GB2135963A

GB2135963A - Mushroom box tipper

Info

Publication number: GB2135963A
Application number: GB08217624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Henry Abram; James Rothwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-18
Filing date: 1982-06-18
Publication date: 1984-09-12

Abstract

A tipping device for a mushroom box is adapted to be supported on a fork lift truck by an outer frame 'c' within which is pivotally supported an inner frame 'a' for locating the box 'b'. The inner frame is tipped forwardly by a ram 'd' about pivot 'e' to empty the box and is prevented from sliding forwardly during tipping by spring loaded stops mounted on pivotable arms. When the inner frame is nested within the outer frame, pins on the arms engage the outer frame to pivot the arms to a position in which the stops are in an inoperative position and the box can be removed. In an alternative construction the stops are mounted on rotatable arms. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mushroom box tipper The invention relates to fork lift truck mounted mushroom box tippers.

The objective is to have a tipping device which is mounted to the carriage of a fork lift truck or other such mobile handling device with a carriage for attachment of this tipping device. The ability to have this tipping device on a manoeuvreable vehicle is an important aspect of the efficiency and flexibility of the tipping system.

Hitherto, mobile mushroom box tippers have been of the rotating type (rotating about an horizontal axis going forward from the fork lift carriage) or of the type which pivot round about the centre of the box (i.e. about an axis parallel to the carriage and approx.

half the box length forward of the carriage). Both these types of tipping systems have, because of their tipping action, the disadvantage of tipping below the height of the none tipped box. This height loss is generally of the order of 30 to 50 percent of the sides of the box in plan view).

Further, existing mobile box tippers use either hydraulic side clamping arrangements, or a hydraulic actuated upper retaining arm which clamps the top of the box and then the rotation or pivoting for tip can commence.

The present invention is based on the recognition that a pivot point positioned at the forward end will minimise or eliminate loss in tipping height. Also the invention prevents the boxes from falling out by purely mechanical means. The invention also recognises the importance of giving the box a "knock" (or abrupt decelleration) to ensure a clean and complete tip of the products within the box. This knock is created by allowing the box to fall freely under its own weight and inertia until it is stopped by the mechanical constraining system.

Accordingly the invention consists of a steel fabricated inner and outer frame. Figure No. 1 shows the inner frame 'a' which forward tips with the box 'b' inside it. The outer frame 'c' is rigidly clamped to the carriage of the fork lift truck and provides the support for the forward pivot of the inner frame and abutmentforthe hydraulic (or pneumatic) ram 'd'.

Two hydraulic rams are attached to the inner and outer frame on each side and provides the mechanism for tipping the inner frame about the pivot pins 'e'. Atip angle of between 100" and 140" can be achieved.

More details of the inner frame are shown in Figure No. 2 where 'f' shows the two (or more) forks on which the box is supported upon. Back stops 'g' prevent the back of the box from falling out of the inner frame, and these stops vary in height from 4" to 15" above the box back sideboard. This height of the stop determines how much of a knock the box receives when it free falls.

To prevent the box from slipping forward on tip, a retaining arm 'h' with a plate or angle section at its front end contacts the box at the top and/or front corner. This retaining arm pivots about a point 'i' and is prevented from swinging too far by a bridge type member 'k' within which it slides. The bridge members 'k' can either have side box stops '1' incorporated, or alternatively allow the retaining arm to contact the top of the bridge member 'k', and thus prevent the box falling out. To facilitate entry and exit of the box into the device, this retracting arm is made to lift clear when the inner frame is in the down position. This is accomplished by a pin 'j' made to abut against the outer frame. The light spring 'm' keeps the retaining arm 'h' in contact with the top of the box.

An alternative method to prevent forward slipping out of the box is shown in Figure No. 3. This principle uses a rotating retaining arm instead of a pivoting action, which again abutment against the outer frame.

Each alternative retaining arm system uses stain energy in the form of springs to bring the arms into contact with the box.

The advantages of the box tipper are as follows: 1. The tipper is constructed to be fitted to a fork lift truck or similar device and this makes it manoeuverable and efficient.

2. The pivot can be positioned well forward on this forward tipping device so: (a) Height is not lost in its tipping action.

(b) The discharged products from the box are thrown a long way forward, which can result in the truck or trailer into which content are being tipped only requiring loading from one side.

3. Manufacture is simplified because the box is constrained mechanically and not by hydraulic/or pneumatic rams, which need either extra control valves or extra feed lines to operate the tipping cycle.

4. The mechanical constraining system allows the box to drop a controlled distance under its own weight, and this gives the box a "knock" to achieve a complete and clean tip.

6. The power source for the hydraulic rams is taken from the fork lift truck.

7. Box damage is reduced because clamping is not required to constrain the box from falling out of the device, this clamping is difficult to control and often results in crushing the box.

8. There is no need to have full length retaining bars going over the top of the box which can trap the contents behind it and result in products being left in the box after tip.

CLAIMS (Filed on 5 Oct. '83) 1. A mushroom box tipper comprises of an outer frame for attachment to the forklift truck, and a forward pivoting inner frame in which the mushroom box is supported. The inner frame retaining arms are made to lift when the inner frame is in the down position thus allowing normal forklift pick up of the mushroom box. When the tipping operation starts the inner frame rotates relative to the outer frame allowing the retaining arm to fall over the front of the box and prevents the box from sliding out of the inner constraining frame.

2. A mushroom box tipper as claimed in claim 1 with a forward tipping action and pivot positioned

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

SPECIFICATION Mushroom box tipper The invention relates to fork lift truck mounted mushroom box tippers.

