Pallet jig and pallet jig complex

Abstract

To provide a pallet jig which can be easily switched between an assembled state and a folded state and can easily take in and out upper and lower pallets.SOLUTION: Disclosed is a pallet jig 1 that can be switched between an assembled state and a folded state. The pallet jig includes: a pallet mounting section 10 having a mounting base 11 on which a pallet can be placed and a restriction section 12 that restricts falling of the pallet; multiple pillars 20 that straddle and support other pallets positioned below, spaced apart from one another; and connecting sections 30 with recesses that support the pillars 20 so that they can slide axially and rotate or not about the rotation axis. When the pillars 20 are slid until their ends reach a first position, rotation is restricted, thereby entering the assembled state, and when the pillars 20 are slid until they reach a second position, they rotate and enter the folded state, approaching the pallet mounting section 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pallet jig used for stacking pallets carrying articles in multiple layers on the loading platform of a truck or in a warehouse. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, racks and pallets have been used to efficiently utilize storage space in truck beds and warehouses. Pallets for carrying items can be stacked vertically in multiple tiers and folded for compact storage when not in use. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a nesting rack with a load receiving platform at its top. The nesting rack includes a pair of side frames located at the bottom and both sides, spaced a predetermined distance apart in the left-right direction and extending in the front-to-rear direction, and a rear frame located at the bottom, connected to the rear ends of each side frame, and extending in the left-to-right direction. The nesting rack also includes a pair of front support columns located at the front, connected to the front ends of each side frame, and extending in the vertical direction; a pair of rear support columns located at the rear, spaced a predetermined distance from both ends of the rear frame and extending in the vertical direction; a pair of front support blocks located at the front of each side frame; and a pair of rear support plates located at the rear of each side frame. The nesting rack of Patent Document 1 aims to provide a nesting rack that allows easy nesting using a forklift, even if the operator operating the forklift is not an expert.

[0003] Meanwhile, Patent Document 2 describes a pallet that is stackable on the bed of a truck to transport construction materials and other items. The pallet is composed of a mounting frame on which the items are placed, support columns attached upward at the four corners of the mounting frame, fitting legs that fit into the support columns when the pallets are stacked, and extension columns that fit into the support columns to extend their length. The length dimensions of the support columns and extension columns are set to an integer fraction of the height dimension of the truck's height limit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6901229 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-119703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the nesting racks themselves can be stacked on top of each other for storage, but they cannot be folded, resulting in poor storage efficiency. Furthermore, when stacking pallets carrying cargo on a nesting rack, the nesting rack must first be installed and then the loaded pallets must be stacked using a forklift, making the process cumbersome. The same applies to unloading cargo. Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, when the pallets are arranged in two tiers, the upper pallet must first be unloaded even when loading or unloading cargo from the lower pallet, resulting in unnecessary work and unnecessary energy consumption by the forklift. Furthermore, the time required to load and unload cargo onto the truck bed increases the number of following trucks waiting to approach the platform, resulting in unnecessary waiting times for drivers.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a pallet jig and a pallet jig composite that can be easily switched between an assembled state and a folded state to reduce storage volume when not in use, and that allows easy insertion and removal of upper and lower pallets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to this embodiment, a first configuration of a pallet jig that can be switched between an assembled state and a folded state and that supports a pallet on which an article is to be placed at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from another pallet placed below it in the assembled state includes a pallet placing section that includes a placing base on which the one pallet can be placed and a restricting section that protrudes above the placing base to restrict the one pallet from falling off, a plurality of pillars that, in the assembled state, straddle the other pallet that is placed at a position spaced apart below the pallet placing section and support the pallet placing section from below, and a plurality of pillars that support the pallet placing section from below, and a restricting section that supports the pallet and a connecting portion having a recess formed therein, which is adjacent to the mounting portion, supports the pillar portion slidably along the axial direction relative to the pallet mounting portion, and supports the pillar portion rotatably or non-rotatably along a predetermined rotation axis relative to the pallet mounting portion, and when the pillar portions are slid along the axial direction until the ends of the multiple pillar portions reach a first position, an assembled state is reached in which rotation of the pillar portions is restricted, and when the pillar portions are slid along the axial direction until the ends of the multiple pillar portions reach a second position and the multiple pillar portions are folded close to the pallet mounting portion by rotating the pillar portions, a folded state is reached.

[0008] A second configuration of a pallet jig according to another form of this embodiment is such that, in the above-mentioned first configuration, the connecting portion has a long hole formed therein, the axis of which is aligned with the axis of the pillar portion, and the pillar portion is provided with a protrusion having a shaft portion whose diameter is smaller than the width of the long hole and a tip portion whose diameter is larger than the width of the long hole, the shaft portion passes through the long hole, and the protrusion is provided on the pillar portion so that the tip portion sandwiches the connecting portion between the shaft portion and the pillar portion, the axis of the shaft portion is aligned with the rotation axis, and by sliding the position of the protrusion relative to the pillar portion along the axis of the long hole, the pillar portion can be slid along the axial direction of the pillar portion relative to the pallet mounting portion.

[0009] A third configuration of the pallet jig according to another embodiment of the present invention may be such that in the first or second configuration, the recess is formed inside the restricting portion.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a fourth configuration of a pallet jig may be any of the first to third configurations described above, further comprising a connecting portion above the pallet loading portion that can be connected to the multiple pillar portions of another pallet jig in the assembled state.

[0011] A fifth configuration of the pallet jig complex according to this embodiment is formed by stacking multiple tiers of pallet jigs of any of the first to fourth configurations above in the vertical direction.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sixth configuration of the pallet jig complex is such that pallet jigs of any of the first to fourth configurations described above are stacked vertically in multiple tiers, and the lengths of the multiple pillar portions may be different for each of the pallet jigs.

[0013] A seventh configuration of the pallet jig complex according to another embodiment of the present invention is such that, in the sixth configuration described above, the plurality of pillar portions of each of the pallet jigs may be in direct contact with the floor surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this embodiment, a pallet jig and a pallet jig complex can be provided that can be easily switched between an assembled state and a folded state to reduce storage volume when not in use, and that allows easy insertion and removal of upper and lower pallets. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of an assembled pallet jig according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a pallet jig in a folded state, as compared with FIG. 1; FIG. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are front views of the pallet jig illustrating the assembled and folded states. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are side views of the pallet jig illustrating the assembled and folded states. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which pallet jigs in a folded state are stacked in multiple stages. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are a schematic perspective view and a front view illustrating an example of a pallet jig in an assembled state according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a pallet jig complex according to a second embodiment in which assembled pallet jigs are stacked in two stages. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a pallet jig complex according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a pallet jig complex according to a third embodiment in which assembled pallet jigs are stacked in two stages. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a pallet jig complex according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an example of a pallet jig and a pallet jig composite according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, etc. However, the pallet jig and the pallet jig composite according to the present disclosure are not limited to the jigs and composites according to the embodiments described below.

[0017] The figures shown below are schematic illustrations. Therefore, the size and shape of each part, the thickness of each layer in the cross-sectional view, etc., are appropriately exaggerated for ease of understanding. Hatching indicating the cross section of a component is also omitted where appropriate in each figure. The numerical values, such as dimensions, and material names of each component described in this specification are examples of embodiments and are not limited to these. They may be selected and used as appropriate. In this specification, terms specifying shape or geometric conditions, such as parallel, orthogonal, and vertical, are intended to include not only their strict meanings but also substantially the same state. For convenience of explanation, terms such as "upper" or "lower" relative to the paper may be used, but the up-down direction may be reversed, and the same applies to the left-right direction.

[0018] 1. First embodiment of the present disclosure A typical embodiment of a pallet jig according to the present disclosure will be described. For ease of explanation of the pallet jig and the pallet jig composite, an XYZ coordinate system will be established. As shown in FIG. 1 , in the assembled pallet jig 1, the Z axis is defined as the vertical direction when the four pillars 20 lift the pallet mounting unit 10 and stand upright relative to the floor. The Y axis is defined perpendicular to the Z axis and connects the second pillar 20b on the front right side of the page with the third pillar 20c on the back right side. The X axis is defined as a direction perpendicular to the Y axis and the Z axis. The X, Y, and Z axes are generally perpendicular to each other but may also intersect obliquely. As viewed from the operator in front of the pallet jig 1, the direction from left to right along the X axis is defined as the +X direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the -X direction. Also, from the worker's perspective, the direction from the front to the back along the Y axis is the +Y direction, the opposite direction is the -Y direction, the vertically upward direction is the +Z direction, and the vertically downward direction is the -Z direction.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pallet jig 1 in an assembled state according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the pallet jig 1 in a folded state compared to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the pallet jig 1 as seen from the -Y direction, illustrating the assembled state and the folded state, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the pallet jig 1 as seen from the -X direction. Fig. 5 is an explanatory view as seen from the -Y direction showing the pallet jig 1 in a folded state stacked in multiple layers.

[0020] Pallet jig 1 can be switched between an assembled state shown in FIG. 1 and a folded state shown in FIG. 2. In the assembled state, it has the function of supporting one pallet, on which goods are to be placed, at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from another pallet placed below it. In FIG. 1, the first pallet is pallet 102, and the other pallet is pallet 101. Pallets 101 and 102 are standard resin pallets of the same shape used for placing and transporting goods, but the two pallets may be made of different materials or have different shapes, and may be metal or wooden pallets. Furthermore, although pallets 101 and 102 are shown as rectangular parallelepipeds for brevity, in reality, these pallets have insertion openings for forklift claws and the like on their sides.

[0021] The pallet jig 1 includes a pallet mounting unit 10 having a mounting table 11 on which a pallet 102 can be placed and a restricting portion 12 that protrudes above the mounting table 11 to restrict the pallet 102 from falling off. The restricting portion 12 prevents the pallet 102 from falling off the mounting table 11 due to a lateral shift or the like in a horizontal plane, i.e., along an XY plane perpendicular to the Z-axis direction. In addition, the pallet jig 1 includes, in an assembled state, multiple pillars 20 that straddle the pallet 101 positioned below and spaced apart from the pallet mounting unit 10 and support the pallet mounting unit 10 from below. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), the pallet jig 1 includes connecting portions 30 with recesses such as 12p and 12q. The connecting portions 30 are adjacent to the pallet mounting unit 10 and support the pillars 20 slidably along the axial direction relative to the pallet mounting unit 10. Furthermore, the connecting portion 30 supports the column portion 20 relative to the pallet placing portion 10 so that the column portion 20 can rotate or cannot rotate about a predetermined rotation axis.

[0022] For example, the first pillar portion 20a of the pillar portion 20 is rotatably fixed to the first adjustment portion 32a, a plate-like member included in the connecting portion 30, with the axis of the first fixing portion 34a, which can be exemplified as a pin, serving as a predetermined rotation axis. A first elongated hole 33a, which is an elongated hole, is formed in the first adjustment portion 32a, and the first fixing portion 34a can be, for example, a protrusion having a shaft portion whose diameter is smaller than the width of the first elongated hole 33a and a tip portion whose diameter is larger than the width. The shaft portion of the first fixing portion 34a passes through the first elongated hole 33a, and the tip portion is rotatably provided on the first pillar portion 20a so that the first adjustment portion 32a is sandwiched between the first fixing portion 34a and the first pillar portion 20a. The same applies to other parts of the pillar portion 20, such as the second pillar portion 20b.

[0023] 3(a), the pallet jig 1 can slide the first pillar portion 20a, which is one of the plurality of pillar portions 20, along the axial direction so that the upper end 20at, which is the end of the first pillar portion 20a, fits into the connecting portion 30 via the recess 12p formed inside the restricting portion 12. The position of the end of the first pillar portion 20a when the upper end 20at, which is the end of the first pillar portion 20a, fits into the connecting portion 30 via the recess 12p formed inside the restricting portion 12 can be referred to as a first position. Similarly, the pallet jig 1 can slide the second pillar portion 20b along the axial direction so that the upper end 20bt, which is the end of the second pillar portion 20b, fits into the connecting portion 30 via the recess 12q formed inside the restricting portion 12. The position of the end of the second pillar portion 20b when its upper end 20bt engages with the connecting portion 30 via the recess 12q formed inside the restricting portion 12 can also be referred to as the first position. The same applies to the third pillar portion 20c and the fourth pillar portion 20d. In this figure, the axial direction is the +Z direction. At this time, the pallet jig 1 can be in an assembled state in which rotation of the pillar portion 20 is restricted.

[0024] The first position refers to the position of the end of the pillar portion 20 when the pillar portion 20 is in an assembled state in which its rotation relative to the pallet mounting portion 10 is restricted. Therefore, it is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the upper end, which is the end of the pillar portion 20, fits into the connecting portion 30 via a recess formed inside the restricting portion 12, and it may be configured such that the rotation of the pillar portion 20 is restricted by, for example, arranging a pin on the side surface of the pillar portion 20.

[0025] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the pallet jig 1 can slide the first and second pillar portions 20a and 20b along the axial direction so that the upper ends 20at and 20bt of the first and second pillar portions 20a and 20b do not engage with the connecting portion 30 via the recesses 12p and 12q. In this figure, the axial direction is the -Z direction. Furthermore, by rotating the first fixing portion 34a and the second fixing portion 34b of the first and second pillar portions 20a and 20b around their axes, the multiple pillar portions 20 can be folded close to the pallet mounting portion 10 and placed in a folded state. This position of the end of the first pillar portion 20a when the upper end 20at of the first pillar portion 20a does not engage with the connecting portion 30 via the recess 12p formed inside the restricting portion 12 can be referred to as the second position. In addition, the position of the end of the second pillar portion 20b when the upper end 20bt, which is the end of the second pillar portion 20b, does not engage with the connecting portion 30 through the recess 12q formed inside the regulating portion 12 can also be referred to as the second position.

[0026] The second position refers to the position of the end of the column 20 when the column 20 is rotatable relative to the pallet mount 10 and can be folded so that multiple column sections 20 approach the pallet mount 10 by rotating the column 20. Therefore, it is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the upper end, which is the end of the column 20, does not fit into the connecting section 30 via a recess formed inside the restricting section 12, and it may be configured so that rotation of the column 20 is not hindered, for example, by removing a pin on the side of the column 20.

[0027] As described above, the pallet jig 1 of the first embodiment can be easily switched between an assembled state when in use and a folded state when not in use to reduce storage volume. Furthermore, when the pallet jig 1 is in the assembled state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3(a), a pallet 102 can be placed on the upper level, and a pallet 101 can be placed on the lower level. Loading and unloading of the pallet 101 or pallet 102 can be completed by simply loading and unloading the pallet without affecting the pallet jig 1 or other pallets. This is clearly different from, for example, Patent Document 2, in which the upper pallet must be loaded and unloaded before the lower pallet can be loaded and unloaded. In this embodiment, the upper and lower pallets can be loaded and unloaded separately and easily.

[0028] The configuration of the pallet jig 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below.

[0029] [1] Pallet jig configuration [a] Pallet placement section 1, in the assembled pallet jig 1, the pallet placing section 10 has the function of placing an upper pallet 102 thereon, in order to support the pallet 102 on which an article is to be placed at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from the other pallets 101 arranged below it. The pallet placing section 10 includes a plate-shaped placing base 11 on which the upper pallet 102 can be placed, and a restricting section 12 that protrudes above the placing base 11 to restrict the pallet 102 from slipping sideways and falling off.

[0030] 3(a) and 4(a), the restricting portions 12 are provided in four locations: a first restricting portion 12a, a second restricting portion 12b, a third restricting portion 12c, and a fourth restricting portion 12d, but the restricting portions may be arranged in any number of locations. In this embodiment, the restricting portions 12 are arranged on the extension lines of the +Z direction of the axes of the first pillar portion 20a, the second pillar portion 20b, the third pillar portion 20c, and the fourth pillar portion 20d in the assembled pallet jig 1, but the restricting portions 12 may be arranged in locations unrelated to the arrangement of the pillar portions 20.

[0031] In the present embodiment, in relation to the arrangement of the columnar portions 20, the restricting portions 12 are arranged such that the first restricting portion 12a on the −Y direction side and the fourth restricting portion 12d on the +Y direction side are aligned on a straight line parallel to the Y axis along the −X direction end of the mounting table 11. The second restricting portion 12b on the −Y direction side and the third restricting portion 12c on the +Y direction side are aligned on a straight line parallel to the Y axis along the +X direction end of the mounting table 11. The distance between the first restricting portion 12a and the fourth restricting portion 12d and the distance between the second restricting portion 12b and the third restricting portion 12c are substantially the same. However, the positions of the second restricting portion 12b and the third restricting portion 12c along the Y axis are shifted by a predetermined distance toward the +Y direction relative to the positions of the first restricting portion 12a and the fourth restricting portion 12d along the Y axis.

[0032] With the restricting parts 12 arranged in this manner, the movement of the pallet 102 placed on the mounting table 11 is restricted by the restricting parts 12 at least along the X-axis, and the pallet 102 is prevented from falling off the mounting table 11 due to a significant misalignment. On the other hand, since there is no restricting part toward the front side of the pallet 102, when the pallet 102 is taken in or out using a forklift or the like, the pallet 102 can be pulled out toward the front or pushed in toward the back along the Y-axis direction, making it easy to take the pallet in or out.

[0033] In addition to these restricting portions 12, additional restricting portions may be provided at each of the -Y end and +Y end of the mounting table 11, or at multiple locations aligned in a straight line parallel to the X axis. This restricts the movement of the pallet 102 placed on the mounting table 11 both along the X axis and the Y axis by the restricting portions, further reducing the risk of the pallet 102 falling off the mounting table 11 due to misalignment. In particular, in addition to the restricting portions 12 described above, additional restricting portions may be provided at one location or multiple locations aligned in a straight line parallel to the X axis at the +Y end of the mounting table 11, and no restricting portion may be provided at the -Y end of the mounting table 11. This allows both preventing the pallet 102 from falling off the mounting table 11 due to misalignment and facilitating the insertion and removal of the pallet 102.

[0034] In this embodiment, a pressure plate 13 is further provided above each of the restricting portions 12 to prevent the pallet 102 from protruding upward. Specifically, a first pressure plate 13a, a second pressure plate 13b, a third pressure plate 13c, and a fourth pressure plate 13d are provided above the first restricting portion 12a, the second restricting portion 12b, the third restricting portion 12c, and the fourth restricting portion 12d, respectively. Each pressure plate 13 is formed to protrude from the upper end surface of the corresponding restricting portion 12 toward the pallet 102. For example, the +X-direction end of the first pressure plate 13a protrudes further in the +X-direction than the +X-direction end of the upper end surface of the first restricting portion 12a. Furthermore, the −X-direction end of the second pressure plate 13b protrudes further in the −X-direction than the −X-direction end of the upper end surface of the second restricting portion 12b. The same applies to the third pressure plate 13c and the fourth pressure plate 13d.

[0035] With the presence of such a pressure plate 13, for example, the pallet jig 1, on which the pallet 102 has already been placed on the pallet placement section 10, can be lifted by inserting the claws of a forklift into the side of the pallet 102. This allows the pallet 102 and the pallet jig 1 to be simultaneously loaded onto or unloaded from a truck, etc. It also prevents the pallet 102 placed on the pallet placement section 10 from accidentally moving upward and falling off the pallet placement section 10. However, the pressure plate 13 is not an essential component of the pallet jig 1. Furthermore, the pressure plate 13 and the regulating section 12 do not need to be separate parts, and a protruding portion such as the pressure plate 13 may be integrally formed above the regulating section 12.

[0036] In order to stably mount the pallet 102, the mounting table 11 is preferably made of a flat metal member, a resin member, or the like, but to achieve both durability and light weight, it may be made of metal members such as square timbers or rods assembled in a lattice pattern or thin metal wires crossed in a mesh pattern. The restricting portions 12 and the pressing plate 13 are also made of a metal member, a resin member, or the like. In this embodiment, the restricting portions 12 also have the function of the connecting portion 30, which will be described later, and recesses 12p, 12q, 12r, and 12s are formed inside each of the restricting portions 12, which will be described later.

[0037] [b] Pillar part As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pallet jig 1 can be in the assembled state shown in Figure 1 or the folded state shown in Figure 2, depending on whether each of the four columns 20 is positioned upright or horizontally relative to the floor. The two states can be easily changed. The columns are typically formed of hollow, rectangular metal members, but there are no particular restrictions on the material or shape. They may be cylindrical or have other shapes, or may be formed of resin or carbon material. In the assembled state, the pallet jig 1 has each of the four columns 20 positioned so as to straddle the pallet 101, which is positioned below the pallet loading section 10 and spaced apart, typically on the floor. However, the number of columns 20 is not limited to four; however, providing at least three columns 20 allows the pallet jig 1 to be stably held in the assembled state. The size of the pallet 101 that the pallet jig 1 can accommodate is preferably the same as the size of the pallet 102 placed on the upper pallet loading section 10, but it may also accommodate smaller sizes.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4(a), the pallet jig 1 is provided with a first beam 41, which is a horizontally extending beam 40 that connects the first column 20a and the fourth column 20d of the four column portions 20. The pallet jig 1 is also provided with a second beam 42, which is a horizontally extending beam 40 that connects the second column 20b and the third column 20c. In this way, by providing the beam 40 that connects the column portions 20 at two locations, the load-bearing capacity of the pallet jig 1 for articles placed on the pallet 102 is improved and deformation is suppressed. However, the beam 40 is not a required component of this embodiment.

[0039] As described above, the pillar portions 20 are arranged below the mounting table 11, with the first pillar portion 20a on the −Y side and the fourth pillar portion 20d on the +Y side aligned on a straight line parallel to the Y axis along the −X side end. Also, below the mounting table 11, the second pillar portion 20b on the −Y side and the third pillar portion 20c on the +Y side aligned on a straight line parallel to the Y axis along the +X side end. The distance between the first pillar portion 20a and the fourth pillar portion 20d is approximately the same as the distance between the second pillar portion 20b and the third pillar portion 20c. However, the positions of the second pillar portion 20b and the third pillar portion 20c along the Y axis are shifted by a predetermined distance toward the +Y direction relative to the positions of the first pillar portion 20a and the fourth pillar portion 20d along the Y axis.

[0040] Each pillar 20 is rotatably fixed to a corresponding adjustment portion 32, which is a plate-shaped member that forms part of the connecting portion 30 adjacent to the lower side of the pallet placement portion 10. Each pillar 20 is rotatably fixed to the corresponding adjustment portion 32 by a fixing portion 34, which can be exemplified as a pin. Specifically, the first pillar 20a is rotatably fixed to the first adjustment portion 32a by a first fixing portion 34a, which is a pin. Similarly, the second pillar 20b, the third pillar 20c, and the fourth pillar 20d are rotatably fixed to the second adjustment portion 32b, the third adjustment portion 32c, and the fourth adjustment portion 32d by a second fixing portion 34b, a third fixing portion 34c, and a fourth fixing portion 34d, which are pins, respectively.

[0041] Taking the first pillar portion 20a as an example, the first adjustment portion 32a is formed with a first elongated hole 33a, which is a long hole whose axis is vertically elongated along the Z-axis direction. The first fixing portion 34a is composed of a protrusion having a shaft portion with a diameter smaller than the width of the first elongated hole 33a and a tip portion with a diameter larger than the width. The shaft portion of the first fixing portion 34a passes through the first elongated hole 33a, and the tip portion is rotatably attached to the first pillar portion 20a so that the first adjustment portion 32a is sandwiched between the first fixing portion 34a and the first pillar portion 20a. The relationship between the first pillar portion 20a, first adjustment portion 32a, first elongated hole 33a, and first fixing portion 34a can also be applied to other pillar portions 20. In other words, the relationship can be replaced with the relationship between the second pillar portion 20b, second adjustment portion 32b, second elongated hole 33b, and second fixing portion 34b. Furthermore, the relationship between the third pillar portion 20c, the third adjustment portion 32c, the third long hole 33c, and the third fixed portion 34c can be replaced with the relationship between the fourth pillar portion 20d, the fourth adjustment portion 32d, the fourth long hole 33d, and the fourth fixed portion 34d.

[0042] However, the configuration of the fixing parts 34 that rotatably fix each column part 20 to each adjustment part 32 is not limited to pins, but may be screws threaded into threaded holes drilled in each column part 20. In any case, each column part 20 is rotatable along a predetermined rotation axis relative to the pallet mounting part 10. In this case, the predetermined rotation axis may be the axis of each fixing part 34, which is a pin, screw, or the like.

[0043] [c] Connecting part When the multiple pillars 20 of the pallet jig 1 are erected and assembled, it is necessary to maintain each pillar 20 in an erect state relative to the pallet mounting part 10 and to secure it so that it will not be folded up accidentally. Furthermore, when not in use, it is necessary to be able to quickly fold each pillar 20 relative to the pallet mounting part 10 and change it to a folded state that can be stored compactly. Here, connecting parts 30 that connect the pallet mounting part 10 and the pillars 20 are provided as a configuration that allows the pillars 20 to easily rotate relative to the pallet mounting part 10 and secures them so that they will not be folded up accidentally when in the erected state.

[0044] The connecting parts 30 are adjacent to the pallet mounting part 10 and have the function of supporting the pillar parts 20 so that they can slide along the axial direction relative to the pallet mounting part 10, and supporting the pillar parts 20 so that they can or cannot rotate about a predetermined rotation axis relative to the pallet mounting part 10. The connecting parts 30 are provided corresponding to each pillar part 20, and in this embodiment, they are distributed at four locations.

