Device for assisting in spreading sheet on vehicle cargo bed

Abstract

To enable a sheet to be safely, easily, quickly, and reliably spread over a vehicle cargo bed.SOLUTION: A device A includes a pair of support posts 1 erected on both rear sides of a work area and used as a mounting base B. From a position on the mounting base B that is reachable by a worker in the work area P, a sheet guide 2 extends obliquely via a curved section 20 toward the work area to a position above the far end of a vehicle cargo bed in the work area. A sheet hanger 3 to transfer a sheet is movably arranged on the sheet guide 2 and is driven by a sheet hanger drive device 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat hanging assist device for a vehicle loading platform used when hanging a seat on a loading platform of a transport machine such as a dump truck, a truck bed, or a cargo carriage of a freight train.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, when transporting waste materials and waste generated at a construction site or the like by a dump truck or a truck, a seat is hung on the loading platform to prevent the waste materials and waste from falling off or scattering from the loading platform. Conventionally, in this seat hanging operation, an operator uses a scaffold or a mounting block to carry the seat onto the loading platform, spreads the seat over the waste materials and waste on the loading platform, and fixes both side portions of the seat to the eaves of the loading platform or the like. Note that, for this type of seat, a seat generally called a blue sheet made of synthetic resin and having eyelets attached to both side edges or the entire peripheral edge is often used.

[0003] In such a seat hanging operation, each time a seat is hung on the loading platform of a vehicle, the operator repeatedly gets on and off the loading platform of the vehicle, so that a lot of labor and time are required. Therefore, it is desired to perform such a seat hanging operation safely and efficiently.

[0004] Therefore, in order to meet such a demand, a seat hanging assist system has been proposed in Patent Document 1.

[0005] The seat hanging assist system of Patent Document 1 includes a parking area where a vehicle stops, a guide rail disposed above the parking area and extending in the front-rear direction above the vehicle parked in the parking area, a seat hanger disposed below the guide rail and having bands provided on the front side of the seat detachably attached to both end portions in the left-right direction, a seat hanger moving device such as a hoist configured to be movable along the guide rail and support the seat hanger so as to be movable up and down in the vertical direction, and a control device for controlling the seat hanger moving device.

[0006] With such a seat covering assistance system, a seat is placed on the vehicle's cargo bed in the parking area as follows. First, the driver of the vehicle drives the vehicle forward, enters the parking area through the entrance, and parks the vehicle at a predetermined position in the parking area. Subsequently, the operator for covering the seat attaches the front side (front band) of the seat to the seat hanger. Next, the operator operates the control device and raises the seat hanger so that the front end of the seat is positioned higher than the cargo bed (by means of a hoist). Then, the operator moves the seat hanger forward by operating the control device to move the seat. The seat hanger is moved above the front end of the cargo bed and the seat is placed above the load stacked on the cargo bed. Subsequently, the operator lowers the seat hanger (by means of a hoist) until it abuts against the load loaded on the cargo bed or the side fender of the cargo bed, and covers the load with the seat held by this seat hanger. In this way, the seat is placed on the vehicle's cargo bed. Then, the operator engages each band provided on the front end side and rear end side, etc. of the seat by hooking it on a predetermined position of the vehicle to fix the seat to the vehicle. In this way, the driver gets into the vehicle and exits the vehicle from the parking area through the exit.

[0007] In this way, according to this system, when covering the cargo bed with a seat, the getting in and out of the vehicle (by the operator) is minimized, and the work of covering the cargo bed with the seat can be efficiently performed. Also, since the operator does not need to get in and out of the cargo bed, the work can be efficiently performed while ensuring safety.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] However, the above-described conventional seat hanging assistance system has the following problems. (1) The guide rail is disposed above the parking area and extends in the front-rear direction above the vehicle parked in the parking area. Therefore, a frame body is installed so as to surround this area in the parking area, and the guide rail is supported by this frame body. In this system, the frame body includes a pair of front-rear portal frames and a pair of left-right connecting members extending between these portal frames, and the guide rail is supported between each portal frame. For this reason, the entry / exit surface for the vehicle to enter and exit the parking area is restricted by each column on both sides of the portal frame, and it is not easy for the vehicle to enter and exit. In addition, if an attempt is made to facilitate the entry and exit of this vehicle, it is necessary to widen the space between each column of the portal frame. However, if this is attempted, the parking area must be widened and the width of the frame body must be increased. As a result, the entire system expands and the parking area also requires a large space, and the cost as a whole increases, which is not preferable. (2) The seat hanger disposed below the guide rail is configured such that bands provided on the front side of the seat are detachably attached to each end in the left-right direction thereof. The front side of the seat is attached to this seat hanger, and this seat hanger is lifted by a seat hanger moving device such as a hoist to raise the seat to the loading platform. Then, the seat is moved along the guide rail by this seat hanger, and the seat hanger is lowered by a hoist or the like on the loading platform of the vehicle to lower the seat onto the loading platform. Therefore, in addition to moving the seat hanger on the guide rail, a seat hanger moving device such as a hoist for raising and lowering the seat is required, and the overall configuration of the seat hanger moving device is complicated and the cost is high.

[0010] The present invention solves such conventional problems. In this type of seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle loading platform, without increasing the size of the entire device and the working area for performing the seat hanging operation, it aims to facilitate the entry and exit of the vehicle into and out of the working area, simplify the structure of the entire device to reduce the cost, and enable the seat hanging operator to safely, simply, quickly, and surely hang the seat on the loading platform of the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle loading platform, which is installed in a work area where a seat hanging operation of hanging a seat on the loading platform of a vehicle is performed, and assists the seat hanging operation, and a pair of columns are erected and installed in the work area, and using each column as a mounting base, or using a structure that is erected and installed in the vicinity of the work area as a mounting base, from a position within reach of the hand of an operator who performs a seat hanging operation in the work area in the mounting base, obliquely extending toward the work area up to above the back side of the loading platform of the vehicle in the work area, a seat guide, and a seat hanger that is movably arranged on the seat guide and is for transporting the seat, and a seat hanger driving device that drives the seat hanger, and is provided, and at one end side on the mounting base side of the seat guide, attaching the tip of the seat to the seat hanger, moving the seat hanger on the seat guide to the other end of the seat guide by the seat hanger driving device, deploying the seat above the entire surface of the loading platform of the vehicle, and at the other end of the seat guide, removing the seat from the seat hanger and hanging the seat on the loading platform of the vehicle, which is the gist.

[0012] Further, this seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle loading platform is further embodied as follows. (1) The seat guide is composed of a pair of guide rails, and the seat hanger has a moving base arranged to straddle between the respective guide rails, and a pair of guide rollers pivotally supported on both sides of the moving base and engageable with the respective guide rails. In this case, Each of the pair of guide rails has a curved portion that wraps around onto the loading platform of the vehicle from the mounting position of the mounting base to a height position exceeding the height of the loading platform of the vehicle at one end side on the mounting base side, and each of the guide rails extends obliquely from the mounting base, via the curved portion, above the inner side of the loading platform of the vehicle, at a gradient such that the seat hanger can run by itself from a high place to a low place along each of the guide rails due to its own weight. Also, in this case, the pair of guide rails is composed of rails having a grooved cross-sectional shape, and the pair of guide rollers of the seat hanger is composed of a pair of vertical rollers that can be engaged in the vertical direction within each of the guide rails, and a pair of horizontal rollers that can be engaged in the horizontal direction within each of the guide rails. (2) The seat hanger is provided with a pair of gripping devices disposed on both sides of the seat hanger and capable of gripping both sides of the tip of the seat, and an operation unit operatively connected to each of the gripping devices and disposed within the reach of the operator's hand in the work area, for releasing the seat gripped by each of the gripping devices from each of the gripping devices. In this case, the seat has eyelets at at least four corners, and each gripping device includes a gripping portion main body having a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped cross-section into which each corner on both sides of the tip of the seat can be inserted, and a gripping portion that penetrates through one intermediate portion on both end sides of the gripping portion main body, projects one end outward from the one intermediate portion, engages the other end with the other intermediate portion on both end sides of the gripping portion main body, and is disposed between the both end sides, and is insertable into and removable from the eyelet of the seat, and a spring member that biases the other end of the gripping portion toward the other of the both end sides of the gripping portion main body as the normal state between the both end sides of the gripping portion main body. Also, in this case, the operation unit is operatively connected to each of the gripping portions of each of the gripping devices, has a release wire that hangs down from each of the gripping devices toward the work area, and a manual lever operatively connected to the hanging end of the release wire for driving the release wire to enable the gripping portion to be inserted into and removed from the eyelet of the seat. (3) The seat has rubber bands for fixing the seat to the vehicle at four corners, and the seat hanger is also provided with rubber band support members for guiding and supporting each of the rubber bands outside the loading platform of the vehicle during the transfer of the seat. In this case, the rubber band support member extends from both sides of the seat hanger to both sides of the vehicle in the work area, and has a locking portion for the rubber band at its tip. (4) The seat hanger drive device is installed between the mounting base and the seat hanger, and adopts a drive method for driving the seat hanger to be pushable and pullable on the seat guide. In this case, the seat hanger drive device includes a winch installed on the mounting base, and a wire rope that is wound around the winch, extends from the winch, and is connected to the seat hanger via a wire guide installed on the tip side of the seat guide.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle loading platform of the present invention, with the above configuration, without increasing the size of the entire device and the work area for performing the seat hanging operation, it is possible to facilitate the entry and exit of the vehicle into and out of the work area, the entire device can have a simple structure and low cost, and the operator for hanging the seat can safely, simply, quickly and surely hang the seat on the vehicle loading platform, achieving the unique and remarkable effects of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Next, embodiments for carrying out this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 9 show a seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle cargo bed. As shown in FIG. 1, this seat hanging assistance device A for a vehicle cargo bed (hereinafter referred to as this device A) is installed in a work area P where a seat hanging operation of hanging a seat S on a cargo bed T of a vehicle is performed, and it assists the seat hanging operation. In the work area P, a pair of support columns 1 are erected and installed, and using these support columns 1 as mounting bases B, it is configured to include a seat guide 2, a seat hanger 3, and a seat hanger driving device 4.

[0016] In the present invention, the work area P is a space provided for performing a seat hanging operation of hanging the seat S. Here, it is provided in a starting yard partitioned for loading waste materials and waste generated during construction into a dump and starting in a part of various construction sites. In this starting yard, the dump is configured to reverse and enter and move forward to exit, and a predetermined stop position (stop frame) is provided where it stops in reverse to hang a seat on the cargo bed of the dump, and this is the work area P. This work area P is larger than the size of the dump in plan view, and a minimum area required for the seat hanging operation is ensured. In this work area P, the rear side of the dump (cargo bed) is the rear part of the work area P, and the front side of the dump is the front part of the work area P. In addition, the sheet S used in the present invention has eyelets S0 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) at at least four corners, and rubber bands S1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for fixing the sheet S to the vehicle are provided at the four corners. Here, the sheet S is a so-called blue sheet made of synthetic resin with eyelets S0 attached to both side edges or the entire peripheral edge, and the rubber bands S1 are attached to each eyelet S0 or a plurality of eyelets S0 including the eyelets S0 at the four corners.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting base B is composed of a pair of columns 1 as described above. Each column 1 is made of a shaped steel such as an H-shaped steel and has a predetermined length extending above the height of the vehicle (in this case, a dump). Each column 1 is installed and fixed on both sides of the rear part of the work area P, and the lower part of the front surface (the surface facing the work area P) of each column 1 is supported via diagonal members and erected on both sides of the rear part of the work area P.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat guide 2 extends obliquely from a position within reach of the hands of an operator who performs the seat hanging operation in the work area P on the mounting base B toward the work area P and up to above the inner side of the loading platform of the vehicle in the work area P. In this case, in each column 1, the starting end of the extension of the seat guide 2 is placed at a height corresponding to near the lower part of the loading platform of the vehicle (in this case, a dump), which is the height within reach of the hands of an operator who performs the seat hanging operation, and this is the mounting position on the mounting base B where one end side on the mounting base B side of the seat guide 2 is mounted. As the upper part of the inner side of the loading platform of the vehicle in the work area P, a predetermined height above the bulge of the front end part on the driver's seat side on the loading platform of the vehicle stopped in the work area P is the ending end of the extension of the seat guide 2, and the seat guide 2 extends toward this position.

