Patent ID: 8670861

Claim:
An article storage facility comprising: storing shelves configured with a plurality of article storage units lined in a vertical and breadthwise direction, the storing shelves having a front-back width direction, a stacker crane being arranged to be runnable along travelling rails provided at the front side of the storing shelves along a sideways widthwise direction of the shelves to convey articles to each of the article storage units, and a crane control means for controlling the actuation of the stacker crane; wherein said stacker crane comprises a travelling cart runnable along the travelling rails, a pair of vertical-movement guiding masts being stood from both edge portions of the travelling cart in the front-back width direction, a platform being freely lifted along the pair of front and rear vertical-movement guiding masts therebetween, and an article transfer device being provided to the platform; and wherein said stacker crane is constructed so as to have a work frame between said pair of vertical-movement guiding masts, which is attachable thereto or detachable therefrom, with a setup width in the front-back width direction and the sideways widthwise direction of the travelling cart, the work frame coupled to and extending between the pair of vertical-movement guiding masts, the work frame defining a pair of openings defined therein and aligned and spaced apart in the front-back width direction; wherein the openings of the work frame provide a locating feature to enable an operator to properly position the storage units on the storing shelves such that the storage units are aligned with at least a portion of each of the pair of openings.