Transfer mover

Abstract

To provide a transfer mover which has a step panel at a lower position and moving at a small rotation radius.SOLUTION: A transfer mover 1 includes: a seat 7 on which a user is seated to face frontward; right-left step panels 6 on which a user seated on the seat 7 places the foot; two electric casters 9 for moving the transfer mover 1 in a desired direction; and right-left assist casters 11 for assisting a movement of the transfer mover 1. The two electric casters 9 are arranged on front and rear sides of a center in a right-left direction of the transfer mover 1, respectively. The right-left assist canisters 11 each has an assist wheel 15 smaller than a drive wheel 10 of the electric canister 9, and provided on a lower face of the right-left step panels 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an electric wheelchair equipped with electric drive wheels that apply driving force to the body and auxiliary wheels that maintain the posture of the body (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the electric wheelchair of Patent Document 1, the electric drive wheels are arranged on the left and right sides of the wheelchair, and the auxiliary wheels are arranged in front and behind the drive wheels.

[0003] The drive wheels and auxiliary wheels are arranged on approximately the same circumference, the center of which is approximately the same as the center of the electric wheelchair. Therefore, by rotating the left and right drive wheels in opposite directions, the electric wheelchair can be rotated around the center of rotation, making it easy to change direction.

[0004] In addition, because the two drive wheels are located in the center of the electric wheelchair in the front-to-rear direction, the auxiliary wheels located in front of and behind the drive wheels allow the wheelchair to move forward, backward, change direction, and stop in a stable state. In addition, because the auxiliary wheels are located on almost the same circumference as the drive wheels, the auxiliary wheels do not get in the way of changing direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-95855 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the electric wheelchair of Patent Document 1, the two drive wheels are located on the left and right of the center in the front-to-rear direction of the electric wheelchair. When changing the seat of such an electric wheelchair to that of a transfer device so that the user can transfer from the rear, it is necessary to position the step board on which the user places their feet when seated on the seat inside both drive wheels or above both drive wheels.

[0007] However, if the step plates are placed inside both drive wheels, it may be necessary to use a special or complex drive mechanism to avoid interference between the step plates and the drive mechanism of the drive wheels, or the spacing between the drive wheels may become wider in the left-right direction, increasing the turning radius.

[0008] On the other hand, if the step plate is placed above the drive wheels, the position of the step plate will be higher than the running surface. In this case, even if the seat configuration is changed to that of a transfer vehicle, transferring onto the vehicle will not be much easier. It is also possible to reduce the diameter of the drive wheels and set the position of the step plate lower, but this will cause problems in terms of running performance.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a transfer vehicle having a low step plate and a small turning radius. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The transfer vehicle of the present invention comprises a seat on which a user sits facing forward, left and right step boards on which the user seated on the seat places their feet, two electric casters for moving the transfer vehicle in any direction, and left and right auxiliary casters for assisting the movement of the transfer vehicle.

[0011] The two electric casters are respectively positioned at the front and rear of the center in the left-right direction of the transfer mobile device, and the left and right auxiliary casters each have auxiliary wheels with a smaller diameter than the drive wheels of the electric casters and are provided on the undersides of the left and right step plates. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, two electric casters are arranged at the front and rear of the center of the transfer device in the left-right direction, and auxiliary casters with auxiliary wheels having a smaller diameter than the drive wheels of the electric casters are provided on the undersides of the left and right step plates, so that the step plates can be arranged at a low position while minimizing the turning radius of the transfer device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a transfer machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing the transfer mobile device of FIG. 1 as seen from another direction. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show a transfer mobile device according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front and rear, respectively. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this transfer mobile device 1 includes a base plate 2 that functions as a chassis, pillars 3 that stand on the base plate 2, and resin covers 4 that cover the front and left and right sides of the pillars 3.

[0015] The base plate 2 is provided with a protrusion 5 that extends in the front-to-rear direction and has a cross section that is convex upward, and left and right step plates 6 that extend left and right from the left and right lower edges of the protrusion 5. The lower end of the pillar 3 is fixed to the front side of the protrusion 5 of the base plate 2. A seat 7 on which a user sits facing forward is fixed to the pillar 3. The upper surface of the step plate 6 forms step surfaces 8 on both the left and right sides on which a user seated on the seat 7 places their feet.

[0016] The left and right step plates 6 and step surfaces 8 are symmetrical about a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the left-right direction of the transfer mobile device 1. Two electric casters 9 that drive the transfer mobile device 1 are provided at the front and rear ends on the inside of the protrusion 5 of the base plate 2. Drive wheels 10 of the two electric casters 9 are located approximately on the above-mentioned plane of symmetry.

[0017] An auxiliary caster 11 is provided at each of the front and rear positions spaced apart on the back surface of the left edge of the left step board 6. An auxiliary caster 11 is provided at each of the front and rear positions spaced apart on the right edge of the back surface of the right step board 6. These four auxiliary casters 11 have the function of assisting the travel of the transfer mobile unit 1 while maintaining its posture when the transfer mobile unit 1 is driven.

