The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 29, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1996
Kurt M Lloyd, Pewaukee, WI (US);
Lamar A Jones, Sandy, UT (US);
Wesley A Crucius, Brookfield, WI (US);
HK Systems, Inc., New Berlin, WI (US);
Abstract
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.