Height indicator for a fork lift truck
First Claim
1. A height indicator for use on a fork lift truck of the type having a vertically positionable fork operatively associated therewith, said height indicator for indicating to an operator of the fork lift truck the position of the fork with respect to a particular shelf of a shelving system within a warehouse independently of a control system of the fork lift truck, said height indicator comprising:
- programmable memory means for storing information regarding the vertical location of a plurality of shelves of a shelving system, said information including a storage height and a retrieve height for each of the plurality of shelves,a first sensing means for tracking the vertical position of a fork of a fork lift truck and sending signals representative of the sensed vertical position,comparing means that receives the signals from said sensing means for comparing the sensed vertical position of the fork to the stored information of the vertical location of the plurality of shelves stored in said programmable memory means, anda first display means that receives signals from said comparing means for indicating to the operator as the fork is controlled by the operator when the fork is positioned within a preselected vertical range of a selected shelf of the plurality of shelves, said preselected vertical range encompassing both the storage height and the retrieve height for the selected shelf, whereby the operator can load or unload between the fork and the shelves based on the indication of the display means within the predetermined range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for indicating the height of the fork of a fork lift truck relative to a home position is set forth. The device includes a controller which compares programmed store and retrieve heights for various shelves in a warehouse with the current height of the fork. A display visible to the operator includes a first display device which indicates the fork is adjacent a particular shelf and is within a predetermined range encompassing the store and retrieve heights of that shelf. A second display device indicates when the fork is at or within a predetermined range of the store or retrieve height for the shelf.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A height indicator for use on a fork lift truck of the type having a vertically positionable fork operatively associated therewith, said height indicator for indicating to an operator of the fork lift truck the position of the fork with respect to a particular shelf of a shelving system within a warehouse independently of a control system of the fork lift truck, said height indicator comprising:
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programmable memory means for storing information regarding the vertical location of a plurality of shelves of a shelving system, said information including a storage height and a retrieve height for each of the plurality of shelves, a first sensing means for tracking the vertical position of a fork of a fork lift truck and sending signals representative of the sensed vertical position, comparing means that receives the signals from said sensing means for comparing the sensed vertical position of the fork to the stored information of the vertical location of the plurality of shelves stored in said programmable memory means, and a first display means that receives signals from said comparing means for indicating to the operator as the fork is controlled by the operator when the fork is positioned within a preselected vertical range of a selected shelf of the plurality of shelves, said preselected vertical range encompassing both the storage height and the retrieve height for the selected shelf, whereby the operator can load or unload between the fork and the shelves based on the indication of the display means within the predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. A fork life truck having a vertically positionable fork movably mounted to a mast of the fork lift truck, said fork lift truck including a height indicator for indicating to an operator of the fork lift truck the position of said fork with respect to a particular shelf of a shelving system within a warehouse independently of a control system of the fork lift truck, said height indicator comprising:
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programmable memory means for storing information regarding the vertical location of a plurality of shelves of a shelving system, said information including a storage height and a retrieve height for each of the plurality of shelves; a first sensing means for tracking the vertical position of said fork of said fork lift truck and sending signals representative of the sensed vertical position, setting means for programming said programmable memory means, said setting means including a home position switch which when activated stores the position of the fork at that time in the programmable memory means as a reference position, comparing means that receives the signals from said sensing means for comparing the sensed vertical position of the fork to the stored information of the vertical location of the plurality of shelves stored in said programmable memory means, and a first display means that receives signals from said comparing means for indicating to the operator as the fork is controlled by the operator when the fork is positioned within a preselected vertical range of a selected shelf of the plurality of shelves, said preselected vertical range encompassing both the storage height and the retrieve height for the selected shelf, whereby the operator can load or unload between the fork and the shelves based on the indication of the display means within the predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification