Dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit for lifting plurality of payloads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11891289-B2
Application number	US-202217892783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 26, 2021
Publication date	Feb 6, 2024
Grant date	Feb 6, 2024

Abstract

There is huge demand for automation in manufacturing, logistics, postal, distribution centers, ecommerce, retail. Typical scissor lift designs can carry large payload but are larger in size. There is a need for a compact fork with more payload carrying capacity. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit is provided. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit includes a top plate, a bottom plate, one or more linear motion (LM) blocks mounted on one or more linear guides, one or more mounting blocks mounted on the one or more LM blocks, and slot on a first end of at least one actuation link is connected to the bottom plate through a pin. The one or more LM blocks is free to slide on the one or more linear guides. The one or more mounting blocks moves along with a motion of the one or more LM blocks.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit, comprising:
a top plate;
a bottom plate;
a plurality of linear motion (LM) blocks, wherein
each of the plurality of LM blocks includes a top portion and a bottom portion;
the top portion includes a hole;

a plurality of linear guides, wherein
the plurality of LM blocks is mounted on the plurality of linear guides, and
the plurality of LM blocks is constrained to slide on the plurality of linear guides;

a plurality of mounting blocks mounted on the plurality of LM blocks, wherein the plurality of mounting blocks moves along with a motion of the plurality of LM blocks;
at least one bracket attached to a surface of the bottom plate;
a plurality of actuators includes a first end and a second end, wherein
the first end of each of the plurality of actuators is fixed to the at least one bracket, and
the second end of each of the plurality of actuators is connected the plurality of mounting blocks; and

at least one intermediate link that includes a third end and a fourth end, wherein
the third end of the at least one intermediate link is connected to the plurality of mounting blocks through a first pin,
the third end includes a U-shaped structure,
the U-shaped structure includes two holes at an end of the U-shaped structure, and
the third end is connected to the second end of each of the plurality of actuators via the two holes of the U-shaped structure,
the fourth end includes a horizontal structure, and
the horizontal structure includes a removable cap; and

at least one actuation link includes a first actuation link and a second actuation link, wherein
the first actuation link includes a fifth end, and
the second actuation link includes a sixth end,
the fifth end includes a first slot,
the sixth end includes a second slot,
the first slot on the fifth end is connected to the bottom plate through a second pin,
the second slot on the sixth end connected to the first slot on the fifth end, and
the second slot on the sixth end is connected to the top plate.

2. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate is configured to enclose the plurality of actuators and the plurality of linear guides.

3. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the fourth end of the at least one intermediate link is fixed, and
the third end of the at least one intermediate link is a pivot point to actuate a motion of the plurality of actuators which leads to lift/lower the fourth end of the at least one intermediate link.

4. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting blocks and the third end of the at least one intermediate link moves forward when the plurality of actuators moves forward.

5. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators expands the plurality of intermediate links to lift the at least one actuation link upwards lifting the top plate.

6. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators retracts the plurality of intermediate links collapsing the at least one actuation link downwards lowering the top plate.

7. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linear guides constrains a horizontal motion of the plurality of actuators to expand or retract in a straight motion parallel to the plurality of linear guides.

8. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one support link that includes a curvilinear end and a hole end, wherein the curvilinear end is connected to a central slot closer to the fifth end than the sixth end.

9. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the hole end of the at least one support link is connected to at least one of: (i) the fifth end, and the sixth end of the at least one actuation link respectively, and (ii) the hole end of the at least one support link through a third pin.

10. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 8 , wherein
the curvilinear end of the at least one support links is connected to the central slot closer to the sixth end than the fifth end, and
the fourth end of the at least one intermediate link through a fourth pin.

11. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting blocks mounting blocks includes a hole that is attached to a top position of the plurality of LM blocks.

12. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a motion from a first end of the bottom plate is identical to a motion of a second end of the bottom plate.

13. The dual side actuated scissor fork type lift unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket is configured to hold the plurality of actuators.

Assignees

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Inventors

• Bangalore Srinivas Venkatesh Prasad
• Bhogineni Sreehari Kumar

Classifications

• B66F9/20 Primary

  Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks (power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K) · CPC title

• B66F9/18

  Load gripping or retaining means · CPC title

• B66F9/19

  Additional means for facilitating unloading · CPC title

• B66F7/0666 Primary

  Multiple scissor linkages vertically arranged · CPC title