Patent ID: 7086677

Claim:
A vertical lift system for transporting a receptacle ( 3 ) from one deck to another deck, said vertical lift system comprising a vertically extending stationary lift shaft ( 5 , 6 ), a vertical lift ( 71 ) movable up and down in said stationary lift shaft, at least one stationary activating member ( 12 ) mounted in a fixed position in said stationary lift shaft, a number of gripper mechanisms ( 7 ) secured to said vertical lift ( 71 ) for gripping said receptacle, a number of latch elements ( 9 ) secured to said receptacle ( 3 ) in positions for engagement with said gripper mechanisms ( 7 ), guides ( 3 A, 115 ) for aligning said gripper mechanisms ( 7 ) with said latch elements ( 9 ) in said positions for engagement, each gripper mechanism ( 7 ) comprising a lifting hook ( 10 ) for engaging a respective latch element ( 9 ) of said latch elements ( 9 ), a locking pawl ( 11 ) for locking said lifting hook in a latch element engaging position, and a mechanical coupling operatively interposed between said lifting hook ( 10 ) and said locking pawl ( 11 ) for automatically coupling and decoupling said locking pawl ( 11 ) and said lifting hook ( 10 ) in response to a movement direction and an instantaneous position of said vertical lift ( 71 ) relative to said receptacle ( 3 ) and relative to said stationary activating member ( 12 ) for holding said lifting hook ( 10 ) in a latched position against forces tending to unhook said lifting hook ( 10 ) when said vertical lift ( 71 ) moves said receptacle ( 3 ) up or down, wherein said lifting hook ( 10 ) holds said receptacle ( 3 ) against horizontal forces, and wherein said locking pawl ( 11 ) holds said receptacle ( 3 ) against vertical forces.