Laterally movable shuttle assembly with an article probe device

Claim 2

A shuttle assembly operable between retracted and extended conditions to move a load relative to storage rocks, said shuttle assembly comprising a base section, an intermediate section operatively connected to said base section and movable relative thereto, a load-supporting section operatively connected with said intermediate section and movable relative to said base and intermediate sections, drive means operatively connected with said intermediate load-supporting sections for moving said intermediate section relative to said base section and for moving said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section to thereby operate said shuttle assembly between the retracted and extended conditions, probe means for detecting the presence of an obstruction in the storage racks, said probe means being mounted on said intermediate section for movement therewith upon operation of said shuttle assembly between the retracted and extended conditions and being operable between a first condition in which an outermost end portion of said probe means is disposed adjacent to an outermost end portion of said intermediate section and a second condition in which said outermost end portion of said probe means is disposed a substantial distance outwardly of said outermost end portion of said intermediate section, operator means for operating said probe means from the first conditions to the second condition in response to initiation of operation of said shuttle assembly from the retracted condition toward the extended condition and for operating said probe means from the second condition to the first condition during operation of said shuttle assembly from the extended condition to the retracted condition, and means for interrupting operation said shuttle assembly toward the extended condition in response to said probe means encountering an obstruction in the storage racks to thereby prevent said shuttle assembly from being extended into a storage area containing the obstruction.

Claim 3

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operator means includes a first assembly mounted on saId intermediate section and movable relative thereto to operate said probe means between said first and second conditions, said operator means further including a second assembly mounted on said load-supporting section for effecting movement of said first assembly relative to said intermediate section in response to movement of said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section to thereby operate said probe means from the first condition to the second condition.

Claim 4

An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second assembly mounted on said load-supporting section is movable from a position engaging said first assembly on said intermediate section to a position spaced apart from said first assembly in response to continued movement of said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section after operation of said probe means to the second condition.

Claim 5

An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first assembly includes a first member pivotally mounted on said intermediate section and operatively connected to said probe means, said second assembly including a second member fixedly mounted on said load-supporting section for pivoting said first member relative to said intermediate section in response to relative movement between said load-supporting and intermediate sections.

Claim 6

An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said probe means includes a base and a probe member mounted on said base and providing the outermost end portion of said probe means, said base and probe member being movable together relative to said intermediate section by said operator means to thereby operate said probe means from said first condition to said second condition, said probe member being movable relative to said base under the influence of said outermost end portion of said probe means encountering an obstruction to thereby effect actuation of said means for interrupting operation of said shuttle assembly.

Claim 7

An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for interrupting operation of said shuttle assembly includes switch means secured to said intermediate section and an actuator member mounted for movement with said base relative to said intermediate section, said actuator member being movable relative to said base to actuate said switch means in response to movement of said probe member relative to said base.

Claim 8

An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for interrupting operation of said shuttle assembly further includes cam means associated with said actuator member and follower means operatively connected to said probe member for cooperating with said cam means to effect movement of said actuator member in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said probe member relative to said base.

Claim 9

An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said operator means includes an operator member pivotally mounted on said intermediate section and operatively connected to said base and means for effecting pivotal movement of said operator member relative to said intermediate section in response to relative movement between said load-supporting section and said intermediate section to thereby effect movement of said base relative to said intermediate section.

Claim 10

An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said operator means further includes detent means for retaining said operator member and base against movement relative to said intermediate section upon movement of said probe member when said probe member encounters and obstruction.

Claim 11

An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said operator means further includes an element mounted on said load-supporting section for pivoting said operator member relative to said intermediate section upon relative movement between said intermediate and load-supporting sections.

