WAREHOUSE SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC MEANS TO SELECTIVELY TRANSFER A SINGLE OR PLURALITY OF ARTICLES

• US 3,554,390 A
• Filed: 12/16/1968
• Issued: 01/12/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saul Sanford
• Original Assignee: Saul Sanford
• Inventors: SAUL SANFORD
• Application Number:
  US04/784,056
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• US Class Current: 414/273
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0421 with control for stacker crane operations

Abstract

An automatic warehousing system having a mechanized load carrier including an extensible extractor, for depositing loads into and withdrawing loads from the associated storage structure, and including control means for the load carrier whereby a plurality of smaller loads or a single large load can be stored in each storage location, and the extractor is operable to selectively remove from a selected storage location one or more of the loads stored therein.

Claims

1. In a warehousing system comprising a storage structure having a plurality of load storage locations therein for receiving loads and a load carrier movable in a travel zone for inserting loads into and withdrawing loads from said storage structure, an extractor mounted on said carrier movable generally laterally of said carrier into a selected storage location for handling a load thereat, means for mounting said extractor on said carrier, power means for operating said extractor, circuit means connected to said power means, means for detecting the location of a load positioned on said extractor, and control means in said circuit means responsive to said detecting means for at least selectively actuating said extractor for various extents of lateral movement with respect to said load carrier and into a selected one of said storage locations whereby a single or a plurality of spaced loads may be selectively stored or retrieved from a selected storage location.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said load carrier includes a vertically movable elevator with said extractor being mounted on said elevator for lateral movement with respect thereto and said detecting means including means on said elevator for detecting the location of one or more loads on said extractor.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said storage structure comprises a plurality of spaced posts with generally horizontally oriented load support members mounted thereon, pairs of said support members defining the bottom extremity of each of the storage locations and adapted to support loads thereon in bridging relation, and said extractor comprising an extensible table adapted for lateral movement into the storage structure at the selected storage location and being movable vertically intermediate a respective pair of the load support members, for handling a load at the selected storage location.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 including a starting position from which said load carrier commences its movement into said travel zone and to which said load carrier is adapted to return, and including programming means operable to program the load carrier for movement to a plurality of load handling locations in said sTorage structure prior to return of said load carrier to said starting position.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 including other control means in said circuit means for selectively programming said extractor for various extents of lateral movement, and the first mentioned control means including reject means for preventing said load carrier from handling a load at the selected storage location in the event that said detecting means signals that said extractor is improperly programmed as determined by the detecting means indicating the location of the load or loads on said extractor.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 including a starting position from which said load carrier commences its movement into said travel zone and to which said load carrier is adapted to return after completion of its load handling cycle, said reject means causing return of said load carrier to its starting position prior to completion of its load handling cycle in the event that said detecting means signals that the extractor has been improperly programmed to either insert a load into or pick up a load from the selected storage location, as determined by the location of the load or loads on the extractor of the load carrier.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said other control means includes selector switch means for selecting either full or partial extractor lateral extension for programming movement of a load to and from respectively the rear section or the front section of the selected storage location in the storage structure.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 including programming means operable to program said load carrier with at least first and second commands for movement sequentially to a plurality of load handling locations in said storage structure, and wherein said selector switch means include first command selector switch means and second command selector switch means.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said storage structure includes storage bank sections disposed on opposite sides of said travel zone, said extractor being movable transversely of said travel zone into a selected storage location in a selected one of said storage sections, and said selector switch means including switch means for programming said extractor for either full or partial extractor lateral extension for each of said storage sections.

10. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said detecting means comprises photocells and an associated light source, with said photocells being normally energized by the associated light source but which become deenergized when a load on said extractor blocks the energy beam transmission from said light source to the respective photocell.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said photocells are disposed on opposite sides of the transverse vertical center plane of said extractor and at approximately equal distances from said center plane.

12. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said extractor is movable into said storage structure at the selected storage location at a lower level slightly below the respective pair of load support members to pick up a load or loads and alternatively movable into said storage structure at a higher level slightly above the respective pair of load support members to deposit a load or loads, and switch means in said circuit means adapted for actuation by said extractor upon partial lateral extension of said extractor, to deactuate the power means for moving said extractor laterally and to actuate the power means for moving said extractor vertically intermediate the respective pair of load support members.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12 including control means in circuit with said switch means for bypassing the latter when said extractor is programmed for full lateral extension into the selected storage location.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said load carrier comprises a vertically movable elevator with said extractor being moUnted on said elevator for lateral movement with respect thereto, and wherein said switch means comprises limit switches mounted on said elevator in a position adapted for actuation when said extractor is extended approximately half its full lateral extension with respect to said elevator.