Claims
- 1. A nestable container for use with automatic storage/retrieval systems comprising:
- (a) a base element including a bottom wall and two diverging end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said end walls and said bottom wall being one integral element;
- (b) said bottom wall including integral bottom flanges extending upwardly and diverging with respect to each other;
- (c) a juncture of each end wall with said base element being defined by an inverted L-shaped wall segment, said L-shaped wall segment being substantially the full width of its associated end wall, each inverted L-shaped segment defining a lower recess having depth and longitudinal dimensions substantially less than the depth and longitudinal dimensions of the adjacent side and bottom walls;
- (d) each of said end walls also including end flange parts extending normally from the sides thereof and toward the other end wall;
- (e) two side walls fixed to each side of said base element and welded along said end flanges and said bottom flanges, said side walls diverging with respect to each other, said bottom wall, end walls and side walls defining a container interior;
- (f) each of said side walls including structure defining an upper recessed portion spaced from said bottom wall and extending into the interior of the container, toward the opposed side wall, said structure defining a nesting stop for containers of similar dimensions stacked within said container; and
- (g) two engagement members, one fixed in each lower recess, each engagement member including unobstructed opened ends adapted to engage a mechanical moving means forming part of the storage/retrieval system for effecting movement in said container in a transverse direction, the engagement members being respectively disposed inwardly of a plane located by an outer surface of the adjacent end wall.
- 2. The nestable container of claim 1 wherein said engagement members are substantially inverted U-shaped elements fixed in the lower recesses.
- 3. The nestable container of claim 2 wherein the length of said inverted U-shaped element is less than the length of the associated inverted L-shaped wall segment.
- 4. The nestable container of claim 1 wherein the upper ends of said side and end walls are outwardly rolled.
- 5. The nestable container of claim 1 wherein said nesting stop extends the full length of the associated side wall.
- 6. A nestable container for use with an automatic storage/retrieval system of the type having engagement pins movably carried by a conveyor means, the container comprising:
- (a) structure defining a base and two end walls projecting upwardly from the base and diverging with respect to each other, each of said end walls being joined to said base by a connecting wall segment that is substantially inverted L-shaped in cross-section such that an outer recess is formed between each of said end walls and said base member, each outer recess extending the full width of its associated end wall having depth and longitudinal dimensions substantially less than the depth and longitudinal dimensions of the adjacent side and bottom walls;
- (b) a pair of side walls fixed to each side of said structural element and defining therewith a container volume;
- (c) each of said side walls including a longitudinal rib defining a nesting stop, said rib being spaced above said outer recesses;
- (d) a spaced pair of pin engagement walls respectively disposed in said outer recesses, each wall depending downwardly from a transverse portion of an associated one of said inverted L-shaped walls and spaced outwardly from an upstanding portion of its associated L-shaped wall, said downwardly depending wall defining a slot-like region having opposite, pin receiving openings located near the side walls and being disposed inwardly of a plane located by an outer surface of the adjacent end wall;
- (e) said downwardly depending wall providing an engagement surface for such pins of such conveyor means whereby such pins effect motion of said container in a predetermined direction.
- 7. The container of claim 6 wherein said downwardly depending wall forms a part of an inverted U-shaped channel member that is rigidly fixed to the inverted L-shaped connecting wall.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said U-shaped member is configured to rigidize the container.
- 9. The container of claim 6 wherein said rib is channel-like and defines partition structure whereby partitioning elements can be secured inside said container to subdivide the container volume.
- 10. The container of claim 6 wherein the length of said depending wall is less than the length of said inverted L-shaped connecting wall.
- 11. The container of claim 9 wherein said structure includes a plurality of slots.
- 12. A nestable container for use with automatic storage/retrieval systems comprising:
- (a) a base element including a bottom wall and two diverging end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said end walls and said bottom wall being one integral element;
- (b) said bottom wall including integral bottom flanges extending upwardly and diverging with respect to each other;
- (c) a juncture of each end wall with said base element being defined by an inverted L-shaped wall segment, said L-shaped wall segment being substantially the full width of its associated end wall, each inverted L-shaped segment defining a lower recess having depth and longitudinal dimensions substantially less than the depth and longitudinal dimensions of the adjacent side and bottom walls;
- (d) each of said end walls also including end flange parts extending normally from the sides thereof and toward the other end wall;
- (e) two side walls fixed to each side of said base element and welded along said end flanges and said bottom flanges, said side walls diverging with respect to each other, said bottom wall, end walls and side walls defining a container interior;
- (f) each of said side walls including structure defining an upper recessed portion spaced from said bottom wall and extending into the interior of the container, toward the opposed side wall, said structure defining a nesting stop for containers of similar dimensions stacked within said container; and
- (g) two engagement members, one fixed in each lower recess, each engagement member defined by inverted U-shaped channel having opposite, unobstructed ends that open near said sidewalls, said U-shaped channel defining a guideway for engagement pins forming part of a retrieval system, the engagement members being respectively disposed inwardly of a plane located by an outer surface of the adjacent end wall;
- (h) said channel members being disposed transverse to a direction of travel for said container when engaged by such retrieval system;
- (i) said channel members being operative to receive such pins as such pins move transversely to such direction of travel and which are further operative to abuttably engage such pins when the pins move in said direction of travel to produce movement of said container.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 381,184, filed May 24, 1982, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
651877 |
Apr 1951 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
381184 |
May 1982 |
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