Patent ID: 11945653
Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 10:
11. A method of dispatching containers from a storage and retrieval system, the storage and retrieval system having a storage portion and a dispatch portion, the storage portion including:
a first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and a second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks extending substantially perpendicular to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid-like pattern of tracks and a plurality of grid spaces;
a set of uprights, the uprights supporting the tracks, wherein the uprights and the tracks together define a framework;
a plurality of containers located in stacks beneath the tracks and within the framework, a stack of containers occupying space below at least one of the plurality of grid spaces; and
a plurality of load handling devices operable on the grid-like pattern of tracks, the load handling devices including means for lifting containers from the stacks beneath the tracks and means for depositing containers onto tops of the stacks beneath the tracks; and
the dispatch portion having a sequencing system, the sequencing system including:
a conveyance means, wherein a section of the grid-like pattern of tracks is disposed above the conveyance means, the conveyance means arranged to hold device delivered containers in a series of positions, said positions on said conveyance means being defined so as to correspond to one of the plurality of grid spaces above the conveyance means on the section of tracks, said positions on the conveyance means being allocatable and accessible for containers to be deposited thereon in a predetermined sequence,
wherein the conveyance means comprises at least a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, said first and second conveyor belts being independently accessible for containers to be deposited thereon and/or independently movable for transfer of containers thereon,
the method comprising the steps of:
(a) depositing a first container in a first position on the first conveyor belt;
(b) depositing a second container in a first position on the second conveyor belt;
(c) moving the first conveyor belt such that a second position on the first conveyor belt is allocatable and accessible for a container to be deposited thereon;
(d) depositing a third container in the second position on the first conveyor belt;
(e) moving the second conveyor belt such that a second position on the second conveyor belt is allocatable and accessible for a container to be deposited thereon;
(f) depositing a fourth container in the second position on the second conveyor belt;
(g) repeating steps (a) to (f) until all required positions on the first and second conveyor belts are filled.