| CPC B65G 47/24 (2013.01) [B65G 21/2072 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A centering station for correcting a position of a load carrier on a channel vehicle, the centering station comprising:
a centering channel extending along a longitudinal direction,
the centering channel comprising at least one running rail for said channel vehicle running in the longitudinal direction, and at least two centering means extending substantially in the longitudinal direction above the at least one running rail,
wherein the centering channel comprises an entrance which allows an entry of the channel vehicle into the centering channel,
wherein a clear span between the centering means decreases in a longitudinal direction of the centering channel,
wherein the clear span is provided in a transverse direction that is horizontal and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction,
wherein the clear span between the centering means decreases in a vertical direction that is vertical and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction towards the at least one running rail;
wherein the load carrier comprises a pallet or pallet cage; the position of the pallet or pallet cage is correctable by the centering station via a rotation and/or a shifting of a horizontal position relative to the channel vehicle or relative to a previous position on the channel vehicle; and the decreasing of the clear span in both the longitudinal and vertical direction permits centering of the load carrier with or without lifting and lowering the load carrier; and
wherein the centering means comprise sections adapted to contact the load carrier for correction of a position of the load carrier on the channel vehicle, wherein the sections are formed in cross-section as a shape selected from the following:
line,
successive row of several routes,
section of a branch of a parabola,
circular arc,
elliptical arc, and
successive row of at least two of the aforementioned shapes.
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