Storage apparatus

A storage apparatus that includes a storage shelf having a plurality of horizontally and vertically arranged storage sections for storage of articles and a moving body for taking articles in and out of the storage shelf. Conventionally, since an article carrying in and out section for taking articles in and out of such storage apparatus is divided into working sections having substantially the same width as that of storage sections, a space for work is small and a work is made difficult and inefficient when the moving body is used to take articles out of the storage sections or articles are placed on the working sections. Therefore, a working space, which protrudes beyond the article carrying in and out section and is free of partitions is provided. With such arrangement, however, there is a problem that a storage apparatus is extended in a lengthwise direction. An article carrying in and out section of the storage apparatus is formed by an opening which is opened across a plurality of widths of the storage sections between front and rear surfaces of the storage shelf provided with the article carrying in and out section, so that a large working space can be provided which is free of any portion protruding beyond the storage apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a storage apparatus including storage 
sections for storing articles and a moving body for carrying in and out 
the articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a 
storage apparatus including a storage shelf having a plurality of storage 
sections arranged vertically and horizontally for storing the articles, an 
article carrying in and out section having a working section for carrying 
in and out the articles being provided at a portion of the storage shelf, 
a moving body being provided for conveying the articles between the 
working section and the storage section, the moving body including an 
article transfer device for transferring the articles between the working 
section and the respective storage section. 
BACKGROUND ART 
As an example of storage apparatus of the above type, there is known a 
storage apparatus including two storage shelves disposed with a front-rear 
distance therebetween, each storage shelf comprised of a plurality 
vertically stacked horizontal arrays formed by disposing storage sections 
for storing e.g. containers side by side in the horizontal direction. A 
moving body is provided for conveying an article over the distance between 
the pair of storage shelves. 
This type of storage apparatus may be formed compact as a whole, while 
allowing automatic carriage of an article introduced to an article 
carrying in and out section into a designated one of the plurality of 
storage sections and conversely carrying out the article from the storage 
section to the article carrying in and out section. 
A storage apparatus of this type is disclosed in e.g. Japanese laid-open 
patent gazette Hei. 4-341404. In the case of the storage apparatus 
disclosed in this gazette, at the front face of the storage shelf, posts 
are arranged with a same inter-distance as the width of the storage 
section. Because of the presence of the posts, working spaces at the 
respective working sections in the article carrying in and out section are 
partitioned from each other. That is to say, the width of each working 
section was limited to be same as the width of the storage section. 
Accordingly, when a worker takes out an article introduced into a certain 
working section of the article carrying in and out section from the 
storage section or when the worker places an article to be carried in into 
a certain working section of the article carrying in and out section, the 
space reserved for the work is limited, thus making the work difficult. 
Further, with this type of storage apparatus, in general, different kinds 
of articles are stored in different storage sections. Thus, when two kinds 
of articles are needed at one time for example, it sometimes happens that 
one kind of article is conveyed to one working section by the moving body 
and another kind of article is conveyed to another working section. And, 
when the two kinds of articles located at the different working sections 
are to be carried out, the operation is very inefficient if the working 
sections are partitioned from each other. 
Then, as a construction for overcoming the above-described inconvenience, 
it is conceivable to cause a working table (a drive conveyer 9 in the case 
of the above gazette) of the working section to protrude to the outside of 
the apparatus, in order to secure a space for working. However, this 
results in enlargement of the front-rear width of the apparatus thus 
enlarging the entire apparatus disadvantageously. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to provide a storage apparatus which 
entire apparatus may be formed compact yet which can allow efficient 
carrying in and out operations of articles. For accomplishing this object, 
a storage apparatus, according to the present invention, comprises: first 
and second storage shelves disposed with a distance therebetween in a 
front-rear direction as a first direction, each storage shelf including a 
predetermined number of horizontal arrays disposed vertically, each 
horizontal array having a plurality of storage units for storing articles 
which units are arranged side by side in a lateral direction as a second 
direction normal to the first direction, each storage shelf having front 
and rear faces extending normal to the first direction; a lift table 
disposed within the space between the pair of storage shelves and movable 
along the vertical direction of the storage shelves; lift operating means 
for lifting up and down the lift table; a moving body mounted on the lift 
table to be movable in the second direction; lateral movement operating 
means for allowing movement of the moving body relative to the lift table; 
an article transfer device mounted on the moving body for moving the 
article between the storage section and the moving body and between the 
working section and the moving body; and an article carrying in and out 
section formed between the front and rear faces of the first storage 
shelf, the article carrying in and out section being provided as an 
opening opened through widths of the plurality of storage units. 
Accordingly, in the case of the conventional storage apparatus, in order to 
render the width of the article carrying in and out section larger than 
the storage unit, it was necessary to cause the working table to protrude 
in the front direction of the storage apparatus. Whereas, in the case of 
the storage apparatus according to the present invention, it has become 
possible to provide the article carrying in and out section with the 
opened space free from such obstacles as frames, without having to extend 
the working table. Consequently, it has become possible to provide a 
storage apparatus which entire apparatus may be formed compact yet which 
can allow efficient carrying in and out operations of articles.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Next, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying 
drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows an entire storage apparatus according to the present 
invention. In this embodiment, a container C as an example of article may 
be stored at one of a plurality of storage sections provided on a storage 
shelf and a container C stored on a predetermined storage shelf may be 
taken out. Incidentally, the containers C may accommodate e.g. small items 
according to their kinds. Here, the storage section 1 is defined as a 
minimum unit of storage space of the storage apparatus. Accordingly, the 
storage section 1 may be referred to also as a storage unit. 
In this specification, a direction denoted with X in FIG. 1 will be 
referred to as a front direction, and the opposite direction will be 
referred to as a rear direction. Also, a direction denoted with Y will be 
referred to as a right direction and the opposite direction will be 
referred to as a left direction, respectively. Accordingly, a front-rear 
direction comprises the direction of an axis extending along the arrow X, 
and a lateral, or horizontal, direction comprises the direction of an axis 
extending along the arrow Y. 
This storage apparatus includes a pair of storage shelves 2A, 2B with a 
predetermined distance therebetween in the first direction, each shelf 
including a plurality of storage sections 1 for storing the articles. In 
other words, a horizontal array is formed by the plurality of horizontally 
disposed storage sections 1 and a plurality of horizontal arrays are 
vertically stacked one above another, thereby to constitute one storage 
shelf. By utilizing a lower region of the storage shelf 2A disposed on the 
front side, there is provided an article carrying in and out section 4 
including a plurality of working sections 3 for carrying in and out the 
articles, the working sections 3 being disposed side by side in the 
lateral direction. 
In the middle of the front-rear direction of each storage shelf 2A, 2B, 
there is provided a lift table 5 having a same or substantially same width 
as the shelf, with the lift table being liftable along substantially the 
entire vertical height of the storage shelves 2A, 2B. The lift table 5 
mounts a moving body 6 which is movable along substantially the entire 
lateral extension of the lift table 5. Further, this moving body 6 
includes an article transfer device 7 for transferring the container C 
between the working section 3 of the article carrying in and out section 
and the moving body 6 and between the storage sections 1 of the respective 
storage shelves 2A, 2B and the moving body 6. 
As shown in FIG. 1, on the front face of the storage shelf 2A, there are 
provided three posts 8 at the opposed ends and the middle therebetween. On 
the rear face of the storage shelf 2A too, there are provided three posts 
8 at the opposed ends and the middle therebetween. Accordingly, for the 
storage shelf 2A, there are provided a total of six posts 8. For the other 
storage shelf 2B, at the same positions corresponding to those of the 
storage shelf 2A, there are provided a total six of posts 8. The number of 
the posts may be more than 3, e.g. four or five, on the front and rear 
face of the storage shelf 2A, 2B, respectively. 
The three posts 8 disposed on the front face of the storage shelf 2A and 
the three posts 8 located on the rear side, respectively, are 
interconnected by a plurality of lateral frames 9 which are vertically 
arranged with a predetermined vertical distance therebetween. Similarly, a 
plurality of lateral frames 9 are provided also for the storage shelf 2B. 
And, retaining members 10 are provided between each lateral frame 9 
provided on the front face of the respective storage shelf 2A, 2B and 
another lateral frame 9 on the same level provided on the rear face. As 
may be apparent from FIG. 1, these retaining members 10 are fixed to the 
lateral frames 9 with a predetermined distance therebetween for allowing 
mounting and storage of the containers C. 
The retaining members 10 have substantially L-shaped cross section so as to 
support the lateral opposed ends of the container C and also to restrict 
lateral displacement thereof. Namely, a pair of opposed L-shaped retaining 
members form a part of the storage section. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, 
this retaining member 10 includes, at a lower face thereof on the side of 
the lift table, a guide portion 10a curved obliquely downwards. Then, the 
bottom of the container C is guided by this guide portion 10a, so that the 
container C may be smoothly transferred. Accordingly, a pair of front and 
rear lateral frames 9 and the plurality of retaining members 10 extending 
therebetween together constitute the horizontal array of the storage 
sections 1. And, each of the storage shelves 2A, 2B includes a 
predetermined number of these horizontal arrays. Further, the front and 
rear storage shelves 2A, 2B are interconnected with each other, at the 
tops of the respective posts 8, with a predetermined distance therebetween 
by means of lateral rods 11. 
The article carrying in and out section 4 is provided, at the lower region 
of the front-side storage shelf 2A, by utilizing the area corresponding to 
a plurality of vertically stacked storage sections 1 over the entire 
lateral widths thereof. And, the working sections 3 for carrying in and 
out the containers C are disposed side by side in the lateral direction. 
At each working section 3, in the level corresponding substantially to the 
waist of the worker, there is provided a working table 12 on which the 
container C is to be placed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, upwardly of this 
working table 12, there is reserved a working space for allowing carrying 
in and out operations. In the respective working space, a plurality of 
working areas corresponding to the widths of the plurality of storage 
sections 1 extend continuously and are opened so as to allow the carrying 
in and out operations of the containers C to be carried out easily in an 
open wide space without being interfered with by any other object. 
Incidentally, at the center of the article carrying in and out section 4 
(the position corresponding to the center post 8), there is provided a 
partition wall 13. 
Each working table 12 is movable back and forth between a transferring 
position as a first position where the article transfer device 7 transfers 
the container C and a carrying in and out position as a second position 
projecting more outwardly than the transfer position. That is, as shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4, at opposed vertical faces 14a, 14a of a fixed table 14 
fixed to and across the front and rear lateral frames 9, there are 
attached guide rails 15 having an angularly C-shaped cross section. And, 
on the rear side of support members 16 attached to the opposed sides of 
the bottom face of the working table 12, there are supported moving guide 
rollers 17 which engage with and are guided by the respective guide rails 
15. 
Further, to support portions 18 extending integrally from the guide rails 
15 on the front side, there are supported stationary guide rollers 19, on 
which engaging guide pieces 20 extending from the respective support 
members 16 movable with the working table 12 are mounted and slidably 
guided thereon. And, a contact portion 21 disposed at an intermediate 
portion of the support member 16 comes into contact with a fixed-side 
contact restricting portion 22, thereby to restrict any further outward 
projection, thus setting the carrying in and out position. 
Further, when the working table 12 is retracted to the carrying in and out 
position, a retaining hook 23 provided on the working table 12 
automatically engages, by its own weight, with a lock member 25 supported 
by a bracket 24 to one lateral outer face of the fixed table 14, whereby 
the working table 12 is locked in this position. 
At a front end portion of the container mounting face of the working table 
12, there is provided a contact portion 26a against which the container C 
when transferred by the article transfer device 7 comes into abutment at a 
predetermined transfer position so as to be prevented from being ejected 
outward, and at a rear end portion thereof, there are provided a guide 
face for allowing introduction of the container C and an engaging portion 
26b for preventing ejection to the outside. 
As shown in FIG. 2, at an upper position on an inner depth side of the 
container mounting space of the working section 3, there is provided a 
partition wall 27, which partitions between the working space and the 
lifting space of the lift table 5, thereby to assure the safety of work. 
Also, at a lower position of this partition wall 27, in correspondence 
with each working section 3, there is provided a work completion switch 28 
which is to be operated for allowing subsequent operation after completion 
of the article carrying in and out operation, as will be described later. 
Next, with reference to FIGS. 1, 5A and 5B, lift operating means for the 
lift table 5 will be described. 
As shown in FIG. 1, at upper positions on opposed side ends of this lift 
table 5, there are provided four guide drums 29a, 29a', 29c, 29c'. The 
guide drums 29c, 29c' are attached to the posts 8. Further, at the lateral 
center of the storage shelves 2A, 2B and at upper end regions of the pair 
of posts 8 opposed to the lift table 5, there are provided a pair of guide 
drums 29b, 29b'. Moreover, between the paired guide drums 29a, 29a' and 
the paired guide drums 29c, 29c', and on the side closer to the paired 
guide drums 29a, 29a', there are provided auxiliary guide drums 29d, 29d'. 
These auxiliary guide drums 29d, 29d' are provided at the upper ends of 
the storage shelves 2A, 2B and attached to the pair of lateral frames 9 
opposed to the lift table 5. Each of these total 8 units of guide drums, 
as shown in FIG. 5B, comprises a plurality of pulleys attached side by 
side, and includes, in an outer periphery thereof on which connecting 
wires are wound, recesses O so as to provide an increased sliding face 
with the connecting wires. 
As shown in FIG. 5A, the lift table 5 is supported by means of total six of 
connecting wires 30a, 30a', 30b, 30b', 30c, 30c'. One terminal end of each 
of these six wires is connected to a balance weight 32 and the other end 
thereof is connected with a pair of support members 31a, 31b fixed to the 
right and left sides of the lift table 5 and a pair of support 5A, 5A' 
fixed to the central portion of the lift table 5. Each support member 31a, 
31b has a rectangular shape and is attached, with the front-rear 
orientation, to the opposed side ends of the lift table 5. 
As shown in FIG. 5A, the connecting wires 30a, 30a' are connected to the 
support member 31a disposed on the left end of the lift table 5, with a 
front-rear distance therebetween. And, the wires extend upwards from this 
support member 31a to come into contact with the upper half portions of 
the outer peripheries of the guide drums 29a, 29a' and extend downward to 
be connected with the balance weight 32. 
The connecting wires 30c, 30c' extend upward from the support member 31b 
disposed at the right end of the lift table 5 to come into contact with 
right upper quarter portions of the outer peripheries of the guide drums 
29c, 29c' and then extend horizontally to the left to come into contact 
with the left half portions of the outer peripheries of the guide drums 
29a, 29a', extend horizontally to the right to come into contact with the 
right half portions of the outer peripheries of the auxiliary guide drums 
29d, 29d'. Thereafter, the wires again extend horizontally to the left to 
come into contact with the left upper quarter portions of the outer 
peripheries of the guide drums 29a, 29a' and then extend downward to be 
connected with the balance weight 32. 
The connecting wires 30b, 30b' are connected respectively with the pair of 
support arms 5A, 5A' provided at the lateral center of the lift table 5. 
These paired support arms 5A, 5A' extend in the front-rear direction to 
support the connecting wires 30b, 30b' so as not to prevent the lateral 
displacement of the moving body 6. Further, as viewed in the front-rear 
direction, the support arms 5A, 5A' are disposed at a position overlapping 
with the post 8 disposed at the lateral center of the storage shelves 2A, 
2B. 
The connecting wires 30b, 30b' extend respectively upward from the support 
arms 5A, 5A' to come into contact with the right upper quarter portions of 
the outer peripheries of the guide drums 29b, 29b' and then extend 
horizontally to the left to come into contact with the left half portions 
of the outer peripheries of the guide drums 29a, 29a' and extend 
horizontally to the right to come into contact with the right half 
portions of the outer peripheries of the auxiliary guide drums 29d, 29d' 
and again extend horizontally to the left to come into contact with the 
left upper quarter portions of the outer peripheries of the guide drums 
29a, 29a' and extend downward to be connected with the balance weight 32. 
Accordingly, the connecting wires 30b, 30c are wound about the guide 
members 29a, 29d so that the guide members 29a and 29d are located within 
loops formed by the connecting wires 30b, 30c. 
The balance weight 32 is moved up and down along a weight lift passage 
formed on the left side of the lift passage of the lift table 5. As the 
two guide drums 29a, 29a' on the left side are driven forwardly or 
reversely by means of a single electric motor M1 (an example of lift drive 
means), the respective connecting wires 30a, 30a', 30b, 30b', 30c, 30c' 
are moved forwardly or rearwardly in the longitudinal direction, thereby 
to lift up and down the lift table 5. 
The connecting wires are wound about the respective guide drums 29a, 29a', 
29b, 29b', 29c, 29c' and the auxiliary guide drums 29d, 29d' in the 
manners described above. In this, sufficient winding angles are secured so 
as to allow the drive force of the electric motor M1 to be reliably 
transmitted to the respective connecting wires 30a, 30a', 30b, 30b', 30c, 
30c'. Also, in comparison with a case where the wires are wound one time 
about the driving side guide drums 29a, 29a', provision is made to 
minimize the possibility of twisting of the connecting wires 30b, 30b', 
30c, 30c'. More particularly, auxiliary guide members 29d, 29d' are 
provided in the storage apparatus, and e.g. the connecting wire 30b forms 
a loop between the guide member 29a and the auxiliary guide member 29d. In 
other words, the guide member 29a and the auxiliary guide member 29d are 
located within the loop formed by the connecting wire 30b. With this, the 
connecting wire 30b comes into contact with the guide member 29a by which 
the wire is driven, at angle of 270 degrees, thereby to reduce the 
possibility of slip of the connecting wire 30b relative to the guide 
member 29a. Moreover, without the auxiliary guide member 29d, that is, if 
the connecting wire 30b formed a loop between the guide members 29a and 
29b, this would result in elongation of the connecting wire 30b, so that 
there might occur change in the stop position of the lift table 5 if the 
wire 30b is increased in length in association with the lifting operation. 
If this problem occurs in the connecting wire 30b, there is also the 
possibility of inclination of the lift member 5. In this manner, the 
auxiliary guide members 29d, 29d' serve to minimize the entire length of 
the connecting wire while assuring a large winding angle of the connecting 
wire relative to the drive guide member 29a. 
