US3865446A - Storage means with shiftable units - Google Patents

Storage means with shiftable units Download PDF

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Publication number
US3865446A
US3865446A US311660A US31166072A US3865446A US 3865446 A US3865446 A US 3865446A US 311660 A US311660 A US 311660A US 31166072 A US31166072 A US 31166072A US 3865446 A US3865446 A US 3865446A
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United States
Prior art keywords
stacks
relay
contacts
stack
storage means
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US311660A
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English (en)
Inventor
Pasquale Patrick J Mastronardi
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ESTEY CORP
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ESTEY CORP
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Priority to US311660A priority Critical patent/US3865446A/en
Priority to CA167,460A priority patent/CA1085488A/fr
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B53/00—Cabinets or racks having several sections one behind the other
    • A47B53/02—Cabinet systems, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT 214H6 B A senes of stroage stacks, such as bookcases, are 51] 1111. c1. ..B60111 1/34, A47b 53/00 mounted a track with POWer means [58] Field 111 Search 104/148 R, 149, 15; moving them to Provide a Single aisle between any two 3]2/198 201. 214/16 B stacks.
  • Movable storage stacks for books and small parts have been in use for some time to conserve space and to add security against unauthorized removal of contents.
  • Prior stacks have, in most cases, been difficult to operate, requiring a sequence of manual operations to open a desired aisle.
  • Most of the prior stacks have been movable by a sequence of operations which included a separation of adjacent stacks when the two have been moved in the same direction. Such an operation provides opening and closing of spaces between stacks which presents a certain amount of danger to hands or fingers which may be caught in the open spaces.
  • the present invention includes a control system which is completely automatic, being operated by push buttons which anyone can use.
  • the stacks start at the same time and more together as a unit. This action saves time and, as noted above, is a safety feature. While the units are designed to be operated by electrical power, the stacks can be pushed manually with little effort since the wheels are mounted on ball bearings and the stacks are not connected to any chains, operating rods, or power screw means which would act as restraints.
  • the main feature of the invention is the circuit means which provides for the simultaneous movement of all the stacks to the right or left of an aisle to be opened. This is only one of a number of safety features which have been incorporated in the storage means. The other safety features are not shown or described in this specification since they are not part of the invention and since they have been fully described in the above mentioned invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of one of the storage stacks.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of all the stacks in one group, showing an open aisle.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the base of one of the stacks, showing the rails, the wheels, and the position of the motor.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of connections of the electrical control system which operates the stacks.
  • the assembly of storage stacks 10 includes five stacks, two ofwhich are stationary, and three which are movable. If desired, only one of the stacks can be stationary with four movable portions.
  • a sub-floor 12 is mounted under all the stacks and contains the rails (see FIG. 3) which support flanged wheels 14 rotatably secured to the underpart of the stacks by pillow blocks 15.
  • the wheels I4 are secured to a shaft 16 driven by an electrical reversible motor 17.
  • Each of the stacks may be divided into shelves 18 or other compartments for the storage of books, magazines, or machine parts.
  • a series of lamps 20 is mounted above the stacks, each lamp positioned at a point above an aisle when the stacks are separated. In order to conserve lighting costs, only one of the lamps 20 is lighted at any time.
  • the lamps include flat reflectors 21 and are secured in position by two or three supporting bars 22. Most of the circuit elements for controlling the lighting and motors are enclosed in a container 23 mounted on top of one of the stationary stacks 10. Each movable stack also contains a local circuit in a box 24 mounted on top of the upper stack shelf.
  • the stack movement is initiated by an operator depressing a push button 25 adjacent to the aisle to be entered.
  • the button 25 operates a stepping switch and the first actuation opens the aisle by moving the stacks away from it. After the operator has finished his mission, he pushes the button 25 a second time thereby normalizing part of the circuit and making the system ready for another aisle opening.
  • the motors 17 When the motors 17 are activated, they move their associated stacks to fill the open aisle and open up another. As soon as the opening is closed, all the motors stop.
  • the motor cutoff action is accomplished by a sensing switch 26.
  • Each movable stack has four such switches 26 mounted at the upper corners on each side of the stack.
  • the control circuit is shown in schematic form in FIG. 4.
  • the circuit is powered by sixty hertz from a power line which is connected to terminals 27.
  • Three motors 17A, 17B, and 17C are connected across the power line, each being capable of running in either direction.
  • a main winding 28 and a starter winding 30 in series with a capacitor permit the reversible action by reversing the current in one of the windings.
  • a series of six relays 31 through 36 control the actuation and the direction of the three motors. When none of the relays are actuated there is no power supplied to the motors and they do not run. Actuation of any of the three relays 31, 33, or 35 causes the associated motor to turn in a direction which moves its stack to the left. In like manner, actuation of any of the relays 32, 34, or 36 causes the associated motor to move the stack to the right.
  • each relay winding is connected to a power conductor 37 and one of the terminals 27.
  • the other side of each relay winding is connected respectively to a pair of the sensing switches 26 which are operated whenever the stacks are moved close to each other.
  • the other power conductor 38 is connected to one side of each starter winding 30, to a normally open contact on each of the motor relays, and to a rectifier 40 which supplies direct current to many of the control components.
