# US 4,392,767 A · Storage apparatus including conveyor means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,767 A - Document ID: US4392767A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/236,399 - Filed: 1981-02-20 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-03-21 - Inventors: Klaus Ischebeck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392767A ## CPC - B65G 47/5145: {with recirculation means} - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract Storage apparatus for articles capable of being retrieved includes at least one conveyor disposed generally in at least one plane and arranged in a generally sinuous manner formed by a plurality of joined loops each having generally U-shaped portions and generally straight portions with the straight portions being disposed side-by-side in generally parallel array. A receiving station receives articles and transfers them to the conveyor, and a take-off device takes off articles from the conveyor, the take-off device being arranged within at least one of the U-shaped portions for taking off the articles from the conveyor as the article is disposed in at least one U-shaped portion of the conveyor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Storage apparatus for articles capable of being retrieved comprising at least one conveyor means disposed generally on a plurality of planes located one above the other, said conveyor means being arranged in a generally sinuous manner in each plane with the conveyor means in each plane comprising a plurality of joined loops each having generallly U-shaped portions and generally straight portions with said straight portions being disposed side-by-side in generally parallel array, a receiving station means for receiving articles and transferring said articles to said conveyor means, and take-off means for taking off articles from said conveyor means, said take-off means being arranged within at least one of said U-shaped portions for taking off articles from said conveyor means as said article is disposed in said at least one U-shaped portion of said conveyor means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises one conveyor section disposed in one plane and at least one other conveyor section disposed in another overlying plane, said conveyor sections being generally vertically aligned, said conveyor means further comprising a conveyor connecting portion extending between said planes connecting said conveyor sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Storage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said conveyor connecting portion is disposed at an incline. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) Storage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a first plurality of said U-shaped portions define a first end section of said conveyor means and a second plurality of said U-shaped portions which are opposed to said first plurality of U-shaped portions define a second end section of said conveyor means, said receiving means being disposed at said first end section and said take-off means being disposed at said second end section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) Storage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said conveyor connecting portion is located at said first end section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) Storage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said conveyor means comprises a conveyor return portion extending between the conveyor section on the lowermost plane and the conveyor section on the uppermost plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) Storage apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising delivery conveyor means receiving articles from said conveyor means as said articles are taken off of said conveyor means by said take-off means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Storage apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising vertical carrying means connected between said take-off means and said delivery conveyor means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) Storage apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said delivery conveyor means comprise a plurality of delivery conveyors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) Storage apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said delivery conveyor means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced delivery conveyors extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said parallel straight portions of said conveyor means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Storage apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising reader means allocated for each take-off means for reading codes on articles in the storage apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) Storage apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising readers for each take-off means, said readers producing a reading signal for said articles being stored, said readers being connected to a process computer which receives said reading signals and thereby controls said take-off means to take off selected articles from said conveyor means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Storage apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said process computer is connected to said vertical carrying means and thereby controls said vertical carrying means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) Storage apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising input readers connected to said process computer, said input readers being located at said receiving station means for reading articles passing on said receiving station means to said conveyor means.