US 4,492,504 AGranted

Materials handling system

AssigneeBell & Howell Company

InventorThomas E. Hainsworth

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Abstract

An unmanned guided vehicle (10) is propelled along a path (P) by a traction mechanism. Movement of the vehicle (10) on the path is controlled by a first control. The vehicle (10) includes storage (40) for storing at least one container (30) and transfer mechanism (44) mounted for vertical movement on the vehicle (10) for moving the at least one container (30) between at least one stationary location and the storage (40). The vehicle (10) also includes second control (16) which selectively controls the transfer of the at least one container (30) between the at least one stationary location and the storage (40). The vehicle (10) is moved to the stationary location whereupon the container (30) is moved from the storage (40) to the transfer mechanism (44) and then to the stationary location or vice versa. The invention also encompasses a materials handling system including a self-propelled, automatically controlled vehicle (10) which follows a path (P) so as to transport a plurality of containers (30) between the three spaced areas in a building. The vehicle (10) includes mechanism for automatically and selectively unloading from the vehicle any one of a plurality of containers at any one of the three spaced areas.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An unmanned guided vehicle system comprising:

a frame including a pair of upstanding frame members at one end of said vehicle;
traction means for propelling said vehicle along a selected path which includes at least one stationary location;
guide means for guiding movement of said vehicle along said selected path;
first control means for controlling the movement of said vehicle along said selected path;
storage means on said vehicle and extending to said upright frame members for storing at least one container on said vehicle;
transfer means mounted to said frame members for vertical movement along the outward side of said frame members for moving said at least one container from said at least one stationary location vertically along said outward side of and between said frame members to said storage means on said vehicle;
and
second control means coupled to said transfer means for selectively controlling the transfer of said at least one container between said at least one stationary location and said storage means;
wherein said vehicle is propelled along said path to said at least one stationary location whereupon said at least one container is moved from said storage means to said transfer means and then along the outward side of said frame members to said at least one stationary location or said container is moved from said stationary location by said transfer means and is then moved through said frame members to said storage means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.