Vertical conveying system

A conveyor system comprising:

• a first vertical conveyor having first carrier supports affixed to a first continuous belt, second carrier supports affixed to a second continuous belt, and at least one first drive configured to drive the first and second continuous belts;
• a second vertical conveyor adjacent to the first vertical conveyor, the second vertical conveyor having third carrier supports affixed to a third continuous belt, fourth carrier supports affixed to a fourth continuous belt, and at least one second drive configured to drive the third and fourth continuous belts;
• a lateral conveyor disposed above the first and second vertical conveyors, the lateral conveyor having a first lateral support disposed on a first side rail and affixed to a fifth continuous belt, a second lateral support disposed on a second side rail and affixed to a sixth continuous belt, and a third drive configured to drive the fifth and sixth continuous belts;
• and
• processing circuitry that is configured to perform acts comprising:
• generating an output command to cause the first drives to elevate the first and second carrier supports to elevate a carrier from a first height to a second height near a top of the first vertical conveyor;
• generating an output command to cause the third drive to laterally move the first and second lateral supports to couple with the carrier at the second height;
• generating an output command to cause the first drives to lower the first and second carrier supports from the second height to a third height to disengage from the carrier;
• generating an output command to cause the third drive to laterally move the first and second lateral supports to a position above the third and fourth carrier supports;
• generating an output command to cause the second drives to elevate the third and fourth carrier supports to lift the carrier and decouple the carrier from the first and second lateral supports;
• generating an output command to cause the third drive to laterally move the first and second lateral supports away from the carrier;
• and
• generating an output command to cause the second drives to lower the third and fourth carrier supports in the second vertical conveyor.

A method for conveying a carrier through a conveyor system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the carrier at a first height in a first vertical conveyor comprising at least two carrier supports;
• elevating the carrier from the first height to a second height via the carrier supports of the first vertical conveyor;
• laterally moving lateral supports of a lateral conveyor from a first horizontal position spaced apart from the carrier supports of the first vertical conveyor to a second horizontal position such that the lateral supports couple with the carrier;
• lowering the carrier supports of the first vertical conveyor to a third height below the carrier;
• laterally moving the lateral supports from the second horizontal position to a third horizontal position substantially above two or more carrier supports of a second vertical conveyor;
• elevating the carrier supports of the second vertical conveyor to decouple the carrier from the lateral supports;
• laterally moving the lateral supports to a fourth horizontal position to decouple the lateral supports from the carrier;
• lowering the carrier supports of the second vertical conveyor;
• and
• conveying the carrier out of the second vertical conveyor.