Stacker

Floor Stackers

There are several types of stackers, differing in various design features ^[1] :

1 According to the type of drive of the lifting device:

• hydraulic with a manual drive;
• electro-hydraulic;
• electromechanical.

2 By the method of balancing:

• without stabilization systems
• with supporting consoles located on the sides of the stacker;
• with a counterweight. It should be remembered that both methods of balancing the stacker are usually used.

3 Based on the presence or absence of a drive mechanism:

• self-propelled with electric movement mechanism;
• without drive mechanism.

4 According to the method of controlling the movement of the truck:

• accompanied (lead, driven);
• with a retractable footboard (can be used both as followers and as self-propelled);
• with a cab for the operator.

5 According to the loading method:

• front-loading;
• with side loading.

6 According to the type of lifting mechanism:

• without free raising of a pitchfork;
• with free fork lift.

One or another design features can be considered significant or insignificant, respectively, the variety of stacker classifications is infinite.

The main types of floor stacking equipment:

Hydraulic Stackers

Hand Pallet Trucks or Rockies, Rocks

The simplest type of hydraulic stacker is a hand pallet truck. Manual hydraulic carts only lift the load, and can only work with single-tier racks. Hand pallet trucks are extremely easy to learn, operate and repair. They are unpretentious, not as demanding on the quality of the flooring as other types of stackers, and can even be used outdoors.
The carrying capacity of such trolleys can reach 3 tons, and the lifting height is 200 mm.
It should be added that not all sources attribute jars to stacking equipment for the simple reason that jars cannot stack pallets in several tiers.

Manual hydraulic stackers

Simple designs and affordable - manual hydraulic stackers. Easy to learn (see hydraulic trolley ) and operation and repair. Relatively cheap. Do not require energy carriers (batteries, fuel). Compact and lightweight.
The hydraulic system of the truck can be either manual or foot operated. It can be equipped with a dropping device to gently lower the load onto the floor.
For hydraulic stackers, the drawbacks of hydraulic systems (leakage and leakage) are characteristic.
Lifting capacity varies from 500 kg to 2 tons. Lifting height up to 3 m.
The intensity of use of the manual stacker and the mass of the load lifted are limited by the muscular strength of the operator.
They are used for unloading / loading vehicles and in storage systems with a small cargo volume for servicing two-tier racks.

Electric Stackers

Stackers can only be electrified with the function of raising / lowering, and there can be self-propelled models driven by a foot operator or equipped with a folding platform.
This class of floor stacking equipment includes several electric stackers:

• self-propelled driven electric stackers (the speed of movement is limited by the walking speed of the operator - no more than 6 km / h);
• self-propelled electric stackers with a folding footboard;
• self-propelled electric stackers with a place for the operator (with the operator sitting or standing, in such cases the speed of the trolley can reach 10 km / h).

Self-propelled carts (pallet transporter, electric cart, transporter)

The pallet transporter ^[2] has a greater carrying capacity and speed of movement than a conventional manual hydraulic trolley, and has a significant advantage - it does not tire the operator in the process of lifting and moving the load.

The height of the load lifting by the pallet carrier is small (120-200 mm) - it only raises the load for its further transportation. Lifting capacity can reach 3500 kg.

Self-propelled stackers with electro-hydraulic fork lift

This type of stacker has an electric drive.
The lifting of the load is carried out thanks to the electro-hydraulic drive (the working fluid is pumped into the cylinder not by the operator by means of a lever, but by an electric pump). In terms of dimensions, such a stacker practically does not differ from a stacker with manual lifting of forks, but it has a large mass due to the presence of rechargeable batteries.
The capacity of such a stacker is 1000-2000 kg, they are equipped with masts with a lifting height of 2.7-5.5 meters.

Electric powered forklift trucks

This type of truck does not have a drive. In its basic construction, the truck consists of a manual hydraulic truck and an electric mast lifting system.
The capacity of the driven electric stackers reaches 1000 kg and 1500 kg, and the lifting height is 1600 mm / 2000 mm / 2500 mm and 3000 mm.

Self-propelled stackers with steps for the operator

This type of stacker is similar in characteristics to a stacker controlled by a foot operator, however, it can be used for more intensive work at long distances due to the presence of a folding platform used as an operator's seat.

Self-propelled stacker trucks with operator cab

The stacker is controlled from the cab (sitting or standing, depending on the model of the stacker), which reduces operator fatigue and increases concentration. This type of stacker truck has a high speed of movement (8-10 km / h for standing control, 9-11 km / h for sitting control) and lifting.

Narrow Aisle Stackers

A rather specific type of warehouse lifting equipment, designed specifically for use in narrow aisle walkways ( English very narrow aisle, VNA ). Unlike classic stackers, narrow-aisles move along the aisle only straight, without turning, and usually have a special semi-automatic control for this. The stacker mast can be rotated 180 °, which allows you to grab pallets on both sides of the rack passage.

There are two varieties of narrow aisle stackers:

• with a fixed operator's cabin located at floor level. In this case, the machine, as a rule, is equipped with a video camera to provide control of work with the load;
• with a mobile operator's cab moving with the load. In this case, the operator visually controls the process.

Lifting height reaches 16 m. Carrying capacity - 700-1500 kg.

Reach Trucks

Reach truck ^[3] - a truck with a retractable mast, designed to serve high-rise (from 6 m) racking systems. The first reach truck was developed by the Finnish company Rocla in 1955.
Reach truck is the most complex and high-performance type of warehouse equipment, combining the best qualities of a stacker and a classic forklift. The reach truck has a high speed of movement (up to 14 km / h) and lifting (up to 0.6 m / s), carrying capacity up to 2.5 tons. Since warehouses in Russia usually grow up due to the high cost of renting land, the height of the reach of reach trucks per In recent years, it has increased significantly - up to 11-12 meters, and the latest Rocla reach trucks allow you to store cargo at heights of up to 13 meters.

The reach truck is equipped with multi-section telescopic masts with free-wheeling forks. The carriage equipment usually has the functions of tilting and lateral displacement of the forks, optionally it can be equipped with a fork positioner and telescopic forks. Reach trucks are equipped with the most modern cargo handling equipment, including height preselectors, fork cameras, which allow working at high altitudes.

Order pickers

Order pickers are a very interesting type of warehouse equipment. Its design and principle of operation are very similar to the classic electric stacker, but instead of the forks, the whole working platform rises with the operator.
Electric order pickers are used to manually remove or stack goods on racks. Order pickers have a high level of security. Their design includes various stops, clamps, stabilizers for maximum safety and ease of use.
The lifting height ranges from 4 m for order pickers from the lower tiers and 5–7 m for high-altitude order pickers, with a load capacity of 200–400 kg for light models and 1–4 tons for heavy models.

Stacker cranes

There are two types of stacker cranes:

• bridge;
• shelving.

Stacker Overhead Cranes

The overhead crane-stacker is a crane bridge over which a freight trolley moves with a vertical column fixed on it, usually a rotary one, along which a forklift (carriage) is vertically moved, having a fork or special load grip.
The overhead crane stacker moves along rail crane tracks installed either directly on racks or on building structures. The crane can be basic or suspended.
Stacker overhead cranes serve large areas of warehouses on which racks are placed in several rows.
The overhead crane can be controlled from the floor (the simplest cranes, in this case, the lifting height does not exceed 7.2 m, lifting capacity up to 1 ton) or from the cab (lifting capacity - 1-12 tons, lifting height - 7-16 m).
There are different types of columns, characterized by the height of the load. To work with different types of cargo on the forklift can be fixed removable load gripping devices, such as tilters, fork grippers, grips for cylindrical loads and so on.

Rack stacker cranes

The stacker crane is a support trolley with one or two columns vertically mounted on it, along which a forklift moves (with an operator's cab on pick-up stacker cranes), equipped with a receiving table on which a telescopic retractable grip places the load.
Shelf stacker cranes are suspended or supporting, with one column or two.
Shelving from bridge cranes-stackers are distinguished by a lower specific gravity, increased rigidity of metal structures, a high degree of use of storage space and volumes.
These stacker cranes are especially effective in warehouses with a large cargo turnover due to their high productivity, due to both the high working speeds of the mechanisms and the limited area of ​​their use - in only one passage between the racks, while the bridge stacker crane serves all the racks located under the construction of the crane.
The stacker crane can be controlled from the cab, from a remote control or using a computer.
The lifting capacity of rack cranes reaches 3 tons, the lifting height is 18 m.

This technique is mainly intended for lifting and lowering cargo. Lift forks are designed for various types of pallets. There are models with adjustable pitch between the forks ^[4] .

Stacker - an indispensable mechanism in the warehouse for raising / lowering loads on movable forks and moving them over short distances. At a relatively low price, stackers are able to provide significant volumes of transported goods and are very functional, and also do not require special training and licenses .

Where storage facilities are used vertically, but the enterprise is limited on a budget, small hydraulic stackers are most often used. They facilitate the work with pallets in small warehouses and small shops. Significantly more productive are all-electric stackers - electric stackers. If the stacker is self-propelled (with a specially equipped operator’s seat), then its speed increases to 8-10 km / h. Such stackers have a large lifting height (up to 4-6 meters) and can work up to two work shifts without recharging. Tall stackers have the ability to lift loads to a height of 12 meters, with a very small distance between the racks - up to 2.6 meters. High-lift stackers have a high carrying capacity - up to 2.5 tons, as well as high speed - up to 10 km / h.

Stackers are the necessary equipment for any warehouse where the goods are stored on pallets. Currently, there are many types and models of warehouse equipment on the market of lifting equipment: manual hydraulic stackers, self-propelled driven stackers, electric stackers, reach trucks. Each type of hoisting equipment is designed for specific working conditions. The use of the stacker in the warehouse is possible only if the floor quality is high.

Stackers are used to carry out intra-warehouse transportation and stacking of freight pallets. All types of stackers can be divided into three groups: manual hydraulic stackers; self-propelled driven stackers; electric stackers.

The main parameters to consider when choosing stackers are:

• The turning radius (Wa) affects the width of the aisle in which the equipment should work.
• Aisle Width (AST). The parameter is specified taking into account work with a pallet 800 * 1200 along the pitchfork, or with a pallet 1000 × 1200 across the pitchfork. Defines the minimum space required to operate and operate the load. Measured in mm. That is, with AST = 3000 mm, the equipment can work with a passage width of 3 meters or more, although Wa can be 2000 mm.
• Residual lifting capacity - due to the design features, the lifting capacity of the truck falls with the mast lifting height. Therefore, usually when choosing a truck, they are guided by the maximum weight of the load at maximum height.
• The type and capacity of the battery - there are two main types: alkaline (currently practically not used) and acid. Acid, in turn, are divided into starter (as in cars) and traction (from 100 Ah). Battery capacity affects the operating time - more capacity, longer working equipment; and residual capacity (ceteris paribus from a more powerful battery, the pump can create greater working pressure in the hydraulic system of the lift).

In addition, in various situations, important parameters may be: the construction height of the stacker (the height “in the light”), the width of the carriage (under the euro-pallets or industrial pallets), the speed of the vertical lift, the horizontal speed, the method of replacing the batteries, etc.

• Automatically driven vehicle
• Forklift
• Pallet truck
• Electric car
• Stacker crane

• M. P. Alexandrov, L. N. Kolobov, N. A. Lobov and others. Lifting machines: Textbook for universities. - M: Engineering, 1986 - 400 p.