Winch device

Abstract

To provide a winch device that is simple in structure, capable of manually or electrically pulling out a load from a load-carrying platform with ease, and is used by being attached to a forklift.SOLUTION: A winch device 10 includes: a manual or electric drive unit (a manual handle type drive unit 20) attached to a backrest 94 that moves upward and downward together with a fork 98, along a mast 92 of a forklift 90, and disposed so as to be located outside one end of the backrest 94 in a width direction; and a spool 28 attached to the backrest 94 and configured to receive a rotational force transmitted from the drive unit (the manual handle type drive unit 20), wind a towing member 22 and tow a load 32 connected to the towing member 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a winch device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, forklifts are known that unload cargo from the floor of a carrier bed of a transportation device such as a truck by using a winch device to pull the cargo from the rear end (tail) of the carrier. The term "transportation device" refers not only to transportation vehicles such as trucks, but also to other devices with a carrier bed on which cargo can be placed, such as ships and containers, and includes devices on which unloading operations can be performed. Patent Document 1 discloses a forklift equipped with a backrest (frame) attached to the original forks of the forklift, and a winch attached to the backrest of the fork is used to pull cargo from the carrier bed toward the driver's seat. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-167191 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of Patent Document 1, in order to attach the winch, a sheath fork and a backrest for the sheath fork are required in addition to the fork and backrest that are originally attached to the forklift, which causes a problem that the installation and removal work becomes complicated.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 only discloses a configuration in which the drive means of the towing device is integrated adjacent to the winch drum (see paragraph 0015 and Figure 3 of Patent Document 1), and this configuration leaves no space for the worker to operate the handle of the manual winch, which poses the problem that an inexpensive manual winch cannot be used.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 only discloses a configuration using one towing device (see Figure 3 of Patent Document 1), which has the problem that all towing force is concentrated on one towing rope and the weight of luggage that can be towed is determined by the strength of that single towing rope, requiring a strong towing rope. Also, there is the inconvenience that it is not possible to simultaneously tow multiple luggage that are not arranged in a single horizontal row on the loading platform in a balanced manner.

[0007] To provide a winch device that has a simple structure and can easily pull out a load from a loading platform either manually or electrically, and that is attached to a forklift. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The winch device of the present invention comprises a manual or electric drive unit attached to a backrest that moves up and down along the mast of a forklift together with the forks and positioned outside one end of the backrest in the width direction, and a spool attached to the backrest, to which rotational force is transmitted from the drive unit, winding up a towing member and towing a load connected to the towing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a winch device that has a simple structure and is attached to a forklift and can easily pull out cargo from a loading platform either manually or electrically. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a winch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a winch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a winch device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]10A and 10B are cross-sectional views illustrating a method of fixing a spool and a pulling member according to another example of the spool of the winch device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are plan views illustrating other modes for attaching the bearing used in the winch device according to the present embodiment to the backrest. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are side views illustrating another embodiment for attaching the bearing used in the winch device according to the present embodiment to the backrest. [Figure 7] 1 is a side view (part 1) illustrating a method for unloading a load using a winch device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view (part 2) illustrating a method for unloading using the winch device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view (part 3) illustrating a method for unloading a load using the winch device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a winch device according to a modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the configuration of a winch device according to a modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mounting fixture for supporting a winch of a winch device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. It should be noted that the drawings used in the following description are all schematic, and the dimensional relationships and ratios of elements shown in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to the actual ones. Furthermore, the dimensional relationships and ratios of elements between multiple drawings do not necessarily correspond to the actual ones. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified in the specification, each element is not limited to one, and multiple elements may be present. Furthermore, in the drawings, substantially identical elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations in the specification will be omitted.

[0012] <Winch device structure> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the winch device 10 according to this embodiment has as its components a manual handle type drive unit 20, a rotating shaft 12, a housing 14, a spool 28 (the spool is also called a drum), a reducer 18, a traction member 22, and a transmission shaft 26. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reducer may be omitted for applications requiring a relatively small traction force. The manual handle type drive unit 20 is a source of traction power. The rotating shaft 12 is an input unit for the traction power.

[0013] In this embodiment, the winch 11 includes, as its components, a housing 14 as a protective and mounting enclosure for the components, a reducer 18 as a device that reduces the rotational speed of the rotating shaft 12 by a combination of gears and amplifies and outputs the rotational torque, a transmission shaft 26 that is connected to the output shaft of the reducer 18 by a shaft coupling (not shown) and transmits the rotational torque to a spool 28, and a spool 28 as a device that winds up the pulling member 22. The winch 11 winds up the pulling member 22 by fixing one end of the pulling member 22 to a winding drum 28A of the spool 28.

[0014] In this embodiment, the forklift 90 equipped with the winch device 10 is disposed near the end of the bed 42 of the transporting device 40 on the side where the load 32 is loaded or unloaded, so that the winch device 10 faces the load 32. The end of the towing member 22 of the winch device 10 that is not fixed to the hoisting drum 28A of the spool 28 is pulled out from the spool 28 and connected to a pallet 30 loaded on the bed upper surface 42A of the transporting device 40, thereby towing the load 32 during unloading work. Note that the use of the winch device according to the present invention is not limited to this, and a winch device attached to a forklift can also be used, for example, to pull loads placed on the floor in a factory or warehouse.

[0015] (palette) The pallet 30 used in this embodiment is a forklift pallet with fork insertion ports. The dimensions of the pallet 30 are 1100 mm x 1100 mm x 144 mm, which are the JIS standard, but the structure and dimensions of the pallet used with the winch device of the present invention are not limited to this and can be any as long as it can be mounted on a transportation device and can be pulled horizontally on a loading platform. For example, it can be a sheet pallet, or it can be bulk cargo not mounted on a pallet, as long as the cargo has a handle to which a towing member can be connected, such as by roping.

[0016] Furthermore, the width along the width direction (vertical direction in Figure 2) of the loading platform 42 of the transportation device 40 in this embodiment is such that two rows of JIS standard size pallets 30 can be lined up horizontally with ample space to spare, but the width of the transportation device that unloads using the winch device of the present invention is not limited to this, and is left to the specifications of the transportation device as long as the transportation device has an end face at the end of the loading platform where the loading and unloading of cargo is performed.

[0017] (Overall overview of the winch device) In this embodiment, the overall size of the winch device 10 and the size of each of its components are shown in Fig. 1. The overall size of the winch device and the size of each of its components according to the present invention are not limited to this and can be set as appropriate as long as they can be attached to a forklift, but it is preferable to make them as small as possible so as not to excessively obstruct the view of the forklift driver or to not protrude too far from the body of the forklift, thereby compromising safety during driving.

[0018] In the present invention, the materials of the components constituting each part of the winch device may be selected appropriately, for example, metal, resin, etc., as long as they have the strength to withstand the external force applied when towing a load. Furthermore, the components constituting the winch device can be fixed by any fixing means, for example, screws, welding, etc., depending on the combination of their respective materials.

[0019] (backrest) The backrest 94 according to this embodiment is a component of the forklift 90 that is attached to the mast 92 of the forklift 90 and moves up and down along the mast together with the forks 98. The backrest 94 is a component provided to prevent the cargo 32 placed on the forks 98 from directly colliding with the mast 92 and being damaged, or from falling to the rear of the mast 92. An upper rail 96A and a lower rail 96B are provided below the backrest 94.

[0020] In this embodiment, the upper rail 96A and the lower rail 96B are members that make up the backrest 94, and all other members that move up and down in conjunction with the up and down movement of the backrest are members that make up the backrest 94. In this invention, the backrest refers to the entire part that moves up and down together with the forks. Note that, although this embodiment has been described as including two rails, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of rails may be one or more.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the upper rail 96A and lower rail 96B according to this embodiment protrude slightly forward of the backrest 94 and extend parallel to each other across the entire width of the backrest 94. In addition, a single upper horizontal beam 94A is provided at the top of the backrest 94, in the same plane as the frame of the backrest 94, parallel to the upper rail 96A across the entire width of the backrest 94, and at a position above the upper rail 96A. Note that, for ease of viewing, illustration of members other than the winch device 10, backrest 94, and fork 98 is omitted in Fig. 3.

[0022] The upper rail 96A and the lower rail 96B are components that engage with each other at the rising portions of the L-shaped forks 98, thereby moving the engagement position of the forks 98 laterally and adjusting the spacing and position of the forks. In this embodiment, the fork rising portion 98A and the upper rail 96A are engaged with each other by fitting an inverted U-shaped recess provided at the upper end of the fork rising portion 98A into the upper end of the upper rail 96A in FIG. 3.

[0023] (Drive unit) 1 and 2, the manual handle type drive unit 20 according to this embodiment is attached to the outer surface of the housing 14, which is directly attached to the backrest 94 of the forklift 90, and is positioned outside either the left or right end in the width direction of the backrest 94. However, in the present invention, the attachment position of the drive unit is not limited to this, and for example, a housing attachment plate that protrudes forward may be attached to the frame of the backrest, a housing may be attached to the outer surface of the plate, and the drive unit may be attached to the outer surface of the housing.

[0024] The manual handle type driving unit 20 of this embodiment is a manual handle type. The manual handle of the manual handle type driving unit 20 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 14 and is attached to the other end of the rotating shaft 12 which is connected to the gear shaft of the input gear of the reducer 18 housed inside the housing 14. The manual handle moves around the rotating shaft 12 in a vertical plane, thereby driving the rotating shaft 12 and applying rotational torque.

[0025] In this embodiment, the manual handle type drive unit 20 is disposed on the outer surface of one end (lower side in FIG. 2) in the width direction (up-down direction in FIG. 2) of the backrest 94 of the forklift 90, outside the forks 98. Note that in the present invention, the drive unit may also be disposed on the other end (upper side in FIG. 2) in the width direction of the backrest, outside the forks. Note that in the present invention, the position on the outer surface of the backrest where the drive unit is disposed is not limited to the outer side of the forks in the width direction, and may also be inside the forks.

[0026] The manual handle type driving unit 20 according to this embodiment is composed of a roughly cylindrical grip portion extending horizontally and a rectangular pillar-shaped arm portion standing vertically in Fig. 3. The arm portion of the manual handle type driving unit 20 is inserted into a radial through-hole provided at the outer end (right end portion in Fig. 3) of the rotary shaft 12, and can be fixed at any position.

