Abstract: Storage apparatus for articles capable of being retrieved includes at least one conveyor disposed generally in at least one plane and arranged in a generally sinuous manner formed by a plurality of joined loops each having generally U-shaped portions and generally straight portions with the straight portions being disposed side-by-side in generally parallel array. A receiving station receives articles and transfers them to the conveyor, and a take-off device takes off articles from the conveyor, the take-off device being arranged within at least one of the U-shaped portions for taking off the articles from the conveyor as the article is disposed in at least one U-shaped portion of the conveyor.