Patent ID: 9631390
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: B65G,E04H

Claim:
1. A method of storing loads in a support structure that defines a plurality of bays that are spaced apart vertically on multiple levels, with equal vertical spacing between said levels, said method comprising: receiving one of said loads on a support element; sliding said loaded support element to a position in which the loaded support element is supported on a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets being connected to a continuous tensile element of a vertical conveyor and said brackets being spaced apart along said tensile element by a distance equal to the spacing between the levels of the support structure; moving the loaded support element in the vertical conveyor along the tensile elements, to a predetermined level of the storage structure; sliding the loaded support element from the vertical conveyor to an inner bay defined in the support structure, adjacent the vertical conveyor, said support structure defining a plurality of said inner bays in which support elements can be supported, and said inner bays being defined on opposing sides of the vertical conveyor, said support structure further defining an outer bay on at least one side of the vertical conveyor, on at least one of said levels, with an inner bay disposed between the outer bay and the vertical conveyor; moving the loaded support element from the inner bay to an adjacent outer bay on the same level within the support structure; retrieving the loaded support element by rotating a frame that is configured to support two of said support elements in the inner bay and outer bay, respectively, said rotation inverting the positions of the support elements between the inner bay and outer bay, to move the loaded support element from the outer bay to the inner bay, sliding the loaded support element from said inner bay to the vertical conveyor, supporting the loaded support element on brackets attached to the endless tensile elements of the vertical conveyor, moving the loaded support element in the vertical conveyor and sliding it from the vertical conveyor.