Electrical power supply arrangement for a guided stock selector truck

Claim 2

In a stock selector truck adapted for use in retrieving temperature sensitive materials from a cold storage area comprising, in combination, a vertically movable operator platform, load carrying means movable conjointly with said platform, lift means for enabling vertical movement of both said load carrying means and said platform, a work area on said platform having a first wall, an insulated storage cart removably carried by said load carrying means and defining a portion of a second wall for said work area, said storage cart having an opening which is accessible to an operator of said selector truck from said work area, thereby permitting the operator to conveniently store the selected temperature sensitive material in said cart as said selector truck moves adjacent storage racks which store said material, heating means located within said workIng area, and an electrical contactor means on said selector truck for automatically engaging an electrical power source which extends along the path of travel for said selector truck to energize said heating means.

Claim 3

A selector truck as defined in claim 1, wherein said heating means includes at least one infra red heating lamp located adjacent a top portion of said work area for supplying heat thereto.

Claim 4

A stock selector truck as defined in claim 1 wherein said heating means includes at least one foot warmer mounted on and supported by said operator platform.

Claim 5

A selector truck as defined in claim 1 wherein said heating means further includes at least one heating element supported and located within said work area.

Claim 6

A selector truck as defined in claim 1 which further includes an overhead wall for said work area and a transparent panel interposed between an upper surface of said storage cart and said overhead wall defining a further portion of said second wall.

Claim 7

In a guidance system for a stock selector truck including guide means for automatically determining the route of travel for said stock selector truck relative to a storage rack, said guide means including a guide rail disposed generally parallel to a floor surface, and guide rail engaging means provided on said truck for engagement with said guide rail to guide said truck along the route predetermined by said guide rail, and electrical power distribution means including bus bar means secured to said guide rail and insulated therefrom, said bus bar means being connected to a source of electrical power and extending coextensively along said route with said guide rail, and electrical contactor means mounted on said guide rail engaging means for said truck, and having electrical contact means insulated from said guide rail engaging means and contacting said bus bar means, and electrical power utilization means carried by said truck, said power utilization means being connected to said contact means whereby electrical power is transferred to said power utilization means from said power source as said truck moves along the path determined by said guide rail.

Claim 8

In a guidance system for a stock selector truck including guide means for automatically determining the route of travel for said stock selector truck relative to a storage rack, said guide means including a guide rail disposed generally parallel to a floor surface, and guide rail engaging means provided on said truck for engagement with said guide rail to guide said truck along the route predetermined by said guide rail, and electrical power distribution means including bus bar means secured to said guide rail and insulated therefrom, said bus bar means being connected to a source of electrical power and extending coextensively along said route with said guide rail, and electrical contactor means mounted on said guide rail engaging means for said truck, and having electrical contact means insulated from said guide rail engaging means and contacting said bus bar means, and electrical power utilization means carried by said truck, said power utilization means being connected to said contact means whereby electrical power is transferred to said power utilization means from said power source as said truck moves along the path determined by said guide rail.

Claim 9

In a guidance system which includes, in combination, guide means for automatically determining the route of travel for a stock selector truck used in conjunction with a storage rack including a guide rail disposed generally parallel to a floor surface, said guide rail having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion which depends downwardly from said horizontal portion, and guide rail engaging means provided on said truck for engagement with said guide rail to guide said truck along the route predetermined by said guide rail, electrical power means mounted beneath said horizontal portion of said guide rail connected to a source of electrical power and extending along said route with said guide rail, said electrical power means being protected from contact with said truck by said vertical portion of said guide rail, electrical power utilization means carried by said truck, and electrical contactor means on said truck for automatically contacting said electrical power means thereby transferring electrical power to said power utilization means as said truck moves along the path determined by said guide rail.

Claim 10

In a guidance system which includes, in combination, guide means for automatically determining the route of travel for a stock selector truck used in conjunction with a storage rack including a guide rail disposed generally parallel to a floor surface, said guide rail having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion which depends downwardly from said horizontal portion, and guide rail engaging means provided on said truck for engagement with said guide rail to guide said truck along the route predetermined by said guide rail, electrical power means mounted beneath said horizontal portion of said guide rail connected to a source of electrical power and extending along said route with said guide rail, said electrical power means being protected from contact with said truck by said vertical portion of said guide rail, electrical power utilization means carried by said truck, and electrical contactor means on said truck for automatically contacting said electrical power means thereby transferring electrical power to said power utilization means as said truck moves along the path determined by said guide rail.

Claim 11

A guidance system as defined in claim 7 in which said electrical contactor means includes contact means for engaging said electrical power means whenever said truck is moved into a position for guidance by said guide rail, means for pivotally supporting said contact means, and bias means for providing a biasing force which urges said contact means into engagement with said electrical power means.

Claim 12

A guidance system as defined in claim 8 wherein said guide rail engaging means includes a plurality of pairs of guide rollers, the rollers of each of said pair of rollers being spaced apart in rolling engagement with opposite sides of said vertical portion of said guide rail whenever said truck is moved into position for guidaNce by said guide rail.

Claim 13

A guidance system as defined in claim 8 wherein said electrical power means includes a pair of generally longitudinally extending bus bars which carry electrical power, each of said bus bars have a longitudinally extending depressed contact channel for guiding said contact means in a manner which minimizes lateral movement thereof and which defines a generally flat channel surface for engagement with said contact means.

Claim 14

A guidance arrangement as defined in claim 8 which further includes a guide wheel supported adjacent said bias means for preventing damage to said contact means from said vertical portion of said guide rail.

