Patent ID: 6854583

Claim:
A system for storing and transporting work-pieces in a clean manufacturing environment, comprising: at least one storage matrix comprised of a plurality of buffer sections for storing and circulating said work-pieces; a transport path for transporting said work-pieces to and from said storage matrix; a plurality of sensors for sensing positional and identification information relating to said work-pieces within said system; a control processor operatively communicative with said sensors, said storage matrix and said transport path for configuring said storage matrix and for controlling storage, circulation and transport of the work-pieces in response to the positional and identification information received from said sensors; and a plurality of tool stations associated with said buffer sections for receiving said work-pieces therefrom, processing said work-pieces, and returning said work-pieces to said storage matrix or to said transport path in response to communication from said control processor, wherein said storage matrix and said transport path are comprised of modular conveyor elements.