Materials handling system

Claim 1

A storage system for handling, storing and retrieving articles including a plurality of storage bins, transport means for moving the articles to and from the storage bins and control means for controlling the operation of said transport means wherein the storage bins are formed from at least front and rear skeletal frame members and sets of support members, each set comprised at least of front and rear support members, respectively, mounted to said front and rear frame members, each of said support members including a vertically extending supporting spine having one end mounted to a respective frame member and a support element connected to the other end of said spine and extending generally transverse to said spine, said transport means includes transfer means for transferring the articles between said bins and said transport means further including at least one horizontally and vertically movable carriage assembly having at least two spaced apart horizontal arms each having a plurality of inwardly extending support fingers for engaging said materials, said support fingers being spaced apart along said arms so that they interdigitate with at least said front and rear support members when said articles are moved to and from said storage bins.