GB1096780A - Article handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,096,780. Masted lift trucks; mechanical storage apparatus. HARTMAN METAL FABRICATORS Inc. June 13, 1966 [Aug. 12, 1965], No. 26297/66. Headings B8E and B8H. A carrier 11 for depositing articles in or withdrawing them from selected bays 18 in racks 17 is movable along an aisle between the racks and includes a pair of shuttle housings 21 each containing a retractable rail 41. These rails together constitute an article-supporting fork and can be extended from either side of the carrier 11 to carry a pallet or carton. The carrier is vertically movable on masts 13 carried by a trolley 12 which travels along a rail 16. The carrier 11 may be manually controlled or may be programmed to automatically transfer the articles. Shuttle housing 2 1.-The rail 41 has a rack 55 on its under side and is longitudinally slidable between outer rails 40, 42 to which a bracket, carrying an idler pinion 62 and gears 63, 64, is secured. The rails 40, 42 are also slidable into and out of the housing 21. The gears 63, 64 mesh with the rack 55 and with a rack 66 on the bottom wall of the housing 21. Pinions 38, 39 are driven by a motor 26 and mesh with a rack 69 provided on the rail 42. To extend the rails 40-42 to the left, the motor 26 is energized to rotate pinions 38, 39 counterclockwise in Fig. 4 (not shown), and the rack 69 is driven to the left together with the rails 40, 42. During this advance, gears 63, 64 are rotated by the rack 66 and drive the rail 41, through associated rack 55, to the left relative to rails 40, 42. By rotating the pinions 38, 39 clockwise, the rails may be retracted or extended to the right of the housing 21. In a modification, Figs. 8-10 (not shown), the rack-and-pinion drive is replaced by a chain-and-sprocket arrangement.