Stackable storage modules

A storage module, comprising:

• an upper support structure disposed on an upper side of the storage module, the upper support structure configured to engage with a corresponding lower support structure of a first different storage module;
• a lower support structure disposed on a lower side of the storage module, the lower support structure configured to engage with a corresponding upper support structure of a second different storage module;
• and
• a frame comprising a first component and a second component, each of the first component and the second component comprising:
• an upper portion defining an upper level of the storage module;
• a lower portion defining a lower level of the storage module;
• and
• a set of connecting, arcuate portions connecting the upper portion and the lower portion to one another at opposite ends of the upper and lower portions,
• wherein the upper portions, the lower portions, and the set of connecting portions together define a movement path for a set of carrier devices.

A storage module, comprising:

• a frame that comprises:
• a pair of corresponding components spaced apart from each other to receive a carrier device there between, each component comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a set of connecting portions that connect the upper and lower portions to one another at opposed ends of the upper and lower portions;
• an upper stacking structure configured to engage with a different lower stacking structure of a first different storage module;
• and
• a lower stacking structure configured to engage with a different upper stacking structure of a second different storage module,
• wherein the pair of corresponding components define a movement path for the carrier device to:
• (i) move horizontally along the upper portions and the lower portions and (ii) move vertically between the upper portions and the lower portions via the set of connecting portions, and
• wherein the carrier device is configured to move along the movement path between an upper plane defined above the upper portions of the pair of corresponding components and a lower plane defined by the lower portions of the pair of corresponding components, the upper plane substantially parallel to the lower plane.

A plurality of storage modules for storing storage containers, each storage module comprising:

• a frame presenting a bottom side, atop side, laterally spaced sides, and axially opposed ends, and including an upper track, a lower track spaced vertically from the upper track, and connecting tracks connecting the upper track to the lower track at each end of the frame;
• a plurality of carriers supported on the frame so as to be movable along the upper, lower and connecting tracks, each carrier including a pair of laterally spaced front track engaging members and a pair of laterally spaced rear track engaging members spaced axially from the front track engaging members, and structure configured to support a storage container on the carrier as the carrier moves relative to the frame, wherein each of the connecting tracks includes an outer arcuate track segment and an inner arcuate track segment, the outer arcuate track segment being spaced axially from the inner arcuate track segment by a distance corresponding to the spacing between the front and rear track engaging members of the carriers;
• and
• an indexing mechanism configured to index travel of each carrier along each connecting track to maintain the upright orientation of each carrier as the front track engaging members and the rear track engaging members travel along the outer and inner arcuate track segments,
• wherein the indexing mechanism for each storage module is independently operable with respect to other indexing mechanisms of other storage modules of the plurality of storage modules, and individual ones of the plurality of storage modules are coupled to one another to form a vertical stack.