  • relays 31, 33, 34 and 36 In addition to the two normally open contacts on relays 31 through 36, a pair of contacts 41, 42, 43, and 44 are mounted on relays 31, 33, 34 and 36, to complete a circuit which will bypass four of the sensing switches 26 in order to speed up the movement of the stacks and make them move simultaneously. These circuits will be described in greater detail when the operation of the entire control unit is discussed.
  • the bypass contacts are connected in series with normally closed contacts on a series of relays which are controlled by the manually operated selector buttons 25.
  • buttons 25A through 25D there are four selector buttons 25A through 25D, corresponding to the four aisles between the five stacks 10. Each button is normally held in its open position by resilient means and, when operated, a circuit is closed between a common DC. power conductor 45, a relay winding 46, to a negative conductor 47. If the stacks are in the positions as shown in FIG. 2, and button 25B is depressed, then only one stack is to be moved and the short-circuiting contacts 41 through 44 are not operated. However, the operation of moving the single stack will now be described to show how the basic circuits are actuated.
  • Depression of button 25B completes a circuit which can be traced from the positive terminal of rectifier 40 (FIG. 4) through contacts 48, over conductor 50, through contacts 51, then over conductor 45 to switch 258. The circuit continues through winding 46B to conductor 47 and the negative terminal of rectifier 40. This action operates five contacts, closing two 52 and 53 and opening three 86, 79, and 92. Contacts 52 are holding contacts and, when closed, send current from conductor 50, through winding 46B to conductor 47 and the negative terminal. Contacts 53 complete a circuit which can be traced from the negative terminal, over conductor 47, through contacts 53, diode 54, relay winding 55 to conductor 56 and the negative terminal of rectifier 40. This action opens contacts 51 and thereby opens the current path which first operated winding 468. The winding still passes current because of holding contacts 52.
  • contacts 83 When contacts 83 are closed, they complete a circuit which may be traced from the rectifier positive terminal over conductor 56, through relay winding 55, contacts 83 to the negative terminal. This action closes contacts 57 and activates a circuit from the A.C. upper terminal 27, over conductor 38, through contacts 57, conductor 58, contacts 60, 86, and 87. Conductor 88 and 90 are now connected to the A.C. power line, but at this time all the safety switches 26 are held open except 26BL. Current from contacts 60 flows over conductor 61 through safety switches 26BL, then over conductor 62 to winding 63 in relay 31, closing all its contacts and starting motor 17A to move stack 1013 to the left.
  • Contacts 41 are closed at this time and a bypass circuit can be traced from conductor 62 through contacts 41, then over conductor 91, contacts 92, conductor 93, to winding 89 in relay 33, activating it and starting motor 173 to move stack 10C to the left.
  • contacts 42 are closed and another bypass circuit is completed which can be traced from conductor 93, through contacts 42, over conductor 94, through contacts 95, and conductor 96 to winding of relay 35 and the lower terminal of the A.C. supply 27.
  • the two motor contacts on relay are closed and motor 17C is energized to move the third movable stack to the left.
  • Motors 17A and 17B are energized as follows: When relay winding 46A is activated by switch 25A, contacts 107 and 108 are closed and contacts 60 are opened. This action sends AC. power through contacts 57, over conductor 58, through contacts 84, 102, and 79, thereby applying voltage to conductors 104, 110, and 111. Since safety switches 26DR are the only switches closed at this time conductor 104 is the only conductor of this group carrying current. When motor relay 36 is activated to start motor 17C, contacts 44 are closed and another bypass circuit is completed.
  • This circuit can be traced from conductor 105 and contacts 44, over conductor 112, to contacts 85, then over conductor 113 to winding 114 in relay 34, to activate the relay, close the motor contacts and start motor 17B.
  • the actuation of relay 34 closes contacts 43 and completes another bypass circuit which can be traced from conductor 113 and contacts 43, over conductor 115, through contacts 103, then over conductor 116 to winding 117 in motor relay 32, to activate the relay, close the two motor stacks move too close to each other; the improvement which comprises: a normally open pair of relay contacts mounted on one of said relay means for comcontacts and start motor 17A to move stack 103 to the right.
  • the three stacks 10B, 10C, and 10D move to the right together and when safety switches 26DR are opened by contact with the face of stack 10E, the entire motor circuit is disabled, stopping all three motors.
  • a shiftable storage means including a plurality of movable stacks, supporting means for each of said stacks, including a reversible electric motor and two relay means for each of said stacks for controlling the direction of the motors and stacks, and a plurality of safety switches secured to the sides of each movable stack for cutting off the current to the motors when the pleting a bypass circuit around a safety switch on an adjacent stack for permitting both stacks to be moved in unison in a desired direction to open a space between stacks.
  • bypass circuit includes the winding of said relay means, a pair of normally closed contacts on a second relay that remains unactuated during a shifting operation, said normally open contacts, the closed safety switch adjoining the open aisle, and a source of alternating current power.
  • a shiftable storage means including a plurality of movable stacks, supporting means for each of said stacks including a reversible electric motor and two relay means for applying A.C. electrical power to the motors to control their motion and direction, two safety switches secured to each side of each movable stack for cutting off the AC.
  • the improvement which comprises; a normally open pair of relay contacts mounted on each of said relay means except therelay means that controls the left hand movable stack to move to the right and the relay means that controls the right hand movable stack to move to the left; each of said pair of relay contacts connected to a bypass circuit around a safety switch for supplying control power to an adjacent stack for permitting both stacks to be moved in unison in a desired direction to open a space between stacks; said bypass circuit including the winding of said relay means, a pair of normally closed contacts on a second relay that remains unactuated during a shifting operation, the closed safety switch adjoining the open aisle, and a source of AD. power.

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  • Control Of Multiple Motors (AREA)
  • Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
  • Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)
US311660A 1972-12-04 1972-12-04 Storage means with shiftable units Expired - Lifetime US3865446A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US311660A US3865446A (en) 1972-12-04 1972-12-04 Storage means with shiftable units
CA167,460A CA1085488A (fr) 1972-12-04 1973-03-29 Dispositif de stockage

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US311660A US3865446A (en) 1972-12-04 1972-12-04 Storage means with shiftable units

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Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4033620A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-07-05 Blake Robert L Bee hive carrier and transport means
US4033649A (en) * 1974-04-02 1977-07-05 Elecompack Company Limited Electrically-operated shiftable article storage device
US4229135A (en) * 1977-02-18 1980-10-21 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Storage system including movable pallet racks
US4432589A (en) * 1981-10-01 1984-02-21 Spacesaver Corporation Mobile storage apparatus with cantilevered light fixtures
DE3305975A1 (de) * 1982-09-29 1984-03-29 Nippon Filing Co., Ltd., Tokyo Bewegliches regalsystem
US6112917A (en) * 1998-11-23 2000-09-05 Denstor Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Moveable file storage supporting apparatus
US6231138B1 (en) 1999-03-10 2001-05-15 Spacesaver Corporation Cantilevered pull-out shelf system
US6416143B1 (en) 1999-06-09 2002-07-09 Spacesaver Corporation Mobile storage system
US6776297B2 (en) 2002-08-22 2004-08-17 Hon Technology Inc. Mobile shelving system and method of assembly
US20050035694A1 (en) * 2003-08-15 2005-02-17 Stevens Criston S. Product storage and picking system and method of storing and picking products
US20050132924A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-06-23 Bothun Richard A. Track system for modular storage
US20050184018A1 (en) * 2000-10-26 2005-08-25 Kongo Co., Ltd. Power-assisted movable rack system
US20060043813A1 (en) * 2004-08-27 2006-03-02 Delta Electronics, Inc. Stator structures
USD525006S1 (en) 2004-11-17 2006-07-11 Wenger Corporation Modular storage unit
USD530053S1 (en) 2004-11-17 2006-10-10 Wenger Corporation Modular storage unit
US20060231517A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2006-10-19 Bothun Richard A Modular storage system for logistical management of operational units
US20070216120A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2007-09-20 Bothun Richard A All-terrain retail merchandising unit
US11478079B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2022-10-25 Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Mobile storage system with elevated platform
US12304735B2 (en) 2020-10-07 2025-05-20 Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Single track mobile carriage system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2987200A (en) * 1958-01-24 1961-06-06 Ingold Hans Storage system
US3615122A (en) * 1968-02-15 1971-10-26 Elecompack Co Ltd Shiftable stack assembly operating system
US3640595A (en) * 1970-05-06 1972-02-08 Staller Cabinet Inc Motorized mobile shelving units

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2987200A (en) * 1958-01-24 1961-06-06 Ingold Hans Storage system
US3615122A (en) * 1968-02-15 1971-10-26 Elecompack Co Ltd Shiftable stack assembly operating system
US3640595A (en) * 1970-05-06 1972-02-08 Staller Cabinet Inc Motorized mobile shelving units

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4033649A (en) * 1974-04-02 1977-07-05 Elecompack Company Limited Electrically-operated shiftable article storage device
US4033620A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-07-05 Blake Robert L Bee hive carrier and transport means
US4229135A (en) * 1977-02-18 1980-10-21 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Storage system including movable pallet racks
US4432589A (en) * 1981-10-01 1984-02-21 Spacesaver Corporation Mobile storage apparatus with cantilevered light fixtures
DE3305975A1 (de) * 1982-09-29 1984-03-29 Nippon Filing Co., Ltd., Tokyo Bewegliches regalsystem
US6112917A (en) * 1998-11-23 2000-09-05 Denstor Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Moveable file storage supporting apparatus
US6231138B1 (en) 1999-03-10 2001-05-15 Spacesaver Corporation Cantilevered pull-out shelf system
US6416143B1 (en) 1999-06-09 2002-07-09 Spacesaver Corporation Mobile storage system
US20050184018A1 (en) * 2000-10-26 2005-08-25 Kongo Co., Ltd. Power-assisted movable rack system
US6776297B2 (en) 2002-08-22 2004-08-17 Hon Technology Inc. Mobile shelving system and method of assembly
US20050035694A1 (en) * 2003-08-15 2005-02-17 Stevens Criston S. Product storage and picking system and method of storing and picking products
US7363104B2 (en) 2003-08-15 2008-04-22 Sk Daifuku Corporation Product storage and picking system and method of storing and picking products
US20050150178A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-07-14 Bothun Richard A. Modular storage units for uniforms and wearable equipment
US7484631B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2009-02-03 Nenger Corporation Modular storage system for logistical management of operational units
US7963533B2 (en) 2003-11-17 2011-06-21 Wenger Corporation All-terrain retail merchandising unit
US20050144858A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-07-07 Bothun Richard A. Modular storage structure for logistical management of operational units
US20060231517A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2006-10-19 Bothun Richard A Modular storage system for logistical management of operational units
US20070216120A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2007-09-20 Bothun Richard A All-terrain retail merchandising unit
US20050132924A1 (en) * 2003-11-17 2005-06-23 Bothun Richard A. Track system for modular storage
US20060043813A1 (en) * 2004-08-27 2006-03-02 Delta Electronics, Inc. Stator structures
USD530053S1 (en) 2004-11-17 2006-10-10 Wenger Corporation Modular storage unit
USD525006S1 (en) 2004-11-17 2006-07-11 Wenger Corporation Modular storage unit
US11478079B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2022-10-25 Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Mobile storage system with elevated platform
US11839298B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2023-12-12 Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Mobile storage system with elevated platform
US12569060B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2026-03-10 Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Mobile storage system with elevated platform
US12304735B2 (en) 2020-10-07 2025-05-20 Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc. Single track mobile carriage system

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Publication number Publication date
CA1085488A (fr) 1980-09-09

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Effective date: 19830503