EP0692449B1 - Unité de fourche rotative pour manipuler des palettes - Google Patents

Unité de fourche rotative pour manipuler des palettes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0692449B1
EP0692449B1 EP19950304899 EP95304899A EP0692449B1 EP 0692449 B1 EP0692449 B1 EP 0692449B1 EP 19950304899 EP19950304899 EP 19950304899 EP 95304899 A EP95304899 A EP 95304899A EP 0692449 B1 EP0692449 B1 EP 0692449B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
track
forks
load
carriage
mast
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19950304899
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0692449A1 (fr
Inventor
David M. Jinks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Logistex Ltd
Original Assignee
Logistex Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB9414153A external-priority patent/GB9414153D0/en
Priority claimed from GB9418819A external-priority patent/GB9418819D0/en
Application filed by Logistex Ltd filed Critical Logistex Ltd
Publication of EP0692449A1 publication Critical patent/EP0692449A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0692449B1 publication Critical patent/EP0692449B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
    • B66F9/00—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes
    • B66F9/06—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
    • B66F9/075—Constructional features or details
    • B66F9/12—Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members
    • B66F9/14—Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members laterally movable, e.g. swingable, for slewing or transverse movements
    • B66F9/141—Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members laterally movable, e.g. swingable, for slewing or transverse movements with shuttle-type movement

Definitions

  • the invention relates to rotating fork units for mounting on the platforms of narrow aisle fork lift trucks or cranes, and to such trucks or cranes having the rotating fork units mounted thereon.
  • Narrow aisle fork lift trucks or cranes are generally used in warehouses for delivering and retrieving pallets and palletted products from warehouse racking.
  • the truck or crane moves longitudinally along a warehouse aisle, and a load platform can be raised or lowered to access the racking at any desired height.
  • On the platform is a fork extending mechanism carried on a turntable, so that when the turntable is rotated to direct the forks towards the racking on one side or the other of the aisle, the forks can then be extended past beams of the warehouse racking to pick up or deposit a pallet.
  • the forks are generally carried on a telescopic extending mechanism so that they can be extended in cantilever completely beyond the edge of the platform. If they can extend to only one pallet depth on either side of the aisle the unit is described as a "single deep" fork unit, but if they can extend over the racking beams for two pallets' depth on either side of the aisle then the unit is described as a "double deep” fork unit. Difficulties are always encountered with double deep fork units because it is necessary to ensure that the sections of the telescopic extending mechanism do not foul the racking beams adjacent the aisle when the forks are extended over those beams to pick up a pallet from or deposit it on the more distant racking beams.
  • One means of overcoming those difficulties is to have the racking beams nearer the aisle at a lower level than those more distant, but that is an undesirable expense and inconvenience, and is also wasteful of warehouse space.
  • a rotating unit for pallet handling having the features as set forth in the preamble of claim 1 is known for example in FR-A-1338707.
  • the invention provides a narrow aisle fork lift truck or crane having a rotating fork mounting which comprises:
  • the mast may be upstanding from the carriage, in which case the forks in the first position of the carriage are vertically above the track; or it may be depending from the carriage, in which case the forks in the first position of the carriage are vertically below the track.
  • the fork mounting comprises:
  • the track is typically formed or mounted on the distal end of a telescopically extensible mechanism comprising cooperating rails which can be extended or retracted to move the track laterally relative to the turntable.
  • a pallet is moved out from a central position over a load platform of the truck or crane by first moving the carriage from its first position in which the forks and a loaded pallet carried by the forks is directly over the load platform, to its second position in which the forks and pallet extend in cantilever from a selected side of the load platform. The forks are then lowered on the mast to lower the loaded pallet relative to the mast.
  • lowering is accompanied by an automatic simultaneous raising of the load platform by an equal distance, so that in absolute terms the loaded pallet remains at the same height, thereby making it easier for an operator or computer control system to align the pallet forks with the beams of the warehouse racking.
  • the lowering of the pallet forks relative to both the track and the telescopically extensible mechanism of the fork mounting does, furthermore, mean that the pallet can be moved outwardly into the warehouse racking without the elements of the telescopically extensible mechanism fouling the warehouse beams over which those elements pass.
  • the lowering of the forks relative to the track also allows the forks to be extracted from the pallet in a double deep position without the track fouling the beams at the corresponding single deep location.
  • Retrieving a pallet from either a single deep or double deep warehouse location is achieved by a reverse sequence.
  • the mechanism for raising and lowering the pallet forks on the mast preferably comprises a hydraulic ram or a pair of hydraulic rams.
  • the mast is advantageously inclined at an acute angle to the vertical, so that lowering the forks on the mast (when the carriage is in its second position) also moves them further outboard of the end of the track and of the load platform of the truck or crane on which the fork mounting is to be mounted. Conversely, raising the forks on the mast moves them slightly inboard towards the centre of the load platform which is of benefit when centralizing the load on the platform.
  • the rotating fork mounting of the invention permits four load positions to be accessed: that is, single deep and double deep load positions in the warehouse racking to the right of the aisle, and single deep and double deep load positions in the warehouse racking to the left of the aisle. It has now been appreciated that the creation of fifth load location is an advantageous possibility according to the invention.
  • the invention accordingly provides such a rotating fork mounting in which a fifth load position is defined, on a load platform of the fork lift truck or crane on which the rotating fork mounting is mounted, displaced outwardly of the turntable mounting in a direction longitudinally of the aisle direction.
  • This fifth load position defines a temporary load storage area on the load platform itself, and permits temporary storage of a palletized load while the pallet forks are used to transfer other loads between work stations.
  • the pallet To transfer a loaded pallet to the fifth position, the pallet should be rotated over the turntable mounting until the pallet forks are directed longitudinally of the aisle towards the fifth load position. With the track remaining centrally or substantially centrally over the turntable mounting, the carriage should then be moved to just beyond its second position in which the forks extend in cantilever from the end of the track, with the load positioned over the fifth load position. Lowering the forks part way down the lifting mast is then sufficient to deposit the pallet at the fifth load position, without bringing the forks into fouling engagement with the track as the carriage is retracted to its central position over the turntable mounting.
  • the height of the fifth load position is preferably slightly higher than that of the top of the track.
  • a narrow aisle fork lift truck or crane provided with a mounting having such a fifth load position is thus capable of carrying two pallets at any one time: one at the fifth load position and one on the pallet forks. This permits a significant increase in the flexibility of the fork lift truck or crane.
  • the forks in the second position of the carriage), can be moved up the mast to bring the top of the load above the level of the top of the track, or it can be moved down the mast to bring the top of the load below the level of the bottom of the track, for movement of the carriage back to its first position.
  • the overall vertical spacing between the racking beams of the warehouse racking system can therefore be reduced, and there is no fouling of the racking beams adjacent the aisle when the forks are extended past those beams to the double deep position.
  • the warehouse comprises a narrow aisle A, on either side of which is a single deep pallet location B and a double deep pallet location C.
  • pallets are shown at the pallet locations B and C to the right of the central aisle A, but the warehouse beams 1 to the left of the central aisle are empty.
  • a rotating fork mounting according to the invention is shown in the central aisle A, with a pallettized load sitting centrally on the mounting.
  • the pallettized load comprises a product or load 2 on a pallet 3, with a pair of forks 4 of the fork mounting of the invention received in the fork pockets of the pallet, taking the weight of the load.
  • the forks 4 are mounted on a carriage 5 which is movable on a track 6 comprising a pair of side rails one at each side of the fork mounting.
  • Figure 1 shows the forks 4 in a first position overlying the track 6.
  • Figure 2 shows the carriage 5 in its second position in which the forks 4 extend laterally in cantilever from an end of the track 6.
  • the forks 4 are mounted on an upstanding mast 7 on the carriage 5, and are movable up and down the mast 7 under the control of a hydraulic ram 8. It will be appreciated that the forks 4 can be lowered on the mast 7 only when the carriage 5 is in its second position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
  • Figure 2 shows the forks raised on the mast, whereas Figure 3 shows them lowered.
  • the mast 7 is inclined at an acute angle to the vertical, so that the lowering of the forks 4 also move them slightly outwardly beyond the end of the track 6,as clearly illustrated by reference to Figure 2 and 3.
  • Figure 4 shows the extension of that mechanism.
  • Figure 4 shows that the central platform 9 has been lowered slightly by the narrow aisle truck or crane on which the assembly is mounted, to lower the pallet 3 onto the relevant pair of beams 1.
  • Figure 6 shows more clearly the turntable 10. With the forks fully inboard as illustrated in Figures 1, 8 and 9, the turntable 10 can be rotated so as to permit extension of the forks to either side of the central platform 9.
  • Figure 9 illustrates the turning circle 13 of the forks and of a pallet thereon, from which it will be understood that the fork mounting of the invention is a very compact unit, permitting the use of extremely narrow aisles not significantly wider than the rotation of a loaded pallet around a central vertical axis.
  • Figures 10 to 13 illustrate very clearly how the turntable 10 can be rotated until the pallet forks 4 extend longitudinally of the aisle in the direction AA, an additional, or fifth, load position 20 is provided on the load platform 21 of the truck or crane along that longitudinal axis, so that by moving a loaded pallet from the position shown in Figure 10 to that shown in Figure 12, the load can be positioned over the additional load position. Then by lowering the forks 4 very slightly on the mast 7 by means of the ram 8, the load can be deposited at the additional load position and the carriage retracted on the track over the central turntable 10.
  • Figures 14 and 15 also use similar reference numerals for similar parts.
  • the mast 7 in Figures 14 and 15 depends from the carriage 5 so that in the first position of the carriage (as shown in Figure 15) the load is supported directly beneath the track 6.
  • the load In the second position of the carriage (as shown in Figure 14) the load is in cantilever to one side of the carriage 5 and can be raised so as to reduce the overall height of the load and track.
  • dimension H1 in Figure 14 is less than dimension H2 in Figure 15.
  • the track can be extended from the condition of Figure 15 to that of Figure 14 without fouling the racking rail adjacent the aisle.
  • the racking rails that would be at risk of being fouled would be those defining the racking level above that on which pallet handling is taking place.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)

Claims (7)

  1. Un chariot élévateur à fourche recouvrante ou grue ayant un support de fourche pivotant qui comprend:
    une plate-forme de charge verticalement mobile (21) portant un support tournant (10);
    une voie horizontale (6) supportée par le support tournant (10) et supportant un chariot (5) qui est mobile le long de la voie d'une première position sus-jacente ou sous-jacente par rapport à la voie jusqu'à une seconde position se projetant en porte-à-faux par rapport à une extrémité de la voie; et
    deux fourches lève-palettes (4) élevables et abaissables sur un mât élévateur (7) porté par le chariot (5) quand le chariot est sur sa seconde position;
    CARACTERISE EN CE QUE
    la voie horizontale (6) est montée sur un mécanisme télescopiquement extensible (11,12) supporté par le support tournant (10),
    la voie (6) est mobile d'une position entièrement rentrée sus-jacente ou sous-jacente par rapport à la plate-forme de charge jusqu'à une position entièrement sortie latéralement vers l'extérieur de la plate-forme de charge, et
    des commandes pour soulever et abaisser la plate-forme de charge (21) et pour soulever et abaisser les fourches (4) sur le mât élévateur (7) sont connectées de telle manière que dans un mode de fonctionnement le mouvement vertical des fourches (4) par rapport au mât élévateur (7) est accompagné par un mouvement équivalent et opposé par rapport à la plate-forme de charge (21) de telle manière que les fourches (4) restent à la même hauteur absolue.
  2. Un chariot élévateur à fourche ou grue suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel dans la première position du chariot (5) sur la voie (6), les fourches (4) sont sus-jacentes à la voie.
  3. Un chariot élévateur à fourche ou grue suivant la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel le mécanisme télescopiquement extensible (11, 12) comprend des rails intermédiaires (11) et des rails distaux (12) montés dessus, dans lequel les rails intermédiaires (11) sont astreints à ne se déplacer que sur la moitié de la distance des rails distaux (12).
  4. Un chariot élévateur à fourche ou grue suivant la revendication 3, comprenant de plus un mécanisme à chaíne et pignons pour sortir et rentrer les rails (11, 12) et la voie (6) montée dessus.
  5. Un chariot élévateur à fourche ou grue suivant toute revendication précédente, comprenant de plus un ou plusieurs vérins hydrauliques (8) pour soulever et abaisser les fourches (4) sur le mât élévateur (7) quand le chariot (5) est sur sa seconde position.
  6. Un chariot élévateur à fourche ou grue suivant toute revendication précédente, dans lequel le mât élévateur (7) est incliné selon un angle aigu par rapport à la verticale de telle manière que l'abaissement des fourches (4) sur le mât élévateur quand le chariot (5) est sur sa seconde position les déplace plus encore vers l'extérieur de l'extrémité de la voie.
  7. Un chariot élévateur à fourche ou grue suivant toute revendication précédente, dans lequel une autre plate-forme de charge (20) est définie sur la plate-forme de charge (21) du chariot ou grue, déplacée vers l'extérieur du support tournant (10) dans une direction longitudinale par rapport à la direction de l'allée, l'autre position de charge définissant une zone de stockage de charge temporaire sur la plate-forme de charge.
EP19950304899 1994-07-13 1995-07-13 Unité de fourche rotative pour manipuler des palettes Expired - Lifetime EP0692449B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9414153A GB9414153D0 (en) 1994-07-13 1994-07-13 Rotating fork unit
GB9414153 1994-07-13
GB9418819 1994-09-16
GB9418819A GB9418819D0 (en) 1994-09-16 1994-09-16 Rotating fork unit with additional load position

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0692449A1 EP0692449A1 (fr) 1996-01-17
EP0692449B1 true EP0692449B1 (fr) 1999-02-10

Family

ID=26305261

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19950304899 Expired - Lifetime EP0692449B1 (fr) 1994-07-13 1995-07-13 Unité de fourche rotative pour manipuler des palettes

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0692449B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69507751T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1636128B2 (fr) † 2003-05-30 2015-09-02 Translift Bendi Limited Chariot elevateur a fourche pourvu d'une roue avant unique

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2774083B1 (fr) 1998-01-27 2000-04-07 Kidde Ind Inc Dispositif elevateur perfectionne
AT513068B1 (de) * 2012-06-05 2014-05-15 Cofely Gebäudetechnik Gmbh Rohrhebevorrichtung mit Teleskopgabel
CN103641042A (zh) * 2013-12-19 2014-03-19 时桂强 货叉装置
CN107324253B (zh) * 2017-07-31 2022-11-22 太仓长臂猿机器人科技有限公司 一种双向货叉装置
CN109081269B (zh) * 2018-09-20 2024-04-26 河南送变电建设有限公司 一种室内电气设备的运输设备

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1338707A (fr) * 1962-10-30 1963-09-27 Lansing Bagnall Ltd Perfectionnements aux chariots industriels de levage
SE325231B (fr) * 1968-03-11 1970-06-22 Asea Ab
US3863777A (en) * 1972-07-19 1975-02-04 Tsubakimoto Chain Co Article storage and handling system
DE3017147C2 (de) * 1980-05-05 1986-02-20 Jungheinrich Unternehmensverwaltung Kg, 2000 Hamburg Lastaufnahmevorrichtung für Regalstapelfahrzeuge, für Zwei- und Dreiseitenstapler und für Regalförderzeuge oder Regalbediengeräte mit einem Hubgerät
GB2080265A (en) * 1980-07-03 1982-02-03 Farr Kenneth Warehousing
SE449472B (sv) * 1985-10-15 1987-05-04 Mth Gruppen Ab Utrustning vid facklager
WO1994004447A1 (fr) * 1992-08-19 1994-03-03 Cleco Limited Agencement de plateau a double portee

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1636128B2 (fr) † 2003-05-30 2015-09-02 Translift Bendi Limited Chariot elevateur a fourche pourvu d'une roue avant unique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69507751T2 (de) 1999-06-24
EP0692449A1 (fr) 1996-01-17
DE69507751D1 (de) 1999-03-25

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