Storage frame components and assembly thereof into a storage rack for use in automatic warehousing systems

Claim 2

In a storage framework for a warehousing system adapted for assembly so as to have a travel zone running alongside said framework for movement of a mechanical load carrier therein operable for depositing loads into and withdrawing loads from the storage framework, said framework defining a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged storage volumes having open load receiving ends adapted to face the travel zone, said framework comprising generally parallel longitudinal rows of spaced substantially vertical columns including a row of longitudinally spaced travel zone columns adapted for disposal along the travel zone and a row of longitudinally spaced outer columns spaced laterally outwardly respectively from said travel zone columns, at least certain of said columns each comprising a pair of channel-like members with the webs thereof disposed in closely spaced back-to-back relation, means securing said pairs of channel-like members together, means connecting said columns in each row in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of vertically spaced laterally disposed load carrying members on said columns and defining said storage volumes, said load carrying members which are connected to said certain columns including edgewise disposed web means received in sandwiched relation between the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members and contacting the latter in generally flat surface-tosurface relation, with the last mentioned web means being connected to the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members, said web means defining oppositely disposed recesses therein receiving in generally close fitting nesting relation the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members for rigidifying the latter.

Claim 3

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said load carrying members connected to said certain columns comprises means extending generally perpendicularly laterally from said sandwiched web means to define said recesses, and coacting with the respective channel-like members in encompassing relation.

Claim 4

In a storage framework for a warehousing system adapted for assembly so as to have a travel zone running alongside said framework for movement of a mechanical load carrier therein operable for depositing loads into and withdrawing loads from the storage framework, said framework defining a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged storage volumes having open load receiving ends adapted to face the travel zone, said fraMework comprising generally parallel longitudinal rows of spaced substantially vertical columns including a row of longitudinally spaced travel zone columns adapted for disposal along the travel zone and a row of longitudinally spaced outer columns spaced laterally outwardly respectively from said travel zone columns, at least certain of said columns each comprising a pair of channel-like members with the webs thereof disposed in closely spaced back-to-back relation, means securing said pairs of channel-like members together, means connecting said columns in each row in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of vertically spaced laterally disposed load carrying members on said columns and defining said storage volumes, said load carrying members which are connected to said certain columns including edgewise disposed web means received in sandwiched relation between the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members and contacting the latter in generally flat surface-to-surface relation, with the last mentioned web means being connected to the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members, and wherein said load carrying members comprise H sections in top plan, said pair of back-to-back channel-like members being received between the arms of the respective H section, the cross portion of said H section comprising said web means and having an opening therethrough aligned with openings through said channel-like members for receiving a fastener means, said fastener means serving to attach the respective load carrying member to said channel-like members.

Claim 5

In a storage framework for a warehousing system adapted for assembly so as to have a travel zone running alongside said framework for movement of a mechanical load carrier therein operable for depositing loads into and withdrawing loads from the storage framework, said framework defining a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged storage volumes having open load receiving ends adapted to face the travel zone, said fraMework comprising generally parallel longitudinal rows of spaced substantially vertical columns including a row of longitudinally spaced travel zone columns adapted for disposal along the travel zone and a row of longitudinally spaced outer columns spaced laterally outwardly respectively from said travel zone columns, at least certain of said columns each comprising a pair of channel-like members with the webs thereof disposed in closely spaced back-to-back relation, means securing said pairs of channel-like members together, means connecting said columns in each row in a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of vertically spaced laterally disposed load carrying members on said columns and defining said storage volumes, said load carrying members which are connected to said certain columns including edgewise disposed web means received in sandwiched relation between the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members and contacting the latter in generally flat surface-to-surface relation, with the last mentioned web means being connected to the respective pair of back-to-back channel-like members, and wherein said load carrying members comprise H sections in top plan, said pair of back-to-back channel-like members being received between the arms of the respective H section, the cross portion of said H section comprising said web means and having an opening therethrough aligned with openings through said channel-like members for receiving a fastener means, said fastener means serving to attach the respective load carrying member to said channel-like members.

Claim 6

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 wherein said load carrying members each comprises an H section, in plan, body portion, said channel-like members being received between the side flanges of said H section body portion and with the backs of said channel-like H members being disposed against the cross web of the H section, said cross web comprising said web means and in conjunction with said side flanges defining said recesses, and generally horizontally arranged flange portions projecting laterally from said side flanges for supporting a load in bridging relationship between laterally spaced of said load carrying members.

Claim 7

A storage framework in accordance with claim 4 wherein certain of said load carrying members comprise end abutment means on said lateral flange portions for preventing a load being shoved through the respective storage volume in a direction away from said travel zone columns.

Claim 8

A storage framework in accordance with claim 4 wherein said load carrying members secured to said outer column include stop means thereon for preventing a load being moved through the respective load volume in a direction away from said travel zone columns.

Claim 9

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 including a foot member including an upright portion disposed in sandwiched relation between said spaced channel-like members of the respective column, and means securing said foot member to said channel-like members.

Claim 10

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 including means extending between and connecting respective of said travel zone and outer columns together, the last mentioned means including an elongated spreader member comprising a channel section and attached end plate sections disposed between confronting of said zone and outer columns, and means securing the spreader member to the respective of said columns, said end plate sections being received between the side flanges of the respective channel-like members of the columns and being secured to the respective cross webs of said channel-like members.

Claim 11

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 including top cap members comprising a depending portion received in sandwiched surface-to-surface relation between the channel-like members of the respective column and a cap portion overlapping the top of the respective column, and means securing the top cap member to the respective column.

Claim 12

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 including diagonal bracing means extending between said zone and outer columns and being received between the side flanges of the confronting channel-like members of the respective columns, and means securing said bracing means to the respective columns.

Claim 13

A storage framework in accordance with claim 10 wherein the means securing the diagonal bracing means to the respective columns also secures certain of said load carrying members to the respective column.

Claim 14

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 wherein said load carrying members include elongated portions extending generally horizontally from one end thereof adjacent said zone column to the other end thereof adjacent said outer column to thereby extend for substantially the full depth of the respective storage volume, laterally opposed of said elongated portions being adapted for supporting a load in bridging relation thereacross.

Claim 15

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said framework structures is disposed on each side of said travel zone thus defining an aisle therebetween, and means extending between said framework structures and connecting the latter together across said travel zone.

Claim 16

A storage framework in accordance with claim 8 wherein a plurality of said spreader members are provided extending between said zone and said outer columns of each respective pair and including means disposed opposite the ends of the respective spreader member in sandwiched relation between each associated pair of said channel-like members, and fastener means extending between each column and the associated end of said spreader member for securing the respective spreader member and the last mentioned means to the respective columns.

Claim 17

A storage framework in accordance with claim 12 wherein said load carrying members each comprises an assembly including K-like frame end portions and elongated load supporting rail members extending between K-like frame end portions, said rail members comprising said generally horizontal elongated portions, each K-like portion comprising said web means and defining said recesses on opposite sides thereof in which said channel-like members are received in relatively snug relation, and fastener means extending between each K-like portion and respective pair of channel-like members for connecting the load carrying assembly to the zone and outer columns.

Claim 18

A storage framework in accordance with claim 15 wherein the arms of the K portion extend equally inwardly from the respective column toward the vertical center plane of the respective storage volume.

Claim 19

A storage framework in accordance with claim 15 wherein the load supporting rail members are of tipped M-like configuration in end elevation.

Claim 20

A storage framework in accordance with claim 1 wherein said framework includes a truss tower section adjacent the forward and rearward ends of said framework, said truss tower section comprising a combination of horizontal, vertical and diagonal bracing.

Claim 21

A storage framework in accordance with claim 18 including intermediate truss tower sections between the forward and rearward truss tower sections.

Claim 22

A storage framework in accordance with claim 15 wherein said zone and said outer columns are disposed in the respective recess on the exterior side of the respective K-like portion, each of said columns comprising a single channel-like member with the side flanges of the respective channel-like member being received in relatively snug relation in the respective recess, and said fastener means securing the load carrying assembly to each of said single channel-like members.

Claim 23

In a storage framework for a warehousing system adapted for assembly so as to have a travel zone running alongside said framework for movement of a mechanical load carrier therein operable for depositing loads into and withdrawing loads from the storage framework, said framework defining a plurality of vertIcally and horizontally arranged storage volumes having open load receiving ends adapted to face the travel zone, said framework comprising generally parallel longitudinal rows of spaced substantially vertical columns including a row of longitudinally spaced travel zone columns adapted for disposal along the travel zone and a row of longitudinally spaced outer columns spaced laterally outwardly respectively from said travel zone columns, load carrying means extending between each zone and outer column and comprising a load carrying assembly extending for substantially the full depth of the respective storage volumes, said assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced generally horizontally oriented elongated load carrying members and bracket means extending between and connecting said load carrying members together generally adjacent the ends of the latter, laterally opposed of said load carrying members in each storage volume being adapted for supporting a load in bridging relation thereacross, said bracket means comprising spaced K-like, in plan, support frames each of which is connected at its opposite ends to respective of said load carrying members and connected at its central portion to the respective of said columns, said central portion of each of said bracket means comprising an outwardly facing recess therein in which the respective column is received in relatively snug, at least partially encompassed relation, fastener means coacting between the respective column and said central portion of each bracket means for securing said load carrying assembly to the respective zone and outer columns, and wherein the diagonal arms of each K-like support frame extend diagonally inwardly, relative to said load carrying assembly, from said central portion, and in a direction away from the respective end of said load carrying assembly.

Claim 24

In a storage framework for a warehousing system adapted for assembly so as to have a travel zone running alongside said framework for movement of a mechanical load carrier therein operable for depositing loads into and withdrawing loads from the storage framework, said framework defining a plurality of vertIcally and horizontally arranged storage volumes having open load receiving ends adapted to face the travel zone, said framework comprising generally parallel longitudinal rows of spaced substantially vertical columns including a row of longitudinally spaced travel zone columns adapted for disposal along the travel zone and a row of longitudinally spaced outer columns spaced laterally outwardly respectively from said travel zone columns, load carrying means extending between each zone and outer column and comprising a load carrying assembly extending for substantially the full depth of the respective storage volumes, said assembly comprising a pair of laterally spaced generally horizontally oriented elongated load carrying members and bracket means extending between and connecting said load carrying members together generally adjacent the ends of the latter, laterally opposed of said load carrying members in each storage volume being adapted for supporting a load in bridging relation thereacross, said bracket means comprising spaced K-like, in plan, support frames each of which is connected at its opposite ends to respective of said load carrying members and connected at its central portion to the respective of said columns, said central portion of each of said bracket means comprising an outwardly facing recess therein in which the respective column is received in relatively snug, at least partially encompassed relation, fastener means coacting between the respective column and said central portion of each bracket means for securing said load carrying assembly to the respective zone and outer columns, and wherein the diagonal arms of each K-like support frame extend diagonally inwardly, relative to said load carrying assembly, from said central portion, and in a direction away from the respective end of said load carrying assembly.

Claim 25

A storage framework in accordance with claim 21 wherein the included angle between certain of the arms of the K-like bracket means is within a range of approximately 15* to 60*.

Claim 26

A storage framework in accordance with claim wherein each of said columns comprises a single channel-like member, the cross web of said single channel-like member being secured to a respective of said bracket means by said fastener means.