Storage and retrieval system
First Claim
Patent Images
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 first support rail fixedly disposed above a gap defined by the inner rails of the first track and the upper rail of the first track, the first support rail extending at least the length of the gap between the inner rails of the first track, but less than a length of the upper rail;
a second support rail fixedly disposed above a second gap defined by the inner rails of the second track and the upper rail of the second track, the second support rail extending at least the length of the second gap between the inner rails of the second track, but less than a length of the upper rail of the second track;
a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns and disposed between the first and second tracks;
a first set of wheels extending from each storage unit and configured to engage the 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 second set of wheels extending from each storage unit in spaced relation to the first set of wheels and which engage the first and second support rails and support the storage unit as the storage unit moves past the gaps between the inner rails of the first and second tracks; and
means for selectively moving the storage units along a length of the continuous track.
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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 is engaged with the track for selective movement along the track. Each storage unit includes two sets of wheels, a first set of wheels for engaging the continuous track, and a second set of wheels for engaging support rails disposed above an upper rail of first and second tracks of the continuous track, 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.
29 Citations
25 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 first support rail fixedly disposed above a gap defined by the inner rails of the first track and the upper rail of the first track, the first support rail extending at least the length of the gap between the inner rails of the first track, but less than a length of the upper rail; a second support rail fixedly disposed above a second gap defined by the inner rails of the second track and the upper rail of the second track, the second support rail extending at least the length of the second gap between the inner rails of the second track, but less than a length of the upper rail of the second track; a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns and disposed between the first and second tracks; a first set of wheels extending from each storage unit and configured to engage the 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 second set of wheels extending from each storage unit in spaced relation to the first set of wheels and which engage the first and second support rails and support the storage unit as the storage unit moves past the gaps between the inner rails of the first and second tracks; and means for selectively moving the storage units along a length of the continuous track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A storage and retrieval system, comprising:
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first and second tracks in spaced apart and parallel relation to one another, the first and second tracks cooperatively forming a continuous track, the first and the second tracks each comprising generally parallel and spaced apart upper and lower horizontal rails, a first vertical end rail interconnecting the upper and lower rails, a first vertical intermediate rail extending between the upper and lower rails in spaced relation with the first vertical end rail, the first vertical end rail and the first vertical intermediate rail cooperatively forming a first vertical track, a second vertical end rail extending between the upper and lower rails, and a second vertical intermediate rail extending between the upper and lower rails in spaced relation to the second vertical end rail, the second vertical end rail and the second vertical intermediate rail cooperatively forming a second vertical track; a first support rail fixedly disposed above a gap defined by the first and second vertical intermediate rails of the first track and the upper rail of the first track, the first support rail extending at least the length of the gap between the first and second vertical intermediate rails of the first track; a second support rail fixedly disposed above a second gap defined by the first and second vertical intermediate rails of the second track and the upper rail of the second track, the second support rail extending at least the length of the second gap between the first and second vertical intermediate rails of the second track; a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns and disposed between the first and second tracks; a first set of wheels extending from each storage unit and configured to engage the upper rails or lower rails of the first and second tracks so as to suspend the storage unit from the upper or lower rails when disposed at an uppermost or lowermost position in the column and permit selective movement along the continuous track; a second set of wheels extending from each storage unit in spaced relation to the first set of wheels and which engage the first and second support rails as the storage unit is moved between the first vertical track to the second vertical track of the first and second tracks; and means for selectively moving the storage units along a length of the continuous track. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification