Auxiliary Fork Rollers for Closed-Bottom Pallet Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current materials-handling vehicles, such as pallet trucks, face challenges in successfully entering or exiting empty or lightly-loaded closed-bottom pallets due to the front load wheel striking the bottom board, leading to undesirable shunting and potential damage to the pallet, reduced operational efficiency, and increased operator frustration.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of auxiliary rollers on elongated forks that apply a downward vertical force on the bottom boards of pallets, allowing the forks to enter and exit pallets without shunting, by positioning these rollers to contact the pallet boards as the load wheel engages, thereby stabilizing the pallets during the lifting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front load wheel strikes the bottom board to enter or exit the pallet, then the pallet can be engaged or disengaged, but the pallet shunts along the ground causing damage to the pallet and floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the forklift fork with downward force application point) that mediates between the load wheel and the pallet bottom board. Instead of the load wheel directly striking the bottom board, the fork applies downward force at a specific point to stabilize the pallet, allowing the load wheel to engage without causing shunting damage.
2Ease of operation
If the front load wheel strikes the bottom board, then the pallet can be engaged, but the operational efficiency is reduced due to failure to enter or exit pallets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the fork to apply downward force on the pallet bottom board before the load wheel makes contact. This preliminary stabilization prevents the shunting that would otherwise occur during engagement, ensuring smooth operation and maintaining productivity.
3Ease of operation
If the front load wheel strikes the bottom board, then the pallet can be engaged, but the friction between ground and pallet prevents successful entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the forklift's lifting mechanism to apply a downward force that counteracts the frictional force between the pallet bottom board and the ground. By applying this counteracting force at the appropriate location, the system overcomes the friction that prevents successful pallet entry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The auxiliary rollers effectively keep pallets stationary during entry and exit, reducing damage to the pallets and the floor, enhancing operational efficiency, and minimizing operator frustration.
Implementation Method 1
auxiliary rollers on elongated forks that apply a downward vertical force on the bottom boards of pallets
Data Source
AI summary
A fork assembly for a forked materials-handling vehicle with a chassis is configured to simultaneously lift at least two inline pallets, each pallet comprising a plurality of bottom boards. The fork assembly comprises a plurality of elongated forks and a plurality of auxiliary rollers. The plurality of elongated forks includes a first fork and a second fork, where each fork has a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis and the proximal end of each fork is attached to the chassis. Each fork includes a load wheel connected to the fork, and each fork has a length sufficient to lift at least two pallets arranged in an inline configuration. The plurality of auxiliary rollers are rotatably coupled to one or more of the plurality of forks, where the plurality of auxiliary rollers are positioned longitudinally along the length of the fork assembly such that at least one of the auxiliary rollers is on at least one bottom board of a proximal pallet of the at least two pallets when the load wheel has entered the proximal pallet and contacts a bottom board of the at least two pallets.