Further, in this embodiment, the lift table 5 is supported by the total six 
connecting wires as described above. As the lift table 5 has a rectangular 
shape elongate in the lateral direction, it is conceivable to support this 
rectangular member with only four connecting wires at the four corners 
thereof. However, there is the possibility of the lift table 5 being 
warped at the lateral central portion due to e.g. the weight of the lift 
table 5 per se or the load of the articles. Thus, by supporting the lift 
table 5 with the two additional connecting wires at the lateral central 
portion or in the vicinity thereof, the possibility of warping of the lift 
table 5 may be reduced. With this reduced possibility of warping of the 
lift table 5, the durability of the lift table 5 is improved and there 
will be formed no vertical gap between the lift table and the storage 
sections, whereby the articles may be transferred smoothly between the 
lift table and the storage sections. 
Incidentally, in this embodiment, the auxiliary guide member 29d too is 
driven via a drive chain Th as a synchronized drive means. Instead, the 
auxiliary guide member 29d may be supported to be freely rotatable without 
being driven. 
FIG. 8 shows the balance weight 32 and its support mechanism disposed on 
the left side of the storage apparatus, as viewed from the above. A pair 
of front and rear guide rails 33 for vertically guiding the balance weight 
32 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Each guide rail 33 has a cross section 
having a shape of a half of a rectangle, and is supported via a plurality 
of brackets 34 to the posts 8 of the front and rear storage shelves 2A, 
2B. A guided portion 35 on the side of the balance weight is constructed 
to be smoothly liftable while the guide portion has its lateral movement 
checked by a roller 36 rotatable about a front-rear axis while coming into 
slidable contact with the inner face of the guide rail 33 and has its 
front-rear movement checked by a roller 37 rotatable about a lateral axis. 
With the rationalized construction of the suspension type lift mechanism 
described above, the mechanism may be formed compact with minimized 
outward projection while bypassing the lift passage of the lift table 5. 
FIG. 7 shows the lift table 5 located between the storage shelves 2A, 2B as 
viewed from the above. As shown in FIG. 7, there is provided a lift guide 
39 (an example of lift guide mechanism) comprised of angular bar elements 
attached via the plurality of brackets 38 to the respective posts 8 
located at the opposed lateral ends of the rear side storage shelf 2B. 
This lift guide 39 liftably guides a guided portion 40 of the lift table 5 
while checking its horizontal movement. 
At the guided portion 40 of the lift table 5, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 
12, at rear end of each support member 31a, 31b, there is fixedly attached 
a support bracket 41. This support bracket 41 carries, respectively at two 
upper and lower positions, a pair of rollers 42 rotatable about a 
front-rear axis. These two pairs of rollers 42 bind the opposed side faces 
of the lift guide 39 to prevent relative lateral displacement of the lift 
table 5. Further, the support bracket 41 rotatably supports two pairs of 
rollers 43 with a vertical distance therebetween. These rollers 43 bind 
and support the front-rear faces of the lift guide 39 at the two upper and 
lower positions, thereby to prevent the front-rear relative movement of 
the lift table 5. Accordingly, with the two pairs of rollers 42 and the 
two pairs of rollers 43, a horizontal movement of the lift table 5 is 
prevented. 
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 11, the support bracket 41 mounts a rotary 
encoder 45 for detecting an amount of lift based on a rotational amount of 
the roller 44 sliding and rolling against the lift guide 39 in association 
with a lifting movement of the lift table 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, 
on the side of the support member 31 opposite to the position of the 
support bracket 41, there is provided a transmission type photoelectric 
sensor 47 for determining the lift stop position of the lift table 5 as 
the sensor is shielded by shielding plates 46 disposed at appropriate 
positions. 
Next, the lateral movement operating construction for the moving body 6 
will be described. In the following description of the moving body 6 too, 
the afore-mentioned definitions of the directions, i.e. the definitions of 
the front-rear direction and the right-left direction will be employed. 
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the moving body 6 includes a moving frame 48, 
and one of front and rear side frame members 48a, 48b constituting this 
moving frame 48 includes a ridge 5a laterally projecting to the side of 
the lift table 5, and also at two front and rear positions, an upper and 
lower pair of binding rollers 49, 49 for binding upper and lower opposed 
ends are supported to be rotatable about horizontal axes. With these 
binding rollers 49, 49, the moving body 6 is laterally guided while being 
prevented from floating upwards by means of the binding rollers 49, 49. 
Moreover, each frame member 48a, 48b, at each of two lateral positions, 
rotatably supports rollers 50 which roll about vertical axes while sliding 
against and binding the front and rear opposed ends of the lift table 5. 
And, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 10 and 11, opposed ends of a drive belt 52 
entrained about pulleys 51, 51 supported to each of the opposed ends of 
the lift table 5, with each pulley being rotatable about a front-rear axis 
are connected to the moving body frame 48, and as one pulley 51 is 
rotatably driven by means of an electric motor M2 (an example of lateral 
movement operating means), the drive belt 52 is moved in the lateral 
direction, and in association therewith, the moving body 6 is moved in the 
lateral direction. 
