Pallet transferring arrangement and method

A method of transferring a pallet between a pallet transfer deck of an automatic guided vehicle and a pallet transfer station, including the steps of:

• positioning a plurality of transfer socket members connected to one of the pallet transfer deck and station substantially in axial alignment with a plurality of transfer cone members connected to the other of the pallet transfer deck and station;
• elevationally moving the pallet transfer deck from a second elevational position toward a first elevational position to disengage a plurality of deck positioning socket members connected to one of the pallet transfer deck and automatic guided vehicle from mating engagement with a plurality of deck positioning cone members connected to the other of the pallet transfer deck and automatic guided vehicle and releasing the pallet transfer deck for movement and to engage the transfer socket members with the transfer cone members while engaging a ground engaging foot with an underlying surface to support the pallet transfer deck on the transfer cone members and the underlying surface;
• and
• moving the pallet onto the pallet transfer station.

A material handling vehicle having a frame, first and second apart sides, and a load carrying member movable relative to the vehicle frame between first and second elevationally spaced apart positions, comprising:

• a ground engaging foot connected to the load carrying member;
• means for moving the load carrying member and said ground engaging foot between respective first and second elevationally spaced apart positions;
• a pallet transfer deck;
• a first carrier having a deck positioning socket member receiving bore and being connected to one of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck;
• means for movably supporting the pallet transfer deck on the load carrying member;
• a deck positioning cone member connected to the other of the vehicle frame and pallet transfer deck;
• and
• a deck positioning socket member having a conically shaped bore and being disposed in the deck positioning socket member receiving bore of the first carrier;
• means for maintaining said deck positioning socket member said deck positioning socket member receiving bore, said deck positioning cone member being matingly restrainingly engaged with the deck positioning socket member at one of the first and second positions of the load carrying member and spaced from mating restraining engagement with the deck positioning socket member at the other of the first and second positions of the load carrying member.