US3805973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage and retrieval arrangement
Assignee: Acme Steel Co
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Filing: 1972-03-01
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Granted: 1974-04-23
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Expires: 1992-03-01
Abstract
Abstract In a storage and retrieval arrangement, a rail mounted load carrier is adapted to move up and down aisles formed between spaced bin-type storage frames. The load carrier includes a pair of upstanding masts which rollably engage an overhead rail and a lift platform, carrying a pair of extendible forks, elevatable between the masts. A transfer car is provided to movably transfer the load carrier between the aisles by rolling along rails disposed upon the floor; the floor being at the same level as the floors in the aisles. The transfer car includes a bed having a plurality of load beams which support rollers and a plurality of rails which are adapted to be aligned with the rails of the aisles and receive the load carrier; the load beams and rollers being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance to provide direct support to the load carrier when the load carrier is being transferred. The transfer car is also adapted to simultaneously transfer a pick-up conveyor and delivery conveyor with the load carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 H Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:47
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/07; B66F9/072; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407; B65G1/0428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
417 words
A storage and retrieval arrangement including a substantially horizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged in spaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported and movable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollers and including means for transferring articles into and out of said storage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith; transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto said transfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced load supporting beams extending in the direction of movement of said transfer means and being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means, said load beams being positioned between the floor of said floored area and the load carrier means when the latter is on said transfer means, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on each of said load beams and supporting said transfer means for movement on said floor, the floors of said aisles and the floor upon which said transfer means is supported being coplanar with each other, first support means on said transfer means and second support means on the floors of said aisles for supporting said load carrier for movement, said first and second support means being coplanar with each other, said first support means being positioned proximate said beam mounted rollers in the direction of movement of said transfer means, and said beams and said beam mounted rollers being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means by a predetermined distance which is substantially equal to the distance in said latter direction between the rollers which support said load carrier means, such that when said load carrier means is disposed upon said transfer means for transfer between the aisles, the spaced rollers of the load carrier means are simultaneously disposed directly above the load beams and vertically proximately to the beam mounted rollers both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributed directly and substantially entirely to said floor upon which said transfer means is supported through said vertically proximate beam rollers when said load carrier means is positioned upon said transfer means preventing deflection of the load beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
417 words
A storage and retrieval arrangement including a substantially horizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged in spaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported and movable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollers and including means for transferring articles into and out of said storage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith; transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto said transfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced load supporting beams extending in the direction of movement of said transfer means and being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means, said load beams being positioned between the floor of said floored area and the load carrier means when the latter is on said transfer means, spaced rollers rotatably mounted on each of said load beams and supporting said transfer means for movement on said floor, the floors of said aisles and the floor upon which said transfer means is supported being coplanar with each other, first support means on said transfer means and second support means on the floors of said aisles for supporting said load carrier for movement, said first and second support means being coplanar with each other, said first support means being positioned proximate said beam mounted rollers in the direction of movement of said transfer means, and said beams and said beam mounted rollers being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means by a predetermined distance which is substantially equal to the distance in said latter direction between the rollers which support said load carrier means, such that when said load carrier means is disposed upon said transfer means for transfer between the aisles, the spaced rollers of the load carrier means are simultaneously disposed directly above the load beams and vertically proximately to the beam mounted rollers both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributed directly and substantially entirely to said floor upon which said transfer means is supported through said vertically proximate beam rollers when said load carrier means is positioned upon said transfer means preventing deflection of the load beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of said load supporting beams include at least one of said beam mounted rollers and said rollers are spaced from each other both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said load supporting beams are also spaced from each other in both of said directions of movement, said load beams being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said transfer means by plate means, said plate means being positioned in non-supporting relationship to said load carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The arrangement of claim 1 including additional rollers on said transfer means associated with load support beams, said spaced rollers of said load carrier means being positioned between said spaced beam mounted rollers and said additional rollers, but substantially nearer said beam mounted rollers than said additional rollers, when said load carrier means is disposed upon said transfer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes a bed for receiving said load carrier means, and including aisle rails mounted in the aisles on the floor thereof, at least one bed rail mounted on said bed, said bed rail being axially alignable with respective ones of said aisle rails, and said plurality of spaced rollers on said load carrier means normally rollably engaging said aisle rails and rollably engaging said bed rail when said load carrier means is being received by and discharged from said bed, said load carrier means rollers being disposed on said bed rails when said load carrier means is being transferred from one aisle to the other aisle by said transfer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said transfer means support means includes at least a pair of rails on said transfer means supported by said load beams at points adjacent said beam mounted rollers, a plurality of spaced parallel rails on the floor upon which said transfer means moves, said beam mounted rollers rollably supporting said transfer means on said last mentioned rails, and said rails on said transfer means being notched adjacent said beam mounted rollers to accommodate the passage of said load beams and the spaced parallel floor rails therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said load beams are secured to the rails on said transfer means in regions substantially entirely above the lower edges of said rails on said transfer means so that the load beams are entirely above the level of the floor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The arrangement of claim 1 including means to position and lock the transfer means in aligned relationship with the aisles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 8 in which said alignment means includes a tapered plunger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The arrangement of claim 1 including conveyor means supported by said transfer means, sadi transfer means also transferring said conveyor means from one aisle to the other aisle when said load carier means is being transferred.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said conveyor means comprises a pick-up conveyor and a delivery conveyor and said load carrier means is disposed at least partially on said transfer means when picking up or delivery articles from and to said conveyors, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
272 words
A storage and retrieval arrangement including a plurality of storage frames arranged in spaced relationship to each other and defining at least a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means movable longitudinally in said aisles and including means for transferring articles into and out of said storage frames, and transfer means movable in a direction across the aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier is moved onto said transfer means, wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith: a plurality of first support means supporting said transfer means at a plurality of locations spaced a predetermined distance from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means, said first support means supporting said transfer means for movement between said aisles, a plurality of second supPort means supporting said load carrier means at a plurality of locations also spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier by a distance substantially equal to said first mentioned distance and supporting said load carrier means for movement in said aisles and between said transfer means and said aisles, said second spaced support means being simultaneously substantially vertically alignable with respective ones of said first support means both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means when said load carrier means is positioned on said transfer means for transfer between said aisles, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributed substantially entirely to said vertically aligned first support means and deflection of said transfer means is minimized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
272 words
A storage and retrieval arrangement including a plurality of storage frames arranged in spaced relationship to each other and defining at least a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means movable longitudinally in said aisles and including means for transferring articles into and out of said storage frames, and transfer means movable in a direction across the aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier is moved onto said transfer means, wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith: a plurality of first support means supporting said transfer means at a plurality of locations spaced a predetermined distance from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier means, said first support means supporting said transfer means for movement between said aisles, a plurality of second supPort means supporting said load carrier means at a plurality of locations also spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said load carrier by a distance substantially equal to said first mentioned distance and supporting said load carrier means for movement in said aisles and between said transfer means and said aisles, said second spaced support means being simultaneously substantially vertically alignable with respective ones of said first support means both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means when said load carrier means is positioned on said transfer means for transfer between said aisles, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributed substantially entirely to said vertically aligned first support means and deflection of said transfer means is minimized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said transfer means includes a plurality of spaced load beams, said first support means being mounted upon said load beams, the spacing between said load beams in the direction of movement of said load carrier means being substantially equal to the spacing distance of said second support means, whereby said second support means overlie said load beams when the load carrier means is positioned on said transfer means for transfer between said aisles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 12 wherein said first and second support means includes rollers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
376 words
A storage and retrievel arrangement including a substantially horizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged in spaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported and movable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollers and including means for transferring articles into and out of said storage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith; a plurality of spaced parallel rails on the floor of said floored area, transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto said transfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced load supporting beams and a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted on the beams, said load beams being positioned between the floor of said floored area and the load carrier means when the latter is on said transfer means, said beam mounted rollers supporting said transfer means on said rails during movement between said aisles, the floors of said aisles and the floor supporting said transfer means being coplanar, support means on said transfer means and on the floor of said aisles for supporting said load carrier for movement, said support means being coplanar with each other, said transfer means support means including at least a pair of rails on said transfer means supported by said load beams at points adjacent said beam mounted rollers, said rails on said transfer means being notched adjacent said beam mounted rollers to accommodate the passage of said load beams and the spaced parallel floor rails therethrough, and said beams and said beam mounted rollers being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance such that when said load carrier means is disposed upon said transfer means, the spaced rollers of the load carrier means are disposed directly above the load beams and vertically proximate to the beam mounted rollers both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributed directly to the load beams and load beam rollers preventing deflection of the load beams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
376 words
A storage and retrievel arrangement including a substantially horizontal floored area, a plurality of storage frames arranged in spaced relationship to each other on said area and defining at least a pair of aisles therebetween, load carrier means rollably supported and movable longitudinally in said aisles on a plurality of spaced rollers and including means for transferring articles into and out of said storage frames wherein the improvement comprises in combination therewith; a plurality of spaced parallel rails on the floor of said floored area, transfer means movable in a direction across said aisles for transferring said load carrier means from one of said aisles to the other of said aisles when said load carrier means is moved onto said transfer means, said transfer means including a plurality of spaced load supporting beams and a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably mounted on the beams, said load beams being positioned between the floor of said floored area and the load carrier means when the latter is on said transfer means, said beam mounted rollers supporting said transfer means on said rails during movement between said aisles, the floors of said aisles and the floor supporting said transfer means being coplanar, support means on said transfer means and on the floor of said aisles for supporting said load carrier for movement, said support means being coplanar with each other, said transfer means support means including at least a pair of rails on said transfer means supported by said load beams at points adjacent said beam mounted rollers, said rails on said transfer means being notched adjacent said beam mounted rollers to accommodate the passage of said load beams and the spaced parallel floor rails therethrough, and said beams and said beam mounted rollers being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance such that when said load carrier means is disposed upon said transfer means, the spaced rollers of the load carrier means are disposed directly above the load beams and vertically proximate to the beam mounted rollers both in the direction of movement of said load carrier means and said transfer means, whereby the weight of the load carrier means is distributed directly to the load beams and load beam rollers preventing deflection of the load beams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The arrangement of claim 15 wherein said load beams are secured to the rails on said transfer means in regions substantially entirely above the lower edges of said rails on said transfer means so that the load beams are entirely above the level of the floor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1317172A
Cited
US3670905A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-22 | 1977-10-22 | 1978-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-22 | 1981-10-22 | 1982-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-22 | 1985-10-22 | 1986-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |