Method and apparatus for transferring loads

Claim 2

Apparatus for transferring a load between selected stations comprising: transfer car means operable for selective shifting along a first predetermined path interposed between first and second stations; orienting means positioned adjacent and fixed relative to said first predetermined path operable for selective rotation through a predetermined angular displacement, said orienting means including turntable means and power-driven means coupled thereto, said power-driven means being operable for angularly displacing said turntable means about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, said turntable means also including track means selectively alignable with said first predetermined path upon suitable positioning of said turntable means for receiving said transfer car means thereon; and load carrier means operable for picking up and depositing a load, said load carrier means being mounted on and powered from said transfer car means and operable for reciprocative shifting thereon from a pre-spot position to load receiving and depositing positions, said load carrier means also being shiftable to positions remote from said transfer car means for selective positioning along a second predetermined path.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said predetermined path extends outwardly from at least one side of said turntable means so that when said track means are aligned with said first predetermined path, said transfer car means may be shifted for arrival onto said orienting means or shifted for departure therefrom.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transfer car means includes guide means for receiving said load carrier means, said guide means being alignable, upon shifting of said transfer car means with corresponding, alignable guide means in a selected station for enabling said load carrier means to be selectively shifted away from said transfer car means and subsequently returned thereto.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said turntable means includes auxiliary track means, positioned at an angle relative to said first track means, for receiving said load carrier means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said turntable means includes a circular upper section rotatably mounted above a stationary lower section, wheel means being interposed between said upper and lower sections for facilitating relative rotatable movement therebetween, said track means being mounted on said upper section.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said power driven means includes power transmission means coupled thereto and coaxially aligned with said axis of rotation, said power transmission means being coupled to fluid actuated means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid actuated means includes a pair of extendible-retractable means mounted on opposite sides of said power transmission means and coupled thereto operable for extension and retraction in opposition to one another for imparting rotation in a like sense to said transmission means and said upper section.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said power transmission means includes wheel means coupled by means of a flexible drive to said extendible-retractable means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said load carrier means is a forklift vehicle operable for raising and lowering a load by means of a mast assembly.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said forklift vehicle includes stabilizing members extending forwardly from said mast assembly.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said stabilizing members are mounted on said guide means by means of tandem wheel pairs.

Claim 13

Apparatus for transferring selected loads between selected stations comprising: transfer car means operable for selective shifting along a first predetermined path interposed between stations; load carrier means including a forklift vehicle having a mast assembly, said load carrier means being mounted on and powered from said transfer car means and operable for reciprocative shifting relative to said transfer car means and from a pre-spot position to load receiving and depositing positions; and a pair of spaced-apart turntable means having power-driven means coupled thereto positioned adjacent and fixed relative to said first predetermined path, each turntable means being operable for selective rotation through a predetermined angular displacement about a substantially vertical axis of rotation and each including a pair of laterally opposed track means selectively alignable with said first predetermined path upon suitable positioning of said turntable means, said transfer car means being operable for transfer from one of said turntable means to the other along said first predetermined path, said load carrier means also being shiftable to positions remote from said transfer car means for selective positioning along a second predetermined path.

Claim 14

Apparatus for transferring selected loads between selected stations comprising: transfer car means operable for selective shifting along a first predetermined path interposed between stations; load carrier means including a forklift vehicle having a mast assembly, said load carrier means being mounted on and powered from said transfer car means and operable for reciprocative shifting relative to said transfer car means and from a pre-spot position to load receiving and depositing positions; and a pair of spaced-apart turntable means having power-driven means coupled thereto positioned adjacent and fixed relative to said first predetermined path, each turntable means being operable for selective rotation through a predetermined angular displacement about a substantially vertical axis of rotation and each including a pair of laterally opposed track means selectively alignable with said first predetermined path upon suitable positioning of said turntable means, said transfer car means being operable for transfer from one of said turntable means to the other along said first predetermined path, said load carrier means also being shiftable to positions remote from said transfer car means for selective positioning along a second predetermined path.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said transfer car means includes guide means for receiving said load carrier means, said guide means being alignable upon shifting of said transfer car means with corresponding alignable guide means in a selected station for enabling said load carrier means to be selectively shifted away from said transfer car means and subsequently returned thereto.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said turntable means includes auxiliary track means positioned at an angle relative to said first track means for receiving said load carrier means.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said turntable means includes a circular upper section rotatably mounted above a stationary lower section, wheel means being interposed between said upper and lower sections for facilitating relative rotatable movement therebetween, said track means being mounted on said upper section.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said power-driven means includes power transmission means coupled thereto and coaxially aligned with said axis of rotation, said power transmission means being coupled to fluid actuated means.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said fluid actuated means includes a pair of extendible-retractable means mounted on opposite sides of said transmission means and coupled thereto and operable for extension and retraction in opposition to one another for imparting rotation in a like sense to said power transmission means and said upper section.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said power transmission means includes wheel means coupled by means of a flexible drive to said extendible-retractable means.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said forklift vehicle includes stabilizing members extending forwardly from said mast assembly.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said stabilizing members are mounted on said guide means by means of tandem wheel pairs.