Patent ID: 11912499
Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G  H | IPC B  G

Claim 7:
8. A method of remotely moving items between two containers in a storage system including a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending substantially perpendicularly to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid including a plurality of grid spaces, a set of uprights, the uprights supporting the rails or tracks, the uprights and rails or tracks together defining a framework, a plurality of containers located beneath the rails or tracks and within the framework, each of the plurality of containers being located within a footprint of a single grid space, wherein the plurality of containers include a plurality of storage containers, a delivery container (DT) substantially conforming to the shape and configuration of a storage container, and a dispensing container substantially conforming to the shape and configuration of a storage container; the dispensing container including, at least one slidable panel movable from a first closed position to a second open position, at least one load handling device, the load handling device having lifting means for lifting the dispensing container from beneath the grid and transporting it to a position above the delivery container (DT), wherein the at least one slidable panel, in the first closed position, abuts sides of the dispensing container to form a continuous base, and is configured so that when the at least one slidable panel is moved to the second open position one or more inventory items may be dispensed from the dispensing container into the delivery container (DT) located below the dispensing container within the storage system, the plurality of containers located in stacks within the framework beneath the grid, the method comprising:
storing at least one inventory item within the dispensing container;
positioning the dispensing container above a target location, the target location including the delivery container (DT) within the storage system; and
dispensing the at least one inventory item into the delivery container (DT).