STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A storage and retrieval system, comprising:
- a first track having a generally rectangular configuration, and including a pair of spaced apart inner rails extending between upper and lower rails thereof;
a second track having a generally rectangular configuration, and including a pair of spaced apart inner rails extending between upper and lower rails thereof, the first and second tracks disposed generally parallel to one another and cooperatively forming a continuous track;
a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns and disposed between the first and second tracks;
a set of wheels extending from each storage unit and configured to engage upper rails or lower rails of the first and second tracks so as to suspend the storage unit from the upper or lower rails of the first and second tracks when disposed at an uppermost or lowermost position in the column and permit selective movement along the continuous track; and
means for selectively moving the storage units along a length of the continuous track, including a conveyor apparatus for moving a storage unit disposed at the uppermost position in a first end column past a gap between the inner rails of the first and second tracks and into the uppermost position in a second end column.
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Abstract
A storage and retrieval system includes a continuous track and a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns or rows. Each storage unit includes wheels for engaging the continuous track for selective movement along the track. A conveyor apparatus is used to selectively move the storage units along the length of the continuous track between uppermost positions of adjacent columns, so as to support the storage unit as the storage unit passes gaps in the upper rail due to intermediate vertical rails extending downwardly intermediate ends thereof.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A storage and retrieval system, comprising:
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a first track having a generally rectangular configuration, and including a pair of spaced apart inner rails extending between upper and lower rails thereof;
a second track having a generally rectangular configuration, and including a pair of spaced apart inner rails extending between upper and lower rails thereof, the first and second tracks disposed generally parallel to one another and cooperatively forming a continuous track;
a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns and disposed between the first and second tracks;
a set of wheels extending from each storage unit and configured to engage upper rails or lower rails of the first and second tracks so as to suspend the storage unit from the upper or lower rails of the first and second tracks when disposed at an uppermost or lowermost position in the column and permit selective movement along the continuous track; and
means for selectively moving the storage units along a length of the continuous track, including a conveyor apparatus for moving a storage unit disposed at the uppermost position in a first end column past a gap between the inner rails of the first and second tracks and into the uppermost position in a second end column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A storage and retrieval system, comprising:
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a first track having a generally rectangular configuration, and including a first vertical end rail interconnecting horizontal upper and lower rails, a second vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower rails in spaced relation to the first vertical end rail, and first and second spaced apart inner rails extending between the upper and lower rails;
a second track having a generally rectangular configuration, and including a first vertical end rail interconnecting horizontal upper and lower rails, a second vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower rails in spaced relation to the first vertical end rail, and first and second spaced apart inner rails extending between the upper and lower rails, wherein the first vertical end rail and the inner rail adjacent thereto of each of the first and second tracks cooperatively form a first vertical track, and the second vertical end rail and the inner rail adjacent thereto of each of the first and second tracks cooperatively form a second a second vertical track, a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns and disposed between the first and second tracks, each storage unit including a catch extending therefrom and a set of wheels extending therefrom and configured to engage upper rails or lower rails of the first and second tracks so as to suspend the storage unit from the upper or lower rails of the first and second tracks when disposed at an uppermost or lowermost position in the column and permit selective movement along the continuous track;
a first support rail disposed above the upper rail of the first track, and a second support rail disposed above the upper rail of the second track;
a hook assembly operably connected to an actuator and movable along the first and second support rails and having a hook adapted to engage the catch of a storage unit for moving the storage unit from an uppermost position in the first vertical track to an uppermost position in the second vertical track;
a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;
a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units; and
a horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification