Material handling apparatus with vehicle track for reducing vehicle damage
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorsMichael York, Joseph Lakawicz, Stuart Ligo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for delivering items to a plurality of storage locations is provided. The system includes a plurality of storage locations. The storage locations may be positioned to provide an aisle and a plurality of delivery vehicles may be operable within the aisle to deliver items to the storage locations. The system may include a track that the guides the vehicles to the storage locations. A reorientation assembly may be provided for re-orienting the vehicles relative to the track to reduce misalignment between the vehicles and the track.
Claims12
A material handling method for delivering items to a plurality of destinations, comprising the steps of:
- loading an item onto a vehicle;
- driving the vehicle with the item to one of the destinations, comprising the steps of:
- driving a first drive element along a first track having a plurality of first engagement elements;
- and
- driving a second drive element along a second track having a plurality of second engagement elements, wherein the second track is spaced apart from the first track;
- disengaging the first drive element from the first engagement elements while engaging the second engagement element with the second drive elements to allow the first drive elements to slide along the first track;
- and
- engaging the first drive element with the first engagement elements to drive the vehicle along the first track after the step of disengaging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.