A transport apparatus includes a body; a fork having one portion supported by the body and another portion protruded from the body; a lifting unit; a control unit; a primary rotatable member mounted at a front end portion of the fork; an auxiliary rotatable member mounted at a rotatable-member-attaching position of the fork closer to a front end portion or a rear end portion of the fork compared to the primary rotatable member; and a step detection unit, disposed at a detection-unit-attaching position of the fork closer to the front end portion or closer to the rear end portion of the fork compared to the auxiliary rotatable member, and the step detection unit configured to detect a step member of a carriage base. The control unit lowers the fork using the lifting unit in response to a detection of the step member by the step detection unit.

A mobile transport system for transporting objects in a technical system, includes a vehicle frame, a first wheel pair, a second wheel pair, and a third wheel pair, each having two wheels rotatable relative to the vehicle frame, and a swing frame pivotable about a swing axis extending in a transverse direction relative to the vehicle frame. The first wheels of the first wheel pair are attached to the vehicle frame, and the second wheels of the second wheel pair are attached to the swing frame. The third wheels of the third wheel pair are attached to a tilt frame pivotable relative to the swing frame about a tilt axis extending approximately in the longitudinal direction.

A pallet lift includes a base and a deck extending forward of the base. Load wheels support the deck. A platform above the deck is pivotable relative to the base. The platform has an upper support surface for supporting objects thereon. The platform may be pivoted as the pallet lift travels on an inclined surface, such as a truck ramp, in order to keep the platform relatively level relative to gravity to increase stability.

A lift-truck having a height adjustable load engagement means and a lifting/lowering unit and a support wheel and a climbing wheel and comprising a detection sensor arranged to detect a pallet located in front of the load engagement means and in a control unit to control the lifting/lowering unit, in response to a signal indicative of a detected pallet, to move the load engagement means to place the climbing wheel at a first predetermined height over the ground surface and, control the lifting/lowering unit to lower the load engagement means to place the climbing wheel at a second predetermined height over the ground surface when an operational parameter, indicative of movement of the lift-truck, equals a predetermined value.

A cart with lifting assistance is provided. The cart includes a forward frame having a top end and a bottom end. The forward frame makes up a front end of the cart. The cart further includes a rearward frame having a top end and a bottom end. The rearward frame makes up a rear end of the cart. Wheels are secured to the bottom ends of the forward frame and the rearward frame. A handle frame extends from at least one of the top ends of the forward frame and the rearward frame, and disposed towards the rear end around a waist height of a user. A pivoting frame is pivotally connected to the front end of the cart and pivots from the front end to beyond the front end. A latch is secured to the pivoting frame and is operable to releasably connect to a bin or container.

An access device is configured to be switched between a stored state in which an access member is stored in a vehicle body and a deployed state in which the access member is deployed. In the stored state, an exterior cover becomes a portion of the an exterior surface of the vehicle body and the access member is stored inside the vehicle body. In the deployed state, the access member extends from the vehicle body toward the a ground surface and the exterior cover is disposed on the a back side of the access member.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to transporting containers using an autonomous dolly. Some of these embodiments include systems for transporting containers along delivery paths comprising: an autonomous dolly having a microcontroller and a support portion configured to carry a plurality of containers; a mobile device with a microcontroller in communication with the microcontroller of the dolly; and one or more sensors in communication with the mobile device, the one or more sensors and mobile device configured to triangulate the location of the mobile device; wherein the dolly's microcontroller is configured to receive tracking information from the mobile device's microcontroller and to cause the dolly to follow the mobile device along a delivery path defined by movement of the mobile device from a starting point to an ending point.

An apparatus and system for facilitating the controlled ascent and descent of stepped or irregular inclines, such as a set or flight of stairs. In an embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus and system that allows an operator to safely transport a heavy load up or down a flight of stairs. The invention may be utilized with, attached to or incorporated within a transporting carrier, such as a hand truck or hand cart, for transporting heavy cargo up or down stepped or irregular inclines. In an embodiment, the invention allows a wheel to rotate freely in one direction while regulating the rotation of said wheel in the opposite direction such that a braking force in said opposite direction is proportional to the apparent weight and angle of inclination of said carrier. In operation, a gravitationally induced increase in an apparent weight activates the invention's braking system, thereby providing a braking force to the carrier wheel.

An apparatus and system for facilitating the controlled ascent and descent of stepped or irregular inclines, such as a set or flight of stairs. In an embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus and system that allows an operator to safely transport a heavy load up or down a flight of stairs. The invention may be utilized with, attached to or incorporated within a transporting carrier, such as a hand truck or hand cart, for transporting heavy cargo up or down stepped or irregular inclines. In an embodiment, the invention allows a wheel to rotate freely in one direction while regulating the rotation of said wheel in the opposite direction such that a braking force in said opposite direction is proportional to the apparent weight and angle of inclination of said carrier. In operation, a gravitationally induced increase in an apparent weight activates the invention's braking system, thereby providing a braking force to the carrier wheel.

Technologies are shown for self-elevating platform carts that can transport a load from an initial surface to a destination surface that can be at a higher level, lower level or same level across a horizontal distance and/or barrier. One example extends a front height support to contact the destination surface and extends a rear height support control to contact the initial surface. A main lift is retracted and the system moved forward until main wheels on the main lift contact the destination surface. The main lift is extended and the extensible support beams and height supports are retracted. Another example traverses intermediate surfaces using a vertical stabilizer to stabilize the main lift on surfaces at different levels. The main lift can be the only power lift for the cart.