JP3659474B2 - forklift - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a forklift that includes a vehicle body, a mast provided on the vehicle body, a lift bracket provided on the mast to be movable up and down, and a fork attached to the lift bracket.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 4, the forklift 1 is provided with a mast 3 at the front portion of a vehicle body 2 that travels by driving a motor with a driving battery, for example, and a lift bracket 4 is movable up and down on the front side of the mast 3. Further, a pair of left and right L-shaped forks 5 are attached to the lift bracket 4. Here, a hydraulic motor (not shown) is built in the vehicle body 2, and the hydraulic motor rotates and the lift cylinder (not shown) expands and contracts by the operation of the driver, and the lift bracket 4 moves up and down together with the fork 5. ing.
[0003]
Then, when the forklift 1 performs loading, as shown in FIG. 4A, the vehicle body 2 is moved to a predetermined loading position, and the approach direction of the vehicle body 2 to the loading position is The posture of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted so as to be orthogonal to the rack 6 installed at the loading position or the end surface of the pallet 7 on the rack 6.
[0004]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, the fork 5 is inserted into the insertion port 7A of the pallet 7, the lift bracket 4 is moved upward to raise the fork 5, and the load 8 is lifted together with the pallet 7 to load the load 8 Receive.
[0005]
On the other hand, when the luggage 8 is placed at a predetermined position on the rack 6, the vehicle body 2 is moved to the unloading position, and the approach direction of the vehicle body 2 is set to the end surface of the rack 6 installed at the unloading position. The posture of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted so as to be orthogonal to each other, and then the lift bracket 4 is moved downward to lower the fork 5 and place the load 8 together with the pallet 7 at a predetermined position of the rack 6.
[0006]
By the way, if the moving (approaching) direction of the vehicle body 2 is not orthogonal to the end surface of the rack 6 or the pallet 7 installed at the unloading position, the fork 5 is moved away from the pallet 7 as shown in FIG. The rack 6 and the pallet 7 cannot be inserted into the insertion port 7A accurately and reliably, the rack 6 or the pallet 7 is damaged by the fork 5, the received luggage 8 is dropped from the fork 5 and damaged, or the luggage 8 is fixed to the rack 6. If the baggage 8 is not placed in a tilted position and the baggage 8 is to be received next, the baggage 8 cannot be received in a stable state.
[0007]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when the roll-type luggage 9 wound around the shaft body is to be unloaded, the roll-type luggage 9 has a recess 51 into which the shaft core is inserted instead of the fork 5. A pair of left and right special attachments 52 are attached to the lift bracket 4, but if the approaching direction of the vehicle body 2 is not perpendicular to the end surface of the rack 6 (or pallet 7), the concave portion of the attachment 52 is received when the roll-type luggage 9 is received. The axis of the roll baggage 9 is not normally inserted into 51, and in this case also, the roll baggage 9 is dropped as described above.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the driver can only determine whether the approaching direction of the vehicle body 2 is orthogonal to the end surface of the rack 6 (or the pallet 7), the driver has to operate the forklift 1 conventionally. In this case, it is very difficult to make the vehicle body 2 perpendicular to each other, and there is a possibility that the situation such as the dropping of the luggage 8 or 9 as described above or the placement of the luggage 8 or 9 on the rack 6 in an inclined state may occur. is there.
[0009]
Further, when the luggage 8 or the like is placed on the fork 5, the front view of the driver is blocked by the luggage 8, so that it is extremely difficult to make the vehicle body 2 orthogonal, especially when receiving the luggage 8 and 9. Is likely to fall.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily and accurately adjust the approaching posture of a vehicle body with respect to a rack or a pallet.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a vehicle body, a mast provided at a front portion of the vehicle body, a lift bracket provided on the mast so as to be movable up and down, and a fork attached to the lift bracket. Is provided with light emitting means for irradiating a light beam in a straight line or a straight band toward the front of the vehicle body.
[0012]
According to such a configuration, it is possible to adjust the approaching posture of the vehicle body with respect to the rack or the pallet on the rack based on the irradiation pattern of the light beam emitted from the light emitting means provided on the forklift.
[0013]
Therefore, compared to the conventional case where the posture of the vehicle body is adjusted based on the judgment based on the visual observation of the driver, the posture of the vehicle body can be adjusted objectively based on the irradiation pattern of the luminous flux, and it is used to the driving operation of the forklift. Even a beginner who is not able to adjust the approaching posture of the vehicle body to the rack or pallet can be adjusted easily and accurately.
[0014]
Further, when the operator adjusts the approaching posture of the vehicle body so that the light beam irradiation pattern and the edge of the rack or pallet on the baggage delivery side are parallel, the light beam irradiation pattern is adjusted to the end of the rack or pallet on the baggage delivery side. If it is parallel to the edge, it can be seen that the direction of movement (approach) of the car body is perpendicular to the end face of the rack or pallet. Placement becomes possible.
[0015]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the light emitting means is attached so as to irradiate the light beam downward or upward. In this way, since the irradiation pattern of the light beam from the light emitting means can be made into a thin line shape, the intensity of the irradiated light beam is not dispersed, and a bright and easy-to-see irradiation pattern can be formed.
[0016]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the light emitting means is attached to a left end portion or a right end portion of the vehicle body, the mast, or the lift bracket. In this way, even when there is an obstacle in front of the vehicle body, for example, when a large load is loaded on the fork, the light flux from the light emitting means can be irradiated without being obstructed by the obstacle.
[0017]
At this time, the light emitting means may be attached to the left end portion or the right end portion of the vehicle body, the mast, or the lift bracket by using an attachment member so as to protrude outward.
[0018]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the light emitting means is attached so that the irradiation direction of the light beam can be changed to right and left or up and down and left and right. In this way, for example, according to the size of the load loaded on the fork, the irradiation direction of the light beam by the light emitting means may be changed so that the light beam is not blocked by the load. It is possible to obtain a light beam irradiation pattern.
[0019]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the light emitting means is constituted by a laser pointer. In this case, the laser pointer is small and easy to handle, and can obtain a fan-shaped laser beam having a high beam intensity. Therefore, the laser pointer is suitable for mounting on a forklift.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a reach-type forklift will be described with reference to FIGS. However, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 denote the same or corresponding parts.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a laser pointer 10 serving as a light emitting unit that irradiates a light beam obliquely forward and downward is disposed at the center right end portion of the vehicle body 2 of the forklift 1. A laser beam emitted from a light emitting unit made of a semiconductor laser constituting the laser pointer 10 is spread in a fan shape in a horizontal direction by a lens system built in the laser pointer 10, and a laser beam 11 having a linear or straight band shape is applied to the forklift 1. Irradiated forward and obliquely downward, a thin linear irradiation pattern 12 is formed on the floor surface 13 slightly ahead of the tip of the fork 5.
[0022]
Then, when taking the load while adjusting the posture of the vehicle body 2 using such a laser pointer 10, if the forklift 1 moves to the vicinity of the take-off position where the load 8 is delivered by the driver's operation, the take-off position The posture of the vehicle body 2 is repeated by repeatedly turning the vehicle body 2 so that the irradiation pattern 12 of the laser beam 11 from the laser pointer 10 in the vicinity is parallel to the edge of the rack 6 (or pallet 7) on the cargo delivery side. Is adjusted.
[0023]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the irradiation pattern 12A or 12B of the laser beam 11 from the laser pointer 10 is away from the rack 6 (or pallet 7), the vehicle body 2 is sufficiently close to the unloading position. It can be said that the vehicle body 2 is not so close to the rack 6 (or pallet 7) that it can still be unloaded.
[0024]
Furthermore, when the vehicle body 2 is advanced to bring the vehicle body 2 sufficiently close to the rack 6 (or pallet 7) and an irradiation pattern such as the irradiation pattern 12C in FIG. 3 is obtained, the vehicle is sufficiently close to the unloading position. However, it can be seen that the vehicle body 2 does not approach perpendicularly to the end surface of the rack 6 (or pallet 7).
[0025]
Therefore, until the irradiation pattern of the laser beam 11 becomes parallel to the unloading side edge of the rack 6 (or pallet 7), that is, the approaching posture of the vehicle body 2 is orthogonal to the end surface of the rack 6 (or pallet 7). Until the irradiation pattern 12D in FIG. 3 is obtained, the vehicle body 2 is repeatedly turned back and the posture of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted.
[0026]
Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the laser pointer 10 is provided on the forklift 1, and the approaching posture of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the rack 6 (or pallet 7) is determined based on the irradiation pattern 12 of the laser light 11 from the laser pointer 10. Since it can be adjusted, it becomes possible to objectively adjust the posture of the vehicle body based on the irradiation pattern of the laser beam, and even a beginner who is not familiar with forklift operation can easily and accurately adjust the rack or The approaching posture of the vehicle body with respect to the pallet can be adjusted.
[0027]
As a result, the vehicle body 2 can be made to approach the rack 6 (or the pallet 7) perpendicularly and easily and accurately compared to the conventional case where the posture of the vehicle body 2 is adjusted by judgment based on the visual observation of the driver. It is possible to prevent the rack 6 and pallet 7 from being damaged by the fork 5, the fall of the luggage 8 at the time of receiving the luggage 8, and the damage of the luggage 8, and the accurate and stable placement of the luggage on the rack 6 becomes possible. Become.
[0028]
Further, by irradiating the laser beam 11 downward from the laser pointer 10, the irradiation pattern 12 of the laser beam 11 is formed in a linear shape, and thus the irradiation pattern 12 that is bright and easy to see without forming the intensity of the irradiation laser beam is formed. Thus, the approaching posture of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the rack 6 (or pallet 7) can be adjusted more easily.
[0029]
Further, since the laser pointer 10 is provided at the right end portion of the vehicle body 2, even when there is an obstacle in front of the vehicle body 2, such as when a large luggage 8 is loaded on the fork 5, these The laser beam 11 from the laser pointer 10 can be irradiated without being obstructed by an obstacle, and the blind spot of the irradiation pattern 12 from the driver is eliminated, so that the irradiation pattern 12 can be reliably recognized.
[0030]
In the above-described embodiment, the laser pointer 10 is described in a case where it is disposed in a state where the irradiation direction of the laser beam 11 is fixed. Of course, the laser pointer 10 may be attached to the vehicle body 2 in such a manner that it can be swung.
[0031]
In this case, for example, according to the size of the load 8 loaded on the fork 5, if the irradiation direction of the laser beam 11 by the laser pointer 10 is changed so that the laser beam 11 is not blocked by the load 8, It is possible to obtain the optimum irradiation pattern 12 of the laser beam 11 at all times.
[0032]
In the embodiment described above, the irradiation pattern 12 of the laser beam 11 irradiated by the laser pointer 10 is formed on the floor surface 13 as a linear bright line, but the rack 6 or the pallet 7 is viewed from the driver. If the approach posture of the vehicle body 2 with respect to the vehicle can be adjusted, the irradiation pattern 12 does not have to be linear, and may be configured to be formed as a planar bright line on the floor surface 13.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the laser pointer 10 is disposed at the center right end portion of the vehicle body 2 has been described. However, the laser pointer 10 may be disposed at the center left end portion of the vehicle body 2, and further, The laser pointer 10 may be attached to the mast 3 or the lift bracket 4. In short, it is only necessary that the laser pointer 10 is disposed at a position where the irradiation pattern 12 of the laser beam 11 is formed linearly with respect to the floor surface 13 and the driver can easily see the irradiation pattern 12. .
[0034]
In the embodiment described above, the laser pointer 10 is used as the light emitting means. However, the light emitting means is not limited to the laser pointer, and any light emitting means may be used as long as it can radiate a fan-shaped light beam spreading in the horizontal direction.
[0035]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the reach-type forklift has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a counterbalance-type forklift, and this case is also equivalent to the above-described embodiment. An effect can be obtained.
[0036]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vehicle body posture is adjusted objectively based on the laser light irradiation pattern, compared with the case where the vehicle body posture is adjusted by judgment based on the visual observation of the driver. Even beginners who are unfamiliar with forklift driving operations can easily and accurately adjust the approaching posture of the vehicle body to the rack or pallet, ensuring damage to the rack or pallet, dropping of luggage, etc. Therefore, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of the cargo picking work.
[0038]
Further, when the operator adjusts the approaching posture of the vehicle body so that the irradiation pattern of the light beam and the edge on the luggage delivery side of the rack or pallet are parallel, the approaching direction of the vehicle body is determined as the rack or Since it can be easily determined that the pallet is perpendicular to the end surface of the pallet, it is possible to prevent the load from falling when the package is received and to accurately and stably place the load on the rack.
[0039]
Further, according to the present invention, since the irradiation pattern of the laser beam from the laser pointer can be made into a thin line shape, the irradiation laser beam intensity is not dispersed, and a bright and easy-to-see irradiation pattern can be formed.
[0040]
Furthermore, if the luminous flux from the light emitting means is irradiated in a horizontal direction with respect to the ground, the irradiation pattern is horizontal, that is, the luggage delivery side of the rack or pallet, even if the approaching posture of the vehicle body to the rack or pallet is not orthogonal. Therefore, it cannot be determined from the irradiation pattern whether the approaching posture of the vehicle body is orthogonal to the rack or pallet. In contrast, when the light beam from the light emitting means is irradiated downward or upward as in the present invention, if the approaching posture of the vehicle body is not orthogonal to the rack or pallet, the irradiation pattern is delivered to the rack or pallet. Since it is not parallel to the side edge, it is possible to easily determine whether the approaching posture of the vehicle body is orthogonal to the rack or pallet based on the irradiation pattern.
[0041]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when there are obstacles in front of the vehicle body, the laser beam from the laser pointer can be irradiated without being obstructed by the obstacles.
[0042]
Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, the irradiation direction of the laser beam by the laser pointer may be changed so that the laser beam is not blocked by a front load or the like. It becomes possible to obtain a pattern.
[0043]
The laser pointer is very suitable because it is small and easy to handle and can easily obtain fan-shaped light with high beam intensity, so that it does not interfere with mounting on a forklift.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a right side view of an embodiment of the invention in use.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of the present invention in a different use state.
FIG. 3 is a partial front view for explaining operations in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional example.
FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional example.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of another conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reach type forklift 2 Car body 3 Mast 4 Lift bracket 5 Fork 6 Rack 7 Pallet 8, 9 Luggage 10 Laser pointer (light emitting means)
11 Laser beam 12 Irradiation pattern

Claims (3)

In a forklift comprising a vehicle body, a mast provided at the front portion of the vehicle body, a lift bracket provided on the mast so as to be movable up and down, and a fork attached to the lift bracket, A laser pointer that irradiates a light beam that is fan-shaped and whose irradiation pattern is formed in a straight line or a straight belt shape , and the laser pointer is obliquely downward so that the light beam irradiates the floor surface in front of the tip of the fork. It is attached , and it is possible to determine that the vehicle body is orthogonal to the rack by adjusting the posture of the vehicle body of the forklift so that the irradiation pattern is parallel to the rack. forklift.   The forklift according to claim 1, wherein the laser pointer is attached to a left end or a right end of the vehicle body, the mast, or the lift bracket.   The forklift according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the laser pointer is attached so that the irradiation direction of the light beam can be changed to right and left or up and down and left and right.

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