[0027] Therefore, the length from the grip of the arm of the manual handle type drive unit 20 to the rotating shaft 12 can be adjusted as needed so that an appropriate rotational torque can be applied to the rotating shaft 12 depending on the load of the load being towed. Note that in the present invention, the shapes and dimensions of the housing 14 and the manual handle type drive unit 20 are not limited to these and can be set as needed.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rotational movement of the rotary shaft 12 is driven by operating the manual handle of the manual handle type drive unit 20 so as to rotate around the rotary shaft 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a ratchet mechanism may be provided at the connection between the rotary shaft and the manual handle, so that the rotational movement of the rotary shaft can be intermittently driven in the same direction by repeatedly rotating the manual handle partially.

[0029] The method of engaging the rotating shaft 12 and the arm of the manual handle type drive unit 20 according to this embodiment involves providing a radial through-hole for inserting an arm at the outer end (right end in Fig. 3) of the rotating shaft 12, and providing an axial through-hole for inserting a locking pin that reaches the through-hole for inserting an arm at the apex of the outer end (right tip in Fig. 3) of the rotating shaft 12. Furthermore, a plurality of engagement holes are provided at intervals on the outer surface of the arm of the manual handle type drive unit 20 (the surface facing outward of the rectangular pillar of the arm when the grip of the manual handle type drive unit 20 is extended horizontally outward as shown in Fig. 3).

[0030] Then, the arm portion is inserted into the arm insertion through-hole of the rotating shaft 12 to a position where the length from the grip portion of the manual handle type drive unit 20 to the rotating shaft 12 is appropriate according to the load of the luggage being towed, and then the locking pin is inserted into the locking pin insertion through-hole and dropped into the locking hole in the arm portion, thereby removably fixing the manual handle type drive unit 20 to the rotating shaft 12.

[0031] In the present invention, the method of engaging the rotating shaft with the arm portion of the drive unit is not limited to this. For example, the head of the rotating shaft may be shaped like a hexagonal pillar similar to the shape of a nut head, and the tip of the arm portion of the manual handle may be provided with a structure similar to that of a socket wrench that fits into the hexagonal pillar of the head of the rotating shaft, and the socket portion may be fitted into the hexagonal pillar part of the head of the rotating shaft, thereby allowing the manual handle type drive unit to be detachably fixed to the rotating shaft.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the winch device 10 is driven by applying torque as input rotation to the rotating shaft 12 through manual operation of the manual handle type driving unit 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the winch device 10 may be driven using a power generating device or tool that can apply torque to the rotating shaft 12, such as an electric motor equipped with an appropriate rotation control device or an electric wrench. In other words, although the manual handle type driving unit 20 of this embodiment is manual, the driving unit of the present invention may be either manual or electric.

[0033] (rotation axis) In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 12, which is a component of the winch 11, is a cylindrical member. However, in the present invention, the shape of the rotating shaft is not limited to this, and it may be, for example, cylindrical, prismatic, crankshaft-like, or any other shape as long as it can transmit driving force to the components connected to both ends. A manual handle-type drive unit 20 is attached to the outer end (the right end in Figure 3) of the rotating shaft 12, which an operator can grip to operate the rotational movement.

[0034] Rotational power is directly applied to the rotating shaft 12 by the manual handle type drive unit 20, and rotational torque is transmitted to the input portion of the reducer 18 connected to the inside of the rotating shaft 12 (left side in FIG. 3 ). In this manner, in the winch 11 of this embodiment, the manual handle type drive unit 20, rotating shaft 12, reducer 18, transmission shaft 26, and spool 28 are connected in this order, and rotational force is transmitted sequentially from the manual handle type drive unit 20 to each component. The spool 28 of the winch 11 winds up the towing member 22 and tows and moves the load 32 placed on the loading platform upper surface 42A of the transportation device 40 connected to the towing member 22.

[0035] (housing) The housing 14 according to this embodiment rotatably supports the rotating shaft 12 by means of bearings 24 provided on the wall surface of the through-hole. A reducer 18 is installed in the internal space of the housing 14, and the gear shaft of the input gear of the reducer 18 is connected to the rotating shaft 12 that penetrates the wall surface of the housing 14. In this embodiment, the housing 14 is a rectangular parallelepiped enclosure.

[0036] In this embodiment, the outer shape of the housing 14 is a substantially sealed enclosure surrounded by plate-like members on all sides, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it can properly fix or support the reducer, rotating shaft, etc., prevents workers from touching moving parts such as the reducer gear or rotating shaft, and prevents external foreign objects from getting caught in the gear and damaging it, it may, for example, not have plate-like members surrounding the entire circumference and be shelf-like made up of a single plate or multiple plate-like members.

[0037] In addition, in this embodiment, the housing 14 is made of resin, but in the present invention, the housing material is not limited to this and may be any material, such as metal or wood, as long as it has the required robustness. Furthermore, when the housing is made of resin, it is lighter than when it is made of metal, and it is easier to attach and detach it to and from a forklift.

[0038] (reducer) The reducer 18 according to this embodiment is configured by combining an input gear that is a spur gear with a small number of teeth and an output gear that is a spur gear with a large number of teeth, and when housed and installed inside the housing 14, it is disposed adjacent to the manual handle type driving unit 20 on the outer surface (i.e., the outer side) of one end (lower side in FIG. 2) in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) of the backrest 94. Rotational power generated by the manual handle type driving unit 20, which is attached to the outer surface of the housing 14, is input to the input gear of the reducer 18 via the rotating shaft 12.

[0039] It should be noted that in the present invention, the configuration of the reducer is not limited to this, and for example, a paradox planetary gear mechanism using an internal gear can be adopted. By using a paradox planetary gear mechanism, it is possible to obtain a relatively large output rotational torque even with a relatively small input rotational torque by human power via the manual handle type drive unit 20, and because the input shaft and output shaft of the reducer are arranged in a straight line, the reducer can be made smaller, which helps to make the winch device more compact and lightweight.

[0040] Although a reducer 18 is used in this embodiment, in the present invention, a reducer is not essential when the towing load is relatively light or when the rotational torque applied to the rotating shaft by the drive unit is sufficiently large.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotating shaft 12 and the input shaft of the reducer 18 are arranged in a straight line, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by connecting the rotating shaft to the input shaft of the reducer via a bevel gear, the rotating shaft can be attached at an appropriate angle, such as a 45-degree angle, to the input shaft of the reducer. This increases the degree of freedom in the attachment angle of the drive unit relative to the reducer, i.e., the options for the standing position of the worker who operates the handle of the drive unit.

[0042] (Transmission shaft and bearing) The transmission shaft 26 according to this embodiment is connected to the output shaft of the reducer 18. As shown in Fig. 3, the transmission shaft 26 extends along the width direction (left-right direction in Fig. 3) of the backrest 94. The transmission shaft 26 is rotatably supported by a bearing 24 provided on the front surface of an upper horizontal beam 94A of the backrest 94.

[0043] One end of the transmission shaft 26 is connected to the gear shaft of the output gear (not shown) of the reducer 18, and the other end is connected to the rotating shaft of the spool. In this embodiment, the number of bearings 24 is three, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of bearings can be any number greater than or equal to one, as long as it can suppress lateral vibration of the shaft accompanying rotation of the transmission shaft within an acceptable range and suppress deflection of the shaft due to reaction force from the traction member within an acceptable range. The transmission shaft 26 transmits rotational power generated by the manual handle type drive unit 20 to the spool 28.

[0044] (spool) 3, in this embodiment, two spools 28 are attached to the transmission shaft 26 at an interval, and are connected to the gear shaft of the output gear (not shown) of the reducer 18 via the transmission shaft 26, thereby receiving rotational force. The spool 28 is attached to the backrest 94 via the transmission shaft 26. The spool 28 is fixed to the transmission shaft 26, and reels in the towing member 22 in conjunction with the rotation of the transmission shaft 26. The spool 28 tows the load connected to the towing member 22.

[0045] In the present invention, the method of engaging the spool and transmission shaft is not limited to this, and for example, a ratchet mechanism (not shown) may be interposed between the spool and the transmission shaft, so that when the towing member wound on the spool is pulled from the spool to engage with the pallet, the spool is pulled by the towing member and rotates, but this rotation is not transmitted to the transmission shaft, and therefore the handle of the drive unit does not rotate together with the spool.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two spools 28 are attached to the transmission shaft 26, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any number greater than one may be used depending on the application. If the number of spools attached to the transmission shaft is increased and the number of towing members is increased accordingly, the reaction force of the towing force acting on the transmission shaft when towing cargo is dispersed to the positions of each spool, and the concentration of localized force on the transmission shaft is alleviated, thereby reducing the strength required of the transmission shaft and enabling a reduction in the number of bearings on the transmission shaft.

[0047] (traction member) In this embodiment, the pulling member 22 is fixed by being attached at one end (the right end in FIG. 2) to a substantially cylindrical reel portion (not shown) of the spool 28, and is connected to the load 32 by engaging an engaging portion (not shown) provided at the other end (the left end in FIG. 2) with an engaged portion (not shown) on the load 32 side. As the pulling member 22 in this embodiment, a belt is used, as shown in FIG. 2 in a state where it is wound around the spool 28.

[0048] However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any pulling member of any shape and material may be used as long as it is long, thin, and flexible enough to be wound around a spool and has the required tensile strength, such as a wire, rope, steel cable, chain, etc. In this embodiment, the number of pulling members is two, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of pulling members can be one or more, depending on the number of spools attached to the transmission shaft.

[0049] (Another example of a method for engaging the spool with the traction member) In this embodiment, a method for engaging the spool 28 and the pulling member 22 that is different from the method described above is also implemented. That is, as shown in Fig. 4, one end of the pulling member 22 is fixed to the reeling drum 28A of the spool 28 by shaving a portion of the periphery of the cylindrical reeling drum 28A along the axial direction to make it flat, and then providing three screw holes in the flat portion 28A1, and folding back one end of the belt of the pulling member 22 to double it up to form the doubled portion 22A. The unity of the doubled portion 22A is enhanced by sewing it together at the seam 23 using a resin thread.

