US3592348A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load carrier-load support mechanism in automatic warehousing system
Assignee: Triax Co
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Filing: 1969-11-10
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-11-10
Abstract
Abstract An automatic warehousing system including a load carrier movable horizontally and vertically in a travel zone for depositing loads into and removing loads from a storage rack, with other load support structure coacting with the travel zone for supporting one or more loads in position to be handled by the load carrier for transmittal to the storage rack. The load carrier includes a cantilever section on which is mounted an extensible loadhandling device or extractor. In one embodiment, the other load support structure comprises opposing pickup and discharge station structures having means thereon for supporting a load between the two stations, with the cantilever section and load-handling extractor being adapted to be received in nested relation between the two stations for handling loads supported between said two stations as well as loads supported solely on one station. In another embodiment the other load support structure comprises a conveyor mechanism having a cutout section in which the cantilever section and load-handling extractor are adapted to nest, with a load being adapted to be positioned above said cutout section, for handling by the load carrier upon raising of the extractor thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne G Atwater
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:06
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/07; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
In an automatic warehousing system comprising a plurality of horizontally and vertically disposed load support means having open load-receiving ends defining a generally vertical plane and there being an elongated travel zone alongside of said plane, a load carrier movable in said travel zone for delivering loads to said load support means and retrieving loads from said load support means, power means for actuating said load carrier, and control means for said power means, the combination therewith of other load support means disposed transversely across at least a portion of said travel zone for supporting a load thereon in position to be transferred by said load carrier from said other load support means to a selected one of the first-mentioned support means and vice versa, said load carrier comprising a generally horizontally movable conveyor portion, an elevator portion mounted for vertical movement on said conveyor portion, and an extensible extractor portion on said elevator portion mounted for lateral movement transversely relative to said travel zone, said elevator portion including a cantilever section on which said extractor portion is mounted, said other support means including means providing for nesting relation of said cantilever section and mounted extractor portion with said other support means during handling of a load by said load carrier at said other support means, whereby said cantilever section and mounted extractor portion may move generally vertically through said other support means during said nesting relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
In an automatic warehousing system comprising a plurality of horizontally and vertically disposed load support means having open load-receiving ends defining a generally vertical plane and there being an elongated travel zone alongside of said plane, a load carrier movable in said travel zone for delivering loads to said load support means and retrieving loads from said load support means, power means for actuating said load carrier, and control means for said power means, the combination therewith of other load support means disposed transversely across at least a portion of said travel zone for supporting a load thereon in position to be transferred by said load carrier from said other load support means to a selected one of the first-mentioned support means and vice versa, said load carrier comprising a generally horizontally movable conveyor portion, an elevator portion mounted for vertical movement on said conveyor portion, and an extensible extractor portion on said elevator portion mounted for lateral movement transversely relative to said travel zone, said elevator portion including a cantilever section on which said extractor portion is mounted, said other support means including means providing for nesting relation of said cantilever section and mounted extractor portion with said other support means during handling of a load by said load carrier at said other support means, whereby said cantilever section and mounted extractor portion may move generally vertically through said other support means during said nesting relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other load support means comprises a conveyor, said conveyor having a cutout section forming said nesting relation means therein, and into which said cantilever section and said extractor portion of said load carrier is adapted to move during handling of a load by said load carrier to and from said other load support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said elevator portion comprises a body section having means thereon adapted for rolling coaction with said conveyor portion during vertical movement of said elevator portion with respect to said conveyor portion, a neck section projecting outwardly from said body section and a head section extending transversely of said neck section, said head section supporting said extractor portion thereon, said extractor portion comprising an extensible table adapted for lateral extending movement with respect to said head section, and said head and neck sections comprising said cantilever section of said elevator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 including means for moving said elevator portion vertically with respect to said conveyor portion, said means comprising a motor means mounted adjacent the lower end of said conveyor portion, said motor means comprising a portion of said power means, and flexible support means movably mounted on said conveyor portion and being attached to said elevator portion, said flexible means coacting with said motor means whereby energization of said motor means causes movement of said flexible means to cause vertical movement of said elevator portion in the direction of energization of said motor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means for moving said elevator vertically includes circular members rotatably mounted on said conveyor portion adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and a rotatable drive member operably coupled to said motor means and coacting with said flexible means for movIng said flexible means upon energization of said motor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said conveyor portion comprises a lower carriage section and an upper section connected by vertically extending mast structure, track means in said travel zone supporting said carriage section thereon for movement of said conveyor portion in said travel zone, said elevator portion being mounted for vertical movement on said mast structure, said motor means being mounted on said carriage section and operably coupled to said flexible means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said conveyor portion comprises an upstanding mast structure supported at its lower end on a mobile carriage, said mast structure including vertically extending rail means thereon, and roller means on said elevator portion adapted for rolling coaction with said rail means on opposite sides of the latter for guiding the vertical movement of said elevator portion with respect to said mast structure of said conveyor portion, said motor means being mounted on said carriage, and sprocket means rotatably mounted on said conveyor portion and coacting with said flexible means for supporting the latter on said conveyor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other load support means comprises spaced pickup and discharge station frames disposed on opposite sides of said travel zone and including vertical load support members adapted to support a load thereon, said vertical members of each pickup and discharge station frame being spaced laterally with respect to one another a predetermined amount for receiving therebetween said extractor portion of said load carrier for handling a load at the respective station, said extractor portion being laterally extendible in both directions generally transverse to the direction of extension of said travel zone, said pickup and discharge station frames having inwardly extending load-supporting means thereon adapted to receive a load in bridging relation between the frames of said stations, thereby providing for the support of at least three loads on said pickup and discharge station frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the distance between the innermost vertical support members of the confronting pickup and discharge station frames is substantially as great as the width of said travel zone whereby said extractor portion can be moved between said innermost vertical support members and into underlying relationship with respect to a bridging load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said other load support means comprises a conveyor extending past said travel zone generally perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said travel zone, said conveyor having a cutout portion therein adapted to receive in nesting relation said neck and head sections of said elevator portion, said cutout portion being disposed in alignment with said travel zone whereby when a load is positioned at said cutout portion, said load carrier can handle the load.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said conveyor includes means at least one end thereof adapted to receive in coacting relationship tines of a conventional forklift truck for placing loads onto or removing loads from said conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said conveyor includes a plurality of spaced cutout portions disposed therein, and said system includes a plurality of travel zones having load support storage means disposed along each of said travel zones with each of said cutout portions being disposed in coacting generally aligned relationship with a respective one of said travel zones.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said other load support means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced conveyors, each of which has at least one cutout portion therein disposed in alignment with the travel zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A warehOusing system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said other load support means comprises a rotatable platform located at one end of said travel zone in alignment therewith, said platform having load supports thereon defining spaced pickup and discharge stations, said platform being adapted for rotation to present a selected one of said stations into alignment with said travel zone for positioning a load on said selected one of said stations for handling by said load carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A warehousing system in accordance with claim 10 including means coacting with said cutout portion for locating a load at said cutout portion for subsequent handling by said load carrier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |