US3968888A — Warehouse sysem with parallel conductor positiona…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 1362 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of intersecting adjacent columns and horizontal rows of storing spaces, each common to one intersecting column and row; a plurality of first electric conductor means, each positioned in proximity of one of said storing space columns; a load stacker movable in a horizontal direction in front of each of said first conductors and corresponding storing space columns; first signal pickup means mounted on said stacker to slidably engage, portions of each said first electrode conductor means in turn; a plurality of second electric conductor means mounted on said stacker, each positioned in relation to one of said storing space horizontal rows; a carriage mounted on said stacker and movable in a vertical direction thereon in front of each of said second conductors and corresponding storing space horizontal row; second signal pickup means mounted on said carriage to slidably engage each of said second conductors in turn; computer means mounted on said stacker; a load handling fork movable on said carriage to extend into the interior of each of said storing spaces one at a time and to retract therefrom in a direction transverse to said carriage vertical movement; means for continuously generating a plurality of different carrier currents; first circuit means for continuously transmitting certain of said different currents from said generating means to said plurality of first electrical conductor means including one current indicating horizontal movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said first electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space column; second circuit means for continuously transmitting additional of said different currents from said generating means to said second electrical conductor means including one current indicating vertical movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 3-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said second electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space horizontal row; means for preselecting a predetermined load action of said fork at a preselected storing space formed by preselecting one intersecting storing space column and horizontal row; said preselecting means actuating said generating means to transmit therefrom on said second circuit means to said computer means a carrier current command signal including in sequence a carrier current indicating an outgoing signal, a carrier current indicating horizontal movement, a carrier current indicating vertical movement, a carrier current indicating transverse movement, a preselected one of said 4-element Gray codes identifying a preselected storing space column, a preselected one of said 3-element Gray codes for identifying a preselected storing space horizontal row, and further carrier currents arranged in 1 digit positions of two different 2-element Gray code signals, one indicating fork movement from said carriage to the interior of said preselected storing space and the other indicating fork movement from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in sequence. said computer means responsive to said outgoing and horizontal direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said horizontal direction signal current picked up by said first signal pickup means engaging one of said first electrical conductor means for comparing said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first signal pickup means from said first electrical conductor means with said preselected 4-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said stacker in said horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns so long as said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first pickup means from said first electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal, said computer means stopping said stacker in front of one of said portions of first electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space column identified by said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal when said 4-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one first electrical conductor means by said first pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal. said computer means further responsive to said outgoing and vertical direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said vertical direction signal current picked up by said second signal pickup means engaging one of said second electrical conductor means for comparing said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time from said second electrical conductor means with said preselected 3-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said carriage in said vertical direction in front of said storing space horizontal rows so long as said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time by said second pickup means from said second electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned 3-element code signal, said computer means stopping said carriage in front of one of said second electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space horizontal row identified by said last-mentioned preselected 3-element code signal when said 3-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one second electrical conductor means by said second pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned 3-element code signal; said storing space column and horizontal row at which said stacker and carriage, respectively, are stopped forming said preselected storing space; said computer means additionally responsive to said outgoing and transverse movement signal currents and one 2-element code signals to extend said fork from said carriage into the interior of said preslected storing space and therafter responsive to said other 2-element code signal to retract said fork from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in response to said last-mentioned other 2-element code signal, said computer means programmed to actuate said fork in said predetermined load action in a time between said last-mentioned one and other 2-element code signals while said fork is in the interior of said pre-selected storing space; said first signal pickup means comprising a plurality of pickup shoes horizontally aligned to overlap each of said first electrical conductor means in slidable engagement therewith, said pickup shoes slidably engaging adjacent first portions of said electrical conductor means to pick up said 4-element code signals therefrom, said computer means responsive to said last-mentioned signals for moving said stacker in said horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns, said computer means responsive to said 4-element code signal picked up by said shoes and preselected code signal when said shoes are stopped on said portion of said first electrical conductor means from which said picked up 4-element code signal is identical with said preselected 4-element code signal to stop said stacker in front of said storing space column corresponding with said last-mentioned portion of said one first electrical conductor means; and said plurality of pickup shoes including at least three horizontally spaced pickup shoes of which a middle shoe engages a middle portion of each portion of said first electrical conductor means and outer shoes overlap opposite ends thereof, said middle shoe and one outer shoe engaging each portion of said first electrical conductor means and the other outer shoe engaging an adjacent portion of said first electrical conductor means to pick up said 4-element code signals from both latter electrical conductor means, said computer means responsive to said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said middle shoe from said first electrical conductor means to move said stacker at one rate of speed in the horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns to dispose a preselected point on said stacker approximately opposite to a preselected point on said portion of said first electrical conductor means from which said picked up 4-element code signal is identical with said preselected code signal, said computer means responsive to said preselected 4-element code signal and a 4-element code signal picked up by one of said outer shoes from a first electrical conductor means adjacent to said last-mentioned first electrical conductor means to move said stacker at a rate of speed different from said last-mentioned one speed rate for stopping said stacker preselected point precisely opposite to said last-mentioned first electrical conductor means from which said picked up 4-element code signal is identical with said preselected 4-element code signal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 1362 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of intersecting adjacent columns and horizontal rows of storing spaces, each common to one intersecting column and row; a plurality of first electric conductor means, each positioned in proximity of one of said storing space columns; a load stacker movable in a horizontal direction in front of each of said first conductors and corresponding storing space columns; first signal pickup means mounted on said stacker to slidably engage, portions of each said first electrode conductor means in turn; a plurality of second electric conductor means mounted on said stacker, each positioned in relation to one of said storing space horizontal rows; a carriage mounted on said stacker and movable in a vertical direction thereon in front of each of said second conductors and corresponding storing space horizontal row; second signal pickup means mounted on said carriage to slidably engage each of said second conductors in turn; computer means mounted on said stacker; a load handling fork movable on said carriage to extend into the interior of each of said storing spaces one at a time and to retract therefrom in a direction transverse to said carriage vertical movement; means for continuously generating a plurality of different carrier currents; first circuit means for continuously transmitting certain of said different currents from said generating means to said plurality of first electrical conductor means including one current indicating horizontal movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said first electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space column; second circuit means for continuously transmitting additional of said different currents from said generating means to said second electrical conductor means including one current indicating vertical movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 3-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said second electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space horizontal row; means for preselecting a predetermined load action of said fork at a preselected storing space formed by preselecting one intersecting storing space column and horizontal row; said preselecting means actuating said generating means to transmit therefrom on said second circuit means to said computer means a carrier current command signal including in sequence a carrier current indicating an outgoing signal, a carrier current indicating horizontal movement, a carrier current indicating vertical movement, a carrier current indicating transverse movement, a preselected one of said 4-element Gray codes identifying a preselected storing space column, a preselected one of said 3-element Gray codes for identifying a preselected storing space horizontal row, and further carrier currents arranged in 1 digit positions of two different 2-element Gray code signals, one indicating fork movement from said carriage to the interior of said preselected storing space and the other indicating fork movement from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in sequence. said computer means responsive to said outgoing and horizontal direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said horizontal direction signal current picked up by said first signal pickup means engaging one of said first electrical conductor means for comparing said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first signal pickup means from said first electrical conductor means with said preselected 4-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said stacker in said horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns so long as said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first pickup means from said first electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal, said computer means stopping said stacker in front of one of said portions of first electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space column identified by said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal when said 4-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one first electrical conductor means by said first pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal. said computer means further responsive to said outgoing and vertical direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said vertical direction signal current picked up by said second signal pickup means engaging one of said second electrical conductor means for comparing said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time from said second electrical conductor means with said preselected 3-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said carriage in said vertical direction in front of said storing space horizontal rows so long as said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time by said second pickup means from said second electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned 3-element code signal, said computer means stopping said carriage in front of one of said second electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space horizontal row identified by said last-mentioned preselected 3-element code signal when said 3-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one second electrical conductor means by said second pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned 3-element code signal; said storing space column and horizontal row at which said stacker and carriage, respectively, are stopped forming said preselected storing space; said computer means additionally responsive to said outgoing and transverse movement signal currents and one 2-element code signals to extend said fork from said carriage into the interior of said preslected storing space and therafter responsive to said other 2-element code signal to retract said fork from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in response to said last-mentioned other 2-element code signal, said computer means programmed to actuate said fork in said predetermined load action in a time between said last-mentioned one and other 2-element code signals while said fork is in the interior of said pre-selected storing space; said first signal pickup means comprising a plurality of pickup shoes horizontally aligned to overlap each of said first electrical conductor means in slidable engagement therewith, said pickup shoes slidably engaging adjacent first portions of said electrical conductor means to pick up said 4-element code signals therefrom, said computer means responsive to said last-mentioned signals for moving said stacker in said horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns, said computer means responsive to said 4-element code signal picked up by said shoes and preselected code signal when said shoes are stopped on said portion of said first electrical conductor means from which said picked up 4-element code signal is identical with said preselected 4-element code signal to stop said stacker in front of said storing space column corresponding with said last-mentioned portion of said one first electrical conductor means; and said plurality of pickup shoes including at least three horizontally spaced pickup shoes of which a middle shoe engages a middle portion of each portion of said first electrical conductor means and outer shoes overlap opposite ends thereof, said middle shoe and one outer shoe engaging each portion of said first electrical conductor means and the other outer shoe engaging an adjacent portion of said first electrical conductor means to pick up said 4-element code signals from both latter electrical conductor means, said computer means responsive to said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said middle shoe from said first electrical conductor means to move said stacker at one rate of speed in the horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns to dispose a preselected point on said stacker approximately opposite to a preselected point on said portion of said first electrical conductor means from which said picked up 4-element code signal is identical with said preselected code signal, said computer means responsive to said preselected 4-element code signal and a 4-element code signal picked up by one of said outer shoes from a first electrical conductor means adjacent to said last-mentioned first electrical conductor means to move said stacker at a rate of speed different from said last-mentioned one speed rate for stopping said stacker preselected point precisely opposite to said last-mentioned first electrical conductor means from which said picked up 4-element code signal is identical with said preselected 4-element code signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 1131 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of intersecting adjacent columns and horizontal rows of storing spaces, each common to one intersecting column and row; a plurality of first electric conductor means, each positioned in proximity of one of said storing space columns; a load stacker movable in a horizontal direction in front of each of said first conductors and corresponding storing space columns; first signal pickup means mounted on said stacker to slidably engage, portions of each of said first electric conductor means in turn; a plurality of second electric conductor means mounted on said stacker, each positioned in relation to one of said storing space horizontal rows; a carriage mounted on said stacker and movable in a vertical direction thereon in front of each of said second conductors and corresponding storing space horizontal row; second signal pickup means mounted on said carriage to slidably engage each of said second conductors in turn; computer means mounted on said stacker; a load handling fork movable on said carriage to extend into the interior of each of said storing spaces one at a time and to retract therefrom in a direction transverse to said carriage vertical movement; means for continuously generating a plurality of different carrier currents; first circuit means for continuously transmitting certain of said different currents from said generating means to said plurality of first electrical conductor means including one current indicating horizontal movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said first electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space column; second circuit means for continuously transmitting additional of said different currents from said generating means to said second electrical conductor means including one current indicating vertical movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 3-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said second electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space horizontal row; means for preselecting a predetermined load action of said fork at a preselected storing space formed by preselecting one intersecting storing space column and horizontal row; said preselecting means actuating said generating means to transmit therefrom on said second circuit means to said computer means a carrier current command signal including in sequence a carrier current indicating an outgoing signal, a carrier current indicating horizontal movement, a carrier current indicating vertical movement, a carrier current indicating transverse movement, a preselected one of said 4-element Gray codes identifying a preselected storing space column, a preselected one of said 3-element Gray codes for identifying a preselected storing space horizontal row, and further carrier currents arranged in 1 digit positions of two different 2-element Gray code signals, one indicating fork movement from said carriage to the interior of said preselected storing space and the other indicating fork movement from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in sequence; said computer means responsive to said outgoing and horizontal direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said horizontal direction signal current picked up by said first signal pickup means engaging one of said first electrical conductor means for comparing said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first signal pickup means from said first electrical conductor means with said preselected 4-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said stacker in said horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns so long as said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first pickup means from said first electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal, said computer means stopping said stacker in front of one of said portions of first electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space column identified by said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal when said 4-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one first electrical conductor means by said first pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal said computer means further responsive to said outgoing and vertical direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said vertical direction signal current picked up by said second signal pickup means engaging one of said second electrical conductor means for comparing said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time from said second electrical conductor means with said preselected 3-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said carriage in said vertical direction in front of said storing space horizontal rows so long as said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time by said second pickup means from said second electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned 3-element code signal, said computer means stopping said carriage in front of one of said second electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space horizontal row identified by said last-mentioned preselected 3-element code signal when said 3-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one second electrical conductor means by said second pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned 3-element code signal; said storing space column and horizontal row at which said stacker and carriage, respectively, are stopped forming said preselected storing space; said computer means additionally responsive to said outgoing and transverse movement signal currents and one 2-element code signals to extend said fork from said carriage into the interior of said preselected storing space and thereafter responsive to said other 2-element code signal to retrack said fork from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in response to said last-mentioned other 2-element code signal, said computer means programmed to actuate said fork in said predetermined load action in a time between said last-mentioned one and other 2-element code signals while said fork is in the interior of said pre-selected storing space; and said second signal pickup means comprising two groups of slidable pickup shoes, each group comprising three horizontally spaced shoes of which a middle shoe engages substantially a midpoint of each of said second electrical conductor means and outer shoes disposed on opposite sides of said middle shoe partly engage each second electrical conductor means on opposite sides of said middle shoe and at the same time partly overlap opposite edges of said last-mentioned electrical conductor means, said computer means is responsive to said preselected 3-element codes signal and a 3-element code signal picked up by one of said two shoe groups from one of said second electrical conductor means to stop a preselected one of two vertically spaced points on said carriage opposite to a preselected point on one of said second electrical conductor means when said 3-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one second electrical conductor means is identical with said preselected 3-element code signal.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 1131 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of intersecting adjacent columns and horizontal rows of storing spaces, each common to one intersecting column and row; a plurality of first electric conductor means, each positioned in proximity of one of said storing space columns; a load stacker movable in a horizontal direction in front of each of said first conductors and corresponding storing space columns; first signal pickup means mounted on said stacker to slidably engage, portions of each of said first electric conductor means in turn; a plurality of second electric conductor means mounted on said stacker, each positioned in relation to one of said storing space horizontal rows; a carriage mounted on said stacker and movable in a vertical direction thereon in front of each of said second conductors and corresponding storing space horizontal row; second signal pickup means mounted on said carriage to slidably engage each of said second conductors in turn; computer means mounted on said stacker; a load handling fork movable on said carriage to extend into the interior of each of said storing spaces one at a time and to retract therefrom in a direction transverse to said carriage vertical movement; means for continuously generating a plurality of different carrier currents; first circuit means for continuously transmitting certain of said different currents from said generating means to said plurality of first electrical conductor means including one current indicating horizontal movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said first electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space column; second circuit means for continuously transmitting additional of said different currents from said generating means to said second electrical conductor means including one current indicating vertical movement and other currents arranged in 1 digit positions of different 3-element Gray code signals, each transmitted to one of said second electrical conductor means for identifying the corresponding storing space horizontal row; means for preselecting a predetermined load action of said fork at a preselected storing space formed by preselecting one intersecting storing space column and horizontal row; said preselecting means actuating said generating means to transmit therefrom on said second circuit means to said computer means a carrier current command signal including in sequence a carrier current indicating an outgoing signal, a carrier current indicating horizontal movement, a carrier current indicating vertical movement, a carrier current indicating transverse movement, a preselected one of said 4-element Gray codes identifying a preselected storing space column, a preselected one of said 3-element Gray codes for identifying a preselected storing space horizontal row, and further carrier currents arranged in 1 digit positions of two different 2-element Gray code signals, one indicating fork movement from said carriage to the interior of said preselected storing space and the other indicating fork movement from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in sequence; said computer means responsive to said outgoing and horizontal direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said horizontal direction signal current picked up by said first signal pickup means engaging one of said first electrical conductor means for comparing said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first signal pickup means from said first electrical conductor means with said preselected 4-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said stacker in said horizontal direction in front of said storing space columns so long as said 4-element code signals picked up one at a time by said first pickup means from said first electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal, said computer means stopping said stacker in front of one of said portions of first electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space column identified by said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal when said 4-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one first electrical conductor means by said first pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned preselected 4-element code signal said computer means further responsive to said outgoing and vertical direction signal currents derived from said second circuit means and said vertical direction signal current picked up by said second signal pickup means engaging one of said second electrical conductor means for comparing said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time from said second electrical conductor means with said preselected 3-element code signal derived from said second circuit means to move said carriage in said vertical direction in front of said storing space horizontal rows so long as said 3-element code signals picked up one at a time by said second pickup means from said second electrical conductor means are different from said last-mentioned 3-element code signal, said computer means stopping said carriage in front of one of said second electrical conductor means and corresponding storing space horizontal row identified by said last-mentioned preselected 3-element code signal when said 3-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one second electrical conductor means by said second pickup means is identical with said last-mentioned 3-element code signal; said storing space column and horizontal row at which said stacker and carriage, respectively, are stopped forming said preselected storing space; said computer means additionally responsive to said outgoing and transverse movement signal currents and one 2-element code signals to extend said fork from said carriage into the interior of said preselected storing space and thereafter responsive to said other 2-element code signal to retrack said fork from the interior of said last-mentioned storing space back to said carriage in response to said last-mentioned other 2-element code signal, said computer means programmed to actuate said fork in said predetermined load action in a time between said last-mentioned one and other 2-element code signals while said fork is in the interior of said pre-selected storing space; and said second signal pickup means comprising two groups of slidable pickup shoes, each group comprising three horizontally spaced shoes of which a middle shoe engages substantially a midpoint of each of said second electrical conductor means and outer shoes disposed on opposite sides of said middle shoe partly engage each second electrical conductor means on opposite sides of said middle shoe and at the same time partly overlap opposite edges of said last-mentioned electrical conductor means, said computer means is responsive to said preselected 3-element codes signal and a 3-element code signal picked up by one of said two shoe groups from one of said second electrical conductor means to stop a preselected one of two vertically spaced points on said carriage opposite to a preselected point on one of said second electrical conductor means when said 3-element code signal picked up from said last-mentioned one second electrical conductor means is identical with said preselected 3-element code signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 1298 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of adjacent columns and rows of storage locations wherein each storage location is adapted to receive material to be stored; a plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support and disposed in relation to said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in said support, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means including a portion from which information applied to a given electrical conductor means may be derived, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means having the portion thereof from which information may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in such manner that one of said plurality of electrical conductor means is associated with each column of storage locations; first means for applying a plurality of carrier information signals to said plurality of electrical conductor means according to a predetermined coding sequence, said carrier information signals serving to separately identify each of said plurality of electrical conductor means and hence the column of storage locations associated therewith, said plurality of carrier information signals applied according to a predetermined coding sequence by said first means comprising multi-element digital code signals indicating a horizontal direction of movement and identifying each column of storage locations, one carrier current indicating said horizontal direction of movement and others arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each applied to one of said plurality of electrical conductor means to identify a corresponding column of storage locations; stacker means movable in front of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in a direction transverse thereto, said stacker means including a carriage movable thereon in front of said rows of storage locations in a direction transverse thereto and lift fork means mounted on said carriage, said stacker means being adapted to derive information from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means associated with each column of storage locations; an additional plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said stacker means and disposed in relation to said plurality of adjacent rows of storage locations, each of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means having a portion from which information applied to a given electrical conductor means may be derived, each of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means having the portion thereof from which information may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of said plurality of adjacent rows of storage locations in such manner that one of said plurality of electrical conductor means is associated with each row of storage locations; second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means, said additional carrier information signals including at least a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations, said second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means also applying a further plurality of carrier information signals to said additional plurality of electrical conductor means according to a preselected coding sequence, said further carrier information signals serving to separately identify each of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means and hence the row of storage locations associated therewith, said second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means also applying carrier information signals including at least a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of rows of storage locations, said further plurality of carrier information signals also applied according to a preselected coding sequence by said second means to said additional plurality of electrical conductor means comprising multi-element digital code signals indicating a vertical direction of movement and identifying each row of storage locations, said plurality of further carrier information signals comprising one carrier current indicating said vertical direction of movement and others arranged in 1 digit positions of different 3-element Gray code signals, each applied to one of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means to identify a corresponding row of storage locations; means mounted on said stacker means for comparing said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns with carrier information signals derived from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means and identifying the column of storage locations associated therewith, said means mounted on said stacker means enabling the movement of said stacker means in said transverse direction so long as said signals compared thereby differ and stopping the motion of said stacker means when an identity between the signals compared is obtained, said stacker means being further adapted to derive information from said portions of individual ones of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means associated with each row of storage locations, said means for comparing mounted on said stacker means also comparing said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of rows with carrier information signals derived from said portions of individual ones of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means and designating the row of storage locations associated therewith, said means mounted on said stacker means enabling the movement of said carriage means in said transverse row direction so long as said carrier information signals compared thereby differ and stopping the motion of said carriage means when an identity between the signals compared is obtained; and means mounted on said stacker means for slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means and said additional plurality of electrical conductor means from which information may be derived and applying the information derived therefrom to said means for comparing, said slidably engaging means including a plurality of spaced first pickup means slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support for deriving code signals sequentially therefrom and applying said code signals to said means for comparing to control the movement of said stacker means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least one pickup means for engaging said portion of one of said plurality of electrical conductor means and another pickup means for engaging said portion of an adjacent one of said plurality of electrical conductor means, and a plurality of spaced second pickup means slidably engaging said portions of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said stacker means for deriving code signals sequentially therefrom and applying said code signals to said means for comparing to control the movement of said carriage, said plurality of spaced second pickup means including at least one pickup means for engaging said portion of one of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means and another pickup means for engaging said portion of an adjacent one of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least three shoes spaced in a horizontal plane and slidable on said portions of said plurality of conductor means for deriving said code signals one at a time thereform, said means for comparing utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by a middle one of said shoes from said portions of said plurality of conductor means for moving said movable means at one rate of speed in front of said columns of storage locations to dispose a preselected point on said stacker means in the vicinity of a preselected point on said portion providing said code signal identical with a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations, said comparing means thereafter utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by one of two outer of said shoes from said portions to move said movable means at a rate of speed different from said one speed rate for stopping said preselected point on said movable means precisely opposite to said preselected point on said last-mentioned portion.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 1298 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of adjacent columns and rows of storage locations wherein each storage location is adapted to receive material to be stored; a plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support and disposed in relation to said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in said support, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means including a portion from which information applied to a given electrical conductor means may be derived, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means having the portion thereof from which information may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in such manner that one of said plurality of electrical conductor means is associated with each column of storage locations; first means for applying a plurality of carrier information signals to said plurality of electrical conductor means according to a predetermined coding sequence, said carrier information signals serving to separately identify each of said plurality of electrical conductor means and hence the column of storage locations associated therewith, said plurality of carrier information signals applied according to a predetermined coding sequence by said first means comprising multi-element digital code signals indicating a horizontal direction of movement and identifying each column of storage locations, one carrier current indicating said horizontal direction of movement and others arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each applied to one of said plurality of electrical conductor means to identify a corresponding column of storage locations; stacker means movable in front of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in a direction transverse thereto, said stacker means including a carriage movable thereon in front of said rows of storage locations in a direction transverse thereto and lift fork means mounted on said carriage, said stacker means being adapted to derive information from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means associated with each column of storage locations; an additional plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said stacker means and disposed in relation to said plurality of adjacent rows of storage locations, each of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means having a portion from which information applied to a given electrical conductor means may be derived, each of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means having the portion thereof from which information may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of said plurality of adjacent rows of storage locations in such manner that one of said plurality of electrical conductor means is associated with each row of storage locations; second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means, said additional carrier information signals including at least a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations, said second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means also applying a further plurality of carrier information signals to said additional plurality of electrical conductor means according to a preselected coding sequence, said further carrier information signals serving to separately identify each of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means and hence the row of storage locations associated therewith, said second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means also applying carrier information signals including at least a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of rows of storage locations, said further plurality of carrier information signals also applied according to a preselected coding sequence by said second means to said additional plurality of electrical conductor means comprising multi-element digital code signals indicating a vertical direction of movement and identifying each row of storage locations, said plurality of further carrier information signals comprising one carrier current indicating said vertical direction of movement and others arranged in 1 digit positions of different 3-element Gray code signals, each applied to one of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means to identify a corresponding row of storage locations; means mounted on said stacker means for comparing said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns with carrier information signals derived from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means and identifying the column of storage locations associated therewith, said means mounted on said stacker means enabling the movement of said stacker means in said transverse direction so long as said signals compared thereby differ and stopping the motion of said stacker means when an identity between the signals compared is obtained, said stacker means being further adapted to derive information from said portions of individual ones of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means associated with each row of storage locations, said means for comparing mounted on said stacker means also comparing said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of rows with carrier information signals derived from said portions of individual ones of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means and designating the row of storage locations associated therewith, said means mounted on said stacker means enabling the movement of said carriage means in said transverse row direction so long as said carrier information signals compared thereby differ and stopping the motion of said carriage means when an identity between the signals compared is obtained; and means mounted on said stacker means for slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means and said additional plurality of electrical conductor means from which information may be derived and applying the information derived therefrom to said means for comparing, said slidably engaging means including a plurality of spaced first pickup means slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support for deriving code signals sequentially therefrom and applying said code signals to said means for comparing to control the movement of said stacker means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least one pickup means for engaging said portion of one of said plurality of electrical conductor means and another pickup means for engaging said portion of an adjacent one of said plurality of electrical conductor means, and a plurality of spaced second pickup means slidably engaging said portions of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said stacker means for deriving code signals sequentially therefrom and applying said code signals to said means for comparing to control the movement of said carriage, said plurality of spaced second pickup means including at least one pickup means for engaging said portion of one of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means and another pickup means for engaging said portion of an adjacent one of said additional plurality of electrical conductor means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least three shoes spaced in a horizontal plane and slidable on said portions of said plurality of conductor means for deriving said code signals one at a time thereform, said means for comparing utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by a middle one of said shoes from said portions of said plurality of conductor means for moving said movable means at one rate of speed in front of said columns of storage locations to dispose a preselected point on said stacker means in the vicinity of a preselected point on said portion providing said code signal identical with a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations, said comparing means thereafter utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by one of two outer of said shoes from said portions to move said movable means at a rate of speed different from said one speed rate for stopping said preselected point on said movable means precisely opposite to said preselected point on said last-mentioned portion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 764 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations, and wherein each storage location is adapted to receive material to be stored; a plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support and disposed in relation to said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in said support, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means including a portion from which information applied to a given electrical conductor means may be derived, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means having the portion thereof from which information may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in such manner that one of said plurality of electrical conductor means is associated with each column of storage locations; first means for applying a plurality of carrier information signals to said plurality of electrical conductor means according to a predetermined coding sequence, said carrier information signals serving to separately identify each of said plurality of electrical conductor means and hence the column of storage locations associated therewith, said plurality of carrier information signals comprising multi-element code signals indicating a horizontal direction of movement and identifying each column of storage locations, said multi-element code signals applied by said first means to each of said plurality of electrical conductor means including one carrier current indicating said horizontal direction of movement and others arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each applied to one of said plurality of electrical conductor means to identify a corresponding column of storage locations; stacker means movable in front of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in a direction transverse thereto, said stacker means being adapted to derive information from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means associated with each column of storage locations; second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means, said additional carrier information signals including at least a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations applied by said second means to said stacker means comprising multi-element code signals identifying a selected column of storage locations; means mounted on said stacker means for comparing said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns with carrier information signals derived from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means and identifying the column of storage locations associated therewith, said means mounted on said stacker means enabling the movement of said stacker means in said transverse direction so long as said signals compared thereby differ and stopping the motion of said stacker means when an identity between the signals compared is obtained; and means mounted on said stacker means for slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means, said slidably engaging means comprising a plurality of spaced pickup means slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support for deriving code signals sequentially therefrom and applying said code signals to said means for comparing to control the movement of said stacker means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least one pickup means for engaging said portion of one of said plurality of electrical conductor means and another pickup means for engaging said portion of an adjacent one of said plurality of electrical conductor means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least three shoes spaced in a horizontal plane and slidable on said portions of said plurality of conductor means for deriving said code signals one at a time therefrom, said means for comparing utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by a middle one of said shoes from said portions of said plurality of conductor means for moving said movable means at one rate of speed in front of said columns of storage locations to dispose a preselected point on said stacker means in the vicinity of a preselected point on said portion providing said code signal identical with a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations, said comparing means thereafter utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by one of two outer of said shoes from said portions to move said movable means at a rate of speed different from said one speed rate for stopping said preselected point on said movable means precisely opposite to said preselected point on said last-mentioned portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 764 words

Automatic warehouse apparatus, comprising: a support containing a plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations, and wherein each storage location is adapted to receive material to be stored; a plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support and disposed in relation to said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in said support, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means including a portion from which information applied to a given electrical conductor means may be derived, each of said plurality of electrical conductor means having the portion thereof from which information may be derived positioned in relation to an individual one of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in such manner that one of said plurality of electrical conductor means is associated with each column of storage locations; first means for applying a plurality of carrier information signals to said plurality of electrical conductor means according to a predetermined coding sequence, said carrier information signals serving to separately identify each of said plurality of electrical conductor means and hence the column of storage locations associated therewith, said plurality of carrier information signals comprising multi-element code signals indicating a horizontal direction of movement and identifying each column of storage locations, said multi-element code signals applied by said first means to each of said plurality of electrical conductor means including one carrier current indicating said horizontal direction of movement and others arranged in 1 digit positions of different 4-element Gray code signals, each applied to one of said plurality of electrical conductor means to identify a corresponding column of storage locations; stacker means movable in front of said plurality of adjacent columns of storage locations in a direction transverse thereto, said stacker means being adapted to derive information from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means associated with each column of storage locations; second means for applying additional carrier information signals to said stacker means, said additional carrier information signals including at least a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations applied by said second means to said stacker means comprising multi-element code signals identifying a selected column of storage locations; means mounted on said stacker means for comparing said signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns with carrier information signals derived from said portions of individual ones of said plurality of electrical conductor means and identifying the column of storage locations associated therewith, said means mounted on said stacker means enabling the movement of said stacker means in said transverse direction so long as said signals compared thereby differ and stopping the motion of said stacker means when an identity between the signals compared is obtained; and means mounted on said stacker means for slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means, said slidably engaging means comprising a plurality of spaced pickup means slidably engaging said portions of said plurality of electrical conductor means mounted on said support for deriving code signals sequentially therefrom and applying said code signals to said means for comparing to control the movement of said stacker means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least one pickup means for engaging said portion of one of said plurality of electrical conductor means and another pickup means for engaging said portion of an adjacent one of said plurality of electrical conductor means, said plurality of spaced first pickup means including at least three shoes spaced in a horizontal plane and slidable on said portions of said plurality of conductor means for deriving said code signals one at a time therefrom, said means for comparing utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by a middle one of said shoes from said portions of said plurality of conductor means for moving said movable means at one rate of speed in front of said columns of storage locations to dispose a preselected point on said stacker means in the vicinity of a preselected point on said portion providing said code signal identical with a signal designating a selected one of said plurality of columns of storage locations, said comparing means thereafter utilizing said code signals derived one at a time by one of two outer of said shoes from said portions to move said movable means at a rate of speed different from said one speed rate for stopping said preselected point on said movable means precisely opposite to said preselected point on said last-mentioned portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 99 words

The automatic warehouse apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first means for applying a plurality of carrier information signals to said plurality of electrical conductor means according to a predetermined coding sequence includes means for generating carrier currents at each of a plurality of outputs wherein said carrier current generated at each of said plurality of outputs differs in frequency and means for connecting a plurality of outputs to each of said plurality of electrical conductor means in a predetermined manner so that a differing multi-element code is applied to each of said plurality of electrical conductor means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 99 words

The automatic warehouse apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first means for applying a plurality of carrier information signals to said plurality of electrical conductor means according to a predetermined coding sequence includes means for generating carrier currents at each of a plurality of outputs wherein said carrier current generated at each of said plurality of outputs differs in frequency and means for connecting a plurality of outputs to each of said plurality of electrical conductor means in a predetermined manner so that a differing multi-element code is applied to each of said plurality of electrical conductor means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-07-13	1980-01-12	1980-07-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-07-13	1984-01-12	1984-07-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-07-13	1988-01-12	1988-07-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Warehouse sysem with parallel conductor positional control means for a stacker crane

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