Patent ID: 8425173

Claim:
An automated case unit storage system for handling case units that are adapted for being palletized for shipping to or from a storage facility, the automated case unit storage system comprising: an array of multilevel storage racks having predefined storage areas; a controller configured to effect dynamic allocation of case units of dissimilar sizes into dynamically allocated storage areas; and an autonomous transport vehicle operatively connected to the controller, the autonomous transport vehicle being configured for transferring the case units to or from the predefined storage areas, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame, a support shelf adapted for holding at least one case unit thereon, the support shelf being movably connected to the frame so that the support shelf is movable between extended and retracted positions, a drive system mounted to the frame, and guiding devices mounted to the frame; wherein the autonomous transport vehicle is configured to effect dynamic allocation of case units of dissimilar sizes into the dynamically allocated storage areas; and wherein the predefined storage areas include slatted storage shelves having raised support surfaces separated by open channels, the guiding devices including sensors for detecting the raised support surfaces for locating the autonomous transport vehicle within the array of multilevel storage racks and effecting dynamic allocation of the case units in the predefined storage areas; and wherein the support shelf includes extendable fingers configured to pass into the open channels for removing and placing case units on the slatted storage shelves, and a movable pusher bar where each of the extendable fingers are selectively latched to either the pusher bar or the frame, such that when latched to the pusher bar the respective fingers are extended and retracted through movement of the pusher bar.