US 12,338,071 B2
Vertical tray storage system with active elevator position-sensing
Dimitri Warlet Caldeira, Arborg (CA); Dean Michael Stoyanowski, Arborg (CA); Patrick James Oliver, Arborg (CA); and Chad McCue, Arborg (CA)
Assigned to Vidir Solutions Inc., Winnipeg (CA)
Filed by VIDIR SOLUTIONS INC., Arborg (CA)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/837,587.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/293,186, filed on Dec. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0202757 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 1/137 (2006.01); B65G 1/127 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/127 (2013.01) [B65G 1/137 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0283 (2013.01); B65G 2203/044 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
5. An apparatus for storing items comprising:
a storage rack having:
a plurality of upstanding posts arranged for resting on a support surface and forming a storage space for containing the items during storage and a retrieval space with an access opening for retrieval of selected ones of the items; and
a plurality of rails supported on the posts at spaced positions thereon and forming a plurality of respective storage locations arranged one above another in the storage space;
a plurality of trays for arrangement at respective storage locations of the storage rack, wherein each tray comprises a base having an upwardly-facing support surface for receiving items to be stored;
an elevator configured for moving the trays between positions of the storage locations and position of the retrieval space, wherein the elevator comprises:
a passageway in communication with the storage space and extending from position of the access opening of the storage rack and to the positions of the storage locations of the storage rack;
a platform supported in the passageway and configured to carry the trays and transfer the trays to and from the storage rack;
a drive system configured to move the platform along the passageway including a servo-motor and a drive transfer member for moving the platform;
wherein the servomotor is operable at a plurality of travel speeds and configured to sense a position of the platform relative to the positions of the access opening and storage locations;
at least one optical sensor arranged on the platform to detect the position of the platform relative to the positions of the access opening and the storage locations;
an elevator controller operatively communicated with the servomotor and the optical sensors;
wherein the elevator controller is configured to receive, as an input, a selected one of the storage locations for retrieving a corresponding one of the trays stored thereat and to control the servomotor to:
move the platform, at a first travel speed, from an initial position to the selected one of the storage locations based on the position sensed by the servomotor; and
if required, move the platform, at a second travel speed lower than the first travel speed, from the selected one of the storage locations based on the position sensed by the servomotor to the position detected by the at least one optical sensor.