Material handling and storage/warehouse system

A material handling and storage system for selectively storing items carried on movable supports, comprising:

• a plurality of columns of vertically spaced storage bins that are aligned in opposing rows and which are spaced by generally equally spaced aisles;
• a pair of vertically oriented guide tracks extending on opposite sides of each column of vertically spaced storage bins so as to be aligned with opposing vertically oriented guide tracks on opposite sides of an opposing column of vertically spaced storage bins;
• at least one elevator being of a size to movably carry one of the supports with items thereon along an aisle between opposing rows of storage bins, the at least one elevator having opposite sides from which guide elements extend so as to be selectively engaged with two pairs of opposing vertically oriented guide tracks when the at least one elevator is positioned between two opposing columns of vertically spaced storage bins;
• a stationary overhead grid track system including a first section spaced above the rows of columns of vertically spaced storage bins and at least one second section adjacent said first section and vertically spaced storage bins, the overhead grid track system including pairs of spaced and parallel tracks that extend within said first and second sections and which intersect with one another at generally right angles;
• at least one powered carrier mounted to the overhead grid track system so as to be movable transversely in an X-Y plane along the first and second sections, said at least one carrier including hoist means for selectively raising and lowering the at least one elevator between the opposing pairs of columns of storage bins;
• and
• transfer means carried by the at least one elevator for selectively transferring a movable support from either side of the at least one elevator into or from aligned storage bins.