Telescopic fork with adjustable attachment

Abstract

The invention relates to a load receiving device (1) on which a telescopic fork (2) is arranged, the length of which can be adjusted in a first direction (X) and in a second direction (Y) opposite the first direction (X), at least two telescopic forks (2a-b) being connected to the load receiving device (1), the telescopic fork (2) being connected to an attachment (7), the attachment extending parallel to a longitudinal orientation (Z) of the load receiving device (1) and perpendicular to the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y). The invention also relates to a method for carrying and transporting a load using such a load receiving device, a system for a high-bay warehouse consisting of load receiving devices (1) and stacker cranes, and a high-bay warehouse, preferably a container high-bay warehouse, comprising storage areas for loads (4), preferably standard sea freight containers, and rack aisles arranged between the storage areas, in which the stacker cranes can move, preferably along rails, at least one stacker crane comprising a load receiving device (1) according to the invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a load receiving device having a telescopic fork arranged thereon, the length of which is adjustable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method for carrying and transporting loads using a load receiving device having a telescopic fork arranged thereon. Finally, this invention relates to a system comprising a load receiving device and a stacker crane, and an elevated warehouse with a stacker crane. Background Technology

[0002] The type of load receiving device described above is particularly used in stacker cranes, which are designed and configured to move along tracks in the rack aisles of an elevated warehouse. A lifting platform, exemplified by a load receiving device, is arranged within the stacker crane, on which two telescopic forks, adjustable in length, are mounted. The telescopic forks are connected to the load, either by placing the load on the telescopic forks or by attaching the forks to the load from above, so that the load can be subsequently suspended and transported. Typically, the telescopic forks retract during the movement of the stacker crane along the rack aisles and during the vertical movement of the lifting platform within the stacker crane to the height of the storage location within the elevated warehouse, so that they preferably do not increase the overall width of the stacker crane. This allows the rack aisles and the overall structure of the elevated warehouse to be as narrow as possible. Once the lifting platform has reached a point in front of the storage location, the telescopic forks extend along with the load, allowing the load (preferably a standard shipping container) to be pushed into the rack location, where it can then be lowered. Once the load is lowered, the telescopic fork separates from the load and retracts back to its initial extension length, allowing the stacker crane to move unimpeded within the rack aisles, either to receive another load from outside or from external transport vehicles or transport vehicles on the side of the elevated warehouse (e.g., movable pallets), or to receive another load from a preferred separate storage location within the elevated warehouse for subsequent transport from there.

[0003] An example of a stacker crane used in an elevated warehouse can be found in DE 10 2021 117 938 A1.

[0004] Load receiving devices, particularly the lifting platforms of stacker cranes, are typically designed and configured to receive loads of a defined length. In the maritime container industry, these are standard 20-foot or 40-foot containers, and primarily 45-foot or 53-foot containers in the United States, which can typically weigh up to 40 tons. Particularly large loads exceeding 20 tons are usually housed in 20-foot standard containers. This type of high-bay warehouse has dedicated storage locations or entire racking sections designed to accommodate these 20-foot, 40-foot, 45-foot, or 53-foot standard containers.

[0005] Load receiving devices are designed for high loads, and their components are also quite heavy due to the required rigidity. Telescopic forks used for loads of 20 tons or more typically have a self-weight of about 7 tons. Therefore, from an economic standpoint, it is not feasible to use load receiving devices with corresponding lifting platforms, especially stacker cranes, which have a large number of telescopic forks to flexibly receive or carry loads of different lengths. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a load receiving device having a telescopic fork arranged thereon, and a method for using such a load receiving device to carry and transport loads, said device and method being able to flexibly receive loads of different sizes and transport them safely, while keeping the material usage and weight of the load receiving device as low as possible. In the sense of the present invention, this object is achieved by a load receiving device comprising the features of claim 1, and by a system according to claim 13, an elevated warehouse according to claim 15, and a method comprising the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth particularly in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a load receiving device is provided, having telescopic forks arranged thereon, the length of which is adjustable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. At least two telescopic forks are connected to the load receiving device, each fork being equipped with an annulus extending parallel to the longitudinal orientation of the load receiving device and perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation or the telescopic direction of the forks. Therefore, the invention provides a load receiving device according to the first aspect, by which loads of different sizes can be safely received and transported without the need for telescopic forks, each adjusted to an optimal distance and fixedly connected to the load receiving device, thereby improving the flexibility of the load receiving device in transporting loads of different sizes.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the attachment is designed to be variable and preferably adjustable as needed, for example, using a linear motor. This creates a load receiving device that offers exceptional flexibility in its application range while minimizing material usage and weight.

[0009] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the load receiving device is a lifting platform, which is vertically movable within the frame. Particularly preferred is that the lifting platform constitutes a vertically movable component of a stacker crane, which preferably moves along tracks within an elevated warehouse. Most preferably, the lifting platform is vertically movable by means of a rope drive, which allows for particularly simple and easily controlled vertical movement of the lifting platform, even under heavy loads. Using the load receiving device as a lifting platform within the frame (especially a stacker crane) allows for particularly flexible use of telescopic forks, enabling particularly narrow aisle spaces and the overall structure of the elevated warehouse.

[0010] Preferably, each telescopic fork has a base component connected to the load receiving device and at least one displacement component, the displacement component being displaceable within and / or above the base component along a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. This particularly advantageously supports the telescopic principle of the telescopic fork while improving the overall structural rigidity. If flexible telescopicity or a particularly long telescopic distance is required, the telescopic fork according to the invention may further include a base component, an intermediate component displaceably arranged with respect to the base component, and an end component displaceably arranged on the intermediate component as displacement components.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that at least two telescopic forks or load receiving devices are directly and fixedly connected to the support structure, preferably the frame structure. In any case, by using commercially available and easily controlled means, precise and repeatable adjustments of the load receiving device for different load sizes can be achieved. These loads are not only centrally supported by the telescopic forks (possibly double or triple in height) but also supported on two opposite sides by the frame structure itself. The frame structure and its interaction with the frame structure on the load receiving device are particularly advantageous when the telescopic forks are designed and configured to grip the load receiving device from below, where problems such as load detachment from the telescopic forks, mechanical impact, or, for example, load center of gravity shift during load transport using the load receiving device are significantly greater compared to telescopic forks designed and configured for suspended load reception and transport.

[0012] As mentioned above, preferably, the length of the attachments or their extension perpendicular to the telescopic fork is variable, allowing the telescopic fork to support or carry containers of standard lengths of 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, and 53 feet. This means that the length of the attachments can vary, allowing them to be positioned below standardized load-bearing points on the underside of 20-foot and 40-foot, or 45-foot and 53-foot shipping containers, and, if necessary, above twist-lock bolt receiving seats typically located in corner areas in the case of suspended transport containers.

[0013] As mentioned at the beginning, in alternative embodiments, the telescopic forks can be configured and designed to support or receive the load to be carried from below and from above. However, it is preferred that the telescopic forks support the load from below. In this context, it is particularly preferred that at least two telescopic forks are each connected to at least one attachment, which extends parallel to the longitudinal orientation of the load receiving device, perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation of the telescopic forks, and parallel to and spaced apart from another attachment. This creates a load receiving device that provides a support structure for the load, which is formed not only by the telescopic forks but also by attachments that at least partially cover the free space between the telescopic forks, preferably covering at least the entire length between two predetermined load receiving points of the load. It is particularly preferred that the attachments of the two spaced-apart telescopic forks are aligned with each adjacent telescopic fork and ideally arranged to engage with each other or in a manner similar to two opposing combs or forks. All of this aims to achieve a flexible structural design of the load receiving device in terms of area and load support point spacing in a simple and efficient manner.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for carrying and transporting loads using a load receiving device having telescopic forks arranged thereon, the telescopic forks being configured such that their length is adjustable in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Preferably, the method can be implemented using a load receiving device according to the first aspect of the invention, thereby achieving the same effects as disclosed above with respect to the first aspect of the invention. At least two telescopic forks are connected to the load receiving device. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the telescopic forks are connected to an attachment extending parallel to the longitudinal orientation of the load receiving device and perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation or telescopic direction of the telescopic forks. Therefore, the method according to the invention provides the possibility of safely carrying and transporting loads of different lengths or widths using one and the same load receiving device.

[0015] In this context, it is preferable that the length or longitudinal extension of the attachment is altered to correspond to the distance between two fastening or support points of the load, preferably a 20-foot, 40-foot, 45-foot, or 53-foot standard shipping container, or to correspond to the distance between two twist-lock receiving seats on a standard shipping container. This provides a method that can easily adapt to different load sizes, enabling the carrying and transport of loads of varying sizes with minimal self-weight and material usage of the load receiving device itself.

[0016] The method according to the invention is preferably defined by the following steps: In a first step, the telescopic fork is extended telescopically from a first length to a second length until the telescopic fork is positioned below or above the load (preferably a standard shipping container). In a second step, the attachments are adjusted and / or altered at least in length until they extend from the telescopic fork to predetermined support points on the load (preferably a standard shipping container). In a third step, the telescopic fork is then brought into contact with the load, followed by a fourth step in which the telescopic fork is lifted together with the load, and finally a fifth step in which the load is transported together with the load receiving device to another location, and a sixth step in which the load is lowered at that other location. Particularly preferred is that, between the fourth and fifth steps, as described above, the length of the telescopic fork is shortened, preferably fully retracted to its initial state. This achieves the ideal positioning of the load completely below or above the load receiving device (preferably the lifting platform of a stacker crane), thereby minimizing (preferably to zero) the bending moment that may act on the load receiving device, and minimizing the mechanical load acting on the stacker crane during the vertical transport of the load receiving device, particularly the lifting platform.

[0017] The present invention can be advantageously applied to systems consisting of a load receiving device and a stacker crane according to the invention, as used in high-bay warehouses (especially container high-bay warehouses), and is preferably used to implement the method according to the invention.

[0018] Finally, the invention is advantageously embodied in an elevated warehouse in which stacker cranes can move in aisles between storage areas, wherein at least one stacker crane (preferably all stacker cranes) includes a load receiving device according to the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The following will refer to Figures 1 to 6 The invention will be explained in more detail, and the figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims in any way.

[0020] Figure 1 The image shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a load receiving device with two telescopic forks and accessories in a first position. Figure 2 The image shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a load receiving device with two telescopic forks and accessories in a second position. Figure 3 Showing according to Figure 1 Side view of the load receiving device. Figure 4 Showing according to Figure 2 Side view of the load receiving device. Figure 5 Showing according to Figure 1 A top view of the load receiving device, and Figure 6 Showing according to Figure 2 A top view of the load receiving device. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 A perspective view of the load receiving device 1 is shown, having a longitudinal extending direction Z perpendicular to the first movement direction X and the second movement direction Y of the telescopic fork 2. Each telescopic fork 2 has two base components 2-1, and a shifting component 2-2 is arranged to move along or within the base components to change the length of the telescopic fork 2. The load receiving device has support or frame structures 6 at its opposite ends along the longitudinal direction Z, which ensure that the load (not shown) placed on the load receiving device 1 does not slip. Furthermore, attachments 7 are connected to each telescopic fork, extending from the telescopic fork parallel to the longitudinal orientation Z and perpendicular to the movement directions X and Y of the telescopic fork 2, to provide a larger support surface for the load (not shown). Figure 1 In the diagram, Annex 7 is shown at its maximum longitudinal extension length, wherein each telescopic fork 2 and the Annex 7 of adjacent telescopic forks 2a, 2b are offset from each other and arranged parallel to each other on the telescopic fork 2, such that they are arranged parallel to each other at least for a portion of the maximum longitudinal extension length shown. The variable longitudinal extension length of Annex 7 can be achieved by linear displacement of each individual Annex 7 relative to the telescopic fork carrying it, or by displacement of the displacement member 7-2 relative to the base member 7-1 fixedly connected to the telescopic fork 2.

[0022] Figure 2 Showing Figure 1 The load receiving device 1 in the middle, its accessory 7 is in the basic position, in which the accessory is relative to Figure 1 The extended positions shown are retracted so that they cross the telescopic fork 2 in pairs.

[0023] Figure 3 Showing Figure 1 A side view of the load receiving device 1 in its extended position, wherein the attachment 7 is adjusted in length such that it almost spans the entire length between the frame structures 6 of the load receiving device 1, thereby enabling optimal support of the load (not shown).

[0024] Figure 4 Showing Figure 1A top view of the load receiving device 1 in the extended position, all accessories 7 having the maximum longitudinal extension length, meshing with each other between the telescopic forks 2 and extending outward from the telescopic forks 2 in the longitudinal direction Z to provide the largest possible area support for the load (not shown).

[0025] Figure 5 Showing Figure 2 A side view of the load receiving device 1 in its basic position, wherein the attachments 7 are retracted such that they span almost only the distance between the telescopic arms of each telescopic fork 2, thereby enabling, for example, optimal support of loads (not shown) that are significantly shorter than the length of the load receiving device 1.

[0026] Figure 6 Showing Figure 2 A top view of the load receiving device 1 in its basic position, with all accessories 7 at their minimum longitudinal extension length, straddling the telescopic arms of each telescopic fork 2 side by side and parallel to each other, thereby providing maximum support area for shorter loads (not shown).

[0027] List of reference numerals 1. Load receiving device 2a, b Telescopic forks 2-1 (Base component of telescopic fork 2) 2-2 (Transfer fork 2) Displacement component 3 Framework 4. Load 6. Frame Structure 7. Annex 7-1 (Appendix 7) Base Components 7-2 (Appendix 7) Displacement Component X First direction of motion Y Second direction of motion Z-axis orientation of the load receiving device

Claims

1. A load receiving device (1) having a telescopic fork (2) arranged thereon, the telescopic fork being configured to be adjustable in length in a first direction (X) and a second direction (Y) opposite to the first direction (X), wherein, The load receiving device (1) is connected to at least two telescopic forks (2a-b), characterized in that the telescopic fork (2) is connected to an accessory (7), the accessory extending parallel to the longitudinal orientation (Z) of the load receiving device (1) and perpendicular to the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y).

2. The load receiving device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the attachment (7) is designed to be variable.

3. The load receiving device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The telescopic forks (2) are arranged on the load receiving device (1) at fixed intervals.

4. The load receiving device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The load receiving device (1) is a lifting platform, which is arranged vertically within the frame.

5. The load receiving device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lifting platform is a vertically movable component of the stacker crane, which is preferably able to move along a track in an elevated warehouse.

6. The load receiving device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The lifting platform can move vertically using a rope-driven device.

7. The load receiving device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each telescopic fork (2) has at least one, preferably two, base components (2-1) connected to the load receiving device (1) and preferably the lifting platform, and at least one displacement component (2-2) capable of displacement within and / or above the respective base component (2-1) along the first direction (X) and a second direction (Y) opposite to the first direction (X).

8. The load receiving device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The load receiving device (1) is fixedly connected to the support structure, preferably the frame structure (6).

9. The load receiving device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The telescopic fork (2) is designed and configured to support the load (4) from below, preferably a standard shipping container.

10. The load receiving device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least two telescopic forks (2a, 2b) are respectively connected to at least one accessory (7), which are parallel to the longitudinal orientation (Z) of the load receiving device (1) and extend parallel to each other and spaced apart.

11. A method for carrying and transporting a load using a load receiving device (1), the load receiving device having a telescopic fork (2) arranged thereon, the telescopic fork being configured to be adjustable in length in a first direction (X) and a second direction (Y) opposite to the first direction (X), preferably using the load receiving device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The telescopic fork (2) is connected to the attachment (7), which extends parallel to the longitudinal orientation (Z) of the load receiving device (1) and perpendicular to the first direction (X) and the second direction (Y).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The attachment (7) is designed to have a variable length, preferably by displacement of the shifting component (7-2) relative to the base component (7-1).

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that, (a) The telescopic fork (2) extends from a first length to a second length in a telescopic manner until the telescopic fork (2) is positioned below the load (4), preferably a standard shipping container. (b) The attachment (7) is modified at least in length until it extends from the telescopic fork (2) to a predetermined support point on the load (4), preferably a standard shipping container. (c) The telescopic fork (2) is then brought into contact with the load (4). (d) Then the telescopic fork (2) and the load (4) are lifted together. (e) The telescopic fork, together with the load receiving device (1), is transported to another location, and (f) It was put down there again.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, Between steps (d) and (e), the telescopic fork (2) retracts to its first length.

15. A system comprising a load receiving device (1) and a stacker crane according to any one of claims 1 to 10, for use in an elevated warehouse, preferably a container elevated warehouse.

16. The system according to claim 15, characterized in that, The system is configured and designed to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 14.

17. An elevated warehouse, preferably a container elevated warehouse, comprising storage areas for loads (4), preferably standard shipping containers, and rack aisles arranged between said storage areas, wherein a stacker crane is preferably able to move along tracks in said rack aisles, wherein, At least one stacker crane includes a load receiving device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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