GB1578587A - Storage and retrieval of articles - Google Patents

Description

(54) STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF ARTICLES (71) We, RAYRIDGE PRODUCTS LIMITED, a British Company of Rayridge House, Swinborne Road, Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, Basildon, Essex SS13 EH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a system for storage and retrieval of articles of the type known as a carousel.

Carousel storage and retrieval systems comprise a continuous conveyor, usually in the form of a long oval, over a corresponding oval floor-mounted track, with a plurality of horizontally spaced storage columns extending between the conveyor and the track. Storage and retrieval of articles is effected by one operator causing the conveyor to revolve so as to bring the required storage column to the operator, generally by the shorter route.

Conventionally, carousel systems of this type are powered by an electric motor arranged to drive the conveyor. The drive is thus supplied to one end of the storage columns while the other end "free wheels" along the support track. The motor power is usually applied to the top track but can alternatively be applied to the bottom track.

Carousel systems are designed to utilise the available space as economically as possible, and for this reason the storage columns, made up of individual vertically spaced bins, are usually designed to be the maximum height at which the operator can still reach the top-most bin. However, the problem which arises when tall columns of this type are moved around the track is that the drive at top or bottom causes uneven movement of the columns which can then jostle one another and possibly even get jammed.

According to the present invention we provide a carousel system comprising a plurality of storage columns arranged to move around a circuit supported by an upper track and a lower track, movement being obtained by power supplied to both the top and the bottom of the columns such that the velocity of the top of each column is always equal to the velocity of the bottom of that column.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a carousel system is provided in which the upper track is directly driven by a reversible motor and the bottom track is driven indirectly by the same motor via a combination of idlers and torque shafts.

Such a system has the advantage of simplicity and ease of control, since only one motor control is required.

Alternatively, the top and bottom tracks can be powered by separate reversible motors, the control systems for the motors being provided with means to provide a speed representation signal for each motor, means for comparing the two signals and feed-back means arranged to control one of the two motors in order to synchronize it with the other motor. This means of synchronization can thus comprise, for example, two wave generators coupled to a digital control system, or any other convenient system in which the rotation of the two motors can be compared.

With synchronized drive at the top and bottom of the carousel, the problem of jostling and inefficient running is overcome and the carousel storage and retrieval system is provided which is capable of continuous use at relatively high speeds.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification in which Figure I represents a general plan view of a carousel system according to the invention; Figure 2 represents a side elevation; and Figure 3 represents a sectional view along A-A in Figure 1.

A carousel system compriscs an oval section of conveyor chain and track 1 mounted on pillars 2 over a corresponding conveyor chain and track 3 bolted to the floor. Individual storage columns of cartridges 4 each comprising one or more vertically disposed storage boxes 5 (four are shown) are mounted on the upper and lower tracks 1, 3 and arranged so as to bc driven by the chains.

A reversible motor 6 mounted above the upper track 1 at one end of the carousel is arranged to drive the upper chain directly and to drive the lower chain iiidirectly via a torque shaft 7. At the end of the carousel opposite that on which the motor is mounted a loading and unloading station including control means for the motor 6 is provided (not shown).

In use, the operator selects a particular cartridge and operates the control. The motor drives the carousel so as to bring the selected cartridge to the operator by the shortcr routc, whcr-cupon the required arti clc can be placed in or removed from the individual hox 5 on the cartridge 4. Preferably the loading station is provided with a pressure mat or other safety means (not shown) arranged to immobilise the carousel while the operator is lo;iding or unloading.

WHAT WE ('I,AIM IS: 1. A carousel system comprising a plurality of storage columns arranged to move around a circuit supported by an upper track and a lower track. movement being obtained by power supplied to both the top and the bottom of the columns such that the velocity of the top of each column is always equal to the velocity of the bottom of that column.

2. A carousel system according to Claim 1 in which the upper track is directly driven by a reversible motor and the bottom is driven indirectly br the same motor via a combination of idlers and torque shafts.

3. A carousel system according to Claim 1 in which the top and bottom tracks are powered by separate reversible motors. the control systems for the motors being provided with means to provide a speed representation signal for each motor. means for comparing the top signals and feed-back means arranged to control one of the two motors in order to synchroni7e it with the other motor.

4. A carousel system according to Claim 1 substantially as hercin described.

5. A carousel system substantially as herein described with preference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 3 represents a sectional view along A-A in Figure 1. A carousel system compriscs an oval section of conveyor chain and track 1 mounted on pillars 2 over a corresponding conveyor chain and track 3 bolted to the floor. Individual storage columns of cartridges 4 each comprising one or more vertically disposed storage boxes 5 (four are shown) are mounted on the upper and lower tracks 1, 3 and arranged so as to bc driven by the chains. A reversible motor 6 mounted above the upper track 1 at one end of the carousel is arranged to drive the upper chain directly and to drive the lower chain iiidirectly via a torque shaft 7. At the end of the carousel opposite that on which the motor is mounted a loading and unloading station including control means for the motor 6 is provided (not shown). In use, the operator selects a particular cartridge and operates the control. The motor drives the carousel so as to bring the selected cartridge to the operator by the shortcr routc, whcr-cupon the required arti clc can be placed in or removed from the individual hox 5 on the cartridge 4. Preferably the loading station is provided with a pressure mat or other safety means (not shown) arranged to immobilise the carousel while the operator is lo;iding or unloading. WHAT WE ('I,AIM IS:

1. A carousel system comprising a plurality of storage columns arranged to move around a circuit supported by an upper track and a lower track. movement being obtained by power supplied to both the top and the bottom of the columns such that the velocity of the top of each column is always equal to the velocity of the bottom of that column.

2. A carousel system according to Claim 1 in which the upper track is directly driven by a reversible motor and the bottom is driven indirectly br the same motor via a combination of idlers and torque shafts.

3. A carousel system according to Claim 1 in which the top and bottom tracks are powered by separate reversible motors. the control systems for the motors being provided with means to provide a speed representation signal for each motor. means for comparing the top signals and feed-back means arranged to control one of the two motors in order to synchroni7e it with the other motor.

4. A carousel system according to Claim 1 substantially as hercin described.

5. A carousel system substantially as herein described with preference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.