Apparatus and method for charging a load handling device on a grid

• Main Authors: Philip Corser, Javier Eduardo Nadal, Martyn Lee Bates, Giovanni Passetti, Simon Chiverton, Damian Flynn
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.02.2023
• Subjects: CONVEYING; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS; SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS; STORING; TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A load handling device (30, Fig 6) for lifting and moving one or more containers (12) stacked in a storage system (1, Fig 1) comprises a grid framework supporting a plurality of rails / tracks arranged (22) in a grid pattern above stacked containers (12). Device (30) has a vehicle body housing a container receiving space (40, Fig 5) located above rails or tracks (22) and a lifting device (36. 38) comprising a lifting drive assembly and a grabber device configured, in use, to releasably grip a container and lift the container from the stack into the container-receiving space (40). A driving mechanism operatively arranged for moving device (30) has a lifting drive assembly and/or the driving mechanism comprises at least one motor forming an electrical load 68. A charging system 60 comprising a first part 64 for charging modules 62 comprising at least one electrical charge receiving element 70 arranged on the body of vehicle. A second part 66 delivers energy from rechargeable energy source 62 to electrical load 68 and comprises a DC/DC converter 74 configured to supply a predetermined DC voltage across the electrical load 68.