Patent GB-955593-A (GB)
Title: Mechanical load handling, transfer and storage equipment
IPC: A47B53/02
Filed: 1960-05-02
Abstract: 955,593. Storage systems; conveying devices on vehicles. TRIAX CO. May 2, 1960 [May 15, 1959], No. 15308/60. Heading B8E. The manually-operated control determining which storage bay of a storage system is to be served by the transfer carriage K (Fig. 7) has an element set to determine the vertical row of the compartment and a second element determining the horizontal row. In the construction illustrated two sets of push-buttons HNS-3 determine the first and second digits of the vertical column to be serviced and a set of push-buttons VNS-3 determine the horizontal row. As shown, the push-buttons are mounted on the carrier K so that they are accessible to the operator only when the carrier is in its home position as illustrated, and the control circuits are such that after servicing the selected bay the carrier returns to the home position. The bays are distributed in two facing frameworks FAR and FAL, one of which is serviced if the starting button SL is depressed and released, while the other is serviced if the starting button SR is depressed and released. Overriding start and stop switches S, S1 are provided at the home position. The loading and discharging bays need not coincide with the home position, and several loading and discharging positions may be provided. The carrier consists of a pair of masts. H1 (Figs. 6 and 7) guided to travel along the aisle between the two frames and driven by pinions HM-8 engaging fixed racks F. A vertically moving carriage V is driven up and down the masts H by pinions carried on the carriage V and engaging racks on the masts H. A carriage E is mounted by rollers EM-8 (Fig. 12), to move horizontally from the carriage V into an aligned storage bay B6 or B7. The carriage E is driven by chains EM-7 running over an idler pinion EM-6 and a driven pinion EM-4 and anchored at its ends EM-7A and EM-7B to the carriage V. A platform J on the carriage E can be raised and lowered by jacks JM-9 to raise or lower a pallet on to or from ledges F-3A in the storage bays B6, B7. The jacks JM-9 are provided with liquid under pressure from a common master cylinder having a piston moved axially by an electrically-driven screw jack on the carriage E. The remaining motions are driven by electric motors mounted on the corresponding carriage E or V, or on the masts H. The motor driving the masts H is controlled by counters stepped on when switches, associated one with each of the vertical columns of bays, are operated by passage of the masts H. The masts are thus brought to rest when they have reached the vertical column corresponding to the push-buttons HNS-3 operated. A similar control then causes the carriage V to be moved to the height determined by the push-buttons VNF-3. The remaining actions, including the return of the carrier to its home position, are determined by limit switches. Further limit switches prevent over-travel of any of the carriages. Whether the carriage moves from its home position through a cycle to deliver a load to a storage bay, or through a cycle to retrieve a load from a storage bay, is determined by whether the platform J has been previously raised to support a load or lowered to deliver one. If the controls are set to deliver a load to a bay which is already occupied an interlock device causes the carrier to be returned to the home position. The motors driving the masts H and the carriage V have a creep speed. Provision is made for separate control of the several motions for use during setting up and testing. A pushbutton S3, when depressed and released, causes the carrier K to move from the home position to a position for delivery or retrieval from the system. The carrier K may be moved in diagonal components instead of horizontally and vertically. It need not return to the home position between servicing two bays but may travel directly between the bays. Several loading and discharging bays may be provided and the mast H may be sufficiently flexible to cater for misalignment of the working parts. The loads are carried by pallets, which may be flat or may have legs, and which extend between inwardly facing ledges F3 (Fig. 6), in the storage bays. Alternatively, the load may be carried in bins or compartmented carriers. The movement of the carriage serving the storage bays may be diagonal, instead of horizontal and vertical. The masts H1 may flex to accommodate irregularities in the storage frames, which may be of jointed rectangular section so that they can be assembled on the ground and swung to the upright position. The system may be mounted in a semitrailer. Specification 955,594 is referred to.