Rotating elevator mechanism for article transfer in an automated storage system

An automated storage system comprising:

• (A) an article storage apparatus rotatable along an obround path and having a plurality of article-storage locations located in a plurality of vertical positions;
• (B) a vertical transfer unit disposed adjacent the article storage apparatus, the vertical transfer unit including:
• (1) a vertical mast having a vertical mast axis;
• and
• (2) a shuttle ring assembly having a central aperture surrounding the mast and coupled to the mast to allow the shuttle ring assembly to be translated vertically along the mast through a plurality of heights between a lower height and an upper height, the shuttle ring assembly including:
• (a) a rotary member coupled to the mast to be rotated through a plurality of orientations about the mast axis and comprising a plurality of article-holding fixtures, angularly spaced from each other about the mast axis, wherein the plurality of orientations includes a respective exchange orientation for each of the article-holding fixtures, and wherein the rotary member can be positioned in any one of the exchange orientations so that a selected one of the article-holding fixtures is in an associated exchange position;
• and
• (b) an article transfer mechanism configured to transfer an article between the rotatable storage apparatus and the selected one of the article-holding fixtures when the rotary member is positioned so that the selected one of the article-holding fixtures is in its associated exchange position;
• (C) an article delivery system positioned to deliver articles to the rotary member, wherein the plurality of orientations includes a respective loading orientation for each of the article-holding fixtures, and wherein the rotary member can be positioned in any of the loading orientations so that a selected one of the article-holding fixtures is in an associated loading position adjacent the delivery system to receive an article from the delivery system;
• (D) an article pick-up system positioned to remove articles from the rotary member, wherein the plurality of orientations includes a respective unloading orientation for each of the article-holding fixtures, and wherein the rotary member can be positioned in any of the unloading orientations so that a selected one of the article-holding fixtures is in an associated unloading position adjacent the pick-up system to transfer an article to the article pick-up system;
• and
• (E) a control system coupled to the rotatable storage apparatus, the vertical transfer unit, the delivery system and the pick-up system for controlling operation thereof.

An automated apparatus for exchanging an article with an article holder, the automated apparatus comprising:

• a vertical mast having a vertical mast axis;
• and
• a shuttle ring assembly having a central aperture surrounding the mast and coupled to the mast to allow the shuttle ring assembly to be translated vertically along the mast through a plurality of heights between a lower height and an upper height, the shuttle ring assembly including:
• a rotary member coupled to the mast to be rotated through a plurality of orientations about the mast axis and comprising a plurality of article-holding fixtures, angularly spaced from each other about the mast axis, wherein the plurality of orientations includes a respective exchange orientation for each of the article-holding fixtures, and wherein the rotary member can be positioned in any one of the exchange orientations so that a selected one of the article-holding fixtures is in an associated exchange position;
• and
• an article transfer mechanism positioned at a fixed angular orientation about the mast axis and configured to transfer an article between the external article holder and the selected one of the article-holding fixtures when the rotary member is positioned so that the selected one of the article-holding fixtures is in its associated exchange position;
• wherein the transfer mechanism is further configured to lift an article off an article-holding fixture in its exchange position, translate the article radially outward from the mast axis, and lower the article onto the article holder;
• and wherein the transfer mechanism is further configured to lift an article off the article holder, translate the article radially inward toward the mast axis, and lower the article onto an article-holding fixture in its exchange position.