US3674159A — Load handling mechanism and automatic storage sys…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 391 words

In a warehousing system including storage rack means having a plurality of storage locations therein opening onto a generally longitudinally extending travel zone, and being adapted to store loads therein, and a stacker crane movable in said travel zone alongside said storage rack means for depositing loads into and removing loads from selected storage locations in said storage rack means, said stacker crane comprising, a generally longitudinally movable portion adapted for movement lengthwise of said travel zone, trackway means for guiding the movement of said longitudinally movable portion in said travel zone, an elevator portion mounted on said longitudinally movable portion for vertical movement with respect thereto, and a generally horizontally oriented load handling conveyor portion mounted on said elevator portion and adapted to extend in a direction generally transverse of said travel zone, power means coacting with said conveyor portion for energizing the latter wHereby a load can be moved on said conveyor portion from one end of said conveyor portion toward the other end thereof upon operation of said power means, means providing for shifting of said conveyor portion as a unit in a direction lengthwise thereof transverse of said travel zone and with respect to said longitudinally movable portion, said conveyor portion being adapted for coaction with said storage rack means for at least removing loads from selected storage locations in said storage rack means, and wherein at least certain of said storage locations in said storage rack means include load support means for supporting loads thereon in tandem relation and automatically removing the loads in a direction toward said travel zone for handling by said stacker crane, movable load transfer means adapted when in operative position for coaction between said storage rack means and said conveyor portion for moving a load from a selected one of said certain storage locations directly onto said conveyor portion, means for movably actuating said transfer means to cause transfer of a load from a selected storage location in said storage rack means directly to said conveyor portion, and holding means coacting with said transfer means and actuated by said actuating means to active position during actuation of said transfer means to said operative position, adapted for preventing an upcoming load immediately behind the handled load from interferring with movement of the handled load via said transfer means onto the conveyor portion.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 391 words

In a warehousing system including storage rack means having a plurality of storage locations therein opening onto a generally longitudinally extending travel zone, and being adapted to store loads therein, and a stacker crane movable in said travel zone alongside said storage rack means for depositing loads into and removing loads from selected storage locations in said storage rack means, said stacker crane comprising, a generally longitudinally movable portion adapted for movement lengthwise of said travel zone, trackway means for guiding the movement of said longitudinally movable portion in said travel zone, an elevator portion mounted on said longitudinally movable portion for vertical movement with respect thereto, and a generally horizontally oriented load handling conveyor portion mounted on said elevator portion and adapted to extend in a direction generally transverse of said travel zone, power means coacting with said conveyor portion for energizing the latter wHereby a load can be moved on said conveyor portion from one end of said conveyor portion toward the other end thereof upon operation of said power means, means providing for shifting of said conveyor portion as a unit in a direction lengthwise thereof transverse of said travel zone and with respect to said longitudinally movable portion, said conveyor portion being adapted for coaction with said storage rack means for at least removing loads from selected storage locations in said storage rack means, and wherein at least certain of said storage locations in said storage rack means include load support means for supporting loads thereon in tandem relation and automatically removing the loads in a direction toward said travel zone for handling by said stacker crane, movable load transfer means adapted when in operative position for coaction between said storage rack means and said conveyor portion for moving a load from a selected one of said certain storage locations directly onto said conveyor portion, means for movably actuating said transfer means to cause transfer of a load from a selected storage location in said storage rack means directly to said conveyor portion, and holding means coacting with said transfer means and actuated by said actuating means to active position during actuation of said transfer means to said operative position, adapted for preventing an upcoming load immediately behind the handled load from interferring with movement of the handled load via said transfer means onto the conveyor portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conveyor portion comprises an endless conveyor and said power means comprises a motor operatively coupled to said conveyor for driving the latter.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stacker crane includes means for rotating said stacker crane about a generally vertical axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said load support means for moving loads in a direction toward said travel zone comprise elongated load support members which tip upwardly from the horizontal at one end thereof whereby loads will move by gravity along the load support members toward said travel zone, and abutment means on said support members for stopping gravity movement of loads on said support members.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transfer means is mounted on said stacker crane and is movable into coaction with said selected storage location in said storage rack means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transfer means is disposed on said storage rack means at said selected storage location adjacent the proximate end thereof, and said actuating means including means on said stacker crane for causing actuation of said transfer means to cause transfer of a load from the selected location to said conveyor portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 155 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said transfer means comprises an abutment having a generally horizontal oriented axle rotatable about a generally horizontally extending axis, said abutment being secured to said axle and adapted for engagement with a confronting load disposed in the selected storage location for preventing movement of said load off the proximate end of the last mentioned storage location, and means coacting with said axle for rotating the latter and causing pivotal movement of said abutment out of interferring relation with the last mentioned load and into generally bridging relation between said proximate end and said conveyor portion, whereby the load can move by gravity from the storage location onto said conveyor portion, said holding means comprising a retainer member which when in said active position is adapted to engage the underside of the upcoming load and prevent said upcoming load from interferring with movement of the handled load.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 125 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein sAid transfer means comprises a platform movable from an inactive position wherein the platform is disposed below the top surface of said conveyor portion to said operative position wherein the platform is disposed above said top surface for lifting a load off the selected storage location and moving it into coaction with the conveyor portion whereby said conveyor portion upon actuation thereof by said power means can move the load onto said conveyor portion and in a direction lengthwise thereof, said holding means comprising a lug mounted on said transfer means and projecting generally forwardly therefrom for holding engagement with said upcoming load during movement of said platform from said inactive position to said operative position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for actuating transfer means includes power means coacting with said movable platform for actuating said platform from said inactive position to said operative position and vice versa.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 184 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein when said transfer means comprises a load supporting platform member mounted on said conveyor portion and projecting forwardly from one end thereof, said platform member being movable from an inactive position wherein it is disposed below the top surface of said conveyor portion to said operative position wherein it is disposed above said top surface, said means for actuating said transfer means including power means for actuating said platform member from said inactive to said operative position and vice versa, and each of said certain storage locations in said storage rack means comprising a passage portion in the proximate end thereof adapted to receive said platform member therethrough during movement of said platform member from said inactive to said operative position for transferring a load from the selected storage location into coaction with said conveyor portion, said holding means comprising a generally forwardly projecting stop lug on the leading end of said platform member adapted for engagement with the upcoming load during movement of said platform member from said inactive position to said operative position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 79 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said transfer means includes a generally vertically extensible and retractable linkage coacting between the last mentioned power means and said platform member, and including means whereby said platform member is moved upwardly and rearwardly during movement from said inactive position to said operative position, for moving a load from the selected storage location in a direction away from said proximate end of said storage location and toward said conveyor portion.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 57 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said transfer means comprises a conveyor section projecting forwardly of one end of said conveyor portion, said means for actuating said transfer means including power means for actuating said conveyor section for moving a load from the proximate end of said selected storage location onto said conveyor portion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 68 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said conveyor section is disposed laterally of said conveyor portion, and abutment means coacting with said conveyor section inwardly of one end thereof for directing loads from said conveyor section onto said conveyor portion after removal of the load from said proximate end of said selected storage location onto said conveyor section by powered operation of said conveyor section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

A warehousing system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means for actuating said transfer means includes power means for shifting said conveyor section as a unit in directions lengthwise thereof and for positioning said conveyor section forwardly of said one end of said conveyor portion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-07-04	1976-01-03	1976-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-07-04	1980-01-03	1980-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-07-04	1984-01-03	1984-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Load handling mechanism and automatic storage system

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