The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 01, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 24, 1990
Andrew P Blau, Richmond Heights, OH (US);
Paul D Grohsmeyer, Dunlap, IL (US);
Joseph J Harding, Mentor, OH (US);
Darren L Krahn, Mentor, OH (US);
Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Mentor, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus controllably moves the forks of a material handling vehicle in traverse directions relative to a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes fork position sensors which detect the transverse location of each fork. A controller receives signals from the position sensors and moves the forks to locations a preselected or calculated distance apart. Forktip sensors detect the opening in a load during movement of the forks. The controller receives signals from the forktip sensors and positions the forks such that they are disposable within the load opening. The apparatus is especially suitable for use on an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV).