Patent ID: 6971500

Claim:
A system for storing and transporting work-pieces in a clean manufacturing environment, comprising: at least one multi-dimensional storage matrix for selectively 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 at least one of positional and identification information relating to said work-pieces within said system; and a control processor operatively communicative with said sensors, said at least one 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/or identification information received from said sensors, wherein said storage matrix and said transport path are each comprised of modular conveyor elements, and wherein each modular conveyor element is selected from the group consisting of linear conveyor elements for moving said work-pieces in a straight path, rotating conveyor elements for rotating the direction of said work-pieces, elevating conveyor elements for transporting said work-pieces in a vertical path, and junction elements for allowing entry and exit of said work-pieces to and from said storage matrix.