Activity Reporting System
An improved activity detection system for use on a lift truck can be generally stated as including a detection apparatus and a processor apparatus. The detection apparatus can be generally stated as including at least one of a load detector and a movement detector. The processor apparatus can be generally stated as including a storage for storing an output from the detection apparatus.
1 . An activity detection system for use on a lift truck and comprising:
a detection apparatus comprising at least one of a load detector and a movement detector; and
a processor apparatus comprising a storage for storing an output from the detection apparatus.
2 . The activity detection system of claim 1 wherein the detection apparatus comprises as a load detector a load cell structured to generate a signal representative of a weight of an object situated on a platform of the lift truck.
3 . The activity detection system of claim 2 wherein the processor apparatus further comprises a filter structured to operate on the signal from the load cell and to output a processed signal that is representative of the weight of the object and that has removed therefrom at least a portion of an artifact of at least one of vibration due to movement of the lift truck and vibration due to operation of an engine of the lift truck.
4 . The activity detection system of claim 1 wherein the detection apparatus comprises as a movement detector at least one of an accelerometer that is structured to generate a signal representative of an acceleration of the lift truck and a tachometer that is structured to generate a signal representative of a velocity of the lift truck.
5 . The activity detection system of claim 1 wherein the processor apparatus further comprises a communication apparatus structured to output an activity signal representative of at least a portion of the output of the detection apparatus.
6 . The activity detection system of claim 5 wherein the communication apparatus comprises a wireless transmitter structured to wirelessly transmit the activity signal to a reporting device that is separate from the detection apparatus.
7 . An activity reporting system comprising the activity detection system of claim 6 , and further comprising a fork truck and a reporting device that is separate from the detection apparatus, the detection apparatus being installed on the fork truck, the wireless transmitter being in wireless communication with the reporting device.
8 . A fork truck system comprising a fork truck and the activity detection system of claim 1 installed on the fork truck.