Claim 15

A guidance system as defined in claim 8 wherein said electrical contactor means further includes support means which project laterally outwardly from said truck, said support means including at least one upwardly directed protection wall secured at an end thereof for protecting said contact means from contact with other objects whenever said truck is moving along said guide rail.

Claim 16

A guidance system as defined in claim 8 which further includes direction means connected to said guide rail adjacent one end of said electrical power means for directing said contact means toward and into engagement with said electrical power means whenever said guide engaging means on said truck is moved into engagement with said vertical portion of said guide rail.

Claim 17

A guidance system as defined in claim 13 wherein said electical power means includes at least one channel surface and said direction means includes at least one inverted inclined channel member aligned with said channel surface of said electrical power means, said channel member having guide walls which convergingly taper toward said channel surface for leading-in said contact means toward and into engagement with said contact channel.

Claim 18

A guidance system as defined in claim 8 wherein said truck includes a base leg and said electrical contactor means includes support means laterally projecting from said base leg for supporting said contact means, said guide engaging means including a plurality of rollers longitudinally aligned in pairs, the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to accommodate said vertical portion of said guide rail thereby enabling said truck to be guided along a predetermined course defined by said guide rail, said contact means being arranged intermediate longitudinally aligned ones of said pairs of rollers to protect against inadvertent contact with the vertical portions of said guide rail.

Claim 19

A guidance system as defined in claim 15 wherein said support means includes a pair of vertically extending protection walls both of which straddle said contact means, and a protection guide wheel mounted for rotation on said support means and located adjacent one end of said contact means for protecting said contact means from contact with said vertical portion.

Claim 20

A guidance system as defined in claim 15 wherein said guide engaging means further includes a pair of guide bars which extend longitudinally along a portion of the distance between said longitudinally aligned and spaced pairs of rollers, and a pair of lead-in members are supported by said support means adjacent one of said pairs of rollers remote from said contact means.

Claim 21

A guidance system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said stock selector truck is adapted for use in retrieving temperature sensitive materials from a cold storage area and wherein said power utilization means includes at least one heating means located within a working area of said selector truck.

Claim 22

A guidance system as defined in claim 7 wherein said truck includes a vertically movable operator platform, load carrying means movable conjointly with said platform, lift means for enabling vertical movement of both said load carrying means and said platform, a work area on said platform having at least a first wall, and an insulated sTorage cart removably carried by said load carrying means to define a portion of a second wall and having an opening which is accessible to the operator from said work area, thereby permitting the operator to conveniently store temperature sensitive materials selected from the racks in said insulated cart as said truck moves adjacent the storage racks.

Claim 23

In a stock selector truck adapted for use in retrieving temperature sensitive materials stored on storage racks within a freezer area the combination comprising a vertically movable operator platform, load carrying means movable conjointly with said platform, lift means for enabling vertical movement of both said load carrying means and said platform, a selectively heated and wind resistant work enclosure supported on said operator platform, an insulated storage cart having an opening facing said work enclosure for permitting an operator of said selector truck to conveniently store selected temperature sensitive materials in said storage cart, said work enclosure including a frame, a first panel connected to said frame defining a top enclosure wall for said work enclosure, a second panel connected to said frame and interposed between said first panel and an upper surface of said storage cart for defining a portion of a rearward enclosure wall for said work enclosure, and a third panel having a transparent portion connected to said frame defining a forward enclosure wall for said work enclosure, electrical radiant infrared heating means located within said work enclosure, and electrical contactor means carried by said truck for engaging an electrical power distribution source which extends along the route of travel of said truck to energize said heating means.

Claim 24

In a stock selector truck adapted for use in retrieving temperature sensitive materials stored on storage racks within a freezer area the combination comprising a vertically movable operator platform, load carrying means movable conjointly with said platform, lift means for enabling vertical movement of both said load carrying means and said platform, a selectively heated and wind resistant work enclosure supported on said operator platform, an insulated storage cart having an opening facing said work enclosure for permitting an operator of said selector truck to conveniently store selected temperature sensitive materials in said storage cart, said work enclosure including a frame, a first panel connected to said frame defining a top enclosure wall for said work enclosure, a second panel connected to said frame and interposed between said first panel and an upper surface of said storage cart for defining a portion of a rearward enclosure wall for said work enclosure, and a third panel having a transparent portion connected to said frame defining a forward enclosure wall for said work enclosure, electrical radiant infrared heating means located within said work enclosure, and electrical contactor means carried by said truck for engaging an electrical power distribution source which extends along the route of travel of said truck to energize said heating means.

Claim 25

In a stock selector truck for movement along a guide rail assembled to define a path which extends along storage racks which store frozen foods at different levels, guide rail engaging means on said selector truck for engaging said guide rail to enable said truck to follow a predetermined route determined by said guide rail, an electrical power means extending coextensively with said guide rail, and electrical contactor means mounted on said guide rail engaging means for said truck for engaging said electrical power means, and heating means carried by said truck, said heating means being connected to said contactor means whereby electrical power is transferred to said heating means as said selector truck moves along said guide rail.

Claim 26

In a stock selector truck for movement along a guide rail assembled to define a path which extends along storage racks which store frozen foods at different levels, guide rail engaging means on said selector truck for engaging said guide rail to enable said truck to follow a predetermined route determined by said guide rail, an electrical power means extending coextensively with said guide rail, and electrical contactor means mounted on said guide rail engaging means for said truck for engaging said electrical power means, and heating means carried by said truck, said heating means being connected to said contactor means whereby electrical power is transferred to said heating means as said selector truck moves along said guide rail.