Abstract
The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background informa tion supplied by the inventors: “An automated storage and retrieval system (AS/R S) is a material storage system designed for automated storage and retrieval of goods or items in manufacturing, distribution, retail, and wholesale facilities. AS/RS system generally includes one or more automated storage and retrieval mac hines (such as guided vehicles, shuttles, robots, conveyors, elevators, and/or l ifts) operating under computerized control that directs the machine to a locatio n where goods or items loaded on a pallet or tray are to be stored and/or retrie ved later. For example, to store an item(s), a pallet or tray loaded with the it em may be placed at an input station for the storage and retrieval system, and t he information for the item is then entered into a computer terminal to determin e a suitable location for storing the item. The automated storage and retrieval machine then automatically moves the pallet or tray to the determined location a nd stores the load (with or without the pallet or tray). Retrieval of the item c an be accomplished later by specifying the location, where a same or different a utomated storage and retrieval machine may automatically navigate to the locatio n and move the load away from the stored location.
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