Pillar binding device

Abstract

To provide a pillar binding device that can bind a small number of pillars or any number of pillars.SOLUTION: A pillar binding device 20 includes a base 30 which extends in a first direction D1 and on which multiple pillars 10 aligned in the first direction D1 are placed, a first support part 40 that extends in a second direction D2 from the base 30, a second support part 50 that is positioned at a distance from the first support part 40 in the first direction D1 and extends from the base 30 in the second direction D2, and a locking part 80 that is supported by the first support part 40 and shifts between a locked position where it binds the multiple pillars 10 placed on the base 30 and an unlocked position where it releases the binding of the multiple pillars 10 placed on the base 30. In the locked position, the locking part 80 sandwiches the first pillar 10X placed on the base 30 together with the base 30 in the second direction D2, and sandwiches the multiple pillars 10 placed on the base 30 together with the second support part 50 in the first direction D1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a strut bundling device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a strut bundling device for bundling a plurality of struts constituting a temporary scaffold. The strut bundling device includes a base portion, two side portions extending upward from both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the base portion, and a lid portion connecting the tips of the two side portions. That is, the strut bundling device forms a frame shape by the base portion, the two side portions, and the lid portion. And the strut bundling device bundles a plurality of struts by covering the plurality of struts laminated on the base portion between the two side portions with the lid portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above-described strut bundling device is suitable for bundling a large number of struts, but is not suitable for bundling a small number or an arbitrary number of struts.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The strut bundling device for solving the above problems has a cylindrical strut body and a tightening portion provided on the strut body, and is a strut bundling device for bundling a plurality of struts constituting a wedge-tightening type scaffold. It includes a base extending in a first direction and on which the plurality of struts aligned in the first direction are placed, a first support portion extending from the base in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a second support portion located at an interval from the first support portion in the first direction and extending from the base in the second direction, and a lock portion supported by the first support portion and displaced between a lock position for bundling the plurality of struts placed on the base and an unlock position for releasing the bundling of the plurality of struts placed on the base. Among the plurality of struts placed on the base, when the strut closest to the first support portion in the first direction is defined as the first strut, the lock portion, in the lock position, sandwiches the first strut placed on the base in the second direction together with the base, and sandwiches the plurality of struts placed on the base in the first direction together with the second support portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] The strut bundling device can bundle a small number of struts or any number of struts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the column bundling device will be described. FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of columns 10 and two column bundling devices 20 that bundle the plurality of columns 10.

[0009] <Configuration of Column 10> As shown in FIG. 1, the column 10 includes a column main body 11, an insertion portion 12 having a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of fastening portions 13 arranged at intervals in the axial direction of the column main body 11. The column 10 is configured to form a wedge-fastened scaffold together with scaffold components such as handrails and brackets. For this reason, the column 10 is preferably made of a lightweight and highly rigid metal material.

[0010] The support body 11 and the insertion part 12 are cylindrical with the same direction as the axial direction. The inner diameter of the support body 11 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insertion part 12. The insertion part 12 extends from one end of the support body 11 in the axial direction. The plurality of fastening parts 13 are located at equal intervals in the axial direction of the support body 11. The plurality of fastening parts 13 are firmly fixed to the support body 11. In the support 10 of the present embodiment, the fastening part 13 has four pocket fittings 14 located at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the support body 11. In the circumferential direction of the support body 11, the formation interval of the four pocket fittings 14 is 90°. Among the four pocket fittings 14, the positions of two adjacent pocket fittings 14 in the radial direction of the support body 11 are shifted in the axial direction of the support body 11. The pocket fitting 14 is a part where the wedge of the scaffolding component is inserted. Note that the specifications such as the diameter and length of the support 10 may vary depending on the manufacturer that manufactures the support 10.

[0011] <Configuration of the support binding device 20> As shown in FIG. 2, the support binding device 20 includes a base 30, a first support part 40, a second support part 50, a third support part 70, a lock part 80, and a regulating member 90. The components of the support binding device 20 are preferably made of a lightweight and highly rigid metal material.

[0012] In the following description, the support binding device 20 will be described using the first direction D1, the second direction D2, and the third direction D3. The first direction D1, the second direction D2, and the third direction D3 are perpendicular to each other. When the support binding device 20 is placed on the ground for use, the second direction D2 is the vertical direction.

[0013] <Base 30> The base 30 is cylindrical. The base 30 extends in the first direction D1. The cross-sectional shape of the base 30 perpendicular to the first direction D1 is rectangular. The base 30 is a part where a plurality of supports 10 are placed.

[0014] <First support part 40> The first support portion 40 has a cylindrical shape. The first support portion 40 extends in the second direction D2. The first support portion 40 has a guide groove 41 that penetrates the first support portion 40 in the radial direction.

[0015] The guide groove 41 has a circumferential groove 41a that extends in the circumferential direction of the first support portion 40, a first regulating groove 41b and a second regulating groove 41c that extend in the axial direction of the first support portion 40. The length of the circumferential groove 41a in the circumferential direction corresponds to the length of about 90° of the circumference of the first support portion 40. The first regulating groove 41b extends from the first end in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove 41a toward the tip of the first support portion 40. In other words, the first regulating groove 41b extends upward from the first end in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove 41a. The length of the first regulating groove 41b in the second direction D2 may be less than the width of the circumferential groove 41a. The second regulating groove 41c extends from the second end in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove 41a toward the base end of the first support portion 40. In other words, the second regulating groove 41c extends downward from the second end in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential groove 41a. The length of the second regulating groove 41c in the second direction D2 is longer than the length of the first regulating groove 41b in the second direction D2. Also, the portion of the circumferential groove 41a connected to the second regulating groove 41c is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the second direction D2.

