Weight changing system

Abstract

To change the weight of pedal operation and / or lever operation of a fork lift, according to an atmospheric temperature.SOLUTION: A weight changing system S includes a weight changing part 21, and a change command part 308. The weight changing part 21 changes the weight of a pedal 14 and / or a lever 15 of a forklift. The change command part 308 controls the weight changing part 21, and changes the weight of the pedal 14 and / or the lever 15, according to a predetermined atmospheric temperature.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 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 thereof differ 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 travel or perform 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-type forklifts, an automatic forklift further includes 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] Also, 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 back and forth, 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 operator's fatigue. In addition, for example, Patent Document 6 discloses a technique for assisting lever operation of a vehicle.

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

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 according to the temperature.

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 a predetermined temperature.

[0009] The above weight change system preferably further includes a question unit that asks questions about the driver's tolerance to temperature, a temperature tolerance determination unit that determines the driver's temperature tolerance according to the driver's answer to the question, and a temperature determination unit that determines the temperature at which the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them should be changed based on the driver's temperature tolerance, and the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the determined temperature. The change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the determined temperature.

[0010] The above weight change system preferably further includes a storage unit that stores the driver's temperature tolerance, a driver identification unit that identifies the driver, and a temperature determination unit that determines the temperature at which the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them should be changed based on the driver's temperature tolerance, and the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the determined temperature. The change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the determined temperature.

[0011] 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 is changed.

[0012] To solve the above problems, the forklift according to the present invention includes any of the above weight change systems.

[0013] 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 the forklift or either of them, and a computer, wherein the computer is controlled to cause the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on a predetermined temperature.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] The weight change system according to the present invention can change the pedal operation and lever operation of the forklift or the weight of either of them according to a predetermined temperature.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the weight change system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The weight change system S according to this 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.

[0017] <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 pedal 14 (see FIG. 2), a lever 15, left and right masts 16, left and right forks 17, a speaker 19 (see FIG. 2), a microphone 20 (see FIG. 2), a weight change unit 21 (see FIG. 2), a thermometer 22 (see FIG. 2), and a control unit 30 (see FIG. 2).

[0018] 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.

[0019] The pedal 14 includes 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 may 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.

[0020] The lever 15 includes a lift lever and a tilt lever, and is provided in front of the driver's seat 12. The lever 15 may have a slide lever for sliding the fork 17 left and right. The "lever" in the present invention may have at least one lever such as a lift lever and a tilt lever, and does not necessarily have all of these levers.

[0021] 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 forks 17 up and down for cargo handling work.

[0022] The microphone 20 collects the driver H's spoken voice, converts the collected voice into an audio signal, and transmits it to the control unit 30.

[0023] The speaker 19 emits a warning voice for notifying the driver H of the upcoming weight change to be described later. The warning voice may be, for example, "The weights of the pedal and lever will be increased. Is that okay?" when the weights of the pedal and lever are increased, or "The weights of the pedal and lever will be decreased. Is that okay?" when the weights of the pedal and lever are decreased.

[0024] The weight change unit 21 changes the weights of the lever 15 and the pedal 14 during operation based on the command of the change command unit 308 (see FIG. 2) to be described later. The weight change unit 21 includes a pedal weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal 14 and a lever weight change unit that operates the weight of the lever 15. Note that when the weight change unit 21 is configured to change the weight of either one of the pedal 14 and the lever 15, it will have either one of the pedal weight change unit and the lever weight change unit.

[0025] The pedal weight change unit changes the weight of the pedal 14 when the driver H steps on it based on the command of the change command unit 308. The pedal weight change unit is configured by, for example, a device that can adjust the weight by hydraulic pressure or a device that can adjust the weight by a spring.

[0026] Also, for example, the pedal weight change unit may be an assist device that assists the stepping force of the pedal 14. In this case, the pedal weight change unit may adjust the assist force based on the command of the change command unit 308 and substantially change the weight of the pedal 14 when the driver H steps on it.

[0027] Alternatively, the pedal weight changing unit may be configured to change the magnitude of the driving force or the braking force of each device that responds to the amount of depression of the pedal 14, for example, based on a command from the change command unit 308. Thereby, the pedal weight changing unit substantially changes the weight of the pedal 14.

[0028] The lever weight changing unit is configured by, for example, a device that can adjust the weight of the lever 15 by hydraulic pressure or a device that can adjust the weight of the lever 15 by a spring.

[0029] Also, for example, the lever weight changing unit may be an assist device that assists an operation on the weight of the lever 15. In this case, the lever weight changing unit may adjust the assist force based on a command from the change command unit 308 and substantially change the weight of the lever 15 when the driver H operates it.

[0030] Alternatively, the lever weight changing unit may be configured to change the magnitude of the driving force of each device that responds to the operation amount of the lever 15, for example, based on a command from the change command unit 308. Thereby, the lever weight changing unit substantially changes the weight of the lever 15.

[0031] The thermometer 22 measures the temperature of the driver's seat 12 and transmits the measured temperature to the control unit 30. Note that the thermometer 22 may be configured to measure the temperature around the forklift 1 as long as the difference between the temperature around the forklift 1 and the temperature of the driver's seat 12 does not particularly change.

[0032] The control unit 30 is configured by a computer disposed inside 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 question unit 302, a temperature tolerance determination unit 303, a temperature determination unit 304, a temperature reading unit 305, a change notice unit 306, an answer receiving unit 307, and a change command unit 308, which will be described later for the computer.

[0033] <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 question unit 302, a temperature resistance determination unit 303, a temperature determination unit 304, a temperature reading unit 305, a change notice unit 306, an answer receiving unit 307, and a change command unit 308.

[0034] The storage unit 301 stores the correspondence between the temperature measured by the thermometer 22 and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 that vary according to the temperature. The temperature in this correspondence corresponds to the "predetermined temperature" of the present invention. This correspondence is generally set in consideration of the temperature at which a person's concentration is considered to decrease or increase, and the clothing of the driver H that changes according to the season. In the present embodiment, the weight change system S changes the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 in three levels according to the temperature of the driver's seat 12. However, this is merely an example, and the weight change system S may be configured to change the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 in two levels or four levels or more.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 are made the heaviest when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is less than 8 degrees or 29 degrees or more, the lightest when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is 16 degrees or more and less than 26 degrees, and intermediate weights when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is 8 degrees or more and less than 16 degrees and 27 degrees or more and less than 29 degrees. Note that these are merely examples, and the correspondence between the temperature and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 that vary is not limited to this. The following Table 1 shows the correspondence between the temperature and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 based on the above settings.

[0036]

Table 1

[0037] The graph in Fig. 3A shows the change in temperature in August and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 changed accordingly. In Fig. 3, the change in temperature is shown by a line graph, and the change in the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 is shown by a bar graph. Since the temperature is high in August, the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 are the heaviest (3 on the second vertical axis in Fig. 3A) from 9:00 to 19:00.

[0038] The graph in Fig. 3B shows the change in temperature in November and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 changed accordingly. In November, since the temperature is relatively likely to increase concentration, the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 are the lightest (1 on the second vertical axis in Fig. 3B) from 10:00 to 15:00, and the weights in other time periods are of medium weight (2 on the second vertical axis in Fig. 3B).

[0039] Note that in this embodiment, as will be described later, the weight change system S further changes the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 based on the tolerance of the driver H to the temperature (hereinafter referred to as "temperature tolerance").

[0040] The question part 302 asks the driver H questions about the tolerance to temperature via the speaker 19. For example, questions about heat tolerance may be questions such as "Are you less tolerant of summer than others?" and "Are you less tolerant of heat than others?" Also, questions about cold may be questions such as "Are you less tolerant of winter than others?" and "Are you less tolerant of cold than others?" Note that this is just an example, and the questions asked by the question part 302 are not limited to this.

