Carrier device for a fork tine

Abstract

The invention relates to a support device 100 for a fork tine 230 comprising a support plate 110 for the fork tine for mounting with its rear side on a fork carriage 20 and a tine securing device 120 mounted on the support plate 110 for receiving and securing the fork tine 230 in a desired orientation to the support plate 110, wherein the tine securing device 120 is U-shaped with a flat base element 122 and two opposing side edge elements 124 angled to the base element 122, the clear distance d between which corresponds to the width of the fork tine and wherein the tine securing device 120 is detachably fastened to the support plate 110, in particular by screws.To make the fork securing device variably adaptable for receiving fork tines of different widths, it is provided that at least one of the side wall elements of the fork securing device is designed as a separate component from the base element; that the separate side edge element 124 is L-shaped with two legs 124-1, 124-2, wherein one leg 124-1 forms the side edge of the fork securing device and the other leg functions as a mounting leg 124-2; and that the mounting leg 124-2, and thus the separate side edge element 124, can be positioned, in particular inserted and clamped, between the base element 122 and the carrier plate 110, wherein the clear distance d to the opposite side edge 124 is variably adjustable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a carrier device for a fork tine on a forklift truck. Furthermore, the invention relates to a fork carriage with the carrier device.

[0002] Such carrier devices for forklift tines are generally known in the prior art, as can be seen from the Fig. Figures 6 to 8 show that the known carrier devices comprise 100 according to Fig. 6 typically one support plate 110 per fork tine, the support plates being attached with their rear sides to a fork carriage 200. The support plates 110 can be fixed to the fork carriage 200 or, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the fork tines are arranged to be displaceable in the horizontal direction. Traditionally, a fork locking device 120 is located on the support plates 110 to receive and secure the fork tine in a desired orientation relative to the support plate 110; see Figure 6. Fig. 8. Fig. Figure 7 shows the tine securing device 120 in detail. It can be seen that the tine securing device 120 is U-shaped with a flat base element 122 and two opposing side edge elements 124 angled towards the base element 122. The clear distance between these side edge elements is shown in Fig. 7 designated by the reference numeral d; it defines the width of the fork tine 230, which can be mounted in the tine securing device 120 and on the carrier plate 110.

[0003] Fork tines of a different width cannot be mounted in the traditional fork locking device 120. Traditionally, mounting fork tines of other widths requires removing the fork locking device 120 from the carrier plate 110 and replacing it with a fork locking device that has a different clear width of its side edges. This replacement process is time-consuming. Furthermore, a separate fork locking device with the corresponding clear distance must be kept in stock for each possible fork tine width; this ties up storage resources and is expensive. In the prior art, the fork locking device is a single piece.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of further developing the fork securing device of a known carrier device for a fork for a forklift truck and a known fork carrier with the carrier device in such a way that it can be variably adapted to accommodate fork tines of different widths.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Specifically, the support device according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the side wall elements of the tine securing device is designed as a separate component from the base element, that the separate side edge element is L-shaped with two legs, wherein one leg forms the side edge of the tine securing device and the other leg functions as a fastening leg, and that the fastening leg, and thus the separate side edge element, can be positioned, in particular inserted and clamped, between the base element and the support plate, wherein the clear distance d to the opposite side edge is variably adjustable.

[0006] According to the invention, it is therefore proposed that the fork locking device be designed not as a single piece, but as several individual parts that can be positioned variably relative to one another. This applies in particular to at least one of the side edge elements in relation to the base element. By designing at least one of the side edge elements as a separate part, as per the invention, it is made possible to position the side edge element variably relative to the base element and to the opposing second side edge element, in particular at the desired clear distance d, and to fix it at this distance. This variable adjustability of the clear distance between the opposing side edges makes the fork locking device very easy to adapt to fork tines of different widths with minimal effort.This eliminates the need for a completely new assembly of fork locking devices for fork tines with different widths, as well as the need to keep fork locking devices with fixed clear spacing.

[0007] The fork locking device can be mounted on the front or the back of the carrier plate. Even if the fork locking device is mounted on the back, the side edges must protrude at the front to form a receptacle for the fork tine.

[0008] According to a first embodiment, guide elements are formed on the mounting leg of the at least one separate side edge element and on the rear side of the base element to guide the mounting leg relative to the base element in the desired manner when it is positioned at the desired clear distance to the opposite side edge. In particular, the guide elements advantageously ensure that the two side edge elements, with their respective longitudinal extensions, are actually parallel to each other after their variable positioning at the desired clear distance. This is important so that the fork tine, when inserted into the tine securing device, is laterally and securely supported by the two side edge elements.Secure support is ensured particularly when the fork tine rests against the side wall elements along their entire length and not just at specific points, as would be the case with a non-parallel alignment of the side edge elements.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the side edge elements are interlocked with their base legs on the rear side of the base element at the desired clear distance to the opposite side edge element. This interlocking serves in particular to secure the respective side edge element at the desired clear distance. In other words, the interlocking ensures that a respective side edge element does not change its relative position, i.e., its clear distance to the opposite side edge element, even under lateral loads such as those that may occur during the operation of a forklift truck with the carrier device according to the invention.

[0010] Finally, it should be mentioned that not only one, but both side margin elements can be designed separately from the base element; the above applies equally to both side margin elements.

[0011] The aforementioned problem is further solved by the fork carrier according to claim 5. The advantages of this solution correspond to the advantages previously mentioned for the carrier device.

[0012] The description includes 8 figures, whereby Fig. 1 the carrier device according to the invention; Fig. 2 the prong securing device according to the invention disassembled into three individual parts in an unassembled state; Fig. 3 the prong securing device according to the invention in its assembled state with a first clear distance between its opposing side edges; Fig. 4 the prong securing device according to the invention in a second arrangement with here minimal clear distance between the opposing side edges; Fig. 5 the reverse side of the prong securing device according to the invention; Fig. 6 a fork carriage known in the prior art with attached support plates for the fork tines; Fig. 7 a fork-locking device customary in the prior art; and Fig. 8 a traditional fork carriage with fork tines mounted on the carrier plates shows.

[0013] The invention is described below with reference to the aforementioned. Fig. Sections 1 to 5 are described in detail in the form of exemplary implementations. In all Fig. Numbers 1 to 8 are identical technical elements with the same reference symbols.

[0014] Fig. Figure 1 shows the support device 100 according to the invention as an intermediate component for mounting a fork tine on a fork carriage 200 of a forklift truck. The support device 100 has a support plate 110, which is mounted to the fork carriage 200 with its rear side. The fork locking device 120 according to the invention can be mounted on the front or rear side of the support plate 110 to receive and secure the fork tine in a desired orientation relative to the support plate 110. Preferably, a recess 115 is provided on the front and / or rear side of the support plate 110 for preferably precisely fitting the fork locking device. The recess is preferably deep enough that the fork locking device is flush with the front or rear side of the support plate, i.e., does not protrude from the front or rear side. The fork locking device 120 is U-shaped.It consists of a flat base element 122 and two opposing side edge elements 124, angled relative to the base element 122. Unlike in the prior art, the clear distance d between the side edge elements is variably adjustable in the fork locking device 120 according to the invention. More precisely, the clear distance d is adjusted to the width of a respective fork tine that is to be mounted on the fork carriage. The fork locking device 120 is detachably attached to the carrier plate 110. For example, the fork locking device can be screwed to the carrier plate 110 by means of screws that pass through the screw holes 125.

[0015] Fig. Figure 2 illustrates that at least one of the side edge elements 124 is formed separately from the base element 122 as a single component; in this case, the other opposing side edge element can be rigidly connected to the base element 122. Preferably, however, both side edge elements 124 are formed as separate components, as shown in Figure 2. Fig. Figure 2 shows that the separate side edge elements 124 are each L-shaped with two legs 124-1, 124-2, with one leg 124-1 forming a side edge of the tine securing device and the other leg functioning as a fastening leg 124-2. The fastening leg 124-2, and thus the separate side edge element, is, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the side edge elements can be positioned between the base element 122 and the support plate 110, in particular by sliding them in laterally and clamping them there by clamping or screwing the base element 122 to the support plate 110. Due to the free positioning of the side edge elements relative to the base element 122 before they are clamped, the clear distance d between the opposing side edges 124 is advantageously adjustable and thus adaptable to different widths of the fork tines.

[0016] The Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows different constellations of the side margin elements 124 relative to the base element 122. Specifically, the Fig. 3 a relatively large set clear distance d between the two side edge elements, while Fig. 4 illustrates the minimum clear distance d between the opposing side edge elements, because in this constellation the respective fastening legs 124-2 of the two side edge elements 124 abut each other with their end faces.

[0017] Fig. Figure 5 shows the back sides of the base element 122 and the two side edge elements 124 in the configuration according to Fig. 3. It can be seen that a grid pattern 128, 128' is formed on the facing surfaces of the fastening legs 124-2 and the rear side of the base element 122, and that these grid patterns interlock. The grid pattern 128 on the fastening legs 124-2 is also present in Fig. 2 clearly visible. The interlocking grids 128, 128' enable the base element 122 and the fastening legs 124-2 to be fixed in different sliding positions and thus the two side edge elements 124 or the side edges at different clear distances d relative to each other.

