Device for aiding stacking and unstacking for a stacker truck

• US 7,274,970 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Original Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Inventors: Schuchard, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US11/144,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/214, 700/218, 700/259, 187/222, 187/224, 187/227, 414/592, 414/619, 414660-667
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems

Abstract

Device for aiding stacking and unstacking for a stacker truck, with the following features: a height measuring device which measures the height of a forklift of the stacker truck, a video camera which is associated with the forklift, a control device for the actuation of the forklift to which the signals of the height measuring device and the video camera are transmitted and which contains a fork elevation height pre-selection menu and a video menu, a screen connected to the control device for the operator of the stacker truck, a pre-selection unit connected to the control device for pre-selecting the fork elevation height of the forklift, whereby the control device automatically drives the forklift via the fork elevation height pre-selection menu to the pre-selected height and produces a display on the screen, the control device switching to the video menu and switching the signal of the video camera to the screen, when the forklift enters a region close to the pre-set height of the forklift.

Claims

1. A device for aiding, stacking and unstacking for a lift truck, with the following features:

a height measuring device (16) for measuring the height of a fork (10) of the fork lift a control device for the actuation of the forklift to which the signals of the height measuring device (16) and a video camera (26) are transmitted, the control device including a fork elevation height pre-selection menu and a video menu, a single screen (24) connected to the control device for the operator of the lift truck, a pre-selection unit connected to the control device for pre-selecting the fork elevation height of the fork, the height preselection menu and the video menu being shown commonly or selectively on the screen, the video menu allowing an operator to position by visualization the fork for the desired stacking and unstacking, the control device automatically driving the fork via the fork elevation height preselection menu to the preselected height and producing a display on the screen (24) to indicate the preselected and the actual height of the fork, the control device being designed to switch to the video menu and switching the signal of the video camera (26) to the screen (24), when the fork enters a range close to the pre-set height of the fork.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that after switching to the video image in the control device, the screen (24) exclusively shows the video image.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that after the control device switches to the video image, at least the fork elevation height is simultaneously also displayed.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the control device switches back to the fork elevation height pre-selection menu when the forklift (10) moves out of the pre-set region close to the pre-selected height.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that manually actuatable means are connected to the control device for the selection of the fork elevation height pre-selection menu or video menu.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the control device also contains a drive mode menu which is displayed on the screen (24), the stacker truck comprises a speed measuring device whose signal is transmitted to the control device and the control device automatically displays the drive mode menu on the screen (24) when the speed of the stacker truck reaches a pre-set value.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the control device contains a drive mode menu which is displayed on the screen (24), a sensor is provided which detects whether the lifting apparatus is in the free lift mode or the mast lift mode, the drive mode menu in the free lift mode being switched to the signal of the video camera in the mast lift mode.