Abstract: A system for automatically exchanging a battery of an electric vehicle, including a horizontal frame of a predetermined area formed at a location higher than the electric vehicle; a plurality of battery stands formed on a bottom surface of the horizontal frame at a predetermined interval; a pair of fixed guide rails arranged and installed on front and rear sides or left and right sides of the horizontal frame, respectively; a variable guide rail adapted to move horizontally along X-axis or Y-axis along the fixed guide rails; a movable rail adapted to move horizontally along Y-axis or X-axis along the variable guide rail and ascend/descend vertically; and a grasping part installed on a lower end of the movable rail and adapted to pick up a battery of the electric vehicle or a battery seated on the battery stand and exchange each other.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a housing mounted on a track and controllable to move along the track and to stop at each selected location, two side covers pivotally mounted on the left and right sides of the housing and movable by a respective driving motor to close/open the left or right side of the housing, and a mechanism controllable to move a material carrier horizontally leftwards or rightwards to the outside of the housing after opening of the left-sided or right-sided side cover.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a casing, a low port interface and a carrier holding station. The casing has processing devices within for processing substrates. The load port interface is connected to the casing for loading substrates into the processing device. The carrier holding station is connected to the casing. The carrier holding station is adapted for holding at least one substrate transport carrier so the at least one substrate transport carrier is capable of being coupled to the load port interface without lifting the at least one substrate transport carrier off the carrier holding station. The carrier holding station is arranged to provide a substantially simultaneous swap section for substantially simultaneous replacement of the substrate transport carrier from the carrier holding station.

Abstract: A mobile drive unit is provided for transporting an inventory holder. The mobile drive unit is operable to dock with the inventory holder, move the inventory holder in a first translational direction, and while docked with the inventory holder, selectively rotate the inventory holder while continuing to move in the first translational direction.

Abstract: A method and equipment to stack palletless and as to their size variable packages (1) on warehouse rack (15) and to retrieve them from the rack and to control the logistics of packages, in which the warehouse rack is furnished with an automatic packages stacking and retrieving robot, and in which the control of warehouse data and logistics takes place by a data system. Equipment (5) receives package (1), for instance, onto conveyor belt (2), equipment (5) carries out weighing of package (1), determination for the necessary space requirement, reading of remote code connected to package (1), as RFID code (20) in order to choose the rack space determined for it on basis of previous functions, and package (1) is retrieved from the rack steered either by the order of the user or of the data system, and the data from above mentioned stacking and retrieving functions are transmitted to the data system.

Abstract: A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations. At least one of the plurality of stations having two conveyors each having a tiltable platform such that each of the two conveyors can be used to receive and return containers.

Abstract: Transelevator for transporting loads, comprising two vertical columns that can move in a horizontal plane, with a substantially rectangular cross section, an elevator moving vertically between said columns for moving a load from or to a storage compartment on a shelving unit, transmission means for operating the elevator, and drive means for moving the transelevator horizontally, in which the elevator transmission means and the drive means for lifting and translational movement are supported on one of the vertical columns, such that the main stresses due to the weight of the elevator and the inertia of the translational movement are supported by the main vertical column, the cross section of said main vertical column being greater than the section of the auxiliary vertical column.

Abstract: A load handling device of a storage and retrieval device, which can travel in a longitudinal direction along a storage and retrieval side of a storage rack and can be positioned in front of the storage and retrieval side so that storage goods can be stored and retrieved in a transverse direction, including a loading platform; at least one tine comb comprising a plurality of tines which are substantially oriented along the transverse direction and are distanced to each other so that each of the tines can engage a space between neighbouring cantilever arms of the storage rack for delivering or lifting one or more of the storage goods on the cantilever arms or from the cantilever arms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transelevator (1) for handling pallets, suitable for use in a system for storing goods or similar, said transelevator comprising a lower mobile frame (2) fixedly supporting a vertical lifting column (3) along which a pallet-removal device can move. The invention also relates to a pallet removal device for a transelevator, comprising: a lifting frame (20) provided with lifting wheels which travel along the length of guide means; a laterally mobile fixed frame (21); and a mobile carriage (22) capable of mobile in relation to the fixed frame (21) and including a fork (23) which can be moved laterally along axis Z by means of a lateral movement shaft (29) actuated by motor means and which can be rotated in plane X-Z by means of a rotation shaft (44) actuated by motor means.

Abstract: A storage system (100) and a method for storing container articles (2) such as bottles or syringes, the system (100) is of a type associable to at least a supply line (1) of the container articles (2). The system (100) comprises: at least a support member (7, 8, 9) arranged adjacent to the supply line (1), which support member (7, 8, 9) affords a plurality of seatings (14) arranged side-by-side in order each to receive a plurality of container articles (2); and means (6) for picking-up a group of container articles (2) from the supply line (1) and for positioning the group of container articles (2) in a corresponding seating of the support member (7, 8, 9).

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically depositing, preserving and retrieving biological material test tubes is described, including a refrigerated storage with movable horizontal shelves and a conveyor interface, adapted to automatically transport biological material test tubes, a device adapted to handle the test tubes between the interface and the containers of a sorted plurality of test tubes, the containers having toothed guides and being able to be placed on the lanes of a bench, a handling device of the containers between the bench and an access area of the storage, slidingly mounted to the bench and including motorized toothed members adapted to couple with the toothed guides of the containers for horizontally moving the latter between the access area of the storage and the bench, and a control unit adapted to coordinate the devices during the loading/unloading operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system of enabling automated receiving/retrieving of stocks of cargo for storing purposes. The system uses at least one service level and one or more storage levels. The service level is operated and organized in such a way that it is able to receive, interchange cargo, and extract cargo simultaneously and batch way. The system is redundant and allows continued operation even if some of its components malfunction. The service area comprising (a) a plurality of pallets for conveying said cargo; (b) a matrix of blocks of predetermined shape upon which said cargo and said pallets located; (c) at least one elevator block for transporting said pallet to different areas of said system; (d) at least one box; (e) at least two buffer for allowing transport of said pallets in at least two orthogonal directions in each of said areas.

Abstract: A storage system includes a rack with a plurality of layers, each layer including an aisle and a plurality of rows extending from the aisle defining storage locations for items. A shuttle usable with the rack includes a first cart movable along the aisle and a second cart configured to be carriable by the first cart and to be movable along a row. The second cart is configured to carry an item between the first cart and the storage locations. A conveyor is located on one of the first or second carts to move the item onto or off the first cart. Related methods of storing and/or retrieving items from a rack are also disclosed. A rack system is disclosed and is readily assembled without welding, transferring loading so that the weight of the rack and any item stored therein is supported by the upright elements via support brackets.

Abstract: An autonomous transport vehicle for transferring case units to and from predefined storage areas in an automated case unit storage system, the automated case unit storage system including an array of multilevel storage racks with picking aisles passing therebetween and at least one multilevel vertical conveyor having movable shelves, the autonomous transport vehicle including a frame configured to traverse the picking aisles and a transfer deck connecting the picking aisles to the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor for transferring case units between the predefined storage areas and the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor, and a controller connected to the frame, the controller being configured to effect movement of the autonomous transport vehicle through the picking aisles for accessing each storage area within a respective level of the array of multilevel storage racks and each shelf of the at least one multilevel vertical conveyor.

Abstract: A defined vehicle path emulator system is described, which system can be used for measuring the F-min values and profiles for a path on a concrete floor traversed by a vehicle with a specific wheelbase. The defined vehicle path emulator is an autonomous robot that guides itself down the selected path. The F-min values are used to calculate the deviations away from zero planar infinity while traversing the path for a tall mast carried by an emulated vehicle. This invention's systems are distinct from the (FF/FL) floor flatness and floor levelness measuring systems in the literature as prior art. The floor can be marked for deviations from flatness by means of a laser etching system activated by the emulator's software system. The emulator can also signal an operator when it detects itself veering off of the defined path.

Abstract: A vehicle, including two controllable electrical drives, which are capable of being operated in mutual dependence, the rotational speed and the torque of a first drive, in particular a master drive.

Abstract: A battery movement, storage, and charging system for large size batteries used in lift trucks includes spaced, parallel storage racks, each of which have multiple storage and charging bays. A battery transport tower is positioned in an aisle between the storage racks and is moveable horizontally between the two rows of racks. The tower includes an extendable fork lift mounted which may rotate around the axis of the tower as well as move vertically upwardly or downwardly on the tower. A battery exchanger loads a discharged battery from a lift truck, places it on a pallet and then transfers the pallet and battery to a transfer bay in a storage rack where the tower forklift moves a pallet and battery to a selected charging bay.

Abstract: A transfer system includes: a first shelf disposed to block an original transfer path from a transfer position at which the transporting vehicle transfers the transported object to the port and can transfer the transported object with the transporting vehicle; a second shelf which puts the transported object; a displacing device can reciprocate the transported object with respect to the first shelf and the port in a first direction, toward and away from the processing apparatus, and which can reciprocate the transported object at first direction position, which is away in the first direction by the transported object from the first shelf and the port, in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a communicating device which receives a transfer request from the transporting vehicle, which can transmit a transfer permission to the transporting vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for storing containers (1a, 1b) in, and retrieving the containers from, a storage rack (2) including storage rack levels (3) arranged one above the other. Containers can be stored in, and retrieved from, said storage rack levels by a satellite vehicle (4). The containers can be displaced horizontally to and from a lift (5) preferably located in a storage rack passage (G), and can also be moved vertically in the lift, along with the satellite vehicle, to at least one conveyor mechanism level (E) in the region of the storage rack. The containers being transported on the satellite vehicle to and from the conveyor mechanism level are loaded and unloaded on the level of the conveyor mechanism level. The satellite vehicle (4) is loaded and unloaded on the level of the conveyor mechanism level (E) using a loading and unloading device (V) arranged outside of the satellite vehicle, and which is preferably stationary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

Abstract: A warehouse shuttle includes a chassis made up of first and second chassis portions and an article-carrying area between the chassis portions. Pairs of first and second running wheels are provided on the chassis to travel along the runway. One of a pair of arms is mounted to the first chassis portion and the other of the arms is mounted to the second chassis portion and are extendable and retractable to transfer an article between one of the shelves and the article-carrying area. A connector assembly connects the first and second chassis portions and can vary the spacing between the first and second chassis portions thereby varying the spacing between the arms to engage articles of different widths.

Abstract: A storage rack having a shelf with storage spaces, arranged over top of each other, for pallets that are horizontally removed sideways. A rack operating device moves the pallets from the spaces, and a station cart forms a lowermost space for a pallet, and can be horizontally moved from the rack on first rails. An upper cart is located above the station cart and forms another one of the spaces to receive a pallet and is horizontally movable on second rails that have a wider track than the first rails and also lead out of the rack. The upper cart has a greater clearance in an area of the station cart which is larger than a length of the pallet, and runs on the second rails, and parts of the upper cart not related to the support structure thereof can be inserted between the vertical rack supports of the rack.

Abstract: A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations.

Abstract: A mast includes two support columns each having nonuniform strength in a height direction. Both of upper and lower end portions of the mast have the highest strength, intermediate portions of the mast have the intermediate strength, and shoulder portions of the mast, between the central portion and both of the upper and the lower end portions, have the lowest strength.

Abstract: An automatic load transfer device is provided for automated material handling systems of the type having a tow AGV pulling a train of trailers along a predetermined path between stations. The device has a base positioned adjacent to the path with spaced apart rails that support a movable carriage which shifts between retracted and extended positions. A conveyor having a plurality of side-by-side fingers with moving conveyor elements is supported on the carriage by a lift which shifts the conveyor between lowered and raised positions. The carriage, conveyor elements, and lift have separate drives that are operably connected with a controller which sequentially activates the same to load and/or unload loads onto and/or from the trailers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stand-alone shuttle conveyor (10) intended, in particular, for a storage and logistics preparation warehouse, including a chassis (24) having the following elements mounted thereto, namely: wheels (26) enabling the shuttle conveyor (10) to move; a means (30) for driving the wheels (26); a means for powering the shuttle conveyor, comprising an exclusively electrostatic electrical energy storage means (32); and a means (48) for joining the recharge zones (18, 20) which are connected to a common fixed-voltage electrical power supply (22) in order to recharge the electrical power supply means. The invention is characterised in that the electrical power supply means include a first part for charging the electrical energy storage means (32) and a second part for delivering the energy to the drive means (30), said electrical energy storage means (32) being formed by at least one capacitor. The invention also relates to a storage warehouse (1) including one such shuttle conveyor.

Abstract: Reels of material are transported by being disposed on a first transport carriage which is, in turn, disposed on a second transport carriage. The second transport carriage travels between a reel storage area, that has a plurality of storage spaces, and a reel changer of a web-processing machine. The second transport carriage, together with the first transport carriage and the reel of material that is deposited on the first transport carriage then travels to an offload or unload position of the reel changer.

Abstract: Support columns are mounted at both front and rear ends of a stacker crane 4 to form a mast having a gate shape. An elevation frame having the size which is twice as large as a front space of a rack is provided at the mast, and a base of a slide fork is moved back and forth in a travel direction relative to the elevation frame. An elevation motor for the elevation frame and front and rear travel motors are provided under the mast.

Abstract: A line feed system of the invention comprises a framework having a first end and a second end. At least one conveyor is carried on the framework. The conveyor comprises a drive system and a cart configured to engage the drive system. In one embodiment, the cart has a base that engages the drive system and a carriage that is movable, e.g., extensible and retractable, with respect to the base. In another embodiment, the drive system is extensible and retractable. The cart can also include one or more lift devices that can be raised and lowered with respect to the carriage.

Abstract: A handling device for a resistant load includes a guide track (2) or a plurality of parallel guide tracks, a pair of slides or carriages (10a, 10b) slidingly mounted on a guide track (2) or a respective guide track, removable locking means (6a, 6b) associated with each slide or carriage (10a, 10b) and designed to keep in position its respective slide or carriage along the respective guide track (2), a linear actuator means (3) associated with each slide or carriage (10a, 10b) and having at least one first component (4) and at least one second component (5a) which can be displaced, upon control, one with respect to the other parallely to the guide track (2) or plurality of parallel guide tracks, the at least one first component (4) being displaceable together with a slide or carriage (10a) of the pair, and the at least one second component (5a) being displaceable together with the other slide or carriage (10b) of the pair, engagement means (7a, 7b) for a resistant load displaceable together with the linear act

Abstract: A storage system for containers including a plurality of cells for reception of containers and means of transferring containers within and outside of the cells. The transfer means include shuttles for translation between the cells and ensilage trolleys which are carried by the shuttles to face a cell and which are motorized to enter and exit from the cell and transfer containers between the cell and the shuttle. The ensilage trolleys are fitted with at least one transport unit made up of a base frame with motorized wheels for running on rails for the entrance and exit movement and with loading platform arranged above the base frame and designed to support a container. Between the platform and the base frame there are fluid hoisting sets distributed longitudinally to the trolley for controlled hoisting of the platform and which also realize elastic attenuation parts.

Abstract: A carrying apparatus capable of quickly moving a positioning platform carried by it is provided with a positioning platform at the top thereof and a support base at the bottom thereof. The carrying apparatus is defined with at least one sliding way, and the positioning platform is provided with a plurality of wheels which is in rolling contact with the sliding way of the carrying apparatus, so as to make the positioning platform move in the sliding way of the carrying apparatus quickly.

Abstract: To provide a container inspection/cargo-handling system capable of efficiently inspecting import/export containers. In order to solve the aforesaid problem, a container inspection/cargo-handling system of the present invention includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV) 18 that travels in circulation in a quay area. Further, on a circulation travel line of the AGV 18, provided are a quay crane 16 loading/unloading a container 14 to/from the AGV 18, a radiation inspection device 20 inspecting a cargo in the container 14 loaded on the AGV 18, and a container transfer means 22 for transferring the container 14 between the AGV 18 and a manned transport vehicle (container transport vehicle) 24.

Abstract: A rack module for, in particular, rod or plate-shaped storage goods accepted in transportation cases as well as a method for repositioning storage goods in a rack module is provided. The rack module is provided with several shelf spaces serving to receive the transportation cases as well as a storage and retrieval unit with a gripping device that can be displaced in reference to the storage and retrieval unit for repositioning the transportation cases. The transportation cases comprise pallets, with at least one lift truck for moving under and repositioning the pallets being provided, and a lifting device for raising and/or lowering one or more pallets, which can be operated by the gripping device of the storage and retrieval unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a stacker crane, configured to move on a single rail provided along one or more racks, includes: a first wheel that moves on the rail; a second wheel that moves on the rail, and that is disposed spaced apart from the first wheel in a fore-and-aft direction; a vehicle frame supported by the first wheel and the second wheel; first drive supported by the vehicle frame for driving the first wheel. The vehicle frame includes: a first support frame for supporting the first wheel and the first drive means; a second support frame for supporting the second wheel; and a connection frame that connects the first support frame and the second support frame.

Abstract: A system for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea includes a monohull fast ship and an arrangement for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the stern of the ship and along a driving surface of a cargo carrying deck of the ship. The arrangement includes a self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying cargo to be transported during loading and unloading of the ship and a self-contained security scanning system on the vehicle for maintaining control and surveillance of cargo in transit on the vehicle. The ship includes a reader grid of ship communication system on the cargo carrying deck to which continued control and surveillance of the cargo can be handed off from the vehicle scanning system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and combining items in an outbound container through the use of autonomous vehicles, each of which includes means for automatically loading and unloading a payload, to perform both transfer and transport functions in moving containers of items within a workspace via a network of roadways. Under computer control, said autonomous vehicles transfer and transport case containers of item units between incoming receiving stations, intermediate storage locations, and outgoing order-assembly stations where entire containers or individual item units are combined in the outbound container.

Abstract: An article storage facility comprising: an article storage rack having a plurality of storage units arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns; a track extending in the vicinity of the article storage rack; a plurality of article-conveying movable bodies capable of moving horizontally on the track in order to convey an article between the article storage rack and a loading/unloading article support unit; an article transfer device provided to each of the movable bodies that is capable of vertical movement and that transfers the article between a movable body and a storage unit or the article support unit; and a control device for controlling the movements of the movable bodies; wherein the dimensions of the movable bodies are determined so as to enable two of the movable bodies adjacent each other in the horizontal direction to be positioned such that the two article transfer devices, provided to the two adjacent movable bodies, overlap in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A depot or a storage facility for a plurality of material rolls, which rolls are intended for further processing in a processing machine, includes two outer shelving blocks in addition to at least one inner shelving block that is situated between the two outer shelving blocks. A storage location of the inner shelving block can be loaded or unloaded by a retrieval device which can access the shelving block from both longitudinal sides of the shelving block.

Abstract: A storage system for items such as substrate carriers includes at least one stocker including a plurality of storage areas each adapted to store at least one storage device. At least one movable support is arranged on the at least one stocker. A control controls movement of the at least one movable support at least between a first position wherein the at least one movable support receives the at least one storage device outside one of the storage areas and a second position wherein the at least one movable support is arranged substantially within the one of the storage areas.

Abstract: A port storage and distribution system for facilitating the transfer and/or storage of international shipping containers between container ships and ground transport carriers wherein an overhead grid guide track structure is provide that permits overhead transfer units to selectively engage and convey containers as required between the various ships, carriers and storage area without requiring multiple transfers of containers between different handling equipment. The system provides for container scanning and is either fully automated or partially manually controlled.

Abstract: A terminal structure (1) for storing and transferring a cargo (51), the terminal structure (1) being separated from a first quay at which cargo (51) is unloaded from and loaded onto ships (50) by a transitional buffer zone (20) i which the cargo (51) is temporarily stored, the terminal structure (1) comprising a storage and transfer area for storing cargo and loading/unloading cargo onto/from land transport devices (60-62), such as for example trucks, railcars or inland navigation vessels, a transfer side (11) for transferring cargo to and from the transitional buffer zone (20), a plurality of third cargo transferring devices (4A-4I), each adapted to travel in a first direction between the transfer side (11) and the storage and transfer area and to pick up, carry and deposit a cargo (51) between a location at the transfer side (11) and a location within the storage and transfer area, and a plurality of fourth cargo transferring devices (10A ), each adapted to travel in a second direction non-parallel to the f

Abstract: To provide a container inspection/cargo-handling system capable of efficiently inspecting import/export containers. In order to solve the aforesaid problem, a container inspection/cargo-handling system of the present invention includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV) 18 that travels in circulation in a quay area. Further, on a circulation travel line of the AGV 18, provided are a quay crane 16 loading/unloading a container 14 to/from the AGV 18, a radiation inspection device 20 inspecting a cargo in the container 14 loaded on the AGV 18, and a container transfer means 22 for transferring the container 14 between the AGV 18 and a manned transport vehicle (container transport vehicle) 24.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rack serving device (1) with a load-bearing means (4) displaceable in the height direction of a mast (2), the mast (2) being guided by means of bogie assemblies (7, 8) on bottom and top guide tracks and mounted so as to be displaceable along the guide tracks by means of a bottom and top friction-locking displacement drive (13, 14). The bottom and the top adjusting mechanisms are guided by means of height and lateral guide elements on the guide track and are designed to be displaceable relative to the guide tracks by means of a drive system (33).

