# US 11,440,782 B2 · Systems and methods for a mobile carousel with power and communications contacts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,782 B2 - Document ID: US11440782B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/083,005 - Filed: 2020-10-28 - Published: 2021-04-29 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-29 - Assignees: The Raymond Corporation - Applicants: The Raymond Corporation - Inventors: Fernando D. Goncalves; John Bryant Kirk; Keith F. Dolezel; Joseph A. Weiss; Abdulhameed Al-Shaebi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440782B2 ## CPC - B66F 9/24: Electrical devices or systems - B07C 3/08: using arrangements of conveyors {(transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G)} - B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors} - B60L 50/50: using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells - B62B 3/005: {Details of storage means, e.g. drawers, bins or racks} - B62B 3/008: {having more than two axes} - B65G 1/10: with relatively movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles {(cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down A47B51/00; cabinet system, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets A47B53/02)} - B65G 1/127: the circuit being confined in a vertical plane - B65G 1/133: the circuit being confined in a horizontal plane - B65G 1/1375: {the orders being assembled on a commissioning stacker-crane or truck} - B66F 9/07504: {Accessories, e.g. for towing, charging, locking} - B66F 9/18: Load gripping or retaining means - B66F 9/183: {Coplanar side clamps} - B66F 9/205: {Arrangements for transmitting pneumatic, hydraulic or electric power to movable parts or devices (for cranes B66C13/12)} - B60L 2200/42: Fork lift trucks - B60L 2250/10: by alarm - B62B 2203/28: Guiding the forks into the pallets - Y02P 90/60: Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a material sorting system adapted to engage a material handling vehicle. The material sorting system can include a base including fork pockets adapted to receive a pair of forks from the material handling vehicle and a carousel assembly coupled to the base. The carousel assembly can include a plurality of storage units, and an actuation mechanism configured to move the plurality of storage units relative to the base. The base can also include at least one electrical contact within the base and in electrical communication with the carousel assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A material sorting system adapted to engage a material handling vehicle, the material sorting system comprising: a base including fork pockets adapted to receive a pair of forks from the material handling vehicle; a carousel assembly coupled to the base, the carousel assembly including: a plurality of storage units; and an actuation mechanism configured to move the plurality of storage units relative to the base; and at least one electrical contact within the base and in electrical communication with the carousel assembly, the at least one electrical contact being adapted to engage with a corresponding electrical contact on a clamp assembly of the material handling vehicle to transfer power or a communication signal between the material handling vehicle and the carousel assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The material sorting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical contact protrudes from a surface of the base into a cavity formed by the fork pockets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The material sorting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical contact is spring-loaded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The material sorting system of claim 1, wherein the carousel assembly further comprises: a set of stalks extending from the base, and a movable track on each stalk along which the plurality of storage units are coupled. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The material sorting system of claim 4, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the plurality of storage units between stop locations along the movable track. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The material sorting system of claim 5, wherein the set of stalks include indicator lights adjacent to the stop locations for the plurality of storage units and configured to indicate a placement position for picked goods. ### Claim 7 A material sorting system, comprising: a base including: a pair of fork pockets adapted to receive a pair of forks from a material handling vehicle; a top wall; a bottom wall spaced apart from the top wall; and a center wall arranged between the top wall and the bottom wall and dividing the pair of fork pockets; a carousel assembly coupled to the base and including a plurality of storage units; and at least one electrical contact within the base and in electrical communication with the carousel assembly, the at least one electrical contact being adapted to transfer power or a communication signal between the material handling vehicle and the carousel assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The material sorting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one electrical contact is spring-loaded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The material sorting system of claim 7, wherein the at least one electrical contact protrudes into a cavity formed by the pair of fork pockets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The material sorting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one electrical contact protrudes from the bottom wall or the top wall of the base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The material sorting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one electrical contact protrudes from the center wall of the base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The material sorting system of claim 7, wherein the electrical contact is a first power contact extending from the top wall of the base towards the bottom wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The material sorting system of claim 12, wherein the base further includes a second power contact extending from the bottom wall and opposite the first power contact. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The material sorting system of claim 13, wherein the base further includes: a first signal contact extending from the top wall of the base towards the bottom wall; and a second signal contact extending from the bottom wall and opposite the first signal contact. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The material sorting system of claim 14, wherein the first power contact and the first signal contact are arranged within one fork pocket of the pair of fork pockets; and wherein the second power contact and the second signal contact are arranged within the other fork pocket of the pair of fork pockets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The material sorting system of claim 7, wherein the carousel assembly further includes an actuation mechanism configured to move the plurality of storage units relative to the base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The material sorting system of claim 16, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the plurality of storage units in an upward and downward direction relative to the base. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The material sorting system of claim 16, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to rotate the plurality of storage units relative to the base. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The material sorting system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of storage units includes a plurality of powered rollers along a base of each of the plurality of storage units. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The material sorting system of claim 19, wherein the carousel assembly includes a conveyor actuation mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of powered rollers to load or unload items onto a storage unit among the plurality of storage units. ### Claim 21 A material sorting system, comprising: a carousel assembly including: a plurality of storage units; and an actuation mechanism configured to move the plurality of storage units relative to a base; and an electrical contact in electrical communication with the actuation mechanism, the electrical contact being adapted to engage with a corresponding electrical contact on a material handling vehicle to transfer power or a communication signal between the material handling vehicle and the carousel assembly; wherein the base defines a first fork pocket and a second fork pocket adapted to receive a pair of forks from the material handling vehicle; and wherein the electrical contact is arranged within at least one of the first and second fork pockets. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The material sorting system of claim 21, further comprising a drive system coupled to the base. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The material sorting system of claim 21, wherein the carousel assembly further comprises: a set of stalks extending from the base; and a movable track on each stalk along which the plurality of storage units are coupled, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to move the plurality of storage units between stop locations along the movable track. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The material sorting system of claim 23, wherein the set of stalks include indicator lights adjacent to the stop locations for the plurality of storage units and configured to indicate a placement position for picked goods.