Side picker lift apparatus
OwnerGary Rodenburginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A side picker apparatus comprises a wheeled lift truck with powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and controls along with a carrier/storage unit for transporting picked elongated product. The storage unit is L-shaped and includes a chute section that guides picked product to an under-platform storage section located below/under the platform in a well-balanced storage position. The apparatus can be installed as a retrofit onto a modified order picker truck. The method includes picking elongated product and lowering/guiding it to the under-platform storage section. The storage section can include pop-up wheels that, in a ground-engaging position, pop up to assist in moving the picked product off the carrier/storage unit.
Claims12
A side picker apparatus for handling elongated product stored on storage racks, comprising:
- a wheeled lift truck with a powered lift tower with an operator stand-on platform and lift controls;
- and
- a picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally below the platform, the storage section being configured to receive picked elongated product as the picked elongated product is lowered to a storage position in a weight-balanced position that is at least partially under the platform, wherein the picked-product storage unit includes a chute section defining a path for directing picked elongated product from a raised position adjacent the platform to the storage position within the under-platform storage section.
An improvement in a side picker apparatus that includes a wheeled lift truck with a motor, a power supply, a motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls;
- the improvement comprising:
- an elongated picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section constructed for attachment under and generally below the platform but having a storage space accessible from above and that is configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position, the storage section including a chute-forming side facing away from the lift tower and having open ends that open laterally outwardly from the chute-forming side, the chute-forming side providing a path for picked product to enter the storage section, and the open ends providing a space for outwardly-extending ends of the picked product to extend beyond edges of the platform.
A side picker apparatus comprising:
- a wheeled lift truck with a motor, a power supply, a motor-driven drive for moving the lift truck along an aisle, and a powered lift tower configured to lift an operator platform and lift controls;
- and
- an elongated picked-product storage unit including a chute section constructed to guide picked product toward an under-platform storage section located generally under the platform and being configured to receive and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position, the chute section and storage section defining an L-shape that extends above and below the platform.
A method of handling elongated product stored on storage racks, comprising steps of:
- providing a wheeled lift truck with a powered lift tower with an operator stand-on platform and lift controls;
- the truck including an elongated picked-product storage unit including an under-platform storage section located generally below the platform, the storage section being configured to receive picked product from a vertical direction that is dropped by an operator and store the picked product in a weight-balanced position that is at least partially under the platform;
- raising the stand-on platform and under-platform storage section from ground level to a raised position;
- picking selected elongated product from a storage rack;
- lowering the picked product vertically to a location below the storage section while still in the raised position;
- lowering the stand-on platform and picked product to ground level;
- and
- removing the picked product from the storage section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.