction and one operating in the Y direction. The area labeled C indicates a configuration in which the port zone 26 does not form an extended portion of the grid 4. The area labeled D indicates a transfer zone 35 located adjacent to the perimeter of the grid.

[0108] FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C show examples of different deployment areas. FIG. 16A shows a deployment area that is another grid system 4 (e.g., another storage system or warehouse) with a double rail 79 between the grid or rail systems 4, 8. Another double rail (not shown) can be arranged at a different height than the disclosed double rail 79. One or more multi-trolley vehicles 100 (shown in shaded gray on the figure) can operate on the double rail 79. FIG. 16B shows a deployment area that is two other storage / warehouse systems with a dedicated grid system 4 and with a double rail between different grid systems 4 in different storage systems. FIG. 16C shows a deployment area that is a factory area or production facility 80 in which multi-trolley vehicles 100 are configured to operate on a double rail formed as a loop between the grid or rail systems 4, 8 and the factory area or production facility 80. Arrow A in FIG. 16C indicates the direction of travel along the loop 81 for the multi-trolley vehicles 100. If this is a single, dual rail between the grid system 4 and the factory floor or production facility 80, it is advantageous for the different multi-trolley vehicles 100 to travel in the same direction to avoid collisions, etc. However, if there are multiple rails, either at the same height or at different heights, the different multi-trolley vehicles 100 can travel in both directions on the rails. Note that the relatively large size of the multi-trolley vehicles 100 compared to the rails in Figures 16A-16C is for illustrative purposes only, and it should be clear that the multi-trolley vehicles 100 could be of a smaller width (e.g., the same width as the rails).

[0109] In the foregoing description, various aspects of the automated storage and retrieval system according to the present invention have been described with reference to illustrative embodiments. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiments, and other embodiments of the system, that are apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. [Table 1]

Claims

1. 1. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first and second sets of tracks forming a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each grid cell comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks of the second set of tracks; a plurality of storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column positioned vertically below a grid opening, wherein stacks of storage containers can be arranged within the storage columns; a trolley for transporting said storage container; Equipped with the trolley is movable in a horizontal plane above or below the rail system; the trolley provides a container volume for storing at least one of the storage containers; the trolley includes a movement device that enables movement of the trolley in at least one of the first direction and the second direction; a first drive vehicle coupled to the trolley to form a trolley car, the first drive vehicle comprising one or more motorized movement devices enabling self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle in at least one of the first and second directions such that the trolley car is horizontally movable; The trolley has a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above.

2. 10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the trolleys are arranged to transport the storage containers on dedicated transport rails between the storage columns and at least one storage system, port system, or production system, the at least one storage system, port system, or production system providing direct access into or out of the grid pattern formed by the first and second sets of tracks.

3. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the movement devices on the trolley is motorized.

4. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the movement devices on the trolley is non-motorized.

5. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , comprising a trolley assembly having a plurality of said trolleys coupled to one another along at least one of said first direction and said second direction.

6. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the mobility device comprises one or more wheels.

7. 10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the trolley car further comprises a second drive vehicle with one or more motorized drive devices that enable self-propelled movement of the second drive vehicle in at least one of the first direction and the second direction.

8. a motorized movement device of the first drive vehicle connected to a first end of the trolley and enabling self-propelled unidirectional movement along at least one of the first direction and the second direction; 8. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 7, wherein the motorized movement device of the second drive vehicle is connected to the second end of the trolley and enables self-propelled unidirectional movement along a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the first drive vehicle.

9. 6. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 5, wherein the trolleys are selectively coupled to one another through releasable mechanical connections including at least one bracket secured to adjacent trolleys.

10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein each of the movement devices comprises a hub motor.

11. 1. An automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first and second sets of tracks forming a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each grid cell comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks of the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks of the second set of tracks; a plurality of storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column positioned vertically below a grid opening, wherein stacks of storage containers can be arranged within the storage columns; a trolley for transporting said storage container; Equipped with the trolley is movable in a horizontal plane above or below the rail system; the trolley provides a container volume for storing at least one of the storage containers; the trolley includes a movement device that enables movement of the trolley in at least one of the first direction and the second direction; the trolley having a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above; the trolleys transport the storage containers on dedicated transport rails between the storage columns and at least one storage system, port system, or production system, the at least one storage system, port system, or production system providing direct access into or out of the grid pattern formed by the first and second sets of tracks; The system comprises: a port access vehicle comprising a plurality of car segments connected one after the other in a train-like configuration, each car segment configured to carry at least one storage container; a plurality of container lifting and holding devices enabling simultaneous transport of a plurality of storage containers between the rail system and the at least one storage system, port system, or production system; Furthermore, an automated storage and retrieval system, wherein the port access vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container between the rail system and the at least one storage system, port system, or production system in a plane located above the rail system;

12. 3. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 2, wherein the at least one storage system, port system, or production system is a port system, the port system being arranged inside or outside the grid pattern, either extending along an end row or extending into or out of the grid pattern.

13. 13. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 12, wherein the trolley moves horizontally in a plane below the rail system.

14. 10. The automated storage and retrieval system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of container handling vehicles operated on the rail system to retrieve storage containers from and store storage containers in the storage columns, and to transport the storage containers horizontally across the rail system, the rail system comprising at least one transfer zone with an underlying transfer column for temporarily storing storage containers while in transit between the plurality of storage columns and at least one storage system, port system, or production system, the container handling vehicles arranged to transport the storage containers between the storage columns and the at least one transfer zone.

15. A trolley for operation in an automated storage and retrieval system, a container volume for storing at least one storage container; one or more motorized movement devices that enable movement of the trolley in at least one of a first direction and a second direction; Equipped with The automated storage and retrieval system comprises: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each grid cell comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks in the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks in the second set of tracks; a plurality of storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column positioned vertically below a grid opening, and stacks of storage containers can be arranged within the storage columns; Equipped with the trolley is for moving the storage container; the trolley is movable in a horizontal plane above or below the rail system; a first drive vehicle coupled to the trolley to form a trolley car, the first drive vehicle comprising one or more motorized movement devices enabling self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle in at least one of the first and second directions such that the trolley car is horizontally movable; The trolley has a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above.

16. 1. A method of operating an automated storage and retrieval system, the automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each grid cell comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks in the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks in the second set of tracks; a plurality of storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column positioned vertically below a grid opening, and stacks of storage containers can be arranged within the storage columns; Equipped with The method includes utilizing a trolley for transporting the storage container; the trolley comprises one or more motorized movement devices that enable movement of the trolley in at least one of the first direction and the second direction; the trolley is horizontally movable in a plane above or below the rail system; a first drive vehicle coupled to the trolley to form a trolley car, the first drive vehicle comprising one or more motorized movement devices enabling self-propelled movement of the first drive vehicle in at least one of the first and second directions such that the trolley car is horizontally movable; The method wherein the trolley has a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above.

17. 1. A method of operating an automated storage and retrieval system, the automated storage and retrieval system comprising: a rail system comprising: a first set of parallel tracks arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction; and a second set of parallel tracks arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first and second sets of tracks form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane, the grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each grid cell comprising a grid opening defined by a pair of adjacent tracks in the first set of tracks and a pair of adjacent tracks in the second set of tracks; a plurality of storage columns positioned below the rail system, each storage column positioned vertically below a grid opening, and stacks of storage containers can be arranged within the storage columns; Equipped with The method includes utilizing a trolley for transporting the storage container; the trolley comprises one or more motorized movement devices that enable movement of the trolley in at least one of the first direction and the second direction; the trolley is horizontally movable in a plane above or below the rail system; The method comprises: operating a control system to define at least one transfer zone, the at least one transfer zone comprising a plurality of transfer columns for temporarily storing storage containers while in transit between the storage columns and at least one storage system, port system, or production system; utilizing a container handling vehicle, the container handling vehicle being operated on the rail system to retrieve storage containers from the transfer column, store the storage containers in the transfer column, and transport the storage containers horizontally across the rail system; further comprising transporting the storage container between the transfer column and the at least one storage system, port system, or production system includes utilizing a port access vehicle cooperating with the trolley, the port access vehicle comprising a plurality of car segments connected one to the other in a train-like configuration within a horizontal plane located above a horizontal plane of the rail system on which the container handling vehicles and the trolley operate, each car segment configured to carry at least one storage container; The trolley has a closed bottom end and an open top end for receiving a storage container from above, the method including operating the port access vehicle to lower the storage container onto the trolley, and subsequently operating the trolley to transport the storage container to the at least one storage system, port system, or production system, and a second port access vehicle is arranged within the at least one storage system, port system, or production system to lift the storage container from the trolley.

Images