Patent ID: 8641353

Claim:
A system for storing and retrieving shoes, comprising: an enclosed housing having a central shaft extending vertically therein, the housing having a portal defined at a base of the central shaft; first and second columns of storage rack units, the first and second columns being disposed within the housing on opposite sides of the central shaft; a plurality of trays adapted for receiving shoes, wherein each said tray has a flange projecting outwardly therefrom, the flange having at least one hole formed therethrough; a plurality of horizontal frame arms fixed to the housing; a long vertical arm slidably disposed on the frame arms, the long vertical arm being slidable horizontally behind the central shaft and the first and second columns of storage rack units; a short arm slidably disposed on the long vertical arm, the short arm being slidable vertically on the long vertical arm, the short arm having means for gripping one of said plurality of trays, wherein the means for gripping comprises a pair of vertically adjustable upper and lower jaws, each said jaw having at least one raised bead formed thereon such that the pair of adjustable jaws may selectively clamp the flange of the tray by vertical movement thereof, each of the at least one raised bead of each jaw releasably engaging a corresponding one of the at least one hole formed through the flange; means for translating the vertical arm horizontally; means for translating the short arm vertically; and an electronic control panel disposed on the housing, the control panel having: means for generating a first signal activating the short arm to grip one of said plurality of trays loaded with the shoes at the portal, activating the vertical arm and the short arm to align the gripped tray with an empty rack unit in the columns of storage rack units, and activating the short arm to release the tray in the empty rack unit in order to store the shoes; means for generating a second signal activating the vertical arm and the short arm to align the short arm with a selected storage rack unit, activating the short arm to grip said one of said plurality of trays loaded with shoes in the selected storage rack unit, activating the vertical arm and the short arm to align the gripped tray with the portal, and activating the short arm to release the tray at the portal in order to retrieve the stored shoes; and means for providing a person storing the shoes with the location of the storage rack unit where the shoes are stored.