A fork carriage system

Abstract

The utility model relates to a logistics storage equipment technical field especially, relates to a kind of fork carriage system, technical scheme is as follows: fork carriage system includes: for connecting on portal's fork carriage;Lateral sliding is set on the hanger of fork carriage;Setting on the hanger of slide rack;Setting on the fork of slide rack;Slide rack is laterally sliding and is set on the hanger, and driving component for driving slide rack relative to hanger left and right movement is set on the hanger, to make slide rack can move laterally, make its lateral surface and tray lateral surface conforming. The scheme has the advantages of improving goods fork taking stability and reducing the width requirement of passage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of logistics and warehousing equipment technology, and in particular to a forklift system. Background Technology

[0002] As a key piece of equipment in modern logistics warehousing, the performance of the forklift system directly affects the efficiency of cargo handling and space utilization. Traditional fixed-forklifts have significant drawbacks when operating in narrow aisles with racks on both sides: when goods need to be picked up from the opposite side of the aisle, the entire vehicle must be turned around. This not only increases operating time and complexity but also forces the aisle to be wider due to the need to reserve space for turning around, thus reducing the effective utilization of warehouse space.

[0003] To address this issue, existing technologies have developed solutions with adjustable fork direction. For example, Chinese invention patent CN120348886A discloses a fork carriage system capable of bidirectional forklift loading. This system drives the forks to slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage to create loading areas with different orientations, thus allowing forklift loading of goods on opposite sides without requiring the entire vehicle to be turned around, effectively improving operational flexibility in narrow aisles.

[0004] However, this design still has room for improvement. Specifically, the carriage slides back and forth relative to the rack via a light shaft and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. In actual forklift operations, after the forks are adjusted in both directions to extend their positions, the sides of the carriage cannot actively engage with the sides of the cargo, usually leaving a gap. This not only may lead to insufficient stability of the cargo after it has been picked up, posing a risk of swaying, but also, because the other side of the cargo may protrude more, the overall lateral width of the carriage and cargo will be greater than the width of the fork carriage itself, thus increasing the forklift's travel width in the aisle and placing higher demands on the aisle width, limiting its application in extremely narrow spaces.

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies urgently need improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, the purpose of this invention is to provide a forklift system that improves the stability of cargo handling and reduces the aisle width requirement.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] This application provides a fork carriage system, the technical solution of which is as follows: The fork carriage system includes:

[0009] • Fork carriages used to connect to the mast;

[0010] • A bracket that slides laterally on the fork carriage;

[0011] • A carriage mounted on the hanger;

[0012] • Forks mounted on the carriage; characterized in that:

[0013] The carriage is slidably mounted on the bracket, which is equipped with a drive component to move the carriage left and right relative to the bracket, so that the carriage can move laterally and its side fits against the side of the tray.

[0014] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the forks are laterally slidably disposed at the bottom of the carriage; the fork carriage system also includes a drive mechanism that drives the forks to slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage to adjust the extension position of the forks relative to the carriage, forming loading areas with different orientations.

[0015] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the fork carriage system further include a fixing device for clamping the forks after they have been moved into place to prevent displacement.

[0016] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the hanger has a middle portion extending into the gap between the left and right side plates of the carriage; the hanger and the carriage are connected by a sliding assembly.

[0017] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the sliding assembly includes a sliding seat disposed on the bracket and a sliding optical axis connected between the left and right side plates of the carriage; the sliding optical axis is disposed in the left-right direction and passes through the sliding seat.

[0018] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the driving component consists of two hydraulic cylinders in a left-right direction, with the cylinders fixed on the middle part of the bracket and the output shafts supported on the left and right side plates of the slide respectively; or, the driving component consists of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, with the double-acting hydraulic cylinder fixed on the middle part of the bracket and the output shaft connected to the slide.

[0019] Furthermore, this application also proposes that a touch switch be provided on the side of the carriage for detecting whether the side of the carriage is in contact with the side of the external cargo.

[0020] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the touch switch includes a touch piece hinged to the side of the carriage, the inner side of the touch piece abutting against the trigger end of the touch switch.

[0021] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the drive mechanism includes a translation drive component located at the bottom of the carriage and an adjusting gear meshing with a first rack welded to the fork; the translation drive component drives the first rack to cause the fork to translate and slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage.

[0022] Furthermore, this application also proposes that the fixing device includes a clamping cylinder and a clamping spring fixed inside the carriage, a shaft fixed on the piston rod of the clamping cylinder, and a bushing axially movably sleeved on the lower end of the shaft; the clamping spring is sleeved on the shaft above the bushing, with its two ends pressing against the shaft and the bushing respectively; when the piston rod of the clamping cylinder is pressed down, the downward pressure is transmitted to the bushing through the clamping spring, and the bushing clamps the fork and prevents overpressure damage.

[0023] As can be seen from the above, the fork carriage system and its bracket, carriage, forks and fixing device provided in this application make the side of the carriage actively fit with the side of the pallet by sliding the carriage left and right, eliminating gaps, improving the stability of picking up goods and reducing the travel width requirement of the forklift in the aisle, which has the advantages of improving the stability of picking up goods and reducing the aisle width requirement. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This application provides a schematic diagram of the fork position of a fork carriage system (forks facing right, with a gap between the carriage and the pallet).

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a fork carriage system provided in this application after the carriage is adjusted (forks facing right, no gap between carriage and pallet).

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a fork carriage system with the forks facing left, provided in this application.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a 3D assembly diagram of the hanger and carriage (with the top plate of the carriage hidden).

[0028] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of the hanger and the carriage. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0031] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly defined.

[0032] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0034] In existing technologies, forklift fork carriage systems require the entire vehicle to be turned around to pick up goods on the opposite side when operating in narrow aisles, resulting in low operating efficiency and increased aisle width requirements. While existing adjustable fork direction solutions can achieve bidirectional picking, there is a gap between the carriage and the side of the goods, leading to insufficient stability of the goods and the overall lateral width exceeding the dimensions of the fork carriage itself, limiting its application in extremely narrow spaces.

[0035] To address the aforementioned issues, the inventors discovered that traditional carriages only have forward and backward movement capabilities, failing to compensate for lateral clearance between the goods and the carriage. By analyzing the spatial relationship between the goods and the forklift carriage during forklift operation, they found that if the carriage had active lateral movement capabilities, its sides could be forcibly fitted against the pallet sides. Based on this, they proposed adding a lateral drive structure between the hanger and the carriage, making the carriage's lateral position adjustable, thereby eliminating clearance and optimizing the overall width.

[0036] like Figure 1-5 As shown, this application relates to a fork carriage system, which includes a fork carriage 1, a hanger 2, a carriage 3, and forks 4. The hanger 2 is laterally slidably mounted on the fork carriage 1, and the carriage 3 is laterally slidably mounted on the hanger 2. The hanger 2 is equipped with a drive component to drive the carriage 3 to move laterally, so that the side of the carriage 3 is in contact with the side of the pallet 10.

[0037] The fork carriage 1 refers to the basic frame structure that supports the sliding of the hanger 2. Guide rails or grooves can be installed on both sides to constrain the lateral sliding trajectory of the hanger 2. The hanger 2 refers to the middle sliding component, whose upper and lower ends are connected to the grooves of the fork carriage 1 via rollers. The middle part 2.6 of the hanger 2 forms a lateral sliding pair with the carriage 3 through a sliding assembly. The carriage 3 refers to the moving platform that supports the forks 4. It slides in cooperation with the hanger 2, and when it moves laterally, it causes the forks 4 to shift laterally as a whole. The drive component refers to the actuator that generates lateral thrust, such as a double-acting cylinder or two symmetrically arranged single-acting cylinders. Its output end directly acts on the side plate of the carriage 3, pushing the carriage 3 to shift laterally. Specifically, the fork carriage 1 is connected to the forklift body through the mast, and the hanger 2 slides laterally along the fork carriage 1 to adjust its initial lateral position. After the forks 4 have shifted to their lateral position during the picking process, the drive component pushes the carriage 3 to move laterally toward the cargo until the side of the carriage 3 is in complete contact with the side of the pallet 10, and finally the picking of the cargo is completed. During this process, the lateral displacement of the carriage 3 compensates for the gap between the cargo and the fork carriage 1, ensuring that the cargo is close to the side of the carriage 3. The active control of the drive unit allows the movement of the carriage 3 to precisely match the actual position of the cargo, eliminating positioning errors present in passive adjustment.

[0038] Compared to existing technologies, the traditional solution in CN120348886A only allows the carriage to move in the front-to-back direction, failing to actively eliminate lateral gaps. This solution, through a lateral drive structure between the hanger 2 and the carriage 3, grants the carriage 3 lateral freedom, allowing it to actively conform to the side of the goods after they are picked up. This active leveling mechanism not only improves the stability of the goods but also minimizes the overall width of the fork carriage 1 and the goods, reducing aisle width requirements. Through this technical solution, this application effectively solves the problem of goods swaying caused by gaps between the carriage 3 and the side of the goods, while also optimizing the forklift's travel width in narrow aisles. The active lateral conforming function of the carriage 3 ensures stable contact of the goods during handling, avoiding displacement risks caused by gaps. The consistency between the overall width of the fork carriage 1 and the width of the goods reduces aisle space occupation, expanding the forklift's applicability in extremely narrow scenarios.

[0039] exist Figure 1-5 In the illustrated scheme (this scheme can also be referenced in patent scheme with publication number CN120348886A), the fork 4 is laterally slidably mounted at the bottom of the carriage 3. The fork carriage system also includes a drive mechanism, which drives the fork 4 to slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage 3 to adjust the extension position of the fork 4 relative to the carriage 3, forming loading areas with different orientations. The lateral sliding of the fork 4 at the bottom of the carriage 3 means that the fork 4 forms a translatable connection with the bottom of the carriage 3 through a sliding component, giving the fork 4 the physical basis to move bidirectionally along the length of the carriage 3. The drive mechanism driving the fork 4 to slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage 3 means controlling the extension and retraction of the fork 4 through a power source, providing a controllable driving force for adjusting the position of the fork 4. Specifically, the fork 4 achieves lateral translation through the sliding component at the bottom of the carriage 3.

[0040] The drive mechanism applies bidirectional driving force to the forks 4 via a rack and pinion or hydraulic cylinder. When goods need to be picked up in different directions, the drive mechanism pushes the forks 4 to translate in the target direction, causing them to extend from the carriage 3 to form a loading area in the corresponding direction. After the forks 4 are in position, the carriage 3 can move laterally to actively fit its side against the side of the goods, eliminating gaps. This bidirectional adjustment mechanism allows the forks 4 to adapt to the picking needs of goods on both sides without the vehicle needing to be turned. At the same time, the lateral movement of the carriage 3 compensates for the lateral gap after the forks 4 are extended, keeping the overall width consistent with the original fork carriage 1. Through the above technical solution, after the bidirectional translation adjustment of the forks 4, the lateral movement of the carriage 3 actively fits against the side of the goods, effectively solving the risk of swaying caused by gaps after the goods are picked up. At the same time, the overall width of the carriage 3 and the goods is controlled within the original size range of the fork carriage 1, avoiding the forced increase in the aisle width.

[0041] In a specific implementation, the drive mechanism includes a translation drive component 4.3 located at the bottom of the carriage 3 and an adjusting gear 4.4 meshing with a first rack 4.1 welded to the fork 4. The translation drive component 4.3 drives the first rack 4.1 to cause the fork 4 to slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage 3. The translation drive component 4.3 is a power device for generating linear motion output, which can be implemented using a servo motor. Its output end is connected to the adjusting gear 4.4 to transmit driving force. The first rack 4.1 is a rigid strip-shaped component with a continuous tooth structure, which can be implemented using a surface-hardened alloy steel rack, and is fixedly connected to the fork 4 by welding. The adjusting gear 4.4 is a gear component that meshes with the first rack 4.1, which can be implemented using an involute spur gear with its axis perpendicular to the direction of rack movement. Specifically, the translation drive component 4.3 drives the adjusting gear 4.4 to rotate via its output shaft, and the adjusting gear 4.4 meshes with the first rack 4.1. When the adjusting gear 4.4 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the first rack 4.1 undergoes linear displacement due to gear meshing, driving the fork 4 to move bidirectionally along the pre-set guide rail at the bottom of the carriage 3. During the movement of the fork 4, the welded and fixed first rack 4.1 and adjusting gear 4.4 maintain full-width meshing to ensure transmission accuracy. After the fork 4 moves to the target position, the translation drive component 4.3 stops outputting, and the self-locking characteristic of the gear and rack maintains the stability of the fork 4 position. Through the above technical solution, this application achieves precise positioning control during the bidirectional translation of the fork 4, ensuring a tight fit between the side of the carriage 3 and the side of the cargo. After the cargo is picked up, the stability is improved due to the elimination of gaps in the contact surface. At the same time, the overall lateral width of the fork carriage 1 matches the actual width of the cargo, avoiding ineffective space occupation caused by gaps and optimizing the passage width of the forklift in narrow passages.

[0042] Furthermore, the fork carriage system also includes a fixing device 5, used to clamp the forks 4 after they have moved into position, preventing displacement. The fixing device 5 refers to a component that applies a binding force to the forks 4 through a mechanical structure. In a specific implementation and scheme, the fixing device 5 includes a clamping cylinder 5.1 and a clamping spring 5.2 fixed inside the carriage 3, a shaft 5.3 fixed to the piston rod of the clamping cylinder 5.1, and a bushing 5.4 axially movable and sleeved at the lower end of the shaft 5.3; the clamping spring 5.2 is sleeved on the shaft 5.3 above the bushing 5.4, with both ends pressing against the shaft 5.3 and the bushing 5.4 respectively; when the piston rod of the clamping cylinder 5.1 presses down, the downward force is transmitted to the bushing 5.4 through the clamping spring 5.2, and the bushing 5.4 clamps the forks 4 and prevents overpressure damage.

[0043] Specifically, the clamping cylinder 5.1 is an actuator that outputs linear motion via hydraulic power, used to provide active clamping force. The clamping spring 5.2 is a mechanical element with elastic deformation capability, specifically a helical spring or disc spring, used to convert rigid clamping force into elastic contact. The shaft 5.3 is a force-transmitting component rigidly connected to the piston rod of the clamping cylinder 5.1, specifically a cylindrical metal rod, used to transmit the linear motion of the clamping cylinder 5.1. The bushing 5.4 is a sleeve structure that forms an axial sliding fit with the shaft 5.3, specifically a metal sleeve with a self-lubricating bushing, used to achieve pressure buffering and position self-adaptation during the clamping process.

[0044] Specifically, when the clamping cylinder 5.1 is activated, its piston rod drives the shaft 5.3 downwards. At this time, the clamping spring 5.2 is compressed and generates an elastic reaction force. The two ends of the spring press against the shoulder of the shaft 5.3 and the upper end face of the bushing 5.4, respectively, causing the bushing 5.4 to slide axially along the shaft 5.3 under the action of the spring force. After the lower end face of the bushing 5.4 contacts the fork 4, the elastic deformation of the spring absorbs the excessive stroke output by the clamping cylinder 5.1, avoiding structural deformation caused by rigid contact and preventing damage to the surface of the fork 4 due to overpressure. The axial sliding fit between the bushing 5.4 and the shaft 5.3 allows the fork 4 to produce slight displacement when subjected to external loads, while maintaining the clamping state through the continuous elastic force of the clamping spring 5.2. Therefore, the fork 4 can be stably fixed during operation and can release stress through elastic deformation under load, avoiding structural damage. Through the above technical solution, this application achieves reliable fixation of the fork 4 after it moves into position. The elastic deformation of the clamping spring 5.2 effectively absorbs the excessive stroke of the clamping cylinder 5.1, avoiding component damage caused by rigid contact. The axial sliding fit structure between the bushing 5.4 and the shaft 5.3 allows the clamping device to adapt to the positional deviation of the fork 4 surface, ensuring uniform distribution of clamping force. A spring buffer is set in the transmission path of the clamping force, so that the system automatically stops applying pressure after reaching the set clamping force, forming an overload protection mechanism.

[0045] like Figure 1 and 2As shown in Figure 4, the hanger 2 has a middle portion 2.6 that extends into the gap between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3. The hanger 2 and the carriage 3 are connected by a sliding assembly. The middle portion 2.6 refers to a protruding structure extending from the main body of the hanger 2 towards the carriage 3. Its width is smaller than the gap width between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3, forming a nested structure by embedding it into the gap to reduce the lateral space occupied. The sliding assembly refers to the guide mechanism connecting the hanger 2 and the carriage 3. Specifically, after the middle portion 2.6 is inserted into the gap between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3, a sliding mating surface is formed between the inner side of the carriage 3 side plate and the outer side of the middle portion 2.6. When the carriage 3 moves laterally under the action of the driving component, the middle portion 2.6 is always embedded in the gap between the side plates of the carriage 3, ensuring that the middle portion 2.6 does not additionally increase the overall lateral width during the contact between the outer side of the carriage 3 side plate and the side of the cargo. When the side plate of the carriage 3 moves to fit against the side of the cargo, the gap between the middle part 2.6 of the bracket and the side plate of the carriage 3 is completely enclosed inside the carriage 3, avoiding the formation of an external protruding structure. Through the above technical solution, this application allows the outer side of the carriage 3 side plate to directly contact the side of the cargo without interference from the bracket 2 structure, eliminating the gap between the carriage 3 and the cargo to improve cargo stability. Simultaneously, it maintains the lateral dimension of the forklift carriage 1 system consistent with the width of the carriage 3 itself, making it suitable for narrower aisle operating environments.

[0046] In a specific implementation, the sliding assembly includes a sliding seat 2.7 mounted on the bracket 2 and a sliding optical shaft 2.8 connected between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3. The sliding optical shaft 2.8 is arranged in a left-right direction and passes through the sliding seat 2.7. The sliding seat 2.7 is a guide component fixed to the middle part 2.6 of the bracket, which can be implemented as a metal seat with a linear bearing, providing a sliding channel for the sliding optical shaft 2.8 and restricting its direction of movement. The sliding optical shaft 2.8 is a rigid shaft laterally connected between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3, which can be implemented as a surface-hardened smooth round steel bar, forming full-stroke support by passing through the sliding seat 2.7, ensuring the straightness of the carriage 3 during lateral movement. Specifically, the two ends of the sliding optical shaft 2.8 are fixed between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3, forming a transverse rigid connection structure, and the sliding seat 2.7 is installed in the middle part 2.6 of the bracket and forms a sliding engagement with the sliding optical shaft 2.8. When the drive component pushes the carriage 3 to move laterally, the sliding optical shaft 2.8 slides in the left-right direction within the sliding seat 2.7. Its design, penetrating the sliding seat 2.7, ensures that the optical shaft is always radially constrained by the sliding seat 2.7 during movement, effectively suppressing deflection or vibration of the carriage 3 during movement. The clearance between the sliding optical shaft 2.8 and the sliding seat 2.7 is controlled within a small range, further improving the positioning accuracy of the carriage 3's lateral movement, allowing the side of the carriage 3 to accurately conform to the side of the tray 10.

[0047] like Figure 4 and5 In one embodiment shown, the driving components are two hydraulic cylinders 2.9 arranged in a left-right direction. The cylinders 2.9 are fixed to the middle part 2.6 of the bracket, with their output shafts supporting the left and right side plates of the carriage 3 respectively. The middle part 2.6 of the bracket refers to the supporting portion located between the left and right side plates of the carriage 3 within the bracket 2 structure. Specifically, it can be implemented using metal plates welded or bolted to the main body of the bracket 2. Its function is to provide a stable mounting base for the driving components, ensuring that the direction of the driving force transmission is consistent with the direction of movement of the carriage 3. The two hydraulic cylinders 2.9 in a left-right direction refer to hydraulic actuators symmetrically arranged on both sides of the middle part 2.6 of the bracket. Specifically, they can be single-acting cylinders, with their output shafts acting on the inner surfaces of the left and right side plates of the carriage 3 respectively, achieving bidirectional movement of the carriage 3 through alternating pushing. Specifically, when using two hydraulic cylinders 2.9 in a left-right direction, the output shaft of the left-side cylinder extends to push the left side plate of the carriage 3, causing it to move to the left, while the right-side cylinder retracts synchronously to release the displacement space; this configuration is suitable when the forks 4 are facing left. Conversely, the right-side cylinder extends to push the right side plate of the carriage 3, causing it to move to the right, while the left-side cylinder retracts simultaneously. This configuration is suitable for use when the forks 4 are facing to the right. This symmetrical drive method can precisely control the lateral movement of the carriage 3, ensuring that the side of the carriage 3 is completely in contact with the side of the cargo.

[0048] In another embodiment, the driving component is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, which is fixed on the middle part 2.6 of the bracket, and its output shaft is connected to the slide 3. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder refers to a hydraulic actuator with bidirectional output capability. Refer to the double-acting hydraulic cylinder described in the scheme with publication number CN120348886A. Specifically, it can be implemented using a cylinder with oil circuits connected to both ends of the piston rod. Its cylinder body is fixed on the middle part 2.6 of the bracket, and the piston rod is directly connected to the slide 3. The left and right displacement of the slide 3 is controlled by bidirectional hydraulic drive. When using a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, the cylinder piston rod is rigidly connected directly to the slide 3. By switching the oil inlet direction at both ends of the cylinder, the slide 3 is pushed to slide to the left or right. Both driving methods use the fixed installation on the middle part 2.6 of the bracket to directly apply the driving force to the lateral movement direction of the slide 3, avoiding the lateral space occupation caused by the external placement of the driving component. In comparison, the double-acting hydraulic cylinder requires more space; therefore, two cylinders 2.9 in the left and right directions are preferred.

[0049] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves active adjustment of the lateral position of the carriage 3, ensuring that the side of the carriage 3 remains in close contact with the side of the cargo even after the forks 4 are extended, thereby improving the stability during cargo handling. Simultaneously, the overall structural width formed by the carriage 3 and the cargo is consistent with the original width of the fork carriage 1, avoiding lateral gaps caused by misalignment.

[0050] This reduces wasted space, allowing forklifts to perform bidirectional picking operations in narrower aisles.

[0051] like Figure 1-5 As shown, a touch switch 7.1 is installed on the side of the carriage 3 to detect whether the side of the carriage 3 is in contact with the side of the external cargo. The touch switch 7.1 is a contact sensor installed on the side of the carriage 3, which can be implemented as a mechanical microswitch or a photoelectric proximity switch. Its function is to determine the contact state between the carriage 3 and the cargo side through physical contact or non-contact signals. Detecting whether the side of the carriage 3 is in contact with the external cargo side means that the trigger signal of the touch switch 7.1 indicates whether the lateral movement of the carriage 3 has reached the preset contact condition. Its function is to ensure that the carriage 3 actively eliminates the gap with the cargo side during movement, thereby improving the stability of the cargo after forklift loading and optimizing the travel width.

[0052] Specifically, when the carriage 3 moves laterally under the control of the drive component, the touch switch 7.1 monitors the contact status between the side of the carriage 3 and the side of the cargo in real time. If the carriage 3 is not fully in contact with the side of the cargo, the touch switch 7.1 remains in an untriggered state, and the drive component continues to push the carriage 3 to move laterally; when the side of the carriage 3 contacts the side of the cargo and reaches a preset pressure threshold, the touch switch 7.1 triggers a signal, and the drive component stops operating. At this time, there is no gap between the side of the carriage 3 and the side of the cargo. Through this process, the risk of swaying is reduced after the cargo is picked up because the carriage 3 is in close contact with the side of the cargo. At the same time, the overall lateral width of the carriage 3 and the cargo is limited to the width of the carriage 3 itself, avoiding extra space occupation caused by gaps.

[0053] In the specific design, the touch switch 7.1 includes a touch piece 7.2 hinged to the side of the carriage 3, with the inner side of the touch piece 7.2 abutting against the trigger end of the touch switch 7.1. The touch piece 7.2 is a swingable component mounted to the side of the carriage 3 via a hinge, and can be a sheet-like structure made of metal or engineering plastic. It swings via a hinge or pivot, and its function is to sense changes in the position of the side of the cargo through physical contact. The trigger end of the touch switch 7.1 is a contact component that receives mechanical displacement signals and converts them into electrical signals. It can be a microswitch or a pressure sensor, and its function is to convert the swing amount of the touch piece 7.2 into a control signal, thereby driving the carriage 3 to move to a contact state. Specifically, when the carriage 3 moves laterally closer to the side of the cargo, the touch piece 7.2 swings under the pressure of the cargo. The inner side of the touch piece 7.2 remains in contact with the trigger end, and the swing amount is converted into an electrical signal through the trigger end and transmitted to the drive component, which then stops the movement of the carriage 3. Through its articulated design, the contact piece 7.2 can adaptively adjust its angle when contacting the goods, avoiding damage caused by rigid collisions. Simultaneously, it ensures that the trigger end always remains in contact with the inner side of the contact piece 7.2, achieving zero-gap fit between the side of the carriage 3 and the side of the goods. Through this technical solution, this application achieves dynamic fit between the side of the carriage 3 and the side of the goods, eliminating the risk of goods swaying due to gaps. It also prevents the combined width of the carriage 3 and the goods from exceeding the width of the fork carriage 1, thus optimizing the lateral space required for the forklift to travel in narrow aisles.

[0054] In summary, the fork carriage system provided in this application, including its bracket 2, carriage 3, forks 4, and fixing device 5, allows the carriage 3 to slide left and right so that its side actively conforms to the side of the pallet 10, eliminating gaps, improving the stability of picking up goods, and reducing the travel width requirement of the forklift in the aisle. It has the advantages of improving the stability of picking up goods and reducing the aisle width requirement.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0056] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fork carriage system, comprising: - Fork carriage (1) for connecting to the mast; - A bracket (2) that slides laterally on the fork carriage (1); -The slide (3) is mounted on the bracket (2); - Forks (4) mounted on the carriage (3); Its features are: - The slide (3) is slidably mounted on the bracket (2). The bracket (2) is provided with a driving component for driving the slide (3) to move left and right relative to the bracket (2), so that the slide (3) can move laterally and its side side fits against the side of the tray (10).

2. The fork carriage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: - The forks (4) are laterally slidably disposed at the bottom of the carriage (3); - The fork carriage system also includes a drive mechanism that drives the forks (4) to slide in a bidirectional direction relative to the carriage (3) to adjust the extension position of the forks (4) relative to the carriage (3) and form loading areas with different orientations.

3. The fork carriage system according to claim 2, characterized in that: - The fork carriage system also includes a fixing device (5) for pressing the forks (4) into place after they have been moved to prevent displacement.

4. The fork carriage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: - The bracket (2) has a middle part (2.6) that extends into the gap between the left and right side plates of the carriage (3); - The hanger (2) and the carriage (3) are connected by a sliding assembly.

5. The fork carriage system according to claim 4, characterized in that: - The sliding assembly includes a sliding seat (2.7) disposed on the bracket (2) and a sliding optical axis (2.8) connecting the left and right side plates of the carriage (3); - The sliding optical axis (2.8) is arranged in the left-right direction and passes through the sliding seat (2.7).

6. The fork carriage system according to claim 4, characterized in that: - The driving component consists of two hydraulic cylinders (2.9) arranged in a left-right direction. The hydraulic cylinders (2.9) are fixed on the middle part (2.6) of the bracket, and the output shafts are respectively supported on the left and right side plates of the slide (3); or, - The driving component is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, which is fixed on the middle part (2.6) of the bracket, and the output shaft is connected to the slide (3).

7. The fork carriage system according to claim 1, characterized in that: - A touch switch (7.1) is provided on the side of the carriage (3) to detect whether the side of the carriage (3) is in contact with the side of the external goods.

8. The fork carriage system according to claim 7, characterized in that: - The touch switch (7.1) includes a touch piece (7.2) hinged to the side of the carriage (3), the inner side of the touch piece (7.2) abutting against the trigger end of the touch switch (7.1).

9. The fork carriage system according to claim 2, characterized in that: - The drive mechanism includes a translation drive component (4.3) located at the bottom of the carriage (3) and an adjusting gear (4.4) meshing with a first rack (4.1) welded to the fork (4); - The translation drive component (4.3) drives the first rack (4.1) to drive the fork (4) to slide bidirectionally relative to the carriage (3).

10. The fork carriage system according to claim 3, characterized in that: - The fixing device (5) includes a clamping cylinder (5.1) and a clamping spring (5.2) fixed inside the slide (3), a shaft (5.3) fixed on the piston rod of the clamping cylinder (5.1), and a bushing (5.4) axially movably sleeved on the lower end of the shaft (5.3); - The compression spring (5.2) is sleeved on the shaft (5.3) above the bushing (5.4), with its two ends pressing against the shaft (5.3) and the bushing (5.4) respectively; When the piston rod of the clamping cylinder (5.1) is pressed down, the downward pressure is transmitted to the bushing (5.4) through the clamping spring (5.2), and the bushing (5.4) clamps the fork (4) and prevents overpressure damage.

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