Hk Systems, Inc.

Harnischfeger Engineers Inc.

LaMar A Jones

Kurt M Lloyd

Christopher L Roth

Rodney O Kirby

Dennis G Hueman

James P Hrica

Billy R Jackson

David M White

Wesley A Crucius

A storage and retrieval machine has a telescopically extendible shuttle assembly which includes a plurality of linearly movable plates and a plurality of shuttle guide roller assemblies which accommodate non-linearities in the guide surface and other variations in clearance between the shuttle guide rollers and the corresponding guide surfaces of the shuttle assembly. Each shuttle guide roller assembly includes a spring, preferably a die spring, which biases the guide roller towards the guide surface but which permits limited deflection of the roller when it encounters bows, bumps, or other variations in linearity in the guide surface. The pre-tensioned guide rollers provide wear compensation, center the shuttle plates on their tracks, and assure adequate guidance of the shuttle plates during shuttle telescoping while preventing premature wear of the shuttle guide roller bearings and/or the guide surfaces.

Storage and retrieval machine with pre-tensioned shuttle guides

A storage and retrieval machine has a telescopically extendible shuttle assembly and having spring tensioned shuttle idler pulleys for the slave drive members, preferably chains, of the shuttle assembly. A spring, preferably a die spring, exerts a biasing force on each idler pulley which opposes forces imposed on the idler pulley by the corresponding slave chain. Pre-tensioning the idler pulley in this manner assures adequate tension on the slave chain to prevent or at least inhibit undulations in plate movement which otherwise could occur during telescopic extension and retraction of the shuttle assembly if the slave chain were inadequately tensioned. Use of the spring loaded idler pulley also obviates the need to over-tension the slave chain and prevents or inhibits premature wear and failure of the idler pulley, pulley bearing, and/or chain.

Storage and retrieval machine with spring tensioned shuttle pulley

A storage and retrieval machine including a multi-reach shuttle including six overlaid plate assemblies supported for extension and retraction relative to each other by intervening sets of rollers. The rollers are arranged to maximize the range of extension of each plate assembly relative to a preceding plate assembly so that fewer plate assemblies are required to achieve a desired reach. Also, the rollers are positioned to provide an increased number of rollers at primary load bearing positions and fewer rollers at secondary load bearing locations.

Long reach shuttle for storage and retrieval machine

A storage and retrieval machine comprising a base adapted to move horizontally along a supporting surface, a generally vertical mast supported by the base, a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along the mast, and an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by the carriage, the shuttle mechanism including an upper plate fixed against horizontal movement relative to the carriage, an intermediate plate which is located below the upper plate and which is supported by the upper plate for horizontal movement relative thereto, a lower plate which is located below the intermediate plate and which is supported by the intermediate plate for horizontal movement relative thereto, and hoops on the lower plate for selectively engaging a load, the shuttle mechanism being operable between a retracted condition wherein the intermediate plate is located directly below the upper plate and the lower plate is located directly below the intermediate plate, and an extended condition wherein the intermediate plate extends outwardly in one direction relative to the upper plate and the lower plate extends outwardly in the one direction relative to the intermediate plate.

Automatic storage and retrieval system

A storage and retrieval machine comprising a generally horizontal rail including a rail member, a base, a linear slide supporting the base for movement along the rail member, a generally vertical mast supported by the base, a carriage supported for generally vertical movement along the mast, and an extendable and retractable shuttle mechanism supported by the carriage.

An automatic storage and retrieval system comprising a main track having an end, a storage rack which is adapted to be fixed adjacent the track and which defines a plurality of storage locations, a storage and retrieval machine which moves along the track and which places objects in and removes objects from the storage locations, and a maintenance module fixed adjacent the end of the track so that the maintenance module serves as a maintenance area for the storage and retrieval machine, the module also providing a container for packaging the storage and retrieval machine for shipping.

Growing community of inventors

Sandy, UT, United States of America

LaMar A Jones