Abstract: An apparatus for handling rolling pallets which are mechanically coupled with one another in rack or flow channels and which is outfitted with a displacement carriage which is movable in a rack servicing lane, which apparatus enables a simple coupling and uncoupling of rolling pallets on the one hand and on the other hand makes possible a simple charging or unloading of rack or flow channels with individual or coupled rolling pallets, wherein the inevitable tolerance-related problems occurring with positive-locking engagement can be reliably controlled under practical conditions. This is accomplished by a working ram at a displacement carriage that is outfitted with at least one swivelable driver for a frictionally-engaging and/or positively-engaging coupling of a rolling pallet after the latter has been partially driven underneath.

Abstract: A vehicle parking apparatus comprises at least one lift platform (12) which can be brought to parking boxes (11) provided in rows in different stories of a multi-story car park and on which at least one movable vehicle carrying pallet (13) can be arranged. The vehicle carrying pallet is formed by two box-like wheel supporting beams (14) which extend in the direction of travel and which have a length corresponding to the wheel base of the vehicle types to be accommodated and also a lateral spacing corresponding to the track widths of the vehicles to be accommodated. The wheel supporting beams (14) are in the form of an inverse U with outwardly directed angled portions (15) at the lower longitudinal edges and plates (16) which connect the lower longitudinal edges together as well as longitudinal roller arrangements (17) at the front and rear ends. At least one cross-beam (18, 19, 20) is provided at the front and at the rear of the wheel supporting beams.

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: 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.

Abstract: A pickface conveyor including two or three load storage stations and including a trolley movably positioned on an inclined track. A first load support is shiftable vertically about an over center linkage to facilitate the transfer of loads from the first load support to a second load support. The first load support can be positioned at the first station with the second load support comprising the trolley, or the first load support can be mounted on the trolley with the second load support comprising the second station.

Abstract: A pallet handling platten system of the invention includes an auxiliary platten unit. The auxiliary platten unit comprises a pair of auxiliary plattens 30 normally stowable beneath the level of the load bearing surfaces of primary plattens 5 of the system. Devices 74,72 are provided for lifting the auxiliary plattens 30 to a first elevated level, for moving the auxiliary plattens 30 laterally of the system while not under load, and for lifting them when so extended to a second elevated level to take the load of the pallet. The primary plattens 5 of the system are then withdrawn while the load is supported on the auxiliary plattens, but the auxiliary plattens do not themselves move laterally under load.

Abstract: A shelf service apparatus is provided in the form of a crane for a store for rod-like material accomodated in self-supporting magazines or pallet boxes, where the store comprises shelving units arranged transversely of the storage space and aligned with one another in the direction of the storage space, which units comprise vertical shelf supports (2) with carrier arms (3) secured thereon one above another so as to extend in the direction of the storage space, for the magazines (4). The crane has load supporting forks (12) movable up and down by guide devices (16), with reception brackets (13) by which the magazines can be grasped and moved. To weigh the material in the pallet boxes, a receiver (18) is arranged, with spacing, on the forward portion of the reception brackets (13). The receiver is supported by transverse beams (20) in relation to the reception bracket 13. Weighing cells (20a) are coupled to the beams.

Abstract: A product-carrying tray 1 has longitudinally slotted end members 3 for sliding engagement on guide rails in a conveyor installation or storage unit. Transverse edges 2 of the tray are provided with coupling members 5 for interengagement with other like units also accommodated on the guide rails. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling members 5 are defined by interengaging hook structures consisting of projecting portions 7 and laterally extending end portions 6. The tray of the invention is especially suited to accommodating food products within a storage or treatment chamber. The tray may however also serve as a product-carrying element in a conveyor installation. Apart from the hook-type interconnection illustrated, a multiplicity of other interconnecting arrangements may be provided, including, inter alia, alternative mechanical structures and magnetic coupling.

Abstract: A double wide, double deep pallet storage rack has a lowermost frame assembly provided with open front central aisles D opposite each double depth of pallets to facilitate storage and order picking as in distribution center warehouses providing an improved method of storage and order picking permitting individuals to enter the storage rack for article removal from a rear pallet of each double depth of pallets after a respective front pallet has been removed.

Abstract: A mobile racking system for installation in a trailer van which is fitted on the inside sidewalls with a number of load retaining strips at different elevations to define different elevation loads. A number of clamping bracket assemblies are releasably attached to the retaining strips, each assembly being provided with a releasable engagement device for accepting a C-shaped track member to provide a pathway for accepting and supporting a carriage in the form of a roller pallet. The releasable engagement device has a cam member for securing the C-shaped track member to the load retaining strip. The roller pallet extends substantially across the width of the trailer van, the roller pallet having at least on one side, a pair of rollers which are rigidly secured to axles which are adapted to move laterally on the pallet to accommodate differences in the spacing between the two side walls of the trailer. The clamping bracket assembly has a "["-shaped body having upper and lower arms joined by a bight.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement, as associated with a storage rack, employs a plurality of individual load-supporting trolleys or pads supported on sloped runway segments which are activated by a cyclically-actuated vertical lifting arrangement, with this arrangement being supported within a rail or frame structure having supporting flanges for the loads. When the lifting device is activated to lift the inclined runway segments and pads upwardly, the loads are lifted away from the supporting flanges, whereby the weight of the loads causes the pads to move downwardly by gravity along the sloped runway segments to forwardly advance the loads a small amount, until the loads again contact the support flanges. When the pads are lowered due to lowering of the lifting arrangement, the pads are biased back to a raised position along the upper end of the runway segments whereby they are again engaged under the load to permit repeat of the cycle.

Abstract: A system for storing and retrieving items to and from a storage receptacle which includes a track riding dolly carrying a robotic item handler for inserting and extracting items to and from storage The dolly also carries a multishelved caddy for receiving a plurality of items thereon. The item handler has the capacity to access each of the shelves of the caddy and may execute, under computer control, a selected sequence of item transfers between the caddy and storage during a single passage of the dolly from an on/off load point past the storage receptacle. A multishelved caddy loader queues a plurality of items received from an on-load device independently of the caddy, via vertical repositioning, and performs a bulk transfer of the queued items to the caddy when the caddy is available. A mass offloader device permits the bulk transfer of a plurality of items from the caddy to an offload receiver.

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 shelfs may be disposed opposite the work tables 7 to facilitate the consolidation of ordered goods.

Abstract: An overhead storage system particularly suitable for installation within a garage, includes a lift arrangement for receiving and delivering articles to be stored. The lift arrangement includes a mechanism for elevating the articles between a lower position where they can be placed on or removed from the lift arrangement by a person standing on the garage floor, and an upper position a certain distance above the lower position. In the disclosed embodiment, a storing mechanism operates to retrieve articles from or to deliver articles to the lift arrangement at the upper position, and to transport the articles between the upper position and a storage area offset from the upper position which area is at a storage level above and clear of the garage floor.

Abstract: A storage system for storage and retrieval of material goods, including an extractor assembly for extracting containers from the storage carousel while the carousel remains in continuous motion.

Abstract: A goods handling system in which elongated goods such as rails, rods or plates are located in storage boxes or cassettes (12), and in which the storage boxes or cassettes are placed on racks having rack supports (15) above each other, the racks being located in a warehouse-type arrangement, with passageways therebetween. Cranes or hoists (19-23) can transfer the cassettes from a storage location in the racks to a horizontally movable transport wagon, which can transport the cassettes to a utilization station (40), for example for reloading, unloading and the like. A control unit (CU) keeps track of the respective cassettes which are interchanged, at random, in the racks, by placing an empty cassette into a storage location from which a full cassette, on which work is to be done, is removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the disposition of loads movable on wheels, e.g., roller pallets or their equivalent, in a storage area consisting of one or more storage levels located one above the other and provided with collateral flow-through channels for the loads, the storage levels being arranged either horizontally or with a slight downward inclination towards the output end, provides that each storage channel has a conveyor rail mechanism which, by utilization of a conveyor rail, both guides and conveys the loads of goods in the channel.

Abstract: A low profile unpowered conveyance utilizes air actuators to tilt sequentially sections of idler roller conveyors to move loads such as palletized bins from one section to an adjoining section. The sections may be arranged in a line, loop or other arrangement. The sections are tilted by air actuators which are preferably low profile pneumatic air bags or springs. In one form a pair of air bags support a pivotally mounted entry section through a harness and when the air bags are deflated the entry section pivots downwardly with respect to the conveyor section. When the air bags are partially inflated the entry section is held horizontal. When the air bags are further inflated, the entire section tilts. The entire section tilts only when the succeeding section is clear and concurrently the entry section of the succeeding section also tilts to be aligned with the prior section providing an inclined idler roller ramp to permit the load to roll to the succeeding section.

Abstract: A workpiece loading and unloading method and apparatus are disclosed especially for plate processing machines, such as a punch press. The apparatus includes a workpiece storage device positioned on one side of the plate processing machine and having a plurality of vertically arranged shelves for supporting pallets for storing workpieces to be loaded and finished products unloaded from the machine. An elevator device is provided for moving pallets to and from the storage device to a load/unload station where a transfer device picks up a workpiece from the pallet and moves it to the machine for processing and also picks up the finished product from the machine and returns it to a finished product pallet.

Abstract: The automated changer for printed circuit board test fixtures includes apparatus for transporting printed circuit board test fixtures between a printed circuit board test fixture storage apparatus and a printed circuit board test facility. The automated changer also includes apparatus that automatically unlocks and retrieves a test fixture from the printed circuit board test facility and automatically loads another test fixture in its place. In operation, the automated changer retrieves a selected printed circuit board test fixture from a storage apparatus and transports the retrieved printed circuit board test fixture to the printed circuit board test facility. The automated changer orients one of its printed circuit board test fixture retrieval arms in juxtaposed position with a printed circuit board test fixture loading aperture in the test facility. The automated changer unlocks and then retrieves the printed circuit board test fixture that is presently loaded in the test facility via the aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the disposition of loads movable on wheels, e.g. roller pallets or their equivalent, in a storage area consisting of one or more storage levels located one above the other and provided with collateral flow-through channels for the loads, the storage levels being arranged either horizontally or with a slight downward inclination towards the output end, provides that each storage channel has a conveyor rail mechanism which, by utilization of a conveyor rail, both guides and conveys the loads of goods in the channel.

Abstract: A physically integrated manufacturing and materials handling system comprising a conveyor system and a storage system. A conveyor system is described which includes structure for receiving pallets having metal sheets or the like placed thereon so that the metal sheets may be removed therefrom and placed on a storage system pallet. The loaded storage system pallets are transported to storage bays or other locations within the facility by means of an electronically guided forklift truck.

Abstract: A continuous semiconductor substrate processing system is operated by a system control structure in accordance with a predetermined processing program. A wafer conveying mechanism conveys wafers to and from each of plural process stations, each of which performs a corresponding process step on semiconductor wafers, to and from a stocker and to and from an inspection unit. Carriers, movable by manual or mechanical structure other than the wafer conveying mechanism, provide for alternative conveying of wafers to and from each of the process stations, the stocker and the inspection station.

Abstract: Large rolls of partially overlapping paper sheets which are convoluted onto the cores of reels are stored in one or more rows of compartments in a newspaper printing or bookbinding plant. Two adjoining rows are separated from each other by a track for one or more vehicles which are used to transport empty reels to one or more compartments wherein the sheets are convoluted onto the respective cores as well as to transport loaded reels to unoccupied compartments or to compartments which are adjacent to unwinding units. Conveyors in the form of cranes and/or chain or belt conveyors are used to transfer empty and loaded reels between the compartments of the rows and pairs of similar compartments on the vehicles. A vehicle which transports a loaded reel from the convoluting station to an empty compartment is used to transport an empty reel from such compartment to the compartment at the convoluting station so that the vehicle is put to use during each stage of its movement.

Abstract: A storage system, in particular a multi-story car park, comprises a displaceable lift (10) resembling a tower and transport pallets (8) with a guide rail on their lower side. The pallets (8) are gripped by the transfer device (47) forming part of the lift (10), which transfers them from the roller rails (20) of the lift (10) to stationary roller rails (7) of the parking places.

Abstract: A device for indicating the height of the fork of a fork lift truck relative to a home position is set forth. The device includes a controller which compares programmed store and retrieve heights for various shelves in a warehouse with the current height of the fork. A display visible to the operator includes a first display device which indicates the fork is adjacent a particular shelf and is within a predetermined range encompassing the store and retrieve heights of that shelf. A second display device indicates when the fork is at or within a predetermined range of the store or retrieve height for the shelf.

Abstract: The invention provides a motor vehicle parking installation forming an automatic individual garage in an urban environment. In this installation, the vehicle carrying platform (2) has two longitudinal edges (25) with a V shaped inclined profile cooperating by bearing on two retractable longitudinal stop elements (29) mounted along the hopper opening (3).

Abstract: A green tire feed system provided between the forming process and the vulcanizing process in a tire manufacturing installation. This green tire feed system comprises pallets, each adapted to be charged with green tires, pallet loading tables disposed respectively in front of the respective vulcanizing machines installed in a row, shelves disposed in opposition to the pallet loading tables, a stacker crane adapted to travel through a passageway formed between a row of the pallet loading tables and a row of the shelves, a station for receiving pallets sent from forming machines and from the pallet loading tables, and control devices for controlling the stacker crane. The stacker crane is controlled by the control means to transport a pallet charged with green tires form the station to the shelves and from the shelves to the pallet loading table, and to transport an empty pallet from the pallet loading table to the station.

Abstract: A multiple depth storage structure includes tilted, parallel rail assemblies in a storage bay. A first, single depth rail of each assembly is rollably mounted on a second, double depth rail, which is rollably mounted on a third, triple depth, fixed rail. Outer rail assemblies, having an upper outer rail rollably mounted on a lower outer rail, may be located outwardly adjacent each rail assembly. A first load is placed on cross supports joining the upper outer rails, if so equipped. Loads are successively accepted on the first rails, forward depth of the second rails, and forward depth of the third rails. Successive loads push back previous loads, and removal of each load causes positioning of the remaining loads and the rails for facile removal of a previous load or acceptance of a next load.

Abstract: A mechanized storage facility according to the present invention has a size which enables it to be moved from one place to another. The storage facility includes a box-shaped casing, an elevator device coupled to the casing, a plurality of storage units accommodated in the casing, a conveying car that travels within the casing to convey the storage unit between the casing and the elevator device, and a control device for controlling the operation of the conveying car and that of the elevator device. The interior of the storage unit is divided into a plurality of stages so as to form a plurality of accommodating portions each of which accommodates a storage box such as a strongbox. The elevator device includes an elevator tower and a lift provided in the elevator tower in such a manner that it can rise and fall. The elevator tower has an opening having a size equivalent to that of one of the plurality of accommodating portions.

Abstract: There are defined a lift space (E) and multi-storied housing spaces (X, Y) provided on at least one side out of the left side, right side, front side, and rear side of the lift space (E). A three dimensional housing apparatus comprises a liftable fork unit composed of a pair of liftable forks (5a, 5b) movable up and down in the lift space (E), and a plurality of traversable housing forks (20) each reciprocatingly movable between a corresponding housing space (X, Y) and the lift space (E). An object (C) to be housed can speedily and safely be warehoused in and delivered from a respective housing space (X, Y) by the liftable fork unit (5a, 5b) and a respective traversable housing fork (20).

Abstract: An automatic article feeding system which includes a conveyor for conveying pallets each of which contains an article or articles such as parts to be assembled and has a mark indicating the kind of article or articles contained therein, having a feeder for feeding each of the conveyed pallets into one of the shelves of the stocker according to empty shelf information supplied by an information processing unit; a memory for storing the address of the shelf in which the pallet has been stocked and further storing information of the kinds of articles on the pallet; a searcher for searching the memory according to the instruction received from the automatic assembling machine to detect the existence or non-existence of the article required by the automatic assembling machine and, if in existence, detect the address of the shelf in which the required article is stocked; a system for withdrawing the pallet from the stocker according to such detection; a feeder for feeding the pallet to a position for supplying the

Abstract: A magazine for the maturation of cakes of synthetic foam material, for a plant served by a conveyor belt bringing the cakes for distribution in the magazine, and by an overhead crane with a gripper intended for lifting a cake from the belt conveyor, for shifting it laterally and for depositing the same into a maturation space, which comprises stands arranged parallel to and at the side of the belt conveyor; each stand comprises a frame which supports a fixed lower shelf whose width and length are adapted to the width and length of the cakes to be received, and above the fixed shelf, at vertical mutual distances somewhat greater than the height of the cakes to be received, a plurality of movable shelves for receiving the cakes; each movable shelf is shiftable between a working position, in which it constitutes a surface whose width and length are adapted to the width and length of the cakes to be received, and a rest position, in which it leaves free the access from above to the shelf lying below.

Abstract: A system for the order collection of boxes, cases, crates and containers having gravity roller tracks arranged in adjacent rows, provided with a crate supplier along the high feed-in side and an order discharge track along the low discharge side. According to the invention, the boxes, cases, crates and containers are transferred by a transfer device from the lower end of a gravity roller track either onto an order discharge conveyor extending along the lower discharge side or over this discharge track onto a short storage track aligned with the gravity roller conveyor.

Abstract: A flexible manufacturing apparatus having several parallel, spaced-apart processing machines several shelf-like magazines disposed at the rear of the processing machines and extending transverse thereto, and transport mechanisms for conveying tools from the magazines to the processing machines. Two magazine rows are provided, each composed of magazine sections having superimposed, horizontal bottoms, including a lower shelf bottom and an upper shelf bottom, for holding tools. Transport mechanisms are provided in the form of a first upper transport mechanism, which, above the height of a person, is disposed on an upper transport rail, and a second lower transport mechanism, which, below the upper transport mechanism and at approximately half of the height thereof, is disposed on a lower transport rail. At least one mechanism is provided for conveying tools in a vertical plane from the lower shelf bottoms to the upper shelf bottoms, and vice versa.

Abstract: A vehicle parking garage has a plurality of storage areas arranged in a vertical column and a passageway beside the column in communication with the storage areas. Each storage area has associated therewith a storage member adapted to receive and contain a pallet. Each storage member has a storage position within a storage area and a loading position within the passageway and is adapted to move laterally between its storage and loading positions. A pair of spaced vertical track sections are mounted to each storage member and extend partially into the passageway when the storage members are in their storage positions with the track sections of adjacent storage members aligning vertically to define a pair of vertically extending tracks within the passageway.

Abstract: A palletizing method for articles by a robot wherein a final stacking pallet is moved as a hand portion of the robot moves, and when an article is loaded on the pallet, the final stacking pallet is made to assume a position in the neighborhood of a position where the article is gripped up by the robot hand to transfer the article.

Abstract: In order to increase the efficiency of space utilization in a palletized goods store in which loaded pallets (1) are arranged in rows (2, 3) with alleys (4) therebetween, each loaded pallet (1) is carried on a wheeled trolley (7A). Where it is required to introduce a loaded pallet (1A) into a space (10) present anywhere along each row (2), the wheeled trolleys are arranged to move transversely of a row whereby the loaded pallet (1A) can first be transported by a fork lift truck (11) down an alley (4) opposite to said space (10), and then moved transversely on a wheeled trolley (7A) into said space (10). In this manner, it is unnecessary for the truck (11) to effect a quarter-turn in the alley (4) whereby the latter can be of a much smaller width than normal. Where the store is to be operated on a first-in, first-out basis, the wheeled trolleys in a row are arranged for movement longitudinally of the row.

Abstract: An automatic article feeding apparatus which includes a stocker for housing pallets for containing articles such as parts for assembly, interchangeable tools or the like, a first pallet operating device for transferring the pallets from the stocker to an automatic assembling machine and vice versa, a second pallet operating device for feeding the loaded pallets containing the articles to said stocker and discharging the empty pallets to the outside, and control means for controlling the operations of the pallet operating devices in accordance with the actuation of said automatic assembling machine and the signals indicating the position of the loaded pallet housed in said stocker and the empty portion in said stocker.

Abstract: A material storage and delivery structure and system having a first container storage rack for accumulating and storing full containers of parts, and a container indexing and transfer mechanism for delivering individual full containers from the first storage rack to an assembly line work station. The transfer mechanism is also operative to move empty containers from the work station to a second container storage rack for accumulating and storing empty or depleted containers. A full container loading station and an empty container unloading station are provided for delivering full containers to the first rack and removing empty containers from the second rack as desired. Movement of containers the loading station toward the transfer mechanism and from the transfer mechanism to the unloading station is effected by positive gravity flow rails disposed along each storage rack. The transfer mechanism also includes gravity flow rails to facilitate indexing of containers onto and from the storage racks.

Abstract: The invention relates to article containment apparatus which is adapted to store articles such as vials on shelves disposed at different elevations by placing them on the successive shelves. In a known article containment apparatus including an elevating mechanism which drives a plurality of shelves, disposed at different elevations for stowing articles thereon, up and down, and a conveyor for conveying articles to a shelf disposed at a given elevation, the invention is characterized by the provision of a plurality of infeeders disposed between the shelf and the conveyor. The infeeders are operated in an alternate fashion so that while one of the infeeders is operating to store articles from the conveyor, another infeeder conveys the stored article thereon onto the shelf. In this manner, there is no need to interrupt the supply of articles by the conveyor during the time the articles are conveyed onto the shelf, thus improving the efficiency of stowage.

Abstract: In documentless order picking in which in a storage controlled via a computer the quantities of products to be removed for an order are indicated, in addition controlled via the computer the order picker is shown in which sequence he must process the order, i.e. which routes he must go, in order to minimize the total travel in picking out an order.

Abstract: A document and storage retrieval system including a plurality of containers, each having machine readable identifying indicia thereon. The containers are positioned by automatic palletizing apparatus on each of a plurality of pallets. The identity of the containers on each pallet is correlated with a storage location address assigned by a controller. Additionally identifying indicia for the pallet is preferably correlated to the address. On retrieval of a selected container, the pallet is retrieved, all of the containers are removed from the pallet, the selected container is sorted from the remaining containers, and all of the remaining containers are repalletized and reassigned a new address in the storage volume. The address or location of containers in the storage volume is dynamically changing, but the controller for the system always has a correlation of container identities and storage location addresses.

Abstract: A shelf service apparatus in the form of a crane for storage of rod-shaped material that is accommodated in self-supporting pallet boxes, it being possible for the pallet boxes to be lifted by supports on their end faces by carrying devices which can be moved vertically and horizontally by a crane bridge that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the storeroom. Furthermore, at least one load cross-piece is arranged in the crane bridge parallel to the pallet boxes in such a manner that it can be removed by the carrying devices, which load cross-piece is of the same length as the pallet boxes and is provided on its end faces with supports in a manner corresponding to the pallet boxes.

