caster

Abstract

To provide a caster capable of restricting the rotation and turning of a wheel as required while suppressing an increase in size. [Solution] The rotation restriction mechanism 14 comprises a pedal 41 swingably supported on the yoke 12 and a stopper 42 that is displaced between a spaced position away from the wheel 13 and a pressing position pressing the wheel 13 by swinging the pedal 41, and the swivel restriction mechanism 15 comprises an engagement recess 113 provided in the mounting seat 11 and a lever 72 swingably supported on the yoke 12 and engaged and disengaged with the engagement recess 113 by swinging relative to the yoke 12, and the rotation restriction mechanism 14 and the swivel restriction mechanism 15 are arranged on both sides of the rotation axis AX2 of the wheel 13 on the yoke 12.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, transport carts have been equipped with casters as wheels. These casters include a mounting base attached to the bottom of the cart, a yoke supported so as to be rotatable about a vertical pivot relative to the mounting base, and a wheel supported so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis relative to the yoke (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Also known is a caster with a brake that can lock the wheels and apply the brakes by stepping on a brake pedal as needed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7425917 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-20509 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, casters with swivel wheels can lose their ability to move straight, especially when the cart is moving at high speed. For this reason, some casters are equipped with a mechanism to restrict the swivel of the wheels, but adding a mechanism to restrict the swivel of the wheels in addition to a mechanism to restrict the rotation of the wheels results in an increase in the size of the caster.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a caster that can restrict the rotation and swivel of the wheels as needed while preventing the caster from becoming too large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the caster of the present invention comprises: A caster comprising: a mounting seat attached to a mounting portion; a yoke supported rotatably about a rotation axis relative to the mounting seat; a wheel supported rotatably about a rotation axis perpendicular to the rotation axis relative to the yoke; a rotation restriction mechanism that restricts rotation of the wheel; and a rotation restriction mechanism that engages the yoke with the mounting seat to restrict rotation of the wheel, the rotation restricting mechanism includes a pedal swingably supported by the yoke and a stopper that is displaced between a spaced position away from the wheel and a pressing position pressing the wheel by swinging the pedal, the rotation restricting mechanism includes an engaged portion provided on the mounting seat, and a lever that is swingably supported by the yoke and swings relative to the yoke to engage with and disengage from the engaged portion, The rotation restricting mechanism and the turning restricting mechanism are disposed on both sides of the yoke across the rotation axis of the wheel.

[0008] With this type of caster, the rotation restriction mechanism that restricts the rotation of the wheel and the swivel restriction mechanism that restricts the swivel of the wheel are arranged on either side of the rotation axis of the wheel in the yoke, making it possible to provide a caster that can restrict the rotation and swivel of the wheel as needed while preventing the caster from becoming too large.

[0009] The turning restriction mechanism also includes a support bracket that supports the lever, The support bracket may be attached to the yoke in a state where it is engaged with a support member that supports the stopper of the rotation restricting mechanism on the yoke.

[0010] With a caster of this configuration, the support bracket of the swivel restriction mechanism is engaged with and attached to the yoke by a support member that supports the stopper of the rotation restriction mechanism on the yoke, thereby simplifying the support structure of the swivel restriction mechanism on the yoke and making it easy to position and attach the support bracket relative to the yoke.

[0011] The engaged portion may be made of an engaging bracket having a recess into which a portion of the lever is engaged and disengaged, and the engaging bracket may be attached to the mounted portion together with the mounting seat.

[0012] According to a caster having this configuration, by attaching the engaging bracket together with the mounting seat to the mounted portion, the mounted portion with which the lever can be engaged and disengaged can be easily provided on the mounting seat.

[0013] The engaged portion may be a recessed portion into which a portion of the lever is engaged and disengaged, and the recessed portion may be formed in the mounting seat.

[0014] According to a caster having this configuration, the engaging portion with which the lever is engaged and disengaged can be easily provided on the mounting seat without attaching a separate member to the mounting seat. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a caster that can restrict the rotation and swivel of the wheel as needed while preventing the size from increasing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a caster according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the caster according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the caster in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheel. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the caster. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheel of the caster, illustrating the operation of the rotation restricting mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the caster illustrating the operation of the turning restriction mechanism. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheel of the caster, illustrating the operation of the turning restriction mechanism. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounting seat showing a modified example of the mounting seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a caster 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the caster 10 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis AX2 of the wheel 13. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the caster 10. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the caster 10 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis AX2 of the wheel 13, illustrating the operation of the rotation restricting mechanism 14. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the caster 10, illustrating the operation of the swivel restricting mechanism 15. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the caster 10 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis AX2 of the wheel 13, illustrating the operation of the swivel restricting mechanism 15.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a caster 10 according to this embodiment includes a mounting base 11, a yoke 12, and a wheel 13. The caster 10 is attached to the bottom of a carriage (mounted portion) 1, for example. The caster 10 according to this embodiment also includes a rotation restricting mechanism 14 and a swivel restricting mechanism 15. In the caster 10, the user can brake the wheel 13 and further prohibit the wheel 13 from swiveling by operating the rotation restricting mechanism 14 and the swivel restricting mechanism 15 as needed.

[0019] (Overall composition) The mounting seat 11 is fixed to the bottom surface 1a of the bogie 1. The mounting seat 11 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, and mounting holes 21 are formed in the four corners of the mounting seat 11. The mounting seat 11 is fixed to the bottom surface 1a of the bogie 1 by screwing screws (not shown) inserted into the mounting holes 21 at the four corners into screw holes (not shown) in the bottom surface 1a of the bogie 1.

[0020] The yoke 12 has a fixed plate portion 31 and a pair of support plate portions 32. The pair of support plate portions 32 extend downward from both side edges of the fixed plate portion 31. As a result, the yoke 12 is formed in a substantially U-shape. A swivel portion 35 is provided between the mounting seat 11 and the yoke 12. The yoke 12 is connected to the mounting seat 11 by the swivel portion 35 so as to be rotatable about a vertical rotation axis AX1. The swivel portion 35 has a plurality of spherical rolling elements 36, 37. The rolling elements 36 are circumferentially arranged and rotatably held between the fixed plate portion 31 and the mounting seat 11. The rolling elements 37 are circumferentially arranged and rotatably held between the fixed plate portion 31 and a bracket 38 supported by the mounting seat 11. The rolling elements 36, 37 of the swivel portion 35 roll, causing the mounting seat 11 and the yoke 12 to rotate relative to each other.

[0021] The wheel 13 is supported by the yoke 12. The wheel 13 is disposed between the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12, and is supported so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis AX2.

[0022] Casters 10, each having a yoke 12 supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis AX1, are provided, for example, at each of the four corners of the bottom of the dolly 1. This allows the dolly 1 to travel. Note that there are also cases where swivel casters 10 are provided on the front side of the dolly 1 in the traveling direction, and fixed casters that cannot swivel are provided on the rear side of the dolly 1 in the traveling direction.

[0023] (Rotation restriction mechanism) The rotation restriction mechanism 14 includes a pedal 41 and a stopper 42. The rotation restriction mechanism 14 is disposed between the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12. One end of the pedal 41 is supported by the yoke 12, and the other end extends in a direction away from the yoke 12.

[0024] The pedal 41 has a pair of side plate portions 43. These side plate portions 43 are connected by a connecting plate portion 44. As a result, the pedal 41 is formed in a substantially U-shape. A support pin hole portion 45 and a swing pin hole portion 46 are formed in each of the side plate portions 43 of the pedal 41. The pedal 41 also has an end operating piece 47 on the other end side.

[0025] The stopper 42 is formed from a resilient metal plate such as spring steel. The stopper 42 is disposed between the side plate portions 43 of the pedal 41. The stopper 42 has a fixed plate portion 51 and a swinging plate portion 52. The fixed plate portion 51 and the swinging plate portion 52 are connected at one end, and this connected portion forms a bent connecting portion 53. The swinging plate portion 52 extends from the connecting portion 53 in a direction gradually moving away from the fixed plate portion 51. This forms the stopper 42 in a V-shape. The swinging plate portion 52 also has a step portion 54 near its end. The end portion of the swinging plate portion 52, closer to the step portion 54, forms a stopper piece 55 that protrudes toward the opposite side from the fixed plate portion 51.

[0026] The pedal 41 is supported on the support plate portion 32 of the yoke 12 by a support pin 61 and a swing pin 62. The support plate portion 32 of the yoke 12 is formed with a support hole 63 and a swing hole 64 consisting of an elongated hole. The support pin 61 is inserted into the support hole 63 and attached to the yoke 12 by a nut 61b fastened via a washer 61a, and the swing pin 62 is inserted into the swing hole 64 and attached to the yoke 12 by a nut 62b fastened via a washer 62a. The pedal 41 has the support pin 61 inserted into the support pin hole 45 of the side plate portion 43 and the swing pin 62 inserted into the swing pin hole 46 of the side plate portion 43. As a result, the pedal 41 is supported relative to the yoke 12 so as to be swingable around the support pin 61 within the range of the swing hole 64 consisting of an elongated hole.

[0027] The stopper 42 is supported on the support plate 32 of the yoke 12 by a fixing pin (support member) 65, with the rocking plate 52 disposed on the wheel 13 side. A fixing hole 66 is formed in the support plate 32 of the yoke 12, and the fixing pin 65 is inserted into the fixing hole 66 and attached to the yoke 12 by a nut 65b fastened via a washer 65a. The stopper 42 is supported by the fixing pin 65 inserted inside the connecting portion 53. In addition, the end of the fixing plate 51 of the stopper 42 is disposed on the opposite side of the support pin 61 from the rocking plate 52, and the end of the rocking plate 52 is disposed on the opposite side of the rocking pin 62 from the fixing plate 51.

[0028] In the rotation restricting mechanism 14, for example, when a user steps on the end operation piece 47 of the pedal 41 with their foot, the pedal 41 swings around the support pin 61, causing the swing pin 62 to move within the swing hole 64. Then, as shown in Fig. 5, the swing pin 62 climbs over the step portion 54 of the swing plate portion 52 of the stopper 42, and the stopper piece 55 of the swing plate portion 52 of the stopper 42 is positioned at a pressing position where it is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the wheel 13. As a result, the wheel 13 is pressed by the stopper piece 55, and rotation is restricted.

[0029] Furthermore, when the user pulls up the end operation piece 47 of the pedal 41 while the rotation of the wheel 13 is restricted by the rotation restricting mechanism 14, the pedal 41 swings in the opposite direction around the support pin 61, causing the swing pin 62 to move within the swing hole 64. As a result, the swing pin 62 moves toward the end side beyond the step portion 54 of the swing plate portion 52 of the stopper 42, causing the swing plate portion 52 of the stopper 42 to return to its original position, and the stopper piece 55 is positioned at a distance away from the outer circumferential surface of the wheel 13. This releases the rotation restriction state of the wheel 13 (see FIG. 3).

[0030] (Turning restriction mechanism) The rotation restricting mechanism 15 includes a support bracket 71, a lever 72, and an engagement bracket 73. The rotation restricting mechanism 15 is supported by the yoke 12. The rotation restricting mechanism 15 is provided on the yoke 12 on the opposite side of the rotation restricting mechanism 14 from the rotation axis AX2.

[0031] The support bracket 71 is disposed between the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12. The lever 72 is supported on an end of the support bracket 71. The engagement bracket 73 is attached to the mounting seat 11.

[0032] The support bracket 71 has a pair of side plate portions 83. These side plate portions 83 are connected by a connecting plate portion 84. As a result, the support bracket 71 is formed in a generally U-shape. The pair of side plate portions 83 have extending portions 85 that extend toward the rotation restricting mechanism 14. Locking recesses 86 are formed at the ends of these extending portions 85. Furthermore, a fixing hole 87, a movable hole 88 formed as an elongated hole, and a support hole 89 are each formed in the side plate portions 83 of the support bracket 71.

[0033] The support bracket 71 is inserted between the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12 and supported on the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12 by a fixing pin 81. A support hole 82 is formed in the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12. The fixing pin 81 is inserted into the support hole 82 and attached to the yoke 12 by a nut 81b fastened via a washer 81a. The fixing pin 81 is inserted into a fixing hole 87 in a side plate portion 83, and the support bracket 71 is thereby supported on the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12. Furthermore, when the support bracket 71 is inserted between the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12, the locking recess 86 is locked onto the fixing pin 65 that supports the stopper 42 of the rotation restricting mechanism 14 on the support plate portions 32 of the yoke 12. This allows the support bracket 71 to be positioned relative to the yoke 12 and easily attached.

[0034] The lever 72 has a pair of side plates 93. These side plates 93 are connected by a connecting plate 94. A support pin hole 95 is formed in each of the side plates 93 of the lever 72. Furthermore, two adjacent recesses 96A, 96B are formed at the end of the side plate 93, and a protrusion 97 is formed between these recesses 96A, 96B. The lever 72 also has an engagement piece 98 at its upper end and an operating piece 99 at its lower end.

[0035] The lever 72 is disposed between the side plate portions 83 of the support bracket 71. A support pin hole 95 formed in the side plate portion 93 of the lever 72 communicates with a support hole 89 formed in the side plate portion 83 of the support bracket 71.

[0036] The lever 72 is supported on the side plate portion 83 of the support bracket 71 by a support pin 101. The support pin 101 is inserted into the support hole 89 of the support bracket 71 and the support pin hole 95 of the lever 72, which are in communication with each other, and is attached to the support bracket 71 by a retaining ring 102. As a result, the lever 72 is supported relative to the support bracket 71 so as to be able to swing around the support pin 101.

[0037] In the support bracket 71, a movable pin 105 is inserted into a movable hole 88 formed as an elongated hole in the side plate portion 83, and this movable pin 105 is attached to the support bracket 71 with a retaining ring 106. This movable pin 105 is slidable within the range of the movable hole 88 formed as an elongated hole.

[0038] The rotation restriction mechanism 15 also has a pair of springs 107. These springs 107 are made of coil springs, and both ends of each spring are engaged with the support pin 101 and the movable pin 105. As a result, the movable pin 105 is pulled toward the support pin 101 side by the elastic force of the springs 107 and is disposed in one of the recesses 96A.

[0039] The engaging bracket 73 has a fixing portion 112 with fixing holes 111 on both ends. The engaging bracket 73 has an engaging recess (engaged portion) 113 in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction, with the engaging piece 98 of the lever 72 engageable and disengageable with this engaging recess 113. The engaging bracket 73 is placed against the underside of the mounting seat 11, and the fixing hole 111 of the fixing portion 112 is communicated with the mounting hole 21 of the mounting seat 11. Screws for fixing the mounting seat 11 to the bottom surface 1 a of the base 1 are inserted through the communicating fixing hole 111 and mounting hole 21 and screwed into the screw hole of the base 11. In this way, the engaging bracket 73 is attached to the mounting seat 11, which is fixed to the bottom surface 1 a of the base 1.

[0040] In the turning restriction mechanism 15, when the user pulls the operating piece 99 of the lever 72 toward themselves while the position of the lever 72 is aligned with the engagement recess 113 of the engagement bracket 73 attached to the mounting seat 11, the lever 72 swings around the support pin 101. As a result, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the engagement piece 98 of the lever 72 engages with the engagement recess 113 of the engagement bracket 73, locking the yoke 12 with respect to the mounting seat 11 and restricting the turning of the wheel 13.

[0041] Furthermore, due to the swinging of the lever 72, the movable pin 105 disposed in one recess 96A moves against the biasing force of the spring 107 in a direction away from the support pin 101, climbing over the protrusion 97, and then enters the other recess 96B. This maintains the lever 72 in a state in which the engagement piece 98 is engaged with the engagement recess 113 of the engagement bracket 73.

[0042] When the user presses the operating piece 99 of the lever 72 while the turning restriction mechanism 15 restricts the turning of the wheel 13, the lever 72 swings in the opposite direction around the support pin 101. This disengages the engagement piece 98 of the lever 72, which had been engaged with the engagement recess 113 of the engagement bracket 73, from the engagement recess 113, and the yoke 12 is unlocked from the mounting seat 11, allowing the wheel 13 to turn (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0043] Furthermore, by the swinging of the lever 72 in the opposite direction, the movable pin 105 disposed in the other recess 96B moves against the biasing force of the spring 107 in a direction away from the support pin 101, climbs over the protrusion 97, and then enters the one recess 96A. As a result, the lever 72 is maintained in a state in which the engagement piece 98 is disengaged from the engagement recess 113 of the engagement bracket 73.

[0044] As described above, according to the caster 10 of this embodiment, the rotation restriction mechanism 14 that restricts the rotation of the wheel 13 and the swivel restriction mechanism 15 that restricts the turning of the wheel 13 are arranged on both sides of the rotation axis AX2 of the wheel 13 in the yoke 12. Therefore, it is possible to provide a caster that can restrict the rotation and the turning of the wheel 13 as needed while preventing an increase in size.

[0045] Furthermore, since the support bracket 71 of the rotation restriction mechanism 15 is engaged with the fixed pin 65, which is a support member that supports the stopper 42 of the rotation restriction mechanism 14 on the yoke 12, and is attached to the yoke 12, the support structure of the rotation restriction mechanism 15 on the yoke 12 can be simplified, and the support bracket 71 can be positioned relative to the yoke 12 and easily attached.

[0046] Furthermore, by attaching the engaging bracket 73 together with the mounting seat 11 to the base 1, which is the mounted portion, the engaging recess 113, which is the engaged portion for engaging and disengaging the lever 72, can be easily provided on the mounting seat 11.

[0047] In the above embodiment, a structure has been described in which the turning restriction mechanism 15 includes the engagement bracket 73 attached to the mounting seat 11, but as shown in Fig. 8, an engagement recess 113 with which the engagement piece 98 of the lever 72 can be engaged and disengaged may be formed in the mounting seat 11. According to this structure, the engagement recess 113, which is the engaged portion with which the lever 72 can be engaged and disengaged, can be easily provided on the mounting seat 11 without attaching a separate member to the mounting seat 11. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Cart (mounting part) 10 Caster 11 Mounting seat 12 York 13 wheels 14 Rotation restriction mechanism 15 Turning restriction mechanism 41 Pedals 42 Stopper 65 Fixing pin (support member) 71 Support bracket 72 Lever 73 Engagement bracket 113 Engagement recess (engaged portion) AX1 swivel axis AX2 Rotation Axis

Claims

1. A caster comprising: a mounting seat attached to a mounting portion; a yoke supported rotatably about a rotation axis relative to the mounting seat; a wheel supported rotatably about a rotation axis perpendicular to the rotation axis relative to the yoke; a rotation restriction mechanism that restricts rotation of the wheel; and a rotation restriction mechanism that engages the yoke with the mounting seat to restrict rotation of the wheel, the rotation restricting mechanism includes a pedal swingably supported by the yoke and a stopper that is displaced between a spaced position away from the wheel and a pressing position pressing the wheel by swinging the pedal, the rotation restricting mechanism includes an engaged portion provided on the mounting seat, and a lever that is swingably supported by the yoke and swings relative to the yoke to engage with and disengage from the engaged portion, The rotation restricting mechanism and the turning restricting mechanism are disposed on both sides of the rotation axis of the wheel in the yoke. caster.

2. The turning restriction mechanism includes a support bracket that supports the lever, the support bracket is attached to the yoke in a state where it is engaged with a support member that supports the stopper of the rotation restriction mechanism on the yoke; The caster according to claim 1 .

3. the engaged portion is made of an engaging bracket having a recess into which a portion of the lever is engaged and disengaged, and the engaging bracket is attached to the mounted portion together with the mounting seat. The caster according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The engaged portion is a recessed portion into which a part of the lever is engaged and disengaged, and the recessed portion is formed in the mounting seat. The caster according to claim 1 or 2.

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