Carriage

Abstract

To provide a carriage having high loading efficiency.SOLUTION: A carriage 1 includes a vehicle body 20 capable of traveling with an article placed thereon, and a pair of right and left side frames 30 and 30 rising from the vehicle body 20, where the side frames 30 have a pair of front and rear supports 31 and 31 provided with a plurality of upper and lower locking holes 31b and 31b, ..., on respective facing surfaces 31a and 31a, and include a bracket 34 having locking pieces 341a and 342a selectively lockable to the locking holes 31b and 31b, ..., and capable of mounting an article holding member 40.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cart for transporting articles. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other stores, carts are used to transport and stock products stored in the backroom. Because products come in a wide variety of sizes, carts that can be adjusted to fit the product size are often required.

[0003] For example, the cart shown in Patent Document 1 includes a cart body with casters, a pair of left and right fences attached to the cart body, and a shelf board spanning the pair of fences. The fences are composed of a pair of front and rear support posts and multiple upper and lower cross bars connecting the pair of support posts, and the shelf boards are attached across the cross bars of the left and right fences. Because multiple cross bars are provided on the top and bottom of each of the pair of left and right fence sections, the height of the shelf board can be changed by selecting the cross bar to which the shelf board is attached according to the size of the product. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-134168 A (Page 5, Figure 1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, the crossbeams are fixedly attached to a pair of front and rear support posts, so the height of the shelves that can be adjusted is limited, and depending on the size of the products, there is a risk of wasted space being created, reducing loading efficiency.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and has as its object to provide a truck with high loading efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the bogie of the present invention comprises: A dolly comprising a vehicle body capable of carrying an article and traveling, and a pair of left and right side frames extending from the vehicle body, The side frame has a pair of front and rear support posts with a plurality of upper and lower locking holes formed on each opposing surface, The article holding member is characterized by being provided with a bracket having a locking piece that can be selectively locked in the locking hole and to which the article holding member can be attached. According to this feature, the height of the item holding member can be freely changed by selecting the locking hole to which the locking piece is locked and attaching the bracket to the support, thereby reducing wasted space when transporting cargo of various sizes and improving loading efficiency.

[0008] The bracket has the locking pieces at both front and rear ends, and is attached across the pair of front and rear support posts. According to this feature, the bracket is attached across the pair of front and rear support columns, so that a heavy article holding member can be stably supported.

[0009] The article holding member has an engaging portion attached to the bracket, the engaging portion being disposed closer to one side in the front-rear direction, The bracket is characterized by having a first engaged portion that is located at a position closer to one side in the front-to-rear direction and with which the engaging portion can engage, and a second engaged portion that is located at a position symmetrical to the first engaged portion with respect to the center in the front-to-rear direction and with which the engaging portion can engage. According to this feature, the article holding member can be attached to the bracket in either the front or rear direction.

[0010] the article holding member is a shelf board attached across the brackets attached to the pair of left and right side frames, The shelf board is provided with an article placement portion and an extension portion extending in the left-right direction below at least one of the front and rear sides of the article placement portion, The bracket is characterized in that it is provided with a step portion recessed downward at the upper portion on both the front and rear sides, on which the extension portion can be disposed. According to this feature, the extension portion can be disposed on the step portion regardless of whether the shelf board is facing forward or backward, and the shelf board can be attached without the extension portion interfering with the bracket.

[0011] The vehicle body is provided with an insertion hole through which the support pillar is inserted and attached, The insertion opening is characterized in that the left and right gaps between the insertion opening and the support are smaller than the front and rear gaps. According to this feature, the left and right gaps between the insertion opening and the support are small, which reduces the left and right rattle of the support, and also ensures a front-to-back gap between the insertion opening and the support, making it easier to insert the support into the insertion opening. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a carriage according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the shelf board is attached between the left and right brackets. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shelf boards are attached to the left and right brackets in a reversed front-to-back position from the state shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 1(a) is a perspective view showing the state in which the basket is attached between the left and right brackets, and FIG. 1(b) is a side view of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a long object holder is attached between left and right brackets, and FIG. 1(b) is a side view of FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description will now be given of a bogie according to the present invention based on an embodiment. [Example]

[0014] A bogie according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In the following description, the right side of the paper in Figure 4 is the front side (forward side) of the bogie, and the left and right sides as viewed from the front are the left and right sides of the bogie.

[0015] The cart 1 according to the present invention is used, for example, to transport merchandise between the back yard and the sales floor of a supermarket, convenience store, etc. Such a cart 1 is also used as a product display shelf that loads merchandise from the back yard and then places it directly on the sales floor.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cart 1 is mainly composed of a car body 20, a pair of side frames 30, 30, and shelf boards 40, 40 serving as article holding members.

[0017] The side frames 30, 30 rise upward from both the left and right ends of the vehicle body 20. The side frames 30 include a pair of front and rear support pillars 31, an upper connecting rod 32 and a lower connecting rod 33 that connect the upper and lower ends of the pair of support pillars 31, 31, and brackets 34, 34 that connect the pair of support pillars 31, 31 between the upper connecting rod 32 and the lower connecting rod 33.

[0018] The support pillar 31 is a metal cylindrical body having a square cross section. A plurality of locking holes 31b, 31b, . . . , 31b, 31b, . . . are formed in the opposing surfaces 31a, 31a of the pair of support pillars 31, 31 facing each other in the front and rear directions. As will be described later, the support pillar 31 is attached to the vehicle body 20 by being inserted into an insertion opening 20a of the vehicle body 20.

[0019] The upper connecting rod 32 and the lower connecting rod 33 are cylindrical bodies made of metal and have a rectangular cross section. The upper connecting rod 32 and the lower connecting rod 33 extend in the front-rear direction and are fixed to the upper and lower ends of the pair of support posts 31, 31.

[0020] 3, the bracket 34 is a metal plate-like member that extends in the front-rear direction. The bracket 34 has a front portion 341, a rear portion 342, and a center portion 343.

[0021] Two hook-shaped locking pieces 341a, 341a that protrude forward and bend downward are provided on the top and bottom of the front part 341. Note that one or three or more locking pieces 341a may be provided.

[0022] Two straight locking pieces 342a, 342a protruding rearward are provided on the upper and lower sides of the rear portion 342. The locking piece 342a is longer in the front-to-rear direction than the locking piece 341a. Note that one or three or more locking pieces 342a may be provided.

[0023] The central portion 343 is positioned higher than the front portion 341 and the rear portion 342. In other words, the bracket 34 is arch-shaped with a higher central portion in the front-to-rear direction. Step portions 344, 344' are provided above the connection points between the central portion 343 and the front portion 341 and rear portion 342, in other words, in the front and rear of the central portion 343. The front step portion 344 is open upward, forward, and to the left and right, and the rear step portion 344' is open upward, backward, and to the left and right.

[0024] The central portion 343 is provided with engaged portions 343a, 343b, 343c, and 343d as first engaged portions, and engaged portions 343a', 343b', 343c', and 343d' as second engaged portions, at front-to-back symmetrical positions based on an imaginary line α extending in the vertical direction through the front-to-back center position of the central portion 343.

[0025] Specifically, on the front side of the central portion 343, engaged portions 343a, 343b, 343c, and 343d are arranged in a row from front to rear, and on the rear side of the central portion 343, engaged portions 343a', 343b', 343c', and 343d' are arranged in a row from rear to front.

[0026] The engaged portions 343a, 343a' are notched grooves that are generally U-shaped in side view and open upward and to the left and right. The engaged portions 343b, 343b' are notched grooves that are generally U-shaped in side view and open upward and to the left and right. The engaged portions 343c, 343c' are notched grooves that are generally U-shaped in side view and open upward and to the left and right. The engaged portions 343d, 343d' have the same shape as the engaged portions 343c, 343c'.

[0027] The vertical dimension of the engaged portions 343a, 343a' is slightly longer than the vertical dimension of the engaged portions 343c, 343c' and the engaged portions 343d, 343d'.

[0028] The height position at which the bracket 34 is installed can be changed by selecting any of the locking holes 31b, 31b in the pair of front and rear supports 31 and locking the locking pieces 341a, 342a. This allows the height of the shelf board 40 supported by the bracket 34 to be freely changed, which reduces wasted space when transporting loads of various sizes and improves loading efficiency.

[0029] Furthermore, the rear locking pieces 342a, 342a have a straight shape and are longer in the front-to-rear direction than the front locking pieces 341a, 341a. Therefore, the hook-shaped front locking piece 341a can be engaged with and disengaged from the locking hole 31b of the front support 31 by adjusting the insertion depth of the locking piece 342a into the locking hole 31b of the rear support 31, making it easy to attach and remove the bracket 34.

[0030] Next, the state in which the shelf board 40 is attached between the left and right brackets 34, 34 will be described.

[0031] 2 and 4, the shelf board 40 is placed and attached from above the left and right brackets 34, 34. The shelf board 40 has a mounting surface portion 41 that extends substantially horizontally, side surfaces 42, 42 that extend downward from both the left and right ends of the mounting surface portion 41 (only the left side surface portion 42 is visible in FIGS. 2 and 4), a front surface portion 43 that serves as an extension that extends downward from the front end of the mounting surface portion 41, and a back surface portion 44 that serves as an extension that extends downward from the rear end of the mounting surface portion 41.

[0032] A card holder 45 for holding price cards, product name cards, etc. is provided on the front of the front portion 43. In addition, engagement portions 46, 46 (only the left engagement portion 46 is visible in FIG. 4) are provided on both the left and right sides of the shelf board 40, close to one side (the rear side in the state of FIG. 4) of the front and rear. The engagement portion 46 is a bent piece of metal plate fixed to the back side of the mounting surface portion 41. However, the engagement portion 46 is not limited to this, and the shape, material, etc. can be freely changed.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, when the shelf 40 is attached to the brackets 34, the support surface 41 rests on top of the center portion 343 of each bracket 34, the side portions 42 are located on the left and right outer sides of the brackets 34, the front portion 43 is located at the stepped portions 344, and the back portion 44 is located at the stepped portions 344'. In addition, the engaging portions 46 are engaged with the engaged portions 343b'. This restricts horizontal movement of the shelf 40 relative to the brackets 34.

[0034] Furthermore, since the shelf board 40 is supported by brackets 34, 34 attached between the front and rear support columns 31, 31, it is possible to stably support the shelf board 40 even when a heavy item is placed on it. Furthermore, the brackets 34, 34 can increase the strength of the side frame 30, and can restrict the support columns 31, 31 from moving relative to each other in the front-to-rear direction due to vibrations while the cart 1 is traveling.

[0035] Furthermore, the bracket 34 is arched with a higher central portion in the front and rear, so that it can stably support the shelf board 40 on which a heavy item is placed, despite being lightweight.

[0036] 5, when the shelf 40 is flipped from the state shown in FIG. 4 and attached to the brackets 34, 34, the front surface 43 is positioned at the stepped portions 344, 344, the rear surface 44 is positioned at the stepped portions 344', 344', and the engaging portions 46, 46 of the shelf 40 engage with the engaged portions 343b', 343b'. In addition, the front surface 43 is positioned at the stepped portions 344', 344', and the rear surface 44 is positioned at the stepped portions 344, 344.

[0037] In this way, the bracket 34 has engaged portions 343b, 343b' provided at front-to-back symmetrical positions with respect to the imaginary line α, so that the shelf board 40 can be attached to the brackets 34, 34 regardless of the front-to-back orientation of the shelf board 40.

[0038] Furthermore, since the engaging portions 46, 46 of the shelf board 40 are engaged with the engaged portions 343b, 343b' with almost no gap between them in the front and rear directions, the shelf board 40 hardly moves back and forth relative to the brackets 34, 34 due to vibrations when the trolley 1 is running.

[0039] Furthermore, since the front portion 43 and the back portion 44 of the shelf board 40 are positioned on the step portions 344, 344' of the brackets 34, 34, the front portion 43 and the back portion 44 do not interfere with the brackets 34, 34, and the shelf board 40 can be positioned appropriately regardless of the front-to-back orientation of the shelf board 40.

[0040] It is preferable that the bracket 34 has the same shape as the bracket of an existing product display shelf (not shown) placed in the sales floor. This allows the bracket of the trolley 1 to be used as both the trolley 1 and the product display shelf, making it easy to change the layout in the sales floor.

[0041] Next, an embodiment in which a basket 50 serving as an article holding member is attached between the left and right brackets 34, 34 in place of the shelf board 40 will be described.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), a basket 50 can be attached between the left and right brackets 34, 34.

[0043] The basket 50 is made up of multiple linear metal members and has a bottom surface 51, side surfaces 52 rising upward from both the left and right ends of the bottom surface 51, a front surface 53 rising upward from the front end of the bottom surface 51, and a back surface 54 rising upward from the rear end of the bottom surface 51. The front surface 53 rises at an angle forward as it extends upward, and the back surface 54 rises approximately vertically.

[0044] A card holder 55 is provided on the front surface of the front surface portion 53. Further, reinforcing linear members 56, 57 (engagement portions) extending laterally are arranged at the bottom of the bottom surface portion 51, spaced apart from each other in the front and rear.

[0045] 6(b), when the basket 50 is attached to the left and right brackets 34, 34 with the front surface portion 53 facing forward, the linear member 56 engages with the engaged portion 343d, the linear member 57 engages with the engaged portion 343c', and the bottom surface portion 51 is placed on the upper surface of the central portion 343 of the bracket 34. In addition, the lower portions of the side surface portions 52 are disposed on the left and right outer sides of the bracket 34. This restricts the basket 50 from moving horizontally relative to the brackets 34, 34.

[0046] Although not shown in the drawings, the bracket 34 has engaged portions provided at front-to-back symmetrical positions with respect to the imaginary line α, and therefore the basket 50 can be attached to the bracket 34 regardless of the front-to-back orientation of the basket 50. Specifically, when the front-to-back orientation of the basket 50 is reversed, the linear member 56 engages with the engaged portion 343d', and the linear member 57 engages with the engaged portion 343c.

[0047] Next, a description will be given of a mode in which a long object holder 60 serving as an article holding member is attached using the bracket 34.

[0048] 7(a) and 7(b), the long object holder 60 is attached in a cantilevered state to one bracket 34. In FIG. 7, the long object holder 60 attached to the left side of the carriage 1 will be described as an example.

[0049] The long object holder 60 comprises ladder-shaped holder sections 61, 62 extending forward and backward and spaced apart vertically, a plate-shaped bottom section 63 extending forward and backward and positioned below the holder section 62, and connecting sections 64, 64 extending vertically and connecting the holder sections 61, 62 and the bottom section 63.

[0050] An upper portion of each connecting portion 64 is provided with a locking portion 64a that is bent to the right.

[0051] The long object holder 60 is attached to the bracket 34 by engaging the locking portions 64a, 64a with the engaged portions 343a, 343a' of the bracket 34. When attached to the bracket 34, the holder portions 61, 62 and the bottom portion 63 abut against the left surfaces of the front and rear support columns 31, so that the center of gravity balance prevents the long object holder 60 from swinging left and right around the locking portions 64a, 64a as fulcrums.

[0052] A long object can be held by inserting the long object from above into the openings of the holder portions 61 and 62 and placing it on the bottom portion 63.

[0053] Although not shown in the drawings, the bracket 34 has engaged portions provided at front-to-rear symmetrical positions with respect to the imaginary line α, so the long object holder 60 can be attached to the bracket 34 regardless of the front-to-rear orientation of the long object holder 60. For example, the long object holder 60 can be attached to the bracket 34 on the right side of the trolley 1.

[0054] Next, the attachment of the support pillar 31 to the vehicle body 20 will be described.

[0055] 8, insertion openings 20a are provided at the four corners of the vehicle body 20. The insertion openings 20a have a generally rectangular shape in a plan view. Specifically, the dimension of the insertion openings 20a in the front-rear direction is larger than the dimension in the left-right direction.

[0056] The support 31 is a rectangular pipe whose outer shape is a square cross section, and is inserted into the insertion opening 20a from above. That is, the gap S1 between the support 31 and the right surface 20b and the left surface 20c that form the insertion opening 20a is smaller than the gap S2 between the support 31 and the front surface 20d and the rear surface 20e of the insertion opening 20a (S1 <S2)。

[0057] A step (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the insertion opening 20a on which the bottom of the support 31 is placed, and after the support 31 is inserted into the insertion opening 20a, it is placed on the step and attached to the vehicle body 20.

[0058] The support pillar 31 may be attached to the vehicle body 20 by being press-fitted between the right surface 20b and the left surface 20c of the insertion opening 20a. Alternatively, the support pillar 31 may be attached to the vehicle body 20 by providing engaging portions that engage with each other on the surfaces that form the insertion opening 20a, and engaging the engaging portions with each other.

[0059] This reduces the left-right gap S1 between the insertion opening 20a and the support 31, reducing wobble in the left-right direction of the support 31. On the other hand, the front-to-rear gap S2 between the insertion opening 20a and the support 31 is larger than the gap S1, making it easier to insert the support 31 into the insertion opening 20a by utilizing the gap S2.

[0060] In addition, when the support 31 is gripped and the cart 1 is moved in the forward and backward directions, the support 31 is less likely to wobble in the left-right direction, which is perpendicular to the direction of travel, providing excellent stability during travel and preventing luggage from falling off the shelf 40.

[0061] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0062] For example, in the above embodiment, the bracket 34 is attached to the front and rear support columns 31 in a double-supported state, but this is not limited thereto, and the bracket may be attached to the support column in a cantilevered state. Also, the bracket may be attached across the left and right support columns. In this case, it is preferable to provide locking holes on the opposing surfaces of the left and right support columns.

[0063] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was given in which locking pieces 341a and 342a of different shapes are provided on the front and back of the bracket 34, but this is not limited to this, and the locking pieces may be of the same shape as long as they can be engaged with the locking hole 31b of the support 31.

[0064] In addition, although the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the engaging portion 46 is provided on the shelf 40, the engaging portion 46 may be omitted. Even in this case, the front portion 43 and the back portion 44 of the shelf 40 abut against the center portion 343 of the bracket 34 in the front and rear directions, thereby restricting the front and rear movement of the shelf 40.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the shelf board 40, basket 50, and long article holder 60 are described as article holding members, but other article holding members may also be used.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the article holding members (shelf boards 40, baskets 50, long article holders 60, etc.) are attached by engaging with the brackets 34, but the article holding members and brackets 34 may be integrated with bolts, for example, or the brackets 34 may be provided with engaging pieces that prevent the article holding members from floating up. This prevents the article holding members from floating up from the brackets 34 due to vibrations while the cart 1 is running.

[0067] In addition, engaged portions for attaching article holding members may be provided on the upper connecting rod 32 and the lower connecting rod 33. This allows article holding members to be attached to the upper connecting rod 32 and the lower connecting rod 33 as well, thereby increasing the design freedom of the cart 1.

[0068] In addition, in the above embodiment, the support 31 and the insertion opening 20a are exemplified as having a rectangular shape when viewed from above, but the shape of the support 31 and the insertion opening 20a may also be circular or elliptical when viewed from above, or a polygonal shape other than a rectangle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 cart 20 Body 20a Insertion port 30 Side frame 31 Post 31a Opposite surface 31b Locking hole 34 Bracket 40 Shelf board (item holding member) 43 Front part (extension part) 44 Back part (extension part) 46 Engagement part 50 Basket (item holding member) 56, 57 Linear member (engagement portion) 60 Long object holder (item holding member) 64a Locking part 341 Front 341a Locking piece 342a Locking piece 343a~343d Engaged part 343a'~ 343d' Engaged part 344,344' Step section S1 Gap S2 Gap α Virtual line

Claims

1. A dolly comprising a vehicle body capable of carrying an article and traveling, and a pair of left and right side frames extending from the vehicle body, The side frame has a pair of front and rear support posts with a plurality of upper and lower locking holes formed on each opposing surface, A cart comprising a bracket having a locking piece that can be selectively locked in the locking hole and to which an article holding member can be attached.

2. 2. The bogie according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has the locking pieces at both front and rear ends and is attached across the pair of front and rear support columns.

3. The article holding member has an engaging portion attached to the bracket, the engaging portion being disposed closer to one side in the front-rear direction, The bogie described in claim 1, characterized in that the bracket has a first engaged portion that is located at a position closer to one side in the fore-and-aft direction and with which the engaging portion can engage, and a second engaged portion that is located at a position symmetrical to the first engaged portion with respect to the center in the fore-and-aft direction and with which the engaging portion can engage.

4. the article holding member is a shelf board attached across the brackets attached to the pair of left and right side frames, The shelf board is provided with an article placement portion and an extension portion extending in the left-right direction below at least one of the front and rear sides of the article placement portion, The bogie according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has downwardly recessed stepped portions at the upper front and rear ends, on which the extension portions can be disposed.

5. The vehicle body is provided with an insertion hole through which the support pillar is inserted and attached, 5. The bogie according to claim 1, wherein the insertion opening has a smaller left-right gap with respect to the support pillar than a front-to-rear gap.

Images