subject: Our Storage Became So Easy Depending On The System [print this page] The automatic storage and retrieval system has an extractor for retrieving items stored and presenting the retrieved items to an operator. The extractor is vertically displaceable between and along vertical rails and is driven by an electromechanical chain drive system. The rails have equally-spaced locking slots for attaching pan brackets to form storage platforms for storage pans. The extractor includes an extractor stabilization mechanism having four locking dogs which engage with the locking slots of the rails to support the extractor and any retrieved items, thereby removing the load on the chains of the chain drive system during extraction or deposition of the storage pan(s). Thus, the extractor can be located in the optimal vertical position without the use of a precision linear encoder, and the extractor can maintain this optimal vertical position as the load is transferred to or from the extractor.
The automatic storage and retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein said vertical positioning means includes a sensor for locating said first plurality of locking slots, said controlling means determining a vertical position of said extractor based on said first plurality of locking slots located by said vertical positioning means.
The automatic storage and retrieval system according to claim 2, wherein said controlling means transmits a signal to said raising and lowering means to raise said extractor from a rest position, said controlling means simultaneously transmitting a signal to said engaging means to retract said locking dogs from said first plurality of locking slots, said locking dogs being frictionally prevented from retracting from said first plurality of locking slots until said extractor is slightly raised from said rest position, said control system transmitting a signal after said locking dogs have been retracted from said first plurality of locking slots to said raising and lowering means to raise or lower said extractor in accordance with instructions entered by an operator into said control system;
