# US 9,751,701 B2 · Storage device for stackable containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,701 B2 - Document ID: US9751701B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/913,738 - Filed: 2014-08-19 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-23 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Roland Fritzsche; Maik Wesemeier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751701B2 ## CPC - B65G 57/035: {with a stepwise downward movement of the stack} - B64F 1/368: {Arrangements or installations for routing, distributing or loading baggage} - B65G 37/00: Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes (series of co-operating belt conveyor units B65G15/22; series of co-operating chain conveyor units B65G17/26; sequence control of combined conveyors B65G43/10) - B65G 43/10: Sequence control of conveyors operating in combination - B65G 47/5181: {using stacking or destacking arrangements or stacks of articles or article-carriers} - B65G 47/52: Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices (loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00) - B65G 60/00: Simultaneously or alternatively stacking and de-stacking of articles - B65G 2201/0258: Trays, totes or bins - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A storage device for stackable containers for conveying items, in particular items of luggage in a sorting conveyor system in an airport, includes a lifting conveyor with a container receiving device which can be guided between upper and lower conveying planes for storing at least one container. A conveyor is disposed in the upper conveyor plane for guiding storage containers to a transfer position and a discharge conveyor is disposed in the upper conveyor plane for discharging stored containers from a transfer position. A moving device moves a container from the transfer position to the empty container receiving device or to a container placed on the uppermost part of the container receiving device and moves the most upper container placed on the container receiving device to the transfer position. As a result, empty containers can be received, housed and guided back in a simple and cost effective manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A storage device for stackable containers for conveying individual items or items of luggage in a sorting conveyor system in an airport, the storage device comprising: an upper conveying plane and a lower conveying plane; a receiving position and a transfer position; a lifting conveyor having a container receiving device being movable between said upper conveying plane and said lower conveying plane, for storing at least one container; a feed conveyor disposed in said upper conveyor plane for feeding containers to be stored to said receiving position; a discharge conveyor disposed in said upper conveying plane for discharging containers from said transfer position; and a moving device for moving a container from said receiving position onto said empty container receiving device or onto a respective uppermost container deposited on said container receiving device as well as for moving the container deposited uppermost on said container receiving device to said transfer position; said moving device including a carriage configured to move parallel to said upper conveying plane, said carriage located above said container receiving device and having controllable gripper elements configured to engage and lift a container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The storage device according to claim 1, which further comprises a transport device, said container receiving device having a transverse conveyor configured to transfer a stack of stored containers on said lower conveying plane between said container receiving device and said transport device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The storage device according to claim 2, wherein said transport device is a reversible buffer conveyor for dynamic storage of container stacks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The storage device according to claim 2, wherein said transport device is a transport vehicle for transporting container stacks between said lifting conveyor and a stationary container buffer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The storage device according to claim 2, wherein said transverse conveyor is configured to transport a container between said receiving position and said transfer position on said upper conveying plane without said moving device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the containers are reversible, said discharge conveyor is formed by said feed conveyor and said transfer position is formed by said receiving position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The storage device according to claim 1, which further comprises a control device for controlling said container receiving device of said lifting conveyor by causing said container receiving device to move a container from said receiving position far enough upwards for the container gripped by said moving device to be deposited on said empty container receiving device or to be stacked on the uppermost container stored on said container receiving device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The storage device according to claim 7, wherein said control device is configured to move said container receiving device upwards far enough to permit the uppermost container to be gripped by said moving device in order to move the uppermost container stored on said container receiving device to said transfer position.