EP3770106A1 - Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche - Google Patents

Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3770106A1
EP3770106A1 EP19425058.5A EP19425058A EP3770106A1 EP 3770106 A1 EP3770106 A1 EP 3770106A1 EP 19425058 A EP19425058 A EP 19425058A EP 3770106 A1 EP3770106 A1 EP 3770106A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
prongs
fork
pallet
arms
prong
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP19425058.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3770106B1 (fr
Inventor
Patrizio Trecco
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.)
Euroimpianti SpA
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Euroimpianti SpA
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
Application filed by Euroimpianti SpA filed Critical Euroimpianti SpA
Priority to EP19425058.5A priority Critical patent/EP3770106B1/fr
Priority to PL20731114.3T priority patent/PL4003898T3/pl
Priority to EP20731114.3A priority patent/EP4003898B1/fr
Priority to ES20731114T priority patent/ES2949810T3/es
Priority to PCT/EP2020/066176 priority patent/WO2021013430A1/fr
Publication of EP3770106A1 publication Critical patent/EP3770106A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3770106B1 publication Critical patent/EP3770106B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B66F9/18—Load gripping or retaining means
    • 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
    • B66F9/063—Automatically guided
    • 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
    • B66F9/0755—Position control; Position detectors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automated fork system.
  • the present invention further relates to an automated guided vehicle having such a fork system.
  • the present invention relates to a method of lifting an object, such as a pallet.
  • a forks unit is known in the art, for transporting pallets by means of a fork-lift.
  • Object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a system of automated forks, and its related method, which allow automatically working pallets having different sizes, from the smallest ones (e.g. sizes of 480 x 550 mm, height 500 mm, mass 375 kg) to the biggest ones (e.g. sizes of 2600 x 1200 mm, height 2400 mm, mass 1000 kg).
  • the smallest ones e.g. sizes of 480 x 550 mm, height 500 mm, mass 375 kg
  • the biggest ones e.g. sizes of 2600 x 1200 mm, height 2400 mm, mass 1000 kg.
  • an automated guided vehicle comprising an automated fork system of the above type.
  • This automated guided vehicle can automatically lift an arbitrary pallet from a floor, and automatically move it to a desired position.
  • This method provides for efficient and easy lifting of a pallet, without the need of manual adjustment of the fork to different types of pallets.
  • a preferred, but absolutely not limiting, embodiment of the automated fork system 1 of the present invention is shown and described.
  • Such system is equipped with a fork-carrier plate 9 and has two parallel and extensible shaped arms 7.
  • the two parallel arms 7 can be moved in a lateral direction by means of, for example, hydraulic actuators arranged in the fork-carrier plate 9, to alter the horizontal distance between the two arms 7 in order to embrace pallet 8 having different widths, by engaging the recess available below the pallet 8 with a different size.
  • respective fork arms 3 are arranged under the respective arms 7.
  • the fork arms 3 can be moved along the arms 7, meaning the fork arms 3 can be moved away or towards the fork-carrier plate 9, to accommodate for long and short pallets 8.
  • the pallet 8 is typically loaded with a stack of packages or other items to be transported, although this is not illustrated in Fig. 1 for clarity of illustration.
  • FIG. 1A in which the pallet itself is not shown for clarity of illustration, shows the arms 7 and fork arms 3 having some of the prongs 5 extend out from the fork arms 3 and into such spaces of the pallet, while other prongs remain retracted, because their positions are in register with feet of the pallet.
  • each of the two fork arms 3 has quite a number of integral or independent retractable prongs 5:
  • Each fork arm 3 typically has five or more prongs 5, more preferably ten or more prongs 5, and most preferably from twelve to twenty prongs 5.
