GB1043371A - Improvements in and relating to storing goods - Google Patents

Abstract

1,043,371. Selective retrieval storage systems. J. A. STIRLING. Nov. 21, 1962 [Sept. 1, 1961], No. 31476/61. Heading B8E. In a storage system of the kind in which vehicles or other storage items are transported first vertically, then horizontally along a row of storage sites and finally moved transversely of the row into a selected site, the necessary movements of the means effecting the vertical and the two horizontal components of motion are remotely controlled electrically by a system which ensures the automatic performance of the complete cycle of operations necessary to store or retrieve an item in a selected storage site. The means for effecting the transverse movement is a device mounted on a trolley movable along the rows, and the control system is such that trolley movement cannot be made unless this transfer device is in its retracted position. The invention is applied to a mechanical garage in which a lift operates between an entrance and each of a plurality of floors, a transporter is movable out of the lift along a central gallery on each floor and a carriage 9 (Fig. 2, not shown) mounted on the transporter is movable laterally thereof into parking sites (Fig. 1, not shown) arranged on each side of the gallery. Complementary sets of tines (1, 4) are provided in the parking sites and on the carriage, the latter being driven along the site floors (3) by driven wheels (12) and guided thereon by wheels (13) which fit in a slotted track (17). The carriage also incorporates rams by which its tines can be raised and lowered to transfer vehicles to and from the fixed tines in the parking sites. Power and signal cables 24, 25 (Fig. 4, not shown) run up the lift shaft and the lift car has brushes 26 running on these cables to connect them to further cables (24A, 25A) in the lift car. The latter cables have terminals (32, 33) which connect with further cables (30, 31) running along each gallery. These cables feed the transporter, on which a fixed guideway 39 (Fig. 5A, not shown) mounts a movable guideway (41) which in turn mounts the frame (42) of the tined carriage. Electrical connection to the latter is by way of the rollers (43) which run in conductor rails carried by the guideway (39) and frame (42). A key-operated control panel (Fig. 6, not shown) selects the particular storage site to be served and a control circuit (Fig. 7, not shown) employs rotary switches to control the sequence of switching operations necessary to effect the appropriate series of movements of the lift, transporter and tined carriage to and from the selected site. The control circuitry includes limit switches on the transporter which prevent the latter's movement unless the tined carriage is in its retracted position. A similar safety device prevents hoist movement if the transporter is incorrectly positioned in the hoist. To align a car at the entrance with the tines on the carriage in the lift, the entrance comprises tines 60, 61 (Fig. 8, not shown) equipped with rollers (74) and rams (75, 76) which can move the car sideways over the rollers. In a single-storey system, the lift may be replaced by a ramp leading directly to the gallery in which the transporter runs.