Apparatus for transport of a transport item for arranging at a lifting vehicle, especially at a transportation unit of a fork lifter, especially of a commissioning package, especially with a load lower than about 50 kg, comprising a means for at least temporarily picking up of the transport item by a vacuum means and/or a transportation belt, whereas the vacuum means is to be attached to the transport item essentially in the horizontal, and/or the transportation belt at a lower edge of the transport item, whereas the vacuum means and/or the transportation belt is attached to an pivot arm with a pivot point, which allows a handling of the transport item with the vacuum means and/or the transportation belt, especially a pivoting, especially in a defined pivoting angle, especially about +/90, in the horizontal, and/or allows dropping of the transport item, especially in the horizontal.

A lifting column, lifting system and method for lifting a vehicle, such as a rail-car. The lifting column includes a frame having a movable carrier; a drive operably connected to the frame for the lifting or lowering of the carrier; and a lifter attached to the carrier for lifting the vehicle to be lifted. The lifter includes a positioner for moving of the lifter relative to the carrier.

A forklift linkage system (100) for movement has a levelling carriage assembly (110) movably contained within a channel assembly (120). A main long link pivotally connects to the levelling carriage assembly (110) at a first pivot point (111) and a fork carriage assembly (150) at a second pivot point (151). A short link (140) pivotally connects near a midpoint (131) of the main long link (130) at a third pivot point (121) and at a fixed pivot point (121) relative to the channel (120), near a vertical offset position from the pivot point of the main long link (130) to the levelling carriage assembly (110) at a fourth pivot point (112). A levelling link (160) pivotally connects to the levelling carriage assembly (110) at a fifth pivot point (151) and at the opposite end to a fork carriage assembly (150) at a sixth pivot point, such that the travel path of the second pivot point (151) connecting the main long link (130) to the fork carriage assembly (150) remains substantially perpendicular to the channel (120) when the linkage system (100) is moved between retracted and extended positions. The angle through the second pivot point (151) connects the main long link (130) to the fork carriage assembly (150). The sixth pivot point (152) connects the levelling link (160) to the fork carriage assembly (150) substantially constant in relation to the channel (120) when the linkage system (100) is moved between retracted and extended positions.

An industrial truck comprises a lift frame having a load part for carrying a load and a hydraulic system including at least one hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod disposed within a cylindrical housing, and a hydraulic power unit. At least one sensor is configured to determine at least one of: (i) an actual speed of the piston rod of the at least one hydraulic cylinder, and (ii) an actual acceleration of the piston rod of the at least one hydraulic cylinder. Furthermore, a control unit is configured to: (i) receive at least one of a target speed of the piston rod and a target acceleration of the piston rod, (ii) determine at least one of a speed control deviation value from the target speed, and an acceleration control deviation value from the target acceleration, and, (iii) regulate at least one of the actual speed of the piston rod based on the actual speed control deviation value and the actual acceleration of the piston rod based on the actual acceleration control deviation value.

An automated rack unloading apparatus for automatically unloading a container from a rack shelf is provided. Such an apparatus includes a frame and a carriage assembly operably engaged with the frame. The carriage assembly travels vertically to align with a rack shelf on which a container to be unloaded from the rack shelf is located. The carriage assembly has a first end and a second end. A spoon is pivotally connected to the first end of the carriage assembly at a pivot point. A retractable support mechanism supports the second end of the carriage assembly. The retractable support mechanism is operable to lower a leading edge of the spoon with reference to the pivot point to thereby downwardly incline the spoon for insertion under the container. An associated method is also provided.

A forklift arrangement is described which comprises a mast (12), a carriage (18) movable along the mast (12), a first link (36) interconnecting the carriage (18) and a fork support member (24), a second link (38) interconnecting the carriage (18) and the fork support member (24) and extending substantially parallel to the first link (36) throughout the range of movement of the fork support member (24) relative to the mast (12), and a third, stabilizing link (44) interconnecting the first link (36) and a point fixed relative to the mast (12).

A fork assembly can include multiple forks configured to surround a load. Multiple attachments can be made on the forks to couple to straps for support a load. The fork assembly can further include multiple fork extensions having end attachments to couple to straps for pulling on the load. Alternatively, the fork assembly can include multiple fork lifters having blades rotatable between a non-lift position and a lift position. The fork extensions can also have blades rotatable between a non-pullable position and a pullable position. The blade rotation can be performed by a remote rotate mechanism by an operator operating the fork assembly. In some embodiments, the fork attachment assembly for a forklift or a forklift vehicle can include roller legs coupled at far ends of the fork beams or the fork extensions. The fork assembly can include roller legs coupled at far ends of the fork beams or the fork extensions. The fork assembly can include a clamping device coupled at a far end of the fork beam or the fork extension.

A pallet-truck-compatible load elevator includes a vertical mast and a carriage coupled to the mast for vertical motion of the carriage along the mast. The retractable forks are housed in assemblies connected to the carriage and are beyond the front face of the carriage when in retracted position, such that access to the front face of the carriage is unobstructed to a pallet truck carrying a pallet. Each fork assembly includes an outer fork coupled to a support attached to the carriage and an inner fork coupled to the outer fork, the outer fork being horizontally movable with respect to the carriage and the inner fork being similarly movable with respect to the outer fork to provide telescopic extension and retraction of the fork assemblies.

The present invention provides a movable platform (MP) having a simple construction that is capable of being conveyed by a hydraulically actuated skate system (HASS). The MP is able to accommodate freight placed upon its surface and can be used to fully load a trailer in a single cross-dock move. The HASS can be used to move the MP during cross-dock operations. The HASS comprises a plurality of tines which are received in corresponding support channels in the MP. The tines are used to lift the MP off the ground and rollers on the tines can be used to move the MP. A conveyance vehicle is used to move the HASS and the MP after the tines have been actuated.

A suspension stacker crane includes an upper truck frame, a pair of mast units, a transferring device, and an upper base. The upper truck frame includes driving trucks arranged side by side in a travelling direction, and a bogie structure that couples the driving trucks. Each of the pair of mast units is suspended from the bogie structure, and includes a lifting drive motor and a lifting drive transmission. The pair of mast units is arranged side by side in the travelling direction. The transferring device is driven to be lifted or lowered by the lifting drive motor and the lifting drive transmission. The upper base links the pair of mast units.