Pallet retrieving system

Claim 2

A mechanism for transporting items, left at a first station, to a second station; said mechanism including: an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along a path, said path including said first and second stations, said carriage being engageable with said items for moving said items when moving towards said second station and being disengaged from said items when moving towards said first station; means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage towards said first station and to a second control signal for moving said carriage towards said second station; means responsive to an item resting at said first station for providing a first item signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said first station to provide a first sensing signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of at item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said second station to provide a second sensing signal; and means rendered effective by said first item signal responsive to said first and second sensing signals for providing said first and second control signals.

Claim 3

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a first position on said path; means responsive to said carriage being at said second station for providing a second station signal; and means rendered effective by said first limit signal responsive to said second station signal for disabling said first and second control signal providing means.

Claim 4

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said first limit signal also renders said first and second control signal providing means non-responsive to said first and second sensing signal.

Claim 5

The mechanism as defined in claim 3 in which said item transporting carriage includes: means for engaging said items as said carriage moves from said first station to said second station; and means responsive to said second sensing signal for rendering saId engaging means inoperative.

Claim 6

The mechanism as defined in claim 4 in which said first and second control signal providing means normally provides said first control signal.

Claim 7

The mechanism as defined in claim 5 in which said first and second control signal providing means provides said second control signal in response to said first sensing signal and said first control signal in response to said second sensing signal.

Claim 8

The mechanism as defined in claim 6 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a second position on said path, said second position being beyond said first position when looking from said second station, for providing a second limit signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is further responsive to said second limit signal for providing said second control signal.

Claim 9

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 also including: means responsive to an item resting adjacent to said second station for providing a second item signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is rendered effective by either said first or second item signals.

Claim 10

The mechanism as defined in claim 8 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a first position on said path, said first position being beyond said first station when looking from said second station, for providing a first limit signal; means responsive to said carriage being at said second station for providing a second station signal; and means rendered effective by said first limit signal responsive to said second station signal for disabling said first and second control signal providing means.

Claim 11

The mechanism as defined in claim 9 in which said first limit signal also renders said first and second control signal providing means non-responsive to said first and second sensing signal.

Claim 12

The mechanism as defined in claim 10 in which said item transporting carriage includes: means for engaging said items as said carriage moves from said first station to said second station; and means responsive to said second sensing signal for rendering said engaging means inoperative.

Claim 13

The mechanism as defined in claim 11 in which said first and second control signal providing means normally provides said first control signal.

Claim 14

The mechanism as defined in claim 12 in which said first and second control signal providing means provides said second control signal in response to said first sensing signal and said first control signal in response to said second sensing signal.

Claim 15

The mechanism as defined in claim 13 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a second position on said path, said second position being beyond said first position when looking from said second station, for providing a second limit signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is further responsive to said second limit signal for providing said second control signal.

Claim 16

The mechanism as defined in claim 8 in which said first and second control signal providing means is rendered non-responsive to said first and second sensing signals by the simultaneous occurrence of said second control signal and said second item signal.

Claim 17

The mechanism as defined in claim 15 in which said item transporting carriage includes: means for engaging said items as said carriage moves from said first station to said second station; and means responsive to said second sensing signal for rendering said engaging means inoperative.

Claim 18

The mechanism as defined in claim 16 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a first position on said path, said first position being beyond said first station when looking from said second station, for providing a first limit signal; means responsive to said carriage being at said second station for providing a second station signal; and means rendered effective by said first limIt signal responsive to said second station signal for disabling said first and second control signal providing means.

Claim 19

The mechanism as defined in claim 17 in which said first limit signal also renders said first and second control signal providing means non-responsive to said first and second sensing signal.

Claim 20

The mechanism as defined in claim 18 in which said first and second control signal providing means normally provides said first control signal.

Claim 21

The mechanism as defined in claim 19 in which said first and second control signal providing means provides said second control signal in response to said first sensing signal and said first control signal in response to said second sensing signal.

Claim 22

The mechanism as defined in claim 20 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a second position on said path, said second position being beyond said first position when looking from said second station, for providing a second limit signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is further responsive to said second limit signal for providing said second control signal.

Claim 23

A mechanism for transporting items, left at a first station, to a second station; said mechanism including: an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along a path, said path including said first and second stations, said carriage being engageable with said items for moving said items when moving towards said second station and being disengaged from said items when moving towards said first station; means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage towards said first station and to a second control signal for moving said carriage towards said second station; means responsive to an item resting adjacent to said second station for providing a second item signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said first station to provide a first sensing signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said second station to provide a second sensing signal; and means rendered effective by said second item signal responsive to said first and second sensing signals for providing said first and second control signals.

Claim 24

A mechanism for transporting items, left at a first station, to a second station; said mechanism including: an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along a path, said path including said first and second stations, said carriage being engageable with said items for moving said items when moving towards said second station and being disengaged from said items when moving towards said first station; means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage towards said first station and to a second control signal for moving said carriage towards said second station; means responsive to an item resting adjacent to said second station for providing a second item signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said first station to provide a first sensing signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said second station to provide a second sensing signal; and means rendered effective by said second item signal responsive to said first and second sensing signals for providing said first and second control signals.

Claim 25

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a first position on said path; means responsive to said carriage being at said second station for providing a second station signal; and means rendered effective by said first limit signal responsive to said second station signal for disabling said first and second control signal providing means.

Claim 26

The mechanism as defined in claim 23 in which said first limit signal also renders said first and second control signal providing means non-responsive to said first and second sensing signal.

Claim 27

The mechanism as defined in claim 24 in which said item transporting carriage includes: means for engaging said items as said carriage moves from said first station to said second station; and means responsive to said second sensing signal for rendering said engaging means inoperative.

Claim 28

The mechanism as defined in claim 25 in which said first and second control signal providing means normally provides said first control signal.

Claim 29

The mechanism as defined in claim 26 in which said first and second control signal providing means provides said second control signal in response to said first sensing signal and said first control signal in response to said second sensing signal.

Claim 30

The mechanism as defined in claim 27 also including: means responsive to said carriage being present at a second position on said path, said second position being beyond said first position when looking from said second station, for providing a second limit signal; and said first and second control signal providing meAns is further responsive to said second limit signal for providing said second control signal.

Claim 31

In a mechanism for transporting items: means for defining a path upon which said items may be transported; a pivot plate; means for movably mounting said pivot plate in pivotal and limited translational relationship to said path; means for urging said pivot plate into said path; means for sensing the position of a portion of said pivot plate to indicate a predetermined pattern of items on said path adjacent to said pivot plate to provide a first item signal; an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along said path; means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage in a first direction along said path and to a second control signal for moving said carriage in a second direction along said path; means rendered effective by said first item signal for providing said first and second control signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path in said first direction to provide a first sensing signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path in said second direction to provide a second sensing signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is responsive to said first and second sensing signals.

Claim 32

In a mechanism for transporting items: means for defining a path upon which said items may be transported; a pivot plate; means for movably mounting said pivot plate in pivotal and limited translational relationship to said path; means for urging said pivot plate into said path; means for sensing the position of a portion of said pivot plate to indicate a predetermined pattern of items on said path adjacent to said pivot plate to provide a first item signal; an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along said path; means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage in a first direction along said path and to a second control signal for moving said carriage in a second direction along said path; means rendered effective by said first item signal for providing said first and second control signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path in said first direction to provide a first sensing signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path in said second direction to provide a second sensing signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is responsive to said first and second sensing signals.

Claim 33

In a mechanism as defined in claim 29 in which said carriage is engageable with said items for moving said items when moving in said first direction and is disengaged from said items when moving in said second direction.

Claim 34

A mechanism for transporting items; said mechanism including: an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along a path; means responsive to a control signal for moving said carriage along said path; a guy wire extending along said path, said guy wire normally being under a predetermined tension; means mounted on said carriage for sensing the proximity of items to said carriage to alter the tension on said guy wire; and means responsive to said tension on said guy wire for generating said control signal.

Claim 35

A mechanism for transporting items; said mechanism including: an item transporting carriage mounted for movement along a path; means responsive to a control signal for moving said carriage along said path; a guy wire extending along said path, said guy wire normally being under a predetermined tension; means mounted on said carriage for sensing the proximity of items to said carriage to alter the tension on said guy wire; and means responsive to said tension on said guy wire for generating said control signal.

Claim 36

The mechanism as defined in claim 31 also including: means responsive to an item resting at a predetermined position on said path for generating an item signal; and said control signal generating means is rendered effective by said first item signal.

Claim 37

The mechanism as defined in claim 32 in which said item signal generating means includes: a pivot plate; means for movably mounting said pivot plate in pivotal and limited translational relationship to said path; means for urging said pivot plate into said path; and means for sensing the position of a portion of said pivot plate to indicate a predetermined pattern of items on said path thereby provides said item signal, said predetermined pattern including an item resting at said predetermined position on said path.

