Storage rack

• US 4,319,689 A
• Filed: 09/13/1979
• Issued: 03/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frazier Industrial Company
• Original Assignee: Frazier Industrial Company
• Inventors: Clapp, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US06/063,580
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 211/182, 211/134, 52/650
• US Class Current: 211/182
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F

Abstract

A high-rise storage rack is constructed of a plurality of vertical frames each having a front and rear column with the rear columns of the vertical frames being interconnected by means of down-aisle ties to brace the same against down-aisle forces and lateral column buckling. The front columns are supported against down-aisle forces and lateral column buckling by means of braced frame assemblies whereby there is no need for any down-aisle ties between the front columns of the vertical frames. Thus, the entry for a shuttle table or other pallet engaging mechanism of an automated storage and retrieval system is totally unobstructed and there is a minimum of unused storage space in the vertical direction between the storage areas.

Claims

1. In a high rise storage rack for supporting loads on pallets or the like to be handled by a pallet engaging mechanism of an automated storage and retrieval system, said storage rack having a plurality of individual vertical frames spaced apart in the down-aisle direction and extending laterally between a rear end of the frame and a front end of the frame adjacent an aisle through which the automated storage and retrieval system operates, each of said vertical frames comprising a vertically extending rear column located adjacent the rear end of the frame and a vertically extending front column located adjacent the front end of the frame, said storage rack also including a plurality of down-aisle tie means extending between the rear columns of said vertical frames to brace the same against down-aisle forces and lateral column buckling, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of braced frame assemblies on each of said vertical frames, said braced frame assemblies being spaced apart vertically on said vertical frames to extend horizontally between said front and rear columns at a plurality of load supporting levels, the braced frame assemblies on each vertical frame being located in horizontal alignment with braced frame assemblies on adjacent down-aisle vertical frames to provide load support at said levels, said braced frame assemblies being secured to said rear and front columns to brace said front column against down-aisle forces and lateral column buckling,

each of said braced frame assemblies including a pair of load rails extending horizontally between the front and rear ends of the vertical frame and being spaced apart and located on opposite sides of said front and rear columns for providing a support for the pallets or the like,

the front columns of adjacent down-aisle frames providing a complete clearance space therebetween at said load supporting levels of said braced frame assemblies to permit the unobstructed entry of the pallet engaging mechanism of the automated storage and retrieval system for engaging a pallet or the like supported on said load rails of said braced frame assemblies.

2. A storage rack according to claim 1 wherein each of said braced frame assemblies includes a rear load arm secured at a medial portion of said rear load arm to said rear column and supporting said load rails at end portions thereof, and a front load arm secured at a medial portion of said front load arm to said front column and supporting said load rails at end portions thereof.

3. A storage rack according to claim 2 wherein each of said braced frame assemblies includes a pair of cross frame braces extending between said front and rear load arms in a crossed arrangement and being secured at their ends to said front and rear load arms.

4. A storage rack according to claim 3 wherein each of said braced frame assemblies includes a horizontal brace member extending between said front and rear load arms in a path aligned with said front and rear columns and being secured at its ends to said front and rear load arms.

5. A storage rack according to claim 2 wherein each of said braced frame assemblies includes a horizontal brace member extending between said front and rear load arms along a path aligned with said front and rear columns and being secured at its ends to said front and rear load arms.

6. A storage rack according to claim 2 wherein each of said braced frame assemblies includes cross frame brace means extending between said front and rear load arms in a diagonal arrangement.

7. A storage rack according to claim 6 wherein each of said braced frame assemblies includes a horizontal brace member extending between said front and rear load arms in a path aligned with said front and rear columns and being secured at its ends to said front and rear load arms.