Storage system including a vertical transfer device

A load storage system for holding standardized containers, comprising:

• a first stocker for being positioned on a first story of a building and a second stocker for being positioned on a second story of a building, said first and second stockers each including at least one load support for supporting the standardized containers;
• a floor positioned between said first and second stockers;
• said floor defining a portal between and directly connecting said first and second stockers for allowing the standardized containers to be moved between said first and second stockers, said portal defined in alignment with at least one of said load supports in said first stocker and at least one of said load supports in said second stocker;
• and
• a vertical transfer device positioned in alignment with at least one of said load supports in said first stocker and at least one of said load supports in said second stocker and configured to move the standardized containers through said portal between said first and second stockers;
• wherein said vertical transfer device includes at least one rail extending through said portal between said first and second stockers, and wherein at least one of said load supports is coupled with and moveable along said rail between said first and second stockers.

A method for moving a standardized container within a load storage system directly between a first stocker on a first story of a building including a first load support and a second stocker on a second story of a building directly above the first stocker and including a second load support, wherein a floor is positioned between the first and second stockers, and wherein a portal is defined by the floor between the first and second stockers in alignment with the first load support in the first stocker and the second load support in the second stocker, said method comprising the steps of:

• disposing a standardized container upon the first load support within the first stocker;
• engaging the standardized container with a vertical transfer device;
• moving the standardized container with the vertical transfer device through the portal from the first stocker to the second stocker and positioning the standardized container on the second load support within the second stocker;
• and
• disengaging the standardized container from the vertical transfer device;
• wherein at least one of the first and second load supports includes a shelf plate including a pair of legs being moveable relative to one another, and wherein the method further includes moving the legs relative to one another into a first configuration in which the legs are positioned proximate to one another for holding the standardized container, moving the legs into a second configuration in which the legs are spaced from one another, and passing the vertical transfer device and one of the standardized containers between the legs.