Casters with a circulating positioning structure

Abstract

This invention relates to a caster with a cyclic positioning structure. By stepping on the pedal, the drive rod and drive plate are rotated, causing the positioning bolt on the drive plate to move cyclically between the first positioning point, the second positioning point, and the path point of the positioning component. This causes the cam unit to push against the shaft, allowing the positioning plate to engage or disengage from the directional hole. The locking end of the locking component engages or disengages from the locking groove, thereby achieving the effect of stopping or preventing the caster from rotating, or releasing or allowing the caster to rotate arbitrarily.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of wheel sets, and particularly to a caster with a cyclic positioning structure. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, in order to make the carrier (hospital bed, precision instrument or workbench, etc.) easy and effortless to move, casters are usually installed under the carrier. After the carrier is moved to a fixed point by the casters, the casters must be fixed by another locking component. The aforementioned locking component mainly achieves the effect of locking the casters by stepping on the brake pedal. When it is necessary to release the casters, there is a release pedal for stepping on to release the casters. However, the positions of the aforementioned brake pedal and release pedal are close to each other, which can easily lead to the problem of stepping on the wrong pedal.

[0003] In view of this, it is indeed necessary to provide a technical means to solve the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problem that casters are prone to misstepping due to the use of two different pedals for stopping or releasing.

[0005] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a caster with a cyclic positioning structure, comprising:

[0006] The drive assembly has a drive rod pivotally connected to a bracket and a drive piece fixed to the drive rod, the drive piece having a protruding portion and a positioning pin provided on the protruding portion;

[0007] The positioning member has a pivot portion that is pivotally connected to the bracket via a pivot rod. The positioning member has a first positioning portion protruding toward the drive piece. A first positioning point is formed between the side of the first positioning portion closer to the pivot rod and the side of the pivot portion. The positioning member has a second positioning portion that connects the first positioning portion and the pivot portion. A second positioning point is formed between the second positioning portion and the first positioning portion. The second positioning portion has a guide slope that is inclined toward the bracket. The positioning member has a third positioning portion that is connected to the pivot portion. The third positioning portion connects to the second positioning portion. A path point is formed between the third positioning portion and the second positioning portion.

[0008] An elastic element is sleeved on the pivot rod, one end of which is fixed to the bracket, and the other end of which is fixed to the positioning element;

[0009] A cam unit has a cam fixedly connected to the drive rod. The cam has a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion recessed from the edge. The first positioning portion has a first bottom surface, and the second positioning portion has a second bottom surface. The distance between the first bottom surface and the drive rod is greater than the distance between the second bottom surface and the drive rod. The cam unit also has a receiving member that continuously abuts against the cam.

[0010] The axis rests against the abutting component;

[0011] The orientation unit has an orientation member sleeved and fixed on the shaft, and a positioning piece sleeved on the shaft and displaced with the shaft. The orientation member has an orientation hole through which the main shaft passes, and the positioning piece has a locking portion protruding from the periphery.

[0012] The caster assembly is fixedly connected to this axis.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the elastic element is a torsion spring.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the caster assembly has casters for rolling on the ground.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the drive assembly further includes a pedal structure disposed on the drive rod, the pedal having two side plates fixedly connected to the drive rod, and a pedal connecting the two side plates.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the drive assembly further includes a retraction spring, one end of which is fixed to the drive plate and the other end of which is fixed to the bracket.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the drive rod has a polygonal cross-section, and the drive plate has a polygonal hole, through which the drive plate is fitted into the drive rod for fixation.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the positioning member further has a hook portion that connects to the third positioning portion. The hook portion has a hook surface facing the drive rod, and an opening is formed between the hook portion and the first positioning portion. The hook surface is inclined toward the opening.

[0019] By stepping on the pedal, the user drives the drive plate to rotate, causing the positioning pin of the drive plate to move cyclically between the first positioning point, the second positioning point, and the path point. This causes the cam unit to push against the shaft, allowing the positioning plate to engage or disengage from the directional hole, thereby achieving the effect of stopping or releasing the caster. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the present invention will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a partially enlarged side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 A side view of the positioning bolt moving from the first positioning point to the second positioning point;

[0025] Figure 5 Side view of the positioning bolt positioned at the second positioning point;

[0026] Figure 6 A side view of the positioning bolt as it leaves the second positioning point;

[0027] Figure 7A A side view of the locating bolt moving to the path point;

[0028] Figure 7B For based on Figure 7A A sectional view with cross-sections;

[0029] Figure 8A A side view of the positioning bolt pushing the positioning element to compress the elastic element;

[0030] Figure 8B For based on Figure 8A A sectional view with cross-sections;

[0031] Figure 9 A side sectional view of the caster assembly in a relaxed state;

[0032] Figure 10 A side sectional view of the caster assembly in a locked position.

[0033] Symbol Explanation

[0034] Driver Component 10

[0035] Bracket 11

[0036] Drive lever 12

[0037] Driver chip 13

[0038] Convex part 131

[0039] Positioning bolt 132

[0040] Polygonal Hole 133

[0041] Stepping structure 14

[0042] Side panel 141

[0043] Pedal 142

[0044] Contraction spring 15

[0045] Positioning component 20

[0046] First end 20A

[0047] Second end 20B

[0048] Pivot 21

[0049] Pivot 22

[0050] First Positioning Section 23

[0051] Guide arc surface 231

[0052] Second positioning unit 24

[0053] Guide ramp 241

[0054] Third Positioning Section 25

[0055] Hook 26

[0056] Hook noodles 261

[0057] Opening 27

[0058] Elastic element 30

[0059] Cam unit 40

[0060] Cam 41

[0061] First positioning unit 411

[0062] First bottom surface 4111

[0063] Second positioning unit 412

[0064] Second bottom surface 4121

[0065] Accepted item 42

[0066] Axis 50

[0067] First end 51

[0068] Second end 52

[0069] Orientation Unit 60

[0070] Orientation component 61

[0071] Directional Hole 611

[0072] Positioning Piece 62

[0073] Card Design Department 621

[0074] Caster set 70

[0075] Casters 71

[0076] 72 locking teeth

[0077] 721 locking groove

[0078] Card stop 80

[0079] 81

[0080] Stop end 82

[0081] First positioning point P1

[0082] Second positioning point P2

[0083] Path point P3

[0084] Vertical X

[0085] Horizontal Y

[0086] Z-axis height Detailed Implementation

[0087] The technical solutions of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0088] Please refer to 1 to Figure 10 This invention relates to a caster with a cyclic positioning structure, mainly comprising a drive assembly 10, a positioning element 20, an elastic element 30, a cam unit 40, a shaft 50, a guiding unit 60, and a caster assembly 70, wherein:

[0089] The drive assembly 10 has a bracket 11 and a drive rod 12 pivotally connected to the bracket 11, and a drive piece 13 fixed to the drive rod 12. The drive piece 13 has a protruding portion 131 and a positioning bolt 132 provided on the protruding portion 131. Preferably, the positioning bolt 132 protrudes slightly from the drive piece 13. The extension direction of the bracket 11 and the drive rod 12 is defined as transverse Y.

[0090] The positioning member 20 is pivotally connected to the bracket 11 via a pivot rod 21. The positioning member 20 has a first end 20A and a second end 20B, the extension direction between the first end 20A and the second end 20B being the height direction Z, which is perpendicular to the lateral direction Y. The first end 20A is pivotally connected to the bracket 11. The positioning member 20 has a pivot portion 22, which is pivotally connected to the bracket 11 via the pivot rod 21. The first end 20A is located in the pivot portion 22. The positioning member 20 also has a first positioning portion 23, which is connected to... The pivot portion 22 is closer to one side of the drive rod 12. The first positioning portion 23 extends along a longitudinal direction X, which is perpendicular to the transverse direction Y, so that the first positioning portion 23 extends toward the drive rod 12. A first positioning point P1 is formed between the side of the first positioning portion 23 closer to the pivot rod 21 and the side of the pivot portion 22 closer to the drive rod 12. The positioning member 20 also has a second positioning portion 24 connecting the first positioning portion 23 and the pivot portion 22. A second positioning point P2 is formed between the second positioning portion 24 and the first positioning portion 23. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 7B The second positioning part 24 has a guide slope 241 that is inclined toward the bracket 11. The positioning member 20 also has a third positioning part 25, which is connected to the pivot part 22. The pivot part 22 and the third positioning part 25 are connected along the height direction Z. The second end 20B is located in the third positioning part 25. The third positioning part 25 is also connected to the second positioning part 24, and a path point P3 is formed between the third positioning part 25 and the second positioning part 24.

[0091] In a preferred embodiment, the first positioning part 23 has a guide arc surface 231 on the side closer to the pivot 21, and the guide arc surface 231 is adjacent to the first positioning point P1.

[0092] The elastic element 30 is sleeved on the pivot rod 21. One end of the elastic element 30 is fixed to the bracket 11, and the other end of the elastic element 30 is fixed to the positioning element 20. In this embodiment, the elastic element 30 is a torsion spring. The fixed legs at both ends of the torsion spring are fixed to the positioning element 20 and the bracket 11 respectively. Through the elasticity of the torsion spring, the positioning element 20 can be pulled towards the drive rod 12.

[0093] Please refer to Figure 9 , 10The cam unit 40 has a cam 41 fixedly connected to the drive rod 12. The cam 41 has a first positioning part 411 and a second positioning part 412 recessed from the edge. The first positioning part 411 has a first bottom surface 4111, and the second positioning part 412 has a second bottom surface 4121. The distance between the first bottom surface 4111 and the drive rod 12 is greater than the distance between the second bottom surface 4121 and the drive rod 12. The cam unit 40 also has a receiving member 42 that continuously abuts against the cam 41.

[0094] One end of the shaft 50 is connected to the abutment 42. The end of the shaft 50 connected to the abutment 42 is defined as the first end 51, and the other end of the shaft 50 is defined as the second end 52.

[0095] The orientation unit 60 has an orientation member 61 sleeved on and fixed to the shaft 50, and a positioning piece 62 sleeved on the shaft 50 and displaced with the shaft 50. The orientation member 61 has an orientation hole 611 for the shaft 50 to pass through, and the positioning piece 62 has a locking part 621 protruding from the periphery, which is used to lock into the orientation hole 611.

[0096] The caster assembly 70 is connected to the drive assembly 10; in this embodiment, the caster assembly 70 has a caster 71 for rolling on the ground, the caster 71 has a locking tooth 72 on its inner side, the locking tooth 72 is generally circular, and the outer periphery of the locking tooth 72 has a plurality of locking grooves 721.

[0097] The locking member 80 is generally a single piece. The locking member 80 is pivotally mounted on the caster assembly 70. The locking member 80 has a corresponding abutting end 81 and a locking end 82. The second end 52 of the shaft 50 abuts against the abutting end 81. The locking end 82 is engaged in the locking groove 721 to stop the caster 71. When the locking end 82 moves away from the locking groove 721, the caster 71 is in a rolling state.

[0098] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 The drive assembly 10 also has a foot pedal structure 14 provided on the drive rod 12. The foot pedal structure 14 has two side plates 141 fixedly connected to the drive rod 12, and a pedal 142 connected to the two side plates 141. The drive rod 12 can be rotated by stepping on the pedal 142.

[0099] Secondly, the drive assembly 10 also has a retraction spring 15, which extends along the longitudinal direction X. One end of the retraction spring 15 is fixed to the drive plate 13, and the other end of the retraction spring 15 is fixed to the bracket 11. The retraction spring 15 pulls the drive plate 13 so that after stepping on the pedal structure 14 and releasing it, the retraction spring 15 can drive the drive plate 13 to return to its original position.

[0100] Furthermore, the drive rod 12 has a polygonal cross-section, and the drive plate 13 has a polygonal hole 133. The drive plate 13 is fixedly connected to the drive rod 12 by fitting into the drive rod 12 through the polygonal hole 133, and will be driven as the drive rod 12 rotates.

[0101] The positioning member 20 also has a hook 26 that connects to the third positioning part 25. The hook 26 has a hook surface 261 facing the drive rod 12. An opening 27 is formed between the hook 26 and the first positioning part 23. The hook surface 261 is inclined toward the opening 27. When the user steps on the pedal 142, the positioning bolt 132 is moved along the guide arc surface 231 to abut against the hook surface 261. The positioning bolt 132 will be guided by the hook surface 261 and fall into the opening 27, thereby allowing the positioning bolt 132 to be positioned at the second positioning point P2.

[0102] The above describes the structural configuration and connection relationships of the present invention in a preferred embodiment. The usage of the present invention and its effects are as follows:

[0103] Please see Figure 3 In the released state, the caster 71 can rotate freely, and the positioning bolt 132 is located at the first positioning point P1 and abuts against the first positioning part 23. Please refer to... Figure 9 Since the distance between the first bottom surface 4111 and the drive rod 12 is greater than the distance between the second bottom surface 4121 and the drive rod 12, the abutment 42 abuts against the second bottom surface 4121, making the abutment 42 closer to the drive rod 12. At this time, the positioning piece 62 is away from the directional hole 611. Since the positioning piece 62 is not restricted by the directional hole 611, the caster assembly 70 can rotate freely. At the same time, the locking end 82 is not locked in the locking groove 721. Therefore, the caster 71 can move freely.

[0104] Please see Figure 3 , 4When the user steps on the pedal 142, the pedal 142 drives the drive rod 12 to rotate, which in turn drives the drive plate 13 to rotate. This causes the positioning pin 132 to move from the first positioning point P1 along the guide arc surface 231 towards the opening 27. As the positioning pin 132 moves along the guide arc surface 231, it abuts against it. Since the positioning pin 132 protrudes slightly from the drive plate 13, its movement along the guide arc surface 231 causes the positioning member 20 to be pushed by the positioning pin 132 and pivot longitudinally X-shaped around the pivot rod 21. This moves the positioning pin 132 from the guide arc surface 231 to the hook surface 261, where it abuts against the hook surface 261. After the user releases the pedal 142, please refer to... Figure 5 As the first positioning part 23 is driven by the elastic member 30 to rotate toward the drive rod 12, the positioning bolt 132 will be guided by the hook surface 261 to fall into the opening 27, thereby allowing the positioning bolt 132 to be positioned at the second positioning point P2.

[0105] Please see Figure 10 As the cam 41 is driven to rotate, the first bottom surface 4111 of the cam 41 abuts against the abutment member 42. Since the distance between the first bottom surface 4111 and the drive rod 12 is greater than the distance between the second bottom surface 4121 and the drive rod 12, the abutment member 42 is pushed, thereby driving the shaft 50 to move away from the drive rod 12, thereby driving the positioning piece 62 to fall into the directional hole 611. Since the positioning piece 62 is restricted by the directional hole 611 and cannot rotate circumferentially, the shaft 50, which is fixedly connected to the positioning piece 62, also cannot rotate circumferentially, so the caster assembly 70 cannot rotate arbitrarily. At this time, the locking end 82 is also locked in the locking groove 721, so the caster 71 is in a stopped state.

[0106] Please see Figure 6 , 7A 7B, when the user steps on the pedal 142 again, the positioning bolt 132 leaves the second positioning point P2 and abuts against the third positioning part 25. When the user releases the pedal 142, the drive plate 13 rotates due to the pull of the retraction spring 15, causing the positioning bolt 132 to move to the path point P3.

[0107] Please see Figure 8A , 8BWhen the positioning bolt 132 is located at the path point P3, the positioning bolt 132 is guided by the guide ramp 241, which pushes the positioning member 20, causing the positioning member 20 to swing outward along the transverse Y direction to compress the elastic member 30. Then, the drive plate 13 is pivoted and reset by the pull of the contraction spring 15, so that the positioning bolt 132 moves back to the first positioning point P1, and the caster assembly 70 returns to a state where it can move freely and rotate.

[0108] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A caster with a circulating positioning structure, characterized in that, Include: The drive assembly has a drive rod pivotally connected to a bracket and a drive piece fixed to the drive rod, the drive piece having a protruding portion and a positioning pin provided on the protruding portion; The positioning member has a pivot portion that is pivotally connected to the bracket via a pivot rod. The positioning member has a first positioning portion protruding toward the drive piece. A first positioning point is formed between the side of the first positioning portion closer to the pivot rod and the side of the pivot portion. The positioning member has a second positioning portion that connects the first positioning portion and the pivot portion. A second positioning point is formed between the second positioning portion and the first positioning portion. The second positioning portion has a guide slope that is inclined toward the bracket. The positioning member has a third positioning portion that is connected to the pivot portion. The third positioning portion connects to the second positioning portion. A path point is formed between the third positioning portion and the second positioning portion. An elastic element is sleeved on the pivot rod, one end of which is fixed to the bracket, and the other end of which is fixed to the positioning element; A cam unit has a cam fixedly connected to the drive rod. The cam has a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion recessed from the edge. The first positioning portion has a first bottom surface, and the second positioning portion has a second bottom surface. The distance between the first bottom surface and the drive rod is greater than the distance between the second bottom surface and the drive rod. The cam unit also has a receiving member that continuously abuts against the cam. The shaft connects to the abutting component; The orientation unit has an orientation member sleeved and fixed on the shaft, and a positioning piece sleeved on the shaft and displaced with the shaft. The orientation member has an orientation hole for the shaft to pass through, and the positioning piece has a locking part protruding from the periphery. Caster assembly, which is fixedly connected to the drive assembly.

2. The caster with a circulating positioning structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element is a torsion spring.

3. The caster with a circulating positioning structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The caster set has casters for rolling on the ground.

4. The caster with a circulating positioning structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive assembly also has a foot pedal structure on the drive rod, the foot pedal structure having two side plates fixedly connected to the drive rod, and a pedal connecting the two side plates.

5. The caster with a circulating positioning structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive assembly also has a retraction spring, one end of which is fixed to the drive plate and the other end of which is fixed to the bracket.

6. The caster with a circulating positioning structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive rod has a polygonal cross-section, and the drive plate has a polygonal hole. The drive plate is fitted into the drive rod through the polygonal hole and fixed.

7. The caster with a circulating positioning structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning member further has a hook portion that connects to the third positioning part. The hook portion has a hook surface facing the drive rod. An opening is formed between the hook portion and the first positioning part, and the hook surface is inclined toward the opening.

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