Weight changing system

Abstract

To change the weight of pedal operation and / or lever operation of a forklift, on the basis of a concentration degree of a driver.SOLUTION: A weight changing system S includes a weight changing part 21, and a change command part 307. The weight changing part 21 changes the weight of a pedal 15 and / or a lever 14 of a forklift. The change command part 307 controls the weight changing part 21, and changes the weight of the pedal 15 and / or the lever 14, on the basis of a time zone related to a concentration degree of a driver.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weight change system for changing the weight of a pedal and a lever of a forklift or the weight of any one of them.

Background Art

[0002] Forklifts include types such as reach forklifts and counterbalanced forklifts. Forklifts are equipped with pedals and levers, and the number and functions of these vary depending on the type of forklift.

[0003] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a reach forklift is equipped with a brake pedal and a presence pedal. The presence pedal is configured to be able to stop traveling and cargo handling, and the driver cannot perform traveling or cargo handling unless the presence pedal is depressed. Also, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a counterbalanced forklift is equipped with an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, and an engine-type counterbalanced forklift further includes a clutch pedal. Among battery-powered forklifts, automatic forklifts further include an inching pedal instead of a clutch pedal. By depressing the inching pedal, the driver can put the forklift in a semi-clutch state and cut off the driving power.

[0004] In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, a reach-type forklift includes a lift lever for raising and lowering the forks, a tilt lever for changing the vertical angle of the forks, a reach lever for moving the lifting device forward and backward, and an accelerator lever for driving the forklift. Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 4, a counterbalanced forklift includes a tilt lever and an accelerator lever. Generally, as disclosed in Patent Document 5, a lever is configured to swing forward or backward from a neutral position and automatically return to the neutral position by a spring when not in operation. The invention disclosed in Patent Document 5 assists lever operation by an actuator when the operation amount of the operation lever exceeds a predetermined value in order to reduce the fatigue of the operator. In addition, for example, Patent Document 6 discloses a technique for assisting the lever operation of a vehicle.

[0005] By the way, when it is desired to quickly perform pedal operation or lever operation, it is preferable that they are lighter in weight. However, the lighter the weight, the more likely it is that a large operation error will occur unless the operation is performed more carefully. It would be ideal if careful operation could always be carried out, but human concentration has fluctuations and it is not possible to always exert maximum concentration.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a weight change system that can change the pedal operation and lever operation of a forklift or the weight of either of them based on the level of the driver's concentration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] To solve the above problems, the weight change system according to the present invention used in a forklift includes a weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal and lever of the forklift or either of them, and a change command unit that controls the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the time zone related to the level of the driver's concentration.

[0009] Preferably, the above weight change system further includes a storage unit that stores the schedule related to the driver's work, and a change schedule determination unit that sets a time zone related to the level of concentration based on the schedule and determines the time to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the set time zone. The change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the time determined by the change schedule determination unit.

[0010] Preferably, the above weight change system further includes a driver identification unit that identifies the driver, and the storage unit stores the schedules related to the work of a plurality of drivers, and the change schedule determination unit sets a time zone related to the level of concentration for each driver based on the schedule related to the work of each driver.

[0011] Preferably, the above weight change system The schedule includes meal break time slots, The change schedule determination unit sets the time slots immediately after the meal break time slots as time slots with low concentration.

[0012] The above weight change system preferably, further includes a change schedule determination unit that sets time slots related to the high and low levels of the driver's concentration based on the driver's drowsiness cycle, and sets the time to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the set time slots. The change instruction unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the time set by the change schedule determination unit.

[0013] The above weight change system preferably, further includes a change notice unit that notifies the driver that the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them will be changed.

[0014] The above weight change system preferably, further includes a response receiving unit that receives the driver's response to the notice by the change notice unit, and after the response receiving unit receives the driver's response, the change instruction unit causes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them to be changed.

[0015] To solve the above problems, the forklift according to the present invention includes the above weight change system.

[0016] To solve the above problems, the weight change program according to the present invention is, a program used in a weight change system including a weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal and lever of a forklift or either of them and a computer, and causes the computer to control the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the time slots related to the high and low levels of the driver's concentration.

Effect of the Invention

[0017] The weight change system according to the present invention can change the weight of the pedal operation and lever operation of the forklift or either of them based on the level of the driver's concentration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the weight change system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The weight change system S according to the present embodiment is configured to change the weights of both the pedal and the lever, but this is merely an example, and the weight change system according to the present invention may be configured to change the weight of either the pedal or the lever.

[0020] <Configuration of Forklift> FIG. 1 is a front view of a forklift 1 equipped with a weight change system S. First, the configuration of the forklift 1 will be described. The forklift 1 is a battery-powered counterbalanced forklift. As shown in FIG. 1, the forklift 1 includes a plurality of wheels 10, a vehicle body 11, a driver's seat 12, a head guard 13, a lever 14, a pedal 15 (see FIG. 2), left and right masts 16, left and right forks 17, a camera 18, a speaker 19 (see FIG. 2), a microphone 20 (see FIG. 2), a weight change unit 21 (see FIG. 2), and a control unit 30 (see FIG. 2).

[0021] The plurality of wheels 10 are provided on the four sides of the vehicle body 11. The driver's seat 12 is provided on the vehicle body 11, and the head guard 13 is provided above the driver's seat 12.

[0022] The pedal 15 has an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and an inching pedal, and is provided below the driver's seat 12. The "pedal" in the present invention only needs to have at least one pedal such as an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and an inching pedal, and does not necessarily have all of these pedals.

[0023] The lever 14 has a lift lever and a tilt lever, and is provided at the front part of the driver's seat 12. The lever 14 may have a slide lever for sliding the fork 17 left and right. The "lever" in the present invention only needs to have at least one lever such as a lift lever and a tilt lever, and does not necessarily have all of these levers.

[0024] The left and right forks 17 are configured to be able to move up and down via the left and right masts 16, and the driver H operates the lift lever to move the fork 17 up and down to perform a loading and unloading operation.

[0025] The camera 18 is fixed to the head guard 13 and is configured to photograph the face of the driver H getting into the forklift 1 and generate a face image. The face image generated by the camera 18 is transmitted to the control unit 30.

[0026] The microphone 20 collects the speech voice of the driver H, converts the collected voice into a voice signal, and transmits it to the control unit 30.

[0027] The speaker 19 emits a warning voice for notifying the driver H of a weight change to be described later.

[0028] The weight change unit 21 changes the weights of the lever 14 and the pedal 15 during operation based on the command of a change command unit 307 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later. The weight change unit 21 includes a lever weight change unit that operates the weight of the lever 14 and a pedal weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal 15. Note that when the weight change unit 21 is configured to change the weight of either one of the pedal 15 and the lever 14, it will have either one of the lever weight change unit and the pedal weight change unit.

[0029] The lever weight change unit is constituted by, for example, a device that can adjust the weight of the lever 14 by hydraulic pressure or a device that can adjust the weight of the lever 14 by a spring.

[0030] Also, for example, the lever weight change unit may be an assist device that assists the operation of the lever 14 with respect to its weight. In this case, the lever weight change unit may adjust the assist force based on the command of the change command unit 307 and substantially change the weight of the lever 14 when the driver H operates it.

[0031] Alternatively, the lever weight change unit may be configured to change the magnitude of the power of each device that responds to the operation amount of the lever 14 based on the command of the change command unit 307, for example. Thereby, the lever weight change unit substantially changes the weight of the lever 14.

[0032] The pedal weight change unit changes the weight of the pedal 15 when the driver H steps on it based on the command of the change command unit 307. The pedal weight change unit is constituted by, for example, a device that can adjust the weight by hydraulic pressure or a device that can adjust the weight by a spring.

[0033] Also, for example, the pedal weight change unit may be an assist device that assists the stepping force of the pedal 15. In this case, the pedal weight change unit may adjust the assist force based on the command of the change command unit 307 and substantially change the weight of the pedal 15 when the driver H steps on it.

[0034] Alternatively, the pedal weight changing unit may be configured to change the magnitude of the driving force or braking force of each device that responds to the amount of depression of the pedal 15, for example, based on a command from the change command unit 307. Thereby, the pedal weight changing unit substantially changes the weight of the pedal 15.

[0035] The control unit 30 is constituted by a computer disposed within the vehicle body 11 and includes an arithmetic unit, a storage device, and a memory. The storage device stores a weight change program to be executed as a driver identification unit 302, a change schedule determination unit 303, a time reading unit 304, a change notice unit 305, a response receiving unit 306, and a change command unit 307, which will be described later for the computer.

[0036] <Functional configuration> Next, the functional configuration of the weight change system S will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 30 includes a storage unit 301, a driver identification unit 302, a change schedule determination unit 303, a time reading unit 304, a change notice unit 305, a response receiving unit 306, and a change command unit 307.

[0037] The storage unit 301 stores the schedules related to the work of a plurality of drivers H. Further, the storage unit 301 stores the schedules of the drivers H corresponding to the face images of the plurality of drivers H.

[0038] The driver identification unit 302 identifies the driver H who will board the vehicle from among the plurality of drivers H stored in the storage unit 301 by referring to the face image generated by the camera 18 and the face image stored in the storage unit 301.

[0039] Based on the schedule of the identified driver H, the change schedule determination unit 303 sets a time period with low concentration, a time period with high concentration, and an intermediate time period therebetween. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the schedule related to the work of driver H is, as shown in FIG. 3, the regular working hours are from 8:00 to 17:00, and the lunch break is from 12:00 to 13:00. Also, when driver H works overtime, the break time is from 17:00 to 17:30. And FIG. 3 shows the change in the concentration of the driver set by the change schedule determination unit 303 for each time period and the planned change in the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the change schedule determination unit 303 sets the two and a half hours from the start time in the schedule of driver H as a time period with high concentration. This is based on the fact that in the morning time period, that is, for a while after waking up from sleep, the body and brain have rested, so it is considered that the concentration is likely to increase. Also, in this time period, since fatigue due to long - term work has not yet accumulated, there is a tendency to easily maintain concentration.

[0041] Furthermore, the change schedule determination unit 303 sets the two and a half hours after the lunch break in the schedule of driver H as a time period with low concentration. This is based on the fact that after lunch or past noon, it is said that the energy in the body decreases and fatigue and drowsiness are likely to occur.

[0042] Furthermore, the change schedule determination unit 303 sets the other time periods until the regular working hours as an intermediate time period where the concentration is neither high nor low. This is based on the fact that in the time period before lunch or in the time period before fatigue accumulates in the evening, although the concentration is not extremely high, it is not extremely low either.

[0043] Furthermore, the schedule change determination unit 303 sets the first 30 minutes as a high-concentration time period, the subsequent 30 minutes as a medium-concentration time period, and the subsequent time period as a low-concentration time period during the overtime period after taking a 30-minute break after the scheduled time. This is because the first 30 minutes are after taking a break and the driver can engage in work in a refreshed state, so it is set as a high-concentration time period; the subsequent 30 minutes are not yet overly fatigued, so it is set as a medium-concentration time period; and the subsequent time period is set as a low-concentration time period because the fatigue from long hours of work accumulates.

[0044] Then, the schedule change determination unit 303 determines the time periods when the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 are increased, decreased, and set to an intermediate level based on the time periods related to the high and low concentration levels of the driver H that are set. Specifically, the schedule change determination unit 303 increases the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 during the high-concentration time period, decreases the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 during the low-concentration time period, and determines the time periods of the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 to be intermediate during the medium-concentration time period so that the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 are also intermediate. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the time periods of the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 determined by the schedule change determination unit 303 are linked to the time periods related to the high and low concentration levels.

[0045] Furthermore, the schedule change determination unit 303 sets the times when the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 are changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the schedule change determination unit 303 determines 10:30, 13:00, 15:30, 17:30, 18:00, and 18:30, which are the boundaries of each time period related to the high and low concentration levels of the driver H, as the times when the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 are changed (hereinafter referred to as "change times").

[0046] The time reading unit 304 is configured to read the current time and the scheduled time.

[0047] The change notice unit 305 notifies the driver H of the change in the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 by voice from the speaker 19 at the change time (or slightly before the change time) determined by the change schedule determination unit 303. For example, the change notice unit 305 may notify the change in the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 one minute before the change time determined by the change schedule determination unit 303. This notice may include information such as whether the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 will become heavier or lighter due to the change. Also, as will be described later, when there is no permission for the change in weight, the change notice unit 305 may notify the change in the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 again after a predetermined time. This predetermined time may be, for example, between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.

[0048] The response reception unit 306 receives a predetermined response from the driver H notified by the change notice unit 305 via the microphone 20. For example, the predetermined response may be words such as "Yes", "I understand", "Acknowledged". When the response reception unit 306 receives a predetermined response from the driver H, it transmits a response signal to the change command unit 307.

[0049] Upon receiving the response signal, the change command unit 307 controls the weight change unit 21 to change the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 to the weights determined by the change notice unit 305. Thereby, the change command unit 307 makes the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 heavier in a time period set with low concentration than in a time period set with no drop in concentration. Also, the change command unit 307 makes the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 lighter in a time period set with high concentration than in a time period set with low concentration.

[0050] As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 are made light from 8:00 to 10:30 at the start of work, medium from 10:30 to 12:00, heavy from 13:00 to 15:30, and medium from 15:30 to 17:00. And the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 during overtime are made light from 17:30 to 18:00, medium from 18:00 to 18:30, and heavy from 18:30 to 20:00.

[0051] As a result, when the concentration of the driver H is high, the weight change system S can make the operations of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 quick by making the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 light. Also, when the concentration of the driver H is low, the weight change system S can prevent large operation mistakes by making the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 heavy.

[0052] <Flow of the weight change system> Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, the operation of the weight change system S will be described again.

[0053] (1) First, the weight change system S identifies the driver H who gets on the vehicle by the driver identification unit 302 (see S (step) 1 in FIG. 4).

[0054] (2) Next, based on the schedule (work schedule) related to the work of the identified driver H, the weight change system S sets the time zone regarding the high or low concentration of the driver H by the change schedule determination unit 303, and determines the scheduled time to change the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 (see S2 in FIG. 4).

[0055] (3) Next, the weight change system S reads the time by the time reading unit 304 (see S3 in FIG. 4). When the scheduled time (or a little before the scheduled time) arrives (Yes in S4 in FIG. 4), the change notification unit 305 notifies the driver H of the change in the weight of the lever 14 (see S5 in FIG. 4).

[0056] (4) Next, when the weight change system S receives permission for the change from the driver H by the response receiving unit 306 (Yes in S6 of FIG. 4), the change instruction unit 307 changes the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 (see S7 of FIG. 4). Also, until the weight change system S receives permission for the change from the driver H by the response receiving unit 306 (No in S6 of FIG. 4), the weight change system S holds the change in the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14, and the change notification unit 305 notifies the driver H of the change in the weight of the lever 14 again after a predetermined time. Thereby, the weight change system S can prevent the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 from being suddenly changed during the loading and unloading work of the driver H.

[0057] Thereby, the weight change system S changes the weights of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 based on the level of concentration of the driver H. As a result, when the driver H has a high level of concentration, the operations of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 can be performed quickly, and when the driver H has a low level of concentration, large operation mistakes can be prevented.

[0058] As described above, one embodiment of the weight change system according to the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The weight change system according to the present invention may be implemented, for example, according to each of the following modification examples, or a combination of each modification example may be implemented.

[0059] <Modification example> · The forklift 1 may be a reach forklift. In this case, the pedal 15 may include a presence pedal. Also, the forklift 1 may be an engine-powered forklift. In this case, the pedal 15 may include a clutch pedal. Further, when the forklift 1 is a reach forklift, the lever 14 may include an accelerator lever. Also, as described above, the "pedal" in the present invention includes at least one of the above pedals, the "lever" includes at least one of the above levers, and the weight change system S according to the present invention changes the weight of at least one of the above lever and pedal.

[0060] ·Any configuration of the control unit 30 may be configured by, for example, a server computer provided on the cloud. In this case, the weight change system S changes the weight of the pedal 15 and the lever 14 or any of them by communicating with this server computer.

[0061] ·The change schedule determination unit 303 may fix the time zone related to the level of the driver H's concentration based on, for example, the time zone related to the sleep cycle of the general public. In this case, the change schedule determination unit 303 may set, for example, the time zone of this phenomenon as the time zone when the concentration is low based on the phenomenon of "afternoon dip" where drowsiness occurs in the afternoon.

[0062] ·The method for identifying the driver H by the driver identification unit 302 is not particularly limited. For example, the driver identification unit 302 may identify each driver H by reading an ID card or the like possessed by each driver H. In this case, the weight change system S includes a reading unit that reads an ID card or the like instead of the camera 18.

[0063] ·The forklift 1 is provided with a monitor instead of the speaker 19, and the change notice unit 305 may notify the change of the weight of the lever 14 and the pedal 15 or any of them by this monitor.

[0064] ·The forklift 1 is provided with a button instead of the microphone 20, and the response receiving unit 306 may receive permission for weight change by the driver H via the button.

Explanation of Signs

[0065] S Weight change system H Driver 1 Forklift 10 Wheels 11 Vehicle body 12 Driver's seat 13 Head guard 14 Lever 15 Pedal 16 Mast 17 Fork 18 Camera 19 Speaker 20 Microphone 21 Weight change unit 30 Control unit 301 Memory unit 302 Driver identification unit 303 Change plan determination unit 304 Time reading unit 305 Change notice unit 306 Response receiving unit 307 Change command unit

Claims

1. A weight change system used for a forklift, comprising: a weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal and lever of the forklift or either of them; a change command unit that controls the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on a time period related to the level of the driver's concentration.

2. a storage unit that stores the schedule related to the driver's work; a change schedule determination unit that sets a time period related to the level of concentration based on the schedule and determines the time to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the set time period; The weight change system according to claim 1, wherein the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the time determined by the change schedule determination unit.

3. further comprising a driver identification unit that identifies the driver; the storage unit stores the schedules related to the work of a plurality of the drivers; The weight change system according to claim 2, wherein the change schedule determination unit sets a time period related to the level of concentration for each driver based on the schedule related to the work of each driver.

4. the schedule includes a time period for meal breaks; The weight change system according to claim 2, wherein the change schedule determination unit sets the time immediately after the meal break time period as a time period with low concentration.

5. further comprising a change schedule determination unit that sets a time period related to the level of concentration based on the driver's drowsiness cycle and sets the time to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the set time period; The weight change system according to claim 1, wherein the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the time set by the change schedule determination unit.

6. The weight change system according to claim 1, further comprising a change notice unit that notifies the driver that the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them is to be changed.

7. further comprising a response receiving unit that receives the driver's response to the notice by the change notice unit The weight change system according to claim 6, wherein the change instruction unit changes the weight of the pedal and the lever or either of them after the answer receiving unit receives an answer from the driver.

8. A forklift comprising the weight change system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A program used in a weight change system including a weight change unit that changes the weight of a pedal and a lever of a forklift or either of them, and a computer, a weight change program for causing a computer to control the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and the lever or either of them based on a time zone related to the level of a driver's concentration.

Images