Forklift Lateral Fork Positioning via Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial trucks face challenges in precisely positioning the load fork relative to the receiving opening, especially at high heights, due to limited visibility and mechanical limitations of existing lateral shift systems, requiring experienced drivers for accurate alignment.
Innovation Solution
An industrial truck equipped with a position detection device and a control device that generates movement information to assist drivers in centering the load fork within the receiving opening, using a non-contact distance sensor and display device to guide the fork's lateral positioning, and a control system to limit the controllable range of motion for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver uses the fork side shift or mast cross shift to position the load fork, then the lateral positioning capability is improved, but the mechanical movement range is limited and requires advance setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical fork side shift/mast cross shift system with an automated drive device controlled by a control unit. The drive device uses sensors to detect the lateral offset and automatically generates movement information to center the load fork, eliminating the need for mechanical limitation setups and advance driver configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the driver manually positions the load fork using travel drive, then the positioning flexibility is improved, but the driver requires significant knowledge and experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service positioning by automatically detecting the lateral offset between the load fork and receiving opening using sensors, and the control unit autonomously generates movement information to center the fork. This eliminates the need for driver knowledge and experience in manual positioning while maintaining full positioning flexibility.
3Productivity
If the driver operates at high storage heights, then the vertical stacking capability is improved, but the visibility and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual estimation with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors mounted on the industrial truck detect the lateral offset between the load fork and receiving opening even at high storage heights, and the control unit processes this data to generate accurate movement information, maintaining positioning precision regardless of height.
4Manufacturing precision
If the fork side shift is mechanically limited to enable bidirectional movement, then the positioning precision in both directions is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanically limited fork side shift system with a simpler automated drive device. The drive device achieves bidirectional positioning precision through electronic control based on sensor feedback, eliminating the need for mechanical limitation mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
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
This solution enables less experienced drivers to efficiently and accurately position the load fork centrally, reducing the time and effort required for loading, increasing handling capacity, and minimizing the risk of collision, even at great heights.
Implementation Method 1
a position detection device which is designed detect a lateral offset of the load fork in relation to a receiving opening of a load means
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a forklift truck (1) with a load handling device (2) which has a lifting frame (2a) with a fork carriage (2b) movable on the lifting frame (2a), wherein a load fork (2c) is arranged on the fork carriage (2b), a vehicle body (3) and a driver's workstation (5) for a driver (6), comprising: - a position detection device (7) which is configured to detect a lateral displacement of the load fork (2c) in relation to a receiving opening (8, 8a, 8b) of a load handling device (9); - a control device (10) which is designed to generate movement information based on the determined lateral offset of the load fork (2c) in relation to the receiving opening (8, 8a, 8b) of the load means (9), which indicates in which direction of movement the load fork (2c) is to be moved laterally so that the load fork (2c) can be positioned substantially centrally to the receiving opening (8, 8a, 8b) of the load means.