Conveyance instrument

Abstract

To provide a conveyance instrument which can easily move a pallet by wheels at the time of cargo conveyance, and which can bring the pallet into a stationary state so as not to move other than the time of cargo conveyance.SOLUTION: A conveyance instrument includes: a pallet 1; and an operation handle 10 including at least one guide wheel 15 at a lower end. The operation handle 10 includes an action part 14 hooked with a connection part 5 provided at least at one side part (for example, a side part 8A) of four side parts 8A-8D of the pallet 1. By a rotation action with the guide wheel 15 being the fulcrum, the side part 8A is raised with which the action part 14 is hooked in the pallet 1. The pallet 1 includes at least one caster wheel 60 at the side part 8C opposing to the side part 8A with which the action part 14 is hooked, and is movable by the caster wheel 60 in an inclined state where the side part 8A is raised with which the action part 14 is hooked, and the pallet 1 includes a restriction part 7 for being grounded and restricting the movement of the pallet 1 in a horizontal state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transport device that transports loads using pallets. [Background technology]

[0002] In on-site logistics, cargo is transported on pallets between warehouses and work sites or between processes, and the pallets are moved using, for example, hand lifts. However, hand lifts are heavy and the levers and operation are tedious, making them difficult to use, especially for beginners.

[0003] Therefore, a pallet that can be moved without using a hand lift or the like has been proposed, as in Patent Document 1. The pallet in Patent Document 1 has multiple wheels that can be detachably attached to the underside of the side facing the floor, and by attaching an operating handle to the pallet for manual transport, the pallet can be easily moved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-14960 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The pallet in Patent Document 1 cannot be kept stationary with the wheels attached, so the wheels must be removed from the pallet in order to keep the pallet stationary.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a transport device that can easily move a pallet using wheels when transporting luggage, and can keep the pallet stationary when not transporting luggage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses as its subject the delivery device described in item 1 below.

[0008] Item 1. A pallet having a rectangular shape in a plan view and an operating handle having at least one guide wheel at the bottom end, The operating handle has an action part that hooks onto a connecting part provided on at least one of the four sides of the pallet, and is configured to lift the side of the pallet on which the action part hooks by rotating the operating handle around the guide wheel as a fulcrum, The pallet has at least one wheel on a side portion opposite to the side portion on which the action portion is hooked, and is movable by the wheel in an inclined state in which the side portion on which the action portion is hooked is raised, and The pallet is provided with a restricting portion that restricts movement of the pallet by contacting the ground when the edge portion on which the acting portion is hooked is in a horizontal state before being lifted.

[0009] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in the following item 2 as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in item 1 above.

[0010] Item 2. The wheels are horizontally swivelable wheels, The conveying device described in item 1, wherein the regulating portion comprises at least one first fixed wheel that cannot rotate horizontally and rolls in a direction perpendicular to a pair of opposing sides of the pallet, and at least one second fixed wheel that cannot rotate horizontally and rolls in a direction connecting another pair of opposing sides of the pallet.

[0011] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in the following item 3 as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in item 2 above.

[0012] Item 3. The connecting portion is provided on each of the four sides of the pallet, Item 3. The conveying device according to item 2, wherein the wheels are provided at each of the four corners of the pallet.

[0013] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in the following item 4 as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in item 1 above.

[0014] Item 4. The wheel is a fixed wheel that cannot rotate horizontally, and is provided on the side of the pallet opposite to the side on which the operating part is hooked so as to roll in a direction perpendicular to the side, Item 1. The conveying device according to item 1, wherein the regulating portion includes at least one fixed wheel that cannot rotate horizontally and that rolls in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the wheels.

[0015] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in the following item 5 as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in item 4 above.

[0016] Item 5. Fixed wheels that cannot rotate horizontally and roll in a direction perpendicular to the connecting portion and the side portion are provided on each of the four sides of the pallet, The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the wheels are formed by fixed wheels provided on an edge of the pallet opposite to the edge on which the acting portion is hooked, and the regulating portion is formed by fixed wheels provided on two edges adjacent to the edge on which the acting portion is hooked.

[0017] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in Item 6 below as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in Item 1 above.

[0018] Item 6. The conveying device according to Item 1, wherein the regulating portion is configured by at least one protrusion protruding from the rear surface of the pallet.

[0019] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in the following item 7 as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in item 6 above.

[0020] Item 7. The conveying device according to Item 6, wherein the wheels are horizontally swivelable wheels.

[0021] Furthermore, the delivery device of the present disclosure encompasses the delivery device described in the following item 8 as a preferred embodiment of the delivery device described in item 7 above.

[0022] Item 8. The connecting portion is provided on each of the four sides of the pallet, Item 8. The conveying device according to item 7, wherein the wheels are provided at each of the four corners of the pallet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the conveyance device of the present disclosure, the pallet can be easily moved by the wheels when conveying luggage, and can be kept stationary when not conveying luggage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a delivery device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pallet of the first embodiment as seen obliquely from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pallet of the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the pallet of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the pallet of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view showing a part of the pallet of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged bottom view of a portion of the pallet of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the operating handle. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for moving the pallet of the first embodiment using the operating handle. [Figure 11]11 is a cross-sectional view showing the procedure for moving the pallet of the first embodiment using the operating handle, following FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pallet of the second embodiment as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for moving the pallet of the second embodiment using the operating handle. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the procedure for moving the pallet of the second embodiment using the operating handle, following FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pallet of the third embodiment as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a procedure for moving the pallet of the third embodiment using the operating handle. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the procedure for moving the pallet of the third embodiment using the operating handle, following FIG. 16. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a delivery device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] <Conveyance device of first embodiment> 1 shows a transport device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The transport device 100 includes a pallet 1 on which a load can be placed, and an operating handle 10 that is operated by a user to guide the movement of the pallet 1.

[0027] <Explanation of the operating handle> As shown in FIG. 9, the operating handle 10 includes a shaft portion 11, a grip portion 12, casters 13, and an operating portion 14 for connecting the operating handle 10 to the pallet 1.

[0028] The shaft 11 is made of, for example, a thin, rod-shaped steel material. The shape of the shaft 11 is, for example, circular in cross section, but is not particularly limited and may be rectangular or the like. The material of the shaft 11 is not limited to metal such as steel, but may also be resin, wood, or the like.

[0029] The handle portion 12 is a portion that a user grips with their hand when operating the operating handle 10. The handle portion 12 is made of, for example, a long, thin, rod-shaped steel material. The handle portion 12 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft portion 11 by, for example, welding so as to be perpendicular to the shaft portion 11. The shape of the handle portion 12 is, for example, circular in cross section, but is not particularly limited and may be rectangular or the like. Furthermore, the shape of the handle portion 12 is not limited to a rod shape, and various shapes can be adopted as long as the user can grip it with their hand to operate the operating handle 10.

[0030] The caster 13 allows the operating handle 10 to be easily moved on a floor, etc. The caster 13 includes at least one wheel (referred to as a guide wheel in this disclosure) 15, at least one fork 16, at least one shaft 17, and a mounting portion 18.

[0031] The guide wheels 15 can be various wheels used in known casters. The guide wheels 15 are located at the lower end of the operating handle 10, and as the guide wheels 15 roll on a floor or the like, the operating handle 10 can easily move on the floor or the like to guide the movement of the pallet 1. The forks 16 are made of, for example, a steel material having a U-shape in cross section. The mounting portion 18 is made of, for example, a steel material having an L-shape, a U-shape, or a square-shape in cross section. The materials for the forks 16 and the mounting portion 18 are not limited to metals such as steel, but may also be resin or wood. A shaft 17 is attached to a pair of opposing side plates of the forks 16, and the guide wheels 15 are attached to the shaft 17 in a rotatable manner. In the illustrated example, the caster 13 has two wheels 15, and the two forks 16 are fixed to the mounting portion 18, for example, by welding, with the mounting portion 18 sandwiched between them. The mounting portion 18 is then fixed to the lower end of the axle portion 11, for example, by welding, or the like. In the illustrated example, the caster 13 is a fixed caster in which the guide wheel 15 cannot rotate horizontally, but the guide wheel 15 may be a swivel caster in which the guide wheel 15 can rotate horizontally.

[0032] 1 and 11, the acting part 14 connects the operating handle 10 to the pallet 1 by hooking onto a connecting part 5 of the pallet 1, which will be described later. The acting part 14 is made of, for example, a thin, rod-shaped steel material, as shown in Fig. 9. In the illustrated example, the acting part 14 is attached to the mounting part 18 of the caster 13 so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the axle part 11 and the shaft 17 extend (axial direction).

[0033] As will be described in detail later, in the pallet 1, the connecting portion 5 is provided on at least one of the four side portions 8A-8D of the rectangular pallet 1 in a plan view. Note that the side portion of the pallet 1 is a portion having a predetermined width extending inward from a side forming the outline of the rectangular pallet 1 in a plan view.

[0034] 10 and 11, the operating handle 10 is configured so that when the acting part 14 catches on the connecting part 5 of the pallet 1, the rotation of the shaft part 11 with the guide wheel 15 as a fulcrum causes the acting part 14 to apply force to the pallet 1 from below via the connecting part 5, thereby lifting the side part of the pallet 1 on which the acting part 14 catches (side part 8A in FIGS. 10 and 11). As a result, the pallet 1 becomes inclined in such a way that the side part on which the acting part 14 catches (side part 8A in FIGS. 10 and 11) is positioned higher than the opposing side part (side part 8C in FIGS. 10 and 11).

[0035] The shape of the acting portion 14 can be changed as appropriate according to the shape of the connecting portion 5 of the pallet 1. The shape of the acting portion 14 is not particularly limited as long as the acting portion 14 can be hooked onto the connecting portion 5 to lock it in place, and at that time, by using the principle of leverage to tilt the operating handle 10 (shaft portion 11) with the guide wheel 15 as a fulcrum, the acting portion 14 can apply force from below to the pallet 1 via the connecting portion 5.

[0036] <Palette description> 2 to 4, the pallet 1 has a rectangular shape in a plan view. The pallet 1 is composed of, for example, a frame 2 having a rectangular frame shape in a plan view, and a base plate 3 having a rectangular shape in a plan view. In the illustrated example, the frame 2 and the base plate 3 have a square shape in a plan view, but may have a rectangular shape depending on the size and shape of the cargo to be loaded onto the transport device 100.

[0037] The frame 2 is formed by combining four elongated steel members, each having a square or U-shape in cross section, in a rectangular shape, and the four steel members are fixed by welding or the like. A reinforcing member 4 is provided on the inside of the frame 2. The reinforcing member 4 is formed by combining a plurality of elongated steel members, each having a square or U-shape in cross section, for example. In the illustrated example, the reinforcing member 4 is shaped like a cross in plan view, and is fitted inside the frame 2 and fixed to the frame 2 by welding or the like. The reinforcing member 4 may also have a lattice shape in plan view. The material of the frame 2 and the reinforcing member 4 is not limited to metal such as steel, but may also be made of resin, wood, or the like.

[0038] The base plate 3 is made of, for example, a flat steel plate, but is not necessarily limited to a flat plate. The base plate 3 is placed on the frame 2 and the reinforcing material 4, and is fixed to the frame 2 and the reinforcing material 4 by, for example, welding. The material of the base plate 3 is not limited to metal such as steel, but may also be resin, wood, or the like.

[0039] The pallet 1 does not necessarily have to be composed of a frame 2 and a base plate 3, but can take various forms, such as being composed of a single plate, or being composed of a top plate, a bottom plate, and multiple pillars connecting the top plate and the bottom plate.

[0040] <Explanation of the swivel wheel> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pallet 1 is provided with at least one caster 6. The caster 6 allows the pallet 1 to be easily moved on a floor or the like. As shown in Figure 3, the caster 6 includes at least one wheel 60, at least one fork 61, at least one shaft 62, and a mounting seat 63. In this embodiment, the caster 6 is a swivel caster in which the wheel 60 is swivelable horizontally, and in this disclosure, the wheel 60 that is swivelable horizontally is referred to as a swivel wheel.

[0041] The swivel wheels 60 can be any of various wheels used in known casters. The swivel wheels 60 come into contact with the floor or the like when the pallet 1 is in a horizontal position, and the swivel wheels 60 roll horizontally on the floor or the like, allowing the pallet 1 to move easily and in any direction on the floor or the like. The fork 61 is made of, for example, a steel material that is U-shaped in cross section. A shaft 62 is attached to a pair of opposing side plates of the fork 61, and the swivel wheels 60 are attached to the shaft 62 so that they can roll. The mounting base 63 attaches the fork 61 so that it can swivel horizontally. The mounting base 63 of the caster 6 is fixed to the frame 2 using, for example, screws or bolts, or the mounting base 63 is fixed to a mounting plate 9 that is fixed to the frame 2 by, for example, welding, using, for example, screws or bolts.

[0042] At least one caster 6 is provided on the side of the pallet 1 opposite to the side on which a connecting portion 5, which will be described later, is provided. For example, if the connecting portion 5 is provided on the side 8A of the pallet 1, at least one caster 6 is provided on the side 8C opposite to the side 8A. Similarly, if the connecting portion 5 is provided on the side 8B of the pallet 1, at least one caster 6 is provided on the side 8D opposite to the side 8B, and if the connecting portion 5 is provided on the side 8C or the side 8D of the pallet 1, at least one caster 6 is provided on the side 8A or the side 8B opposite to the side 8C or the side 8D, respectively.

[0043] In the illustrated example, a connecting portion 5 is provided on each of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, and therefore at least four casters 6 are provided on the pallet 1. The four casters 6 are provided at any position in the length direction of each of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, and are preferably provided at the end of each of the sides 8A-8D, i.e., at the four corners of the pallet 1.

[0044] <Explanation from the Regulatory Department> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pallet 1 is provided with a restricting portion 7 that restricts the movement of the pallet 1 by the casters 6 when the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on a floor or the like. If the restricting portion 7 is not provided, the pallet 1 can be easily moved on a floor or the like by the casters 6, making it easy to transport cargo. However, if the casters 6 do not have a stopper mechanism that stops the rolling of the swivel wheels 60, the pallet 1 cannot be placed in a stationary state without moving when not transporting cargo. The pallet 1 of the present disclosure is configured so that it can be easily moved on a floor or the like by the casters 6 when transporting cargo, and by providing the restricting portion 7, the pallet 1 can be placed in a stationary state without moving when not transporting cargo.

[0045] The restricting portion 7 is configured, for example, with a wheel that cannot rotate horizontally (referred to as a fixed wheel in this disclosure). Therefore, the pallet 1 is provided with a plurality of casters 70 each having a first fixed wheel 700A or a second fixed wheel 700B. In the illustrated example, a total of four casters 70 are provided on the pallet 1, two casters 70 each having a first fixed wheel 700A and two casters 70 each having a second fixed wheel 700B. The casters 70 are conventionally known fixed casters, and as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , each caster includes at least one first fixed wheel 700A or a second fixed wheel 700B, at least one fork 701, at least one shaft 702, and a mounting portion 703.

[0046] The first fixed wheel 700A and the second fixed wheel 700B can be various wheels used in known casters. The first fixed wheel 700A and the second fixed wheel 700B come into contact with a floor or the like when the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on the floor or the like. The fork 701 is made of, for example, a steel material having a U-shape in cross section. The mounting portion 703 is made of, for example, a steel material having a U-shape or a square-shape in cross section. The material of the fork 701 and the mounting portion 703 is not limited to metal such as steel, but may also be resin or wood. A shaft 702 is attached to a pair of opposing side plates of the fork 701, and the first fixed wheel 700A or the second fixed wheel 700B is attached to the shaft 702 in a rotatable manner. The fork 701 is fixed to the mounting portion 703 using, for example, screws or bolts. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the mounting portion 703 is fixed to the reinforcing member 4 or the frame 2 by, for example, welding.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3 , the first fixed wheel 700A is provided on the pallet 1 so as to roll in a direction perpendicular to a pair of opposing sides 8A, 8C of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1. On the other hand, the second fixed wheel 700B is provided on the pallet 1 so as to roll in a direction perpendicular to another pair of opposing sides 8B, 8D of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1. In other words, the first fixed wheel 700A and the second fixed wheel 700B roll in directions that differ by 90°. Therefore, for example, even if an attempt is made to move the pallet 1 in the direction in which the first fixed wheel 700A rolls, the caster 70 equipped with the second fixed wheel 700B functions to prevent the pallet 1 from moving. Also, even if an attempt is made to move the pallet 1 in the direction in which the second fixed wheel 700B rolls, the caster 70 equipped with the first fixed wheel 700A functions to prevent the pallet 1 from moving. In this way, by providing two types of fixed wheels 700A, 700B with rolling directions that differ by 90° on the pallet 1, when the pallet 1 is in a horizontal position, the movement of the pallet 1 by the casters 6 is regulated by the regulating section 7 (first fixed wheel 700A and second fixed wheel 700B).

[0048] In the illustrated example, the casters 70 serving as the regulating parts 7 are provided on the reinforcing material 4 so as to be positioned immediately inside the connecting parts 5 located at the longitudinal center of each of the four side parts 8A-8D of the pallet 1. As a result, as will be described in detail later, when the pallet 1 is tilted as shown in Figures 1 and 11, only the fixed wheels (700A in Figures 1 and 11) provided near the side part (side part 8C in Figures 1 and 11) opposite the side part of the pallet 1 that has been lifted due to the tilt (side part 8A in Figures 1 and 11) come into contact with the ground, and these fixed wheels roll on the floor or the like, thereby assisting the movement of the pallet 1 by the casters 6.

[0049] In the illustrated example, the fixed wheels 700A, 700B of the caster 70 are formed to protrude downward from the back surface of the pallet 1 to the same extent as the swivel wheels 60 of the casters 6, so that when the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on a floor or the like, both the fixed wheels 700A, 700B and the swivel wheels 60 come into contact with the ground. However, the fixed wheels 700A, 700B of the casters 70 may be formed as in the following modified example. In this modified example, the tires of the fixed wheels 700A, 700B are made of rubber, for example, and the fixed wheels 700A, 700B are formed to protrude downward from the back surface of the pallet 1 further than the swivel wheels 60. When the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on a floor or the like, the fixed wheels 700A, 700B first come into contact with the ground, and then the pallet 1 sinks due to its own weight or the weight of the cargo placed on the pallet 1, so that both the fixed wheels 700A, 700B and the swivel wheels 60 come into contact with the ground. In this modification, the movement of the pallet 1 can be effectively restricted by the fixed wheels 700A and 700B.

[0050] <Explanation of connecting parts> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pallet 1 is provided with a connecting portion 5 to which the action portion 14 of the operating handle 10 is connected. The connecting portion 5 is provided on at least one of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, which is rectangular in plan view. In the illustrated example, the connecting portion 5 is provided on all of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, which is rectangular in plan view. Although there are no particular limitations on the connecting portion 5, it is preferable that the connecting portion 5 be provided in the center of the length direction of each of the sides 8A-8D.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the connecting portion 5 is composed of, for example, a receiving plate 51 having a recess 50 and a pair of side plates 52.

[0052] The receiving plate 51 is fixed, for example, by welding, to the back surface of the frame 2 (the surface facing the floor or the like, opposite the surface on which the base plate 3 is placed). The receiving plate 51 has a "T" shape in cross section. The receiving plate 51 has a flat portion 510 hanging down from the frame 2 and a curved portion 511 that is bent in a "H" shape in cross section. The curved portion 511 is connected to the lower end of the flat portion 510 at the end of a long side portion 512, and the receiving plate 51 is fixed to the back surface of the frame 2 at the upper end of the flat portion 510 and the bent apex of the curved portion 511. The curved portion 511 has a recess 50 that opens downward between the long side portion 512 and the short side portion 513. The recess 50 has at least an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the inside and an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the outside, formed by the long side portion 512 and the short side portion 513 of the curved portion 511, and both the inclined surfaces are joined at the upper end.

[0053] The pair of side plates 52 are fixed to the underside of the curved portion 511 (the surface facing the floor, etc.) by, for example, welding. The pair of side plates 52 are flat plates. The pair of side plates 52 are fixed to the underside of the curved portion 511 so that the distance between their inner ends is wider than the distance between their outer ends, in other words, so that they open in a V-shape. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the pair of side plates 52 protrude downward beyond the short side portions 513 of the curved portion 511, and an insertion opening 520 for the receiving plate 51 into the recess 50 is formed between the outer ends of the pair of side plates 52.

[0054] As shown in Figure 10, the action part 14 of the operating handle 10 is inserted into the recess 50 through the insertion opening 520 between the pair of side plates 52 shown in Figures 5 to 8 with respect to the connecting part 5 of the pallet 1. Thereafter, as shown in Figure 11, the grip part 12 of the operating handle 10 is pulled toward you to tilt the shaft part 11 with the guide wheel 15 as the fulcrum. This causes the action part 14 of the operating handle 10 to rotate, and the tip of the action part 14 reaches the top of the curved part 511 of the connecting part 5 shown in Figures 5 to 8 while sliding along the long side part 511 (inclined surface), causing the action part 14 to catch on the connecting part 5, and at that time the action part 14 pushes the pallet 1 upward via the connecting part 5.

[0055] In this way, by tilting the operating handle 10, the pallet 1 receives a force from below by the acting part 14 due to the principle of leverage, and as a result, the side of the pallet 1 on which the acting part 14 catches (side 8A in FIGS. 10 and 11) is lifted. This causes the pallet 1 to tilt, and all of the pallet 1 except for the swivel wheel 60 and the first fixed wheel 700A on the side (side 8C in FIGS. 10 and 11) opposite the side on which the acting part 14 catches (side 8A in FIGS. 10 and 11) is raised above the floor or the like. Therefore, the restriction on movement of the pallet 1 by the restricting part 7 is released, and the pallet 1 can be easily moved across the floor or the like by operating the operating handle 10.

[0056] Furthermore, a pair of side plates 52 of the connecting part 5 are open in a V-shape, and the operating part 14 of the operating handle 10 inserted between the pair of side plates 52 can be rotated horizontally while hooked onto the connecting part 5. Therefore, the pallet 1 can be moved freely in any direction on the floor by operating the operating handle 10.

[0057] <Actions and Effects of the Conveying Device of the First Embodiment> As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the conveyance device 100 of the first embodiment described above includes a pallet 1 having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and an operating handle 10 having at least one guide wheel 15 at its lower end. The operating handle 10 includes an action part 14 that hooks onto a connecting part 5 provided on at least one of four side parts 8A-8D of the pallet 1 (for example, side part 8A). The operating handle 10 is configured to lift up the side part of the pallet 1 on which the action part 14 hooks (for example, side part 8A) by rotating around the guide wheel 15 as a fulcrum. The pallet 1 is configured as described above, and is provided with at least one swivel wheel 60 on a side (e.g., side 8C) opposite to a side (e.g., side 8A) on which the acting part 14 is hooked, and is movable by the swivel wheel 60 in an inclined state in which the side (e.g., side 8A) on which the acting part 14 is hooked is raised, and the pallet 1 is characterized by being provided with a regulating part 7 that comes into contact with the ground and regulates the movement of the pallet 1 in a horizontal state before the side (e.g., side 8A) on which the acting part 14 is hooked is raised.

[0058] According to the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, the pallet 1 can be tilted by operating the operating handle 10, and the pallet 1 can be easily moved on a floor or the like using the swivel wheels 60. The operating handle 10 is lighter than a hand lift or the like, so the pallet 1 loaded with cargo can be easily transported. Furthermore, when the operating handle 10 is removed from the pallet 1 and the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on a floor or the like, the movement of the pallet 1 is restricted by the first fixed wheel 700A and the second fixed wheel 700B serving as the restricting unit 7, so the pallet 1 can be placed stationary on the floor or the like so as not to move.

[0059] Furthermore, in the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, the swivel wheels 60 are rotatable in the horizontal direction, so that the pallet 1 can be moved in any direction on the floor or the like.

[0060] Furthermore, in the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, connecting portions 5 are provided on each of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, and swivel wheels 60 are provided at the four corners of the pallet 1, so that the operating handle 1 can be set on the pallet 1 from any of the four directions to move the pallet 1.

[0061] <Modification of the Delivery Device of the First Embodiment> In the transport device 100 of the first embodiment described above, it is not necessary that four connecting portions 5 are provided on the pallet 1, but it is sufficient that at least one connecting portion 5 is provided. In this case, it is sufficient that at least one swivel wheel 60 is provided on the side of the pallet 1 opposite the side on which the connecting portion 5 is provided, but it is preferable that a plurality of swivel wheels 60 are provided on the pallet 1, and it is most preferable that one wheel is provided at each of the four corners of the pallet 4.

[0062] Furthermore, in the conveying device 100 of the first embodiment described above, the first fixed wheel 700A and the second fixed wheel 700B constituting the regulating section 7 do not necessarily need to be provided near each of the side portions 8A-8D of the pallet 1, but can be provided at any appropriate position, such as the center of the pallet 1.

[0063] <Conveyance device of second embodiment> 13 and 14, the conveying device 100 of the second embodiment shown is the same as the conveying device 100 of the first embodiment described above in terms of the configuration of the handle 10, and the pallet 1 is also the same as the configuration of the frame 2, base plate 3, reinforcing member 4, connecting portion 5, caster 6, and mounting plate 9. Therefore, in the following description of the conveying device 100 of the second embodiment, the frame 2, base plate 3, reinforcing member 4, connecting portion 5, caster 6, and mounting plate 9 are assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted, and only the restriction portion 7, which has a different configuration from the conveying device 100 of the first embodiment, will be described in detail.

[0064] In the pallet 1 of the conveyance device 100 of the second embodiment, the restricting portion 7 is composed of at least one protrusion 71 protruding from the back surface of the pallet 1 (the surface facing the floor, etc.) as shown in Fig. 12. In the illustrated example, the protrusion 71 is composed of a rod-shaped steel material, and multiple protrusions 71 are fixed to the back surface of the base plate 3 by, for example, welding. The shape of the protrusion 71 is, for example, rectangular in cross section, but may also be circular or the like, and is not particularly limited. The material of the protrusion 71 is not limited to metal such as steel, but may also be resin, wood, or the like.

[0065] 13, the protrusions 71 protrude downward from the back surface of the pallet 1, and come into contact with the floor or the like when the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on the floor or the like. In this case, as in the illustrated example, the swivel wheels 60 may come into contact with the floor together with the protrusions 71, or the swivel wheels 60 may not come into contact with the floor but may float above the floor or the like, with only the protrusions 71 coming into contact with the floor.

