AUTOMATIC STORAGE SYSTEM

• US 3,738,506 A
• Filed: 05/06/1971
• Issued: 06/12/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur S. Cornford, Charles S. Charron
• Original Assignee: Arthur S. Cornford, Charles S. Charron
• Inventors: Cornford, Arthur S., Charron, Charles S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Forlenza, Gerald M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, R. B.
• Application Number:
  US05/140,839
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 214/16.4R,16.4A,16.4B,16.1EB,16.1CB,16.1CC,730,16.1A
• US Class Current: 414/273
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0414 provided with satellite cars adapted to travel in storage racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0435 with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area

Abstract

In a storage system of the kind comprising a racking structure which provides one or more storage sections, each storage section consisting of a honeycomb array of longitudinally extending storage cells the entrances to which are disposed in rows and columns and defining one side of an aisle from which access to the cells is gained for loading and/or unloading the cells, items are conveyed to and from selected cells by a conveyance mechanism comprising, for each aisle: a self-propelled main transporter adapted to run on tracks extending along the aisle, the main transporter being movable along the tracks to and from a selected column of cell entrances, or exits, an elevator carried by the main transporter, the elevator including an elevator platform which is movable to and from a selected cell entrance, or exit, of the selected column, a self-propelled satellite transporter for carrying an item to be stored, the satellite transporter being normally carried by the elevator platform and being adapted to run on tracks in the selected cell, and automatic means for controlling the movements of the satellite transporter to and from the elevator platform.

Claims

1. In a storage system comprising an array of longitudinally extending storage cells having end access openings, said end access openings being arranged to provide at least one column of openings defining a vertical access face:

elevator means positioned adjacent to said column and extending substantially the full height of said access face;

the elevator means providing an elevator platform and means for positioning the platform in juxtaposition to a selected cell access opening;

a support frame mounted on the elevator platform, the support frame being adjustably mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and translation in a direction parallel to said horizontal axis;

a track support mounted on the support frame, the track support providing track means;

a satellite transporter mounted on said track means;

means for adjustably positioning the support frame to align the track support with the guide track of a selected storage cell;

means for extending the track means into cooperative engagement with said guide track; and

automatic means for controlling movements of the satellite transporter to and from the track means.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, said automatic means comprising;

first sensor means responsive to the cage position for initiating operation of said bridging means;

second sensor means responsive to the operation of the bridging means for actuating the satellite transporter;

third sensor means responsive to the position of the satellite transporter in a storage cell for effecting transfer of a load to oR from the satellite transporter;

fourth sensor means responsive to the transfer of the load for re-activating the satellite transporter for return movement from the cell to the cage platform; and

fifth sensor means responsive to the return of the satellite transporter from the cell to the cage platform for retracting said bridging means.

3. A storage system according to claim 2, including further:

means responsive to the positioning of the main transporter in juxtaposition to a selected column of cell access openings for actuating said elevator means whereby to drive the elevator cage to the selected cell opening of the column.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, including pivoted latch means mounted on said track support;

latch abutment means mounted adjacent to the access opening of each said storage cell; and

means for extending said latching means into latching engagement with the latch abutment means of a selected cell whereby to secure the elevator platform in an operable position with respect to the selected opening.

5. A storage system according to claim 4, wherein said pivoted latching means comprise a pair of latch members providing respective guide surfaces adapted to engage re-spective abutments at the selected cell opening for aligning the support frame with the cell opening.

6. A storage system according to claim 5, including a turntable mounted on the elevator platform, the support frame being adjustably mounted on the turntable, and drive means being provided for rotating the turntable.

7. A storage system for the high density storage of bulk items comprising:

a racking structure consisting of a honeycomb array of longitudinally extending storage cells having access openings which are disposed in rows and columns to define at least one vertical access face;

guide tracks extending along the storage cells from the access openings thereof;

means providing an access aisle extending transversely to the storage cells across the access face;

a main track extending along the access aisle;

a main transporter guided for movement along said main track;

means for positioning the main transporter in juxtaposition to a selected column of cell access openings;

elevator means mounted on the main transporter, the elevator means extending substantially the full height of said access face;

said elevator means including a cage having a cage platform, and means to position the cage in juxtaposition to a selected cell access opening of the selected column;

a support track mounted on the cage platform, the support track being adjustably mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and translation in a direction parallel to said horizontal axis;

means for adjustably positioning the support track to align the support track with the guide track of a selected storage cell;

a satellite transporter mounted on said support track, the satellite transporter being adapted to run on the guide tracks of the storage cells;

centering means for adjustably aligning the support track with the guide track of a selected storage cell;

extendible bridging means for extending the support track into cooperative engagement with the guide track of the selected storage cell; and

automatic means for controlling the movements of the bridging means and of the satellite transporter to and from the cage.

8. A storage system according to claim 7, wherein the racking structure provides at least two storage sections, having opposing access faces, the access aisle extending between said access faces, and wherein the cage includes a turntable mounted on the cage platform, the support track being adjustably mounted on the turntable, and means for rotating the turntable to bring said support track into operative relation with either one of a pair of access openings of the two access faces.

9. A storage system according to claim 7, wherein the racking structure provides at least one storage section having a pair of access faces extending along a pair of respective access aisles, each of the storage cells extending between the access aisles and having an access opening at each end.

10. A storage system according to claim 7, in which the racking structure provides at least two further longitudinally extending cells having respective access openings at said access face, the system further comprising a first conveyor for conveying items to be stored along one of the further cells to the access opening thereof, and a second conveyor for conveying items to be removed from the access opening thereof.

11. A storage system according to claim 7, wherein the guide tracks are C-sectioned beams providing upper and lower horizontal flanges, the satellite transporter comprising a wheeled chassis adapted to run on the lower flanges of the C-sectioned beams and a load-carrying platform adapted to be raised and lowered with respect to the upper flanges for depositing a load thereon and for retrieving a load therefrom.

12. In a storage system comprising at least one storage unit consisting of a honeycomb array of longitudinally extending storage cells having guide tracks extending therealong, the storage cells having end access openings which are disposed in rows and columns to define first and second access faces of said storage unit:

first elevator means positioned adjacent to one said access face and extending substantially the full height thereof;

second elevator means positioned adjacent to the other said access face and extending substantially the full height thereof;

a plurality of wheeled pallets adapted to run on the guide track of a selected storage cell;

each said elevator means having (a) an elevator platform and means for positioning the platform in juxtaposition to an end access opening of the selected cell, (b) a support frame mounted on the elevator platform, the support frame being adjustably mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and translation in a direction parallel to said horizontal axis, (c) a track support mounted on the support frame, the track support providing track means, and (d) means for adjustably positioning the support frame to align the track support with the guide track of a selected storage cell, and (e) means for extending the track means into cooperative engagement with the guide track of the selected cell, said first elevator means including means for loading a wheeled pallet supported by the track means thereof into the selected cell from said one access face, and said second elevator means including means for retrieving a wheeled pallet supported by said guide track onto the track means of said second elevator means. track means thereof into the selected cell from said one access face, and said second elevator means including means for retrieving a wheeled pallet supported by said guide track onto the track means level of said second elevator means.