US 12,246,918 B2
Material handling apparatus with vehicle track for reducing vehicle damage
Michael York, Moorestown, NJ (US); Joseph Lakawicz, Moorestown, NJ (US); and Stuart Ligo, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Assigned to OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed by OPEX Corporation, Moorestown, NJ (US)
Filed on Oct. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/375,644.
Application 18/375,644 is a continuation of application No. 17/864,737, filed on Jul. 14, 2022, granted, now 11,807,456.
Application 17/864,737 is a continuation of application No. 17/672,275, filed on Feb. 15, 2022, granted, now 11,453,553, issued on Sep. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/150,909, filed on Feb. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0124229 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/04 (2006.01); B07C 3/08 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); B65G 1/06 (2006.01); B65G 1/137 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/0492 (2013.01) [B07C 3/082 (2013.01); B07C 5/36 (2013.01); B65G 1/065 (2013.01); B65G 1/1373 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A material handling method for delivering items to a plurality of destinations, comprising the steps of:
loading an item onto a vehicle;
driving the vehicle with the item to one of the destinations, comprising the steps of:
driving a first drive element along a first track having a plurality of first engagement elements; and
driving a second drive element along a second track having a plurality of second engagement elements, wherein the second track is spaced apart from the first track;
disengaging the first drive element from the first engagement elements while engaging the second engagement element with the second drive elements to allow the first drive elements to slide along the first track; and
engaging the first drive element with the first engagement elements to drive the vehicle along the first track after the step of disengaging.