Forklift Attachment for Rolled Goods Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing forklift attachments lack the ability to securely transport and reorient rolled goods between horizontal and vertical positions, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns during handling and storage, as they often require manual labor and result in work-related injuries.

Innovation Solution

A forklift attachment featuring a mounting sleeve that fits over the forklift tines, with a pivotally secured elongated rod and locking mechanism, allowing the rod to be inserted into the central bore of rolled goods for secure transport and orientation change between horizontal and vertical positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional forklift tines are used to transport rolled goods, then the forklift can lift and move the rolls, but the rolls tend to roll off the tines and cannot be securely held

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of rolled goods during transportVSAvoidability to secure rolls through central bore

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the forklift tines and the rolled goods. It provides a secure interface by fitting over the tines and allowing the elongated rod to pass through the central bore of the roll, thereby securely holding the goods during transport without direct contact between the tines and the roll.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment utilizes a nested structure where the mounting sleeve fits over the forklift tines, the elongated rod passes through the mounting sleeve and into the central bore of the rolled goods. This nested arrangement ensures secure engagement at multiple levels, preventing the rolls from rolling off during transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If manual labor is used to move and reorient rolled goods, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but work-related injuries occur and multiple employees are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of goods handlingVSAvoidwork-related injuries from manual handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The forklift attachment enables self-service handling of rolled goods by providing a mechanism that allows the forklift to independently secure, transport, and reorient the rolls without requiring manual intervention. The operator simply needs to guide the elongated rod into the central bore of the roll, after which the system handles the heavy lifting and reorienting autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the dangerous manual handling tasks from the operation by transferring them to the forklift attachment system. The mounting sleeve and elongated rod mechanism take over the functions of manually securing and reorienting rolls, eliminating the need for employees to physically handle heavy and awkward goods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If forklift attachments are used to secure rolled goods, then transport capability is improved, but the ability to reorient between horizontal and vertical positions is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure transport of rolled goodsVSAvoidorientation transition between horizontal and vertical

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system incorporates dynamic elements that enable reorientation. The mounting sleeve can rotate relative to the forklift tines, and the elongated rod can be adjusted in position, allowing the system to transition between securing rolls in horizontal and vertical orientations while maintaining secure transport throughout the transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The forklift attachment is designed with multi-functionality to both securely transport rolled goods and enable reorientation between horizontal and vertical positions. The combination of the mounting sleeve, elongated rod, and central bore engagement creates a universal system that handles both transport and orientation change functions that were previously separate operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11912551B2Forklift attachment

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 MARTIN BRADLEY

AI summary

A forklift attachment is shown and described. The forklift attachment, has a mounting sleeve which includes a base, at least one sidewall, and an open end. The mounting sleeve fits and slides over a tine of a forklift. A plurality of braces is disposed along a top surface of the mounting sleeve defining a channel which extends parallel to, and forward from, the mounting sleeve. The channel includes a first end and a second end and an elongated rod is pivotally secured to the plurality of braces at the second end of the channel. The elongated rod extends parallel to, and forward from, the plurality of braces. A lock selectively secures the elongated rod in a position parallel to the tine of the forklift.