Vetter ManuTel Manual de usuario
Operation manual
U163-530-US
Fork carrier with fork arms
Read this manual prior to performing any task! Keep for future use!
Fork carrier with fork arms
2
This operating manual (hereinafter also referred to as “manual”) contains fundamental
safety instructions for handling fork carriers with hook or shaft suspension as well as
information about the fork arms of VETTER Forks, Inc.
Incorrect use of the fork carrier and fork arms can result in serious injuries and even
death. For this reason, this manual and, in particular, the safety information it contains
must be read by the carrier vehicle driver responsible for the carrier vehicle prior to
assembly, commissioning, and maintenance.
The manual is a component of the fork carrier and fork arms and must be kept at the
work site of the fork carrier and fork arms (on the carrier vehicle) to ensure it is acces-
sible for personnel at all times.
Always observe the information in the carrier vehicle operating manual as well as all
applicable documents to ensure safe handling of the fork carrier and fork arms.
Furthermore, the local accident prevention regulations and general safety instructions
for the area in which the fork carrier and fork arms are used apply.
Illustrations in this manual are for basic understanding and may deviate from the actual
design.
In addition to this manual, also observe the documentation for the other components
and machines used, as well as operator-specific requirements:
nTechnical data sheet for fork carrier as a supplement to the operating manual
nOperating manual and load chart for the carrier vehicle
nOperating manual for the tool change device used
nOperating manual for the mounted fork arms
nOperating manual for the operator
Address VETTER Forks, Inc.
1711 Opportunity Avenue
Chambersburg, PA 17201
USA
Phone +1 717 753 3913
Email [email protected]
Internet www.forks.com
About this manual
Applicable docu-
ments
Customer service
Supplemental directives
Fork carrier with fork arms 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 OVERVIEW OF THE FORK CARRIER 6
1.1 Range of application 6
1.2 Designs 6
2 SAFETY 7
2.1 Symbols in this manual 7
2.2 Intended use 7
2.3 Operator obligations 9
2.4 Dangers associated with handling the fork carrier and the fork arms 10
2.5 Safety markings 11
2.6 Personnel requirements 14
2.6.1 Qualifications 14
2.6.2 Unauthorized persons 15
2.6.3 Training 15
2.7 Personal protective equipment 15
2.8 Protection of the environment and disposal 16
3 STRUCTURE 18
3.1 Structure of hook-type suspension 18
3.2 Structure of shaft-type suspension 20
3.3 Fork arm 21
4 ASSEMBLY 22
4.1 Fork carrier 22
4.2 Fork arms with hook suspension 22
4.3 Fork arms with shaft suspension 25
5 OPERATION 27
5.1 Adjusting the distance between the fork arms 27
6 MAINTENANCE 30
6.1 Maintenance intervals 30
6.2 Maintenance activities 30
6.2.1 Daily visual inspection performed by the driver 30
6.3 Checking the fork carrier 31
6.4 Checking the fork arms 32
6.4.1 Checking the locking device and safeguarding device 32
6.4.2 Checking the suspension 33
6.4.3 Crack test for fork arms 36
6.4.4 Deformation of the fork arms 36
6.4.5 Wear on the fork arms 41
6.5 Cleaning the fork carrier and fork arms 42
Table of contents
Fork carrier with fork arms
4
1 Overview of the fork carrier
1.1 Range of application
The fork carrier is used to transmit power between the carrier vehicle and the fork arms
used to pick up and transport the load. It lifts or lowers the mounted fork arms, and the
load picked up by them, within the permissible load range.
The fork carrier must only be attached to carrier vehicles and machinery that are
equipped with a suitable tool change device.
The fork arms are used within the designated load range to lift, transport, and put
down, e.g., loads and goods on pallets that are intended for transport by an approved
fork lift truck or another type of carrier vehicle.
Scope
This manual relates to both fork carrier types described (hook-on and shaft suspen-
sion) in conjunction with VETTER fork arms. With regard to specific VETTER fork arms
(e.g., VETTER SmartFork®, VETTER folding fork arms or VETTER ManuTel fork
arms), always observe the operating manual provided.
1.2 Designs
Depending on the manufacturer, fork carriers differ not only in terms of their dimen-
sions, weight, and permissible load capacity, but also in the design of the mounting
equipment for the tool change device and the suspension type. This manual contains
examples of both hook-on and shaft suspensions in conjunction with fork arms. Prior to
use, always ensure the compatibility of all assemblies involved in the system using the
operating manual provided.
Properly mounted fork carriers are used as the mounting point for compatible fork
arms. In this context, compatible means that the respective combination of fork carrier
and fork arm used must be designed for the transport task by the manufacturer and
that the function of the safeguarding mechanisms is ensured through the selection of
the exactly appropriate model.
Fork carrier
Fork arm
Overview of the fork carrier
Designs
Fork carrier with fork arms
6
2 Safety
2.1 Symbols in this manual
Safety instructions in this manual are marked by symbols. The safety instructions are
introduced by signal words which express the extent of the danger.
DANGER indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in
death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE indicates information considered important but not hazard-related such
as property damages.
2.2 Intended use
The fork carrier must only be connected to a suitable tool change device. In conjunc-
tion with the approved fork arms, it must only be used to lift, transport, and set down
loads within the designated load range.
See technical data sheet for fork carrier as a supplement to the operating manual
Safety instructions
L DANGER
L WARNING
L CAUTION
NOTICE
Incorrect use
Safety
Intended use
Fork carrier with fork arms 7
Risk of injury from incorrect use!
– Never neglect the general requirements for safety and due diligence. If in
doubt, personally ensure that there are no people or obstacles in the danger
zone of the carrier vehicle.
– Only use fork carriers in carrier vehicles that have been designed to accom-
modate fork carriers and only use them in a technically perfect condition.
– Never mount fork carriers on a tool change device if the device is incompat-
ible with the fork carrier. Observe the relevant operating manual for the
respective tool change device installed on the carrier vehicle.
– Never exceed the maximum load capacity of the carrier vehicle, the fork car-
rier and fork arms used.
– Never use fork carriers in conjunction with incompatible fork arms or with
fork arms that have not been approved by the manufacturer.
– Never use the fork carrier and fork arms at temperatures outside the tempera-
ture range of -4 °F (-20 °C) to +122 °F (+50 °C).
– Never use the fork carrier and fork arms if they are excessively dirty, greasy,
or covered in ice.
– Never use the fork carrier and fork arms in areas subject to explosion haz-
ards.
– Never use the fork carrier and fork arms to lift or transport living beings, espe-
cially people. Transport in conjunction with the fork carrier in so-called
workman baskets is also not permitted.
– Never use the fork carrier and mounted fork arms for demolition work.
– Never mount the fork arms on the fork carrier as reversible fork arms (blade
on top).
– Never use the fork arms individually or load them unevenly.
– Never use the fork arms on a rotary device or on a pallet handler.
– Never expose the fork arms to lateral forces. It is not permitted to drive into or
out of the pallet/load at an angle, or to push the pallet/load from the side.
– Never use fork carriers with auxiliary equipment on fork carriers or fork arms
(e.g., snow clearing equipment, slings).
– Only use the fork carrier with mounted fork arms for road transport with an
approved warning system (e.g., warning bars) in accordance with traffic laws,
and without a load.
– Never allow insufficiently qualified persons to carry out maintenance or repair
work.
– Never skip a maintenance interval.
– Never modify the fork carrier and fork arms independently.
– Never use fork carriers with fork arms without an engaged locking device or
shaft safeguard.
– Never operate the fork carrier and fork arms without safety markings.
– Never allow unauthorized persons access to the carrier vehicle.
Incorrect use of the fork carrier and fork arms could lead to life-threatening sit-
uations and serious injuries.
L WARNING
Safety
Intended use
Fork carrier with fork arms
8
2.3 Operator obligations
The operator is the person who operates the fork carrier (with or without fork arms) on
an carrier vehicle for industrial or commercial purposes, or who delegates use to a third
party and bears the legal product responsibility during operation for the protection of
personnel or third parties.
The fork carrier and the fork arms are used in the commercial sector. The operator is
therefore subject to the legal requirements for occupational safety.
In particular, the following applies:
nThe operator must be aware of the applicable health and safety regulations and in a
risk assessment must determine any additional dangers that could arise from the
particular working conditions at the operation site of the fork carrier and fork arms.
These must be outlined in the form of an operating manual for operation of the fork
carrier and fork arms.
nThe operator must ensure over the entire operating time that the operating manual
created by him/her correspond to the current state of the rules and regulations, and
adjust them if necessary.
nThe operator must clearly regulate and specify the responsibilities for assembly,
operation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and cleaning.
nThe operator must ensure that all persons that come into contact with the fork car-
rier and fork arms have read and understood this manual. In addition, he/she must
regularly train personnel and inform them of any dangers.
nThe operator must provide personnel with the required protective equipment and
instruct them that wearing the required protective equipment is mandatory.
In addition, the operator is responsible for ensuring that the fork carrier and the fork
arms are always in a technically perfect condition. The following therefore applies:
nThe operator must ensure that the maintenance intervals described in this manual
are adhered to.
nThe operator must have all safety devices checked regularly for functionality and
integrity.
Operator
Operator obligations
Safety
Operator obligations
Fork carrier with fork arms 9
2.4 Dangers associated with handling the fork carrier and the fork
arms
Danger to life from the use of incorrect components!
– Only mount fork carriers on designated, exactly suitable carrier vehicle sus-
pension.
– Ensure that the fork arms used have the exact attachment dimensions of the
fork carrier.
– Ensure that the fork arms used have at least the load capacity of the fork car-
rier.
– Ensure that all safeguarding devices (fork arm locking device as well as safe-
guarding device for the shaft suspension) are fully in place and are func-
tioning flawlessly.
– Always use genuine components for safeguarding devices.
If the system is not aligned (suspension type, fork carrier and fork arm), the safe
transmission of power is not ensured and there is a danger of serious accidents,
e.g., due to breakage or the load falling.
Danger to life due to restricted view!
– Ensure that there are no people or objects in the danger zone of the carrier
vehicle.
– If the situation in the transport area is not visible, get out and carry out a
visual inspection or consult someone who can guide and assist you.
People and objects under or in front of the raised load are not detected
depending on the position and size of the load. If people or objects in the danger
zone are not detected, there is a risk of serious accidents.
Risk of injury from incorrectly performed work!
– Never carry out modifications (e.g., boreholes, welding work) on the fork car-
rier and fork arms.
The load capacity of the fork carrier and the fork arms depends significantly on a
completely intact structure. Unauthorized modifications such as boreholes for
add-ons, welding work, etc., could compromise the load capacity and result in
serious accidents due to breakage and falling loads, for example.
Incompatibility
L WARNING
General requirement
for safety
L WARNING
Unauthorized modi-
fication
L WARNING
Safety
Dangers associated with handling the fork carrier and the fork arms
Fork carrier with fork arms
10
Este manual sirve para los siguientes modelos
1
Tabla de contenidos
Otros manuales de Máquina elevadora de Vetter
