Automatic storage and retrieval system
AssigneeHarnischfeger Engineers, Inc.
InventorsKurt M. Lloyd, LaMar A. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage and retrieval machine comprising a generally horizontal rail including a rail member, a base, a linear slide supporting the base for movement along the rail member, a generally vertical mast supported by the base, a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along the mast, and an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by the carriage.
Claims24
A storage and retrieval machine comprising
- a generally horizontal rail including a single rail member,
- a base supported only by said single rail member,
- a pair of linear slides which are spaced apart in the direction of said rail member and which support said base for movement along said rail member,
- a generally vertical mast having a lower end supported by said base, and having an upper end supported only horizontally,
- a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along said mast,
- an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by said carriage,
- a stationary motor, and
- a flexible member drivingly connecting said motor to said base for moving said base and said mast along said rail member.
A storage and retrieval machine comprising
- a generally horizontal rail including a generally cylindrical rail member, said rail member having an underside, said rail also including a support member extending downwardly from said underside of said rail member,
- a base,
- a linear slide supporting said base for movement along said rail member,
- a generally vertical mast supported by said base,
- a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along said mast,
- an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by said carriage, and
- a retainer separate from said linear slide for preventing upward movement of said base relative to said rail, said retainer defining a generally cylindrical bore through which said rail member extends, said bore having a lower portion, and said retainer also defining an opening which communicates with said lower portion of said bore and through which said support member extends.
A storage and retrieval machine comprising a generally horizontal track having opposite ends and including a generally cylindrical rail member having an underside, and a support member extending downwardly from said underside of said rail member, a base, a linear slide supporting said base for movement along said rail member, a drive wheel adjacent one of said rail ends, an idler wheel adjacent the other of said rail ends, a belt which is trained around said wheels and which drivingly connects said drive wheel to said base, a stationary motor drivingly connected to said drive wheel for moving said base along said rail member, a retainer separate from said linear slide for preventing upward movement of said base relative to said rail, said retainer defining a generally cylindrical bore through which said rail member extends, said bore having a lower portion, and said retainer also defining an opening which communicates with said lower portion of said bore and through which said support member extends, a generally vertical mast supported by said base, a pair of generally vertical, spaced rods fixed to said mast, a carriage, four linear slides supporting said carriage for vertical movement along said mast, two of said slides being vertically spaced and engaging one of said rods, and the other two of said slides being vertically spaced and engaging the other of said rods, and an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by said carriage.
A storage and retrieval machine comprising
- a generally horizontal rail including a rail member,
- a base,
- a linear slide supporting said base for movement along said rail member,
- a generally vertical mast supported by said base,
- a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along said mast,
- an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by said carriage, and
- a retainer which is separate from said linear slide, which is normally spaced from said rail member, and which engages said rail member when said base becomes misaligned with said rail member for preventing upward movement of said base relative to said rail.
A storage and retrieval machine comprising
- a generally horizontal rail including a single rail member having opposite ends,
- a base,
- a pair of linear slides which are spaced apart in the direction of said rail member, which do not prevent upward movement of said base relative to said rail member, and which support said base for movement along said rail member such that said base is supported only by said single rail member,
- a generally vertical mast having a lower end supported by said base, and having an upper end supported only horizontally and supported for movement in the direction of said rail member, said mast being moved in the direction of said rail member solely by said base,
- a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along said mast,
- an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by said carriage,
- a drive wheel adjacent one of said ends of said rail member,
- an idler wheel adjacent the other of said ends of said rail member,
- a motor drivingly connected to said drive wheel, and
- a flexible belt which is trained around said wheels and which drivingly connects said motor to said base for moving said base along said rail member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.