Patent ID: 7101139

Claim:
An automated material transfer and storage system for moving articles along and between a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal levels, the system comprising: at least one vertical trunk extending between and communicating the plurality of horizontal levels, said at least one trunk defining an open shaft including ingress/egress openings at said plurality of horizontal levels and having opposite sides oriented, and vertically spaced first rack elements extending vertically within said at least one vertical trunk in offset relationship relative to said ingress/egress openings so as to be spaced in non-interfering relationship relative to said ingress/egress openings; a load transfer vehicle having an article support surface, at least one first drive means for moving said transfer vehicle horizontally across the plurality of horizontal levels, at least one second rotatable drive means having a plurality of teeth which are directly engageable so as to mesh with said first rack elements for moving said transfer vehicle vertically within said at least one vertical trunk, and at least one third drive means for automatically loading and off-loading said transfer vehicle onto said first rack elements; means for supplying power to said transfer vehicle and connected to said at least one first, second and third drive means; and control means carried by said transfer vehicle for controlling said at least one first, second and third drive means so as to maneuver said transfer vehicle along said plurality of horizontal levels and within said at least one trunk whereby an article supported on said transfer vehicle can be automatically transported from point-to-point along and between said plurality of horizontal levels and within said at least one vertical trunk.