JPH01209300A - Cargo handling device for forklift - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable efficient cargo handling to be attained in minimum work space by constituting a device so as to horizontally drive finger bars in a direction in which point ends of forks, suspended to each of the finger bar, approach each other. CONSTITUTION:In the case of cargo handling in a place of warehouse or the like of limited space, synchronizing upper and bottom hydraulic cylinders 34, 34 are driven, when their piston rods are simultaneously retracted, juxtaposed finger bars 14, 16 and 26, 28 horizontally turn respectively with pins 24 serving as the pivotal axis, displacing suspended paired forks 30, 30 in a direction with their point ends approaching each other. Here, the left finger bars 14, 26 are relatively slided between a main unit part and internal end parts 14a, 26a, and the reasonable displacement is brought to a supporting shaft 18. Thus, enabling the forks 30, 30 to be inserted and removed from the diagonal direction of a pallet, efficient cargo handling can be performed in minimum work space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a cargo handling device for a forklift, and more particularly to an improvement of a cargo handling device that enables horizontal rotation of a fork.

[Conventional Technique'#I] In general, forklifts have a finger bar installed horizontally in front of a lift bracket that moves up and down guided by the mast.
A pair of forks suspended in parallel on the finger bars are used primarily to perform cargo handling operations such as pallet work.

In conventional pallet work, it is necessary to insert and remove the fork linearly in the direction of the center line of the pallet so that the fork does not interfere with the pallet. Securing work space is required. For this reason, when handling cargo in a warehouse where space is limited, for example, there is an inconvenience that the storage area for the cargo is severely restricted.

The device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1958-1998 addresses this proposition, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the device connects the pair of forks a and a to the finger bar b. The fork is pivotally attached to the front surface, and the hinge provided on the inner surface of the fork a1a and the tip of the piston rond of the drive cylinder C are connected by links d and d. Therefore, according to the same invention, by swinging the forks a, a inward as shown in the figure by the operation of the drive cylinder C, the pallet e
By making it possible to insert and remove the forks a and a from diagonal directions,
You can make your work space look like an ancient castle.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described device, the drive elements for fork swing, such as links and drive cylinders, are arranged between the pair of forks. When using pallet e- with reinforcing material f interposed in it,
Not only does the driving element interfere with the reinforcement f, making it impossible to fully utilize the effective length of the fork, but sometimes the driving element interferes with the reinforcement f! il
This can also lead to accidents such as damage to the driving elements.

In addition, because this invented device adopts a unique configuration in which the fork is pivoted directly to the finger bar, the ability to use existing forks and compatibility functions is completely lost, and even the fork width (parallel width) cannot be adjusted. The function of the cargo handling equipment will be extremely deteriorated, such as making it impossible to carry out cargo handling. Of course, such fork width adjustment has been improved to some extent by the invention disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-95793, which is an improvement of the same invention, but the other problems pointed out earlier have not been partially resolved. I haven't seen it.

The present invention aims to solve the technical problem of creating a cargo handling device that can solve some of the above problems with a simple structure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a lift bracket that can be moved up and down guided by a mast, and a pair that is separated into left and right sides and independently pivoted to the lift bracket. The present invention employs a novel configuration consisting of finger bars and a drive means for horizontally rotating the finger bars in a direction in which the tips of the forks suspended on each finger bar approach each other.

In a preferred form of the device of the present invention, the left and right finger bars are respectively pivotally supported at the middle portions of their back surfaces by a lift bracket, and both inner ends thereof are articulated via a support shaft so as to be freely bendable. At least one of the finger bars is formed to be expandable and retractable, and the support shaft thereof is connected to a fluid pressure cylinder serving as a driving means. Rotating finger bars including such fluid pressure cylinders are vertically arranged in parallel with a space between them, and both fluid pressure cylinders are designed to be properly synchronized.

In another embodiment of the present invention 141F, the upper and lower finger bars are integrally connected, and are completely separated in the left and right relationship, and the inner ends of the left and right finger bars are connected to individual fluid pressure cylinders. Linked to allow independent operation.

[Operation] The device of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration horizontally rotates the left and right finger bars simultaneously or individually by activating the drive means according to the substance of the cargo handling work, and rotates each suspended fork in its own direction. The tips can be displaced at will in a direction toward each other.

[Example of Actual Drops] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a lift bracket that can be moved up and down guided by a mast (not shown), which has a pair of left and right side plates 10a, 1.
0b and the crossbeam 10c, and only the flange surface of the mast and the supporting shaft 12 of the rolling lift roller are schematically shown in the figure. Reference numerals 14 and 16 indicate a pair of left and right finger bars, and the inner ends 14a and 16a of the finger bars 14 and 16 are articulated via a support shaft 18 so as to be flexible, and the inner ends 14a and 16a of the finger bars 14 and 16 are articulated to the left and left. The inner end f of the finger bar 14 located
The lffi 14a is formed into a sheath shape that slidably holds a part of the main body portion, and through the sliding movement, the finger bar 14a
The length is expandable and retractable.

The finger bars 14 and 16 of the left Ci have a collar 20.20 protruding from the middle part of their back surface, which overlaps with a collar 22.22 fixed to the front edge of the lift bracket 10, and are connected by a pin 24.24. As a result, they are pivotally connected to the lift bracket 10 so as to be horizontally rotatable independently.

Reference numeral 26.28 denotes a finger bar that is aligned and arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval below the finger bar 14.16, and the engagement portion 32 with the suspended fork 30 is located on the finger bar 14.
．． Finger bar 26.16 is formed on the upper edge, and finger bar 26.28 is formed on the lower edge.
The finger bars 28 and 28 have exactly the same structure as the finger bars 14 and 16, and are pivotably mounted so as to be horizontally rotatable. 34.34 is a hydraulic cylinder whose base end is pivotally supported via a pin 38.38 to a collar 36.36 protruding from the cross beam 10c of the lift bracket 10, and its piston rod extending end is
The finger bars 16.28 are inserted into the inner ends 16a, 28a and connected to the support shaft 18.18. In addition,
The fluid pressure cylinder 34.34 is not shown, for example, the flow rate 11.
11 control valves, etc., and at the end of the extension stroke, the left and right finger bars 14.16 and 26.28 are adjusted to be almost straight as shown in FIG. ing.

In the device of the present invention configured as described above, when handling cargo where there is sufficient work space, one vehicle can be moved linearly forwards and backwards in a normal fork posture with an appropriate fork width, while loading onto a pallet. There is no difference from the conventional method in terms of insertion and removal.

When handling cargo in places with limited space, such as warehouses, synchronized upper and lower fluid pressure cylinders 34 and 34 can be activated to move the piston rods in and out at the same time.
The finger bars 14.16 and 26.28 arranged in parallel each rotate horizontally about the pin 24 as shown by the chain line in FIG. Displaced to. At this time, the finger bar 14.26 located on the left has a main part and an inner end part 14a.
, 26a, and causes a natural displacement of the support shaft 18. In this way, the forks 30 and 30 can be inserted and removed from the pallet diagonally as shown in FIG. 7, allowing efficient cargo handling in a minimum working space. Furthermore, after the fork 30°30 is inserted into the pallet, it is returned to its normal parallel position by the reverse rotation of the finger bars 14.16 and 26.28 based on the actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 34.34, so that the cargo Transport stability is sufficiently ensured.

Figures 4 and 5 are the invention! In this example, the upper and lower finger bars 1 in the previous embodiment are shown separately.
4.26 and 16.28 are each integrally connected, and the symmetrical U-shaped finger bar 5 is completely separated on the left and right sides.
0 and 52. The finger bar 50.52 has a flange 20.20 which is vertically aligned and protrudes from the middle part of the rear surface of the finger bar 50.52. ．．
By being connected by 24, the lift bracket 1
10 so that they can rotate horizontally independently. And the above crossbeam 10C of the lift bracket 10
G, m The above-mentioned hydraulic cylinder 34.3 pivoted at the proximal end
The piston rod extending end of No. 4 is connected to the finger bar 50.
A pin 56.52 is attached to a collar 54.
56.

Therefore, in this example as well, the left and right finger bars 50 and 52 are horizontally rotated simultaneously or individually by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder to change the suspended fork posture, thereby minimizing the work space as in the previous example. You can handle the cargo.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, the device of the present invention horizontally rotates the finger bars separated on the left and right sides independently, thereby changing the fork posture so that the tips of the suspended forks are displaced in a direction toward each other. Since it is designed to be converted at any time, it has the excellent effects described below.

(1) Since the fork can be inserted and removed from the pallet diagonally, the work space is saved, so the storage area for cargo can be significantly increased, especially in a limited space.

(2) Since there is no driving element for changing the fork posture between the two forks, the effective length of the fork can be fully utilized, and there is no risk of direct impact being applied to the driving element.

(3) Existing forks can be used or replaced freely, and the width of the fork can be adjusted at will, making it possible to fully function as a cargo handling device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the main parts of the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the finger bar, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the lift bracket, and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the finger bar, FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing the conventional cargo handling device, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of cargo handling work. , FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a pallet with reinforcing material interposed therein. 10...Lift bracket 14.16.26.28.50.52...Finger bar 30...Fork 34...Fluid pressure cylinder

Claims (1)

[Claims] A lift bracket that can be moved up and down guided by the mast,
a pair of finger bars separated left and right and independently pivoted on the lift bracket; and a drive means for horizontally rotating the finger bars in a direction in which tips of forks suspended on each finger bar approach each other. Forklift cargo handling equipment consisting of.