[0018] An operation unit 12 that enables the user to give instructions to each electric caster 9 of the transfer mobile device 1, and an armrest AR on which the user can rest their arms, are provided at the upper end of the pillar 3. The operation unit 12 includes a joystick 13 that is used to instruct the start and direction of movement of the transfer mobile device 1, and an operation panel 14 that is used to give other instructions. Operation signals generated by the operation unit 12 are transmitted to each electric caster 9 via signal lines provided inside the resin cover 4 that covers the pillar 3.

[0019] The four auxiliary casters 11 and two electric casters 9 are attached to the mobility aid 1 so that their contact points with the running surface are positioned on approximately the same plane. However, the auxiliary casters 11 are attached so that they can be displaced vertically in response to a force applied in the vertical direction. In other words, the auxiliary casters 11 have the function of elastically displacing vertically in response to a force applied from the running surface.

[0020] Specifically, the auxiliary casters 11 are attached to the back surface of the step board 6 via elastic bodies such as rubber or springs. This allows the auxiliary casters 11 to move up and down in response to the unevenness of the running surface, ensuring that the electric casters 9 are properly and reliably in contact with the ground.

[0021] Each auxiliary caster 11 has an auxiliary wheel 15 having a smaller diameter than the drive wheel 10 of the electric caster 9. The height from the contact surface where the auxiliary wheel 15 touches the ground to the step plate 6 is set low in accordance with the small diameter of the auxiliary wheel 15.

[0022] The electric caster 9 has a function of rotating the drive wheel 10 around the axle and around a swivel shaft extending in the vertical direction in response to a given command (see JP 2020-24033 A). As such an electric caster 9, for example, NSK's Active Caster (product name) can be used.

[0023] The seat 7 is slightly elongated in the front-to-rear direction, facilitating easy transfer from the rear. That is, the seat surface of the seat 7 has no irregularities along its periphery that would hinder transfer. A battery 21 that supplies power to the motors of each electric caster 9 is provided on the upper surface behind the protrusion 5 of the base plate 2, i.e., below the seat 7.

[0024] In this configuration, when the joystick 13 is operated, a drive current controlled by the control unit of each electric caster 9 is supplied to the motor of each electric caster 9 based on the power supplied from the battery 21 in accordance with the operation, and each electric caster 9 is driven.

[0025] At this time, the electric casters 9 operate appropriately according to the operating position of the joystick 13, causing the transfer mobile device 1 to translate or rotate in any direction. Note that rotational movement also includes swiveling movement, which is rotational movement when the rotation axis is located outside the transfer mobile device 1.

[0026] As described above, according to this embodiment, two electric casters 9 are positioned at the front and rear of the center in the left-right direction of the transfer mobile unit 1, and auxiliary casters 11 with small diameter training wheels 15 are provided on the underside of the step boards 6 on both the left and right sides, thereby minimizing the turning radius of the transfer mobile unit 1 while allowing the step boards 6 to be positioned at a lower position.

[0027] Furthermore, the midpoint between the rotation axes of each electric caster 9 roughly coincides with the center of gravity of the weight including the transfer mobile unit 1 and the user, so that the transfer mobile unit 1 can rotate and move in a stable and smooth manner.

[0028] Furthermore, the auxiliary casters 11 are arranged so that they can elastically displace in the vertical direction in response to the force received from the running surface, thereby appropriately maintaining the frictional force that the electric casters 9 impart to the running surface, and allowing the transfer mobile unit 1 to be driven by the electric casters 9 without any problems.

[0029] Furthermore, the seat 7 on which the user sits has a shape that allows transfer from the rear, and coupled with the low positioning of the step board 6, the user can easily transfer from a bed or the like from the rear.

[0030] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of auxiliary casters 11 is not limited to four, but may be two, five or more. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1...transfer device, 2...base plate, 3...pillar, 4...plastic cover, 5...protrusion, 6...step board, 7...seat, 8...step surface, 9...electric caster, 10...drive wheel, 11...auxiliary caster, 12...operation unit, 13...joystick, 14...operation panel, 15...training wheel, 21...battery, AR...armrest.

Claims

1. A seat in which the user sits facing forward; left and right step boards on which a user seated on the seat places their feet; two electric casters for moving the transfer device in any direction; left and right auxiliary casters for assisting the movement of the transfer vehicle; The two electric casters are respectively arranged on the front and rear sides of the center in the left-right direction of the transfer mobile device, The left and right auxiliary casters each have an auxiliary wheel with a diameter smaller than that of the drive wheel of the electric caster, and are provided on the underside of the left and right step plates.

2. 2. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate positions between the electric casters substantially coincide with the center of gravity of the weight including the transfer device and the user.

3. 2. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary casters are provided so as to be elastically deformable in response to a force applied from the running surface.

4. 2. The transfer vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the seat has a configuration that allows transfer from the rear.

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