초록 ▼

A pallet picking adapter (100) is adapted for use with a forklift truck (102). The pallet picking adapter (100) includes a bulkhead (130) attached to a frame of the forklift truck (102). The adapter (100) further comprises a deck system (178) having a pair of deck assemblies (180). The deck assembli

A pallet picking adapter (100) is adapted for use with a forklift truck (102). The pallet picking adapter (100) includes a bulkhead (130) attached to a frame of the forklift truck (102). The adapter (100) further comprises a deck system (178) having a pair of deck assemblies (180). The deck assemblies (180) can be stored with the bulkhead (130) in the vertical, upright position. For use, the deck assemblies (180) can be individually lowered so as to rest upon forks (120, 122) of the truck (102). In these operable positions, the deck assemblies (180) can be utilized to transport CooLift pallets (320, 322). When the deck assemblies (180) are in the stored, upright position, the adapter 100 can be utilized to transport conventional pallets of standards sizes.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pallet adapter assembly for use with a pallet transport vehicle having a pallet lifting frame and a plurality of forks or tines for supporting pallets during transport, said pallet adapter assembly comprising: an adapter frame releasably secured to said transport vehicle, so that said frame mov

1. A pallet adapter assembly for use with a pallet transport vehicle having a pallet lifting frame and a plurality of forks or tines for supporting pallets during transport, said pallet adapter assembly comprising: an adapter frame releasably secured to said transport vehicle, so that said frame moves vertically in conjunction with said pallet lifting frame;a deck system having at least two deck assemblies coupled to said adapter frame and moveable between first retracted, stored positions, and second, extended operable positions, the deck assemblies being a first deck assembly and a second deck assembly;said first deck assembly having an first deck having an elongated configuration and positionable on top of a first one of said plurality of forks; andsaid second deck assembly having a second deck having an elongated configuration and positionable on top of a second one of said plurality of forks when said second deck is in said extended and operable position;wherein when said first deck and said second deck are both in their extended and operable positions, said first deck is vertically offset from said second deck, so that said first deck is located at a fixed and predetermined distance above said second deck thereby allowing the first deck and the second deck to displace vertically in a fixed relationship; andwherein when said deck assemblies are in said retracted, stored positions, said pallet adapter assembly and said pallet transport vehicle can support and transport standard pallets of conventional sizes. 2. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that when at least one deck assembly is in said operable position, said at least one deck assembly is positioned above one of said forks and is adapted to support a pallet during transport. 3. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that said adapter frame comprises a bulkhead positioned adjacent said pallet lifting frame of said transport vehicle. 4. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that said pallet adapter assembly further comprises a linkage system pivotably coupling each of said first and second deck assemblies to said bulkhead. 5. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that said linkage system comprises a first linkage assembly pivotably coupling said first deck assembly to said bulkhead, and a second linkage assembly for coupling said second deck assembly to said bulkhead. 6. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that each of said linkage assemblies comprises one or more assist mechanisms for damping pivotable movement of its corresponding deck assembly from said retracted, stored position to said extended, operable position. 7. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that said assist mechanisms further facilitate an operator's movement of a deck assembly from said extended, operable position to said retracted, stored position. 8. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that each of the assist mechanisms comprises at least one gas spring coupled between a corresponding one of said deck assemblies and said bulkhead. 9. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that each deck assembly comprises at least one anti-shear device positioned on said corresponding deck assembly and abutting or otherwise adjacent to a side of the corresponding fork on which said deck assembly rests once said deck assembly is in said extended, operable position. 10. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that each of said at least one anti-shear device functions so as to transfer forces applied on at least one side of a deck from potential shearing forces against the deck side to lateral forces applied against the corresponding fork. 11. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that at least one of said anti-shear devices is connected to a corresponding one of said deck assemblies so that said at least one of said anti-shear devices is laterally adjustable a predetermined length relative to the position of the deck assembly when in the extended, operable position. 12. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that each deck assembly comprises at least one anti-shear device positioned on said corresponding deck assembly and abutting or otherwise adjacent to an outer side of the corresponding fork on which said deck assembly rests when said deck assembly is in said extended, operable position. 13. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that each deck assembly comprises at least two anti-shear devices, with at least one of said at least two anti-shear devices positioned on said corresponding deck assembly and abutting or otherwise adjacent to an outer side of the corresponding fork, and another of said at least two anti-shear devices positioned on said corresponding deck assembly and abutting or otherwise adjacent to an inner side of the corresponding fork on which said deck assembly rests when said deck assembly is in said extended, operable position. 14. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that: said adapter frame comprises a vertically oriented bulkhead positioned at a rear portion of said adapter assembly;when each of said deck assemblies is in a retracted, stored position, the deck assembly is folded into the bulkhead;said adapter assembly further comprises a latching system for releasably securing said deck assemblies to said bulkhead in their retracted, stored positions. 15. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that said latch system comprises first and second latch mechanisms, each of said latch mechanisms being associated with a corresponding one of said deck assemblies and positioned across an upper portion of said bulkhead. 16. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that: said first deck assembly is moveable between said retracted position and said extended position, independent of similar movement of said second deck assembly. 17. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that: said adapter frame comprises a vertically oriented bulkhead;said transport vehicle comprises frame components positioned adjacent said bulkhead; andsaid adapter assembly further comprises a connector system for releasably securing said bulkhead to said pallet lifting frame. 18. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said pallet transport vehicle comprises a standard forklift truck. 19. A pallet adapter assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said pallet transport vehicle comprises a walkie-rider.