[0050] In the double portion 22A, screw holes are formed by pressing heated metal against and melting the positions (portions) opposite the screw holes formed in the flat portion 28A1 of the winding drum portion 16A, and the screw holes formed in the double portion 22A of the belt are aligned with the screw holes in the flat portion 28A1, and the double portion 22A of the belt is fixed to the flat portion 16A1 by screwing it with screws 17 as fixing devices.

[0051] Compared to a fastening method in which the belt end is attached to the round surface of the hoisting drum 16A with an adhesive, this method provides a strong fastening that prevents the adhesive from melting and causing the fastening part to come off in the high temperatures of summer, and reduces the risk of the belt coming off the hoisting drum 16A even when a strong force is applied to the belt when pulling a heavy load.

[0052] Furthermore, in the other examples of this embodiment described above, even if the belt of the traction member 22 is wound around the hoisting drum 16A in multiple layers, a portion of the periphery of the hoisting drum 16A is thinned by the flat portion 16A1, so that the thickness of the double portion 22A arranged in that portion prevents the belt from protruding from other portions, stabilizing the operation of the winch device 10 while the belt is being wound around it. Note that in the present invention, the double portion of the belt, the seam portion, and the flat portion of the hoisting drum are not essential, and only some of these may be used.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the head of the screw 17 has a flat portion 17A formed at its top, which has a surface perpendicular to the axial direction. The portion below the flat portion 17A at the head is hemispherical (dome-shaped), but the present invention is not limited to this and may have, for example, a truncated cone shape. Therefore, a corner 17B is formed at the boundary between the flat portion 17A of the head and the portion below it. When a belt is wound around the screw, the corner 17B bites into the belt, making it difficult for the wound belt to loosen. The corner is not essential to the present invention.

[0054] In the present invention, the towing member may be connected to the pallet by, for example, directly tying the towing member to the leg of the pallet, or by using a towing aid such as a hook. The towing member may be connected to the pallet at any position on the pallet, depending on the number of spools provided. For example, the towing member may be connected to one leg in the center of the pallet's width, or to both legs on the left and right sides of the width, or to any part of the wall or top surface of the pallet 30. When cargo is placed on a sheet pallet, the towing member may be connected to the sheet pallet via, for example, a towing aid that clamps the edge of the sheet pallet.

[0055] (How to install the bearing in the backrest) In this embodiment, the bearing 24 is attached directly to the front surface of the upper horizontal bar 94A of the backrest 94, but in the present invention, the attachment position and attachment method of the bearing are not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a mounting fixture 50 may be attached to the lower rail 96B, and the bearing 24 may be attached to the attachment surface of the support portion 52 of the attached mounting fixture 50.

[0056] Specifically, the mounting fixture 50 has a plate-shaped support portion 52, a first protrusion 54 extending downward from the end of the support portion 52, and a second protrusion 56 extending downward from near the center of the support portion 52, spaced apart from the first protrusion 54.

[0057] In the example shown in Fig. 5, a plate-shaped connecting plate 58 is provided at one end (right side in Fig. 5) in the width direction (left and right direction in Fig. 5) of the support part 52 of the mounting fixture 50. Although not shown, the connecting plate 58 can be fixed to the support part 52 by screwing, for example, at the position of the lower end of the connecting plate 58 in Fig. 5, in a state of contact with the right end face of the support part 52. The reducer 18 and the manual handle type drive part 20 are attached to the right side face of the connecting plate 58 in Fig. 5 by bolting, welding, etc.

[0058] The mounting fixture 50 shown in Fig. 5 has the same function as the components that make up the backrest 94. That is, the mounting surface of the support portion 52 of the mounting fixture 50 corresponds to the front side of the upper horizontal beam 94A, upper rail 86A, or lower rail 96B of the backrest 94. Also, the manual handle type drive unit 20 attached to the right side of the connecting plate 58 fixed to the support portion 52 of the mounting fixture 50 in Fig. 5 corresponds to the drive unit disposed on the outer surface of the backrest 94. The upper horizontal beam 94A, upper rail 96A, and lower rail 96B correspond to the mounted members of the present invention.

[0059] 5, the bearing 24 can be attached to the upper surface of the plate-shaped support portion 52 of the mounting fixture 50 by bolting, welding, etc. Although not shown, a plate-shaped mounting portion extending vertically along the up-down direction may be provided on the right end surface of the support portion 52 in FIG.

[0060] 5, a gap through which the vertical portion of the fork 98 passes is formed on the side of the support portion 52 of the mounting fixture 50 closer to the vertical portion of the fork 98 (on the left side in FIG. 6). That is, the bearing 24 is supported on the upper surface of the support portion 52 at a position that is further toward the tip (on the right side in FIG. 6) than the vertical portion of the fork 98 by the amount of the gap. Therefore, even if the vertical portion of the fork 98 moves left and right along the upper rail 96A, it does not interfere with the support portion 52. That is, while the bearing 24 is supported on the upper surface of the support portion 52 on the tip side of the vertical portion of the fork 98, the vertical portion of the fork 98 can slide inside the gap in the width direction.

[0061] 6, a bolt hole 56A that penetrates perpendicularly to the plate surface is formed in the second protrusion 56 of the mounting fixture 50. A female thread is formed in the bolt hole 56A, and the male thread portion of the shank of the press bolt 60 is inserted into the bolt hole 56A for screw connection.

[0062] 6, when the presser bolt 60 is screwed into the bolt hole 56A, the tip side (left side in FIG. 6) opposite the head of the presser bolt 60 presses against the front surface of the upper part of the lower rail 96B, pressing it against the first protrusion 54, thereby fixing the mounting fixture 50 to the lower rail 96B. Note that in the present invention, the mounting position of the mounting fixture is not limited to this, and it may be fixed to, for example, the upper horizontal rail 94A of the backrest or the upper rail.

[0063] The configuration of mounting fixture 50 in Figure 6 is merely one example, and in the present invention, for example, a mounting arm portion may branch off from a single fastening portion to provide multiple mounting surfaces, or conversely, if mounting strength is required, multiple fastening portions may be provided for a single mounting surface, and either one member or multiple members may be attached to a single mounting surface.

[0064] In the present invention, the mounting height of the bearing may be the height of the upper cross rail 94A of the backrest 94, which is above the upper rail 96A, as in the case of bearing 24 in Figure 3, or the height of the upper rail 96A, or the height of the lower rail 96B. In other words, the mounting height of the bearing can be adjusted as needed. The support part of the mounting fixture can also be shaped so that the height of the mounting surface changes by bending the middle part upward or downward and then bending it horizontally again, or the middle part can be twisted so that the mounting surface faces sideways.

[0065] Here, in an example in which a mounting fixture is not used, such as the winch device 10 according to the present embodiment in Fig. 1, the arrangement position of the winch 11 in the width direction and the attachment position of the winch 11 to the backrest 94 coincide in that they are on the same one end side. However, as in the example in Fig. 5 in which a mounting fixture is used, in the present invention, the arrangement position of the winch 11 in the width direction and the attachment position of the winch 11 to the backrest 94 do not necessarily have to coincide.

[0066] In this way, the towing height of the winch device of the present invention can be changed depending on, for example, the dimensions of the load to be towed or the height at which the load is placed.Furthermore, by preparing a fitting of an appropriate shape, all of the components that make up the winch of the present invention can be attached to the forklift in a detachable manner using the fitting, without having to drill screw holes or other holes in the original components of the forklift.

[0067] 5 and 6, the manual handle type drive unit 20, the reducer 18, and the spool 28 are all attached to the backrest 94 via the mounting fixture 50, which can be attached to the workpiece by clamping the lower rail 96B of the workpiece using the tightening force of the press bolt 60. Therefore, when attaching or detaching the winch device 10 of this embodiment, there is no need to process the original components of the forklift 90.

[0068] As a result, even those who are not experts in the manufacture and repair of forklifts (for example, even forklift users) can easily attach and detach the winch device of this embodiment. Furthermore, when the winch function is no longer needed, the winch device can be removed and the forklift can be returned to its original, basic configuration without the winch device, allowing it to be used again. This is advantageous in that it eliminates the burden of having to modify the basic configuration of the forklift in advance when attaching a winch device to the forklift, for example.

[0069] (Unloading method) Next, a method for unloading using the winch device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0070] In this embodiment, a case is described as an example in which pallets 30 carrying cargo 32 are stacked in two rows along the width direction on the loading platform 42 of the transportation device 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. The cargo may be stacked in one row, or in three or more rows depending on the style of packaging.

[0071] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is not essential that the cargo be placed on a wooden or resin platform-type pallet device, but it may be placed on another pallet device, such as a sheet pallet. Alternatively, if the cargo is in a form that allows it to be connected to a towing member, it may be placed directly on the floor of the transportation device without being placed on a pallet device, and then the towing member may be connected and the cargo may be unloaded.

[0072] As shown in Figure 7, first, the operator 80 of the forklift 90 positions the forklift 90, to which the winch device 10 is attached, at any position in the width direction of the rear end of the transport device 40. Next, the operator 80 adjusts the position of the forklift 90 so that the row of pallets 30 and the forklift 90 overlap on a straight line in the towing direction. Then, the operator 80 moves the backrest 94 of the forklift 90 up and down to align the height of the spool 28 with the height of the pallets 30.

[0073] Next, the operator 80 gets off the forklift 90, pulls the tip of the towing member 22 of the winch device 10, unwinds it from the spool 28, and when it reaches the front part of the foremost pallet 30 on the loading platform 42, engages the tip of the towing member 22 with the support post on the front side of the pallet 30. Note that in the present invention, a worker other than the operator 80 may operate the winch device 10 without the operator 80 getting off the forklift 90. In other words, the operator 80 of the forklift 90 and the worker performing the unloading work may work together.

[0074] Next, as shown in Figure 8, the operator 80 activates the manual handle drive unit 20 of the winch device 10 to pull the pallet 30 and pull it out to a position on the loading platform 42 where the forks of the forklift 90 can be inserted. Next, the operator 80 releases the engagement between the towing member 22 and the pallet 30 and removes the towing member 22 from the pallet 30. The operator 80 then rewinds the towing member 22 and stores the tip end in the spool 28.

[0075] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the operator 80 gets on the forklift 90 and moves the backrest 94 up and down to adjust the height of the forks 98 so that they can be inserted into the pallet 30. Then, the operator 80 uses the forklift 90 to remove the pulled-out pallet 30 from the loading platform 42 of the transportation device 40 and transport it to a predetermined position.

[0076] By repeating the above series of steps explained using Figures 7 to 9, the pallets 30 loaded on the loading platform 42 are unloaded one by one. Note that in the present invention, the order of the unloading rows can be arbitrary, and unloading of one row may be completed before unloading of another row, or unloading may be performed randomly from multiple rows. In this manner, the unloading method according to this embodiment can be configured. According to the unloading method according to this embodiment, cargo can be easily removed from the loading platform 42 of the transportation device 40.

[0077] Furthermore, the unloading method according to this embodiment allows the operator 80 of the forklift 90 to unload the cargo by himself. In other words, the labor required for the unloading work can be reduced. Therefore, even if it is difficult to secure a worker other than the operator 80, or even if the number of workers required for the unloading work is limited, the unloading work can be carried out smoothly.

[0078] (Action and effect) In this embodiment, the manual handle type drive unit 20, which is one of the components of the winch 11, is attached to a backrest 94 that is originally provided on the forklift 90, and is positioned outside one end of the backrest 94 in the width direction. In this way, the components of the winch 11 can be attached to the forklift 90 without the need to add additional members in addition to the forks 98 and backrest 94 that are originally provided on the forklift 90, such as the sheath forks and backrest for sheath forks disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-167191.

[0079] As a result, it is possible to provide a winch device 10 with a simple structure that can easily pull out the load 32 from the loading platform 42. In other words, it is possible to provide a winch device 10 that is easy to attach to a forklift 90 due to its simple structure, can efficiently pull out multiple loads 32 from the loading platform 42, and can be easily operated by an operator 80 (worker) using a manual handle.

[0080] Furthermore, when the manual handle type drive unit 20 is used as the means for generating rotational power in the winch 11 as in this embodiment, the configuration of the manual handle that can be connected to other components of the winch 11 and the position of the manual handle on the forklift 90 must be considered with safety in mind. In this regard, the prior art, for example, JP 2002-167191 A, discloses that a winch in which all components are integrated is placed inside a pair of forks, but does not disclose the configuration of the manual handle that can be connected to components separated from the winch, or the position of the manual handle on the forklift.

[0081] However, in this embodiment, the manual handle type driving unit 20 is disposed outside one end of the backrest 94 of the forklift 90 in the width direction and on the outside of the forks 98. Therefore, an operator can rotate the manual handle while positioned on the outside of the forks 98, which improves the safety and operability of the winch device 10 compared to, for example, a case where an operator is positioned on the inside of the forks 98 or reaches inside the forks 98 to rotate the manual handle.

[0082] In this embodiment, the housing 14 that houses the relatively bulky reducer 18, which is a component of the winch 11, is also provided on the outer surface of the end of the backrest 94 in the width direction, similar to the manual handle type drive unit 20. This makes it difficult for the components of the winch 11 to interfere with the pallet inserted into the forks 98 or the cargo 32 on the pallet.

[0083] <Other embodiments> Although the present invention has been described by the embodiments disclosed above, the descriptions and drawings forming part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present invention. It should be considered that various alternative embodiments, examples, and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present invention.

[0084] (Variation) Next, a winch device 10A according to a modified example will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. The winch 11 according to the modified example includes a manual handle type drive unit 20, a rotary shaft 12, a connecting shaft 27, a housing 14, a reducer 18, and a spool 28, similar to the present embodiment.

[0085] However, in the modified example, the reduction gear 18 is disposed at the center of the backrest 94 in the width direction, rather than at the end of the backrest 94 in the width direction as in the present embodiment, and therefore the reduction gear 18 and the spool 28 are closer to each other, making the transmission shaft 26 unnecessary and instead adding a connecting shaft 27 that connects the rotating shaft 12 and the reduction gear 18, and the spool 28 is housed together with the reduction gear 18 in the housing 14. Below, the configuration that differs from the present embodiment will be mainly described, and redundant description of the configuration that is the same as in the present embodiment will be omitted.

[0086] As shown in Figure 10, the speed reducer 18 of the modified example is provided in the center of the width direction (vertical direction in Figure 10) of the backrest 94, not adjacent to but separated from the manual handle type drive unit 20, and the rotational force generated by the manual handle type drive unit 20 is input via the rotating shaft 12 and the connecting shaft 27.

[0087] Rotational power generated by the manual handle type drive unit 20 is directly applied to the rotating shaft 12 by the manual handle type drive unit 20. The connecting shaft 27 connects the rotating shaft 12 to which the rotational power is applied and the input shaft of the reducer 18 inside the housing 14, thereby transmitting the rotational power.

[0088] 11 and 12, the housing 14 according to the modified example is placed on the upper surface of the support portion 52 at the top of the mounting fixture 50. Note that in FIG. 11, components other than the winch device 10A, the backrest 94, and the fork 98 are omitted from the illustration for clarity. As shown in FIG. 12, the mounting fixture 50 according to the modified example has a plate-shaped support portion 52, a first protrusion 54 extending downward in FIG. 12 from the end of the support portion 52, and a second protrusion 56 extending downward from near the center of the support portion 52 with a gap between them.

