Conveyance apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111121-B2
Application number	US-202016802245-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2020
Priority date	Sep 10, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A conveyance apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fork unit, a lift unit, a movable cart unit, an auxiliary leg, and a distal end support mechanism. The lift unit is configured to drive the fork unit upward and downward. The movable cart unit is configured to support the lift unit and be movable on a traveling surface by driving a drive wheel. The auxiliary leg unit is provided for the movable cart unit, and is movable along a longitudinal direction of the fork unit and having an auxiliary wheel a position of which is changeable relative to the movable cart unit. The distal end support mechanism is provided on a distal end side of the fork unit and is switchable between a non-contact state with the traveling surface and a contact state with the traveling surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyance apparatus comprising:
a fork unit;
a lift unit configured to drive the fork unit upward and downward;
a movable cart unit configured to support the lift unit and be movable on a traveling surface by driving a drive wheel;
an auxiliary leg unit provided for the movable cart unit, the auxiliary leg unit being movable along a longitudinal direction of the fork unit and having an auxiliary wheel a position of which is changeable relative to the movable cart unit;
a distal end support mechanism provided on a distal end side of the fork unit, the distal end support mechanism being switchable between a non-contact state with the traveling surface and a contact state with the traveling surface;
a load weight detection unit configured to detect a weight of a load supported by the fork unit;
a gravity center position calculation unit configured to calculate a position of a center of gravity of the conveyance apparatus that conveys the load based on the weight of the load; and
an overturning prevention control unit configured to determine whether or not the conveyance apparatus overturns when the conveyance apparatus conveys the load based on the position of the center of gravity and movement acceleration/deceleration of the movable cart unit that is set, the overturning prevention control unit being configured to, when the overturning prevention control unit determines that the conveyance apparatus overturns, bring the distal end support mechanism in the non-contact state with the traveling surface into contact with the traveling surface, move the auxiliary leg unit such that the auxiliary wheel is brought into contact with the traveling surface behind the drive wheel, or reduce the movement acceleration/deceleration.

2. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a lift drive unit configured to drive the lift unit such that the lift unit lifts the fork unit in a linked manner with switching of a state of the distal end support mechanism from the non-contact state with the traveling surface to the contact state with the traveling surface.

3. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal end support mechanism includes a wheel at a position that is brought into contact with the traveling surface.

4. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an auxiliary leg drive unit configured to drive the auxiliary leg unit such that, in a state where a load is lifted by the fork unit and the distal end support mechanism is brought into contact with the traveling surface, a position at which the auxiliary wheel is brought into contact with the traveling surface is changed from a position that is apart from a underside of the load to a position that is the underside of the load.

5. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a distal end support mechanism drive unit configured to drive and move the distal end support mechanism such that, when the traveling surface has a stepped portion, the distal end support mechanism is brought into contact with the traveling surface to float the auxiliary wheel of the auxiliary leg unit from the traveling surface.

6. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a movable cart drive unit configured to drive and move the movable cart unit such that the movable cart unit is made apart from the traveling surface by allowing the lift unit to drive the fork unit downward in a state where the fork unit or a load supported by the fork unit is in contact with a platform.

7. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary leg unit includes a brake mechanism that stops a rotation of the auxiliary wheel.

8. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an acquisition unit configured to acquire anterior information indicative of an anterior state of the fork unit; and
a movement control unit configured to control movement of the movable cart unit based on the anterior information.

9. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a stepped portion detection unit configured to detect a stepped portion of the traveling surface based on the anterior information; and
a stepped portion get-over control unit configured to control an operation of the distal end support mechanism and an operation of the auxiliary leg unit such that the movable cart unit gets over the stepped portion.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Nakamoto Hideichi
• Ooga Junichiro
• Takahashi Hiroshi
• Sunaoshi Takamitsu

Classifications

• B66F9/07559 Primary

  Stabilizing means · CPC title

• B66F9/07563

  Fork-lift trucks adapted to be carried by transport vehicles · CPC title

• B66F9/087

  Monomasts · CPC title

• B66F9/12 Primary

  Platforms; Forks; Other load supporting or gripping members · CPC title

• B66F17/003

  for fork-lift trucks · CPC title