GB1467343A - Automatic storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

1467343 Storage systems MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO KK 17 April 1974 16875/74 Heading A4T An automatic storage system comprises tiers of horizontal racks 1, article loading and unloading positions (not shown), and loading and unloading stacker cranes 2 movable at respective sides of the racks to transfer articles to and from the positions, each crane 2 including a carriage 4 having rails 7 for alignment with rails defined by the components of a required rack 1 so that articles 6 may be transferred to and from storage on dollies 5 arranged to run on the rails. The dollies 5 preferably have selfcontained battery-operated driving means, and a stop 12a on a bar 12 below each rack 1 is co-operable with a slidable stop 16 on the dolly to prevent the dolly 5 from leaving the rack 1 in the absence of a crane 2, a roller 19 on a lever 14 pivotally retracting the stop 16 by engagement with a plate 20 on the carriage 4 to allow movement on to or off the carriage 4. On positioning an article 6 to be stored at the loading position, with the carriage 4 at this position, a fixed chain conveyer (not shown) and a chain conveyer 9 on the carriage 4 act to transfer the article 6 to the carriage 4, whereupon the stacker crane 2 is operated by a control means to position the carriage adjacent the selected rack 1. Light-operated sensing means (10a, 10b), Fig. 8 (not shown), anthorizes a dolly 5 on the rack 1 to move on to the carriage 4 to pick up the article 6 and transfer it to the rack 1, whereupon further sensing means (11a, 11b) authorize the crane to move e.g. to pick up a further article 6. The dolly 5 positions the article 6 adjacent the next one on the rack I and then returns to its position at the loading side of the rack 1. The dolly 5 may be retained on the rack 1 or returned to the carriage 4 depending on whether or not the control means senses the presence of a dolly 5 on the next rack to be serviced. Alternatively, Fig. 16, articles may be transferred to or from the respective crane 2 at the loading or unloading position by forks 31 reciprocable by means of rack portions 31a co-operating with pinions 35 driven by a motor 38 through a sprocket connection 37. A linkage 40 operated by hydraulic means 41 enables the forks 31 to be lifted to raise the articles 6 from the loading positron 28 and lowered to deposit them on the carriage 4.