JP7473168B2 - Connection structure between the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act From February 12, 2020 to February 14, 2020, ciRobotics Inc. unveiled the connection structure of the traveling pallet and towing lifter device at the 4th Smart Factory EXPO - Manufacturing Innovation Exhibition with IoT/AI/FA. After February 12, 2020, ciRobotics Inc. unveiled the connection structure of the traveling pallet and towing lifter device on its website. After February 12, 2020, ciRobotics Inc. distributed a guidebook on the connection structure of the traveling pallet and towing lifter device to SK Solution Co., Ltd.

This invention relates to a connection structure for a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device.

Conventionally, the connection structure between the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device has been configured to connect the two via a separate connector, for example. When connection is not required, the connector is stored separately, or is permanently mounted and fixed on the pallet and removed when necessary to connect the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device.

Then, the towing lifter device transports the traveling pallet to a designated location, and the towing lifter device is used to load and unload cargo onto the pallet.

In this way, the traveling pallet can be moved by the power of the towing lifter device, and at the moving site, loading and unloading of cargo can be performed using the lifters of the towing lifter device.

Therefore, since the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device have closely related operational functions, it is desirable to have a connection structure that is simple and robust, and that allows easy and reliable operation to connect and separate them.

However, the structure for connecting the towing lifter device to the traveling pallet generally requires the installation of an engagement and connection mechanism required for connecting to each mechanism, such as a concave-convex or male-female connection mechanism, which connects and connects them to each other.

Therefore, in order to ensure the strength of the connecting mechanism itself, a large-scale structure with complicated connecting operations is required. Also, when using the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device separately, that is, when using them for transporting a single pallet or for lifting and loading work alone, it is necessary to consider the storage space and installation structure of the unused connecting mechanism, and depending on the installation position of the connecting mechanism, there is a risk that it will cause problems with the independent movement of the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device or the loading and unloading work alone.

This invention aims to provide a connection structure between a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device that allows easy and reliable connection work to be performed to connect the traveling pallet and the towing lifter device to transport cargo and move them to the transport site, and simplifies the connection structure by utilizing a handle boom for towing that is attached toward the front of the front end of the towing lifter device, and allows easy and reliable connection and separation work using the handle boom with simple movements.

This invention provides a connection structure for connecting a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device, which comprises a handle boom provided on the towing lifter device, and a connection and fixing device that is mounted and fixed to the rear of the traveling pallet and connects and fixes the handle boom, and further, the connection and fixing device is characterized in that it is composed of a connection and fixing part that can be fixed integrally to the middle part of the handle boom and has fixing shafts protruding laterally on both sides, a hook part at the rear opening that can be loosely engaged with the fixing shaft of the connection and fixing part, and a lock mechanism that can be freely rotated toward the hook opening to force the fixing shaft into engagement with the hook part.

The locking mechanism is characterized by being composed of a rotation lock body that is rotatably mounted on the frame so as to abut against the rear peripheral surface of the fixing shaft and press the fixing shaft from the hook opening toward the inside of the hook portion, and an operating handle that rotates the rotation lock body.

According to this invention, the connecting structure for connecting a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device is composed of a handle boom provided on the towing lifter device, and a connecting and fixing device that is mounted and fixed to the rear part of the traveling pallet and connects and fixes the handle boom. Moreover, the connecting and fixing device is composed of a connecting and fixing part that is configured to be fixed integrally to the middle part of the handle boom and has fixing shafts protruding laterally on both sides, a hook part at the rear opening that is configured to be loosely engaged with the fixing shaft of the connecting and fixing part, and a rotating lock body that is configured to be rotatable toward the hook opening so as to engage and urge the fixing shaft to the hook part. As a result, the connecting and fixing means of the connecting and fixing device The horizontal fixed shaft used as a lifting device is simply attached to the middle of the handle boom of the towing lifter device via a connecting and fixing part, so the structure is simple and there is no problem with using the towing lifter device alone. Moreover, the hook part of the rear opening is fixed in place on the towing lifter device, and when the handle boom is pulled and the horizontal fixed shaft is loosely fitted into this hook part from the rear, and then the rotating lock body is rotated toward the hook opening via the handle, it rotates in the direction that closes the hook opening, pressing against the horizontal fixed shaft loosely fitted into the hook part, and the fixed shaft hung horizontally in the middle of the handle boom is locked by the hook part.

The connection and locking work is performed by pulling the handle boom and loosely fitting the fixed shaft suspended midway into the hook section, and then rotating and displacing the rotary lock body to easily complete the connection work, simplifying the connection work. In addition, because the horizontal fixed shaft is fixed at the hook section by the rotary lock body, the fixed lock for connection can be performed reliably, resulting in safe connection work.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device are connected by a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. 1 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a connecting and fixing device in a state in which a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device are connected by the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device are connected by a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a right side view showing a state in which a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device are connected by the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an upper right front perspective view showing the configuration of a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an upper right rear perspective view showing the configuration of a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an upper left rear perspective view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an upper left front perspective view showing the configuration of a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a lower right front perspective view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a lower right rear perspective view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a lower left rear perspective view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a lower left front perspective view showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device according to the present invention.

The gist of this invention is a connection structure for connecting a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device, which comprises a handle boom provided on the towing lifter device, and a connection and fixing device that is mounted and fixed to the rear of the traveling pallet and connects and fixes the handle boom, and further, the connection and fixing device is characterized by being composed of a connection and fixing part that can be fixed integrally to the middle part of the handle boom and has fixing shafts protruding laterally on both sides, a hook part at the rear opening that is configured to be loosely engaged with the fixing shaft of the connection and fixing part, and a locking mechanism that is configured to be freely rotatable toward the hook opening so as to engage and urge the fixing shaft to the hook part.

The locking mechanism is characterized by being composed of a rotation lock body that is rotatably mounted on the frame so as to abut against the rear peripheral surface of the fixing shaft and press the fixing shaft from the hook opening toward the inside of the hook portion, and an operating handle that rotates the rotation lock body.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the state in which the traveling pallet 10 and the towing lifter device 11 are connected by the connecting and fixing device 14, and Figures 5 to 17 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of the connecting and fixing device 14 in detail.

In Figures 1, 3, and 4, reference numeral 10 denotes a traveling pallet, and reference numeral 11 denotes a towing lifter device. That is, the towing lifter device 11 and the traveling pallet 10 are connected via a connecting and fixing device 14.

As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the towing lifter device 11 is equipped with a driver's seat section 24 and a lifter section 25 on a body 23, and towing running wheels 26 are provided on the bottom. By raising and lowering the lifter section 25, a load is placed on the lifter 27, transported to a specified location, and unloaded.

As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the handle boom 12 protrudes from the tip of the machine body 23, and the base of the handle boom 12 is connected to the machine body 23 via a pivot mechanism 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the handle boom 12 consists of a pipe-shaped or long rod-shaped main body 30 with a loop-shaped grip portion 29 at the tip, and is used to move the towing lifter device 11 independently and to tow it manually when loading and unloading cargo.

As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the traveling pallet 10 is composed of a flat pallet body 31 and a traveling wheel section 32, and is configured so that a load can be loaded onto the pallet body 31 and transported by power to a specified working position.

The traveling pallet 10 and the towing lifter device 11 are connected in a freely separable manner via a connecting and fixing device 14 as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, one part of the connecting and fixing device 14 is fixed to the middle of the handle boom 12 of the towing lifter device 11, and the other part is fixed to the end of the pallet body 31 of the traveling pallet 10.

The base of the connecting and fixing device 14 is connected to the rear end of the traveling pallet 10 via a pivot mechanism 43 so that it can rotate horizontally.

As shown in Figures 10 and 12, the pivot mechanism 43 is composed of a fixed shaft 44 erected from the upper surface of the rear end of the traveling pallet 10 and a rotary bearing 45 rotatably fitted to the tip of the fixed shaft 44, and the rotary bearing 45 is connected to the center of the base plate 37 of the connecting and fixing device 14 described later.

The element mechanism on the towing lifter device 11 side that constitutes part of the connecting and fixing device 14 is connected to the connecting and fixing part 15 at a position midway through the handle boom 12, for example, near the grip part 29 at the tip, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5 to 17, the connecting and fixing part 15 is composed of a clamping plate 35 that clamps the middle part of the handle boom 12 that protrudes from the towing lifter device 11, a bolt 36 that tightens and fixes the handle boom 12 and the clamping plate 38, and a fixing shaft 16 that protrudes integrally from both sides.

The connecting and fixing device 14 is composed of a connecting and fixing part 15 with fixing shafts 16 protruding sideways on both sides as shown in FIG. 5, a hook part 17 at the rear opening configured to be loosely engaged with the fixing shafts 16 of the connecting and fixing part 15, and a locking mechanism 19 configured to be freely rotatable toward the hook opening 18 so as to press and engage the fixing shafts 16 with the hook parts 17.

As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the hook portions 17 are erected on the left and right sides of the horizontal base plate 37 with rear openings, and these openings are called hook openings 18. The hook openings 18 are configured so that the fixing shafts 16 facing horizontally on both sides described above can be inserted and loosely fitted.

As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the locking mechanism 19 is composed of a rotation locking body 20 that is rotatably mounted on a frame body 22 so as to abut against the rear peripheral surface of the fixing shaft 16 and press the fixing shaft 16 from the hook opening 18 toward the inside of the hook portion 17, and an operating handle 21 that rotates the rotation locking body 20.

Specifically, the locking mechanism 19 is composed of two frame bodies 22 erected on the left and right sides of the base plate 37, a roughly elliptical rotation lock body 20 attached to the frame bodies 22 via a rotation shaft 38 so as to be rotatable together with the rotation shaft 38, and an operating handle 21 connected to the end of the rotation shaft 38 and extending in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 38.

The frame body 22 is composed of a pair of left and right side wall portions 47 that are erected at a predetermined distance apart, as shown in Figure 5.

The rotary lock body 20 is composed of a pair of left and right plates 48 that are generally elliptical in side view, and the left and right plates 48 are pivotally attached to the rear upper corners of the frame body 22 via a rotary shaft 38. In addition, an engagement rod 49 that abuts and engages with the upper end surface of the frame body 22 is installed between the front ends of the left and right plates 48.

As a result, when the operating handle 21 is rotated in the locking direction to perform a locking operation, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotation of the rotating shaft 38 via the operating handle 21 causes the rotating lock body 20, which is integral with the rotating shaft 38, to assume a horizontal position, and the rounded, oblong tip portion 39 provided at the end of the rotating lock body 20 presses and urges the rear side of the fixing shaft 16, which is loosely fitted into the hook portion 17.

On the other hand, when the operating handle 21 is used to rotate in the unlocking direction, the rotation of the rotating shaft 38 via the operating handle 21 causes the rotating lock body 20, which is integral with the rotating shaft 38, to tilt downward, and the oblong tip 39 of the rotating lock body 20 moves downward away from the rear side of the fixing shaft 16 that is loosely fitted into the hook portion 17.

At this time, the rounded, oblong tip 39 at the end of the rotation lock body 20 is positioned diagonally below the fixing shaft 16. The fixing shaft 16, which has been released from pressure, can smoothly slip out of the hook portion through the gap formed by the rounded shape and the hook opening 18.

In addition, an elastic body 46 can be interposed between the rotation lock body 20 and the frame body 22 to constantly bias the rotation lock body 20 upward so as to rotate the rotation lock body 20 upward about the rotation shaft 38.

The elastic body 46 in this embodiment is a torsion coil spring 46a. As shown in FIG. 7, the torsion coil spring 46a is fitted onto the rotation shaft 38 of the rotation lock body 20 (the portion of the rotation shaft 38 exposed inside the frame body 22), with one end fixed to the front end of the frame body 22 and the other end fixed to the rear end of the rotation lock body 20.

