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US 5,820,237 AGranted
Vertical stacking system using controlled access method
AssigneeBellheimer Metallwerk GmbH
InventorTimothy J. Robey
Life of this patent
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AssigneeBellheimer Metallwerk GmbH
InventorTimothy J. Robey
Estimating the term…
A storage and retrieval system, such as a vertical carousel or vertical lift module, and access method provides substantially improved control over access to the contents stored in the system. A desired number of small doors are provided at an access area to limit an operator to obtaining a product from only that compartment on a carrier adjacent the access area. The doors are slidable or pivotable and can be locked and unlocked by a mechanism. The carousel is provided with carriers having compartments which can be divided into desired arrays depending upon product size and mix. The carriers are selectively movable to one of several positions adjacent the access area. Access to the carriers can be obtained through placement of an access area on one side or both sides of the machine. Electronic controls can be provided for each storage system or external computer controls can be used for a group of storage systems to permit more efficient use of the controls as well as remote placement of the storage systems.
A storage and retrieval system, comprising
A method for controlling access to contents of a vertical storage system having movable carriers comprising the steps of
In a storage and retrieval system having a limited access area, the improvement comprising a plurality of doors provided at a vertically disposed access area and being configured to be selectively operable individually and as groups to provide only authorized access to a system operator to an interior portion of selectively variable unobstructed width adjacent the access area the doors are vertically movable to a selected position from a fully closed position to one of a fully opened position and at least one intermediate position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.