[0066] In the illustrated example, the protrusions 71 are formed to protrude downward from the back surface of the pallet 1 to the same extent as the swivel wheels 60, so that both the protrusions 71 and the swivel wheels 60 are in contact with the ground. However, the protrusions 71 may be formed as in the following modified example. In this modified example, an elastic member such as rubber or a spring is attached to the tip of the protrusion 71 on the side that comes into contact with the floor or the like, so that the protrusions 71 are formed to protrude downward from the back surface of the pallet 1 further than the swivel wheels 60. When the pallet 1 is placed horizontally on a floor or the like, the protrusions 71 first touch the ground, and then the pallet 1 sinks due to its own weight or the weight of the cargo placed on it, so that both the protrusions 71 and the swivel wheels 60 touch the ground. In this modified example, the protrusions 71 can effectively restrict movement of the pallet 1. Note that an elastic member such as rubber or a spring may be attached to the base end of the protrusions 71 on the pallet 1 side. On the other hand, when only the protrusions 71 are in contact with the ground, the protrusions 71 are formed to protrude downward from the back surface of the pallet 1 further than the swivel wheels 60.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , in the transport device 100 of the second embodiment, similarly to the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, when the operating portion 14 of the operating handle 10 is applied to the connecting portion 5 of the pallet 1 to tilt the pallet 1, all of the pallet 1 except for the swivel wheels 60 on the side (side 8C in the illustrated example) opposite the side on which the operating portion 14 is hooked (side 8A in the illustrated example) is raised above the floor or the like. This releases the restriction on the movement of the pallet 1 by the restricting portion 7, allowing the pallet 1 to be easily moved across the floor or the like by operating the operating handle 10. This allows the pallet 1 loaded with cargo to be easily transported. Furthermore, when the operating handle 10 is removed from the pallet 1 and the pallet 1 is placed horizontally, the protrusion 71 of the restricting portion 7 restricts the movement of the pallet 1, allowing the pallet 1 to be placed stationary on the floor or the like.

[0068] Furthermore, in the transport device 100 of the second embodiment, the swivel wheels 60 are rotatable in the horizontal direction, so that the pallet 1 can be moved in any direction on the floor or the like.

[0069] In addition, the conveying device 100 of the second embodiment has connecting parts 5 on each of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, and swivel wheels 60 on each of the four corners of the pallet 1, so that the operating handle 1 can be set on the pallet 1 from any of the four directions to move the pallet 1.

[0070] <Modification of the Delivery Device of the Second Embodiment> In the conveying device 100 of the second embodiment described above, similarly to the conveying device 100 of the first embodiment, it is not necessary that four connecting portions 5 are provided on the pallet 1, but it is sufficient that at least one is provided. In this case, it is sufficient that at least one swivel wheel 60 is provided on the side of the pallet 1 opposite the side on which the connecting portion 5 is provided, but it is preferable that a plurality of swivel wheels 60 are provided on the pallet 1, and it is most preferable that one wheel is provided at each of the four corners of the pallet 4.

[0071] Furthermore, in the transport device 100 of the second embodiment described above, the restricting portion 7 does not necessarily have to be composed of multiple protrusions 7, but may be composed of a single large protrusion 71. Furthermore, the protrusion 71 does not necessarily have to be provided in the center of the pallet 1, and can be provided in any suitable position, for example, near each of the sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1.

[0072] Furthermore, in the transport device 100 of the second embodiment described above, the casters 6 are swivel casters in which the wheels 60 can swivel horizontally, but the wheels 60 may be fixed casters in which the wheels 60 cannot swivel horizontally.

[0073] <Transportation device of third embodiment> 16 and 17, the conveying device 100 of the third embodiment shown has the same handle 10 configuration as the conveying device 100 of the first embodiment described above, and the pallet 1 also has the same frame 2, base plate 3, reinforcing member 4, connecting portion 5, and restricting portion 7 configuration. Therefore, in the following description of the conveying device 100 of the third embodiment, the frame 2, base plate 3, reinforcing member 4, connecting portion 5, and restricting portion 7 are assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences from the conveying device 100 of the first embodiment will be described in detail.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 15, the pallet 1 of the transport device 100 of the third embodiment does not have the casters 6 (swivel casters equipped with horizontally swivel wheels 60) that are present in the pallet 1 of the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, and instead has a plurality of casters 70 equipped with first fixed wheels 700A or second fixed wheels 700B that cannot swivel horizontally, which function as regulating parts 7 and also function as casters that allow the pallet 1 to be easily moved on a floor or the like.

[0075] In the illustrated example, a total of eight casters 70 are provided on the pallet 1, including four casters 70 equipped with first fixed wheels 700A and four casters 70 equipped with second fixed wheels 700B. Two first fixed wheels 700A are provided on each of a pair of opposing sides 8A, 8C of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, and the wheels roll in a direction perpendicular to the sides 8A, 8C. Two second fixed wheels 700B are provided on each of another pair of opposing sides 8B, 8D of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, and the wheels roll in a direction perpendicular to the sides 8B, 8D. As a result, similar to the conveyance device 100 of the first embodiment, the rolling directions of the first fixed wheels 700A and the second fixed wheels 700B differ by 90°.

[0076] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, in the transport device 100 of the third embodiment, similarly to the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, when the pallet 1 is in a horizontal position, the movement of the pallet 1 is restricted by the restricting portion 7 (first fixed wheel 700A and second fixed wheel 700B), so that the pallet 1 can be placed in a stationary state on the floor or the like so as not to move.

[0077] 17, when the acting portion 14 of the operating handle 10 is applied to the connecting portion 5 of the pallet 1 to tilt the pallet 1, all of the pallet 1 except for the fixed wheel (first fixed wheel 700A in FIG. 17) on the side (side 8C in FIG. 17) opposite the side on which the acting portion 14 is hooked (side 8A in FIG. 17) is raised above the floor or the like. This releases the restriction on the movement of the pallet 1 by the restricting portion 7, and the pallet 1 can be easily moved across the floor or the like by operating the operating handle 10. This allows the pallet 1 loaded with cargo to be transported easily.

[0078] In the illustrated example, the casters 70 are attached to the reinforcement 4 or the frame 2 so as to be located on both sides of the connecting portions 5 located in the longitudinal center of the four sides 8A-8D of the pallet 1, respectively, but the positions and number of the casters 70 are not particularly limited. In the illustrated example, the eight casters 70 enable the pallet 1 to be stably maintained in a horizontal position. Furthermore, when the pallet 1 is tilted, the pallet 1 can be stably moved on the floor or the like by two fixed wheels (700A in FIGS. 16 and 17) provided on the side (side 8C in FIGS. 16 and 17) opposite the side (side 8A in FIGS. 16 and 17) of the pallet 1 that has been raised due to the tilt.

[0079] <Modification of the conveyance device of the third embodiment> In the transport device 100 of the third embodiment described above, similarly to the transport device 100 of the first embodiment, it is not necessary that four connecting portions 5 are provided on the pallet 1, but it is sufficient that at least one connecting portion is provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 100 Transport equipment 1 palette 5 Connecting part 7. Regulatory Department 8A One side of the pallet 8B One side of the pallet 8C One side of the pallet One side of an 8D pallet 10 Operating handle 14 Acting part 15 Guided wheels 60 Swivel Wheel 71 Protrusion 700A first fixed wheel 700B Second fixed wheel

Claims

1. A rectangular pallet in plan view, an operating handle having at least one guide wheel at its lower end; Equipped with The operating handle has an action part that hooks onto a connecting part provided on at least one of the four sides of the pallet, and is configured to lift the side of the pallet on which the action part hooks by rotating the operating handle around the guide wheel as a fulcrum, The pallet has at least one wheel on a side portion opposite to the side portion on which the action portion is hooked, and is movable by the wheel in an inclined state in which the side portion on which the action portion is hooked is raised, and The pallet is provided with a restricting portion that restricts movement of the pallet by contacting the ground when the edge portion on which the acting portion is hooked is in a horizontal state before being lifted.

2. The wheels are horizontally swivel wheels, The restriction portion is At least one first fixed wheel that cannot rotate horizontally and that rolls in a direction perpendicular to a pair of opposing sides of the pallet; At least one second fixed wheel that cannot rotate horizontally and that rolls in a direction connecting another pair of opposing sides of the pallet; The delivery device of claim 1 , comprising:

3. The connecting portion is provided on each of the four sides of the pallet, 3. The transport device of claim 2, wherein the wheels are provided at each of the four corners of the pallet.

4. The wheel is a fixed wheel that cannot turn horizontally, and is provided on a side portion of the pallet opposite to a side portion on which the action portion is hooked so as to roll in a direction perpendicular to the side portion, The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the restricting portion comprises at least one fixed wheel that is unable to pivot horizontally and that rolls in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the wheels.

5. The pallet is provided with fixed wheels on each of its four sides that are unable to rotate horizontally and roll in a direction perpendicular to the connecting portions and the sides, The conveying device described in claim 4, wherein the wheel is constituted by a fixed wheel provided on an edge of the pallet opposite to the edge on which the acting portion is hooked, and the regulating portion is constituted by fixed wheels provided on two edges adjacent to the edge on which the acting portion is hooked.

6. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the restricting portion is formed of at least one protrusion protruding from the rear surface of the pallet.

7. 7. The transport device of claim 6, wherein the wheels are horizontally swivelable wheels.

8. The connecting portion is provided on each of the four sides of the pallet, 8. The transport device of claim 7, wherein the wheels are provided at each of the four corners of the pallet.

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