High-shelf storage apparatus

Claim 1

A multi-tier system for the temporary storage of consumable stackable products which are utilized at a rate of consumption, stacks of products being delivered to said system on reusable carriers, the products having an axis, the carriers having a maximum capacity defined by the maximum number of products that can be carried, and each carrier and stack of products having a height, said storage system comprising: a plurality of storage tiers situated in a vertical array to define a shelf unit having plural storage tiers for the products, each of said tiers defining a single generally horizontal product support surface comprising a rotary conveyor having a plurality of horizontally adjacent product support positions, each of said rotary conveyors comprising a drive means, each of said rotary conveyors having a capacity, said conveyor capacity being definable by the maximum capacity of a carrier wherein said rotary conveyor capacity is greater than the maximum capacity of a carrier, said conveyors having vertically aligned loading positions and vertically aligned unloading positions, said loading and unloading positions being horizontally displaced and being oppositely disposed relative to said shelf unit; first transfer means for delivering products to said rotary conveyors, said first transfer means comprising: supply conveyor means for delivering stacks of products to be stored to a said loading position of said plurality of storage tiers; and means for transferring the products from said supply conveyor means to selected ones of said rotary conveyors; second transfer means for retrieving products from said rotary conveyors, said second transfer means being adjacent a said unloading position of said plurality of storage tiers, said second transfer means comprising: a plurality of distributor means, each of said distributor means including a plurality of product receivers and means defining a path of movement for said receivers, each of said path defining means being located intermediate an uppermost and a lowermost rotary conveyor of said plurality of tiers, each of said path defining means locations defining a vertical position, the vertical position of each of said path defining means being an integral multiple of the vertical height of said plurality of tiers divided by the number of said distributor means increased by one; and means for selectively engaging products stored on said rotary conveyors and moving said products from said conveyors to said distributor means receivers; wherein products are stored as a function of product throughput rate such that the lower the rate of throughput the further the product will be stored from said plurality of distributor means.