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
• • 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
  • B66F9/20—Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks

Definitions

• the invention relates to an industrial truck, in particular an order-picking device, as a vehicle with a controllable travel drive, a load suspension means which can be vertically moved on a lifting frame, a driver's platform which can be moved vertically in particular together with the load suspension means on the lifting frame, and an operating valve for control which can be operated from the driver's platform of the traction drive and of lifting functions of the load suspension device, the operating armature having at least two functional areas, one of which is provided for the main operation by the left hand and a second for the main operation by the right hand of an operator in the driver's cab.
• Industrial trucks of the type mentioned above are used in a variety of ways, including as order-picking devices in which a cab with a driver's cab can be moved vertically on an mast by an operator.
• a load suspension device for example a pair of forks pointing forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which can be moved vertically together with the driver's cabin - and additionally in a controlled manner relative to the driver's cabin.
• An operating armature is available to an operator standing in the cabin, which has operating elements for controlling the travel drive and the lifting functions as well as a steering actuation means, if applicable.
• the operator can use it to set forward driving or backward driving, control the driving speed and the common lift of the cabin and the load handler (main lift) and the lift of the load handler relative to the cabin (additional lift), for example by certain positions on a shelf in one Control warehouse, so that the operator can remove goods from the shelf from the cabin and place them over a front parapet of the cabin on the load handler or on a pallet held on them.
• control valve is mounted in a rear area of the cabin in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, namely on the rear wall of the cabin.
• the operator is then in control of the driving operation or the lifting operation of the order picking device in the cabin such that the operator's body is essentially aligned with the rear of the vehicle.
• the mast and the cab have areas that are open to the rear, which give the operator a straight view when reversing.
• the operator can observe the lifting functions of the load suspension device when, starting from the posture described above, he turns his upper body or head towards the front of the cabin.
• Such an operating constellation can be useful if, in typical use of the order picking device, longer distances without a stop are to be covered more frequently in reverse driving mode than in forward driving mode, as can be the case, for example, when driving backwards in a rack aisle with a ready-made order picking after the relevant rack positions have been controlled step by step in the forward driving mode when compiling the picking.
• the picking device is used for another driving situation, the main driving mode, in which higher driving speeds are possible, for example, the arrangement of the control valve on the rear side of the driver's cab is ergonomically unfavorable, which also affects safety aspects.
• BT Product Information PAL OM / OMW From a brochure from BT Products AB, Sweden, with the name "BT Product Information PAL OM / OMW" from 1 996 a picking device is known in which the control valve or control console can be moved overall from the rear inside of the cabin to the front inside of the cabin. To operate the control armature that is moved forward, the operator stands with his body facing forward in the cabin.
• the last-mentioned operating constellation can be expedient if the forward driving mode is the main driving mode, that is to say longer driving distances have to be overcome more frequently in the forward driving mode than in the reverse driving mode without interruption.
• the invention is based on the object of providing an industrial truck, in particular picking device, of the type mentioned at the outset, which enables more diverse operating constellations and thus more ergonomic work for the operator in different situations of use of the picking device.
• the two functional areas are separate modules are formed, of which at least one can be implemented in the access area of the driver's cab between at least two operating positions from one side of the driver's cab to another side of the driver's cab
• both modules of the control valve can be arranged in the rear area of the driver's cab, preferably on the rear wall of a driver's cabin.
• forward driving is the main driving mode for the industrial truck, it may be useful to arrange both modules in the front area of the cabin.
• one of the modules can be arranged in the front area of the driver's cab and the other module in the rear area of the driver's cab.
• the operator can now stand across the vehicle's longitudinal direction in the driver's cab.
• Such a posture is a very good compromise from an ergonomic point of view in certain operational situations of the industrial truck, for example, when searching in a rack aisle, frequent changes of direction after short distances
• both functional areas of the operating valve can be implemented between two respective operating positions, the two modules at least in some predetermined combinations of them
• Operating positions are arranged and spaced from each other so that they can be operated simultaneously by an average-sized operator in the driver's cab.
• each implementable module is in each case separable from an electrical connection means assigned to the first operating position and mechanical mounting means for the connection point having the module, and can be electrically and mechanically connected to a second connection position assigned to the second operating position.
• the connection points and the modules preferably form plug-in systems with automatic mechanical safety catches.
• each connection point is connection-compatible with respect to each of the two implementable modules, so that the variety of possible operating constellations can be increased still further.
• At least one of the functional areas of the control valve, in particular the first functional area, contains a steering actuation means, in particular a steering wheel, for a steerable wheel of the industrial truck, the other functional area containing means for switching between forward drive and reverse drive of the industrial truck.
• At least one of the functional areas, in particular the second functional area contains means for controlling the driving speed.
• at least one of the functional areas, in particular the second functional area contains means for controlling the stroke of the load suspension device.
• at least one of the functional areas, in particular the second functional area has means for controlling the common stroke of the driver's cab and the load-carrying means and means for controlling the movement of the load-carrying means relative to the driver's cab.
• the lifting function operating means can be combined on one actuating element or several actuating elements. If necessary, operating elements can be assigned switchable double functions.
• an industrial truck in particular an order picking device.
• This is a vehicle with a controllable travel drive, a driver's platform that can be vertically moved on a mast, a load suspension device that can be vertically moved together with the driver's station on the mast on the front of the driver's side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which can also be moved vertically in a controlled manner relative to the driver's platform.
• this industrial truck is characterized in that a second control armature is provided in a front area of the driver's cab in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the second control armature containing control elements for controlling the vertical movement of the load-carrying means relative to the driver's cab.
• the two control fittings are preferably arranged and spaced from one another such that one of the two functional areas of the the first control valve and a functional area of the second control valve can be actuated simultaneously by an average-sized operator standing in the driver's cab at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
• the second control valve has control functions corresponding to one of the functional areas of the first control valve.
• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view in a simplified representation
• FIG. 2-4 show, in a schematic plan view of the industrial truck according to FIG. 1, different operating positions of the control valve modules.
• FIGS. 5-6 each show further embodiments of the invention in a view similar to FIGS. 2-4.
• the industrial truck shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called picking device 1 with a chassis 6 supported on three running wheels 3, 4, 5.
• the running wheel 3 is steerable.
• the electromotive travel drive Under the hood 7 in the rear area of the order-picking device 1 are the electromotive travel drive, the accumulators for the electrical supply and hydraulic components for driving a driver's cab 1 1 which can be moved vertically in a controlled manner on the mast 9 and a load-carrying means 1 3 projecting forward from the driver's cab 1 1 , which is hydraulically height-adjustable together with the driver's cab 1 1 on the mast - and in addition relative to the driver's cab 1 1.
• the driver's cab 1 1 has on its front side a parapet 1 5, over which an operator standing in the driver's cab 1 1 has access to the load suspension device 1 3 or to a pallet (not shown) picked up by the load suspension device 1 3, for example, from place goods removed from a shelf.
• the load-carrying means 1 3 shown as a pair of forks in FIG. 1 could be replaced by a walk-on load-carrying means.
• the parapet 15 could have a passage for the operator.
• the control valve 1 9 comprises two consoles or modules 23 and 25 that can be spatially separated from one another if necessary.
• the first module 23, which is arranged at the rear left in the driver's cab in FIG. 2, is for use with the left hand - and in FIG. 2 in the driver's cab 1 1 second module 25 arranged at the rear right is intended for operation with the right hand of an operator 27 standing in the driver's cab 11 with his back pointing towards the load-carrying means 13.
• the first module 23 of the control valve 1 9 has a steering wheel 29 as a control element for controlling the steering position of the steered impeller 3 (FIG. 1).
• the second module 25 of the operation ⁇ fitting 1 9 comprises control elements 31 for controlling the travel drive, in particular for switching between forward travel and reverse travel and for controlling the driving speed, and further control elements 33 for controlling lifting functions of the load receiving means 1 3, in particular for controlling the common lifting movement of the driver's cab 1 1 and the load handling device 1 3. If necessary, that can second module 25 have a multifunction control element, for example in the manner of a joystick, with which a plurality of control functions can be controlled.
• control valve 1 9 in the rear area of the cabin 1 1 according to FIG. 2 may be expedient for reasons of ergonomics and safety when driving, if in typical use of the order-picking device 1 longer distances without interruption more frequently in the reverse driving mode than in the forward driving mode are to be overcome.
• Such a situation is present, for example, when the operator controls the respective rack positions one after the other by moving forward in a rack aisle in order to remove the respective goods from the rack 9 after adjusting the height of the cabin 1 1 and the load handling device 1 3 on the mast 9 and to pick - To assemble, the order picking device 1 then being driven in the rack aisle without a stop backwards to an unloading station, for example in the run-up to the rack aisle, in order to unload the goods picked up on the load-carrying means 1 3.
• the arrangement of the control valve 1 9 according to FIG. 2 is also recommended when the load suspension device 1 3 is loaded with objects or goods which, viewed from the driver's cabin, obstruct the view to the front.
• the cabin 11 and the mast 9 have open viewing areas 37, 38 (FIG. 1) through which the operator 27 can look in the rearward direction of the vehicle 1.
• the modules 23 and 25 are arranged at respective connection points 35 and 36, each connection point 35 and 36 having electrical connection means (not shown) and mechanical holding means (not shown).
• the connection points 35 and 36 are preferably such that the modules 23 and 25 can be plugged on, so that the correct electrical connections are automatically established and also the mechanical fastening and securing of the modules is carried out automatically, for example by releasable snap-in means.
• Fig. 3 shows the modules 23 and 25 of the control valve 1 9 from Fig. 2 after moving in a respective second operating position on the front parapet 1 5 of the driver's cab 1 1, namely at connection points 35 'and 36', which correspond to the connection points 35 and 36 are constructed. 3, the operator 27 works in a posture oriented towards the load-carrying means 13.
• the arrangement of the modules 23 and 25 in the front area of the driver's cab 1 1 according to FIG. 3 can be expedient if, in typical use of the order picking device 1, longer distances are to be overcome more frequently without interruption in the forward driving mode than in the reverse driving mode or if the order picking device 1 is operated more frequently in forward driving mode than in reverse driving mode.
• the operating elements 29, 31, 33 do not project outwards beyond a lower wall area 43, 44 or an upper wall area 43 ', 44' of the respective module 23 or 25, so that they have a protected installation position and the Operator 27 when loading the load handler 1 3 from the driver's cab 1 1 do not hinder.
• FIG. 4 A very interesting possibility of arranging the modules 23 and 25 is shown in FIG. 4.
• one module, in the example the second module 25, is in its operating position shown in FIG. 3 on the front parapet 15 and the other module, in the example the first module 23, in the operating position shown in FIG. 2 on the rear wall 21 of the driver's cabin.
• the operator 27, essentially oriented transversely to the direction of travel or forward / backward direction, can operate controls of the first module 23 with the left hand and controls of the second module 25 with the right hand.
• the arrangement of the modules 23 and 25 shown in FIG. 4 can be very useful, for example, if, in typical use of the order-picking device 1, there is a frequent change between forward driving and backward driving, for example when searching in a racking aisle (not shown) along a the shelf opposite the operator.
• the modules can alternatively be arranged on the other side of the cabin 1 1. Furthermore, one of the modules 23 or 25 or both modules 23 and 25 can be provided in duplicate, so that combinations of the arrangement of the modules 23 and 25 shown in FIGS. 2-4 are permanently available without the implementation of modules 23 or 25.
• 47 and 49 foot switches are shown, which are designed as so-called dead man's switch. Driving operation and lifting operation of the picking device 1 are only released when a relevant foot switch 47 or 49 is depressed. The foot switches 47 and 49 are positioned such that one of them can be depressed with one foot by the operator in the respective posture of the operator according to FIGS. 2-4.
• a button 50 for so-called two-hand safety operation can be provided on the first module 23.
• the button 50 When the button 50 is not pressed, the driving operation of the order-picking device 1 is possible, but not the lifting operation of the cabin 1 1 and the load handling device 1 3.
• the lifting function controls 33 of the second module 25 are then switched to inactive.
• a lifting function selector switch or pushbutton 52 is also provided on the first module 23, which can be operated together with the pushbutton 50 with one hand.
• the switches 50 and 52 can also be combined on a common control element.
• an electronic control device (not shown) occupies the lifting function operating elements 33 on the second module 25 with the functions of lifting or lowering the driver's cab 1 1 together with the load suspension means 1 3 (main lift) arranged thereon.
• the control device assigns the lifting function control elements 33 with the functions of lifting or lowering the load-carrying means 1 3 relative to the driver's cab 1 1 (additional lift).
• FIG. 5 shows, in a plan view similar to FIGS. 2-4, an order-picking device 101 which essentially has the structure shown in FIG. 1. Elements in FIG. 5 which correspond to elements according to FIGS. 1-4 are each identified by the same reference numbers plus 1 00.
• a first operating fitting 11 9 with a functional area 123 for actuation with the left hand and a second functional area 125 for actuation with the right hand of an operator standing in the cabin 1111 facing the rear of the order-picking device 101 is on the rear wall 1 21 of the driver's cab 1 1 1 arranged.
• the control valve 1 1 9 can be installed irreversibly.
• the meaning of the operating elements 1 29, 1 31, 1 33, 1 50 and 1 52 preferably corresponds to the meaning of the operating elements 31, 33, 50 and 52 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2-4.
• a second control valve 1 1 9 'with functional areas 1 25' and 1 26 is arranged on the front parapet 1 1 5 of the driver's cab 1 1 1.
• the same operating functions are assigned to the functional area 1 25 ′ as the functional area 1 25.
• the functional area 1 26 has a two-hand operation safety button 1 50 and a lifting function selection switch or button 1 52.
• the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs from that according to FIG. 5 in that the second control valve 21 9 'on the front parapet 21 5 is modified.
• the functional area 225 ′ has operating elements 233 for the lifting functions of lifting and lowering the driver's cab 21 1 or the load-carrying means 21 3 relative to the driver's cab 21 1.
• the functional area 226 has a lift function selector switch 252 which optionally assigns the operating elements 233 to the main lift (driver's cab 21 1) or the additional lift (load-carrying device 21 3 relative to the driver's cab).
• the invention is not limited to the assignment of functions or operating elements to the described operating function areas described in the exemplary embodiments.
• the operating function areas can possibly be occupied with other combinations of the operating functions and possibly have further operating functions.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
• Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
• Addition Polymer Or Copolymer, Post-Treatments, Or Chemical Modifications (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Pile Receivers (AREA)

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• 1997
  • 1997-11-10 DE DE19749679A patent/DE19749679A1/de not_active Ceased
• 1998
  • 1998-11-09 CA CA002304245A patent/CA2304245C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-09 AU AU16681/99A patent/AU1668199A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-11-09 DE DE59802864T patent/DE59802864D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-09 JP JP2000520372A patent/JP2001522772A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-11-09 AT AT98961162T patent/ATE211714T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-11-09 EP EP98961162A patent/EP1030816B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-09 WO PCT/EP1998/007145 patent/WO1999024349A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-11-09 ES ES98961162T patent/ES2172253T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-09 PT PT98961162T patent/PT1030816E/pt unknown
  • 1998-11-09 DK DK98961162T patent/DK1030816T3/da active
• 2000
  • 2000-03-15 US US09/526,241 patent/US6564906B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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