Patent Publication Number: US-10329129-B2

Title: Side picker lift apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit under 35 USC section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/411,816, filed Oct. 24, 2016, entitled SIDE PICKER LIFT APPARATUS, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to lift trucks and the like constructed to select elongated product from storage shelves/racks, and more particularly relates to a lift device where a worker rides with a platform to pick elongated product (i.e. especially product which is too long to easily hold and/or carry, such as 20 foot steel pipe of 20-50 lbs.) from elevated storage shelves/racks, transporting the selected/picked product back to ground level. 
     A number of lift devices are known. Side loaders (see  FIGS. 11-12 ) are configured to lift a storage unit to a height where elongated product can be picked and set on the storage unit, and afterwards lowering the storage unit to a ground level. However, as shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , the operator and controls remain at ground level. This results in a circumstance where a second worker must climb the shelves/racks to pick product and put it on the storage unit. It is arguably unsafe for a worker to climb around to different levels on the storage racks. It is quite unsafe for a single worker to try to control the lift and also climb around racks to pick product, since they would have to climb around on the side loader and on the shelves/racks. 
     Fork lifts ( FIGS. 13-14 ) can also be used. However, they include forks that extend away from the operator, such that they require a wide aisle. Further, a second worker must climb the shelves/racks to pick product and put it on the storage unit, which is unsafe as noted above. Like side loaders, it is quite unsafe for a single worker to try to control both a fork lift and also pick product, since they have to climb around on the fork truck and on the shelves/racks. Even with “4 directional” fork trucks, where the fork truck is adapted to move fore-aft as well as laterally, a very wide aisle is required due to a length of the fork truck and horizontally-extending forks. A wide aisle leads to excessively large storage areas and widely-spaced-apart storage racks, which adds considerably to overhead costs and poor retrieval time efficiency. 
     Order pickers ( FIGS. 15-17 ) are lifts where the operator and controls move with a platform. The operator rides the platform, and can turn 90 degrees to pick product, resting the picked product on the platform adjacent his position. However, this does not work for elongated product (especially product that is 20 feet or longer), since elongated product can&#39;t easily be rotated 90 degrees due to its length, nor can it be “tucked” between the operator&#39;s feet. Also, the elongated product cannot be safely stored at an outer edge of the platform, since this would result in an unsafe and unbalanced position potentially tending to cause the order picker to tip toward the shelves/racks from which product is being picked. Also, the picked elongated product is often somewhat heavy (e.g. 20-50 lbs or more), which elongated product is unstable on a (narrow) platform of a typical order picker. This potentially creates a fall hazard which can hurt people below and also damage picked product that falls to the ground in the process. Also, a combined weight of the elongated picked product quickly adds up to an unacceptably heavy load that is unbalanced (in both fore-aft and side-to-side directions) and hence it cannot be stored at outer edges of the truck&#39;s forks, especially when the fork truck is being operated in raising and lowering operations. 
     A lift apparatus is desired that is particularly adapted for picking from high shelves/racks (such as 8-20 feet high) selected elongated product (such as 10-20 feet long) having significant weight (such as 10-20 lbs. or often 40-50 lbs. or more). Also, a lift apparatus is desired that is particularly adapted to retrieve elongated product, safely store and carry it to the ground, as well as to facilitate restocking of elongated product onto storage shelves/racks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus for handling elongated product stored on storage racks comprises a wheeled lift truck with a powered lift tower with an operator stand-on platform and lift controls; and a picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally below the platform, the storage section being configured to receive elongated picked product lowered to a storage position in a weight-balanced position that is at least partially under the platform. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus comprises a wheeled lift truck with motor, power supply, motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls; and an elongated picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform and that is accessible from above by an operator, the storage section being configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position and including a chute-forming open side that opens horizontally away from the lift tower and including open ends that open laterally outwardly from the open side, the open side providing a path for picked product to enter the storage section, and the open ends providing a space for outwardly-extending ends of the picked product to extend beyond edges of the platform. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus comprises a wheeled lift truck with motor, power supply, motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls; and an elongated picked-product storage unit including a chute section constructed to guide picked product toward an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform and being configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position, the chute section and storage section defining an L-shape that extends above and below the platform. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of handling elongated product stored on storage racks, comprising steps of providing a wheeled lift truck with a powered lift tower with an operator stand-on platform and lift controls; the truck including an elongated picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally below the platform, the storage section being configured to receive picked product from a vertical direction that is dropped by an operator and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position that is at least partially under the platform; raising the stand-on platform and under-platform storage section from ground level to a raised position; picking selected elongated product from a storage rack; lowering the picked product vertically to a location below the storage section while still in the raised position; lowering the stand-on platform and picked product to ground level; and removing the picked product from the storage section. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus comprises a wheeled lift truck with motor, power supply, motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls; and an elongated picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform and that is accessible from above by an operator, the storage section being configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus comprises a wheeled lift truck with motor, power supply, motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls; and an elongated picked-product storage unit including a chute section constructed to guide picked product toward an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform, the storage section being configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus is constructed for attachment to a wheeled lift truck with motor, power supply, motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls. The improvement comprises an elongated picked-product storage unit configured for retrofit attachment to the wheeled lift truck and including a chute section constructed to receive picked product and an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform for storing the picked product in a weight-balanced position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker component shaped to both store elongated product and guide the elongated product to a storage area, comprises a product-guiding-and-storing component including a vertical-wall-simulating, chute-forming section constructed to guide picked product that is falling by gravity, and a horizontal-shelf-simulating under-platform storage section extending from the chute-forming section to define an L-shape, the component including attachments for supporting the component with the chute-forming section adjacent a platform and the storage section extending under the platform to thus store picked elongated product in a weight-balanced position under the platform. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of picking and temporarily storing elongated picked product comprises providing a wheeled lift truck with motor, a power supply, a motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls; providing a picked-product storage unit including a chute section and an under-platform storage section; dropping picked product into the chute section by gravity; and storing the picked and dropped product under the platform in the storage section in a weight-balanced position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a side picker apparatus comprises a wheeled lift truck with motor, power supply, motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls; an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform and configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position, the storage section including pop-up wheels that move vertically when the storage section is lowered to a ground-adjacent position, the wheels being configured to lift and support product for wheeled movement off an end of the storage section. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an innovative side picker apparatus configured to lift a worker while picking elongated product (such as 12 foot to 20 foot bar stock, tubes, and the like of significant weight) from a vertically-high storage rack, the side picker being configured to safely lift the worker and store picked product while maintaining a relatively-large balanced load and having an ability to work in narrow aisles. 
         FIGS. 2-3  are side and rear views of the side picker apparatus and worker from  FIG. 1  adjacent bar storage racks where elongated product is being picked. 
         FIG. 2A  is an enlarged view from  FIG. 2  of the operator-platform and L-shaped storage unit (also called a picked-product carrier) showing the under-platform storage section and chute section. 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  but showing product being restocked by taking “new” product lifted/carried by the present storage unit and restocking/placing it onto storage shelves. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the side picker apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a picture of a wheel drive mechanism positioned to fit on the side picker apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 7-8  and also  FIGS. 9-10  are side and rear views, respectively, of modified embodiments of the present innovative side picker apparatus in  FIG. 1 , each showing a side picker apparatus with spaced-apart lift towers and a centrally located worker cabin. 
       Prior art  FIGS. 11-12  are perspective views of a side loader in prior art, the side loader being used to pick elongated product from racks. 
       Prior art  FIGS. 13-14  are perspective views of a fork truck in prior art, the fork truck being used to pick product from racks. 
       Prior art  FIGS. 15-17  are perspective views of an order picker in prior art, the order picker being used to pick short product from racks. 
         FIGS. 18-18A  are front and side views of another modified version of the present innovative order picker apparatus, the L-shaped picked-product carrier (including a chute section and storage section), the carrier being shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 18  and removed in  FIG. 18A  to better show underlying and adjacent components, including the power lift/lower mechanism with chain guide and picking-hand brackets. 
         FIGS. 19-20  are perspective views of the apparatus of  FIG. 18 , with  FIG. 20  being identical to  FIG. 19  but with the vertical chute section being shown in dashed lines to better show underlying components. 
         FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view showing the power lift mechanism with a horizontally aligned pair of bottom picking-hand brackets capable of carrying a picked product to a position slightly above bottom (i.e. before the picking-hand bracket engages the bottom bearing for rotation), and showing additional picking-hand brackets above the bottom pair. 
         FIG. 22  is a side view of  FIG. 21  showing the power lift mechanism including the picking-hand bracket as the power lift mechanism lowers a picked product; and  FIG. 22A  shows the bottom picking-hand bracket engaging the rotation-causing bearing. 
         FIG. 23  is a side view like  FIG. 22  but showing continued downward movement of the picking-hand bracket from  FIG. 22 , including the picking-hand bracket engaging the bottom bearing and beginning rotation around the bottom bearing. 
         FIGS. 24-25  are views similar to  FIG. 23  but showing additional rotation of the picking-hand bracket and showing depositing of the picked product into the storage section as the power lift mechanism continues to move to a lowermost position. 
         FIG. 24A  is a view like  FIG. 24  but with the chain drive and bottom bearing removed to better show other components. 
         FIGS. 26 and 27  are views showing the picking-hand bracket,  FIG. 26  showing the bracket giving the deposited picked product a last “push” and  FIG. 27  showing initial “reverse” movement of the picking-hand bracket as the power lift mechanism moves toward a lifting phase where the picking-hand bracket will again move vertically. 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the storage unit (i.e. storage section and chute section) and a ground-engaging support beam, the ground-engaging support beam including cylinder rollers (three shown) that are below a surface of the storage section until engagement with the ground causes the cylinder rollers to protrude into the storage section, at which time the cylinder rollers assist in rolling (heavy) elongated picked product laterally out an end of the storage section. 
         FIGS. 29 and 30  are side views of  FIG. 28 ,  FIG. 29  showing the cylinder rollers below the storage section (i.e. before ground engagement) and  FIG. 30  showing the cylinder rollers protruding into the storage section (i.e. after beam-to-ground engagement). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present apparatus  10  is a wheeled side picker particularly adapted to allow a single worker to pick elongated semi-heavy product (e.g. 12-20 feet long and weighing 20-40 lbs. or more). The illustrated apparatus  10  is attached to a side picker apparatus  20  comprising: a wheeled lift truck  21  with motor  22 , power supply  23 , motor-driven drive  24  for moving the lift truck along an aisle  25  between vertically-spaced storage racks  26  of long product  27 , and a powered lift tower  28  configured to lift an operator platform  29  and lift controls  30 . As discussed below and shown in  FIG. 6 , the drive wheel(s) of the lift truck  21  are modified by reorienting the drive wheels at 90 degrees to allow the modified lift truck  21  to move more easily directly along a front edge of a storage rack in a totally different manner than originally designed. (i.e., the modified apparatus  10  can move along a storage rack parallel a length of elongated product in a manner allowing the elongated product to be slid off the storage racks onto the present apparatus without significant manipulation/reorienting of the elongated product.) It is noted that this change is considered significant, surprising, and unexpected, since it allows a much more efficient process of use that is far more consistent with the intended use of the present innovation, yet it also provides a major cost savings in capital investment by allowing the fork truck to be purchased from an existing mass manufacturer and modified as noted herein. The illustrated present apparatus  20  can be installed as a bolt-on accessory to the structure of the illustrated fork truck, again saving considerable capital investment for the user. However, it is contemplated that novel original equipment can also be constructed from the present disclosure. 
     The apparatus  10  includes an elongated-picked-product storage unit/component  31  that is L-shaped, with sections extending adjacent and under the platform  29 . The L-shaped component  31  includes a chute section  32  constructed to receive picked product  27   a , the picked product  27   a  being dropped and directed by chute section  32  to an under-platform storage section  33  located generally under the platform  29 . The storage section  33  is configured to vertically receive and then store the picked product  27   a  in a weight-balanced position on the storage unit/component  31  under the platform  29  (relatively close to the lift truck  21 ), with opposing ends of the picked product  27   a  extending outwardly from open ends of the storage section  33 . The storage section  33  (and picked product  27   a ) can then be moved to a position adjacent the ground/floor when the platform  29  is lowered to a lowermost ground-adjacent position. The apparatus  20  can include spring-supported wheels or rollers  35  ( FIG. 5 , but also see  FIG. 28-30 ) so that, as the storage section  33  contacts the ground floor, the rollers  35  are biased to a position where they extend slightly above an upper surface of the storage section  33 , thus lifting the picked product  27   a  and supporting the picked product  27   a  as it is rolled on the rollers  35  off the storage section  33  onto a work surface. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of various components of the apparatus  10 . The caster-supporting stationary carrier  37  is configured for retrofit bolted attachment to the lateral wheeled legs  38  of the lift truck  21 . The illustrate lift truck  21  was constructed from an existing side picker lift device, but with drive wheels (not specifically shown in  FIG. 5  but see  FIG. 1 ) re-oriented 90 degrees so lift apparatus  10  moves in a totally different sideways direction than it was originally designed for. Also shown are a safety fence comprising posts  39  and toe guard  40  (i.e. kick guard) attached to the platform  29  for operator safety. A rubber bumper  41  is added to an end of a stationary caster-supporting housing/carrier  37  to cushion impacts against a hard object (such as a rack&#39;s base or other rigid structure often encountered by the apparatus  10 ). Steps  42  can be attached to the platform  29  to help with access to and egress from the platform  29 . 
     The present innovative side picker apparatus ( FIG. 1 ) is configured to lift a (single) worker while picking elongated product (such as 12 foot to 20 foot bar stock, tubes, and the like of significant weight) from a vertically-high storage rack, the side picker being configured to safely lift the worker and store picked product while maintaining a relatively-large balanced load and having an ability to work in narrow aisles. The present apparatus allows a single worker to pick efficiently and quickly and safely, yet while working alone.  FIGS. 2-3  are side and rear views of the side picker apparatus and worker from  FIG. 1  adjacent bar storage racks where elongated product is being picked.  FIG. 2A  is an enlarged view from  FIG. 2  of the operator-platform and L-shaped storage unit (also called a picked-product carrier) showing the under-platform storage section and chute section.  FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  but showing product being restocked by taking “new” product lifted/carried by the present storage unit and restocking/placing it onto storage shelves.  FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the side picker apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a picture of a wheel drive mechanism rotated 90 degrees and reattached/positioned to fit on the side picker apparatus of  FIG. 1  to provide a “new” direction of primary movement.  FIGS. 8-9  and also  FIGS. 9-10  are side and rear views, respectively, of modified embodiments of the present innovative side picker apparatus in  FIG. 1 , each showing a side picker apparatus with spaced-apart lift towers and a centrally located worker cabin. 
       FIGS. 11-17  show prior art that was previously discussed. 
     Modification 
     A modified material handling apparatus  120  is shown in  FIGS. 18-30 , and like apparatus  10  and  20  is adapted for movement in and along storage racks  26  where elongated product  27  is stored. The apparatus  120  is very similar to the above-described structure, using much identical structure and similar components, as will be recognized by persons skilled in this art. Specifically, the material handling apparatus  120  includes a modified side picker apparatus  20  with similar and identical components ( 21 - 24 ,  28 - 33 , see  FIGS. 1, 5 ) for handling picked elongated product ( 27   a ). The apparatus  120  further includes a powered lift tower/lifting/lowering mechanism  121  with guided picking-hand brackets  141  that facilitate picking and restocking of elongated product  27 . 
