Pallet transferring arrangement and method
First Claim
1. A material handling vehicle having a frame, and first and second spaced apart sides, a load carrying member movable relative to the vehicle frame between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions, and first and second guide assemblies maintaining said load carrying member in a plane transverse the vehicle sides, comprising;
- a ground engaging foot connected to the second guide assembly;
a jack assembly connected to and simultaneously moving the load carrying member and said ground engaging foot between respective first and second elevationally spaced apart positions;
a pallet transfer deck;
means for movably supporting the pallet transfer deck on the load carrying member;
a plurality of deck positioning cone members connected to one of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck; and
a plurality of deck positioning socket members connected to the other of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck, said plurality of deck positioning cone members each being matingly restrainingly engaged with a respective deck positioning socket member at the second position of the load carrying member and spaced from mating restraining engagement with the deck positioning socket members at the first position of the load carrying member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pallet transferring arrangement and method for positioning a pallet transfer deck relative to a load transfer station is provided. The pallet transferring arrangement has a jack assembly for elevationally moving a load carrying member between first and second spaced positions relative to a vehicle frame. First and second guide assemblies guide the load carrying member and a supporting arrangement movably supports a pallet transfer deck on the load carrying member for movement in a plane. A plurality of replaceable deck positioning socket members engage a plurality of replaceable deck positioning cone members at the second position of the load carrying member and maintains the pallet transfer deck from movement in the plane. The plurality of deck positioning socket members are free from engagement with the deck positioning cone members at the first position of the load carrying members. A ground engaging foot is connected to and movable with the second guide assembly, and supports the load carrying member at a first position. Thus, pallet transfer deck positioning and stability are achieved in an efficient and economical manner. The pallet transferring arrangement is particularly suited for use on automatic guided vehicles.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A material handling vehicle having a frame, and first and second spaced apart sides, a load carrying member movable relative to the vehicle frame between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions, and first and second guide assemblies maintaining said load carrying member in a plane transverse the vehicle sides, comprising;
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a ground engaging foot connected to the second guide assembly; a jack assembly connected to and simultaneously moving the load carrying member and said ground engaging foot between respective first and second elevationally spaced apart positions; a pallet transfer deck; means for movably supporting the pallet transfer deck on the load carrying member; a plurality of deck positioning cone members connected to one of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck; and a plurality of deck positioning socket members connected to the other of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck, said plurality of deck positioning cone members each being matingly restrainingly engaged with a respective deck positioning socket member at the second position of the load carrying member and spaced from mating restraining engagement with the deck positioning socket members at the first position of the load carrying member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of transferring a pallet between a pallet transfer deck of an automatic guided vehicle and a pallet transfer station, including the steps of:
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positioning a plurality of transfer socket members connected to one of the pallet transfer deck and station substantially in axial alignment with a plurality of transfer cone members connected to the other of the pallet transfer deck and station; elevationally moving the pallet transfer deck from a second elevational position toward a first elevational position to disengage a plurality of deck positioning socket members connected to one of the pallet transfer deck and automatic guided vehicle from mating engagement with a plurality of deck positioning cone members connected to the other of the pallet transfer deck and automatic guided vehicle and releasing the pallet transfer deck for movement and to engage the transfer socket members with the transfer cone members while engaging a ground engaging foot with an underlying surface to support the pallet transfer deck on the transfer cone members and the underlying surface; and moving the pallet onto the pallet transfer station. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A material handling vehicle having a frame, first and second apart sides, and a load carrying member movable relative to the vehicle frame between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions, comprising:
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a ground engaging foot connected to the load carrying member; means for moving the load carrying member and said ground engaging foot between respective first and second elevationally spaced apart positions; a pallet transfer deck; a first carrier having a deck positioning socket member receiving bore and being connected to one of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck; means for movably supporting the pallet transfer deck on the load carrying member; a deck positioning cone member connected to the other of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck; and a deck positioning socket member having a conically shaped bore and being disposed in the deck positioning socket member receiving bore of the first carrier; means for maintaining said deck positioning socket member said deck positioning socket member receiving bore, said deck positioning cone member being matingly restrainingly engaged with the deck positioning socket member at one of the first and second positions of the load carrying member and spaced from mating restraining engagement with the deck positioning socket member at the other of the first and second positions of the load carrying member. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification