Patents Assigned to Autostore Technology AS
  • Patent number: 12365543
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a three-dimensional storage grid for storing storage containers; first and second container handling vehicles operating on the storage grid; and a central communication system for controlling and communicating with the container handling vehicles for handling storage containers in the storage grid. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a barrier separating the three dimensional storage grid into a first section and a second section. The barrier has two states: a first state in which the container handling vehicles are allowed to move between the first section and the second section; and a second state, in which the container handling vehicles are physically prevented from moving between the first section and the second section by means of the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Øystein Gjerdevik, Ole Alexander Mæhle, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12365538
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes at least one relay module for relaying storage containers between a port column and an access station. The relay module is arranged below a port column. The relay module includes a port station, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, each arranged at a side of the port station, and a lateral displacement device. The port station receives storage containers dropped off from and to be picked up through the port column. The first conveyor is adapted to transport storage containers to an access station. The second conveyor is adapted for transporting storage containers from the access station. The lateral displacement device is arranged to transport storage containers between the port station and the first conveyor, and between the second conveyor and the port station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Ivar Fjeldheim, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12358721
    Abstract: A vehicle, which is for use in an automated storage and retrieval system, includes a transport mechanism and a lifting device. The transport mechanism is for transporting the vehicle along a first guiding system in a first direction and a second guiding system in a second direction. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The lifting device is for lifting storage containers from storage columns arranged below the vehicle. The lifting device includes a lifting frame connectable to a storage container. The vehicle further includes at least one reader for reading at least one label of a storage container such as to identify the storage container. The at least one reader is arranged on the lifting frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Jørgen Djuve Heggebø, Ivar Fjeldheim, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12358720
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of stacks of storage containers arranged in storage columns, and a container handling vehicle. The container handling vehicle includes a transport mechanism for transport of the vehicle, and a lifting assembly for picking up storage containers from the storage columns. The lifting assembly includes: a lifting frame connectable to a storage container, a first lifting shaft and a second lifting shaft, the first and second lifting shafts being mainly parallel, and each of the first and second lifting shafts being supported in an upper portion of the vehicle, two lifting elements extending from each of the first and second lifting shafts to the lifting frame, and a motor drive assembly having at least one motor including a first motor, and a force transferring assembly rotatably connecting the first and second lifting shafts via a force transferring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Ivar Fjeldheim, Børge Bekken, Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12358724
    Abstract: Storage containers may be stored a storage system including a framework structure. A robotic consolidation station for use in the storage system includes a first conveyor pathway for transfer of storage containers accommodating items to be picked, a second conveyor pathway for transfer of storage containers in which items are to be consolidated or have been consolidated, and a robotic picking arm arranged to reach the first conveyor pathway and the second conveyor pathway. Each of the first conveyor pathway and the second conveyor pathway includes a first end and a second end. Each first end may be operatively connected to a container outlet of the framework structure for transfer of storage containers from the framework structure and each second end may be operatively connected to a container inlet of the framework structure for transfer of storage containers into the framework structure. The first conveyor pathway includes a picking section. The second conveyor pathway includes a consolidation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Øystein Gjerdevik, Joakim Aleksander Myrbakken
  • Patent number: 12358722
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a rail system, at least one vehicle operating on the rail system, at least one charging station on or at the perimeter of the rail system, and a control system. The rail system includes a first set of parallel rails extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails extending in second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The at least one vehicle includes at least one power storage source, and a local controller adapted to control movements of the at least one vehicle. The at least one charging station is adapted to be electrically connected with the at least one power storage source of the at least one vehicle. The control system is adapted to communicate with the local controller in the at least one vehicle and the at least one charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Jørgen Djuve Heggebø
  • Publication number: 20250223105
    Abstract: A vehicle-portable grid assessment device is capable of being lowered onto a rail system device for assessing a top of a framework structure of a storage grid in an automated storage and retrieval system. The framework structure includes a rail system. The rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged to guide movement of a container handling vehicle in a first direction across the top of the framework structure, and a second set of parallel rails arranged perpendicular to the first set of rails to guide movement of the container handling vehicle in a second direction across the top of the framework structure that is perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second sets of parallel rails dividing the rail system into a plurality of grid cells. The framework structure includes upright members to support the rail-system and at least one container handling vehicle operating on the rail system. The device includes a body with a pivoting arm on at least one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Applicant: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Kjetil Gilje
  • Patent number: 12325588
    Abstract: A method handles malfunctioning vehicles on a track system constituting part of a storage and retrieval system configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers. The track system forms a grid pattern of adjacent cells. The storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of remotely operated vehicles configured to move laterally on the track system, wherein each of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles comprises driving wheels, and a control system for monitoring and controlling wirelessly movements of the plurality of remotely operated vehicles. The control system performs at least the following steps by wireless data communication: detecting an anomaly in an operational condition of a vehicle on the track system, registering the vehicle with the anomalous operational condition as a malfunctioning vehicle, registering a halt position of the malfunctioning vehicle relative to the supporting track system, and setting up a two-dimensional shutdown zone on the track system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Øystein Gjerdevik, Ragnar Stuhaug
  • Patent number: 12319501
    Abstract: A container handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system includes a first set of wheels for moving the vehicle along an X direction on a rail system of the grid; and a second set of wheels for moving the vehicle along a Y direction on the rail system of the grid. The Y direction is perpendicular to the X direction. The container handling vehicle includes a vehicle body having a vehicle body footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in the X and Y directions of the vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a first section and a second section. The first section has a first footprint and the second section has a second footprint. The first and second footprints are defined by horizontal peripheries in the X and Y directions of the first and second sections, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12319507
    Abstract: An automated storage system includes a three-dimensional storage grid for storing storage containers, at least one container handling vehicle operating on, around or under the storage grid, and a central communication system with a system transmitter and a system receiver for controlling and communicating with the at least one container handling vehicle for handling storage containers in the storage grid. At least one container handling vehicle includes a vehicle communication system with a vehicle transmitter and a vehicle receiver for communication with the central communication system. The system and vehicle transmitters and receivers are configured to use light for wireless communication. The system transmitter and the system receiver are located in the automated storage system on, around, or under the storage grid transmitting the same communication from all the transmitters of the central communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Geir Korge-Hårajuvet
  • Patent number: 12312176
    Abstract: A delivery system for transport of a container to an access point for handling of items held in the container by a human and/or robotic operator includes a delivery rail grid, a delivery vehicle, and a container accessing station. The delivery rail grid includes at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction. The at least first and second sets of rails together define a plurality of delivery grid cells. The delivery vehicle is adapted for carrying the container and operating on the delivery rail grid. The container accessing station includes the access point. At least one conveyor line extends into the access point and is operationally connected to the delivery rail grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Publication number: 20250162804
    Abstract: A delivery port is for delivery of goods contained in goods holders originating from a storage and retrieval system for storing goods holders. The delivery port includes a first path, a delivery vehicle for transporting goods holders, a second path, and a pair of conveyors. The delivery vehicle is movable on the first path. The goods holder is movable on the second path. The second path includes a delivery point where the goods holder is emptied of its content, such as product items. The pair of conveyors establish a dual connection between the first and the second path. The goods holder is transferable around a closed loop formed by the first and the second paths and the pair of conveyors. A mechanism is provided in said delivery point. The mechanism enables strictly vertical movement of the goods holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Erik Strømme
  • Patent number: 12294220
    Abstract: Power management system for a container-handling vehicle, with a rechargeable power source, for handling storage containers in an automated storage/retrieval system includes a charging station for recharging the rechargeable power source of the container-handling vehicle, a power supply for delivering power to the storage system, a power monitoring device coupled to the power supply, and a control system for controlling the operation of the automated storage/retrieval system. The power monitoring device monitors available power from the power source entering the automated storage/retrieval system and communicate a signal to the control system indicative of the available power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Jørgen Djuve Heggebø, Helge Steinbru Lauvsnes
  • Patent number: 12286027
    Abstract: A system for power management of an automated storage and retrieval system includes a plurality container handling vehicles with at least one rechargeable power source for handling containers in a three dimensional underlying storage grid, a charging device for charging the at least one rechargeable power source, a power source for supplying power to the storage and retrieval system, and a monitoring system for monitoring energy prices. The monitoring system is configured to continuously update a power manager with energy prices. The power manager is configured to be updated with information regarding the level of charge of the rechargeable power sources and current resources in terms of the capacity and usage requirements of the container handling vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Helge Steinbru Lauvsnes, Jørgen Djuve Heggebø
  • Patent number: 12286294
    Abstract: The invention relates to an expansion joint (10) for connecting regions of a rail-based grid storage system (50, 50?, 50?; 104, 104?, 104?), the expansion joint (10) comprising: —a first rail element (12) and a second rail element (11), the rail elements (12, 11) being elongate and configured to slide relative to one another in a longitudinal direction in a junction area where they overlap, —the expansion joint (10) having a profiled upper surface that defines one or more tracks (27?, 27?) for supporting container handling vehicles (200, 300, 400), the tracks (27?, 27?) extending from the first rail element (12) through the junction area to the second rail element (11), wherein in the junction area, each rail element (11, 12) provides a portion of the or each track (27?, 27?) of the profiled upper surface so that there is a transition extending along the expansion joint (10) from the first rail element (12) to the second rail element (10) for the or each track (27?, 27?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12285638
    Abstract: An automated grid based storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid and a plurality of storage containers for storing product items therein. In the storage grid, the storage containers are stacked vertically in stacks arranged beneath openings of a grid-based rail system to provide storage columns of a storage volume. The storage volume includes a flow path extending through a plurality of the stacks. The flow path is formed by spacers positioned within the stacks. The spacers are configured to allow a fluid to flow through the spacer. Each spacer is stacked at a predetermined level between storage containers in a stack and adjacent another of the spacers in a neighboring stack to provide adjacent sections of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 12286295
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes remotely operated vehicles, a main grid in which the vehicles operates, a service grid for placement of vehicles for service, and a control system for controlling the vehicles. The control system includes a data record for the status of a vehicle state for each vehicle. Each remotely operated vehicle includes a label and the service grid includes a reader for reading the label so as to identify each vehicle passing the reader. The control system receives a signal from the reader and, upon receipt, compares the data record with an observed vehicle state of the identified vehicle and either updates the data record with the observed vehicle state or indicates to an operator that a difference exists between the observed vehicle state and the vehicle state on the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Jørgen Djuve Heggebø
  • Publication number: 20250127099
    Abstract: An illuminable storage grid is for storing and cultivating crops within containers. The illuminable storage grid includes a plurality of horizontally extending container supporting frameworks distributed vertically with vertical offsets. Each container supporting framework includes a container support for supporting a plurality of containers and a support displacement system for displacing the container support horizontally. Each container support is arranged above a lowermost container supporting framework display(s) at least one hole with an opening of at least a maximum horizontal cross section of the containers to be stored. At least one of the container supports above the lowermost container supporting framework is an illuminable container support enabling illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventors: Trond Austrheim, Ingvar Fagerland
  • Patent number: 12283137
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system includes a rail system with perpendicular tracks in X and Y direction. The storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of remotely operated container handling vehicles configured to move laterally on the rail system; and a main control system using a first communication system for communicating with the plurality of remotely operated container handling vehicles. The main control system monitors and controls the movement of the plurality of container handling vehicles via the first communication system. At least one service vehicle is movable on the rail system. The at least one service vehicle is configured to bring a malfunctioning remotely operated container handling vehicle to a service area outside of the rail system where the remotely operated container handling vehicles operate. The system further includes a secondary control system using a second communication system. The second communication system is independent of the main communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventors: Trond Austrheim, Ivar Fjeldheim
  • Patent number: 12275585
    Abstract: A container handling vehicle for picking up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of a storage system, includes: a vehicle body having a first section and a second section arranged side-by-side; a first set of wheels for moving the container handling vehicle along a first direction on a rail system of the grid; and a second set of wheels for moving the container handling vehicle along the second direction on the rail system of the grid. The first section is configured to accommodate a storage container and has a footprint that is substantially equal to a cross-sectional area of one grid cell of the grid. The second section comprises an assembly of motors for driving at least one wheel of each of the sets of wheels and has a second footprint that is equal to or smaller than half of the first footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: AutoStore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim