Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal circuit storage system (1) for storing storage goods carried by load-carriers. The horizontal circuit storage system has a storage zone (2) with a plurality of stacked horizontal storage planes (5). A plurality of load-carriers (6) are arranged in a row in each of the storage planes. The storage zone (2) is located between two vertical conveyers (3, 4) which interconnect the storage planes vertically in each case. The load-carriers (6) can be moved horizontally in the storage planes (5) to the vertical conveyers (3, 4) by horizontal conveyers (8) which are associated each with a storage plane (5). According to the invention, a control unit is provided in order to permit faster access to individual load-carriers and, depending on a control signal from the control unit, the storage system can be brought into a condition in which a horizontal circuit is formed for the load-carriers (6).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for indicating a position of an item to be processed from a shelf is disclosed. An embodiment of the apparatus includes a frame member and an indicator moveable on the frame member. The indicator is positionable in front of the item to be processed from the shelf. In an embodiment of a method for indicating a position of an item to be processed from a shelf, the method includes moving the indicator on the frame member such that the indicator is positioned in front of the item to be processed from the shelf.

Abstract: A storage lift has two shelving columns that support storage goods carriers (5). A vertical conveyor is located between the two shelving columns and at least one of the shelving columns has a loading and removal opening. A light grille (9, 10) and faceplates (11) are provided to determine or verify the position of the storage goods carriers (5) in the vicinity of the loading and removal opening (8). At least one faceplate is allocated to each storage goods carrier (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage system (1) with a storage region (2, 3), in which storage material may be stored, with an access region (16), physically removed from the storage system, in which access to the storage material for deposition or withdrawal of storage material (4) can be achieved, and a transport means (11), by means of which the storage material can be transported between the access region (16) and storage region (2, 3). According to the invention, an unauthorized unauthorised removal of storage material may be prevented, whereby an access control system is provided, by means of which access to the storage material support (6, 7) in the access region (16) is permitted or blocked depending on an access authorization of the user.

Abstract: A circulating storage system (1) has at least two storage columns (4) of stored-goods carriers (5) that are arranged one above another and circulate during operation, at least one horizontal conveyor device (9) which, during operation, transfers the stored-goods carriers from one storage column to the other storage column, and a vertical conveyor device (7) which, during operation, can move at least one part of the storage column in a vertical direction. The circulating storage system also has at least one further vertical conveyor device (7), for each vertical conveyor device assigned to a storage column, to provide each storage column with the capability of being moved in the vertical direction, independently of the other storage column, by the vertical conveyor device assigned to it.

Abstract: A storage lift has shelving columns having lateral panels provided with support sections (5) for storage goods carriers. Each column has four stays (4) configured as mountable and dismountable panel elements (7). The panel elements have a sandwich-type structure consisting of a contoured plate (12) and a support plate (13) connected to it to increase the rigidity of the support sections (5). The structure of the storage width facilitates and accelerates construction of storage lifts on site.

Abstract: A vertical carousel which has an access station located at the top of the machine, for access to the stored products from automated mechanisms from above rather than the side of the machine. Product can then be easily accessed via common overhead transport vehicles, such as those used in the semiconductor industry, and also can be stored one behind the other and still provide easy access.

Abstract: A storage and/or retrieval system such as a horizontal carousel has a common light source array consisting of LED's and the like inside the system's rotating or movable carrier loop at a picking or storage access area behind the shelves of a selected carrier. When that carrier is at the desired access position, the common light source transmits light through light transmitting devices to an access face of the carrier at the picking or storing location in relative proximity to the actual compartment's position. The light transmitting devices can be flexible light pipes arranged in patterns dictated by the type of storage required.

Abstract: A storage and/or retrieval system such as a horizontal carousel has a common light source array consisting of LED's and the like inside the system's rotating or movable carrier loop at a picking or storage access area behind the shelves of a selected carrier. When that carrier is at the desired access position, the common light source transmits light through light transmitting devices to an access face of the carrier at the picking or storing location in relative proximity to the actual compartment's position. The light transmitting devices can be flexible light pipes arranged in patterns dictated by the type of storage required.

Abstract: A storage lift has two columns, and a hoisting shaft for a conveyor unit (2) movable up and down between the two columns. A light grille (5) is arranged in the storage lift on the end of the conveyor unit (2) facing a charging and discharging opening (1). The light grille provides measurement of the height of the goods on the storage lift, and also acts as a safety element. Safety aprons (6, 7) are mounted on the top edge of the charging and discharging opening (1) and on the lower front edge of the conveyor unit (2) for compensating for shifting delays during braking of the conveyor unit (2).