Claim 12

A shuttle assembly operable between a retracted condition and either of two extended conditions to move a load relative to storage racks, said shuttle assembly comprising a base sEction, an intermediate section operatively connected to said base section and movable relative thereto, a load-supporting section operatively connected with said intermediate section and movable relative to said base and intermediate sections, drive means operatively connected with said intermediate and load-supporting sections for moving said intermediate section relative to said base section in either of two directions from a retracted position and for moving said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section in either of the two directions to thereby enable said drive means to operate said shuttle assembly to either of the two extended conditions, probe means mounted on said intermediate section for detecting the presence of an obstruction in a storage rack upon movement of said shuttle assembly toward either of the extended conditions, said probe means including a probe member mounted on said intermediate section for movement therewith and having an initial position in which a first end portion of said probe member is disposed adjacent to one side of said intermediate section and a second end portion is disposed adjacent to an opposite side of said intermediate section when said shuttle assembly is in the retracted condition, said probe member being movable from said initial position in a selected one of two opposite directions relative to said intermediate section to extend said probe member outwardly from said intermediate section in the selected one of the two directions, operator means for moving said probe member outwardly relative to said intermediate section from the initial position in the selected one of the two directions in response to initiation of operation of said shuttle from the retracted condition to an extended condition in the selected direction and for moving said probe member back to the initial position during operation of the shuttle assembly from the extended condition in the selected direction to the retracted condition, said operator means including an assembly mounted on said intermediate section for moving said probe member relative to said intermediate section in either of the two directions and an actuator means mounted on said load-supporting section for actuating said assembly to effect outward movement of the probe member in the selected one of the two directions in response to movement of said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section in the selected direction, and means for interrupting operation of said shuttle assembly toward the extended condition in the selected direction in response to movement of said probe member relative to said intermediate section in a direction opposite to the selected direction upon said probe member engaging an obstruction in the storage racks.

Claim 13

A shuttle assembly operable between a retracted condition and either of two extended conditions to move a load relative to storage racks, said shuttle assembly comprising a base sEction, an intermediate section operatively connected to said base section and movable relative thereto, a load-supporting section operatively connected with said intermediate section and movable relative to said base and intermediate sections, drive means operatively connected with said intermediate and load-supporting sections for moving said intermediate section relative to said base section in either of two directions from a retracted position and for moving said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section in either of the two directions to thereby enable said drive means to operate said shuttle assembly to either of the two extended conditions, probe means mounted on said intermediate section for detecting the presence of an obstruction in a storage rack upon movement of said shuttle assembly toward either of the extended conditions, said probe means including a probe member mounted on said intermediate section for movement therewith and having an initial position in which a first end portion of said probe member is disposed adjacent to one side of said intermediate section and a second end portion is disposed adjacent to an opposite side of said intermediate section when said shuttle assembly is in the retracted condition, said probe member being movable from said initial position in a selected one of two opposite directions relative to said intermediate section to extend said probe member outwardly from said intermediate section in the selected one of the two directions, operator means for moving said probe member outwardly relative to said intermediate section from the initial position in the selected one of the two directions in response to initiation of operation of said shuttle from the retracted condition to an extended condition in the selected direction and for moving said probe member back to the initial position during operation of the shuttle assembly from the extended condition in the selected direction to the retracted condition, said operator means including an assembly mounted on said intermediate section for moving said probe member relative to said intermediate section in either of the two directions and an actuator means mounted on said load-supporting section for actuating said assembly to effect outward movement of the probe member in the selected one of the two directions in response to movement of said load-supporting section relative to said intermediate section in the selected direction, and means for interrupting operation of said shuttle assembly toward the extended condition in the selected direction in response to movement of said probe member relative to said intermediate section in a direction opposite to the selected direction upon said probe member engaging an obstruction in the storage racks.

Claim 14

An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said probe means further includes a base operatively connected to said probe member and to said assembly for moving said probe member, said base being movable relative to said intermediate section in the selected one of the two directions by said operator means to extend said probe member in the selected direction, said probe member being movable relative to said base upon engaging an obstruction to thereby effect operation of said means for interrupting operation of said shuttle assembly.

Claim 15

A shuttle assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said actuator means is movable from a position engaging said assembly mounted on said intermediate section to a position spaced from said assembly upon operation of said shuttle assembly to one of the extended conditions.