Suspension device, holding device, and suspension transport unit

Abstract

To provide a suspension device, holding device, and suspension transport unit that enable multi-level stacking storage of transported items while improving transport efficiency.SOLUTION: A suspension device 10 used to suspend a flexible container 1 is configured to be movable between a side D1 of the flexible container 1 and a top D2 of the flexible container 1. When the suspension device 10 is in the side D1 position, a forklift 60 or the like can hold a held portion 13 of the suspension device 10 without the need for an assistant. This reduces the number of personnel required for slinging work. Furthermore, when the suspension device 10 is in the side D1 position, the flatness of a top surface 5 of the flexible container 1 can be ensured, allowing the flexible containers 1 to be stacked in a plurality of layers. As a result, the work of stacking flexible containers 1 in a plurality of layers for storage can be carried out easily and safely.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 34

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting tool, a holder, and a lifting and transporting unit for transporting a load, such as a flexible container, in a suspended state. [Background technology]

[0002] Flexible containers used for storing and transporting grains, resin pellets, earth and sand, etc. are known (for example, Patent Document 1). Flexible containers are a type of industrial container made of flexible fabric. Flexible containers are generally transported in warehouses and stored in a multi-tiered stack.

[0003] A flexible container has a body and lifting belts that are attached to the body and function as handles. In other words, a flexible container has a shape similar to a bag overall, and is also called a flexible container bag. The flexible container is suspended by lifting each of the lifting belts upward. Flexible containers typically have a diameter of 114 cm to 122 cm, a height of 100 cm to 200 cm, and a capacity of 1,000 kg or more. Therefore, when transporting flexible containers, the transport operation is generally carried out using a transport device, such as a crane or a forklift.

[0004] A first example of a conventional method for transporting flexible containers is a method using a crane equipped with one or more hooks (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the first conventional example using a crane, the flexible container's hoisting belt is fixed to the crane's hook. The flexible container is then transported while suspended by the hook, allowing the flexible containers to be stacked in multiple layers. This first conventional example can also be applied to a forklift. That is, the forks of the forklift are treated as the crane hooks, and the hoisting belt is hooked onto and secured to the fork, allowing the flexible container to be suspended and transported.

[0005] A second conventional example of a method for transporting flexible containers is a method that uses a forklift and a pallet into which the forks of the forklift can be inserted. In the second conventional example using a forklift, the flexible container is placed on the pallet in advance, and the fork parts of the forklift are inserted into the insertion openings of the pallet. By raising the fork parts inserted into the pallet, the flexible container is lifted together with the pallet, making it possible to transport it.

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-039619 [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-158249 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the above-mentioned conventional methods have the following problem. Specifically, the lifting belts of flexible containers are mainly made of cloth and are strip- or string-like members. As a result, the lifting belts are not self-supporting. Therefore, in the first conventional example of suspending a flexible container using a crane, in order to stably fasten the lifting belts of the flexible container to the hooks of the crane, it is necessary to stand up the lifting belts, which are lying on the top surface of the flexible container, and then pass the hook or fork through the upright lifting belts.

[0008] It is difficult to operate the conveying device alone to raise the lifting belt and secure it to the conveying device. Therefore, a caregiver must perform the rigging work to secure the lifting belt to the conveying device. Therefore, in the first conventional example, in addition to at least a first worker who operates the crane device, a second worker who performs the rigging work is required. In other words, the first conventional example requires two or more workers.

[0009] Furthermore, when flexible containers are stored stacked in multiple layers, the caregiver performing the rigging work must do so on top of the flexible container, which serves as the loading surface. Because the footing on top of a flexible container is unstable, workers performing the rigging work are prone to accumulating fatigue. Furthermore, in accordance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act, work on top of a flexible container is classified as work at height, so measures must be taken to prevent caregivers from falling. Furthermore, there is a concern that the contents of the flexible container may collapse during the rigging work.

[0010] Next, in the second conventional example using a forklift and a pallet, a flexible container cannot be transported unless it is placed on a pallet, so it cannot transport a flexible container placed directly on the floor, etc. Therefore, as a preliminary step to transporting the flexible container, it is necessary to suspend the flexible container by another method, transport it, and place it on the pallet. The additional step of placing the container on a pallet significantly reduces the efficiency of transporting flexible containers.

[0011] In the first conventional example, the following configuration can be considered as a way to eliminate the need for slinging work. That is, a self-supporting member that allows the flexible container's lifting belts to stand on their own is placed on the top surface of the flexible container. The self-supporting member is then used to secure the flexible container's lifting belts in a self-supporting state. The self-supporting lifting belts can be secured to hooks attached to the crane by operating the crane. Therefore, the use of a self-supporting member is thought to reduce the work and manpower required for slinging.

[0012] However, a new problem is feared with the transportation method using self-supporting members. Specifically, by disposing the upright self-supporting members on the top surface of a flexible container, the flatness of the top surface of the flexible container is significantly reduced. Therefore, if another flexible container is placed on top of a flexible container with a self-supporting member disposed on its top surface, there is a concern that the balance of the placed flexible container will be lost. Therefore, when self-supporting members are disposed on the top surface of a flexible container, it becomes difficult to store flexible containers in multiple layers. In other words, when storing flexible containers, the flexible containers are limited to being arranged flat, which significantly reduces the operational efficiency of the flexible containers. Thus, it is difficult with conventional methods to store flexible containers in a stackable manner while reducing the number of personnel required for transportation and improving transportation efficiency.

[0013] The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its main object is to provide a lifting device, a holding device, and a lifting and transporting unit that can store transported objects in a stackable manner and improve the transport efficiency of the transported objects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. In other words, the present invention is a lifting device used to suspend a transported object, comprising a connection portion connectable to the transported object, a connecting portion connected to the connection portion, and a held portion connected to the connection portion via the connecting portion, and is characterized in that the connection portion, when connected to the transported object, is configured to be movable together with the held portion between the side of the transported object and above the transported object.

[0015] (Actions and Effects) According to this configuration, the transporter has a connecting portion, a held portion, and a coupling portion. The connecting portion is connectable to the transported object. The coupling portion couples the connecting portion to the held portion. The connecting portion is configured to be movable between the side of the transported object and above the transported object while connected to the transported object. By moving the connecting portion together with the held portion to the side of the transported object, it is possible to prevent the flatness of the top surface of the transported object from being reduced by the hoisting device. In other words, by moving the connecting portion together with the held portion to the side of the transported object, the flatness of the top surface of the transported object is ensured. Therefore, even when the hoisting device is connected to the transported object, it is possible to stack the transported object in multiple layers and use it.

[0016] When the connecting portion moves to the side of the transported object, for example, the arm of the transport device holds the held portion, allowing the transport device to hold the transported object via the hoist. By moving the connecting portion to the side of the transported object together with the held portion, even if the transported object is placed at a high location due to stacking, the held portion moving to the side of the transported object can be easily seen from a low location. In other words, since it is easy to grasp the exact position of the held portion, it is possible to hold the transported object with precision via the held portion of the hoist. Furthermore, the held portion connected to the connecting portion via the connecting portion can be easily held using a mechanical configuration. Therefore, no assistant is required for the process of holding and suspending the transported object via the hoist. This reduces the number of personnel required for rigging work and prevents unnecessary fatigue for workers.

[0017] When the connecting part is moving above the transported object together with the held part, the transported object can be lifted via the connecting part by lifting the connecting part or the held part upward. In other words, when the connecting part of the hoisting tool is moving above the transported object, the hoisting tool can suspend the transported object. Then, by moving the held part while the transported object is suspended via the hoisting tool, the transported object can be transported to any position together with the hoisting tool. In this way, by appropriately moving the connecting part together with the held part between the side and above the transported object depending on the situation, it is possible to hoist and transport the transported object in multiple layers without requiring an assistant to perform the rigging work.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above-described invention, it is preferable that the connection portion is a ring-shaped member, and that the connection portion is configured to be able to fasten a belt-shaped or string-shaped handle portion of the transported object without opening the ring-shaped member.

[0019] (Actions and Effects) According to this configuration, the connection part is a ring-shaped member that can fasten a belt-shaped or string-shaped handle part of the transported object without opening the ring-shaped member. Therefore, the connection part does not require a configuration for opening the ring-shaped member or a configuration for closing the ring-shaped member again. In other words, the structure of the connection part can be prevented from becoming complicated, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the hoisting device. Furthermore, by having a configuration for opening and closing the ring-shaped member, a decrease in the strength of the connection part can be prevented. Therefore, the transported object can be more stably suspended by the hoisting device.

[0020] Furthermore, in the above-described invention, it is preferable that the connecting portion is a ring-shaped member, the held portion is a spherical body, and the connecting portion is a rod-shaped body that connects the connecting portion and the held portion.

[0021] (Operation and Effect) According to this configuration, the connecting part is a ring-shaped member. Therefore, it is easy to connect a belt-like or string-like part of the transported object, such as a handle, to the connecting part of the sling. In other words, the connecting part of the sling and the transported object can be more firmly connected.

[0022] Furthermore, the held portion is spherical. That is, the held portion has a shape that allows it to be held from any direction, regardless of the orientation of the connecting portion. Therefore, the direction in which the member used to hold the held portion is brought closer to the held portion does not need to be changed depending on the orientation of the connecting portion. This makes it possible to carry out the process of holding the held portion more easily and quickly.

[0023] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention may have the following configuration. In other words, the present invention is a holding device that is connected to a conveying device capable of conveying the transported object and is used to hold the above-mentioned sling, and is characterized by comprising: a holding portion that holds the held portion of the sling, a connected portion that is connected to the conveying device, and a fall prevention portion that prevents the held portion held by the holding portion from falling off the holding portion.

[0024] (Actions and Effects) This configuration comprises a holding portion, a connected portion, and a drop-off prevention portion. The holding portion holds the held portion of the sling. The connected portion is connected to the transport device. That is, the transport device can hold the held portion of the sling via the connected portion and the holding portion of the holder. As a result, the transport device can hold the transported object via the sling and the holder. The drop-off prevention portion prevents the held portion held by the holding portion from dropping off from the holding portion. Therefore, the transport device can hold the transported object more stably via the sling and the holder. This reduces the number of personnel required for slinging work, while more stably carrying out lifting and transporting of transported objects, such as stacking them in multiple layers.

[0025] Furthermore, in the above-described invention, it is preferable that the suspender is provided with a posture reversal unit that reverses the posture of the suspender from a first posture in which the connection portion is positioned higher than the held portion to a second posture in which the connection portion is positioned below the held portion, and that the holding unit holds the held portion when the suspender is reversed to the second posture.

[0026] (Actions and Effects) According to this configuration, the posture of the hoisting tool is reversed from the first posture to the second posture by the posture reversal section provided in the holding tool. The holding section holds the held part when the hoisting tool is reversed to the second posture. The second posture is a posture in which the connection section is located below the held part. When the held part of the hoisting tool is held by the holding tool, the hoisting tool is in the second posture. Therefore, when the holding tool holds the hoisting tool and suspends and transports the transported object, it is possible to avoid the connection between the connection section of the hoisting tool and the transported object being obstructed by the held part. Therefore, when the hoisting tool is in the second posture, the hoisting tool can suspend the transported object more stably.

[0027] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention may have the following configuration. In other words, the present invention provides a holding device that is connected to a conveying device capable of conveying the conveyed object and is used to hold the above-mentioned lifting device, characterized in that it comprises an accommodating hole having an opening at its upper end and accommodating the held portion through the opening, a restraining wall that is positioned surrounding the accommodating hole and prevents the held portion accommodated in the accommodating hole from falling out, and a guide groove that is formed across one side and the bottom surface of the restraining wall and guides the connecting portion.

[0028] (Actions and Effects) According to this configuration, the holder comprises an accommodation hole, a restraining wall, and a guide groove. The accommodation hole accommodates the spherically shaped retained portion of the suspender. The restraining wall is positioned to surround the accommodation hole and prevents the retained portion accommodated in the accommodation hole from falling out. In other words, the retained portion of the suspender accommodated in the accommodation hole is stably held by being restrained by the restraining wall.

[0029] The storage hole has an opening at its upper end, through which the held portion of the hoisting tool is received. That is, by moving the holder upward so as to scoop up the held portion, the held portion of the hoisting tool passes through the opening of the storage hole and is received inside the storage hole surrounded by the restraining wall. Therefore, the holder can be stably held by the simple action of moving the holder connected to the conveying device upward, making it easier to mechanize the process of hoisting and conveying the transported object and enabling the process to be accelerated.

[0030] A guide groove is formed from the side surface to the bottom surface of the restraining wall. The guide groove guides the connecting portion. In other words, when the held portion is accommodated in the accommodation hole, the guide groove guides the connecting portion from the side surface to the bottom surface of the restraining wall, causing the connection portion of the hoisting device connected by the connecting portion to move from above to below the restraining wall. This makes it easier to displace the hoisting device into a position where the connection portion is positioned below the held portion. When the connection portion is positioned below the held portion, the hoisting device can suspend the transported object more stably. Therefore, the operation of changing the hoisting device into a position where it can suspend the transported object stably can be performed easily and quickly.

[0031] In the above-described invention, it is preferable that the inner wall of the restraining wall is configured to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction of the holder.

[0032] (Operation and Effect) With this configuration, the inner wall of the restraining wall is inclined relative to the vertical direction of the holder. Therefore, when the held part is accommodated downward from the upper end of the accommodation hole through the opening, the held part is guided downward along the inclined inner wall of the restraining wall. In other words, when the holder performs the operation of scooping up the hoisting tool and moving it upward, the held part is guided along the inclined inner wall of the restraining wall, and the posture of the hoisting tool naturally changes from an upright position to an inclined position.

[0033] Once the hoisting device has been tilted, the holder can be further raised relative to the hoisting device, guiding the connecting portion to the bottom surface of the restricting wall and moving the connecting portion of the hoisting device below the restricting wall. In other words, tilting the inner wall of the restricting wall allows the simple operation of raising the holder relative to the hoisting device to more reliably change the hoisting device's position. This allows for an easy and quick operation to change the hoisting device to a position that allows it to stably suspend the load.

[0034] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention may have the following configuration. That is, the present invention provides a lifting and transporting unit used for transporting a transported object in a suspended state, characterized by comprising the above-mentioned lifting tool and the above-mentioned holder. The lifting and transporting unit according to the present invention comprises the lifting tool and the holder according to the present invention. Therefore, the operation of transporting the transported object in a suspended state can be suitably performed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0035] According to the hoisting tool, holding tool, and hoisting transport unit of the present invention, the hoisting tool has a connecting portion, a held portion, and a coupling portion. The connecting portion is connectable to the transported object. The coupling portion couples the connecting portion to the held portion. The connecting portion is configured to be movable between the side of the transported object and above the transported object while connected to the transported object. By moving the connecting portion together with the held portion to the side of the transported object, it is possible to prevent the hoisting tool from reducing the flatness of the top surface of the transported object. In other words, by moving the connecting portion together with the held portion to the side of the transported object, the flatness of the top surface of the transported object is ensured. Therefore, even when the hoisting tool is connected to the transported object, it is possible to stack the transported object in multiple layers.

[0036] When the connecting portion moves to the side of the transported object, for example, the arm of the transport device holds the held portion, allowing the transport device to hold the transported object via the hoist. By moving the connecting portion to the side of the transported object together with the held portion, even if the transported object is placed at a high location due to stacking, the held portion moving to the side of the transported object can be easily seen from a low location. In other words, since it is easy to grasp the exact position of the held portion, it is possible to hold the transported object with precision via the held portion of the hoist. Furthermore, the held portion connected to the connecting portion via the connecting portion can be easily held using a mechanical configuration. Therefore, no assistant is required for the process of holding and suspending the transported object via the hoist. This reduces the number of personnel required for rigging work and prevents unnecessary fatigue for workers.

[0037] When the connecting portion is moving above the transported object together with the held portion, the transported object can be lifted via the connecting portion by lifting the connecting portion or the held portion upward. In other words, when the connecting portion of the hoisting tool is moving above the transported object, the hoisting tool can suspend the transported object. Then, by moving the held portion while the transported object is suspended via the hoisting tool, the transported object can be transported to any position together with the hoisting tool. In this way, by appropriately moving the connecting portion together with the held portion between the side and above the transported object depending on the situation, the transported object can be suspended and transported in multiple layers. Therefore, the transported object can be transported in a stackable manner and the transport efficiency of the transported object can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a flexible container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a suspender according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the holder according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a base member according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a partially cutaway perspective cross-sectional view of a holder according to a first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the holder according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the holder according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connection unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fork adapter according to a first embodiment. [Figure 12] 1 is an overall view showing a state in which a hoisting and conveying unit according to a first embodiment is used. [Figure 13] 4 is a flowchart showing the steps of hoisting and conveying using the hoisting and conveying unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating step S1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating step S1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating step S2 according to Example 1. (a) shows the state in which the tip of the auxiliary rope is passed through the through-hole of the connecting part, (b) shows the state in which the tip of the auxiliary rope is passed through the held part, (c) shows the state in which the tip of the auxiliary rope that has passed through the held part is being returned toward the connecting part while being tightened, and (d) shows the state in which the auxiliary rope is fastened to the connecting part. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S3 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S4 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 21]10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the held portion is fitted into the receiving hole in step S4 according to Example 1, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view as seen from the front. [Figure 22] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the connecting portion and the held portion are guided downward in step S4 according to Example 1. (a) is a perspective view, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view as seen from the front. [Figure 23] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the held portion has reached the bottom of the receiving hole in step S4 according to Example 1. (a) is a perspective view, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view as seen from the front. [Figure 24] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the linking portion and the connecting portion are pivoted to invert the posture of the sling device in step S4 according to Example 1. (a) is a perspective view, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view as seen from the front. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a state after step S4 according to the first embodiment is completed. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a state after step S5 according to the first embodiment is completed. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S6 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S7 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 29] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating step S8 according to Example 1. (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the step of releasing the suspender from the release prevention state, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the step of releasing the suspender. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a state after step S8 according to the first embodiment is completed. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the problem of the first conventional example. [Figure 32] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a self-standing member used in a comparative example based on the first conventional example. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a problem of a comparative example based on the first conventional example. [Figure 34]1A and 1B are front views illustrating the effects of Example 1. (a) shows a configuration in which the suspender is disposed upward, and (b) shows a configuration in which the suspender is disposed to the side. [Figure 35] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the effect of the first embodiment. [Figure 36] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the effect of the first embodiment. [Figure 37] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a problem in the comparative example. [Figure 38] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view in a front view illustrating the effect of the first embodiment. [Figure 39] 10A and 10B are diagrams of a holder according to Example 2, in which (a) is a front view showing the overall configuration, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the main parts. [Figure 40] FIG. 10 is an overall view showing a state in which the lifting and transporting unit according to the second embodiment is used. [Figure 41] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating step S4 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 42] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a state after step S4 according to the second embodiment is completed. [Figure 43] FIG. 10 is a front view of a holder according to a third embodiment. [Figure 44] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a holder according to a third embodiment. [Figure 45] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating step S4 according to the third embodiment. [Figure 46] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a state before the rotating plate is rotated in step S4 of the third embodiment. [Figure 47] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a state after the rotating plate is rotated in step S4 of the third embodiment. [Figure 48] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a holder according to a modified example. [Figure 49] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a suspender according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Example]

[0039] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0040] The lifting and conveying unit 50 according to the first embodiment is used to transport a load in a suspended state. As shown in FIG. 12 , the lifting and conveying unit 50 according to the first embodiment includes a lifting tool 10 and a holder 20. In the first embodiment, a flexible container 1 is used as the load to be transported. In the first embodiment, a forklift 60 is used as the conveying device that generates a driving force for transporting the flexible container 1.

[0041] The outline of the configuration for suspending and transporting a flexible container 1, which is a suspended load, is as follows. That is, the holding fixture 20 is connected to the forklift 60, and the hoisting fixture 10 is connected to the flexible container 1. Then, by operating the forklift 60, the hoisting fixture 10 is held by the holding fixture 20. As the holding fixture 20 holds the hoisting fixture 10, the forklift 60 indirectly holds the flexible container 1 via the hoisting transport unit 50.

[0042] In the following figures, the horizontal direction is the x direction and the y direction, and the vertical direction is the z direction. The x direction corresponds to the direction in which the forklift 60 approaches or moves away from the flexible container 1. In other words, the x direction corresponds to the front-to-rear direction of the forklift 60. The y direction is a direction perpendicular to the x direction. In other words, the y direction corresponds to the left-to-right direction of the forklift 60. Furthermore, within the x direction, the direction in which the forklift 60, which is a transport device, approaches the flexible container 1, which is a suspended load, is referred to as "direction x1." The direction in which the forklift 60 moves away from the flexible container 1 is referred to as "direction x2." The floor of the warehouse where the flexible container 1 is suspended and transported is indicated by the symbol G. Furthermore, direction x1 will be referred to as "forward" where appropriate, and direction x2 will be referred to as "rear" where appropriate.

[0043] <Flexible container configuration> First, the structure of the flexible container 1, which is the suspended load, will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the flexible container 1 comprises a body 3, an upper surface 5, and a suspension belt 7. The body 3 is made of a rectangular cylindrical piece of cloth. The body 3 contains items such as grains and resin pellets. The upper surface 5 is provided at the upper end of the body 3. The upper surface 5 is made of a rectangular piece of cloth.

[0044] The lifting belts 7 are fixedly attached to the outer periphery of the upper part of the body 3. The lifting belts 7 function as handles for lifting the flexible container 1. In the first embodiment, a pair of lifting belts 7 are attached in positions facing each other. One of the pair of lifting belts 7 is distinguished as lifting belt 7a, and the other as lifting belt 7b. By lifting the two lifting belts 7a and 7b, which are arranged in balanced positions, the flexible container 1 is suspended in a stable position. The lifting belt 7 forms a ring-shaped structure with its inner periphery and the upper outer periphery of the body 3.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the flexible container 1 further includes a circular auxiliary rope 9. The auxiliary rope 9 is connected to each of the lifting belts 7a and 7b in a looped manner. By lifting the auxiliary rope 9, each of the lifting belts 7a and 7b connected to the auxiliary rope 9 is lifted evenly, and the flexible container 1 is suspended in a stable position. The auxiliary rope 9 is configured to have a length sufficient to allow it to hang down from the side of the flexible container 1. The auxiliary rope 9 is made of a material strong enough to lift the flexible container 1.

[0046] <Configuration of lifting equipment> Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the hoisting tool 10 of the hoisting transport unit 50. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hoisting tool 10 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hoisting tool 10.

[0047] The sling device 10 comprises a connection portion 11, a held portion 13, and a coupling portion 15. The connection portion 11 is configured to be connectable to the flexible container 1 via an auxiliary rope 9. The connection portion 11 comprises a disk-shaped main body portion 17 and a cylindrical through-hole 19 formed in the center of the main body portion 17. That is, the connection portion 11 has an overall ring shape. The sling device 10 is connected to the flexible container 1 by connecting the connection portion 11 to the auxiliary rope 9. The sling device 10 is made of a material strong enough to suspend the flexible container 1. From the viewpoint of being able to stably hold the sling device 10 and to stably suspend the flexible container 1 by the sling device 10, it is preferable that the sling device 10 be made of a rigid material. Preferred examples of materials for the sling device 10 include metal and resin.

[0048] The held portion 13 is a mass-shaped member as a whole. Mass-shaped here means that the shape is similar when viewed from all directions. In Example 1, a spherical member is used for the held portion 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The shape of the held portion 13 is preferably a spherical body. Examples of spherical bodies include, in addition to a sphere, an object having a shape that combines a part of a sphere and a cone, an object having a shape that combines a part of a sphere and a cylinder, and an object having a shape that combines a part of a sphere and a frustum.

[0049] The held portion 13 is held by the holder 20. That is, by holding the held portion 13 by the holder 20, the holder 20 holds the flexible container 1 via the suspender 10.

[0050] In the sling device 10, it is preferable to configure the held portion 13 to be heavier than the connection portion 11. In other words, it is preferable to configure the center of gravity of the sling device 10 so that it is biased toward the held portion 13 rather than the connection portion 11. By biasing the center of gravity of the sling device 10 toward the held portion 13, the posture of the sling device 10 is determined so that the held portion 13 is lower than the connection portion 11 when the sling device 10 is hung down to the side of the flexible container 1 as shown in FIG. 34(b). By positioning the held portion 13 lower than the connection portion 11, it becomes easier to insert the held portion 13 into the receiving hole 22 of the holder 20.

[0051] Linking portion 15 is a rod-shaped member that links connecting portion 11 and held portion 13. Diameter L1 of connecting portion 15 is shorter than diameter L2 of held portion 13. Diameter L1 of connecting portion 15 is also shorter than width L3 of connecting portion 11. In other words, of connecting portion 11, held portion 13, and linking portion 15, only linking portion 15 is configured to be able to fit into guide groove 28 of holding portion 20, which will be described later.

[0052] 2 and 3, the direction in which connecting portion 15 of suspender 10 extends is defined as direction a. The direction in which through hole 19 extends, i.e., the direction in which through hole 19 penetrates connecting portion 11, is defined as direction b. The direction perpendicular to each of directions a and b is defined as direction c.

[0053] <Configuration of the holder> Next, the configuration of the holder 20 of the lifting transport unit 50 will be described. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the holder 20 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the holder 20. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base portion 23. Fig. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective cross-sectional view of the holder 20. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 corresponds to a vertical cross-sectional view of the holder 20 as seen from the front. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 corresponds to a vertical cross-sectional view of the holder 20 as seen from the side.

[0054] The holder 20 according to the first embodiment includes a main body 21, a base 23, and a connection unit 25. The main body 21 is basically a rectangular cylindrical member extending in the vertical direction. However, in the first embodiment, the main body 21 is configured to extend upward while inclining toward the x1 direction. In other words, the main body 21 extends in the vertical direction so as to assume a slightly forward tilted posture. In FIG. 4, the direction in which the main body 21 extends is indicated by the symbol p.

[0055] Main body 21 includes accommodating hole 22 that penetrates in the vertical direction (specifically, direction p) and sidewall 24 that is disposed in a position surrounding accommodating hole 22. Accommodating hole 22 accommodates holdable portion 13 of sling device 10 and guides holdable portion 13 from above to below main body 21. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, accommodating hole 22 has a shape in which tapered region 26 and cylindrical region 27 are connected. Sidewall 24 prevents holdable portion 13 accommodated in accommodating hole 22 from falling out of main body 21.

[0056] The tapered region 26 occupies the upper portion of the accommodating hole 22. The tapered region 26 is a tapered hole portion that tapers downward from the top of the main body 21. The diameter of the tapered region 26 at the bottom end is configured to be equal to the diameter r1 of the cylindrical region 27. The diameter r2 of the tapered region 26 at the top end is configured to be longer than the diameter r1 of the cylindrical region 27.

[0057] Cylindrical region 27 is a cylindrical hole with a constant diameter from top to bottom. The diameter length r1 of cylindrical region 27 is configured to be slightly longer than the diameter L2 of held portion 13. In other words, cylindrical region 27 is configured to reliably accommodate held portion 13 therein and guide it in the vertical direction. Furthermore, it is preferable that the diameter length r1 of cylindrical region 27 be smaller than the width L3 of connection portion 11. This configuration prevents connection portion 11 of sling device 10 from being mistakenly accommodated in accommodation hole 22.

[0058] The cylindrical region 27 extends in the up-down direction along the direction p in which the main body 21 extends. That is, the inner wall 43 of the side wall 24 in the cylindrical region 27 is cylindrical and tilted forward in the direction p. The cylindrical region 27 is configured to extend upward while tilting toward the x1 direction. The inner wall 43 of the cylindrical region 27 corresponds to the inner wall of the main body 21. The inner wall 43 prevents the held portion 13 from moving in the x or y direction and falling out of the main body 21.

[0059] Side wall 24 of main body 21 has guide groove 28 on the side surface on the x1 direction side. Guide groove 28 is formed to extend in the vertical direction from the upper end to the lower end of side wall 24. Width w1 of guide groove 28 is set to a length that allows connecting portion 15 of sling device 10 to be guided in the vertical direction when connected portion 15 is inserted into guide groove 28. In other words, width w1 of guide groove 28 is configured to be wider than diameter L1 of connecting portion 15. The state in which connecting portion 15 is inserted into guide groove 28 is shown in Figure 22, etc.

[0060] The width w1 of the guide groove 28 is set to be smaller than the diameter L2 of the held portion 13. By making the width w1 smaller than the diameter L2, the held portion 13 accommodated in the accommodation hole 22 can be prevented from falling out of the holder 20 from the guide groove 28.

[0061] Guide groove 28 communicates with accommodation hole 22 from its upper end to its lower end. That is, with connecting portion 15 of suspender 10 inserted into guide groove 28 and with held portion 13 of suspender 10 accommodated in accommodation hole 22, suspender 10 can be guided in the vertical direction.

[0062] The base portion 23 is a plate-like member attached to the lower portion of the main body portion 21. That is, an opening 40 is formed by the accommodation hole 22 at the upper end side of the main body portion 21, while the lower end side of the main body portion 21 is closed by the base portion 23 except for the portion of a guide groove 29 described below. In other words, a bottom 32 of the accommodation hole 22 is formed by an upper surface 30 of the base portion 23. The portion of the upper surface 30 of the base portion 23 with which the lower end of the accommodation hole 22 abuts, i.e., the bottom 32 of the accommodation hole 22, is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 6. The held portion 13 accommodated in the accommodation hole 22 is prevented by the side wall 24 from falling out of the main body portion 21, and is prevented by the bottom 32 from falling out of the main body portion 21 downward. The bottom 32 and the side wall 24 correspond to the preventing wall in this invention.

[0063] The base portion 23 has a guide groove 29 on its side surface on the x1 direction side. The guide groove 29 is formed to penetrate the base portion 23 in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide groove 29 is formed to extend from the side surface of the base portion 23 on the x1 direction side toward the center of the base portion 23. In other words, the guide groove 29 extends in the x direction. The guide groove 29 guides the connecting portion 15 further in the x direction when the held portion 13 has reached the bottom of the accommodating hole 22. In order to be able to guide the connecting portion 15, the width w2 of the guide groove 29 is configured to be slightly wider than the diameter of the connecting portion 15.

[0064] An inner wall surface 38 of the base portion 23 extending vertically is formed by the guide groove 29 extending in the center of the base portion 23. The inner wall surface 38 prevents the connecting portion 15 from moving in the x2 direction.

[0065] The width w2 of guide groove 29 is set to be smaller than the diameter L2 of held portion 13. By making width w2 smaller than diameter L2, it is possible to prevent held portion 13 accommodated in accommodation hole 22 from falling out of holder 20 from guide groove 29. The width w2 of guide groove 29 is set to be smaller than the width L3 of connecting portion 11. By making width w2 smaller than width L3, it is possible to prevent connecting portion 11 from entering accommodation hole 22 via guide groove 29, even if connecting portion 11 moving downward on base portion 23 jumps upward due to vibration or the like. In other words, even if connecting portion 11 jumps upward due to vibration or the like, connecting portion 11 is restrained by lower surface 32 of base plate 23, and therefore it is possible to prevent hanging device 10 held by holder 20 from falling out of holder 20.

[0066] As described above, the main portion of the holding part 20, which is made up of the main body 21 and the base 23, is a cylindrical member having an opening 40 at its upper end and an accommodating hole 22 formed therein. The guide grooves 28 and 29 are formed from the side surface in the x1 direction to the bottom surface of the main portion. That is, the holding part 20 is configured so that the connecting part 15 can be guided downward into the base 23 by the guide grooves 28 and 29. The accommodating hole 22 has a bottom 32 formed by the base 23, and the held part 13 accommodated in the accommodating hole 22 is stably held by the bottom 32.

[0067] The connection unit 25 connects the holder 20 to a forklift 60, which is a transport device. As shown in Figure 10, the connection unit 25 includes a pair of fork adapters 31 and a coupling member 33. As will be described later, the fork adapters 31 are connected to receive fork portions 61 of the forklift 60. The connection unit 25 corresponds to the connected portion in this invention.

[0068] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the fork adapter 31 is a rectangular cylindrical member extending in the x direction, and the tip end (x1 side) of the fork adapter 31 is closed. As shown in Figure 11, the fork adapter 31 has an opening 35 on the base end (x2 side). As will be described later, the opening 35 functions as an insertion port into which the fork parts 61 of the forklift 60 are inserted. In plan view, the state in which the fork parts 61 are inserted into the fork adapter 31 is shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5.

[0069] The pair of fork adapters 31 are arranged with a predetermined distance between them in the y direction. The distance between the fork adapters 31 is determined according to the distance between the pair of fork sections 61. The connecting member 33 is connected to each of the pair of fork adapters 31 at the tip end of the fork adapter 31. In other words, each of the pair of fork adapters 31 is arranged so as to sandwich the connecting member 33 from the left and right at the tip end side. The fork adapter 31 is connected to the main body section 21 via the connecting member 33.

[0070] The tip side (x1 direction side) of connecting member 33 is connected to holder 20. Specifically, connecting member 33 is connected to the side surface of main body 21 of holder 20 on the x2 direction side. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, guide groove 28 is formed on one of a pair of opposing side surfaces of main body 21. Then, connecting member 33 is connected to the other of the pair of opposing side surfaces of main body 21.

[0071] <Overview of operation> Here, a series of operations for suspending and transporting the flexible container 1, which is a suspended load, will be described using the suspending and transporting unit 50 according to Example 1. Fig. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processes for suspending and transporting the flexible container 1 using the suspending and transporting unit 50, i.e., the suspending tool 10 and the holder 20.

[0072] Step S1 (connect the holder to the transport device) First, a process is performed in which the holder 20 is connected to the forklift 60, which is a transport device. When step S1 begins, the angle of the mast 62 is adjusted using the tilt cylinder 63 or the like so that the fork section 61 of the forklift 60 is in a horizontal position. Then, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the fork section 61 of the forklift 60 is inserted into the opening 35 of the fork adapter 31. Note that in Figure 14 and other figures, the driver who sits in the driver's seat Se of the forklift 60 and operates the forklift 60 is not shown.

[0073] When the fork section 61 is fully inserted toward the tip end of the fork adapter 31, the operator of the forklift 60 adjusts the angle of the mast 62 to tilt the fork section 61 backward, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. In other words, the fork section 61, which was in a horizontal position, changes its position so that the tip end 61a is positioned slightly higher than the base end 61b.

[0074] As the fork portion 61 tilts backward, the tip end 61a of the fork portion 61 abuts against the inner wall upper surface 36 of the fork adapter 31, and the tip end 61a presses the inner wall upper surface 36 upward. Also, the base end 61b of the fork portion 61 abuts against the inner wall lower surface 37 of the fork adapter 31, and the base end 61b presses the inner wall lower surface 37 downward. Therefore, as shown in Figure 17, an upward force t1 in the z direction acts on the inner wall upper surface 36, and a downward force t2 in the z direction acts on the inner wall lower surface 37.

[0075] Forces t1 and t2 in the z direction act from fork portion 61 to fork adapter 31, preventing fork portion 61 from moving in the x direction inside fork adapter 31. In this way, by tilting fork portion 61 inserted into fork adapter 31 backward, fork adapter 31 is fixed to fork portion 61. By fixing fork adapter 31 to fork portion 61, holder 20 is stably connected to forklift 60. Connecting holder 20 to forklift 60 completes the process of step S1.

[0076] Step S2 (Connecting the lifting device to the load) After connecting the holding device 20 to the forklift 60, the hoisting device 10 is connected to the flexible container 1, which is the suspended load. In Example 1, the hoisting device 10 is connected to the flexible container 1 by fastening the annular auxiliary band 9 connected to the hoisting band 7 to the ring-shaped connecting portion 11 of the hoisting device 10.

[0077] The views in Fig. 18 show the process of fastening the auxiliary band 9 to the connection portion 11 in Example 1. First, as shown in Fig. 18(a), the tip portion 9a of the auxiliary band 9 is inserted into the through hole 19 of the connection portion 11. After inserting the tip portion 9a of the auxiliary band 9 from below to above the through hole 19, as shown in Fig. 18(b), the tip portion 9a is pulled out to above the held portion 13. Then, the tip portion 9a of the auxiliary band 9 is moved from above to below the held portion 13 so that the held portion 13 passes through the loop of the auxiliary band 9 from below to above.

[0078] After passing the held portion 13 through the loop of the auxiliary band 9, as shown in FIG. 18(c), the tip portion 9a of the auxiliary band 9 is moved from below the held portion 13 to below the connection portion 11 while tightening the loop of the auxiliary band 9. By tightening the loop of the auxiliary band 9, the auxiliary band 9 is fastened to the main body portion 17 of the connection portion 11 in the manner of a so-called lark's knot (cow hitch), as shown in FIG. 18(d). By fastening the auxiliary band 9 to the main body portion 17, the hoisting device 10 is firmly connected to the flexible container 1 via the auxiliary band 9 and the hanging band 7. Connecting the hoisting device 10 to the flexible container 1 completes the process of step S2.

[0079] The method of connecting the sling 10 to the flexible container 1 is not limited to the Lark's Lark knot shown in Figure 18 and may be modified as appropriate. However, as shown in Figure 18, it is preferable to connect the auxiliary band 9 and the main body portion 17, which are circular, without opening either of them. If the auxiliary band 9 is cut and opened at a predetermined location and the linear auxiliary band 9 is passed through the main body portion 17 and tied, the bonding strength between the auxiliary band 9 and the main body portion 17 at the knot is reduced. In other words, connecting the auxiliary band 9 and the main body portion 17 without opening the knot can prevent the knot from coming undone, thereby preventing the auxiliary band 9 from being unintentionally disconnected from the main body portion 17.

[0080] Furthermore, if the main body portion 17 is configured to be opened, a configuration is required to open the main body portion 17 and then close it again, such as the anti-drop member 72 attached to the hook 71 shown in FIG. 40 . As a result, the structure of the main body portion 17 becomes more complex, increasing the manufacturing cost of the sling device 10. However, by configuring the connecting portion 11 to connect to the flexible container 1 without opening the main body portion 17, it is possible to realize a sling device 10 in which the connecting portion 11, the held portion 13, and the coupling portion 15 are integrated. In this case, the entire sling device 10 can be manufactured using a manufacturing method such as integral molding, which allows for easy mass production of the sling device 10 and reduces the manufacturing cost of the sling device 10.

[0081] Step S3 (Placing the lifting device next to the load) After connecting the sling 10 to the flexible container 1, the sling 10 is placed to the side of the flexible container 1. That is, each of the sling belts 7 is laid on the top surface 5, and the sling 10 is pulled out in the x2 direction together with the auxiliary ropes 9 connected to each of the sling belts 7. Then, as shown in Figure 19, the sling 10 fastened to the auxiliary ropes 9 is hung down from the upper end of the body 3 of the flexible container 1 on the side surface of the body 3 on the x2 direction side.

[0082] By hanging the sling 10 from the upper end of the body 3, the sling 10 is positioned to the side of the flexible container 1, which is the suspended load. The flexible container 1 is connected to the connection part 11 via the auxiliary rope 9. Therefore, the sling 10 is hung with the part where the auxiliary rope 9 is fastened to the connection part 11 on the upper side. In other words, when the sling 10 is hung, the position of the sling 10 is such that the connection part 11 is higher than the held part 13.

[0083] Furthermore, in the hoisting device 10, the held portion 13 is heavier than the connection portion 11. In other words, the center of gravity of the hoisting device 10 is biased toward the held portion 13, and therefore, by hanging the hoisting device 10, the posture of the hoisting device 10 is determined so that the held portion 13 is more reliably positioned lower than the connection portion 11. In Example 1, when the hoisting device 10 is placed to the side of the flexible container 1, the hoisting device 10 takes a posture in which the connection portion 11 is positioned above the held portion 13. Hereinafter, the posture of the hoisting device 10 in which the connection portion 11 is positioned above the held portion 13 is referred to as the "upright posture." By placing the hoisting device 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the process of step S3 is completed.

[0084] If there are multiple flexible containers 1 to be transported, steps S2 and S3 are performed for each of the flexible containers 1 to be transported. That is, a hoisting device 10 is connected to each of the flexible containers 1 to be transported, and the hoisting device 10 is placed in an upright position next to the flexible container 1.

[0085] Of the series of steps for transporting a flexible container 1 using the lifting and transporting unit 50, steps S1 to S3 correspond to preparation steps for transporting the flexible container 1. Fig. 12 shows the state after steps S1 to S3 have been completed. That is, Fig. 12 shows the state in which a lifting device 10 is connected to each flexible container 1, and a holder 20 is connected to a forklift 60. The order of steps S1 to S3 may be changed as appropriate. That is, step S1 may be performed after step S3.

[0086] Step S4 (hold the lifting tool with the holder) After steps S1 to S3 are completed, step S4, i.e., the process of holding the hoisting tool 10 with the holding tool 20, begins. The driver gets into the driver's seat of the forklift 60 and moves the forklift 60 in the direction x1 as shown in FIG. 20. Then, while appropriately adjusting the height of the fork section 61 along the lifting rail 64 disposed on the mast 62, the driver moves the holding tool 20 closer to the hoisting tool 10 from below as indicated by the symbol Pk. Note that for the sake of convenience, the illustration of the hoisting belts 7 of the flexible container 1 has been omitted as appropriate in FIG. 20 and other figures.

[0087] In step S3, hoisting tool 10 is suspended from the side of flexible container 1 in a position where held portion 13 is lower than connection portion 11. Therefore, when holding tool 20 is brought close to hoisting tool 10 from below, opening 40 at the upper end of holding portion 20 is the first part of hoisting tool 10 to approach held portion 13.

[0088] The operator adjusts the position of holding device 20 so that accommodating hole 22 of holding device 20 is located below held portion 13 of lifting device 10. After adjusting the position of holding device 20, the operator moves holding device 20 upward by further raising fork portion 61. By moving holding device 20 upward, held portion 13 is accommodated in accommodating hole 22. In other words, the operator of forklift 60 performs an operation to raise holding device 20 as if scooping up held portion 13.

[0089] 21 to 24 show the state over time of receiving the retained portion 13 in the receiving hole 22. By moving the retainer 20 upward, as shown in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), the retained portion 13 of the suspender 10 passes through the opening 40 and is received in the tapered region 26 of the receiving hole 22. The tapered region 26 of the receiving hole 22 has a shape that widens from bottom to top. In other words, because the upper end of the tapered region 26 is wider than the lower end, the retained portion 13 can be more reliably received in the tapered region 26 of the receiving hole 22 even if the positions of the receiving hole 22 and the retained portion 13 are slightly misaligned in a plan view.

[0090] When the holdable portion 13 passes through the opening 40 and is housed in the tapered region 26, the operator further raises the holding device 20 together with the fork portion 61. As the holding device 20 rises, the hoisting device 10 descends relative to the holding device 20. As the hoisting device 10 descends relative to the holding device 20, the holdable portion 13 is guided downward along the inclined surface 41, which is the side surface of the tapered region 26. That is, as shown in FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b), the holdable portion 13 is guided into the cylindrical region 27 of the tapered region 26. The holdable portion 13 is then guided further downward along the inner wall 43.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 22(b), the inner wall 43 of the side wall 24 is inclined in the x1 direction and upward. In other words, the inner wall 43 is inclined downward toward the x2 direction. That is, when the held portion 13 descends and contacts the inner wall 43, and is guided downward along the inner wall 43, the movement direction of the held portion 13 changes from a downward direction in the z direction to a direction (direction E1) downward in the z direction that includes an x2 direction component. Therefore, the sling device 10, which is in an upright position in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), inclines so that the connecting portion 11 is positioned closer to the x1 direction than the held portion 13 (see symbol Rs). Hereinafter, the position in which the connecting portion 11 is positioned closer to the x1 direction than the held portion 13 will be referred to as the "lying position."

[0092] When suspending device 10 assumes a recumbent position, connecting portion 15 assumes a position inclined (protruding) in the x1 direction from held portion 13. Therefore, when suspending device 10 in the recumbent position descends relative to holding device 20, connecting portion 15 of suspending device 10 fits into the upper end of guide groove 28 formed in the side surface of sidewall 24 facing the x1 direction. Connecting portion 15 fitted into the upper end of guide groove 28 is guided along guide groove 28 from the upper side to the lower side of the main body portion. As connecting portion 15 is guided downward along guide groove 28 and held portion 13 is guided downward along cylindrical region 27 of accommodation hole 22, suspending device 10 as a whole moves downward to the lower side of main body portion 21.

[0093] Once the holdable portion 13 is accommodated in the cylindrical region 27, the operator further raises the holding device 20 together with the fork portion 61. As the holding device 20 rises, the hoisting device 10 further descends relative to the holding device 20. As a result, as shown in Figures 23(a) and 23(b), the holdable portion 13 of the hoisting device 10 reaches the bottom portion 32 of the accommodation hole 22 and is stopped there. In other words, the holdable portion 13, which has been guided downward along the cylindrical region 27, is prevented from moving downward by the upper surface 30 of the base portion 23.

[0094] Furthermore, when held portion 13 reaches bottom portion 32, it is prevented from moving in the x and y directions by inner walls 43 of side walls 24. That is, held portion 13 of suspender 10 is prevented from moving by bottom portion 32 of accommodation hole 22 and inner walls 43 of side walls 24, and is thereby held by holder 20 in a stable posture.

[0095] After held portion 13 reaches bottom 32 of accommodation hole 22, the operator further raises holding device 20 together with fork portion 61. As holding device 20 rises with held portion 13 restrained by bottom 32, connecting portion 11 of hoisting device 10, which protrudes from guide groove 28 to the outside of holding device 20 in the x1 direction, is pulled further downward relative to holding device 20. In addition, connecting portion 15 is guided from the side surface of base portion 23 to the center in the x2 direction along guide groove 29, which is in communication with guide groove 28.

[0096] When the sling 10 in a recumbent position is guided downward while the held portion 13 is restrained by the bottom portion 32 and prevented from moving downward, the coupling portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 pivot around the held portion 13 as a fulcrum, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) and 24(b). That is, the coupling portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 pivot and move from the side of the holder 20 to below the holder 20. The direction in which the coupling portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 pivot is indicated by the symbol Ph. When the coupling portion 15 is guided in the x2 direction along the guide groove 29 and reaches the center of the base portion 23, its movement in the x2 direction is prevented by the inner wall surface 38 of the guide groove 29. In each view of FIG. 24, the position of the connecting portion 11 in FIG. 23 is indicated by a dotted line. That is, in FIG. 24, the connecting portion 11 moves from the position indicated by the dotted line to the position indicated by the solid line.

[0097] Because the held portion 13 is held at the bottom 32 of the accommodation hole 22, the height of the held portion 13 relative to the holder 20 remains constant. Meanwhile, as the connecting portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 pivot from the side of the holder 20 to below the holder 20, the height of the connecting portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 relative to the holder 20 decreases. As a result, the pivoting of the connecting portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 from the side of the holder 20 to below the holder 20 causes the posture of the suspender 10 to flip up and down. In other words, the suspender 10, which was in a position where the connected portion 13 was lower than the connecting portion 11, flips due to this pivoting to a position where the connected portion 13 is positioned above the connecting portion 11. Hereinafter, the posture of the suspender 10 in which the connected portion 13 is positioned above the connecting portion 11 will be referred to as the "upside-down posture."

[0098] With the held portion 13 of the hoisting device 10 held by the holding device 20, the forklift 60 holds the hoisting device 10 via the fork section 61 and the holding device 20. The forklift 60 can then adjust the position of the hoisting device 10 as desired by operating the fork section 61. Step S4 is completed by inverting the hoisting device 10 to a position where the held portion 13 of the hoisting device 10 is held by the holding device 20 and the connecting portion 11 is positioned lower than the connected portion 13. The state in which the forklift 60 has completed step S4 by raising the holding device 20 is shown in Figure 25.

[0099] Step S5 (Move the lifting tool above the load) After the hoisting tool 10 is held by the holder 20, the hoisting tool 10 is moved above the flexible container 1, which is the load. That is, as shown in FIG. 26 , the operator moves the forklift 60 forward in the x1 direction while raising the fork parts 61 so that the hoisting tool 10 rises to a position higher than the top surface 5 of the flexible container 1. By operating the forklift 60, the hoisting tool 10, which was positioned on the side of the flexible container 1, moves above the flexible container 1. Note that the position of the hoisting tool 10 that was positioned on the side of the flexible container 1 in FIG. 25 is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 26 . That is, the hoisting tool 10 moves to a position corresponding to above the center of the top surface 5 of the flexible container 1.

[0100] By moving the hoisting tool 10, which is in an upside-down position, above the flexible container 1, the hoisting tool 10 can pull up each of the hoisting belts 7 via the auxiliary ropes 9. In other words, by moving the hoisting tool 10 above the flexible container 1, the hoisting tool 10 can pull up each of the hoisting belts 7 and suspend the flexible container 1. By moving the hoisting tool 10 above the flexible container 1, the process of step S5 is completed.

[0101] By raising the holding part 20, the held part 13 is accommodated and held at the bottom 32 of the accommodation hole 22, and the posture of the hoisting device 10 is reversed. The path along which the holding part 20 and the hoisting device 10 move by the operation of raising the holding part 20 is part of the path along which the hoisting device 10 moves upward from the side of the flexible container 1 in step S5. In other words, the step of raising the holding part 20 in step S4 is executed in the initial stage of the step of moving the hoisting device 10 upward from the side of the flexible container 1.

[0102] Step S6 (carrying the load) After moving the hoisting tool 10 above the flexible container 1, the process of suspending and transporting the flexible container 1 begins. That is, the operator further raises the fork section 61 along the lifting rail 64, raising the hoisting tool 10 together with the holder 20. As the hoisting tool 10 rises, the hoisting belts 7 are pulled up by the hoisting tool 10. When the hoisting belts 7 are pulled up, the flexible container 1 rises from the floor G, and the flexible container 1 is suspended by the hoisting tool 10.

[0103] After the flexible container 1 is suspended by the hoisting device 10, the operator appropriately operates the forklift 60 to transport the flexible container 1 to a desired location. Figure 27 shows a state in which the flexible container 1 suspended by the hoisting device 10 is transported onto another flexible container 1 that is resting on the floor G.

[0104] In Example 1, when the flexible container 1 is suspended, the hoisting tool 10 is placed above the flexible container 1, whereas when the flexible container 1 is not suspended, the hoisting tool 10 is placed to the side of the flexible container 1. By placing the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the upper surface 5 of the flexible container 1 can be maintained flat. In other words, when placing a flexible container 1 on top of the flexible container 1, the hoisting tool 10 does not interfere with the placing process. Therefore, by using the hoisting transport unit 50, it is possible to stack flexible containers 1 in two or more layers.

[0105] The process of step S6 is completed by transporting and placing the flexible container 1 at a predetermined location. Through the processes of steps S4 to S6, the forklift 60 suspends the flexible container 1 via the hoisting and transporting unit 50 and transports the flexible container 1 to a predetermined location. In other words, the processes of steps S4 to S6 correspond to the main process of actually transporting the flexible container 1 among a series of processes for hoisting and transporting a suspended load.

[0106] In step S4 of Example 1, holdable portion 13 is accommodated in bottom portion 32 of accommodation hole 22, and connecting portion 15 is guided along guide grooves 28 and 29, thereby inverting suspender 10 into an upside-down position. As suspender 10 assumes the upside-down position and connecting portion 15 is restrained by inner wall surface 38, suspender 10 is placed in a state where it will not fall off.

[0107] The anti-slip state is a state in which the held portion 13 housed in the housing hole 22 and the connecting portion 11 moved below the base portion 23 face each other across the base portion 23, and the coupling portion 15 passes through the guide groove 29 in the vertical direction while being restrained by the inner wall surface 38 (see each view in Figure 24). With the hoisting device 10 in the anti-slip state, the hoisting device 10 is prevented from floating upward and falling off the holding device 20 in cases such as when the hoisting device 10 bounces upward due to vibration or the like when hoisting and transporting the flexible container 1, or when the holding device 20 is lowered too far when placing the flexible container 1, causing the hoisting device 10 to come into contact with the upper surface 5 of the flexible container 1 and be pushed upward.

[0108] The details of the configuration for preventing sling device 10 from falling off using accommodating hole 22 and base portion 23 will now be described. Width w2 of guide groove 29 provided in base portion 23 is wider than diameter L1 of coupling portion 15. On the other hand, width w2 of guide groove 29 is set to be smaller than width L3 of connection portion 11. By making width w2 smaller than width L3, even if connection portion 11 moving downward on base portion 23 jumps upward due to vibration or the like, as shown in FIG. 38 , connection portion 11 can be prevented from entering accommodating hole 22 via guide groove 29. In other words, even if connection portion 11 jumps upward due to vibration or the like, connection portion 11 is restrained by underside 34 of base plate 23.

[0109] When connection portion 11 of suspending device 10 is positioned below base portion 23, in order to move connection portion 11 above base portion 23, holder 20 holding suspending device 10 must be moved in a direction that includes at least a component in the x2 direction, and coupling portion 15 must be guided along guide groove 29 to pivot connection portion 11 to the side of base portion 23 (see FIG. 29 ). However, even if suspending device 10 receives an upward force due to contact with top surface portion 5 or vibration when suspending device 10 is in the drop-prevention state, because connection portion 11 is positioned below held portion 13, the upward force cannot pivot connection portion 11. This reliably prevents suspending device 10 held by holder 20 from falling out of holder 20 via opening 40. In other words, suspending device 10 in an upside-down state can be reliably held by holder 20.

[0110] Step S7 (Move the lifting device to the side of the load) After the flexible container 1 has been transported to the specified location, the hoisting device 10 is again moved to the side of the flexible container 1. The operations performed in step S7 are basically the reverse of the operations performed in step S5. That is, as shown in FIG. 28, the operator moves the forklift 60 backward in the x2 direction while lowering the fork section 61, which is positioned higher than the top surface of the flexible container 1. By operating the forklift 60, the hoisting device 10, which was positioned above the flexible container 1, moves to the side of the flexible container 1. That is, the hoisting device 10 moves from the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 28 to the position indicated by the solid line.

[0111] By moving the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the auxiliary ropes 9 and the hoisting belts 7 are laid down on the top surface 5 of the flexible container 1. Then, by moving the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the state in which the flexible container 1 is suspended by the hoisting tool 10 (suspended state) is released. By moving the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the process of step S7 is completed.

[0112] Step S8 (Release the hold of the sling) After the flexible container 1 is released from its suspended state by moving the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, a step is performed to release the hold of the hoisting tool 10. That is, in step S8, a step is performed to release the state in which the hoisting tool 10 is held by the holding tool 20. The operations performed in step S8 are basically the reverse of the operations performed in step S4. That is, the positional relationship between the hoisting tool 10 and the holding tool 20 in step S8 starts from the positional relationship shown in each diagram of FIG. 24, and then changes sequentially to the positional relationships shown in each diagram of FIG. 23, each diagram of FIG. 22, and each diagram of FIG. 21.

[0113] When step S8 begins, the operator moves the holding device 20 together with the fork portion 61 in the x2 direction and downward. The direction of the force acting on the holding device 20 at this time is indicated by symbol J1 in FIG. 29(a). As the holding device 20 moves in the x2 direction, first, the coupling portion 15 and the connection portion 11 pivot from below the holding device 20 to the side of the holding device 20. That is, as the holding device 20 moves in the x2 direction, the connection portion 11 of the sling device 10 is pulled in the x1 direction by the auxiliary rope 9 fixed to the flexible container 1. That is, as the holding device 20 moves in the x2 direction, a force acts on the connection portion 11 in the x1 direction.

[0114] At this time, because held portion 13 is at bottom 32 of accommodating hole 22, held portion 13 is supported by the inner wall of main body 21. Therefore, a force acting on connecting portion 11 in the x1 direction guides linking portion 15 along guide groove 29 from the center of base 23 to the side surface in the x1 direction, while maintaining held portion 13 supported by bottom 32. As a result, suspender 10 moves from the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 29(a) to the position indicated by the solid line. That is, linking portion 15 and connecting portion 11 pivot from below holder 20 to the side of holder 20, with held portion 13 as the fulcrum. In other words, linking portion 15 and connecting portion 11 pivot in the direction opposite to the symbol Ph shown in FIG. 24. As shown in FIG. 29(a), linking portion 15 and connecting portion 11 pivot, and thus the suspender 10 is released from the anti-detachment state.

[0115] After the linking portion 15 and the connecting portion 11 pivot to the side of the holder 20, the operator further lowers the holder 20 together with the fork portion 61. The direction of the force acting on the holder 20 at this time is indicated by the symbol J2 in FIG. 29(b). As the holder 20 lowers, the hoisting device 10 rises relative to the holder 20. As a result, as shown in FIG. 29(b), the linking portion 15 is guided upward along the guide groove 28, and the held portion 13 is guided upward along the cylindrical region 27 of the accommodation hole 22. In other words, the operation of lowering the holder 20 releases the state in which the bottom portion 32 holds the held portion 13. As the linking portion 15 and the held portion 13 are guided upward, the connecting portion 11 also moves upward.

[0116] Furthermore, by lowering the holder 20 together with the fork portion 61, the connecting portion 15 moves from below to above along the guide groove 28 and is released from the upper end of the guide groove 28 to the outside of the holder 20. Furthermore, as the connecting portion 15 moves, the held portion 13 moves from the cylindrical region 27 of the accommodation hole 22 to the tapered region 26. The held portion 13, which had been housed in the accommodation hole 22, then releases to the outside of the holder 20 via the opening 40. In this way, by a series of simple operations—operating the fork portion 61 to which the holder 20 is attached, moving the suspender 10 from above the flexible container 1 to the side, and then further moving the holder 20 downward—the sling 10 is released from the falling-off prevention state and is released from the holder 20.

[0117] When the hoisting tool 10 is released to the outside of the holding tool 20, the state in which the hoisting tool 10 is held by the holding tool 20 is released. When the state in which the hoisting tool 10 is held by the holding tool 20 is released, the process of step S8 is completed. The state in which step S8 is completed by the forklift 60 lowering the holding tool 20 is as shown in Figure 30. Steps S7 and S8 correspond to subsequent processes that are carried out after the transportation of the suspended load is completed, among the series of processes for suspending and transporting the suspended load.

[0118] Completion of the steps up to step S8 completes the operation of suspending and transporting one flexible container 1. If there are other flexible containers 1 to be suspended and transported, the process returns to step S4, and steps S4 to S8 are performed on those other flexible containers 1. If a hoisting device 10 is not connected to the flexible container 1 to be transported, steps S2 to S8 are performed. When all flexible containers 1 to be suspended and transported have been transported, the holder 20 is removed from the forklift 60, and the series of processes is completed.

[0119] <Effects of the configuration of Example 1> Here, the effects of the hoisting and transporting unit 50 according to the first embodiment will be described in comparison with a conventional method of hoisting and transporting the flexible container 1.

[0120] A first example of a conventional method for suspending and transporting a flexible container 1 is a method using a hook 71 provided on a crane truck 70. In this first conventional example, as shown in Fig. 31, a hook 71 equipped with a fall-off prevention member 72 is engaged with the hoisting belt 7 of the flexible container 1. Then, by lifting the hook 71 with a crane truck 70, which is a transport device, the flexible container 1 is hoisted together with the hoisting belt 7 and transported.

[0121] However, the first conventional example raises the following concerns: Namely, the suspending belts 7 of the flexible container 1 are generally made of a material such as cloth, and are therefore not self-supporting when stationary. Therefore, a worker is required to be near the flexible container 1 to perform the process of engaging and fixing the hooks 71 to the suspending belts 7, and the process of operating the fall-off prevention members 72 to set the hooks 71 to the open / closed loop state. In other words, In addition to a first operator (operator) who sits in a seat Se of the mobile crane 70 and operates the mobile crane 70, a second operator Ma who performs the slinging process on the flexible container 1 is required.

[0122] As shown in Figure 31, when loading and unloading flexible containers 1 that are stored stacked in multiple tiers, the second worker Ma who performs the slinging work needs to perform the slinging work on top of the flexible containers that are stacked in multiple tiers. Because the footing on top of the flexible containers is unstable, the worker performing the slinging work is likely to accumulate fatigue. There is also a concern that the slinging work may cause the contents of the flexible containers to collapse.

[0123] As a modified conventional example that can omit the slinging work from the first conventional example, a method using a self-supporting member 80 as shown in Figure 32 can be considered. The self-supporting member 80 includes a ring-shaped bottom ring 81, a support pole 82 erected on the bottom ring 81, and a top ring 83 arranged so as to span the upper end of the support pole 82. The self-supporting member 80 is made of a material, such as metal, that is strong enough to withstand the lifting of the flexible container 1, and can stand on its own on the top surface 5 of the flexible container 1. The bottom ring 81 has a through-hole 84 in its center, through which each of the lifting belts 7 is fastened. The top ring 83 has a through-hole 85 in its center, through which the hook 71 is engaged.

[0124] In a modified conventional example using a self-supporting member 80, as shown in Figure 33, the self-supporting member 80 is disposed on the top surface 5 of the flexible container 1, and each of the hoisting belts 7 is fastened to a bottom surface ring 81 in advance. Then, the hook 71, which is in an open loop state after the fall-off prevention member 72 is removed, is hooked onto and engaged with the top surface ring 83, and the hook 71 is fixed to the hoisting belt 7 via the self-supporting member 80. The operator operates the crane vehicle 70 to pull up the hook 71, thereby suspending the flexible container 1 without performing slinging work. Furthermore, when a forklift 60 is used as the transport device, the fork part 61 is inserted under the top surface ring 83 and lifted up, making it possible to suspend the flexible container 1 together with the self-supporting member 80.

[0125] However, in this modified conventional example, by arranging the self-supporting member 80 in a self-supporting position on the upper surface 5 of the flexible container 1, the flatness of the upper surface 5 is significantly reduced. Due to the reduced flatness of the upper surface 5, it becomes difficult to stably stack a flexible container 1 on top of another flexible container 1 having a self-supporting member 80 arranged on its upper surface 5 (see symbol ND in Figure 33).

[0126] Furthermore, when suspending a flexible container 1 that is placed at a higher position than the driver operating the transport device such as the crane truck 70, it is difficult to visually confirm the upper surface 5 of the flexible container 1 from the driver's seat Se (see symbol Kb in FIG. 35). In other words, it is difficult to accurately engage the hook 71 with the self-supporting member 80 for a flexible container 1 that is placed at a high position. As a result, it becomes difficult to stack flexible containers 1 in multiple layers, and the storage efficiency of the flexible containers 1 in this modified conventional example is significantly reduced.

[0127] In contrast to such a conventional configuration, in Example 1, when a flexible container 1 is transported using a transport device such as a forklift 60 or a crane truck 70, a lifting and transporting unit 50 is used. The lifting and transporting unit 50 according to Example 1 includes a lifting tool 10 and a holder 20. The lifting tool 10 according to Example 1 is configured to be movable between the side of the flexible container 1 and above the flexible container 1 while connected to the flexible container 1.

[0128] Figure 34(a) shows a state in which the sling 10 is arranged above the flexible container 1 (upper arrangement state). Figure 34(b) shows a state in which the sling 10 is arranged to the side of the flexible container 1 (side arrangement state). The position of the sling 10 in the side arrangement state, i.e., the position corresponding to the side of the flexible container 1, is indicated by the symbol D1 in Figure 34(a) etc. The position of the sling 10 in the upper arrangement state, i.e., the position corresponding to the top of the flexible container 1, is indicated by the symbol D2 in Figure 34(a) etc.

[0129] Specifically, the sling device 10 has a structure in which a connecting part 11 and a held part 13 are connected by a connecting part 15. The connecting part 11 is connected to the flexible container 1 via an auxiliary rope 9 or a hoisting belt 7. The connecting part 11 is configured to be movable between the side of the flexible container 1 and above the flexible container 1 while connected to the flexible container 1. The held part 13 is held by a holder 20 connected to a conveying device.

[0130] When a flexible container 1 is hoisted and transported using the hoisting transport unit 50, the holder 20 is connected to a transport device, such as a forklift 60 (step S1). After the hoisting tool 10 is connected to the flexible container 1, it is placed in a side-positioned state (steps S2 and S3). After the holder 20 holds the held portion 13 of the hoisting tool 10 (step S4), the hoisting tool 10 is moved to an upper-positioned state (step S5). In the upper-positioned state, the hoisting tool 10 can be lifted together with the holder 20 to suspend the flexible container 1 (step S6). When the hoisting transport of the flexible container 1 is completed, the hoisting tool 10 is moved from the upper-positioned state to a side-positioned state (step S7), and the state in which the holder 20 holds the hoisting tool 10 is released (step S8).

[0131] In this way, in the transport method of Example 1, when the flexible container 1 is to be hoisted and transported, the hoisting device 10 is switched to an upward positioning state, and when the flexible container 1 is not to be hoisted and transported, the hoisting device 10 is switched to a side positioning state.

[0132] When the hoisting device 10 is in a lateral position as shown in FIG. 34(b), the hoisting device 10 hangs down to the side of the flexible container 1. As shown in FIG. 35, a driver seated in the driver's seat Se of the conveying device can reliably see the hoisting device 10 arranged to the side of the flexible container 1. In particular, even when the flexible containers 1 are stacked at a high location, the hoisting device 10 hanging down to the side of the flexible container 1 can be reliably seen by the driver (see symbol Ka). Therefore, by holding the hoisting device 10 arranged to the side of the flexible container 1 to be conveyed, the driver of the forklift 60 is reliably connected to the flexible container 1 via the holder 20 and the hoisting device 10. In other words, even when the flexible containers 1 are stacked in multiple layers, the driver can hold any flexible container 1.

[0133] Furthermore, the process of directly holding each of the hoisting belts 7 lying on the upper surface 5 of the flexible container 1 on the conveying device is difficult to perform by operating the conveying device, and requires an assistant to perform the rigging work. On the other hand, the process of holding the hoisting devices 10 moving to the side D1 of the flexible container 1 can be easily performed by the operator of the conveying device alone. Therefore, the hoisting devices 10 connected to each of the hoisting belts 7 of the flexible container 1 can be stably and reliably held without the need for an assistant.

[0134] When the hoisting device 10 is in the upward position as shown in FIG. 34(a), applying an upward force to the hoisting device 10 causes each of the hoisting belts 7 connected to the hoisting device 10 to change from a recumbent state to an upright state. Then, applying further upward force to the hoisting device 10 causes a force to lift the flexible container 1 via each of the hoisting belts 7. As a result, the flexible container 1 can be suspended in a stable position. By holding the hoisting device 10 with the holder 20, the conveying device can apply an upward force to the hoisting device 10 via the holder 20. In this case, the operator can operate the conveying device to lift the hoisting device 10 and suspend the flexible container 1. Therefore, the flexible container 1 can be suspended by the operator alone. In other words, the flexible container 1 can be reliably suspended and transported without the need for slinging work and personnel.

[0135] In this way, by configuring the lifting device 10 to be switched between an upper position and a side position as appropriate depending on the timing of lifting and transporting the flexible container 1, it is possible to lift and transport the flexible container 1 and stack it in multiple layers while reducing the number of personnel required for slinging.

[0136] Furthermore, hoisting device 10 has a structure in which ring-shaped connecting part 11 and massive held part 13, e.g., a spherical body, are connected via coupling part 15. Ring-shaped connecting part 11 is connected to flexible container 1, and massive held part 13 is held by holding device 20. By configuring hoisting device 10 in this manner, the following effects can be achieved.

[0137] First, the connection part 11 is a ring-shaped member. A ring-shaped member can easily be firmly fastened to an annular member. That is, it is easy to firmly fasten an annular member, such as the auxiliary rope 9 or the lifting belt 7, to the connection part 11. That is, the connection part 11, which is a ring-shaped member, can easily be connected to the flexible container 1 via the annular member. Furthermore, because the connection part 11 is a ring-shaped member, the fastened annular member can be easily undone. Therefore, by using the connection part 11, which is a ring-shaped member, the sling device 10 and the flexible container 1 can be easily fastened together, and this fastening can also be easily released.

[0138] When the ring-shaped member and the annular member are fastened together, the ring-shaped member can be easily moved along the annular member. Therefore, the connection part 11 can easily move back and forth between the side and above the flexible container 1 along the auxiliary rope 9. In other words, by making the connection part 11 a ring-shaped member, it becomes easy to switch the hoisting device 10 between an upper position and a side position.

[0139] Next, the holdable portion 13 is a massive member, for example, a sphere. Holder 20 can easily hold holdable portion 13 by accommodating this massive member, that is, holdable portion 13, in accommodation hole 22. That is, by simply moving holdable portion 20 toward holdable portion 13 from below and then raising holdable portion 20 with holdable portion 13 accommodated in accommodation hole 22, holdable portion 20 can stably hold suspender 10. Furthermore, by making holdable portion 13 a sphere, holdable portion 20 can easily hold suspender 10 regardless of the orientation of suspender 10, particularly when suspender 10 is in a lateral position. The effect of holdable portion 20 being able to easily hold suspender 10 will be described using Figures 36 and 37, etc.

[0140] When the sling device 10 with the auxiliary ropes 9 fastened thereto is hung down to the side of the flexible container 1, the sling device 10 becomes rotatable around an axis in the z direction, with the portion of the connection portion 11 where the auxiliary ropes 9 are fastened as a fulcrum (see symbol Rt in Figure 36). In other words, the posture of the sling device 10 changes as the sling device 10 rotates in the z direction. Figure 19 shows an example of the posture of the sling device 10 in the side-disposed state, where the orientation b of the through-hole 19 of the connection portion 11 coincides with the x direction. Figure 36 shows another example of the posture of the sling device 10 in the side-disposed state, where the orientation b of the through-hole 19 of the connection portion 11 coincides with the y direction.

[0141] If the shape of the portion of sling device 10 to be held is ring-shaped, it may become difficult to hold sling device 10 if sling device 10 rotates in the z direction and the posture of sling device 10 changes. Figure 37 shows, as a comparative example, sling device 10P that includes ring-shaped connecting portion 11 and ring-shaped held portion 13P. When held portion 13P is ring-shaped, sling device 10P can be held by engaging hook 71 or the like with held portion 13P.

[0142] However, when the through hole Cn of the ring-shaped hold target portion 13P faces the x direction as shown in FIG. 37 , the hook 71 cannot hold the hold target portion 13P unless it is brought close to the hold target portion 13P along the x direction (see symbol Mx). As an example, when the hook 71 is brought close to the hold target portion 13P along the y direction, the ring-shaped main body of the hold target portion 13 interferes with the hook 71, preventing the hook 71 from hooking onto the through hole Cn. Thus, when the suspender 10 is used to hold a ring-shaped structure such as the connection portion 11, the direction in which the holder 20 approaches must be precisely matched depending on the posture of the suspender 10 (the orientation of the through hole 19). This increases the time required for the operation of holding the suspender 10 with the holder 20.

[0143] On the other hand, in the suspender 10 according to Example 1, the shape of the holdable portion 13 is spherical, so the shape of the holdable portion 13 is constant regardless of the orientation of the through hole 19. That is, as shown in Figure 36, when the through hole 19 faces the x direction, the holdable portion 13 can be accurately accommodated and held in the accommodating hole 22 regardless of whether the holder 20 is brought close along the x direction or the y direction (see symbols Nx and Ny). That is, the holdable portion 13 can be accommodated and held in the accommodating hole 22 regardless of the direction from which the holder 20 is brought close to the suspender 10.

[0144] 19 , even when through hole 19 faces the x direction, retainer 20 can accurately accommodate and hold retained portion 13 in accommodating hole 22 whether it is brought close along the x direction or the y direction. By making retained portion 13 a mass such as a sphere, retained portion 13 can be easily and reliably held by retainer 20 regardless of the three-dimensional orientation of connecting portion 11. In other words, regardless of the direction in which through hole 19 of connecting portion 11 faces, retainer 20 can be brought close to suspender 10 from any direction and retained portion 13 can be accurately accommodated and held in accommodating hole 22.

[0145] Furthermore, the holder 20 according to the first embodiment holds the hoisting device 10 in an upside-down state by guiding the connecting portion 15 along the guide grooves 28 provided on the side surface and the guide grooves 29 provided on the bottom surface. That is, in the side-positioned state, the hoisting device 10 is in a position where the connection portion 11 is higher than the held portion 13. On the other hand, in the upper-positioned state, the position of the hoisting device 10 is reversed compared to the side-positioned state. That is, in the upper-positioned state, the held portion 13 held by the holder 20 is higher than the connection portion 11 connected to the flexible container 1 via the auxiliary rope 9 or the like.

[0146] In the upper position, the held portion 13 is positioned higher than the connecting portion 11, which prevents the auxiliary ropes 9 and other parts fastened to the connecting portion 11 from becoming tangled in the held portion 13 or the connecting portion 15. This prevents the auxiliary ropes 9 and other parts from becoming tangled, thereby preventing the flexible container 1 from being hoisted and transported. If the flexible container 1 is hoisted and transported with the held portion 13 positioned lower than the connecting portion 11, the connecting portion 11 may pivot around the held portion 13 as a fulcrum. If this pivoting occurs, unnecessary vibrations will be applied to the hoisting device 10 and the flexible container 1, hindering the hoisting and transport. Therefore, by holding the hoisting device 10 in an inverted position and avoiding the pivoting of the connecting portion 11, the flexible container 1 can be hoisted and transported more efficiently.

[0147] Furthermore, the width w2 of guide groove 29 provided in base portion 23 is wider than the diameter L1 of coupling portion 15. On the other hand, width w2 of guide groove 29 is set to be smaller than width L3 of connection portion 11. By making width w2 smaller than width L3, even if connection portion 11 moving downward below base portion 23 bounces upward due to vibration or the like, as shown in FIG. 38 , connection portion 11 can be prevented from entering accommodation hole 22 via guide groove 29. In other words, even if connection portion 11 bounces upward due to vibration or the like, connection portion 11 is restrained by undersurface 34 of base plate 23. In order to move connection portion 11 above base portion 23 when connection portion 11 of suspender 10 is positioned below base portion 23, holder 20 holding suspender 10 must be moved in a direction that includes at least a component in the x2 direction, and coupling portion 15 must be guided along guide groove 29 to pivot connection portion 11 laterally relative to base portion 23. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent suspender 10 held by holder 20 from falling out of holder 20 via opening 40. In other words, suspender 10 that is in an upside-down state can be reliably held by holder 20.

[0148] Furthermore, the hoisting tool 10 and the holder 20 do not require a power generating device such as that provided in a transport device. Therefore, by using the hoisting transport unit 50 consisting of the hoisting tool 10 and the holder 20, the process of hoisting and transporting flexible containers 1 in multiple layers can be achieved without the need for slinging work, without the need for electricity, fuel, or a power generating device. It is also possible to reduce the manufacturing and operating costs of the hoisting transport unit 50.

[0149] Furthermore, the process of connecting the flexible container 1 to the forklift 60 by holding the hoisting tool 10 with the holder 20 and the process of disconnecting the flexible container 1 from the forklift 60 by releasing the holder 20 from the hoisting tool 10 can both be performed by operating the fork 61 of the forklift 60. In other words, the process of connecting the transport device and the suspended load and the process of disconnecting the connection do not require manual operations such as slinging. In other words, in the lifting transport method of Example 1, the process of connecting the transport device and the suspended load and the process of disconnecting the connection can be performed automatically by a machine. Therefore, by using the lifting transport unit 50, it is possible to lift and transport suspended loads in multiple layers in places where it is difficult for humans to enter. Examples of places where it is difficult for humans to enter include high altitudes, places with high or low temperatures, places with high radiation levels, and places where gases harmful to humans are present. [Example]

[0150] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those of the hoisting and transporting unit 50 according to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and only the different components will be described in detail. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 40, a crane truck 70 is used as the transport device. That is, in the hoisting and transporting unit 50A according to the second embodiment, the holder 20A is configured to be connectable to the crane truck 70, which differs from the holder 20 of the first embodiment which is connectable to a forklift 60. In the hoisting and transporting unit 50A according to the second embodiment, the configuration of the hoisting tool 10 is the same as in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a flexible container 1 is used as the suspended load, as in the first embodiment.

[0151] Fig. 39(a) is a front view of holder 20A according to Example 2, and Fig. 39(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of holder 20A according to Example 2. Holder 20A includes main body 21, base 23, and connection unit 25A. The configurations of main body 21 and base 23 in Example 2 are the same as those in Example 1, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0152] The connection unit 25A connects the holding fixture 20A to the mobile crane 70. As shown in FIG. 39(a), the connection unit 25A includes a crane adapter 89 and a connecting member 33. The crane adapter 89 is a columnar member that extends vertically as a whole, and is connected at its lower end to the connecting member 33. The connecting member 33 is connected to the main body 21 and the base 23. The crane adapter 89 includes a shackle 90 at its upper end. The holding fixture 20A and the mobile crane 70 are connected by engaging a hook 71 provided on the mobile crane 70 with the shackle 90. The state in which the holding fixture 20A and the mobile crane 70 are connected is shown in FIG. 40.

[0153] A series of operations for transporting a flexible container 1, which is a suspended load, using a lifting and transporting unit 50A according to the second embodiment is similar to the series of steps of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 13. That is, the steps of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, except that the suspended load is transported using a crane truck 70 instead of a forklift 60 as the transport device. The steps of the lifting and transporting according to the second embodiment will be briefly described below.

[0154] When the lifting and transporting process according to the second embodiment is started, holding device 20A is connected to crane vehicle 70, which is a transport device (step S1). In step S1, hook 71 of crane vehicle 70 is hooked onto and fixed to shackle 90 provided on crane adapter 89 of holding device 20A. When hook 71 is engaged with shackle 90, crane vehicle 70 is connected to main body 21 and base 23 of holding device 20A via connection unit 25A.

[0155] Once the crane vehicle 70 is connected to the holder 20A, the hoisting device 10 is connected to the flexible container 1 (step S2). The process of step S2 is common to both Example 2 and Example 1. That is, as an example, an auxiliary rope 9 is fastened to the connection portion 11 of the hoisting device 10 in the manner of a lark's knot as shown in FIG. 18. By fastening the auxiliary rope 9, the hoisting device 10 is connected to the flexible container 1.

[0156] Once the hoisting tool 10 is connected to the flexible container 1, the hoisting tool 10 is positioned to the side of the flexible container 1 (step S3). The process of step S3 is common to both Example 2 and Example 1. That is, as shown in FIG. 19, the hoisting tool 10 is hung down from the side surface of the flexible container 1 on the x2 direction side. In the lateral positioning state shown in FIG. 19, the hoisting tool 10 is positioned so that the connection portion 11 is higher than the held portion 13. By performing these steps S1 to S3, the preparation stage (preliminary stage) for hoisting and transport is completed.

[0157] After positioning the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the hoisting tool 10 is held by the holding tool 20A (step S4). The driver gets into the driver's seat Se of the crane vehicle 70 and, as shown in Fig. 41, approaches the hoisting tool 10 from below while appropriately adjusting the height of the hook 71 holding the holding tool 20A. Then, as indicated by the symbol Pk, the holding tool 20A is raised while being moved slightly in the x1 direction, thereby accommodating the held portion 13 of the hoisting tool 10 in the accommodating hole 22 of the holding tool 20A.

[0158] The state in which the held portion 13 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 22 of the holder 20A is the same as in Example 1 (see each of FIGS. 21 to 24). That is, the held portion 13 is guided into the tapered region 26 of the accommodation hole 22 via the opening 40 of the main body 21 (each of the views in FIG. 21). Then, the connecting portion 15 is fitted into the guide groove 28, and while the connecting portion 15 is guided downward along the guide groove 28 (each of the views in FIG. 22), the held portion 13 is guided downward along the cylindrical region 27 until it reaches the bottom 32 of the accommodation hole 22 (each of the views in FIG. 23).

[0159] With held portion 13 supported by bottom portion 32, connecting portion 15 is guided along guide groove 29 from the side surface of base portion 29 on the x1 direction side toward the center of base portion 23, causing connecting portion 15 and connecting portion 11 to pivot around held portion 13 as a fulcrum. This pivoting reverses the position of suspender 10, and suspender 10 assumes a position in which held portion 13 is higher than connecting portion 11 (see each view of FIG. 24).

[0160] When suspender 10 is inverted and connection portion 11 moves below base portion 23, lower surface 34 of base portion 23 prevents connection portion 11 from floating up. In other words, by inverting suspender 10, holder 20A can more stably hold suspender 10. The state in Example 2 after step S4 is completed is shown in FIG. 42.

[0161] In this way, holding device 20A is brought close to hoisting device 10, which is in a laterally disposed state, and holding device 20A is moved upward so as to scoop up held portion 13 with main body 21, and hold portion 13 is accommodated in accommodation hole 22. Once held portion 13 is accommodated in accommodation hole 22, the operator operates crane vehicle 70 to move holding device 20A together with hoisting device 10 upward from the side of flexible container 1. In the process of raising holding device 20A to move it upward above flexible container 1, the process of step S4 is executed, and held portion 13 is held by bottom portion 32 of accommodation hole 22, and the posture of hoisting device 10 is reversed to prevent it from falling off. In other words, by the simple action of raising holding device 20A from below hoisting device 10, holding device 20A can stably hold hoisting device 10.

[0162] When the holding device 20A holds the hoisting device 10 and the position of the hoisting device 10 is reversed, the operator further moves the holding device 20A together with the hoisting device 10 in the x1 direction and upward, moving the hoisting device 10 above the flexible container 1 and placing it in an upward position (step S5).

[0163] Once the hoisting device 10 is in the upper position, a process of suspending and transporting the flexible container 1 is performed (step S6). When the hoisting device 10 is moved above the flexible container 1, the hoisting device 10 is further raised, causing each of the hoisting belts 7 to be pulled up by the hoisting device 10 and assume a self-standing position. Furthermore, as each of the hoisting belts 7 is pulled up, the flexible container 1 is suspended and lifted up from the floor G (see Figure 40). The operator appropriately operates the crane vehicle 70 to transport and place the flexible container 1 to be transported to the desired position.

[0164] After the flexible container 1 has been transported to the desired position, the hoisting device 10 is transitioned from the upper position to the side position, as in Example 1 (Step S7). That is, the operator lowers the hook 71, which is positioned higher than the upper surface of the flexible container 1, while backing the mobile crane 70 in the x2 direction. By operating the mobile crane 70, the hoisting device 10, which was positioned above the flexible container 1, moves to the side of the flexible container 1. By moving the hoisting device 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the auxiliary ropes 9 and the hoisting belts 7 lie on the upper surface 5 of the flexible container 1. Then, by moving the hoisting device 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, the state in which the flexible container 1 is suspended by the hoisting device 10 (suspended state) is released.

[0165] After moving the hoisting tool 10 to the side of the flexible container 1, a step of releasing the hold of the hoisting tool 10 is performed (Step S8). That is, the operator operates the crane vehicle 70 to move the holding tool 20A in the x2 direction and downward. By moving the holding tool 20A in the x2 direction while the held portion 13 is supported by the bottom portion 32 and the inner wall of the main body portion 21, a force pulling the connection portion 11 in the x1 direction is applied. As a result, the linking portion 15 is guided along the guide groove 29 in the x1 direction, and the linking portion 15 and the connection portion 11 pivot from below the holding tool 20 to the side of the holding tool 20, with the held portion 13 as a fulcrum.

[0166] After coupling portion 15 and connecting portion 11 pivot, holder 20A is moved downward, whereby hoisting device 10 is guided from below to above along guide groove 28 and storage hole 22. At this time, the position of hoisting device 10 is reversed again, and connecting portion 11 is now higher than held portion 13. Then, as hoisting device 10 is guided upward, held portion 13 is released to the outside of holder 20A through opening 40. As hoisting device 10 is released to the outside of holder 20A, the state in which hoisting device 10 is held by holder 20A is released. As the state in which hoisting device 10 is held by holder 20A is released, the process of step S8 is completed. Completion of the processes up to step S8 completes the operation of suspending and transporting one flexible container 1.

[0167] In this way, in Example 2, by using a holder 20A in which a connection unit 25A for a mobile crane 70 is connected to the main body 21, the mobile crane 70 can be used as a transport device to suitably hoist and transport a flexible container 1 in the same way as in Example 1. That is, instead of directly connecting the hook 71 of the mobile crane 70 to the hoisting belt 7 or auxiliary rope 9 of the flexible container 1, the mobile crane 70 and the flexible container 1 are indirectly connected via the hoisting transport unit 50A.

[0168] That is, the process of connecting the holding part 20A to the hook 71 and the process of connecting the sling 10 to the hoisting belt 7 or auxiliary rope 9 of the flexible container 1 are carried out in advance as preparation processes (steps S1 to S3). Then, by holding the sling 10 with the holding part 20A, the crane vehicle 70 holds the flexible container 1 via the hoisting transport unit 50A. The process of holding the sling 10 with the holding part 20A does not need to be performed manually, but can be performed by operating the transport device. Therefore, with a configuration in which the load and the transport device are indirectly connected via the hoisting transport unit 50A, the number of personnel required for slinging work can be reduced. In other words, the flexible container 1 can be hoisted and transported only by the operator of the transport device.

[0169] Like holding device 20, holding device 20A accommodates held portion 13 in accommodation hole 22 while guiding connecting portion 15 via guide grooves 28 and 29. By guiding connecting portion 15 via guide grooves 28 and 29, the posture of hoisting device 10 is reversed, with connection portion 11 positioned lower than held portion 13. Reversing the posture prevents auxiliary rope 9 fastened to connection portion 11 from becoming entangled in holding device 20A and interfering with lifting and transport. Furthermore, by guiding connecting portion 15 via guide grooves 28 and 29 and reversing the posture of hoisting device 10, hoisting device 10 assumes a position in which connection portion 11 and held portion 13 face each other, with guide groove 29 of base portion 23 sandwiched between them.

[0170] The width w2 of guide groove 29 is larger than the diameter L1 of coupling portion 15. On the other hand, the width w2 of guide groove 29 is smaller than the diameter L2 of held portion 13, and the width w2 of guide groove 29 is smaller than the width L3 of connection portion 11. That is, even if connection portion 11 is lifted due to vibration or the like, the lifted connection portion 11 does not pass through guide groove 29 but is stopped by the underside 34 of base portion 23. Therefore, when the posture of hoisting tool 10 is inverted, it is possible to prevent hoisting tool 10 from passing through guide groove 29 of base portion 23 and falling upward. Therefore, holding tool 20A can stably hold hoisting tool 10 without requiring manual holding operation. Therefore, flexible container 1 can be suspended and transported with holding tool 20A holding hoisting tool 10 more stably. In other words, flexible container 1 can be suspended and transported with the posture of flexible container 1 more stable. [Example]

[0171] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. A lifting and transporting unit 50B according to the third embodiment is composed of a lifting tool 10 and a holding tool 20B. The holding tool 20B according to the third embodiment differs from the holding tool 20A according to the second embodiment in that it is equipped with a rotating plate 93. In the third embodiment, as in the second embodiment, a crane truck 70 is used as the transporting device.

[0172] FIG. 43 is a front view of holder 20B according to Example 3. FIG. 44 is a plan view of holder 20B according to Example 3. As shown in FIG. 43, rotating plate 93 is a flat plate-like member disposed on the bottom surface of holder 20B. Rotating plate 93 is connected to the lower surface of connecting member 33. As shown in FIG. 44, rotating plate 93 is a substantially semicircular plate-like member that is wider than main body 21 in a plan view. Therefore, when holder 20B is placed on floor surface G, rotating plate 93 functions as a self-standing stand, allowing holder 20B to be placed stably.

[0173] As shown in Fig. 44, the rotating plate 93 has a plurality of through holes 94 formed at predetermined intervals along the outer periphery on the x2 direction side. Each of the through holes 94 passes through the rotating plate 93 in the up-down direction. A beheading rope 95 is attached to at least one of the through holes 94. By pulling the beheading rope 95 fastened to the rotating plate 93 via the through hole 94, the rotating plate 93 rotates around an axis in the z direction according to the position of the through hole 94 to which the beheading rope 95 is attached.

[0174] Rotating plate 93 is fixed to connecting member 33, which is fixed to main body 21 and base 23. Therefore, when rotating plate 93 rotates around an axis in the z direction, main body 21 and base 23 also rotate around an axis in the z direction. In other words, when rotating plate 93 rotates around an axis in the z direction, holder 20B as a whole rotates around an axis in the z direction. When holder 20B rotates, direction Dh in which guide groove 28 faces changes in a plan view. In other words, holder 20B according to Example 3 is configured so that direction Dh in which guide groove 28 faces can be adjusted to correspond to direction a in which connecting portion 15 of suspender 10 in a laterally disposed state extends.

[0175] In Example 3, two dismemberment ropes 95 are attached to the rotating plate 93. The dismemberment rope 95 attached to the through-hole 94 disposed on the left side of the rotating plate 93 (the lower side in FIG. 44) is referred to as dismemberment rope 95a. The dismemberment rope 95 attached to the through-hole 94 disposed on the right side of the rotating plate 93 (the upper side in FIG. 44) is referred to as dismemberment rope 95b to distinguish between the two. One end of each of the dismemberment ropes 95 is attached to the rotating plate 93 via the through-hole 94, and the other end is held by the operator of the transport device. The other end of the dismemberment rope 95 is not shown in FIG. 44 and other figures.

[0176] A series of operations for transporting a flexible container 1, which is a suspended load, using a hoisting and transporting unit 50B according to Example 3 is common to the steps of Example 2. However, in Example 3, in step S4, the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 faces can be adjusted so as to correspond to the direction a in which the connecting portion 15 of the hoisting tool 10 extends. Here, an operation for adjusting the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 faces using a rotating plate 93 in the holder 20B according to Example 3 will be described.

[0177] Figure 45 is a plan view of the hoisting transport unit 50B and the like in step S4. After the hoisting tool 10 is positioned to the side of the flexible container 1 in step S3, the hoisting tool 10 is held by the holder 20B in step S4. The driver gets into the driver's seat Se of the crane vehicle 70 and, while appropriately adjusting the height of the hook 71 holding the holder 20B, moves the holder 20B closer to the hoisting tool 10 from below (see Figure 41).

[0178] 45, however, there are cases where the direction Dh in which guide groove 28 faces in holder 20B does not exactly match the direction a in which connecting portion 15 extends in hanger 10. In other words, there are cases where guide groove 28 and connecting portion 15 do not exactly face each other, and direction Dh and direction a are misaligned.

[0179] If an attempt is made to accommodate holdable portion 13 in accommodation hole 22 when direction a, in which connecting portion 15 extends, and direction Dh, in which guide groove 28 faces, are misaligned, guide groove 28 and connecting portion 15 will not exactly overlap in a plan view, as shown in Figure 46. If holder 20B is raised in this state, holdable portion 13 will fit into accommodation hole 22 via opening 40, but connecting portion 15 will not be able to fit into guide groove 28 and will interfere with the upper surface of main body 21. As a result, connecting portion 15 cannot be guided downward along guide groove 28, and therefore suspender 10 cannot be held by holder 20B.

[0180] Therefore, if the direction a in which the connecting portion 15 extends and the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 faces are misaligned, the rotating plate 93 is rotated using the beheading rope 95 to adjust the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 faces. That is, as shown in FIG. 47 , the operator of the crane vehicle 70 (not shown) rotates the rotating plate 93 around the axis in the z direction by appropriately pulling each of the beheading ropes 95. As shown by the symbol Pu in FIG. 47 , when the beheading rope 95a is pulled, the rotating plate 93 rotates leftward (counterclockwise) (see symbol Lf). When the beheading rope 95b is pulled, the rotating plate 93 rotates rightward (clockwise). The angle by which the rotating plate 93 rotates can be adjusted by adjusting the pulling force on each of the beheading ropes 95.

[0181] As the rotating plate 93 rotates around the axis in the z direction, the main body 21 and the base 23 connected to the rotating plate 93 also rotate around the axis in the z direction. As a result, the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 provided on the side surface on the x1 direction side of the main body 21 faces also rotates around the axis in the z direction. Then, the driver pulls each of the escalator ropes 95 appropriately to rotate the rotating plate 93, thereby adjusting the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 faces so that it precisely matches the direction a, as shown in FIG. 47 .

[0182] By aligning the direction Dh of the guide groove 28 with the direction a of the connecting portion 15, the connecting portion 15 can be fitted into the guide groove 28 while the held portion 13 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 22, as shown in FIG. 47. After the connecting portion 15 is fitted into the guide groove 28, the operator operates the crane vehicle 70 to raise the holding tool 20B. By raising the holding tool 20B, the connecting portion 15 is guided downward along the guide groove 28 (see the views of FIG. 22), while the held portion 13 is guided downward along the cylindrical region 27 to reach the bottom 32 of the accommodation hole 22 (see the views of FIG. 23). The other steps in Example 3 are the same as those in Example 2, and therefore will not be described.

[0183] In this way, in the third embodiment, by providing the rotating plate 93 to the holder 20B, the direction Dh in which the guide groove 28 faces in a plan view can be arbitrarily changed. This prevents the operation of guiding the connecting portion 15 along the guide groove 28 from being hindered due to the direction Dh of the guide groove 28 not coinciding with the direction a of the connecting portion 15. The rotating plate 93 according to the third embodiment may also be applied to the holder 20 according to the first embodiment. That is, the rotating plate 93 may be provided at the bottom of the holder 20, making the holder 20 rotatable around an axis in the z direction.

[0184] <Other embodiments> It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the above description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims. For example, the present invention can be modified as follows:

[0185] (1) In each embodiment, the flexible container 1 is illustrated as having two lifting belts 7, but this is not limiting. As an example, the flexible container 1 may be configured to have a total of four lifting belts 7 on each side of the rectangular cylindrical body 3. As another example, the flexible container 1 may be configured to have a total of four lifting belts 7 on each corner of the body 3. The number and positions of the lifting belts 7 can be changed as needed to stably suspend the flexible container 1. In this case, the connection portion 11 of the hoisting device 10 is not limited to a configuration in which it is connected to all of the lifting belts 7, as long as the connection portion 11 is connected to multiple lifting belts 7 so that the flexible container 1 can be suspended in a stable position. As an example, if each of a pair of opposing lifting belts 7 is connected to the connection portion 11, the hoisting device 10 can suspend the flexible container 1 in a stable position by moving the hoisting device 10 above the flexible container 1 and lifting it up.

[0186] (2) In each embodiment, the forklift 60 and the crane 70 are exemplified as the transport device, but the present invention is not limited to these. Any transport device may be used as long as it can be connected to the holder 20 and can move the holder 20 three-dimensionally. As an example, a heavy machine with a movable arm or a transport robot can be used as the transport device. In particular, when an unmanned vehicle with a movable arm is used as the transport device, by using the lifting transport unit 50, the lifting transport process capable of stacking flexible containers 1 in multiple layers can be fully automated without the need for an operator.

[0187] (3) In each embodiment, the shape of the held portion 13 is not limited to a sphere, and may be any suitable three-dimensional shape as long as the shape is similar when viewed from multiple directions. By having similar shapes when viewed from multiple directions, when the suspender 10 is in a lateral positioning state, the holder 20 can approach from multiple directions to hold the held portion 13, regardless of the orientation of the through-hole 19 in the connection portion 11 (see FIG. 36). Examples of preferred shapes of the held portion 13 include a cube, a rectangular parallelepiped, a regular octahedron, a polygonal prism, and a cylinder.

[0188] (4) In each embodiment, the shape of the flexible container 1 is not limited to a rectangular tube, but may be any other suitable shape, such as a cylindrical shape.

[0189] (5) In each embodiment, the flexible container 1 is used as the suspended load, but this is not limiting. Other examples of suspended loads include bag-shaped objects to be transported, such as gabions or shopping carts with handles that can be switched between a lying position and an upright position.

[0190] (6) In each embodiment, the auxiliary rope 9 connected to the lifting belt 7 is fastened to the connection part 11 of the lifting device 10, but this is not limiting. Each of the lifting belts 7 may be fastened directly to the connection part 11. If the length of each of the lifting belts 7 is long enough to allow the lifting device 10 to be positioned to the side of the suspended load, each of the lifting belts 7 can be fastened directly to the connection part 11.

[0191] (7) In each embodiment, the guide groove 28 disposed in the main body 21 of the holder 20 has a constant width w1 in the vertical direction. However, this is not limited to this. That is, as shown in FIG. 48 , the guide groove 28 may be configured so that the width w1 narrows from the upper end to the lower end of the main body 21. In the holder 20D according to this modification, the width w1 of the guide groove 28 in the y direction is maximum at the upper end and minimum at the lower end. The guide groove 28 is configured so that the maximum value of the width w1 of the guide groove 28 in the y direction is smaller than the diameter L2 of the held portion 13 and the minimum value of the width w1 of the guide groove 28 in the y direction is larger than the diameter L1 of the connecting portion 15. Furthermore, it is preferable that the minimum value of the width w1 of the guide groove 28 in the y direction is equal to the width w2 of the guide groove 29 in the y direction.

[0192] By making width w1 of guide groove 28 maximum at the upper end, connecting portion 15 can be more reliably fitted into guide groove 28 in step S4, in which holder 20 scoops up and holds held portion 13. In other words, when holding portion 13 is accommodated in accommodation hole 22, it is possible to more reliably avoid a situation in which connecting portion 15 or connecting portion 11 interferes with the upper surface of main body portion 21, preventing suspender 10 from being guided downward. Furthermore, by making the maximum value of width w1 of guide groove 28 in the y direction smaller than diameter L2 of held portion 13, it is possible to reliably prevent held portion 13 from escaping to the outside of holder 20 via guide groove 28.

[0193] By making the minimum value of width w1 of guide groove 28 in the y direction greater than diameter L1 of connecting portion 15, connecting portion 15 can be reliably fitted from the upper end to the lower end of guide groove 28. In other words, connecting portion 15 is reliably guided by guide groove 28, and therefore suspender 10 can be guided from above to below main body 21 while preventing held portion 13 from coming off.

[0194] By making the minimum value of width w1 of guide groove 28 in the y direction equal to width w2 of guide groove 29, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a step between the lower end of guide groove 28 and guide groove 29. In other words, it is possible to prevent a situation in which connecting portion 15, guided at the lower end of guide groove 28, interferes with the step and is prevented from moving from guide groove 28 to guide groove 29. Therefore, the operation of guiding suspender 10 below main body portion 21 and inverting it into an upside-down position can be more smoothly executed.

[0195] (7) In each embodiment, the configuration in which the held portion 13 is a spherical member as shown in FIG. 2 has been described as an example, but is not limited to this. The shape of the held portion 13 is preferably a spherical body. The spherical body is a three-dimensional body having a shape similar to a sphere. Examples of spherical bodies include a sphere and an object having a shape combining a part of a sphere and a cone, as shown in FIG. 49.

[0196] 49, the held portion 13 is configured by combining a first member 13p having a shape corresponding to a part of a sphere (a shape with a part of the sphere missing) and a second member 13s having a shape corresponding to a cone. The second member 13s may have a rounded tip 13t. Other examples of the spherical body include an object having a shape combining a part of a sphere and a cylindrical body, and an object having a shape combining a part of a sphere and a frustum. [Explanation of symbols]

[0197] 1. Flexible container 3... Torso 5...Top part 7... Lifting belt 9... Auxiliary rope 10... Lifting equipment 11 … Connection 13 … Part to be held 15 … Connection part 17...Main body 19...Through hole 20 … Holder 21...Main body 22 ... Receiving hole 23 ... Base 25 … Connection unit 26 ... Tapered area 27 ... Cylindrical region 28 ... Guide groove 29 ... Guide groove 30…Top surface 32... bottom 33 ... Connecting member 34 … Bottom surface 35 ... Outlet 40 … Opening 41 … Inclined surface 60...forklift 61 ... Fork section 70... Crane truck 71 ... Hook 93... Rotating plate 94 ... through hole 95... Executioner's Rope

Claims

1. A sling used to suspend a transported object, a connection portion connectable to the transported object; a coupling portion connected to the connection portion; a held portion connected to the connecting portion via the connecting portion; Equipped with The connection portion is When connected to the object to be transported, the support member is configured to be movable together with the held portion between the side of the object to be transported and above the object to be transported. A sling characterized by the above.

2. The sling device according to claim 1, the connecting portion is a ring-shaped member, The connecting portion is configured to be able to fasten a belt-like or string-like handle portion of the transported object without opening the ring-shaped member. A sling characterized by the above.

3. The sling device according to claim 1, the connecting portion is a ring-shaped member, The held portion is a spherical body, The connecting portion is a rod-shaped body that connects the connecting portion and the held portion. A sling characterized by the above.

4. A holder connected to a conveying device capable of conveying the object to be conveyed and used to hold the sling according to claim 1, a holding portion that holds the held portion of the suspender; a connected portion connected to the conveying device; a fall prevention portion that prevents the held portion held by the holding portion from falling off the holding portion; A holder comprising:

5. The holder according to claim 4, a position reversing unit that reverses the position of the sling from a first position in which the connecting portion is positioned higher than the held portion to a second position in which the connecting portion is positioned below the held portion, The holding portion holds the held portion when the sling is inverted to the second position. A holder characterized by:

6. A holder connected to a conveying device capable of conveying the object to be conveyed and used to hold the sling according to claim 3, an accommodation hole having an opening at an upper end and accommodating the held portion through the opening; a prevention wall that is disposed at a position surrounding the accommodation hole and that prevents the held portion accommodated in the accommodation hole from falling out; a guide groove formed across one side surface and a bottom surface of the restricting wall to guide the connecting portion; A holder comprising:

7. 7. The holder according to claim 6, The inner wall of the restraining wall is configured to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction of the holder. A holder characterized by:

8. A lifting and transporting unit used to transport the object in a suspended state, A lifting and transporting unit comprising: a lifting tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and a holder according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

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