Patent ID: 8651790
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. An overhead warehouse storage system for selectively elevating storage units, storing the storage units within a storage facility and retrieving the storage units from the storage facility, the storage system comprising: a warehouse storage structure including a first storage section for storing a plurality of storage units and at least one second staging section adjacent said first storage section for placement of said storage units to permit loading and unloading thereof, said first storage section including spaced columns defining a plurality of vertically oriented storage cells which are arranged in closely spaced side-by-side relationship with one another and which are open and free of obstructions from a bottom to an open top of each cell, each of said storage cells being of a size to guidingly receive a plurality of storage units therein that are stacked one upon another, said second staging section being spaced from said storage cells; an overhead track system including pairs of stationary spaced and parallel tracks that extend and intersect with one another in an X-Y plane above said vertically oriented storage cells of said first storage section; at least one powered transfer unit mounted to said overhead track system, said transfer unit including drive means to move said at least one transfer unit transversely along said pairs of spaced and parallel and intersecting tracks in the X-Y plane above said first storage section of said storage structure, each of said storage units defining a container for storing items therein, said at least one transfer unit including a hoist device for selectively engaging, elevating and lowering said storage units, each of said containers being constructed to permit items to be loaded into and removed therefrom; and wherein a plurality of said storage cells are configured such that storage units may be interchangeably placed therein.