WO2022096553A1

WO2022096553A1 - A lifting aid arrangement for a transport vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2022096553A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/080599
Authority: WO
Inventors: Svante WIBOM
Original assignee: Lifts All Ab
Priority date: 2020-11-04
Filing date: 2021-11-04
Publication date: 2022-05-12
Also published as: SE2051280A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a lifting aid arrangement (1) for a transport vehicle (100). The lifting aid arrangement (1) is configured to aid an operator in lifting and placing objects (200) on the transport vehicle (100) and comprises a manipulator (10) comprising a vacuum gripper (11) for releasably attaching to the object (200), an arm structure (20) movably supporting the manipulator (10) such that the operator may manually move the manipulator (10) into engagement with the object (200) and a compressor unit (30). The lifting aid arrangement (1) further comprises a vacuum ejector (12) that is fluidly connected to the compressor unit (30) and to the vacuum gripper (11). The disclosure also relates to a method of furnishing a transport vehicle (100) with a lifting aid arrangement.

Description

A LIFTING AID ARRANGEMENT FOR A TRANSPORT VEHICLE

Technical field

The present disclosure generally pertains to transport of goods. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a lifting aid arrangement for a transport vehicle, wherein the arrangement assists a human operator in lifting and placing objects on the vehicle.

Background art

There exist a variety of transport vehicles that are manually loaded with goods. In stock picking, for example, objects such as boxes are often manually picked from warehouse storage racks and placed on pallets carried by order pickers. The loading of transport vehicles may involve many heavy lifts for personnel, such as warehouse staff.

DE102018121726A1 figure 4 discloses a transport vehicle with a picking device that is coupled to the vehicle by a manually operated arm. The arm is vertically movably connected to a mast and the picking device comprises a vacuum gripper.

EP2987761 Al and disclose W02020050407A1 transport vehicles with a robot arms.

Summary of the invention

The above mentioned prior art solutions aiming at fully or partly atomizing stock picking are based on specialized transport vehicles, with more or less automated robot arms. Such transport vehicles are heavy and expensive, and may have a relatively short operating time due to high energy consumption.

It is and object of the present disclosure to provide a lifting aid arrangement for a transport vehicle that solves at least one of the problems in the prior art.

According to the present disclosure, this object is met by a lifting aid arrangement for a transport vehicle that is configured to aid an operator in lifting and placing objects on the transport vehicle. The lifting aid arrangement comprises a manipulator comprising a vacuum gripper for releasably attaching to the object, an arm structure movably supporting the manipulator such that the operator may manually move the manipulator into engagement with the object, and a compressor unit. The lifting aid arrangement comprises a vacuum ejector that is fluidly connected to the compressor unit and to the vacuum gripper.

By employing a vacuum ejector to generate the vacuum powering the vacuum gripper, and providing the vacuum ejector with compressed air by a compressor unit, several advantages are obtained. For one, pressurised air may be stored in an air tank such that the compressor unit need not operate continuously. Further, such a solution requires less energy that e.g. a system based on an electric vacuum pump directly connected to a vacuum gripper, and the manipulator may also be of a more compact design. As compares to a vacuum pump directly connected to a vacuum gripper, the combination of a compressor unit and a vacuum ejector may also involve a shorter activation time of the vacuum gripper from an idle state.

There may be more than one vacuum gripper provided on the manipulator. All vacuum grippers preferably face the same direction. Advantageously, there are four vacuum grippers arranged in a rectangular pattern, or three arranged in a triangular pattern.

Preferably, there is further provided a manipulator parking unit for receiving the manipulator when not in operation. In this way, there is a dedicated storage place for the manipulator allowing it to be kept still while the transport vehicle is in motion. The manipulator parking unit preferably has a configuration allowing easy insertion and removal of the manipulator, while the manipulator may be kept still by means of gravity. The manipulator parking unit may comprise a vertical wall structure at least partly surrounding the manipulator.

The manipulator parking unit may be adapted to receive the manipulator from a lateral side of the transport vehicle. The operator may then, after having finalised a lifting operation outside the transport vehicle, conveniently bring the manipulator back to the transport vehicle and park the manipulator. Next, the operator may drive the transport vehicle to another location. The manipulator parking unit may have a wall structure that is upwards open and essentially open towards the lateral side of the transport vehicle. In the remaining directions, the wall structure may be essentially closed. The wall structure may be formed of polymer or metal sheet material.

Preferably, the manipulator parking unit comprises a manipulator detector for detecting the presence of a manipulator within the manipulator parking unit. In this way, the lifting aid arrangement may, triggered by a signal from the detector, hinder movement of the arm structure when the manipulator is placed in the manipulator parking unit.

Preferably, the manipulator parking unit is positioned to receive the manipulator when the arm structure is brought to a resting position. Such a resting position is preferably one in which the arm structure does not protrude horizontally out from the footprint of the transport vehicle. The arm structure may comprise two arm sections that are folded together in the resting position.

The manipulator parking unit may be positioned at a height that corresponds to half the maximum lifting height of the lifting aid arrangement when mounted on a transport vehicle. Such a height may correspond to the average height in which the manipulator is positioned during use. Thus, the manipulator need typically not be moved in the height direction when being brought to the manipulator parking unit.

The arm structure may be horizontally rotatory supported by the transport vehicle. The operator may grasp the manipulator and move the manipulator horizontally whereby the arm structure is rotated and follows the manipulator.

Preferably, the arm structure comprises a proximal arm section and a distal arm section that are connected by a rotary joint solely allowing rotation in a horizontal plane. The manipulator may then, by rotation of the arm structure as such and by rotation of the arms section with respect to one another, be brought to any position within a load area of the transport vehicle. The load area may e.g. be an area that is to be occupied by a pallet. The total length of the arm structure is preferably approximately 2 meters, each one of the arm section approximately 1 meter. The arm structure may supported laterally centrally on the transport vehicle. The distal end of the arm structure may then be conveniently brought to either lateral side of the transport vehicle by the operator. The arm structure is then obliquely oriented with respect to the length direction of the transport vehicle.

The arm structure may comprise two arm sections of essentially the same length that may be folded together, thus allowing long reach and a compact resting position.

Preferably, the arm structure comprises blocking means for hindering movement of the arm structure when the transport vehicle is in motion. In this way, the arm structure will be kept in place when the transport vehicle is in motion so as to not be damaged or cause damage.

Preferably, the manipulator comprises the vacuum ejector. Thus, pressurised air is provided from the compressor unit to the manipulator, and only within the manipulator in the pressurised air converted into vacuum driving the vacuum gripper. The distance over which a vacuum need be provided is thus minimised.

The compressor unit may comprise a compressor and a tank. In this way, pressurised air intended to drive the vacuum grippers may be stored and the compressor needs only operate when the pressure within the tank drops below a threshold value.

Preferably, the compressor unit comprises a compressor that is configured to be powered by the transport vehicle, e.g. by a battery of the transport vehicle. Thereby, e.g. a 24 or 48 volts transport vehicle battery can be used to power not only the transport vehicle but also the lifting aid arrangement. 24 volt batteries are commonly used in transport vehicles in the form of order pickers.

Preferably, the manipulator is configured to releasably attach to either a top side or a lateral side of the object. The lifting aid arrangement may then lift objects either from above or from the side, which may be convenient when objects are stored in confined spaces such as storage containers or pallet racks. Preferably, the manipulator comprises suspension means configured such that the orientation of the vacuum gripper may be changed when supported by the arm structure, wherein in a first orientation the vacuum gripper is oriented essentially horizontally such that it may attach to the lateral side and in a second orientation the vacuum gripper is oriented essentially vertically such that it may attach to the top side of the object.

The manipulator may be configured such that in the first orientation, the wire that supports the manipulator is located at a distance less than 10 cm, or preferably less than 5 cm, from the suction surface of the vacuum gripper 11 when the latter is attached to and lifting an object.

Preferably, the lifting aid arrangement comprises hoist means to which the manipulator is connected via a wire. The hoist means may be pneumatic hoist means adapted to be powered by compressed air from the compressor unit. The hoist means is preferably activated by the manipulator. The hoist means is preferably activated when the vacuum gripper of the manipulator is brought into contact with an object.

Preferably, the hoist means, when activated, is configured to carry the weight of the object. The hoist means may be set to provide a predetermined lifting force to the manipulator via the wire.

The object has also been met by transport vehicle comprising a lifting aid arrangement as described above. The transport vehicle may e.g. be an order picker, a luggage trolley or a forklift. The transport vehicle may comprise a support structure configured such that the arm structure may be attached thereto, preferably by bolting. Preferably, the arm structure is attached laterally centrally to the support structure.

Finally, the object has been met by a method of furnishing a transport vehicle, e.g. an order picker or a luggage trolley, with a lifting aid arrangement as described above. The method comprising the steps of fixedly attaching the arm structure and the compressor unit to the transport vehicle. The arm structure may be fixedly attaching to a support structure of the transport vehicle. The arm structure and the compressor unit may be fixedly attached by bolting. Brief description of the drawings

In order to explain advantages and features of the present disclosure more detail, a few embodiments will be described below, where references are made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a transport vehicle provided with a lifting aid arrangement in accordance with the present disclosure, the lifting aid arrangement comprising an arm structure, a manipulator and two manipulator parking units,

Figure 2 shows the manipulator of figure 1 in an orientation that allows attachment to a top side of an object,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one manipulator parking unit of figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the arm structure of figure 1, and

Figures 5-6 are enlarged perspective and side views of the manipulator of figure 1.

Detailed description of embodiments

The lifting aid arrangement according to the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter.

Figure 1 shows a transport vehicle 100 in the form of a forklift that comprises forks 101 for carrying a load, which is typically arranged on a pallet (not shown) engageable by the forks. The forklift 100 further comprises a battery compartment 102, an operator compartment 103, a load guard 104 and a support structure 105. The load guard 104 is arranged between the forks 101 and the operator compartment 103 and extends vertically upwards from the base of the forklift 100. The support structure 105 may be attached to the load guard 104 and extends further vertically upwards to a highest position of the forklift. The present forklift may also be referred to as an order picker and typically operates in a warehouse. The order picker 100 is equipped with a lifting aid arrangement 1 that in this embodiment comprises a manipulator 10, an arm structure 20, a compressor unit 30 and two manipulator receivers 40 (only one shown in figure 1). The lifting aid arrangement 1 is provided on the order picker 100 to aid an operator in lifting and placing objects on the pallet.

The manipulator 10, shown in more details in figures 5 and 6, comprises a main body 15 in the form of a framework of bars. The main body 15 carries four vacuum grippers 11, a vacuum ejector 12, suspension means 13 and a handle 16.

By providing four vacuum grippers 11, arranged in a square or rectangular pattern, an object 200 can be securely gripped and the individual vacuum gripper will be subject to very little torque when lifting the object 200, no matter how the manipulator 10 and the object 200 are oriented. As an alternative (not shown), three vacuum grippers in a triangular patterns may be employed. The manipulator may in other embodiments comprise one, two or more than four vacuum grippers.

The manipulator 10 is suspended by a wire 21 as is illustrated in figure 1. The wire is connected to the suspension means 13. The suspension means 13 comprises a suspension bar 14 that at one end is connected to the wire 21 and at the other end is pivotally connected to the main body 15.

