Patent ID: 7393173

Claim:
A storage and retrieval unit for storing and removing from store containers or pallets belonging to a rack, comprising: a first and a second endless drive element each of which are driven around two wheels arranged at a distance from each other and have an upper run and a lower run; gripping apparatus comprising a first gripping arm pivotably engaged on the first endless drive element and a second gripping arm pivotably engaged on the second endless drive element; a tie rod engaged between the first gripping arm and the second gripping arm, wherein the first gripping arm and the second gripping arm are each carried on a corresponding drive element to a selected position where the first gripping arm and the second gripping arm move toward each other in a lateral movement on the tie rod to grip the container or the pallet; and wherein the lateral movement is actuated by a guide rail fixed along the longitudinal length of the device between either the two wheels of the first drive element or the two wheels of the second drive element when either an end of the first gripping arm or an end of the second gripping arm is engaged by an end of the guide rail.