[0045] Here, the connecting portion 30 corresponding to the first pillar portion 20a will be described. The connecting portion 30 includes a first adjustment portion 32a, which is an adjustment portion 32 made of a plate-like member that protrudes downward from the pallet placement portion 10. As described above, the first adjustment portion 32a is formed with a first elongated hole 33a, which is a long hole that is long in the vertical direction and whose axis is along the Z-axis direction. The first pillar portion 20a is rotatably fixed to the first adjustment portion 32a via this first elongated hole 33a by a first fixing portion 34a, such as a pin.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3( a), when the end of the first column portion 20a in the longitudinal direction that is closer to the predetermined rotation axis is defined as the upper end 20at, a concave recess 12p corresponding to the convex shape of the upper end 20at is formed inside the first restricting portion 12a, which is the restricting portion 12 of the pallet placing portion 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, it can be said that the restricting portion 12, which is part of the pallet placing portion 10, shares part of the configuration of the connecting portion 30. However, the present disclosure is not limited to an embodiment in which the restricting portion 12 is part of the connecting portion 30, and the restricting portion 12 and the connecting portion 30 may be provided separately. In other words, the recess may not be formed inside the restricting portion 12 that restricts lateral shifting of the pallet 102 placed on the placing table 11, but a separate protrusion that does not contribute to restricting lateral shifting of the pallet 102 may be provided as part of the connecting portion 30, and the recess may be formed inside the protrusion.

[0047] At this time, the first pillar portion 20a, which is approximately perpendicular to the mounting table 11 of the pallet mounting portion 10, in other words, whose axis is oriented in a substantially vertical direction, can slide along the axial direction to its limit position on the +Z direction side so that its upper end 20at fits into the recess 12p of the first restricting portion 12a, as shown in Figure 3(a). In this state, the upper end 20at, which is the tip of the first pillar portion 20a, fits into the recess 12p of the first restricting portion 12a, and rotation around the axis of the first fixing portion 34a is restricted.

[0048] Similarly, the second pillar portion 20b, the third pillar portion 20c, and the fourth pillar portion 20d can also slide along the axial direction to their limit positions on the +Z direction side so that their upper ends 20bt, 20ct, and 20dt fit into the recess 12q of the second restricting portion 12b, the recess 12r of the third restricting portion 12c, and the recess 12s of the fourth restricting portion 12d. This restricts the rotation of all pillar portions 20, including the first pillar portion 20a, the second pillar portion 20b, the third pillar portion 20c, and the fourth pillar portion 20d.

[0049] Normally, when the pallet jig 1 is placed on the floor in an assembled state, the weight of the pallet mounting portion 10 is applied to each of the four pillars 20, making it difficult for the upper ends 20at, 20bt, 20ct, and 20dt of the pillars 20 to naturally come out of the recesses 12p, 12q, 12r, and 12s. Therefore, when the pallet jig 1 is placed on the floor in an assembled state, the fitting relationship between the upper ends of the pillars 20 and the recesses is maintained. Therefore, in the assembled state, the pallet 102 on which articles are to be mounted can be stably supported in a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from the other pallets 101 placed below it.

[0050] 3(b), suppose the first pillar portion 20a is pulled out along the axial direction so that the upper end 20at of the first pillar portion 20a is separated from the recess 12p of the first restriction portion 12a. At this time, the first fixing portion 34a that fixes the first pillar portion 20a to the first adjustment portion 32a slides in the -Z direction along the first elongated hole 33a formed in the first adjustment portion 32a. Therefore, the upper end 20at of the first pillar portion 20a can be separated from the recess 12p of the first restriction portion 12a by a distance corresponding to the axial length of the first elongated hole 33a.

[0051] As a result, the rotation of the first pillar portion 20a around the axis of the first fixed portion 34a is no longer restricted, and the first pillar portion 20a can rotate freely. Here, as shown in FIG. 3(c), by rotating the first pillar portion 20a counterclockwise around the axis of the first fixed portion 34a, the axis of the first pillar portion 20a can be folded so that it approaches the pallet placement portion 10. Similarly, by rotating the second pillar portion 20b clockwise around the axis of the second fixed portion 34b, the axis of the first pillar portion 20a can be folded so that it approaches the pallet placement portion 10. By folding the fourth pillar portion 20d and the third pillar portion 20c in the same way as the first pillar portion 20a and the second pillar portion 20b, respectively, the pallet jig 1 can be stored and kept compact.

[0052] In the above description of the columns, it was stated that the spacing between the first column 20a and the fourth column 20d is approximately the same as the spacing between the second column 20b and the third column 20c. It was also stated that the positions of the second column 20b and the third column 20c along the Y axis are shifted by a predetermined distance in the +Y direction relative to the positions of the first column 20a and the fourth column 20d along the Y axis. This allows the columns of the assembled pallet jig 1 to be positioned at approximately equal intervals and maintain a stable posture. Furthermore, when the first column 20a and the fourth column 20d are rotated counterclockwise to fold, and the second column 20b and the third column 20c are rotated clockwise to fold, the two do not interfere with each other, allowing the pallet jig 1 to be folded compactly.

[0053] Furthermore, such folded pallet jigs 1 may be stored and transported by stacking them one on top of the other in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 5. Alternatively, folded pallet jigs 1 may be placed one on top of the other in the horizontal direction while leaning them against each other with the surfaces of the mounting bases 11 of the pallet mounting sections 10 facing in the vertical direction.

[0054] The pallet jig 1 of this embodiment is intended to support another pallet 102 at a spaced apart position above the lower pallet 101. However, the number of stacked pallets is not limited to two. In other words, by stacking two or more pallet jigs 1 of the same configuration one on top of another in the vertical direction, it is possible to support three or more pallets at spaced apart positions. The entire configuration in which multiple pallet jigs 1 are stacked one on top of another in the vertical direction is referred to as a pallet jig complex, and this point will be discussed later.

[0055] [2] Pallet jig of the first embodiment The pallet jig 1 of the first embodiment can be switched between an assembled state and a folded state, and in the assembled state supports one pallet 102 for placing articles thereon at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from another pallet 101 placed below it. The pallet jig 1 includes a pallet placing section 10 which includes a placing table 11 on which the pallet 102 can be placed, and a restricting section 12 which protrudes above the placing table 11 to restrict the pallet 102 from falling off due to lateral shifting.