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 14, the one side frame member 48a mounts a 
rotary encoder 54 for detecting an amount of lateral movement based on a 
rotational amount of a roller 53 sliding and rolling against the side face 
of the lift table 5, and also there is provided a transmission type 
photoelectric sensor 56 for determining the lateral movement stop position 
of the lift table 5 as the sensor is shielded by shielding plates 55 
disposed at appropriate positions. 
The moving body 6 includes a reflection type photoelectric presence/absence 
detecting sensor 57 for detecting whether a worker is present or not in 
the vicinity of the working section 3 at which a transfer operation is to 
be effected, when the container C is to be transferred to and from the 
article carrying in and out section 4. 
Next, the article transfer device 7 for transferring an article between a 
storage section and the moving body 6 or between the working section 3 and 
the moving body 6 will be described. 
As shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, a pair of belt conveyers 58, 58 which are 
moved in the front-rear direction while mounting the container C thereon 
are driven by means of a single electric motor M3. At an intermediate 
position of each belt conveyer 58, 58, there is provided a retaining type 
transfer mechanism 59 for engaging and sliding the container C between a 
position where the container is to be transferred to the storage section 1 
or the working section 3 and a further position where the container is to 
be transferred on to the article transfer device. 
This retaining type transfer mechanism 59 includes a lift moving member 61 
vertically movably supported by four vertically oriented guide rails 60 
attached to the moving body frame 48. On this lift moving member 61, there 
is provided a slide plate 63 which is relatively slided in the front-rear 
direction along the guide rails attached on the member. Further, on this 
slide plate 63, there is provided a retaining member 65 which is 
relatively slidable in the front-rear direction along guide rails 64 
attached on the slide plate 63. This retaining member 65 is formed by 
curving a plate member into a substantially angularly C-shaped cross 
section, with opposed end bent portions constituting container retaining 
portions 65a oriented upwards. 
Then, the lift moving member 61, together with the slide plate 63 and the 
retaining member 65, is vertically moved between a retracted position 
where the container retaining portions 65a are located downwardly of the 
mounting face of the belt conveyers 58 and a retaining position projected 
more upward than the mounting face. 
On the side of the slide plate 63, there is formed a rack gear 67, and a 
pinion gear 68 which meshes with this rack gear 67 is supported to the 
lift moving member 61 to be rotatable about a vertical axis. Then, as this 
pinion gear 68 is rotatably driven by an electric motor M5, the slide 
plate 63 is slided in the front and rear directions. 
Further, to opposed ends of the slide plate 63 in the sliding direction 
thereof, there are supported sprockets 69, 70. As best shown in FIG. 15, 
one end of a roller chain 71 is connected to a rear portion of the 
retaining member 61. The roller chain 71 extends rearward to engage with 
the sprocket 69 and then extends forward, so that the other end of the 
roller chain 71 is connected to a stopper element 61a of the lift moving 
member 61. Also, one end of a further roller chain 72 is connected to the 
front portion of the retaining member 61. This roller chain 72 extends 
forwards to engage with the sprocket 70 and then extends rearward to be 
connected with a stopper element 61b of the lift moving member 61. 
Accordingly, when the slide plate 63 is slided in either of the front or 
rear direction, in association therewith the retaining member 65 is moved 
relative to the slide plate 63 in the same direction. 
Next, a transfer operation of the container C by the article transfer 
device 7 having the above-described construction will be described. 
First, there will be described the movements of the article transfer device 
7 when the container C is transferred on to the moving body by this 
article transfer device 7. 
From a ready condition in which the retaining member 61 is ready at a home 
position denoted by a solid line in FIG. 14, the electric motor M5 is 
driven to move the slide plate 63 and the retaining member 65 toward the 
container C mounted at either the storage section 1 or the article 
carrying in and out section 4. When the container retaining portions 65a 
are located downwardly of an engaging portion k of the container C, the 
motor M4 is driven to lift up the lift moving member 61, so that the 
container retaining portions 65a come into engagement with the engaging 
portion k of the container C. Under this condition, the slide plate 63 is 
moved in the opposite direction to slide the container C on to the article 
transfer device. In this, the respective belt conveyers 58, 58 are 
rotatably driven in synchronism with the retaining movement speed, so that 
the movement may be effected smoothly with reduced frictional resistance 
associated with the sliding movement. When the retaining member 65 is 
moved to the central position, the lift moving member 61 is lowered and 
then the container C is moved to a predetermined position by means of the 
belt conveyers 58, 58. 
As shown in FIG. 16, there is provided a control unit 73 for controlling 
the lifting operation of the lift table 5, the lateral movement of the 
moving body 6 and the transfer movement of the article transfer device 7, 
by utilizing a part of the article carrying in and out section 4. This 
control unit 73 is supported to a substantially box-like support member 74 
so as to be located in a substantially same level as each working table 
12. 
Next, the control operations by the control unit 73 will be briefly 
described. 
The control unit 73 includes a control panel 76 and a display unit 77. And, 
a worker selects a work mode by a predetermined operation, i.e. designates 
any one of `carry-in mode`, `carry-out mode`, `picking carry-out mode` and 
`replenishing carry-in mode`. Incidentally, the picking carry-out mode is 
for carrying out a small number of parts, and the replenishing carry-in 
mode is a mode used for replenishing parts to be mounted within the 
container C. Detailed descriptions of these will be omitted. 
When parts are to be carried into the storage section 1, the `carry-in 
mode` is selected by the control panel 76, and the part number and a 
particular work section 3 at which the operation is to be effected are 
designated. With these, the control unit 73 looks for a vacant storage 
section 1 and drives the lifting electric motor M1 to lift the lift table 
6 to a lift position corresponding to the particular storage section 1. In 
this, whether the table has been lifted to the corresponding position or 
not is detected by the rotary encoder 45 and the photoelectric sensor 47. 
Further, the control unit drives the lateral movement electric motor M2 to 
move laterally the moving body 6 to a position corresponding to the 
particular storage section 1. Whether the moving body has been moved to 
the corresponding position or not is detected by the rotary encoder 54 and 
the photoelectric sensor 56. 
Then, by the above-described transfer operation by the article transfer 
device 7, the container C is transferred, and then in the same manner as 
above, the article transfer device 7 is moved to the designated working 
section 3 and the container C is mounted on the working table 12. 
Incidentally, when the container C is transferred on to the working table 
12, if the presence/absence sensor 57 detects that a worker is present 
within the working space, i.e. more inside than the outer face 78 of the 
apparatus, the container transfer operation is not effected. Whereas, if 
presence of a worker is not detected, the transfer operation is effected 
at a normal operation speed. 
After completion of the carry-in operation and when the worker operates the 
operation completion switch 28, the container C under operation is stored 
into the predetermined storage section 1, whereby the operation is 
completed. 
The operation completion switch 28 incorporates a lamp, and this lamp is 
kept illuminating while the lift operation of the lift table 5 or the 
lateral movement operation of the moving body 6 is being carried out, 
thereby to indicate the apparatus being under operation. And, when the 
switch 28 is operated, the lamp is turned off. 
OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
(1) In the foregoing embodiment, the partition wall 13 is provided at the 
center of the article carrying in and out section 4. Instead, by 
constructing the upper wall constituting the working space from a rigid 
member, the construction may do without the partition wall. 
Further, in the foregoing embodiment, the article carrying in and out 
section 4 is provided over substantially the entire lateral width of the 
storage shelf. Instead, the article carrying in and out section 4 may be 
constructed by using only a portion of the lateral width of the storage 
shelf so as to extend over a plurality of working sections 3. 
(2) In the foregoing embodiment, the lift table 5 is supported by the total 
six connecting wires 30a, 30a', 30b, 30b', 30c, 30c'. Instead, as shown in 
FIG. 17, with eliminating the wires 30b, 30b', the lift table 5 may be 
supported by only four connecting wires. The guide drums 29b, 29b' 
corresponding thereto are also eliminated in this further embodiment. 
(3) Further, as shown in FIG. 18, it is also conceivable to eliminate the 
auxiliary guide drums 29d, 29d' from the above-described further 
embodiment. 
(4) In the foregoing embodiment, the respective connecting wires 30a, 30a', 
30b, 30b', 30c, 30c' are disposed within the lift passage of the lift 
table 5 provided between the respective storage shelves 2A, 2B. An 
alternative construction is possible as follows. In this construction, the 
connecting wires 30a, 30a', 30c, 30c' on the opposed ends are disposed 
farther from an end face L of each storage shelf 2A, 2B on the side of the 
lift table 5 away in the front-rear direction from the lift table 5, i.e. 
at the positions overlapping with the respective storage shelves 2A, 2B as 
viewed in the lateral direction, and also, as shown in FIG. 19, in the 
post 8 disposed in the lateral middle position on the side of the lift 
table 5, there is formed a recess U formed concave in the front-rear 
direction and on the side away from the lift table 5, so that the 
intermediate connecting wire 30b is fitted into this recess U and 
supported in suspension. 
With the above-described construction, the respective connecting wires 30a, 
30b, 30c are located inwardly of the end face L of each storage shelf, 
i.e. on the outer side from the lift passage of the lift table 5. Then, 
when a worker enters the lift passage for a maintenance or checking 
operation, the worker may carry out the operation safely without the risk 
of his/her body coming into contact with the wires. 
