CN214527946U - Fork-lift device for loading and unloading containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides a fork lift device for being directed at container is loaded and unloaded, fork lift device includes: a movable platform comprising an undercarriage and movable on a floor of the production facility; a lift mechanism comprising a first lift member fixedly mounted to the chassis and a second lift member movable relative to the first lift member at least along a vertical z-axis; a rotary mechanism including a first rotary member mounted to the second lifting member and a second rotary member rotatable relative to the first rotary member about a rotational axis; and a receiving structure mounted to the second rotational member. The receiving structure is configured to receive the container.

Description

Fork-lift device for loading and unloading containers

Technical Field

The present invention relates to aspects of logistics within a production facility that includes a central storage rack system for temporarily storing containers in a plurality of storage rack shelves. In particular, the present invention relates to a forklift device that assists an operator in transferring containers to and/or removing containers from storage rack shelves.

Background

In order for a production facility, for example a production facility for manufacturing Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), to operate efficiently, logistical aspects must be considered to ensure that (a) the necessary raw materials will be provided for each processing machine, and (b) the (semi-) finished products processed by each processing machine are extracted in time. Otherwise, the respective processing machine will have down time due to lack of necessary raw material or due to "traffic jams" at the output of the respective processing machine.

In particular in large production facilities, a central storage rack system is provided, wherein containers can be stored in storage rack shelves. The container contains the raw materials required for the production of items, such as PCBs and/or semi-finished products, which are items that have been purchased additionally from an external source or have been produced by a first processing machine of the production facility and have to be further processed by further processing machines of the production facility.

In order to automatically transfer containers into and/or remove containers from storage rack shelves, it is known to use automatic crane systems which automatically perform such actions, typically in a computer-controlled manner, without any manual intervention by an operator.

However, during periods of time when such an automatic crane system is shut down, for example due to maintenance and/or repair procedures, it is very difficult for an operator to manually operate the corresponding container. This is especially true for large storage rack systems in which the upper storage rack shelf is located at a height of e.g. 4 meters and/or for containers with a total weight of e.g. 150 kg.

There is a need to provide a fork lift: the forklift assists an operator in loading and unloading containers in the event that an automatic crane system for a large storage rack system is turned off.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to the present invention, such a demand can be satisfied.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fork lift apparatus for loading and unloading a container. The fork lift apparatus provided comprises: (a) a movable platform comprising an undercarriage and movable on a floor of a production facility; (b) a lift mechanism comprising a first lift member and a second lift member, wherein the first lift member is fixedly mounted to the chassis and the second lift member is movable relative to the first lift member at least along a vertical z-axis; (c) a rotation mechanism including a first rotation member and a second rotation member, wherein the first rotation member is mounted to the second elevation member and the second rotation member is rotatable relative to the first rotation member about a rotation axis; and (d) a receiving structure mounted to the second rotational member. The receiving structure is configured to receive a container.

The described fork lift is based on the idea that: by providing a rotating function for the receiving structure, containers that have been received by the forklift can be reoriented in a suitable manner. Thus, a high degree of flexibility is provided for placing and picking up the containers in the proper orientation.

The vertical z-axis may be oriented parallel to the direction of gravity. The floor may define a preferably flat plane defined by an x-axis and a y-axis, the x-axis and the y-axis being perpendicular to each other and both perpendicular to the z-axis.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the second rotary part is rotatable with respect to the first rotary part about a rotation axis, which is a horizontal x-axis perpendicular to the vertical z-axis, by a rotation angle α of at least 5 °. This may allow picking and placing the container from and on the inclined surface. The inclined surface may be an upper surface of a storage rack shelf. In order to ensure that the containers are securely placed in their intended receiving slots and that the containers can be effectively prevented from sliding out of the receiving slots, a suitable slope of the storage rack towards the rear side of the storage rack system can be beneficial.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the rotation angle α is at least 90 °. This may allow for a complete reorientation of the container. If desired, the container can be rotated more than once through a rotation angle of 90 °, wherein the container is released on the platform between at least two rotational movements and is received again after the second rotary part has returned to its initial rotational position. Thus, in this iterative manner, the described forklift device can be used to place a container into any angular position/orientation relative to the axis of rotation.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the receiving structure comprises a clamping mechanism configured for securing the container when received. By mechanically fixing the received container, the operational reliability of the described fork-lift device may be improved. In particular, the container can be prevented from falling out of the receiving structure.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the clamping mechanism comprises two clamping elements, a first clamping element and a second clamping element, the first clamping element and the second clamping element being movable relative to each other such that the first clamping element engages with the first side of the container and the second clamping element engages with the second side of the container. This may allow for securing the received container in an easy and reliable manner.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the receiving structure comprises a sliding mechanism configured for sliding the received container along a sliding direction angled with respect to the vertical z-axis. This may allow for placing or inserting containers into or onto storage rack shelves having a spatial extension in the sliding direction at least as large as the size of the containers in that direction. In some applications, the extension of the slide mechanism may be so large as to enable two or more containers to be placed one behind the other within a storage rack shelf.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the fork lift device further comprises a first actuator for driving the lifting mechanism and a second actuator for driving the rotating mechanism. Driving both mechanisms, i.e. the lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism, with an actuator may allow an operator to operate the described fork lift device without requiring a great physical effort.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first actuator comprises a first hydraulic system and the second actuator comprises a second hydraulic system.

The hydraulic system can convert a comparatively small primary force into a comparatively large secondary force in a manner known per se and based on the physical principle of pressure balancing. This may allow handling even very heavy containers without large primary forces. This is also true for loaded containers that have an unbalanced weight with respect to the axis of rotation.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first actuator comprises a first electric motor and the second actuator comprises a second electric motor. This may allow the described forklift device to be used in a production facility environment that must be kept clean. By avoiding exhaust gases from combustion machines, it is possible to avoid contamination of both the operators working in the production facility and the products produced in the production facility.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the forklift device further comprises a battery that powers the first motor and the second motor.

The described battery enables the operation of the fork lift device in a spatially free manner without being spatially limited to the following area ranges: in the region of the area, power is provided by a power transmission system, such as, for example, a contact rail and/or an overhead contact line rail on the floor of the production facility.

The aspects defined above and further aspects of the invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with reference to the examples of embodiment. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples of embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a fork lift according to an embodiment of the invention in a perspective view.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the forklift device of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the operation of the forklift device in removing a container from a storage rack system.

Detailed Description

The illustration in the figure is schematically. It is noted that in different figures, similar or identical elements or features are provided with the same reference signs or with reference signs which differ from the corresponding reference signs only in the first digit. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, elements or features that have been elucidated with reference to the previously described embodiments are not repeated at a later point in the description.

Fig. 1 shows a forklift device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention described in the present document. The forklift device 100 includes a movable platform 110. Thus, the forklift device 100 can be moved along the floor of a production facility. The movable platform 110 includes a base frame 112, the base frame 112 representing a frame structure for other components of the forklift device 100. To assist an operator in moving the forklift device 100 along the floor of a production facility, two handles 116 are formed at the chassis 112 and at the rear side of the forklift device 100. The handle 116 is located at a height that allows an operator to easily move the forklift device 100 with his or her hands.

The forklift device 100 includes a lift mechanism 120, the lift mechanism 120 including a first lift member 122 and a second lift member 124. The first elevating member 122 is a fixed member with respect to the base frame 112, and the second elevating member 124 is the following: the second lifting member 124 is movably supported by suitable guide structure so that it can move up and down along the vertical z-axis.

The lift mechanism 120 is driven by a first actuator. According to the embodiment described herein, the first actuator is a first motor 172. To allow the operator to move the forklift device 100 more or less freely, the first motor 172 is powered by an on-board battery 180. The battery 180 may be charged when the forklift device 100 is not operating. The (fully) charged battery 180 allows the forklift device 100 to be immediately ready for use when necessary, for example when it is not working due to the automatic crane system typically used to load and unload containers into large storage racks.

The forklift device 100 also includes a rotation mechanism 130, the rotation mechanism 130 including a first rotational component 132 and a second rotational component 134. The first rotating member 132 is a fixed member with respect to the second elevating member 124. The second rotation element 134 is rotatable relative to the first rotation element 132 about a rotation axis, which is not shown in fig. 1. In the wording, however, the axis of rotation is parallel to the y-axis of the coordinate system shown in fig. 1. A second actuator 174 drives the rotation mechanism, which second actuator 174 is also an electric motor according to the embodiments described herein.

The forklift device 100 also includes a receiving structure 140, the receiving structure 140 configured for temporarily receiving a container, which is not shown in fig. 1, but is shown in other figures herein. The receiving structure 140 includes a clamping mechanism 150, which clamping mechanism 150 itself includes a first clamping element and a second clamping element. In the perspective view of fig. 1, the first clamping element is not visible, while the second clamping element is designated by reference numeral 154. According to the embodiments described herein, the two clamping elements are clamping arms or clamping brackets that are movable along the y-axis. The orientation of the y-axis may also be taken from the coordinate system shown in fig. 1. By moving the two gripping elements together such that the distance of the two gripping elements relative to each other along the y-axis decreases, the respective gripping elements can engage with the left and right outer surfaces of the container. This allows for a safe reception of the container by means of the receiving structure 140 and within the receiving structure 140, which is necessary to ensure that the received container is safely secured when the receiving structure 140 is rotated by means of the rotation mechanism 130.

Further, the forklift device 100 includes a sliding mechanism 160, which sliding mechanism 160 forms a portion of the receiving structure 140 according to the embodiments described herein. The slide mechanism 160 includes a movable fork plate 162, the fork plate 162 being used to move the container in the sliding direction of the slide mechanism. For driving the fork plate 162, a not shown driving system including an actuator and a belt is provided.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the forklift device 100. In this side view, the first clamping element 252 and the received container 295 can be seen. As can be seen from fig. 2, the rotation mechanism 130 is in an operating state in which the second rotation element 134 is in a slightly inclined angular position. The corresponding slope of the sliding movement of the container 295 forms an angle of about 7.5 deg. with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the x-axis and y-axis of the coordinate system shown in fig. 1. The exemplary slope of 7.5 ° shown in this figure corresponds to the slope of the storage rack shelf, which is also inclined at an angle of about 7.5 ° to the horizontal.

Fig. 3 illustrates operation of the forklift device 100 when removing a container 295 from a storage rack system 390. The magazine system 390 includes a plurality of compartments, each defined by a magazine shelf 392, wherein each compartment is designed to receive one container 295.

Fig. 3 (a) shows the movement of the forklift 100 to the front side of the storage rack system 390. The receiving structure (and the sliding structure) is in a vertical angular position.

Fig. 3 (b) shows firstly an elevation view of the receiving structure (and the sliding structure) rotated by 82.5 °, and secondly the receiving structure (and the sliding structure) reaching the level of the container 295 to be picked up and removed from the magazine system 390.

Fig. 3 (c) shows the sliding movement of the fork plate to the bottom of the container to be removed.

Fig. 3 (d) shows a slight lifting of the fork plate in order to reach the bottom of the container.

Fig. 3 (e) shows the sliding movement of the container into the forklift (where the angular slope is about 7.5 °).

Fig. 3 (f) shows rotation of the forklift receiving structure (about 82.5 °) so that the container 295 is in a vertical orientation.

It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the use of the article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

List of reference numerals:

100-fork type lifting device

110 movable platform

112 chassis

114 wheel

116 handle

120 lifting mechanism

122 first elevating part

124 second lifting member

130 rotating mechanism

132 first rotating part

134 second rotating part

140 receiving structure

150 clamping mechanism

154 second clamping element

160 sliding mechanism

162 fork plate

172 first actuator/first motor

174 second actuator/second motor

180 cell

252 first clamping element

295 Container

390 storage rack system

392 store shelf shelves.

Claims (8)

1. A forklift device (100) for handling a container (295), the forklift device comprising:

a movable platform (110) comprising an undercarriage (112) and movable on a floor of a production facility;

a lifting mechanism (120) comprising a first lifting member (122) and a second lifting member (124), wherein,

the first lifting member (122) is fixedly mounted to the chassis (112), an

The second lifting member (124) is movable relative to the first lifting member (122) at least along a vertical z-axis;

a rotation mechanism (130) comprising a first rotational component (132) and a second rotational component (134), wherein,

the first rotating member (132) is mounted to the second lifting member (124), an

The second rotating member (134) is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the first rotating member (132); and

a receiving structure (140) mounted to the second rotational component (134);

the fork-lift device is characterized in that,

the receiving structure (140) is configured to receive a container (295), wherein the receiving structure (140) comprises: a clamping mechanism (150) configured to secure the container (295) when the container (295) is received; and a sliding mechanism (160) configured for sliding the received container (295) along a sliding direction that is angled relative to the vertical z-axis.

2. A forklift device as claimed in claim 1,

the second rotary part (134) is rotatable relative to the first rotary part (132) about the axis of rotation, which is a horizontal x-axis perpendicular to the vertical z-axis, by a rotational angle (a) of at least 5 °.

3. A forklift device as claimed in claim 2,

the rotation angle (α) is at least 90 °.

4. A forklift device as claimed in claim 1,

the clamping mechanism (150) comprises two clamping elements, a first clamping element (252) and a second clamping element (154), which are movable relative to each other such that the first clamping element (252) engages with a first side of the container (295) and the second clamping element (154) engages with a second side of the container (295).

5. A forklift device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first actuator (172) for driving the lifting mechanism (120), an

A second actuator (174) for driving the rotation mechanism (130).

6. A forklift device as claimed in claim 5,

the first actuator (172) includes a first hydraulic system, and

the second actuator (174) includes a second hydraulic system.

7. A forklift device as claimed in claim 5,

the first actuator (172) includes a first motor, an

The second actuator (174) includes a second electric motor.

8. A forklift device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a battery (180) that powers the first motor and the second motor.

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