Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
In a material handling system including a rack structure having a plurality of material storage bays opening into an aisle, load handling means movable horizontally and vertically in said aisle and including load handling shuttle means selectively movable into and out of said bays to transfer loads between said bays and said load handling means; at least one elongated load storage assembly fixed within a storage bay with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to said aisle, said load storage assembly including a plurality of first load supporting members spaced apart along said longitudinal axis; and load handling means mounted on said shuttle means, said load handling means including a plurality of second load supporting members spaced apart along a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said load storage assembly and alignable with the spaces between said first load supporting members; the improvement wherein one of said load storage assembly or load handling means comprises a beam member, and a plurality of load supporting plate members angled upwardly and outwardly from said beam member and having their outer ends bent downwardly to a substantially horizontal position to define opposed substantially horizontally oriented load supporting elements; vertical movement of said load handling means being effective to transfer loads between said load storage assembly and said load handling means as said second load supporting members pass through said spaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a material handling system including a rack structure having a plurality of material storage bays opening into an aisle, load handling means movable horizontally and vertically in said aisle and including load handling shuttle means selectively movable into and out of said bays to transfer loads between said bays and said load handling means; at least one elongated load storage assembly fixed within a storage bay with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to said aisle, said load storage assembly including a plurality of first load supporting members spaced apart along said longitudinal axis; and load handling means mounted on said shuttle means, said load handling means including a plurality of second load supporting members spaced apart along a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said load storage assembly and alignable with the spaces between said first load supporting members; the improvement wherein one of said load storage assembly or load handling means comprises a beam member, and a plurality of load supporting plate members angled upwardly and outwardly from said beam member and having their outer ends bent downwardly to a substantially horizontal position to define opposed substantially horizontally oriented load supporting elements; vertical movement of said load handling means being effective to transfer loads between said load storage assembly and said load handling means as said second load supporting members pass through said spaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said load storage assembly is defined by said beam member and said angled plate members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each of said load supporting plate members comprises a substantially V-shaped element, the legs of said V intersecting at said beam member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said shuttle means comprises first and second rail members spaced apart horizontally and movable in a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said beam member with said rail members straddling said beam member, said second load supporting members comprising finger-like plate members attached to said rail members and extending inwardly therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which each of said second load supporting members includes a first horizontally disposed section attached to the rail member, and a second section angled downwardly from the horizontal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said storage bays includes a plurality of said elongated load storage assemblies spaced apart with their longitudinal axes parallel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said rack structure comprises a plurality of vertical beam members, each of said beam members comprising a pair of channel members spaced apart in back-to-back relationship; and each of said elongated load storage assemblies includes a horizontal beam member received between said back-to-back channel members, and fastened thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
159 words
In apparatus for handling loads comprising a fixed load supporting assembly including a plurality of first horizontally aligned, spaced apart load supporting members; a movable load handling assembly including shuttle means movable in a first path parallel to said first load supporting members and in a second path perpendicular to said first load supporting members, and a plurality of second load supporting members spaced apart along said shuttle means and alignable with the spaces between said first spaced apart load supporting members, movement of said shuttle means along said second path being effective to transfer loads between said fixed and movable load supporting assemblies; the improvement wherein one of said fixed load supporting assembly or movable load handling assembly comprises a beam member and a plurality of load supporting plate members angled upwardly and outwardly from said beam member and having their outer ends bent downwardly to a substantially horizontal position to define substantially horizontally oriented load supporting elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
In apparatus for handling loads comprising a fixed load supporting assembly including a plurality of first horizontally aligned, spaced apart load supporting members; a movable load handling assembly including shuttle means movable in a first path parallel to said first load supporting members and in a second path perpendicular to said first load supporting members, and a plurality of second load supporting members spaced apart along said shuttle means and alignable with the spaces between said first spaced apart load supporting members, movement of said shuttle means along said second path being effective to transfer loads between said fixed and movable load supporting assemblies; the improvement wherein one of said fixed load supporting assembly or movable load handling assembly comprises a beam member and a plurality of load supporting plate members angled upwardly and outwardly from said beam member and having their outer ends bent downwardly to a substantially horizontal position to define substantially horizontally oriented load supporting elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which said fixed load supporting assembly is defined by said beam member and said angled plate members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which each of said load support plate members comprises a substantially V-shaped element, the legs of said V intersecting at said beam member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which said shuttle means comprises first and second rail members spaced apart horizontally and movable in a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of said beam member with said rail members straddling said beam member, said second load supporting members comprising plate members attached to said rail members and extending inwardly therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which each of said second load supporting members includes a first horizontally disposed section attached to the rail member, and a second section angled downwardly from the horizontal.