Interlake, Inc.

John J Lord

Philip T Martin

Robert C Burgener

A storage rack entry vehicle for transporting loads in a warehousing system includes infrared radiation source and detector units which determine the relative position of the vehicle and load. The optical axes of the source and detector are parallel and closely-spaced. When infrared radiation from the source is scattered by the load (or a pallet carrying the load), some of the radiation is reflected back to the detector along a path substantially parallel to the optical axes. The maximum range of detection is controlled by adjusting the gain of an amplifier which forms part of the detector.

Load proximity detection techniques

Improved apparatus for communicating information between a movable rack entry vehicle and a reference station by means of optical radiation, such as infrared radiation. A universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter is located on both the vehicle and the reference station so that information originating in parallel form can be communicated in serial form.

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Pontiac, IL, United States of America

John J Lord