Patent ID: 7329081

Claim:
Automated apparatus suitable for transporting containers arranged in a first row, the apparatus comprising an overhead gantry system, the overhead gantry system comprising: a moveable support for supporting at least one stack or partial stack of said containers, the support operable to move the at least one stack or partial stack of containers thereon along the first row; engagement means moveable independently of said support in a direction transverse to the row between a first position in which the engagement means can engage with any selected container or containers from a selected stack or partial stack of containers in the first row, wherein the selected stack or partial stack comprises a plurality of containers, and a second position in which to engagement means, any container or containers engaged with the engagement means and any containers located on top of the container or containers engaged with the engagement means arc above said support; and wherein the engagement means is moveable along the first row when the engagement means is in the second position, and can move the container or containers engaged with the engagement means vertically, thereby allowing a container or containers engaged with the engagement means to be placed either on the support or on partial stack supported by said support.