ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 4 -- United States Patent no. 12,319,165, issued on June 3, was assigned to AutoStore Technology AS (Nedre Vats, Norway).
"Automated storage and retrieval system" was invented by Trond Austrheim (Etne, Norway), Ivar Fjeldheim (Haugesund, Norway) and Ingvar Fagerland (Kolnes, Norway).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The present invention relates to an automated storage and retrieval system having: a track system forming a grid pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent grid cells, each comprising an opening below which is a storage column for storing a stack of storage containers; a container handling vehicle for lifting storage containers, the vehicle comprising a lower par...