Richard Rigling

US Patent:

53621972, Nov 8, 1994

Filed:

Jun 30, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/086229

Inventors:

Richard Rigling - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Stanley-Vidmar, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B65G 104

US Classification:

414786

Abstract:

A system for storing and retrieving items to and from a storage receptacle which includes a track riding dolly carrying a robotic item handler for inserting and extracting items to and from storage. The dolly also carries a multishelved caddy for receiving a plurality of items thereon. The item handler has the capacity to access each of the shelves of the caddy and may execute, under computer control, a selected sequence of item transfers between the caddy and storage during a single passage of the dolly from an on/off load point past the storage receptacle. A multishelved caddy loader queues a plurality of items received from an on-load device independently of the caddy, via vertical repositioning, and performs a bulk transfer of the queued items to the caddy when the caddy is available. A mass offloader device permits the bulk transfer of a plurality of items from the caddy to an offload receiver. A unit offloader sequentially offloads the offload receiver, via vertical repositioning of the offload receiver, onto an offload surface independently of the caddy.

US Patent:

52267822, Jul 13, 1993

Filed:

May 7, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/519932

Inventors:

Richard Rigling - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Stanley-Vidmar, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B65G 104

US Classification:

414283

Abstract:

A system for storing and retrieving items to and from a storage receptacle which includes a track riding dolly carrying a robotic item handler for inserting and extracting items to and from storage The dolly also carries a multishelved caddy for receiving a plurality of items thereon. The item handler has the capacity to access each of the shelves of the caddy and may execute, under computer control, a selected sequence of item transfers between the caddy and storage during a single passage of the dolly from an on/off load point past the storage receptacle. A multishelved caddy loader queues a plurality of items received from an on-load device independently of the caddy, via vertical repositioning, and performs a bulk transfer of the queued items to the caddy when the caddy is available. A mass offloader device permits the bulk transfer of a plurality of items from the caddy to an offload receiver. A unit offloader sequentially offloads the offload receiver, via vertical repositioning of the offload receiver, onto an offload surface independently of the caddy.

US Patent:

54216850, Jun 6, 1995

Filed:

Apr 7, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/043624

Inventors:

Wallace S. Elmer - Hamilton OH
Richard V. Rigling - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Stanley-Vidmar, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

B65G 104

US Classification:

414280

Abstract:

A vacuum-type gripping apparatus includes a frame which is movable between a retracted position, in which the frame is remote from an item stored in a storage bin, and an extended position, in which the frame is proximate to an item stored in the storage bin. The apparatus includes a vacuum-type gripping mechanism which grips the item to be extracted from the storage bin prior to and during the extraction operation. The vacuum-type gripping mechanism employs a redundant vacuum source which improves the operating reliability of the apparatus. A lifting mechanism, which is adapted to engage a bottom surface of the item to be extracted, cooperates with the vacuum-type gripping mechanism during the extraction operation.