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: 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: 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.

Abstract: An improved cantilever rack storage system having a number of vertically spaced, horizontal load supporting surfaces wherein the front and rear beams are releasably secured to the cantilever arms without the use of bolts or similar fasteners and where each load supporting surface is further stabilized by the use of cross arms which also do not require bolts and fasteners.

Abstract: A pallet return pallet rack storage system of the pushback rack type is provided where the wheeled carts may be selectively and automatically transferred from a pair of feed rails to a pair of return rails.

Abstract: A pallet rack comprises at least one pair of spaced, parallel rails and first and second wheeled carts mounted in rolling relation with the pair of rails, the wheels of first and second carts respectively rolling on the same rolling surfaces. The front wheels of the second cart are positioned between the front and rear wheels of the first cart. As the result of this, the second cart can roll between a first, vertically overlying position relative to the first cart, and a second position where most of the second cart is spaced along the rails from the first cart.

Abstract: A pallet rack discloses a pair of spaced, parallel rails, plus first and second wheeled carts mounted in rolling relation with the pair of rails. The second cart is capable of rolling over the first cart to overlie the first cart without movement-obstructing contact therewith. In accordance with this invention, each rail of the pair comprises a vertical web and a pair of generally horizontal flange portions extending outwardly in opposed directions from the web. The wheels of the carts ride on the flange portions, with the wheels of one of the carts riding on the flange portion of each rail which is opposed to the flange portions on which the wheels of the other of said carts ride. At least a portion of the web stands above the flange portions to limit the lateral movement of the wheels.

Abstract: A structure such as a rack comprises columns connected together by beams, positioned in transverse relation to the columns. The rack is provided for use in warehouses or elsewhere. For example, pallets may be placed across pairs of beams for storage in the rack. By this invention, means are provided for retaining the beams and columns in a range of positions of registry in which first apertures in the columns and second apertures in the beams overlap in offset relation. Bolts extend through the overlapping first and second apertures, with the first and second apertures being each of larger diameter than the bolt means. The distance of overlap between the first and second apertures should be typically less than the diameter of the bolts. As a result of this, the beams and columns can be tightly affixed together by the bolts despite unpredictable positional variations in the beams and columns as they are so affixed.