JP7575735B2 - Sensor fence - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor fence that can be sensed by workers working on the truck bed.

Conventionally, there is known a technique for preventing workers from falling off the bed of a transport vehicle such as a truck when the workers are loading or unloading cargo from the bed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent document 1 describes a lifeline support post for on-board work that is temporarily installed close to the vehicle's loading platform and stretches a horizontal lifeline above the loading platform.

JP 2000-210389 A

In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the leg members (tripods) supporting the supports interfere with each other, making it difficult to use multiple supports in close proximity. Also, when the supports are not in use, a relatively large space is required to store the multiple supports.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a sensor fence that can be used with multiple support members in close proximity to each other, and that allows the support members to be placed in close proximity to each other in a position where the connecting members do not interfere with each other.

Below, we explain the means to solve the above problems.

The sensor fence of the present invention is a sensor fence for preventing a worker from falling off a loading platform, comprising at least one support member and a fence member supported by the support member, the support member comprising a support leg, a post erected on the support leg, and a connecting member fixed to the post so as to be slidably displaced along the longitudinal direction, the connecting member comprising a support portion for supporting the fence member and a locking portion capable of locking with a locked member on the loading platform, and capable of changing its horizontal position relative to the post, the support leg being formed with an insertion portion and an inserted portion, and the support leg being brought into close proximity to the support leg of one of the support members by inserting the insertion portion of the support leg of the other support member into the inserted portion of the support leg of the other support member.

In addition, in the sensor fence of the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting member can be fixed at any position in the longitudinal direction of the post, and that its horizontal position relative to the post can be freely changed.

In addition, in the sensor fence of the present invention, the support leg has a rod-shaped member that is bent or curved in the horizontal direction to form the inserted portion and the inserted portion, and it is preferable that the support leg is provided with multiple wheels of the same size.

Furthermore, in the sensor fence according to the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting member has a board support portion formed between the support portion and the locking portion, the board support portion has a clamping portion capable of clamping the locked member of the loading platform between the board support portion and the locking portion, and a scaffold board can be spanned between the board support portion of the first supporting member and the board support portion of the second supporting member.

In addition, in the sensor fence according to the present invention, it is preferable that the connecting member has a tubular portion through which the post of the support member can be inserted, the connecting member is assembled to the post with the post inserted into the tubular portion, and the tubular portion has a clamp portion that holds the post and a roller that abuts against the post on the opposite side of the plate support portion to maintain the position of the tubular portion relative to the post.

Furthermore, in the sensor fence of the present invention, it is preferable that an end frame member can be assembled to the fence member, and that the end frame member can be assembled to the fence member in a position in the same plane as the fence member or in a position perpendicular to the fence member in a plan view.

The sensor fence of the present invention has the advantage that multiple support members can be used in close proximity to each other, and the support members can be placed close to each other in a position where the connecting members do not interfere with each other.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing one embodiment of the sensor fence. FIG. 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of the sensor fence. 1A and 1B are a plan view and a front view showing a sensor fence. 4A is a side view showing the sensor fence, and FIG. 4B is a side view showing the assembly method of the end frame member. FIG. FIG. Exploded side view of the sensor fence. FIG. 11 is a front view showing another method of assembling the end frame members. 13A and 13B are plan and front views showing the adjacent state of sensor fences. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view showing a stored state of a plurality of support members. FIG. 11 is a front view showing another embodiment of the sensor fence. FIG. 11 is a side view showing another embodiment of the sensor fence.

The following describes the sensor fence 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention and another embodiment, with reference to Figs. 1 to 12. The sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment is formed by combining members mainly made of aluminum alloy or steel alloy. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sensor fence 1 is used in close proximity to the bed C of a truck T. The sensor fence 1 is used to prevent a worker from falling off the bed C when the worker gets on the bed C to load or unload cargo, by detecting the presence of the sensor fence when it comes into contact with the worker's hands or body.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment is used near a truck T with the gate G, which is the member to be locked, in a downed position. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, three sensor fences 1, a first sensor fence 1A, a second sensor fence 1B, and a third sensor fence 1C, are used adjacent to each other. Since the first sensor fence 1A to the third sensor fence 1C have the same configuration, the following description will focus on the first sensor fence 1A, and detailed descriptions of the other sensor fences 1B and 1C will be omitted.

It is also possible to use only one sensor fence 1. Even if multiple sensor fences 1 are used at the same time as in this embodiment, the number of sensors is not limited. As in another embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12, the sensor fence 1 can also be used near a truck T with its gate G erected.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the sensor fence 1 comprises two support members 2, 2 and a fence member 6 whose both ends are supported by the support members 2, 2. As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b) , a scaffolding board 8 is hung across the support members 2, 2 (specifically, the board support portion 52 of the support member 2). In the case of a configuration in which the scaffolding board 8 is hung across the support members 2, 2 as in the sensor fence 1 of this embodiment, a worker can stand on the top surface of the scaffolding board 8 to load and unload cargo onto the loading platform C.

The sensor fence of the present invention can be configured so that the sensor fence 6 is supported by one or three or more support members 2 by adjusting the shape of the sensor fence member 6. In this specification, the longitudinal direction of the sensor fence member 6 (the front-to-rear direction of the truck T shown in FIG. 1) is defined as the left-to-right direction of the sensor fence 1, and the right side of the sensor fence 1 facing the loading platform C is defined as the right side of the sensor fence 1. The direction perpendicular to the sensor fence member 6 is defined as the front-to-rear direction of the sensor fence 1, and the side of the sensor fence 1 facing the loading platform C is defined as the front of the sensor fence 1.

As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the support members 2, 2 that make up the sensor fence 1 are configured to have the same shape, so the following will explain the support member 2 that is located on the right side of the sensor fence 1. The support member 2 is composed of a support leg 3, a support post 4, and a connecting member 5.

The support leg 3 is a member that supports the support member 2 at the lower end of the support member 2. As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the support leg 3 is composed of a leg body 31, a pillar support part 32, and three wheels 33. The leg body 31 is formed by bending a rod-shaped member horizontally into an approximately V-shape. It is also possible to configure the leg body 31 by curving it horizontally.

In this embodiment, the central portion on the outside of the leg body 31 is formed as an insertion portion 31a. The inside of the leg body 31 is formed as an inserted portion 31b. A soft cushioning material 31c is attached to the inserted portion 31b of the leg body 31.

Three wheels 33 of the same size are provided on the underside of the leg body 31, allowing the support member 2 to be easily displaced. In the sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment, the leg body 31 is configured as a rod-shaped member bent horizontally, and since the leg body 31 itself is located at the same height, the wheels 33 can be made the same size. In other words, it is possible to standardize the parts used for the wheels 33 and reduce the manufacturing costs of the sensor fence 1. In addition, since the support member 2 can be made into a simple shape, the design of the sensor fence 1 can be improved.

A rod-shaped pillar support part 32 is fixed to the top surface of the leg body 31. The pillar support part 32 is positioned so as to pass near the center of gravity of the leg body 31. A pillar 4 is erected facing upward in the center of the top surface of the pillar support part 32. Two auxiliary pillars 41, 41 are provided between the pillar 4 and the leg body 31. A support hole is opened in the pillar 4 slightly below the midpoint in the longitudinal direction (up and down direction), and a support pin 42 can be inserted into this support hole.

A connecting member 5 is fixed to the support 4 so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the connecting member 5 is composed of a cylindrical portion 51, a plate support portion 52, a locking portion 53, a support portion 54, a bracket 55, a clamping portion 56, a clamp portion 57, a fixing member 58, and a roller 59, which are integrally assembled (see Figure 7).

The tube portion 51 is a square tube member with openings formed at the top and bottom, and the support post 4 is inserted inside it. The lower ends of the four sides of the tube portion 51 are formed with semicircular cut-out supported recesses 51a. When the sensor fence 1 is not in use, for example, the connecting member 5 can be supported by the support post 4 by engaging the supported recesses 51a from above the support pin 42 inserted into the support post 4.

As described above, the supported recesses 51a are formed in four places on the tubular portion 51, so when the connecting member 5 is supported by the support pin 42, the horizontal position of the tubular portion 51 relative to the support column 4 can be changed in 90 degree increments.

In the connecting member 5, a rod-shaped plate support portion 52 extends forward from the tube portion 51. As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), a scaffolding board 8 is placed on the upper surface of each of the plate support portions 52, 52 of the support members 2, 2, so that the scaffolding board 8 is spanned between the two support members 2 in the sensor fence 1. A restricting portion 52a is provided midway on the underside of the plate support portion 52. The restricting portion 52a is a member for restricting the position of the gate G relative to the plate support portion 52.

A plate-shaped locking portion 53 extends downward from the front end of the plate support portion 52. As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5, the locking portion 53 can be locked to a tailgate G, which is a member to be locked on the truck T. When the locking portion 53 is locked to the tailgate G, the sensor fence 1 is connected to the loading platform C.

A cylindrical support portion 54 is provided on the upper surface of the base end of the plate support portion 52. As shown in Figures 4(a), 5, and 6, the lower end of the fence member 6 is inserted from above into the support portion 54. In other words, the support portion 54 is a member that supports the fence member 6. A fixing pin 6c connected to the fence member 6 is inserted into the support portion 54 and the fence member 6, so that the fence member 6 does not come off the support portion 54. In this way, in the sensor fence 1 of this embodiment, the plate support portion 52 is formed in the connecting member 5 between the support portion 54 and the locking portion 53.

As described above, in the detection fence 1 of this embodiment, by providing the board support portion 52 on the connecting member 5, it is possible to provide the scaffold board 8 on the detection fence 1 to ensure a working space for workers. Note that in the detection fence 1 of the present invention, it is also possible to form the connecting member 5 by bringing the support portion 54 and the locking portion 53 close to each other, thereby not providing the board support portion 52 (not using the scaffold board 8).

A bracket 55 extends downward from the underside of the plate support portion 52. A clamping portion 56 is attached to the bracket 55 via a fixed plate 55a. As shown in FIG. 5, the clamping portion 56 can clamp the tailgate G of the loading platform C between itself and the engaging portion 53. When a user of the sensor fence 1 presses the locking portion 56a of the clamping portion 56 to bring the abutting portion 56b into contact with the tailgate G, the tailgate G is clamped between the abutting portion 56b and the engaging portion 53. When a user operates the unlocking portion 56c, the abutting portion 56b moves away from the tailgate G, and the clamping portion 56 releases the tailgate G from its grip.

The tube portion 51 is provided with a clamp portion 57 that clamps the support 4. The clamp portion 57 is composed of a clamp support portion 57a, a gripping portion 57b, a compression spring 57c, a pressing portion 57d, and a contact plate 57e.

The clamp support portion 57a is a cylindrical portion provided on the rear surface of the tube portion 51. A grip portion 57b and a pressing portion 57d are integrally provided on the clamp support portion 57a so that they can advance and retreat in the front-rear direction. The grip portion 57b and the pressing portion 57d are biased forward by the elastic force of a compression spring 57c. Meanwhile, an abutment plate 57e is fixed to the inner surface of the front side of the tube portion 51 (the surface facing the pressing portion 57d). An elastic material such as resin is provided on the front surface of the pressing portion 57d and the rear surface of the abutment plate 57e.

When clamping the support 4 with the clamp portion 57, the user holds the grip portion 57b and pulls it backward. The grip portion 57b and the pressing portion 57d are displaced backward against the elastic force of the compression spring 57c, and the distance between the pressing portion 57d and the abutment plate 57e increases. At this time, the support 4 is inserted between the pressing portion 57d and the abutment plate 57e, and when the user releases the grip portion 57b, the support 4 is clamped between the pressing portion 57d and the abutment plate 57e.

The clamp unit 57 according to this embodiment has a stopper function that maintains the distance between the pressing unit 57d and the abutment plate 57e by rotating the gripping unit 57b from a predetermined position around its axis while pulling it backward. This allows the user to insert the support 4 between the pressing unit 57d and the abutment plate 57e without having to release the gripping unit 57b.

In this way, by clamping the support 4 with the clamp portion 57, the connecting member 5 can be fixed at any position in the longitudinal direction of the support 4. In addition, since the connecting member 5 is configured to be assembled to the support 4 via the clamp portion 57, the horizontal position relative to the support 4 and the support leg 3 can be freely changed. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned configuration improves the degree of freedom in the assembly configuration of the connecting member 5 to the support 4.

It is also possible to form a configuration in which support holes are opened in multiple locations in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the support post 4, and the support pin 42 is inserted into the support hole and engaged with the supported recess 51a from above (or the support pin 42 is inserted into the tubular portion 51 of the connecting member 5), thereby supporting the connecting member 5. In this case, the connecting member 5 is supported by the support post 4 at one of multiple predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the support post 4. In this case, the horizontal position of the tubular portion 51 relative to the support post 4 can be changed in 90 degree increments. In this case, it is also possible to omit the clamp portion 57, roller 59, and other components of the connecting member 5.

A roller 59 is provided on the upper side of the clamp portion 57 on the rear surface of the tube portion 51 (opposite the plate support portion 52) via a roller support portion 59a. As shown in FIG. 6, the front portion of the roller 59 is inserted inside the tube portion 51. As shown in FIG. 5, the roller 59 abuts against the support post 4 inside the tube portion 51. The roller 59 abuts against the support post 4, preventing the weight of the plate support portion 52 from causing the connecting member 5 to tilt in a direction in which the front side of the connecting member 5 lowers relative to the support post 4 (clockwise direction in FIG. 5). In other words, in the sensor fence 1, the roller 59 maintains the position of the tube portion 51 (connecting member 5) relative to the support post 4. When the connecting member 5 is displaced vertically relative to the support post 4, the roller 59 rolls while abutting against the support post 4, preventing the support post 4 from being damaged.

As described above, in the sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment, the post 4 is clamped by the clamp portion 57, and the roller 59 is abutted against the post 4. This increases the assembly strength of the tube portion 51 to the post 4. In other words, it makes it possible to stably assemble the connecting member 5 to the post 4.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a fixing member 58 for fixing the scaffolding board 8 is provided on the side of the board support part 52. The fixing member 58 is a rod-shaped member with the upper side bent horizontally, and is provided on the board support part 52 in a state where it is biased downward by a fixing spring 58a. The fixing spring 58a biases the fixing member 58 downward, and the scaffolding board 8 is sandwiched between the upper part of the fixing member 58 and the board support part 52, thereby fixing the scaffolding board 8 to the board support part 52.

The fence member 6 is a fence body formed by combining a bent rod-shaped member with multiple rod-shaped members. The fence member 6 is provided with two horizontal tubes 6a. As shown in FIG. 8, a protrusion 6b that protrudes in the front-rear direction is formed at the same height as the horizontal tubes 6a on the fence member 6. As shown in FIG. 3(b), a fixing pin 6c is connected to the lower horizontal tube 6a to prevent the fence member 6 from coming loose when inserted into the support part 54.

In the sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4(b) and Fig. 8, the end frame member 7 can be assembled to the fence member 6. The end frame member 7 can be assembled to the fence member 6 either in a position in which it is located on the same plane as the fence member 6 as shown in Fig. 8, or in a position perpendicular to the fence member 6 in a plan view as shown in Fig. 4(b).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the end frame member 7 is provided with a hook-shaped locking portion 7a, a locking portion 7b with an open hole, and a locking pin 7c. When assembling the end frame member 7 in a position perpendicular to the fence member 6, as shown in FIG. 4(b), with the locking portion 7a locked to the horizontal tube 6a, the locking pin 7c is inserted into the hole of the locking portion 7b on the opposite side of the fence member 6. This allows the end frame member 7 to be assembled in a position perpendicular to the fence member 6.

On the other hand, when assembling the end frame member 7 to the fence member 6 on the same plane, as shown in FIG. 8, with the locking portion 7a locked to the protrusion portion 6b, the retaining pin 7c is inserted into the hole of the locking portion 7b on the opposite side of the fence member 6. This allows the end frame member 7 to be assembled to the fence member 6 on the same plane.

In this way, in the detection fence 1 according to this embodiment, the end frame member 7 can be attached to the fence member 6 in two positions. When used to close the gap with the adjacent first detection fence 1A (the gap between the fence members 6, 6), as in the case of the end frame member 7 attached to the second detection fence 1B in FIG. 1, it is preferable to assemble the end frame member 7 on the same plane as the fence member 6, as shown in FIG. 8. On the other hand, when used to allow a worker to detect the end of a continuous detection fence 1 (the end of the scaffolding board 8), as in the case of the end frame member 7 attached to the first detection fence 1A in FIG. 1, it is preferable to assemble the end frame member 7 in a position perpendicular to the fence member 6, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and (b).

For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, an end frame member 7 is attached to the right end of the first detection fence 1A and the left end of the third detection fence 1C in a position perpendicular to the fence member 6, allowing the worker to detect the ends of the detection fence 1 (ends of the first detection fence 1A to the third detection fence 1C). In addition, an end frame member 7 is attached to the right end of the second detection fence 1B and the right end of the third detection fence 1C in the same plane as the fence member 6, closing the gap between adjacent fence members 6.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 12, it is also possible to provide two end frame members 7 on one side of the fence member 6. This makes it possible to narrow the gap between the end frame members 7 in the vertical direction, thereby improving the safety of workers.

When using the sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the support 4 is inserted into the tube portion 51 and the connecting member 5 is fixed to the support 4. Then, the gate G is engaged with the locking portion 53, and the gate G is clamped between the locking portion 53 and the clamping portion 56. Furthermore, the scaffolding board 8 is fixed to the upper surface of the board support portion 52, and the fence member 6 is assembled to the support portion 54. After that, one or more end frame members 7 are assembled to the fence member 6 according to the arrangement shape of the sensor fence 1.

In this embodiment, the connecting member 5 is fixed to the post 4 so that it can slide along the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when the connecting member 5 is fixed at a low position on the post 4, the detection fence 1 can be connected to the gate G in a tilted position on the truck T as shown in Figures 1 and 2. On the other hand, when the connecting member 5 is fixed at a high position on the post 4, the detection fence 1 can be connected to the gate G in an upright position on the truck T as shown in Figures 11 and 12. In this way, in the detection fence 1 according to this embodiment, it is possible to change the height of the fence member 6 by changing the fixing position of the connecting member 5 on the post 4.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 9(a) and (b), the first and second detection fences 1A and 1B can be arranged close to each other by inserting the insertion portion 31a of the support leg 3 of the right support member 2 of the second detection fence 1B into the insertion portion 31b of the support leg 3 of the left support member 2 of the first detection fence 1A. In this case, it is necessary to rotate the horizontal position of the connecting member 5 relative to the support post 4 of each support member 2 from the position shown in Figure 2 to change it to a position where the insertion portion 31a of the left support leg 3 is inserted into the insertion portion 31b of the right support leg 3.

As described above, in this embodiment, the post 4 of the left support member 2 of the first detection fence 1A and the post 4 of the right support member 2 of the second detection fence 1B can be positioned close to each other, making it possible to reduce the gap between the fence members 6, 6 and make the dimensions of the end frame member 7 compact.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 10(a) and (b), when storing multiple support members 2 when the sensor fence 1 is not in use, the posts 4, 4... of the support members 2 can be arranged close to each other by continuously inserting the insertion portion 31a of the support leg 3 of one support member 2 into the insertion portion 31b of the support leg 3 of the other support member 2. At this time, the cushioning material 31c of one leg body 31 abuts against the other leg body 31, so that the leg bodies 31 do not come into direct contact with each other.

In this case, the connecting member 5 of each support member 2 can be rotated horizontally from the position shown in FIG. 2 to change the horizontal position of the connecting member 5 relative to the support post 4. This allows the plate support portions 52 of the connecting member 5 to not interfere with each other when the insertion portion 31a of one support leg 3 is inserted into the insertion portion 31b of the other support leg 3. That is, in the sensor fence 1 according to this embodiment, the multiple support members 2 can be arranged close to each other in a position where the plate support portions 52 of the connecting members 5 do not interfere with each other. This makes it possible to store the multiple support members 2 in a compact manner without removing the connecting member 5. It is also possible to store the multiple support members 2 with the connecting member 5 removed from the support post 4.

1 Sensing fence 1A First sensing fence
1B Second sensing fence 1C Third sensing fence
2 Support member 3 Support leg
4 Support 5 Connecting member
6 Fence member 6a Horizontal pipe
6b Protrusion 6c Fixing pin
7 End frame member 7a Locking portion
7b Retaining portion 7c Retaining pin
8 Scaffolding boards
31 Text body 31a Insertion part
31b Inserted part 31c Cushioning material
32 Pillar support part 33 Wheel
41 Auxiliary support 42 Support pin
51 Cylindrical portion 51a Supported recess
52 plate support part 52a regulation part
53 Locking part 54 Support part
55 Bracket 55a Fixing plate
56 Clamping portion 56a Locking portion
56b Contact portion 56c Unlock portion
57 Clamp portion 57a Clamp support portion
57b gripping portion 57c compression spring
57d Pressing portion 57e Contact plate
58 Fixed member 58a Fixed spring
59 Roller 59a Roller support portion
T Truck C Bed
G Gate (engaged member)

Claims (6)

A sensor fence for preventing a worker from falling off a loading platform, comprising at least one support member and a fence member supported by the support member,
The support member includes a support leg, a support post provided on the support leg, and a connecting member fixed to the support post so as to be slidable along a longitudinal direction,
The connecting member includes a support portion that supports the fence member and a locking portion that can be locked to a locked member on the loading platform, and is capable of changing a horizontal position relative to the support pole;
The support leg is formed with an inserting portion and an inserted portion,
A sensing fence in which the support post of one of the support members and the support post of the other support member are brought into close proximity by inserting the insertion portion of the support leg of one of the support members into the insertion portion of the support leg of the other support member. The sensor fence of claim 1, wherein the connecting member can be fixed at any position in the longitudinal direction of the support and can freely change its horizontal position relative to the support. The support leg has a rod-shaped member that is bent or curved in a horizontal direction to form the inserted portion and the insertion portion,
3. The sensor fence according to claim 1, wherein the support leg is provided with a plurality of wheels of the same size. The connecting member has a plate support portion formed between the support portion and the locking portion,
The plate support portion is formed with a clamping portion capable of clamping the locked member of the loading platform between the plate support portion and the locking portion,
4. The detection fence according to claim 1, wherein a scaffolding board can be spanned between the board support portion of the first support member and the board support portion of the second support member. The connecting member includes a cylindrical portion through which the support post of the support member can be inserted,
The connecting member is attached to the support pole in a state where the support pole is inserted into the cylindrical portion,
5. The sensor fence according to claim 4, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises a clamp portion that clamps the support post, and a roller that abuts against the support post on the side opposite the plate support portion to maintain the orientation of the cylindrical portion relative to the support post. An end frame member can be assembled to the fence member,
A sensing fence as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the end frame member is capable of being assembled to the fence member in a position in the same plane as the fence member or in a position perpendicular to the fence member in a plan view.

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