REMOTE CONTROL UNIT FOR AN INDUSTRIAL TRUCK AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM

Abstract

A remote control unit for an industrial truck comprises a transmitting and receiving unit configured to establish a radio connection with one of the industrial truck and a control unit. A handle element is configured to be gripped by an operator's hand and grasped with an inner side of the operator's gripping hand and associated fingers, wherein the associated fingers do not include a thumb. A function element is positioned at an angle relative to the handle element and comprises a first control element configured to be operated using the thumb of the operator's gripping hand. The function element further comprises a scanning unit configured to detect data and transmit data by the transmitting and receiving unit.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A remote control unit for an industrial truck comprising: a transmitting and receiving unit configured to establish a radio connection with one of the industrial truck and a control unit; a handle element configured to be gripped by an operator's hand and grasped with an inner side of the operator's gripping hand and associated fingers, wherein the associated fingers do not include a thumb; and a function element positioned at an angle relative to the handle element and comprising a first control element configured to be operated using the thumb of the operator's gripping hand, wherein the function element further comprises a scanning unit configured to detect data and transmit data by the transmitting and receiving unit.

22. The remote control unit according to claim 21, wherein the handle element comprises a second control element that is configured to be actuated by the associated fingers of the operator's gripping hand.

23. The remote control unit according to claim 21, further comprising an acceleration unit configured to detect a guided movement, and wherein the acceleration unit is further configured to associate a control signal with a detected movement and transmit the control signal by the transmitting and receiving unit.

24. The remote control unit according to claim 23, wherein the acceleration unit is positioned in one of the function element and the handle element.

25. The remote control unit according to claim 23, wherein the acceleration unit further comprises a 3-axis acceleration sensor.

26. The remote control unit according to claim 22, wherein the scanning unit is triggered by an actuation of the second control element, wherein a check is performed to confirm that the operator is holding the remote control unit in a calm manner wherein data is then scanned.

27. The remote control unit according to claim 21, wherein the function element comprises a display configured to depict data received by the scanning unit.

28. The remote control unit according to claim 27, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit is configured to receive data on an order and on goods from at least one of the industrial truck and the control unit, and wherein the display is configured to depict the received data.

29. The remote control unit according to claim 21, wherein the handle element further comprises an elongated grip comprising two mutually opposing flat sides and two narrow sides, and wherein an inner surface of the operator's gripping hand contacts at least one of the flat sides and one of the narrow sides, and the associated fingers enclose at least one of the narrow sides.

30. The remote control unit according claim 29, wherein the first control element is positioned on the narrow side enclosed by the associated fingers.

31. The remote control unit according to claim 21, wherein the first control element is configured as a rocker switch that triggers a lifting and lowering function in the industrial truck.

32. The remote control unit according to claim 22, wherein the second control element is configured as a rocker switch for selecting a direction of travel.

33. The remote control unit according to claim 21, further comprising a movement unit configured to detect at least one of a guided swinging and a rotary movement about a longitudinal axis of the handle element and convert the at least one of a guided swinging and a rotary movement about a longitudinal axis of the handle element detected into a control command for a steering movement of the industrial truck.

34. The remote control unit of claim 21, wherein the control unit is a higher-level control unit.

35. The remote control unit of claim 21, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit is configured to establish the radio connection with a transmitting and receiving unit of the industrial truck.

36. A control system for an industrial truck comprising: a remote control unit comprising, a transmitting and receiving unit configured to establish a radio connection with one of the industrial truck and a control unit, a handle element configured to be gripped by an operator's hand and grasped with an inner side of the operator's gripping hand and associated fingers, wherein the associated fingers do not include a thumb; and a function element positioned at an angle relative to the handle element and comprising, a first control element configured to be operated using the thumb of the operator's gripping hand, and a scanning unit configured to detect data and transmit data by the transmitting and receiving unit.

37. The control system according to claim 36, wherein the industrial truck does not comprise a drawbar.

38. The control system according to claim 36, further comprising at least one direct selection button positioned adjacent to the control element and configured to be operated by the thumb of the operator's gripping hand.

39. The control system of claim 36, wherein the control unit is a higher-level control unit.

40. The control system of claim 36, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit is configured to establish the radio connection with a transmitting and receiving unit of the industrial truck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the figures. In the following:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a high lift truck without a drawbar; and

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a remote control unit with a hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a high lift truck 10 with a drive part 12 and a load part 14. The load part 14 possesses a high lifting frame with which a load carrying means 16 can be lifted. The industrial truck 10 possesses a transmitting and receiving unit 18 that is configured to exchange data and commands with a remote control unit 20 (FIG. 2), for example by Bluetooth or another radio standard.

[0022] The remote control unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a handle element 22 and a function element 24. The handle element 22 and function element 24 are arranged at an angle relative to each other so that they imitate the shape of a gun. The handle element 22 is grasped by the hand's inner surface (not visible) and the fingers 26. Digits II to V are designated as fingers which are occasionally also designated as long fingers. The handle element 22 comprises two flat and two narrow sides. The rear, narrow side 28 and the flat side 30 extending from the hand's inner surface are discernible in FIG. 2. The flat side 30 is exposed with the depicted handle element 22. A second control element 32 is attached to the front narrow side that can be actuated by the index or middle finger. An additional control element 34 is provided on the flat side 30. This can be actuated by the thumb 36, wherein actuation of the additional control element 34 by the thumb 36 then forms a nearly closed grasp. Alternatively, direct-selection buttons can be provided, for example for the thumb 36 in its depicted position. These direct selection buttons can for example be configured as a horn, follow-me, and as an actuation for a scanner.

[0023] The function element 24 comprises a control element 38 that can be actuated by the thumb 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the control element 38 is configured as a rocker on which the thumb 36 rests, for example to select a direction of travel. The function element 24 also comprises a display 40 on which an operator can read incoming data and information. Furthermore, a scanning unit 42 is provided on the side of the function element 24 extending from the hand. The scanning unit 42 can for example be configured as a barcode scanner by means of which data on the warehouse positions and goods can be read. The scanning unit 42 can also be configured as a reading unit that for example can read RFID transponders or other IDs. A projecting bar 44 is provided on the side of the function element 24 facing the operator. The bar 44 extends approximately up to the wrist of the operator and comprises two additional control elements 46, 48 that are provided for actuation with the free hand of the operator, i.e., not holding the remote control. The depicted embodiment is a version for right-handers; a corresponding version for left-handers is the reverse image of it, wherein the shown version can in principle also be used by left-handers.

[0024] When using the remote control unit 20, the actuating element 32 is triggered by an actuation of the index or middle finger of the right-hand With the actuating element 32, a lifting and a lowering function can be triggered in the industrial truck by a rocker switch. A function of the scanning unit 42 can be triggered by an actuation of the control element 34 with the thumb 36. If the actuating element 34 is held, it is accordingly checked whether the operator is holding the remote control unit calmly enough; only then is the scanning function actuated, and the data to be scanned are read. The travel direction can be selected by an actuation of the control element 38 with the thumb 36. Information on the moving order and the scanned data can be displayed on the display 40. For using the remote control unit, it has proven to be particularly advantageous when the control element 48 is configured as a button that triggers a lifting function in the vehicle. The button 46 is a follow-me function in which the vehicle follows the remote control unit at a predetermined and settable distance.

[0025] Guided movements can be distinguished from each other by the integrated acceleration sensor. For example, a control for the industrial truck to the left or to the right can be provided in which the remote control unit swings in direction R to the right, or in direction L to the left. The swinging movement can in this case be movement from the operator's wrist joint, or a movement originating from the operator's lower arm or even the entire arm. A steering command is produced for the vehicle with the assistance of the swinging movement, and it is also transmitted thereto. The acceleration values can be limited in this case such that an unintentional movement or movement that results from a body rotation can be distinguished from the desired movement.

[0026] A traveling vehicle in forward travel direction F and back opposite the travel direction can also be controlled by a hand movement. For this, the remote control unit is lifted or lowered, wherein lifting and lowering are preferably executed from the operator's lower arm; however it can also be triggered by a movement of the operator's wrist joint.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0027] 10 High lift truck [0028] 12 Drive part [0029] 14 Load part [0030] 16 Load bearing means [0031] 18 Transmitting and receiving unit [0032] 20 Remote control unit [0033] 22 Handle element [0034] 24 Function unit [0035] 26 Fingers [0036] 28 Narrow side [0037] 30 Flat side [0038] 32 First control element [0039] 34 Operating element [0040] 36 Thumb [0041] 38 Second control element [0042] 40 Display [0043] 42 Scanning or reading unit [0044] 44 Bar [0045] 46 Operating element [0046] 48 Operating element