Material or article handling – Elevator or hoist and loading or unloading means therefor – Comprising means enabling additional movement of carrier or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-06-05
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Elevator or hoist and loading or unloading means therefor
Comprising means enabling additional movement of carrier or...
C414S663000, C701S024000, C701S050000, C180S169000, C187S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241453
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a satellite vehicle for moving pallet units (loading units) into and out of storage with transport vehicles, containers or the like, as defined in the preamble to claim
1
.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a satellite vehicle known from DE 296 20 342 U1, the fork arms can be displaced in their longitudinal direction in order to receive pallets longitudinally and transversely, or folded up in order to receive pallets transversely or longitudinally.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a simple alternative to the prior art, which allows the fork arms to be adapted to different pallet systems, and in which the fork arms can receive the pallets such that they can be deflected, with respect to the side boundaries of the transport vehicles, during loading and unloading without being damaged, and in which an optimum navigation for the course and the course correction of the satellite vehicle are provided.
In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished by the characterizing features of claim
1
. The dependent claims disclose embodiment features that represent advantageous and beneficial modifications of the solution.
The satellite vehicle according to the invention is equipped with at least two, but preferably more, laterally-adjustable fork arms, so the fork arms can accommodate different pallet systems, which means that the satellite vehicle can receive and transport different pallet types.
Furthermore, the fork arms are equipped with floating pallet-receiving elements that permit a limited movement of the pallets transversely to the longitudinal direction of the forks, so the pallets can be deflected when they come into contact with the side boundaries of the transport vehicle during loading and unloading, which precludes damage to both the transport vehicle and the loading item.
The satellite vehicle is further provided with a plurality of ultrasound sensors, a steel-cable reel, in which the energy and signal cables are wound, an integrated switch cabinet and an electronic compass, so a measurable, correctable and problem-free course of the satellite vehicle can be achieved with respect to the vehicle to be loaded and unloaded, even if the loading surface is misaligned or tilted. The ultrasound sensors employ reference edges to take measurements, and the signals are supplied directly to the switch cabinet for evaluation. The energy and signal cable that unwinds from the cable reel serves simultaneously in distance measurement. A further advantage of the invention is the drive connection from the center drive motor to four drive and steering wheels, with the inside wheels being connected via a drive shaft to the drive motor and the two lateral wheel pairs being coupled to a respective cardan shaft, so a central pivoting bolster brings all four of the wheels into the steering position, which results in a low-wear steering.
The entire satellite vehicle has a relatively simple and inexpensive design, and has an widely-variable operating mode, both in receiving the different pallet systems and in moving the load, so the satellite vehicle helps to increase the efficiency of moving goods in and out of storage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4354568 (1982-10-01), Griesenbrock
patent: 4566032 (1986-01-01), Hirooka et al.
patent: 4595331 (1986-06-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5938710 (1999-08-01), Lanza et al.
patent: 29 30 569 (1981-02-01), None
patent: 37 02 918 (1988-08-01), None
patent: 296 20 342 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 2 725 436 (1996-04-01), None
Browdy & Neimark
O'Connor Gerald J.
Olszewski Robert P.
Westfalia-WST-Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
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