Last-in, first-out bottom-loading, bottom-deloading vertical storage and retrieval system and method of manufacture

A last-in, first-out bottom-loading, bottom-deloading vertical storage and retrieval system comprising a raising and lowering means such as a jack or a leveraged arm, a frame with a pawl or pawls for supporting a tray, a plurality of trays, and a deloading means for disengaging the pawl or pawls that support a tray in the frame. A method of manufacture of the same.

REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR DRAWINGS

DESCRIPTION

Definitions

A standard toothed ratchet comprises an arm and catch, a pawl, and at least one tooth.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment and Best Mode

As shown in the figures, the preferred embodiment and best mode of the present invention comprise a last-in, first-out bottom-loading, bottom-deloading vertical storage and retrieval system, comprising:a plurality of individually demountable stackable trays10, each stackable tray10comprising a tray height and a tray length and a tray width, each stackable tray10comprising a means for securely stacking with other trays10;a frame15adapted for surrounding four sides of one stackable tray10, the frame15comprising at least one vertical guiding sheet75, each at least one vertical guiding sheet75comprising an interior side facing an interior of the frame15and comprising an opposing exterior side, each at least one vertical guiding sheet75comprising a lateral edge and a medial edge, wherein each of the at least one vertical guiding sheet75interior side comprises an elongated guide slot85adapted for receiving a cross pin70, the frame15elevated by at least three frame legs20to a height greater than one tray height, the frame15comprising at least three frame pawls40for engaging one stackable tray10at a time such that a stack of trays10is supported in air by the frame15when the at least three frame pawls40engage and support a bottom tray10in the stack of trays10, wherein each frame pawl comprises a cross pin70;a raising and lowering means30for raising and lowering an item within the frame15, wherein the raising and lowering means is operable for raising a single stackable tray10between the at least three frame legs20from a ground level to a position above the at least three frame pawls40such that the single stackable tray10is engaged and supported by the at least three frame pawls40; anda deloading means35for disengaging the at least three frame pawls40while the deloading means35is being raised and lowered within the frame by the raising and lowering means, wherein the deloading means35comprises at least one vertical looped track90for receiving, guiding and releasing a cross pin as the deloading means35is raised and lowered in the frame by the raising and lowering means, wherein each vertical looped track90comprises a loop top and a loop bottom, wherein each vertical looped track90comprises a loop pawl95positioned at a loop bottom, wherein a top of the deloading means35is adapted to stack with a bottom of a stackable tray10such that the deloading means35is operable for individually demounting a single stackable tray10from a bottom of a stack of trays10that are supported by the frame15.

Optionally, the raising and lowering means30is a jack selected from the group consisting of: a screw jack, an hydraulic jack, an electric jack, a ratchet jack, and a scissor jack.

Optionally, the raising and lowering means30is a leveraged arm.

Optionally, the raising and lowering means30is an electric linear actuator.

Optionally, each of the frame pawls40comprises a levered arm, wherein each levered arm is positionable in a mortise in a medial edge of each of the at least one vertical guiding sheets, wherein a cross pin70extends from a side of each levered arm.

Optionally, each elongated guide slot85has a curvilinear shape.

Optionally, each of the frame pawls40comprises a spring-projected sliding latch bolt, wherein each sliding latch bolt is slidably positionable in a mortise in a medial edge of each of the at least one vertical guiding sheets, wherein each sliding latch bolt has a diagonally-shaped distal end45, wherein a cross pin70extends from a side of each latch bolt.

Optionally, each elongated guide slot85has a linear shape.

Optionally, each tray10comprises four tray corners, wherein the means for securely stacking with other trays10comprises four tray corner posts50extending vertically from each tray corner, wherein each tray corner post50comprises a tray corner post top end and a tray corner post bottom end and a tray corner post longitudinal axis, wherein each tray corner post top end comprises a tray corner post tongue55monolithically extending along the tray corner post longitudinal axis, wherein each tray corner post tongue55is adapted for fitting alongside a tray corner post bottom end of another tray10so that trays10can be securely stacked with other trays10.

Optionally, each tray corner comprises a tray corner slot65.

Some advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus were previously enumerated in the Summary section. Every advantageous feature does not need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the apparatus and/or methods.

Although these versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible. For example, embodiments can comprise combinations of the features described herein, such as combinations of the dependent claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.