Automated storage and retrieval system
First Claim
1. A material handling system installed within a transportation craft for selectively storing and retrieving loads, said material handling system comprising:
- a transportation craft;
at least one rack installed within said transportation craft, said at least one rack defining a plurality of storage positions, each said storage position including a storage conveyor;
a controller; and
a transfer machine operable in response to said controller to transport loads for storage at or retrieval from each of said storage positions;
said storage conveyors and said transfer machine being adapted to cooperatively convey loads for insertion or extraction between said transfer machine and said storage positions in response to said controller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated material handling system within a transportation craft provides accurate and automatic storage of loads while securely holding the loads even when the structure to which the system is mounted is subject to external forces. Retention systems are provided on the storage positions, transfer machine, and transfer conveyor to substantially impede unwanted motion of the loads while allowing constrained movements of the loads during a storage or retrieval. The transfer machine and storage positions are constructed for cooperatively exchanging loads utilizing a drive mechanism on the transfer machine that is able to selectively engage a driven mechanism located on each of the storage positions.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A material handling system installed within a transportation craft for selectively storing and retrieving loads, said material handling system comprising:
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a transportation craft;
at least one rack installed within said transportation craft, said at least one rack defining a plurality of storage positions, each said storage position including a storage conveyor;
a controller; and
a transfer machine operable in response to said controller to transport loads for storage at or retrieval from each of said storage positions;
said storage conveyors and said transfer machine being adapted to cooperatively convey loads for insertion or extraction between said transfer machine and said storage positions in response to said controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A material handling system installed within a transportation craft for selectively storing and retrieving loads, said material handling system comprising:
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a transportation craft;
at least one rack installed within said transportation craft, said at least one rack defining a plurality of storage positions, each said storage position including a storage conveyor;
a transfer machine, said transfer machine including a load handling conveyor, said load handling conveyor being operable to transport loads for storage at or retrieval from each of said storage positions;
said storage conveyor and said load handling conveyor being adapted to cooperatively insert or extract loads between said transfer machine and said storage position; and
at least one load retention system, said at least one load retention system being located on at least one chosen from said transfer machine and said storage position, said load retention system comprising at least one of said load handling conveyor and said storage conveyor and being adapted to impede movement of loads other than when the loads are conveyed for storage or retrieval. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A material handling system installed within a transportation craft for selectively storing and retrieving inventoried loads, said material handling system comprising:
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a transportation craft having at least one aisle;
at least one rack installed within said transportation craft, said at least one rack defining a plurality of storage positions; and
a transfer machine operable to travel substantially horizontally along said at least one aisle to transport loads for storage at or retrieval from each of said storage positions;
said transfer machine being adapted to generally horizontally convey loads for insertion or extraction from said storage positions. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification