Patent ID: 11904919
Assignee: nan
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 6:
7. A daughter cart ejector apparatus adapted for attachment to a mother cart that is configured for receiving, transporting, and ejecting, a daughter cart of the wheels-on ground-type, for aiding in separation of the daughter cart from the mother cart, where the daughter cart has a daughter cart frame supported by casters attached to the daughter cart frame and is configured for rolling engagement with an underlying surface during transport of the daughter cart on the underlying surface, where the mother cart is adapted for receiving the daughter cart ejector apparatus, has a mother cart frame defining a transport direction, the mother cart frame being supported by wheels attached to the mother cart frame for rolling engagement with the underlying surface and including a coupling system attached to the mother cart frame, the coupling system being adapted and oriented for operatively guiding the daughter cart in a loading direction that is substantially transverse to the transport direction into towable engagement in a towing position with the mother cart, the daughter cart ejector apparatus comprising:
an ejector element pivotably connected to the mother cart frame and configured for pivotable movement about an axis perpendicular to the transport direction between an extended position of the ejector element whereat the ejector element operatively bears against the daughter cart frame in a manner urging the daughter cart to move away from the mother cart in an unloading direction that is substantially opposite from the loading direction, and a retracted position of the ejector element whereat the ejector element does not urge the daughter cart to move away from the mother cart in the coupling system in the unloading direction;
an ejector element actuator adapted for operative connection between the mother cart frame and the ejector element and configured for selectively moving the ejector element between the retracted and extended positions of the ejector element; and
a control arrangement adapted for operative attachment to the mother cart and the ejector element actuator, the control arrangement including a daughter cart initiate-eject input element configured for receiving an initiate-eject input indicating a desire to initiate ejection of the daughter cart from the mother cart, the control arrangement being configured for generating a commence-eject signal to the ejector actuator in response to the initiate-eject signal, for moving the ejector element from the retracted toward the extended positions of the ejector element.