AU696755B2 - Pallet loader - Google Patents

Description

P/00/'l 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: CLARENCE WILLIAM SCOTT Clarence William Scott

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 13th Floor, 379 Queen Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) Pallet Loader No(s): Australian Patent Application 29 June 1994.

Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No. PM6530 filed The following statement is a full description of this invention, method of performing it known to me: including the best 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a collapsible pallet loader and in particular but not limited to a collapsible pallet loader for use in combination with a truck mounted crane.

BACKGROUND ART Unloading pallets from a tray of a truck involves the use of a crane and present systems employ mechanisms for loading where the crane and loader take up valuable load space. It is one object of the present invention to alleviate this problem.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the present invention resides in a collapsible pallet loader being collapsible for storage and transport purposes comprising a crane attachment means adapted for attaching to a crane for lifting the loader and a *e generally u-shaped frame defined by a foldable fork assembly opposed to a 15 foldable arm and a frame member bridging between the fork assembly and the •S e arm so that when the pallet loader is in a collapsed state, the fork assembly and arm fold toward the frame member to provide a generally flat cumpact folded assembly.

In another aspect, the invention resides in a truck having a truck mounted crane, a collapsible pallet loader having a crane attachment means adapted for attaching to the crane for lifting the loader, and a collapsible pallet loader storage means fixed to a part of the truck for holding the collapsible pallet loader when in a collapsed state for storage and transport purpose so that in use the crane can be attached to the attachment means to extract the loader from the storage means.

3 The loader can be manually unfolded or can be unfolded automatically in whole or in part.

In latter case, the crane attachment means is positioned so that when the crane is attached to the attachment means and the attachment means is elevated by the crane to thereby lift the loader, whole or part of the loader automatically unfolds.

Typically, the cranp attachment means is located adjacent a free end of the arm.

In one advantageous form, the loader includes an extra crane attachment means which the crane can be attached to for extracting 1,e loader from the storage means. The extra crane attachment means is typically coupled to the frame member adjacent an end thereof, The fork assembly typically comprises a pair of spaced tines, each tine being pivotally coupled to the frame member and moveable between folded and operative positions, the frame member having means engaging a said tine when :folded inhibiting movement of the tine to the operative position. Typically, the tines are slidably and pivotally mounted to the frame and the means engaging each tine comprises a shoulder under which a portion of the tine can be slid.

Alternatively, the shoulder can be moveable relative to the tine to engage the tine and thereby inhibit movement of the tine to the operative position.

When the loader is folded, it is preferable that the arm folds to a position between the tines of the fork assembly.

The pallet loader storage means can be any suitable mrneans for storing the J7 L collapsed loader, but typically, the storage means is positioned so the loader is 4 stored beneath any load or load carrying surface of the truck. Typically, the storage means comprises a tray or frame having a sideways entrance means so that the loader is extracted by the crane from a side position on the truck, typically, the storage means is positioned at or adjacent a rear side portion of the truck. The tray or frame of the storage means preferably includes an inclined base so that the collapsed loader easily slides into the storage means and is easily extracted sideways and upwardly when being removed from the storage means through the entrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be S: put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings and wherein:- Figures 1 and 2 are part side and rear views illustrating a truck according to the present invention; Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating a typical collapsible pallet :"loader according to the present invention showing the loader in a collapsed state and in an operative state respectively; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the loader of Figures 1 and 2, showing the loader in position prior to being folded; and Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the loader folded ready for storage.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is A R illustrated a truck 10 including a truck mounted crane 11, a collapsible pallet loader 12 and a collapsible pallet loader storage means in the form of a frame 13 located behind the rear wheels 14 of the truck 10. As can be seen, the collapsible pallet loader 12 includes a crane attachment means in the form of an eyelet and strap 15 has been used to bridge between a hook 16 on the boom 17 of the crane 11 so that the pallet loader 12 can be extracted by the crane for use.

As can be seen, the frame 13 includes an inclined base 18 to facilitate storage and extraction of the loader from the storage means.

The loader 12 is illustrated in Figure 3 and in this figure, the loader is shown after having being extracted from the storage means and placed on the ground and is still in its folded or collapsed state. The loader includes a crane attachment means 19 and a pair of spaced tines 20 and 21 which are held in the position illustrated in Figure 3 by shoulders formed by a rigid plate 22. The tines 20 and 21 can be slid outwardly to the position illustrated in phantom at 23 and 24 respectively so that the tines are no longer retained by the plate 22. After this, 15 the crane can engage with the attachment means in the form of eyelet 19 and as the eyelet is elevated and the loader lifted from the ground, it automatically assumes the orientation illustrated in Figure 4. It will be appreciated that in the position illustrated in Figure 4, the loader is ready for use.

As can be seen, the loader 12 in its operative position, is generally ushaped in configuration having a fork assembly 25 comprising the tines 20 and 21 which are pivotally mounted to a frame member 26, the frame member 26 is generally t-shaped being braced at 27 and 28, the loader having an arm 29 pivotally coupled to the frame at 30 so that the frame bridges between the arm and the fork assembly.

After use, the loader can be returned to the ground and moved to the position illustrated in Figure 5 with the frame member 26 being located flat on the ground and the arm 29 and tines 20 and 21 projecting upwardly as shown.

The tines are firstly folded to the position illustrated in phantorn at 23 and 24 in Figure 6 and then the tines are slid into the position illustrated at 20 and 21 with the ends of tines positioned again beneath the plate 22. The arm 29 can then be folded down into the position illustrated in Figure 6. Of course, the arm 29 can be folded first and then the tines folded into position if desired.

It will be appreciated that the tines 20 and 21 are slidably disposed on a shaft 31 as well as being pivotally disposed on that shaft.

Once the loader has been returned to the position illustrated in Figure 6 with the tines and arm folded, it can then be engaged by the crane via the strap positioned as shown in Figure 2 and then manoeuvred into its storage position in the frame 13.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

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Claims (18)

1. A collapsible pallet loader being collapsible for storage and transport purposes comprising a crane attachment means adapted for attaching to a crane for lifting the loader and a generally u-shaped frame defined by a foldable fork assembly opposed to a foldable arm and a frame member bridging between the fork assembly and the arm so that when the pallet loader is in a collapsed state, the fork assembly and arm fold toward the frame member to provide a generally flat compact folded assembly.

2. The pallet loader according to claim 1 wherein the loader is adapted to unfold automatically and the crane attachment means is positioned so that when the crane is attached to the attachment means and the attachment means is elevated by the crane to thereby lift the loader, whole or part of the loader S.automatically unfolds.

3. The pallet loader according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the crane attachment means is located adjacent a free end of the arm.

4. The pallet loader according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fork assembly comprises a pair of spaced tines, each tine being pivotally coupled to the frame member and moveable between folded and operative positions, the 'frame member having means engaging said tine when folded inhibiting movement of the tine to the operative position.

The pallet loader according to claim 4 wherein the tines are slidably and pivotally mounted to the frame member and the means engaging each tine comprises a shoulder under which a portion of the tine can slide.

6. The pallet loader according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the arm folds to a position between tines of tile fork assembly.

7. The pallet loader according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the pallet loader includes an extra crane attachment means to which the crane can be attached to extract the loader from a storage means.

8. A truck having a truclk mounted crane, a collapsible pallet loader being foldable into a generally flat compact folded assembly and having a crane attachment means adapted for attaching to the crane for lifting the loader, and a collapsible pallet loader storage means fixed to a part of the truck for holding the collapsible pallet loader when in a collapsed state for storage and transport ."purpose so that in use the crane can be attached to the attachment means to extract the loader from the storage means,

9. The truck according to claim 8 wherein the pallet loader storage means is positioned so the loader is stored beneath a load carrying surface of the truck, the storage means comprises a tray or frame having a sideways entrance means so that the loader is extracted by the crane from a side position on the truck.

10. The truck according to claim 9 wherein the storage means is positioned at or adjacent a rear side portion of the truck,

11. The truck according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the tray or frame of the storage means includes an inclined base so that the collapsed loader slides into the storage means sideways and downwardly and is extracted sideways and upwardly when being removed from the storage means through the entrance means.

12. The truck according to claim 8 wherein the pallet loader includes an extra Scrane attachment means to which the crane can be attached to extract the loader from the storage means.

13. The truck according to claim 8 wherein the collapsible pallet loader comprises a generally u-shaped frame defined by a foldable fork assembly opposed to a foldable arm and a frame member bridging between the fork assembly and the arm so that when the pallet loader is in a collapsed state, the fork assembly and arm fold toward the frame to provide a generally flat compact folded assembly.

14. The truck according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the loader is :adapted to unfold automatically and the crane attachment means is positioned so S: that when the crane is attached to the attachment means and the attachment Smeans is elevated by the crane to thereby lift the loader, whole or part of the loader automatically unfolds.

S15. The truck according to any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein the fork assembly comprises a pair of spaced tines, each tine being pivotally coupled to the frame member and moveable between folded and operative positions, the a frame member having means engaging said tine when folded inhibiting movement of the tine to the operative position.

16. The truck according to any one of claims 8 to 15 wherein the tines are slidably and pivotally mounted to the frame and the means engaging each tine comprises a shoulder under which a portion of the tine can slide.

17. The truck according to any one of claims 8 to 16 wherein the arm folds to a position between tines of the fork assembly.

18. A collapsible pallet loader substantially as described with reference to the Saccompanying drawings. I I 19). The combination of a truck, a truck mounted crane and a collapsible pallet loader as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 3rd day of June 1998. CLARENCE WILLIAM SCOTT By his Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO *i A3.S IRAC1 A truck 10 including a truck mounted crane 11, a collapsible pallet loader 12 and a collapsible pallet loader storage means in the form of a frame 13 located behind the rear wheels 14 of 1 he truck 10. The collapsible pallet loader 12 includes a crane attachment means in the form of an eyelet and strap 15 has been used bridge between a hook 16 on the boom 17 of the c;'ane 11 so that the pallet loader 12 can be extracted by the crane for use. The frame 13 includes an inclined base 18 to facilitate storage and extraction of the loader from the storage means. The loader includes a crane attachment means 19 and a pair of spaced tines 20 and 21 which are held in the position by shoulders formed by a rigid plate 22. The tines 20 and 21 can be slid outwardly so that the tines are no longer retained by the plate 22. After this, the crane can engage with the eyelet 19 and as the eyelet is elevated and the loader lifted from the ground, it automatically assumes the orientation ready for use. e *1 a I