Fork lift truck tote box dumper

Claim 2

The combination of: frame means impalable horizontally upon the prongs of a fork pick-up truck and insertable, when supported as so impaled upon said prongs, into suitable horizontal openings provided therefor in the bottom of a tote box; a box cradle pivotally mounted on a low transverse axis on the forward end of said frame means and extending therebeyond, said cradle including a flat cradle base which is normally in co-planar relation with said frame means when the latter is inserted into said horizontal box openings whereby said cradle base is also inserted into said box openings so as to underlie said box; means on said cradle preventing said box falling from said cradle when the latter is rotated to invert said box; means mounted on said frame means and controlled from the driver's seat of said fork lift truck for power rotating said cradle to first dump the contents from said box, while retaining said box confined within said cradle, and then reversibly rotating said cradle thereby returning said cradle base to its co-planar relation with said frame means permitting said box to be set down right side up on the ground and said frame means and cradle base withdrawn from the bottom openings in said box, by manipulating said fork lift truck with said frame means impaled thereon, said cradle including a rear box limit stop fixed on said cradle base and and upper box limit stop fixed on said rear box limit stop, which stops join with said cradle base to provide fixed barriers limiting movement of said box with reference to said cradle in any of three directions dispersed at intervals of ninety degrees radially about said transverse axis; said box being an element of said combination and including horizontally forwardly extending flange means along the front lower edge thereof just above said horizontal box openings herein; and a forward box limit stop means on the front edge of said cradle base and extending upwardly therefrom to be interposed in front of said box when said frame means and cradle base have been fully inserted into said box bottom openings and then lifted into supporting relation with said box, said forward box limit stop means being shaped to interlock with said flange means thereby securely retaining said box in said cradle while the contents are being dumped therefrom.

Claim 3

The combination of: frame means impalable horizontally upon the prongs of a fork pick up truck and insertable, when supported as so impaled upon said prongs, into suitable horizontal openings provided therefor in the bottom of a tote box; a box cradle pivotally mounted on a low transverse axis on the forward end of said frame means and extending therebeyond, said cradle including a flat cradle base which is normally in co-planar relation with said frame means when the latter is inserted into said horizontal box openings whereby said cradle base is also inserted into said box openings so as to underlie said box; means on said cradle preventing said box falling from said cradle when the latter is rotated to invert said box; means mounted on said frame means and controlled from the driver's seat of said fork lift truck for power rotating said cradle to first dump the contents from said box, while retaining said box confined within said cradle, and then reversibly rotating said cradle thereby returning said cradle base to its co-planar relation with said frame means permitting said box to be set down right side up on the ground and said frame means and cradle base withdrawn from the bottom openings in said box, by manipulating said fork lift truck with said frame means impaled thereon, said frame means comprising a pair of parallel downwardly facing horizontal co-planar metal channels spaced properly apart to slidingly receive the fork prongs of said truck when aligned with the open rear ends of said channels, said channel rear end portions having bottom plate means preventing forward rotation of said channels on said prongs by the weight of a loaded box, said cradle base comprising a pair of parallel downwardly facing metal channels horizontally co-planar with said frame channels and located closely outside of and alongside said frame channels, said axis on which said frame means and said cradle base are pivotally connected lying slightly forward of the center of gravity of said cradle base but a substantial distance to the rear of the front end of said cradle base, said means on said cradle preventing the box falling therefrom when the cradle is rotated about said axis comprising: a back stop overlying and rigidly uniting rear end portions of said cradle base channels and rising therefrom approximately to the height of said box; an upper stop mounted on said back stop and overlying a rear portion of said box; and a forward lower stop means mounted on the front ends of said cradle base channels, said means extending upwardly to overlie the front lower portion of said box when said box is lifted by said cradle preliminary to dumping the contents therefrom.

Claim 4

The combination of: frame means impalable horizontally upon the prongs of a fork pick up truck and insertable, when supported as so impaled upon said prongs, into suitable horizontal openings provided therefor in the bottom of a tote box; a box cradle pivotally mounted on a low transverse axis on the forward end of said frame means and extending therebeyond, said cradle including a flat cradle base which is normally in co-planar relation with said frame means when the latter is inserted into said horizontal box openings whereby said cradle base is also inserted into said box openings so as to underlie said box; means on said cradle preventing said box falling from said cradle when the latter is rotated to invert said box; means mounted on said frame means and controlled from the driver's seat of said fork lift truck for power rotating said cradle to first dump the contents from said box, while retaining said box confined within said cradle, and then reversibly rotating said cradle thereby returning said cradle base to its co-planar relation with said frame means permitting said box to be set down right side up on the ground and said frame means and cradle base withdrawn from the bottom openings in said box, by manipulating said fork lift truck with said frame means impaled thereon, said frame means comprising a pair of parallel downwardly facing horizontal co-planar metal channels spaced properly apart to slidingly receive the fork prongs of said truck when aligned with the open rear ends of said channels, said channel rear end portions having bottom plate means preventing forward rotation of said channels on said prongs by the weight of a loaded box, said cradle base comprising a pair of parallel downwardly facing metal channels horizontally co-planar with said frame channels and located closely outside of and alongside said frame channels, said axis on which said frame means and said cradle base are pivotally connected lying slightly forward of the center of gravity of said cradle base but a substantial distance to the rear of the front end of said cradle base, said means on said cradle preventing the box falling therefrom when the cradle is rotated about said axis comprising: a back stop overlying and rigidly uniting rear end portions of said cradle base channels and rising therefrom approximately to the height of said box; an upper stop mounted on said back stop and overlying a rear portion of said box; and a forward lower stop means mounted on the front ends of said cradle base channels, said means extending upwardly to overlie the front lower portion of said box when said box is lifted by said cradle preliminary to dumping the contents therefrom.

Claim 5

A combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for reversely power rotating said cradle comprises: a dual mast transversely spanning and welded to said frame channels just aft of said cradle; an electric winch mounted low on said mast; a jack shaft journalled in bearings spaced and aligned transversely high on said dual mast; a pair of driven drums fixed on the ends of said jack shaft and radially aligned with said cradle base channels; a drive drum on said jack shaft radially aligned with said winch; a drive cable opposite end portions of which are wound on said drive drum and said winch for the purpose of electric power rotating said shaft; driven cable means wound on said driven drums and applying power to said cradle to rock the same forwardly about the cradle axis to dump the contents from a tote box resting therein.

Claim 6

A combination as recited in claim 3 wherein means are provided for spring biasing said cradle reversely to return said cradle and box to upright position upon said power winch being reversed.

Claim 7

A combination as recited in claim 4 wherein said cradle is provided with a pair of pulleys mounted within the forward ends of said cradle base channels, and wherein said driven cable means includes said pulleys and a pair of driven cables wound respectively at one end on said driven drums, said driven cables then passing under said cradle base channels, around said pulleys and then reversely under said channels, the opposite ends of said driven cables terminating in means connecting the same to rearward portions of said frame channels.

Claim 8

A combination as recited in claim 5 wherein said cable connecting means include studs transversely extending from said frame channels near their rear ends; and turnbuckles connecting said cables to said studs, and wherein said cradle spring biasing means comprises a pair of heavy coil springs, rear ends of which connect to said studs and forward ends of which are fastened to said cradle base channels at points spaced rearwardly from the cradle dumping axis, and said springs being normally tensioned even when said cradle is upright.