Patent US5380139A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5380139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load handling method and system
Assignee: Kone Corp
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Filing: 1992-07-10
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Granted: 1995-01-10
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Expires: 2012-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A method of and system for handing variable sized loads by transferring the loads between a storage base and a transport base by engaging a portion of at least one engagement member, e.g. a suction cup, with an engagement surface on a side or end of a load, and displacing the engagement member to thereby pull a load onto the transport base for transport by the transport base or to push a load from the transport base onto the storage base. The engagement surface has a size at least equal to that of the portion of the engagement member. The system includes a system for determining load position and size.
Inventors
- 👤 Jukka Pohjonen
- 👤 Pekka Heikkila
- 👤 Jouko Tolonen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/0407; B65G1/0435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for handling a plurality of loads in a warehouse shelving arrangement having a plurality of shelves for storing respective loads, said system comprising: (a) a travelling base laterally displaceable with respect to said shelving arrangement; (b) elevating means disposed on said travelling base; (c) a transport base operably mounted on said elevating means, said transport base being laterally and vertically displaceable by means of said travelling base and said elevating means, respectively, between operative positions opposite respective storage shelves, said transport base including: (c1) a conveyor drivably mounted on said transport base for movably supporting a load; (c2) an engagement unit operatively disposed above said conveyor for movably engaging the load; (c3) an engagement member movably mounted on said engagement unit for linear movement in a direction toward and away from the storage shelf; (c4) at least one engagement means disposed on said engagement member, said engagement means being operatively engageable with a surface of the load for moving the load between said transport base and a respective shelf; and (c5) position detecting means disposed on said transport base for detecting a position of the load on said conveyor with respect to said transport base, said engagement unit and said storage shelf, said position detecting means being vertically displaceable with respect to said conveyor means for detecting a height of the load on said conveyor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
227 words
A system for handling a plurality of loads in a warehouse shelving arrangement having a plurality of shelves for storing respective loads, said system comprising: (a) a travelling base laterally displaceable with respect to said shelving arrangement; (b) elevating means disposed on said travelling base; (c) a transport base operably mounted on said elevating means, said transport base being laterally and vertically displaceable by means of said travelling base and said elevating means, respectively, between operative positions opposite respective storage shelves, said transport base including: (c1) a conveyor drivably mounted on said transport base for movably supporting a load; (c2) an engagement unit operatively disposed above said conveyor for movably engaging the load; (c3) an engagement member movably mounted on said engagement unit for linear movement in a direction toward and away from the storage shelf; (c4) at least one engagement means disposed on said engagement member, said engagement means being operatively engageable with a surface of the load for moving the load between said transport base and a respective shelf; and (c5) position detecting means disposed on said transport base for detecting a position of the load on said conveyor with respect to said transport base, said engagement unit and said storage shelf, said position detecting means being vertically displaceable with respect to said conveyor means for detecting a height of the load on said conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said position detecting means comprises an optical detection system selected from a group consisting of beam-make systems, beam-break systems and combinations thereof and frequency filtering.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said travelling base and said transport base further comprise respective location detecting means for detecting a relative horizontal and vertical position of said travelling base and said transport base respectively with respect to said warehouse shelving arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said location detecting means comprises: a gear rack for engaging a gear; a pulse sensing system comprising a gear for engaging said gear rack and at least one sensor operatively interacting with said gear to detect rotation of said gear; wherein said at least one sensor is selected from a group consisting of mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and optical sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said engagement unit includes slide rail means comprising at least two slide rails in a spaced apart parallel relationship, said slide rail means movably supporting said engagement member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one engagement means comprises suction cups engageable with said engagement surface of a load by means of a vacuum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one engagement means comprises magnetic means engageable with said engagement surface by means of magnetic attraction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said transport base is positioned higher than said storage shelf for movement of the load from said transport base onto said storage shelf so that respective top surfaces of said conveyor and storage shelf are not substantially aligned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said conveyor and said engagement unit are adapted to operate predeterminately synchronously, alternately, and intermittently during normal loading and unloading procedures and capable of operating predeterminately asynchronously, alternately, and intermittently during aberrant loading and unloading procedures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shelves have different respective heights for accommodating loads having respective different heights.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-09 | 1998-07-11 | 1999-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-09 | 2002-07-11 | 2003-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-09 | 2006-07-11 | 2007-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |