Weight change system

Abstract

To provide a weight change system which allows an operator to operate a forklift quickly or carefully according to a level of an ability of eyes of the operator.SOLUTION: A weight change system S is a system used for a forklift and includes a weight change part 20, and a change command part 307. The weight change part 20 changes weights of a pedal 14 and a lever 15 of the forklift or a weight of one of these components. The change command part 307 controls the weight change part 20 according to a level of an ability of eyes of an operator to change the weights of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 or the weight of one of these components.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a weight changing system for changing the weight of a pedal and / or lever of a forklift. [Background technology]

[0002] There are various types of forklifts, such as reach forklifts and counter-load forklifts. Forklifts are equipped with pedals and levers, and the number and functions of these pedals vary depending on the type of forklift.

[0003] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a reach forklift is equipped with a brake pedal and a presence pedal. The presence pedal is configured to be able to stop travel and loading, and the driver cannot travel or load unless he or she presses the presence pedal. As disclosed in Patent Document 2, a counter-type forklift is equipped with an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, and an engine-powered counter-type forklift also has a clutch pedal. Among battery-powered forklifts, automatic forklifts also have an inching pedal instead of a clutch pedal. By pressing the inching pedal, the driver can put the forklift into a half-clutch state and cut off the traveling power.

[0004] As disclosed in Patent Document 3, a reach forklift includes a lift lever for raising and lowering the forks, a tilt lever for changing the vertical angle of the forks, a reach lever for moving the lifting device forward and backward, and an accelerator lever for driving the forklift. As disclosed in Patent Document 4, a counter-load forklift includes a tilt lever and an accelerator lever. As disclosed in Patent Document 5, levers are generally configured to swing forward or backward from a neutral position and automatically return to the neutral position by a spring when not in operation. The invention disclosed in Patent Document 5 uses an actuator to assist lever operation when the amount of operation of the operating lever exceeds a predetermined value to reduce operator fatigue. Other documents that disclose technologies for assisting vehicle lever operation include Patent Document 6, for example.

[0005] Incidentally, when obtaining or renewing a large, medium, or semi-medium vehicle license, or a Class 2 license, depth perception is tested along with vision. However, such vision tests are not included in forklift training or special education, and forklift drivers with poor eyesight are able to load and drive forklifts just like other drivers. However, if their eyesight is very poor, they are required to operate the forklift more carefully than other drivers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-047759 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-166663 [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-47745 A [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-88390 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-370898 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-301942 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a system that can operate a forklift quickly or carefully depending on the level of visual ability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the weight change system according to the present invention comprises: 1. A system for use in a forklift, comprising: a weight changing unit that changes the weight of a pedal and / or lever of the forklift; and a change command unit that controls the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and / or lever depending on the level of the driver's visual ability.

[0009] The weight change system preferably includes depth perception in the driver's eye capabilities.

[0010] The weight change system preferably includes visual acuity in the driver's eye capabilities.

[0011] The weight change system preferably includes dynamic visual acuity in the eye capabilities of the driver.

[0012] The weight change system preferably includes visual field capabilities of the driver's eyes.

[0013] The weight change system preferably comprises: The vehicle further includes a measuring unit for measuring the eye ability of the driver.

[0014] The weight change system preferably comprises: It also has a display, The measurement unit measures the driver's visual ability using the display.

[0015] The weight change system preferably comprises: a memory unit that stores scores of the eye abilities of a plurality of drivers; The vehicle further includes a driver identification unit that identifies the driver who is in the vehicle.

[0016] The weight change system preferably comprises: a trained model that performs machine learning in advance on the correlation between the scores of multiple abilities of the driver's eyes and the driver's skill score, and outputs the driver's skill score when the scores of multiple abilities of the driver's eyes are input; a weight determination unit that determines the weight of the pedal and / or lever appropriate for the driver based on the driver's skill score output by the trained model; The change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and / or lever to the determined weight.

[0017] In order to solve the above problem, a forklift according to the present invention includes any one of the weight change systems described above.

[0018] In order to solve the above problem, a weight change program according to the present invention includes: A program used in a weight change system including a weight change unit that changes the weight of a pedal and / or lever of a forklift, and a computer, On the computer, Recognizing a score of the driver's eye ability; The weight changing unit is controlled according to the recognized score of the driver's eye ability to change the weight of the pedal and / or lever. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The weight change system of the present invention allows a forklift to be operated quickly or carefully depending on the visual ability of the operator. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a forklift equipped with a weight change system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a weight change system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen when measuring stereopsis. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen when another measurement of stereopsis is performed. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 illustrates the operation of a trained model. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the weight modification system. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a modified weight change system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the weight change system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The weight change system S according to this embodiment is configured to change the weight of both the pedal and the lever, but this is merely an example, and the weight change system according to the present invention may be configured to change the weight of either the pedal or the lever.

[0022] <Forklift configuration> FIG. 1 is a side view of a forklift 1 equipped with a weight change system S. First, the configuration of the forklift 1 will be described. The forklift 1 is a battery-powered counter-load forklift. As shown in FIG. 1, the forklift 1 is equipped with a plurality of wheels 10, a vehicle body 11, a driver's seat 12, a head guard 13, pedals 14, a lever 15, left and right masts 16, left and right forks 17, a display 18, a weight change unit 20 (see FIG. 2), and a control unit 30 (see FIG. 2). The system equipped with the display 18, the weight change unit 20, and the control unit 30 is the weight change system S of this embodiment.

[0023] A plurality of wheels 10 are provided on all four sides of a vehicle body 11. A driver's seat 12 is provided on the vehicle body 11, and a head guard 13 is provided above the driver's seat 12.

[0024] The pedals 14 include an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and an inching pedal, and are provided below the driver's seat 12. In the present invention, the "pedals" may include at least one of the accelerator pedal, the brake pedal, and the inching pedal, but may not include all of these pedals.

[0025] The lever 15 has a lift lever and a tilt lever, and is provided in front of the driver's seat 12. The lever 15 may have a slide lever for sliding the fork 17 left and right. The "lever" in the present invention may have at least one lever such as a lift lever and a tilt lever, and does not necessarily have to have all of these levers.

[0026] The left and right forks 17 are configured to be able to be raised and lowered via the left and right masts 16, and the operator H operates a lift lever to raise and lower the forks 17 to perform cargo handling work.

[0027] The display 18 is a 3D display and is fixed to the head guard 13. The display 18 displays a measurement screen using a measurement unit 301 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later. The display 18 according to this embodiment is configured as a touch panel. This allows the driver H to make inputs by touching the display 18. Note that the "display" in the present invention does not necessarily have to be a 3D display.

[0028] The weight change unit 20 changes the weight of the lever 15 and the pedal 14 when operated based on commands from a change command unit 307 (see FIG. 2) which will be described later. The weight change unit 20 has a pedal weight change unit that changes the weight of the pedal 14, and a lever weight change unit that changes the weight of the lever 15. Note that if the weight change unit 20 is configured to change the weight of either the pedal 14 or the lever 15, it will have either a pedal weight change unit or a lever weight change unit.

[0029] The pedal weight change unit changes the weight of the pedal 14 when the driver H presses it down, based on a command from the change command unit 307. The pedal weight change unit is configured by, for example, a device that can adjust the weight by hydraulic pressure or a device that can adjust the weight by a spring.

[0030] Furthermore, for example, the pedal weight change unit may be an assist device that assists the depression force of the pedal 14. In this case, the pedal weight change unit may adjust the assist force based on a command from the change command unit 307, and may substantially change the weight of the pedal 14 when the driver H depresses it.

[0031] Alternatively, the pedal weight change unit may be configured to change the magnitude of the power or braking force of each device responsive to the amount of depression force of the pedal 14, for example, based on a command from the change command unit 307. In this way, the pedal weight change unit effectively changes the weight of the pedal 14.

[0032] The lever weight changing section is configured by, for example, a device that can adjust the weight of the lever 15 by hydraulic pressure, or a device that can adjust the weight of the lever 15 by a spring.

[0033] Furthermore, for example, the lever weight change unit may be an assist device that assists in the operation according to the weight of the lever 15. In this case, the lever weight change unit may adjust the assist force based on a command from the change command unit 307, and may substantially change the weight of the lever 15 when the driver H operates it.

[0034] Alternatively, the lever weight change unit may be configured to change the magnitude of the power of each device responsive to the amount of operation of the lever 15, for example, based on a command from the change command unit 307. In this way, the lever weight change unit effectively changes the weight of the lever 15.

[0035] The control unit 30 is configured by a computer arranged in the vehicle body 11, and has an arithmetic unit, a storage device, and a memory. The storage device stores a weight change program that causes the computer to function as a measurement unit 301, a trained model 303, a weight determination unit 305, and a change command unit 307, which will be described later.

[0036] <Functional configuration> Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of the weight change system S. As shown in FIG.

[0037] The measurement unit 301 measures the eyesight, dynamic visual acuity, depth perception, and visual field of the driver H using the display 18. The measurement method will be described in detail below.

[0038] The measurement unit 301 simply measures the visual acuity of the driver H by a known measurement method using the display 18. Specifically, the measurement unit 301 displays a Landolt ring (C mark) on the display 18 while changing its size and orientation, and prompts the driver to answer the orientation of the displayed Landolt ring. Then, the measurement unit 301 simply identifies the visual acuity of the driver H based on the answer result. The measurement unit 301 receives the answer from the driver H by prompting the driver H to select an option to be displayed on the display 18.

[0039] Next, the measurement unit 301 simply measures the dynamic visual acuity of the driver H by a known measurement method using the display 18. Specifically, the measurement unit 301 displays a Landolt ring or a row of multiple (for example, four) numbers while moving it smoothly from right to left or left to right, and asks the driver H to answer the orientation of the Landolt ring or the displayed numbers. Then, the measurement unit 301 repeats these steps and simply identifies the dynamic visual acuity of the driver H based on the answer results.

[0040] While it is necessary for the driver H of the forklift 1 to recognize stationary objects, it is also very important for him to recognize surrounding objects while driving and the movement of objects being handled. It is also known that while eyesight does not deteriorate relatively much with aging, dynamic visual acuity deteriorates with aging. Therefore, the measuring unit 301 measures not only eyesight but also dynamic visual acuity, thereby enabling a more accurate measurement of the visual ability of the driver H, which affects the operation of the forklift 1.

[0041] Next, the measurement unit 301 simply measures the stereopsis of the driver H by a known measurement method using the display 18. Specifically, this is a method simulating the so-called three-rod method, in which the measurement unit 301 displays bars P1 and P2 on the left and right sides of the screen, respectively, and a bar P3 in the center, as shown in FIG. 3. The measurement unit 301 then gradually changes the thickness of the bar P3 between the screens D1 and D2, and asks the driver H to respond when the thickness of the bar P3 becomes the same as the thickness of the bars P1 and P2 on the left and right. The measurement unit 301 then repeats this process and simply identifies the stereopsis of the driver H based on the response results.

[0042] Alternatively, the measurement unit 301 may simulate the three-rod method by utilizing a 3D display function, as shown in Fig. 4. First, the measurement unit 301 displays three rods P1, P2, and P3 on the screen, and moves the central rod P3 back and forth between the screens D1 and D2. The measurement unit 301 then prompts the driver to respond when the front-to-back position of the central rod P3 overlaps with the front-to-back positions of the left and right rods P1 and P2, and measures the deviation. The measurement unit 301 repeats this process and simply identifies the driver H's depth perception based on the measurement results.

[0043] In this embodiment, the measurement unit 301 uses the 3D display 18 to display a stereoscopic image and measure the driver H's stereoscopic vision while allowing the driver H to recognize the depth of the image. This allows the measurement unit 301 to measure the driver H's stereoscopic vision more accurately than measurements using a 2D display. The weight change system S can evaluate the degree to which the driver H can judge the distance to an object or obstacle by measuring the driver's stereoscopic vision.

[0044] Finally, the measurement unit 301 simply measures the visual field of the driver H by a known measurement method using the display 18. For example, the measurement unit 301 may measure the visual field of the driver H by a method such as that disclosed on the following web page. ·https: / / www.eye-frail.jp / selfcheck / glaucoma /

[0045] If driver H has a defective field of vision, he or she will be unable to see certain parts even if he or she has good eyesight, dynamic vision, and depth perception. Therefore, the weight change system S can evaluate the visual ability of driver H more accurately by also measuring the field of vision of driver H. The measurement of driver H's field of vision may include not only the defective field of vision but also the range of the field of vision.

[0046] The above-described method of measuring the eye ability by the measuring unit 301 is merely an example, and the measuring method of the measuring unit 301 can be freely selected from known measuring methods and is not limited to the above-described measuring method. Furthermore, the weight change system S may be provided with a head-mounted display or VR (Virtual Reality) goggles instead of the display 18, and the eye ability of the driver H may be measured using the head-mounted display or VR goggles.

[0047] The trained model 303 has previously machine-learned the correlation between the scores of multiple eye abilities of the driver H and the skill score of the driver H. The "skill score" according to the present invention is a score of skills related to the loading and unloading work of the forklift 1. The skill score includes either or both of driving skills and loading and unloading skills.

[0048] In order to learn these correlations more accurately, for example, one method is to have the same driver H perform loading and unloading work while wearing glasses that impair eyesight, glasses that impair dynamic vision, glasses that impair depth perception, and glasses that narrow the field of view (or cause defects in the field of view), and then use the skill score at that time.This method makes it possible to properly learn the effect on skill scores due to differences in eye ability.

[0049] The trained model 303 pre-learns the correlation between the scores of multiple eye-related abilities of driver H and driver H's skill score, and outputs driver H's skill score when scores related to driver H's visual acuity, dynamic visual acuity, depth perception, and field of view are input, as shown in Figure 5.

[0050] In addition, the "score of driver H's eye-related ability" of the trained model 303 according to the present invention may include at least two of driver H's visual acuity, dynamic visual acuity, depth perception, and field of view.

[0051] The weight determination unit 305 determines the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 suitable for the driver H based on the skill score of the driver H output by the trained model 303. For example, the weight determination unit 305 may be configured to increase the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 when the skill score of the driver H is less than a predetermined skill score, and to decrease the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 when the skill score of the driver H is equal to or greater than the predetermined skill score.

[0052] The change command unit 307 controls the weight change unit 20 to change the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 to the weight determined by the weight determination unit 305. The weight change system S changes the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 depending on the level of the visual ability of the driver H, thereby allowing a driver H with good visual ability to operate the forklift 1 quickly and a driver H with poor visual ability to operate the forklift 1 carefully.

[0053] <Weight change system flow> Next, the operation of the weight change system S will be explained again with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

[0054] (1) First, the weight change system S measures a plurality of eye abilities of the driver H by the measuring unit 301 (see S1 in FIG. 6).

[0055] (2) Next, the weight change system S inputs the measured abilities of the driver H into the trained model 303 (see S2 in FIG. 6) and outputs a skill score (see S3 in FIG. 6).

[0056] (3) Next, the weight change system S determines the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 based on the skill score using the weight determination unit 305 (see S4 in FIG. 6).

[0057] (4) Next, the weight change system S changes the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 to the determined weight by the weight change unit 20 (see S5 in FIG. 6).

[0058] In this way, the weight change system S changes the weight of the pedal 14 and the lever 15 depending on the level of the driver H's visual ability, allowing a driver H with good visual ability to operate the pedal 14 and the lever 15 quickly and a driver H with poor visual ability to operate the pedal 14 and the lever 15 carefully.

[0059] Although one embodiment of the weight change system according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The weight change system according to the present invention may be implemented, for example, in each of the following modifications or in appropriate combination with each modification.

[0060] <Modification> The forklift 1 may be a reach forklift. In this case, the pedal 14 may include a presence pedal. The forklift 1 may also be an engine-powered forklift. In this case, the pedal 14 may include a clutch pedal. Furthermore, if the forklift 1 is a reach forklift, the lever 15 may include an accelerator lever. As described above, the "pedal" in the present invention includes at least one of the pedals, and the "lever" includes at least one of the levers, and the weight change system S according to the present invention changes the weight of at least one of the levers and pedals.

[0061] Any of the components of the control unit 30 may be configured, for example, by a server computer provided on the cloud. In this case, the weight change system S changes the weight of the pedal 14 and / or the lever 15 by communicating with this server computer.

[0062] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the weight change system S may further include, instead of the measurement unit 301, a storage unit 311 that stores the eye ability scores of multiple drivers H, and a driver identification unit 312 that identifies the driver H who is in the vehicle. In this case, the weight change system S further includes a camera 19, the storage unit 311 further stores a facial image for each driver H, and the driver identification unit 312 identifies the driver H who is in the vehicle by referring to the facial image of the driver H generated by the camera 19 and the facial image stored in the storage unit 311. The trained model 303 then receives the eye ability of the driver H stored in the storage unit 311 and outputs the skill score of the driver H. Note that the method by which the driver identification unit 312 identifies the driver H is not particularly limited. For example, the driver identification unit 312 may identify each driver H by reading a card or the like held by each driver H.

[0063] The weight change system S does not necessarily have to include the trained model 303. In this case, the weight change system S is configured to refer to the score of the driver H's visual ability, and to increase the weight of the pedal 14 and / or the lever 15 when the score of the driver H's visual ability is less than a predetermined score, and to decrease the weight of the pedal 14 and / or the lever 15 when the score of the driver H's visual ability is equal to or greater than the predetermined score. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] S Weight Change System H Driver 1 forklift 10 wheels 11 Body 12 Driver's seat 13 Head guard 14 pedals 15 Lever 16 Mast 17. Fork 18 Display 19 Camera 20 Weight change section 30 Control Unit 301 Measuring part 303 trained models 305 Weight determination unit 307 Change Order Department 311 Storage section 312 Driver Identification Department

Claims

1. 1. A system for use in a forklift, comprising: a weight changing unit that changes the weight of the pedal and / or lever of the forklift; A weight change system comprising: a change command unit that controls the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and / or the lever depending on the level of the driver's visual ability.

2. The weight variation system of claim 1 , wherein the driver's eye abilities include depth perception.

3. The weight variation system of claim 1 , wherein the driver's eye abilities include visual acuity.

4. The weight change system according to claim 1 , wherein the eye ability of the driver includes dynamic visual acuity.

5. The weight variation system of claim 1 , wherein the driver's eye capabilities include a field of vision.

6. The weight changing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a measuring unit for measuring the eye ability of the driver.

7. It also has a display, The weight change system according to claim 6 , wherein the measurement unit measures the eye ability of the driver by utilizing the display.

8. a memory unit that stores a plurality of scores of the driver's eye ability; The weight change system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a driver identification unit that identifies the driver who is in the vehicle.

9. a trained model that performs machine learning in advance on a correlation between a plurality of scores of the driver's eyes and a skill score of the driver, and outputs the skill score of the driver when the scores of the plurality of scores of the driver's eyes are input; a weight determination unit that determines a weight of the pedal and / or the lever suitable for the driver based on the skill score of the driver output by the trained model; 9. The weight change system according to claim 1, wherein the change command unit changes the weight of the pedal and / or the lever to the determined weight.

10. A forklift truck equipped with the weight changing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A program used in a weight change system including a weight change unit that changes the weight of a pedal and / or lever of a forklift, and a computer, The computer, Recognizing a score of the driver's eye ability; a weight change program that controls the weight change unit to change the weight of the pedal and / or the lever according to the recognized score of the driver's visual ability.

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