Joel E Zacharias

US Patent:

8544159, Oct 1, 2013

Filed:

Jan 11, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/347731

Inventors:

Rick J. Muhlenkamp - Coldwater OH, US
David G. Schaefer - Maria Stein OH, US
Todd A. Thomas - Celina OH, US
Stephen E. Wagner - St. Marys OH, US
Joel E. Zacharias - Celina OH, US

Assignee:

Crown Equipment Corporation - New Bremen OH

International Classification:

B23P 11/00
B65G 1/00
B23Q 7/00
H01L 21/677

US Classification:

29431, 29430, 29824, 29771, 29783, 29786, 29799, 29 33 P, 414800, 414272, 414279, 41422213

Abstract:

A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations. At least one of the plurality of stations having two conveyors each having a tiltable platform such that each of the two conveyors can be used to receive and return containers.

US Patent:

20090000103, Jan 1, 2009

Filed:

Jun 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/770479

Inventors:

Rick J. Muhlenkamp - Coldwater OH, US
David G. Schaefer - Maria Stein OH, US
Todd A. Thomas - Celina OH, US
Stephen E. Wagner - St. Marys OH, US
Joel E. Zacharias - Celina OH, US

Assignee:

CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION - New Bremen OH

International Classification:

B23P 11/00

US Classification:

29428, 29791

Abstract:

A manufacturing cell has a plurality of stations arranged in two rows having a main aisle therebetween. Each of the plurality of stations has a station-aisle interface that provides an interaction area to the main aisle. The manufacturing cell also comprises a plurality of storage units that are located within the cell along the main aisle and a guided forklift truck that traverses the main aisle without requiring steering control of a stock handler operating the forklift truck within the main aisle to relocate containers from the storage units to designated station-aisle interfaces and to remove containers from the designated station-aisle interfaces when work is completed at the corresponding stations.