Claim 38

The mechanism as defined in claim 31 in which said means responsive to said tension on said guy wire includes: an actuator member mounted for pivotal motion around a point fixed with respect to said path; means for applying a pivoting force to pivot said actuator member; means for connecting said guy wire to said actuator member to balance said pivoting force; and means responsive to said pivotal position of said actuator member to provide an indication of said tension on said wire.

Claim 39

The mechanism as defined in claim 34 also including: means responsive to an item resting at a predetermined position on said path for generating an item signal; and said control signal generating means is rendered effective by said first item signal.

Claim 40

The mechanism as defined in claim 35 in which said means responsive to said tension on said guy wire includes: an actuator member mounted for pivotal motion around a point fixed with respect to said path; means for applying a pivoting force to pivot said actuator member; means for connecting said guy wire to said actuator member to balance said pivoting force; and means responsive to said pivotal position of said actuator member to provide an indication of said tension on said wire.

Claim 41

In a system for transporting an item: means for defining a path, said path defining means having a surface along said path for supporting said item; said surface defining a supporting region thereabout; a carriage mounted for movement along said path, said movement of said carriage being adjacent to but not intersecting with said region; item engaging means movably mounted on said carriage for simultaneous limited movement (1) into and out of said region and (2) along said path relative to said carriage; means for biasing said item engaging means into said region; means for sensing the proximity of said item as said carriage moves in a first direction on said path to withdraw said item engaging means from said region; and ratchet means responsive to said item engaging means engaging an item for holding said item engaging means in said path, said ratchet means being released by operation of said sensor means.

Claim 42

In a system for transporting an item: means for defining a path, said path defining means having a surface along said path for supporting said item; said surface defining a supporting region thereabout; a carriage mounted for movement along said path, said movement of said carriage being adjacent to but not intersecting with said region; item engaging means movably mounted on said carriage for simultaneous limited movement (1) into and out of said region and (2) along said path relative to said carriage; means for biasing said item engaging means into said region; means for sensing the proximity of said item as said carriage moves in a first direction on said path to withdraw said item engaging means from said region; and ratchet means responsive to said item engaging means engaging an item for holding said item engaging means in said path, said ratchet means being released by operation of said sensor means.

Claim 43

In a system for transporting an item: means for defining a path, said path defining means having a surface along said path for supporting said item; said surface defining a supporting region thereabout; a carriage mounted for movement along said path, said movement of said carriage being adjacent to but not intersecting with said region; item engaging means movably mounted on said carriage for simultaneous limited movement (1) into and out of said region and (2) along said path relative to said carriage; means for biasing said item engaging means into said region; said item is transported from a first station on said path to a second station on said path, and said item engaging means is mounted to move towards said first station relative to said carriage as said item engaging means moves into said region, said system also including: means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage towards said first station and to a second control signal for moving said carriage towards said second station; means responsive to an item resting at said first station for providing a first item signal, and means rendered effective by said first item signal for providing said first and second control signal.

Claim 44

In a system for transporting an item: means for defining a path, said path defining means having a surface along said path for supporting said item; said surface defining a supporting region thereabout; a carriage mounted for movement along said path, said movement of said carriage being adjacent to but not intersecting with said region; item engaging means movably mounted on said carriage for simultaneous limited movement (1) into and out of said region and (2) along said path relative to said carriage; means for biasing said item engaging means into said region; said item is transported from a first station on said path to a second station on said path, and said item engaging means is mounted to move towards said first station relative to said carriage as said item engaging means moves into said region, said system also including: means responsive to a first control signal for moving said carriage towards said first station and to a second control signal for moving said carriage towards said second station; means responsive to an item resting at said first station for providing a first item signal, and means rendered effective by said first item signal for providing said first and second control signal.

Claim 45

In the system as defined in claim 47 in which said item signal providing means includes: a pivot plate; means for movably mounting said pivot plate in pivotal and limited translational relationship to said path; means for urging said pivot plate into said region; and means for sensing the position of a portion of said pivot plate to indicate a predetermined pattern of items on said path thereby providing said item signal.

Claim 46

In the system as defined in claim 39 also including: means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of said item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said first station to provide a first sensing signal; means on said carriage for sensing the proximity of an item when said carriage is moving along said path towards said second station to provide a second sensing signal; and said first and second control signal providing means is responsive to said first and second sensing signal.

Claim 47

In the system as defined in claim 40 in which said second sensing signal withdraws said item engaging means from said region.

Claim 48

In the system as defined in claim 41 also including: a guy wire extending along said path, said guy wire normally being under a predetermined tension; and said first and second sensing signal providing means alters the tension on said guy wire to transmit said first and second sensing signals to said first and second control signal providing means.