[0018] Both in Fig. 2 as well as in Fig. Figure 5 shows that the fastening legs 124-2 can have a female guide element 127, for example in the form of a groove or a slot, which extends transversely to the longitudinal extent L of the side edges 124-1. Complementarily, at least one male guide element 126, for example in the form of a pin or a guide rail, can be formed on the rear side of the base element 122 for engaging with the female guide elements 127 of the fastening legs 124-2. The interaction or interlocking of the at least one female and the at least one male guide element serves to guide the side edge elements stably relative to the base element.Secure guidance is particularly important to ensure that the side edges are indeed parallel and not misaligned, especially when the side edge elements 124 are clamped to the carrier plate 110 by means of the base element 122, for example, by screws. On the (rear) side of the fastening part 122 facing the carrier element 110, particularly on the rear side of its male guide element 126, at least one bead 129 is preferably formed in the area of ​​the screw holes 125 for positive engagement in a recess, in particular a countersunk hole, in the surface of the carrier plate 110 that is complementary to the bead. Alternatively, conversely, the bead 129 can be formed on the carrier plate 110 and the recess on the base element 122, particularly on the rear side of its male guide element 126.The positive interlocking of the bead and the recess advantageously allows larger shear forces to be absorbed, i.e., transferred between the fork tines and the support plate 110.

[0019] Alternatively to the aforementioned and in Fig. In the constellation 5 illustrated, the at least one male guide element can also be formed on the fastening leg 124-2 and the at least one female guide element 127 on the rear of the base element 122.

[0020] The assembly of the aforementioned individual parts of the fork locking device 120 for a fork tine 230 on the front of the carrier plate 110 of the carrier device 100 comprises the following process steps: - Fastening, for example screwing the base element 122 to the support plate 110 with play; - Positioning, for example by lateral insertion, at least one of the side edge elements 124 with its fastening leg 124-2 between the base element 122 and the support plate 110 at a desired clear distance d to the opposite side edge element 124; and - Clamping the fastening leg 124-2 between the base element 122 and the carrier plate 110 by clamping, for example by screwing the base element 122 against the carrier plate 110.

[0021] As part of the positioning and clamping process steps, the fastening legs 124-2 and the base element 122 can optionally be locked together at a desired distance d from each other of the opposite side elements 124. Reference symbol list 100 carrier device 110 carrier plate 115 recess 120 tine securing device 122 Basic element 124 side wall element 124-1 Leg representing the side margin 124-2 Mounting leg 125 screw holes 126 male leadership element 127 female leadership element 128 grid positions on the mounting leg 128' grid on the back of the base element 129 bulge 200 fork carriers 230 fork tines The distance between the two side edge elements is light. L Longitudinal extent of the side edge

Claims

[1] Support device (100) for a fork (230) comprising: a carrier plate (110) for the fork tine for mounting with its rear side on a fork carriage (200); and a tine securing device (120) mounted on the carrier plate (110) for receiving and securing the fork tine (230) in a desired orientation to the carrier plate (110), wherein the prong securing device (120) is U-shaped with a flat base element (122) and two opposing side edge elements (124) angled to the base element (122), whose clear distance (d) from each other corresponds to the width of the fork tine; and wherein the tine securing device (120) is detachably fastened, in particular screwed, to the carrier plate (110); characterized by , that at least one of the side edge elements (124) is formed as a single part, separated from the base element (122); that the separate side edge element (124) is L-shaped with two legs (124-1, 124-2), wherein one leg (124-1) forms the side edge of the prong securing device and the other leg functions as a fastening leg (124-2); and that the fastening leg (124-2) and thus the separate side edge element (124) can be positioned, in particular inserted and clamped between the base element (122) and the carrier plate (110), wherein the clear distance (d) to the opposite side edge (124) is variably adjustable. [2] Carrier device (100) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the fastening leg (124-2) has at least one female guide element (127), for example a groove or a slot, which extends transversely to the longitudinal extent (L) of the side edge (124-1); and that at least one male guide element (126), for example a mandrel or a guide rail, is formed on the rear side of the base element (122) for engaging in the female guide element (127) of the fastening leg (124-2) for guiding the side edge element (124) relative to the base element (122); or that conversely, the at least one male guide element (126) is formed on the fastening leg (124-2) and the at least one female guide element (127) is formed on the rear side of the base element (122). [3] Carrier device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat on the mutually facing surfaces of the fastening leg (124-2) and the rear side of the base element (122) a respective grid (128, 128') is formed for interlocking and for fixing the base element (122) and the fastening leg in different displacement positions and thus the two side edge elements (124) at different clear distances (d) relative to one another. [4] Carrier device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the two side edge elements (124) are each formed as individual parts, separated from the base element (122). [5] Fork carriage (200) with - at least one carrier device (100) according to one of the preceding claims; and - a fork tine (230) insertable into the tine securing device (120) of the carrier device (100).

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