Sheet pallet towing aid

Abstract

To provide a sheet pallet towing aid to which a towing hook can be attached without making holes in edges of a sheet pallet, and which can suppress a decrease in holding power and deformation of edges of the sheet pallet.SOLUTION: A sheet pallet towing aid 10 comprises a first plate 12 having a first clamping surface 12B arranged on one surface of an edge 22 of a sheet pallet 20; a second plate 14 having a second clamping surface 14B arranged on the other surface of the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and a portion as an attachment surface 14A, which does not overlap with the first plate 12 when the first clamping surface 12B and the second clamping surface 14B are overlapped; a body 15 provided on the attachment surface 14A and connected to a towing power device; and a clamp 30 which has a pedestal 32 fixed to the attachment surface 14A, presses the first plate 12 from above to press it against the second plate 14, and holds the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 between the first clamping surface 12B and the second clamping surface 14B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sheet pallet towing aid. [Background technology]

[0002] In containers transported by sea, cargo may be placed on top of a sheet pallet laid on the floor, and during unloading operations, the cargo is removed from the container together with the sheet pallet by towing the sheet pallet.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet pallet pulling jig that clamps the edge of a sheet pallet between a grip bar and a base plate, as a sheet pallet towing aid that can be attached to a towing hook without drilling holes in the edge of the sheet pallet and can clamp the sheet pallet with a plate material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-335128 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, since the grip bar in Patent Document 1 is a round bar member, the gripping surface of the grip bar against the sheet pallet is a long and thin line. Therefore, unless the grip bar strongly presses the sheet pallet, the sheet pallet may fall out from between the grip bar and the base plate.

[0006] In addition, because the grip bar of the round bar member presses the edge of the sheet pallet with a strong force, the force is concentrated on the narrow, elongated clamping surface, and the grip bar bites into the sheet pallet. Therefore, when a sheet pallet with a heavy load is towed with a strong force, the sheet pallet may break at the clamping surface between the grip bar and the base plate. This also creates a problem that the weight of the load that can be placed on the sheet pallet is limited to a relatively small amount.

[0007] The present disclosure aims to provide a sheet pallet towing aid that can securely clamp the edge of a sheet pallet with a simple operation and prevent the sheet pallet from falling off or breaking when towing a relatively heavy load. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The sheet pallet towing aid of the present disclosure comprises a first plate material having a first clamping surface arranged on one side of the edge of the sheet pallet, a second plate material having a second clamping surface arranged on the other side of the edge of the sheet pallet and having a mounting surface that does not overlap with the first plate material when the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface are overlapped, an engageable portion provided at the position of the mounting surface and connected to a towing power unit, and a clamp having a base fixed to the mounting surface, pressing the first plate material from above against the second plate material and clamping the edge of the sheet pallet with the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, the edge of the sheet pallet can be securely clamped, preventing the sheet pallet from falling off or breaking when towing a relatively heavy load. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a seat pallet is clamped by the seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2]1 is a plan view showing a state before a sheet pallet is clamped by the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sheet pallet is clamped by the sheet pallet towing aid of the first modified example, the sheet pallet towing aid being cut at the same position as line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sheet pallet is clamped by the sheet pallet towing aid of the second modified example, the sheet pallet towing aid being cut at the same position as line 3-3 in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The present embodiment will be described below. In the following description of the drawings, the same 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 member, etc. may differ from the actual ones. Therefore, the specific thickness and dimensions should be determined by taking into consideration the following description. In addition, there may be parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios between the drawings. In addition, unless otherwise specified in the specification, the number of each component of the present disclosure is not limited to one, and there may be more than one.

[0012] <Structure of sheet pallet towing aid> The structure of a sheet pallet towing aid 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. First, the sheet pallet 20 will be described.

[0013] (Sheet Pallet) The sheet pallet 20 according to this embodiment is made of polypropylene (PP) and has a thickness of about 0.7 mm. The sheet pallet 20 is rectangular in plan view, having an area larger than the bottom surface of the luggage 40 placed on the upper surface, and is about 1100 mm x 1100 mm. In this disclosure, the dimensions of the sheet pallet are not limited to this, and for example, when the bottom surface of the luggage is about 1000 mm x about 1000 mm, the dimensions of the rectangle of the sheet pallet on which the luggage is placed can be appropriately set according to the bottom area of ​​the luggage to be placed, such as about 1500 mm x about 1500 mm, about 1500 mm x about 2000 mm, etc.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the material of the sheet pallet is not limited to polypropylene (PP), which is a resin material, and as long as it is possible to slide the sheet pallet towing aid along a floor surface or the like by overlapping the first and second plate materials of the sheet pallet towing aid and clamping the edges and towing it, and it has flexibility that allows it to be rolled up or foldable, for example, organic materials such as cardboard, tent sheets, wooden boards, rubber sheets, and polyvinyl chloride sheets, metal materials such as steel plates, and composite materials such as carbon resins may be appropriately used.

[0015] The edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 according to this embodiment is an excess portion on which no cargo 40 exists. The edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped between the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14 of the sheet pallet towing aid 10, and the sheet pallet 20 is towed in the towing direction (transport direction D in FIG. 1 ) by an external towing power device (not shown) via the sheet pallet towing aid 10.

[0016] Next, the sheet pallet towing aid 10 according to this embodiment will be specifically described. As shown in Fig. 1, the sheet pallet towing aid 10 according to this embodiment has a first plate material 12, a second plate material 14, an engagement portion 18, and a clamp 30. The second plate material 14 has a larger plate width measured in the left-right direction in Fig. 1 than the first plate material 12. Figs. 1 to 4 show an example in which the plate width W2 of the second plate material 14 is larger than the plate width W1 of the first plate material 12.

[0017] (First plate material) The first plate material 12 has a lower surface in Fig. 3 as a first clamping surface 12B. The first clamping surface 12B is disposed so as to contact one surface of the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 (the upper surface in Fig. 3).

[0018] In this embodiment, the first plate 12 is a flat member made of aluminum, which is a lightweight metal material. Note that in this disclosure, the material of the first plate is not limited to this, and any material that has the strength to withstand the force applied to clamp the edge of the sheet pallet, such as a metal material such as steel, or a non-metal material such as resin, may be appropriately used.

[0019] In the present disclosure, the advantage of making the first plate from a lightweight metal material such as aluminum or a lightweight resin material is that the first plate can be made lighter than when a relatively heavy material such as steel is used, and as a result, the entire sheet pallet towing aid can be made lighter. The length measured along the length direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the first plate 12 according to this embodiment is approximately the same as the length in the width direction perpendicular to the towing direction (transport direction D) of the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and is approximately 1100 mm. In the present disclosure, the length in the length direction of the first plate is not limited to this, and may be longer or shorter than the width direction of the sheet pallet as long as the sheet pallet can be securely clamped and towed, and may be determined appropriately.

[0020] In this embodiment, the first plate material 12 extends in a plan view so as to be substantially perpendicular to the towing direction (transport direction D) when attached to the sheet pallet 20. That is, the length direction of the first plate material 12 and the towing direction are perpendicular to each other. The width of the first plate material 12 measured along the towing direction is about 50 mm, and the thickness of the first plate material 12 measured along the up-down direction in FIG. 3 is about 10 mm. Note that, in the present disclosure, the width and thickness of the first plate material are not limited to these values, and may be appropriately determined as long as the first plate material can be overlapped with the second plate material, the edges of the first plate material 12 are clamped, and the first plate material 12 is pulled so as to slide on a floor surface or the like, and the first plate material 12 has a strength that can withstand a force applied to clamp the edges of the sheet pallet.

[0021] (Second board) In this embodiment, the second plate 14 is a flat member, and is made of aluminum, which is a lightweight metal material, similar to the first plate 12. Note that in the present disclosure, the material of the second plate is not limited to this, and as long as it has the strength to withstand the force applied to clamp the edge of the sheet pallet, for example, a metal material such as steel, a non-metal material such as resin, etc. may be appropriately used, similar to the first plate.

[0022] The second plate 14 has an upper surface of a region on the left side in the left-right direction in Fig. 3 as a mounting surface 14A. The second plate 14 also has an upper surface of a region located to the right of the mounting surface 14A in Fig. 3 as a second clamping surface 14B. In other words, the mounting surface 14A is located outside the first clamping surface 12B of the first plate 12 (the side opposite the cargo 40). The second clamping surface 14B is disposed so as to contact the other surface of the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 (the lower surface in Fig. 3).

[0023] (positioning part) 3, in this embodiment, a step 14C is provided as a positioning portion at the boundary between the second clamping surface 14B and the mounting surface 14A of the second plate material 14. By abutting the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 against the step 14C, the edge portion 22 is precisely positioned so that the corner ridge of the edge portion 22, which is one side of the rectangular sheet pallet 20, is perpendicular to the conveying direction D during clamping. This allows the cargo to be conveyed more stably.

[0024] In the present disclosure, the shape of the positioning portion is not limited to the step 14C, and may be other shapes such as a rib, a stake-like protrusion, etc. In the present disclosure, the positioning portion may be configured by appropriately combining the step, the rib, the stake-like protrusion, etc. In the present disclosure, the positioning portion is not essential. That is, for example, the surface of the second plate material on the sheet pallet side may be flat.

[0025] (Engaged part) As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the engaged part 15 is composed of a fixed part 17 and a towing member 16 as an engaged means. Note that in the present disclosure, the engaged part is not limited to this, and may have any configuration as long as it has an engaged means that can be engaged with an engaging means on the side of a traction power unit (not shown) and has a strength that can withstand the traction force applied from the traction power unit (not shown), for example, it may be configured such that the fixed part does not protrude from the mounting surface and the towing member is attached using the thickness part of the second plate material as the fixed part, or it may be configured such that a recess or engagement hole is provided on the mounting surface part as the engaged means, which can be directly hooked and engaged with a hook or the like provided at the tip of the traction rope 19 extending from the traction power unit (not shown), without using a fixed part and a towing member.

[0026] (fixed part) As shown in Fig. 3, in this embodiment, a towing member 16 as an engaged means constituting the engaged portion 15 and a fixing portion 17 for fixing the towing member 16 are provided on the mounting surface 14A of the second plate material 14. As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the fixing portion 17 is a square prism protruding from the mounting surface 14A, but this is not limited to this in the present disclosure, and the shape and dimensions of the fixing portion may be appropriately determined as long as they are within a range that can withstand the towing force applied when towing the sheet pallet. Also, in this embodiment, the number of fixing portions 17 is one, but this is not limited to this in the present disclosure, and the number of fixing portions may be multiple.

[0027] In this embodiment, the fixing portion 17 is made of metal. In the present disclosure, the material of the fixing portion is not limited to metal, and may be made of, for example, resin or other materials as long as the material has a strength sufficient to withstand the traction force applied when the sheet pallet is towed. The fixing portion may be formed of a member having a metal core material coated with resin. In this embodiment, the fixing portion 17 is provided with a screw hole 17A into which the male screw portion 16A of the towing member 16 is detachably screwed.

[0028] (Traction member) 1, in this embodiment, the towing member 16 serving as the engaged means constituting the engaged portion 15 is an iron rod-shaped member, with a male thread portion 16A formed on the circumferential surface of one end of the rod-shaped member and a ring portion 16B provided on the other end. Note that in this disclosure, the material of the towing member is not limited to iron, and any material having a strength sufficient to withstand the towing force applied when towing the sheet pallet, such as stainless steel, brass, or high-strength resin, may be appropriately used, and a commercially available eye bolt or the like may also be used.

[0029] Since the male screw portion 16A of the towing member 16 is screwed into the screw hole 17A of the fixed portion 17, the towing member 16 can be attached and detached to and from the fixed portion 17 by tightening or loosening the screw. Therefore, when the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 10 is not being towed, such as when it is being stored, the towing member 16 can be removed from the fixed portion 17 to reduce the portion protruding outward from the fixed portion 17.

[0030] As a result, the storage space for the sheet pallet towing aid 10 can be reduced, and the worker can be prevented from getting his / her fingers caught or tripping on the portion protruding outward from the fixing portion 17, causing trouble. Note that in the present disclosure, the method of attaching the towing member to the fixing portion is not limited to the method of this embodiment, and for example, it is also possible to attach the towing member by providing a through hole in the fixing device, passing the towing member through the through hole, and screwing and tightening a nut on the tip of the towing member.

[0031] In addition, in the present disclosure, for example, when the material of the sheet pallet is a tent sheet or the like and the sheet pallet can be rolled up or folded up small when stored, by removing the long protruding towing member, the portion protruding outward from the fixed portion is reduced. As a result, with the sheet pallet towing aid attached to the sheet pallet, the sheet pallet can be easily rolled up and transported or stored so that the sheet pallet towing aid is wrapped inside the sheet pallet.

[0032] In this embodiment, the ring portion 16B is provided on the other end side (left side in FIG. 1) of the towing member 16, and a hook 18A provided as an engagement means of the engagement portion 18 at the tip of a towing rope 19 such as a wire extending from an external towing power device (not shown) is inserted into and engaged with the opening of the ring portion 16B. By engaging the ring portion 16B with the hook 18A in this manner, the towing force from the towing power device is also transmitted to the towing member 16, and the sheet pallet 20 clamped by the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 10 is towed.

[0033] (Engagement part) As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 18 is provided at the tip of a towing rope 19 extending from a towing power unit (not shown), and is a portion having an engaging means for engaging with the engaged portion 15 of the seat pallet towing aid 10. In this embodiment, the engaging means of the engaging portion 18 is a hook 18A. Note that, like the towing power unit (not shown) and the towing rope 19, the engaging portion 18 is an external member of the seat pallet towing aid 10, and transmits the towing force from the towing power unit (not shown) to the engaged portion 15 by engaging with the engaged portion 15 of the seat pallet towing aid 10.

[0034] (Hook) As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the hook 18A is an engagement means provided in the engagement portion 18 on the towing power unit (not shown) side, and is a member that engages with the ring portion 18B of the towing member 16 on the seat pallet towing aid 10 side to transmit the towing force from the towing power unit (not shown) to the towing member 16 and tow the seat pallet 20 clamped by the seat pallet towing aid 10.

[0035] The hook 18A is detachable from the towing member 16 with which it is engaged, in other words, the sheet pallet towing aid 10 is detachable from the towing power unit (not shown). In the present disclosure, the structure for detachably connecting the towing member and the engaging portion on the towing power unit side is not limited to the combination of a ring portion on the towing member side and a hook on the towing power unit side, and for example, a hook-shaped portion may be provided instead of the ring portion on the towing member side, and a ring-shaped member that engages with the hook-shaped portion may be provided as the engaging portion on the towing power unit side.

[0036] In addition, in the present disclosure, as a structure for detachably connecting the engaged portion on the seat pallet towing aid side and the engaging portion on the towing power unit side, for example, a structure may be adopted in which a recess is provided on the towing member side of the seat pallet towing aid, instead of a ring portion, onto which an engaging means on the towing power unit side, such as a hook, a spring clip, or a puller jaw, can be hooked. Alternatively, a structure may be adopted in which a member on the engaged portion side and a member on the engaging portion side are fitted together to connect.

[0037] (Clamp) 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the clamp 30 has a base 32 fixed on the mounting surface 14A, and is disposed on the base 32. Also, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the clamp 30 presses the first plate material 12 from above by pressing down the lever 30A, and the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is sandwiched between the second plate material 14 and the first plate material 12.

[0038] In this embodiment, the clamp 30 is a toggle clamp. Note that in this disclosure, the clamp is not limited to a toggle clamp, and may be, for example, a C-type clamp, an F-type clamp, or other clamps using screw fastening. Also, in this embodiment, the number of clamps 30 is four, but in this disclosure, the number of clamps can be set appropriately within a range that provides a sheet pallet clamping force that can withstand the traction force applied when the sheet pallet is towed.

[0039] (Anti-slip part) 3 and 4, in this embodiment, anti-slip portions 50 are provided on both the first clamping surface 12B of the first plate material 12 and the second clamping surface 14B of the second plate material 14. Note that in the present disclosure, as long as a clamping force is maintained that prevents the clamped sheet pallet from falling off due to the traction force applied when the sheet pallet is towed, the anti-slip portion may be provided on only one of the first clamping surface of the first plate material and the second clamping surface of the second plate material, or may not be provided at all.

[0040] In this embodiment, the anti-slip portion 50 is formed by bonding a sheet of a rubber material having a large static friction coefficient to each of the surfaces of the first clamping surface 12B and the second clamping surface 14B with an adhesive. In this embodiment, the anti-slip portion 50 is disposed over the entire length and width of each of the first clamping surface 12B and the second clamping surface 14B, but this is not limited to this in the present disclosure, and may be disposed partially in the length or width direction within a range where a clamping force is maintained that prevents the clamped sheet pallet from falling off due to the traction force applied when the sheet pallet is towed. In addition, the thickness of the rubber sheet used for the anti-slip portion may be appropriately determined within a range that has sufficient durability for practical use.

[0041] In the present disclosure, the material used for the anti-slip portion is not limited to rubber material, and can be any suitable material such as urethane sheet, cloth, particularly coarsely woven cloth, nonwoven fabric, coarse wallpaper, Japanese paper, etc., as long as the static friction coefficient is large enough to maintain a clamping force that prevents the clamped sheet pallet from falling off due to the traction force applied when the sheet pallet is towed.

[0042] In the present disclosure, when an anti-slip portion is provided, the static friction coefficient of the anti-slip portion is required to be greater than the static friction coefficient when the surface of the first plate material or the second plate material 14 is in direct contact with the surface of the sheet pallet. In addition, in the present disclosure, in order to enhance the anti-slip effect, an anti-slip agent such as rosin or rosin may be attached to or impregnated into the various anti-slip materials described above.

[0043] In addition, in the present disclosure, the anti-slip portion may not be provided on the first clamping surface and / or the second clamping surface from the beginning, but may be provided later at the time of use, taking into consideration the clamping force required by the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface according to the traction force that changes depending on the weight of the luggage and the condition of the floor surface during use. For example, an anti-slip member having a thin wire net attached to one surface of a double-sided tape may be prepared in advance, and when used, the adhesive surface protective film on the other surface of the double-sided tape may be peeled off, and the adhesive surface may be attached and fixed to the first clamping surface and / or the second clamping surface to form an anti-slip portion, and the surface with the wire net attached may be brought into contact with the sheet pallet.

[0044] When the surface to which the wire net is attached is brought into contact with the sheet pallet, if the sheet pallet is made of elastic plastic or the like, the wires will dig into the surface of the sheet pallet to a certain extent when a pressing force is applied to the sheet pallet sandwiched between the first plate material and the second plate material, preventing the sheet pallet from falling off between the first plate material and the second plate material. In this way, various materials or members can be used in various shapes as the anti-slip portion. In addition, in the present disclosure, the anti-slip portion is not limited to a member to which a separate member is attached, and for example, the static friction coefficient of the surface of the sandwiching surface may be increased by forming a rough surface by providing irregularities on the surface itself of the first sandwiching surface and / or the second sandwiching surface, and the rough surface portion may be used as the anti-slip portion.

[0045] (handle) As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, a handle 34 is attached to the mounting surface 14A of the second plate material 14, with a part of it protruding outward from the second plate material 14 as a gripping portion so that the second plate material 14 can be gripped with the fingers when the second plate material 14 is inserted between the underside of the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 and the floor surface G.

[0046] In the present disclosure, the installation of a handle is not essential, and when inserting the second plate between the underside of the edge of the sheet pallet and the floor surface, for example, the second plate, the first plate, or a lever of a clamp may be grasped and inserted. Also, in the present embodiment, the handle 34 is a rectangular pillar-shaped aluminum member, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the shape and material of the handle can be determined as appropriate.

[0047] In this embodiment, the handle 34 is welded to the mounting surface 14A, but in the present disclosure, this is not limited to this, and for example, the handle may be joined by screwing or the like. Note that in the present disclosure, the handle can be used for purposes other than holding the second plate material with fingers between the underside of the edge of the sheet pallet and the floor surface, for example, when operating the lever of the clamp, the handle can be stepped on with the foot and used as a pressing plate to prevent the sheet pallet towing aid from moving. In this way, by using the handle as a pressing plate, it becomes easier to apply force for clamp operation, improving the operability of the sheet pallet towing aid.

[0048] <How to use the sheet pallet towing aid> Next, a method of using the seat pallet towing aid 10 according to this embodiment will be described. First, the steps of connecting the seat pallet towing aid 10 and the seat pallet 20 will be described.

[0049] The worker inserts the second plate 14 of the sheet pallet towing aid 10 under the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and butts the step 14C, which is the positioning part of the second plate, against the corner ridge of the edge 22, so that the corner ridge line and the step line coincide, and positions the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 on the second clamping surface 14B of the second plate 14, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

[0050] Next, when the lever 30A of the clamp 30, which is a toggle clamp, is tilted to the side, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the first clamping surface 12B of the first plate material 12 attached to the tip of the clamp 30 presses against the upper surface of the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20. This pressing brings the first clamping surface 12B of the first plate material 12 and the upper surface of the edge portion 22 into close contact with each other via the non-slip portion 50, and also brings the second clamping surface 14B of the second plate material 14 into close contact with the lower surface of the edge portion 22 via the non-slip portion 50.

[0051] As a result, the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is firmly clamped by the sheet pallet towing aid 10, and the sheet pallet towing aid 10 and the sheet pallet 20 are connected together.

[0052] Next, a step of towing the seat pallet towing aid 10 connected to the seat pallet 20 by a towing power unit (not shown) will be described.

[0053] After the sheet pallet towing aid 10 and the sheet pallet 20 are connected, a hook 18A attached to an engagement portion 18 at the tip of a towing rope 19 extending from an external towing power device (not shown) is inserted and engaged with a ring portion 16B provided on a towing member 16 of the sheet pallet towing aid 10 connected to the sheet pallet 20. Then, the towing power device is started. As a result, the towing force from the towing power device is transmitted to the towing member 16 via the engagement portion 18, and the sheet pallet 20 connected to the sheet pallet towing aid is towed along the conveying direction D on the floor surface G together with the loaded cargo 40. The cargo 40 in this embodiment is a relatively heavy cargo of about 1 ton, and it has been confirmed that it can be towed by the sheet pallet towing aid 10 according to this embodiment, but the weight of the cargo in this disclosure is not limited to this, and may be any weight as long as it is within the range allowed by the clamping force of the sheet pallet by the sheet pallet towing aid and the tensile strength when towing the sheet pallet. When the sheet pallet 20 loaded with the cargo 40 has been transported to a predetermined location, the towing drive device (not shown) is stopped, and towing ends.

[0054] Next, a step of removing the seat pallet towing aid 10 from the seat pallet 20 after towing has been completed will be described.

[0055] The sheet pallet loaded with the luggage 40 is towed and transported to a predetermined location, the towing drive device (not shown) is stopped, and after towing is terminated, the lever 30A of the clamp 30, which is a toggle clamp, is raised, and as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the first clamping surface 12B of the first plate material 12 attached to the tip of the clamp 30 separates from the upper surface of the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20. As a result, the sheet pallet towing aid 10 is separated from the sheet pallet 20. Next, the hook 18A is removed from the ring portion 16B, and the sheet pallet towing aid 10 is separated from the external towing power device (not shown).

[0056] Then, the seat pallet towing aid 10 is carried to the position of the seat pallet 20 on which another cargo 40 to be transported is loaded, and the subsequent towing work is performed by repeating the steps following the work of connecting the seat pallet towing aid 10 and the seat pallet 20.

[0057] (Action and effect) According to the sheet pallet towing aid 10 of this embodiment, by making the plate width W2 of the second plate material 14 larger than the plate width W1 of the first plate material 12, a portion of the second plate material 14 that is not covered by the first plate material 12 can be secured as the mounting surface 14A, and the clamp 30 can be attached to this mounting surface 14A. In other words, the mounting surface 14A is a portion that does not overlap with the first plate material 12 when the first clamping surface 12B and the second clamping surface 14B are overlapped.

[0058] As a result, the pressing force of the clamp 30 is used to clamp the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 between the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14, and the sheet pallet 20 is towed by hooking a hook 18A attached to an engagement portion 18 at the tip of a towing rope extending from an external towing power unit onto a ring portion 16B provided on the towing member 16. This makes it possible to tow the sheet pallet 20 without drilling a towing hole in the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20.

[0059] Furthermore, with the sheet pallet towing aid according to this embodiment, the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped between the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14, so the contact surface (clamping surface) with the sheet pallet 20 is flat, and the contact surface is larger than when clamped with rod-shaped members. Therefore, compared to a conventional sheet pallet towing aid equipped with a rod-shaped grip bar, the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 can be clamped more reliably, and the sheet pallet 20 is less likely to become curved, so there is less risk of it being damaged at the curved part even with repeated use.

[0060] In the present embodiment, the plate width W2 of the second plate 14 is made larger than the plate width W1 of the first plate 12, and a towing eyebolt or clamp is attached to the increased portion, but this disclosure does not necessarily require such a configuration. For example, if a portion of the plate width is cut out at least at the center and both ends of the front side (the side closer to the traction power unit) of the first plate 12, or if the first plate 12 is formed into a lattice shape from the beginning, when the first plate 12 and the second plate 14 are stacked and viewed from above, the second plate 14 as the base is exposed at the cut out portion. The present disclosure can also be implemented by using the exposed portion (non-facing portion) as a mounting surface to attach a base or clamp for fixing an eyebolt.

[0061] Furthermore, with the sheet pallet towing aid according to this embodiment, the installation time can be reduced by holding the handle 34 during the installation work.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the sheet pallet towing aid of this embodiment, by providing the anti-slip portion 50, it is possible to use a clamp 30 that is relatively small and has a small pressing force.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the sheet pallet towing aid of this embodiment, the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 can be pressed against the step 14C, thereby allowing the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 to be accurately positioned on the second clamping surface 14B of the second plate material 14.

[0064] In addition, according to the sheet pallet towing aid of this embodiment, the toggle clamp of the clamp 30 has a toggle mechanism composed of a link material, and the first plate material 12 can be locked in a position pressing against the second plate material 14 by simply tilting the lever 30A.

[0065] <Other embodiments> The present disclosure has been described by the present embodiment shown above, but the present embodiment forms a part of the present disclosure, and the descriptions and drawings used in the description should not be understood as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, it should be considered that various alternative embodiments, examples, and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure.

[0066] (First Modification) For example, in the sheet pallet towing aid 10A according to the first modification, as shown in Fig. 5, a concave portion curved in the width direction so as to be concave upward is formed on the first clamping surface 12B1 of the first plate material 12, and a convex portion curved in the width direction so as to protrude upward is formed on the second clamping surface 14B1 of the second plate material 14, which corresponds to the curved concave portion of the first clamping surface 12B1. Note that in the present disclosure, the manner of curvature in the width direction is not limited to a single curve as shown in Fig. 5, and may be, for example, a series of multiple curves in a wave shape.

[0067] In addition, in this disclosure, since the protrusions provided on the first clamping surface or the second clamping surface bite into the sheet pallet to a certain extent by the pressing force and have the effect of increasing the static friction coefficient, as long as the sheet pallet clamping force capable of withstanding the traction force applied when the sheet pallet is towed can be secured by increasing the number of protrusions, the formation of recesses on the first clamping surface or the second clamping surface can be omitted. The structure of the sheet pallet towing aid 10A according to the first modified example other than the first clamping surface 12B1 and the second clamping surface 14B1 is the same as the structure of the sheet pallet towing aid 10 according to the present embodiment described using Figures 1 to 4, so duplicated description will be omitted.

[0068] In the seat pallet towing aid 10A of the first modified example, the concave and convex portions provided on the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14 are provided over the entire length of the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14 in the longitudinal direction (the up-down direction in Figure 1).

[0069] In the present disclosure, the positions in the length direction where the recesses and protrusions are provided are not limited to this, and for example, they may be provided partially or in a plurality of locations in the length direction of the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14. Also, in the present disclosure, the combination of the recesses and protrusions with the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14 is not limited to the combination of the first modified example, and for example, it is sufficient that either one of the recesses and protrusions is formed on the first clamping surface 12B1, and the corresponding other of the recesses and protrusions is formed on the second clamping surface 14B1.

[0070] (Action and effect) In the first variant, as in the present embodiment, the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 can be more securely clamped and the sheet pallet 20 is less likely to become warped, compared to a conventional sheet pallet towing device equipped with, for example, a rod-shaped grip bar.

[0071] In the first modified example, by curving the first clamping surface 12B1 and the second clamping surface 14B1, the area of ​​the clamping surface per plate width in the left-right direction in Fig. 5 becomes larger than that in the case of flat surfaces, and as a result, the overall static friction coefficient also becomes larger, and the clamping force can be further increased. Other effects of the first modified example are the same as those of this embodiment.

[0072] (Second Modification) In the sheet pallet towing aid 10B according to the second modification, as shown in FIG. 6, a groove 14D is formed on the upper surface of the second plate material 14, extending substantially perpendicular to the towing direction (conveying direction D) in a plan view, across both ends of the second plate material 14 in the longitudinal direction. The first plate material 12 can be fitted into the groove 14D. The upper surface of the bottom of the groove 14D is the second clamping surface 14B2. In the second modification, a step 14C is formed by the bottom and the side wall of the groove 14D. The edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is disposed on the second clamping surface 14B2.

[0073] The first plate material 12 has a shape and dimensions that allow it to be fitted into the groove portion 14D from above. Specifically, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, the width of the first plate material 12 measured in the left-right direction in Fig. 6 is at least twice the thickness of the sheet pallet 20 subtracted from the width of the groove portion 14D measured along the left-right direction in Fig. 6 so that it can be placed inside a rectangle in a cross-sectional view of the groove portion 14D, and the length of the first plate material 12 measured along the up-down direction in Fig. 1 is approximately the same as the length of the groove portion 14D.

[0074] 6 is determined by the thickness of the first plate 12, the depth of the groove 14D, the thickness of the sheet pallet, and the thickness of the anti-slip portion, and is slightly higher than the position of the upper surface of the second plate 14 as in FIG. 3, but is not limited to this in the present disclosure, and the height of the upper surface of the first plate may be, for example, equal to or lower than the height of the upper surface of the second plate 14. Also, in the present disclosure, the shapes of the first plate 12 and the second plate 14 that can fit together are not limited to rectangular shapes, and any geometric shape such as a circular arc or an inverted triangle shape may be adopted.

[0075] In the sheet pallet towing aid 10B according to the second modified example, the groove 14D is provided over the entire length in the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the second plate material 14. Note that in the present disclosure, the position in the longitudinal direction at which the groove is provided is not limited thereto, and for example, the groove may be provided partially in the longitudinal direction of the first plate material 12 and the second plate material 14, or may be provided in a plurality of separate locations.

[0076] In addition, in the present disclosure, a plurality of grooves may be arranged along the left-right direction in FIG. 6. In addition, for example, in the present disclosure, a plurality of grooves of the sheet pallet towing aid may be arranged in a staggered pattern in a plan view. In addition, in the second modified example, the groove 14D is provided in the lower second plate 14 in FIG. 6, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. In the present disclosure, the groove may be provided on the lower surface of the upper first plate, and the shape and dimensions of the lower second plate may be configured to correspond to the groove of the upper first plate so that the groove can be fitted into the groove of the upper first plate.

[0077] In addition, in the sheet pallet towing aid 10B according to the second modified example, as shown in Fig. 6, a sheet pallet positioning mark 14E is provided on the upper surface of the second plate material 14 to the left of the groove portion 14D in Fig. 6. This sheet pallet positioning mark 14E is used as a mark for initially positioning the sheet pallet 20 in an appropriate position so that when the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is pushed into the groove portion 14D by the first plate material 12, the tip of the edge portion 22 bends at the left corner of the first plate material 12 and extends to the outside of the groove portion 14D as shown in Fig. 6.

[0078] In the second modified example, the sheet pallet placement mark 14E is a small groove with a rectangular cross section of about 3 mm square, and is provided over the entire length of the second plate material 14 in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D), but in the present disclosure, the installation of a sheet pallet placement mark is not essential. Furthermore, even when a sheet pallet placement mark is provided, it does not necessarily have to be a small groove with a rectangular cross section, and as long as its position can be recognized visually, it may be, for example, a small groove with a spherical crown-shaped cross section, a protrusion with a rectangular cross section, a protrusion with a spherical crown-shaped cross section, or a position indication by coloring without unevenness, and further, it does not necessarily have to be provided over the entire length of the second plate material in the longitudinal direction, and may be, for example, a dotted line, or provided only in the center or only at both ends of the second plate material.

