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The AutoPantry™ is a motor-driven, electric, vertical carousel that brings shelves up, down and around so that they can be easily available for the user. It is designed to be installed with the bottom shelf of the unit at eye level. Above are eight shelves that would normally be out of reach but with a touch of a button can be brought down to your level! The AutoPantry™ can be operated in both an up and down motion.
The AutoPantry™ is a vertical carousel so when bringing items down it does not encroach on the space below. The shelves simply go around and around. Regular stationary shelves can be installed below in order to hold heavy or larger items beneath the carousel unit. The AutoPantry™ can also be installed so that a wheelchair can be operated underneath the unit allowing a person of very limited reach to get very close to the unit for removing items.
The AutoPantry™ is available as a closet or cabinet "insert". It comes fully assembled with natural Baltic birch shelves that have a high gloss clear polyurethane finish. (white melamine shelves as shown in the adjacent photo can be special ordered) The container is MDF painted black which is then slid into an existing cabinet or closet and it requires just a few screws to hold the unit in place. The unit must be fully supported at the bottom using a strong shelf or platform. It can be installed in walk-in closets, reach-in closets or pantry style cabinets.
Available in 2 sizes -> Download our spec sheet now
Warranty 3 years parts and labor and is delivered fully assembled!
(The AutoPantry™ is recognized as a helpful tool by the Occupational Therapists at Carolina’s Rehabilitation Institute in Charlotte, NC, for their patients. The AutoPantry™ has been installed and working successfully since summer 2006.)
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 AutoPantry as an INSERT before installation.
AutoPantry™ - 18 MSRP $1295
Height - 43 inches
Width - 24 inches
Depth - 17 inches
8 shelves/ 6 inches deep/ clear coated Baltic birch
Weight unloaded - approx. 85lbs
Capacity - 8 lbs per shelf
AutoPantry™- 24 MSRP $1495
Height - 55 inches
Width - 24 inches
Depth - 24 inches
8 shelves/ 8 inches deep/ clear coated Baltic birch
Weight unloaded - approx. 120lbs
Capacity - 10 lbs per shelf
UNIVERSAL DESIGN
By definition, Universal Design is the creation of product and environments for the home that are meant to be usable by ALL people to the greatest extent possible. This means the young the old, the tall the short, the able bodied and the disabled should all be able to ideally function in the home at the same capacity. The intent of Universal Design is to simplify life for everyone by making products and the home environment more usable by as many people as possible. If you have ever been through an automatic door you have experienced a version of Universal Design. Placing electric outlets at a higher level where they can be easily reached if you are in wheelchair is another example of Universal Design.
Universal Design is getting popular for several reasons. Baby Boomers are getting older and they want their houses to be more automated and more functional. For example, elevators use to be rare in homes but are now becoming much more common place. People also realize that they need homes that will grow old with them. They want independence that comes with staying in their home forever. And lastly, people simply want more comfort and more access to all the space in their home.
Universal Design is a worldwide movement based on these concepts and the idea that all products and environments should be designed to consider the needs of the widest possible array of users. It is also known around the world as design for all, inclusive design, lifespan design and barrier free design.
Some of the principles and guidelines of Universal Design and how they relate to StorageMotion are as follows:
- Equitable Use - The product must provide the same means of use for all users and be identical whenever possible. It must try to avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users. A vertical conveyor from StorageMotion is used the same way by all people and is useful to all people. Each person can access the shelves at their own preferred access point yet because of the automation and the revolving shelves, ALL shelves can be brought to each individual's preferred access point giving the product excellent equitability of use.
- Simple and Intuitive Use - Unnecessary complexity must be eliminated and the product must operate within the users expectations and intuition. A motorized carousel from StorageMotion is equipped with a simple up and down switch. Press the toggle or rocker switch up and the shelves rotate up. Press the rocker or toggle switch down and the shelves rotate down. Nothing could be simpler and more intuitive.
- Flexibility In Use - The product design must accommodate a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. It must provide choice in the methods of use, facilitate the users accuracy and precision and provide adaptability to the user's pace. An automated shelving system from StorageMotion can be set up and installed in many different fashions in order to meet the user's needs. A custom floor to ceiling unit can be installed, a half sized unit can be installed with stationary storage underneath and a unit can even be setup and installed where a wheel chair can be brought underneath so that the user can be close enough to the unit that, even with very limited use of the arms, items can be selected and retrieved.
- Low Physical Effort - The design must be used efficiently and comfortably with a minimum of fatigue. It must allow a user to maintain a neutral body position, use reasonable operating forces and minimize sustained physical effort. An automated system of revolving shelves such as AutoPantry™ from StorageMotion eliminates the need for bending, stooping, kneeling and stretching. The shelves will revolve and come directly to you for easy access.
- Size and Space For Approach and Use - The product must have appropriate size and space available so that a user can properly approach it and use it regardless of the users body size, posture or mobility. A clear line of sight must be available for all important elements for any seated or standing person and all controls must be comfortably reached by all users. An automated vertical conveyor from StorageMotion can have its controls mounted just about anywhere if necessary. It is also much more approachable and easier to get to than standard shelving because a ladder or step stool is never necessary!
Installation and operating instructions
Installation
- The AutoPantry™ is designed as an insert for a cabinet, closet, or pantry and may be trimmed or dressed out to match existing wood types and color schemes.
- The unit may be installed in a closet, pantry or cabinet, anywhere it is properly supported.
- The unit is designed to be mounted so that the lowest shelf is the highest that the user can reach comfortably (usually shoulder height).
- Unloaded, the AutoPantry™ - 18 weighs approximately 85 lbs and fully loaded, weighs approximately 155 lbs. Unloaded, the AutoPantry™ - 24 weighs approximately 110 lbs and fully loaded, weighs 190 lbs.
- Be sure to remove all packing tape and materials before beginning installation.
- THE UNIT IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE HUNG ON THE WALL. IT MUST BE SUPPORTED AT THE BOTTOM BY HAVING THE UNIT REST ON A SOLID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.
- If the AutoPantry™ is placed in a closet or pantry, you must install a supporting structure that the base of the unit can rest on. This structure needs to be on a shelf or platform that is stud mounted into the wall.
- The supporting structure must be a minimum of 3/4" thick.
- The unit may also be placed in a cabinet but it must be supported fully at the base.
- IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF HOW TO MAKE A SAFE, SECURE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, PLEASE CONTACT STORAGEMOTION, INC. FAILURE TO MAKE A PROPER INSTALLATION MAY RESULT IN INJURY.
- It is also required that you have a space large enough for the unit to be inserted. The minimum dimensions for the opening area are as follows:
AutoPantry™ - 24 Required Opening: 56" (height) x 24 3/4" (width)
AutoPantry™ - 18 Required Opening: 44" (height) x 24 3/4" (width)
- Before you slide the unit in place, be sure you have a place to run the cord through.
- You must make a cutout of a minimum of 1 - 1/8" in diameter for the plug to fit through.
- An AC 110 Volt cord is supplied with the unit and may be routed to go out the back OR the left side.
- After the supporting structure is in place and you have an acceptable opening, the unit may be set into position. It must be attached to the wall or cabinet in the back at the top and at the bottom through the base.
- Be sure the shelves are in the position shown. The shelves are in this position when the unit arrives.
- By going through the front of the unit, attach the back of the unit to the wall or cabinet in the area shown using at least two (2) #10 wood screws.
- CAUTION: DO NOT PLACE SCREWS LOWER THAN THREE (3) INCHES FROM THE TOP; OTHERWISE, THE SCREW HEAD MAY INTERFERE WITH MOVING SHELVES.
- DO NOT REMOVE ANY SHELVES to secure the back of the unit. Be sure that shelves are in position shown. Check to ensure the unit remains square after the attachment is complete.
- By going through the front of the unit, attach the base to the bottom support as shown using at least two (2) wood screws.
- DO NOT PLACE SCREWS MORE THAN THREE (3) INCHES FROM THE FRONT OF THE UNIT; OTHERWISE, THE SCREW HEAD MAY INTERFERE WITH MOVING SHELVES.
- DO NOT REMOVE any shelves to secure the base of the unit. You may, however, have to plug in the unit and move shelves until they are out of the way.
- For proper operation, the unit MUST remain square after the attachment is complete.
Final Dressing
- The AutoPantry™ is designed as an insert and it is available only in UNFINISHED standard black. In order for it to look its best, it should be trimmed out with colors and materials that match the cabinet or closet/pantry where it is being installed.
- A basic UNFINISHED front panel is provided to be installed on your unit OR you may use it as a template to create one that matches the rest of the closet or cabinetry.
- WARNING: The front panel MUST be in place to safely operate the AutoPantry™ or injury or death could occur.
- Side and bottom trims are also recommended. The AutoPantry™ may be installed behind cabinet doors in order to give it a finished look.
- Matching side trim may be installed over the guides which are 1.75 inches wide. Plastic laminate or other materials may be used. Trim can also be installed over the bottom support and around the switch enclosure.
Operation
- The AutoPantry™ is operated by pressing and holding the switch in the "up"• position to move the shelves up and down for the shelves in front to move down. The toggle switch is a momentary switch that must be held constantly for shelves to move.
- The unit is designed for light-weight items such as small cans or small boxes. The load limit per shelf is eight (8) lbs for the AutoPantry™- 18 and 10 lbs for the AutoPantry™ - 24. (Approximately eight (8) small cans is about eight (8) lbs.)
- THE UNIT MUST BE IN BALANCE TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY AND SATISFACTORILY. This means that you cannot have two (2) or three (3) shelves fully loaded that are all next to each other and the others empty.
- When loading the unit for the first time make sure the AutoPantry™ stays in balance, make sure that first shelf is loaded; then, move the unit and skip three (3) shelves and load that shelf next. Follow this "in balance" approach until all shelves are loaded.
- Caution! ALL items included on a shelf must be NO taller than the back of the shelf. Failure to adhere to this warning could cause the unit to jam which could cause injury to the user.
- The unit is designed so that the easiest point to place items in the shelf is when the shelf is at its lowest position. This provides the widest opening between shelves for easy access.
- Never place anything inside the unit that is NOT on a shelf!
Please view this AutoPantryTM video
Please view this video of a customized AutoPantryTM
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