Method and apparatus for stackable totes with conditioning features

Abstract

Apparatus and method for fluidly coupling item storage totes to a conditioning system, e.g., to heat, cool or otherwise condition the interior spaces of the totes. Totes may be stacked vertically and ducts of the totes fluidly coupled so conditioned gas can flow between totes and the conditioning system. Locating features on upper and lower surfaces of totes may aid in locating stacked totes relative to each other and/or in fluidly coupling totes with each other.

1 . A tote for holding items, comprising:
 a container body having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to an upper end, the bottom wall and the at least one sidewall defining an interior space configured to hold items;   a duct supported by the at least one sidewall, the duct extending from the bottom wall to the upper end of the at least one sidewall and configured to conduct flow of gas through the duct; and   a conditioning feature configured to use air in the duct to condition the interior space relative to an exterior environment.   
     
     
         2 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall includes a locating recess in the bottom wall configured to engage with a locating protrusion of a second tote to position the second tote relative to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         3 . The tote of  claim 2 , wherein the duct includes a bottom opening to the duct, and the bottom opening is positioned within the locating recess. 
     
     
         4 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the at least one sidewall includes a locating protrusion extending from the upper end and configured to engage with a locating recess of a second tote to position the second tote relative to the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The tote of  claim 4 , wherein the duct includes an upper opening to the duct, and the upper opening is positioned at an uppermost portion of the locating protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the conditioning feature includes one or more openings in the at least one sidewall configured to permit gas flow between the duct and the interior space. 
     
     
         7 . The tote of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one sidewall is a first sidewall and the duct is a first duct, the tote including a second sidewall and a second duct supported by the second sidewall, the second duct extending from the bottom wall to the upper end of the second one sidewall and configured to conduct flow of gas through the second duct. 
     
     
         8 . The tote of  claim 7 , wherein the conditioning feature includes one or more openings in the second sidewall configured to permit gas flow between the second duct and the interior space. 
     
     
         9 . The tote of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second sidewalls are at opposite ends of the interior space, and the first and second ducts and the one or more openings are configured to support flow of air from the first duct into the interior space through one or more openings at the first sidewall and flow of air from the interior space through one or more openings at the second sidewall into the second duct. 
     
     
         10 . The tote of  claim 6 , wherein the conditioning feature includes an air mover to move air through the one or more openings. 
     
     
         11 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the conditioning feature includes a heat exchanger having a first portion positioned in the duct to exchange heat with gas in the duct, and second portion positioned in the interior space to exchange heat with gas in the interior space, 
     
     
         12 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid to engage with the upper end of the at least one sidewall to enclose the interior space, the lid including a lid duct in fluid communication with the duct. 
     
     
         13 . The tote of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one sidewall is a first sidewall and the duct is a first duct, the tote including a second sidewall and a second duct defined by the second sidewall, the second duct extending from the bottom wall to the upper end of the second one sidewall and configured to conduct flow of gas through the second duct, wherein the lid duct is in fluid communication with the second duct. 
     
     
         14 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid to engage with the upper end of the at least one sidewall to enclose the interior space, the lid configured to close the duct at the an upper opening of the duct. 
     
     
         15 . The tote of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sidewall is a first sidewall and the duct is a first duct, the tote including a second sidewall and a second duct defined by the second sidewall, the second duct extending from the bottom wall to the upper end of the second one sidewall and configured to conduct flow of gas through the second duct, wherein the lid is configured to close the second duct at the an upper opening of the second duct. 
     
     
         16 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tote comprising:
 a container body having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to an upper end, the bottom wall and the at least one sidewall defining an interior space configured to hold items; and   a duct supported by the at least one sidewall, the duct extending from the bottom wall to the upper end of the at least one sidewall and configured to conduct flow of gas through the duct;   wherein the second tote is positioned over the tote such that the bottom wall of the second tote is over the upper end of the at least one sidewall of the tote, and wherein the duct of the tote is in fluid communication with the second of the second tote.   
     
     
         17 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising a base unit having an upper surface configured to engage with the bottom wall and support the tote on the base unit, the base unit including a gas supply opening in fluid communication with the duct and configured to provide conditioned gas to the duct. 
     
     
         18 . The tote of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sidewall is a first sidewall and the duct is a first duct, the tote including a second sidewall and a second duct defined by the second sidewall, the second duct extending from the bottom wall to the upper end of the second one sidewall and configured to conduct flow of gas through the second duct, and
 wherein the base unit includes a gas return opening in fluid communication with the second duct and configured to receive gas from the second duct.   
     
     
         19 . The tote of  claim 18 , wherein the base unit includes a heating and/or cooling unit configured to heat and/or cool gas received from the second duct at the gas return opening and provide heated and/or cooled gas to the first duct via the gas supply opening. 
     
     
         20 . The tote of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sidewall is a first sidewall, the container body including second and third sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a top wall over the first, second and third sidewalls, the bottom wall, top wall and first, second and third sidewalls defining an opening to the interior space. 
     
     
         21 . The tote of  claim 20 , comprising a door configured to cover the opening to enclose the interior space, the door being movable to uncover the opening and provide access to the interior space. 
     
     
         22 . The tote of  claim 1 , comprising a valve configured to selectively open and close the duct at the bottom wall and/or the upper end. 
     
     
         23 . The tote of  claim 22 , wherein the valve is configured to open in response to the tote mating with a second tote. 
     
     
         24 . The tote of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid positioned over the upper edge of the at least one sidewall, the lid configured to close an upper opening of the duct at the upper end of the at least one sidewall.