Patent ID: 8121722

Claim:
A mobile storage system comprising: a plurality of continuously spaced apart storage units at least some of which are movable toward and away from one another or a stationary unit to define an aisle between each pair of the units, the aisle having a width and being opened and closed so as to create a variable spacing between the pair of units; a means on each of the movable storage units for driving said movable storage unit in two directions; a logic system provided with a memory on each movable storage unit for setting and changing open aisle and closed aisle widths; at least one manually controllable motion control actuator on each movable storage unit for creating a signal when actuated at a movable storage unit where an aisle is desired; said movable storage units being connected such that a signal from said motion control actuator on one of the movable storage units which is at a first location at which an aisle is to be formed, directs a run signal to one or more of the other movable storage units including an end storage unit at a second location adjacent an existing aisle, wherein the second location is remote from the first location, to cause said one or more of the movable storage units to be moved away from said first location to close the existing aisle at the second location and form an aisle at the first location; and wherein, when the one or more other movable storage units comprises a plurality of movable storage units that are to be moved away from the first location to form the aisle, the plurality of movable storage units are moved together by operation of a motion control actuator on the end storage unit adjacent the existing aisle in order to move the end storage unit to close the existing aisle and the other storage units between the end storage unit and the first location to form the aisle at the first location.