The invention relates to an implement for the transfer of long pieces. The invention relates to a system for the transfer of long pieces. The invention relates to a method for the transfer of long pieces.
It is known that the manipulation of long pieces whose length is many times, or at least 10 times their diameter or thickness dimension, is difficult.
The most common way to manipulate long pieces is to place them crosswise, for example, on the forks of forklifts. The forks or corresponding means of transport are placed, for example, in a carriage moving up and down along the mast of the forklift. However, a drawback is in this case that the aisle width required by the forklift is multiplied, and the manipulation of long pieces is not possible in narrow aisles. Long pieces can also be placed in a cassette or on a pallet, but in this case, the long pieces are placed across the direction of motion, and the transfer requires a lot of space.
Forklifts are known, whose mast or forks can be turned sideways, so that long pieces can be transferred on the side of the forklift, in the direction of motion of the forklift. Forklifts are also known, in which the forks or corresponding supporting means are always directed to the side and the load can, in many cases, also be transferred from the side of the forklift to the support of the frame of the forklift, or above the same, for example by means of a movable mast. Long pieces extend in the direction of motion of the forklift. The above-mentioned forklifts are, however, specially equipped and more expensive than regular multi-purpose forklifts or corresponding transfer devices, so that their occasional use is not well-founded.
It is also problematic to use the above-described side-loading forklifts for loading long pieces into transport containers, because the forklift always requires space along the side of the pieces. For this reason, loading a transport container fully wall-to-wall is not possible by means of such forklifts, and it may also occur that they do not even fit in the container. Loading a transport container with a conventional forklift is not possible either, because the forklift would require space to align the long pieces in the longitudinal direction of the transport container. On top of it all, the door opening in a transport container is transversely at the narrow end of the transport container, so that an long piece does not even fit in the door opening.
An implement for the transfer of long pieces according to the invention is presented in claim 1. A system for the transfer of long pieces according to the invention is presented in claim 5. A method for the transfer of long pieces according to the invention is presented in claim 7.
The aim is to construct an implement that is suitable for use with a conventional, very common forklift. The implement can be mounted on a forklift or another corresponding movable transfer device, on which the implement can be mounted. The means for mounting the implement are preferably universal and such that the implement can be mounted in place of forks on the carriage of a forklift or another transfer device, by using those mounting means of the carriage, to which the forks are also mounted.
The implement is used for manipulating bundles of long pieces, and the implement is used to grip the end of the bundle, wherein the pieces always extend in the direction of motion of the forklift. Thanks to said feature, the forklift can also be used for loading transfer containers, because the implement can now be used for transferring a bundle in the longitudinal direction in through the door opening at the end of the transport container and also for placing bundles side by side, wall to wall.
The implement can be inserted into the end of the bundle in such a way that the ends of single pieces are received in casings, in which the end of the piece is held by friction. Only the ends of the pieces are placed inside the implement, and the bundle is transferred in such a way that the pieces, as a uniform bundle, hang out of the implement. The implement is dimensioned so that it is capable of supporting a given number of pieces, taking into account the weight of the pieces and the loadings. The length of the pieces must not be arbitrary, because the piece has to be capable of carrying its own weight, as part of the piece extends as a cantilever at a distance away from the implement.
In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to an example and simultaneously the appended drawings.
An implement 1 comprises a framework that is preferably made of steel and steel sheets. In the presented example, the framework is rectangular, but it may also have a different shape. The framework according to the example comprises a vertical rear wall 9 and two vertical side walls 6, as well as a horizontal bottom wall 8 and a horizontal top 5. In the framework, pieces can be placed in a matrix of preferably at least 2×2 but normally 4×4, comprising 16 casings 2 for long pieces. Between the casings 2 on top of each other, there is a partition wall 4 that reinforces the structure and is mounted on both sides to the framework, in this case both side walls 6. The partition walls 4 are made of steel, and they transfer loading forces to the framework and elsewhere.
The number of casings may also vary in such a way that the number of casings 2 is different in the horizontal and vertical directions. It is also possible to have only one layer in the horizontal direction, so that there are two or more pieces next to each other. In this way, it is possible to manipulate, for example, low bundles or separate pieces next to each other. It is also possible to manipulate a narrow bundle or separate pieces on top of each other simultaneously. However, there is a whole series of casings 2, comprising at least two casings.
The shape of the casings 2 corresponds to the shape of the pieces to be transferred, which is, in this case, cylindrical. The implement 1 of
Upon forming a bundle of long pieces 13 as shown in
The cross-sectional shape of the pieces may also be triangular, square, rectangular, or, when it comprises more than four sides, it is possibly also hollow. Even in these cases, the aim is to support the piece from several sides to prevent swinging. However, the piece is always supported both from the upper surface, at least by means of the rear part of the casing 2 close to the end of the piece, and from the lower surface, at least at the front part of the casing 2, at a distance from the end of the piece. In said points, the piece is particularly supported to the casing 2, as the piece 13 hangs out of the implement 1, as shown in
The shape of the casing 2 corresponds to the shape of the long piece with as little clearance as possible, to support the piece to a contact surface that is as large as possible, between the piece and the form piece 3 forming the casing 2. The mouth of the casing 2 may be provided with an expansion or an inclined collar to guide the piece into the casing 2. The length or depth of the casing 2 is typically about 800 to 1200 mm, preferably 1000 mm, and the diameter of the casing is, in this example, typically about 200 to 300 mm, preferably 250 mm. The length of the piece 13 is typically at least 2.5 m, preferably at least 3 m, and even greater than 6 m.
The form piece 3 comprises at least one but preferably several and, in this example, four pieces with a concave shape corresponding to the shape of the outer surface of the piece. The form piece 3 covers part, typically less than half, of the periphery of the outer surface of the piece. One form piece 3 is provided above and one underneath the piece, and they are supported either to the partition wall 4, the bottom wall 8, or the top 5. The form piece is preferably made of plastic that does not damage or scratch the piece.
The implement 1 is used by pushing the implement 1 into a stationary bundle in such a way that the ends of the pieces 13 slide as deep into the casings 2 as possible. The implement 1 is elevated, and as the ends of the pieces 13 remain in place in the casings 2, the whole bundle is simultaneously elevated. It is now possible to transfer the bundle by the forklift or transfer device 19 in the longitudinal direction of the pieces and to load it, for example, into a transport container. The implement is unloaded by lowering the implement, wherein the bundle is placed onto the ground or a floor, supported by its own weight, and the implement can be freely pulled out from the end of the bundle. The casings 2 and the pieces 13 are substantially horizontal during the transfers and when the ends of the pieces 13 are inserted into the casings 2.
The invention is not limited solely to the example presented above, but it may vary within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20085931 | Oct 2008 | FI | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/FI09/50794 | 10/2/2009 | WO | 00 | 3/31/2011 |