Abstract: In a vertical carousel storage and retrieval unit and the like, a restricted multi-compartment tote is used in conjunction with a height control such as a plurality of blocking rail. The tote is step-shaped and extends into the full depth of the unit. The blocking rail system allows sliding doors to be moved to one or more intermediate positions between fully open and fully closed positions in order to provide restricted authorized access to each of the compartments in sequential order from the first compartment at the front of the tote to the last compartment at the rear of the tote.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system, such as a vertical carousel or vertical lift module, and access method provides substantially improved control over access to the contents stored in the system. A desired number of small doors are provided at an access area to limit an operator to obtaining a product from only that compartment on a carrier adjacent the access area. The doors are slidable or pivotable and can be locked and unlocked by a mechanism. The carousel is provided with carriers having compartments which can be divided into desired arrays depending upon product size and mix. The carriers are selectively movable to one of several positions adjacent the access area. Access to the carriers can be obtained through placement of an access area on one side or both sides of the machine. Electronic controls can be provided for each storage system or external computer controls can be used for a group of storage systems to permit more efficient use of the controls as well as remote placement of the storage systems.

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 storage and retrieval system, such as a vertical carousel or vertical lift module, and access method provides substantially improved control over access to the contents stored in the system. A desired number of small doors are provided at an access area to limit an operator to obtaining a product from only that compartment on a carrier adjacent the access area. The doors are slidable or pivotable and can be locked and unlocked by a mechanism. The carousel is provided with carriers having compartments which can be divided into desired arrays depending upon product size and mix. The carriers are selectively movable to one of several positions adjacent the access area. Access to the carriers can be obtained through placement of an access area on one side or both sides of the machine. Electronic controls can be provided for each storage system or external computer controls can be used for a group of storage systems to permit more efficient use of the controls as well as remote placement of the storage systems.

Abstract: In high-rise shelving, in the region of a feed or removal opening (2) there is disposed a collapsible table (7), to which a shelf-rack (5) can be temporarily transferred. The table (7) assumes, in addition to the supporting function, the function of an actuating member for a switch which opens and closes a feed circuit of a drive system for rollers (4) of two roller paths, which roller paths are disposed in the region of the base of the feed or removal opening (2).

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: In a high-rise shelving having two shelving columns (2, 3) and a vertical conveyor (6) disposed therebetween, the bases (9) of shelf-racks (7), which shelf-racks can be transferred by the vertical conveyor (6) into the compartments of the shelving columns (2, 3), are provided with respectively at least one recess (11, 12), through which, in the region of the feed or removal opening (13) of the shelving, parts (20) of an auxiliary conveyor (21) can be brought into engagement with objects (22) deposited on the shelf-racks (7) so as to load or unload these objects.

Abstract: A vertical carrousel, which serves in particular to store upper and lower tools for a bending machine, and has a loading and unloading opening in the front wall of its housing, is provided with an additional loading and unloading opening in the region of a side wall of the housing. The additional opening enables tools to be transferred between the vertical carrousel and the bending machine through the shortest distance through transfer bridges.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circulating rack having an electric drive which can be pivoted, to a limited degree, in opposed directions dependent upon the transmitted torque of the electric drive. The drive is mounted on a pivotal rocker element which is displaced against the force of two counteracting elastically deformable abutments. A torque transmitted by the electric drive to overcome non-uniform loading of the circulating rack system causes the pivotal rocker to be displaced in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A displacement measuring sensor measures the extent of pivotal movement of the rocker to provide an indication of the non-uniform loading condition so that corrective action may be taken. If the rocker is pivoted beyond a predetermined range, as for example that caused by a severe overloading condition, the displacement measuring sensor will cause the electric drive to turn off and prevent further circulation of the system until the overload has been corrected.

Abstract: In an endless conveyor with a plurality of load carriers, current collectors are associated with the load carriers and each exhibit an input part and a current collecting part. The current collecting part is mounted on the load carriers rotatably relative to the input part. Contact arms attached to the current collecting part are in contact with sliding contact rails. The current collected from the sliding contact rails passes via the contact arms, the current collecting part and sliding contacts connected to the current collecting part to the input part and from there to the respective load carrier.