FR3102727A1 - Device for secure movement of a load carried by a pallet. - Google Patents

Abstract

Secure movement device intended to be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle, this device comprising on the one hand, at the rear a vertically movable plate which, using first motor means, move this movable plate carrying a pallet between a high level and a low level and on the other hand, a platform forming with the aforementioned platform a flat storage area for two pallets arranged one behind the other, this displacement device being characterized in that second motor means move the platform longitudinally between a front limit located at the front of the chassis and a rear limit where the whole of the vertically movable tray is cantilevered with respect to the chassis so as to be able to move vertically and the movable tray can occupy a third level located below the level of the upper face of the platform to form a sort of cavity housing a pallet. Figure for the abstract: figure 1

Description

Device for secure movement of a load carried by a pallet.

The invention relates to a device for the secure movement of a load carried by a pallet between two surfaces located at different levels such as the floor of a vehicle and the ground.

It also relates to the vehicle equipped with the displacement device.

The delivery of products or objects packaged on a pallet is increasingly common. To do this, the delivery truck contains the pallets placed on the floor of the truck. On these pallets are stacked boxes of goods or a single bulky object such as household appliances, for example a refrigerator. Instead of pallets, it can be a container filled with liquid.

For the continuation of the description by pallet we will understand a pallet carrying a load, or a load falling within the dimensions of a pallet. The dimension of a so-called European pallet is 800 * 1200 mm. In the American market the pallet is 1000 * 1200mm.

To maneuver these pallets, usually a pallet truck is used which is a kind of fork with two tines equipped with wheels. The two teeth are engaged in the thickness of the pallet which has suitable seats.

The simplest pallet truck has no motorization. A hydraulic pump is associated with an operating arm and it is with the movement of the arm that the hydraulic pump is actuated which lifts the tines by means of the wheels. is done by human traction on the operating arm, the lower end of which is guided in rotation.

A battery and an electric motor can be fitted to the pallet truck and thus reduce the effort during maneuvers.

Mini-tractors are also known which carry a fork at the front. These machines are designed to handle pallets over short distances but are not approved for use on the roads.

Consequently, during delivery, the truck must be positioned near the unloading site, put the pallet on the ground, take it back with the pallet truck to transport the pallet and its contents. These machines are designed to handle and transport a single pallet carried by the fork.

The truck's approach to its delivery point is always necessary, which is a problem.

Usually during door-to-door deliveries a single pallet is sufficient, but sometimes two must be used. The known devices are not designed to transport two pallets.

On large vehicles, the rear of the truck is equipped with a sort of platform which is positioned in the extension of the receiving surface of the truck to transfer the goods placed on a pallet and then this platform is lowered to the ground where the pallet can be picked up by a machine. This device is also called a tail lift. Jacks and arms are used to extend the tailgate and then move it along a vertical axis while keeping the load-bearing surface of the tailgate horizontal. The tailgate is outside the load surface of the truck. Often in stowed mode it prevents the opening of the rear doors of the truck.

This platform has a small surface area and care must be taken not to fall when maneuvering with the pallet truck, especially when the vehicle is not parked on a horizontal surface and therefore on a slope. Because of this slope, the weight of the goods can push the operator off the platform. We can quickly imagine the difficulty if we apply the principle to a small vehicle which will be equipped with a small platform. In addition, systems with this type of platform are not available for small vehicles (van of less than 3.5 t) because the structure of small vehicles such as sheet metal vans is not sufficiently resistant. In addition, the height of the floor is too low to install a tail lift and the wheel arches are inconvenient.

The invention relates to a secure movement device that can be fitted to a small motorized vehicle having a small size capable of moving and / or storing pallets arranged in single file.

It also relates to the vehicle equipped with the displacement device.

The subject of the invention is a secure movement device intended to be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle, this device comprising on the one hand, at the rear, a vertically movable plate which, using first motor means , moves vertically between a high level and a low level and on the other hand, a platform forming with the aforementioned plate a flat storage area for two pallets arranged one behind the other, this displacement device being characterized in that second motor means move the plate and the platform longitudinally between a front limit located at the front of the chassis and a rear limit where the whole of the vertically movable plate is cantilevered with respect to the chassis so as to be able to move vertically and the movable plate can occupy a third level located below the level of the upper face of the platform to form a sort of cavity housing a pallet.

The subject of the invention is also a vehicle equipped with said moving device.

The invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description below given by way of non-limiting example with regard to the drawings which represent:

The device of the invention on a vehicle in circulation mode

The vehicle of figure 1 in unloading position of a pallet

Pallet loading kinetics 2

Pallet loading kinetics 1

Pallet unloading kinetics 1

Pallet unloading kinetics 2

A pallet seen from below with a lock in the hooked position

an application on a 3t5 paneled vehicle.

view of the longitudinal motor means

lock kinetics.

Referring to the drawing, we see a secure movement device 1 intended to be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle, this device comprising a flat storage area 2 formed by a platform 3 at the front and juxtaposed to this platform 3 , a plate 4 at the rear, this plate being moved vertically by first motor means 5 between two levels, this displacement device being characterized in that on the one hand, second motor means 6 move the plate 4 longitudinally between a limit A front located at the front of the chassis and a rear limit R where the whole of the vertically movable plate 4 is cantilevered with respect to the chassis and, on the other hand, the movable plate can occupy a third level located under the level of the upper face 3A of the platform to form a cavity capable of accommodating the base of a pallet during unloading.

The platform and the plate are carried indirectly by side members 7 guided in translation on longitudinal members 8 fitted to the frame. The side members are moved by 6 motor means which will be described later.

The plate is connected to each spar by a rigid vertical structure 10 provided with actuators 5 for raising or lowering the plate.

The rigid structure 10 forms a frame which keeps the plate parallel to the upper plane of the platform, the vertical branches 10 A of the frame providing vertical translation guidance and positioning.

The actuators can optionally be housed in the vertical branches. A control means controls the operation of the actuators which are for example hydraulic.

For the second means 6 motors moving horizontally the elements 3, 4 having the storage area, among the possible actuators, we know the rack driven by a motorized toothed wheel.

Here the solution adopted for the second means consist of at least one group of two hydraulic jacks 6A, 6B arranged in parallel and assembled in opposite directions by one of their ends so that the end of one of the jack rods is integral with the end of the body of the other jack, the strokes of the two rods being added in opposite directions and the other two ends are for one fixed on a fixed point of the displacement device such as a member or the frame and for the The other is fixed to the platform and the lengths of the jacks and their rod and the points of attachment of the ends of the group of jacks are determined so as to be able to bring the movable plate between the aforementioned limits A and R.

So when the first cylinder, one end of which is fixed to a frame or to the frame, is fully extended (rod extended rearward) and the second cylinder with its complementary rod retracted, the plate is in the rear position in overhang. to be moved vertically.

When the first cylinder has its rod retracted and the second cylinder has its rod extended, the plate is in its most forward position.

Of course, it all depends on the range of motion and the size of the cylinders.

Either a single group of jacks will be used, which will then be positioned along the longitudinal median axis of the device, or we will use two groups of jacks mounted on either side of the median axis and for example on the frames.

The movable platform has a flap 12 on its rear edge to prevent the pallet from sliding back when loading the pallets.

The unloading of the pallets will be explained below. For the drawings, the pallets have been shown without placing a load on them, but in reality loads exist.

The storage area has pallet No. 2 at the front and pallet No. 1 at the rear. The pallet 1 is therefore carried by the movable plate and the pallet 2 carried by the platform.

For unloading, the movable platform is moved backwards (on the right in figure 3) to position itself completely overhanging. It is therefore lowered to the ground and the pallet can be recovered.

The movable plate rises to the level of the platform. The platform / platform assembly then moves towards the front of the vehicle. Pallet N ° 2 which is on the platform then comes up against a stopper and therefore slides backwards on the platform which is still moving forward as well as the platform. When the platform has reached the end of the race, the pallet 2 is positioned entirely on the platform. This is then slightly lowered to reach the third level and in this position the rear edge of the platform forms a stop holding the pallet in place on the platform which continues its movement towards the rear to end up in an overhang and therefore in position to lower pallet N ° 2.

