Patent ID: 6842665

Claim:
An automated stowage and retrieval system for the selective loading or unloading of a payload comprising: a plurality of pallet carriers contained in a storage matrix, the matrix having a plurality of storage spaces and being defined by a plurality of horizontal axes, including a plurality of axes extending in a first direction and a plurality of axes extending in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, each of the plurality of pallet carriers being moveable into and out of the plurality of storage spaces within the matrix, each of the pallet carriers being capable of supporting and storing at least one payload and configured to slide bi-directionally along the plurality of horizontal axes in sequentially coordinated movement with stored payloads supported on other of the plurality of pallet carriers whereby stored payloads on the pallet carriers are moved between the plurality of storage spaces to permit movement of a stored payload on another pallet carrier; a plurality of driving mechanisms associated with the plurality of pallet carriers configured to slide each of the plurality of pallet carriers along the plurality of horizontal axes of the matrix; and a programmable controller capable of receiving input regarding a desired payload and configured to communicate with the plurality of driving mechanisms to operably coordinate sequential movement of a selected number of the plurality of pallet carriers along the plurality of horizontal axes to move a predetermined pallet carrier having the desired payload to a predetermined position.