[0019] The seat guide 2 consists of a pair of guide rails 21. In this case, each of the pair of guide rails 21 has a curved portion 20 that is convex upward (or arcuate) and curves around onto the vehicle load bed from one end side on the mounting base B side to a height position exceeding the height of the rear part of the vehicle load bed from the mounting position of the mounting base B. Each guide rail 21 has such a curved portion 20, and one end on the mounting base B side is arranged and attached at the mounting position of the mounting base B. From this mounting position, via the curved portion 20, upward and obliquely toward the back side of the vehicle load bed, the seat hanger 3 can self-run from a higher position to a lower position along each guide rail 21 by its own weight (that is, it can return by its own weight), and is extended obliquely with a gradient to such an extent. Also, in this case, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the pair of guide rails 21 are rails having a groove-shaped cross section. Here, one end side on the mounting base B side is curved and the other end side is linear by a steel section having a C-shaped cross section, and is formed into a predetermined length as a whole. By being formed by a steel section having a C-shaped cross section, each guide rail 21 has one side surface opened to form an opening surface. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this case, a bar made of a steel bar is bridged and fixed between the intermediate portions of the respective curved portions 20 at one end side on the mounting base B side of each guide rail 2, and this serves as the starting bar 201 of the seat hanger. This starting bar 201 is the starting point of the movement of the seat hanger 3 in each guide rail 21. A stopper is also provided on each guide rail 21 in the vicinity of this starting bar 201, and the movement of the seat hanger 3 to one end on the mounting base B side of each guide rail 21 is restricted by this stopper.

[0020] In this way, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening surfaces of the respective guide rails 21 face each other, and are fixed to each support column 1 via a pair of guide rail support members 22, and are attached obliquely upward from the mounting position of the aforementioned mounting base B. In this case, a pair of guide rail support members 22 are fixed to the upper surface up to the other end at the tip of the curved portion 20 of each guide rail 21 and are attached along each guide rail 21. Also, a bar made of a section steel is bridged and fixed between the other ends of these guide rail support members 22, and the guide rail support members 22 are connected and fixed. Further, this serves as the end bar 221 of the seat hanger 3. The bar as this end bar 221 is the movement end point of the seat hanger 3 on each guide rail 21 and serves as a stopper for the seat hanger 3, and the movement of the seat hanger 3 from this movement end point to the other end of each guide rail 21 is restricted. One end of this pair of guide rail support members 22 is fixed to each support column 1 at a predetermined height above the attachment position of each support column 1 (attachment base B) to which one end side of each guide rail 21 is attached, and each guide rail 21 extends obliquely upward from each support column 1 toward the working area P. Also, in this case, since one end of each guide rail support member 22 is fixed to each support column 1 and is cantilevered, turn-back type braces 23 are interposed between two locations above and below the upper end of each support column 1 and two locations at the tip and the intermediate portion near the tip of each guide rail support member 22, and are suspended and reinforced by these braces 23.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the seat hanger 3 is arranged to be movable and guided on the seat guide 2 and is for transporting the seat S, and the tip or a part of the tip side of the seat S is detachably attached to this seat hanger 3. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the seat hanger 3 includes a moving base 31 arranged to straddle between the guide rails 21, and a pair of guide rollers 32 pivotally supported on both sides of the moving base 31 and engageable with the guide rails 21.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the moving base 31 includes a base body 311 that can be spanned between the respective guide rails 21, a pair of bearing portions 312 that extend on both sides of the base body 311 in the width direction of the base body 311 at right angles to the length direction of the base body 311, and a connecting portion 313 (see FIG. 3) that projects from the middle portion of the base body 311 toward the front (front) of the base body 311 and is operatively connected to the seat hanger driving device 4. As a whole, it is configured in an H shape in plan view. In this case, the base body 311 is formed of a square pipe (square steel pipe) so as to be disposed between the respective guide rails 21. Each bearing portion 312 is formed of a narrow-width square pipe (square steel pipe), and a plurality of holes for bearings are drilled in each of them. The connecting portion 313 is formed in a flat plate shape by a steel plate, and a hole for connecting to the seat hanger driving device 4 is drilled in a part thereof.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pair of guide rollers 32 includes a pair of vertical rollers 321 that can be engaged in the vertical direction within each guide rail 21, and a pair of horizontal rollers 322 that can be engaged in the horizontal direction within each guide rail 21. In this case, the pair of vertical rollers 321 consists of 4 rollers in total, 2 on each side, and 2 rollers are pivotally supported by each bearing portion 312 on both sides of the moving base 31 and are disposed outside each bearing portion 312, and each roller can be engaged with the upper and lower surfaces within each guide rail 21. Also, the pair of horizontal rollers 322 consists of 4 rollers in total, 2 on each side, and 2 rollers are pivotally supported by each bearing portion 312 on both sides of the moving base 31 and are disposed outside each bearing portion 312, and each roller can be engaged with the outer side surface on the side opposite to the opening surface within each guide rail 21. In this case, each roller of the pair of horizontal rollers 322 is pivotally supported at both ends of each bearing portion 312, and each roller of the pair of vertical rollers 321 is pivotally supported inside each roller of the pair of horizontal rollers 322 by each bearing portion 312.

[0024] Thus, the seat hanger 3 is arranged such that the moving base 31 straddles between the respective guide rails 21, and the guide rollers 32 on both sides of the moving base 31 are engaged within the respective guide rails 21.

[0025] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, this sheet hanger 3 is provided with a pair of gripping devices 33 disposed on both sides of the sheet hanger 3 and capable of gripping both sides of the tip or the tip side of the sheet S, and an operation unit 34 (see FIG. 5) that is operatively connected to each gripping device 33, is disposed within the reach of the operator's hand in the work area P, and releases the sheet S gripped by each gripping device 33 from each gripping device 33.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 7, each gripping device 33 includes a gripping portion main body 331 having a substantially U-shaped cross section or a C-shaped cross section into which both corners on both sides of the tip of the sheet S or both sides of the tip side can be inserted, and one of both end portions of the gripping portion main body 331 penetrates through an intermediate portion thereof, one end protrudes outward from the intermediate portion, and the other end is engaged with the other intermediate portion of both end portions of the gripping portion main body 331 and is disposed between both end portions, and a gripping portion 332 that can be inserted into and removed from the sheet S at the first sight, and a spring member 333 that biases the other end of the gripping portion 332 toward the other of both end portions of the gripping portion main body 332 as a normal state between both end portions of the gripping portion main body 331.

[0027] In this case, the gripping portion main body 331 is formed of a steel material and is a (circular) cylindrical member with both end faces (top face, bottom face) closed (see FIGS. 5 and 6). A part of one end face (in this case, the bottom face) of the peripheral surface is cut out in the circumferential direction, presenting a C-shaped side cross section, and the notch in the peripheral surface serves as the sheet insertion port 330. Further, shaft insertion holes 334 and 335 are formed through the center of the half surface on the notch side on both end faces of the gripping portion main body 331 so as to face each other. In this case, in the shaft insertion hole 335 on one end face (in this case, the bottom face) side, the outer half portion of this end face (bottom face) is a shaft insertion portion 335A that is concentric and has the same diameter as the shaft insertion hole 334, and the inner half portion of the bottom face has an insertion port that is concentric with the shaft insertion hole 334 on the inner surface of the bottom face and is tapered so as to gradually decrease in diameter toward the shaft insertion portion 335A on the outer half portion of the bottom face. It forms a guide portion 335B that can guide the shaft 3321 described later toward the shaft insertion portion 335A on the outer half portion of the bottom face.

[0028] In this case, the gripping portion 332 is formed of a steel material and includes a ring 3320 forming one end of the gripping portion 332 and a shaft 3321 extending linearly from this ring 3320. The shaft 3321 has a length from one end face (top face) of the gripping portion main body 331 to the other end face (bottom face). Thus, in the gripping portion 332, the shaft 3321 is inserted into the gripping portion main body 331 through the shaft insertion hole 334 from one end face (top face) of the gripping portion main body 331, and the link portion 3320 at one end is disposed outside the one end face (top face). The other end of the gripping portion 332, that is, the other end of the shaft 3321 reaches the other end face (bottom face) of the gripping portion main body 331 and is disposed between the two end faces (top face, bottom face).

[0029] A coil spring (hereinafter referred to as coil spring 333) is used as the spring member 333. This coil spring 333 is wound around the shaft 3321 of the gripping portion 332 and is locked and supported by a spring receiver 3331 fixed to an intermediate portion in the length direction of the shaft 3321. Thus, this coil spring 333 is attached so as to be compressible between one end face (top face) of the gripping portion main body 331 and the spring receiver 3331 of the gripping portion 332. By this coil spring 333, the other end of the gripping portion 332 is biased toward the other end face (bottom face) of the gripping portion main body 331.

[0030] Thus, each gripping device 33 has the insertion ports 330 of the sheets facing each other and is attached to the sheet hanger 3, in this case, fixed to both ends of the base body 311.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 5, the operation unit 34 is operatively connected to each gripping part 332 of each gripping device 33, and includes a release wire 341 that hangs down from each gripping device 33 toward the work area P, and a manual release lever 342 that is operatively connected to the hanging end of the release wire 341 and drives the release wire 341 to be insertable into and removable from the shaft insertion hole S0 of the seat S through the gripping part 332. In this case, the release wire 341 is made of resin and is a tubular outer wire, and an inner wire made of metal that is passed through the outer wire. The release wire 341 is operatively connected between the gripping parts 332 of each gripping device 33, and one end thereof extends outward from one side of one of the gripping parts 332. The release lever 342 includes a lever body 3420 having a grip part 3421, and a lever part 3422 pivotally supported on the lever body 3420 so as to be rotatable toward the grip 3421. The release lever 342 is attached to one end of the release wire 341, and the lever part 3422 is operatively connected to one end of the inner wire of the release wire 342. Thus, by pulling the lever part 3422 toward the grip part 3421, the operation unit 34 pulls out each gripping part 332 of each gripping device 33 from each gripping part body 331 through the inner wire of the release wire 341, and each gripping part 332 can be detached from the shaft insertion hole 335 on one end face (bottom face) of the gripping part body 331. Thus, this operation unit 34 is provided so as to extend outward from one side of one of the seat hangers 3 through the release wire 341.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, this seat hanger 3 also includes a rubber band support member 35 that supports and guides each rubber band S1 to the outside of the vehicle load bed during the transfer of the seat S. In this case, as shown in Fig. 8, the rubber band support member 35 extends from both sides of the seat hanger 3 to both sides of the vehicle in the working area P, and has a locking portion 352 of the rubber band S1 at its tip. Here, the rubber band support member 35 is formed in a substantially L shape by a steel bar, with one end being the mounting portion 351 and the other end being formed in a U-shaped groove shape to become the locking portion 352 of the rubber band S1. One end of this rubber band support member 35, that is, the mounting portion 351, is fixed and attached to both ends of the base body 311 of the seat hanger 3 in this case, and the other end side extends forward (in the forward direction) of the seat hanger 3 along each bearing portion 312 outside both sides of the seat hanger 3.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 1, the seat hanger driving device 4 drives the seat hanger 3 on the seat guide 2, and the seat hanger 3 is provided in a push-pull manner on the seat guide 2. This seat hanger driving device 4 is installed between the mounting base B and the seat hanger 3, and is of a driving method that can drive the seat hanger 3 to be pushed and pulled on the seat guide 2.

[0034] In this case, the sheet hanger driving device 4 includes a winch 40 installed on the mounting base B, and a wire rope 41 wound around the winch 40, extending from the winch 40, and connected to the sheet hanger 3 via a wire guide 42 (see FIG. 3) installed on the tip side of the sheet guide 2. Since both the winch 40 and the wire rope 41 are generally known, their descriptions are omitted here. The winch 40 has a connecting bar 11 spanned at a predetermined height higher than the height of the other end (tip) of each guide rail support member 22 between the pair of columns 1, and is installed and fixed at the center on this connecting bar 11. The wire rope 41 extends from this winch 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation unit 40C is provided for the winch 40 via a cable 401, and this operation unit 40C is suspended to the work area P. The wire guide 42 is composed of a plurality of guide rollers 420 as shown in FIG. 3, and is disposed via a support member 421 on an end point bar 221 between the other ends of the pair of guide rail support members 22. Here, at the center on the end point bar 221, there is a support part 4211 made of a section steel such as a short H-shaped steel extending forward (frontward) from this center, and a mounting part 4212 made of a section steel such as an H-shaped steel extending in the vertical direction at the tip of the support part 4211. The support member 421 having these is protruded and attached toward the front (frontward) of the end point bar 221, and two guide rollers 420 are pivotally supported at both ends (upper and lower ends) of this mounting part 4212. The wire rope 41 extended from the winch 40 in this way is wound around each guide roller 420 at the center of the end point bar 221 between the other ends of each guide rail support member 22 from above, passes below the end point bar 221 downward, and is connected to a connecting part 313 of the moving base 31 of the sheet hanger 3 on each guide rail 21. Thus, the sheet hanger driving device 4 is installed between the mounting base B and the sheet hanger 3, and is configured to drive the sheet hanger 3 to be pushable and pullable on the inclined sheet guide 2 by feeding and retracting the wire rope 41 by the winch 40.

[0035] In this way, at one end of the sheet guide 2, that is, on the mounting base B side of the pair of guide rails 21, the leading end of the sheet S is attached to the sheet hanger 3, and the sheet hanger 3 is moved to the other end of each guide rail 21 on the pair of guide rails 21 by the sheet hanger driving device 4, so as to deploy the sheet S above the entire surface of the vehicle loading platform. At the other end of each guide rail 21, the sheet S is removed from the sheet hanger 3 and hung on the vehicle loading platform.

[0036] Fig. 9 illustrates the operation of hanging the sheet S (steps (1)-(5)) using the present apparatus A. In the initial state before the operation of hanging the sheet S, in the present apparatus A, the sheet hanger 3 is in a standby state with its stopper abutting against the starting point bar 201 at the starting end of movement on the pair of guide rails 21. The sheet S is folded and placed behind between the pair of columns 1 in a screen-folded manner.

[0037] Step (1) As shown in Fig. 9(1), first, the seat S is attached to the seat hanger 3 via each gripping device 33 of the seat hanger 3. When attaching this seat S, as shown in Fig. 7, in each gripping device 33, first, the gripping part 332 is pulled up from the gripping part main body 331, and the tip corner or the tip side part (the part with the eye) of the seat S is inserted through the seat insertion port 330 of the gripping part main body 331. Subsequently, the gripping part 332 is pushed down to pass through the eye S0 of the tip corner or the tip side part of the seat S, and the other end of the gripping part 332, that is, the tip of the shaft 3321, is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 335 on one end face (bottom face) of the gripping part main body 331. When inserting the gripping part 332 into the shaft insertion hole 335, since the upper half of this shaft insertion hole 335 is the guide part 335B, even if the shaft 3321 of the gripping part 332 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 335 in a direction deviating from its center, the shaft 3321 is surely inserted into the shaft insertion part 335A of the lower half of the shaft insertion hole 335 by the guidance of the guide part 335B. Thereby, the gripping part 332 is held between both end faces (top face, bottom face) of the gripping part main body 331, and the tip corner or the tip side part of the seat S is surely gripped by this gripping part 332. Then, each rubber band S1 on both sides of the tip of the seat S is hung on and locked to the locking parts 352 at the tips of the rubber band support members 35 on both sides of the seat hanger 3 (see Fig. 8). Thereby, each rubber band S1 is suspended outside the pair of guide rails 21 (see Fig. 3). In this way, the seat S is attached to the seat hanger 3. After that, the dump is guided to retreat to the work area P.

[0038] Step (2) Next, as shown in Fig. 9(2), on a pair of guide rails 21, the seat hanger 3 is driven by a seat hanger driving device 4 to transfer the sheet S upward toward the back side of the loading platform. In this case, by turning on the operation part 40C of the winch 40, the winch 40 is driven in the winding direction of the wire rope 41 to wind up the wire rope 41, and the wire rope 41 pulls the seat hanger 3 on the pair of guide rails 21 (in the pushing direction), moving the seat hanger 3 to the other end of each guide rail 21, the terminal bar 221, and transferring the sheet S to the moving end of the pair of guide rails 21. Here, the seat hanger driving device 4 is braked. In this case, by turning off the operation part 40C of the winch 40, the winding up of the wire rope 41 by the winch 40 is stopped, and the driving of the seat hanger 3 at the other end of each guide rail 21 is stopped. As a result, the sheet S is transferred to above the back side of the dump loading platform and is unfolded on the dump loading platform. During this period, each rubber band S1 at both corners of the tip of the sheet S is supported and guided by each rubber band support member 35 on both sides of the seat hanger 3 and hangs down outside the pair of guide rails 21 (see Fig. 3).

[0039] Step (3) Next, as shown in Fig. 9(3), by operating each gripping device 33 of the seat hanger 3, the tip or the side part on the tip side of the sheet S is detached from each gripping device 33, and the sheet S is dropped onto the dump loading platform. In this case, by operating the operation part 34 attached to each gripping device 33, that is, by pulling the release lever 342 (see Fig. 5), the inner wire of the release wire 341 is pulled, and the gripping part 332 of each gripping device 33 is pulled out from the gripping part main body 331 (see Figs. 5 and 7). By the operation of this gripping part 332, the gripping part 332 detaches from the shaft insertion hole 335 on one end face (bottom face) of the gripping part main body 331 inside the gripping part main body 331, and this gripping part 332 comes off from the hem S0 of the sheet S (see Fig. 7). As a result, the gripping state of the tip of the sheet S is released, and the sheet S drops onto the loading platform in the unfolded state and covers the loading platform.

[0040] Step (4) Next, as shown in Fig. 9(4), each rubber band S1 of the sheet S is hooked and fixed to each hook of the dump bed. In this case, since each rubber band S1 at the tip of the sheet S is supported and guided outside each guide rail 21 by the rubber band support member 35 (see Fig. 8) of the sheet hanger 3 and hangs down, each rubber band S1 can be easily removed from each rubber band support member 35, and these rubber bands S1 can be simply, quickly, and surely hooked onto the hooks of the bed. After the sheet S is fixed to the bed, the operator signals the dump driver that the sheet hanging operation is completed, and then the dump is moved forward and out of the work area P.

[0041] Step (5) In this way, the sheet hanging operation is completed. After completion, as shown in Fig. 9(5), the present device A is returned to its initial state. In this operation, the sheet hanger driving device 4 is driven in the opposite direction. That is, by turning on the operation part 40C of the winch 40, in this case, driving the winch 40 in the opposite direction to pay out the wire rope 41 extended from the winch 40, the sheet hanger 3 is returned by its own weight (in the pulling direction) to the starting point bar 201, which is the starting end of the movement of the sheet hanger 3, on each inclined guide rail 21 according to its gradient. When the sheet hanger 3 abuts against the stopper, the driving of the winch 40 is stopped by turning off the operation part 40C, the pay-out of the wire rope 41 is stopped, and the sheet hanger 3 is stopped at the starting point bar 201. Thereby, the present device A is returned to its initial state, and subsequently, the above-described sheet hanging operation is repeated by the present device A.

[0042] As described above, according to the present apparatus A, a pair of columns 1 are erected and installed on both sides of the rear part of the work area P, and these columns 1 are used as the mounting base B. From the reachable position of the hands of the operator who performs the sheet hanging work in the work area P on this mounting base B towards the work area P, a seat guide 2 that extends obliquely up to the upper side of the back of the vehicle's loading platform in the work area P is provided with a seat hanger 3 for transferring the seat S movably, and is driven by a seat hanger driving device 4. Therefore, columns like those in the prior art are not required at the front part of the work area P, and the entry and exit of the vehicle to and from the work area P of the vehicle can be facilitated without enlarging the entire apparatus A and the work area P where the sheet hanging work is performed. Further, since the seat hanger 3 is driven by the seat hanger driving device 4 on the inclined seat guide 2, the seat hanger driving device 4 may be of a driving method that pushes or pulls the seat hanger 3, and the entire apparatus A can be provided at low cost with a simple structure. Then, the tip of the seat S is attached to the seat hanger 3 at the reachable position of the hands of the operator who performs the sheet hanging work on the mounting base B side, and this seat hanger 3 is driven by the seat hanger driving device 4 on the seat guide 2 up to the upper side of the back of the vehicle's loading platform in the work area P, and the seat S is removed from the seat hanger 3 above the upper side of the back of the loading platform. Therefore, the operator who hangs the sheet does not need to get on and off the loading platform, and the seat S can be safely, simply, quickly, and surely hung on the vehicle's loading platform.

[0043] Further, in the present apparatus A, the following configurations are adopted for each part.

[0044] The seat guide 2 is composed of a pair of guide rails 21, and the seat hanger 3 has a moving base 31 disposed across between the guide rails 21 and a pair of guide rollers 32 pivotally supported on both sides of the moving base 31 and engageable with the guide rails 21. In this case, each of the pair of guide rails 21 has a curved portion 20 that wraps around onto the vehicle bed from one end side on the mounting base B side to a height position exceeding the height of the vehicle bed from the mounting position of the mounting base B. Each guide rail 2 extends obliquely from the mounting base B, via the curved portion 20, upward above the back side of the vehicle bed, at a gradient such that the seat hanger 3 can run by its own weight from a higher position to a lower position along each guide rail 21 (that is, return by its own weight). Also, in this case, the pair of guide rails 21 is composed of rails having a groove-shaped cross section. The pair of guide rollers 32 of the seat hanger 3 is composed of a pair of vertical rollers 321 that can be engaged vertically within each guide rail 21 and a pair of horizontal rollers 322 that can be engaged horizontally within each guide rail 21. With such a configuration, the seat guide 2 and the seat hanger 3 can be made to have a simple structure and installed in the work area P without requiring a large installation area as in the prior art. Rather, it can be installed with the installation area minimized as much as possible. Also, with this structure, the seat S can be reliably transferred from the rear of the vehicle bed to the entire surface of the vehicle bed, and the seat S can be reliably covered over the vehicle bed.

