With Roller Mounts Patents (Class 211/151)
  • Patent number: 6158943
    Abstract: A pushback storage system has a pair of step box rails providing upper and lower tracks for wheels of carts for accommodating pallets used to carry loads. The carts has side members secured to opposite side edges of a deck having panels that connect the area between the side members. Wheels mounted on opposite ends of the side members of two carts ride on the lower tracks. Brackets connect wheels to two additional carts which wheels ride on the upper tracks to allow the carts to be located in vertical stacked relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Chad D. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6132158
    Abstract: The present invention features a universal, low profile, expandable flow track system that can be drop-load mounted to almost any supporting frame or pallet rack. The flow track system of the invention features a flow track that mounts flush with its end supports, and is infinitely adjustable along both the horizontal axis and depth axis of the storage frame. The flow track is quickly assembled to, adjusted upon, and removed from, the storage frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Unex Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Pfeiffer, Frank J. Neuwirth
  • Patent number: 6129223
    Abstract: A push-back rack storage system has a pair of spaced apart rack rails having lower outside rail flanges. A first cart has front and back wheels which roll on the lower outside rail flanges. A second cart has front wheels which roll on outside rail flanges on side rails of the first cart. The back wheels of the second cart roll on the lower rail flanges of the rack rails. A third cart has front wheels which roll on outside rail flanges of side rails of the second cart. The back wheels of the third cart roll on the lower rail flanges of the rack rails. The carts may be provided with a strut deck, a solid deck, or a wire mesh deck, without interfering with rolling operation of the carts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Inventor: John V. R. Krummell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6112915
    Abstract: A push-back storage rack comprises a frame defining at least one storage bay having a depth sufficient to accommodate a plurality of separate storage units; and a track-mounted carriage assembly mounted in the bay. The carriage assembly comprises at least two articulated carts connected together end-to-end for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis. The carts ride on a track that has an upper track section, a lower track section, and an arcuate front section that joins the upper and lower track sections. The track guides the carts for movement between the front and the rear of the bay on the upper track section and directs the carts downwardly and then rearwardly on the lower track section in an inverted position as the carts move forwardly at the front end of the upper track section. The carts are thus stored underneath the upper track section and are brought upwardly to the upper track section as the carts are filled and moved rearwardly in the upper track section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Lyman F. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6105798
    Abstract: A rack is provided with shelves that are well-secured. The corners of each shelf are connected by a hook on one member dropped vertically down into a slot of the other member, and, once the members are properly aligned with the hook and slot, they are secured with a bolt. Beams, such as roller beams, guide beams, and support beams are connected to the frame members by means of upwardly-projecting trees on the frame members, which include arms that fit into holes in the vertical legs of the beams. Clips may be used after the beams are installed on the frame members to prevent the vertical legs of the beams from shifting, thereby further securing the beams to the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Interlake Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Gruber, Allen B. Kautz
  • Patent number: 6095347
    Abstract: A conveyor and picking tray assembly includes a conveyor frame mounting elongated upper and lower conveyors. The conveyors slope downward from their rear ends to their front ends. A picking tray frame adjacent to the front end of the conveyor frame mounts picking trays in general alignment with the upper and lower conveyors. The trays slope downward from one of their side edges to the other of their side edges in a direction transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the conveyors for the convenience of an operator working on an assembly line alongside the conveyor and picking tray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Mauro-Vetter
  • Patent number: 6092677
    Abstract: A push-back storage system includes left and right rails welded to strut members, to provide a precise predetermined spacing between the rails. As the spacing between rails is permanently set during manufacture, no on site adjustment or alignment is needed. Carts can roll smoothly on the rails as the spacing between the rails is maintained. A U-bracket or a J-hook at the front of the bedframe facilitates attachment of the bedframe to a front load beam of a rack assembly. The strut members are welded to the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: J.C.M. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. R. Krummell, Jr., Richard Morel, Kenneth Davison
  • Patent number: 6082207
    Abstract: A loaded vertically operating ball screw and nut actuator system, including methods of constructing it, for synchronously moving load systems connected to it in opposite vertical directions has a vertically disposed rotatably driven ball screw device with screw sections of opposite hand. A complemental recirculating ball nut discretely connected to each of the load systems is threaded on each screw section to form ball receiving raceways for trains of load bearing balls which cause the ball nuts to move in opposing directions upon rotation of the screw in either direction. The load systems move in counterbalanced relation under the influence of gravity. A mount system for the upper and lower ends of the screw permits an off-axis adjustment in axial orientation of the screw to compensate for load misalignment problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Saginaw Ball Screw Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James A. Babinski
  • Patent number: 6068141
    Abstract: The push back storage rack system comprises a framework defining a storage bay for multiple pallets including a plurality of generally vertical uprights and a plurality of generally horizontal shelf beams. A pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel rails is supported by the framework and extends into the storage bay. Each of the rails defines inner and outer wheel tracks and is inclined in a direction towards the rear of the storage bay. A generally rectangular first cart has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. The front and rear wheels roll along the inner wheel tracks. The generally rectangular second cart is positioned behind the first cart and has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. The front wheels roll along the outer wheel tracks and the rear wheels roll along the inner wheel tracks. A generally rectangular third cart is positioned behind the second cart and has a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. The front and rear wheels roll long the outer wheel tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Econo-Rack Storage Equipment Limited
    Inventor: Anthony G. Mulholland
  • Patent number: 6062400
    Abstract: A split beam ergonomic pick rack which embodies a pallet storage bay structure adapted to accommodate at least two pallets in a laterally spaced relationship one with respect to the other whereby there is incorporated a worker access opening therebetween which enables not only worker access for picking merchandise from the front of either pallet within the bay, but also accommodates worker passage from the front to along the sides and the rear areas respectively thereof, thus providing greater worker ease of access, safety and efficiency in accomplishing manual order picking procedures when retrieving palletized merchandise from in warehouse racked storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: St. Onge, Ruff and Associates, Inc., Hannaford Bros. Co.
    Inventors: Richard F. Schieler, David A. Ludden
  • Patent number: 6059130
    Abstract: A stop system for a platform (1) which is movable horizontally from a central position within a supporting frame (3, 4, 5, 6) to project to one side or the other of the frame has manually releasable latches (14, 15). These co-operate with stops (7, 8) near diagonally opposite corners of the platform, normally to hold the platform centered. Each latch can be disengaged from its stop to allow the platform to move out from the associated side of the frame, and then released to co-operate with another stop (13, 14) on the platform when that reaches its outward limit. A further stop (19, 20) can simultaneously engage one of the first stops (7, 8) to guard against skewing. On returning the platform (1) to the centered position, the latches (14, 15) automatically re-engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Allan Grainger
  • Patent number: 5967728
    Abstract: A rail system and transfer vehicle for a storage retrieval system. The rails are fabricated to include a vehicle support surface that supports a transfer vehicle, a load support surface that supports the skid, tote, vessel, or pallet to be stored, a spacing surface that defines the distance between the load support surface and the vehicle support surface. Attached to the load support surface is an alignment surface that extends upwardly at an angle between 40 and 80 from the horizontal. When a misaligned pallet is lowered, it first contacts the alignment surface and as it continues to be lowered, interaction between the alignment surface and the misaligned pallet causes the pallet to move into alignment with the rail system before coming to rest on the load support surface. The rail system can be used in conjunction with a high weight capacity transfer vehicle. Load lift is provided by a plurality of interconnected screw jacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Emtrol, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Gales, Mark A. Killian, Colin T. McShane, Richard T. Nornhold, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5951228
    Abstract: The present invention features a universal flow rack system that can be affixed to almost any supporting frame or pallet rack. The flow rack system of the invention features a flow track that is "snap-locked" into place upon the storage frame in an almost instantaneous fashion. This allows for quick assembly, adjustment and removal of the flow track at any time. The flow rack system is positionable about the storage frame or pallet rack in any orthogonal position (X and Y axes) about the horizontal plane of the frame, thus allowing for overhangs and unique positioning thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Unex Conveying Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Pfeiffer, Frank J. Neuwirth
  • Patent number: 5944202
    Abstract: A warehouse storage pushback device is provided having a first and second drive. Each drive has a chain, with a plurality of pads attached thereto, forming a closed loop. A plurality of rotating discs meshes with the chain and are rotatably mounted to an external structure. A plurality of rollers are rotatably attached to the chain and each pad and are in rolling engagement with a track. The first drive is able to operate independently of the second drive, allowing pads on one side of the material to be adjusted for better support while the others remain stationary. The device is used for storing pallets and provides other material handling functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: John F. Wylie
  • Patent number: 5944201
    Abstract: A racking system exhibiting controlled compound movement is disclosed. The racking system includes a bracket adapted for engagement to a structural support and a translational tray assembly supported by the bracket for linear and rotational movement relative to the bracket. The system also includes a first dampening member associated with the translational tray assembly for dampening the linear movement of the translational tray assembly relative to the bracket and a second dampening member associated with the translational tray assembly for dampening the rotational movement of the translational tray assembly relative to the bracket. The first and second dampening members ensure smooth, controlled motion as the translational tray assembly is rotationally and linearly moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Charles Joseph Babboni, David Andrew Dalton, Eric Francis Henry, Tatsuo Rushing
  • Patent number: 5924779
    Abstract: A music library system that is adapted for the storage of sheet music, is designed for semi-permanent installation in a room having adjoining walls and a floor and includes a frame that is fixedly, removably coupled to the floor and to at least one wall of the room. The frame defines a plurality of drawer openings. A plurality of drawers are movably supported on the floor. Each of the plurality of drawers is disposed in a retracted disposition in close proximity to at least one other drawer in a corresponding drawer opening. The drawers are extendable from the frame outwardly from the wall to an extended disposition wherein a drawer side opening is exposed. The drawer side opening provides access to the stored sheet music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Wenger Corporation
    Inventor: Frank C. Krumholz
  • Patent number: 5893468
    Abstract: Apparatus comprising a plurality of mobile carriages arranged in a closely spaced row for storing, organizing and displaying a multiplicity of elongated items arranged in a plurality of groups according to a physical characteristic of the elongated items is disclosed. An associated method for loading empty carriages or replenishing depleted carriages is also disclosed comprising the steps of removing a carriage from the row, loading the carriage with items and replacing the carriage into the row. Carriages comprise a rectangular frame having vertically extending posts providing an open construction to allow replenishing and dispensing of items. Carriages have wheel pairs at one end and are guided in their movement into and out of the row by rails arranged beneath each carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Earl E. Holmes
  • Patent number: 5887732
    Abstract: A gravity feed storage rack includes two different types of roller strips. Heavy duty roller strips are located in the back to absorb the impact of products being dropped on the back of the rack. Regular duty roller strips extend to the front of the rack so that products can roll forward to the front of the rack. The heavy duty roller strips may lie behind the regular roller strips or may lie between the regular roller strips in the rear portion of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Interlake Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Zimmer, Thomas E. McEachron, Kenneth J. Oser, Richard Tipton
  • Patent number: 5873473
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to improved advance or release means and mechanisms for use with cart, pallet, slip sheet or unit load storage systems, including flow rack and transfer and return systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Konstant Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Pater
  • Patent number: 5871108
    Abstract: A merchandise display shelving arrangement incorporates a first, gondola-type shelving unit with shelves intended to be loaded from the rear. The shelves may be inclined to promote gravity feeding of merchandise toward the front of the shelves. A second shelving unit is readily movable between a position in which it backs up to the first shelving unit and obstructs access to the rear of the shelves and another position in which it is spaced from the first shelving unit to create an aisle affording access to the rear of the shelves to facilitate loading of merchandise onto the shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Marco J. White
  • Patent number: 5848713
    Abstract: A pallet return rack storage system of the pushback type is provided in which wheeled carts are selectively and automatically transferred from a pair of feed rails to a pair of return rails. Also provided is a novel braking means for controlling cart speed and avoiding impact with companion carts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Frazier Industrial Company
    Inventor: Donald R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5848707
    Abstract: A storage structure is composed of a storage rack having a plurality of storage bays, each of which is adapted to store a bundle, such as a food-related bundle having a pallet and a number of boxes of food items positioned on the pallet. The storage bays are disposed in a plurality of rows between a first end of the storage rack and a second end of the storage rack, the rows including an upper row and a lower row. The storage structure has a transmitter for transmitting a beam of radiation and a receiver for receiving the beam of radiation. The transmitter is associated with the first end of the storage rack and is positioned to transmit the radiation beam in a direction substantially parallel to the side of the storage rack, and the receiver is associated with the second end of the storage rack. The storage structure has an alarm generator coupled to the receiver for generating an alarm when the radiation beam is interrupted by one of the bundles located on the storage rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Inventor: Brian I. Hill
  • Patent number: 5845788
    Abstract: A bicycle storage and display system having a frame, a first chain mounted on a first side, and a second chain mounted on a second side of the frame. A plurality of sprockets rotatably support the first and second drive chains. The sprockets are arrayed to support the drive chains for concurrent movement in parallel vertical planes. A plurality of elongated, horizontally positioned support bars having first and second ends supported, respectively, on the first and second drive chains, support a plurality of horizontally spaced bicycles thereon. A plurality of two point bicycle hangers are suspended from the support bars, means on each of the hangers releasably engage each bicycle at two points thereon to secure and suspend the bicycles in a generally horizontal orientation for storage and display and for releasing the bicycles for ready removal therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: RHC/Spacemaster Corporation
    Inventor: Claude J. Robolin
  • Patent number: 5845794
    Abstract: In a storage rack comprising two front columns, two back columns, and, at each tier, two side beams, a front beam, and a back beam, a front portion of each side beam projects frontwardly and a back portion thereof projects backwardly. The front portion has a fin projecting upwardly, a notch opening frontwardly below a front part of the fin, and a tab projecting backwardly from the fin. The front beam has a front wall, a back wall, and a lower lip projecting from a lower part of the front wall. Each slot receives the tab of a respective one of the side beams and the lower lip projects backwardly into the front notches of the side beams so as to secure the front beam to the side beams. The back beam is secured similarly to the back portions of the side beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Unarco Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith, deceased
  • Patent number: 5788090
    Abstract: A commodity display unit has a commodity advancing device which is disposed aslant frontward along a bottom of a commodity container so as to move a column of the frontward commodities forward in the container. When the forwardmost commodity is removed from a commodity takeout position, defined at a front portion of the commodity container, the remaining commodities spontaneously move forward. The commodity advancing device is formed of a procession of rollers arranged in parallel along the display lane and inclined downwardly so as to effect forward movement of the commodities, thus permitting the commodities of be easily removed one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Amix Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoharu Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 5785183
    Abstract: The display unit comprises a main frame (16) which is hingedly mounted about a shaft (30) with a horizontal axis, and provided with at least one shelf supported by a horizontal pin (30, 32) mounted pivoting about its axis on two uprights (18) of the main frame (16), means (50, 52; 50A) for displacing the main frame (16) between a reduced ground space position and a display position, and means (44) for stabilizing the angular position of each shelf (24) independently of the position of the main frame (16). According to the arrangement, the display unit is displaceable through the opening between a position inside the room, when the main frame (16) is in a reduced ground space position and a position at least partially outside the room, when the main frame (16) is in a display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Alain Rejete
  • Patent number: 5779064
    Abstract: Fastening arrangement for securing a roller track (3) of a racking system to a support element (1,2), which support element (1,2) has a flange (4,6). A plurality of resilient tongues (5,8) are regularly spaced along and pressed out from the flange (4,6). The roller track (3) is releasably supported on and held between the tongues (5,8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Dexion Group PLC
    Inventor: Vic Dolling
  • Patent number: 5738227
    Abstract: A display rack for floor covering for storing and displaying rolls of floor covering is described. The display rack for floor covering includes a plurality of wheeled tracks extending along the length of the rack. These wheeled tracks are arranged in pairs to support rolling motion of multiple cradles inserted into the display rack for floor covering. The cradles have a substantially concave shape for supporting a roll of floor covering thereon. Once the rolls of floor covering are placed on the cradles, the cradles are then rolled along the wheeled tracks to a storage position. In the storage position, the cradle and the roll of floor covering are located completely within the display rack for floor covering. When the roll of floor covering is to be displayed, the user pulls on the cradle, which then rolls forward along the wheeled track. The cradle is equipped with a stopper to prevent the cradle from being pulled too far forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventors: James N. Duff, Randy McHolm
  • Patent number: 5695072
    Abstract: A clothes-hanger device of the type with upwards/downwards moving elevator means comprises carrier means (11) designed to receive the hung clothes, which carrier means are applied to at least one lever (12) extending from a linkage mechanism means contained inside at least one case (13) fastened onto a carrier surface. In a characteristic way, to said at least one lever (12) a motor unit is applied, thus said clothes-hanger device can be automatically controlled also from a remote control position, without any efforts, to move from a substantially vertical raised position, to a substantially horizontal lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Servetto S.N.C. Di Terragni Ezio & C.
    Inventor: Ezio Terragni
  • Patent number: 5692817
    Abstract: A shelf device for a refrigerator comprising a bracket or a guide rail horizontally mounted on a back wall of a refrigerating chamber, and a shelf assembly coupled to the bracket or the guide rail so that a user can horizontally displace or slide the assembly to a desired position depending upon a size of an object to be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun Sik Jun, Sang Youl Lee
  • Patent number: 5641082
    Abstract: A shelf (17) on a frame (18,19) sits within a tray-like structure provided by an intermediate frame (8), while the latter is supported by rails (6) and rollers (7). When pushed back into the storage position, the shelf (17) is stopped by a bar on the frame (8), with the rollers (21) on the shelf (17) at the rear ends of slots (12) in side plates (9) of the frame (8). The intermediate frame (8) is arrested by the outer framework (1). To gain clear access, the shelf (17) is pulled out horizontally, and it can shift with respect to the intermediate frame (8) a distance corresponding to the length of the slots (12). When it reaches the limit of this travel, the frame (8) is entrained and continued pulling draws it out, running on the rollers (7) and (13). The limit of its travel is defined by stops but when achieved the shelf (17) is fully clear of the framework and thus fully accessible. To restore the storage position, the shelf is simply pushed in again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Rack Engineering (91) Limited
    Inventor: Allan Grainger
  • Patent number: 5638965
    Abstract: A push-back rack with product support surfaces which are strung together and which move relative to the rack structure. In one embodiment, support surfaces include wheels or rollers, which roll on the rack frame. The support surfaces are connected together by flexible members. In another embodiment, the support surfaces are links of a chain and are connected together by pin and eye connections, and support rollers are provided on the rack rather than on the support surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: The Interlake Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Mattingly, Ellsworth H. Collins, Daniel P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5626242
    Abstract: An improved dishrack for supporting dishware includes multiple subassemblies which are attached to a frame. Each of the subassemblies includes a pair of length wires to which multiple peg wires are attached. The peg wires have peg ends which extend upwardly to help support dishware. The dishrack includes fewer intersection points and thereby traps less dirt and facilitates washing action. A more efficient method of manufacturing dishracks includes the steps of welding wires to form peg mat ladders, forming the peg mat ladders into subassemblies, and attaching the subassemblies to a frame. An apparatus for making a dishrack includes a welding jig, which forms peg ladders, and a forming die, which transforms the peg ladders into subassemblies from which the dishrack is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Axia Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas C. Weizer
  • Patent number: 5617961
    Abstract: A load transfer and return storage rack system is provided where the wheeled carts or empty pallets or slip sheets may be selectively and automatically transferred from a pair of feed rails to a pair of return rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Konstant Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony N. Konstant, John F. Pater
  • Patent number: 5598934
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a push-back cart storage system includes an outer side member having a notch, and a cart frame section having a wheel assembly supported on the outer side member and a latch assembly engageable with said notch. The mechanism prevents premature rearward rolling of unloaded carts in multiple cart push-back systems wherein the wheels of rearward rolling loaded carts roll on the unloaded carts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: John V. R. Krummell
    Inventors: John V. R. Krummell, Kenneth E. Davison
  • Patent number: 5595311
    Abstract: A storage rack system having a plurality of storage bays adapted to store pallet loads that are three and four pallets deep is disclosed. This system includes a pair of outer tracks and a pair of spaced apart inner tracks located within the outer tracks and extending the full depth of the storage rack. One of the inner tracks is secured to a spaced apart adjacent outer track by a plurality of brackets to form a first independent unit, and the other of the inner tracks is secured to a spaced apart adjacent outer track by a plurality of brackets to form a second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Frazier Industrial Company
    Inventor: Donald R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5593269
    Abstract: An automated work center for use in materials handling operations is disclosed. The work center includes a randomly accessible vertically moving temporary storage queue 11 for receiving containers 25 that hold material goods. A fixed loading ramp 20 is arranged to receive containers 20 from an external system and to load the received containers onto the storage queue 11. A work area 5 having a plurality of rotatable work tables 7 provides an gives the operator access to the containers. A delivery system 14 transfers containers between the storage queue 11 and the work tables 7 and a takeaway system 16 transfers containers between the work area and the conveyor network. An automated control system 17 coordinates the delivery of containers between the temporary storage queue 11 and the work area 5. A consolidation queue 18 having a multiplicity of vertically spaced shelves may be disposed opposite the work tables 7 to facilitate the consolidation of ordered goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Computer Aided Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Clay Bernard, II
  • Patent number: 5579930
    Abstract: A rack system for supporting screen frames in vertically-spaced horizontal shelves. Each shelf includes sloped or stepped support surfaces which accommodate screen frames of any width and which minimize surface contact and friction between the screen frame and the support surface of the rack without adjustment. Wheels can be included under the rack to enable the rack to be used as a cart for transporting screen frames from one location to another. Side wall panels and a door can be included to enclose the structure. This enables the atmosphere inside the enclosure to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventor: Douglas E. Brendle
  • Patent number: 5571256
    Abstract: In a rack-mounted computer system a server unit drawer structure is mounted between spaced pairs of front and rear corner support channel portions of the server cabinet using a pair of specially designed slide support brackets, each positioned on a different side of the drawer structure and extending completely between its associated pair of front and rear corner support channels. Front ends of the brackets have vertically spaced alignment tabs that are complementarily received in openings in side flange portions of the front corner channels and serve to precisely align the front bracket ends, and thus the front end wall of the drawer structure, with the cabinet framework in both horizontal directions. The front and rear ends of the brackets are secured to their associated support channels with threaded fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Lowell M. Good, Paily T. Varghese, Joseph A. Villanueva
  • Patent number: 5567103
    Abstract: A container unloading device which includes a two-tiered rail system that has been adapted to include an upper set of feed rails that cycle carts carrying containers from the back of the system to the front of the system for unloading. At the system's front end, the feed rails have sections of increased angularity which support the cart and container at an angle which increases accessibility to the container's contents. The system also includes a set of transfer ramps which allow the cart to move from rolling engagement with the feed rails to rolling engagement with the lower set of return rails where the cart and unloaded container then move to the back of the system into a position for reloading. The device may further include a speed reducer which retards the cart's acceleration down the sections of increased angularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Anthony N. Konstant
  • Patent number: 5558419
    Abstract: A sliding platform for a cabinet for refrigerator and/or freezer having a stationary base secured to a floor of the cabinet and a sliding platform guided and facilitated for sliding by a plurality of loosely captured rollers between the platform and the base and prevented from tipping by anti-tip tabs. Both the platform and base have air entry air holes for delivering return air to an air passage beneath a top surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Dasher, Michael A. Fiori
  • Patent number: 5524776
    Abstract: A low inclination push back storage rack system is described, the system having a plurality of storage lanes, each storage lane being equipped with one or more rectangular carriages to transport a pallet load from a front loading position to a rear storage position. Each carriage is provided with axles on which wheels having notches about their peripheral circumference are mounted. The wheels are typically V groove wheels. The V groove wheels of each carriage roll on parallel spaced apart rounded elongated rods, the V groove wheels on one side of the carriage rolling on one elongated rod, the V groove wheels on the other side of the carriage rolling on another elongated rod. The carriages wheels are supported and guided by the elongated rounded rods. The spaced apart parallel rounded elongated rods are supported by spaced apart rod support members extending from the front of the storage lane to the rear of the storage lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventors: Roger W. Hall, Harold J. Reiter, David W. Whalen
  • Patent number: 5513941
    Abstract: This invention pertains to cargo transportation, and more particularly to an apparatus that facilitates loading and unloading of cargo from a vehicle. In accordance with the present invention, a retractable bed for vehicles is provided that is simple in design, can be adapted to different vehicle applications and has greater safety and cargo carrying capacity than prior devices. In addition, the invention can be installed or removed by a single user because of it's light weight and efficient design. The apparatus comprises a load carrying transport system having improved structural properties and arrangements for rollably supporting the cargo. The cargo is supported on a rolling deck that is rollably attached to a frame assemble by roller bearings. The frame assemble is mounted to the truck bed. The rolling deck moves along the roller bearings on the frame assembly to move the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventors: Kenneth K. Kulas, Arthur R. Nelson, Jr., Jesse G. Draughon
  • Patent number: 5505586
    Abstract: A storage system including a container storage area in the form of a multi-rack, multi-tier storage carousel, a vertical conveyor for transporting conveyors vertically and input and output shuttle units for conveying containers between the vertical conveyor and the storage carousel. The vertical conveyor includes a loading zone which is below the operating levels of the shuttle units. The storage carousel and the shuttle units are driven by a common mechanically synchronized drive. The vertical conveyor is driven intermittently and independently of the drive for the rest of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: Robert D. Lichti
  • Patent number: 5482422
    Abstract: A storage rack arrangement for permitting a plurality of loads to be disposed closely adjacent in aligned front-to-back relationship longitudinally along a generally horizontally elongated storage bay. The storage rack arrangement includes a frame which defines the storage bay and which has a pair of generally parallel support tracks fixedly mounted thereon adjacent opposite sides of the bay. The support tracks are elongated longitudinally along the bay in the front-to-back direction and are slightly downwardly inclined as they project toward a front of the bay. A telescoping carriage assembly is movably mounted on the support tracks and includes at least front and rear carriages which are each adapted to have a load mounted thereon when the front and rear carriages are in an extended position. The rear carriage includes generally parallel side frame elements which are longitudinally elongated, hollow, and open at the front ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Theodore A. Hammond
  • Patent number: 5476180
    Abstract: A cart return device that uses a two-tiered rail system having a set of parallel feed and return rails, which include transfer ramps for the transfer of a cart from rolling engagement with the feed rails to the return rails. The device being adapted to include a lifting apparatus and a liftable support that transfers an unloaded cart from the return rails to the feed rails where it can be reloaded in a single step. The device further adapted to provide a cart return system that uses the weight of a loaded pallet and cart as the source of power for driving the lifting apparatus that raises the cart up to the feed rails and into a position where the empty pallet can be removed or reloaded in a single operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Konstant Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony N. Konstant
  • Patent number: 5419444
    Abstract: A three-deep low profile push-back rack maximizes head space in a vertically stacked series of storage bays. A first pair of tracks extends longitudinally through the bays supported by the rack. The middle bay contains a second pair of tracks parallel to the first tracks. The second tracks are spaced apart a distance which is greater than the spacing of the first tracks and are mounted on the outside of the first tracks. A first flat pallet truck rolls along the first track. A lower second cart having a U-shaped frame has a front pair of wheels rolling on the first track and a pair of rear wheels rolling on the second track so that a clear nesting space is provided within the center of the frame of the lower second can to accept and receive the higher first cart. A low profile is provided to maximize head space because the frame of the higher cart does not have to roll over the top of the second cart, it only has to fit within the nesting area slightly above the loading surface of the lower cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Inca Metal Products Corporation
    Inventor: Hubert H. Strom
  • Patent number: 5415300
    Abstract: A push-back cart storage system includes an outer cart having wheels rolling on support rails. A middle cart has forward wheels rolling on side members of the outer cart. Rear wheels on the middle cart role on the support rails. An inner cart has front wheels rolling on side members of the middle cart, while rear wheels of the inner cart role on the side rails. The rolling carts are all of equal height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventors: John V. R. Krummell, Kenneth E. Davison
  • Patent number: 5393188
    Abstract: In a storage system comprising rows of shelves defining lanes for the storage of cartons or pallet loads and like wherein the shelf lanes are adapted to receive inventory loads one behind the other, a push-pack system comprising a pair of track adapted for wheels to roll upon the inner and outer edges of the top surface thereof, a first cart with a rectangular frame with wheels to ride on one edge of the tracks, a second cart having a U-shaped frame adapted to receive the first cart nested within the frame at approximately the same elevation and having wheels to ride upon the other edges of the track. Variations may provide for three or four carts providing storage of loads four or five pallets deep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventors: Todd Scott, Tony Evers, Kevin Minkhorst
  • Patent number: 5373949
    Abstract: A positioning device for a parts supply tray has a plurality of areas each for containing a part. The parts supply tray is formed with a plurality of positioning holes each located at a substantially central position in each of the areas. The positioning device has a plurality of positioning pins adapted to be inserted into the positioning holes of the parts supply tray, respectively. When the part contained in one of the areas is to be selectively picked up, one of the positioning pins in the selected area is selectively inserted into the positioning hole corresponding to the selected positioning pin to thereby position the parts supply tray in a fixed position for each selected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Hayashi, Hideo Kawabe