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.

Abstract: A facility for order-processing of products, particularly for order-processing of foodstuffs in rectangular packaging, is provided. The facility includes a goods entrance for transport pallets loaded with identical goods and a goods exit for transport containers with the goods that have been assembled into orders. The facility furthermore has a storage area downstream of the goods entrance with racks for storing the pallets and an order-processing area where individual goods are removed and combined for the transport containers. In order to create a facility for order-processing of products in which high turn-around rates can be achieved with low requirements for space, the path of the flow of goods between goods entrance and goods exit follows an inbound segment and an outbound segment parallel thereto in a “U” shape. The free ends of the inbound and outbound segments make up the goods entrance and exit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for storing spools 3, especially filament spools, comprising several spool carriers 2. According to the invention, the spools 3 are stored with an upright spool axis 6 in a shelf storage unit 1 with horizontal shelf compartments 17 for receiving individually movable spool carriers.

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.

Abstract: Sheet metal working system includes a housing rack provided with a plurality of shelves for housing pallets, an elevator provided on a side of the housing rack, and a pallet holder located on a bottom shelf of the housing rack for temporarily holding a pallet transported by pallet transporter. Also provided is a workpiece separator located above the pallet holder, a workpiece table located adjacently to the housing rack, a sheet working machine and a workpiece piler arranged so as to sandwich the workpiece table, and a loader that moves among the workpiece table, the machine and the workpiece piler.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically transferring and handling cartridges containing flat articles. The method and apparatus robotically transfers filled cartridges from the output compartments of a sorting machine to a buffer shelf; and from the buffer shelf to a docking station of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder to the input of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments of the sorter, is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for delivering large containers of goods, especially warehoused goods such as pallets, to a transfer or out-processing station.

Abstract: In order to provide an automated warehouse having high space utilization efficiency, high floor area utilization efficiency, and high loading/unloading efficiency and a method of managing the warehouse, a transfer unit is placed above a stocking area, a holding unit of the transfer unit can move three-dimensionally, and an elevating unit of the transfer unit, which holds a stock object and raises/lowers it, raises/lowers a stock object without making it roll. This transfer unit holds a stock object in a loading area, and transfers the loaded stock object over stock objects stored in the stocking area. The transfer unit then lowers this stock object from above and stacks it flat or on another stock object. When an object is to be unloaded, the transfer unit holds the stock object from above and transfers it to an unloading area through the air.

Abstract: A pallet 10 for use with a racking system has an upper surface 12 and engagement means in the form of hooks 14 and a rear rim 16 which will engage a racking system. A continuous base 18 is spaced below the upper surface 12, in use. This allows the pallet to sit flat on a roller conveyor system, for instance. Apertures 20 allow fork lift tines to be introduced and are provided on each of the four sides of the pallet 10, for ease of handling. Structures within the pallet add to safety by ensuring that the pallet is restrained against sliding or tipping on the fork lift tines.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus (1) for use in a shelf channel of rack storage facilities. The conveying apparatus (1) comprises circulating conveying means (2) for conveying and storing goods. The conveying means (2) is an endless loop formed partially by a roller chain (3) and partially by a tape (4). The roller chain (3) includes a plurality of chain links. Adjacent chain links are interconnected by an axes of a roller. The plurality of interconnected chain links includes two end links (31, 32). The end links (31, 32) are interconnected by the tape (4). A rail (10) extends linearly and supports a portion of said endless loop. The rail (10) has a loading/unloading end where the goods are loaded onto said conveying means (2) and unloaded from said conveying means (2). The rail (10) includes a first and a second deflection member (5, 6). The first deflection member (5) is located in a region of the loading/unloading end and the second deflection member (6) is located in a region remote from the loading/unloading end.

Abstract: A container pick and return system is provided having a two-tiered flow rail conveyor system that includes an inclined upper set of feed flow rails forming an input conveyor assembly and a lower set of inclined return flow rails forming an exit conveyor upon which a unit load may roll. At the front end of the system is a transfer conveyor assembly that, upon receipt of a loaded container, automatically and smoothly positions the container at an angle increased from the input conveyor assembly to enhance the accessibility of the contents of the container. When the container is emptied by the line worker, the transfer conveyor assembly is triggered and the empty container is automatically lowered and transferred to the exit conveyor where it rolls down the exit conveyor to the rear of the system for reloading.

Abstract: A system for inventorying and distributing potted plants for a greenhouse includes a system of elevated rails disposed throughout the greenhouse. Rolling benches travel on the system of rails so that the potted plants may be transported to and from proper growth positions in the greenhouse. Plants that are ready to be shipped to retailers are tagged with labels via hog rings and loaded from a rolling bench onto a spacer tray that features receptacles sized so as to prevent the plants from tipping during transport. A number of spacer trays are loaded onto a rolling plant rack for delivery to a retailer's store via a delivery truck. Filled plant racks are rolled off of the delivery truck and into position at the retailer's store and exchanged for empty plant racks. The plant racks feature shelves that are spaced to allow easy plant maintenance in the store. The shelves are also tilted to allow display of the plants.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically transferring and handling cartridges containing flat articles. The method and apparatus robotically transfers filled cartridges from the output compartments of a sorting machine to a buffer shelf; and from the buffer shelf to a docking station of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder to the input of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments of the sorter, is provided.

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.

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.

Abstract: An automated storage system for receiving, storing and returning dairy cases stored without pallets. Specifically, the automated storage system comprises an article transporter which includes a shuttle that deposits and retrieves dairy cases stored in storage lanes of a storage rack and a rail system for supporting the shuttle and dairy cases stored thereon. One or more shuttles may be used in the automated storage and retrieval system and are coupled via a shuttle bridge. The rail system includes two or more outer support rails and two or more inner support rails for supporting the shuttle and dairy cases. The rail system also supports normal Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallets or other special slave pallets. The bottom flange of the rail system has a "drip pan" style to contain leakage from the dairy cases. This "drip pan" design allows personnel to walk inside the storage lanes safely.

Abstract: There is provided a component-feeding device for an electronic component-mounting apparatus which has a main block for carrying out electronic component-pickup and mounting operations. The component-feeding device selectively transports a plurality of pallets on each of which at least one tray containing a number of electronic components is placed, to a pickup position for picking up supplied one of the electronic components. A selected one of the pallets is vertically transported selectively to different levels according to a height of the at least one tray on the selected one of the pallets. The selected pallet vertically transported to the selected level is horizontally transported to the pickup position.

Abstract: An ergonomic storage rack in which arcuate rails are joined to a horizontal beam in a spaced-apart relationship to form an access area therebetween. The arcuate rails form shelves on which loaded pallets may be stored. The rails may be positioned at any desired height but, preferably, at a level which defines beneath each rail an additional storage area. The access area may be entered by a worker to access whatever pallet load has been stored and select from its sides those items which are to be retrieved.

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.

Abstract: A horizontal conveying apparatus moves a pallet from an entrance port to an exit port, with either a load or an article placed on the pallet. The apparatus has fixed rails laid horizontally between the entrance port and the exit port, rails movable along the fixed rails, a plurality of load-conveying wheels/rollers disposed along the movable rails such that the wheels/rollers are rotatable with the pallet placed thereon, a drive device for reciprocally moving the movable rails, and a plurality of movement stopper pieces provided along the fixed rails, to engage with a bottom surface of the pallet and to hold the pallet as the movable rails move from the exit port back to the entrance port.

Abstract: A horizontal goods transfer apparatus includes a horizontal fixed rail extending in the back-and-forth direction and being capable of mounting thereon a plurality of items in a row in the longitudinal direction. A back-and-forth movement rail is arranged to be substantially parallel to the fixed rail and is placed to be reciprocally movable in the back-and-forth direction. A reciprocating air cylinder moves the back-and-forth movement rail for a predetermined distance. A vertical movement rail is supported by the back-and-forth movement rail to be vertically movable and capable of being located at an upper position higher than the fixed rail and a lower position lower than the fixed rail. A flexible tube is placed on the back-and-forth movement rail and under the vertical movement rail to extend along the vertical movement rail. This flexible tube is inflated/deflated upon supply/discharge of compressed air, thereby vertically moving the vertical movement rail to the upper and lower positions.

Abstract: A storage rack is loaded and unloaded from the top with pallets carrying articles to be stored in and retrieved from the rack. The rack consists of a series of spaced columns arranged in parallel rows defining wells accessible from the top; the columns have vertically spaced, upwardly facing sets of steps protruding to an equal extent towards the centre of the wells. A crane is horizontally movable over the rack and stoppable above a selected well; it has a hoisting block which can be lowered between and guided by the columns of the selected well; a pair of hooks are pivoted to the hoisting block for movement towards and away from each other between opened and closed position; a pair of Z-shaped pallet holding beams adapted to carry a series of pallets aligned in end to end relation are suspended from the hooks and clear the steps when in closed position.

Abstract: A device that is able to sort and stack processed products according to their intended use, moreover is able to stack efficiently within a limited area and is able to simply produce control programs to affect such processes. Products which have completed a cut-out process by a work processing device are sorted and moved to predetermined positions by a sort stacking device. A product may be automatically picked from pre-processed work, and automatically placed in the sort area. A plurality of products are arranged by an auto-programming device. A produced processing/picking control program and the stacking time control program may be executed by a line controller. The work processing device and the sort stacking device may be simultaneously controlled.

Abstract: In the case of a storage rack, in each case a plurality of load carriers (9, 10) are assigned to the storage locations, the load carriers forming a load-carrier stack. The load-carrier stacks can be transferred from the respective storage locations, with the aid of a vertically displaceable storage and retrieval apparatus (6), to a charging and removal location (4) of the rack. In this arrangement, the storage and retrieval apparatus is provided with a lifting mechanism which exhibits pivot levers (24), arranged in pairs to the sides of the load carriers (9, 10), and which makes it possible to separate the load carriers (9, 10) from one another in the region of the charging and removal location (4) by raising up the respectively top load carrier (10) from a load-carrier stack comprising two load carriers.

Abstract: A horizontal transfer apparatus for transferring distribution pallets includes two horizontally movable rails extending horizontally in a direction of transfer. The horizontally movable rails are adapted to mount thereon those end portions of each distribution pallet which are located perpendicular to the transfer direction, with friction reducers interposed between the rails and the end portions. A vertically movable brake rail is able to be brought into contact with the bottoms of the distribution pallets, and extending between the horizontally movable rails and parallel thereto such that the distance between the vertically movable brake rail and one of the horizontally movable rails is larger than the distance between the vertically movable brake rail and the other of the horizontally movable rails.

Abstract: A manual pallet exchange system for exchanging a pallet on a work table of a horizontal machining center with another pallet from a storage rack or an optional set-up station. The system comprises a pallet shuttle cart which travels along a guideway that is positioned adjacent to the storage rack, the set-up station and the horizontal machining center. Receiving devices are provided on the horizontal machining center, the shuttle cart, the set-up station and each pallet storage location on the storage rack for receiving and supporting the pallet. A mechanically activated locking device provides for safely securing the pallet to the receiving devices of the storage rack, the set-up station and the shuttle cart.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing stackable units containing food service items from a container having the form of a typical freight container, on board an aircraft. The apparatus cooperates with means for further transporting and then delivering the stackable units to an aircraft galley, and cooperates with a program controllable unit to allow the programmable handling of the stackable units. Arranged in the container (1) is a plurality of partition walls (10), each having a plurality of shelf ledges (15) to form a plurality of storage compartments (13) on the two opposite sides of an access alley (9). A handling unit (12) including a tower (22) on an undercarriage (12A) rides along rails (11) in the access alley (9). The tower (22) includes a plurality of receiver bins (19), with a motor driven engaging and entraining member (21) respectively arranged in each receiver bin (19).

Abstract: A mobile article transporter for carrying and storing a plurality of similar articles in a compact configuration. The transporter comprises a plurality of relatively friction-free conveyors located one above the other. Each conveyor includes a set of rollers that lie in an inclined plane along which the articles gravitate. Alternate ones of the conveyors tilt in opposite directions to form a Z-shaped structure through which the articles cascade to load the transporter from the bottom up. Pivoted article transfer carriages mount in the transporter for transferring articles between adjacent conveyors. The transfer carriages include guide arms and control arms that direct articles from an upper conveyor to the next lower conveyor. When the lower conveyor is filled with articles, the uppermost article thereon abuttingly engages the guide arms to prevent rotation of the transfer carriage, thereby preventing articles from gravitating onto the full conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a conveyor system adapted to transfer palletized loads along a generally horizontal path under the force of gravity. In one preferred form, the conveyor system of the present invention includes a support structure which generally extends horizontally from an input end to an output end and includes an upwardly facing support surface for supportively engaging a load, such as a palletized load. A longitudinally extending ramp member includes an upwardly facing portion and is pivotally attached to the support structure for movement between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the upwardly facing portion declines as it projects forwardly toward the output end. When in the second position, the ramp portion declines as it projects rearwardly toward the input end. The ramp member preferably includes two sides which are each angled from the horizontal.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for storing objects in a storage block having identical storage places arranged behind, next to or above each other in the X, Y and Z directions and at least one lifting member associated to the storage block. Each storage place is equipped with a driving unit for moving the objects in the Y direction. Further driving units are provided for moving the objects in the X direction between the entrance area and the transfer side of the storage block. All successive rows in the X direction have at least one free storage place and one plane of the storage block is designed as a storage and return plane for empty pallets.

Abstract: A pair of spaced, parallel beams are designed to hold a group of aligned, contiguous article carrying pallets. Each beam has a web of uniform width with a lower, inturned flange to extend under the side edges of the aligned pallets and an upper outturned flange to be picked up by the pivoted jaws of a crane. These jaws together with a pusher/puller carriage are mounted on a long frame suspended from the crane which travels across one face of a rack in which pairs of parallel tracks are arranged in a grid. The pair of jaws, carrying the beams or pallet holders are closed to position the latter under the sides of a group of aligned, contiguous, article carrying pallets assembled at a pick-up station. The pallet carrying holders are aligned by the crane with any selected pair of tracks. One end of the frame latches to the rack and the pusher-puller carriage latches to one end of the pallet holders and pushes the same and their load off the jaws and onto the tracks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tray for carrying a plurality of pallets loaded with several concrete blocks. The tray is a rectangular frame defining an upper surface, front and rear ends and upwardly-projecting flanges at both front and rear ends. The tray is adapted to receive the loaded pallets on its upper surface between the flanges. The invention further relates to a system adapted to carry the loaded tray through a block curing kiln. The kiln is composed of a plurality of longitudinal cells, as is already known, and the pallet-loaded trays are inserted in a consecutive linear abutment fashion in the cells. The relatively high flanges of each tray thus abut on one another, which prevents the overlapping of the trays, and thus prevents the damaging in this way of the concrete blocks.

Abstract: The mechanical facility, according to the invention, for the space-saving parking of motor vehicles has at least one entrance and exit EA and a multiplicity of parking spaces EP, and a multiplicity of stacking carriages SW, which are arranged one beside the other and can be displaced to the side, is provided, of which each stacking carriage is formed such that a multiplicity of pairs of pallets PL, located one beside the other and intended for receiving parked motor vehicles, can be arranged thereon one above the other and/or one beneath the other. By lateral displacement of the stacking carriages SW, a lifting passage HGS can be produced between any two selected stacking carriages SW. A lifting carriage HW can travel to the lifting passage, which lifting carriage can remove individual pallets PL from a stacking carriage SW adjacent to the lifting passage HGS, and introduce them into said stacking carriages SW. The lifting carriage HW can lift any pallet PL onto the level of at least one entrance or exit EA.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for consolidation of warehoused goods into orders, sets or kits is described. The apparatus allows precise positioning of a large number of objects supported by a movable rigid member, without requiring precise drive motion. The method allows concurrent transfer of a large number of articles, to fill the same or different ones of a large number of orders, where items for different orders may be initially stored in the same or different storage containers.

Abstract: In a commissioning process, variable lines are produced from articles of a variable supply of goods wherein each line consists of a selected number of groups consisting of a variable number of articles of the same type. A dispenser arrangement with a dispenser (D.sub.xyz) with an inlet matrix (SE) and an outlet matrix (SA) and buffers (P) between the matrices is used. Articles assembled into transport units with auxiliary packaging and/or transport material are supplied to the dispenser arrangement. The articles are individualized from the transport units of goods, the individual articles are fed through the inlet matrix into the buffers and transported in the buffers to the outlet matrix. From the outlet matrix articles are removed to collect lines of a predetermined combination and the collected articles are assembled to form line units using auxiliary packaging and/or transport material. The auxiliary packaging and/or transport material is supplied from the individualization step to the line assembly step.

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.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for picking up a ream of packaged sheets of a desired kind from a plurality of reams of one or more kinds stacked up on a respective one of cells in an automated warehouse and loading the picked-up ream of packaged sheets on a pallet. In the invention, a pick-up device, having a picking, gripping and pulling mechanism and a discharging and stacking mechanism, is located at a position adjacent to a respective cell by traveling the pick-up device horizontally and/or vertically. The pallet is located at a prescribed position. The pick-up device is operated to pick-up the ream of packaged sheet of the desired kind from the plurality of reams of one or more kinds stacked up on a respective cell. Specifically, the picking, griping and pulling mechanism is operated to pick upwards and grip the ream of packaged sheets to pull the same, and the pulling and piling mechanism is operated to withdraw the pulled ream of packaged sheets and stack the same on the pallet.

Abstract: A bar storage apparatus comprises: a shelf frame (19) provided with a plurality of pallet accommodating shelves (17) each for movably accommodating a pallet (15) on which a plurality of bars are mounted; an elevator device (23) disposed on one side of the shelf frame so as to be movable up and down and provided with a traverser (21) for moving each pallet into and from each of the pallet accommodating shelves; and a bar supplying device (25) for supplying a bar, mounted on the pallet moved from the pallet accommodating shelf and further located at a predetermined position by the elevator device, to a bar processing machine (3). The bar storage apparatus can store a great number of bars of various kinds and various dimensions, select any required bars from a great number of bars, and supply the selected bars to a bar processing machine easily and quickly.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading load-bearing elements onto and off shelving is designed so that the load bearing elements are driven by carriers which have a cam contour, designed and matched to abutments, in the form of recesses, so that the load-bearing elements can be precisely positioned in the shelving.

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.

Abstract: An automatic warehouse has a plurality of stock units. One stock unit has one replenishing rack and one picking rack arranged so as to oppose each other with their sides, leaving a corridor between. Each rack has a plurality of shelves in both heights and length and each shelf has a size which accommodates only one article. Shifting mechanisms are provided for shifting articles to be shifted from shelves in the replenishing rack onto shelves in the picking rack. Replenishing mechanisms are provided for shifting articles to be stocked onto the replenishing rack and picking mechanisms are provided for picking articles to be picked up from the picking rack. Transfer devices are provided for transferring articles from the warehousing berth to the replenishing mechanism and from the picking mechanism to the delivery berth.

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.

Abstract: An automated system for storing, retrieval and transporting of goods of any shape and size in aisleless warehouses, ships, airplanes, trains and the like. The system also provides aisleless warehouses, parking lots and the like and enables a computerized fully automated handling of stored items such as loading and evacuating of containers. The system provides the moving of the goods by placing same on pallets which travel on a flat and smooth floor. The pallet is provided with elastic air cushions which enable its hovering over the flat surface and a drive to enable the movement to any required direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pallet-support rail for the conveyance of pallets and containers, the rail having a pallet-support chain (2, 2a to 2d) designed in the form of a roller chain with a multiplicity of support rollers (11) spaced one behind the other at equal intervals, a rolling surface (4) on which the rollers (11) run and a multiplicity of support links (9) connected to the rollers (11) and designed to be displaced by the rollers (11) along the rolling surface (4). The invention ensures ease of operation and compact design by virtue of the fact that means for lateral control of the support rollers (11) are fitted to the support rollers (11).

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.

Abstract: A bar storage apparatus comprises: a shelf frame (19) provided with a plurality of pallet accommodating shelves (17) each for movably accommodating a pallet (15) on which a plurality of bars are mounted; an elevator device (23) disposed on one side of the shelf frame so as to be movable up and down and provided with a traverser (21) for moving each pallet into and from each of the pallet accommodating shelves; and a bar supplying device (25) for supplying a bar, mounted on the pallet moved from the pallet accommodating shelf and further located at a predetermined position by the elevator device, to a bar processing machine (3). The bar storage apparatus can store a great number of bars of various kinds and various dimensions, select any required bars from a great number of bars, and supply the selected bars to a bar processing machine easily and quickly.

Abstract: A multi-level storage facility comprising a plurality of vertically stacked storage chambers, each of a size to accommodate an item to be stored, such as a vehicle. Each chamber contains a platform, and all of the chambers are accessible from a common face of the facility. An elevator is mounted so as to move along the common face of the facility to provide access to any one of the chambers. Each of the chambers and the elevator provide a device for engaging one of the platforms in an upper or a lower position. The platform being movable between positions at any time including when the elevator is in motion. With the elevator aligned with any one of the chambers, the platform in the chamber may be exchanged with one on the elevator. The elevator provides a device for acheiving this result, saving the extreme expense of having exchange devices in each and every chamber, or on each platform.

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.

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.