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A system is provided for transporting a movable rack assembly and transferring the movable rack assembly between a transfer cart assembly and a station. The system includes a rack support assembly, a rack locking assembly, a docking enabling assembly, and an anti-return mechanism. The rack support a

A system is provided for transporting a movable rack assembly and transferring the movable rack assembly between a transfer cart assembly and a station. The system includes a rack support assembly, a rack locking assembly, a docking enabling assembly, and an anti-return mechanism. The rack support assembly is configured to securely and movably support the movable rack assembly thereon. The rack locking assembly is configured to lock the movable rack assembly to the rack support assembly. The docking enabling assembly is configured to enable temporary docking of the transfer cart assembly with the station for the transfer of the movable rack assembly to the station or the receipt of the movable rack assembly from the station. The anti-return mechanism is configured to actively inhibit removal of the movable rack assembly from the station when the transfer cart assembly is not secured to the station by a cart locking assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for transporting a movable rack assembly and transferring said movable rack assembly between a transfer cart assembly and a station, the transfer cart assembly being configured to transport the movable rack assembly to the station, transfer the movable rack assembly to the station, and r

1. A system for transporting a movable rack assembly and transferring said movable rack assembly between a transfer cart assembly and a station, the transfer cart assembly being configured to transport the movable rack assembly to the station, transfer the movable rack assembly to the station, and receive the movable rack assembly from the station, the system comprising: a rack support assembly integrated into the transfer cart assembly, the rack support assembly being configured to securely and movably support the movable rack assembly thereon;a rack locking assembly integrated into the transfer cart assembly, the rack locking assembly being configured to lock the movable rack assembly to the rack support assembly;a docking enabling assembly integrated into the transfer cart assembly, the docking enabling assembly being configured to enable temporary docking of the transfer cart assembly with the station for the transfer of the movable rack assembly to the station or the receipt of the movable rack assembly from the station;a cart locking assembly integrated into the station, the cart locking assembly being configured to interact with the docking enabling assembly to temporarily secure the transfer cart assembly to the station for the transfer of the movable rack assembly to the station or the receipt of the movable rack assembly from the station; andan anti-return mechanism integrated into an end of the station, the anti-return mechanism being configured to actively inhibit removal of the movable rack assembly from the station or transfer of the movable rack assembly to the station when the transfer cart assembly is not temporarily secured to the station,wherein, when the transfer cart assembly is temporarily secured to the station, the transfer cart assembly causes the anti-return mechanism to deactivate to allow for the transfer of the movable rack assembly from the transfer cart assembly to the station or the receipt of the movable rack assembly from the station by the transfer cart assembly, andwherein, when the transfer cart assembly is temporarily secured to the station, the rack locking assembly is unlocked to allow for the transfer of the movable rack assembly to the station or the receipt of the movable rack assembly from the station. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rack support assembly is at least partially defined by two side rails parallel to each other and two lateral walls parallel to each other, the two lateral walls respectively extending between front and rear areas of said two side rails and connecting said two side rails therebetween, and wherein the rack locking assembly comprises rack latches rotatably attached to respective inner surfaces of said side rails, the rack latches being configured to lock the movable rack assembly to the rack support assembly. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the rack latches respectively comprise latch notch sections that are dimensioned to accept respective portions of the movable rack assembly and configured to inhibit movement of the movable rack assembly when said respective portions of the movable rack assembly are positioned within said lack notch sections. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the latch notch sections are respectively partially defined by mounting blocks correspondingly disposed on said inner surfaces of said side rails, the rack latches being respectively mounted on said mounting blocks. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the latch notch sections are respectively partially defined further by latch taper sections of said rack latches, said latch taper sections being respectively disposed on opposite sides of said latch notch sections from said mounting blocks. 6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the rack locking assembly further comprises a rack latch bar, a hook apparatus, and a push rod, said rack latch bar extending between said rack latches, said hook apparatus comprising a hook that is structurally shaped to secure the rack latch bar therewithin and configured to inhibit the rack latch bar and the rack latches from moving, said hook apparatus being secured to said push rod, said push rod extending from a front of the front lateral wall, through the front lateral wall and the hook apparatus, and to the rear lateral wall. 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, when pressure is applied to said push rod to move said push rod toward the rear lateral wall, the hook apparatus moves with the push rod, thereby serving to disengage the hook from securing the rack latch bar to allow the rack latch bar and the rack latches to move, and wherein, when no pressure is applied to said push rod, the hook apparatus is positioned such that the rack latch bar is secured within the hook. 8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the rack locking assembly further comprises a rack latch bar, a hook apparatus, and a push rod, said rack latch bar extending between said rack latches, said hook apparatus comprising a hook that is structurally shaped to secure the rack latch bar therewithin and configured to inhibit the rack latch bar and the rack latches from moving, said hook apparatus being secured to said push rod, said push rod extending from a front of the front lateral wall, through the front lateral wall and the hook apparatus, and to the rear lateral wall. 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, when pressure is applied to said push rod to move said push rod toward the rear lateral wall and the movable rack assembly is locked in the rack latches, the hook apparatus moves with the push rod, thereby serving to disengage the hook from securing the rack latch bar to allow the rack latch bar and the rack latches to move, thereby allowing the rack latches to release the movable rack assembly from being locked within the latch notch sections and receive the moveable rack assembly unlocked on the latch taper sections, and wherein, when no pressure is applied to said push rod, the hook apparatus is positioned such that the rack latch bar is secured within the hook. 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the anti-return mechanism comprises an anti-return rod, an anti-return case, and anti-return pins, the anti-return rod extending from the end of the station and being fixed to the anti-return case, the anti-return case having an upper edge, a tapered surface, and a lower surface, the anti-return pins being in contact with the upper edge of the anti-return case and protruding from an upper surface of the end of the station to actively inhibit removal of the movable rack assembly from the station or transfer of the movable rack assembly to the station when no force is applied to the anti-return case, and wherein, when the transfer cart assembly is temporarily secured to the station, the transfer cart assembly imparts force to the anti-return rod to force the anti-return case toward the rear surface of the end of the station and move contact between the anti-return pins and the anti-return case from the upper edge of the anti-return case to the lower surface of the anti-return case via the tapered surface of the anti-return case, thereby reducing protrusion of the anti-return pins from the upper surface of the end of the station to enable removal or insertion of the movable rack assembly from the station. 11. A transfer cart assembly for transporting, transferring, and receiving a movable rack assembly, the transfer cart assembly comprising: a rack support assembly configured to support the movable rack assembly for transport thereof and enable movement of the movable rack assembly for transfer or receipt thereof, the rack support assembly comprising two side rails extending parallel to each other, the side rails having respective inner surfaces connected by front and rear lateral walls at corresponding ends of the side rails; anda rack locking assembly configured to lock the movable rack assembly onto the rack support assembly, the rack locking assembly comprising: rack latches respectively disposed facing each other on the inner surfaces of the side rails, the rack latches being configured to lock the movable rack assembly to the rack support assembly;a rack latch bar extending between the rack latches to control an orientation of the rack latches;a hook apparatus comprising a hook that is structurally shaped to secure the rack latch bar therewithin; anda push rod extending through the front lateral wall and the hook apparatus, and into the rear lateral wall within which a cart spring is applied to the push rod, the hook apparatus being fixed to the push rod, the push rod comprising a push member connected thereto ahead of the front lateral wall, the push rod being configured to move the hook apparatus toward the rear lateral wall when pressure applied to the push member forces the push rod toward the rear lateral wall to compress the cart spring, thereby removing the hook of the hook apparatus from around the rack latch bar and allowing the rack latches to release the movable rack assembly in a locked state therefrom or receive the movable rack assembly in an unlocked state thereon. 12. The transfer cart assembly according to claim 11, wherein the rack support assembly further comprises a plurality of rollers mounted on each of said inner surfaces of said side rails to face each other, the rollers being configured to enable movement of the movable rack assembly for the transfer or receipt thereof when the movable rack assembly is not locked onto the rack support assembly. 13. The transfer cart assembly according to claim 12, wherein respective uppermost portions of the rollers are positioned to define a continuous plane below a top portion of the side rails. 14. The transfer cart assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the rack latches is mounted on and rotatably secured to a mounting block disposed on the inner surface of one of the side rails, wherein each of the rack latches includes a latch bar section to which the rack latch bar is connected, andwherein, when the hook is removed from around the rack latch bar, the rack latch bar is allowed to freely move according to a rotation of the latch bar sections by the rack latches. 15. The transfer cart assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the rack latches is mounted on and rotatably secured to a mounting block disposed on the inner surface of one of the side rails, wherein each of the rack latches comprises a latch notch section at least partially defined by the mounting block and a latch taper section of the rack latches, andwherein each of the latch notch sections is dimensioned to be filled by a portion of said movable rack assembly to inhibit lateral, forward, and rearward movement of the movable rack assembly when the rack latch bar is secured within the hook.