IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL INSTALLATION FOR TRANSFERRING LOADS ALONG A HORIZONTAL PATHWAY

摘要

1,202,385. Pallet storage. CONSTRUCTIONS MILLS-K. 23 Oct., 1967 [23 Nov., 1966], No. 48154/67. Heading B7N. In an arrangement for storing goods on pallets on the upper surface .of track rails 1 which define a storage path, a self-propelled vehicle 3 is provided running on a lower part of the track rails which is automatically controlled (a) to move a loaded pallet deposited at the entrance of the path to a position at the exit end of the path or to a position adjacent a pallet already stored on the path, (b) when a pallet is removed from the exit end of the path to move each remaining pallet forward by one storage position and (c) when the path has to be unloaded to move all the pallets in turn to the exit point. The vehicle is supported by two pairs of wheels, one pair of which 4, 5 are driven in either direction by motor 21. A further motor 22 drives a pair of shafts 31 associated with four cams 40, 41 &c. which act to raise a platform 23 and a pallet thereon above the upper surface of track 1. The vehicle runs on the lower arms of the inwardly facing U-shaped rails forming the track 1 and the power supply to the vehicle is picked up by brushes 6, 7, from bus-bars running parallel to the track. The vehicle movement is controlled by contacts on the track which are engaged by the vehicle and by contacts operated by the presence of a loaded pallet at the entrance end and by removal of a pallet from the exit end of the track; by contacts H1, H2 and B on the vehicle which are operated when the platform is in its high position, is in the process of being lowered and in its low position, respectively, and by a feeler member mounted on the vehicle which operates a series of contacts when engaged by a stop member or by a pallet on the storage track.