JP2915808B2 - Forklift pusher device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pusher device for a forklift used mainly for loading and unloading goods on trucks, wagons and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional forklift pusher device, which is known as one of attachments of a forklift, has a forklift finger bar fixed to a lift bracket that moves up and down along a mast, and an upright that moves up and down together with the fork. The face plate is shaped like a letter. The face plate is moved in the front-rear direction via a pantograph mechanism which is extended and retracted by a push cylinder, and is generally used in such a manner that a load on a fork is pushed forward by a face plate together with a pallet. By the way, as a pusher device similar to the above pusher device, a push-pull device is known, which is mainly used for loading and unloading a sheet pallet, and the pusher device is mainly a wooden material having a fork insertion port. They differ from each other in that they are used for loading pallets made of resin or iron.

[0003]

However, according to the conventional pusher device, when a load is pushed out of a pallet along with a pallet onto a truck or a freight car carrier, the cargo generally runs away due to the frictional resistance of the upper surface of the carrier. However, when carrying out cargo handling work such as lowering the load on a roller conveyor and pushing it forward, for example, if the operation of the face plate is incorrect, the load may run away.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to prevent runaway of a load when the load is pushed out by a face plate. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pusher device for a forklift capable of suitably performing a cargo handling operation in which a load is pulled into a fork and loaded.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, the invention according to claim 1 includes a mast, an elevating member that can move up and down along the mast, a fork fixed to the elevating member, and the elevating member that pushes the luggage on the fork together with the pallet forward. A forklift pusher device comprising a face plate mounted to be movable back and forth, wherein a clamp unit capable of gripping a pallet of the pallet is provided below the face plate, and the clamp unit is displaced in a vertical direction. And a clamp unit supporting device that is always supported at a position that matches the height of the fork in a state in which the fork height is allowed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the pusher device for a forklift according to the first aspect, the clamp unit supporting device supports the face plate at a required height while allowing the face plate to be displaced upward. And a clamp unit supporting means for supporting the clamp unit at a position matching the height of the fork while permitting downward displacement of the clamp unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pusher device for a forklift according to the first aspect, the clamp unit supporting device suspends and supports the clamp unit so as to be vertically movable with respect to the face plate. And an elastically deformable elastic member that supports the clamp unit at a position matching the height of the fork.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pusher device for a forklift according to the second aspect, the face plate supporting means is provided on a pantograph mechanism for supporting the face plate movably back and forth; When the face plate is provided on the plate and the face plate is in the range of the fork length, the face plate is held at a required height by engaging with the support member so as to be separated from above, and the face plate is forked. And a cam member that allows the face plate to be displaced downward by being detached from the support member when displaced forward.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the pusher device for a forklift according to the second aspect, the clamp unit supporting means urges the clamp unit mounted on the face plate so as to be vertically movable upward. And a stopper member provided on the face plate and abutting against a part of the clamp unit from above to support the clamp unit at a position matching the fork height.

[0010]

In the pusher device for a forklift according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the load is pushed out by the face plate, the pallet is gripped by the clamp unit provided on the face plate. Is fixed to the face plate, thereby avoiding runaway of the load caused by pushing the face plate. In addition, the clamp unit is used for a cargo handling operation in which a load is pulled on a fork and loaded.
That is, in this working mode, the face plate is moved forward, the pallet of the pallet is gripped by the clamp unit, and then the face plate is pulled rearward, thereby carrying the luggage in the recessed position on the fork. It becomes possible to load.

[0011] During the above operation, the clamp unit is held at a height matching the fork unless an external force acts in the vertical direction, so that the fork and the clamp unit can be inserted into the fork insertion port of the pallet without any trouble. . Since the clamp unit is allowed to be vertically displaced by the face plate support device, the clamp unit follows the vertical movement of the pallet in the pallet gripping state. That is, the clamp unit corresponds to the vertical relative displacement between the fork and the pallet when the fork is moved up and down while the pallet is being gripped.

In the pusher device for a forklift according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the clamp unit is always held at a height position that matches the fork, the fork and the clamp unit with respect to the fork insertion port of the pallet are provided. The pallet gripper can be inserted without any hindrance, and can be displaced with the face plate upward through the face plate support means and independently displaced downward through the clamp unit support means. In the state, it follows the vertical movement of the pallet and corresponds to the vertical relative displacement between the fork and the pallet.

In the pusher device for a forklift according to the third aspect of the present invention, the clamp unit suspended vertically by a suspension rod is always held at a position matching the fork height by an elastic member. Therefore, the insertion of the fork and the clamp unit into the fork insertion port of the pallet over the entire moving range of the face plate is performed without any trouble. The pallet is displaced by following the pallet, and corresponds to the vertical relative displacement between the fork and the pallet.

In the pusher device for a forklift according to the present invention, when the face plate is within the range of the fork length, the face plate is held at a required height via a cam member which engages with a support member of the pantograph. Since the clamp unit is held at a position matching the height of the fork, the fork and the clamp unit can be inserted into the fork insertion port of the pallet without hindrance. On the other hand, when the face plate is moved forward beyond the tip of the fork, the face plate is displaced downward because the cam member comes off the support member. Therefore, since the clamp unit can obtain a large displacement amount by adding the displacement through the face plate to the downward displacement of the clamp unit itself, the vertical movement of the fork and the pallet between the fork and the pallet when the load is pushed out by the face plate is increased. Compatible with relative movement.

Further, in the pusher device for a forklift according to the present invention, the clamp unit is urged upward by the elastic member and pressed against the stopper member to hold the clamp unit at a position aligned with the fork height.
A stable supporting form without rattling is obtained.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The perspective view of FIG. 1 and the side view of FIG. 2 show an outline of a forklift pusher device according to the present embodiment. As shown, a pair of upper and lower finger bars 3 fixed to a lift bracket 2 which can be moved up and down along a mast 1 of a forklift has a pair of left and right forks 4 hooked via hooks 5. And the finger bar 3 constitute an elevating member.

A lattice-shaped face plate 7 for pushing out a load on the fork 4 is arranged upright in front of the finger bar 3 and the finger bar 3
A pair of right and left telescopic pantograph mechanisms 8 support a pair of right and left telescopic pantograph mechanisms 8 on a grooved columnar holder 6 erected at the left and right ends of the front surface of the fork 4. Has become.

The holder-side end of the link constituting the pantograph mechanism 8 is mounted so that the upper end thereof can move up and down via a roller 11 that rolls in the holder 6, and the lower end can be freely rotated by the pin 10 on the holder 6. Attached to. On the other hand, rollers 13U, which roll inside the upright channel-shaped rail member 12 formed on the face plate 7, are formed at both ends of the link on the face plate side.
The lower roller 13L is restricted in its movement range by upper and lower stoppers 14U and 14L. That is, the face plate 7 can be moved up and down with respect to the pantograph mechanism 8 within a range restricted by the stoppers 14U and 14L, and is always at a required height position within the up and down movement range by the face plate supporting means, preferably. The lower surface of the face plate 7 is horizontally moved in the front-rear direction while being supported at a position having a small gap with respect to the upper surface of the fork 4.

The face plate support means is provided on left and right support rollers 15 as support members provided on the front left and right links in the pantograph mechanism 8, and is provided on the face plate 7 so that the support rollers 15 can be separated from above. The left and right cam members 16 engage with each other. The cam member 16 protrudes rearward in a substantially horizontal manner from the rear surface of the tie bar 17 laid between the left and right rail members 12 of the face plate 7, and the engagement surface 16a with the support roller 15 is provided with a pantograph mechanism. The face plate 7 is formed in a curved shape capable of absorbing the vertical fluctuations caused by the expansion and contraction of the face 8 and always holding the face plate 7 at a constant height position, and the rear end side of the protrusion is formed in an upwardly inclined shape.

When the face plate 7 is within the range of the length of the fork 4, the cam member 16 engages with the support roller 15 to move the face plate 7 to a required height. However, when the face plate 7 moves forward beyond the tip of the fork, the cam member 16 is disengaged from the support roller 15 to allow the face plate 7 to be displaced downward by its own weight. The face plate 7 displaced downward is held at a position where the upper stopper 14L abuts on the lower roller 13L, and at the time of retraction, the rear end of the cam member 16 protrudes onto the support roller 15 via the inclined surface. By getting on, it is returned to the initial position.

A clamp unit 18 for gripping the pallet, more specifically, for gripping the center girder 33a of the pallet 33 is installed at the lower center portion on the back side of the face plate 7. Are arranged between the forks 4 so as not to interfere with the forks 4. Hereinafter, the clamp unit 18 will be described with reference to the plan view of FIG. 3 and the side view of FIG. The clamp unit 18 includes a clamp holder 19 arranged on the lower rear side of the face plate 7.

The clamp holder 19 is used for the face plate 7
And a pair of left and right rear plates 19a mounted between the left and right rail members 12 and vertically movably mounted on the rail members 12 via a pair of upper and lower rollers 20; A clamp rail 21 having a rectangular cross section is horizontally suspended between the lower part of the rear plate 19a and a front plate 19b to be connected.

A pair of left and right clamp arms 22 are slidably mounted on the base of the clamp rail 21 so as to be openable and closable. The front end of the clamp arm 22 passes through the lower surface of the face plate 7 and moves forward. And a clamp pad 23 made of a cushioning material such as rubber is fixed to the opposite end face of the distal end. That is, in the present embodiment, the closing direction of the clamp arm 22 is set as the gripping direction, and the central arm 33a is gripped by being inserted into the fork insertion port of the pallet 33. Therefore, the vertical thickness of the clamp arm 22 is set to be substantially the same as the thickness of the fork 4.

In this embodiment, a hydraulic clamp cylinder 24 is used as an actuator for moving the clamp arm 22 along the clamp rail 21 to open and close the clamp arm. It is connected in a handbook. That is, the clamp cylinder 24 is disposed above the base between the left and right clamp arms 22 in parallel with the clamp rail 21, and the base end and the rod end of the bracket 25 are provided on the upper surface of the base of both clamp arms 22. Is pin 2
4a, and is configured to be operable on the driver's seat.

Then, the clamp unit 18 having the above configuration
The clamp arm 22 is held at a position where the clamp arm 22 matches the fork height in a state where the clamp arm 22 is allowed to move downward by the clamp unit supporting means. The clamp unit supporting means includes left and right suspension rods 26 for suspending the clamp holder 19 up and down with respect to the face plate 7 and an elastically deformable elastic member for holding the clamp unit 18 at a position matching the fork height. And the left and right compression coil springs 27.

The suspension rod 26 has a screw at both upper and lower ends, extends vertically through a hole of a horizontal bracket 28 projecting from the lower part of the outer surface of the left and right rail members 12, and has a lower end screw. The bracket is fastened by a nut 30 to a bracket 29 protruding horizontally from the front surface of the lower projecting portion of the clamp holder 19, and a spring receiver 31 and a bracket fastened by a nut 32 to a screw portion at the upper end thereof. 28 is urged upward by a lifting compression coil spring 27 interposed therebetween.

As described above, the clamp unit 18 suspended by the suspension rod 26 and urged upward by the compression coil spring 27 always uses the lower roller 20 provided on the rear plate 19 a for the rail member 12. Lower stopper 1
4L position where it comes into pressure contact with the lower surface, that is, the clamp arm 2
2 is held at a position matching the fork height in a state where downward displacement is allowed and without fluctuation.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the clamp unit 18 is displaced upward through the face plate 7 supported by the face plate supporting means, and is moved upward through the clamp unit supporting means. And the face plate support means and the clamp unit support means always move the clamp unit 18 to a position which matches the fork height in a state where the clamp unit 18 is allowed to be displaced in the vertical direction. It constitutes a clamp unit supporting device for supporting.

Thus, in the clamp unit 18 according to the present embodiment, a floating support mechanism in which the clamp arm 22 can freely move up and down and left and right is adopted.
As a result, the pallet 33 by the clamp arm 22 is
Is carried out on the basis of the pallet, and the relative movement between the pallet 33 and the fork 4 is absorbed when the pallet 33 is grasped.

The pusher device of the forklift according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation and effect will be described below. In an unloaded state, the face plate 7 is configured such that the cam member 16 is supported by the support roller 1 of the pantograph mechanism 8.
5, the clamp unit 18 is held at a required height position, and the lower roller 20 of the clamp holder 19 is connected to the lower stopper 14L via the compression coil spring 27.
The position where the clamp arm 22 is pressed against the lower surface, that is, the position where the clamp arm 22 matches the height of the fork is held.

Therefore, in this state, when the fork 4 is inserted into the fork insertion port of the pallet 33 on which the load W is loaded as shown in FIG. The clamp arm 22 is inserted without contacting the end face of the pallet 33. And
After the clamp arm 22 is inserted, the pallet 33 is fixed to the face plate 7 by operating the clamp cylinder 24 and gripping the center girder 33 a with the clamp arm 22. At this time, since the clamp arm 22 that can freely move to the left and right performs a gripping operation based on the pallet 33, it is possible to prevent an unreasonable external force from acting on the pallet 33.

In the gripping state, when the fork 4 is lifted to lift the load W as shown in FIG. 5B, or the fork 4 is lowered to lower the transported load W as shown in FIG. 5C. When the fork 4 is lowered, the fork 4 moves relative to the pallet 33 in the pallet insertion opening, but the clamp unit 18 is displaced upward through the face plate 7 with respect to the fork 4, and downwardly. It corresponds to the above relative movement by displacing alone,
It prevents an unreasonable external force from acting on the pallet 33.

When the clamp unit 18 grips the pallet 33, the load W is lowered onto the roller conveyor R and pushed forward by the face plate 7 as shown in FIG. Even if the pallet 7 is accidentally operated vigorously, the clamp unit 18 can prevent the pallet 33 fixed to the face plate 7 from running away.

When the load L is actually pushed out by the face plate 7, the fork 4 is positioned in a forwardly inclined position or a backwardly inclined position, or is positioned at a position higher than the roller conveyor R even when the fork 4 is horizontal. Can be considered. Accordingly, if the pallet 33 is pushed onto the roller conveyor R when the extrusion is performed by the face plate 7 in such a state, the clamp pallet 18 is moved by the height difference between the fork height and the roller conveyor height.
There is a possibility that the pallet 33 gripped by the above may be damaged due to an external force acting on it.

In view of the above, in this embodiment, when the face plate 7 moves forward beyond the length of the fork 4, as shown in FIG. Is set to deviate from Thus, when the face plate 7 has passed near the tip of the fork, the face plate 7 can be displaced downward not only upward but also downward within the range of the regulation by the stopper member. Is large. Therefore, at the time of pushing out the load W, the clamp unit 18 can correspond to the variation between the height of the roller conveyor 34 and the height of the fork.

On the other hand, in a work mode in which the luggage W placed in a recessed position where the fork 4 cannot reach is pulled together with the pallet 33, the face plate 7 is moved in the same manner as described above when the face plate 7 exceeds the tip of the fork 4. When the cam member 16 is disengaged from the support roller 15, the cam member 16 is displaced downward by its own weight.
Is returned to the initial position as it rides on the support roller 15, the clamp arm 22 is adjusted to the fork height, and the fork 4 is inserted smoothly without interfering with the pallet 33.

As described above, according to the pusher device of this embodiment, when pushing out the load by the face plate 7, the pallet 33 is fixed to the face plate 7 via the clamp arm 22, so that the pallet 33 is placed on the roller conveyor R. Runaway of the pushed baggage W can be avoided, and the clamp arm 22 is always held at a position matching the fork height. Therefore, when the baggage is loaded, the clamp arm 22 and the fork 4
Can be inserted without interfering with each other, and the pull-in operation can be optimized.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on. In this embodiment, the clamp unit 18 is connected to the brackets 7 of the face plate 7 via left and right suspension rods 34 provided upright on the brackets 19a at the right and left ends of the clamp holder 19.
a, as an elastic member interposed between the head 34a of the suspension rod 34 and the bracket 7a and between the bracket 7a and the bracket 19a of the clamp holder 19 in a state of being suspended vertically. Are supported at positions matching the fork height by the balance of the compression coil springs 35 and 36.

That is, the suspension unit 34 and the compression coil springs 35 and 36 constitute a clamp unit supporting device, and the face plate 7 is attached to the pantograph mechanism 8 in this embodiment so as not to move in the vertical direction. Can be In this case, the upper compression coil spring 35 which receives the weight of the clamp unit 18 has a higher spring constant than the lower compression coil spring 36 which does not receive the weight.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the clamp unit 18 can be always held at a position that matches the fork height over the entire range of the front-back movement of the face plate 7. Therefore, as in the case of the above-described embodiment,
When pushing out the luggage W by the face plate 7, the runaway of the luggage W can be avoided by gripping the center girder 33 a of the pallet 33, and in the work mode in which the luggage W is pulled onto the fork 4, the fork 4 does not reach. Even if the luggage W at a deep position is pulled in, the insertion of the fork 4 into the fork insertion port of the pallet 33 can be performed without any trouble. When the fork 4 is moved up and down while holding the center girder 33a of the pallet 33, the clamp unit 18 is driven by the compression coil springs 35 and 36.
The pallet 33 is displaced following the pallet 33, and can correspond to the vertical relative displacement between the fork 4 and the pallet 33.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the face plate 7 is configured to be vertically movable with respect to the pantograph mechanism 8,
The upper stopper member 14U provided on the rail member 12 of the face plate 7 serves as the lower roller 1 of the pantograph mechanism 8.
It is configured to be supported by contacting 3L from above. The clamp unit 18 is suspended from the bracket 7a of the face plate 7 via left and right suspension rods 26 provided upright on brackets 19a at both right and left ends of the clamp holder 19, and the rod head 26a is fixed to the bracket 7a. The roller 20 at the lower part of the clamp holder 19 is urged upward by a compression coil spring 27 interposed between the bracket 7a and the rail member 1.
2 is pressed against the lower surface of the lower stopper member 14L.

That is, in this embodiment, the clamp unit 18 can be displaced upward through the face plate 7 and is displaced downward itself. The stopper unit 14 and the lower roller 13L And the face plate supporting means, and the hanging rod 26 and the compression coil spring 27 constitute the clamp unit supporting means. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be obtained.

[0043]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
When pushing out the load on the fork by the pusher device and the load is unloaded at a place where the load is slippery like a roller conveyor, the clamp unit is operated and the pallet is pushed out while being fixed to the face plate side. Thereby, runaway of the luggage can be prevented, and the safety of cargo handling work can be enhanced. On the other hand, at the time of cargo handling work in which the luggage is pulled into the fork, the clamp unit can be held at a position that matches the height of the fork, so that the fork and the clamp unit can be more easily inserted into the fork and the luggage can be effectively pulled in. It can be carried out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a pusher device with a clamp unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an outline of a pusher device.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing a clamp unit.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the clamp unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an operation mode of the pusher device;
(A) shows the manner in which the fork and the clamp unit are inserted into the pallet, (B) shows the manner in which the pallet is gripped and then lifted, and (C) shows the manner in which the pallet is gripped and lowered onto a roller conveyor.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation mode when the face plate moves beyond the tip of the fork.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mast 2 ... Lift bracket 4 ... Fork 6 ... Holder 7 ... Face plate 8 ... Pantograph mechanism 12 ... Rail member 13U, 13L ... Upper and lower roller 14U, 14L ... Upper and lower stopper 15 ... Support roller 16 ... Cam member 18 ... Clamp Unit 22: Clamp arm 26: Hanging rod 27: Compression coil spring

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mast, an elevating member capable of elevating and lowering along the mast, a fork fixed to the elevating member, and a vertically movable member for pushing the luggage on the fork together with a pallet forward. A pusher device of a forklift including a mounted face plate, wherein a clamp unit capable of gripping the pallet spar is provided below the face plate, and the clamp unit is allowed to be displaced in a vertical direction. A forklift pusher device equipped with a clamp unit support device that always supports the fork height. 2. A face plate supporting means for supporting the face plate at a required height while permitting upward displacement of the face plate, and a state wherein the clamp unit is permitted to displace downward. 2. A pusher device for a forklift according to claim 1, further comprising: a clamp unit supporting means for supporting at a position matching the fork height. 3. A hanging rod for hanging and supporting the clamp unit so as to be vertically movable with respect to the face plate, and an elastic deformation for supporting the clamp unit at a position matching the height of the fork. The pusher device for a forklift according to claim 1, further comprising a resilient member. 4. A support member provided on a pantograph mechanism for supporting the face plate movably back and forth, the face plate supporting means being provided on the face plate, and the face plate being within a range of the fork length. At one time, the face plate is held at a required height by removably engaging the support member from above, and the face plate is detached from the support member when the face plate is displaced forward of the fork. 3. A pusher device for a forklift according to claim 2, further comprising a cam member that allows downward displacement of the forklift. 5. The clamp unit supporting means is provided on the face plate and an elastic member for urging the clamp unit upwardly attached to the face plate so as to be movable up and down, and a part of the clamp unit. 3. The pusher device for a forklift according to claim 2, further comprising a stopper member that abuts from above to support the clamp unit at a position matching the fork height.