Jervis B. Webb Company

Daniel T Emond

Wataru Kiyokawa

Gerald Edward Chilson

David Lawrence Schendel

A material handling device includes an automated guided vehicle configured for use with a carrier. Both the vehicle and the carrier include a bumper having a reflective target mounted thereon. The automated guided vehicle includes a sensor having a light source and a scanner for receiving a reflection from the light source. The light source directs a first light beam at the vehicle reflective target and a second light beam at the carrier reflective target. When the vehicle bumper is moved toward the sensor, the vehicle reflective target moves into a reflective position and when the carrier bumper is moved toward the sensor, the carrier reflective target moves into a reflective position. The movement of the either bumper into the reflective position generates a signal from the sensor to a controller to control the movement of the automated guided vehicle in response to movement of either bumper.

Load handling bumper for material handling device

An overload protection system and method of protecting a drive unit includes a torque arm assembly mounted to a fixture and a gear reducer. The reducer includes a bracket mounted to an axle of the reducer which is positioned adjacent to a measuring device. The torque arm assembly includes a switch mounted to sense a location of the reducer bracket relative to the switch thereby causing a condition of the drive unit to be adjusted. In the preferred embodiment, the switch is a proximity switch positioned adjacent to the bracket of the reducer after a desired preset torque of the torque arm is obtained through the use of a simple fastener and spring arranged in a housing.

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Daniel T Emond