Abstract: A storage system (20; 300) for storing loads (32) has: a plurality of carriers (30; 330), for holding respective loads; a plurality of uprights (46; 346); a plurality of flooring levels, one above another, supported by the uprights; a plurality of carrier supports (66; 366); at least one wheeled automated vehicle (50; 350), for carrying said carriers along the flooring levels and including a lifting surface (200; 400) for supporting a supported one of the carriers and shiftable between a lowered condition and a raised condition; and means (52A, 52B) for moving the at least one wheeled automated vehicle between the flooring levels.

Abstract: A multi-level rail for a storage structure may comprise an upper horizontal portion configured to support a load and a lower horizontal portion configured to support a row vehicle. An upper support portion extends downward diagonally from the upper horizontal portion toward the lower horizontal portion, and a lower support extends downward diagonally from the lower horizontal portion. This rail is configured to connect to at least one vertical post of the storage structure. Support beams for a railed storage structure are also disclosed with an elongated body having a terminal end portion configured to attach to a vertical column of a storage support structure and an upper support surface configured to support a horizontal support rail. A wing portion is secured to the terminal end portion and configured to attach to the horizontal support rail by extending lateral to the elongated body and above the upper support surface.

Abstract: A multi-level rail for a storage structure may comprise an upper horizontal portion configured to support a load and a lower horizontal portion configured to support a row vehicle. An upper support portion extends downward diagonally from the upper horizontal portion toward the lower horizontal portion, and a lower support extends downward diagonally from the lower horizontal portion. This rail is configured to connect to at least one vertical post of the storage structure. Support beams for a railed storage structure are also disclosed with an elongated body having a terminal end portion configured to attach to a vertical column of a storage support structure and an upper support surface configured to support a horizontal support rail. A wing portion is secured to the terminal end portion and configured to attach to the horizontal support rail by extending lateral to the elongated body and above the upper support surface.

Abstract: A multi-level rail for a storage structure may comprise an upper horizontal portion configured to support a load and a lower horizontal portion configured to support a row vehicle. An upper support portion extends downward diagonally from the upper horizontal portion toward the lower horizontal portion, and a lower support extends downward diagonally from the lower horizontal portion. This rail is configured to connect to at least one vertical post of the storage structure. Support beams for a railed storage structure are also disclosed with an elongated body having a terminal end portion configured to attach to a vertical column of a storage support structure and an upper support surface configured to support a horizontal support rail. A wing portion is secured to the terminal end portion and configured to attach to the horizontal support rail by extending lateral to the elongated body and above the upper support surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a load on an automated lifting cart, including a lifting surface vertically movable relative to the lifting cart, two pairs of cams positioned underneath the lifting surface having cam profiles shaped to lift the lifting surface upon rotation of the cams, a pair of encoders reading a rotation property of each pair of cams, and a controller configured to control movement of the pairs of cams by synchronizing the rotation properties of the pairs of cams by matching output from the encoders. Additionally, methods of lifting a load using an automated lifting cart including cams with a movement profile and a load profile, and methods of synchronizing drive shafts in a lifting cart using torque current measurements sent from a lead motor to a lag motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a load on an automated lifting cart, including a lifting surface vertically movable relative to the lifting cart, two pairs of cams positioned underneath the lifting surface having cam profiles shaped to lift the lifting surface upon rotation of the cams, a pair of encoders reading a rotation property of each pair of cams, and a controller configured to control movement of the pairs of cams by synchronizing the rotation properties of the pairs of cams by matching output from the encoders. Additionally, methods of lifting a load using an automated lifting cart including cams with a movement profile and a load profile, and methods of synchronizing drive shafts in a lifting cart using torque current measurements sent from a lead motor to a lag motor.

Abstract: A multi-level storage structure includes a plurality of vertical supports, a plurality of row spacing members connecting vertical posts positioned laterally relative to each other, a plurality of row rails connecting vertical posts positioned longitudinally relative to each other and configured to support at least one row cart, a plurality of aisle rails extending perpendicular to the plurality of row rails and configured to support at least one aisle cart, and a plurality of pre-formed holes formed in at least one of the vertical supports, row spacing members, row rails, and aisle rails to mount at least one of a lighting system, a fire suppression system, a mobile safety tie off carriage, and at least one support brace to the storage structure. The plurality of pre-formed holes are formed prior to assembly of the storage structure.

