Apparatus for retrieving units from a storage system

摘要

A storage system and a load handling device (100) for lifting and moving containers (10) stacked in the storage system are described The storage system includes a plurality of rails or tracks (22a, 22b) arranged in a grid pattern (14) above the stacks of containers. The grid pattern comprises a plurality of grid spaces and each stack is located within a footprint of only a single grid space. The load handling device is configured to move laterally on the rails or tracks above the stacks. The load-handling device includes a container- receiving space (114) located above the rails or tracks in use and a lifting device (104) arranged to lift a container from a stack into the container-receiving space. The load handling device has a footprint that, in use, occupies only a single grid space in the storage system.