Automatic storage and retrieval system for inventory items to be used in warehouse applications are numerous
. All storage and retrieval systems attempt to reduce the time taken in placing inventory items in storage and to reduce the timetaken in retrieving the inventory items from storage when desired. Small parts frequently can not be palletized and often must be stored in bins or containers because of their size or their delicate construction.
Conventional storage and retrieval systems utilized solid storage shelves whereby an extractor or picking mechanism must go to the shelf to pick the desired inventory item. This limits the conventional system to essentially one transaction eachtime the extractor is operated.
Therefore, it is a principal object and purpose of the automatic storage and retrieval system to provide a system whereby the desired inventory items are brought to the extractor mechanism as opposed to having the solid shelves where the extractor mechanism must gothe shelf. Combining a single extractor mechanism with a number of independently operating systems to bring the inventory items to the extractor will multiply the speed capabilities of the system.
The new automatic storage and retrieval system is designed to place in storage, store, and retrieve small parts and the like automatically upon command from a remote terminal.
A rigid, permanently mounted elevator includes a carriage or shuttle which moves vertically inside the supporting elevator and can accomodate two separate tote bins containing small parts simultaneously. Two sets of carriage roller shuttles arechain driven. Between the two shuttles, two smaller sets of free-floating rollers are aligned. Between the two sets of free rollers, two tracks contain a traveling arm. Vacuum pump suction rings are mounted on the traveling arm. A tote bin that ispositioned on the free rollers can be moved onto either of the roller shuttles through use of sets of chain conveyors on the carriage located between the individual rollers.
