Side-loading attachment for fork-lift trucks

Claim 2

A side loading attachment for forklift trucks used in conjunction with load supporting pallets and pallet-supporting means, including in combination: an attachment frame; a stabilizer laterally disposed with respect to said frame and supported thereon for movement laterally thereof; a pallet-and-load supporting platform laterally disposed with respect to said frame at a level above said stabilizer and supported by said frame at all times separately from said stabilizer for movement laterally of said frame, wholly independently of the position of said stabilizer; means for moving said stabilizer to one side of said frame for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting means on which a said pallet and its load are to be deposited; and means for moving said platform out where it lies wholly beyond said forklift truck.

Claim 3

The attachment of claim 1 having means for tipping said platform down at its outboard end, so as to deposit a load carried on said platform upon a said pallet supporting means and for inserting said platform under a pallet already upon a said pallet supporting device.

Claim 4

The attachment of claim 2 having means for reerecting and leveling said platform after it has been tipped.

Claim 5

The attachment of claim 1 wherein said frame has fore-and-aft extending sockets for receiving the forks of said lift truck to support the attachment on said lift truck.

Claim 6

A side loading attachment for forklift trucks used in conjunction with load supporting pallets and pallet supporting storage devices, including in combination: an attachment frame having fork receiving socket; a stabilizer laterally disposed with respect to said frame and supported thereon for movement laterally thereof; a pallet-and-load supporting platform laterally disposed with respect to said frame at a level above said stabilizer and supported at all times by said frame separately from said stabilizer for movement laterally of said frame, wholly independently of the position of said stabilizer; means for moving said stabilizer to either side of said frame where it lies wholly beyond the sides of the forklift truck on which attachment is carried, for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting storage device on which a said pallet and its load are to be deposited; and means for moving said platform out where it lies wholly beyond said forklift truck only after said stabilizer has been extended and is supported by a said pallet supporting device.

Claim 7

A side loading attachment for forklift trucks used in conjunction with load supporting pallets and pallet supporting storage devices, including in combination: an attachment frame having fork receiving socket; a stabilizer laterally disposed with respect to said frame and supported thereon for movement laterally thereof; a pallet-and-load supporting platform laterally disposed with respect to said frame at a level above said stabilizer and supported at all times by said frame separately from said stabilizer for movement laterally of said frame, wholly independently of the position of said stabilizer; means for moving said stabilizer to either side of said frame where it lies wholly beyond the sides of the forklift truck on which attachment is carried, for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting storage device on which a said pallet and its load are to be deposited; and means for moving said platform out where it lies wholly beyond said forklift truck only after said stabilizer has been extended and is supported by a said pallet supporting device.

Claim 8

The attachment of claim 5 having means for tipping said platform down at its outboard end and means for reerecting and leveling said platform after it has been tipped.

Claim 9

A warehouse system, comprising: a forklift truck having fore-and-aft extending forks; at least one load supporting pallet; at least one pallet supporting means; and a side loading attachment on said forklift truck, said attachment including in combination: an attachment frame; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable a stabilizer; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable pallet-and-load supporting platform at a level above said stabilizer, said platform at all times being supported solely by said frame and independently of said stabilizer, for movement laterally of said frame independently of said stabilizer and of the amount by which said stabilizer has been moved; means for moving said stabilizer to at least one side of said frame for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting means; and means for moving said platform independently of said stabilizer out beyond at least one side of said frame.

Claim 10

A warehouse system, comprising: a forklift truck having fore-and-aft extending forks; at least one load supporting pallet; at least one pallet supporting means; and a side loading attachment on said forklift truck, said attachment including in combination: an attachment frame; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable a stabilizer; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable pallet-and-load supporting platform at a level above said stabilizer, said platform at all times being supported solely by said frame and independently of said stabilizer, for movement laterally of said frame independently of said stabilizer and of the amount by which said stabilizer has been moved; means for moving said stabilizer to at least one side of said frame for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting means; and means for moving said platform independently of said stabilizer out beyond at least one side of said frame.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 having means for tippIng said platform down at its outboard end.

Claim 12

The system of claim 8 having means for reerecting and leveling said platform after it has been tipped.

Claim 13

The system of claim 7 having means preventing moving said forklift truck unless said platform is centered on said attachment frame.

Claim 14

The system of claim 7 having an hydraulic system controlling the movement of said stabilizer and the movement of said platform.

Claim 15

A warehouse system, comprising: a forklift truck having fore-and-aft extending forks; a plurality of load supporting pallets; a plurality of pallet supporting storage devices; and a side loading attachment on said forklift truck, said attachment including in combination: an attachment frame having fork receiving sockets in which said forks are engaged; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable stabilizer; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable pallet-and-load supporting platform at a height above said stabilizer, said platform at all times being wholly supported by said frame independently of said stabilizer and being laterally extendable of said frame independently of said stabilizer and of the position of said stabilizer; means for moving said stabilizer to either side of said frame for a distance where said stabilizer lies wholly beyond the sides of said forklift truck, for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting storage device; and means for moving said platform out beyond either side of said frame only after said stabilizer has been extended and is supported by a said pallet supporting storage device.

Claim 16

A warehouse system, comprising: a forklift truck having fore-and-aft extending forks; a plurality of load supporting pallets; a plurality of pallet supporting storage devices; and a side loading attachment on said forklift truck, said attachment including in combination: an attachment frame having fork receiving sockets in which said forks are engaged; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable stabilizer; a frame supported laterally disposed and laterally extendable pallet-and-load supporting platform at a height above said stabilizer, said platform at all times being wholly supported by said frame independently of said stabilizer and being laterally extendable of said frame independently of said stabilizer and of the position of said stabilizer; means for moving said stabilizer to either side of said frame for a distance where said stabilizer lies wholly beyond the sides of said forklift truck, for engagement with and rest upon a said pallet supporting storage device; and means for moving said platform out beyond either side of said frame only after said stabilizer has been extended and is supported by a said pallet supporting storage device.

Claim 17

The system of claim 12 having means for tipping said platform down at its outboard end and means for reerecting and leveling said platform after it has been tipped.

Claim 18

The system of claim 12 having means preventing moving said forklift truck unless said platform is centered on said attachment frame.

Claim 19

A side loading attachment for forklift trucks, including in combination: an attachment frame adapted for mounting at the front end of a forklift truck; a first pair of parallel, spaced-apart stationary channel members each having a channel therein, supported sideways on said frame; a second pair of parallel, spaced-apart stationary channel members each having a channel therein and located back-to-back next to and parallel to said first pair and spaced further apart than said first pair, supported sideways on said frame; a first pair of intermediate carriages parallel to each other and within the space between said first pair of stationary channel members and having a series of rollers on each side thereof, namely, a first series of said rollers riding in said first channels and a second series of rollers; a stabilizer located midway between said first carriages and having channels on opposite sides thereof in which said second series of rollers ride; a second pair of intermediate carriages forming the channels of said second pair of stationary channel members and further apart from each other than are the second pair of stationary channel members, having a series of rollers on each side thereof, namely, a third series of rollers for said second channels and a fourth series of rollers; a load supporting platform above said stabilizer, stationary channel members, and carriages having a pair of supporting channel members on each side thereof facing said second carriages and with channels in which said fourth series of rollers of said carriages ride; a pair of pulleys on each said carriage; a cable for each said pulley, each cable extending from said frame via a said pulley and comprising a first cable; a cable attached to one end of said stabilizer, a second cable attached to the other end of said stabilizer, a third cable attached to one end of said platform, and a fourth cable attached to the other end of said platform; and means for driving each said pair of intermediate carriageS separately.

Claim 20

A side loading attachment for forklift trucks, including in combination: an attachment frame adapted for mounting at the front end of a forklift truck; a first pair of parallel, spaced-apart stationary channel members each having a channel therein, supported sideways on said frame; a second pair of parallel, spaced-apart stationary channel members each having a channel therein and located back-to-back next to and parallel to said first pair and spaced further apart than said first pair, supported sideways on said frame; a first pair of intermediate carriages parallel to each other and within the space between said first pair of stationary channel members and having a series of rollers on each side thereof, namely, a first series of said rollers riding in said first channels and a second series of rollers; a stabilizer located midway between said first carriages and having channels on opposite sides thereof in which said second series of rollers ride; a second pair of intermediate carriages forming the channels of said second pair of stationary channel members and further apart from each other than are the second pair of stationary channel members, having a series of rollers on each side thereof, namely, a third series of rollers for said second channels and a fourth series of rollers; a load supporting platform above said stabilizer, stationary channel members, and carriages having a pair of supporting channel members on each side thereof facing said second carriages and with channels in which said fourth series of rollers of said carriages ride; a pair of pulleys on each said carriage; a cable for each said pulley, each cable extending from said frame via a said pulley and comprising a first cable; a cable attached to one end of said stabilizer, a second cable attached to the other end of said stabilizer, a third cable attached to one end of said platform, and a fourth cable attached to the other end of said platform; and means for driving each said pair of intermediate carriageS separately.

Claim 21

The attachment of claim 15 having a pivot shaft on said frame, said stationary channels and said means for driving all being supported by said pivot shaft.

Claim 22

The attachment of claim 16 wherein said frame has a plurality of hydraulic cylinders with vertically disposed piston rods capable upon actuation of engaging the bottom of said platform and leveling it.

Claim 23

The attachment of claim 17 having means for indicating when said stabilizer is tipped about said pivot shaft.

Claim 24

The attachment of claim 17 having means for preventing operation of the means for driving associated with said platform unless said stabilizer is fully extended to one side of said attachment.

Claim 25

The attachment of claim 18 having also means for preventing operation of the means for driving associated with said platform unless said stabilizer is tipped against gravity about said pivot shaft indicating support of said stabilizer.

Claim 26

The attachment of claim 15 wherein said means for driving comprises a rack secured to each said intermediate carriage, pinion means supported by said frame for driving each said rack, and means for driving said pinion means.

Claim 27

The attachment of claim 21 wherein said means for driving comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders mounted fore-and-aft of said frame, and right-angle drive means connecting said cylinders to said pinion.

Claim 28

The attachment of claim 15 having fork receiving sockets for supporting said attachment by the forks of a fork lift truck.

Claim 29

The attachment of claim 15 wherein said means for driving each pair of intermediate carriages includes a hydraulic cylinder having a stationary piston and a movable cylinder body having a rack supported thereon, a pinion engaged by said rack, and gear train drive means connected to said pair of intermediate carriages.

Claim 30

The attachment of claim 24 wherein said piston has a pair of hollow tubes, one extending out each end of said frame and secured to said frame and a port adjacent said piston, for introducing hydraulic fluid into said cylinder.

Claim 31

Side loading means for and supported by the forks of a forklift truck, comprising: a stabilizer element supported by and extendable laterally in respect of said truck forks; a load supporting structure likewise supported at all times by said forks independently of said stabilizer element and movable laterally, for a distance greater than its own lateral width and beyond the side edge of said forks; and means for moving said structure when said stabilizer element is extended.

Claim 32

Side loading means for and supported by the forks of a forklift truck, comprising: a stabilizer element supported by and extendable laterally in respect of said truck forks; a load supporting structure likewise supported at all times by said forks independently of said stabilizer element and movable laterally, for a distance greater than its own lateral width and beyond the side edge of said forks; and means for moving said structure when said stabilizer element is extended.

Claim 33

Side loading means for a forklift truck comprising: a self-contained attachment mountable on and removable from the forks of the truck, said attachment including a stabilizer element; power means for extending and retracting said stabilizer element laterally in respect of the forks; a load supporting structure; guide and support means supporting said structure independently of said stabilizer element and enabling lateral movement of said structure relative to the remainder of said attachment for a distance greater than the lateral width of said structure and beyond the side edge of said attachment; and power means for moving said load supporting structure laterally on said guide and support means in respect of the forks when the said stabilizer element is extended, said stabilizer element being adapted to be supported, when extended, by structure external to and independent of the truck.

Claim 34

Side loading means for a forklift truck comprising: a self-contained attachment mountable on and removable from the forks of the truck, said attachment including a stabilizer element; power means for extending and retracting said stabilizer element laterally in respect of the forks; a load supporting structure; guide and support means supporting said structure independently of said stabilizer element and enabling lateral movement of said structure relative to the remainder of said attachment for a distance greater than the lateral width of said structure and beyond the side edge of said attachment; and power means for moving said load supporting structure laterally on said guide and support means in respect of the forks when the said stabilizer element is extended, said stabilizer element being adapted to be supported, when extended, by structure external to and independent of the truck.