GB2044186A - Stock-carrying truck - Google Patents

Abstract

The truck has steps 54 secured or attachable to it and comprises a loading platform 18 movable vertically relative to the walls of the truck, the platform being biased to an upward position away from the base frame and being maintained in a horizontal disposition by constant level means 34. The steps may be welded to the truck, or they may be removably attachable to the truck by means of interengaging arms. The steps may be adjustable relative to the truck when attached or secured thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stock picking trucks This invention relates to stock picking trucks, that is to wheeled trolleys or containers and more particularly to such trolleys or containers generally known as spring base trolleys or constant level packers.

The spring base trolley or constant level packer is one in which a loading platform of the trolley or packer is spring biased to an upward position, the loading platform moving downwardly, whilst always remaining horizontal, as the load on the platform increases. The loading platform of spring base trolleys or constant level packers are either biased upwardly by means of coil springs acting on the ends of the platform, an associated scissors-type mechanism maintaining the platform in a level disposition relative to the walls of the trolley; alternatively the platform is biased to an upward position by means of coil springs located at each corner of the platform, constant level devices being located beneath the platform so as to maintain the platform in a horizontal position.

Advantages of spring base trolleys or constant level packers are that loading and unloading, within defined parameters, takes place at constant height and convenient height, and the platform remains horizontal irrespective of load distribution.

Such known spring base trolleys or constant level packers however suffer the disadvantage that when the trolleys are to be loaded with items from shelves or other storage which are not readily accessible or reachable whilst the person loading the trolley is standing on the ground, then the person has to climb steps to reach the items and then descend the steps to load the items into the trolley. Alternatively, he has to drop the items onto the platform of the trolley whilst standing on the steps. In the former case, the exercise is time-consuming and therefore expensive in labour, and in the latter case damage might well result to the loading platform and/or associated springs and other mechanism, particularly when the items beings loaded are relatively heavy. In addition of course, damage may well result to the items themselves.

The present invention seeks to obviate the disadvantages of known spring base trolleys or constant level packers, and according to the present invention there is provided a stock picking truck comprising a wheeled base having upstanding walls, a loading platform movable upwards and downwards relative to the walls of the truck, said platform being biased to an upward position whilst being maintained horizontal by constant level means, said truck having steps secured or attachable thereto.

Preferably, the loading platform will be spring biased to an upward position by means of two oppositely located compression coil springs acting between a base of the truck and the platform, the platform being additionally connected to the base by means of opposed Frames, the legs of which are slidable in guide means located on the base of the truck and the platform, so that the platform will remain in a horizontal disposition relative to the base and the walls of the truck.

The platform will be guided in its vertical movement in guides provided on some at least of the walls af the truck.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the steps will be removably attached to the stock picking truck by means of arms of the steps engaging brackets or flanges on a wall of the truck. In a second embodiment of the invention, the steps will be permanently secured to the truck by welding or by being bolted or otherwise secured to the truck.

In each embodiment, the steps will be wheel mounted so that they may be moved with the truck, the wheels or castors being movable vertically upwards and downwards so that they may be raised to provide stability when the truck is being loaded and lowered to enable the steps to be moved with the truck when a change of location is required.

Where the steps are permanently secured to the stock picking truck, the truck will preferably only be provided with one pair of wheels or castors at the end of the truckl remote from the steps, and where the steps are removably attachable to the truck, the truck will be provided with two pairs of wheels or castors.

The steps will include at least one handrail which will preferably extend upwardly beyond the top of the truck, and the steps will terminate at the top with a platform to enable the user to stand whilst the loading platform is being loaded with items.

In orderthatthe invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a stock picking truck according to a first embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figure 1, a stock picking truck indicated generally by reference numeral 2 comprises a base frame 4 mounted on front and rear pairs of castors Sand 8 located in respective brackets 6A and 8A. Extending upwardly from the base frame 4 are front and rear walls 10 and 12 and side walls 14 and 16, between which is located a loading platform 18, the front and rear walls, the side walls and the platform defining an article receiving container.

Extending between the base frame 4 and the loading platform 18 are two compression coil springs, only one of which is visible in Figure 1 and denoted by reference numeral 20, the coil springs being located between fixed anchorages 22 and 24 secured to the base frame 4 and the loading platform 18 respectively. The coil springs bias the loading platform 18 to an upward position away from the base frame 4 at all times.

The loading platform 18 is movable vertically relative to the walls of the truck against the bias of the coil springs, the platform being guided during its vertical movement in pairs of guide rails 26 and 28 secured to the front and rear walls 10 and 12 of the truck, the platform 18 being provided with extension members 30 and 32 which engage in the guide rails 26 and 28.

To maintain the horizontal disposition of the loading platform 18, two oppositely located Xframes 34 are disposed between the base frame 4 and the loading platform 18, the arms 36, 38 of the X-frames being pivotally interconnected at 40. As will be seen from the drawing, the left-hand (in the drawing) ends of the arms 36 and 38 are pivotally secured at 42 and 44 by means of lugs 46 and 48 to the loading platform and base frame respectively.