(5) In the foregoing embodiment, there is provided the one balance weight 
32. Instead, the balance weight 32 may be divided into two to be 
distributed to the front and rear opposed ends, with each divided balance 
weight being disposed at a position farther from the end face L of the 
storage shelf 2A, 2B on the side of the lift table 5 away in the 
front-rear direction from the lift table 5. 
With the above-described construction, in the course of the maintenance or 
checking operation as described above, the lift passage for the balance 
weight 32 is not present at the entrance to the lift passage, so that the 
safety of the operation may be improved. 
(6) In the foregoing embodiment, the balance weight is connected with the 
other ends of the respective connecting wires (wire members). Instead of 
such construction, the respective connecting wires may be longitudinally 
moved by alternatively effecting a take-up operation and a feed operation 
by rotationally driving the corresponding entraining guide members in 
synchronism by means of the lift drive means. 
(7) In the foregoing embodiment, the wires as the wire members are 
entrained about and guided on the entraining guide members provided in the 
form of pulleys. In place of such construction, chains as wire members may 
be entrained about and guided on sprocket type entraining guide members. 
(8) In the foregoing embodiment, the retaining members 10 are attached to 
the pair of lateral frames 9 in the same level, thereby to constitute the 
storage sections 1. Instead, the storage section 1 may be formed by 
disposing vertically extending posts at the four corners of each storage 
section 1 and bridging the retaining member across the front and rear 
posts. 
(9) In the foregoing embodiment, the working table 12 is adapted to be 
slidable. Instead, the working table 12 may be fixed in position. 
(10) In the foregoing embodiment, the article transfer device includes the 
retaining type transfer mechanism to retaining and sliding the article. In 
place of such construction, a fork type transfer mechanism may be 
employed. In this case, extendible and contractible forks will be 
introduced under the article, and the lift table 5 or the transfer 
mechanism will be slightly raised to mount and support the article. Then, 
by retracting the forks, the article may be transferred. 
(11) In the foregoing embodiment, the control unit 73 is provided in the 
article carrying in and out section 4. Instead, the control unit may be 
provided separately outside the apparatus. 
(12) In the foregoing embodiment, the container for mounting small size 
parts is described as the article to be stored. Instead, the construction 
may be adapted to store a single article having a predetermined shape as 
the article. The specific construction of the article is not particularly 
limited. Incidentally, in the case of storing a single article as 
described above, the article mounting face of the respective storage 
section or of the article transfer device will be formed flat. 
(13) In the foregoing embodiment, the lift guide for liftably guiding the 
lift table is provided to the post on the rear storage shelf. Instead, the 
lift guide may be provided to the post of the front storage shelf. 
(14) In the foregoing embodiment, in each working space, a plurality of 
working spaces corresponding to the width of a plurality of storage 
sections 1 extend continuously from each other to provide a large open 
space, so that the carrying in and out operations of containers C may be 
readily carried out without being interfered with by any objects. Instead, 
an alternative construction or second embodiment of the present invention, 
shown in FIG. 20 may be employed. In this case, the article carrying in 
and out section 4 is provided at a lower region of the front-side storage 
shelf 2A at a level (in this embodiment, the second level from the bottom) 
where the worker may readily effect the carrying in and out operations, by 
utilizing a half of the plurality of storage sections 1 arranged side by 
side horizontally in a row. And, at the storage section 1, the container 
mounting table 12 is provided to be slidable between a storing position 
where the article transfer device 7 effects the transfer operation and a 
projecting position projecting outward in the front-rear direction where a 
carrying in or out operation for carrying in the container C from the 
outside and then transferring it or carrying out the mounted container C 
to the outside is effected. 
(15) In the foregoing embodiment in paragraph (14), the lifted member (lift 
table) is formed as an elongate member. Instead, as shown in FIG. 21, if 
opposed ends of the wire member 30a are suspended across a pair of rotary 
guiding members disposed horizontally apart from each other with the 
lifted member 5 being connected to the one end and the balance weight 32 
being connected to the other end, the specific shape of the lifted member 
is not particularly limited. 
(16) In the storage apparatus according to the present invention, the lift 
table may be supported by the six connecting wires or the four connecting 
wires as described hereinbefore. However, as long as the lift table can be 
lifted with maintaining its horizontal posture relative to the ground, the 
lift table may be supported by two connecting wires also. In this case, it 
is conceivable to attach guide means such as a guide rail attached to the 
storage shelf, so as to maintain the balance of the lift table 
appropriately. 
(17) In the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is applied to a 
storage apparatus. Instead, the present invention may be applied to a 
multi-story parking system for lifting up and down an automobile as an 
article. In the case of the conventional storage apparatus, the number of 
posts 8 was increased so as to improve the strength. In the case of the 
present invention, however, by limiting the number of the posts 8 to such 
a degree as not to impair the strength, the working space at the article 
carrying in and out section has been enlarged.