GB1008071A - Improvements in or relating to remotely controlled storage systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1,008,071. Masted lift trucks; storage systems. LANSING BAGNALL Ltd. Aug. 16, 1962 [May 16, 1961], No. 17844/61. Headings B8E and B8H. In a storage system including racks, each having a co-ordinate reference defining its location, and means for dispatching signals corresponding to the co-ordinate references from a control centre, a masted lift truck, movable in front of the racks and provided with a load-lifting carriage, is provided with means operable in response to the signals for causing the truck and the lifting carriage to move to positions corresponding to the positions indicated by the signals. As shown, a truck 13 running on rails 14 in front of storage racks 11 is provided with a lifting carriage 16 movable on a mast 15 and supporting transversely movable forks 19. The truck carries a magnetically responsive contact in a box 21 and the track has a series of electromagnets 22 at intervals corresponding to the intervals between partitions 12 between the columns of racks so that if a particular magnet is energized the contact on the truck will operate a relay to stop the truck. The magnets 22 are connected to a selector switch 24 operable by a dial 25 on a control panel 26. A dial 31 delivers impulses through a rail 29 and a shoe 30 on the truck to a selector switch 32 mounted on the truck and connected to magnets 33 on the mast 15. In operation, the truck is set in motion by a push-button 27 connected to the rail 29 and is stopped by one of the magnets 22 selected by the dial 25, and a relay is operated to raise the carriage 16 to a height selected by the dial 31. When the carriage stops it operates a relay to move the forks transversely and the load is deposited or lifted and the forks are returned to their central position and lowered automatically by the operation of limit switches. In modification, Figs. 2-4 (not shown), the magnets 33 and selector switch 32 are mounted on the storage racks and the truck runs on rubber-tyred wheels and is guided by depending members extending into a channel in the gangway floor. In further modifications (not shown), the truck carries an operator and some of the relays are replaced by switches for starting and reversing the reach movement of the forks and the minor lifting movements required to take or deposit a load but the main positioning of the truck and lifting carriage is controlled remotely. Alternatively, the truck is provided with a code-setting device for controlling the means responsive to the code and an operator, in communication with the control centre by radio, sets the setting device. Specifications 1,003,397 and 1,008,072 are referred to.