Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates
an automatic storage and retrieval system for warehousing material load units 11 which may comprise, for example, a plurality of palletized cases 12containing materials or products. Such material load units 11 may also comprise single items or a plurality of items otherwise suitably grouped or contained. In addition to the normal size material load unit 11, small material load units 13 and largematerial load units 14 may also be handled by the present invention.