GB1213229A - Workpiece handling and stacker storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

1,213,229. Conveyer systems. STANDARD ALLIANCE INDUSTRIES Inc. 15 Oct., 1968 [20 March, 1968], No. 48719/68. Heading B7L. [Also in Division A4] A workpiece (5) supported on the end of a feeder track (26, Fig. 1) of an overhead inbound conveyer (22) by one or more carrier members (e.g. 446, Fig. 3) is transferred together with the carrier member(s) to a support track 36, Fig. 2, of a selected cubicle 16 of a storage complex 10 formed of tiered rows 12 spaced by aisles 14 by one of a plurality of crane assemblies 34 comprising a column 38 fixed to a carriage assembly 40 provided with motor driven wheels 56 movable along tracks 58, 60 along the aisle, the column 38 supporting for vertical movement thereon a hoist assembly 42 comprising a transit track 44, a carrier transfer mechanism 46, a rotary transit track positioning mechanism 48, a carrier shuttle mechanism 50, and a hoist carriage mechanism 52. The crane assembly also transfers the carrier member(s) (446) and associated workpiece from the cubicle support track 36 to a feeder track (32, Fig. 1) of an overhead outbound conveyer (28). The workpieces may be hung on an intermediate trolley (448, Fig. 3) supported by carrier members (446), or supported in a container 449, Fig. 2, secured to a trolley (448) or carrier member (446). The carrier members are driven on conveyers (22, 28) by chains. To transfer a carrier member (446) from track (26) to a cubicle track 36, the crane carriage assembly 40 is driven along tracks 58, 60 to adjacent the carrier member. The positioning mechanism 48 is actuated by a reversible motor (232, Fig. 3) and a ring gear (216) so that the transit track 44 and the transfer mechanism 46 are rotated relative to hoist assembly 42 to extend longitudinally of the aisle, pins (410, 412, Fig. 3) being extended to locate the track 44. A reversible hydraulic motor (344, Fig. 6) of the transfer mechanism 46 is energized to drive a chain (340, Fig. 7) carrying pivotable dogs (354, 6); and a piston and cylinder assembly (320) is actuated so that the transfer carriage (288, Fig. 6) is extended and thereafter retracted so that the dogs transfer the carrier member (446) from track (26) to transit track 44. The carriage assembly 40 is driven along the aisle to the selected cubicle tier, and the mechanism 48 rotates the transfer mechanism 46 and track 44 through 90 degrees. The hoist assembly 42 is then raised or lowered on column 38, until it is adjacent the selected cubicle, by winding or unwinding cables (126, 8 (Fig. 12) extending between pulleys in the hoist carriage mechanism 52 and motor-driven drums (130, 132, Fig. 10) in carriage assembly 40. The shuttle mechanism 50 is then actuated by piston and cylinder assemblies (193 or 4, Fig. 4) to cause lateral movement of a shuttle frame (170), the transfer mechanism 46 and transit track 44 relative to assembly 42 towards the row in which the workpiece is to be stored, which may be either side of the aisle, the locating pin (410 or 412, Fig. 3) having been extended so as to be received in a collar (426) to positively align tracks 44 and 36. The transfer mechanism 46 is actuated as before so that the dogs transfer the carrier members from track 44 to track 36. The pin (410 or 412) is retracted and the shuttle frame (170) is centred. Each track 36 has a pivoted latch (430, Figs. 8, 9) to hold the carrier members on track 36, and releasable by pin (410 or 412) during transfer. The motor of the transfer mechanism may be controlled by position responsive limit switches, and the whole system may be computerized.