US3596776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Forklift truck with a load-squaring apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1967-11-08
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1987-11-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention encompasses apparatus for rendering coplanar the end surfaces of all the pieces of timber in a stack of lumber by placing the stack in near vertical position while subjected to slight lateral constraints, and then dropping (or its equivalent) the stack endwise to a foundation to produce a vertically effective impact upon the stack sufficient to cause the various timbers to move longitudinally relative to each other against the friction between the timbers, thereby to move the lower ends of all the timbers into a common plane. The stack is then returned to a horizontal position in such a manner that the timbers do not move longitudinally relative to each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas N Melin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:30
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/12; B66F9/125; B65; B65G; B65G57/00; B65G57/28; B66F9/18; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2201/0282
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
Apparatus for end squaring a stack of lumber including a forklift truck having a carriage movable along a vertical track, a fork apron, and a pair of spaced lifting forks carried by the fork apron and extending away from the truck comprising: a. means for receiving a stack of lumber to have one end thereof squared and for engaging the stack circumferentially thereof including the lifting forks, a pair of clamp arms carried by the fork apron, selectively operable means for moving the clamp arms toward and away from the forks, a clamp shoe carried by the clamp arm for engaging a load carried by the forks when the clamp arms are moved toward the forks, a securing arm carried by each clamp arm and extending therefrom, and selectively operable means for indexing each securing arm for movement between a first position in which the securing arm extends toward the other clamping arm and a second position in which the securing arm extends toward the forks and for moving the securing arm toward and away from the fork apron; b. means for moving the stack-receiving means to place a received stack in a substantially vertical orientation with the one end thereof downward including means mounting the fork apron to the carriage for rotation about a substantially horizontal surface and means for indexing the fork apron about said axis; c. aligning surface means disposed adjacent the one end of a vertically oriented stack; and d. gravitationally augmented means for engaging the aligning surface means with said one end of a vertically oriented received stack for producing a vertically effective impact upon the stack of a magnitude sufficient to cause the lower ends of all the components of the stack to engage the aligning surface means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
Apparatus for end squaring a stack of lumber including a forklift truck having a carriage movable along a vertical track, a fork apron, and a pair of spaced lifting forks carried by the fork apron and extending away from the truck comprising: a. means for receiving a stack of lumber to have one end thereof squared and for engaging the stack circumferentially thereof including the lifting forks, a pair of clamp arms carried by the fork apron, selectively operable means for moving the clamp arms toward and away from the forks, a clamp shoe carried by the clamp arm for engaging a load carried by the forks when the clamp arms are moved toward the forks, a securing arm carried by each clamp arm and extending therefrom, and selectively operable means for indexing each securing arm for movement between a first position in which the securing arm extends toward the other clamping arm and a second position in which the securing arm extends toward the forks and for moving the securing arm toward and away from the fork apron; b. means for moving the stack-receiving means to place a received stack in a substantially vertical orientation with the one end thereof downward including means mounting the fork apron to the carriage for rotation about a substantially horizontal surface and means for indexing the fork apron about said axis; c. aligning surface means disposed adjacent the one end of a vertically oriented stack; and d. gravitationally augmented means for engaging the aligning surface means with said one end of a vertically oriented received stack for producing a vertically effective impact upon the stack of a magnitude sufficient to cause the lower ends of all the components of the stack to engage the aligning surface means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
a second hydraulic ram disposed normal to the elongate extent of said one leg and coupled to the lever means, and b. a third hydraulic ram disposed substantially parallel to the one leg of each right-angled member and having one end thereof coupled to the one leg and the other end coupled to the adjacent clamp arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
a second hydraulic ram disposed normal to the elongate extent of said one leg and coupled to the lever means, and b. a third hydraulic ram disposed substantially parallel to the one leg of each right-angled member and having one end thereof coupled to the one leg and the other end coupled to the adjacent clamp arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the fork apron comprises a pair of spaced parallel columns and one fork is secured to one end of each column, the columns defining a plane against which the stack is engageable by the securing arms for squaring the sides of the stack to place the timbers in the stack in parallel relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
a hydraulic ram disposed normal to the elongate extent of the one leg and coupled to the lever means, and b. a second hydraulic ram disposed substantially parallel to the one leg of each right-angled member and having one end thereof connected to the one leg and the other end coupled to the adjacent clamp arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
a hydraulic ram disposed normal to the elongate extent of the one leg and coupled to the lever means, and b. a second hydraulic ram disposed substantially parallel to the one leg of each right-angled member and having one end thereof connected to the one leg and the other end coupled to the adjacent clamp arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a second column is slidably disposed in each of the first said columns, and each second column has one of the clamp arms secured thereto at its end opposite from the fork.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the selectively operable means for moving the clamp arms comprises a pair of hydraulic rams each having one end connected to one of the first said columns and the other end connected to the corresponding second column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each ram is disposed inside the corresponding second column.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus accoRding to claim 5 wherein each securing arm is comprised of a substantially right-angled member having one leg thereof mounted to the corresponding clamp arm for rotatable and slidable movement, the other leg of the member being disposed in a plane normal to the elongate extent of the forks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the selectively operable means for indexing and for moving each securing arm comprises: a.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 including a crossmember extending between the said one legs of the securing arms, means for rotatably connecting each end of the crossmember to a respective one leg, each second hydraulic ram being connected between the crossmember and a respective lever means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 including means for securing each end of the crossmember from movement along the elongate extent of the said one leg to which it is connected, the third hydraulic ram being connected between said adjacent clamp arm and the crossmember.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each securing arm is comprised of a substantially right-angled member having one leg thereof mounted to the corresponding clamp arm for rotatable and slidable movement, the other leg of the member being disposed in a plane normal to the elongate extent of the forks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the selectively operable means for indexing and for moving each securing arm comprises: a.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for squaring a stack of lumber or the like and adapted for connection to a forklift truck carriage movable along a vertical track carried by the truck, the apparatus comprising a fork apron, means mounting the fork apron to the carriage for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis extending lengthwise of the truck, a pair of spaced lifting forks carried by the fork apron and extending substantially horizontally therefrom away from the truck, a pair of clamp arm means movably carried by the fork apron, selectively operable means for moving the clamp arm means toward and away from the forks for engagement of the clamp arm means with a stack of lumber to be squared supported horizontally by the forks when the clamp arms are moved toward the forks, a securing arm carried by each clamp arm and extending therefrom in a plane normal to the forks, selectively operable means for indexing each securing arm in the plane between a first position in which the securing arm extends toward the other clamping arm and a second position in which the securing arm extends toward the forks and for moving the securing arm toward and away from the fork apron, and means for indexing the fork apron angularly about said axis through an arc of at least 90* to dispose the stack vertically of a surface on which the truck is disposed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for squaring a stack of lumber or the like and adapted for connection to a forklift truck carriage movable along a vertical track carried by the truck, the apparatus comprising a fork apron, means mounting the fork apron to the carriage for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis extending lengthwise of the truck, a pair of spaced lifting forks carried by the fork apron and extending substantially horizontally therefrom away from the truck, a pair of clamp arm means movably carried by the fork apron, selectively operable means for moving the clamp arm means toward and away from the forks for engagement of the clamp arm means with a stack of lumber to be squared supported horizontally by the forks when the clamp arms are moved toward the forks, a securing arm carried by each clamp arm and extending therefrom in a plane normal to the forks, selectively operable means for indexing each securing arm in the plane between a first position in which the securing arm extends toward the other clamping arm and a second position in which the securing arm extends toward the forks and for moving the securing arm toward and away from the fork apron, and means for indexing the fork apron angularly about said axis through an arc of at least 90* to dispose the stack vertically of a surface on which the truck is disposed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |