GB1147956A - Materials handling systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1,147,956. Mechanical garages and other storage systems. J. GOEDKOOP. 19 Dec., 1966 [21 Dec., 1965], No. 56627/66. Headings B8A and B8E. In a mechanical garage or like materials storage apparatus of the type in which containers 12 are circulated up one vertical column and down another, means are provided adjacent the bottom of the columns to support each column and transfer the containers from one column to the other and means are provided adjacent the top of the columns and actuated thereby to transfer the containers from said other column to said one of the columns. Each container 12 comprises front and rear framework 70 joined by material support platforms 78 and wherein the upper and lower beams 74<SP>1</SP>, 74 of the frameworks are shaped for interfitment with the adjacent containers and support between the upper beams 74<SP>1</SP> a shaft 82 upon each end of which are rotatably mounted a pair of rollers 84, 86. The lower transfer means comprises front and rear inner cam plates 62 rotatable and driven about a shaft 34 and having four equally spaced U- shaped cam surfaces 98 with which to engage the rollers 84 and thereby support the columns and respectively lower and raise a container and the respective column, on the container being transferred from one column to the other. A pair of front and rear outer cam plates 54, also rotatable and driven about the shaft 34 at twice the speed of the cam plates 62, have a pair of diametrically opposed Y-shaped internal cam surfaces 106 to engage the rollers 86 and thereby transpose the container from the one column through a loading and unloading position between the columns to other column. In the loading and unloading position the containers engage a pivotal framework 90 whereby to align said container with the ground. The upper transfer means comprises a pair of front and rear inner cam plates 110 pivotally mounted on a framework 114 and rotated by the action of the roller 84 engaging the cam faces 126 of the four lobes 124 when the containers are raised and lowered by the lower transfer means. An outer pair of front and rear cam plates 112 eccentrically mounted on the framework 114 with respect to the inner cam plates are driven thereby at twice the speed thereof by engagement between the lobes 134 of the outer cam plates and cam projections 128 of the inner cam plates. The outer cam plates also have bifurcated cams 136 to engage the rollers 86 and transpose the containers from the top of one column to the top of the other. Stabilizing arms 140 are pivotally attached to the upper framework and have one end 148 in engagement with the cam surfaces 126 and the other upon which a roller 156 is mounted, in abutment with the upper beam 74<SP>1</SP> of the container during the transfer between the column. A further stabilizing bar 160 is pivoted at 162 to the upper framework and is rotatable by the containers on movement thereof to prevent engagement between the transferred container and the adjacent containers. The apparatus may be installed in a warehouse where access to the containers is available at each floor or installed in the hold of a ship where it is mounted on telescopic legs to raise the upper part above the deck level for loading and unloading purposes.