Patent ID: 8403614

Claim:
A mixed pallet build system, comprising: a rack including two or more verticals levels upon which items are stored, the rack having a length; and a three-dimensional robotic automated storage and retrieval system including a carriage upon which the items from the rack are loaded to create a build pallet, the robotic automated storage and retrieval system carriage having a length that is shorter than the length of the rack, a robot arm configured to palletize the items from the rack onto the build pallet, a vertical lift mechanism configured to move the automated storage and retrieval system carriage vertically between the vertical levels of the rack, a horizontal propulsion system configured to move the automated storage and retrieval system carriage horizontally along a rack aisle so that the automated storage and retrieval system carriage is able to service the entire length of the rack, and wherein the carriage is secured at a horizontally fixed position relative to the vertical lift mechanism so that the carriage is unable to move horizontally relative to the vertical lift mechanism.