Patent GB-1046666-A (GB)
Title: Storage apparatus
IPC: B66F9/075
Filed: 1964-11-27
Abstract: 1,046,666. Storage systems; stacker cranes; catch gear for hoists. EUCLID CRANE & HOIST CO. Nov. 27, 1964 [Dec. 10, 1963], No. 48256/64. Headings B8E, B8H and B8L. [Also in Division H2] Storage apparatus includes an overhead travelling warehouse crane comprising a bridge 17, Fig. 2, on which is supported a trolley 18. carrying a mast 19, a carriage 20 being mounted on the mast for vertical travel-thereon and rotatably carrying an extractor fork 21 which is movable horizontally relative, to the mast for selectively depositing or removing a load, e.g. a pallet 100 carrying bars, on or from supports 16 which extend from posts 15, and define therebetween an aisle 1 along which the mast 19 travels. The mast 19 has vertically extending guide ribs 19<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 4, and the carriage 20 is fixed to a sleeve 32 which embraces the mast and ribs, the carriage comprising two beams 33 attached to the sleeve 32 and having at one end thereof a control cab 34 and at the other end thereof a bearing member 35 in which is rotatably mounted a driven turret 36. Extending from the latter are two tracks 40, Fig. 6 (not shown), on which is supported the fork 21 by means of rollers 56 and 58, the fork being moved along the tracks by the engagement of driven gears 54 with racks 55 mounted beneath the tracks 40. The carriage 20 is supported from the trolley 18 by a hoist cable 71 which extends from a driven drum 72. A plurality of aisles may be serviced by the crane. Automatic electrical control system.-This comprises means for orienting the lateral direction of the fork 21 relative to the aisle 1 and for correspondingly locating the mast 19 at the opposite side of the aisle 1 prior to the crane moving from a start position into the aisle and means for returning the crane to the start position after it has automatically delivered or retrieved a load. A limit switch LS12, Fig. 11 (not shown), on the fork 21, detects whether or not a load is on the latter which is subsequently extended accordingly at a position slightly above or below the selected supports 16 and working in conjunction with the switch LS12, switches LS9, LS10 allow the crane to operate only if a pallet is correctly positioned on the fork 21. Limit switches LS13H, LS13L, LS14H, LS14L (Fig. 13, not shown), are carried on the carriage 20 and co-operate with two sets of trips 64, 65 on the mast 19, Fig. 2, to stop the fork at the correct position relative the selected supports 16 and to control the vertical movement of the fork when the latter is delivering or retrieving a load. Other control limit switches are depicted diagrammatically in Figs. 10-12 (not shown), and an electrical diagram in Figs. 15a, 15b (not shown). In operation the operator turns a selector switch 554, Fig. 14 (not shown), to the left or right depending which side of the aisle 1 he wishes the fork 21 to be directed. He then depresses a selector switch 557 to determine the distance down the aisle the bridge 17 has to travel from the start position and a selector switch 558 to determine how far the carriage 20 is to move from a start position on the mast 19. He then depresses a start switch 551. The crane thereafter automatically carries out a series of sequential operations to deliver or retrieve a load. The movements of the bridge 17 and the carriage 20 may be carried out simultaneously. Safety catch gear.-Wedges 83, Fig. 9 (not shown), are housed in pockets 84 in the sleeve 32 and are connected to one end of a bellcrank lever 78, Fig. 4, the other end of which carries a roller 76 which is spring-urged against the cable 71. If the latter should go slack or break the wedges are moved to jam between opposed surfaces of the member 32 and the mast 19.