Patent ID: 7101138

Claim:
A material unit transfer apparatus for moving plurality of material units between transport equipment and plurality of material unit storage locations, for use in an automated material handling system, the apparatus comprising: a first substantially planar platform configured to hold at least two material units; a first transfer mechanism operatively coupled to the first platform, said first transfer mechanism being configured and operable to move one or more material units between the first platform and the transport equipment or the storage locations in a direction of a first axis; and a second transfer mechanism operatively coupled to the first platform, said second transfer mechanism being configured and operable to move one or more material units between the first platform and a second substantially planar platform adjacent the first platform in a direction of a second axis, the second axis being disposed at substantially a right angle to the first axis, wherein said second transfer mechanism includes at least two second transfer sub-mechanisms, each of said at least two second transfer sub-mechanisms being configured to operate independent of each of the other said at least two second transfer sub-mechanisms to move a respective one of said one or more material units between the first and second platforms.