The loading :

We bring the tray to the ground and place a pallet on it. The plateau rises and then moves forward until the end of the race. A lock 14 is put in place to immobilize the pallet located furthest forward. Moving the tray backwards slides the pallet on the platform provided that the pallet is held stationary hence the presence of the hook and therefore frees the surface of the tray which can then be lowered to be loaded.

The lock can be produced by a hook mounted on an axis, one face of which forms a ramp which cooperates with a surface of the pallet separates the hook until the pallet is sufficiently advanced for the hook to fold down and lock the pallet. A spring urges the hook towards the anchor or lock. Another embodiment is described below.

An actuator such as an electromagnet can be used to move the hook away from its locking position to unload the pallet. You can also use a pivoting lock moved by a double-acting cylinder (figure 7 or 10)

To make pallets we use wooden wedges on which wedges a board is nailed above and one below, these wedges are used to give thickness to slide between the boards the teeth of the fork of a pallet truck and can also serve as a fulcrum for the locking hook.

As can be seen in figure 1 or 2, a small specialized vehicle is used to equip it with the device. But this device can be mounted on more conventional panel vans having a side access door.

To accommodate two Euro-type pallets, the storage area will be approximately 1600 mm long, leaving room at the front where a fixed floor is installed to receive merchandise not packaged on pallets. The floor will be built in a plane higher than the platform and it will be preserved under said floor a passage to engage said platform during loading or unloading.

As can be seen from the last figures, the device can be mounted inside a panel van in its middle part. Admittedly, it occupies part of the height initially available, but makes it possible to easily maneuver heavy or bulky loads located at different levels without an operator having to climb into the truck. The device therefore combines horizontal and vertical displacement.

To load it is noted that the pallet 2 transits on the plate thanks to the stops.

Claims (10)

Secure displacement device intended to be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle, this device comprising on the one hand, first motor means (5) vertically moving a movable plate between a high level and a low level, the said movable plate carrying a pallet and on the other hand, a platform (4) forming with the aforementioned plate a flat storage area (2) for two pallets arranged one behind the other, this displacement device being characterized in that second motor means (6) move the platform longitudinally between a front limit (A) located at the front of the chassis and a rear limit (R) where the whole of the vertically movable platform is cantilevered with respect to the chassis in order to thus be able to move vertically and the movable plate can occupy a third level located below the level of the upper face of the platform to form a sort of cavity housing a pallet. Device for the secure movement of two pallets according to Claim 1, characterized in that the platform and the plate are carried indirectly by lateral longitudinal members (7) guided in translation on longitudinal members (8) fitted to the frame. Device for the secure movement of two pallets according to Claim 2, characterized in that the plate is connected to each side member by a vertical rigid structure (10) provided with actuators for raising or lowering the plate. Device for the secure movement of two pallets according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second means consist of at least one group of two hydraulic jacks (6A, 6B) arranged in parallel and assembled in opposite directions by one of their ends so that the end of one of the cylinder rods is integral with the end of the body of the other cylinder, the strokes of the two rods being added in opposite directions and the other two ends are for one fixed to a fixed point of the movement device such as a member or the frame and for the other fixed to the platform and the lengths of the jacks and their rod and the points of attachment of the ends of the group of jacks are determined in order to be able to bring the movable plate between the limits A and R above. Device for the secure movement of two pallets according to Claim 4, characterized in that when the jack (6A), one end of which is fixed to a member or to the frame, is fully deployed (rod extended rearward) and that the second jack ( 6B) with its complementary rod retracted, the plate is in the rear overhang position to be moved vertically and when the cylinder (6A) has its rod retracted and the cylinder (6B) has its rod extended, the plate is in its most forward position. Device for the secure movement of two pallets according to Claim 1, characterized in that a lock (14) is put in place to immobilize the pallet located most forward. Device for the secure movement of two pallets according to Claim 6, characterized in that the latch (14) is produced by a hook mounted on an axis, one face (14A) of which forms a ramp which cooperating with a surface of the pallet separates the hook for that the hook folds down and locks the pallet. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the lock is actuated by a double-acting cylinder. Vehicle for transferring goods carried by a pallet characterized in that it comprises a pallet moving device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Vehicle according to Claim 9, characterized in that the vehicle is of the panel van type equipped with a side door.