Patent Publication Number: US-2009232632-A1

Title: Support platform

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automated storage and retrieval systems store items or containers of items on racks. The automated storage and retrieval handling equipment lifts and removes the items or containers from the racks and places new items or containers onto the racks. 
     The racks are relatively deep. Many items or containers are behind other items or containers on the rack, such that the storage and retrieval handling equipment must remove the items or containers in the front in order to access items or containers in the rear. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a support platform for use in automated storage and retrieval systems. The support platform is generally a planar board having an upper support surface. The board further includes opposing end edges and opposing side edges. The end edges each include first and second interlocking members formed therein. 
     The support platform is placed on the racks in the automated storage and retrieval system with items or containers of items placed thereon. Several support platforms are placed on each rack, one behind the other. The end edges of each support platform are interlocked with each adjacent support platform, with each first interlocking member interlocked with one of the second interlocking members of an adjacent support platform. 
     In use, when the automated storage and retrieval handling equipment retrieves an item from the racks, the handling equipment pulls the first support platform forward on the rack. Because the support platforms on the rack are interlocked, the second support platform and any subsequent support platforms are also pulled forward on the rack until the second support platform reaches the front of the rack. The handling equipment then lifts (or lowers) the first support platform to disengage the first support platform from the second support platform. The handling equipment can then take the support platform and the items or containers thereon to the appropriate location. The second support platform is then at the front of the rack where it is easily accessed by the handling equipment on a subsequent trip. 
     These and other features of the application can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pallet support platform according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the support platform of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the support platform of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of two support platforms interlocked with one another. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the interlocking members of the support platforms of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the support platforms of  FIG. 4  with items stored thereon and supported on a rack. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a support platform  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The support platform  10  is generally a planar board having a body portion with an upper support surface  12 . The support platform  10  further includes opposed end edges  14  and opposed side edges  16 . The end edges  14  each include a plurality of alternating first interlocking members  18  and second interlocking members  20 . The first interlocking members  18  are generally T-shaped projections adjacent complementary second interlocking members  20 , which are T-shaped openings through the support platform. The first and second interlocking members  18 ,  20  are beveled and/or tapered to facilitate interlocking. Handle openings  22  are formed adjacent each of the end edges  14  and side edges  16 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the support platform  10 . In the embodiment shown, the support platform  10  is generally rectangular. However, other shapes could also be used. Further, first and second interlocking members  18 ,  20  of different shapes could also be utilized. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the support board  10 . The support board  10  includes two identical (or, alternatively, symmetric) molded halves  24  each having a planar sheet portion  25  from which extend a plurality of ribs including a peripheral lip  25 , cross ribs  26  and ribs  27  that circumscribe the handle openings  22 . Each half  24  is injection molded as a separate piece of a thermoplastic or other material. The halves  24  are joined together at the ribs  25 - 27 , by hot plate welding or vibration welding (adhesives or other joining techniques could also be used). Alternatively, the halves  24  could be used separately, with the exposed ribs  25 - 27  oriented downwardly. Alternatively, a plastic sheet (without integral ribs) could be joined to the ribs  25 - 27  of one of the halves  24 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the support platform  10  interlocked with a similar support platform  10 ′. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the first interlocking members  18  of the support platform  10  are received in the second interlocking members  20 ′ of the support platform  10 ′. Similarly, the first interlocking members  18 ′ of the support platform  10 ′ are received in the second interlocking members  20  of the support platform  10 . In this manner, pulling the support platform  10  will pull the second support platform  10 ′ with it, and lifting or lowering the support platform  10  will disengage the support platform  10  from the support platform  10 ′. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the two support platforms  10 ,  10 ′ on a rack  32 . Although only two support platforms  10 ,  10 ′ are shown, it is understood that many more support platforms  10  would be connected in series along the rack  32 . Further, in an automated storage and retrieval system, many racks  32  spaced vertically and horizontally from the rack  32  shown, would also have the support platforms  10  stacked thereon. Each support platform  10  has a plurality of items or containers  30  placed thereon (Only two are shown, however, it is anticipated that the support platforms  10  would be fully loaded with stacked items or containers  30 ). In use, the handling equipment  34  is inserted beneath the first support platform  10  and then pulls the first support platform  10  forwardly on the rack  32 , such as by engaging the handles  22  or the first and second interlocking members  18 ,  20  on the front end edge  14 . This also brings the second support platform  10 ′ forward on the racks  32  as well as any subsequent support platforms (not shown). When the first support platform  10  has been pulled off the rack  32  and the second support platform  10 ′ has reached the front of the rack  32 , the first support platform  10  is lifted (or lowered) by the handling equipment  34  to disengage the first interlocking members  18 ,  18 ′ from the second interlocking members  20 ,  20 ′ of the first support platform  10  and second support platform  10 ′. Handling equipment  34  then takes the first support platform  10  and the items or containers  30  thereon to the appropriate location. Meanwhile, the second support platform  10 ′ is ready to be accessed by the handling equipment  34  in the future. 
     Similarly, when a loaded support platform  10  is returned to the rack  32 , the handling equipment  34  lowers the support platform  10  such that the first interlocking members  18 ,  18 ′ interlock with the second interlocking members  20 ,  20 ′ of the first support platform  10  and second support platform  10 ′. The handling equipment  34  then pushes the first support platform  10  rearwardly on the rack  32 , thereby also pushing the second support platform and any subsequent platforms rearwardly on the rack  32 . 
     Thus, the support platform  10  provides a simple, durable, inexpensive, easy to use device for storing and transporting the items or containers  30  in an automated storage and retrieval system. 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers for steps in method claims are for ease of reference in dependent claims and do not signify a required sequence unless otherwise stated.