Abstract: A data storage library and method of operation are disclosed wherein access at least to part of at least one robotics mechanism from the data storage library's exterior is permitted. Access is accomplished through a service port in the library's housing. Access to the storage cells, and thus the data cartridges sitting therein, from the library's exterior is blocked. Blocking access to the storage cells may be provided by a geometry of the service port itself, or by a combination of a door and the robotics mechanism being serviced filling the opening created by the service port. For robotics mechanisms operating on a track, part of the track may be routed through the service port to bring the robotics mechanisms to the exterior of the library for maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A travel distance-measuring unit measures optically a distance to a stacker crane by a travel distance-measuring sensor provided at a reference measuring position between the stacker crane that can travel on a predetermined route along a travel rail and a ceiling rail and the reference measuring position set on the ground side. A lift distance-measuring unit measures optically a distance to a lift table by a lift distance-measuring sensor provided at the reference measuring position via reflectors between the lift table 26 provided movably to the stacker crane, the reflectors provided to the lift table, and the reference measuring position P set on the fixed side. A ground side controller calculates a position of the stacker crane and a position of the lift table based on distance data derived by the travel distance-measuring unit and the lift distance-measuring unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shelf stacking machine for stocking and removing paper reels, especially in the printing industry. The shelf stacking machine can be driven in a lane with storage places at both sides. Said storage places receive paper reels which are stacked one on top of the other or behind each other in the direction of the lane. The shelf stacking machine is provided with a receptacle for a paper reel. Said receptacle is formed by a fork which can be height-adjustably pivoted around a horizontal axle. The fork is provided with measuring devices which detect the load of the received paper reel. The measuring devices supply the detected measured data via a control device to an actuator which is coupled to the fork movement-wise and which height-adjustably pivots the fork into the horizontal position according to the measured data. The actuator holds the fork in said horizontal position during paper reel transport.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carrying apparatus that prevents an elevating motor and the like from projecting from a stacker crane to hinder the stacker crane from interfering with walls of an automatic warehouse. A traveling vehicle 2 of a stacker crane comprises traveling driving means 20, 20 for wheels 9, and elevation driving means 35 for elevating and lowering a platform 4. Both driving means 20, 35 are arranged so that a longitudinal direction of both driving means 20, 35 is almost parallel with a direction in which the traveling vehicle 2 runs. The traveling vehicle 2 comprises a pair of frames 17, 17 spaced at a predetermined distance from each other and a plurality of connecting members that connect both frames 17, 17 together. Both driving means 20, 35 are arranged outside the respective frames 17. Wheels 9, 9 are arranged in the front and rear, respectively, of the traveling vehicle 2. The traveling driving means 20 is connected to each wheel 9.

Abstract: Applicants' automated data storage system includes a first media storage library having a first rail system, a garage having a movable rail system, said garage being disposed adjacent the media storage library, and a plurality of accessors movably disposed on either the first rail system or the movable rail system. In another embodiment, Applicants' automated data storage system further includes a second media storage library, having a second rail system, disposed adjacent the garage, such that the plurality of accessors is movably disposed on the first rail system, the second rail system, or the movable rail system. Applicants' invention further includes a method to move an accessor from the first media storage library into the garage, or from the first media storage library, through the garage, and into the second media storage library. Applicants' invention further includes a method to balance the workload of a plurality of data drives disposed within Applicants' automated data storage system.

Abstract: A system for the deep racking storage of pallets includes at least one pair of rails which are intended for supporting pallets. The rails are of sufficient length to support several pallets. A carriage is positionable on a pair of rails and drivable therealong for moving the pallets. Each rail has an upper, longitudinal support surface and a lower, longitudinal rolling surface. The support surface is intended for supporting the pallets, while the rolling surface is intended for the carriage. On each rail, the support surface and the rolling surface are interconnected to one another by the intermediary of side walls. The side walls together form a space which tapers from above and downwards for aligning a carriage when this is lowered towards the rolling surface.