Patent ID: 8388296

Claim:
A vertical carousel for vertically circulating a rack attached to the endless drive member, the vertical carousel comprising: first and second endless drive members which vertically circulate racks attached to the first and second endless drive members, such that articles on the racks can be transported between a plurality of floors; an inner wall surrounding front, rear and both sides of an inner space in which the racks are vertically circulated, the racks being disposed in the inner space in two vertical columns; an outer wall surrounding front, rear and both sides of the inner wall; a pair of extensions respectively formed in front and rear diagonal corners of each of the racks, the protrusions each protruding toward an outer space between the inner wall and the outer wall through slits formed in the inner wall, the extensions protruding through a slit in the front of the inner wall being connected to the first endless drive member, which is disposed in front of the inner wall, and the extensions protruding through a slit in the rear of the inner wall being connected to the second endless drive member, which is disposed behind the inner wall; a first drive mechanism for the first endless drive member disposed in the outer space in front of the racks, and a second drive mechanism for the second endless drive member disposed in the outer space behind the racks; and a plurality of tunnels, corresponding to the plurality of floors, passing through the outer space and connecting the inner space with an area outside of the vertical carousel for transportation of the articles and out of the inner space.