Abstract: A system for positioning a lifting cart in an automated storage facility is described. In one example, the system includes a motorized lifting cart configured to move about a railway of a storage area. An encoder on the cart reads a property of rotation of a rotating element on the cart, and a controller may receive the property of rotation from the encoder and convert it to a rotation count of the rotating element. The rotating element may be an encoder shaft, drive shaft, and like elements. Some systems include a signal emitter or photo sensor to position the lifting cart and to facilitate providing instructions to the cart.

Abstract: A multi-level rail for a storage structure may comprise an upper horizontal portion configured to support a load and a lower horizontal portion configured to support a row vehicle. An upper support portion extends downward diagonally from the upper horizontal portion toward the lower horizontal portion, and a lower support extends downward diagonally from the lower horizontal portion. This rail is configured to connect to at least one vertical post of the storage structure. Support beams for a railed storage structure are also disclosed with an elongated body having a terminal end portion configured to attach to a vertical column of a storage support structure and an upper support surface configured to support a horizontal support rail. A wing portion is secured to the terminal end portion and configured to attach to the horizontal support rail by extending lateral to the elongated body and above the upper support surface.

Abstract: A multi-level storage structure includes a plurality of vertical supports, a plurality of row spacing members connecting vertical posts positioned laterally relative to each other, a plurality of row rails connecting vertical posts positioned longitudinally relative to each other and configured to support at least one row cart, a plurality of aisle rails extending perpendicular to the plurality of row rails and configured to support at least one aisle cart, and a plurality of pre-formed holes formed in at least one of the vertical supports, row spacing members, row rails, and aisle rails to mount at least one of a lighting system, a fire suppression system, a mobile safety tie off carriage, and at least one support brace to the storage structure. The plurality of pre-formed holes are formed prior to assembly of the storage structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a load on an automated lifting cart, including a lifting surface vertically movable relative to the lifting cart, two pairs of cams positioned underneath the lifting surface having cam profiles shaped to lift the lifting surface upon rotation of the cams, a pair of encoders reading a rotation property of each pair of cams, and a controller configured to control movement of the pairs of cams by synchronizing the rotation properties of the pairs of cams by matching output from the encoders. Additionally, methods of lifting a load using an automated lifting cart including cams with a movement profile and a load profile, and methods of synchronizing drive shafts in a lifting cart using torque current measurements sent from a lead motor to a lag motor.

Abstract: A system for positioning a lifting cart in an automated storage facility is described. In one example, the system includes a motorized lifting cart configured to move about a railway of a storage area. An encoder on the cart reads a property of rotation of a rotating element on the cart, and a controller may receive the property of rotation from the encoder and convert it to a rotation count of the rotating element. The rotating element may be an encoder shaft, drive shaft, and like elements. Some systems include a signal emitter or photo sensor to position the lifting cart and to facilitate providing instructions to the cart.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a load on an automated lifting cart, including a lifting surface vertically movable relative to the lifting cart, two pairs of cams positioned underneath the lifting surface having cam profiles shaped to lift the lifting surface upon rotation of the cams, a pair of encoders reading a rotation property of each pair of cams, and a controller configured to control movement of the pairs of cams by synchronizing the rotation properties of the pairs of cams by matching output from the encoders. Additionally, methods of lifting a load using an automated lifting cart including cams with a movement profile and a load profile, and methods of synchronizing drive shafts in a lifting cart using torque current measurements sent from a lead motor to a lag motor.

Abstract: A rail mounting bracket includes a base, first and second rail receiving recesses, and a plurality of rail support surfaces. The base includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The first rail receiving recess is formed in the upper portion and open in an vertical direction. The second rail receiving recess is formed in the lower portion and open in a horizontal direction. The plurality of rail support surfaces is positioned between the first and second rail receiving recesses and configured to support downward facing surfaces of a cart rail.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. The web has upper and lower runs and transition sections between the upper and lower runs. An upper surface of the upper run of the web defining an article-conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface is capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters selectively diverts at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of the diverting rails in a diverting state. A propulsion system propels the web.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes providing a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction, an upper surface of which defines an article-conveying surface and a plurality of pusher shoes. Each of the shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface are each capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters are provided for selectively diverting at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of said diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter includes a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction. The web has upper and lower runs and transition sections between the upper and lower runs. An upper surface of the upper run of the web defining an article-conveying surface. A plurality of pusher shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface is capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters selectively diverts at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of the diverting rails in a diverting state. A propulsion system propels the web.

Abstract: A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes providing a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction, an upper surface of which defines an article-conveying surface and a plurality of pusher shoes. Each of the shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface are each capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters are provided for selectively diverting at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of said diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface.