Metal fitting for fixing center pillar

Abstract

To enable lifting operation of a rod even if the rod of a conventional metal fitting for fixing a center pillar is difficult to be lifted and housed.SOLUTION: The upper mechanism 8 is provided with a rod 80 and a grip part 81 for moving down the rod 80, and the lower mechanism 9 is provided with a rod 9 which moves up and down together with the rod 80, and the rod 9 is moved down by moving the rod 80 in an upward moving position, and the upper mechanism 8 is provided with a coil spring 9 which energizes the rod 9 in the upward moving direction when the rod 9 moves down.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a center pole fixing bracket. [Background technology]

[0002] A center post is used when multiple shutters are used to open and close a wide opening. The center post has a guide groove on the side that guides the edge of the shutter curtain, and the rod of the lifting and lowering fitting (center post fixing fitting) attached to the lower end of the visible part of the center post is dropped into the center post fixing tray buried in a predetermined position in the ground, thereby fixing it in a predetermined position in the width direction of the opening.

[0003] Such a tray for fixing a center pillar is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1. In such a lifting / lowering fitting for fixing a center pillar, the rod is lowered to a predetermined depth by grasping the grip at the upper end of the rod and pushing it in, thereby locking the lifting / lowering fitting and maintaining the rod in a lowered state relative to the tray, and the locked state is released by operating an unlocking operation part protruding from the case, allowing the rod to be raised by the biasing force of a spring.

[0004] When installing a multiple shutter with a center pillar in an opening, if there is an obstacle D, such as a display window or other equipment or a frame, near the installation location of the center pillar, it may be difficult to raise and lower the rod of the lifting / lowering fitting (especially the unlocking operation). For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the presence of the obstacle D makes it difficult to unlock the lifting / lowering fitting 6' (slide the unlocking operation part 843'). [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2018-48466 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a center pillar fixing bracket that allows for the rod to be raised and lowered even in cases where the rod is difficult to raise and lower using conventional center pillar fixing brackets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technical means adopted by the present invention are: an upper lifting rod; and a pushing operation unit that moves the upper lifting rod downward; an upper mechanism comprising: a lower mechanism including a lower lifting rod that moves up and down together with the upper lifting rod; It consists of When the upper lift rod is moved downward from the upper position, the lower lift rod is moved to the lower position. the lower mechanism includes a lower spring that urges the lower lifting rod in an upward movement direction when the lower lifting rod moves downward; The upper mechanism is provided with a locking mechanism that maintains the lower lifting rod in a downwardly moved position, and a lock release operation unit that releases the locking position of the locking mechanism. It is a bracket for fixing the center column. The pushing operation portion is a broad concept including a grip portion, a handle portion, and the like.

[0007] In one embodiment, the lower end of the upper lift rod and the upper end of the lower lift rod abut against each other. In this device, the lower lift rod moves downward when the upper lift rod moves downward, and the upper lift rod moves upward when the lower lift rod moves upward (biasing force by the lower spring). Alternatively, a recess may be formed in the upper end of the lower lifting rod, and the lower end of the upper lifting rod may be fitted into and come into contact with the recess.

[0008] In one embodiment, an intermediate guide portion is provided that is exteriorly mounted so as to straddle a lower portion of the upper lifting rod and an upper portion of the lower lifting rod, The intermediate guide portion has a height that includes the vertical movement range of the abutting portion between the lower end of the upper lift rod and the upper end of the lower lift rod.

[0009] In one embodiment, the upper mechanism includes an upper spring that urges the upper lift rod in an upward movement direction when the upper lift rod moves downward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the center column fixing bracket of the present invention, by providing an operating unit (push-in operating unit, lock release operating unit) on the upper mechanism, the operating unit is positioned above and away from the ground, making it possible to raise and lower the rod of the center column fixing bracket even in an installation where there are equipment or structures near the center column installation location. Furthermore, by locating the operating unit at a distance above the ground, it is possible to operate it from a higher position, thereby reducing the physical burden on the operator (such as having to bend over to work). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a double shutter device equipped with a center post fixing lifting and dropping fitting according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the lower part of the center pillar of FIG. 1, with the lifting and lowering fittings fixed to the center pillar. [Figure 3] This is a partial front view of the lower part of the center post, with the lifting and lowering fittings in an unsecured state. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a double shutter device equipped with a center post fixing lifting and dropping fitting according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a partial side view of the lower part of the center pillar, with the lifting and lowering fittings in an unfixed state and the fixed state of the center pillar indicated by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are a front view and a side view of an upper mechanism of the lifting / lowering fitting according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the internal mechanism of the upper mechanism of the lifting / lowering fitting according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are a front view and a side view of a lower mechanism of the lifting / lowering fitting according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing an intermediate guide portion fitted to the contact portion between the rod of the upper mechanism and the rod of the lower mechanism of the lifting / lowering fitting according to this embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an inspection mark on the center column fixing tray. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a shutter device equipped with a conventional lifting and lowering fitting for fixing a center pillar. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] [A] Dual shutter An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a dual-mounted lightweight shutter, which opens and closes a building opening using a first shutter curtain 1 and a second shutter curtain 2. A first guide rail 3 and a second guide rail 4 are erected at both widthwise ends of the building opening, and a center post 5 is provided in the widthwise center of the building opening. The center post 5 has a generally rectangular cross-section, consisting of a first facing portion 50, a second facing portion 51, and left and right side portions 52. Guide grooves 53 are formed in the left and right side portions 52 along their height. A lifting and lowering bracket 6 is provided below the first facing portion 50 of the center post 5. A center post fixing tray 7 is buried in a predetermined location in the ground GL, and the lifting and lowering bracket 6 is used to fix the lower end of the center post 5.

[0013] By installing the center pillar 5 in a predetermined position, the building opening is divided into a first opening and a second opening, and the first shutter curtain 1 opens and closes the first opening by raising and lowering with one widthwise end guided by the first guide rail 3 and the other widthwise end guided by one guide groove 53 of the center pillar 5, and the second shutter curtain 2 opens and closes the second opening by raising and lowering with one widthwise end guided by the second guide rail 4 and the other widthwise end guided by the other guide groove of the center pillar 5.

[0014] [B] Lifting and lowering fittings [B-1] Overall configuration The lifting / lowering fixture 6 according to this embodiment comprises an upper mechanism 8 equipped with a rod 80 (upper lifting rod) and a lower mechanism 9 equipped with a rod 90 (lower lifting rod). The lower end of rod 80 abuts against the upper end of rod 90, allowing rod 90 to rise and fall together with rod 80. The upper mechanism 8 is equipped with a pushing operation part (gripping part 81) that moves rod 80 downward; by grasping gripping part 81 and moving rod 80 downward from the upper position, rod 90 moves to the lower position (center column fixed position).

[0015] The lower mechanism 9 is equipped with a lower spring (coil spring 92) that urges the rod 90 in an upward direction when the rod 90 moves downward, and the upper mechanism 8 is equipped with an upper spring (coil spring 83) that urges the rod 80 in an upward direction when the rod 80 moves downward. The upper mechanism 8 is provided with a locking mechanism that maintains the downward movement position of the rod 90, and a lock release operation unit 843 that releases the locked state of the locking mechanism. When the locking state of the locking mechanism provided in the upper mechanism 8 is released while the rods 80 and 90 are in the downward movement position (center column fixed position), the urging forces of the coil springs 92 and 83 cause the rods 90 and 80 to move upward to the upward movement position (center column unfixed position).

[0016] The operations of fixing and unlocking the center column using the lifting and dropping fittings 6 of this embodiment can be performed by the operating units (push-in operating unit 81, unlock operating unit 843) provided on the upper mechanism 8, without being affected by obstacles D such as equipment or structures near the center column installation location.

[0017] [B-2] Upper mechanism As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the upper mechanism 8 includes left and right rods 80, 80, an upper grip 81, an inverted U-shaped lifting / lowering rod 8', and a case 82 that supports the lifting / lowering rod 8' for vertical movement. The case 82 is hat-shaped in side view and includes a surface 820, an upper surface 821, a lower surface 822, left and right side surfaces 823, an upper piece 824, and a lower piece 825. The upper piece 824 and the lower piece 825 are abutted against the first mounting portion 50 of the center column 5 at a predetermined height and fixed with fastening members. The lifting / lowering rod 8' is vertically movable between an upper position and a lower position. In Figure 7, the rod 80 in the upper position is indicated by a solid line, and the rod 80 in the lower position is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Note that Figure 6 is a front view, and Figure 7 is a rear view, and the views are reversed.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 7, coil springs 83 are fitted to the left and right rods 80 at their locations inside the case 82 (locations between the upper surface 821 and the lower surface 822). A plate-shaped lock piece 84 is journaled above the surface 820 of the case 82, and the lock piece 84 is able to swing or tilt around a shaft 84' provided above the surface 820 of the case 82. The lock piece 84 has a plate-shaped surface 840 that extends vertically, and a lower piece 841 is formed at the lower end of the right side (FIG. 7) of the surface 840, extending perpendicularly to the surface 840 (horizontal in FIG. 7), and the rod 80 on the right side (FIG. 7) is inserted into the lower piece 841. A convex abutment portion 842 is formed on the left side (FIG. 7) of the surface 840 of the lock piece 84.

[0019] A protrusion 800 is provided at an upper position on the portion of each rod 80 located inside the case 82, and the upper end of the coil spring 83 abuts against the protrusion 800 from below. The lower end of the coil spring 83 on the right side (FIG. 7) abuts against a lower piece 841, and when the lower piece 841 is in a horizontal position, the lower piece 841 abuts against or is close to the lower surface 822 of the case 82. The lower end of the coil spring 83 on the left side (FIG. 7) abuts against the lower surface 822 of the case 82.

[0020] As the lifting / lowering rod 8' moves up and down, the protrusion 800 on the rod 80 also moves up and down, but the convex abutment portion 842 is located on the lifting path of the protrusion 800 of the left-side rod 80 (Fig. 7). The protrusion 800 of the right-side rod 80 (Fig. 7) abuts only the upper end of the coil spring 83, and does not come into contact with the lock piece 84.

[0021] An unlocking operation portion 843 protrudes from the lower portion of the face portion 840 of the lock piece 84, and the unlocking operation portion 843 protrudes to the outside of the case 82 through a horizontally elongated hole 826 formed in the face portion 820 of the case 82. When the lock piece 84 swings, the unlocking operation portion 843 moves left and right along the horizontally elongated hole 826.

[0022] When the lifting / lowering rod 8' is in the upper position, the coil spring 83 is extended in the longitudinal direction of the rod 80, and the protrusion 800 of the rod 80 is close to or in contact with the upper surface 821 of the case 82. The lower portion of the rod 80 protrudes downward from the lower surface 822 of the case 82. The lower piece 841 of the lock piece 84 is in a horizontal position and is in contact with or close to the lower surface 822 of the case 82. The unlocking operation portion 843 is located on the right side (Figure 6) within the horizontally elongated hole 826.

[0023] From this state, when the gripping portion 81 is grasped and the lifting / lowering rod 8' is pushed downward, the coil spring 83 is compressed by the protrusion 800 which moves downward in accordance with the downward movement of the rod 80. Then, the protrusion 800 of the rod 80 on the left side (FIG. 7) moves downward while abutting against the convex abutment portion 842 on the side of the face portion 840 of the lock piece 84, causing the lock piece 84 to tilt around the shaft 84' as a fulcrum, and when it overcomes the convex abutment portion 842, the downward biasing force of the coil spring 83 on the right side returns the lock piece 84 to a horizontal position, and the protrusion 800 assumes a locked position in which it is engaged with the underside of the convex abutment portion 842.

[0024] The lock piece 84 is biased by the coil spring 83 so that the lower piece 841 maintains a horizontal position. When the protrusion 800 of the descending rod 80 passes over the convex abutment portion 842, the lock piece 84 tilts about the axis 84', and the lower piece 841 moves in a direction away from the underside 822 of the case 82, at which point the coil spring 83 is in its most compressed state. After passing over the convex abutment portion 842, the coil spring 83 (which is in a compressed state and whose upper end position is determined by the protrusion 800) slightly expands, pushing the lower piece 841 down to a horizontal position, at which point the protrusion 800 engages with the underside of the convex abutment portion 842, thereby assuming a locked position. That is, in the lifting / dropping fitting 6 of this embodiment, the locking mechanism is made up of the lock piece 84, the protrusion 800 on the rod 80, and the coil spring 83.

[0025] When the lifting / lowering rod 8' is in the downward movement position, the lower portion of the rod 80 protrudes downward from the lower end of the lower piece 825 of the case 82, the coil spring 83 is compressed in the longitudinal direction of the rod 80, and one of the projections 800 is engaged with the lower part of the abutted convex portion 842, thereby restricting upward movement and locking the rod 80. The rod 80 is urged upward by the compressed coil spring 83. The unlocking operation portion 843 is positioned toward the right side (FIG. 6) within the oblong hole 826. In this state, if the unlocking operation portion 843 is forcibly moved to the left, the lock piece 84 tilts about the shaft 84' as a fulcrum, the engagement between the projection 800 and the abutted convex portion 842 is released, and the lifting / lowering rod 8', which is in the downward movement position, is raised to the upward movement position by the urging force of the coil spring 83.

[0026] [B-3] Lower mechanism The lower mechanism 9 includes left and right rods 90, 90, and a case 91 that supports the rods 90 so that they can move up and down. The case 91 of the lower mechanism is located below and spaced from the case 82 of the upper mechanism and is fixed at a predetermined height on the first facing portion 50 of the center post 5. The case 91 is formed of a face portion 910, an upper face portion 911, a lower face portion 912, left and right side face portions 913, an upper piece 914, a lower piece 915, and a horizontal lower end piece 916 that extends horizontally from the lower end of the lower piece 915 to the side opposite the lower face portion 912. The horizontal lower end piece 916 abuts or is close to the lower end of the center post 5, and the upper piece 914 and the lower piece 915 abut at a predetermined height on the first facing portion 50 of the center post 5 and are fixed by fastening members. The left and right rods 90 are movable up and down between upper and lower positions.

[0027] 8, coil springs 92 are fitted to the exterior of the left and right rods 90 at the portions thereof located inside the case 91. A protrusion 900 is provided at the upper portion of the portion of each rod 90 located inside the case 91 (a portion located between an upper surface portion 911 and a lower surface portion 912), and the upper ends of the coil springs 92 abut against the protrusion 900 from below. The lower ends of the left and right coil springs 92 abut against the lower surface portion 912 of the case 91.

[0028] When rod 90 is in the upward movement position, coil spring 92 is in an extended position in the longitudinal direction of rod 90, and protrusion 900 of rod 90 is close to or in contact with upper surface 911 of case 91. A lower portion of rod 90 protrudes downward from lower surface 912 of case 91, but in the illustrated embodiment, the lower end of rod 90 is located above the lower end of lower piece 915 (see FIG. 8).

[0029] When rod 90 is in the upward movement position, the lower end of rod 80 abuts against the upper end of rod 90, and rod 80 is pushed downward and moves downward, thereby moving rod 90 downward to the downward movement position. When rod 90 is in the downward movement position, the lower part of rod 90 protrudes downward further than the lower end of lower piece 915 of case 91, coil spring 92 is compressed in the longitudinal direction of rod 90, and rod 90 is urged upward.

[0030] [B-4] Intermediate guide section In the lifting / dropping fitting 6 according to this embodiment, an intermediate guide portion 10 is fitted over a lower portion of the upper rod 80 and an upper portion of the lower rod 90. As shown in Fig. 9, the intermediate guide portion 10 is composed of a pair of tubular portions 100 spaced apart in the left-right direction and a plate portion 101 connecting the pair of tubular portions 100, with the left tubular portion 100 fitted over a lower portion of the left rod 80 and an upper portion of the left rod 90, and the right tubular portion 100 fitted over a lower portion of the right rod 80 and an upper portion of the right rod 90, and the plate portion 101 is fixed by a fastening member in contact with the first attachment portion 50 of the center post 5 at a predetermined height. The pair of cylindrical portions 100 have a U-shape in cross section, and the diameter of the curved portion is slightly larger than the diameter of the rods 80, 90, which restricts misalignment of the central axes of the lower portion of rod 80 and the upper portion of rod 90 while allowing the lower portion of rod 80 and the upper portion of rod 90 to move up and down together. The cylindrical portion 100 of the intermediate guide portion 10 has a height that includes the range of up and down movement (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the abutting portion between the lower end of the upper rod 80 and the upper end of the lower rod 90.

[0031] [B-5] Overall operation In Figure 2, the lifting fixture 6 is fixed to the center column, and the rod 80 of the upper mechanism 8 and the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 are both in their lowered positions. The lower portion of the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 protrudes into the center column fixing tray 7, fixing the center column 5. The center column fixing tray 7 in this embodiment comprises a plate 70 with an elongated receiving hole extending in the opening width direction, and a recess 71 formed in the underside of the plate 70, and is buried below the building opening so that the top surface of the plate 70 is flush with the ground GL. The center column fixing tray 7 is designed to receive the rod 90 through the receiving hole of the plate 70 and into the recess 71 when the center column is fixed.

[0032] When the lifting / dropping fitting 6 is in a state fixed to the center pillar, the coil spring 83 of the upper mechanism 8 is in a compressed state, the coil spring 92 of the lower mechanism 9 is in a compressed state, and the lower end of the rod 80 of the upper mechanism 8 and the upper end of the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 are in contact. The position of the lifting / dropping fitting 6 fixed to the center pillar is maintained by a locking mechanism provided in the upper mechanism 8. More specifically, the protrusion 800 of one rod 80 engages with a convex contact portion 842 formed on one side of a face portion 840 of the lock piece 84, thereby maintaining a locked state in which the upward movement of the rods 80 and 90 is restricted.

[0033] When the lifting / lowering fitting 6 is to be placed in the center column unfixed state, the lock release operation portion 843 protruding from the surface portion 820 of the case 82 of the upper mechanism 8 is slid, causing the lock piece 84 to tilt and disengage the convex abutment portion 842 from the protrusion 800. The coil spring 92 of the lower mechanism 9 expands from its compressed state, causing the rod 90 to move upward via the protrusion 900 and pushing up the rod 80. At the same time, the coil spring 83 of the upper mechanism 8 expands from its compressed state, causing the rod 80 to move upward via the protrusion 800, resulting in the center column unfixed state shown in Figure 3.

[0034] 3, when the center column of the lifting / lowering fixture 6 is in an unsecured state, the rod 80 of the upper mechanism 8 and the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 are both in their upwardly moved positions, with the lower ends of the rods 90 positioned above the ground GL. The coil spring 83 of the upper mechanism 8 is in an extended state (one of the projections 800 is positioned above the convex abutment portion 842 of the lock piece 84), the coil spring 92 of the lower mechanism 9 is also in an extended state, and the lower end of the rod 80 of the upper mechanism 8 and the upper end of the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 are in contact with each other.

[0035] When the lifting / lowering fitting 6 is fixed to the center column, the gripping portion 81 protruding upward from the upper surface portion 821 of the case 82 of the upper mechanism 8 is pushed downward, causing the rod 80 to move downward while compressing the coil spring 83, and at the same time, the rod 90 moves downward while compressing the coil spring 92.As the rod 80 moves downward, the protrusion 800 of one of the rods 80 moves downward and abuts against the convex abutment portion 842 of the lock piece 84, causing the lock piece 84 to tilt in response, and when the protrusion 800 overcomes the convex abutment portion 842, it reaches the downward movement position (in reality, it moves downward a little beyond the downward movement position and then returns slightly upward to reach the downward movement position), and in the downward movement position, the protrusion 800 engages with the convex abutment portion 842 from below, entering an engaged state, thereby restricting the upward movement of the rod 80 and entering a locked state. When the rod 80 of the upper mechanism 8 moves down to the lower position, the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 also moves down to the lower position, and the rod 90 is urged upward by the compressed coil spring 92. However, the upward movement of the rod 80 is restricted by the locking mechanism of the upper mechanism 8, so that the upward movement of the rod 90 of the lower mechanism 9 is restricted and the fixed state of the center column is maintained.

[0036] [B-5] Supplementary Note In this embodiment, the case 82 and coil spring 83 of the upper mechanism 8 and the case 91 and coil spring 92 of the lower mechanism 9 can be made from the same elements. Strictly speaking, the shapes of case 82 and case 91 are different, but case 82 can be obtained by cutting the horizontal bottom end piece 916 from case 91. Therefore, by preparing rods 90 of different lengths, the height dimension of the lifting / lowering fittings (height position of the operating part) can be changed as desired depending on the fit at the site.

[0037] In this embodiment, the upper mechanism 8 is provided with a coil spring 83, but the coil spring 83 is an optional element if the biasing force of the coil spring 92 of the lower mechanism 9 is sufficient to move the rods 80 and 90 upward. In this case, a separate biasing means (for example, a coil spring provided on the shaft 84' of the lock piece 84) is required to maintain the lock piece 84 of the upper mechanism 8 in a horizontal position.

[0038] Although the lifting / dropping fixture 6 according to this embodiment includes a single lower mechanism 9, the height dimension (height position of the operating unit) of the lifting / dropping fixture 6 may be increased by providing multiple stages of the lower mechanism 9. For example, when the lower mechanism 9 is provided in two stages (a first lower mechanism or intermediate mechanism on the upper side and a second lower mechanism on the lower side), the lower end of the upper rod of the upper mechanism 8 abuts against the upper end of the intermediate rod (the element corresponding to rod 90) of the intermediate mechanism, and the lower end of the intermediate rod of the intermediate mechanism abuts against the upper end of the lower rod of the second lower mechanism, so that the upper rod, intermediate rod, and lower rod move up and down as a unit. In one embodiment, intermediate guide units 10 are provided above and below the intermediate rod. Both the first lower mechanism (intermediate mechanism) and the second lower mechanism may incorporate a coil spring, or a coil spring may be incorporated into either one of the lower mechanisms.

[0039] [C] Inspection mark for the center column fixing tray If debris accumulates at the bottom of the center pillar fixing tray 7, the lower end of the rod of the lifting / lowering bracket 6'' will hit it, reducing the amount that the rod protrudes downward, which could prevent the rod from lowering to the correct position and make the fixing of the center pillar unstable. The center pillar fixing tray 7 is buried in the ground GL, making it difficult to check the condition of the bottom from the outside, and making it difficult to determine whether debris has accumulated at the bottom and when it is time to clean the center pillar fixing tray 7.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 10 , in the lifting / lowering fitting 6″ formed in an inverted U shape from left and right rods 60, 60 and an upper gripping portion 61, a mark 600 is provided at a predetermined height on the rod 60 so that it can be recognized from the front. The mark 600 may be a visually recognizable mark or marking such as a round hole, a recess, an engraving, a horizontal groove, a horizontal line, a color mark, or color coding. In the illustrated embodiment, the mark 600 is provided on both rods 60, but it is sufficient that it is provided on at least one of the rods 60.

[0041] The mark 600 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10(A) to 10(E). In FIG. 10(A), the lifting / dropping fitting 6" is in the upper position (center column unfixed position). In this state, the rod 60 has a portion located above the case 62, and the mark 600 is provided at this portion. When the gripping portion 61 is pressed downward from this state to lower the rod 60, the rod 60 descends to the lowest position while compressing the coil spring (not shown). When the lifting / dropping fitting 6" is at its lowest position, the mark 600 recedes into the case 62 and becomes invisible (FIG. 10(B)). When the gripping portion 61 is released, the compressed coil spring expands slightly, causing the rod 60 to move slightly upward to the lowered position. When the lifting / dropping fitting 6" is at its lowest position, the mark 600 is exposed above the case 62 and becomes visible (FIG. 10(C)). That is, in normal operation of the lifting / lowering fitting 6", the mark 600 disappears once and then reappears as the rod 60 moves downward. Note that the mark 600 may be hidden inside the case 62 when the lifting / lowering fitting 6" is in its lowest position.

[0042] 10(D) and (E) show cases where debris has accumulated at the bottom of the center column fixing tray 7. In FIG. 10(D), the lifting / lowering fixture 6'' is in the upper position (center column non-fixed position). When the gripping part 61 is pushed downward from this state to lower the rod 60, the rod 60 descends while compressing the coil spring (not shown). However, before the coil spring is compressed and locked, the lower end of the rod 60 abuts against debris, preventing the rod 60 from descending to its set lowest position. The marker 600 never enters the case 62, indicating that the rod 60 has not descended to its correct lowered position. In other words, if the marker 600 is never hidden during the lowering of the rod 60, it can be determined that debris has accumulated at the bottom of the center column fixing tray 7 and that it is time to clean it. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 6 Lifting and lowering fittings 8 Upper mechanism 80 Rod (Upper lifting rod) 800 protrusion (locking mechanism) 81 Grip section (push operation section) 82 cases 83 Coil spring (upper spring, locking mechanism) 84 Lock piece (lock mechanism) 841 Lower piece 842 Convex contact part (locking mechanism) 843 Unlock operation part 9 Lower mechanism 90 Rod (lower lifting rod) 900 protrusions 91 cases 92 Coil spring (lower spring) 10 Intermediate guide section

Claims

1. an upper lifting rod; and a pushing operation unit that moves the upper lifting rod downward; an upper mechanism comprising: a lower mechanism including a lower lifting rod that moves up and down together with the upper lifting rod; It consists of When the upper lift rod is moved downward from the upper position, the lower lift rod is moved to the lower position. the lower mechanism includes a lower spring that urges the lower lifting rod in an upward movement direction when the lower lifting rod moves downward; The upper mechanism is provided with a locking mechanism that maintains the lower lifting rod in a downwardly moved position, and a lock release operation unit that releases the locking position of the locking mechanism. Bracket for fixing the middle pillar.

2. The lower end of the upper lifting rod and the upper end of the lower lifting rod are in contact with each other. The center pole fixing hardware according to claim 1.

3. an intermediate guide portion that is exteriorly mounted so as to straddle a lower portion of the upper lifting rod and an upper portion of the lower lifting rod; The intermediate guide portion has a height that includes a vertical movement range of a contact portion between the lower end of the upper lifting rod and the upper end of the lower lifting rod. The center pole fixing hardware according to claim 2.

4. The upper mechanism includes an upper spring that urges the upper lifting rod in an upward direction when the upper lifting rod moves downward. The center pole fixing metal fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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