The invention disclosed herein is a forklift adapter comprising multiple metal bars which create a payload carriage and two insertion points for traditional forklift forks. The adapter is capable of transporting payloads over obstacles and of precisely positioning the payload at the specified drop location. The adapter redirects the forklift insertion point such that the insertion point is perpendicular to the adapter bottom supports thereby transferring the support load of the forks from the bottom of the payload to the top of the payload. The adapter allows a forklift to position a payload over railings and reverse away from the payload.

The invention disclosed herein is a forklift adapter comprising multiple metal bars which create a payload carriage and two insertion points for traditional forklift forks. The adapter is capable of transporting payloads over obstacles and of precisely positioning the payload at the specified drop location. The adapter redirects the forklift insertion point such that the insertion point is perpendicular to the adapter bottom supports thereby transferring the support load of the forks from the bottom of the payload to the top of the payload. The adapter allows a forklift to position a payload over railings and reverse away from the payload.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid for storage of storage containers and a delivery system for transport of said storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system. The access point is adapted for handling of items held in the storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator. The delivery system includes a delivery rail system including at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells, the access point, and a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the storage containers. The delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system. The delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and/or from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells. The remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return the storage container to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid. The access point is provided in a container accessing station, said station being arranged for separating the robotic or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle. The container accessing station comprises a cabinet comprising walls and a top cover supported thereon, wherein the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point is reachable through an opening in the top cover.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage grid for storage of storage containers and a delivery system for transport of said storage containers between a delivery port of the storage grid and an access point of the delivery system. The access point is adapted for handling of items held in the storage containers by a robotic operator or human operator. The delivery system includes a delivery rail system including at least a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a first direction (X), and at least a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane (P1) and extending in a second direction (Y) which is orthogonal to the first direction (X), the first and second sets of rails together defining a delivery grid of delivery grid cells, the access point, and a remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising a motorized vehicle body and a container carrier provided above the motorized vehicle body for carrying a storage container of the storage containers. The delivery vehicle is moveable on the delivery grid of the delivery rail system. The delivery grid provides one or more delivery grid cells for the remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point as well as a plurality of delivery grid cells adjacent the one or more delivery grid cells of the access point, such that there is more than one path to and/or from the access point for the remotely operated delivery vehicle via the plurality of delivery grid cells. The remotely operated delivery vehicle is arranged to transport the storage container from the delivery port of the storage grid across the delivery grid to the access point and return the storage container to the delivery port for storage within the storage grid. The access point is provided in a container accessing station, said station being arranged for separating the robotic or human operator from the delivery rail system and the remotely operated delivery vehicle. The container accessing station comprises a cabinet comprising walls and a top cover supported thereon, wherein the items held in the storage container carried by a remotely operated delivery vehicle at the access point is reachable through an opening in the top cover.

The invention provides a safety system for use with a refuse collection vehicle having a refuse storage body and a front cabin, the system operating to detect the presence of an object or person in the vicinity of the vehicle and communicate with a lifting operation system. The vehicle has a lifting mechanism for engagement with a refuse bin, the lifting operation system operable to move the lifting mechanism between a lowered position at which the bin is on the ground in front of the vehicle and a raised position for discharge of the bin contents into the interior of the refuse storage body. The safety system including one or more sensors able to monitor an area in the vicinity of the vehicle where the lifting mechanism lifts and lowers bins and a controller operative to receive input data from said at least two sensors and process said data to determine the presence of an object or person, the controller operative to control functioning of the lifting operation system in accordance with the determination by the controller. The invention further provides a vehicle incorporating such a safety system, such as a front loading refuse collection vehicle.

The present invention teaches an apparatus and method used in connection with a forklift truck for quickly and easily nesting and un-nesting bulk seed boxes. A box inverter apparatus includes first and second rotary clamp pads, each clamp pad having a box engaging surface and an opposing rear surface. The first and second rotary clamp pads are positioned such that the box engaging surfaces thereof face one another in a spaced apart relationship. First and second spindle and bearing assemblies are associated with and extend radially outwardly from the opposing rear surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pads, respectively. Each of the spindle and bearing assemblies has a first end attached to the rear surface of the rotary clamp pad and a second end attached to a frame such that each spindle and bearing assembly permits rotation of the rotary clamp pad relative to the frame. Means for adjusting the distance between the spaced apart facing box engaging surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pad assemblies are provided. Positioning means for determining and selecting an optimal positioning of the pair of bulk seed boxes in between the opposing box engaging surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pads are provided. Means for actuating the adjusting means to affect engagement of the box engaging surfaces with opposing sides of one of the pair of bulk seed boxes are also provided.

The present invention teaches an apparatus and method used in connection with a forklift truck for quickly and easily nesting and un-nesting bulk seed boxes. A box inverter apparatus includes first and second rotary clamp pads, each clamp pad having a box engaging surface and an opposing rear surface. The first and second rotary clamp pads are positioned such that the box engaging surfaces thereof face one another in a spaced apart relationship. First and second spindle and bearing assemblies are associated with and extend radially outwardly from the opposing rear surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pads, respectively. Each of the spindle and bearing assemblies has a first end attached to the rear surface of the rotary clamp pad and a second end attached to a frame such that each spindle and bearing assembly permits rotation of the rotary clamp pad relative to the frame. Means for adjusting the distance between the spaced apart facing box engaging surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pad assemblies are provided. Positioning means for determining and selecting an optimal positioning of the pair of bulk seed boxes in between the opposing box engaging surfaces of the first and second rotary clamp pads are provided. Means for actuating the adjusting means to affect engagement of the box engaging surfaces with opposing sides of one of the pair of bulk seed boxes are also provided.

A system for storing and transporting storage containers includes an automated storage and retrieval grid including vertical members defining multiple storage columns for storing storage containers on top of each other in vertical stacks. The vertical members are interconnected at their upper ends by a container handling vehicle rail system arranged to guide at least one container handling vehicle being configured to raise storage containers from, and lower storage containers into, the storage columns, and to transport the storage containers above the storage columns. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the first horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the first horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. A transfer column is adapted for transport of a storage container between the container handling vehicle and a delivery space is situated at a lower end of the transfer column. A delivery system includes a first delivery rail system having at least one set of parallel rails arranged in a second horizontal plane guiding at least one delivery vehicle thereon. The delivery vehicle is adapted to receive and/or deliver a storage container at a storage container delivery location arranged below the delivery space of the transfer column and to move between the storage container delivery location and a second location, the first delivery rail system covers at least an area extending from the storage container delivery location to the second location. A vehicle lift device for transfer of the at least one delivery vehicle between a first lift stop position adjacent the second location in the second horizontal plane and a second lift stop position adjacent a third location arranged in a third horizontal plane being at a different vertical level than the second horizontal plane.

A system for storing and transporting storage containers includes an automated storage and retrieval grid including vertical members defining multiple storage columns for storing storage containers on top of each other in vertical stacks. The vertical members are interconnected at their upper ends by a container handling vehicle rail system arranged to guide at least one container handling vehicle being configured to raise storage containers from, and lower storage containers into, the storage columns, and to transport the storage containers above the storage columns. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the first horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the first horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells. Each container handling vehicle grid cell includes a container handling vehicle grid opening defined by a pair of neighboring rails of the first set of rails and a pair of neighboring rails of the second set of rails. A transfer column is adapted for transport of a storage container between the container handling vehicle and a delivery space is situated at a lower end of the transfer column. A delivery system includes a first delivery rail system having at least one set of parallel rails arranged in a second horizontal plane guiding at least one delivery vehicle thereon. The delivery vehicle is adapted to receive and/or deliver a storage container at a storage container delivery location arranged below the delivery space of the transfer column and to move between the storage container delivery location and a second location, the first delivery rail system covers at least an area extending from the storage container delivery location to the second location. A vehicle lift device for transfer of the at least one delivery vehicle between a first lift stop position adjacent the second location in the second horizontal plane and a second lift stop position adjacent a third location arranged in a third horizontal plane being at a different vertical level than the second horizontal plane.

A high visibility push-pull handler configured to be mounted on a lift truck. The handler comprising a frame assembly, a pantograph mechanism coupled to the frame assembly, and a faceplate assembly coupled to the pantograph mechanism. The hander is configured with a view window extending through the handler, the view window not obstructed by parts of the handler when the handler is in any normal operating configuration, including a fully extended configuration, a fully retracted configuration, and any configuration in between the full extended and fully retracted positions.