[0016] The base end portion of the first support portion 40 is joined to the first end in the first direction D1 of the base portion 30. For example, the first support portion 40 may be joined to the base portion 30 by welding or the like. Thus, the first support portion 40 extends upward from the first end in the first direction D1 of the base portion 30.

[0017] <The second support portion 50> As shown in FIG. 2, the second support portion 50 includes a cylindrical body 51 and a slider 60. The slider 60 has a bottom wall 61, two side walls 62, 63, an upper wall 64, a reinforcing wall 65, a nut 66, and a fixing member 67.

[0018] The bottom wall 61 is in the shape of a rectangular plate. The longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 61 is the first direction D1, and the short-side direction of the bottom wall 61 is the third direction D3. The two side walls 62, 63 are in the shape of plates. The two side walls 62, 63 extend in the second direction D2 from both edges of the bottom wall 61 in the third direction D3. In this regard, the two side walls 62, 63 face each other in the third direction D3. The two side walls 62, 63 have a pressing surface 60a that intersects the first direction D1. When the two side walls 62, 63 are viewed from the third direction D3, the pressing surface 60a is in an arc shape. The diameter of the arc forming the pressing surface 60a is preferably slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support body 11. One of the two side walls 62, 63, i.e., the side wall 62, has a fixing hole 62a that penetrates the side wall 62 in the plate thickness direction. Also, a nut 66 is joined to the side wall 62. The axis of the nut 66 and the axis of the fixing hole 62a coincide. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 61 and the two side walls 62, 63 are formed by bending a single plate material, but in other embodiments, the bottom wall 61 and the two side walls 62, 63 may be formed by joining two or more plate materials.

[0019] The upper wall 64 and the reinforcing wall 65 are in the shape of rectangular plates. The upper wall 64 and the reinforcing wall 65 join the two side walls 62, 63 in the third direction D3. In the second direction D2, the upper wall 64 faces the bottom wall 61, and the reinforcing wall 65 faces the upper wall 64. That is, in the second direction D2, there is a gap between the bottom wall 61 and the upper wall 64, and there is a gap between the upper wall 64 and the reinforcing wall 65. The fixing member 67 may be a bolt that screws into the nut 66.

[0020] The base 30 is inserted into the slider 60. Specifically, the base 30 is inserted into the space partitioned by the bottom wall 61, the two side walls 62, 63, and the upper wall 64 of the slider 60. Furthermore, the slider 60 is movable in the first direction D1 with respect to the base 30.

[0021] The fixing member 67 fixes the slider 60 to the base 30 by screwing into the nut 66 on the side wall 62 of the slider 60. That is, the tip of the fixing member 67 strongly presses the base 30, thereby restricting the slider 60 from moving in the first direction D1. The fixing mode of the slider 60 by the fixing member 67 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the slider 60 may be fixed to the base 30 by inserting a pin as the fixing member 67 into a positioning hole penetrating the base 30 and the two side walls 62, 63 of the slider 60.

[0022] The cylindrical body 51 is cylindrical. The cylindrical body 51 extends in the second direction D2. The cylindrical body 51 is located between the two side walls 62, 63 of the slider 60 in the third direction D3. The cylindrical body 51 is joined to the two side walls 62, 63 of the slider 60. Thus, it can be said that the cylindrical body 51 extends in the second direction D2 at a distance from the first support portion 40 in the first direction D1.

[0023] The restricting member 90 is fixed to the second end of the base 30 in the first direction D1. The restricting member 90 is, for example, a bolt and a nut. The restricting member 90 is fixed to the base 30 after the slider 60 is inserted into the base 30. Thus, the restricting member 90 prevents the slider 60 from coming out of the base 30. In this regard, the restricting member 90 may have a configuration that can contact the slider 60 when the slider 60 moves in the direction of coming out of the base 30.

[0024] <The third support portion 70> The third support portion 70 extends in the third direction D3. The cross-sectional shape of the third support portion 70 perpendicular to the third direction D3 is L-shaped. The length of the third support portion 70 in the third direction D3 is shorter than the length of the base 30 in the first direction D1. The third support portion 70 is joined to the first support portion 40. The third support portion 70 is a configuration for suppressing the pillar bundling device 20 from falling in the third direction D3.

[0025] <The locking portion 80> As shown in FIG. 2, the locking portion 80 includes a peripheral wall 81, a first pressing portion 82, a second pressing portion 83, a lever 84, a nut 85, and a guide shaft 86.

[0026] The peripheral wall 81 is cylindrical. The inner diameter of the peripheral wall 81 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the first support portion 40. The peripheral wall 81 has a guide hole 81a that penetrates the peripheral wall 81 in the radial direction. A nut 85 is joined to the peripheral wall 81. The axis of the nut 85 and the axis of the guide hole 81a coincide.

[0027] The first pressing portion 82 and the second pressing portion 83 are rectangular plate-shaped. The first pressing portion 82 is joined to the peripheral wall 81. At this time, the first pressing portion 82 extends outward in the radial direction of the peripheral wall 81 from the peripheral wall 81. That is, the thickness direction of the first pressing portion 82 is the tangential direction of the peripheral wall 81. The second pressing portion 83 is joined to the first pressing portion 82 and the peripheral wall 81. At this time, the second pressing portion 83 extends in the same direction as the first pressing portion 82 from the peripheral wall 81. The protruding amount of the second pressing portion 83 from the peripheral wall 81 is longer than the protruding amount of the first pressing portion 82 from the peripheral wall 81. The lever 84 is plate-shaped. The lever 84 is joined to the peripheral wall 81. When viewed from the second direction D2, the lever 84 extends in a direction opposite to that of the first pressing portion 82 from the peripheral wall 81. In the present embodiment, the lever 84 and the first pressing portion 82 are integrally formed, but in other embodiments, the lever 84 and the first pressing portion 82 may be separately formed.

[0028] The first support portion 40 is inserted into the peripheral wall 81 of the lock portion 80. In this way, the first support portion 40 supports the lock portion 80 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the second direction D2. That is, the rotation direction of the lock portion 80 coincides with the circumferential direction of the first support portion 40. The guide shaft 86 is screwed into the nut 85 of the lock portion 80. The guide shaft 86 penetrates the circumferential groove 41a of the first support portion 40 in the radial direction of the first support portion 40. Therefore, when the lock portion 80 rotates, the guide shaft 86 of the lock portion 80 moves along the circumferential groove 41a. In other words, the rotation mode of the lock portion 80 is defined by the movement of the guide shaft 86 of the lock portion 80 along the circumferential groove 41a of the first support portion 40. Specifically, the lock portion 80 is rotatable within a range of about 90° with respect to the first support portion 40. In a state where the lock portion 80 is supported by the first support portion 40, the distance in the second direction D2 between the second pressing portion 83 of the lock portion 80 and the base portion 30 is a distance corresponding to the outer diameter of the column body 11.

[0029] <Operation of this embodiment> The operation when an operator binds a plurality of columns 10 using the column binding device 20 will be described. The working steps when the operator binds a plurality of columns 10 include an adjustment step, a placement step, a locking step, and a stacking step.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, in the stage before the adjustment step, the lock portion 80 of the column binding device 20 is arranged at the unlock position. When the lock portion 80 is arranged at the unlock position, when the column binding device 20 is viewed from above and below, the first pressing portion 82 and the second pressing portion 83 of the lock portion 80 do not exist above the base portion 30. Further, when the lock portion 80 is arranged at the unlock position, due to the self-weight of the lock portion 80, the guide shaft 86 of the lock portion 80 is engaged with the second regulating groove 41c of the first support portion 40. Therefore, to the extent that there is an input of light vibration or an input of impact to the column binding device 20, it is difficult for the lock portion 80 to rotate.

[0031] <Adjustment step> As shown in FIG. 3, in the adjustment process, the operator changes the length according to the number of columns 10 for which the operator wants to bind the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 50 in the first direction D1. Specifically, the operator loosens the fixing member 67 to make the second support portion 50 movable with respect to the base portion 30. Subsequently, the operator moves the second support portion 50 in the first direction D1 so that the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 50 in the first direction D1 becomes the length corresponding to the number of columns 10 for which binding is desired. In the case shown in FIG. 3, the second support portion 50 is moved from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. In this regard, it is preferable to provide the base portion 30 with a symbol or the like that associates the position of the second support portion 50 with the number of columns 10 for which binding is desired. According to this, it becomes easier for the operator to move the second support portion 50 to the position corresponding to the number of columns 10 to be bound by the column binding device 20. In the present embodiment, the slider 60 of the second support portion 50 and the fixing member 67 constitute an "interval adjustment mechanism".

[0032] Thereafter, the operator fixes the second support portion 50 to the base portion 30 by tightening the fixing member 67. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the operator arranges at least two column binding devices 20 at intervals in the third direction D3 at intervals corresponding to the length of the columns 10 to be bound.

[0033] <Placement process> As shown in FIG. 4, in the placement step, the operator places a plurality of support columns 10 on the base 30. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the operator places six support columns 10 on the base 30. At this time, the plurality of support columns 10 are placed such that the distance between two adjacent support columns 10 in the first direction D1 is as short as possible. Specifically, the plurality of support columns 10 are placed such that the direction in which the pocket fitting 14 protrudes from the support column body 11 is inclined at 45° with respect to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. As a result, among two adjacent support columns 10 in the first direction D1, the pocket fitting 14 of one support column 10 and the pocket fitting 14 of the other support column 10 overlap in the second direction D2 which is the vertical direction. In the following description, among the plurality of support columns 10 arranged in the first direction D1, the support column 10 closest to the first support portion 40 is referred to as the "first support column 10X", and the support column 10 closest to the second support portion 50 is referred to as the "second support column 10Y".

[0034] <Locking Step> As shown in FIG. 5, in the locking step, the operator rotates the locking portion 80 in the locking direction by operating the lever 84 of the locking portion 80. That is, the operator rotates the locking portion 80 from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 4 to the locked position shown in FIG. 5, thereby arranging the first pressing portion 82 and the second pressing portion 83 of the locking portion 80 in the space above the base 30. Then, the first pressing portion 82 of the locking portion 80 presses the plurality of support columns 10 placed on the base 30 toward the second support portion 50 via the first support column 10X. As a result, the plurality of support columns 10 placed on the base 30 are denser in the first direction D1 than when the locking portion 80 is arranged in the unlocked position. Thus, the displacement of the plurality of support columns 10 placed on the base 30 in the first direction D1 is restricted. Further, when the locking portion 80 is in the locked position, the second pressing portion 83 of the locking portion 80 sandwiches the first support column 10X in the second direction D2 together with the base 30. For this reason, the displacement of the first support column 10X in the second direction D2 is restricted. Thus, the support column binding device 20 binds the plurality of support columns 10 by arranging the locking portion 80 in the locked position.

[0035] <Laminating Step> As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5, in the stacking process, an operator can stack a plurality of columns 10 on top of a plurality of columns 10 directly placed on the base 30. In the following description, the plurality of columns 10 directly placed on the base 30 are referred to as the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage, and the plurality of columns 10 stacked on the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage are referred to as the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage. In Fig. 5, although not shown, the plurality of columns 10 stacked on the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage become the plurality of columns 10 in the third stage, and the plurality of columns 10 stacked on the plurality of columns 10 in the third stage become the plurality of columns 10 in the fourth stage.

[0036] The plurality of columns 10 in the first stage are sandwiched between the first pressing portion 82 of the locking portion 80 and the pressing surface 60a of the second supporting portion 50 in the first direction D1. In other words, the first column 10X among the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage is in contact with the first pressing portion 82 of the locking portion 80 in the first direction D1. Also, the second column 10Y among the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage is in contact with the pressing surface 60a of the second supporting portion 50. On the other hand, the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage are located between the first supporting portion 40 and the cylindrical body 51 of the second supporting portion 50 in the width direction. In other words, the first column 10X among the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage is not in contact with the first supporting portion 40 in the first direction D1. Also, the second column 10Y among the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage is not in contact with the second supporting portion 50 in the first direction D1. However, the column main body 11 of the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage is in contact with the fastening portion 13 of the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage, and the fastening portion 13 of the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage is in contact with the column main body 11 of the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage. Thus, although the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage are not in contact with the column bundling device 20, they are positioned by engaging with the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage. In this regard, it can be said that the column bundling device 20 of the present embodiment is a device for bundling the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage and facilitating the stacking of the plurality of columns 10 in the second and subsequent stages.

[0037] The operation when transporting the plurality of columns 10 bundled by the column bundling device 20 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, when transporting a plurality of columns 10, for example, a forklift is used. After an operator inserts the forklift forks F between the floor and the plurality of columns 10 on the first level, the operator moves the forks F upward. In this way, the operator transports together the two column bundling devices 20 and the plurality of columns 10 bundled by the two column bundling devices 20. The same applies when a plurality of columns 10 are stacked on the plurality of columns 10 on the first level.

[0038] When lifting a plurality of columns 10 with the forks F, an upward load acts on the contact portion of the plurality of columns 10 on the first level with the forks F. In this case, the pocket fittings 14 of the column 10 on which the load acts are caught by the pocket fittings 14 of the columns 10 located on both sides of the column 10 in the first direction D1. For this reason, the plurality of columns 10 on the first level are maintained in an integrated state. And the first column 10X has its upward displacement with respect to the column bundling device 20 restricted by the second pressing portion 83 of the locking portion 80. Similarly, the upward displacement of the second column 10Y with respect to the column bundling device 20 is restricted by the pressing surface 60a. Therefore, even if an upward load acts on the plurality of columns 10 bundled by the column bundling device 20, the bundling by the column bundling device 20 is not released. However, as shown in Fig. 6, when lifting a plurality of columns 10 with the forks F, the plurality of columns 10 on the first level are separated slightly from the base 30.

[0039] In a situation where the forks F have lifted the plurality of columns 10, the locking portion 80 of the column bundling device 20 is caught by the first column 10X among the plurality of columns 10 on the first level. On the other hand, the pressing surface 60a of the column bundling device 20 is caught by the second column 10Y among the plurality of columns 10 on the first level. That is, the column bundling device 20 is prevented from falling downward by being caught by the first column 10X and the second column 10Y among the plurality of columns 10 on the first level. At this time, a load corresponding to the self-weight of the column bundling device 20 acts downward on the locking portion 80 of the column bundling device 20. For this reason, as shown in Fig. 6, the guide shaft 86 of the locking portion 80 fits into the first regulation groove 41b of the first column 10X.

[0040] The operation of the support binding device 20 when releasing the binding of a plurality of supports 10 will be described. When releasing the binding of a plurality of supports 10 by the support binding device 20, the operator rotates the lock portion 80 in the unlocking direction by operating the lever 84. That is, the operator rotates the lock portion 80 from the locked position shown in FIG. 5 to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 4, so that the first pressing portion 82 and the second pressing portion 83 of the lock portion 80 are retracted from above the base portion 30. Then, the interval between two adjacent supports 10 in the first row in the first direction D1 widens. That is, the plurality of supports 10 in the first row changes from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the plurality of supports 10 in the first row can move upward with respect to the base portion 30. For example, the second support 10Y among the plurality of supports 10 in the first row can move upward while avoiding the pressing surface 60a of the second support portion 50.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, the first pressing portion 82 and the second pressing portion 83 of the lock portion 80 are in contact with the first support 10X among the plurality of supports 10 in the first row, but are not in contact with the first support 10X among the plurality of supports 10 in the second row. That is, the weight of the first support 10X among the plurality of supports 10 in the second row does not act on the second pressing portion 83 of the lock portion 80. Therefore, even when the plurality of supports 10 in the second row are stacked on the plurality of supports 10 in the first row, the lock portion 80 can rotate in the unlocking direction.

[0042] <Effects of the present embodiment> (1) When a plurality of struts 10 are placed on the base 30 of the strut bundling device 20, in the strut bundling device 20, the locking portion 80 is disposed at the unlock position. For this reason, the first pressing portion 82 and the second pressing portion 83 no longer exist on the base 30. As a result, when an operator performs an operation of placing a plurality of struts 10 on the base 30, the strut bundling device 20 can suppress the locking portion 80 from interfering with the operation. On the other hand, when the strut bundling device 20 bundles a plurality of struts 10, after a plurality of struts 10 are placed on the base 30, the locking portion 80 is disposed at the lock position. Then, the locking portion 80 sandwiches the plurality of struts 10 placed on the base 30 together with the second support portion 50 in the first direction D1, and sandwiches the first strut 10X placed on the base 30 together with the base 30 in the second direction D2. Thus, the strut bundling device 20 can bundle a small number of struts 10 or any number of struts 10.

[0043] (2) The second support portion 50 has a pressing surface 60a that forms an arc shape corresponding to the outer diameter of the strut body 11 when viewed from the third direction D3. Therefore, the pressing surface 60a of the second support portion 50 can sandwich the plurality of struts 10 placed on the base 30 together with the locking portion 80 in the first direction D1, and sandwich the second strut 10Y placed on the base 30 in the second direction D2. Thus, the strut bundling device 20 can more firmly bundle the plurality of struts 10 in the first stage.

[0044] (3) The first support portion 40 has a circumferential groove 41a that extends in the circumferential direction of the first support portion 40. On the other hand, the locking portion 80 has a guide shaft 86 that is inserted into the circumferential groove 41a. Then, as the guide shaft 86 moves along the circumferential groove 41a, the locking portion 80 rotates between the lock position and the unlock position. Thus, the strut bundling device 20 can displace the locking portion 80 between the lock position and the unlock position with a simple configuration.

[0045] When transporting a plurality of columns 10 bundled by the column bundling device 20 with a forklift or the like, the self-weight of the column bundling device 20 acts downward on the locking portion 80. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide shaft 86 of the locking portion 80 fits into a first regulating groove 41b that extends upward from an end portion in the locking direction of the circumferential groove 41a of the first support portion 40. As a result, even when a torque in the unlocking direction acts on the locking portion 80, it becomes difficult for the locking portion 80 to rotate in the unlocking direction. Thus, the column bundling device 20 can suppress the locking portion 80 from rotating from the locked position toward the unlocked position in a situation where the plurality of columns 10 are being transported in a bundled state.

[0046] (5) As shown in FIG. 4, when placing a plurality of columns 10 on the base 30 of the column bundling device 20, the locking portion 80 is disposed at the unlocked position. That is, the guide shaft 86 of the locking portion 80 fits into a second regulating groove 41c that extends downward from an end portion in the unlocking direction of the circumferential groove 41a of the first support portion 40. For this reason, even when an impact, vibration, or the like acts on the column bundling device 20, it becomes difficult for the locking portion 80 to rotate in the locking direction. As a result, when an operator is performing an operation of placing the plurality of columns 10 on the base 30 of the column bundling device 20, rotation of the locking portion 80 from the unlocked position toward the locked position is suppressed.

[0047] (6) The column bundling device 20 can adjust the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 50 in the first direction D1. For this reason, the column bundling device 20 can change the number of columns 10 arranged in the first direction D1. In other words, the column bundling device 20 can change the number of columns 10 in the first row. Further, the column bundling device 20 can accommodate columns 10 having different specifications such as the outer diameter of the column main body 11 and the shape of the tightening portion 13.

[0048] (7) The column bundling device 20 can stack a plurality of columns 10 in a state where the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage are aligned in the first direction D1. At this time, the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage engage with the plurality of columns 10 in the first stage. Therefore, even if the column bundling device 20 does not have a configuration for restraining the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage, the posture of the plurality of columns 10 in the second stage can be stabilized. The same applies to the plurality of columns 10 in the third stage and subsequent stages.

[0049] (8) When the column bundling device 20 bundles a plurality of columns 10, a gap is formed between the ground and the plurality of columns 10. By passing the fork F through the above gap, an operator can transport the plurality of columns 10 bundled by the column bundling device 20 with a forklift or the like. Also, by passing a binding band through the above gap, an operator can bind the plurality of columns 10 bundled by the column bundling device 20 with the binding band. In this case, by rotating the lock portion 80 to the unlock position, it becomes possible to remove the column bundling device 20 from the plurality of columns 10 bound by the binding band. That is, the column bundling device 20 can also be used as a temporary storage place in the warehouse of the column rental company until a certain number of columns 10 are gathered. Note that the binding band is preferably a highly durable band made of a material such as stainless steel. Also, the binding band may be a binding wire.

[0050] (9) Consider the case where a large number of columns 10 are bound with a binding band or the like without using the column bundling device 20. In this case, after binding a small number of columns 10 with a binding band, it is necessary to bind another small number of columns 10 to the bound small number of columns 10 with another binding band. Therefore, when binding a large number of columns 10, a large number of binding bands are required. In this regard, the column bundling device 20 of the present embodiment can bind a large number of columns 10 with one binding band. In this regard, the column bundling device 20 can reduce the number of binding bands required in the above case or reduce the labor required for the binding work.

[0051] <Modification example> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non - conflicting range.

[0052] · In the strut bundling device 20, the interval in the first direction D1 between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 50 may be non - adjustable. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the strut bundling device 120 may include a second support portion 150 that is immovable relative to the base portion 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the second support portion 150 has a cylindrical body 51 and a pressing portion 52. The cylindrical body 51 is joined to the second end of the base portion 30 in the first direction D1. In this regard, the second support portion 150 extends from the base portion 30 in the second direction D2 at an interval from the first support portion 40 in the first direction D1. The pressing portion 52 is plate - shaped. The pressing portion 52 has a pressing surface 52a that is arcuate when viewed in the plate - thickness direction. The pressing portion 52 is joined to the base portion 30 and the cylindrical body 51 such that the plate - thickness direction of the pressing portion 52 is the third direction D3. The strut bundling device 120 can obtain the same operational effects as the above - described embodiment except that the number of the first - stage struts 10 that can be bundled cannot be changed.

[0053] · The mechanism for adjusting the length of the strut bundling device 20 in the first direction D1 is not limited to the above - described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the strut bundling device 220 may include a first base portion 231 to which the first support portion 40 is joined, a second base portion 232 to which the second support portion 250 is joined, and a nut 266 and a fixing member 267 for fixing the second base portion 232 to the first base portion 231. The first support portion 40 may have the same configuration as in the above - described embodiment, and the second support portion 250 may have the same configuration as the second support portion 150 of the above - described modification example.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 8, the first base portion 231 and the second base portion 232 are cylindrical. The first base portion 231 and the second base portion 232 extend in the first direction D1. The cross-sectional shape of the first base portion 231 and the second base portion 232 perpendicular to the first direction D1 is rectangular. The cross-sectional shape of the first base portion 231 is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the second base portion 232. Although illustration is omitted, a first support portion 40 is joined to the first end of the first base portion 231 in the first direction D1 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. A second support portion 250 is joined to the second end of the second base portion 232 in the first direction D1. A hole through which the fixing member 267 passes is provided in the second base portion 232. A nut 266 is joined to the second base portion 232. The second end of the second base portion 232 in the first direction D1 is inserted into the first end of the first base portion 231 in the first direction D1. The fixing member 267 may have the same configuration as the fixing member 67 in the above-described embodiment.

[0055] When the second base portion 232 is fixed to the first base portion 231 with the fixing member 67 in a state where the overlapping amount of the first base portion 231 and the second base portion 232 in the first direction D1 is increased, the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 250 in the first direction becomes shorter. On the other hand, when the second base portion 232 is fixed to the first base portion 231 with the fixing member 67 in a state where the overlapping amount of the first base portion 231 and the second base portion 232 in the first direction D1 is decreased, the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 250 in the first direction D1 becomes longer.

[0056] The column bundling device 220 can obtain the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment. Further, even when the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 250 in the first direction D1 is shortened, the first base portion 231 or the second base portion 232 does not protrude in the first direction D1 with respect to the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 250. For this reason, the column bundling device 220 can reduce the exclusive space in the first direction D1 when shortening the interval between the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 250 in the first direction D1. In this modification example, the first base portion 231, the second base portion 232, and the fixing member 267 constitute a "spacing adjustment mechanism".

[0057] · A description will be given of the support bundling device 320 according to the third modification example. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second support portion 350 of the support bundling device 320 includes a cylindrical body 51 and a slider 360. The slider 360 has a bottom wall 361, two side walls 362 and 363, an upper wall 64, a reinforcing wall 65, a nut 66, and a fixing member 67. In the third modification example, the cylindrical body 51 corresponds to the "columnar portion", the bottom wall 361 corresponds to the "grounding portion", and the two side walls 362 and 363 correspond to the "connecting portions".

[0058] The bottom wall 361 has a rectangular plate shape with the second direction D2 as the plate thickness direction. The bottom wall 361 has two end faces 361a and 361b that intersect the first direction D1. The two side walls 362 and 363 have a plate shape with the third direction D3 as the plate thickness direction. The two side walls 362 and 363 extend from both edges of the bottom wall 361 in the third direction D3 to the second direction D2. In this regard, the two side walls 362 and 363 face each other in the third direction D3. The two side walls 362 and 363 have a pressing surface 60a that intersects the first direction D1.

[0059] One side wall 362 has a fixing hole 362a that penetrates the side wall 362 in the plate thickness direction. Also, a nut 66 is joined to the side wall 362. The axis of the nut 66 and the axis of the fixing hole 362a coincide. The other side wall 363 has a protruding portion 363a that protrudes in the plate thickness direction. Specifically, the protruding portion 363a protrudes toward one side wall 362. The tip of the protruding portion 363a is rounded. For example, the protruding portion 363a can be formed by pressing. When viewed from the third direction D3, the center position of the fixing hole 362a of the side wall 362 and the center position of the protruding portion 363a of the side wall 363 coincide. In the following description, the axis of the fixing hole 362a, which is the axis passing through the center of the protruding portion 363a in the third direction D3, is referred to as the "oscillation axis Xs". As shown in FIG. 9, in the first direction D1, the distance L1 from the oscillation axis Xs to the first end face 361a of the bottom wall 361 is shorter than the distance L2 from the oscillation axis Xs to the second end face 361b of the bottom wall 361.

[0060] The upper wall 64 is in the shape of a rectangular plate with the second direction D2 as the plate thickness direction. The upper wall 64 joins two side walls 362, 363 in the third direction D3. In the second direction D2, the upper wall 64 faces the bottom wall 361. In the second direction D2, the distance between the bottom wall 361 and the upper wall 64 is longer than the length of the base 30.

[0061] The base 30 is inserted into the slider 360. Specifically, the base 30 is inserted into the space partitioned by the bottom wall 361, two side walls 362, 363, and the upper wall 64 of the slider 360. Furthermore, the slider 360 is movable in the first direction D1 with respect to the base 30. At this time, in the first direction D1, the first end face 361a of the bottom wall 361 corresponds to the first end closest to the first support portion 40 on the bottom wall 361, and the second end face 361b of the bottom wall 361 corresponds to the second end farthest from the first support portion 40 on the bottom wall 361.

[0062] The fixing member 67 is a bolt. The tip of the fixing member 67 is preferably rounded. The fixing member 67 fixes the slider 360 to the base 30 by screwing into the nut 66 on the side wall 362 of the slider 360. In other words, the second support portion 350 is connected to the base 30 via two side walls 362, 363. At this time, the tip of the fixing member 67 presses the base 30 from one side in the third direction D3, and the protrusion 363a of the slider 360 presses the base 30 from the other side in the third direction D3. That is, the fixing member 67 and the protrusion 363a of the slider 360 sandwich the base 30 from both sides in the third direction D3.

[0063] Also, the contact area between the fixing member 67 and the protrusion 363a of the slider 360 with respect to the base 30 is relatively small. Further, the contact portion between the fixing member 67 and the protrusion 363a of the slider 360 with respect to the base 30 is located on the swing axis Xs. As a result, the second support portion 350 can swing around the swing axis Xs with respect to the base 30 via the side walls 362, 363. Note that, in a situation where the second support portion 350 is fixed to the base 30, gaps for enabling the swing of the second support portion 350 exist between the bottom wall 361 of the slider 360 and the base 30 and between the upper wall 64 of the slider 360 and the base 30. As an example, the angle range within which the second support portion 350 can swing with respect to the base 30 may be from several degrees to about several tens of degrees.

[0064] The restricting member 90 is fixed to the second end of the base 30 in the first direction D1. The restricting member 90 is a bolt. In a modified example, the restricting member 90 is fixed to the lower surface of the base 30. At this time, the head of the restricting member 90 is exposed from the base 30.

[0065] The operation of the third modified example will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the strut bundling device 320 bundles a plurality of struts 10 in the same manner as in the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, when the strut bundling device 320 bundles a plurality of struts 10, the bottom wall 361 of the slider 360 of the second support portion 350 and the restricting member 90 are in contact with the ground. Here, an external force acts on the second support portion 350 in the direction indicated by the white arrow by being pushed by the plurality of struts 10. As a result, a torque acts on the second support portion 350 in the direction indicated by the solid arrow by being pushed by the plurality of struts 10. However, since the bottom wall 361 of the second support portion 350 is in contact with the ground, the second support portion 350 does not rotate in the direction in which the torque acts. The position of the second support portion 350 shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to the "first position".

[0066] When transporting a plurality of struts 10 separately from the strut bundling device 320 instead of transporting the plurality of struts 10 together with the strut bundling device 320, an operator bundles the plurality of struts 10 with a bundling band or the like. Subsequently, after rotating the lock portion 80 to the unlock position, as shown in FIG. 1, the operator lifts the plurality of struts 10 bundled with the bundling band with the forks of a forklift. Here, if a part of the plurality of struts 10 is caught by the strut bundling device 320 or a large frictional force acts between the plurality of struts 10 and the strut bundling device 320, the strut bundling device 320 may be lifted together with the bundled plurality of struts 10. In other words, there is a possibility that only the plurality of struts 10 may not be lifted.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 12, in the strut bundling device 320, the second support portion 350 is swingable about a swing axis Xs with respect to the base portion 30. Further, a torque acts on the second support portion 350 in the direction indicated by the solid-line arrow due to a force received from the plurality of struts 10 and a load such as the self-weight of the second support portion 350. For this reason, when the strut bundling device 320 is lifted from the ground, the second support portion 350 of the strut bundling device 320 rotates in the direction indicated by the solid-line arrow. As a result, the width Wd between the first support portion and the cylindrical body 51 of the second support portion 350 in the first direction D1 expands. In this way, in terms of the expansion of the width Wd, the plurality of struts 10 bundled with the bundling band are likely to separate from the strut bundling device 320. The position of the second support portion 350 shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to a "second position" where the width Wd is wider than the "first position".

[0068] As shown in FIG. 9, in the first direction D1, the distance L1 from the swing axis Xs to the first end face 361a of the bottom wall 361 is shorter than the distance L2 from the swing axis Xs to the second end face 361b of the bottom wall 361. For this reason, when the strut bundling device 320 is lifted from the ground, the swing amount of the second support portion 350 is likely to increase in that the bottom wall 361 of the second support portion 350 is less likely to contact the base portion 30. As a result, when the second support portion 350 swings from the first position to the second position, the width Wd is likely to become larger.

[0069] In the third modification example, the base portion 30 and the second support portion 350 may be connected by a pin having the third direction D3 as the axial direction. In this case, the second support portion 350 may be swingable relative to the base portion 30 by the pin. That is, the connection mode between the base portion 30 and the second support portion 350 may be any connection mode in which the second support portion 350 is swingable. Further, in the third modification example, the first support portion 40 may be swingable in the same manner as the second support portion 350.

[0070] · The lengths of the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 50 in the second direction D2 may be adjustable. For example, in the second support portion 50, the length of the second support portion 50 may be increased by inserting a steel pipe into the cylindrical body 51. In this case, the second support portion 50 may have a bottom portion that supports the steel pipe from below. The bottom portion may be a bolt or a pin that penetrates the cylindrical body 51 in the radial direction. Alternatively, a steel pipe may be joined to the cylindrical bodies 51 of the first support portion 40 and the second support portion 50 by other methods.

[0071] · The fastening portion 13 of the column 10 may have one flange fitting instead of the four pocket fittings 14. Even if the four pocket fittings 14 are replaced with one flange fitting, the role of the fastening portion 13 in the above embodiment is the same. A scaffold using such a column is sometimes referred to as a wedge-type scaffold of the flange penetration type or a wedge-type scaffold of the on-disk type.

[0072] · The two column bundling devices 20 shown in FIG. 1 may be connected in the third direction D3. For example, the ends of the base portions 30 of the two column bundling devices 20 may be respectively connected in the third direction D3.

[0073] · The first support portion 40 may not have the first regulating groove 41b and the second regulating groove 41c. In this case, the column bundling device 20 preferably includes a configuration for holding the lock portion 80 in the locked position and the unlocked position. Such a configuration may be realized using, for example, a magnet or a hook.

[0074] · The second support portion 50 may be configured to correspond to the locking portion 80 instead of the pressing surface 60a. · The pressing surface 60a of the second support portion 50 may be a plane orthogonal to the first direction D1.

[0075] · The locking portion 80 may move between a locked position and an unlocked position by sliding. That is, the support mode of the locking portion 80 by the first support portion 40 can be changed as appropriate.

[0076] · The shape of the lever 84 of the locking portion 80 can be changed as appropriate. The shape of the lever 84 may be a shape that is easy for an operator to operate by hand, a shape that is easy for an operator to operate with a foot, or a shape that is easy for an operator to operate with the fork F of a forklift.

[0077] · It is desirable for the operator to change the number of strut bundling devices 20 to be used according to the length of the strut 10 to be bundled. That is, the operator may bundle a plurality of struts 10 using one strut bundling device 20, or may bundle them using three or more strut bundling devices 20.

[0078] · The operator may be a robot arm in addition to a person. <Technical idea> The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiments and modification examples will be described.

[0079] · It is preferable that the strut bundling device includes a gap adjustment mechanism that adjusts the gap between the first support portion and the second support portion in the first direction. · In the strut bundling device, it is preferable that at least one of the first support portion and the second support portion has a length adjustment mechanism that adjusts the length in the second direction.

[0080] · When, in the first direction, the portion of the grounding portion closest to the first support portion is taken as the first end and the portion of the grounding portion farthest from the first support portion is taken as the second end, it is preferable that, in the first direction, the distance from the swing axis of the second support portion with respect to the base portion to the first end of the grounding portion is shorter than the distance from the swing axis to the second end of the grounding portion.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0081] D1… First direction D2… Second direction D3… Third direction 10(10X, 10Y)… Support column (First support column, Second support column) 20, 120, 220, 320… Support column bundling device 30… Base portion 40… First support portion 41(41a, 41b, 41c)… Guide groove (Circumferential groove, First regulating groove, Second regulating groove) 50, 150, 250, 350… Second support portion 51… Cylindrical body (Columnar portion) 52… Pressing portion 52a… Pressing surface 60, 360… Slider 60a… Pressing surface 361… Bottom wall (Grounding portion) 362, 363… Side wall (Connecting portion) 80… Locking portion

Claims

1. A strut binding device that has a cylindrical strut body and a fastening part provided on the strut body, and binds a plurality of struts constituting a wedge-fastening type scaffold, comprising: a base that extends in a first direction and on which the plurality of struts aligned in the first direction are placed; a first support part that extends from the base in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a second support part that is spaced from the first support part in the first direction and extends from the base in the second direction; a lock part that is supported by the first support part and is displaced between a lock position for binding the plurality of struts placed on the base and an unlock position for releasing the binding of the plurality of struts placed on the base; Among the plurality of struts placed on the base, when the strut located closest to the first support part in the first direction is defined as the first strut, in the lock position, the lock part sandwiches the first strut placed on the base together with the base in the second direction, and sandwiches the plurality of struts placed on the base together with the second support part in the first direction Strut binding device.

2. The second support part has a pressing surface that, together with the lock part disposed in the lock position, sandwiches the plurality of first struts placed on the base in the second direction, and the pressing surface has an arc shape corresponding to the outer diameter of the strut body The strut binding device according to Claim 1.

3. The first support part has a cylindrical shape with the second direction as the axial direction, has a circumferential groove extending in the circumferential direction, the lock part has a guide shaft that is inserted into the circumferential groove, and as the guide shaft moves along the circumferential groove, the lock part rotates around an axis extending in the second direction between the lock position and the unlock position The strut binding device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

4. When the rotation direction from the unlock position to the lock position among the rotation directions of the lock part is defined as the lock direction, the first support part has a first regulating groove that extends from an end of the circumferential groove in the lock direction to the tip of the first support part The strut binding device according to Claim 3.

5. When the rotation direction from the lock position to the unlock position among the rotation directions of the lock part is defined as the unlock direction, the first support part has a second regulating groove that extends from an end of the circumferential groove in the unlock direction to the base end of the first support part The strut binding device according to Claim 3. Claim 6 The second support part has a columnar part having the second direction as its longitudinal direction, a connecting part swingably connected to the base part, and a grounding part grounded to the ground, when the distance between the first support part and the columnar part of the second support part in the first direction is taken as the width, it is swingable between a first position and a second position where the width is wider than the first position, is arranged at the first position when the grounding part is grounded to the ground, and is arranged at the second position when the grounding part is separated from the ground The strut bundling device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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