Plural depth storage system with a plurality of article handling means

Claim 1

In a warehousing system for storing and retrieving load bearing means, the combination of at least two high bay storage modules separated by an aisle, each of saiD modules comprising a honeycomb of storage racks arranged in superimposed and side-byside relationship and extending along the length of said aisle on either side thereof, each of said racks being of a depth sufficient to store two load-bearing means one behind the other, overhead rails on either side of said aisle at the tops of said modules, a stacker crane movable on said rails and incorporating a platform vertically reciprocable in said aisle, horizontally extensible load-supporting means mounted on said platform extendable into any one of said racks on either side of said aisle and adapted to project under a load-bearing means stored either in the front or back of a storage rack and retrieve said load-bearing means onto said platform, and a horizontally movable carriage mounted on said platform below said extensible loadsupporting means and having elevatable load support means adapted to project under a first load-bearing means retrieved by said extensible load-supporting means to move that load-bearing means off said extensible load-supporting means in a direction transverse to the direction of movement by said extensible loadsupporting means to a position on said platform whereby said extensible load supporting means may extend under and retrieve a second load-bearing means and place said second load-bearing means on said platform adjacent said first load-bearing means.