HORIZONTALLY PIVOTED FORKLIFT APPARATUS

• US 3,724,699 A
• Filed: 07/30/1971
• Issued: 04/03/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David C. Weston
• Original Assignee: David C. Weston
• Inventors: Weston, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Forlenza, Gerald M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Raymond B.
• Application Number:
  US05/167,602
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 214/730,731,750,16.4R,16.4A
• US Class Current: 414/668
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0407 using stacker cranes constructional features of stacker cranes B66F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07 Floor-to-roof stacking devices, e.g. "stacker cranes", "retrievers"

Abstract

Fork lift apparatus for depositing and retrieving pallets on opposite sides of a narrow aisle and including a fork frame carried on support means movable longitudinally in the aisle and formed with transversely extending truck tracks. Transversely shiftable trucks are mounted on the tracks and have one end of elongated tine means pivotably connected therewith. Fork flip means is provided for selectively rotating the tines through 180* to extend to one side or the other of the fork frame.

Claims

1. Fork lift apparatus for depositing and retrieving pallets on opposite sides of a narrow aisle and comprising:

fork frame means including a truck track mounted thereon projecting transversely in said aisle;

fork frame support means for shifting said fork frame longitudinally in said aisle;

truck means mounted on said truck track for travel therealong;

truck drive means for driving said truck means along said truck track to opposite sides of said aisle;

elongated and substantially planer tine means pivotally carried on one end from said truck means;

means on said truck means to support said tine means when said tine means are in said first and second horizontal positions, lifting means for raising and lowering said truck means and said tine means;

fork flip means coupled with said tine means for selectively rotating said tine means about a horizontal axis to first extend toward one side when in a first substantial horizontal position and then to rotate said tine means about said horizontal axis through substantially 180* to a second substantial horizontal position to extend to the other side of said aisle whereby said fork drive means may be actuated to rotate said tine means to extend one side of said aisle for depositing a pallet carried thereon and said tine flip means may then be actuated to rotate said fork about said horizontal axis through substantially 180* to extend toward the other side of said aisle.

2. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said tine means is in the form of a pair of tines and said fork flip means includes a pivot rod having said pair of tines fixedly secured to the opposite ends thereof.

3. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said truck drive means includes a pair of sprockets mounted on at the opposite extremities of said truck track means, endless chain means carried on said sprockets and connected with said truck means and a drive motor for driving one of said sprockets.

4. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said support means includes a track extending longitudinally in said aisle and support wheels mounted thereon for carrying said fork frame means.

5. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said fork flip means includes a pivot rod carried from said truck means and having said tine means fixedly carried therefrom, a driven gear carried on said rod and drive motor means including a drive gear meshed with said driven gear.

6. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said fork flip means includes a driven gear fixedly mounted on said rod and reversible motor means including a drive gear for driving said driven gear.

7. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said truck drive means includes a pair of sprockets mounted on at the opposite extremities of said truck track means, endless chain means carried on said sprockets and connected with said truck means and a drive motor for driving one of said sprockets.

8. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said support means includes a track extending longitudinally in said aisle and support wheels mounted thereon for carrying said fork frame means.

9. Fork lift apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said support means includes a track extending longitudinally in said aisle and support wheels mounted thereon for carrying said fork frame means.