Expresso transport systems
The transport of material within a plant can take many forms, ranging from loading processes on loading ramps, through the transport of production materials to the production lines, to the delivery of post in open-plan offices. Loads differing widely in weight must be transported under the most diverse of conditions, leading in some cases to work situations associated with high levels of stress.
Expresso therefore offers customized transport solutions based upon an easily operated, flexible drive system for a wide range of applications. The objectives are ease of use and relief of the operator.
[Note: Patent on handle with sensor (touch2move), protected mark designation touch2move]
Standards relevant to powered industrial trucks can be found on ErgoNoRA by use of the following search terms:
- Hand truck
- Powered industrial truck
- Low-level pallet truck
The Technical Report ISO/TR 22100-3 describes how ergonomic principles can be applied during the risk reduction process according to ISO 12100 and how ergonomics standards can be applied to machinery. It helps designers take decisions with respect to ergonomics during the machine design process and can also be used when no relevant type C standards are available.
Exertion of force and handling of loads
- Problems
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Electrically driven trucks and other items of transportation equipment often serve to reduce the required force to be exerted during the transport of materials. Whilst requiring less manual force for its operation, this equipment is however also more difficult to operate owing to the decoupling of the drive and the control movements. The user must not only manoeuvre the load, but also operate the switchgear on the equipment. This is often permissible only after the operator has received detailed instruction or in some cases after passing a certified test (such as a forklift driving test).
- Stress category
- Solution
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The touch2move control concept implemented by Expresso is a universal control system suitable for a range of drives, and can be used on a wide variety of trucks. In this concept, the electric drive is controlled by two handles with integral force sensors. The sensors detect the force applied by the operator and amplify it automatically through the electric drive. Increasing or reducing the propulsive force on one side causes the truck to be steered to the left or right. The truck stops automatically when the handles are released. This simple and intuitive control concept can be learnt and used quickly and easily by anyone (see also EN ISO 3691-1:2012, Section 4.4; EN 16307-1:2013, Section 4.5)
- Principle of operation
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- Sensing and supporting natural human sensory and motor functions
- Use of special sensor technology for improvement of machine control
- Norms
- EN 16307-1: Industrial trucks - Safety requirements and verification - Part 1: Supplementary requirements for self-propelled industrial trucks, other than driverless trucks, variable-reach trucks and burden-carrier trucks