[0041] The temperature tolerance determination unit 303 receives the driver H's answer to the question of the question part 302 via the microphone 20, and determines the driver H's temperature tolerance according to the driver H's answer to the question. For example, when the temperature tolerance determination unit 303 receives an answer that summer or heat is not tolerated, it determines that the driver H is not tolerant of high temperatures, and when it receives an answer that winter or cold is not tolerated, it determines that the driver H is not tolerant of low temperatures. The determined result is transmitted to the temperature determination unit 304.

[0042] Based on the temperature tolerance of driver H determined by the temperature tolerance determination unit 303, the temperature determination unit 304 determines the temperature at which the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 or either of them should be changed.

[0043] For example, for driver H who is determined to be intolerant of summer or heat, the temperature determination unit 304 applies a bias to lower the temperature by 2 degrees in the correspondence relationship between the temperature on the high-temperature side and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15. In this case, for driver H who is determined to be intolerant of summer or heat, when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is less than 8 degrees and 27 degrees or more, it is made the heaviest, when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is 16 degrees or more and less than 25 degrees, it is made the lightest, and when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is 8 degrees or more and less than 16 degrees and 25 degrees or more and less than 27 degrees, it is made an intermediate weight. The following Table 2 shows the weight settings of the pedal 14 determined by the temperature determination unit 304 corresponding to driver H who is determined to be intolerant of summer or heat.

[0044]

Table 2

[0045] For example, for driver H who is determined to be intolerant of winter or cold, the temperature determination unit 304 applies a bias to raise the temperature by 2 degrees in the correspondence relationship between the temperature on the low-temperature side and the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15. In this case, for driver H who is determined to be intolerant of winter or cold, when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is less than 10 degrees and 29 degrees or more, it is made the heaviest, when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is 18 degrees or more and less than 27 degrees, it is made the lightest, and when the temperature of the driver's seat 12 is 10 degrees or more and less than 18 degrees and 27 degrees or more and less than 29 degrees, it is made an intermediate weight. The following Table 3 shows the weight settings of the pedal 14 determined by the temperature determination unit 304 corresponding to driver H who is determined to be intolerant of winter or cold.

[0046]

Table 3

[0047] The temperature reading unit 305 reads the temperature of the thermometer 22 and transmits the read air temperature to the change notice unit 306.

[0048] When the change notice unit 306 determines that the temperature has reached the temperature at which the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 should be changed, it notifies the driver H of the change in the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 by voice from the speaker 19. However, since the temperature of the driver's seat 12 varies not only with the passage of time but also with environmental changes such as the degree of exposure to sunlight, it is not preferable for the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 to be frequently changed due to such temperature changes. Therefore, the change notice unit 306 is configured to leave an arbitrary interval until the next notice even when the temperature at which the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 should be changed is reached. This interval may be set, for example, between 5 minutes and 30 minutes.

[0049] The response receiving unit 307 receives a predetermined response from the driver H announced by the change notice unit 306 via the microphone 20. For example, the predetermined response may be words such as "Yes", "I understand", "Got it". When the response receiving unit 307 receives a predetermined response from the driver H, it transmits a response signal to the change command unit 308.

[0050] When the change command unit 308 receives the response signal, it controls the weight changing unit 21 to change the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 to the weights determined by the temperature determination unit 304. Thereby, even if the concentration of the driver H fluctuates due to the temperature, the weight change system S can change the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 accordingly.

[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 14 and the lever 15 quick by making the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 light. Also, when the concentration of the driver H is low, the weight change system S can prevent major operation mistakes by making the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 heavy.

[0052] <Flow of the Weight Change System> Next, while referring 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 asks the driver H (see S1 (step) in FIG. 4) and determines the temperature tolerance of the driver H according to the answer of the driver H to the question (see S2 in FIG. 4).

[0054] (2) Next, the weight change system S determines the temperature at which the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 should be changed based on the temperature tolerance of the driver H (see S3 in FIG. 4).

[0055] (3) Next, the weight change system S reads the temperature (see S4 in FIG. 4), and when the temperature reaches the temperature to be changed (Yes in S5 of FIG. 4), it notifies the driver H of the change in the weight of the lever 15 (see S6 in FIG. 4).

[0056] (4) Next, when the weight change system S receives permission for the change from the driver H (Yes in S7 of FIG. 4), the weight change instruction unit 308 changes the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 (see S8 in FIG. 4). Also, until the weight change system S receives permission for the change from the driver H (No in S7 of FIG. 4), the change in the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 is suspended, and the driver H is notified of the change in the weight of the lever 15 again after a predetermined time. Thereby, the weight change system S can prevent frequently changing the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 and suddenly changing the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 during the loading work of the driver H.

[0057] In this way, the weight change system S changes the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 based on the temperature fluctuation that affects the level of the driver H's concentration. As a result, when the driver H's concentration is high, the operations of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 can be performed quickly, and when the driver H's concentration is low, major operation mistakes can be prevented.

[0058] As described above, one embodiment of the weight change system according to the present invention has been explained. 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, for each of the following modification examples or a combination of each modification example.

[0059] <Modification example> · The forklift 1 may be a reach forklift. In this case, the pedal 14 may include a presence pedal. Further, the forklift 1 may be an engine-type forklift. In this case, the pedal 14 may include a clutch pedal. Furthermore, when the forklift 1 is a reach forklift, the lever 15 may include an accelerator lever. Also, as described above, the "pedal" in the present invention includes at least two of the above pedals, and the "lever" includes at least two of the above levers. 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 14 and the lever 15 or any of them by communicating with this server computer.

[0061] · The storage unit 301 may be configured to store the temperature tolerance of the driver H. In this case, the weight change system S further includes a driver identification unit that identifies the driver H who gets on the vehicle by the driver identification unit, reads the temperature tolerance of the driver H identified from the storage unit 301, and determines the temperature at which the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 or any of them should be changed based on the temperature tolerance of the driver H.

[0062] Also, in this case, the method for identifying the driver H by the driver identification unit is not particularly limited. For example, the driver identification unit may identify the driver H by photographing the face of the driver H with a camera, or by reading an ID card or the like possessed by each driver H to identify each driver H.

[0063] · The forklift 1 is provided with a monitor instead of the speaker 19, and the temperature determination unit 304 may announce that the weight of the lever 15 and the pedal 14 or either of them is to be changed by this monitor.

[0064] · The forklift 1 is provided with a button instead of the microphone 20, and the response receiving unit 307 may receive a response from 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 Pedal 15 Lever 16 Mast 17 Fork 19 Speaker 20 Microphone 21 Weight change unit 22 Thermometer 30 Control unit 301 Memory unit 302 Question unit 303 Temperature tolerance determination unit 304 Temperature determination unit 305 Temperature reading unit 306 Change notice unit 307 Response receiving unit 308 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 predetermined temperature.

2. a questioning unit that questions the driver about the tolerance to temperature; a temperature tolerance determination unit that determines the driver's temperature tolerance according to the driver's answer to the question; further comprising a temperature determination unit that determines the temperature at which the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them should be changed based on the driver's temperature tolerance, wherein the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the determined temperature. The weight change system according to Claim 1.

3. a storage unit that stores the driver's temperature tolerance; a driver identification unit that identifies the driver; further comprising a temperature determination unit that determines the temperature at which the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them should be changed based on the driver's temperature tolerance, wherein the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on the determined temperature. The weight change system according to Claim 1.

4. The weight change system according to Claim 1, further comprising a change warning unit that warns the driver that the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them will be changed.

5. The forklift comprising the weight change system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. A program used for a weight change system comprising a weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal and lever of a forklift or either of them, and a computer, wherein the computer is caused to execute a weight change program that controls the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and lever or either of them based on a predetermined temperature.

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