     The apparatus  120  ( FIG. 18 ) includes a frame  130  supporting the storage unit on the base structure of the lift truck  21 , the frame  130  including a horizontal/top load beam  131  and vertical load beam supports  132  fixed/attached to the load beam  131  (and movable along with the platform  29  and controls  30 ). A drive shaft  133  is operably mounted above the load beam  131 , and a slave shaft  134  is mounted below the platform  29 . Right and left (top) sprockets  137  are mounted on the ends of drive shaft  133 , and right and left (bottom) sprockets  138  are mounted on the ends of slave shaft  134 . A chain  135  extends around the right sprockets  137  and  138  and a second chain  135  extends around the left sprockets  137  and  138 . Vertical guides  136  extend between the shafts  133  and  134  for guiding the chain  135  and the brackets  141  between the sprockets  137  and  138 . A bottom dump and sweep wrist carrier bracket  140  carries a first (bottom) L-shaped picking-hand bracket  141 , and an upper carrier bracket  142  carries one or more restocking-hand L-shaped brackets  141  (four being illustrated). The illustrated brackets  141  are L-shaped. The brackets  141 , when in a “normal” carrying position have a shorter horizontal bottom flange that extends to a position close to the vertical panel forming the chute section  32  (see  FIGS. 22 and 22A ), and a longer section that travels parallel the vertical panel of the chute section  32  (see  FIG. 22A ). This orientations continues during vertical movement of the bracket  141  until the bracket  141  hits bottom and begins to pass around a bottom pivot and kicks the picked product onto the storage section  33  (see  FIGS. 25-27 ). A bottom surface of the bottom (first) L-shaped bracket  141  ( FIGS. 22, 22A ) includes a semi-circular recess  141   a  ( FIG. 22 ) that engages a bearing on an end of the shaft  134  to facilitate rotation of the bottom bracket  141  at a bottom of its vertical travel. This pivoting movement facilitates “dumping” the picked elongated product onto the storage section  33  as shown in  FIGS. 22-27 , as described below. 
     The powered lift/lowering mechanism  144  ( FIG. 20 ) includes a drive mechanism for moving the picking-hand brackets  141  vertically downwardly at a slow enough speed to prevent damage to picked product. The drive mechanism is shown as a cylinder  145  with extendable shaft  145   a  connected to a chain  146  that extends around a sprocket  147  on the drive shaft  133 . A size of the sprocket  147  is smaller than sprocket  137  so that a travel/distance of the picking-hand brackets  141  can be long enough to be sufficient for their intended purpose. (i.e., the present arrangement causes the brackets  141  to travel farther than the extendable shaft  145   a , thus allowing sufficient room for the illustrated powering mechanism while still providing a desired long range of motion of the brackets  141 .) It is contemplated that a variety of different drive mechanisms could be used instead of a hydraulic cylinder, such as electric and/or other motivating devices. It is also contemplated that different devices other than the one illustrated can be used to slow the downward movement of picked elongated product as each one is dropped into the chute section and falls to the storage section, including different powered and non-powered (e.g. mechanical dampener and friction-type) mechanisms. The illustrated drive mechanism  145 / 145   a  forcibly moves the bottom bracket  141  against the shaft  134 , causing it to move around an arc at a bottom of its vertical travel (see  FIGS. 22-27 ), causing it to “kick” (i.e. provide an addition push) the dumped picked product into the storage section  33 . An outer edge of the bottom bracket  141  can include a flexible edge or spring-biased finger  141   b  ( FIGS. 26-27 ) that further assists in “kicking” the picked elongated product  27   a  into the storage section  33  while avoiding any interference during its movement. For example, the finger  141   b  can be pivoted to assist in allowing return of the bottom bracket  141  around the shaft  134  toward its vertical travel along the guide  136  without interference from the storage section  33 . Knobs or bumps can be placed on the storage section  33  ( FIG. 27 ) to prevent the picked elongated product  27   a  in the storage section  33  from rolling back to a position that interferes with operation of the picking-hand bracket  141 . It is contemplated that other gates or swinging anti-return devices could be used to retain the picked product in the storage section  33 . It is contemplated that a size and shape and clearances between the brackets  141  and other components can be varied to facilitate handling of specific product, and other equipment needs and desires. 
     The storage section  33  ( FIGS. 28-30 ) includes a horizontal panel with slots  150 . Cylinder rollers  151  are operably mounted in the slots  150  so that they do not protrude above the horizontal panel of lower beam  152  of apparatus  10  ( FIG. 28 ) during the product-picking operation ( FIG. 29 ). When in the ground-engaging position ( FIG. 30 ), the ground presses the rollers  151  upward so they protrude into the storage section  33 , slightly raising the elongated picked product  27   a  ( FIG. 30 ) above the storage section  33 . This allows the picked product  27   a  to be rolled outwardly longitudinally, which greatly facilitates the ease and efficiency of removing the picked product  27   a  from the storage section  33 . 
     It is contemplated that the present terms will be broadly understood. For example, a lowering device is intended to include any lowering device that facilitates efficient and non-damaging lowering of a product, including powered and non-powered mechanisms. Also for example, picked product can be biased into the storage section in a number of different ways, including a specific mechanism to “kick” it laterally toward a middle of the storage section, and including other devices such as flexible fingers (see fingers  148 ,  FIG. 27 ) that keep deposited picked product on the storage section  33  once it is placed there. The anti-rollback “fingers” could be resilient material, or spring-biased levers, or gravity-biased anti-return devices, or the like. 
       FIGS. 19-20  are perspective views of the apparatus of  FIG. 18 , with  FIG. 20  being identical to  FIG. 19  but with the storage unit (i.e., vertical chute section and under-platform storage section) shown in dashed lines to better show underlying components.  FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view showing the power lift mechanism with picking-hand brackets carrying a picked product and lowered to a position slightly above bottom (i.e. before the picking-hand bracket engages the bottom bearing for rotation).  FIG. 22  is a side view of  FIG. 21  showing the power lift mechanism including the picking-hand bracket as the power lift mechanism lowers a picked product.  FIG. 23  is a side view like  FIG. 22  but showing continued downward movement of the picking-hand bracket from  FIG. 22 , including the picking-hand bracket engaging the bottom bearing and beginning rotation around the bottom bearing.  FIGS. 24-25  are views similar to  FIG. 23  but showing additional rotation of the picking-hand bracket and showing depositing of the picked product into the storage section as the power lift mechanism continues to move to a lowermost position.  FIGS. 22A and 24A  are views like  FIGS. 22 and 24  respectively, but with the chain drive and bottom bearing removed to better show other components.  FIGS. 26 and 27  are views showing the picking-hand bracket giving the deposited picked product a last “push” ( FIG. 26 ) and showing initial movement of the picking-hand bracket as the power lift mechanism moves toward a lifting phase where the picking-hand bracket moves vertically. 
       FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the storage unit (i.e. storage section and chute section) and a ground-engaging support beam, the ground-engaging support beam including cylinder rollers that are below a surface of the storage section until engagement with the ground causes the cylinder rollers to protrude into the storage section, at which time the cylinder rollers assist in rolling (heavy) elongated picked product laterally out an end of the storage section.  FIGS. 29 and 30  are side views of  FIG. 28 ,  FIG. 29  showing the cylinder rollers below the storage section (i.e. before ground engagement) and  FIG. 30  showing the cylinder rollers protruding into the storage section (i.e. after beam-to-ground engagement). 
     The present innovation includes a method of handling elongated product stored on storage racks. The method includes steps of providing a wheeled lift truck with a powered lift tower with an operator stand-on platform and lift controls; the truck including an elongated picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally below the platform, the storage section being configured to receive picked product from a vertical direction that is dropped by an operator and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position that is at least partially under the platform. The method further includes raising the stand-on platform and under-platform storage section from ground level to a raised position; picking selected elongated product from a storage rack; lowering the picked product vertically to a location below the storage section while still in the raised position; lowering the stand-on platform and picked product to ground level; and removing the picked product from the storage section. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.