Patent ID: 6042321
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A compact automated storage system for receiving, storing and returning palletless articles, comprising:a storage rack having a rigid support framework containing a plurality of open ended storage lanes having a cross sectional extent sufficient to allow the palletless articles to be conveyed into and out of said storage lanes, said open ends of said storage lanes being generally positioned adjacent a shelving pathway extending along said storage rack;an article transporter, movable within said shelving pathway, between loading/unloading stations in which said article transporter is alignable with corresponding open ends of said storage lanes, said article transporter including at least one shuttle means for moving an article along a storage lane when said article transporter is aligned with the open end of said storage lane and for vertically moving an article into and out of a stored position within said storage lane; anda plurality of support rail sets mounted on said support framework, respectively, within said plurality of open ended storage lanes, each said support rail set including a pair of outer support rails for providing vertical support to articles located in stored positions within the corresponding said storage lane and at least one pair of inner support rails for providing additional vertical support to said articles, said at least one pair of inner support rails being spaced, respectively, from said outer support rails by a distance sufficient to allow said shuttle means to pass therebetween when transporting an article along said storage lane, said inner support rails being spaced apart by a substantial horizontal distance to provide distributed support to articles stored directly on said plurality of support rail sets,whereby said storage system is adapted to provide undergirding support that is distributed to accommodate palletless articles.