Back to results
US 4,307,922 AGranted
Movable storage system
AssigneeReflector Hardware Corporation
InventorHoward A. Rhodes, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A movable storage system having a plurality of storage units disposed side-by-side and movable relative to each other to selectively open access paths between selected pairs of units. In response to operation of enabling and selection switches, a new aisle is identified, and the necessary units are moved to open the new aisle in a determined time sequence.
Claims17
A movable storage system comprising:
- a plurality of storage units disposed side-by-side and movable relative to each other to selectively open access paths between selected pairs of units;
- drive means associated with each unit energizable to move said unit in a selected direction;
- means for sensing the position of each storage unit relative to the adjacent storage units;
- manually operable means for selecting an access path to be opened between a pair of storage units;
- and
- central control means coupled to each of said units and responsive to operation of said manually operable selecting means for identifying the units to be moved in order to open said selected access path, for determining the direction of said unit movement and for sequentially energizing said drive means associated with the units to be moved in a determined time delay sequence to sequentially initiate movement of each of said units and opening of the selected access path.
3 more elements
A movable storage system comprising:
- a plurality of storage units disposed side-by-side and movable relative to each other to selectively open access paths between selected pairs of units;
- drive means associated with each unit energizable to move said unit in a selected direction;
- means for sensing the position of each storage unit relative to the adjacent storage units;
- manually actuatable means for selecting an access path to be opened between a pair of storage units;
- safety sensing means on each of said storage units for sensing the presence of any foreign object in an access path between a pair of storage units and being actuated in response thereto;
- and
- central control means coupled to each of said units and for sensing the status of and being responsive to actuation of said manually actuatable selecting means for identifying the units to be moved in order to open said selected access path, for determining the direction of said unit movement and for sequentially energizing said drive means associated with the units to be moved in a determined time delay sequence to sequentially initiate movement of each of said units and opening of the selected access path, said central control means sensing the status of and being responsive to actuation of said safety sensing means for disabling any response to said actuated manually actuatable selection means and for de-energizing any previously energized drive means.
4 more elements
A movable storage system comprising:
- a plurality of storage units disposed side-by-side and movable relative to each other to selectively open access paths between selected pairs of units;
- drive means associated with each unit energizable to move said unit in a selected direction;
- means for sensing the position of each storage unit relative to the adjacent storage units;
- manually operable means for selecting a new access path to be opened between a pair of storage units including first switch means disposed on the pair of storage units defining an existing access path and second switch means located on a storage unit adjacent to each of the possible new access paths to be selected;
- safety sensing means on each of said storage units for sensing the presence of any foreign object in an access path between a pair of storage units and being actuated in response thereto;
- and
- central control means coupled to each of said units and for sensing the status of and being responsive to simultaneous operation of said first switch means on said pair of storage units for enabling selection of said new access path and for sensing the status of and being responsive to actuation of one of said second switch means only subsequent to a simultaneous actuation of said pair of first switch means for identifying the units to be moved in order to open said selected new access path, for determining the direction of said unit movement and for sequentially energizing said drive means associated with the units to be moved in a determined time delay sequence to sequentially initiate movement of each of said units and opening of the selected new access path, said control means sensing the status of and being responsive to actuation of said safety sensing means prior to actuation of said second switch means for disabling any response to actuation of said first switch means to preclude movement of said units.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.