초록 ▼

A pallet lifter for raising and lowering a pallet. The pallet lifter includes a pallet platform, a lifting frame that supports the pallet platform, and a movement mechanism that controllably causes the pallet platform to raise and lower. The pallet platform includes a top surface designed to support

A pallet lifter for raising and lowering a pallet. The pallet lifter includes a pallet platform, a lifting frame that supports the pallet platform, and a movement mechanism that controllably causes the pallet platform to raise and lower. The pallet platform includes a top surface designed to support a pallet, two side walls and a back wall. The lifting frame includes two sets of legs. One end of one or both of the two legs of each set of legs is moveable along a longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered. The movement mechanism includes a motor and a threaded rod. The electric motor is designed to cause the threaded rod to rotate in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction to cause said pallet platform to raise and lower.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pallet lifter for raising and lowering a pallet, the pallet lifter includes a pallet platform, a lifting frame that supports the pallet platform, and a movement mechanism that controllably causes the pallet platform to raise and lower, the pallet platform including a top surface designed to sup

1. A pallet lifter for raising and lowering a pallet, the pallet lifter includes a pallet platform, a lifting frame that supports the pallet platform, and a movement mechanism that controllably causes the pallet platform to raise and lower, the pallet platform including a top surface designed to support the pallet, a front end, a back end, two side walls and a back wall, the side walls and back wall designed to facilitate in positioning and maintaining the pallet on the top surface of the pallet platform and between the two side walls, the back wall positioned at the back end of the pallet platform and preventing the pallet to extend beyond the back wall when the pallet is loaded on the top surface of the pallet platform, the two side walls and the back wall extending upwardly from the top surface of the platform, the two side walls connected to the back wall, the lifting frame including first and second sets of legs, each set of legs including first and second legs that are connected together and which the first and second legs of each set of legs can move relative to one another, a first end portion of both of the first legs of each set of legs moveable along a longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, a second end portion of the first leg of each set of legs immovable along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, a first end portion of both of the second legs of each set of legs moveable along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, a second end portion of the second leg of each set of legs immovable along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, the second end portion of the first legs of both of the sets of legs is connected to a top frame structure of the lifting frame so as to prevent movement of the second end portion of the first leg along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the first end portion of the second legs of both of the sets of legs is movably connected to the top frame structure of the lifting frame so as allow movement of the first end portion of the second leg along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the top frame structure is connected to the pallet platform, the top frame structure including a guide that at least partially receives the first end portion of the second leg of both sets of legs, the first end portion of the second leg of both sets of legs includes a wheel member, the guide to allow the wheel member of the first end portion to roll and move along a longitudinal axis of the guide as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the first end portion of the first leg of both sets of legs includes a wheel member that rolls and moves on a floor surface and independent of a guide arrangement as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the movement mechanism including a motor and a single threaded rod, the motor designed to cause the threaded rod to rotate in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the rotation of the threaded rod designed to cause the pallet platform to raise and lower, the threaded rod oriented to be non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform, the threaded rod located rearwardly of the back end of the pallet platform and not in contact with the pallet platform; and further including a display panel positioned fully about the lifting frame, the display panel oriented about the pallet platform so as to maintain the display panel in position relative to the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the display panel connected to the top frame structure, the top frame structure including a plurality of panel connectors each defining a slot, the display panel including a plurality of L-shape display connectors that are each received in a respective slot of a respective panel connector, the display connectors and the panel connectors slidably engaged such that the display panel remains connected to the top frame structure as the pallet platform raises and lowers and allows the display panel to remain in position and not be raised or lowered as the pallet platform raises and lowers. 2. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 1, wherein the pallet platform includes a front edge ramp having a sloped surface to facilitate in the loading and unloading of the pallet from the top surface of the pallet platform. 3. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 2, wherein the movement mechanism includes a lift plate having a threaded opening, the threaded opening engaging the threaded rod and designed to move along a longitudinal length of the threaded rod when the threaded rod rotates, the lift plate connected to the pallet platform, the lifting frame, or combinations thereof. 4. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 3, wherein the threaded rod is mounted generally normal to the top surface of the pallet platform. 5. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism includes a lift plate having a threaded opening, the threaded opening engaging the threaded rod and designed to move along a longitudinal length of the threaded rod when the threaded rod rotates, the lift plate connected to the pallet platform, the lifting frame, or combinations thereof. 6. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 1, wherein the threaded rod is mounted generally normal to the top surface of the pallet platform. 7. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 6, wherein the motor is an electric motor, the movement mechanism including an actuator and a battery supply, the actuator designed to activate and deactivate the electric motor and to control a rotational direction of the electric motor, the battery supply designed to supply power to the electric motor. 8. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 7, including a sensor, the sensor positioned above the top surface of the pallet platform, the pallet platform is independently movable relative to the sensor, the sensor configured to detect a) a surface on the pallet when on the pallet platform, b) a surface of the pallet platform, or c) a surface of an item positioned on the pallet that is positioned on the pallet platform, the sensor generating a signal to be used to adjust a height of the pallet platform. 9. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 8, including a display panel positioned fully about the lifting frame, the display panel oriented about the pallet platform so as to maintain the display panel in position relative to the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the display panel connected to the top frame structure, the top frame structure including a plurality of panel connectors, the display panel including a plurality of display connectors that are connected to the panel connectors, the display connectors and the panel connectors movably engagable such that the display panel remains connected to the top frame structure as the pallet platform raises and lowers and allows the display panel to remain in position and not be raised or lowered as the pallet platform raises and lowers. 10. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor is an electric motor, the movement mechanism including an actuator and a battery supply, the actuator designed to activate and deactivate the electric motor and to control a rotational direction of the electric motor, the battery supply designed to supply power to the electric motor. 11. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 1, including a sensor, the sensor positioned above the top surface of the pallet platform, the pallet platform is independently movable relative to the sensor, the sensor configured to detect a) a surface on the pallet when on the pallet platform, b) a surface of the pallet platform, or c) a surface of an item positioned on the pallet that is positioned on the pallet platform, the sensor generating a signal to be used to adjust a height of the pallet platform. 12. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 1, including a display panel positioned fully about the lifting frame, the display panel oriented about the pallet platform so as to maintain the display panel in position relative to the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the display panel connected to the top frame structure, the top frame structure including a plurality of panel connectors, the display panel including a plurality of display connectors that are connected to the panel connectors, the display connectors and the panel connectors movably engagable such that the display panel remains connected to the top frame structure as the pallet platform raises and lowers and allows the display panel to remain in position and not be raised or lowered as the pallet platform raises and lowers. 13. A pallet lifter for raising and lowering a pallet, the pallet lifter includes a pallet platform, a lifting frame that supports the pallet platform, and a movement mechanism that controllably causes the pallet platform to raise and lower, the pallet platform including a top surface designed to support the pallet, a front end, a back end, two side walls and a back wall, the side walls and back wall designed to facilitate in positioning and maintaining the pallet on the top surface of the pallet platform and between the two side walls, the back wall positioned at the back end of the pallet platform and preventing the pallet to extend beyond the back wall when the pallet is loaded on the top surface of the pallet platform, the two side walls and the back wall extending upwardly from the top surface of the platform, the two side walls connected to the back wall, the lifting frame including first and second sets of legs, each set of legs including first and second legs that are connected together and which the first and second legs of each set of legs can move relative to one another, a first end portion of both of the first legs of each set of legs is moveable along a longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, a second end portion of both of the first legs of each set of legs is immovable along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, a first end portion of both of the second legs of each set of legs is moveable along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, a second end portion of the second leg of each set of legs is immovable along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform is raised and lowered, the second end portion of the first legs of both of the sets of legs is connected to the top frame structure of the lifting frame or to the pallet platform so as to prevent movement of the second end portion of the first leg along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the first end portion of the second legs of both of the sets of legs is movably connected to the top frame structure of the lifting frame so as allow movement of the first end portion of the second leg along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the second end portion of the second legs of both of the sets of legs is connected to a bottom frame structure of the lifting frame so as prevent movement of the second end portion of the second leg of both of the sets of legs along the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the bottom frame structure not connected to the top frame structure or the pallet platform, the top frame structure of the lifting frame connected to the pallet platform, the top frame structure including a guide that at least partially receives the first end portion of the second leg of both sets of legs, the guide to allow the first end portion to move along the longitudinal axis of the guide as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the first end portion of the first leg of both sets of legs includes a wheel member that rolls and moves on a floor surface and independent of a guide arrangement as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the first end portion of the second leg of both sets of legs includes a wheel or roller that roll and move in the guide of the top frame structure when the pallet platform raises and lowers, the movement mechanism including movement frame, a motor, a lift plate and a single threaded rod, the movement frame connected to the bottom frame structure of the lifting frame, the movement frame supporting the threaded rod, the motor designed to cause the threaded rod to rotate in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the rotation of the threaded rod designed to cause the pallet platform to raise and lower, the threaded rod oriented to be non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pallet platform and not in contact with the pallet platform, the threaded rod located rearwardly of the back end of the pallet platform, the lift plate having a threaded opening, the threaded opening engaging the threaded rod and designed to move along a longitudinal length of the threaded rod when the threaded rod rotates, the lift plate connected to the pallet platform, the lifting frame, or combinations thereof; and further including a display panel positioned fully about the lifting frame, the display panel oriented about the pallet platform so as to maintain the display panel in position relative to the pallet platform as the pallet platform raises and lowers, the display panel connected to the top frame structure, the top frame structure including a plurality of panel connectors each defining a slot, the display panel including a plurality of L-shape display connectors that are each received in a respective slot of a respective panel connector, the display connectors and the panel connectors slidably engaged such that the display panel remains connected to the top frame structure as the pallet platform raises and lowers and allows the display panel to remain in position and not be raised or lowered as the pallet platform raises and lowers. 14. The pallet lifter as defined in claim 13, wherein the movement mechanism includes a sensor, the sensor positioned rearwardly of the pallet platform and positioned above the top surface of the pallet platform, the pallet platform is independently movable relative to the sensor, the sensor configured to detect a) a surface on the pallet when on the pallet platform, b) a surface of the pallet platform, or c) a surface of an item positioned on the pallet that is positioned on the pallet platform, the sensor generating a signal to cause the motor to rotate the threaded rod to automatically adjust a height of the pallet platform based on a height of goods on the top surface of the pallet platform.