STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM

• US 3,840,131 A
• Filed: 12/11/1972
• Issued: 10/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Supreme Automation Corporation
• Original Assignee: John A. Castaldi
• Inventors: Castaldi, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, R. B.
• Application Number:
  US05/313,970
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 214/16.4A,16.4B,16.1EB 187/6,9,21,27,51,56
• US Class Current: 414/281
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0407 using stacker cranes constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/072 Travelling gear therefor

Abstract

The invention contemplates a particular carriage support and drive combination for use in storage systems for modular file boxes and the like, accommodated in horizontally accessible storage openings within a two-dimensional frame matrix. Two spaced rolls in the carriage chassis ride a first single lower rail to provide sole support of the carriage as well as the sole engagement for horizontal drive of the carriage. Lateral guide elements on the chassis engage the same single rail to provide longitudinal stabilizing action for the lower end of the carriage, and similar guide elements at the upper end of the carriage have similar stabilizing engagement with a second single rail, parallel to and directly above the lower rail.

Claims

1. A storage and retrieval system adapted for accommodation in a limited interior rectangular prismatic space with access at only one longitudinal end, comprising a rectangular prismatic framework having two opposed two-dimensional matrices of storagecompartment supports each of which is horizontally open at one of two laterally spaced parallel common vertical access planes, a first longitudinally extending rail parallel to and centrally offset from and between said planes along a lower horizontal alignment, a second longitudinally extending rail parallel to said first rail along an upper horizontal alignment, the vertical spacing of said rails spanning the vertical dimension of said matrix and the horizontal length of said rails spanning the horizontal dimension of said matrix;

a carriage comprising a longitudinally elongated rectangular chassis including two longitudinally spaced support rolls including peripherally continuous treads of urethane material riding said first rail and sustaining the full weight of said carriage, front and rear shafts journaled in said chassis and fixed to said rolls, drive means on each of said shafts;

lateral guide means depending from said chassis and having guided engagement with opposite lateral sides of said first rail at longitudinally spaced chassis locations, a single vertical column fixed to said chassis at a location longitudinally between said rolls and rearward of the longitudinal center of said chassis;

a tensed stabilizing-cable system for vertically stabilizing said column in the presence of horizontal-drive acceleration, said system connecting upper and lower parts of said carriage with corresponding upper and lower parts of said framework, the portions of cable length extending between said carriage and frame being horizontal and parallel to said rails;

lateral guide means carried at the upper end of said column and having guided engagement with opposite lateral sides of said second rail, such lateral engagement being the only running carriage engagement with said second rail, the lateral width of said column and carriage being substantially less than the space between said planes to the extent that maintenancepersonnel access exists in the space between said column and an adjacent matrix, vertical elevator guide means on said column, an elevator guided by said elevator guide means and including an elevator platform projecting forwardly of said column and laterally into proximity with said planes, load-handling means on said elevator platform for transferring an article relative to said platform and one of said matrices;

elevator-drive means mounted on the rear side of said column, said elevator-drive means comprIsing vertically spaced idler sprockets at the upper and lower ends of said column, an electric motor and reduction gearing with a drive-sprocket output, an endless chain over said idler and drive sprockets, and an elevator connection to said chain, said reduction gearing being at such a high ratio that said elevator is self-braked by the action of said gearing when said motor is not driven; and

carriage-drive means mounted to the rear of said column and comprising an electric motor and reduction gearing positioned near and over said rear shaft, means connecting said rear shaft to the output of said reduction gearing, and means connecting said shafts for synchronized rotation of said rolls.

2. The system of claim 1, in which said lateral guide means comprises longitudinally spaced pairs of rolls engaging opposite lateral sides of said first rail at both front and rear ends of said chassis, said guide means at the upper end of said column comprising an upper elongated rectangular chassis, and longitudinally spaced pairs of rolls engaging opposite lateral sides of said second rail at both front and rear ends.