High volume conveyor accumulator for warehouse

• US 5,860,784 A
• Filed: 11/05/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dematic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann Dematic Rapistan Corp. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Schuitema, Dennis J., Schiesser, Ricardo N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keenan, James W.
• Application Number:
  US08/746,017
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 414/268, 414/269, 414/280, 414/281, 414/285, 414/331
• US Class Current: 414/280
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0407 using stacker cranes constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0485 Check-in, check-out devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/133 the circuit being confined in a horizontal plane

Abstract

An active high volume storage and retrieval system provides an improved accumulator and package transfer devices. The storage and retrieval system includes a storage carousel having a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal storage tiers and a lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from the storage carousel. A first conveyor is provided which delivers articles to the article supports of the lift assembly. A second conveyor is provided which receives articles from the article supports of the lift assembly. A first article transfer device is disposed adjacent the lift, which includes a plurality of injection pushers for pushing containers from the storage supports of the lift onto storage tiers of the carousel. A second article transfer device disposed adjacent the carousel. The second article transfer device includes a driver beam and a plurality of ejection pushers, with each ejection pusher aligned with one of the article supports. The driver beam is adapted for movement between a first position and a second position. The ejection pushers are releasably coupled to the driver beam such that when the driver beam is moved to the second position any of the ejection pushers, which are coupled to the driver beam, push the article on the associated storage tier onto one of the article supports. Preferably, at least one of the ejection pushers is selectively, releasably coupled to the driver beam by a magnetic coupler. More preferably, the ejection pushers are selectively, releasably coupled to the driver beam by an electromagnetic coupler. In this manner, the ejection pushers may be selectively driven by the driver beam to push selected articles from the carousel to the lift.

Claims

1. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage device having a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal storage tiers;

a lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received a first conveyor device;

a first conveyor for delivering articles to said article supports of said lift;

a second conveyor for receiving articles from said article supports of said lift;

a first article transfer device disposed adjacent said lift, said first article transfer device having a plurality of injection pushers for pushing containers from said lift onto selected horizontal storage tiers of said storage device; and

a second article transfer device disposed adjacent said storage device, said second article transfer device having a driver beam and a plurality of ejection pushers, each ejection pusher aligned with one of said horizontal tiers, said driver beam adapted for movement between a first position and a second position, said plurality of ejection pushers releasably coupled to said driver beam such that when said driver beam is moved to said second position any of said ejection pushers coupled to said driver beam push the article on the associated horizontal tier onto one of said article supports.

2. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said ejection pushers is selectively, releasably coupled to said driver beam.

3. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said ejection pushers are releasably coupled to said driver beam by a magnetic coupler.

4. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said ejection pushers are adapted to be individually actuated to couple or decouple from said driver beam such that when any one of said ejection pushers is coupled to said driver beam and said driver beam is moved to said second position, said coupled ejection pusher is moved for pushing an article supported by the associated horizontal tier from said storage device onto said lift.

5. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 4, wherein said ejection pushers are selectively, releasably coupled to said driver beam by an electromagnetic coupler.

6. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said second article transfer device includes a transfer frame, said driver beam and said ejection pushers being supported by said transfer frame.

7. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 6, wherein each of said ejection pushers includes at least one linear bearing track, said ejection pushers being supported on said linear bearing tracks, said driver beam moving said ejection pushers in and out of said transfer frame on said linear bearing tracks.

8. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 6, wherein said transfer frame is vertically positionable to allow use of said storage and retrieval system with a ground support surface with or without a pit.

9. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 6, wherein said transfer frame is supported by a brace frame, said brace frame for anchoring said transfer frame to a ground support surface, said brace frame including a plurality of vertically spaced, transfer frame mounts so that said transfer frame may be vertically adjusted along said brace frame for lowering or raising the lowest shelf element with respect to the ground support surface.

10. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein each of said ejection pushers includes a pusher member and a pair of linear bearing tracks having distal and proximate ends, each of said pusher members connecting to said distal ends of linear bearing tracks of a respective ejection pusher for pushing articles supported by said article supports on to said storage device.

11. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of selectively, releasable couplers, each of said selectively, releasable couplers supported by said proximate ends of said linear bearing tracks of a selected ejection pusher for selectively, releasably coupling said ejection pushers to said driver beam.

12. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein each of said ejection pushers comprises a pusher frame having first and second ends, each of said pusher frames defining a pusher member at its first end and including a releasable coupler for releasably coupling said pusher frame to said driver beam.

13. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 12, wherein each of said releasable couplers comprises an electromagnetic coupler.

14. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said storage device comprises a carousel.

15. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 14, wherein said carousel comprises a continuously moving carousel.

16. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 14, wherein said carousel comprises an indexing carousel.

17. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said lift includes a lift frame, said lift frame having a delivery side and receiving side, said lift frame moving said article supports around a continuous path to align a first group of said article supports along said delivery side to define delivery article supports and a second group along said receiving side to define receiving article supports.

18. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said first article transfer device includes an injection driver beam, said injection driver beam adapted for movement between a first position and a second position, each of said injection pushers aligned with one of said article supports, said plurality of injection pushers releasably coupled to said injection driver beam such that when said injection driver beam is in said first position any of said injection pushers coupled to said injection driver beam push an article on the associated article support onto one of said article supports.

19. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said injection pushers is selectively, releasably coupled to said injection driver beam.

20. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 18, wherein said injection pushers are releasably coupled to said injection driver beam by a magnetic coupler.

21. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 18, wherein said injection pushers are adapted to be individually actuated to couple or decouple from said injection driver beam such that when any one of said injection pushers is coupled to said injection driver beam and said injection driver beam is moved to said second position, said coupled injection pusher is moved for pushing an article supported by the associated article support of said lift onto said storage device.

22. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 21, wherein each said injection pusher is selectively, releasably coupled to said injection driver beam by an electromagnetic coupler.

23. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 18, wherein said first article transfer device includes an injection transfer frame, said injection driver beam and said injection pushers being supported by said injection transfer frame.

24. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 23, wherein each of said injection pushers includes at least one linear bearing track, said injection pushers being supported on said linear bearing tracks, said injection driver beam moving said injection pushers in and out of said injection transfer frame on said linear bearing tracks.

25. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel, said lift having a lift frame, a brace frame supporting said lift frame, and a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align at least one of said article supports with one of said storage tiers, said lift frame having an outermost frame width, each of said article supports having opposed free edges and an article support width, said article supports being supported inwardly of said opposed free edges, and said outermost frame width being less than or equal to said article support widths so that said article supports can be positioned in close proximity to said storage tiers;

a plurality of article transfer devices, a first group of said article transfer devices being positioned adjacent said storage tiers for moving articles stored thereon onto said article supports, a second group of said article transfer devices positioned adjacent said article supports for moving articles supported thereby onto said storage tiers;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to said article supports of said lift; and

a second conveyor section for receiving articles from said article supports of said lift.

26. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 25, wherein said lift frame includes a driving device for raising and lowering said article supports, said driving device moving said article supports in a continuous path around said lift frame.

27. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 25, wherein said driving device includes a servo motor for driving said article supports around said continuous path.

28. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 25, wherein said lift frame supports a continuous drive chain for raising and lowering said article supports, said drive chain defining a continuous loop around said lift frame, a delivery side on one side of said lift frame, and a receiving side on another side of said lift frame.

29. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 28, said article supports coupling to said drive chain such that when said drive chain is driven, said article supports travel around said lift frame along said continuous path defining delivery article supports when aligned on said delivery side and receiving article supports when aligned on said receiving side.

30. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 25, wherein said lift frame includes a pair of spaced apart tracks, said tracks extending around said lift frame along a continuous path defining a delivery side on one side of said lift frame and a receiving side on another side of said lift frame, said article supports adapted to be guided around said continuous path on said track to align a first group of said article supports on said delivery side of said lift frame and a second group of said article supports on said receiving side of said lift frame.

31. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 25, wherein each of said article supports comprises a shelf element.

32. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 25, wherein each of said article transfer devices comprises a pusher.

33. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel, said lift having a lift frame and a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align at least one of said article supports with one of said horizontal tiers, said lift frame having a frame width, each of said article supports having an article support width wherein said frame width is less than or equal to said article support widths so that said article supports can be positioned in close proximity to said horizontal storage tiers;

a plurality of article transfer devices, a first group of said article transfer devices positioned adjacent said horizontal storage tiers for pushing articles stored thereon onto said article supports, a second group of said article transfer devices positioned adjacent said article supports for pushing articles supported thereby onto said horizontal storage tiers;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to said article supports of said lift;

a second conveyor section for receiving articles from said article supports of said lift; and

wherein said horizontal tiers each include a tier free-edge, each of said article supports including an article support free-edge, each of said tier free-edges spaced from respective article support free-edges a distance defining a gap, at least one of said gaps being less than or equal to 1/2 inch.

34. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel, said lift having a lift frame and a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align at least one of said article supports with one of said horizontal tiers, said lift frame having a frame width, each of said article supports having an article support width wherein said frame width is less than or equal to said article support widths so that said article supports can be positioned in close proximity to said horizontal storage tiers;

a plurality of article transfer devices, a first group of said article transfer devices positioned adjacent said horizontal storage tiers for pushing articles stored thereon onto said article supports, a second group of said article transfer devices positioned adjacent said article supports for pushing articles supported thereby onto said horizontal storage tiers;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to said article supports of said lift;

a second conveyor section for receiving articles from said article supports of said lift; and

a transfer frame, said transfer frame including a driver beam and a plurality of ejection pushers defining said second group of said transfer devices, said driver beam adapted to move from a first position to a second position, said ejection pushers releasably coupled to said driver beam such that when said driver beam is in said second position said ejection pushers push the articles on selected horizontal storage tiers onto said article supports.

35. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said ejection pushers is releasably coupled to said driver beam by a magnetic coupler, said magnetic coupler having a magnetic force such that when an article becomes jammed during the transfer of the article from said lift to said carousel, said magnetic coupler will decouple from said driver beam to prevent crushing of the article.

36. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said ejection pushers is selectively, releasably coupled to said driver beam by an electromagnetic coupler.

37. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel including a lower portion, said lift having an article support assembly, said article support assembly including a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered or to be received from said storage carousel and a drive, said drive driving said article support assembly to align selected article supports with selected tiers of said horizontal tiers, said drive raising ones of said article supports upwardly in an article receiving portion of said article support assembly and lowering ones of said article supports downwardly in an article delivering portion of said article support assembly;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to one of said article supports in said article delivering portion, said first conveyor section being substantially aligned with a portion of said lift above said lower portion;

a second conveyor section for receiving articles from one of said article supports in said article receiving portion, said second conveyor section being substantially aligned with a portion of said lift above said lower portion; and

a plurality of article transfer devices for transferring articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for transferring articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion.

38. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 37, wherein said article transfer devices are adapted for pushing articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for pushing articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion.

39. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 38, said first conveyor section for delivering articles to an upper delivery article support in said article delivering portion, and said second conveyor section for receiving articles from an upper receiving article support in said article receiving portion.

40. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 39, further comprising at least one package driver positioned adjacent said one of said article supports in said article receiving portion and said first conveyor section for pushing articles supported on said one of said article supports and said first conveyor section onto one of said second conveyor section and said one of said article supports on said delivering portion, respectively.

41. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 40, wherein said package driver moves in a continuous path.

42. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 38, wherein each of said article supports comprises a shelf element.

43. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 38, wherein a first group of article transfer devices are supported by said lift and a second group of said transfer devices are supported by said carousel.

44. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 43, wherein each of said transfer devices comprising a pusher member and a cylinder having a piston rod, each of said pusher members supported on said piston rod of a respective cylinder.

45. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel, said lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align selected article supports with selected tiers of said horizontal tiers, said article supports moving upwardly in an article receiving portion and downwardly in an article delivering portion;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to an upper article support in said article delivering portion;

a second conveyor section for receiving articles from an upper receiving article support in said article receiving portion;

a plurality of article transfer devices for transferring articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for transferring articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion, said article transfer devices being adapted for pushing articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for pushing articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion; and

at least one package driver being positioned adjacent said upper receiving article support for pushing articles supported on said upper receiving article support onto said second conveyor section and including a pusher arm, said pusher arm adapted to move from a first retracted position adjacent said upper receiving article support to a first projecting position over one side of said upper receiving article support, to translate from said first projecting position along said upper receiving article support to a second projection position for pushing an article supported thereon onto said second conveyor section, and to move from said second projecting position to a second retracting position, and said package driver moving in a continuous path.

46. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel, said lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align selected article supports with selected tiers of said horizontal tiers, said article supports moving upwardly in an article receiving portion and downwardly in an article delivering portion;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to an upper article support in said article delivering portion;

a plurality of article transfer devices for transferring articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for transferring articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion, said article transfer devices being adapted for pushing articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for pushing articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion;

a second conveyor section for receiving articles from an upper receiving article support in said article receiving portion; and

at least on package driver positioned adjacent one of said upper receiving article support and said first conveyor section for pushing articles supported on said one of said upper receiving article support and said first conveyor section onto one of said second conveyor section and said upper delivery article support, respectively, said package driver comprising a pusher arm and a drive assembly, said drive assembly moving said pusher arm around a path from a first retracted position adjacent a first side of said upper article support to a first extended position over said upper article support, translating said pusher arm over said upper article support to a second extended position, clearing a second opposed side of said upper article support to permit said article supports to be raised or lowered, and retracting said pusher arm to a second retracted position adjacent said second side of said upper article support.

47. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 46, wherein said drive assembly includes a first set of pulleys and a second set of pulleys, each set of pulleys having a chord, each of said chords extending around the respective pulleys of a respective set of pulleys defining a closed path, said pusher arm coupled to said chords to move around said closed paths from said first retracted position to said first extended position, from said first extended position to said second extended position, from said second extended position to said second retracted position, and back to said first retracted position.

48. An active high volume storage and retrieval system

a storage carousel having a plurality of horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage carousel, said lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align selected article supports with selected tiers of said horizontal tiers, said article supports moving upwardly in an article receiving portion and downwardly in an article delivering portion;

a first conveyor section for delivering articles to an upper article support in said article delivering portion or for receiving articles from an upper article support in said article receiving portion;

a plurality of article transfer devices for transferring articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for transferring articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion, said article transfer devices being adapted for pushing articles supported on said article supports in said article delivery portion to said horizontal tiers and for pushing articles stored on said carousel to selected article supports on said article receiving portion; and

wherein a first group of article transfer devices are supported by a transfer frame, said transfer frame including a driver beam, said driver beam adapted to laterally move in said frame from a non-driving position to a driving position, said first group of article transfer devices releasably coupled to said driver beam such that when said driver beam is in said driving position said first group of article transfer devices push the articles on selected horizontal storage tiers onto said article supports.

49. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of storage surfaces, said storage surfaces arranged vertically and horizontally to form a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal storage tiers;

a lift having opposed lift sides and a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered or to be received from said storage carousel, each of said article supports having opposed first and second sides, said lift driving said article supports in a continuous path to align a first group of selected article supports on one of said lift sides with a first group of selected storage surfaces whereby said first sides of said first group of selected article supports define article deliver support surfaces and a second group of article supports on the other of said lift sides with a second group of selected storage surfaces whereby said second sides of said second group of selected article supports define article receiving support surfaces of said carousel;

a first conveyor section for delivering containers to said delivery article receiving surfaces of said lift assembly;

a second conveyor section for receiving containers from said receiving article support surfaces of said lift assembly;

a first container driver disposed adjacent said delivery article support surfaces of said lift, said first container driver having a plurality of insertion pushers aligned with said delivery article support surfaces for pushing the containers from said delivery article support surfaces onto said first group of said storage surfaces, wherein said plurality of insertion pushers are vertically aligned; and

a second container driver disposed adjacent said second group of said storage surfaces of said carousel, said second container driver having a plurality of ejection pushers for selectively pushing containers from said second group of storage surfaces onto said receiving article support surfaces, wherein said plurality of ejection pushers are vertically aligned.

50. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 49, further comprising a package driver positioned adjacent said lift for pushing containers being received on said receiving support surfaces onto said second conveyor section.

51. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 50, wherein said package driver moves in a continuous path.

52. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 49, wherein said lift frame includes a lift frame, said lift frame having a delivery side and a receiving side, said lift frame including a track extending around said lift frame and defining a continuous path, said article supports adapted to move along said continuous path along said track from said receiving side to said delivery side.

53. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 52, wherein said article supports comprise shelf elements, said shelf elements having a shelf width, said lift frame having a lift width, said shelf widths being approximately equal or greater than the lift width.

54. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 52, wherein each of said article supports comprise shelf elements, each of said shelf elements guided along said track by a plurality of bearings.

55. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 49, wherein said carousel includes pair of generally parallel side sections and two opposed curved end sections, said side sections and end sections forming a continuous path.

56. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 55, wherein said lift is adjacent one of said side sections.

57. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 56, wherein said lift is adjacent one of said end sections.

58. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of storage surfaces, said storage surface arranged vertically and horizontally to form a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal storage tiers;

a lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align a first group of selected article supports with a first group of selected storage surfaces and a second group of article supports with a second group of selected storage surfaces of said carousel, said first group of article supports defining a plurality of delivery article supports, and said second group of article supports defining a plurality of receiving article supports;

a first conveyor section for delivering containers to said delivery article supports of said lift assembly;

a second conveyor section for receiving containers from said receiving article supports of said lift assembly;

a first container driver disposed adjacent said delivery article supports of said lift, said first container driver having a plurality of insertion pushers aligned with said delivery article supports for pushing the containers from said delivery article supports onto said first group of said storage surfaces;

a second container driver disposed adjacent said second group of said storage surfaces of said carousel, said second container driver having a plurality of ejection pushers for selectively pushing containers from said second group of storage surfaces onto said receiving article supports;

a package driver positioned adjacent said lift for pushing containers being received on said receiving support surfaces onto said second conveyor section, and said package driver moving in a continuous path; and

wherein said second container driver includes a driver frame and a driver beam, said driver beam adapted to reciprocate between a first position and a second position, each of said ejection pushers coupled to said driver beam such that when said driver beam is reciprocated to its second position said ejection pushers move from a retracted position in said driver frame to an extended position for pushing containers supported on said first group of storage surfaces onto said delivery support surface of said lift.

59. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of storage surfaces, said storage surfaces arranged vertically and horizontally to form a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal storage tiers;

a lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered or to be received from said storage carousel, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align a first group of selected article supports with a first group of selected storage surfaces and a second group of article supports with a second group of selected storage surfaces of said carousel, said first group of article supports defining a plurality of delivery article supports, and said second group of article supports defining a plurality of receiving article supports;

a first conveyor section for delivering containers to said delivery article supports of said lift assembly;

a second conveyor section for receiving containers from said receiving article supports of said lift assembly;

a first container driver disposed adjacent said delivery article supports of said lift, said first container driver having a plurality of insertion pushers aligned with said delivery article supports for pushing the containers from said delivery article supports onto said first group of said storage surfaces;

a second container driver disposed adjacent said second group of said storage surfaces of said carousel, said second container driver having a plurality of ejection pushers for selectively pushing containers from said second group of storage surfaces onto said receiving article supports;

a package driver positioned adjacent said lift for pushing containers being received on said receiving support surfaces onto said second conveyor section, and said package driver moving in a continuous path; and

wherein said second container driver includes a driver beam, and at least one of said ejection pushers is releasably coupled to said driver beam.

60. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 59, wherein each of said ejection pushers includes a pusher frame and a pusher member disposed about one end of said pusher frame, said pusher frames coupling to said driver beam of said second container driver.

61. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage carousel having a plurality of storage surfaces, said storage surfaces arranged vertically and horizontally to form a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal storage tiers;

a lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered or to be received from said storage carousel, each of said article supports comprising shelf elements, said lift raising and lowering said article supports to align a first group of selected article supports with a first group of selected storage surfaces and a second group of article supports with a second group of selected storage surfaces of said carousel, said first group of article supports defining a plurality of delivery article supports, and said second group of article supports defining a plurality of receiving article supports, said lift including a lift frame, said lift frame having a delivery side and a receiving side, said lift frame including a track extending around said lift frame and defining a continuous path, said article supports adapted to move along said continuous path along said track from said receiving side to said delivery side, each of said shelf elements being guided along said track by a plurality of bearings and having opposed free-edges, said bearings aligned inward of said free-edges of respective shelf elements so that said shelf elements can be positioned in close proximity to said horizontal carousel and, thereby, minimizing gaps between said horizontal tiers and said shelf elements;

a first conveyor section for delivering containers to said delivery article supports of said lift assembly;

a second conveyor section for receiving containers from said receiving article supports of said lift assembly;

a first container driver disposed adjacent said delivery article supports of said lift, said first container driver having a plurality of insertion pushers aligned with said delivery article supports for pushing the containers from said delivery article supports onto said first group of said storage surfaces; and

a second container driver disposed adjacent said second group of said storage surfaces of said carousel, said second container driver having a plurality of ejection pushers for selectively pushing containers from said second group of storage surfaces onto said receiving article supports.

62. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage device having a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal storage tiers;

a lift positioned adjacent said storage device, said lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage device;

a first conveyor for delivering articles to said article supports;

a second conveyor for receiving articles from said article supports;

a first article transfer device disposed adjacent said lift, said first article transfer device having a plurality of injection pushers for pushing articles from said lift onto said horizontal tiers of said storage device; and

a second article transfer device disposed adjacent said storage device, said second article transfer device having a plurality of ejection pushers for pushing articles on said horizontal tiers onto said lift, wherein at least one of said first and second article transfer devices includes a driver member, said driver member adapted to move from a first position to a second position, said plurality of pushers associated with said at least one of said first and second article transfer devices releasably coupled to said driver member such that when said driver member is moved to said second position, said plurality of pushers associated with said at least one of said first and second article transfer devices push articles supported on one of said lift and said storage device.

63. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 62, wherein said plurality of pushers associated with said at least one of said first and second article transfer devices are selectively, releasably coupled to said driver member.

64. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 62, wherein said plurality of pushers associated with said at least one of said first and second article transfer devices are coupled to said driver member by a magnetic coupler.

65. An active high volume storage and retrieval system comprising:

a storage device having a plurality of spaced apart storage tiers;

a lift having a plurality of article supports for supporting articles to be delivered to or to be received from said storage device;

a first conveyor for delivering articles to said article supports of said lift;

a second conveyor for receiving articles from said article support of said lift;

a first article transfer device disposed adjacent said lift, said first article transfer device having a first driver and at least one injection pusher coupled with said first driver for pushing articles from said lift onto selected storage tiers of said storage device; and

a second article transfer device disposed adjacent said storage device, said second article transfer device having a second driver and at least one ejection pusher coupled with said second driver and aligned with one of said storage tiers for pushing articles from selected storage tiers of said storage device onto the said lift, wherein at least one of said at least one injection pusher and said at least on ejection pusher is coupled with its respective driver with a releasable coupling device.

66. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 65, wherein said first and second drivers each comprise a driver beam.

67. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 66, wherein said at least one ejection pusher is a plurality of ejection pushers which are adapted to be individually actuated to couple or decouple from said second driver such that when said second driver is moved, said coupled ejection pusher is moved with said second driver for pushing an article supported by the associated storage tier from said storage device onto said lift.

68. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 65, wherein said releasable coupling device comprises a magnetic coupler.

69. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 65, wherein said releasable coupling device comprises an electromagnetic coupler.

70. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 65, further comprising a package driver, said package driver being positioned adjacent one of said article supports and including a pusher arm, said pusher arm adapted to move from a first retracted position adjacent said one of said article supports to a first projecting position over one side of said one of said article supports, to translate from said first projecting position along said one of said article supports to a second projecting position for pushing an article supported on said one of said article supports onto said second conveyor section, and to move from said second projecting position to a second retracting position.

71. An active high volume storage and retrieval system according to claim 65, wherein each of said article supports has opposed free edges, said article supports being supported inwardly of said opposed free edges so that said article supports can be positioned in close proximity to said storage tiers and, thereby, minimizing gaps between said storage tiers and said article supports.