[0089] 12, a bolt hole 56A is formed in the second protrusion 56 of the mounting fixture 50, penetrating perpendicularly to the plate surface. A female thread is formed in the bolt hole 56A, and the male thread portion of the shank of a presser bolt 60 is inserted into the bolt hole 56A for screw engagement. As shown in FIG. 12, when the presser bolt 60 is screwed into the bolt hole 56A, the tip side (left side in FIG. 12) opposite the head of the presser bolt 60 presses the front surface of the upper part of the upper rail 96A, pressing it against the first protrusion 54, thereby fixing the mounting fixture 50 to the upper rail 96A. Note that in the present invention, the mounting position of the mounting fixture is not limited to this, and it may be fixed to, for example, an upper horizontal rail 94A or a lower rail 96B of the backrest.

[0090] The reducer 18 and a spool 28 are installed in the internal space of the housing 14 according to the modified example. The spool 28 is installed so as to be freely rotatable inside the housing 14. The spool 28 is attached adjacent to the reducer 18 on the left side of the reducer 18 in FIG. 11. The spool 28 is directly connected to the output shaft of the reducer 18.

[0091] The rotation shaft of the spool 28 is directly connected to the gear shaft of an output gear (not shown) that protrudes toward the spool 28 from the reducer 18 located to the right of the spool 28 in Figure 11. A rotational force is applied to the spool 28 from the manual handle type drive unit 20 via the rotation shaft 12, the connecting shaft 27, and the reducer 18.

[0092] 11 illustrates an example in which a spool 28 to which a pulling member 22 is attached is disposed at the position of an opening 14A formed in the front surface of the housing 14. The spool 28 can wind up the pulling member 22 and can also unwind the pulling member 22 to pull it out through the opening 14A. Note that in the present invention, the positions of the housing 14 and the spool 28 in the width direction can be changed as appropriate.

[0093] The towing member 22 according to the modified example has one end (the right end in FIG. 10) attached and fixed to a substantially cylindrical hoisting drum (not shown) of the spool 28, and is connected to the load 32 by engaging an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the other end (the left end in FIG. 10) with an engaged portion (not shown) on the load 32 side. The rest of the structure of the winch device 10A according to the modified example is the same as the structure of the winch device 10 according to the present embodiment described using FIGS. 1 to 10, so repeated description will be omitted.

[0094] (Effects of Modified Examples) As with the present embodiment, the winch device 10A according to the modified example also has a simple structure and can easily pull out the load 32 from the loading platform 42. Furthermore, in the modified example, the reducer 18 is attached to the center of the backrest 94 in the width direction. This makes it easier to stabilize the center of gravity of the entire forklift 90 compared to, for example, when the reducer 18 is attached to an end of the backrest 94 in the width direction. Other effects of the modified example are the same as those of the present embodiment.

[0095] In addition, the present invention can be configured by partially combining the configurations illustrated in the attached drawings. As described above, the present invention includes various embodiments not described above, and the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention-specifying matters in the claims that are appropriate from the above description. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 10,10A winch device 11. Winch 12 Rotation axis 14 Housing 14A opening 17 Bis 17A Flat part 17B Corner 18 Reducer 20 Manual handle type drive unit (drive unit) 22 Traction member 22A double part 23 Suture area 24 Bearings 26 Transmission shaft 27 Connecting shaft 28 spools 28A Winding trunk 28A1 Plane section 30 palettes 32 Luggage 40 Transport equipment 42 Cargo bed 42A Top of the loading platform 50 Mounting fixture 52 Support part 54 First protrusion 56 Second protrusion 56A Bolt hole 58 Connecting plate 60 Presser bolt (bolt) 80 Operator 90 Forklift 92 Mast 94 Backrest 94A Upper crosspiece 96A Upper rail (mounting part) 96B Lower rail (mounting part) 98 Fork 98A Fork riser

Claims

1. a manual or electric drive unit attached to a backrest that moves up and down along the mast of the forklift together with the forks, and positioned outside one end of the backrest in the width direction; a spool attached to the backrest, to which a rotational force is transmitted from the drive unit, winding up a towing member and towing a load connected to the towing member; A winch device comprising:

2. a reducer attached to the backrest, disposed adjacent to the drive unit on an outer surface of one end of the backrest in the width direction, and receiving rotational power generated by the drive unit; a transmission shaft connected to the output shaft of the reducer, extending along the width direction of the backrest, and transmitting rotational power to the spool; The winch apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

3. a reducer attached to the backrest and disposed at a central portion in a width direction of the backrest; a connecting shaft that connects a rotation shaft to which rotational power generated by the drive unit is directly applied and an input shaft of the reducer to transmit the rotational force; Equipped with The spool is attached adjacent to the reducer and directly connected to an output shaft of the reducer, and the pulling member is wound by the spool. The winch device according to claim 1.

4. The drive unit, the reducer, and the spool are attached to the backrest via a mounting fixture that can be attached to a workpiece by clamping the workpiece using the fastening force of a bolt. A winch device according to claim 2 or 3.

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