NL2031787B1 - A lifting device for lifting a roll container and method therefor - Google Patents
A lifting device for lifting a roll container and method therefor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2031787B1 NL2031787B1 NL2031787A NL2031787A NL2031787B1 NL 2031787 B1 NL2031787 B1 NL 2031787B1 NL 2031787 A NL2031787 A NL 2031787A NL 2031787 A NL2031787 A NL 2031787A NL 2031787 B1 NL2031787 B1 NL 2031787B1
- Authority
- NL
- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- lifting
- roll container
- lifting device
- elements
- lifting elements
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 9
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 claims 6
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B3/00—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor
- B62B3/04—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
- B62B3/06—Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment for simply clearing the load from the ground
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B2202/00—Indexing codes relating to type or characteristics of transported articles
- B62B2202/90—Vehicles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B2203/00—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects
- B62B2203/20—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects using forks or tines
- B62B2203/24—Changing the position of the fork or supports
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B2203/00—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects
- B62B2203/20—Grasping, holding, supporting the objects using forks or tines
- B62B2203/29—Stops on the tines to arrest the pallets or other objects
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B2206/00—Adjustable or convertible hand-propelled vehicles or sledges
- B62B2206/02—Adjustable or convertible hand-propelled vehicles or sledges adjustable in length or width
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a lifting device for lifting roll containers including one or more lift elements to lift a roll container from the ground, wherein the one or more lift elements define a longitudinal direction that is substantially parallel to a moving direction of the roll container relative to the one or more lift elements to position the roll container above a main portion ofthe one or more lift elements, wherein the one or more lift elements include one or more moveable portions that are moveable in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the main portion between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the one or more moveable portions are configured to engage with the ground and/or the roll container in the extended position.
Description
A lifting device for lifting a roll container and method therefor
The invention relates to a lifting device for lifting a roll container and a corresponding method to lift a roll container.
Roll containers are cages or boxes on wheels used to hold and transport goods, especially in warehouses and supermarkets. Roll containers are typically relatively tall with a relatively small footprint so that especially in case the roll container is filled with goods to a considerable height, the center of gravity gets so high that the roll container quickly becomes unstable. The instability of the roll container is further aggravated by the relatively small wheels used to support the roll container in combination with an uneven floor.
Roll containers may be manipulated by lifting devices, such as a pallet jack, for instance to manipulate two or more roll containers simultaneously, to lift the roll container to a storage location, or to transport the roll containers across uneven surfaces such as a street in order to make use of the larger wheels of the lifting device. However, manipulating the roll container using lifting devices only solves part of the instability problem and requires an experienced operator to manipulate the roll container with the lifting device. Even with an experienced operator, there is a significant risk of a roll container including the supported goods toppling over. In such a case, the goods may be damaged.
In view of the above it is an object of the invention to provide a lifting device that makes manipulating roll containers easier and reduces the risk of toppling over.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lifting device for lifting roll containers including one or more lift elements to lift a roll container from the ground, wherein the one or more lift elements define a longitudinal direction that is substantially parallel to a moving direction of the roll container relative to the one or more lift elements to position the roll container above a main portion of the one or more lift elements, wherein the one or more lift elements include one or more moveable portions that are moveable in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the main portion between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the one or more moveable portions are configured to engage with the ground and/or the roll container in the extended position.
An advantage of the lifting device according to the first aspect of the invention is that the stability of the roll container during manipulation of the roll container with the lifting device is improved. This improvement may be obtained by increasing a distance of engagement locations between roll container and the one or more lift elements and/or by increasing a distance of engagement locations between the one or more lift elements and the ground so that toppling over of the roll container will happen at larger tilt angles of the roll container and/or the one or more lift elements.
A further advantage may be that the movability of the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements allows the one or more lift elements to pass in between wheels of the roll containers in the retracted position of the one or more moveable portions to position the roll container above the one or more lift elements and subsequently move the one or more moveable portions to the extended position to improve stability when lifting the roll container.
Another advantage may be that the lifting device is now able to more stably manipulate roll containers of different sizes and dimensions as it can adjust its dimensions in the transverse direction. A footprint of a roll container is generally substantially rectangular in shape with four wheels at the corners of the rectangular shape. A lifting device according to the first aspect of the invention may be suitable to approach a roll container from both a long side and a short side of the rectangular shape and stably lift the roll container.
In an embodiment, the lifting device comprises a single lift element. This single lift element may be a fork allowing to manipulate pallets as well, but this is not necessary.
In an embodiment, the one or more lift elements comprise two moveable portions that move in opposite directions from the retracted position to the extended position or vice versa.
In an embodiment, the lift element has a fork shape, and each finger of the fork comprises a moveable portion.
In an embodiment, the one or more lift elements are moveable between a lower position in which a roll container can be positioned above the main portion of the one or more lift elements, and an upper position in which the one or more lift elements engage with the roll container to support the roll container at least partially.
In an embodiment, the one or more lift elements comprise one or more fixed supports to support the one or more lift elements from the ground in the lower position of the one or more lift elements only, wherein the one or more fixed supports preferably include wheels.
In an embodiment, the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements comprise one or more moveable supports that are moveable between a retracted position in which the one or more moveable supports are disengaged from the ground even when the one or more lift elements are in the lower position, and a supporting position in which the one or more moveable supports engage with the ground.
In an embodiment, the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements are translatable between the retracted position and the extended position.
In an embodiment, the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements are rotatable between the retracted position and the extended position.
In an embodiment, the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements are rotatable about a vertical rotation axis.
In an embodiment, the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements are rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for operating a lifting device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. providing the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements in the retracted position, b. positioning a roll container above the main portion of the one or more lift elements, c. moving the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements to the extended position, and d. lifting the roll container with the one or more lift elements.
In an embodiment, the one or more lift elements are moveable between a lower position in which a roll container can be positioned above the main portion of the one or more lift elements, and an upper position in which the one or more lift elements engage with the roll container to support the roll container at least partially, wherein step b. and c. are carried out with the one or more lift elements in the lower position, and wherein in step d. the one or more lift elements are moved from the lower position to the upper position.
In an embodiment, the one or more moveable portions of the one or more lift elements comprise one or more moveable supports that are moveable between a retracted position in which the one or more moveable supports are disengaged from the ground even when the one or more lift elements are in the lower position, and a supporting position in which the one or more moveable supports engage with the ground, wherein during steps a. to c. the one or more moveable supports are in the retracted position, and wherein prior to or during step d. the one or more moveable supports are moved from the retracted position to the supporting position.
The invention will now be described in a non-limiting way by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference symbols, and in which: 5 Fig. 1A schematically depicts a perspective view of a lifting device with a lift element according to an embodiment of the invention with the moveable portions of the lift element in a retracted position,
Fig. 18 schematically depicts the perspective view of the lift element of Fig 1A including roll container,
Fig. 2A schematically depicts the perspective view of the lift element of Fig. 1A with the moveable portions of the lift element in an extended position,
Fig. 2B schematically depicts the perspective view of the lift element of Fig. 2A including roll container,
Fig. 3 schematically depicts a front view of the lift element of Fig. 1A corresponding to Fig. 1B,
Fig. 4 schematically depicts a front view of the lift element of Fig. 1A corresponding to Fig. 2B, and
Fig. 5 schematically depicts a side view of the lift element corresponding to Fig. 1A.
Fig. 1A - 5 schematically depict a lifting device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The lifting device 1 includes a main body 2 and a lift element 3 that is moveable relative to the main body 2 in a vertical direction corresponding to the Z-axis.
Figs. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B are similar perspective views, Figs. 3 and 4 are front views and Fig. 5 is a side view. The main body 2 is only depicted in Fig. 1A for clarity reasons.
The main body 2 is depicted highly schematically to indicate that the lifting device 1 can be any type including but not limited to a pallet jack, forklift, etc. The lifting device 1 is preferably a mobile lifting device allowing to be moved through a space such as a warehouse, supermarket, and/or corresponding storage locations. The lifting device 1 may be either manual or actuator driven, i.e. the energy to lift the lift element 3 relative to the main body 2 may come from a person or from a separate power source, respectively.
The lifting device 1 may be operated by a person seated or standing on the device or by a person walking alongside, depending on the design. Partial or complete autonomous operation, however, is also envisaged and not required for the invention,
The lifting device 1 in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings includes only one lift element 3, but it is envisaged that more lift elements are provided. Whether a lifting device 1 has one or more lift elements is thus not relevant for the invention.
The lifting device 1 is configured to manipulate roll containers 10 of which an example is shown in Fig. 1B, 2B, 3 and 4. The roll container 10 shown as an example comprises a bottom 10b and extending upwards from the bottom 10b two opposite sidewalls 10a, which roll container is provided on wheels 10c, one wheel 10c at a corner of the bottom 10b. The footprint of the bottom 10b, i.e. a shape of the bottom 10b seen in plan view, is rectangular.
A space below the bottom 10b can be entered by the lift element 3 by introducing the lift element 3 into an opening delimited by the bottom 3, two wheels 10c at a respective side of the roll container 10 and the ground. Due to the rectangular shape, the opening at two opposite sides of the roll container 10 is larger than the opening at the other two opposite sides of the roll container 10. it is possible that the lift element 3 can only be introduced at the largest openings. However, in this embodiment, as can be seen in Figs. 1B and 2B, the lift element 3 can also be inserted into the smallest openings of the roll container 10. When the roll container 10 is positioned above the main portion 3a of the lift element 3, the wheels 10c closest to the portion 3b of the lift element 3 will be referred to as the proximal wheels 10c and the other two wheels 10c will be referred to as distal wheels 10c.
The lift element 3 in the shown embodiment has a horizontally extending main portion 3a and a vertically extending portion 3b, thereby forming a substantial L-shape seen in the appropriate side view. it is the main portion 3a that is configured to be introduced below a roll container 10 and apply lifting forces to the roll container 10. An advantage of the additional portion 3b is that it can function as a stop for the roll container 10 and limit movement of the roll container 10 towards the main body 2 and prevent the roll container 10 from interfering with the main body 2 during lifting. introducing the lift element 3, i.e. in this embodiment main portion 3a, below the roll container 10 can be carried out by a relative movement between lift element 3 and the roll container 10, which is substantially perpendicular to a side of the roll container 10 and a moving direction of the roll container 10 to position the roll container 10 above the main portion 3a, which moving direction corresponds to a longitudinal direction LD of the main portion 3a, which is depicted in Fig. 1A only and is substantially parallel to the depicted Y-axis.
The lift element 3, i.e. in this embodiment the main portion 3a, is provided with two moveable portions, here denoted using reference numerals 4 and 5. The two moveable portions are each moveable in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction LD, here substantially parallel to the X-axis, between a retracted position as depicted in Figs. 1A, 1B and 3, and an extended position as depicted in Figs. 2A, 2B and 4. The two moveable portions are arranged mirror symmetric relative to each other and thus move in opposite directions when moving from the retracted position to the extended position or vice versa. As a result, the main portion 3a of the lift element 3 with the two moveable portions 4, 5 in the retracted position can be introduced into an opening below the bottom 10b of the roll container 10 to pass the proximal wheels 10c delimiting the opening. As shown in Fig. 1B, the width of the lift element 3 in the retracted position of the two moveable portions 4, 5 allows to introduce the lift element at the smaller side of the roll container 10 which then faces towards the portion 3b of the lift element 3. After positioning the roll container 10 above the main portion 3a of the lift element 3, the moveable portions 4, 5 can be moved to the extended position thereby providing each of them in a respective opening between a proximal wheel 10c and a distal wheel 10c.
Fig. 3 depicts a front view of the roll container 10 when supported by the lift element 3 with the moveable portions 4, 5 in the retracted position. Arrow W1 in Fig. 3 is representative for the width of the lift element 3 that is supporting the bottom 10b of the roll container 10.
Fig. 4 depicts a front view of the roll container 10 when supported by the lift element 3 with the moveable portions 4, 5 in the extended position. In the extended position of the moveable portions 4, 5, the moveable portions 4, 5 are able to engage with the bottom 10b of the roll container 10. Arrow WI’ in Fig. 4 is representative for the width of the lift element 3 that is supporting the bottom 10b of the roll container 10. As can be seen clearly, the width W1' in Fig. 4 is larger than width W1 in Fig. 3 so that the moveable portions 4, 5 in the extended position improve the stability of the roll container 10 when lifted by the lift element 3.
As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the lift element 3, i.e. the main portion 3a thereof, comprises fixed wheels 3c as fixed supports to support the one or more lift elements 3 from the ground G in a lower position of the lift element 3 only. Hence, the lower position of the lift element 3 in this embodiment is the position in which the fixed wheels 3c engage with the ground G. This lower position of the lift element 3 allows to position a roll container 10 above the main portion 3a of the lift element 3. The rotation axes of the fixed wheels extend in this embodiment in the transverse direction allowing easy support of the lift element 3 in the longitudinal direction LD.
The two moveable portions 4, 5 are each provided with a moveable support. Below, the moveable support will be described in relation to moveable portion 5 and Fig. 5 only, but it is explicitly mentioned here that in this embodiment, the moveable support of moveable portion 4 is identical or at least similar.
