1. US005863172A
Ulllted States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,863,172
Pearson et al. [45] Date of Patent: Jan. 26, 1999
[54] STAGING, TRACKING AND RETRIEVAL 4,983,091 1/1991 Lichti, Sr. et al. ..................... 414/331
SYSTEM WITH A ROTATABLE STORAGE 4,986,715 1/1991 Asakawa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 414/787
STRUCTURE 4,998,857 3/1991 Paravella et al. 414/331
5,062,536 11/1991 Tsai ................................... .. 211/122X
. - - - - . 5,090,863 2/1992 Lichti, sr. et al. ................... .. 414/331
[75] Inventors‘ 3711mm A‘ Pearson’ Mamnez’ .celhf" 5,096,366 3/1992 Bernard, 11 et al. 414/786
Onald P‘ Bullen San Jose’ Cahf" 5 161929 11/1992 Lichti sr. et al. 414/331
Dame] C- Perry, San J95?” Cahf; Jack 5,171,120 12/1992 Bernard, 11 et al. 414/331
Qulntolh San 105% Cahf; Sean 5,188,245 2/1993 Mabrey ........... 211/152 X
Patrick Hirka, Hamilton, Ohio; Je? 5,197,844 3/1993 Lichti, sr. et al. . 414/331
Johnson, Henderson, Nev. 5,238,351 8/1993 Lichti, Sr. et al. . 414/331
5,255,723 10/1993 Pollock ............. .. . 198/801 X
[73] Assignee; Computer Aided Systems, Inc,’ 5,282,712 2/1994 Lichti, Sr. et al. . 414/331
Hayward, Kissee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..5,337,880 8/1994 Claycomb et al. . .. 198/347.3
[21] AppL NO‘: 796,274 5,449,262 9/1995 Anderson et al. ...................... 414/266
[22] Filed: Feb‘ 7’ 1997 (List continued on next page.)
[51] Int. Cl.6 ....................................................... B65G 1/06 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
[52] US. Cl. .................... 414/331; 198/801; 198/805.01; 194563 2/1965 Sweden ............................... .. 198/801
198/833; 414/609; 414/787
[58] Field Of Search ..................................... 414/331, 609, Primary Examiner—David A- B11991
414/787; 198/833, 803.01, 801, 435; 211/152, Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fish & Richardson PC
121, 122, 166, 90.02, 207, 208; 312/168 [57] ABSTRACT
[56] References Cited A storage system for the storage and retrieval of material
goods has a continuous track and a storage carousel movable
U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS along the track. The carousel carries a plurality of shelf
2,661,259 12/1953 Rippon ................................ 414/331 X arrays, each of Which includes a plurality of Vertically
2,687,814 8/1954 Romick _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 414/331 spaced shelves removably attachable to the carousel at an
3,258,109 6/1966 Breitenstein et al. ............ .. 211/121 X adjustable vertical pitch. One or more inserter assemblies are
3,410,390 11/1968 Petersen .............................. 198/833 X disposed adjacent the Carousel for transferring Cartons Onto
377807852 12/1973 Weiss ct a1~ 414/331 X the carousel. One or more removal assemblies are disposed
1883203 5/1975 Lexe """"" 414/787 X adjacent the carousel for removing cartons from the carou
u sel'. A vertical transport unit has an upWard reach disposed
472367858 12/1980 Hoese et a1‘ “ ~~~~~N 414631 adjacent the inserter'assemblies for transferring cartons to
4,252,488 2/1981 Kochanneck __ 414631 the inserter assemblies, and a doWnWard reach disposed
4,314,647 2/1982 Harris et a1_ ______ 211/121 adjacent the removal assemblies for receiving cartons from
4,389,157 6/1983 Bernard, II 61 a1, 414/787 the removal assemblies. The vertical transport unit has a
4,422,554 12/1983 Lichti ................... 211/1.56 plurality of platforms removably attachable to the vertical
4,561,820 12/1985 Matheny,IIIeta1 414/331 transport unit at an adjustable pitch. A control system
47527175 6/1988 Lichfi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 414/276 controls the operation of the storage carousel, the inserter
4381401 11/1989 Kavle? " 414/273 assemblies, the removal assemblies and the vertical trans
4,887,953 12/1989 Greub .............. .. 414/331 -
4,909,697 3/1990 Bernard, 11 et al. .. 414/331 port umt'
4,968,207 11/1990 Lichti .............. .. 414/331
4,976,580 12/1990 Knakrick ............................... .. 414/254 31 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
102
120

2. 5,863,172
Page 2
US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,556,247 9/1996 Lichti, Sr. et a1. ................... .. 414/331
5472 103 12/1995 M 1 211/90 02 X 5,588,790 12/1996 Lichti ...................................... 414/331, , er ............................... .. .
574727309 12/1995 Bernard’ H et a1~ " 414/786 5,593,269 1/1997 B~ernz1rd, II ........................... .. 414/331
574787182 Hildebrand et a1~ " 414/261 5,601,395 2/1997 LlChtl, SI. 61 8.1. ................... .. 414/786
5505586 4/1996 Lichti _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 414/786 5,634,760 6/1997 Anderson et a1. ................ .. 414/331 X
5,529,168 6/1996 Sofiano et a1, ________________ 198/803_O1 X 5,641,259 6/1997 Perry 61 a1. ............................. 414/268

3. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 1 0f 19 5,863,172
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4. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 2 0f 19 5,863,172
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7. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 5 0f 19 5,863,172
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9. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 7 0f 19 5,863,172

10. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 8 0f 19 5,863,172
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11. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 9 0f 19 5,863,172
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12. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 10 0f 19 5,863,172
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13. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 11 0f 19 5,863,172
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14. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 12 0f 19 5,863,172

15. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 13 0f 19 5,863,172
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20. U.S. Patent Jan. 26, 1999 Sheet 18 0f 19 5,863,172