Patent ID: 6199722
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An article providing apparatus including a storage rack for storing articles therein, an operational unit for designating, as a designated article, one of said articles, and conveyance means for conveying said designated article from said storage rack to said operational unit, said storage rack having a front face, a rear face opposite to said front face, and side faces extending between said front and said rear faces and opposite to each other, said conveyance means comprising:a conveying robot movable right and left along the rear face of said storage rack for picking up said designated article rearwardly from said storage rack and conveying said designated article with movement thereof; anda conveyor disposed in a side space beside said storage rack adjacent to one of the side faces of said storage rack for receiving said designated article from said conveying robot to convey said designated article forward through said side space beside said storage rack, said operational unit being placed in front of said conveyor to receive said designated article from said conveyor, the front face of said storage rack having a loading portion for loading said articles into said storage rack.