JP7577326B2 - Luggage pushing assistance device and luggage pushing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a luggage pushing assistance device and a luggage pushing method.

Conventionally, a forklift is used in cargo transport operations carried out in warehouses, truck yards, etc., for example, by inserting two forks into the fork insertion openings of a pallet loaded with cargo, lifting the pallet off the floor, and transporting the cargo. In addition to the operation of lifting a pallet loaded with cargo in this way, the tips of the two forks are also used to push against the sides of the loaded pallet or the sides of the cargo itself, such as cardboard packaging, to slide it across the floor, moving cargo that is on a pallet or that is not on a pallet (hereinafter referred to as "pushing operation").

In the following, objects to be pushed using a forklift, such as a pallet alone, a pallet loaded with cargo, and cargo such as cardboard packages not placed on a pallet, will be collectively referred to as "cargo." However, in contexts where it is necessary to specifically distinguish or contrast the pallet portion of the cargo with the non-pallet portion, the former will be referred to as the "pallet" and the latter as the "cargo itself."

During pushing operations, the relatively sharp tips of the forks may collide with the side of the pallet or come into strong contact with the side of the cargo body, such as a cardboard box, which may damage the contact area of the pallet or cardboard box. As a technique for preventing damage to cargo during pushing operations, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for improving pallets, such as providing fork locking ribs around the fork insertion opening on the side of the pallet to allow the tips of the forks to safely and reliably contact the pallet without damaging the pallet.

Patent document 1 claims that by providing a fork-retaining rib on the pallet, it is possible to prevent the tips of the forks from accidentally coming off the side of the pallet they are in contact with when a forklift is used to perform a pushing operation, thereby preventing damage to the cargo.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-104331

However, in normal transport operations, the number of pallets deployed and used at transport bases such as truck yards often reaches tens or even hundreds. Furthermore, pallets are often used as part of cargo, loaded onto transport equipment such as trucks and ships, and transported not only within Japan but to destinations all over the world, in a circular distribution manner. Therefore, in anticipation of delays in pallet collection, it is necessary to prepare even more pallets at each transport base, and the number of pallets in circulation around the world is enormous. For this reason, if the technology of Patent Document 1 is applied to improve, modify, or update all pallets in use to have fork locking ribs, there is a problem that the costs will be enormous not only for one company but for the entire transport industry.

The technology proposed in Patent Document 1 is also unable to prevent damage to cargo that is not loaded on a pallet, for example cargo that is simply packed in a cardboard box, during the pushing operation. In other words, the fork locking rib technology in Patent Document 1 has the problem that it cannot be applied to prevent damage to cargo in the pushing operation of cargo in various forms other than cargo loaded on a pallet.

In addition, when transporting luggage using a forklift, one method to prevent damage to the luggage due to contact with the relatively sharp tips of the forks, which have a small cross-sectional area, is to attach rod-shaped members with a relatively large cross-sectional area to the tips of the two forks, and push the luggage while the rod-shaped members are placed between the tips of the forks and the luggage. In other words, this is a method that prevents the relatively sharp tips of the forks from directly contacting the luggage.

However, simply placing a fixed or detachable member between the tip of the fork and the load poses the problem that when a forklift is used to perform work other than pushing, the intervening member gets in the way and makes the work impossible, or the intervening member must be removed, slowing down the entire operation. Work other than pushing with a forklift includes lifting and transporting a pallet with the forks, as described above, as well as attaching a towing device such as a winch to the base of the forks to pull the pallet toward the base, and hanging a load from the tip of the fork.

For example, when lifting and moving a pallet with a forklift, if there is an object between the tips of the forks and the pallet, the forks cannot be inserted into the fork insertion openings on the pallet. This requires the forklift operator to get off the driver's seat, move to the position of the tips of the forks, remove the object between the tips, then return to the driver's seat and operate the forklift to insert the forks into the fork insertion openings, which is time-consuming and results in work being stalled.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a luggage pushing assistance device and luggage pushing method for use in luggage pushing operations using a forklift, which can be applied to pushing not only luggage placed on pallets, but also luggage in a variety of other packaging configurations, and which enables overall cost reductions, including reductions in repair and replacement costs associated with pallet damage caused by contact with the fork tips, reductions in compensation costs associated with damage to the luggage itself, and reductions in labor costs associated with such maintenance work.

The luggage pushing assistance device described in claim 1 has a base portion arranged at the base of the two forks of a forklift, an arm member rotatably attached to the base portion, a push plate attached to the tip of the arm member and positioned at the tip of the fork when the arm member rotates and falls forward, and positioned at the base of the fork when the arm member rotates and stands up, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the arm member so that the push plate is positioned at the tip or base of the fork.

According to the above configuration, it is only necessary to attach a relatively simple structured push-out auxiliary device having a base, an arm member, a push plate, and a rotating mechanism to a forklift, and there is no need to modify or update the pallets used in the transport operation. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology proposed in Patent Document 1, which requires the modification or updating of all pallets circulating in the market, it is possible to obtain at least the same damage prevention effect at a lower overall cost.

In addition, with the above configuration, by positioning the push plate at the tip of the fork during the pushing operation, the tip of the fork does not come into direct contact with the cargo. Therefore, by moving the forklift forward, it is possible to push out the cargo via the push plate, even if the cargo is not loaded on a pallet. In this way, the above configuration can be applied to the pushing operation of not only cargo placed on a pallet, but also cargo in a variety of other packaging forms.

In addition, with the above configuration, when a forklift is used to perform a pushing operation, the arm member is tilted forward by the pivoting mechanism, and the push plate is positioned at the tip of the fork. In other words, since the push plate is interposed between the tip of the fork and the cargo, the tip of the fork does not come into direct contact with the cargo. This makes it possible to prevent damage to the cargo caused by contact with the tip of the fork.

In addition, with the above configuration, when using a forklift to perform work other than pushing, the arm member can be raised upward by the pivot mechanism, and the push plate will be positioned at the base of the fork. In other words, the push plate is removed from between the tip of the fork and the load, so it does not get in the way when the forklift is performing work other than pushing.

This eliminates the need for an operator to, for example, get off the driver's seat, move to the tip of the fork, remove the interposing member from the tip, then return to the driver's seat and operate the forklift to insert the fork into the fork insertion port. As a result, the work efficiency of the pushing operation is improved compared to when a member is simply interposed between the tip of the fork and the load.

In the luggage pushing assistance device described in claim 2, the rotating mechanism is a string-like member with one end attached to the tip side of the push plate or arm member and the other end reaching the operator's hand via a pulley provided on the forklift.

According to the above configuration, the rotation mechanism can be easily configured using a string-like member, which reduces costs. In addition, the pulley with a pulley effect reduces the burden on the operator of pulling the string-like member.

The method for pushing out luggage described in claim 3 is to mount a luggage pushing assistance device on a forklift, the device having a base portion disposed at the base of the two forks of the forklift, an arm member rotatably attached to the base portion, a push plate attached to the tip of the arm member and positioned at the tip of the fork when the arm member rotates and falls forward, and positioned at the base of the fork when the arm member rotates and stands up, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the arm member so that the push plate is positioned at the tip or base of the fork, and when performing a pushing operation, the arm member is tilted forward by the rotation mechanism so that the push plate is positioned at the tip of the fork, and the forklift is moved forward with the front surface of the push plate in contact with the luggage to push out the luggage, and when performing an operation other than a pushing operation, the arm member is raised upward by the rotation mechanism so that the push plate is positioned at the base of the fork, and the push plate is removed from between the tip of the fork and the luggage.

As with the push-out assist device of claim 1, the above configuration can be applied to pushing out not only cargo loaded on pallets, but also cargo in a variety of other packaging configurations. It also reduces overall costs and makes work smoother and more efficient, while preventing damage to cargo caused by contact with the tips of the forks.

The present invention can provide a luggage pushing assistance device and luggage pushing method that can be applied to pushing not only luggage placed on pallets, but also luggage in various other packaging configurations, and can reduce overall costs, including reducing repair and replacement costs associated with pallet damage caused by contact with the fork tips, reducing compensation costs associated with damage to the luggage itself, and reducing labor costs associated with such maintenance work, and making work smoother and more efficient.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a luggage push-out assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view (part 1) illustrating a luggage pushing method using the luggage pushing assistance device of this embodiment, with a portion cut away. FIG. 2 is a side view (part 2) illustrating a luggage pushing method using the luggage pushing assistance device of this embodiment, with a portion cut away. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view (part 3) illustrating a luggage pushing method using the luggage pushing assistance device of this embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 4. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view illustrating a luggage pushing method using the luggage pushing assistance device of this embodiment (part 4). FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view (part 5) illustrating a luggage pushing method using the luggage pushing assistance device of this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a side view (part 1) illustrating, with a portion cut away, a method for carrying out luggage using a forklift equipped with the luggage push-out assist device of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view (part 2) illustrating a method of carrying out luggage using a forklift equipped with the luggage push-out assist device of this embodiment, with a portion cut away. 13 is a plan view illustrating another configuration example of a rotation mechanism included in the luggage push-out assist device. FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating another example of the configuration of the push plate included in the luggage push-out assistance device. FIG. FIG. 12(A) is a side view illustrating an arm member provided with a rotation assist device in an upright position, and FIG. 12(B) is a side view illustrating an arm member provided with a rotation assist device in a fallen position.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are given the same or similar symbols. However, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, the thickness ratio of each device and each component, etc. differ from the actual ones. Therefore, the specific thickness and dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, there are parts in which the dimensional relationships and ratios differ between the drawings.

<Luggage Push-Out Assistance Device>
The luggage pushing assistance device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the luggage pushing assistance device 10 according to the present embodiment is a device that is attached to a forklift 20 used in luggage transport operations, and has a base portion 12, an arm member 14, a push plate 16, and a rotating mechanism 18.

(Base part)
The base 12 is disposed at the base of two forks 22 of the forklift 20. In this embodiment, the base 12 is a single plate-like member. Note that in the present invention, the material of the base 12 can be arbitrarily set to, for example, a metal member such as a steel plate, a wooden member, a resin member, or the like.

The two ends of the base 12 in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1) are bent downward in FIG. 1 so as to straddle the two forks 22 with respect to the central flat section that contacts the upper surface of the forks 22, forming side walls. The interior angle between the central flat section and the side walls at both ends is approximately 90 degrees. In other words, the base 12 in this embodiment is in an inverted U-shape, with the two forks 22 sandwiched inside the U-shape. This prevents the base 12 from shifting sideways and falling off the two forks 22, and improves the unity between the two forks 22 and the base 12.

In the present invention, the base 12 is not limited to a single inverted U-shaped plate member. For example, an inverted U-shaped plate member may be provided separately as the base 12 for each of the two forks 22. The shape of the base 12 may be, for example, a cylindrical (O-shaped) shape with a bottom that contacts the underside of the fork 22 in addition to the inverted U-shape, and may be inserted through the tip of the fork 22 for attachment. In the present invention, any shape may be used as the shape of the base, as long as it can be placed at the base of the fork 22 and can be stably attached in a rotatable state to the arm member 14.

In addition, in this embodiment, the base 12 is disposed at the base of the fork 22 so that the inner surface of the base 12 smoothly contacts the surface of the fork 22. Therefore, when the forklift 20 moves forward and stops, the luggage pushing assistance device 10 is allowed to slide back and forth on the upper surface of the fork 22 in the area on the base side of the fork 22. The forward direction is the direction toward the tip side (lower left side in FIG. 1) as viewed from the base side of the fork 22, and the rearward direction is the direction toward the base side (upper right side in FIG. 1) as viewed from the tip of the fork 22. In addition, in the present invention, the base 12 may be fixed to the base of the fork 22 so that the luggage pushing assistance device 10 does not slide on the upper surface of the fork 22.

In addition, in the present invention, the base portion 12 may be shaped as a single plate. Even if the base portion 12 is shaped as a single plate and does not have a U-shaped sidewall portion as in this embodiment, the base portion 12 can be placed at the base of the two forks 22. Since the base portion 12 does not have a U-shaped sidewall portion, for example, even if the operator shifts the forks 22 in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction, the shifted forks 22 do not come into contact with the sidewall portions of the base portion 12. Therefore, damage to the base portion 22 due to contact can be prevented.

When the base 12 is shaped like a single plate, the base 22 and the fork 22 may be bound together using a binding member such as a string or belt to increase the unity of the base 22 and the fork 22. When the base 22 is made of a magnetic material, a magnetic force generator capable of switching the generation of magnetic force may be attached to the top of the base 22, and the base 22 and the fork 22 may be integrated together by forming a magnetic state in which the base 22 and the fork 22 attract each other. The magnetic force generator can prevent the base 12 from falling off the fork 22 with a simple switching operation.

(Support part)
The support portion 19A is attached, for example, by welding, to the upper surface of the base portion 12. The support portion 19A is a plate-shaped member, and the material of the support portion 19A can be set arbitrarily, similar to the base portion 12. In this embodiment, two support portions 19A are provided with an interval between them in the left-right direction in FIG.

The shaft member 19B is inserted and fixed into the two support parts 19A. In the present invention, for example, an L-shaped plate member may be prepared as the support part, and the shaft member 19B may be inserted into one of the plate parts forming the L shape, while the other plate part may be joined to the base part 12 by bolting or the like.

(Shaft member)
The shaft member 19B in this embodiment is a cylindrical rod-shaped member such as a steel bar, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shape of the shaft member 19B may be a polygonal column or other shape as long as the arm member 14 can rotate at the joint with the arm member 14. The material of the shaft member 19B is not limited to metal, and can be any material such as wood or resin. The shaft member 19B is supported by the support portion 19A in a state separated from the upper surface of the base portion 12.

In this embodiment, the shaft member 19B is inserted into the support portion 19A and fixed, and the arm member 14 is rotatably attached to the shaft member 19B. However, in the present invention, the shaft member may be inserted into the support member so as to be rotatable, and the arm member may be fixedly attached to the shaft member.

(Arm member)
The arm member 14 is a rod-shaped member that connects the shaft member 19B and the push plate 16. The arm member 14 in this embodiment is, for example, a square prism-shaped, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shape of the arm member may be other shapes, such as a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the arm member 14 is made of, for example, aluminum to reduce weight, but in the present invention, the material of the arm member is not limited to metal, and can be any material, such as wood or resin. In this embodiment, two arm members 14 are provided, but the number of arm members is not limited to two in the present invention. The number of arm members may be one, or three or more.

One end of the arm member 14 located on the base side of the fork 22 is rotatably attached to the shaft member 19B. The arm member 14 is rotatably attached to the base part 12 via the support part 19A and the shaft member 19B. A member for smoothly supporting the rotation, such as a bearing, can be provided between the base side end of the arm member 14 and the shaft member 19B.

The inclined portion 13 and the push plate 16 are attached to the other end, which is the tip of the arm member 14. When the arm is in a tilted state, the tip of the fork 22 faces the inclined portion 13 that is joined to the plate surface (inner surface) of the push plate 16 on the fork 22 side. In this specification, the "facing state" is explained as including both a contacting state and a state where they are separated by a certain distance. In other words, when the arm member 14 is in a tilted state, the tip of the fork 22 and the inclined portion 13 may be in contact or may be separated by a certain distance.

(Inclined portion)
In this embodiment, an inclined portion 13 is provided between the arm member 14 and the push plate 16 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The material of the inclined portion 13 is, for example, aluminum, like the arm member 14. The inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 facing the tip of the fork 22 (the left side surface in Fig. 3) is trapezoidal in side view. The inclined surface faces the tip of the fork 22 when the arm member 14 is tilted during the pushing operation.

The inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 is formed so as to move away from the tip of the fork 22 as it moves from the top to the bottom in FIG. 3. In other words, the inclined surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane while extending from the upper left to the lower right in FIG. 3. The inclined portion 13 and the push plate 16 of this embodiment correspond to the "push plate" of the present invention. Also, the inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 of this embodiment corresponds to the "plate surface of the push plate" of the present invention.

The inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 allows the arm member 14 to smoothly switch between an upright state and a fallen state. Specifically, when the arm member 14 falls, the distance between the tip of the fork 22 and the inclined surface gradually decreases as the arm member 14 continues to rotate downward. This reduces the possibility of the tip of the fork 22 getting caught on the inclined portion 13, allowing the tip of the fork 22 to smoothly face the position of the inclined surface.

In addition, when the arm member 14 is raised, the distance between the tip of the fork 22 and the inclined surface gradually increases as the arm member 14 continues to rotate upward. This reduces the risk of the tip of the fork 22 getting caught on the inclined portion 13, just as it does when the arm member 14 falls, and allows the push plate to smoothly move out from between the tip of the fork 22 and the luggage.

The inclination angle of the inclined surface can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the shape of the side of the inclined portion 13 in this embodiment is a trapezoid with parallel upper and lower bases, but in the present invention, the shape of the side of the inclined portion is not limited to this. As long as an inclined surface can be formed, it can be changed as appropriate to a triangle, a rectangle other than a trapezoid, etc.

In the present embodiment, the case where the inclined portion 13 and the push plate 16, which are separate members, are joined together has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The inclined portion and the push plate may be disposed separately from each other without being joined. Also, in the present invention, the inclined portion and the push plate may be manufactured as a single unit.

In addition, in the present invention, the inclined portion is not essential, and the push plate 16 may be attached directly to the tip of the arm member 14. For example, a single plate-shaped member may be prepared as the push plate, and the portion of the inner surface of the push plate 16 that the tip of the fork 22 comes into contact with may be inclined. In the present invention, as long as the push plate 16 is interposed between the tip of the fork 22 and the luggage when the arm member 14 falls, the presence or absence of the inclined portion, the shape of the inclined portion, and the arrangement of the inclined portion are optional.

(Push plate)
The push plate 16 can be attached to the inclined portion 13 at the tip of the arm member 14 by, for example, welding or bolting. The push plate 16 in this embodiment is a rectangular plate-like member. In the present invention, the shape of the plate surface of the push plate is not limited to a rectangle, and a circle, an ellipse, any polygonal shape, etc. can be adopted. The material of the push plate is arbitrary, for example, a metal member such as a steel plate, a wooden member, a resin member, etc. The push plate may also be formed by combining two or more plate-like members.

In addition, with regard to the shape of the push plate, in this invention, even if the push plate looks rod-shaped as a whole when observed from a distance, it is considered to be a "push plate." In other words, the push plate of this invention is not limited to the name "plate." In addition, in this invention, one or more rod-shaped members extending in the width direction may be attached to the plate surface (outer surface) of the push plate 16 on the side opposite the fork 22, and the rod-shaped members may be brought into contact with the luggage.

In other words, in the present invention, the front surface of the push plate 16 opposite the forks 22 only needs to make linear or planar contact with the side of the luggage. Furthermore, if the area of the region where the front surface of the push plate 16 contacts the side of the luggage is set to be larger than the area of the contact area when the tips of the forks 22 directly contact the side of the luggage, the impact when the push plate 16 contacts the luggage is mitigated, and the pressing force per unit area in the contact area while the luggage is being pushed is also reduced, thereby improving the effect of preventing damage to the luggage.

(Rotation mechanism)
The pivot mechanism 18 pivots the push plate 16 between a position at the tip of the fork 22 and a position at the base side of the fork 22. In this embodiment, the pivot mechanism 18 includes a string-like member 18A and a pulley 18B.

For example, a rope containing cotton material can be used as the string-like member 18A in this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any material such as resin or metal can be used as the material of the string-like member. Furthermore, the string-like member is not limited to a rope, and may be, for example, a chain, a thread, a belt, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the string-like member may be of any shape as long as it is a long member that can be held and operated by an operator, or that can be wound up by a manual or electric winding machine.

One end of the fork 22 of the string-like member 18A on the tip side is attached to the push plate 16. In the present invention, one end of the string-like member 18A can also be attached to the tip side of the arm member 14 within a range that allows the push plate 16 to rotate. The other end of the fork 22 of the string-like member 18A on the base side is extended to the operator's hand via the pulley 18B.

As a result, the operator can raise the arm member 14 by grasping and pulling the other end of the string-like member 18A. When the arm member 14 is raised, as in the case of the push plate 16 shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, the push plate 16 is located at the base side of the forks 22 when the forklift 20 is viewed from the side.

In addition, if the operator pushes the arm member 14 in the raised position outward (towards the tips of the forks 22) using, for example, his/her fingers, the arm member 14 can be tilted downward by its own weight. After pushing out the arm member 14, the operator can adjust while decreasing the force pulling the string-like member 18A to support the push plate 16, thereby reducing the risk of the arm member 14 colliding with the forks 22 located below and being damaged when tilting the arm member 14. When the arm member 14 is tilted, as in the case of the push plate 16 shown by the solid line in Figure 1, the push plate 16 is located at the tips of the forks 22.

The pulley 18B in this embodiment is suspended from the fork 22 side of the ceiling 28 of the operator's seat of the forklift 20. Note that in the present invention, the pulley 18B is not essential, and the rotation mechanism may be composed of only the string-like member 18A. The attachment position of the pulley 18B is not limited to the ceiling 28 of the operator's seat and can be changed as appropriate. The number of pulleys 18B may be two or more. Note that in the present invention, the rotation mechanism is not limited to the string-like member 18A, and may be configured to electrically control the rotation of the arm member 14 using, for example, an electric motor 50 (see FIG. 10) or the like.

In this embodiment, when the arm members 14 are in a fallen state during the extrusion operation, the push plate 16 is positioned at the tip of the fork 22 so that the tip of the fork 22 faces the inclined portion 13 on the inner side of the push plate 16 (see FIG. 3). Also, in this embodiment, when the arm members 14 are in a fallen state, the two arm members 14 are arranged on the upper side of the base portion 12 so that they overlap in the vertical direction with the two corresponding forks 22 on the lower side.

In other words, when the arm member 14 is rotated to the lowest position, the tip of the fork 22 does not come into contact with the inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 and does not rotate further downward from the contact position. Therefore, when rotating the arm member 14 downward, the burden of position adjustment is small, and the tip of the fork 22 can easily face the inclined surface.

<How to push out luggage>
Next, a method for pushing luggage using the luggage pushing assistance device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. As an example of a pushing operation in which the luggage pushing method is carried out, a transport operation in which a pallet 30 on which luggage bodies are placed is carried onto the loading platform 24 of a truck will be described. The material of the pallet 30 may be any material, such as synthetic resin or wood.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the load pushing assistance device 10 is attached to the forklift 20 by placing the base 12 on the forks 22. As in the case of the push plate 16 shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, the string-like member 18A is pulled to raise the arm member 14, and the push plate 16 is moved away from the tip of the forks 22.

Next, as a non-pushing operation prior to the pushing operation, the operator 26 moves the pallet 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator 26 inserts the forks 22 into the fork insertion openings (not shown) of the pallet 30 (the first pallet 30) to lift the pallet 30, and moves the pallet 30 to the loading/unloading entrance 24A of the truck bed 24.

Then, the pallet 30 is further raised to the height of the floor surface of the loading/unloading entrance 24A, and while still raised, the forklift 20 is advanced a predetermined distance to send the pallet 30 from the loading/unloading entrance 24A into the inside of the loading platform 24, and then the forks 22 are lowered to lower the pallet 30 onto the floor surface G of the loading platform 24.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to perform the pushing operation, the forklift 20 is moved backwards and the forks 22 are removed from the fork insertion openings of the pallet 30. Then, the arm member 14 is tilted down by the pivot mechanism 18. As the arm member 14 is tilted forward, the push plate 16 is positioned at the tip of the forks 22.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the forklift 20 is moved forward with the tips of the forks 22 in contact with the inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 (the inner surface of the push plate of the present invention). If necessary, the forks 22 are slid up and down to adjust the height of the push plate 16 so that the front surface of the push plate 16 properly contacts the side of the pallet 30. FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the front surface of the push plate 16 (the right end surface in FIG. 5) is in contact with the entire side of the pallet 30 on the floor G of the loading platform 24. For ease of explanation, the main body of the luggage placed on the pallet 30 is not shown in FIG. 5.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the forklift 20 is moved forward with the tips of the forks 22 in contact with the inclined surface of the inclined section 13, and the pallet 30 is pushed toward the rear (to the right in FIG. 6) on the floor surface G of the loading platform 24. By pushing the pallet 30, it slides toward the rear on the floor surface G of the loading platform 24 a distance approximately equal to the length from the tips of the forks 22 to the base section 12. Note that to make it easier to slide the cargo, for example, a plate-shaped sliding support member may be installed between the pallet 30 and the floor surface G. The pushing operation is completed through the steps described using FIG. 2 to FIG. 6.

Next, we will explain the case where a task other than pushing, for example, moving a second pallet other than the first pallet 30, is performed consecutively to the pushing task. As shown in Figure 7, the string-like member 18A is pulled to raise the arm member 14 upward, and the push plate 16 is removed from between the tip of the fork 22 and the first pallet 30.

Note that in FIG. 7, an example is described in which the push plate 16 is retracted while the forks 22 remain positioned inside the truck bed 24, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the forklift 20 may be moved backwards with the arm member 14 in a downed position, and after the forklift 20 leaves the bed 24 so that the forks 22 are positioned outside the bed 24, the arm member 14 may be raised and the push plate 16 may be retracted from the tip of the fork 22.

Then, as explained in FIG. 2, the forks 22 are inserted into the fork insertion openings of the second pallet to lift the second pallet, and the second pallet is moved to the loading/unloading entrance 24A of the truck bed 24. The second pallet is then further lifted to the height of the floor surface G of the loading/unloading entrance 24A, and the forklift 20 is moved forward a predetermined distance while still lifted. On the floor surface G of the loading/unloading entrance 24A, the first pallet 30 has been pushed to the rear, leaving an empty space the size of one pallet on the empty space. Therefore, the second pallet can be placed in the empty space on the floor surface G using the forklift 20.

By repeating the same steps as those described in Figures 3 to 7, two pallets can be arranged side by side on the floor surface G of the truck bed 24. Furthermore, by repeating the steps described in Figures 2 to 7 a predetermined number of times, multiple pallets can be arranged side by side on the floor surface G between the rear side of the truck bed 24 and the loading/unloading entrance 24A.

In addition, for example, as in the floor surface G of the loading platform 24 illustrated in FIG. 5, if an empty space is formed on the floor surface G to the side of the placed pallet (above the pallet 30 in FIG. 5), the forklift 20 can be moved to the empty space side. By implementing the pushing method according to this embodiment described in FIGS. 2 to 7, multiple packages can be arranged side by side in the empty space as well, thereby increasing the stacking efficiency of the loading platform 24.

(Action and Effect)
According to the luggage pushing-out assist device 10 of this embodiment, it is only necessary to mount the pushing-out assist device, which has a relatively simple structure including a base part 12, an arm member 14, a push plate 16, and a rotating mechanism 18, on a forklift 20, and there is no need to modify or update the pallets used in the transport operation. Therefore, compared to modifying or updating all pallets, at least the same damage prevention effect can be obtained at a lower cost overall.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the push plate 16 and the inclined portion 13 are located at the tip of the fork 22 during the pushing operation, so that the tip of the fork 22 comes into contact with the inclined surface of the inclined portion 13 (the plate surface of the push plate of the present invention). Therefore, by moving the forklift 20 forward, it is possible to push the cargo via the push plate 16. Therefore, the above configuration is applicable to the pushing operation of not only cargo placed on a pallet, but also cargo in a variety of other packaging forms.

In addition, according to this embodiment, when a pushing operation is performed using the forklift 20, the arm member 14 is rotated and tilted forward by the pivoting mechanism 18, and the push plate 16 is positioned at the tip of the fork 22. In other words, since the push plate 16 is interposed between the tip of the fork 22 and the cargo, the tip of the fork 22 does not come into direct contact with the cargo. This prevents damage to the cargo due to contact with the tip of the fork 22.

In addition, according to this embodiment, when the forklift 20 is used to perform work other than pushing, the arm member 14 is rotated and raised upward by the pivot mechanism 18, and the push plate 16 is positioned at the base side of the forks 22. In other words, the push plate 16 moves out from between the tips of the forks 22 and the cargo, so it does not get in the way when the forklift 20 is performing work other than pushing.

This eliminates the need for the operator 26 to, for example, get off the driver's seat, move to the tip of the fork 22, remove the intervening member from the tip, then return to the driver's seat and operate the forklift 20 to insert the fork 22 into the fork insertion port. As a result, the work efficiency of the pushing operation is improved compared to when a member is simply interposed between the tip of the fork 22 and the cargo.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the rotation mechanism 18 can be easily configured using the string-like member 18A, thereby reducing costs. In addition, the pulley 18B, which has a pulley effect, can reduce the burden on the operator 26 of pulling the string-like member 18A.

The luggage pushing method using the luggage pushing assistance device 10 according to this embodiment can be applied to the pushing of luggage in a variety of different packaging configurations, in addition to luggage placed on pallets, as described above. It also reduces overall costs and improves the efficiency of the pushing operation, while preventing damage to luggage due to contact with the tips of the forks 22.

<Modification>
Next, with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, a modified example of an operation of unloading luggage from the bed 24 of a truck, which is an example of a transport operation using the forklift 20, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, in a modified example, in a forklift 20 equipped with a luggage pushing assistance device 10, a towing device 40 such as a winch for towing luggage is placed in the space above the base 12 of the forks 22. The length L1 of the base 12 (the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 8) is equal to or greater than the length L2 of the towing device 40. A support plate 42 extending substantially horizontally is provided on the mast side between the two forks 22 of the forklift 20, and the towing device 40 is installed on the support plate 42.

The cargo is placed on a sheet pallet 32 on the floor surface G of the truck bed 24. A towing member 44, such as a hook attached to one end of a rope, is attached to the end of the sheet pallet 32 on the forklift 20 side (left side in FIG. 8). A pallet 34 is inserted into the forks 22 of the forklift 20 to transfer the cargo pulled in by towing to the upper side. The pallet 34 is supported in the air with the height of its upper surface aligned approximately at the same height as the floor surface G.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the unloading operation of the modified example, the other end of the rope of the towing member 44 is wound up by the towing device 40. By winding up, the luggage loaded on the sheet pallet 32 is pulled into the base side of the forks 22 together with the sheet pallet 32. The unloading operation from the loading platform 24 is completed when the pulled-in luggage is transferred onto the pallet 34 inserted into the forks 22. When the unloading operation is performed, the arm member 14 of the luggage push-out auxiliary device 10 is raised, so the push plate 16 does not interfere with the movement of the luggage on the forks 22.

In the modified example, both the luggage pushing assistance device 10 and the towing device 40 can be mounted simultaneously on one forklift 20, making it possible for one forklift 20 to perform both luggage pushing and towing operations. In other words, there is no need to prepare separate forklifts for two different types of operations, which improves efficiency in terms of work time and cost. Also, according to the modified example, when the towing device 40 is used to pull luggage toward the base of the forks 22, the base 12 acts as a spacer, preventing the luggage from colliding with the towing device 40.

<Other embodiments>
Although the present invention has been described by the above disclosed embodiment, the description and drawings forming a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the rotating mechanism 18 including the string-like member 18A is exemplified, but the rotating mechanism of the present invention is not limited thereto.

(Another Example of Rotation Mechanism)
As shown in Fig. 10, the driven gear 52 is coaxially fixed to the shaft member 19B, and a driving gear 54 meshing with the driven gear 52 and an electric motor 50 for rotating the driving gear 54 can be mounted on the base 12. The direction of rotation of the electric motor 50 can be switched between forward and reverse. The power source of the forklift 20 or an external power source is connected to the electric motor 50 via a necessary auxiliary device such as an AC/DC converter. The forklift 20 may be provided with a control device (not shown) for switching the electric motor 50 on and off, switching the direction of rotation, adjusting the rotation speed, and the like. The electric motor 50, the driven gear 52, the driving gear 54, and the control device constitute a rotation mechanism of the present invention.

(Another example of a push plate)
11, side plates 17 extending toward the pallet 30 may be attached to both ends of the push plate 16 by welding, bolting, or the like. The push plate 16 and the pair of side plates 17 form a U-shape in plan view at the portion where the luggage push-out assistance device 10 grips the luggage. Since the push plate 16 and the pair of side plates 17 surround the luggage (pallet 30) on three sides in plan view, the luggage can be pushed out more stably compared to when the side plates 17 are not provided.

(Rotation assist device)
12(A) and 12(B), the luggage pushing-out assisting device 10 may be provided with a rotation assisting device 15 utilizing the elastic force of a spring to change the arm members 14 from an upright state to a reclined state. The rotation assisting device 15 has an attachment plate 15A bridged across the pair of arm members 14, a rod-shaped core member 15B provided on the attachment plate 15A, a spring member 15C having one end provided on the attachment plate 15A so as to wind around the core member 15B, and a contact plate 15D provided on the other end of the spring member 15C.

In Fig. 12(A), the mounting plate 15A is located near the push plate 16 of the arm member 14, on the left side of the raised arm member 14. Also in Fig. 12(A), the core member 15B extends leftward from the left side of the mounting plate 15A. Also in Fig. 12(A), inside the spring member 15C, a space is formed to the left of the core member 15B where the core member 15B is not present. In other words, the length of the spring member 15C in the left-right direction in Fig. 12(A) is longer than the length of the core member 15B in the left-right direction.

When the string-like member 18A is pulled toward the cockpit side (left side in FIG. 12(A)) in the state illustrated in FIG. 12(A), the arm member 14 falls toward the mast on the cockpit side, and the rotation assist device 15, which is provided on the arm member 14 at a position closer to the push plate 16, also moves toward the cockpit side. Then, the contact plate 15D comes into contact with a structure such as the mast of the forklift, and the string-like member 18A is further pulled, compressing the spring member 15C. When the spring member 15C is compressed, because the core member 15B is provided inside the spring member 15C, the elastic force of the spring member 15C prevents the spring member 15C from coming off the mounting plate 15A or the contact plate 15D.

When the spring member 15C is compressed, an elastic force is stored in the spring member 15C. Then, when the operator releases the force pulling the string-like member 18A, the elastic force pushes the arm member 14 so that it falls toward the fork 22 from the contact plate 15D. The rotation assist device 15 can reduce the workload of the operator when changing the arm member 14 from an upright position to a fallen position.

In the present invention, the configuration of the rotation assist device is not limited to the configuration exemplified in FIG. 12. For example, the rotation assist device may be provided on the base side of the arm member 14. Also, the mounting plate 15A is not essential, and the spring member 15C may be attached directly to the arm member 14. Also, the core member 15B or the contact plate 15D is not essential. Also, instead of attaching the rotation assist device to the arm member 14 with a mounting plate, the rotation assist device may be attached with a mounting plate to a portion of the structure, such as the mast of a forklift, that approaches the arm member in an upright position.

In addition, in the present invention, when the arm member is in the raised position, the arm member 14 can be held in a forward tilted state to the extent that it does not interfere with work other than pushing the forklift. By doing this, when the operator releases the force pulling the string-like member 18A, the arm member 14 will fall forward under its own weight, even without a rotation assist device.

(Fork support member)
Although not shown in the drawings, for example, a rod-shaped support member may be prepared, and one end of the support member may be brought into contact with the floor (ground) of a warehouse or truck yard, while the other end may be brought into contact with the underside of the fork 22, thereby supporting the fork 22. The support member can suppress bending of the fork 22, thereby increasing the strength of the fork 22 on which the load is carried.

In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the tip of the fork 22 is in contact with the inclined portion 13 attached to the push plate 16 and the load is pushed has been exemplified, but in the present invention, the configuration in which the tip of the fork 22 is in contact with the inclined portion 13 or the push plate 16 is not essential. For example, the base portion 12 is stably mounted to the forklift 20, and the arm member 14 is firmly attached to the base portion 12, so that the strength of the arm member 14 and the push plate 16 can be sufficiently ensured.

When the strength of the arm member 14 and the push plate 16 is sufficiently ensured, if the forklift 20 is moved forward, it is possible to push the cargo using only the arm member 14 and the push plate 16, even if the forks 22 and the push plate 16 do not come into contact with each other. However, by bringing the tips of the forks 22 into direct contact with the push plate 16, or indirectly contacting the push plate 16 via another member such as the inclined portion 13, the push plate 16 can be supported not only by the arm member 14 but also by the forks 22, improving the stability of the pushing operation.

In addition, in the present invention, an angle bar that is L-shaped in a side view can be used as the push plate. For example, with the arm member 14 in a tilted position, one of the two side walls of the L-shape of the angle bar overlaps the upper surface of the fork 22, and the inner corner of the L shape is placed at the tip of the fork 22. Then, the angle bar is placed so that the other side wall of the angle bar hangs down from the tip of the fork 22, and the upper surface of one side wall of the angle bar is connected to the arm member 14. The angle bar and the arm member 14 can be connected by, for example, welding or bolting.

When pushing out cargo, the front surface of the other side wall of the hanging angle bar is simply brought into contact with the opposing cargo. When using angle bars, the plate surface of a single angle bar can be used to connect the two arm members 14 to the angle bar. This improves the unity and simplifies manufacturing compared to, for example, attaching a push plate 16 to the front end surface of the arm member 14.

The present invention may also be constructed by partially combining the components included in each of the luggage pushing assistance devices shown in Figures 1 to 12. The present invention includes various embodiments not described above, and the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the invention-specific matters of the claims that are appropriate from the above description.

10 Luggage push-out assist device 12 Base portion 13 Inclined portion 14 Arm member 15 Rotation assist device 15A Mounting plate 15B Core member 15C Spring member 15D Contact plate 16 Push plate 17 Side plate 18 Rotation mechanism 18A String-like member 18B Pulley 19A Support portion 19B Shaft member 20 Forklift 22 Fork 24 Loading platform 24A Carry-in/out entrance 26 Operator 28 Ceiling portion 30 Pallet 32 Sheet pallet 34 Pallet 40 Traction device 42 Support plate 44 Traction member 50 Electric motor 52 Driven gear 54 Drive gear G Floor surface

Claims (3)

A base part is disposed at the base of two forks of the forklift;
An arm member rotatably attached to a base portion;
a push plate attached to the tip of the arm member, the push plate being located at the tip of the fork when the arm member is rotated and tilted forward, and being located at the base of the fork when the arm member is rotated and raised upward;
a rotation mechanism that rotates the arm member so that the push plate is positioned at the tip end or the base side of the fork;
A luggage pushing assistance device having the same. The rotating mechanism is a string-like member whose one end is attached to the tip side of the push plate or arm member and whose other end reaches the operator's hand via a pulley provided on the forklift.
The luggage pushing assistance device according to claim 1. A luggage pushing-out auxiliary device is attached to a forklift, the device having: a base portion to be placed at the base of two forks of the forklift; an arm member rotatably attached to the base portion; a push plate attached to the tip portion of the arm member and positioned at the tip portion of the forks when the arm member rotates and leans forward, and positioned at the base side of the forks when the arm member rotates and stands up; and a rotation mechanism that rotates the arm member so that the push plate is positioned at the tip portion or the base side of the forks,
When performing a pushing operation, the arm member is tilted forward by the pivot mechanism so that the push plate is positioned at the tip of the fork, and the forklift is moved forward with the front surface of the push plate in contact with the cargo to push out the cargo;
When performing an operation other than a pushing operation, the arm member is raised upward by the pivot mechanism so that the push plate is positioned at the base side of the fork, and the push plate is removed from between the tip of the fork and the luggage.
Luggage extrusion method.

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