[0079] 6 illustrates a case in which, when the first plate material 12 is pressed into the groove portion 14D of the second plate material 14, a small amount of space (i.e., a gap) is formed between the side wall of the groove portion 14D and the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 at both ends in the conveying direction D (horizontal direction). Therefore, in the second modified example, when the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is pressed into the groove portion 14D by the first plate material 12, the edge portion 22 rises obliquely at an angle of about 70 degrees to 80 degrees from the first clamping surface 12B2 of the first plate material 12 toward the edge of the groove portion 14D of the second plate material 14.

[0080] In the present disclosure, a gap between the side wall of the groove 14D and the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is not essential, and the side wall of the groove 14D and the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 may be in close contact with each other, such as when the bending angle of the rising edge 22 is about 90 degrees. In addition, in the present disclosure, the size of the gap can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the bottom shape of the groove 14D can also be changed as appropriate. Therefore, the bending angle of the rising edge 22 can change according to the change in the shape and dimensions of the groove 14D.

[0081] Other structures of the seat pallet towing aid 10B according to the second modified example are similar to those of the seat pallet towing aids 10, 10A described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, and therefore will not be described again.

[0082] (Action and effect) As in the present embodiment, the seat pallet towing aid 10B of the second modified example can more securely clamp the edge 22 of the seat pallet 20 and is less likely to become warped, compared to a conventional seat pallet towing aid equipped with, for example, a rod-shaped grip bar.

[0083] In the second modification, the first plate material 12 on the upper side in Fig. 6 fits into the groove 14D of the second plate material 14 on the lower side, so that the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped by the bottom of the groove 14D and a pair of side walls each continuing to the bottom. As a result, the edge 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is bent at the corner of the first plate material 12 and the corner of the side wall of the groove 14D, and the pressing force pressing the surface of the sheet pallet acts in a concentrated manner at the bent portion, locally increasing the friction force. As a result, the overall static friction coefficient increases, and the clamping force can be further increased.

[0084] In the second modified example, an adhesive layer (not shown) may be formed between the first clamping surface 12B2 and the anti-slip portion 50 by an adhesive or the like. Similarly, an adhesive layer (not shown) may be formed between the second clamping surface 14B2 and the anti-slip portion 50 by an adhesive or the like. The anti-slip portion 50 and the adhesive layer can further improve the clamping force of the edge portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20. Other effects of the second modified example are similar to those of the present embodiment.

[0085] In addition, the present disclosure may be configured by partially combining the configurations illustrated in the attached drawings. As described above, the present disclosure includes various embodiments not described above, and the technical scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the invention-specifying matters in the claims that are appropriate from the above description. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10,10A,10B Sheet pallet towing aid 12 First plate material 12B,12B1,12B2 First clamping surface 14 Second plate material 14A Mounting surface 14B,14B1,14B2 Second clamping surface 14C Step 14D Groove 14E Sheet pallet placement mark 15 Engaged part 16 Traction member 16A Male thread 16B Ring section 17 Fixed part 17A screw hole 18 Engagement part 18A Hook 19 Towline 20 sheet pallet 22 Edge 30 Clamp 30A Lever 32 Pedestal 34 Handle 40 Baggage 50 Anti-slip part D Conveying direction G Floor surface W1 Width of first board W2 Width of second board

Claims

1. A first plate having a first clamping surface arranged on one side of the edge of the sheet pallet; A second plate material having a second clamping surface arranged on the other side of the edge portion of the sheet pallet, and having a portion that does not overlap with the first plate material when the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface are overlapped as an attachment surface; an engaged portion provided at the mounting surface and connected to a traction power unit; a clamp having a base fixed to the mounting surface, pressing the first plate material from above against the second plate material, and clamping an edge portion of the sheet pallet with the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface; A sheet pallet towing aid having a seat pallet towing aid.

2. The second plate material has a width larger than that of the first plate material, and a portion of the second plate material that does not overlap when the first clamping surface of the first plate material is placed on the second clamping surface of the second plate material serves as the mounting surface, and a step or a rib is provided at the boundary between the second clamping surface of the second plate material and the mounting surface.

2. A sheet pallet towing aid as claimed in claim 1.

3. The second plate member has a groove portion into which the first plate member can be fitted.

2. A sheet pallet towing aid as claimed in claim 1.

4. The first clamping surface of the first plate material is formed with either a curved recess or a curved protrusion corresponding to the recess, The other of a curved recess or a curved protrusion corresponding to the recess is formed on the second clamping surface of the second plate material.

2. A sheet pallet towing aid as claimed in claim 1.

5. A handle is attached to the mounting surface of the second plate for inserting the second plate into the underside of the sheet pallet. A sheet pallet towing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. At least one of the first clamping surface of the first plate material and the second clamping surface of the second plate material is provided with an anti-slip portion. A sheet pallet towing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The clamp is a toggle clamp. A sheet pallet towing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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