Mechanized palletized storage systems

Claim 2

A three-dimensional system and apparatus for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods comprising a palletized storage area including a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations provided at a plurality of levels with pallets linked in a train of pallets to be stored in all but a number of storage locations at each level equivalent to the number of locations in a complete row, a hoist operable between said levels, and movable to a position adjacent any of said rows of storage locations, to allow a handler carried thereby to remove goods from selected pallets, and having associated therewith a plurality of pallet-handling devices, one for each level and each operable between two adjacent rows of the respective level to withdraw a pallet from storage and transfer any withdrawn pallet to an adjacent row, means for coupling said devices to said pallets, means on said devices for decoupling a pallet from said train of pallets, and control means operable to move said hoist to any level and to move the pallet-handling devices opposite a selected row, to withdraw a pallet from the row, to transfer the pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal thereof and to place the pallet in a position for operation thereon by the handler and to transfer the pallet after said operation to a different storage location.

Claim 3

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets comprising a plurality of different pallet storage levels each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, a pallet-handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, the palletized storage area at each level having a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row, left vacant, and control means operable to move the pallet-handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations and to withdraw a pallet from the selected row and transfer the withdrawn pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal to place the withdrawn pallet opposite a row adjacent that from which the pallet was withdrawn, a bulk store comprising a plurality of pallet storage locations within which pallets are arranged to be stored in random order, a pallet replenishment store having at least one vacant pallet storage location, a main aisle interconnecting the bulk and replenishment stores, a live store located on the opposite side of an auxiliary aisle from the replenishment store and wherein the pallets are stored in sequential order and wherein a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row are left vacant, a replenishment trolley for withdrawing pallets from the bulk store and transferring any withdrawn pallet via the main aisle to a vacant location of the replenishment store and a picking tower located in the auxiliary aisle and including a two-directional transfer unit arranged to withdraw a pallet from the live store to a position accessible to an operator in order for an order-picking operation to be effected and for transferring the pallet in a direction transverse to the direction of withdrawal to a position opposite an empty storage location in the live store or replenishment store.

Claim 4

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets comprising a plurality of different pallet storage levels each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, a pallet-handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, the palletized storage area at each level having a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row, left vacant, and control means operable to move the pallet-handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations and to withdraw a pallet from the selected row and transfer the withdrawn pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal to place the withdrawn pallet opposite a row adjacent that from which the pallet was withdrawn, a bulk store comprising a plurality of pallet storage locations within which pallets are arranged to be stored in random order, a pallet replenishment store having at least one vacant pallet storage location, a main aisle interconnecting the bulk and replenishment stores, a live store located on the opposite side of an auxiliary aisle from the replenishment store and wherein the pallets are stored in sequential order and wherein a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row are left vacant, a replenishment trolley for withdrawing pallets from the bulk store and transferring any withdrawn pallet via the main aisle to a vacant location of the replenishment store and a picking tower located in the auxiliary aisle and including a two-directional transfer unit arranged to withdraw a pallet from the live store to a position accessible to an operator in order for an order-picking operation to be effected and for transferring the pallet in a direction transverse to the direction of withdrawal to a position opposite an empty storage location in the live store or replenishment store.

Claim 5

A three-dimensional system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said picking tower is arranged to move across the faces of the storage locations in the live store and includes a platform arranged to receive a pallet from a storage location, means for effecting vertical movement of the platform to disengage a pallet from an associated train of pallets and means for moving a pallet on the platform in a direction transverse to the direction of withdrawal to place the pallet opposite an adjacent row of the live store.

Claim 6

A three-dimensional system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the picking tower is provided with an elevator platform for conveying a handler to any one of such storage levels.

Claim 7

A three-dimensional system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the picking tower is provided with a conveyor arranged to deliver goods removed from a pallet at any level to a lowerator communicating via a further conveyor with a sorting device.

Claim 8

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets comprising a plurality of different pallet storage levels each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, a pallet-handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, the palletized storage area at each level having a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row, left vacant, and control means operable to move the pallet-handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations and to withdraw a pallet from the selected row and transfer the withdrawn pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal to place the withdrawn pallet opposite a row adjacent that from which the pallet was withdrawn, a plurality of pallet storage location of a main store extending along one side of each of a pair of aisles and having a pallet replenishment store located between and serving both aisles, a picking tower located at one end of the aisles and arranged to receive pallets from storage locations and conveyed to the tower along either aisle by means of transfer trolleys adapted to remove a pallet from any selected storage location, to convey the pallet to the tower and return the pallet to a vacant storage location of the main store or replenishment store under the control of the control means and according to whether the pallet is completely emptied during a picking operation performed thereon, or not.

Claim 9

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets comprising a plurality of different pallet storage levels each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, a pallet-handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, the palletized storage area at each level having a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row, left vacant, and control means operable to move the pallet-handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations and to withdraw a pallet from the selected row and transfer the withdrawn pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal to place the withdrawn pallet opposite a row adjacent that from which the pallet was withdrawn, a plurality of pallet storage location of a main store extending along one side of each of a pair of aisles and having a pallet replenishment store located between and serving both aisles, a picking tower located at one end of the aisles and arranged to receive pallets from storage locations and conveyed to the tower along either aisle by means of transfer trolleys adapted to remove a pallet from any selected storage location, to convey the pallet to the tower and return the pallet to a vacant storage location of the main store or replenishment store under the control of the control means and according to whether the pallet is completely emptied during a picking operation performed thereon, or not.

Claim 10

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets comprising a plurality of different pallet storage levels each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, a pallet handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, the palletized storage area at each level having a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row, left vacant, and control means operable to move the pallet-handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations and to withdraw a pallet from the selected row and transfer the withdrawn pallet in a direction normal to the dirEction of withdrawal to place the withdrawn pallet opposite a row adjacent that from which the pallet was withdrawn a pallet-handling device comprising a main frame having running wheels driven by driving means mounted on the main frame for conveying the device in a direction transverse to the direction of withdrawal of a pallet from a storage location, and a lifting frame on such main frame having a cross-travel unit mounted thereon for removing a pallet from a selected storage location, and said lifting frame being vertically movable to disengage any selected pallet from an associated chain of pallets.

Claim 11

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets comprising a plurality of different pallet storage levels each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, a pallet handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, the palletized storage area at each level having a number of storage locations equivalent to a complete row, left vacant, and control means operable to move the pallet-handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations and to withdraw a pallet from the selected row and transfer the withdrawn pallet in a direction normal to the dirEction of withdrawal to place the withdrawn pallet opposite a row adjacent that from which the pallet was withdrawn a pallet-handling device comprising a main frame having running wheels driven by driving means mounted on the main frame for conveying the device in a direction transverse to the direction of withdrawal of a pallet from a storage location, and a lifting frame on such main frame having a cross-travel unit mounted thereon for removing a pallet from a selected storage location, and said lifting frame being vertically movable to disengage any selected pallet from an associated chain of pallets.

Claim 12

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets, comprising a plurality of different storage levels, each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, at least some of said rows containing a plurality of pallets coupled together to move as a train of pallets, a pallet-handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, control means for moving said pallet handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations, means linked with said pallet handling device to couple said device to that pallet of the selected row adjacent said pallet-handling device, means mounted on said pallet-handling device to withdraw the selected pallet from the selected row in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said pallet handling device, means for uncoupling said selected pallet from said train, and means for transferring said pallet-handling device and selected pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal.

Claim 13

A three-dimensional system for the storage, handling, selection and distribution of goods stored in pallets, comprising a plurality of different storage levels, each having a palletized storage area having a plurality of rows of pallet storage locations extending along at least one aisle, at least some of said rows containing a plurality of pallets coupled together to move as a train of pallets, a pallet-handling device at each level operable to transfer pallets from one row to another, control means for moving said pallet handling device opposite a selected row of storage locations, means linked with said pallet handling device to couple said device to that pallet of the selected row adjacent said pallet-handling device, means mounted on said pallet-handling device to withdraw the selected pallet from the selected row in a direction normal to the direction of travel of said pallet handling device, means for uncoupling said selected pallet from said train, and means for transferring said pallet-handling device and selected pallet in a direction normal to the direction of withdrawal.