Abstract: A substrate handling system supplies new wafers to a vacuum chamber containing a lithography system, and outputs processed semiconductor wafers to an environment with normal atmospheric pressure. New wafers on a transplate pass by way of an air film track to a transload which feeds them from a load platform to a vacuum lock elevator. The inner door of the vacuum lock elevator opens and a completed transplate is transferred to the top shelf of the vacuum lock elevator. Next the vacuum lock elevator lifts to its upper position and the subsequent transfer of a new transplate onto a worktable occurs. There follows the closing of an inner door, (venting of the vacuum lock), the opening of an outer door, and the insertion of a new transplate from the load platform to the bottom shelf of the elevator. Finally, the completed transplate is removed. In cases where negative photoresists are used, this last step is replaced by routing the transplate to the post cure chamber for a period of up to 30 minutes.

Abstract: An elevated track network guides self-propelled guided vehicles (with containers thereon) from an entry location where objects enter the system, to a storage zone defined by sets of compartmentalized storage racks wherein containers filled with objects are temporarily stored, and from thence to an exit location where retrieved objects leave the system. Each set of storage racks comprise four racks and two aisles, with two of the racks arranged back-to-back between the aisles and the other two racks on opposite sides of the aisles. Each storage rack comprises storage compartments arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns. A track in the track network extends through and along an intermediate row in one of the back-to-back racks (pre-empting the compartments in that row). Each aisle accommodates a self-propelled aisle crane which services the racks on both sides of the aisle.

Abstract: An automatic transport system for green tires between a forming process and a vulcanizing process in a tire manufacturing installing in which different kinds of tires are manufactured through a forming process of making use of a plurality of forming machines and a subsequent vulcanizing process making use of a plurality of vulcanizing machines. The automatic transport system comprises pallets each adapted to be charged with four or more formed green tires and to be used for transporting them as one unit. A temporary storage is interposed between a forming machine group and a vulcanizing machine group for temporarily storing the pallets at predetermined locations. Forming side unmanned transport trucks circulate between the forming machine group and the temporary storage with the pallet loaded thereon. Vulcanizing side unmanned transport trucks circulate between the temporary storage and the vulcanizing machine group with the pallet loaded thereon.

Abstract: A storage system comprises a building structure having an array of contiguous storage spaces on each of at least one level. A plurality of movable storage platforms, on which such cargo as automobiles, shipping containers and the like may be loaded, is available, each individual platform to be moved into, stored or moved out of any one of the storage spaces. Each storage space is provided with a first apparatus for supporting and moving one of the storage platforms in a longitudinal direction, and with a second apparatus for supporting and moving a storage platform in a transverse direction. The two supporting and moving apparatus in each space may be alternately or selectively placed in contact with, and actuated to move, the storage platform therein, thus shifting the platform with its cargo in the direction desired into or out of the storage space. Remote and automatic programmed control of storage and retrieval movements of the cargo being handled may be included.

Abstract: A transporting arrangement, specifically suited for use in a storage rack, employing gravity-urged wheel-supported buggies for storing and transporting goods. The buggies are rollingly supported on elongated rails having flat support surfaces for engagement with the buggy wheels, and a pulsating activating device coacts with and extends longitudinally along the apparatus for causing the buggy to be cyclically relatively moved into and out of engagement with a longitudinally elongated brake in a repetitive manner to permit the buggy to move by gravity in a controlled steplike manner downwardly along the inclined support rails.

Abstract: Large rolls of partially overlapping paper sheets which are convoluted onto the cores of reels are stored in one or more rows of compartments in a newspaper printing or bookbinding plant. Two adjoining rows are separated from each other by a track for one or more vehicles which are used to transport empty reels to one or more compartments wherein the sheets are convoluted onto the respective cores as well as to transport loaded reels to unoccupied compartments or to compartments which are adjacent to unwinding units. Conveyors in the form of cranes and/or chain or belt conveyors are used to transfer empty and loaded reels between the compartments of the rows and pairs of similar compartments on the vehicles. A vehicle which transports a loaded reel from the convoluting station to an empty compartment is used to transport an empty reel from such compartment to the compartment at the convoluting station so that the vehicle is put to use during each stage of its movement.