A device for allowing work to be carried out on or about an object includes at least one gripping arrangement. The at least one gripping arrangement is configured to grip and traverse the object so as to reach a desired location on the object and to anchor the device thereto for allowing the work to be carried out.

Apparatus (1) for transporting an item (2) for fitting on a lifting vehicle (3), in particular on a transporting device (3) of a fork-lift truck, comprising a means (4), in particular tines, for at least temporarily accommodating the item (2), also comprising an adjustment means for adjusting the means (4) for at least temporarily accommodating the item (2), to provide for parallel lateral adjustment, in particular of the tines, in the lateral direction (6), further comprising a control means (9) for controlling the functions of the add-on unit, wherein the control means is arranged, in particular, in the lifting vehicle, and additionally comprising a measuring means (7) for measuring a lateral displacement path (8) of the means (4) for at least temporarily accommodating the item (2), wherein, with the aid of the measurement by way of the measuring means (7), the lateral displacement path (8) is limited to a predetermined length (15) via the control means (9) and the adjustment means (5). A corresponding method for using the apparatus (1) for transporting an item (2) for fitting on a lifting vehicle (3).

A material handling vehicle may include a clamp assembly, the clamp assembly including a housing, a grip assembly, and a power source. The grip assembly may be pivotally engaged with the housing. The power source may be in electrical communication with the grip assembly. The grip assembly includes a lobe pivotally engaged with the housing and a contact supported by the lobe, the contact being electrically conductive.

An apparatus for autonomous or driverless vehicles to perform pick-up and delivery of packages, parcels, or other cargo with minimal or no human intervention is disclosed. The apparatus at a minimum consists of an opening/closing mechanism for a cargo compartment (trunk, lockbox attached to the vehicle, vehicle cab, etc.), which can be accessed when an encoded electronic signal is received, and then an arm-like device that extends from the compartment to retrieve or drop off cargo activates as instructed by an appropriate signal.

A forklift fork grabber mechanism is provided for clamping forks to a load by applying tensile or compressive force between a forklift attachment and the forks using a binder, bolts, motor, latch, or other means.

A device for separating a load (L) from a pallet (P) includes a set of plate elements (3, 5) operated by respective insertion elements (7) for insinuation between the load (L) and a surface of the pallet (P) and operated by respective lifting elements (9) to separate the load (L) from the pallet (P). Right (13) and left (15) mutually parallel side walls are arranged vertically and include a rotation element (11) for each plate element (3, 5) for rotating and orienting the plate elements (3, 5) with respect to the surface of the pallet, with the set of plate elements (3, 5) including a right plate-like element (3) and a left plate-like element (5) each sliding in a respective swivel and slide element (19) of the rotation element (11).

An opposable clamp arm of a load handling device such as a lift truck attachment. An upper clamp pad portion may have a generally planar plate as a main member and may have a load-gripping face layer. A lower clamp pad assembly has a plurality of separately replaceable wear-compensating load-contacting elements mounted interchangeably on a backing plate attached to a stabilizer member of the clamp arm. The load-contacting elements may be secured to the backing plate by retainer bars fastened to the backing plate with flanges of the retainer bars overlapping margins of the load contact elements.

An opposable clamp arm of a load handling device such as a lift truck attachment. An upper clamp pad portion may have a generally planar plate as a main member and may have a load-gripping face layer. A lower clamp pad assembly has a plurality of separately replaceable wear-compensating load-contacting elements mounted interchangeably on a backing plate attached to a stabilizer member of the clamp arm. The load-contacting elements may be secured to the backing plate by retainer bars fastened to the backing plate with flanges of the retainer bars overlapping margins of the load contact elements.

Method for transporting a container or pallet with cargo, wherein at least one transport device is used comprising a frame consisting of an elongate central member (11) and carrying beams (12), each carrying beam (12) extending perpendicular to the central member (11) in the same direction from a different end of the central member (11) thus forming a generally U-shaped frame, wherein in use said U-shaped frame extends in a generally horizontal orientation, said carrying beams being arranged to engage and carry a bottom part of a container or a pallet, wherein the bottom side of said frame is provided with a plurality of air bearings (13) arranged to lift said frame with said cargo from a flat floor surface, wherein a container or pallet to be transported is moved into or out of a vehicle at an transshipment location, wherein for transporting said container or pallet in or out of said vehicle said container or pallet is engaged and lifted by said at least one transport device by activating said air bearings (13), wherein said transport device is moved in and/or out of said vehicle while said air bearings (13) are activated, and wherein said transport device is disengaged from said container or pallet by deactivating said air bearings (13).

A load-bearing assembly including a clamping-force sensor in a pivoting support assembly that is adjustable to vary a radial spacing between a pivot pin and a clamp pad mounted on the support assembly. A plurality of clamping-force sensors may be included in a plurality of pivoting clamp pad support assemblies to support a clamp pad and may be arranged to sense the magnitude of a clamping force exerted by a particular adjustable pivoting clamp pad support assembly and send signals indicative of the magnitude of the force to a controller. A load sensor may be located between a pivot pin and a bearing block, or strain gauges may be mounted in the pivoting bearing block so as to measure forces carried through the bearing block. Force values sensed and transmitted to the controller may be used to evaluate and adjust the clamp arm assembly to grasp a load with a desired clamping force or distribution of clamping forces.