US 11,858,795 B2
Pallet detection systems and methods for a material handling vehicle
Erik C. Tracy, Johnson City, NY (US); Timothy A. Schoelier, Endicott, NY (US); Thomas W. Confer, Chenango Forks, NY (US); and Kevin T. Bordwell, Binghamton, NY (US)
Assigned to The Raymond Corporation, Greene, NY (US)
Filed by The Raymond Corporation, Greene, NY (US)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/084,205.
Application 18/084,205 is a continuation of application No. 16/840,883, filed on Apr. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,530,121.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/830,110, filed on Apr. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0124186 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B66F 9/075 (2006.01); B66F 9/07 (2006.01)
CPC B66F 9/0755 (2013.01) [B66F 9/07504 (2013.01); B66F 9/07 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of load detection for a material handling vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a load on a fork carriage of the material handling vehicle, the fork carriage including a first fork and a second fork laterally separated from the first fork;
actuating one or more actuation plates of two or more load detection assemblies mounted to the material handling vehicle, via the load, from a first, extended, position to a second, compressed, position; and,
determining whether the load on the fork carriage is properly aligned based on the position of the actuation plates of the load detection assemblies;
wherein the position of the actuation plates corresponds to a status of a proximity sensor within each of the two or more load detection assemblies; and
wherein the status of the proximity sensor includes an unblocked state and a blocked state.