The objective is to have a tipping device which is mounted to the carriage of a fork lift truck or other such mobile handling device with a carriage for attachment of this tipping device. The ability to have this tipping device on a manoeuvreable vehicle is an important aspect of the efficiency and flexibility of the tipping system.

Hitherto, mobile mushroom box tippers have been of the rotating type (rotating about an horizontal axis going forward from the fork lift carriage) or of the type which pivot round about the centre of the box (i.e. about an axis parallel to the carriage and approx.

half the box length forward of the carriage). Both these types of tipping systems have, because of their tipping action, the disadvantage of tipping below the height of the none tipped box. This height loss is generally of the order of 30 to 50 percent of the sides of the box in plan view).

Further, existing mobile box tippers use either hydraulic side clamping arrangements, or a hydraulic actuated upper retaining arm which clamps the top of the box and then the rotation or pivoting for tip can commence.

The present invention is based on the recognition that a pivot point positioned at the forward end will minimise or eliminate loss in tipping height. Also the invention prevents the boxes from falling out by purely mechanical means. The invention also recognises the importance of giving the box a "knock" (or abrupt decelleration) to ensure a clean and complete tip of the products within the box. This knock is created by allowing the box to fall freely under its own weight and inertia until it is stopped by the mechanical constraining system.

Accordingly the invention consists of a steel fabricated inner and outer frame. Figure No. 1 shows the inner frame 'a' which forward tips with the box 'b' inside it. The outer frame 'c' is rigidly clamped to the carriage of the fork lift truck and provides the support for the forward pivot of the inner frame and abutmentforthe hydraulic (or pneumatic) ram 'd'.

Two hydraulic rams are attached to the inner and outer frame on each side and provides the mechanism for tipping the inner frame about the pivot pins 'e'. Atip angle of between 100" and 140" can be achieved.

More details of the inner frame are shown in Figure No. 2 where 'f' shows the two (or more) forks on which the box is supported upon. Back stops 'g' prevent the back of the box from falling out of the inner frame, and these stops vary in height from 4" to 15" above the box back sideboard. This height of the stop determines how much of a knock the box receives when it free falls.

To prevent the box from slipping forward on tip, a retaining arm 'h' with a plate or angle section at its front end contacts the box at the top and/or front corner. This retaining arm pivots about a point 'i' and is prevented from swinging too far by a bridge type member 'k' within which it slides. The bridge members 'k' can either have side box stops '1' incorporated, or alternatively allow the retaining arm to contact the top of the bridge member 'k', and thus prevent the box falling out. To facilitate entry and exit of the box into the device, this retracting arm is made to lift clear when the inner frame is in the down position. This is accomplished by a pin 'j' made to abut against the outer frame. The light spring 'm' keeps the retaining arm 'h' in contact with the top of the box.

An alternative method to prevent forward slipping out of the box is shown in Figure No. 3. This principle uses a rotating retaining arm instead of a pivoting action, which again abutment against the outer frame.

Each alternative retaining arm system uses stain energy in the form of springs to bring the arms into contact with the box.

The advantages of the box tipper are as follows:

1. The tipper is constructed to be fitted to a fork lift truck or similar device and this makes it manoeuverable and efficient.

2. The pivot can be positioned well forward on this forward tipping device so: (a) Height is not lost in its tipping action.

(b) The discharged products from the box are thrown a long way forward, which can result in the truck or trailer into which content are being tipped only requiring loading from one side.

3. Manufacture is simplified because the box is constrained mechanically and not by hydraulic/or pneumatic rams, which need either extra control valves or extra feed lines to operate the tipping cycle.

4. The mechanical constraining system allows the box to drop a controlled distance under its own weight, and this gives the box a "knock" to achieve a complete and clean tip.

6. The power source for the hydraulic rams is taken from the fork lift truck.

7. Box damage is reduced because clamping is not required to constrain the box from falling out of the device, this clamping is difficult to control and often results in crushing the box.

8. There is no need to have full length retaining bars going over the top of the box which can trap the contents behind it and result in products being left in the box after tip.

CLAIMS (Filed on 5 Oct. '83)

1. A mushroom box tipper comprises of an outer frame for attachment to the forklift truck, and a forward pivoting inner frame in which the mushroom box is supported. The inner frame retaining arms are made to lift when the inner frame is in the down position thus allowing normal forklift pick up of the mushroom box. When the tipping operation starts the inner frame rotates relative to the outer frame allowing the retaining arm to fall over the front of the box and prevents the box from sliding out of the inner constraining frame.

2. A mushroom box tipper as claimed in claim 1 with a forward tipping action and pivot positioned well forward looses minimal height in the tipping operation, also the discharged products from the box are thrown a long way forward which means the truck or trailer into which the contents are being tipped need only be efficiently loaded from one side.

3. A mushroom box tipper constrains the box in the inner frame from falling out by pureiy mechanical means comprising of the retaining arms in claim 1 and back and side stop brackets. Conventional forward tipping systems use hydraulic clamping which require additional rams, control valves and feed lines for constraining the box.

4. A mushroom box tipper as claimed in claim 1 allows the retaining arms to go down the sides often box and not over the open top thus avoiding the tendency of the spent mushroom compost being trapped and remaining in the box after tipping.

5. A mushroom box tipper as claimed in claim 1, claim 3 and claim 4 allows the box to drop a controlled distance under its own weight within the inner frame which gives the box a "knock" to achieve a complete and clean tip which is important due to the characteristics of the spent mushroom compost.

6. A mushroom box tipper as claimed in claim 1, claim 3 and claim 4 reduces box damage because hydraulically clamped systems are difficult to control and often results in the crushing of boxes.

7. A mushroom box tipper substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.