The moveable support of moveable portion 5 includes a pair 5a of wheels rotatably arranged on a pivotable arm 5b, which pair 5a of wheels is rotatable about a rotation axis 5¢, and which arm 5b is pivotable about a pivot axis 5d. The rotation axes of the wheels of the pair 5a of wheels are offset in horizontal direction relative to the rotation axis The rotation axes of the wheels of the pair 5a of wheels are offset in horizontal direction relative to the rotation axis 5c allowing the pair of wheels to easily adjust its orientation to overcome obstacles and bumps in the ground G. The pivotable arm 5b allows to move the pair 5a of wheels to a retracted position in which the arm 5b is substantially horizontal and the wheels are positioned above the fixed wheels 3c allowing the wheels of the pair 5a of wheels to be disengaged from the ground G even when the lift element 3 is in the lower position and supported from the ground G using the fixed wheels 3c. The retracted position of the wheels of the pair 5a of wheels with the disengagement of the wheels has the advantage that the moveable portion 5 can be moved in the transverse direction without interference between the moveable support and the ground G.
Hence, preferably, the moveable supports of the moveable portions 4, 5 remain in the retracted position until the moveable portions 4, 5 have moved to the extended position.
When lifting the lift element 3, the moveable supports are moved to a supporting position as depicted in all drawings, especially Fig. 5 in which the moveable supports support the lift element 3 from the ground at least partially.
Fig. 3 depicts a front view of the roll container 10 when supported by the lift element 3 with the moveable portions 4, 5 in the retracted position and the moveable supports in the supporting position. Arrow W2 in Fig. 3 is representative for the width defined by the moveable supports that are supporting the lift element 3.
Fig. 4 depicts a front view of the roll container 10 when supported by the lift element 3 with the moveable portions 4, 5 in the extended position and the moveable supports in the supporting position. Arrow W2’ in Fig. 4 is representative for the width defined by the moveable supports that are supporting the lift element 3. As can be seen clearly, the width W2/ in Fig. 4 is larger than width W2 in Fig. 3, so that the moveable portions 4, 5 including moveable supports in the extended position of the moveable portions 4, 5 provide a much more stable support of the lift element and thereby improve the stability of the roll container 10 when lifted by the lift element 3.
it will be apparent for the skilled person that the improved stability by the wider engagement between lift element and roll container in combination with the improved stability by the wider support of the lift element by the moveable supports will result in even more stability of the roll container 10. However, stability may already be improved by using only one of the two stability improvements.
Although the above-described embodiment uses a translation of the moveable portions 4, 5 to move between the retracted position and the extended position, it is alternatively possible to use a rotation about a vertical rotation axis, or a combination of a translation and a rotation. Further, a moveable portion may be formed by a sidewall of the lift element that is rotated upwards about a horizontal rotation axis that is parallel to the longitudinal direction LD.
Claims (9)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2031787A NL2031787B1 (en) | 2022-05-05 | 2022-05-05 | A lifting device for lifting a roll container and method therefor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2031787A NL2031787B1 (en) | 2022-05-05 | 2022-05-05 | A lifting device for lifting a roll container and method therefor |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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NL2031787B1 true NL2031787B1 (en) | 2023-11-14 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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NL2031787A NL2031787B1 (en) | 2022-05-05 | 2022-05-05 | A lifting device for lifting a roll container and method therefor |
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NL (1) | NL2031787B1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07257894A (en) * | 1994-03-24 | 1995-10-09 | Nippon Yusoki Co Ltd | Loading/unloading device of fork lift |
EP0958988A2 (en) * | 1998-05-18 | 1999-11-24 | BT Industries Aktiebolag | Device for increasing the supporting surface of a load fork |
US20060181039A1 (en) * | 2006-03-18 | 2006-08-17 | Fridlington Keith W Jr | Pallet jack having width-adjustable fork prongs |
EP2184256A2 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2010-05-12 | Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft | Industrial truck with a load arm |
-
2022
- 2022-05-05 NL NL2031787A patent/NL2031787B1/en active
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07257894A (en) * | 1994-03-24 | 1995-10-09 | Nippon Yusoki Co Ltd | Loading/unloading device of fork lift |
EP0958988A2 (en) * | 1998-05-18 | 1999-11-24 | BT Industries Aktiebolag | Device for increasing the supporting surface of a load fork |
US20060181039A1 (en) * | 2006-03-18 | 2006-08-17 | Fridlington Keith W Jr | Pallet jack having width-adjustable fork prongs |
EP2184256A2 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2010-05-12 | Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft | Industrial truck with a load arm |
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