Patent ID: 7614841

Claim:
Lifting fork configured to lift pallets, panels or panel stacks, comprising a fork carrier ( 1 ) having a lower end which supports parallel lifting prongs ( 4 , 5 ) which define a longitudinal direction, and an upper end which is connectable to a linking piece ( 12 ), the linking piece having a pendulous axis ( 26 ) to pendulously mount the lifting fork, the lifting prongs defining a surface extending directly from the lower end and being configured to engage the lift pallets, panels or panel stacks, a drive assembly ( 27 ) arranged to swivel the lifting prongs ( 4 , 5 ) in an unloaded state about an axis parallel to and vertically spaced apart from the pendulous axis ( 26 ), and which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lifting prongs ( 4 , 5 ), the drive assembly including a first beam connected to the fork carrier ( 1 ) and a second beam connected to the linking piece ( 12 ), wherein the first beam and the second beam each define a U-shaped cross-section having different widths respectively, the U-shaped cross-sections being disposed in opposing relation to telescopically couple the first beam and the second beam such that the first beam movably engages the second beam to move the fork carrier ( 1 ) relative to the linking piece ( 12 ) along a travel axis ( 28 ) disposed perpendicular to the pendulous axis ( 26 ).