[0045] The seat hanger 3 is also provided with a pair of gripping devices 33 disposed on both sides of the seat hanger 3 and capable of gripping both sides of the tip of the seat S, and an operation unit 34 operatively connected to each gripping device 33 and disposed within the reach of the operator's hand in the work area P for releasing the seat S gripped by each gripping device 33 from each gripping device 33. In this case, the seat S has eyelets S0 at at least four corners. Each gripping device 33 includes a gripping portion body 331 having a substantially U-shaped cross section or a C-shaped cross section into which each corner on both sides of the tip of the seat S can be inserted, and on one side of both end portions of the gripping portion body 331, one end penetrates through the middle portion of this one side and protrudes outward from the middle portion of this one side, and the other end is engaged with the other side of both end portions of the gripping portion body 331 at the middle of this other side and is disposed between both end portions. It also includes a gripping portion 332 that can be inserted into and removed from the eyelet S0 of the seat S, and a spring member 33 that biases the other end of the gripping portion 332 toward the other side of both end portions of the gripping portion body 331 as the normal state between both end portions of the gripping portion body 331. Also, in this case, the operation unit 34 is operatively connected to each gripping part 332 of each gripping device 33, and includes a release wire 341 that is suspended from each gripping device 33 toward the work area P, and a manual release lever 342 that is operatively connected to the hanging end of the release wire 341 and drives the release wire 341 to be insertable into and removable from the gripping part 332 at the edge S0 of the seat S. With such a configuration, each gripping device 33 and its operation unit 34 can be provided on the seat hanger 3 with a simple structure. Also, with this structure, the attachment and detachment of the seat S to and from the seat hanger 3 can be smoothly and reliably performed with simple operations.

[0046] The seat S has rubber bands S1 at its four corners for fixing the seat S to the vehicle bogie, and the seat hanger 3 is also provided with rubber band support members 35 for guiding and supporting each rubber band S to the outside of the vehicle loading platform during the transfer of the seat S. In this case, the rubber band support members 35 extend from both sides of the seat hanger 3 to both sides of the vehicle in the work area P, and have locking portions 352 for the rubber bands S1 at their tips. With such a configuration, the rubber band support members 35 can be provided with a simple structure. By means of these rubber band support members 35, the handling of the rubber bands S1 after the seat S is transferred to the vehicle loading platform is facilitated, and the fixing of the seat S to the loading platform can be smoothly and reliably performed.

[0047] The seat hanger driving device 4 is installed between the mounting base B and the seat hanger 3, and adopts a driving method for driving the seat hanger 3 to be pushable and pullable on the seat guide 2. In this case, the seat hanger driving device 4 includes a winch 40 installed on the mounting base B, and a wire rope 41 that is wound around the winch 40, extends from the winch 40, and is connected to the seat hanger 3 via a wire guide 42 installed on the tip side of the seat guide 2. In addition, each guide rail 2 has a gradient such that the seat hanger 3 can self-run from a high position to a low position along each guide rail 21 by its own weight (that is, it can be returned by its own weight). With such a configuration, the seat hanger driving device 4 can be provided with a simple structure, and with this structure, the seat hanger 3 can be smoothly and surely driven in the pushing and pulling directions on the inclined seat guide 2. As a result, it is not necessary to raise and lower the seat in the vertical direction using a hoist or the like as in the prior art. Also in this regard, the seat hanger driving device 4 can have a simple structure.

[0048] As described above, with these configurations, the above-described effects of the present apparatus A can be surely achieved.

[0049] In this embodiment, a pair of columns 1 are erected and installed in the work area P, and these columns 1 are used as the mounting base B. However, various structures such as various buildings and facilities that are erected and installed in the vicinity of the work area may be used as the mounting base, and the seat guide may be similarly extended from this mounting base. Even in this case, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0050] Also, in this embodiment, the seat hanger driving device 4 is installed between the mounting base B and the seat hanger 3, and drives the seat hanger 3 in a push-pull manner on the seat guide 2. A winch 40 and a wire rope 41 are used for the seat hanger driving device 4, but various cylinders such as a hydraulic cylinder or a boom driven by a cylinder can also be used for the seat hanger driving device 4. Also, instead of this push-pull driving method, for example, a self-propelled type in which the guide roller of the seat hanger is directly driven by various motors or driven via various motors and power transmission means may be used. Even in this case, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0051] Also, in this embodiment, the sheet guide 2 is composed of a pair of guide rails 21, and the sheet hanger 3 has a moving base 31 disposed across the space between the guide rails 21 and a pair of guide rollers 32 pivotally supported on both sides of the moving base 31 and engageable with the guide rails 21. One sheet hanger 3 is driven on a pair of guide rails 21 configured with one rail on each side for a total of two rails on both sides. However, the sheet guide may be composed of four guide rails, two on each side, one on top and one on the bottom, and the sheet hanger may be provided with two units, which are generally the same as above and are respectively incorporated so as to be able to travel between the upper and lower pairs of guide rails, and two sheet hangers may be driven on the upper and lower pairs of guide rails. In this case, each of the upper and lower guide rails is installed above and below each guide rail support member. And the two sheet hangers are provided for upper and lower use. The upper sheet hanger is installed between the upper guide rails, and the lower sheet hanger is installed between the lower guide rails. Note that the two sheet hangers are connected to each other by a wire or the like. In this way, the upper and lower sheet hangers are driven by a driving device on each of the upper and lower pairs of guide rails. In this way, the same operational effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved. Moreover, by providing two sheet hangers in this way, the four corners of the sheet can be grasped by the two gripping devices respectively. When the work area is in a strong wind area or when the work area is in strong wind conditions, the safety and reliability can be improved against strong winds. Also, by connecting the sheet hangers to each other with a wire, when the sheet is pulled up, excessive tension is not applied to the sheet, and there is an effect of preventing damage to the sheet. Note that the separate upper and lower sheet guides may be replaced with a common sheet guide having upper rollers engageable with the upper guide rails and lower rollers engageable with the lower guide rails on both sides of the moving base. By making the sheet guide common in this way, the management of the device becomes easy and it can contribute to cost reduction.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mounting base B is installed at the rear part of the work area P, and the seat guide 2 is attached to this mounting base B and extended obliquely upward toward the work area. The seat hanger 3 is driven on this seat guide 2 by the seat hanger driving device 4. However, the mounting base may be installed on one side of the work area, the seat guide may be attached to this mounting base and extended obliquely upward toward the work area, and the seat hanger may be driven on this seat guide by the seat hanger driving device. Even in this case, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0053] A Seat Hanging Assistance Device for a Vehicle Loading Platform (This Device) The loading platform of vehicle T Seat S S0 Initial eye S1 Rubber band P Work area B Mounting base 1 Support column 11 Connecting bar 2 Seat guide 20 Curved portion 21 Guide rail 201 Starting bar 22 Guide rail support member 221 End bar 23 Turn-back type brace 3 Seat hanger 31 Moving base 311 Base body 312 Bearing portion 313 Connecting portion 32 Guide roller 321 Vertical roller 322 Horizontal roller 33 Gripping device 330 Seat insertion opening 331 Gripping portion body 332 Gripping portion 3320 Ring 3321 Shaft 333 Spring member (coil spring) 334 Shaft insertion hole 335 Shaft insertion hole 335A Shaft insertion part 335B Guide part 34 Operating part 341 Release wire 342 Release lever 3420 Lever body 3421 Grip part 3422 Lever part 35 Rubber band support member 351 Mounting part 352 Locking part 4 Seat hanger drive device 40 Winch 401 Cable 40C Operating part 41 Wire rope 42 Wire guide 420 Guide roller 421 Support member 4211 Support part 4212 Mounting part

Claims

1. A seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle cargo bed, which is installed in a work area where a seat hanging operation of hanging a seat on the cargo bed of a vehicle is performed, and assists the seat hanging operation, A pair of columns are erected and installed in the work area, and using each column as a mounting base, or using a structure that is erected and installed close to the work area as a mounting base, from a position within reach of the hands of an operator performing a seat hanging operation in the work area on the mounting base, toward the work area, a seat guide that extends obliquely upward to the back side above the cargo bed of the vehicle in the work area, A seat hanger that is movably arranged on the seat guide and is used to transfer the seat, A seat hanger driving device that drives the seat hanger, Comprising, At one end side on the mounting base side of the seat guide, attach the leading end of the seat to the seat hanger, move the seat hanger on the seat guide to the other end of the seat guide by the seat hanger driving device, deploy the seat above the entire surface of the cargo bed of the vehicle, and at the other end of the seat guide, remove the seat from the seat hanger and hang the seat on the cargo bed of the vehicle, A seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle cargo bed, characterized by the above.

2. The seat guide consists of a pair of guide rails, and the seat hanger has a moving base arranged across between the respective guide rails, and a pair of guide rollers pivotally supported on both sides of the moving base and engageable with the respective guide rails. The seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle cargo bed according to Claim 1.

3. Each of the pair of guide rails has a curved portion that wraps around onto the cargo bed of the vehicle from the mounting position of the mounting base to a height position exceeding the height of the cargo bed of the vehicle at one end portion side on the mounting base side, and each of the guide rails extends obliquely from the mounting base, through the curved portion, to above the back side of the cargo bed of the vehicle, with a gradient such that the seat hanger can run by its own weight from a high place to a low place along the respective guide rails. The seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle cargo bed according to Claim 2.

4. The pair of guide rails consists of rails having a groove-shaped cross-section, and the pair of guide rollers of the seat hanger consists of a pair of vertical rollers engageable in the vertical direction within each guide rail and a pair of horizontal rollers engageable in the horizontal direction within each guide rail. The seat hanging assistance device for a vehicle cargo bed according to Claim 2.

5. The seat hanger is provided with a pair of gripping devices arranged on both sides of the seat hanger and capable of gripping both sides of the tip of the seat, and an operation unit operatively connected to each of the gripping devices, arranged within the reach of the operator's hand in the work area, and for releasing the seat gripped by each of the gripping devices from each of the gripping devices. The vehicle bed seat hanging assist device according to claim 1.

6. The seat has eyelets at at least four corners. Each gripping device includes a gripping portion main body having a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped cross section into which each corner on both sides of the tip of the seat can be inserted, and on one of both end portions of the gripping portion main body, passing through the middle portion of the one side, with one end protruding outward from the middle portion of the one side and the other end engaged with the middle of the other of both end portions of the gripping portion main body and arranged between both end portions, a gripping portion that can be inserted into and removed from the eyelet of the seat, and a spring member that biases the other end of the gripping portion toward the other of both end portions of the gripping portion main body as a normal state between both end portions of the gripping portion main body. The vehicle bed seat hanging assist device according to claim 5.

7. The operation unit is operatively connected to each of the gripping portions of each of the gripping devices, includes a release wire that hangs down from each of the gripping devices toward the work area, and a manual lever operatively connected to the hanging-side end of the release wire for driving the release wire so that the gripping portion can be inserted into and removed from the eyelet of the seat. The vehicle bed seat hanging assist device according to claim 6.

8. The seat hanger drive device includes a winch installed on a mounting base, and a wire rope wound around the winch, extending from the winch, and connected to the seat hanger via a wire guide installed on the tip side of the seat guide. The vehicle bed seat hanging assist device according to claim 1.

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