As is illustrated by the double-ended arrow in figure 5, the suspension bar 14 may be pivoted between two positions that are 90 degrees separated. The suspension bar 14 may be selectively locked in either position by suspension locking means 14a, 14b. The suspension locking means are in this example provided as holes 14b and a locking pin 14a. The suspension means 13 allows the orientation of the main body 15, and thus the vacuum grippers 11, to be altered 90 degrees. In this way, the manipulator 10 may be set to engage either horizontal or vertical surfaces, while being suspended by the wire 21.

A first orientation of the manipulator 10 is shown in figures 1, 5 and 6. In the first orientation, the vacuum grippers 11 are oriented essentially horizontally, meaning that a longitudinal central axis drawn through the vacuum grippers 11 is essentially horizontal. That is, when the manipulator 10 hangs freely supported by the wire 21, the vacuum grippers 11 are essentially horizontally oriented such that they may engage a vertical side 200b (see figure 2) of an object 200 to be lifted.

A second orientation of the manipulator 10 is shown in figure 2. In the second orientation, the vacuum grippers 11 are oriented essentially vertically. When the manipulator hangs freely supported by the wire, the vacuum grippers 11 are essentially vertically oriented and may thus engage a horizontal side 200a of the object 200.

The first orientation (figures 1, 5 and 6) is particularly useful when an operator is to pick an object 200 in a high position or in a position where the top side 200a of the object is not accessible. The top side 200a of an object 200 may not be accessible e.g. when the object 200 is positioned in the top layer of a fully loaded storage rack, e.g. a pallet rack. The second orientation (figure 2) is particularly useful when an operator is to pick an object 200, such as a box 200, in a low position such as on the floor.

The manipulator 10 further comprises a handle 16 that may be held by the operator when the manipulator 10 is manually moved by the operator. In the present embodiment, the handle 16 is attached to the suspension bar 14 that is pivotable connected to the main body 15. In this way, the orientation of the handle 16 remains unchanged when the main body 15, and thus the vacuum grippers 11, is pivoted between the two orientations.

As is illustrated by the double-ended arrow in figure 6, the angle of the handle 16 with respect to the suspension bar 14 and thus the vacuum grippers 11 may be fine-tuned and locked by means of a pivotable connection and handle locking means, in this example provided as holes 16a and a locking pin 16b.

The vacuum ejector 12 is in fluid connection with the compressor unit 30 and the vacuum grippers 11 by air hoses (not shown). When the compressor unit 30 provides the vacuum ejector 12 with compressed air, the vacuum ejector 12 translates the overpressure into under pressure in a manner known per se. The manipulator 10 comprises a contact sensor 19 comprising a spring-loaded contact pin 18. When the manipulator is brought close to an object 200, such as the box illustrated in figure 2, the contact pin 18 is pushed in and thus the contact sensor 19 is triggered. The contact sensor 19 then activates the vacuum ejector 12 whereby the vacuum grippers 11 attach to the object 200. The operator may now, with the help of the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 described below, lift the object.

The main body 15 further carries a casing (to the right of the suspension means 13 in figure 5) comprising valves controlled by the contact sensor 19.

The vacuum ejector 12 is deactivated by the operator pushing either one of two release buttons 17 on the manipulator 10. As is shown in figure 5, the release buttons 17 are easily accessible positioned on the left and right sides of the proximal end of the handle 16. The release buttons 17 are placed such that an operator holding the handle 16 may release the object 200 using a thumb while holding the handle 16 with a left or a right hand.

In other embodiments (not shown) the vacuum ejector 12 is positioned on the arm structure 20 or on the compressor unit 30. However, is it is preferred to position the vacuum ejector 12 close to the vacuum grippers 11.

The manipulator 10 is designed to be compact, in particular in the direction of operation of the vacuum grippers 11. This is advantageous as it is desirable to be able to vertically lift objects 200, with the manipulator 10 in the first orientation, also when there is a limited free space available above the object 200. As is shown in figure 6, the main body 15 of the manipulator 10 has its largest extension in a plane that is orthogonal to the operating direction of the vacuum grippers 11. In order to keep the manipulator 10 compact in the operating direction of the vacuum grippers 11, the components of the manipulator are placed essentially in-plane with the main body 15.

The manipulator is configured such that in the first orientation, as is clear from figure 6, the horizontal distance d from the vacuum grippers 11 to where the wire 21 is attached to the manipulator 10 is minimised. Thus, the wire 21 will be brought close to the vertical side 200b of the object, and thus the rotational moment caused by the weight of the object 200 is minimised (as the distance d forms part of the lever). By “close” is here meant less than 10cm. The placement of the components of the manipulator essentially in-plane with the main body 15 minimises the distance d. More precisely, said distance d has been minimised by configuring the manipulator 10 such that, in the first orientation, the end of the suspension bar 14 that is connected to the wire 21 is arranged less than 10 cm, in this embodiment less than 5 cm, from the suction surface of the vacuum grippers 11.

The arm structure 20, shown in more detail in figure 4, carries the manipulator 10 by means of the wire 21. The arm structure 20 is fixedly attached to the order picker 100, as is shown in figure 1. More precisely, the arm structure 20 is bolted to the front face of the upper end of the support structure 105, in this case at a height of approximately 2 meters. The arm 20 structure comprises a mounting bracket 22 with a mounting plate 23. The mounting place 23 and the support structure 105 are furnished with corresponding holes for a bolt connection.

It is to be understood that the order picker 100, or other transport vehicles, may comprise other support structures for attachment of the mounting plate 23. Such support structures e.g. involve a lifting mast or an upper portion of an operator cabin.

The arm structure 20 comprises a proximal arm section 24 and a distal arm section 25. The proximal arm section 24 is horizontally rotatory supported by the mounting bracket 22. The distal arm section 25 is horizontally rotatably connected to the proximal arm section 24 by a rotary joint 26. The rotary joint 26 is a hinge joint connecting the arm sections 24, 25 at the same height, such that the arm section 24, 25 operate in the same horizontal plane, see figure 1. In this way, the arm structure 20 is compact in height making possible the manipulator 10 to reach inside a pallet rack close to the ceiling of the pallet rack.

The arm structure 20 may rotate freely, i.e. without being hindered by any substantial friction force or other rotation-inhibiting force, in a horizontal plane, around the mounting bracket 22. The arm structure 20, more precisely the proximal arm section 24, is rotatable nearly 180 degrees to the left and right from a neutral position (figure 1) that is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the order picker 100. A rotation blocking pin is provided laterally centrally on the support structure 105, see figure 1. The proximal arm section 24 may rotate freely, in a horizontal plane, with respect to the distal arm section 25.

The proximal arm section 24 and the distal arm section 25 are of the same length, in this example approximately 1 meters each. The arm structure 20 may be double-folded by means the rotary joint 26. When double-folded, the arm structure 20 is in a resting position, with the distal end of the distal arm section 25 arranged adjacent the proximal end of the proximal arm section 24. The arm structure 20 comprises damping means 29, in this embodiment in the form of protruding rubber dampers on both lateral sides of the distal arm section 25. The damping means 29 allows the arm structure 20 to be quickly brought to the resting position, without any part of the arm structure 20 being damaged.

The arm structure 20 further comprises blocking means 24a-b, 26a-b for hindering movement of the arm structure 20 when brought to the resting position. There are proximal blocking means 24a-b that are capable of hindering the arm structure 20 from moving with respect to the order picker 100. There are rotary blocking means 26a-b hindering movement around the rotary joint 26.

More precisely, the proximal blocking means 24a-b hinder the proximal arm section 24 from rotating with respect to the mounting bracket 22. In this embodiment, not shown in detail, the proximal blocking means comprise a movable blocking member 24a that is longitudinally movable within the proximal arm section 24. The movable blocking member 24a is adapted to cooperate with a receiving blocking member 24b within the mounting bracket 22. When the movable blocking member 24a is brought (to the right in figure 4) into engagement with the receiving blocking member 24b, the proximal arm section 24 is blocked from rotating with respect to the mounting bracket 22.

The rotary blocking means 26a-b is capable of locking the distal arm section 25 and proximal arm section 24 to one another. In this embodiment, the rotary blocking means 26a-b comprises a pair of interlocking members on each lateral side of the distal arm section 25 and the proximal arm section 24, as in shown in figure 4. The distal arm section is provided with protrusions 26a, one on each lateral side, and the proximal arm section is provided with protrusion retaining means 26b, one on each lateral side.

The arm structure 20 is further provided with a pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 configured to balance the weight of the object. In another embodiment (not shown), electric lifting means may instead be put to use. The wire 21 is connected to the pneumatic lifting cylinder and is longitudinally movably guided along the arm structure 20 to the distal end thereof, where it is lead around a pulley and down to the manipulator 10. An example of a suitable pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 is described in US20090188883 Al and is known under the trademark “Bal-Trol”.

The pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 is in fluid connection with the compressor unit 30 by air hoses (not shown). In the present embodiment, the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 is arranged on top the proximal arm section 24 at the proximal end thereof. The pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 is arranged vertically above the mounting bracket 22 and horizontally close to the mounting bracket 22. Advantageously, a vertical axis though the rotational axis of the mounting bracket 22 passes through the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27.

By arranging the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 horizontally close to the mounting bracket 22, the weight of the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 will cause only little torque on the mounting bracket 22. Also, an advantage of mounting the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 at the proximal end of the arm structure 20 is that the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 will not hinder the arm structure 20 from reaching beneath low obstacles. Thus, a major part of the arm structure 20 may reach within a pallet rack tightly below the ceiling of the pallet rack. A control unit 28 for the lifting cylinder 27 is arranged on the lifting cylinder 27. The control unit 28 is, as is shown, also positioned horizontally close to the mounting bracket 22.

In the present embodiment, the compressor unit 30 is mounted on the forks 101, more precisely at the proximal end of the forks, adjacent the load guard 104. In this embodiment, the compressor unit 30 is box-shaped and has a width of approximately 0.8 meters, a height of approximately 1 meter and a thickness of less than 0.3 meters. The limited thickness, extending in the length direction of the forks 101, involves the advantage that the compressor unit 30 occupies only a small portion of the fork 101 length.

The compressor unit 30 comprises compressor fixing means 33 for attachment to the forks 101. The compressor fixing means 33 are only partly visible in figure 1, but comprises a fork embracing structure that is assembled by bolts and nuts to tightly and securely fix the compressor unit 30 to the forks 101.

The compressor unit 30 comprises a compressor 31 and an air tank 32. The air tank 32 is arranged on top the compressor 31, in order to reduce the thickness of the of the compressor unit 30 and for weight distribution purposes. The compressor 31 is powered by the battery of the order picker 100.

As is shown in figure 1, the compressor unit 30 further comprises a compressor load guard 34. The compressor load guard 34 resembles the load guard 104 of the order picker 100, and extends vertically upwards from the base of the order picker 100 in front of the compressor unit 30, i.e. between the load carried by the forks 101 and the compressor unit.

The compressor load guard 34 essentially has the shape of a fence, and acts to protect the compressor unit from mechanical impacts e.g. from the load carried on the forks 101. The compressor load guard 34 further acts to keep the load at a distance from the compressor unit 30 allowing the surrounding air to cool the compressor unit 30. The load guard 104 also provides a space for cooling surrounding air.

The compressor load guard 34 comprises guard fixing means 35 for attachment to the forks 101. Similar to the compressor fixing means 33, the guard fixing means 35 comprises a fork embracing structure that is assembled by bolts and nuts for secure attachment to the forks 101.

A supply structure 36, essentially having the shape of an upside down “U”, connects the compressor unit 30 to the order picker 100. The supply structure contains air hoses connected to the air tank 32 and electrical cabling. The “U” shape is beneficial as tight bend radiuses are to be avoided to not hinder the airflow.

The manipulator parking units 40 are in this embodiment mounted on the upper left and right sides of the compressor unit 30. In another embodiment (not shown), the manipulator parking units 40 are mounted on the support structure 105. The manipulator parking units 40 hold the manipulator 10 when the arm structure 20 is brought to a left or right resting position. In figure 1, a loose manipulator 10 is for illustrative purposes shown in one of the manipulator parking units 40.

As is shown in figure 3, the manipulator parking unit 40 comprises a relatively high rear wall 42 that when mounted is aligned in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the order picker 100. The opposite wall 43, which may be termed a front wall, is much lower than the rear wall 42 such that the manipulator 10 may conveniently be placed in the manipulator parking unit 40 when the arm structure is double-folded into its resting position. The manipulator parking unit 40 comprises a bottom wall 45 and two opposing sidewalls 46. The sidewalls 46 slope linearly from the higher rear wall 42 to the lower front wall 43.

The manipulator parking unit 40 further comprises a manipulator detector 41. Once a manipulator 10 is placed within the manipulator parking unit 40, the manipulator 10 engages a movable switch 44 of the manipulator detector 41. When the movable switch 44 is pushed in, the manipulator detector 41 is triggered and activates the blocking means 24a-b, 26a-b of the arm structure 20. Thus, a motor moves the movable blocking member 24a and the protrusion retaining means 26b is activated to retain the protrusions 26a.

When the operator brings the manipulator 10 to the manipulator parking unit 40, the proximal arm section 24 and the distal arm section 25 will be folded together as the rotary joint 26 allows them to rotate freely. In addition, the double-folded arm structure 20 may rotate slightly around the mounting bracket 22. Thus, in its resting position, the doublefolded arm structure 20 may be obliquely oriented with respect to the longitudinal direction of the order picker 100. In embodiments not including a manipulator parking unit 40, there may be provided an actuator, such as a push button, e.g. on the compressor unit 30 to activate the blocking means.

In use, the operator may drive the order picker 100 to a location where objects 100 are to be loaded on the pallet carried by the order picker. The operator may grasp the manipulator 100 and remove it from the manipulator parking unit 40. The manipulator detector 41 then deactivates the blocking means 24a-b, 26a-b such that the arm structure 20 becomes movable.

The operator pulls the manipulator 10 towards a position outside the footprint of the order picker 100 where the object 200 is located. The arm structure 20 unfolds and may rotate around the mounting bracket 22 and around the rotary joint 26 as required to reach to the location of the object 200. In this embodiment the arm structure 20 has a length of 2 metres allowing the distal end of the arm structure 20 to be brought approximately 1.6 metres laterally away from the order picker 100 (assuming that the order picker is 0.8 meters wide).

If the object 200 to be lifted in located at a low location, e.g. on the floor or on a pallet or the floor, the operator sets the manipulator in the second orientation (figure 2). The operator may move the manipulator horizontally and vertically to engage the object 200, while the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 allows the required length of wire 21 to be pulled out.

Next, the operator places the manipulator 10 on top of the object and thus triggers the contact sensor 19. The vacuum ejector 12 is now activated and a valve therein opens to let pressurised air from the air tank 32 into the vacuum ejector 12 that as a result provides the vacuum grippers 11 with vacuum. Simultaneously, the contact sensor 19 activated the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 that provides a pre-set lifting force to the wire 21.

The operator may now lift the obj ect 200 and simultaneously move it horizontally towards the desired location on the pallet. Depending on the pre-set lifting force, the operator may need help the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27 to lift the object 200, or the object may be completely lifted by the pneumatic lifting cylinder 27.

Once the object 200 is at the desired location, the operator may release the object 200 by pressing one of the release buttons 17 to deactivate the vacuum ejector 12 and thus the vacuum grippers 11. The operator may pick up more objects and once done, place the manipulator 10 in the manipulator parking unit 40. The arm structure 20 is as a result brought to its resting position, folded and obliquely oriented with respect to the longitudinal direction of the order picker 100.

Should the manipulator 10 be placed in the manipulator parking unit 40 before the arm structure has reached its resting position, the blocking means 24a-b, 26a-b may be configured to hinder movement of the arm structure 20 once it has been brought to its resting position. The blocking means 24a-b, 26a-b may e.g. be spring-loaded and engage once the arm structure 20 has been brought to the resting position.

The lifting aid arrangement 1 may be retrofitted to a transport vehicle 100. Such a transport vehicle 100 may either already have a suitable support structure to which the arm structure 20 may be fixedly attached as described above, or the transport vehicle may be retrofitted with a support structure. Also, the compressor unit 30 is to be fixedly attached to the transport vehicle, e.g. by bolting to forks or to another suitable structure. One or, preferably, two manipulator parking units 40 may also be attached to the transport vehicle, e.g. to the compressor unit.

Claims

1. A lifting aid arrangement (1) for a transport vehicle (100), the lifting aid arrangement (1) being configured to aid an operator in lifting and placing objects (200) on the transport vehicle (100) and comprising a manipulator (10) comprising a vacuum gripper (11) for releasably attaching to the object (200), an arm structure (20) movably supporting the manipulator (10) such that the operator may manually move the manipulator (10) into engagement with the object (200), and a compressor unit (30), wherein the lifting aid arrangement (1) comprises a vacuum ejector (12) that is fluidly connected to the compressor unit (30) and to the vacuum gripper (11).

2. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of claim 1, comprising a manipulator parking unit (40) for receiving the manipulator (10) when not in operation.

3. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the manipulator parking unit (40) comprises a manipulator detector (41) for detecting the presence of a manipulator within the manipulator parking unit (40).

4. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the manipulator parking unit (40) is positioned to receive the manipulator (10) when the arm structure (20) is brought to a resting position.

5. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of any preceding claim, wherein arm structure (20) comprises a proximal arm section (24) and a distal arm section (25) that are connected by a rotary joint (26) solely allowing rotation in a horizontal plane.

6. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of claim 5, wherein the arm structure (20) comprises blocking means (24a-b, 26a-b) for hindering movement of the arm structure (20) when the transport vehicle (100) is in motion.

7. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of any preceding claim, wherein the manipulator (10) comprises the vacuum ejector (12).

8. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of any preceding claim, wherein the compressor unit (30) comprises a compressor (31) that is configured to be powered by the transport vehicle (100).

9. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of any preceding claim, wherein the manipulator (10) is configured to releasably attach to either a top side (200a) or a lateral side (200b) of the object (200).

10. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of claim 9, wherein the manipulator (10) comprises suspension means (13) configured such that the orientation of the vacuum gripper (11) may be changed when supported by the arm structure (20), wherein in a first orientation the vacuum gripper (11) is oriented essentially horizontally such that it may attach to the lateral side (200b) and in a second orientation the vacuum gripper (11) is oriented essentially vertically such that is may attach to the top side (200a) of the object (200).

11. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of any preceding claim, comprising hoist means (27) to which the manipulator (10) is connected via a wire (21).

12. The lifting aid arrangement (1) of claim 11, wherein the hoist means (27) is configured to carry the weight of the object (200).

13. A transport vehicle (100) comprising a lifting aid arrangement (1) according to any preceding claim.

14. The transport vehicle (100) of claim 13, wherein the transport vehicle is an order picker.

15. A method of furnishing a transport vehicle (100) with a lifting aid arrangement (1) of any one of claims 1-12, comprising the steps of fixedly attaching the arm structure (20) and the compressor unit (30) to the transport vehicle (100).