[0056] In addition, the pallet jig 1, in an assembled state, has a plurality of pillars 20 that straddle the pallet 101, which is placed at a distance below the pallet placement section 10, and support the pallet placement section 10 from below. The pallet jig 1 further has connecting sections 30 with recesses formed therein that are adjacent to the pallet placement section 10 and support the pillars 20 slidably along the axial direction relative to the pallet placement section 10, and support the pillars 20 rotatably or non-rotatably relative to the pallet placement section 10 about a predetermined rotation axis. The recesses are recesses 12p, 12q, 12r, and 12s.

[0057] The pallet jig 1 is in an assembled state in which rotation of the column portions 20 is restricted when the column portions 20 are slid along the axial direction so that the upper ends 20at, 20bt, 20ct, and 20dt, which are the ends of the multiple column portions 20, engage with the connecting portions 30 via the recesses 12p, 12q, 12r, and 12s. Furthermore, the column portions 20 are slid along the axial direction so that the upper ends 20at, 20bt, 20ct, and 20dt, which are the ends of the multiple column portions 20 of the pallet jig 1, do not engage with the connecting portions 30 via the recesses 12p, 12q, 12r, and 12s. At the same time, when the column portions 20 of the pallet jig 1 are rotated to fold the multiple column portions 20 close to the pallet placing portion 10, the pallet jig 1 is in a folded state.

[0058] With this configuration, the pallet jig 1 of the first embodiment can be easily switched between an assembled state when in use and a folded state to reduce storage volume when not in use. Furthermore, when the pallet jig 1 is in the assembled state, the pallet 102 can be placed on the upper level, while the pallet 101 can be placed on the floor surface or the like of the lower level, and the pallet jig 1 can be positioned across the pallet 101. Here, loading and unloading of the pallet 101 or pallet 102 can be completed by loading and unloading only the pallet, without affecting the pallet jig 1 or other pallets, and the upper and lower pallets can be easily loaded and unloaded independently.

[0059] 2. Second embodiment of the present disclosure

[0060] Next, the configurations of the pallet jig 1a and pallet jig complexes 2 and 3 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Fig. 6(a) is a schematic perspective view corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the pallet jig 1a in an assembled state according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 6(b) is a front view corresponding to Fig. 3(a) showing the pallet jig 1a in the assembled state as viewed from the -Y direction. Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the pallet jig complex 2 in which pallet jigs 1a according to the second embodiment are stacked vertically.

[0061] In the pallet jig complex 2, pallet 103 is arranged on the upper level, pallet 102 is arranged on the middle level, and pallet 101 is arranged on the lower level, and each of the three or more levels of pallets can be supported at a position spaced apart from the other pallets in the vertical direction. Note that the pallet jig complex may not only have pallet jigs stacked in two levels, but also three or more levels.

[0062] The pallet jig 1a according to the second embodiment differs from the pallet jig 1 according to the first embodiment in that the pallet placement unit 10a includes a connecting portion 14 that allows another pallet jig 1a of the same configuration to be stacked on top. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6(a), four connecting portions 14 are provided above the four restricting portions 12, respectively. That is, above the first restricting portion 12a, the second restricting portion 12b, the third restricting portion 12c, and the fourth restricting portion 12d, first connecting portions 14a, second connecting portions 14b, third connecting portions 14c, and fourth connecting portions 14d are provided, each having a recess that opens upward via a presser plate 13 and is recessed downward.

[0063] The recesses formed in the first connecting portion 14a, the second connecting portion 14b, the third connecting portion 14c, and the fourth connecting portion 14d are mating recesses for mating with the lower ends of the pillar portions 20 of another pallet jig 1a stacked on top. The mating recesses formed in the first connecting portion 14a, the second connecting portion 14b, the third connecting portion 14c, and the fourth connecting portion 14d are mating recesses 14ah, 14bh, 14ch, and 14dh, respectively. When the pallet jig 1a is viewed in plan from the +Z direction, the arrangement and size of the mating recesses of each connecting portion 14 correspond to the arrangement and size of the outer periphery of the lower ends of the pillar portions 20 of the pallet jig 1a.

[0064] Typically, the arrangement and size of the mating recesses 14ah, 14bh, 14ch, and 14dh are the same as or similar to the arrangement and size of the lower ends 20ab, 20bb, 20cb, and 20db of the first column portion 20a, the second column portion 20b, the third column portion 20c, and the fourth column portion 20d. The size of each mating recess in plan view is preferably slightly larger than the size of the lower end of each column portion 20, so that two pallet jigs 1a can be smoothly connected via the connecting portion 14 when stacked. Furthermore, it is preferable that the outer peripheral shape of each mating recess conforms to the outer peripheral shape of each column portion.

[0065] In this way, the pallet jig 1a of the second embodiment further includes connecting portions 14 above the pallet placement portion 10a that can be connected to the multiple column portions 20 of another assembled pallet jig 1a. This makes it possible to form a pallet jig complex 2 as shown in FIG. 7, in which, for example, two identical pallet jigs 1a are stacked vertically. A pallet jig complex refers to a complex of multiple pallet jigs that can be stacked or arranged side by side to arrange three or more pallets. Incidentally, a pallet jig complex also includes the pallet jig 1 of the first embodiment stacked vertically.

[0066] As described above, in the pallet jig complex 2 of this embodiment, the lower ends of the pillars 20 of the upper pallet jig 1a fit into the fitting recesses formed in the connecting portions 14 of the lower pallet jig 1a. Therefore, for example, in Figure 7, when inserting or removing a pallet 103 into or from the upper pallet jig 1a, the risk of the upper pallet jig 1a being subjected to a lateral force and shifting sideways, detaching from the lower pallet jig 1a and falling, can be reduced. Even in this case, the upper, middle, and lower pallets can be easily inserted or removed independently.

[0067] It is preferable that the individual pallet jigs constituting the pallet jig complex 2 have the same configuration, but this does not necessarily apply to the length along the axis of each pillar portion 20. In other words, the pallet jigs may be stacked in multiple tiers in the vertical direction, and the lengths of the pillar portions may differ for each of the pallet jigs.

[0068] Figure 8(a) is a front view, seen from the -Y direction, of a pallet jig complex 2 in which pallet jigs 1a of the same configuration as in the second embodiment shown in Figure 7 are stacked vertically. In this case, the distance from the bottom surface (floor surface) of the lower pallet 101 to the bottom surface of pallet 102 (the upper surface of the mounting table 11 of the lower pallet jig 1a) is defined as h1. This distance is equal to the distance hl1 from the lower ends of the pillars 20 of the lower pallet jig 1a to the upper surface of the mounting table 11.

[0069] Meanwhile, the distance from the bottom surface of the middle pallet 102 (the top surface of the mounting base 11 of the lower pallet jig 1a) to the bottom surface of the pallet 103 (the top surface of the mounting base 11 of the upper pallet jig 1a) is defined as h2. h2 is greater than h1. Meanwhile, if the distance from the bottom end of the pillar portion 20 of the upper pallet jig 1a to the top surface of the mounting base 11 is defined as hl2, hl2 will be the same as hl1.

[0070] The reason why h2 is larger than h1 is that the distance ht1 from the top surface of the mounting base 11 of the pallet jig 1a to the bottom surface of the fitting recess of the connecting portion 14 is added to h1 to become h2. Therefore, even if we consider a pallet jig complex 2 in which pallet jigs 1a of the same configuration are simply stacked vertically, the spacing between pallets 101 and pallets 102 and the spacing between pallets 102 and pallets 103 may differ.

[0071] In contrast, Figure 8(b) is a front view corresponding to Figure 8(a), showing a pallet jig complex 3 in which pallet jigs 1b and 1a are stacked one on top of the other, with the column sections 20 of the pallet jigs stacked vertically having different lengths. Here, the distance from the bottom surface of the middle pallet 102 (the top surface of the mounting table 11 of the lower pallet jig 1a) to the bottom surface of pallet 103 (the top surface of the mounting table 11 of the upper pallet jig 1b) is defined as h3. h3 is assumed to be smaller than h1.

[0072] In this case, hl3, which is the distance from the bottom end of the pillar portion 20 of the upper pallet jig 1b to the top surface of the loading platform 11, is smaller than hl1. If the pallets 101 and 102 are the same size, the allowable height of the cargo 202 that can be placed on the pallet 102 will be lower than the allowable height of the cargo 201 that can be placed on the pallet 101. However, by doing so, the position of the loading platform 11 of the upper pallet jig 1b can be kept low, so the height of the cargo 203 that can be placed on the topmost pallet 103 can be increased.

[0073] In addition, in Figures 7 and 8, the pressure plate 13 described in Figure 6 is omitted, but it goes without saying that a pressure plate 13 may be provided between each regulating portion 12 and each connecting portion 14.

[0074] 3. Third embodiment of the present disclosure

[0075] Next, the configurations of the pallet jig 1c and pallet jig composite 4 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the pallet jig composite 4 in which the assembled pallet jigs 1c and 1 according to the third embodiment are arranged one on top of the other in the vertical direction. Fig. 10 is a front view corresponding to Fig. 3(a), showing the pallet jig composite 4 of Fig. 9 as viewed from the -Y direction side.

[0076] In the pallet jig complex 4, similar to the pallet jig complexes 2 and 3 of the second embodiment, pallet 103 is arranged on the upper tier, pallet 102 is arranged on the middle tier, and pallet 101 is arranged on the lower tier, and each of the three or more tiers of pallets can be supported at a position spaced apart from the other pallets in the vertical direction.

[0077] The pallet jig 1 according to the third embodiment is identical to the pallet jig 1 according to the first embodiment. In contrast, the pallet jig 1c is slightly larger than the pallet jig 1 and can be stacked above the pallet jig 1 so that each column 21 of the pallet jig 1c is located outside the column 20 of the pallet jig 1. The pallet jig complex 4 is formed by stacking pallet jigs 1c and 1c vertically in multiple tiers, with the multiple columns of each pallet jig 1, 1c directly abutting the floor. In other words, each column 21 of the pallet jig 1c stacked on the upper tier is not placed on the pallet placement portion 10 of the pallet jig 1 on the lower tier, but is directly in contact with the floor, similar to each column 20 of the pallet jig 1.

[0078] To explain the above in more detail, the first pillar portion 21a of the pallet jig 1c is positioned on the -X side of the first pillar portion 20a of the pallet jig 1 and abuts against the floor surface, and the second pillar portion 21b of the pallet jig 1c is positioned on the +X side of the second pillar portion 20b of the pallet jig 1 and abuts against the floor surface. Furthermore, the third pillar portion 21c of the pallet jig 1c is positioned on the +X side of the third pillar portion 20c of the pallet jig 1 and abuts against the floor surface, and the fourth pillar portion 21d of the pallet jig 1c is positioned on the -X side of the fourth pillar portion 20d of the pallet jig 1 and abuts against the floor surface.

[0079] Furthermore, the length along the axial direction of each pillar 21 of the pallet jig 1c is naturally longer than that of the pallet jig 1. However, if the pillars 21 are too long, it may be difficult to change them into the folded state described in the first embodiment. That is, since the pillars 21 are longer when folded, more of them protrude from the pallet mounting section 10, making it difficult to fold them compactly.

[0080] Therefore, the pillar portion 21 of the pallet jig 1c is configured to be extendable. That is, the pillar portion 21 is composed of a first portion 22 made of a hollow member that constitutes the side closer to the pallet mounting portion 10 in the assembled state, and a second portion 23 that can be stored inside the first portion that constitutes the side farther from the pallet mounting portion 10. In the assembled state, the pillar portion 21 of the pallet jig 1c can obtain a length that is approximately 1.5 to 2.0 times the length of the pillar portion 20 of the pallet jig 1 by pulling out most of the second portion 23 from the first portion 22. On the other hand, in the folded state, the pillar portion 21 of the pallet jig 1c can obtain a length that is approximately 1.0 to 1.5 times the length of the pillar portion 20 of the pallet jig 1 by storing most of the second portion 23 inside the hollow interior of the first portion 22, allowing it to be folded compactly.

[0081] Specifically, among the pillars 21 of the pallet jig 1c, the first pillar 21a is formed by combining a first portion 22a and a second portion 23a. In the assembled state, most of the second portion 23a is pulled out from the first portion 22a and fixed, making the first pillar 21a relatively long. In the folded state, most of the second portion 23a is stored in the first portion 22a, making the first pillar 21a relatively short. The second pillar 21b, third pillar 21c, and fourth pillar 21d are also formed by combining first portions 22b, 22c, and 22d, and second portions 23b, 23c, and 23d, respectively, and the same applies to the first pillar 21a.

[0082] In the pallet jig complex 4 of this embodiment, each of the pallet jigs 1 and 1c can stand independently of the floor and support the pallet and the items on the pallet. This prevents excessive loads from being placed on any of the pallet jigs, eliminates the need for special strength design for the pallet jigs, and increases the flexibility of design and material selection. Furthermore, because the column 21 of one of the pallet jig 1c is extendable, the column 21 is longer than the column 20 of the other pallet jig 1 in the assembled state, allowing the pallet to be supported at a higher position. In the folded state, the column 21 can be retracted for compact storage. Even in this case, the upper, middle, and lower pallets can be easily and independently inserted and removed.

[0083] As in the first embodiment, each of the pallet jigs 1 and 1c constituting the pallet jig complex 4 of this embodiment is provided with a pressure plate 13 above the regulating portion 12 of the pallet mounting portion 10 to prevent the pallet from popping out upward. Here, the size of the pallet mounting portion 10 of the pallet jig 1c, which is one size larger than the lower pallet jig 1, is also necessarily larger.

[0084] For this reason, the pressing plates 13 of the pallet jig 1c are designed to protrude inward by a greater amount than the pressing plates 13 of the pallet jig 1. By doing so, even if the lower pallet 101, the middle pallet 102, and the upper pallet 103 are all the same size, the upper pallet 103 can be effectively prevented from protruding upward.

[0085] However, the amount of inward projection of the pressure plate 13 of the pallet jig 1c may be the same as that of the pressure plate 13 of the pallet jig 1, or the amount of projection may be variable. For example, it is possible to make the position of the pressure plate 13 relative to the restriction portion 12 adjustable, or to make the pressure plate 13 replaceable with one of a different size. This makes it easy to switch pallet jig 1c depending on whether a pallet of a larger size than the pallet on the lower level is used as the upper pallet 103, or whether a pallet of the same size is used.

[0086] The pallet jig 1c may also be configured to allow continuous or discrete adjustment of the length of each column 21. For example, one method may involve drilling a first hole in the first portion 22 and inserting a pin therein, drilling a plurality of second holes in the second portion 23 at intervals along the axial direction thereof, and inserting the pin into the second hole corresponding to the desired height to fix the second portion 23 to the first portion 22. Alternatively, another method may be employed in which the first hole in the first portion 22 is drilled as a tapped hole and a screw is inserted into the first hole, and no hole is drilled in the second portion 23, but the screw is pressed against the second portion 23 at a location corresponding to the desired height to fix the second portion 23 to the first portion 22.

[0087] With this configuration, the vertical arrangement of the pallet loading section 10 of the pallet jig 1c can be easily changed, and in particular the height of the items that can be loaded on the middle pallet 102 or the upper pallet 103 can be easily changed, thereby optimizing loading efficiency according to the items to be loaded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c Pallet jig 2, 3, 4 Pallet Jig Complex 10, 10a Pallet placement section 11 Mounting table 12 Regulatory Department 12a 1st Regulatory Department 12b Second Regulatory Section 12c Third Regulatory Division 12d 4th Regulatory Division 12p, 12q, 12r, 12s recess 13 Retaining plate 13a First holding plate 13b Second holding plate 13c Third holding plate 13d Fourth holding plate 14 Joint 14a 1st joint 14ah Mating recess 14b 2nd joint 14bh mating recess 14c 3rd joint 14d 4th joint 20, 21 Column section 20a First column 20ab bottom end 20at upper end 20b 2nd pillar section 20bb bottom end 20bt upper end 20c 3rd pillar section 20cb bottom end 20ct top end 20d 4th pillar 20db bottom end 20dt top end 21a 1st pillar section 21b 2nd pillar section 21c 3rd pillar section 21d 4th pillar 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d 1st part 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d 2nd part 30 Connecting part 32 Adjustment part 32a 1st adjustment section 32b 2nd adjustment section 32c 3rd adjustment section 32d 4th adjustment section 33 long hole 33a 1st long hole 33b 2nd long hole 33c 3rd long hole 33d 4th slot 34 Fixed part 34a 1st fixed part 34b Second fixed part 34c 3rd fixed part 34d 4th fixed part 40 Beam 41 1st beam 42 2nd beam Pallets 101, 102, and 103 201, 202, 203 Luggage

Claims

1. A pallet jig that can be switched between an assembled state and a folded state, and that supports one pallet on which an article is to be placed at a position spaced apart in the vertical direction from another pallet disposed below it in the assembled state, a pallet placing unit including a placing table on which the one pallet can be placed, and a restricting portion provided to protrude above the placing table so as to restrict the one pallet from falling off; In the assembled state, a plurality of pillars straddle the other pallet arranged at a position spaced below the pallet placement portion and support the pallet placement portion from below; a connecting portion having a recess formed therein, the connecting portion being adjacent to the pallet mounting portion, supporting the column portion slidably along the axial direction relative to the pallet mounting portion, and supporting the column portion rotatably or non-rotatably along a predetermined rotation axis relative to the pallet mounting portion, When the column portions are slid along the axial direction until the ends of the plurality of column portions reach a first position, an assembled state is reached in which rotation of the column portions is restricted, A pallet jig that is in a folded state when the pillar portions are slid along the axial direction until the ends of the pillar portions reach a second position and the pillar portions are rotated to fold the pillar portions close to the pallet mounting portion.

2. The connecting portion is formed with a long hole having an axis aligned with the axis of the column portion, a protrusion having a shaft portion with a diameter smaller than the width of the elongated hole and a tip portion with a diameter larger than the width of the elongated hole is disposed on the column portion; the shaft portion passes through the long hole, and the protrusion portion is provided on the column portion such that the tip portion sandwiches the connecting portion between the column portion and the protrusion portion, A pallet jig as described in claim 1, wherein the axis of the shaft portion is along the rotation axis, and by sliding the position of the protrusion portion along the axis of the long hole relative to the column portion, the column portion can be slid along the axial direction of the column portion relative to the pallet mounting portion.

3. The pallet jig according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed inside the regulating portion.

4. The pallet jig according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion above the pallet placement portion that can be connected to the plurality of pillar portions of another pallet jig in the assembled state.

5. A pallet jig complex comprising a plurality of tiers of pallet jigs according to claim 4 stacked vertically.

6. A pallet jig complex comprising a plurality of tiers of pallet jigs according to claim 4 stacked vertically, the lengths of the plurality of pillar portions being different for each of the pallet jigs.

7. A pallet jig complex in which the pallet jigs described in claim 1 are stacked in multiple stages in the vertical direction, and the multiple pillar portions of each of the pallet jigs are in direct contact with the floor surface.

Images