As a result, the rotation lock body 20 automatically returns to the direction in which it constantly presses the fixing shaft 16 against the hook portion 17, eliminating the need to perform a locking operation by rotating the operating handle 21 in the locking direction.

The rotation lock body connecting shaft 40 is a U-shaped strip that opens upward when viewed from the front as shown in Figures 5 and 9, and is interposed between the left and right rotation lock bodies 20 so as not to interfere with the handle boom 12 clamped by the clamping plate 35, and connects the left and right rotation lock bodies 20 together. In other words, the two left and right rotation lock bodies 20 are linked by the rotation lock body connecting shaft 40 that connects the rotation lock bodies 20 together.

In this state, the middle part of the handle boom 12 and the fixing shaft 16 of the connecting and fixing part 15 are engaged and fixed to the hook part 17 as shown in FIG. 2, and the handle boom 12 is connected and coupled to the traveling pallet 10 via the fixing shaft 16 and the hook part 17.

The handle boom 12 has its base connected to the machine body 23 via a pivot mechanism 28, so that when the tip is moved to the position of the connecting and fixing device 14 of the traveling pallet 10, as shown in Figure 2, the tip is positioned diagonally above the hook portion 17, and the entire handle boom 12 is positioned diagonally upward.

In this slanted handle boom 12 configuration, the connecting portion near the tip of the handle boom 12, i.e., the fixing shaft 16 protruding laterally, is inserted from diagonally below the opening of the hook portion 17, and then when the elliptical tip portion 39 of the pivoted rotary lock body 20 is rotated upward from diagonally below the opening 18 of the hook portion 17, the fixing shaft 16 is reliably pressed from the rear peripheral surface, and the locking operation is completed by the applied pressing stress.

After the locking operation, the user operates the traveling pallet 10, and when the towing lifter device 11 has been towed to the desired position, the user performs the unlocking operation. The unlocking operation is completed by operating the operating handle 21 to tilt downward the rotating lock body 20 which presses and urges the fixing shaft 16 towards the hook opening 18, and loosening the connecting fixing part 15 which clamps the handle boom 12 from the hook opening 18. In this way, the connecting structure between the traveling pallet 10 and the towing lifter device 11 allows any user to easily attach and detach the traveling pallet 10 and the towing lifter device 11.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 10 Traveling pallet 11 Towing lifter device 12 Handle boom 14 Connection and fixing device 15 Connection and fixing portion 16 Fixing shaft 17 Hook portion 18 Hook opening 19 Locking mechanism 20 Rotation lock body 21 Operation handle 22 Frame body 23 Machine body 24 Driver's seat portion 25 Lifter portion 26 Traveling wheels 27 Lifter 28 Pivot mechanism 29 Grip portion 30 Main body 31 Pallet body 32 Traveling wheel portion 35 Clamping plate 36 Bolt 37 Base plate 38 Rotation shaft 39 Oval tip portion 40 Rotation lock body connecting shaft 43 Pivot mechanism 44 Fixed shaft 45 Rotation bearing 46 Elastic body 46a Torsion coil spring 47 Side wall portion 48 Left and right plate bodies 49 Engagement rod

Claims (2)

A connecting mechanism for connecting a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device, comprising a handle boom provided on the towing lifter device and a connecting and fixing device mounted and fixed to the rear of the traveling pallet to connect and fix the handle boom;
Moreover, the connecting and fixing device is
a connecting and fixing part configured to be fixed integrally to the middle part of the handle boom and having fixing shafts protruding laterally on both sides;
a hook portion at a rear opening configured to be loosely engaged with the fixing shaft of the connecting and fixing portion;
a lock mechanism configured to be rotatable toward the hook opening so as to press the fixing shaft into engagement with the hook portion;
A connecting structure between a traveling pallet and a towing lifter device, comprising: The locking mechanism includes:
a rotation lock body rotatably mounted on a frame body so as to abut against a rear peripheral surface of the fixing shaft and to press-engage the fixing shaft from the hook opening toward the inside of the hook portion;
An operating handle for rotating the rotation lock body;
2. The connecting structure of claim 1, wherein the connecting structure is configured as follows:

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