Multi-level storage structure

An automatic multi-level storage structure comprising:

• a building structure having at least one entrance and exit station for respectively introducing an object for the storing thereof and withdrawing said object after retrieval thereof, a main floor directly accessible from said entrance station, and a plurality of storage levels:
• a plurality of object pallets provided with wheels and adapted to carry objects to be stored, said pallets being movable along, and guided by, first track means fixedly attached to a floor of each level;
• at least one storage elevator adapted to accommodate at least one of said object pallets at a time and vertically movable between said main floor and said plurality of storage levels;
• at least one transfer platform permanently located in said at least one elevator and provided with second track means fixedly attached to said platform, said second track means adapted to accept and guide the wheels of said object pallet, and further provided with first drive means for moving said object pallet onto said transfer Platform and subsequently moving it off said platform,
• second drive means for engaging said transfer platform enabling it to move longitudinally in both directions beyond the limits of said elevator far enough to ensure continuity, either on one side of said elevator or on the other side thereof, between said first track means fixedly attached to said floor of each level, and said second track means fixedly attached to said transfer platform, and
• wherein an object to be stored is moved onto one of said object pallets at said at least one entrance station and, for the duration of its stay in said storage structure, remains standing on said one of said object pallets, and said one of said object pallets being moved from an entrance station onto an elevator and from said elevator to a storage location on one of said levels and subsequently from said storage location, via said elevator, to said exit station.