JP7774288B2 - Transfer assist device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transfer assistance device that assists in the manual loading and unloading of cargo between a work platform and a cart.

Manual loading and unloading operations include manually loading and unloading cargo between a work platform and a transport vehicle.
This transfer work involves bending over to lift loads from a transport cart and manually place them on a work bench, or conversely, bending over to manually lower loads taken from the work bench onto the transport cart. This puts strain on the lower back, and many workers complain of lower back pain.
Therefore, there is a need to prevent lower back pain in order to improve the working environment.

One example of a container transfer device is described in Patent Document 1. In this container transfer device, a cart carrying multiple containers stacked in multiple layers is raised to the same height as a workbench using a lifter, and the multiple containers are then moved horizontally using a pusher, allowing them to be smoothly transferred from the cart to the workbench.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-28262

However, this requires multiple containers to be stacked in multiple layers on a cart, and if manual labor is required, workers will have to bend over and stack them by hand.

The present invention was developed in response to the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a transfer assistance device that assists in the manual loading and unloading of cargo between a work platform and a cart.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and invention [1] is a transfer assist device that includes a cart setting unit on which a cart is set, a lifting mechanism for the cart setting unit, a notification means for notifying the position of the topmost object among the objects stacked on the cart, and an assist operation means that, based on the notification from the notification means, operates the lifting mechanism to bring the objects one by one to a position where they can be transferred by lateral movement between the work platform and the cart, and when an object is being transferred from the work platform to the cart, the cart setting unit descends after the preceding object has been transferred, and when an object is being transferred from the cart to the work platform, the cart setting unit rises after the preceding object has been transferred.

The invention [2] is a transfer assistance device according to the invention [1], characterized in that the notification means is configured to notify whether or not an object to be transferred is present at a predetermined position.

The invention [3] is a transfer assistance device according to the invention [2], characterized in that the predetermined position of the notification means is changeable.

The invention [4] is a transfer assistance device according to any one of [1] to [3], characterized in that it is equipped with casters on the bottom surface and is portable.

The invention [5] is a transfer assist device described in any one of [1] to [4], characterized in that it is equipped with a notification means for notifying that a cart has been set in the cart setting section, and that when the cart is set, the assist operation is initiated based on the notification from the notification means.

The invention [6] is a transfer assist device described in any of [1] to [5], characterized in that upper and lower limit positions for the lifting and lowering caused by the assisting operation of the cart setting unit are set, and when the cart setting unit reaches the upper limit position, it starts to lower, and when it reaches the lower limit position, it starts to raise, and by stopping and restarting the operation, the cart is brought to a position where it can transfer the objects to be transferred one by one by moving laterally between the workbench and the cart.

The transfer assistance device of the present invention allows workers to manually load and unload loads between a work platform and a cart without bending over.

1 is a perspective view of a transfer assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage set unit of FIG. 1 . 2A and 2B are a front view, a top view, and a side view of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1; FIG.

A transfer assisting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this transfer assistance device 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, two base frames 3, 3 are arranged side by side horizontally with both ends aligned, and a connecting frame 5 (Figure 4) is interposed in the perpendicular direction between the axial ends of the two base frames 3, 3, connecting them and integrating them.
The reference numeral 7 denotes a housing. The housing 7 is a vertically long, flat rectangular parallelepiped overall, but there is a slope about three-fifths of the way down from the top, and the area below this is thicker than the area above. This large rectangular surface of the housing 7 is the front surface 7a.
The housing 7 is attached and fixed so that its lower end covers one axial end of each of the two base frames 3 and the connecting frame 5. A pair of through holes 7b are formed in the lower end of the front portion 7a, and the base frames 3 protrude from the through holes 7b at approximately right angles.

A caster 9 is attached to the tip of the portion of each base frame 3 protruding from the front portion 7a, i.e., the other axial end, and as shown in Figure 3, a caster 9 is also attached to the underside of the housing 7. On the housing 7 side, a caster 9 is attached to the underside of one axial end of the base frame 3. In other words, casters 9, 9, ... are attached to each of the rectangular corners of the bottom surface of the transfer assistance device 1, making the transfer assistance device 1 movable.

As shown in Figure 4, the housing 7 houses an elevating mechanism that utilizes a ball screw feed mechanism 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes a motor, which is fixed to the connecting frame 5 and has a shaft screw 11a connected to its rotation shaft. The axial direction of the shaft screw 11a is the vertical direction and extends upward. Inside the housing 7, a horizontal frame 7c is installed on the upper side, and a shaft screw bearing 7d is provided on this horizontal frame 7c. The upper end of the shaft screw 11a is supported by the shaft screw bearing 7d so as to be rotatable around its axis.
A screw 11b is threadedly engaged with the shaft screw 11a.

The lifting unit 15 is designated by the reference numeral 15. The main body of the lifting unit 15 is a rectangular frame 15a, which is erected with the frame surface facing horizontally. A pair of upper and lower bearings 15b, 15b are attached to the outer surfaces of the vertical frames on both the left and right sides.
Guide grooves 7e, 7e are provided on both the left and right sides inside the housing 7. Each guide groove 7e extends vertically with an inward opening, and a pair of upper and lower bearings 15b, 15b are fitted into these guide grooves so that they can slide vertically. Therefore, the lifting unit 15 can move vertically inside the housing 7.
The rear side of the lower frame of the frame body 15a of this lifting/lowering unit 15 is connected to the screw 11b via a connecting piece 15c, and the lifting/lowering unit 15 side and the screw 11b of the ball screw feed mechanism 11 are integrated.

Reference numeral 17 denotes the bogie set section. This bogie set section 17 is composed of a frame and is L-shaped when viewed from the left and right. A pair of horizontal frames 17a, 17a are arranged side by side with a gap between them and their ends aligned, with two connecting frames 17b, 17b installed with a gap between them. The ends of a pair of vertical frames 17c, 17c are connected orthogonally to one end of the horizontal frames 17a, 17a. Therefore, this pair of vertical frames 17c, 17c are arranged side by side with a gap between them and their ends aligned, extending vertically, with a connecting frame 17d installed at their upper ends.

The upper surfaces of the horizontal frames 17a, 17a form the platform for the cart. The distance between the outer surfaces of the horizontal frames 17a, 17a is smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the base frames 3, 3 that protrude from the housing 7, and there is a gap between adjacent horizontal frames 17a and base frames 3 in the left-right direction.

Two mounting frames 17e, 17e are fixed to the rear surface of each vertical frame 17c at an interval above and below, and each mounting frame 17e protrudes toward the rear surface.
A pair of communication holes 7f, 7f are formed in the front portion 7a of the housing 7. Each communication hole 7f is an elongated rectangular hole extending in the vertical direction. The communication holes 7f, 7f are arranged in parallel with a gap between them, and the heights of both ends in the vertical direction are aligned.
The mounting frames 17e, 17e of each vertical frame 17c are passed through the communication holes 7f so as to be movable in the vertical direction and enter the inside of the housing 7, with the vertical frames 17c, 17c facing the communication holes 7f, 7f.

Mounting frames 17e, 17e, . . . that are inserted into the housing 7 are attached and fixed to the front side of the frame 15a of the lifting section 15.
Since the screw 11b, connecting piece 15c, frame body 15a, mounting frame 17e, and vertical frame 17c of the trolley set section 17 are all integrated, when the motor 13 is driven, the forward and reverse rotation of the shaft screw 11a causes the screw 11b to move up and down, and the trolley set section 17 rises and falls while maintaining its L-shaped posture.

An upper limit switch 19 and a lower limit switch 21 are provided inside the housing 7, and these limit switches 19, 21 are turned ON when the frame body 15a of the lifting unit 15 comes into contact with them.
A carriage set limit switch 23 is provided at an L-shaped corner of the carriage set section 17. A receiving piece 25 is rotatably attached to the connecting frame 17b on the housing 7 side via a hinge 25a, and this receiving piece 25 covers the carriage set limit switch 23 from above. Therefore, when the receiving piece 25 is pressed down by a load, this limit switch 23 turns ON.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a support shaft, which is attached near the end of the front portion 7a of the housing 7. A reflective photoelectric sensor 29 is fixed to a screw-type clamper 31, which is slidably attached to the support shaft 27. The photoelectric sensor 29 can be installed at a predetermined height within the range of the vertical length of the support shaft 27. The light irradiation direction of the photoelectric sensor 29 is perpendicular to the vertical movement path of the cart setting unit 17, and detects whether or not a load is present at the height where the light is irradiated.
The photoelectric sensor 29 is located in a position that does not interfere with the raising and lowering of the carriage setting section 17 or the carriage placed thereon.

An operation box 33 is connected to the side of the housing 7 on which the support shaft 27 is attached, and various lamp buttons for operation are arranged on the front side of the operation box 33.
A control unit is housed inside this operation box 33. This control unit is made up of a microcomputer, and is connected by wiring (not shown) to the motor 13, limit switches 19, 21, 23, and photoelectric sensor 29, and controls the lifting and lowering operations.

When the power button is pressed and the frame body 15a comes into contact with the lower limit switch 21 to turn it on, the cart is set and the cart set limit switch 23 turns on, and when the start button is pressed, the cart set unit 17 starts to move up and down to assist.
The cart setting unit 17 moves upward from the starting position, and when it reaches the upper limit switch 19 and turns ON, it moves downward from that position, and when it reaches the lower limit switch 21 and turns ON, it moves upward from that position in the same manner as above.
In this way, contact with the lower limit switch 21 triggers the start of an upward movement, and contact with the upper limit switch 19 triggers the start of a downward movement. During continuous movement, contact with the lower limit switch 21 automatically reverses the downward movement to an upward movement, and contact with the upper limit switch 19 automatically reverses the upward movement to a downward movement.
The timing for stopping and restarting the ascending or descending operation is determined based on a notification from the photoelectric sensor 29.

In other words, during the ascent operation, the control unit causes the photoelectric sensor 29 to raise the container when it does not detect a container, stops the operation when it detects a container, and resumes the ascent when it no longer detects the container. During the descent operation, the control unit causes the photoelectric sensor 29 to lower the container when it detects a container, stops the operation when it no longer detects the container, and resumes the descent when it again detects the container.

The transfer assist device 1 is configured as described above, and when used to manually load and unload a container B between a transport cart A and a work platform C, it operates as follows.
First, a case where a (filled) container B placed on a workbench C is transferred to a cart A (workbench → cart) will be described with reference to FIG.
The position where the frame 15a contacts the lower limit switch 21 is the standby position of the cart setting unit 17, and if it is not in that position, press the setting position button to lower it to that position.

With respect to the cart setting unit 17 in the standby position, the cart A is moved and pushed toward the housing 7 in a state in which the horizontal frames 17a, 17a of the cart setting unit 17 are sandwiched between the casters on the cart A side. It is not necessary to lift the cart A, but it is sufficient to simply move it.
As a result, the carriage A is set in place, the support piece 25 is pushed down, and the carriage set limit switch 23 is turned on. When the start button is pressed, the carriage set unit 17 begins to rise. When the upper limit switch 19 is turned on, the carriage set unit 17 stops at that position. At this height, the carriage A's mounting surface and the top surface of the work platform C are almost at the same height.

In this state, container B1 that was on work platform C can be transferred to cart A with a nearly lateral movement. When container B1 is transferred, the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that a container is present, and the control unit drives motor 13 to lower it. As the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that a container is not present, the descent stops. At this height, the height of the loading surface for the following container B2, formed by the upper end surface of container B1, is nearly aligned with the top surface of work platform C. In this state, container B2 that was on work platform C can be transferred to cart A with a nearly lateral movement. In this way, the loading surface on cart A descends each time a container B is transferred, so container B can always be transferred with a lateral movement.

When the trolley set section 17 contacts the lower limit switch 21, it will not descend any further, so that if more containers B are to be stacked, the containers will have to be lifted, but at least bending and stooping will not be required.
After a predetermined number of containers B have been stacked, the carriage A is withdrawn from the carriage setting section 17, thereby completing the transfer operation.

Next, a case where (empty) containers B stacked in multiple layers on a cart A are transferred to a workbench C (cart → workbench) will be described with reference to FIG.
The position where the frame 15a contacts the lower limit switch 21 is the standby position of the cart setting unit 17, and if it is not in that position, press the setting position button to lower it to that position.

With respect to the cart setting unit 17 in the standby position, the cart A is moved and pushed toward the housing 7 in a state in which the horizontal frames 17a, 17a of the cart setting unit 17 are sandwiched between the casters on the cart A side. It is not necessary to lift the cart A, but it is sufficient to simply move it.
As a result, the cart A is set, the receiving piece 25 is pushed down, and the cart set limit switch 23 is turned ON. When the start button is pressed, the cart A rises to a position where the height of the loading surface of the top container B1 of the containers B1, B2, ... stacked on the cart A is approximately aligned with the top surface of the work platform C, and stops at that position. If the loading surface of the top container B1 is higher than the top surface of the work platform C, the cart will remain stopped. In this state, the container B1 that was on the cart A can be transferred to the work platform C by manually lowering it or by moving it sideways.

When container B1 is transferred and removed, the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that there is no container, so the control unit drives the motor 13 to lift the container. As the container rises, the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that there is a container, so the lifting stops. At this height, the loading surface of the following container B2 and the top surface of the work platform C are roughly aligned, so container B2 that was on cart A can be transferred to work platform C with a roughly lateral movement. In this way, the loading surface on cart A rises each time a container B is removed, so container B can always be transferred with a lateral movement.

Since the container B placed on the lowest level of the carriage setting section 17 can be transferred by horizontal movement, there is no need to bend over.
After all the containers B have been removed, the carriage A is pulled out from the carriage setting section 17, thereby completing the transfer operation.

The photoelectric sensor 29 and control unit work together as described above to realize the notification means, which notifies the position of the topmost container B among the containers B1, B2, ... stacked on the cart A based on whether or not the topmost container B is at the detection height. Furthermore, the motor 13 and control unit work together as described above to realize the assist operation means, which rises or lowers to a position that allows the next container B to move laterally.

The transfer assist device 1 assists in the transfer, eliminating the need for the worker to bend over, thereby reducing the burden on the worker's body.
It is designed to be able to accommodate actual work, and although the height of the workbench C differs between standing work and sitting work, it can always accommodate the height of the workbench C by changing the height of the clamp position of the photoelectric sensor 29.
There is a hole in the side of container B, but by changing the direction of the photoelectric sensor 29, it can be adjusted so that it hits container B. Furthermore, since the photoelectric sensor 29 is constantly sensing, it can also handle mixed cargo whose containers B are of different sizes and have different weights after being packed.
It has 9 casters, so you can move it anywhere you like, and there are no restrictions on where you can assist.
This transfer assist device 1 is standardly designed for a 100V power supply, but can also be equipped with a battery, so it can be used in places without a power source.
Furthermore, this transfer assist device 1 can be made to order, and the distance between the base frames 3, 3 can be adjusted to fit the actual carriage used, making it possible to adapt it to the current work situation.

When transferring an empty container B from a cart A onto a work platform C, filling it with cargo, and then transferring it onto another cart A', by installing two transfer assistance devices 1, the series of operations can be repeated continuously while switching carts, as shown in Figure 7.
In parallel with the sequential transfer of empty containers B3, B2, B1 from the cart A to the work bench C, the containers B3, B2, B1 are loaded on the work bench C and then sequentially transferred to the cart A' waiting to be loaded with the container B.
Once containers B3, B2, and B1 have been transferred onto cart A', cart A' is pulled out along with containers B3, B2, and B1, and another cart A" is set in place. The start button is pressed, and work can be continued. In other words, while empty containers B3', B2', and B1' are successively transferred from cart A" to workbench C, containers B3', B2', and B1' are loaded onto workbench C and then loaded and then transferred successively to cart A, which is waiting to be loaded with container B.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the invention also includes design changes within the scope of the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in an environment where there is ample space and dust or the like is likely to adhere to the lens, it may be possible to use a transmission type instead of the reflection type photoelectric sensor 29 .
Depending on the shape of the load, it may be necessary to stack the load in multiple layers on the cart A without using the container B, and this can of course also be accommodated. In other words, the object to be transferred may be the load itself or a container into which the load is packed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Transfer assist device 3...Base frame 5...Connecting frame 7...Housing 7a...Front portion 7b...Through hole 7c...Horizontal frame 7d...Shaft screw bearing 7e...Guide groove 7f...Communicating hole 9...Caster 11...Ball screw feed mechanism 11a...Shaft screw 11b...Screw 13...Motor 15...Lifting section 15a...Frame body 15b...Bearing 15c...Connecting piece 17...Cart set section 17a...Horizontal frame 17b...Connecting frame 17c...Vertical frame 17d...Connecting frame 17e...Mounting frame 19...Upper limit switch 21...Lower limit switch 23...Cart set limit switch 25...Receiving piece 25a...Hinge 27...Support shaft 29...Photoelectric sensor 31...Screw-type clamper 33...Operation box A...Cart B...Container C...Work table

Claims (4)

a carriage setting section on which a carriage is set, a notification means for notifying that the carriage has been set in the carriage setting section, a lifting mechanism for the carriage setting section, a notification means for notifying the position of the topmost object among the objects to be transferred among the objects to be transferred, and an assist operation means for operating the lifting mechanism based on a notification from the notification means for notifying the position of the topmost object among the objects to be transferred among the objects to be transferred, to bring the objects to a position where they can be transferred one by one by horizontal movement between the work table and the carriage, and a portable transfer assist device in which a connecting frame is connected and integrated between one axial end side of each of two parallel base frames, and a bottom section is formed by casters on both axial end sides of each of the base frames, and which is movable in the axial direction of the base frames,
The carriage set unit includes a pair of horizontal frames arranged in parallel in the same direction as the base frame,
the distance between the outer surfaces of the parallel horizontal frames is smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the parallel base frames, and the parallel horizontal frames are positioned between the parallel base frames when viewed from above, with a distance between adjacent horizontal frames and base frames;
The notification means for notifying that the bogie has been set in the bogie setting section is composed of a bogie set limit switch provided in the bogie setting section and a receiving piece rotatably attached to the connecting frame of the bogie setting section and covering the bogie set limit switch from above, and notifies that the bogie has been set when the receiving piece is pressed down by a load,
You can move to the assist location,
When the carriage setting unit is set to the lowest standby position and the carriage is driven to push in from the other axial end side of the base frame so that the casters on the carriage side sandwich the parallel horizontal frames , the carriage is set so as to be able to be pulled out , and the upper surfaces of the parallel horizontal frames become the loading surfaces for the set carriage,
When the carriage is set, an assist operation is started based on a notification from a notification means that notifies that the carriage has been set;
A transfer assist device characterized by performing an assisting operation in which, when transferring an object from the work platform to the cart, the cart set unit descends after the preceding object has been transferred, and, when transferring an object from the cart to the work platform, the cart set unit rises after the preceding object has been transferred. 2. The transfer assist device according to claim 1,
A transfer assist device characterized in that the informing means is configured to notify whether or not an object to be transferred is present at a predetermined position. 3. The transfer assist device according to claim 2,
A transfer assist device characterized in that the predetermined position of the informing means is changeable. 4. The transfer assist device according to claim 1,
This transfer assist device is characterized in that upper and lower limit positions for the lifting and lowering caused by the assisting operation of the trolley setting unit are set, and when the trolley setting unit reaches the upper limit position, it starts to lower, and when it reaches the lower limit position, it starts to raise, and by stopping and restarting the operation, it brings the trolley to a position where the objects to be transferred can be transferred one by one by lateral movement between the workbench and the trolley.