GB2063837A

GB2063837A - Bulk storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2063837A
Application number: GB8036142A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Rudge C J
Current assignee: Rudge C J
Priority date: 1979-11-26
Filing date: 1980-11-11
Publication date: 1981-06-10

Abstract

A bulk storage system has a number of storage units supported on respective carriages (16) movable along a track (26) so that by moving the carriages in succession an incremental distance a space equivalent to that distance can be created between any two adjacent carriages to give access to their storage units. Each carriage carries an armature (30) of a linear electric motor and co-operates with a stator rail (32) extending along the track to drive the carriage in either direction. When activated, the motor gives a drive pulse just sufficient to allow the carriage with its storage unit to coast over said incremental distance up to the next carriage. A safety mechanism comprises a transverse bar (46) on each side of the carriage which, when it contacts an obstacle, actuates the motor in the reverse direction to stop the carriage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bulk storage system This invention relates to bulk storage systems and components thereof.

A bulk storage system comprises a number of storage units in the form of cabinets each internally partitioned into suitable smaller storage compartments or shelves. Because of their rectangular outline, the units can be closely packed within a given area, and in order to make maximum use of the area it is only necessary to leave one space between two neighbouring storage units and to make all the units movable, so that by moving the units in succession across the said space, the space can in effect be moved about the storage area and created between any desired pair of neighbouring storage units. Conventionally the storage units are moved manually using a geared drive from a manually rotated handle or wheel. Powered movement is also known. However systems hitherto have not lent themselves to speedy operation using microelectronic technology.

The present invention provides a bulk storage system comprising a track, a plurality of carriages arranged for movement along the track and for carrying respective storage units, each carriage having a linear motor armature which co-operates with an elongate stator extending iengthwise of the track for driving the carriage along the track in either direction, motor control means for applying a drive impulse to a selected carriage to move it up to a neighbouring carriage on one side from which it is initially spaced and creating thereby a corresponding space between the selected carriage and the neighbouring carriage on the other side, and a safety mechanism comprising a contact member on either side of the carriage for engaging an obstacle in the path of said movement of the carriage, the contact member being arranged to actuate the motor in the reverse direction to stop the carriage.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the side view of part of a bulk storage system; Figure 2 shows diagrammatically a perspective view of part of the system; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a carriage for a storage unit.

Referring to the drawings; the bulk storage system comprises a number of storage units 10 (Figures 1 and 2) in the form of cabinets, closely packed within a storage area, but with a space 12 between two neighbouring storage units. Each unit comprises a cabinet 14 mounted on a carriage 16. The carriage comprises a rigid rectangular horizontal frame 18 with a central pair of cross members 20 flanked on either side by two outer pairs of cross members 22 (see Figure 3). Each pair of cross members 22 have journalled between them a pair of rollers 24 for supporting the carriage and allowing itto move transversely in either direction, as indicated by the arrows A, B.The rollers run on two parallel rails 26 which form a track, and the frame 18 has smaller rollers 28 journalled about vertical axes to embrace one of the rails and prevent sideways displacement of the carriage off the rails. The central pair of cross members 20 carry an armature 30 of a linear electric motor. The motor stator is provided by a central rail 32, parallel to the rails 26, and comprising a top highly conductive layer 34, e.g. of aluminium, and a lower body 36 of iron or other ferromagnetic material to carry the magnetic flux. An electrical control box 38 is mounted at a suitable place on the carriage, and a manual switch box 40 is mounted on a pillar 42 at one end of the frame. A pair of treadles 46 are provided on either side of the frame for engagement with an obstacle in the path of movement of the carriage along the track.A pair of trip switches 44 are mounted on the frame for engagement with neighbouring carriages independently of the treadles.

In operation, an operator who wishes to gain access to a particular storage unit has to create the space 12 between that unit and the neighbouring unit on one side. This is done by moving one by one across the space 12 all the units between where the space 12 currently is and where it is to be finally created. Each unit moves the same distance, equal to the width of the space 12. The operator can actuate the switch 40 of each of the intervening storage units in turn. This causes, through the control circuitry, the linear motor 30 to give a drive pulse of predetermined force and duration. This is set so as to be sufficient to move the storage unit across the space 12. It should be noted that the motor is not on throughout the movement; otherwise the unit would accelerate continuously across the gap and crash heavily into the neighbouring unit.Once the initial pulse has been given, the unit coasts across the space and collides very gently with the neighbouring unit, the construction of the carriages being such as to absorb that collision. Fenders or dampers can be fitted to the carriage for this purpose. When the switch 44 contacts the neighbouring carriage, it resets the control circuitry for the motor, so that when the motor is next activated it will apply a pulse in the opposite direction. If the leading treadle 46 should encounter an obstacle, such as a person standing in the path of the carriage, it immediately operates the control circuitry to apply a drive pulse to the motor in the reverse direction and of sufficient duration to stop the unit. The contact of the switch 44 with the neighbouring carriage deactivates the emergency circuit so that the treadle cannot then operate it.

This system of bulk storage units is very simple to operate, and lends itself to automatic operation using microprocessor technology. For example, an operator need not directly operate the switches of each of the units in turn. Instead, he may simply key into a control computer a reference signal representing the stored item he wants, and the computer, which will contain information on the location of all the stored items, will through suitable linkages (e.g.

electrical, optical, radio, or the like) operate the motors of the relevant storage units in the correct sequence to create the space 12 beside the storage unit having the desired item. The system uses relatively few moving parts, and the linear drive itself has no moving parts, so that friction and mechanical breakdown should be minimised. Also the linear motor provides a strong magnetic downward force while the motor is on, owing to the attraction between the armature and the iron part 36 of the rail. This force helps to stabilise the storage unit during acceleration.

Claims

1. A bulk storage system comprising a track, a plurality of carriages arranged for movement along a track and for carrying respective storage units, each carriage having a linear motor armature which co-operates with an elongate stator extending lengthwise of the track for driving the carriage along the track in either direction, motor control means for applying a drive impulse to a selected carriage to move it up to a neighbouring carriage on one side from which it is initially spaced, and creating thereby a corresponding space between the selected carriage and the neighbouring carriage on the other side, and a safety mechanism comprising a contact member on either side of the carriage for engaging an obstacle in the path of said movement of the carriage, the contact member being arranged to actuate the motor in the reverse direction to stop the carriage.

2. A bulk storage system according to claim 1, wherein said contact member comprises an elongate bar extending transversely of the track across the full width of the carriage.

3. A bulk storage system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the carriage has trip switches for operation on contact with an adjacent carriage on either side as the two carriages come together, so that the motor control means of the carriage which has just come to rest is then set to provide on next operation of the motor a pulse driving the carriage in the opposite direction.

4. A bulk storage unit according to claim 3, wherein the trip switch deactivates the safety mechanism so that it cannot be operated until reset by activation of the motor to move the carriage.

5. A bulk storage unit substantially as described herein, with reference to the drawings.