NL2002966C2 - STACKING DEVICE FOR STACKING EGG TRAYS. - Google Patents

Description

Stacking device for stacking egg trays DESCRIPTION: 5

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a stacking device for stacking egg trays comprising a fork board provided with a front side and a rear side, as well as a number of forks connected to the fork board that can be slid under egg trays and perpendicular to the fork board from the front of the fork board which stacking device further comprises displacement means for displacing the forks together with the fork carriage.

When picking up a stack of egg trays, the forks are in a horizontal position and the forks protrude below the lower egg tray, the stack of egg trays being present against the front of the fork plate. Subsequently, the forks are tilted together with the fork carriage, with the free ends of the forks protruding obliquely. The forks are then moved together with the fork carriage to a pallet on which the egg trays are stacked. Before the stack of egg trays 20 is set down, the forks are first tilted back together with the fork carriage until the forks are again in the horizontal position. The forks and the fork carriage are now moved downwards until the stack of egg trays is on the pallet or on an existing stack. Finally, the forks and the fork carriage are moved horizontally until the forks are pulled out from under the stack of egg trays.

State of the art

Such a stacking device is generally known. With the known stacking device, the forks are fixed relative to the fork plate and the forks always move together with the fork plate. If, when placing a stack of egg trays, the forks are not moved far enough down and are then pulled out from under the stack, it can happen that the stack of egg trays move or the stack remains on the forks.

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Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a stacking device 5 of the type described in the preamble in which the stack of egg trays can no longer shift undesirably and the egg trays can no longer remain undesirably on the forks. To this end, the stacking device according to the invention is characterized in that the forks are movable between an extended position, in which the forks are present with an end near the fork plate and extend from the fork plate, and a retracted position, in which the forks are situated at the rear of the fork carriage, and that the stacking device comprises further displacement means for moving the forks between the extended and retracted position.

After placing the stack of egg trays on a pallet or a stack of egg trays already present thereon, the forks are retracted, the fork bulkhead 15 standing still and holding back the stack of egg trays present on the forks. As a result, the stack of egg trays can never remain on the forks and the stack of egg trays on the pallet can never shift again.

Brief description of the drawings 20

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the stacking device according to the invention shown in the drawings. Hereby shows:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the stacking device according to the invention with extended forks in side view;

Figure 2 shows the stacking device with extended forks in perspective;

Figure 3 shows the stacking device with retracted forks in side view;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stacking device with retracted forks;

Figure 5 shows the stacking device with extended forks and fork plate in the tilted position; and

Figure 6 shows the known stacking device in perspective 3

Detailed description of the drawings

Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the stacking device according to the invention with extended or retracted forks in side view and perspective, respectively. The stacking device 1 has a fork plate 3 provided with a front side 3a and a rear side 3b and four pairs of forks 5. The forks and the fork plate are connected to a frame 7 which is rotatably connected to a carriage 9. This carriage can be mounted both horizontally and in be moved vertically by moving means (not shown). The forks 5 extend perpendicular to the fork carriage 3 from the front side 3a of the fork carriage.

The forks 5 are movable between an extended position, see figures 1 and 2, in which the forks 5 are present with an end 5a near the fork plate 3 and extend from the fork plate, and a retracted position, see figures 3 and 4, 15 in which the forks 5 are located at the rear 3b of the fork carriage. The forks 5 are herein moved by further displacing means 11 forming part of the stacking device 1.

For illustration, the stacking device 1 with extended forks 5 and fork plate 3 in tilted position is shown in Figure 5. The forks 5 hereby project obliquely upwards with the free ends 5b.

Figure 6 shows the known stacking device in perspective. With this stacking device 13, the forks 15 are fixed relative to the fork board 17 and the forks always move together with the fork board.

Although in the foregoing the invention has been elucidated with reference to the drawings, it must be stated that the invention is by no means limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiment shown in the drawings within the scope defined by the claims.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1. Stacking device for stacking egg trays comprising a fork plate provided with a front side and a rear side, and a number of forks connected to the fork plate which can be slid under egg trays and extend perpendicular to the fork plate from the front of the fork plate, which stacking device furthermore comprises moving means for moving the forks together with the fork carriage, characterized in that the forks are movable between an extended position, wherein the forks are present with an end near the fork carriage and extend from the fork carriage, and a retracted position In which the forks are located at the rear of the fork carriage, and in that the stacking device comprises further displacement means for displacing the forks between the extended and retracted position.