Storage system for automatically storing and removing dies

A system for storing dies, said system having a plurality of die storage cells arranged vertically in a column, with an elevator mounted adjacent to said column, each storage cell being sized to store a die and having roller means, which comprise first guide and transport means thereon, so that a die can either be placed in or removed from each cell, said elevator having a front, a rear and two sides and being connected to move vertically relative to said column, with power means to move the elevator vertically, said system being characterized by said elevator having a lift table with second guide means and third guide means and second transport means thereon, said second transport means permitting said die to move on said lift table, said second guide means arranged to guide said die as it moves from side to side on said elevator, said third guide means being arranged to guide said die as it moves from front to rear on said elevator, with first transfer means mounted on said system to transfer a die from side to side along said second guide means to or from said storage cell, said second guide means and said third guide means being connected to be independently extendable and retractable, and control means to store or remove a die on or from a particular storage cell and to receive or remove a die on or from said elevator, said control means extending said second guide means while said third guide means is retracted when moving a die from side to side, said control means extending said third guide means while said second guide means is retracted when moving a die from front to rear and vice-versa, said control means extending both said second and third guide means to lock a die in position on said elevator, said column and said elevator being a self-contained unit.