Industrial truck with a display and control device

Abstract

Industrial truck with a display and operating device (1), wherein the display and operating device (1) comprises a screen (2) and at least one switching element (3), a controller connected to the display and operating device (1), by means of which functions of the driving operation and / or work functions can be set, and with at least one operating lever (5) connected to the controller for controlling one of the work functions of the industrial truck, wherein the at least one operating lever (5) is arranged at the front end of an armrest (7) of a driver's seat, characterized in that the display and operating device (1) is arranged in front of the operating lever (5) such that, with the operating lever (5) in a basic position and a hand of average size resting on it with the ball of the hand, the display and operating device (1) is arranged at a distance from the fingertips.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an industrial truck with a display and operating device, wherein the display and operating device comprises a screen and at least one switching element, a controller connected to the display and operating device, by means of which functions of the driving operation and / or work functions can be set, and with at least one control lever connected to the controller for controlling one of the work functions of the industrial truck, wherein the at least one control lever is arranged at the front end of an armrest of a driver's seat.

[0002] Industrial trucks, such as forklifts with the functions of a lifting mast, have a multitude of work functions that are controlled by an operator via various control elements. In addition, there are control functions for driving. In addition to the direct control of these work functions and driving functions, there are also an increasing number of additional setting options for functions.

[0003] In addition to conventional switches, display and control devices are also known for industrial trucks. These include a screen for displaying information and switching elements, such as pushbuttons, combined with the screen's edge for inputs. Touchscreen screens are also known, where the switching elements can be implemented as buttons on the screen itself.

[0004] Various options are known for arranging these display and control devices. One common option is in the front console, which is located on the underside of the windshield of the overhead guard and, for example, carries the steering wheel in a counterbalance forklift. It is also known to arrange the display and control device on the actual steering column, but also on an engine / battery cover on the right side of the driver. Finally, solutions are also known in which the display and control device is located on a front pillar of an overhead guard, preferably in the upper right area at eye level.

[0005] A disadvantage of this state of the art is that in modern display and control devices, the switches or, in the case of a touchscreen, the buttons should be easily accessible and easy to operate. The right hand is usually used for this, and this is also the case with the right hand, which is also used to operate the operating elements for the working hydraulics, in particular for the lifting devices on a forklift. The operating elements are very often located directly in front of or at the head end of an armrest on the driver's seat and must be operated very frequently over time. The functions that are switched or controlled using the display and control device, on the other hand, are usually secondary functions. Furthermore, the display and control device should be clearly visible, but at the same time not obstruct the view in any way.However, the previously mentioned arrangement options require a greater movement of the arm and are therefore disadvantageous.

[0006] From DE 10 2009 032 493 A1 an operating device and an operating device system for an industrial truck is known, in which several operating elements are arranged next to one another in a circular arc on a convex, specially curved surface on an operating console.

[0007] DE 10 2013 109 268 A1 discloses an input device for a computer-based system, comprising a touchscreen with a section of dynamic input elements on which context-sensitive user input elements can be displayed, and a cursor control device with a palm rest and a trackball, wherein the palm rest is positioned with respect to the trackball and the section of dynamic input elements and at least one of a user's palm can rest on the palm rest, while fingers on a hand of the resting palm reach the trackball and the section of dynamic input elements, and of a user's wrist can rest on the palm rest, while fingers on a hand of the resting wrist reach the section of dynamic input elements.

[0008] DE 10 2009 032 470 A1 discloses an operating arrangement of an industrial truck, in particular a reach truck, with a driver's workplace, in particular a driver's stand for a standing operator, wherein the driver's workplace is arranged laterally next to an aggregate compartment in the vehicle transverse direction and adjacent to a battery compartment for an energy supply device in the vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein the operating arrangement is formed on a cover which is L-shaped in plan view and which covers the battery compartment and the aggregate compartment at the top, wherein a steering actuating device is arranged on the cover in the region of the aggregate compartment and an armrest and at least one operating element for controlling a travel drive and / or at least one operating element for controlling a working hydraulic system is arranged in the region of the battery compartment.

[0009] DE 10 2006 018 537 A1 discloses a control console on an armrest of a vehicle seat, wherein the control console is fastened in the front region of the armrest, viewed in the direction of the seat, and has a pivotable control lever, a screen and a keyboard for entering data, wherein a support element pivotable relative to a surface of the control console is provided for placing a hand, wherein pivoting movements of the control lever and the support element at least partially surrounding it in the lower region are synchronized.

[0010] DE 10 2010 037 535 A1 discloses a programmable one-hand control panel with a control program for a vehicle as a universal equipment carrier for various attachments with at least one process computer and / or integrated or externally connected GPS receiver and / or stationary or radio-based data interfaces and / or an integrated or connected navigation system. The one-hand control panel is attached to a rotatable standpipe. A joystick housing, to which a joystick is attached, is arranged on the rotatable standpipe. An ergonomically shaped armrest is arranged on the rotatable standpipe or on the joystick housing. A rotatable boom tube is arranged on the joystick housing, at the end of which a one-hand control device is arranged in a control housing.

[0011] US 2012 / 0 193 930 A1 discloses a driver station installed in a commercial vehicle cab and comprising a driver's seat to which a driver interface module is attached. The module is arranged adjacent to the driver's seat and comprises a console on which a plurality of driver interface devices are arranged, and a display mounting rod attached to the console, with at least one display device clamped to the display mounting rod. The present invention is based on the object of providing an industrial truck with an operating and display device that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages and ensures easy operation and good visibility of the display and operating device.

[0012] This object is achieved by an industrial truck having the features of independent patent claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

[0013] The object is achieved according to the invention in that in an industrial truck with a display and operating device, wherein the display and operating device comprises a screen and at least one switching element, with a control unit connected to the display and operating device, by means of which functions of the driving operation and / or work functions can be set, and with at least one control lever connected to the control unit for controlling one of the work functions of the industrial truck, wherein the at least one control lever is arranged at the front end of an armrest of a driver's seat, the display and operating device is arranged in front of the control lever in such a way that when the control lever is in a basic position and a hand of average size is resting on it with the ball of the hand, the display and operating device is arranged at a distance from the fingertips.

[0014] This is advantageous because the arm does not have to be moved when a setting on the display and operating device is to be made with the hand resting on the operating lever. For example, if the work function operated via the operating lever on an industrial truck is the lift mast, it is possible to make settings for this function, such as pre-selecting the lifting height, in the display and operating device. The display and operating device with its screen and control elements is arranged in such a way that the control elements can be reached by a person with an average hand size and with the ball of the hand resting on the operating lever. The control elements can be switches arranged next to the screen or, in the case of a touchscreen, buttons.The display and control device is aligned with the fingers extending from the control lever and simultaneously tilted slightly toward the position of the driver's head on the driver's seat to ensure good visibility. For a control lever mounted on an armrest to the right of a driver's seat with a display and control device positioned in front of it, this means that the control lever is tilted at an angle to the transverse axis and simultaneously around the vertical axis toward the upper area of ​​the backrest.

[0015] Advantageously, the industrial truck is a forklift truck and the working function enables operation of the lifting function, in particular a lifting mast and / or a load handling device.

[0016] In addition to control elements for driving a forklift truck, such as accelerator pedals, a brake pedal and a steering device, an operating lever for a lifting device is the one that is used most frequently on average. It is therefore particularly advantageous if further settings, especially for a lifting device, can be made on the display and operating device without having to change hands or move an arm. The space in which the right hand usually has to move for operation is thus narrowed, so that frequent, fatigue-free operation of the display and operating device is possible from the normal operating position of the control lever for the work function. Alternate and combined operation of the display and operating device and the working hydraulics is possible. This is particularly advantageous with an operating lever that is used to electrically control electric proportional valves for the working hydraulics.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the switching elements of the display and operating device are arranged at a distance of 85 to 100 mm from the operating lever.

[0018] This makes it easy to operate with an average hand size, as the display and operating device and its switching elements can be reached with the fingers when the hand is resting on the device.

[0019] The display and control device can be inclined towards the driver's seat at an angle to the transverse axis of the industrial truck, preferably by 16°.

[0020] In a further development of the industrial truck, the display and operating device is inclined at an angle to the vertical axis of the industrial truck, preferably by 20°.

[0021] In addition to an alignment with the extension direction of the fingers of a hand resting on the control lever, this also results in the most optimized alignment possible with a driver's line of sight and thus good visibility of the screen of the display and control device.

[0022] The switching elements can be switches arranged at the edge of the screen on the display and operating device, preferably switches arranged at a lower edge of the screen.

[0023] Since the driver's line of sight is directed from above the screen, the screen is not obscured when operating the controls.

[0024] The advantage is that the screen is a touchscreen.

[0025] The control elements can be buttons on the screen.

[0026] In a further development, the operating lever is a joystick with a cross-handle, wherein the cross-handle is aligned parallel to a surface of the screen of the display and operating device.

