JP3600979B2 - Transport vehicle with locking device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transport vehicle with a locking device, and more particularly, to a transport vehicle having a plurality of fixed casters and a plurality of free casters on the lower surface in the front-rear direction of the carriage, and the fixed casters are locked in multiple stages by easy pedal operation The present invention relates to a transporter equipped with a lock device that releases a locked state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a merchandise store or the like, a transport vehicle is used for carrying goods from a warehouse to a display shelf in the store or taking goods from the display shelf to the warehouse.
[0003]
A transport vehicle used for such a purpose is normally operated manually, and is a relatively large type, and includes two fixed casters on the lower surface of the central portion in the front-rear direction of the cart and the front lower surface and the rear portion of the cart. One having two free casters on the lower surface is known. In this type of transporter, the fixed caster has a slightly larger diameter than the free caster. Like a seesaw as a playground equipment installed in a park or the like, a fixed caster and a front free caster are placed on the floor. The four wheels touch the ground and the rear free caster floats from the floor, or the four wheels of the fixed caster and the rear free caster touch the floor and the front free caster floats. used.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to a conventionally used transport vehicle, there is a problem that the loading operation of the product cannot be performed satisfactorily when the cart fluctuates when the product is loaded and unloaded.
[0005]
Recently, there has been a demand for using such a transport vehicle as a merchandise display shelf. However, if a conventional transport vehicle is used as it is as a product display shelf, the transport vehicle moves undesirably from the position set as the product display shelf, and cannot serve as a normal product display shelf.
[0006]
In view of the above points, the present invention was originally made to provide a transporter with a locking device that can perform a good product loading and unloading operation and can also be used as a product display shelf. The transport vehicle is provided with a lock device for locking the caster and releasing the locked state. Furthermore, the present invention aims to reduce the burden of the operation of locking the fixed caster, and uses the lock device to switch the transport vehicle as a product display shelf, or to switch from the product display shelf to the original transport vehicle. The purpose is to reduce the operation burden on the operator at the time. In addition, considering the occurrence of situations where the locking device cannot properly fix the transport vehicle to the set position due to wear of the fixed caster, etc., the transport vehicle will not move from the set position even if the fixed caster wears. It is intended to be used effectively as a product display shelf for a long period of time without moving to a desired one. In addition, when a transport vehicle is set as a product display shelf on an inclined surface such as a storefront, or when a transport vehicle carrying products is loaded and transported on two vehicles such as a four-wheel truck, a fixed caster is provided. The purpose of the invention is to prevent a problem that the transporter swings around the fixed caster and moves from the set position by the free caster despite being locked.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A transport vehicle with a first locking device according to the present invention is a transport vehicle including a plurality of fixed casters and a plurality of free casters on a lower surface in the front-rear direction of the cart, and is disposed near one end in the front-rear direction of the cart. A lock-side arm member having a substantially square shape in a side view, comprising a lock pedal, a stopper member that can be contacted and separated from the fixed caster in the front-rear direction, and a short portion and a long portion disposed below the carriage. The stopper member is fixed to the distal end of the short portion and the lock pedal is fixed to the distal end of the long portion, and the connecting portion of the short portion and the long portion to the carriage or its A lock-side arm member that is pivotable in the front-rear and vertical directions around the vicinity, a lock-side spring that biases the elongated portion of the lock-side arm member toward the carriage, and the lock side A lock-side locking member projecting downward from the long portion of the arm member, a release pedal arranged alongside the lock pedal, and a release-side arm member disposed below the carriage. The release-side arm member has a release-side locking portion capable of obtaining at least two stages of engagement with the lock-side locking member at one end, and the release at the other end. A release-side arm member to which a pedal is fixed and which can turn in the front-rear and vertical directions around the release-side locking portion or the vicinity thereof with respect to the carriage, and a portion located on the release pedal side of the release-side arm member And a release-side spring that biases toward the cart side.
[0008]
In the transport vehicle with the lock device configured as described above, when the stopper member is separated from the fixed caster, the fixed caster is in the unlocked state, and the transport vehicle can be used as an original transport vehicle. It becomes.
[0009]
When the lock pedal is depressed with a relatively small amount of depression in this unlocked state in order to switch the vehicle from the original vehicle as a product display shelf, for example, the lock-side arm member Against the urging force, it rotates around the connection part of the short part and the long part or the vicinity thereof, and the stopper member approaches and presses the fixed caster to lock the fixed caster. During this rotation, since the distance from the rotation center to the stopper member is short and the distance from the rotation center to the lock pedal is long, the “lever principle” acts and the lock pedal is depressed with a relatively small depression force. This reduces the burden on the operator. Further, when the lock-side arm member is rotated, the lock-side locking member moves together with the lock-side arm member, and the release-side locking portion is engaged with the first stage, and the position of the stopper member is The locked state of the fixed caster is maintained.
[0010]
On the other hand, when the lock pedal is depressed with a relatively large depression amount in the unlocked state, the lock side latching member passes through the first stage engaged state and the release side latching part and the second stage The engaged state is established. This second stage engagement state occurs when the amount of depression of the lock pedal is relatively large as described above, and the amount of movement of the stopper member at this time is large. Therefore, the wear of the fixed caster is so great that the amount of movement of the stopper member is small under the first-stage engaged state, so that sufficient pressing force cannot be applied to the fixed caster and the fixed caster cannot be locked sufficiently. Even so, the large amount of movement of the stopper member causes the stopper member to press the fixed caster with a sufficient pressing force, and the fixed caster becomes locked.
[0011]
After that, when the release caster is depressed while the fixed caster is in the locked state so that the transport vehicle can be switched from the merchandise display shelf to the original transport vehicle, for example, the release-side arm member resists the biasing force of the release-side spring. Then, it rotates around the release side locking portion or its vicinity. By the rotation of the release-side arm member, the engagement state between the lock-side locking member and the release-side locking portion is released. To turn. By the rotation of the lock side arm member, the stopper member is separated from the fixed caster, and the fixed caster returns to the original unlocked state.
[0012]
In the transport vehicle with a second locking device according to the present invention, an elastic member that comes into contact with the floor surface and is in a compressed state when the lock pedal is depressed is disposed on the lower surface of the lock pedal or in the vicinity thereof. And
[0013]
Here, the elastic member in the compressed state pushes the lock pedal upward and simultaneously presses the floor surface downward. For this reason, in addition to realizing the locked state of the fixed caster by depressing the lock pedal as described above, the lock pedal itself is locked, and the transport vehicle is placed on an inclined surface. In addition, the free caster can be prevented from freely moving, and the transport vehicle can be fixed at the set position.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 5, the transport vehicle with a locking device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cart 1, a base shelf 2 fixedly mounted on the cart 1, and four corners of the base shelf 2. The product 4 is placed on the base shelf 2 or the like.
[0015]
On the lower surface of the carriage 1, two fixed casters 5 are attached to the left and right ends of the central portion in the front-rear direction, and two free casters 6 are attached to the left and right ends of the front lower surface and the rear lower surface, respectively.
[0016]
A locking device 10 is disposed on the lower surface of the carriage 1.
[0017]
The locking device 10 includes a lock pedal 11 disposed near the center of one end (rear end) in the front-rear direction of the carriage 1. The locking device 10 also includes a horizontal bar-like stopper member 12 that can abut against and be separated from the two fixed casters 5 in the front-rear direction. The stopper member 12 is preferably formed to have a U-shaped cross section. When such a stopper member 12 having a U-shaped cross section is used, there are two locations where the fixed caster 5 is brought into contact. Even in the case where the relative position of 12 is slightly deviated from the originally desired design position, any one of the contact portions is in good contact with the fixed caster and the fixed caster 5 can be locked.
[0018]
Connected between the lock pedal 11 and the stopper member 12 is a lock-side arm member 15 that has a short portion 13 and a long portion 14 and has a generally U-shape in a side view.
[0019]
The short portion 13 is composed of two vertical rod portions arranged symmetrically, and the stopper member 12 is fixed to the lower end portions of the two vertical rod portions 13 by welding or the like in a horizontal state.
[0020]
The long portion 14 is composed of two horizontal rod portions arranged symmetrically, and each horizontal rod portion 14 extends from the upper end portion of the corresponding vertical rod portion 13 in a substantially horizontal direction. 14 and the vertical rod part 13 are integrally formed, for example, by bending one round bar. The two horizontal rod portions 14 are formed in a C shape when viewed from the bottom, and their narrow end portions are fixed to the lock pedal 11 by welding or the like.
[0021]
A horizontal shaft 16 is fixed to a connecting portion between the vertical rod portion 13 and the horizontal rod portion 14 by welding or the like. The horizontal shaft 16 is rotatably supported by a pair of left and right brackets 17 suspended from the lower surface of the carriage 1. Note that the position of the horizontal axis 16 is not limited to the above-mentioned connection site, and may be in the vicinity of this connection site. As described above, the lock-side arm member 15 is rotatable in the front-rear and vertical directions around the connection portion between the short portion 13 and the long portion 14 or the vicinity thereof.
[0022]
Between each horizontal rod part 14 and the trolley | bogie 1, the lock side spring 18 which urges | biases the horizontal rod part 14 toward the trolley | bogie 1 side is provided. The lock-side spring 18 is constituted by, for example, a tension coil spring that is stretched between the lower surface of the carriage 1 and the horizontal rod portion 14.
[0023]
A lock side locking member 19 is fixed to the two horizontal rod portions 14 by welding or the like. The lock side latching member 19 has a latching part 21 at the lower end of the locking side latching part 20 that is in an engagement state with a release side latching part 20 to be described later. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking portion 21 has a substantially U-shaped longitudinal section.
[0024]
On the right side of the lock pedal 11 in plan view, a release pedal 22 is arranged side by side.
[0025]
A release side arm member 23 is disposed below the carriage 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the release-side arm member 23 includes a base 24 arranged below the rear end of the carriage 1 and a right-hand extension from the base 24, and a release pedal 22 is fixed to the tip by welding or the like. Further, it is composed of an L-shaped lever portion 25 in a plan view and a release-side locking portion 20 that extends downward from the base portion 24.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 5, the release-side locking portion 20 has a pair of left and right side plate portions 26, and a support bar 27 is laid horizontally between the side plate portions 26. The support bar 27 is fixed to a pair of left and right brackets 28 suspended from the lower surface of the carriage 1, and holds the release side locking portion 20 so that the release side locking portion 20 can be rotated in the front-rear and vertical directions. doing. The support bar 27 may be disposed on the base portion 24 close to the release side locking portion 20. As described above, the release-side arm member 23 is rotatable in the front-rear and vertical directions around the release-side locking portion 20 or the vicinity thereof.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the rear surfaces of the pair of left and right side plate portions 26 are provided with at least two engagements in the vertical direction so that at least two stages of engagement with the locking portion 21 of the lock side locking member 19 can be obtained. Locking claws 29 and 30 are formed.
[0028]
A release-side spring 31 is provided between the carriage 1 and the rear end portion of the base 24 to urge a portion of the release-side arm member 23 located on the release pedal 22 side toward the carriage 1 side. The release-side spring 31 is configured by, for example, a tension coil spring that is stretched between the lower surface of the rear end portion of the carriage 1 and the rear end portion of the base portion 24.
[0029]
Although not shown, a rubber material is provided on the upper surface of the long portion 14 of the lock-side arm member 15 so as to alleviate the collision with the lower surface of the carriage 1 and the release-side arm member 23. On the upper surface of the base portion 24, a rubber material for reducing a collision with the lower surface of the carriage 1 is disposed in the same manner as described above.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the locking device 10 configured as described above will be described.
[0031]
When the stopper member 12 is separated from the fixed caster 5, the fixed caster 5 is in an unlocked state, and the transport vehicle can be used as an original transport vehicle.
[0032]
Then, when the transporting vehicle is switched from the original transporting vehicle as a product display shelf, for example, when the lock pedal 11 is depressed with a relatively small amount of depression in this unlocked state, the lock-side arm member 15 is Against the urging force of the spring 18, the stopper member 12 rotates around the connection portion of the short portion 13 and the long portion 14 or the vicinity thereof, and approaches and presses the fixed caster 5 from the rear side to press the fixed caster 5. It comes to lock.
[0033]
At this time, the distance from the center of rotation to the stopper member 12 is short and the distance from the center of rotation to the lock pedal 11 is long as apparent from the configuration of the lock side arm member 15. The lock pedal 11 can be stepped on with a relatively small stepping force, and the burden on the operator is light.
[0034]
Further, when the lock-side arm member 15 is rotated, the locking portion 21 of the lock-side locking member 19 resists a rearward biasing force by the release-side spring 31 applied to the release-side lock portion 20. The release side locking portion 20 is moved downward while pushing forward, gets over the locking claw 29 on the upper side of the release side locking portion 20, and is engaged with the locking claw 29. That is, the lock-side locking member 19 and the release-side locking portion 20 are in the first stage engaged state. The position of the stopper member 12 is maintained by the first stage engagement state, and the fixed caster 5 is maintained in the locked state.
[0035]
On the other hand, when the lock pedal 11 is depressed with a relatively large amount of depression in the unlocked state, the lock-side locking member 19 passes over the upper locking claw 29 and the lower locking claw 30 in order, and the lower engagement It will be in an engagement state with the pawl 30. That is, the lock-side locking member 19 and the release-side locking portion 20 pass through the first stage engagement state and enter the second stage engagement state. This second stage engagement state occurs when the amount of depression of the lock pedal 11 is relatively large as described above, and the amount of movement of the stopper member 12 at this time is large. Therefore, since the wear of the fixed caster 5 is large, the stopper member 12 cannot apply a sufficient pressing force to the fixed caster 5 under the first-stage engaged state, and the fixed caster 5 cannot be locked sufficiently. However, the stopper member 12 presses the fixed caster 5 with a sufficient pressing force due to the large amount of movement of the stopper member 12, and the fixed caster 5 is locked.
[0036]
After that, when the fixed caster 5 is in the locked state so that the transport vehicle can be switched from, for example, the commodity display shelf to the original transport vehicle, when the release pedal 22 is stepped on, the release-side arm member 23 becomes the release-side spring. It rotates about the release side locking part 20 or its vicinity against the urging force of 31. By the rotation of the release side arm member 23, the lock side locking member 19 is released from the engaged state with the release side locking portion 20, and the lock side arm member 15 is locked by the urging force of the lock side spring 18. It moves in the opposite direction, that is, upward, and returns to the original state. By the return of the state of the lock side arm member 15, the stopper member 12 is separated from the fixed caster 5 to return to the original state, and the fixed caster 5 returns to the original unlocked state.
[0037]
The transport vehicle with a locking device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that an elastic member 40 as shown in FIG. 6 is added to the locking device 10 according to the first embodiment described above. That is, the lock device 10 according to the second embodiment is provided with a coil spring 40 that is in contact with the floor surface 100 and is compressed when the lock pedal 11 is depressed on the lower surface of the lock pedal 11 or its vicinity. Yes.
[0038]
When the coil spring 40 is in a compressed state, it pushes the lock pedal 11 upward and simultaneously presses the floor surface 100 downward. For this reason, in addition to the realization of the locked state of the fixed caster 5 by the depression of the lock pedal 11 as described above, the lock pedal 11 itself is locked, and the transport vehicle is placed on the inclined surface. In such a case, free movement of the free caster 6 can be prevented, and the transport vehicle can be fixed at the set position.
[0039]
However, the elastic member 40 may be a plate spring as shown in FIG. 7 in addition to the coil spring as described above, and the same effect as the coil spring can be achieved by this plate spring.
[0040]
In addition, although the transport vehicle of the above-described embodiment is a seesaw type six-wheeled vehicle, the transport vehicle of the present invention is not limited to this type, and two fixed casters and Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a transport vehicle including two free casters.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the transport vehicle with a lock device of the present invention, it is easy to load and unload products when used as a transport vehicle, and it can be used as a product display shelf. In addition, it is possible to reduce the burden on the operator when switching the transport vehicle as a merchandise display shelf using the lock device or when switching from the merchandise display shelf as the original transport vehicle. Further, even if the fixed casters are worn, the transport vehicle does not move undesirably from the set position, and can be used effectively as a product display shelf for a long period of time. In addition, when a transport vehicle is set as a product display shelf on an inclined surface such as a storefront, or when a transport vehicle carrying products is loaded and transported on two vehicles such as a four-wheel truck, a fixed caster is provided. In spite of being locked, the free caster can prevent the transport vehicle from swinging around the fixed caster and moving from the set position.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a transport vehicle with a locking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the main part of the transport vehicle.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a basic configuration of a lock system in the lock device of the transport vehicle.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a basic configuration of an unlocking system in the locking device.
FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a main part of the locking device.
FIG. 6 is a side view of an essential part of a transport vehicle with a locking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a main part of a modified example of the transport vehicle with the locking device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Cart 5 Fixed caster 6 Swivel caster 10 Lock device 11 Lock pedal 12 Stopper member 13 Short part 14 Long part 15 Lock side arm member 18 Lock side spring 19 Lock side locking member 20 Release side locking part 21 Locking part 22 Release pedal 23 Release side arm member 31 Release side spring 40 Elastic member 100 Floor surface

Claims (2)

In a transport vehicle including a plurality of fixed casters and a plurality of free casters on the lower surface in the front-rear direction,
A lock pedal disposed near one end in the front-rear direction of the carriage,
A stopper member capable of abutting and separating from the front and rear direction with respect to the fixed caster;
A lock-side arm member that is disposed below the carriage and includes a short portion and a long portion, and is substantially heft-shaped when viewed from the side, wherein the stopper member is fixed to the tip of the short portion and the long portion The lock pedal is fixed to the tip of the lock, and a lock-side arm member that is rotatable in the front-rear and vertical directions around the connection portion of the short portion and the long portion or the vicinity thereof with respect to the carriage,
A lock-side spring that urges the elongated portion of the lock-side arm member toward the cart,
A lock-side locking member projecting downward from the long portion of the lock-side arm member;
A release pedal arranged alongside the lock pedal;
A release-side arm member disposed below the carriage, wherein the release-side arm member is capable of obtaining at least two stages of engagement with the lock-side locking member at one end of the release-side arm member. A release-side arm member having a side-locking portion, the release pedal being fixed to the other end, and capable of rotating in the front-rear and vertical directions around the release-side lock portion or its vicinity with respect to the carriage ,
A transport vehicle with a lock device, comprising: a release-side spring that biases a portion of the release-side arm member located on the release pedal side toward the carriage. 2. The transport vehicle with a lock device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member that is in contact with the floor surface and is compressed when the lock pedal is depressed is disposed on the lower surface of the lock pedal or in the vicinity thereof.

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