Apparatus for transporting groups of consumables between vertically spaced holding shelves

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of vertically spaced holding shelves;
• a transporter for transporting groups of consumables between the plurality of holding shelves, the transporter comprising:
• a support chassis disposed at a laterally-spaced position with respect to the plurality of holding shelves;
• a lift platform;
• and
• a scissors actuator connecting the lift platform to the support chassis and configured to translate the lift platform laterally with respect to the support chassis between a first position laterally aligned with the support chassis at the laterally-spaced position with respect to the plurality of holding shelves and a second position laterally displaced from the support chassis and laterally aligned with one of the holding shelves;
• and
• a transport elevator coupled to the support chassis for moving the support chassis in a vertical direction between the plurality of holding shelves.

A method for automatically transferring a receptacle carrier between a holding shelf and a lift platform of a transporter, the method comprising:

• a) with a transport elevator for effecting vertical movement of the transporter, positioning the transporter at an approximate vertical location of the holding shelf;
• b) after step a), effecting relative movement between the lift platform and a positioning structure associated with the holding self;
• c) during step b), detecting contact between the lift platform and the positioning structure;
• d) recording data relating to the position of the lift platform at which contact is detected in step c);
• and
• e) transferring a receptacle carrier between the holding shelf and the lift platform by controlling movement of the lift platform in accordance with the data recorded at step d).