Storage and sorting apparatus and means for its operation

Storage and sorting apparatus adapted to operate with at least

• one stack of trays (01),
• the stack of trays (01) comprises at least two trays (01) stacked on top of each other,
• In each tray (01) there are at least two stacked sorting pallets (02, 03, . . . ) for individual storage of objects (A, B, C, . . . ),
• and further adapted to operate with a mobile transport unit (30) on which the stack of trays (01) is transportable,
• the storage and sorting apparatus (100/200/300/400/500) is further adapted, to pick up an individual object A or B or C ( . . . ) or a group of individual objects from any of the trays (01) and any of the pallets (02, 03, . . . ) respectively,
• wherein the storage and sorting apparatus (100/200/300/400/500) comprises at least two mechanisms:
• a. A mechanism (120, 220, 320) that is adapted to lift up the tray(s) (01) from the source tray in which the object(s) (A, B, C, . . . ) is/are located,
• b. A mechanism (140, 240, 340) that is adapted to lift up any/all pallets (02, 03, . . . ) inside the source tray, from the pallet (03, . . . ) on which the object (A, B, C, . . . ) is located, and
• c. A mechanism (150, 250, 350) adapted to pick up and transfer the object (A, B, C, . . . ) from the source pallet to a target tray (01) which is either part of the stack of trays or a separate tray,
• wherein in the case of two mechanisms mechanism “a.” and mechanism “b.” are the same mechanism, and
• wherein the mechanism a and b are provided as adjacent multiples n with an any natural number of greater or equal to 1 with a single or a number of adjacent mechanism(s) c that is lower than the number of mechanisms a and/or b but is at least 1.