Abstract: The disclosure relates to aisle width sensor for a mobile storage system for determining the width between adjacent movable storage units, particularly when creating an aisle therebetween. The sensor includes a first bracket which is slidable with respect to a second bracket. The first and second brackets are attached to respective first and second arms of a scissor arm arrangement between the adjacent storage units. The sensor provides an output, particularly an analog output, which is proportional to the distance between the adjacent storage units and therefore simple to calculate and process for the central controller of the mobile storage system.

Abstract: The automatic vertical storage and retrieval system has an extractor for retrieving items stored and presenting the retrieved items to an operator. The extractor is vertically displaceable between and along vertical rails and is driven by an electromechanical chain drive system. The rails have equally-spaced locking slots for attaching pan brackets to form storage platforms for storage pans. The extractor includes an extractor stabilization mechanism having four locking dogs which engage with the locking slots of the rails to support the extractor and any retrieved items, thereby removing the load on the chains of the chain drive system during extraction or deposition of the storage pan(s). Thus, the extractor can be located in the optimal vertical position without the use of a precision linear encoder, and the extractor can maintain this optimal vertical position as the load is transferred to or from the extractor.

Abstract: The movable storage system includes a plurality of successive storage units, at least the intermediate storage units being mobile so as to form an access aisle between selected successive storage units. A detector system includes an array of infrared light sources on a lower edge of a first selected storage unit, a reflector on a lower edge of a second selected successive storage unit, and an array of corresponding infrared sensors on an upper edge of the first selected storage unit. Infrared light is directed from the light sources horizontally just above the floor to the reflector and reflected diagonally upward to the infrared sensors thereby detecting the presence or absence of obstructions both near the floor and at upper areas of the access aisle. The light sources and corresponding light sensors are sequentially activated and deactivated to eliminate cross-talk and interference between the various sensors.