Abstract: An article transfer arrangement of the type which is utilized to retrieve and store articles which are arranged in a matrix of compartments, such as in a warehouse. In a preferred embodiment, a push member which urges an article on the transfer arrangement into a selected one of the storage compartments is provided with a latching mechanism which facilitates withdrawal of an article which has become jammed during the storage procedure as a result of misalignment. In embodiments where the articles are tote bins of the type which are generally used in such storage systems, the exterior of the tote bins is provided with a depending member having push and pull surfaces. During the storing procedure, the push member communicates with the push surface of the depending member while the latching mechanism latchingly communicates with the pull surface.

Abstract: Medication dispensing apparatus for hospital and nursing home use that can satisfy patient prescription requirements on a large scale. The apparatus includes a carriage for dispensing pills or other medication required by the prescription of a particular patient on command from a computer control system. The pills are automatically selected from a large array of bins, deposited in an individual patient tray and delivered to an inspection station where verification of the prescription is achieved by comparing the tray contents with a display of patient data.

Abstract: A rail mounted carriage supporting a multishelf press loader is reciprocable between a sheet charger, which loads an individual lay-up of sheet material onto each of the loader shelves, and a multiplaten press for processing such lay-ups. After all of the loader shelves are charged with lay-ups, swingable upright lay-up-centering rods slide all of the lay-ups simultaneously farther onto the loader shelves until the leading edges of the lay-ups abut against movable stops supported adjacent to the leading or press end of the loader. The carriage is moved to the press, and the stops are raised out of edgewise registration with the lay-ups, whereupon all of the shelves and their lay-ups are moved past the raised stops and into the open press between its platens. The stops then are lowered behind the trailing edges of the lay-ups and shifted a short distance into the press to slide the lay-ups farther into the press. The stops hold the lay-ups in the press as the shelves are slid out from beneath the lay-ups.

Abstract: A commodity retrieval and storage arrangement which includes shelves for storing a plurality of like configured commodities. A movable carriage is vertically and horizontally displaceable along the shelves and carries apparatus for engagement with the commodity selected, apparatus for transferring the selected commodity to the carriage and apparatus for securely holding the selected commodity to the carriage. After transfer of the commodity to the carriage, the carriage may be moved to a commodity processing area.

Abstract: An article handling and pushing device is located on one side of a set of stacked shelves, is movable vertically, and includes a transfer shelf which can be brought to oppose any selected one of the stacked shelves by such vertical motion and also a push arm for moving articles from the transfer shelf away from the handling and pushing device onto the currently selected opposed one of the stacked shelves. An article pushing out device is located on the other side of the shelves, is also movable vertically, also can be brought to oppose any selected one of the stacked shelves by such vertical motion, and includes an air cylinder for pushing articles off from the currently selected one of the stacked shelves away from itself. A raising device moves both the article handling and pushing device and the pushing out device vertically, and keeps both of them at substantially the same height at all times.

Abstract: An unmanned guided vehicle (10) is propelled along a path (P) by a traction mechanism. Movement of the vehicle (10) on the path is controlled by a first control. The vehicle (10) includes storage (40) for storing at least one container (30) and transfer mechanism (44) mounted for vertical movement on the vehicle (10) for moving the at least one container (30) between at least one stationary location and the storage (40). The vehicle (10) also includes second control (16) which selectively controls the transfer of the at least one container (30) between the at least one stationary location and the storage (40). The vehicle (10) is moved to the stationary location whereupon the container (30) is moved from the storage (40) to the transfer mechanism (44) and then to the stationary location or vice versa.

Abstract: Simultaneous removal from a multi-level press of all press trays carrying particle board panels is achieved with a press unloading installation. Such installation consists of a vertically movable press unloader cage having chain conveyor pairs, primary supports for the press trays and panels, and auxiliary supports for the trays alone after separation from the panels. The installation further includes a discharge device for removing the press trays from the auxiliary supports of the unloader cage. In order to shorten the return transport of flexible press trays, separation between the finished pressed particle board panels and the flexible press trays is accomplished in the press unloader cage.

Abstract: A continuous rack support apparatus utilizing the gravity feed principle and in which goods to be stored are supported on rolling vehicles comprises thrust rods which are formed as motional impulse generators and arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the center of a track. Pawls are associated with the thrust rods for acting upon the rolling vehicles. Each thrust rod has a locking member for holding it in a locked position following a displacement against the action of a spring. The locking member can be disengaged by the foremost rolling vehicle when the latter is removed. Along the thrust rods are wedges with which the pawls come into contact upon displacement of the thrust rods against the action of the spring to cause the wedges to swivel into a rest position below the track.

Abstract: A diskette picker for gripping a magnetic data storage disk and retracting it from a disk storage housing and releasing the disk for loading onto a disk drive. The picker also returning the disk to the disk storage housing after the disk has been used. The picker automatically grips an edge of the disk when removing the disk from the storage housing and automatically releases the disk while loading the disk on a disk drive.

Abstract: In a pass-through sintering furnace for sintering a succession of ceramic tubes fed lengthwise through the furnace and rotated as they pass through the furnace, the tubes, when heated in the furnace, are kept apart by pushing each tube into the furnace at one end and pulling it out from the other end. The pulling speed is less than the pushing speed to ensure uniform firing throughout the length of the tube, allowing for shrinkage as the tube is fired, but is sufficient to hold the pulled tube clear of the next following tube so as to obviate any pushing against the end of a hot tube.

Abstract: The installation is of the type comprising a warehouse providing rows and columns of container-receiving cells opening at one end into a passageway accommodating a horizontally and vertically displaceable loading- and unloading unit. The floor section of each cell comprises a pair of longitudinal rails (4) inclined towards the passageway at a slope of 2-4%. The container (C) is handled by devices engaging its four lower corner blocks (18) so as to minimize the effects of stresses on the container structure during handling and storage. One end of the container is deposited onto a trolly (31) freely rolling on the rails. The other end is manoeuvred by a power-actuated carriage (14) rolling on an elevator platform (5) and is deposited onto supports (30) projecting upwardly from the lower end portions of the rails. (FIG. 4).

Abstract: In combination with automatic storage and retrieval system having a continuous track which supports a continuous rotating storage unit to move therearound in a horizontal direction, the rotating storage unit including a plurality of horizontally spaced shelves arranged vertically into columns, a conveyor system mounted adjacent the rotating storage unit for moving storage bins towards and away from the rotating storage unit, and an elevator mounted in a fixed position between the rotating storage unit and the conveyor system; a platform mounted in the elevator for vertical movement up and down adjacent the rotating storage unit, an extraction and insertion arm assembly slidably mounted on the platform, the arm assembly including a pair of longitudinally disposed extractor arms having the forward ends extending towards the rotating storage units, a motor for driving the arm assembly in a horizontal direction towards and away from the rotating storage unit for bin placement in and withdrawal from a preselected

Abstract: A system for automatically transporting workpieces between a magazine and a machine tool, includes a pair of grabs each movable vertically and also horizontally on a trolley, and arranged to shift workpieces in succession to and from one of a series of drawers in the magazine. The drawers are mounted on guide rails, and are removed in succession by a handling device including a conveyor, raised to the height of a loading station at the top of the magazine, where the grabs operate, shifted horizontally to combine with the movement of the grabs, and then returned to the magazine.

Abstract: A storage system is described in which bins are transferred from a first storage position to an inspection position through the operation of a pair of endless belts carrying bin engaging device whereby a bin is moved along bin guides by sequential engagement of the bin engaging device on either belt followed by the bin engaging device of the other belt.

Abstract: A system is provided for loading concrete blocks, carried on pallets, into a kiln. The kiln includes a front end wall and a rear end wall and a plurality of guideways extending from the front end wall to the rear end wall. The guideways are arranged in a grid pattern of horizontally aligned layers and vertically aligned tiers. The pallets are inserted into a selected guideway. A laterally movable main frame carries a vertically movable subframe which includes an arcuate conveyor. An elevator delivers pallets to the subframe which inserts the pallets into the selected guideway. The main frame and subframe are indexed for exact alignment with the selected guideway.

Abstract: A system for the so-called "cube" storage and retrieval of a large number of items, such as loaded pallets, employs a frame providing a plurality of parallel storage paths arranged in one-upon-the-other rows and side-by-side tiers. Each path provides a plurality of stations each able to store an item, and is provided with a motor-operated reciprocating advancing member which extends substantially the full length of the path. The advancing member carries for each station a driving advancing apparatus engagable with the item therein to move it to the next successive station as the member moves; it also carries a detector apparatus, which may be constituted by the respective driving apparatus, to detect the presence of an item at a station and prevent the feeding of an item to an already occupied station. The entry and delivery ends of each path are provided with respective detectors to control movement of the advancing member to ensure that the delivering station is always occupied.

Abstract: An automatic tooling machine includes a spindle carrier having a spindle for supporting a machining tool. The spindle carrier includes a tool drum mounting device for rotatably supporting a tool drum having plural machining tools thereon. A device is provided for transferring a selected machining tool between the tool drum supported on the tool drum mounting device and the spindle. A drum storage rack is fixedly positioned separate from the spindle carrier and extends in a longitudinal direction. The rack includes a plurality of drum support members for storing a plurality of tool drums. A carriage track is integral with the spindle carrier. A device is provided for selectively moving the spindle carrier to a position such that the carriage track is positioned adjacent and aligned with a selected of the drum support members. A carriage is provided for moving the tool drum of the selected drum support member along the carriage track between the tool drum mounting device and the selected drum support member.

Abstract: In a warehouse setup, individual items of goods are moved onto and off of storage shelves on a rack by a vibrating action. A movable carriage supporting a vibrator is positionable at the ends of a storage shelf so that the vibrator can be placed in engagement with a particular shelf. The shelves are movably supported relative to the rack whereby the vibrating action is directed to the shelf but not to the rack.

Abstract: A tray unloading apparatus for transferring trays from a tray transport van to a horizontal in-feed station of a carry-away conveyor for carrying trays to further stations. The unloading apparatus includes vertical pillars which support a set of horizontal parallel tray guide tracks which are disposed essentially parallel to a plurality of vertical sets of tray rails in a tray transport van. The set of tray guide tracks are vertically shiftable along the pillars by a mechanical drive into different height positions corresponding to levels of the transport van rails. The uppermost height position is level with the in-feed station of the carry-away conveyor to receive a tray slid from the tray guide tracks at the upper level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous shelf storage unit comprising a shelf, an inclined rail track on which non-driven wheeled carriages can move, with auxiliary equipment for the loading and unloading of the shelf, the rail track having a slight incline for causing a deceleration of wheeled carriages coasting thereon, and momentum-imparting apparatus acting on the wheeled carriages and disposed in the track. The momentum imparting apparatus is activated by the auxiliary devices during removal of a carriage from the shelf.

Abstract: An automatic loader and unloader for an elevator includes a stationary frame, a main carriage movable in either direction relative to the stationary frame, and a coupler carriage movable in either direction relative to the main carriage. The main carriage is slidably disposed on the stationary frame by a bearing arrangement which provides a cantilever support for the main carriage when the main carriage is extended. The main carriage and the coupler carriage are extended and retracted by two pair of cables. One pair of cables effects movement of the main carriage and coupler carriage in one direction, and the other pair of cables effects movement of the main carriage and coupler carriage in the other direction.