A DEVICE IN FORK LIFT TRUCKS, PALLET LOADERS, ARTICULATED STACKING TRUCKS AND SIMILAR LIFTING EQUIPMENT

Abstract: The invention concerns a device in fork lift trucks (1) comprising a pillar stand (2) and a horizontal lifting fork (4, 5) arranged to be lifted and lowered. On the lifting fork (4, 5) are mounted a pair of rigidly interconnected deposition arms (6, 7), said arms being hingedly connected to one of the lifting fork arms (4, 5) by means of a hinge (8). The device comprises a mechanism (10, 11, 12) arranged by attachment of the deposition arms (6, 7) to the stand (2) and subsequent lowering of the lifting fork (4, 5) to a somewhat lower level, to bring the deposition arms (6, 7) and an object (13) positioned thereon, to assume an adjustable tilting position on top of the lifting fork (4, 5).

Description: A DEVICE IN FORK LIFT TRUCKS, PALLET LOADERS, ARTICULATED STACKING TRUCKS AND SIMILAR LIFTING EQUIPMENT The subject invention concerns a device in fork lift trucks, pallet loaders, articulated stacking trucks and similar lifting equipment having a pillar stand from which projects a lifting fork which is arranged to be raised and lowered along the pillar stand. In addition to the conventional use of fork lift trucks within the industry for lifting heavy objects up onto or down from storage shelves and for transporting the objects from one hall to another, one has found that such trucks, in a slightly simplified version, may be used advantageously in connection with conveyor line opera¬ tions. In this case, each fitter disposes of a truck on which he keeps, in a box, the components to be fitted. When the box is empty, he drives his truck to the storage, unloads the empty box and puts a box filled with new components onto the truck. The fitter thus is individually responsible for all phases of the procedure, from the pro¬ curement of the mounting components to the fitting thereof. The advantage of this system is that the fitter may arrange the working operations in the individually most practical manner, i.e. he can place the truck in the posi¬ tion that to him is the most favourable one and lift the box containing the mounting components to the level that is most comfortable to him in view of his height and structure while at the same time the need for a stand-by person charged with he task of supervising when a fresh box of mounting components need to be supplied, is eliminated. A serious drawback is however, that when the contents inside the box are beginning to run out, the fitter nonetheless will have to stretch across the edge of the box in order to retrieve the components lying on the bottom of the box. These uncomfortable movements are repeated with every box and in time they may cause backaches and other injuries. The purpose of the invention is to eliminate this drawback. The features characterizing the invention appe from the appended claims. Owing to the obliquely positio of a box or pallet-load placed on the truck, the movemen involved in retrieving the components from the bottom of the box are fundamentally facilitated. The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fork lift truck equipped with the device in accordance with the inventio Fig. 2 illustrates the fork lift truck together wit the device in a view from the front, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device. Fig. 1 illustrates a fork lift truck 1 of the conve tional type including a pillar stand 2 and a hoisting mechanism 3 for lifting and lowering a lifting fork 4, 5. In accordancae with the invention, a pair of deposition arms 6, 7 are disposed on the arms of the lif ing fork 4, 5. One arm 6 is hingedly connected to one lifting fork arm 4 by means of a hinge 8, while the othe arm 7 rests freely on the other lifting fork arm 5. The two deposition arms 6, 7 and rigidly interconnected via transverse end wall 9 positioned in front of the stand 2. This transverse end wall 9 or the end of the deposition arm 7 adjacent the stand 2 pivotally supports a lever 10 which is arranged to be hooked onto a selected hook in th row of several hooks 12 provided on one of the sides of the stand by means of a gripping member 11 extending transversely in relation to the lever 10. The device in accordance with the invention function in the following manner. The lifting fork 4, 5 with e.g. a box 13 (suggested by phantom lines in Fig. 2) positione on the deposition arms 6, 7, is lifted a short distance above the lowermost position with the aid of the hoisting mechanism 3. In this position, the fitter manually hooks the gripping member 11 of the lever 10 onto one of the hooks 12 by pivoting the gripping member 11 towards the stand 2. He then lowers the lifting fork 4, 5, again over a short distance. The deposition arm 7 will no leave its position of abutment on top of the lifting fork arm 5 and the desposition arm 6 will tilt about the hinge 8. Conse¬ quently, the box 13 supported on the deposition arms 6, 7 will assume the oblique or inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2. The contents at the bottom of the box 13 will be more easily accessible to the fitter, when the box 13 tilts towards him, both because the part of the box 13 farthest away from him will be somewhat closer but also because the rim of the box 13 closest to him will be positioned at a lower level. This allows the fitter to lift the remaining components more quickly from the inte¬ rior of the box 13. When the components inside the box 13 are of the kind that easily slide on the sloping bottom surface towards the fitter, the removal of the components is made easier still. When the box 13 is empty, the fitter again lifts the lifting fork 4, 5 sufficiently far to ensure that the deposition arms 6, 7 will rest on top of the lifting fork 4, 5, whereupon the gripping member 11 of the lever 10 is disengaged from the hook and the lifting fork 4, 5 may again be lowered into the lowermost position. The invention is not limited to the embodiment as illustrated and described but may be modified in a variety of ways within the scope of the appended claims. The mech¬ anism 10, 11, 12, for example, for securement of the depo¬ sition arms 6, 7 to the stand 2, could be designed in other ways to give the same technical effect. In the drawings, the deposition arms 6, 7 have been shown to pivot in one direction but this arrangement does not exclude one allowing them to pivot in the opposite direction. Likewise, it is possible to attach them pivot- ally to the front end of the lifting fork 4 and 5. Obviously, the hinge 8 may be designed in many different ways and the construction thereof does not form a part o the invention. The invention may be used for other purposes than that described above, for instance as a tilting device fo emptying a container by lateral tilting thereof.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device in fork lift trucks (1), pallet loaders, articulated stacking trucks and similar lifting equipment of the kind comprising a pillar stand (2) and a lifting fork (4, 5) projecting horizontally from said stand (2) and arranged to be raised and lowered along said stand, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a pair of deposition arms (6, 7) arranged on the lifting fork (4, 5), said arms being mutually interconnected and being connected to at least one arm of the lifting fork (4, 5) by means of a hinge joint (8), and by a mechanism (10, 11, 12) for detachable securement of the deposition arms (6, 7) to the stand (2) on the side of the lifting fork (4, 5) opposite to said hinge joint (8), said mechanism (10, 11, 12) arranged, upon attachment of said deposition arms (6, 7) to the stand (2) and subsequent lowering of the lifting fork (4, 5) to a somewhat lower level, to urge said deposition arms (6, 7) and an object (13) supported thereby, to assume an adjustably tilted position relatively to the lifting fork (4, 5). 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t - i z e d in that the securement mechanism consists of a lever (10) which is hingedly connected to the deposition arms (6, 7), said lever (10) being arranged to be hooked a selected hook (12) or similar means in a vertical row of hooks provided along the stand (2) and, by engagement in the selected hook (12) or similar means and subsequent lowering of the lifting fork (4, 5), to retain one side of the deposition arms (6, 7) in position, thus bringing about the tilting position of said arms. 3. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the deposition arms (6, 7) are rigidly interconnected by means of a transverse end wall (9), beam or similar means positioned in front of the stand (2).

Inventors: JOHANSSON EVALD VALDEMAR, JOHANSSON, EVALD, VALDEMAR
Applicants: ECOND OR SWEDEN AB, ECOND'OR SWEDEN AB
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B66F9
IPC codes: B66F9