Forklift Load Roller Unit Vertical Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load roller units in industrial trucks face issues such as reduced load-bearing capacity and changes in wheelbase during adjustment, which can disrupt odometric navigation, particularly in driverless trucks.
Innovation Solution
The load roller unit features a horizontally extending swing element pivotable on a bearing element with adjustable stop elements to limit pivoting movement, ensuring vertical movement of the load roller without altering the wheelbase, and optional spring elements for load adaptation and a dust cover to protect scanning devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an eccentric element is used to adjust the load roller height, then the position of the roller axis can be adjusted vertically, but the width of the load roller is reduced and the horizontal position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into separate functional components: the swing element handles vertical position adjustment while the load roller maintains its full width for load-bearing. This separation allows the roller to be adjusted without compromising its structural integrity or load capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing element acts as an intermediary between the bearing element and the load roller, enabling vertical adjustment of the roller axis position without requiring the roller itself to be modified. This mediator component isolates the adjustment function from the load-bearing function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an eccentric element is rotated to adjust roller height, then vertical position is changed, but the horizontal position of the roller axis and wheelbase also change
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism segments the adjustment degrees of freedom: the swing element provides vertical adjustment while the load roller's horizontal position remains constrained. This segmentation ensures that wheelbase precision is maintained during height adjustment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing element serves as an intermediary that decouples vertical position adjustment from horizontal position changes. By introducing this intermediate component, the system achieves height adjustability without affecting the wheelbase dimensions critical for odometric navigation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the swing element is made longer to increase adjustment range, then vertical adjustment capability is improved, but the horizontal movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swing element is designed with optimized local dimensions: its length is sufficient to provide the required vertical adjustment range while being constrained in the horizontal direction through the pivot connection. This local quality optimization ensures adequate adjustment capability with minimal horizontal displacement.
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 design maintains the truck's wheelbase stability, enabling safe odometric navigation and chassis alignment while compensating for manufacturing tolerances and dynamic loads, and preventing interference with scanning systems.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially horizontally extending swing element which carries the roller axis and is pivotable on the bearing element about a substantially horizontally extending pivot axis
Implementation Method 2
the at least one spring element can absorb dynamic shock loads, such as those that occur when driving over uneven surfaces or thresholds
Implementation Method 3
the screw can advantageously be designed as a ball-end thrust screw
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a load roller unit (30) designed for arrangement at the free end (18a) of a wheel arm (18) of a forklift truck, comprising at least one undriven load roller (32) rotatably arranged about a roller axis (A), and an adjustment assembly which, on the one hand, supports the roller axis (A) and, on the other hand, is designed to adjust the position of the roller axis (A) in the vertical direction (H) relative to a bearing element (40). According to the invention, the adjustment assembly comprises a rocker element (36) supporting the roller axis (A), which is pivotable about a pivot axis (B) on the bearing element (40). Furthermore, at least one adjustable stop element (42) is provided on the bearing element (40), which is designed, in conjunction with a stop surface (36a) provided on the rocker element (36), to limit the pivoting movement of the rocker element (36).The invention further relates to a forklift truck with at least one such load roller unit (30).