[0027] This orientation of the cross handle allows a switching element of the display and control device to be easily reached by extending the fingers of the hand that holds the joystick.

[0028] Two control levers can be arranged next to each other.

[0029] A further control element, in particular a direction switch, can be arranged between the control lever and the display and control device.

[0030] The additional control element can be reached with the angled fingers.

[0031] A travel direction switch is a frequently used control element, particularly on a counterbalance forklift truck as an industrial truck, for example when loading and unloading trucks.

[0032] The working function is preferably a hydraulic working function of the industrial truck.

[0033] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a display and operating device arranged according to the invention and Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a display and operating device arranged according to the invention.

[0034] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a display and operating device 1 arranged according to the invention, comprising switching elements 3 arranged as switches 4 below a screen 2, as well as switching elements 3 arranged next to the screen 2. Two operating levers 5 are arranged in front of the head end 6 of an armrest 7 and serve to control a working hydraulic system, in this example, a control of a lifting mast. Another operating element 8 is a travel direction switch 9.

[0035] The display and operating device 1 is arranged at an angle β of 17° to the transverse axis with a resulting distance of between 85 mm and 100 mm between the operating levers 5 and the display and operating device 1.

[0036] Furthermore, the display and operating device 1 is inclined at an angle α of 20° to the vertical axis, resulting in an optimized alignment with respect to the operating lever 5, which allows the switching elements 3 to be operated with outstretched fingers and a hand resting on the operating lever 5, as well as an alignment with a line of sight to a driver. The direction switch 9 can also be easily operated with the fingers unwrapped. The distances and angle values ​​specified here are only a concrete example, and different angle values ​​or distances can also be selected.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a display and operating device 1 according to the invention. Components corresponding to the components of the previous embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals. A joystick 10 with a cross-handle 11 is arranged as the operating lever 5 in front of the head end 6 of the armrest 7. The cross-handle 11 is aligned parallel to the display and operating device 1 with the screen 2 and the switching elements 3.

[0038] As a result, the switching elements 3 of the display and operating device 1 can be easily reached with the fingers of an average-sized hand, which grasps the cross-handle 11, or only a slight movement of the hand is required. At the same time, good visibility for the driver is ensured by the alignment of the display and operating device 1 along the driver's line of sight, and switching elements at the lower edge of the screen 2 are not covered, just as in the previous embodiment. The display and operating device 1 of the embodiment of the Fig. 2 can have the same orientations and distances as the embodiment of the Fig. 1.

Claims

[1] Industrial truck with a display and operating device (1), wherein the display and operating device (1) comprises a screen (2) and at least one switching element (3), a control unit connected to the display and operating device (1), by means of which functions of the driving operation and / or working functions can be set, and with at least one operating lever (5) connected to the control unit for controlling one of the working functions of the industrial truck, wherein the at least one operating lever (5) is arranged at the front end of an armrest (7) of a driver's seat, characterized by that the display and operating device (1) is arranged in front of the operating lever (5) in such a way that, with the operating lever (5) in a basic position and a hand of average size resting on it with the ball of the hand, the display and operating device (1) is arranged at the distance of the fingertips. [2] Industrial truck according to claim 1, characterized bythat the industrial truck is a forklift truck and the working function enables operation of the lifting function, in particular a lifting mast and / or a load handling device. [3] Industrial truck according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the switching elements (3) of the display and operating device (1) are arranged at a distance of 85 to 100 mm from the operating lever (5). [4] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the display and operating device (1) is inclined towards the driver's seat at an angle (β) to the transverse axis of the industrial truck, preferably by 16°. [5] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the display and operating device (1) is inclined at an angle (α) to the vertical axis of the industrial truck, preferably at 20°. [6] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the switching elements (3) are switches (4) arranged on the edge of the screen (2) on the display and operating device (1), preferably switches (4) arranged on a lower edge of the screen. [7] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the screen (2) is a touchscreen screen. [8] Industrial truck according to claim 7, characterized by that the switching elements (3) are buttons on the screen (2). [9] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the operating lever (5) is a joystick (10) with a cross handle (11), wherein the cross handle (11) is aligned parallel to a surface of the screen (2) of the display and operating device (1). [10] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that two operating levers (5) are arranged next to each other. [11] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized bythat a further operating element (8), in particular a direction of travel switch (9), is arranged between the operating lever (5) and the display and operating device (1). [12] Industrial truck according to claim 11, characterized by that the additional control element (8) can be reached with the bent fingers. [13] Industrial truck according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the work function is a hydraulic work function of the industrial truck.

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