The main concern is operator safety as it relates to eliminating potential pinch/shear/crush points when the lift table platform and rotating top lowers into the pit. First the lift table is equipped with . Electric toes sensors are an interlocked 4 sided bar assembly that is suspended under the lower 4 sided edge of the lift table platform. When lowering if any obstruction (operator’s foot, debris etc.) contacts the suspended 4 sided perimeter bar the lowering stops immediately. Second the ro... Read More
On an electro-hydraulic lift table the lift motor is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic pump. When the lift motor is activated the hydraulic system pumps the hydraulic oil to the lift cylinders and the lift table rises. When the lift motor is shut off by there is a slight overrun “freewheel” effect, the pump continues to pump oil for a split second and the lift table rises slightly. If precise positioning is required a Sure Stop Valve is added to the hydraulic circuit. At rest the Sure St... Read More
Although it is not very common you can use a lift truck on a dock lift if the dock lift is properly sized, rated and equipped. Some of the factors to first consider. The dock lift platform size should accommodate the overall length of the lift truck with the longest load that the lift truck will be carrying. The width of the dock lift should be sized to allow the lift truck operator to exit the lift truck and move around freely on the platform. When selecting the dock lift capacity consider a co... Read More
Working with bins of bulk product can often be challenging for the machine operator. The challenges arise because of the repetitive bending and stretching required reaching down into the bin to load or unload components. In this application consider if the product bin is first loaded onto an industrial hydraulic tilter. Under operator control the bin can now be tilted into the most ergonomically correct and comfortable position for the operator to retrieve or place the components in the bin. Til... Read More
Under normal operating conditions the truck is backed into position at the loading dock and the trailer door is opened. The attendant operates the dock leveler, the dock leveler deck raises and the hydraulic lip extends. The dock leveler is then lowered into position with the extended hydraulic lip resting on the bed of the truck. After the loading is completed the attendant returns the dock leveler to the closed stored position, that’s what is supposed to happen. However should the truck depa... Read More
In the majority of applications the dock attendant positions the dock leveler on the truck. When the truck is loaded the dock attendant typically operates and returns the dock leveler to the stored closed position. If there is no dock attendant and the truck departs with the dock leveler in position the dock leveler lowers and the lip slowly retracts. If equipped with an optional auto return when the lip reaches the fully retracted position a limit switch is activated. This starts the lift motor... Read More
Although there are many combinations available there are 2 very common interlocks specified. 1. Interlocking a vehicle restraint to a hydraulic or air powered dock leveler. This interlock is safety related, the dock leveler will not operate until the truck in position has been secured by the vehicle restraint. The truck secured signal from the vehicle restraint now renders the dock leveler controls operational. 2. Interlocking the overhead door to a hydraulic or air powered dock leveler. This in... Read More
In some applications a longer bridge plate is required to span the gap between the truck bed and the dock lift platform. The longer the bridge plate the more the weight increases and in some cases they become too heavy to be operated manually. The dock lift hydraulic actuated bridge assist is installed on the platform and at only 10” wide minimally impedes the usable platform width. The bridge plate is stored in the vertical position, manually the bridge plate is lowered and a flow control val... Read More
Self leveling lift tables are very common in de-palletizing or palletizing applications. When empty self leveling lift tables store in the raised position, in a de-palletizing application a lift truck or a “straddle” lift truck first places the fully loaded pallet on the raised platform. The pallet is then lowered and the weight of the pallet forces the self leveling lift table down into the closed fully lowered position. The top of the loaded pallet is now at the ideal ergonomic operators w... Read More
Self leveling lift tables are very common in palletizing or de-palletizing applications. When empty self leveling lift tables store in the raised position, in a palletizing application first an empty pallet is placed on the platform. As product is moved onto the pallet the increased weight automatically lowers the lift table keeping the operators work height at an ergonomically correct position. When the lift table is fully lowered the pallet is full. A lift truck is then required to engage the ... Read More