Patent ID: 11465842

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 vehicle body including sides. The vehicle body has a vehicle body footprint defined by horizontal peripheries in the X and Y directions of the vehicle body and 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. The first section and the second section are arranged side-by-side, separated by a separation element of the first section, such that a total area of the first and second footprints equals a total area of the vehicle body footprint, and a centre point of the first footprint is arranged off centre relative a centre point of the vehicle body footprint. The first section defines a storage container receiving space which is configured to accommodate a storage container. The second section has a rectangular footprint and includes a portion of a first side of the vehicle body and an opposed portion of a second side of the vehicle body. The second section extends adjacent the separation element. Two wheels are mounted to the separation element. One wheel is mounted to the portion of the first side of the vehicle body and one wheel is mounted to the portion of the second side of the vehicle body. The wheels mounted to said portions of the first and second sides of the vehicle body are driven by a wheel motor that extends from an interior face of the side of the vehicle body into an internal space within the second section.