JPH0543596B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides a method for stacking containers vertically.
The present invention relates to a container connecting device that can connect and secure these containers.

(Prior art) As a conventional container coupling device, the
As shown in Publication No. 48432, a diagonal groove is formed in the shaft rod, and a ring is inserted between the inner surface of the main body and the shaft rod, and a protrusion is inserted inwardly from this ring and is locked outwardly. There is known a structure in which the rods are respectively protruded, the protrusions are engaged with the diagonal grooves, and the locking rods are engaged with the peripheral edge of the engagement hole of the container.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the case of such a container coupling device, it is necessary to rotate the lower engagement portion in advance to a position where it overlaps with the engagement hole of the container, which makes the work complicated. Become.
Moreover, if the engaging part is pressed against the engaging hole of the container while the operation to the overlapping position is incomplete, the engaging part will come into contact with the engaging hole in an engaged state.
There was a problem that it could not be inserted into the engagement hole of the container.

The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned problems, and provides a container connecting device that can engage an engaging portion without previously operating the engaging portion to a position overlapping the engaging hole of the container.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is a container connecting device for connecting an upper container and a lower container each having an engaging hole at an opposing position. A coupling device main body is provided with a fitting portion that can be fitted into the hole, and a through hole passing through the fitting portion, and a coupling device body is rotatably supported by the through hole of the coupling device main body, and both ends thereof are penetrated. A shaft protruding to the outside of the hole, connected to the protruding end of the shaft so as to rotate integrally with the shaft, having a planar shape corresponding to the engagement hole of the container, and intersecting with each other. The shaft rod is biased by a spring means in a direction in which the lower engaging part engages with the engaging hole of the lower container. , the lower engaging part is formed in a shape that is guided by the hole edge of the engaging hole of the lower container and rotates in the retracting direction against the biasing force of the spring means, and the lower engaging part is guided by the hole edge of the engaging hole of the lower container. When the lower engaging part is pressed at a position where it intersects with the engaging hole of the lower container while engaged with the matching hole, the couple acting on the lower engaging part resists the biasing force of the spring means. When the lower engaging portion is rotated and completely inserted into the engaging hole, the lower engaging portion is returned to the engaging position using the spring means.

(Operation) When the lower engaging part is pressed against the engaging hole of the lower container at a position where it intersects with the engaging hole, a couple acts on the lower engaging part due to the pressing force, and the lower engaging part is pressed against the engaging hole of the lower container. A rotational force is applied to the engaging portion against the biasing force of the spring means.
Then, when the lower engagement part is guided by the edge of the lower engagement hole and rotates to a position where it matches the engagement hole,
The lower engagement portion is inserted into the engagement hole. On the other hand, when the lower engaging part is completely inserted into the lower engaging hole, the spring means returns to the original position, that is, the crossing position where the lower engaging part engages with the lower engaging hole.

At this time, the upper and lower engaging portions are engaged with either the engagement hole of the upper container or the engagement hole of the lower container, and the container coupling device is prevented from falling off.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

A container coupling device 1 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5. This container coupling device 1
As shown in Fig. 6, when the containers 2 and 3 are stacked vertically, the connecting device is interposed between the upper container 2 and the lower container 3 to connect and secure both containers 2 and 3. It is comprised of a main body 4 and a shaft 7 which is rotatably supported by the main body 4 of the connecting device and integrally connects an upper engaging portion 5 and a lower engaging portion 6 vertically.

The coupling device main body 4 is provided with an upper fitting part 8 and a lower fitting part 9 at the upper and lower sides, respectively. The upper fitting part 8 fits into the engagement hole 10 of the upper container 2 and functions to position the coupling device main body 4 with respect to the upper container 2, while the lower fitting part 9 fits into the engagement hole 10 of the upper container 2.
The coupling device body 4 is fitted into the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 3, and has a planar shape corresponding to the engagement holes 10 and 11, respectively.

Further, a through hole 12 is provided in the connecting device main body 4 so as to pass through the above-mentioned fitting portions 8 and 9, and a shaft rod 7 is rotatably supported in this through hole 12. The connecting device main body 4 has a split structure that can be split into left and right parts at the center, and both split parts 4L and 4R are integrally fixed by fasteners 40 such as bolts.

The upper engagement part 5 engages with the engagement hole 10 of the upper container 2, and has a planar shape corresponding to the engagement hole 10 (upper engagement part 8), and as the shaft rod 7 rotates, the upper engagement part 5 engages with the engagement hole 10 of the upper container 2. The upper surface of the fitting part 8 is slid and rotated.
The upper engaging portion 5 is arranged so that the shaft rod 7 is at an intermediate rotational position C (the position shown in FIG. 10) between the first rotational position A (the position shown in FIG. 9) and the second rotational position B (the position shown in FIG. 11). when the upper container 2 is aligned with the upper fitting part 8.
On the other hand, when the shaft rod 7 is in the first rotation position A or the second rotation position B, it is engaged with the engagement hole 10.

The lower engagement part 6 engages with the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 3, and has a planar shape corresponding to the engagement hole 11 (lower engagement part 9) and is adapted to the rotation of the shaft rod 7. At the same time, the lower surface of the lower fitting part 9 is slid and rotated.
When the shaft rod 7 is in the first rotational position A (the position shown in FIG. 9), the lower engaging part 6 matches the lower engaging part 9 and fits into the engaging hole 11 of the lower container 3. On the other hand, when the shaft rod 7 is in the second rotational position B (the position shown in FIG. 11), it engages with the engagement hole 11.

As is clear from these, the upper engaging part 5 and the lower engaging part 6 are respectively connected to the shaft rod 7 so as to intersect in an X shape when viewed from above.
When the upper engaging part 5 can be inserted into and removed from the engaging hole 10 of the upper container 2, the lower engaging part 6 engages with the engaging hole 11 of the lower container 3, while the lower engaging part 6 When the upper engaging portion 5 can be inserted into and removed from the engaging hole 11 of the lower container 3, the upper engaging portion 5 engages with the engaging hole 10 of the upper container 2.

Furthermore, when the lower engaging part 6 is engaged with the engaging hole 11, the insertion is performed smoothly, and the lower engaging part 6 has a shape that applies rotational force to the lower engaging part 6 (axis rod 7). It is formed. That is, the lower engaging portion 6 has a tapered inclined surface 15a which tapers from the base end 13 toward the distal end 14 on the front and rear (longitudinal direction) surfaces, assuming that the front side in FIG. 3 is the front side and the rear side is the rear side. 15b, a left downward slope 18a which slopes from the right side proximal end 16 to the left side distal end 17 is formed on approximately half of the entire portion, and conversely, the left side proximal end 19 is formed on the rear approximately half portion. A right-down slope 18b is formed that slopes from the right side to the right side tip 20, so that the ridge line that is the intersection line of the slope surfaces 15a and 18a serves as the rotation guide ridge line 21, while the intersection line of the slope surfaces 15b and 18b The ridge line that is a line is the rotation guide ridge line 22, and these rotation guide ridge lines 21, 22
are located at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft rod 7.

Therefore, when the lower engagement part 6 is pressed against the engagement hole 11 with the shaft rod 7 in the second rotational position B, the lower engagement part 6 closes in the engagement hole 11 at the position where it intersects with the engagement hole 11. Since it is brought into contact with the edge, a pressing force corresponding to the weight of the container acts on the lower engaging portion 6. This pressing force acts as a couple having the same magnitude and opposite directions along the rotation guide ridgelines 21 and 22 of the lower engaging part 6, so this force causes the lower engaging part to 6
is guided along the hole edge of the engagement hole 11 while being guided by the arrow
direction (Fig. 11), and eventually the first shaft of the shaft 7
It rotates to rotation position A.

Note that the direction and angle of inclination of the rotation guide ridge lines 21 and 22 are the same as those of the inclined surfaces 15a, 15b, 18.
The optimum value is set by adjusting the inclination angles of a and 18b, and this optimum value is determined in consideration of the balance with the engagement hole 11 and the rotation angle of the shaft rod 7 to be rotated. Furthermore, since the rotation guide ridgelines 21 and 22 are worn and chamfered with use, they may be formed in advance into rotation guide surfaces that smoothly connect the sloped surface and the tapered slope. In any case, it may be a ridgeline or a surface including the ridgeline that generates a force couple that rotates the lower engaging portion 6 due to the pressing force (container weight).

On the other hand, an operation space 23 is provided inside the coupling device main body 4.
is formed, and a sliding hole 24 is formed to surround the shaft rod 7, and a guide hole 25 is formed connecting the left and right sides of the sliding hole 24, forming an approximately A-shaped space as a whole. ing.

In the operation space 23, the drive shaft lever 2 is installed along with the shaft lever 7.
6 is rotatably supported by the coupling device main body 4, and an arm lever 27 is integrally connected to the drive shaft lever 26. As a result, by operating the arm rod 27,
The drive shaft rod 26 can be rotated between a release position D (the position shown in FIG. 9) and an engagement position E (the position shown in FIG. 11). A rotation transmission means is provided between the shaft rod 7 and the drive shaft rod 26, and this rotation transmission means is a driving gear 26a provided on the drive shaft rod 26.
and a driven gear 7a provided on the shaft rod 7. The drive gear 26a has a part without teeth, and meshes with the driven gear 7a while the arm rod 27 is rotated from the release position D to the engagement position E.
7 is in the engagement position E, they do not engage and the shaft rod 7
can rotate freely. Therefore, when the arm rod 27 is rotated from the release position D to the engagement position E, the shaft rod 7 is rotated from the first rotation position A to the second rotation position B.

On the other hand, in the sliding hole 24, the shaft rod 7 is moved from the first rotational position A to the second rotational position in cooperation with a stopper member 30, which will be described later.
A spring means 28 such as a spring that biases in the direction of rotational position B is slidably provided, and its base end is fixed to a support pin 31 integrated with the shaft rod 7, and its tip end is attached to a slide member 32. installed. The slide member 32 has an insertion hole for the lock confirmation member 29 therein, and locking grooves 33 are provided on both upper and lower surfaces, and the locking grooves 33 are formed with relief portions 33a. Therefore, the slide member 32 can slide together with the resilient body 28 within the slide hole 24 as the shaft rod 7 rotates.

Furthermore, the lock confirmation member 29 is for confirming the locked state of the container coupling device 1, and is made of a flexible rod-shaped material.
8 and the insertion hole of the slide member 32 and extends over substantially the entire length of the slide hole 24, and its central portion is fixed to the support pin 31. The left and right ends of the lock confirmation member 29 are connected to the openings 24a and 2 at both ends of the sliding hole 24 as the shaft rod 7 rotates.
4b, and when the left end protrudes, it indicates an automatic lock state, and when the right end protrudes, it indicates a manual lock state.

Note that cover members 34 and 35 are provided in the openings 24a and 24b at both ends, and holes through which the lock confirmation member 29 is inserted are formed in these, respectively.

Further, a stopper member 30 is slidably housed in the guide hole 25 . The stopper member 30 has a fork shape with bifurcated claws 35, 35 at both left and right ends, and has an insertion hole 30a in the center, through which the arm rod 27 is inserted. Then, when the arm rod 27 is in the release position D,
The stopper member 30 is located at the right end and the slide member 3
2 is movable within the sliding hole 24, and on the other hand, when the arm rod 27 is at the engagement position E, the stopper member 30
is the slide member 32 moved by the rotation of the shaft rod 7.
The slide member 32 is fixed by being locked in the locking groove 33 of the spring means 28, and the tip of the spring means 28 is in a fixed state.

Next, the operating procedure for connecting the containers 2 and 3 using the container connecting device 1 will be explained.

(1) Move the arm rod 27 of the container coupling device 1 to the release position D.
and the engagement position E, and then move the shaft lever 7 to the intermediate position F between
to intermediate rotational position C (Fig. 10). At this time, the upper engaging part 5 is in a position overlapping with the upper fitting part 8.

(2) In this state, connect the upper engaging part 5 to the upper container 2.
When the arm rod 27 is rotated to the engagement position E, the drive gear 26a rotates the shaft rod 7 to the second rotation position B while meshing with the driven gear 7a, and the upper engagement Connecting part 5 to engaging hole 1
0 (see Figure 11). At this time,
The slide member 32 and the lock confirmation member 29 move in the direction of arrow Y (FIG. 9). The slide member 32 is locked by the stopper member 30 to fix the tip of the spring means 28, and the left end of the lock confirmation member 29 protrudes from the coupling device main body 4. Further, the driven gear 7a is a driving gear 18a.
Since the shaft rod 7 is located in a toothless portion, the shaft rod 7 can freely rotate.

(3) In this state, move the upper container 2 to the lower container 3.
When placed on top, the weight of the upper container 2 causes the lower engaging portion 6 to close to the engaging hole 1 of the lower container 2.
1 is pressed against the hole edge. Since this pressing force acts as a couple along the rotation guide ridgelines 21 and 22 of the lower engaging part 6, this couple causes the lower engaging part 6 to move toward the hole edge of the engaging hole 11. The spring means 2 resists the biasing force of the spring means 28 while being guided by the
While stretching 8, move in the direction of arrow X (see Figure 11)
be rotated to On the other hand, the left end portion of the lock confirmation member 29 retracts into the main body 4 of the coupling device.

(4) By the above operation, the shaft rod 7 rotates to the first rotational position A shown in FIG. 12, and when the lower engagement part 6 is completely inserted into the engagement hole 11, the lower engagement Part 6
becomes freely rotatable. In other words, shaft 7
After rotating to the first rotational position A, the spring means 2
It rotates in the opposite direction (direction of arrow Y) due to the restoring force of 8. Then, when the shaft rod 7 returns to the second rotational position B, the lower engaging portion 6 engages with the engaging hole 11. Then, the left end portion of the lock confirmation member 29 protrudes from the coupling device main body 4 to indicate that the automatic lock state has been reached.

(5) To release the automatic lock state, strike the arm rod 27 with an operating rod or the like to rotate it from the engagement position E to the release position D.

(6) When the arm rod 27 is operated to the release position D, the stopper member 30 moves to the right and the slide member 32
The locked state between the drive gear 18a and the driven gear 7a is released, and the driving gear 18a meshes with the driven gear 7a to rotate the shaft rod 7.
As a result, the shaft rod 7 returns to the first rotational position A, so that the lower engagement portion 6 can be inserted into and removed from the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 3. At this time, the upper engaging portion 5 is engaged with the engaging hole 10 of the upper container 2, so when the upper container 2 is lifted up, the container coupling device 1 is lifted together, and when the upper container 2 is lowered onto land, the upper Engagement part 5
Just remove it.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, when the lower engaging portion is pressed at the position where it engages with the engaging hole of the lower container while the container coupling device is engaged with the upper container, the The lower engaging portion is rotated and inserted into the engaging hole of the lower container. When the lower engaging portion is inserted into the engaging hole, the lower engaging portion rotates and returns to the engaging hole due to the biasing force of the spring means. Engagement occurs automatically, making work easier. Moreover, when one of the upper and lower engaging parts is in a position where it can be freely inserted into and removed from the engaging hole, the other is in a position where it can be engaged with the engaging hole, so it is difficult to connect or detach the container. At times, it is possible to reliably prevent the container coupling device from falling off.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the container coupling device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container coupling device viewed from below, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the coupling device.
Fig. 3 is a front view, Fig. 4 is a side view, Fig. 5 is a bottom view, Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the state of use, Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a main view. A partial perspective view and FIGS. 9 to 12 are sectional views of main parts, with some parts omitted, for explaining the operating state thereof. 1...Container coupling device, 2...Upper container, 3...Lower container, 4...Coupling device main body,
5... Upper engaging part, 6... Lower engaging part, 7... Shaft rod, 8... Upper fitting part, 9... Lower fitting part, 1
0, 11...Engagement hole, 27...Arm rod, 28...Spring means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container connecting device that connects an upper container and a lower container each having an engaging hole at an opposing position, the container connecting device including a fitting part that can fit into the engaging hole of the container, a connecting device main body provided with a through hole passing through the fitting portion; a shaft rod rotatably supported in the through hole of the connecting device main body and having both ends protruding outside the through hole;
The upper engaging part and the lower engaging part are connected to the protruding end of the shaft rod so as to rotate together with the shaft rod, have a planar shape corresponding to the engaging hole of the container, and are provided to intersect with each other. the shaft rod is biased by a spring means in a direction in which the lower engaging portion engages with the engaging hole of the lower container;
The lower engaging part is formed in a shape that is guided by the hole edge of the engaging hole of the lower container and rotates in the retracting direction against the biasing force of the spring means, and the upper engaging part is guided by the hole edge of the engaging hole of the lower container. When the lower engaging part is pressed at a position where it intersects with the engaging hole of the lower container while engaged with the hole, the couple acting on the lower engaging part resists the biasing force of the spring means. 1. A container connecting device characterized in that the lower engaging portion is rotated and, when the lower engaging portion is completely inserted into the engaging hole, returns to a position where it engages with the engaging hole by means of a spring means.