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Automated material handling system for a cargo trailer

  • US 4,968,209 A
  • Filed: 07/03/1989
  • Issued: 11/06/1990
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In an automated material handling system for a manufacturing assembly plant including a loading dock surface upon which is assigned a loading track, an automated lift truck, means including bar coded targets for causing the lift truck to follow the loading track, the improvement comprising a cargo trailer including a rear loading opening from which extends forwardly of the cargo trailer a cargo support surface upon which is assigned a loading track, the automated lift truck functioning to load and unload parts racks out of and into the cargo trailer for use in the assembly plant, the two loading tracks being aligned to facilitate such unloading and loading, the cargo trailer having a pair of spaced apart upstanding sidewalls, a plurality of horizontally spaced apart bar coded targets mounted on each sidewall within the cargo trailer intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, the lift truck including scanning means for reading the bar coded targets and controlling its path of movement to constrain it to follow the assigned loading track on the cargo support surface, each bar coded target within the cargo trailer being substantially flat and thin, a guard rail provided on each sidewall within the cargo trailer extending horizontally along the length of the cargo trailer, the guard rails being positioned above the bar coded targets but below the upper edges of the sidewalls, the guard rails being thicker than the bar coded targets to thereby prevent contact therewith by parts racks, the lift truck having a mast including carriage means for engaging a parts rack, the lift truck mast including means for pivotally mounting the carriage to permit lateral shifting of the carriage to facilitate lateral shifting of a parts rack carried thereon upon contact of the parts rack with a guard rail.

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