Patent ID: 7508145

Claim:
A mobile storage system, comprising: a plurality of mobile storage units, wherein the mobile storage units are movable toward and away from each other to selectively form an aisle between adjacent storage units, wherein the storage units are arranged to define a maximum aisle space within the mobile storage system, and wherein the maximum aisle space is capable of forming a single aisle between an adjacent pair of storage units or a plurality of aisles between a plurality of adjacent pairs of storage units; and a control arrangement that is operable to control the position of the storage units relative to each other, wherein the control arrangement is operable to position the storage units in response to user commands so as to form one or more aisles between the storage units, wherein the control arrangement is operable to form either a single aisle between an adjacent pair of storage units using the maximum aisle space, or a plurality of aisles between a plurality of adjacent pairs of storage units system by distributing the maximum aisle space between at least two aisles located between at least two adjacent pairs of mobile storage units; wherein each storage unit defines an end that includes an actuator, wherein the actuator of each storage unit is selectively operated by a user to cause relative movement between the storage unit and an adjacent storage unit to form an aisle therebetween, and wherein the actuators and the control arrangement are configured such that, when each actuator is initially actuated, an aisle having a width less than the maximum aisle space is formed between the storage unit and an adjacent storage unit, and when each actuator is subsequently actuated after the initial actuation, an aisle having a width equal to the maximum aisle space is formed between the storage unit and an adjacent storage unit.