  • fifteen prongs 5 for each fork arm 3, drawn in their maximum extension position, are shown in this specific case.
  • Number, structural strength and extension stroke of the prongs 5, mutually equal or different, are variable and will be adapted to a specific coupling need with the types of pallets 8 to be lifted.
  • Each fork arm 3 contains electric, magnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic devices in order to perform the autonomous, simultaneous or coordinate movement of the prongs 5 by which the prongs 5 that are located in register with a space 11 extends into such a space 11, while prongs 5 that are in register with a foot 10 is stopped in its movement.
  • a number of prongs 5 will find a respective space 11 and extend into such space 11, and those prongs 5 will be the ones that enable the arms 7 to lift the pallet 8 from the ground.
  • the extension of the prongs 5 can be obtained, for example, by pneumatic actuators which could drive a single prong 5 or a group of prongs 5.
  • Suitable rollers 6 and sliding plates 12 ensure the desired stroke for the prong 5; for such purpose, every prong 5 is placed on a sliding plate 12 adapted to alternatively slide through rollers 6 with which it is equipped.
  • every prong 5 on the tip 5' can comprise a cutter, preferably a heated cutter, if the prong 5 itself has to open its way by penetrating a coating film which overhangs on the pallet 8 preventing the respective space 11 from being engaged.
  • the extension force of every single prong 5 is regulated to win frictions and penetrate possible plastic film coatings, without however damaging the pallet 8 should the prong stroke be prevented by the abutment on structural elements, such as a foot 10, of the pallet 8 itself.
  • the pneumatic actuator 4 may be provided with a pressure regulator 13, such that the prong 5 cannot push with a too high force if a foot 10 is in its way of movement.
  • Other types of sensors are also possible, such sensors using mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or optical sensing principles to detect if the prong 5 is extended against a foot 10, or another structural element of the pallet 8, and that therefore the further extension of the prong 5 should be stopped.
  • Electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, magnetic or optical sensors monitor the actual stroke of every single prong 5, so that an operator or the controlling computer can decide whether an enough and correctly distributed number of prongs 5 has embraced the pallet 8, by extending into spaces 11, on both fork arms 3 and therefore it is safe to proceed with a lifting of the pallet 8.
  • Lifting of the pallet 8 occurs after the due fork arms 3 have been closed to the width of the pallet 8 to be transported and after that the number and distribution of the engaged prongs 5, meaning prongs extending into spaces 11, has been judged enough for lifting the pallet 8 and any load placed thereon.
  • Each of the extensible shaped arms 7 can be equipped with standard assembling connections 2 on commercial fork-carrier plates, namely fork-carrier plates already present on the market to use standard lifting accessories, or can be directly assembled on a new and different fork-carrier plate suitably obtained for this exclusive use.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an automated guided vehicle 14.
  • the automated guided vehicle or automatic guided vehicle is a portable robot that may be guided by, e.g., lines or wires on the floor, or by radio waves, vision cameras, magnets, laser etc. for navigation.
  • the automated guided vehicle 14 is provided with the automated fork system 1 described hereinabove.
  • the automated fork system 1 may be attached by means of the standard assembling connections 2.
  • the automated guided vehicle 14 can automatically pick up a pallet 8, wherein the prongs 5 of the fork arms 3 of the automated fork system 1 automatically can find and extend into spaces 11, and avoid damaging feet 10, such that the automated guided vehicle 14 can automatically and safely lift and then transport the pallet 8 from one location to another.
  • the invention further deals with a method for automatically lifting a pallet, this method comprising the steps of:

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
EP19425058.5A 2019-07-25 2019-07-25 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche Active EP3770106B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19425058.5A EP3770106B1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2019-07-25 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche
PL20731114.3T PL4003898T3 (pl) 2019-07-25 2020-06-11 Zautomatyzowany układ widłowy i wózek samojezdny mający taki układ widłowy
EP20731114.3A EP4003898B1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2020-06-11 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche
ES20731114T ES2949810T3 (es) 2019-07-25 2020-06-11 Sistema y procedimiento de horquilla automatizado y vehículo automáticamente guiado provisto de dicho sistema de horquilla
PCT/EP2020/066176 WO2021013430A1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2020-06-11 Système de fourche automatisé et procédé et véhicule guidé automatisé doté d'un tel système de fourche

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19425058.5A EP3770106B1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2019-07-25 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3770106A1 true EP3770106A1 (fr) 2021-01-27
EP3770106B1 EP3770106B1 (fr) 2024-07-31

Family

ID=67874409

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19425058.5A Active EP3770106B1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2019-07-25 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche
EP20731114.3A Active EP4003898B1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2020-06-11 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20731114.3A Active EP4003898B1 (fr) 2019-07-25 2020-06-11 Système et procédé de fourche automatisé et véhicule guidé automatisé ayant un tel système de fourche

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (2) EP3770106B1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2949810T3 (fr)
PL (1) PL4003898T3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2021013430A1 (fr)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4747610A (en) * 1987-08-20 1988-05-31 Barrett Industrial Trucks, Inc. Pallet sensor for lift truck
DE4234375A1 (de) * 1992-10-12 1994-04-14 Schoeller Transportautomation Vorrichtung zur Personen- und Kollisionssicherung von fahrerlosen Gabelhubfahrzeugen
FR2721594A1 (fr) * 1994-06-27 1995-12-29 Christian Blonde Dispositif de stockage pour palettes.
DE29620342U1 (de) * 1996-11-22 1998-03-19 Westfalia-WST-Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, 33829 Borgholzhausen Satellitenfahrzeug
FR2773551A1 (fr) * 1998-01-09 1999-07-16 Fleury Michon Logistique Magasin a palettes, chariot de manutention pour palettes equipe d'un tel magasin et procede d'alimentation en palettes du chariot
US20140023462A1 (en) * 2010-12-09 2014-01-23 SSI Schafer NoeII GmbH Lager-und Systemtechnik Universal load-lifting means for the palettless handling of goods to be loaded onto paletts
WO2014111698A1 (fr) * 2013-01-15 2014-07-24 Simon Eccleston Appareil d'empilement de palettes
JP2016094253A (ja) * 2016-01-19 2016-05-26 昭和アルミニウム缶株式会社 切目刻設方法
CN206985635U (zh) * 2017-05-22 2018-02-09 珠海见卓思特科技有限公司 叉车

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3930587A (en) * 1973-04-12 1976-01-06 Bliss George N Retractable chain lifting device

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4747610A (en) * 1987-08-20 1988-05-31 Barrett Industrial Trucks, Inc. Pallet sensor for lift truck
DE4234375A1 (de) * 1992-10-12 1994-04-14 Schoeller Transportautomation Vorrichtung zur Personen- und Kollisionssicherung von fahrerlosen Gabelhubfahrzeugen
FR2721594A1 (fr) * 1994-06-27 1995-12-29 Christian Blonde Dispositif de stockage pour palettes.
DE29620342U1 (de) * 1996-11-22 1998-03-19 Westfalia-WST-Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, 33829 Borgholzhausen Satellitenfahrzeug
FR2773551A1 (fr) * 1998-01-09 1999-07-16 Fleury Michon Logistique Magasin a palettes, chariot de manutention pour palettes equipe d'un tel magasin et procede d'alimentation en palettes du chariot
US20140023462A1 (en) * 2010-12-09 2014-01-23 SSI Schafer NoeII GmbH Lager-und Systemtechnik Universal load-lifting means for the palettless handling of goods to be loaded onto paletts
WO2014111698A1 (fr) * 2013-01-15 2014-07-24 Simon Eccleston Appareil d'empilement de palettes
JP2016094253A (ja) * 2016-01-19 2016-05-26 昭和アルミニウム缶株式会社 切目刻設方法
CN206985635U (zh) * 2017-05-22 2018-02-09 珠海见卓思特科技有限公司 叉车

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2949810T3 (es) 2023-10-03
EP4003898B1 (fr) 2023-04-19
EP4003898A1 (fr) 2022-06-01
WO2021013430A1 (fr) 2021-01-28
EP3770106B1 (fr) 2024-07-31
PL4003898T3 (pl) 2023-07-24

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