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US 7,168,905 B1Granted
Storage and retrieval system
AssigneeWorthwhile Products
InventorsStanley B. Solomon, Tsuneo Shishido, Burton Barnett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns. Each storage unit includes wheels which engage a track for selective movement along the track. Vertical and horizontal actuators are used to move the storage units in sequence. Preferably, the actuators are power-driven, and control circuitry is used to coordinate the movement of the actuators.
Claims18
A storage system, comprising:
- a continuous track comprised of generally parallel tracks each having generally parallel upper and lower rails, wherein the track comprises a dual track, including a first set and second set of tracks positioned generally parallel to one another, the first and second sets of tracks each comprise a first rail in a first plane, and a second rail in a second plane and in overlapping arrangement with the first rail;
- a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit including wheels extending from a top portion thereof and configured to engage the upper or lower rails so as to suspend the storage unit from the rails when disposed at an uppermost or lowermost position in the column and permit selective movement along the track;
- a first vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a bottom storage unit of a first end column, and adapted to lift the first end column of storage units;
- a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;
- a second vertical actuator having an arm selectively movable under a storage unit, and adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units;
- and
- a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column.
4 more elements
A storage system, comprising:
- a continuous dual track, including a first set and second set of tracks positioned generally parallel to one another, wherein the first and second sets of tracks each comprise a first rail in a first plane, and a second rail in a second plane and in overlapping arrangement with the first rail;
- a plurality of individual storage units stacked in multiple columns, each storage unit including a first set of wheels extending therefrom a first distance for engagement with the first rail, and a second set of wheels extending therefrom a second distance for engagement with the second rail;
- a first vertical actuator adapted to lift a first end column of storage units;
- a first horizontal actuator for moving a storage unit from a top position in the first end column to a top position in an adjacent column;
- a second vertical actuator adapted to support all but a bottom storage unit of a second end column of storage units;
- and
- a second horizontal actuator for moving the bottom storage unit from a bottom position in the second end column to a bottom position of an adjacent column.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.