Granted Patent B2

US 12,637,340 · App. 18/210,325 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventors: David A. King (Rock Island, IL); Adam Pehowski (Bettendorf, IA); Nathan C. Mortenson (Muscatine, IA); Aaron R. Pasker (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Assignee: The Raymond Corporation

B66F9/12B66F9/0759

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . A method for loading a material handling vehicle, the method comprising:

providing the material handling vehicle, the material handling vehicle comprising a platform and a post assembly attached with a clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising a clamping bar and two spaced apart actuators, the clamping bar is configured to move relative to the post assembly between a first state and a second state;

loading a plurality of carts on the platform of the material handling vehicle;

determining an end of the loading step;

moving the clamping bar from the second state to the first state after the end of the loading step has been determined; and

moving the platform from a down position to an up position after the clamping bar has moved from the second state to the first state.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the material handling vehicle further comprises an operator compartment, and

wherein the operator compartment defines a floor having a mat.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the end of the loading step is determined when an operator steps on the mat.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein four carts are loaded onto the platform of the material handling vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clamping bar is configured to move from the second state to the first state by the two spaced apart actuators.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises moving the material handling vehicle and filling the plurality of carts.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clamping bar is configured to move independently from the platform.

8 . A method for loading and unloading a material handling vehicle, the method comprising:

providing the material handling vehicle, the material handling vehicle comprising a control unit, a platform, and a post assembly attached with a clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising a clamping bar that is configured to move relative to the post assembly between a first state and a second state;

loading a plurality of carts on the platform of the material handling vehicle;

determining an end of the loading step;

moving the clamping bar from the second state to the first state after the end of the loading step has been determined;

moving the platform from a down position to an up position after the clamping bar has moved from the second state to the first state;

moving the material handling vehicle;

engaging an unloading step;

simultaneously moving the platform from the up position to the down position and moving the clamping bar from the first state to the second state after the unloading step has been engaged; and

unloading the plurality of carts from the platform of the material handling vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the platform comprises a platform length PL and the clamping bar comprises a clamping bar length CL, and

wherein the clamping bar length CL is less than 90 percent of the platform length PL.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein two actuator assemblies on opposite sides of the clamping assembly move the clamping bar from the second state to the first state and from the first state to the second state.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the material handling vehicle further comprises an operator compartment,

wherein the operator compartment defines a floor having a mat, and

wherein the end of the loading step is determined when an operator steps on the mat.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a single button engages the unloading step.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (51)