The opposed ends of the arms 36 and 38 are slidable in guides 50 and 52 attached to the loading platform 18 and the base frame 4 respectively. Thus as the platform 18 lowers against the bias of the coil springs 20, as items are placed on the platform, the platform will be maintained horizontal due to the movement and guiding of the arms 36 and 38 of the X-frames 34.

Attachable to the stock picking truck 2 are steps indicated generally by reference numeral 54, the steps 54 being secured to the truck by being provided with outwardly extending arms 56 and 58, the arm 56 engaging underneath a bracket or lug 60 on the wall 12 of the truck, and the arm 58 engaging an arm 62 on said wall. The steps 54 comprise a framework 64 having stabilising legs 66 and being mounted on casters 68 and 79 which are movable vertically to raise and lower the castors clear of and into contact with the ground, the castors in their raised position enabling the stabilizing legs to contact the ground so as to maintain the steps in a static and steady position.The steps 54 include a plurality of trends 72, which may be more in number than the two shown, and an upper larger area tread or standing platform 74, and the framework includes hand rails and guard rails 76 at each side of the steps 54.

In use, assuming first of all that the stock picking truck 2 is to be moved to a new location for item selection and loading, the castors 68 and 70 of the steps 34 will be lowered to the positions shown in the drawing - in which the case the stabilizing legs 66 will be clear of the ground - and the truck and steps may then be moved to the new location, at which the castors 68 and 70 will be raised to enable the stabilizing legs 66 to come into contact with the ground to maintain the steps, and truck in a static, steady position. The person loading the truck may then ascend the steps until he is at a position to reach the items after which the selected items are placed on the loading platform which will thus, depending upon the weight of the items loaded, begin to move downwardly against the bias of the coil springs 20.Further items may then be placed on the loading platform from the same height since the item receiving surface will be in the same horizontal plane as the surface of the loading platform before it received any items thereon. The platform maintains a horizontal level due to the action of the X-like frames 34. When loading at that particular location is completed then the castors 68 and 70 will be lowered so as to raise the stabilizing legs to clear of the ground and so enable the truck and steps to be moved to the new location.

Referring now to Figure 2, the stock picking truck 2 is in most respects identical with that of Figure 1 so that like reference numerals have been given to like parts, and similarly like parts pf the steps have been given like reference numerals. It will readily be seen that the truck 2 has only one, front pair of castors 6, and that the steps 54 have only one, rear pair of castors 70 and one, rear pair of stabilizing lets 66.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the framework 64, the upper step or standing platform 74 and the handrail/guardrail 76 are secured by welding at respective points to the rear wall 12 of the truck 2. In all other respects the truck 2 and the steps 54 are identical in each of the embodiments, so that Figure 2 will now be further described.

With a stock picking truck according to the invention, it is more convenient and less fatiguing to an operator when the truck is being loaded since it is not necessary to be constantly re-positioning the steps in relation to the truck, and the often dangerous practice of attempting to place items on the loading platform whilst standing on and reaching from conventional step ladders is avoided.

If desired, in either of the described embodiments, the truck may incorporate an open shelf or tray beneath the base frame 4, such shelf or tray being usable to receive items taken from low-lying storage areas and thus avoiding the necessityforthe operatorto reach upwardly to place the items onto the loading platform 18. In such a case, the clearance between the ground and the base frame 4 will be increased beyond that shown in the drawings.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the stock picking truck according to the invention. For instance, the centrally located coil springs may be replaced by coil springs located at the corners of the loading platform, and/or that the X-frames may be replaced by multi-armed scissor mechanism to maintain the loading platform 18 horizontal. In addition, other biasing means for the loading platform may be provided, such means taking the form of fluid pressure-operated pistonand-cylinder devices.

Also, the steps 54 may be attached or attachable to the truck otherwise than as described, and the steps themselves may be adjustable relative to the truck by providing suitable means to effect such adjustment.

Claims (10)

1. A stock picking truck comprising a wheeled base having upstanding walls, a loading platform movable upwards and downwards relative to the walls of the truck, said platform being biased to an upward position whilst being maintained horizontal by constant level means, said truck having steps secured or attachable thereto.

2. A stock picking truck according to Claim 1, wherein the loading platform is biased to an upward position by compression coil springs or by fluid pressure-operated piston-and-cylinder devices.

3. A stock picking truck according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the loading platform is maintained in a horizontal position by means of oppositely located X-like frames or multi-armed scissor mechanisms.

4. A stock picking truck according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the truck has at least one pair of castors thereon.

5. A stock picking truck according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the truck is provided with two pairs of castors.

6. A stock picking truck according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the steps include a framework, a plurality of treads and a handrail/guardrail, said steps being mounted on vertically movable, rotatable castors and including stabilising legs which are adapted to contact the ground when said castors are in a raised position.

7. A stock picking truck according to Claim 6, wherein the steps are provided with two pairs of castors and two pairs of stabilising legs.

8. A stock picking truck according to Claim 7, wherein said steps are detachably securable to said truck.

9. A stock picking truck according to any of Claim 1 to 8, wherein said steps are adjustably secured to or attachable to said truck.

10. A stock picking truck substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.