Load handling method and system

Claim 1

A system for handling a load comprising: a storage base for storing a load, said storage base comprising a plurality of spaced apart opposed storage shelves; a transport base and an engagement unit vertically disposed in relation to each other and vertically displacable with respect to each other, and mounted on an elevator means which is vertically and laterally displacable to a predetermined position opposite a predetermined storage shelf of the storage base, said transport base being positioned in a plane higher than a plane of the storage shelves and including conveyor means thereon; at least two slide rail means depending from said engagement unit; at least one slide means depending from each of said slide rail means, said slide means adapted for horizontal movement thereof axially along a length of said slide rail means in a direction towards and away from said predetermined storage shelf; at least one engagement member depending from said at least one slide means, said engagement member being mounted by means of rotational mounting means on said engagement member and being adapted for rotational movement; and at least one engagement means disposed on said engagement member, said engagement means engagable with an engagement surface on said predetermined load whereby said load is lifted and pulled by the engagement means and combined with the conveyor means on the base the load is moved between said storage and transport bases and said transport and storage bases.

Claim 2

A system for handling a load comprising: a storage base for storing a load, said storage base comprising a plurality of spaced apart opposed storage shelves; a transport base and an engagement unit vertically disposed in relation to each other and vertically displacable with respect to each other, and mounted on an elevator means which is vertically and laterally displacable to a predetermined position opposite a predetermined storage shelf of the storage base, said transport base being positioned in a plane higher than a plane of the storage shelves and including conveyor means thereon; at least two slide rail means depending from said engagement unit; at least one slide means depending from each of said slide rail means, said slide means adapted for horizontal movement thereof axially along a length of said slide rail means in a direction towards and away from said predetermined storage shelf; at least one engagement member depending from said at least one slide means, said engagement member being mounted by means of rotational mounting means on said engagement member and being adapted for rotational movement; and at least one engagement means disposed on said engagement member, said engagement means engagable with an engagement surface on said predetermined load whereby said load is lifted and pulled by the engagement means and combined with the conveyor means on the base the load is moved between said storage and transport bases and said transport and storage bases.

Claim 9

A method of handling a load, which comprises the steps of: supporting a rotatably mounted, non-extensible engagement member by means of a slidable support engaged on a slide rail member disposed on an engagement unit disposed above a transport base provided with a conveyor system; vertically and laterally displacing said transport base between spaced apart opposed storage shelves of a storage base for selective engagement with an engagement surface on an end of the load disposed on a respective one of said opposed storage shelves; positioning said transport base higher than said storage shelf for movement of the load from said storage shelf onto said transport base so that respective top surfaces of said transport base and storage shelf are not substantially aligned; engaging said load end with said engagement means; providing a combined pulling and lifting motion with said engagement means by axially displacing said rotatably mounted engagement member along said slide rail means thereby pulling the load from a respective storage shelf partially onto said conveyor system of said transport base; disengaging said engagement means and vertically displacing said engagement unit from said transport base; engaging said conveyor system to pull said load fully onto said conveyor system of said transport base; vertically and laterally displacing said transport base and engagement unit to a predetermined location; transferring said load from said transport base by engaging said conveyor system until said load is partially removed from said conveyor; vertically displacing said engagement unit until said engagement means is even with the end of said load; and displacing said engagement member axially until said load resides in said predetermined location.

Claim 10

A method of handling a load, which comprises the steps of: supporting a rotatably mounted, non-extensible engagement member by means of a slidable support engaged on a slide rail member disposed on an engagement unit disposed above a transport base provided with a conveyor system; vertically and laterally displacing said transport base between spaced apart opposed storage shelves of a storage base for selective engagement with an engagement surface on an end of the load disposed on a respective one of said opposed storage shelves; positioning said transport base higher than said storage shelf for movement of the load from said storage shelf onto said transport base so that respective top surfaces of said transport base and storage shelf are not substantially aligned; engaging said load end with said engagement means; providing a combined pulling and lifting motion with said engagement means by axially displacing said rotatably mounted engagement member along said slide rail means thereby pulling the load from a respective storage shelf partially onto said conveyor system of said transport base; disengaging said engagement means and vertically displacing said engagement unit from said transport base; engaging said conveyor system to pull said load fully onto said conveyor system of said transport base; vertically and laterally displacing said transport base and engagement unit to a predetermined location; transferring said load from said transport base by engaging said conveyor system until said load is partially removed from said conveyor; vertically displacing said engagement unit until said engagement means is even with the end of said load; and displacing said engagement member axially until said load resides in said predetermined location.