Container posture control device

Abstract

To provide a container attitude control device that can reduce the burden of container replacement work. [Solution] The container attitude control device 1 includes a mounting base 10 that includes a mounting surface 11 on which the container 2 is placed and is swingable in a first direction from an upright position to a second direction in the opposite direction, and a tension applying device 20 that includes a wire 21 connected to the mounting base 10 in the first direction and applies a predetermined tension to the wire 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container attitude control device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a device for mounting an LPG cylinder on a forklift. This device includes a holding member for holding the LPG cylinder. The holding member includes a rotating plate and an auxiliary bracket on which the bottom of the LPG cylinder is placed, and holds the LPG cylinder on the counterweight of the forklift. When removing the LPG cylinder from the forklift, the rotating plate is rotated backward, and further, the auxiliary bracket is lowered. As a result, the LPG cylinder that was lying horizontally on the counterweight becomes vertically placed due to the lowering of the auxiliary bracket, and moves downward so that the LPG cylinder approaches the ground.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the device of Patent Document 1, the cylinder can be replaced while the LPG cylinder is lowered from the counterweight. However, this replacement needs to be performed manually, and further improvement in workability is desired.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a container attitude control device capable of reducing the burden of container replacement work.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A container attitude control device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a mounting base and a tension-applying device. The mounting base includes a mounting surface on which a container is placed, and is provided so as to be swingable in a first direction from an upright position to a sideways position and in a second direction to the opposite. The tension-applying device includes a wire connected to the mounting base in the first direction, and applies a predetermined tension to the wire. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container attitude control device that can reduce the burden of container replacement work. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a container that can be replaced by the container attitude control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an LPG cylinder placed on a mounting platform with the first mounting surface lying on its side. [Figure 3] This figure shows the state after rotating the mounting platform in the second direction so that the first mounting surface is upright, starting from the state shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This figure shows the LPG cylinder placed on the mounting platform with the first mounting surface in an upright position. [Figure 5] This figure shows the state after rotating the mounting platform in the first direction from the state shown in Figure 4, so that the first mounting surface is lying on its side. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The container attitude control device according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Elements having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0010] In this embodiment, the container 2 to be replaced is a cylindrical container used in a horizontal position. Such a container is, for example, an LPG cylinder 3, as shown in Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 1, the LPG cylinder 3 is detachably mounted in a horizontal position on the counterweight 51 of a forklift 50, which is an example of a work vehicle.

[0011] On the other hand, LPG cylinder 3 is usually stored upright, both before and after use. Therefore, when replacing LPG cylinder 3, the worker needs to change its orientation from upright to horizontal. However, LPG cylinder 3 is relatively heavy, weighing several tens of kilograms. Therefore, even just changing its orientation places a significant burden on the worker.

[0012] Therefore, the container posture control device 1 according to this embodiment assists in the work of changing the posture of the LPG cylinder 3, which is a relatively heavy container. Moreover, as described later, this change in posture can be performed within the worker's strike zone. Accordingly, by adopting the container posture control device 1, the burden of the LPG cylinder 3 replacement work can be reduced. The strike zone refers to the range in which a worker can work in a natural posture at a certain working position without having to assume unnatural postures such as stretching or crouching.

[0013] For the sake of explanation, we define the first direction CCL and the second direction CL below. The first direction CCL is the counterclockwise direction in Figures 2 to 5. On the other hand, the second direction CL is the opposite direction to the first direction CCL, and is the clockwise direction in Figures 2 to 5. Furthermore, the directions toward the top, bottom, left, and right sides in Figures 2 to 5 are defined as up, down, left, and right, respectively. These up and down directions are parallel to the vertical direction.

[0014] As illustrated in Figure 2, the container attitude control device 1 comprises a mounting base 10 and a tensioning device 20. The mounting base 10 includes a first mounting surface 11 on which the outer surface of the LPG cylinder 3 is placed, and a second mounting surface 12 on which the lower part (bottom) of the LPG cylinder 3 is placed. A band 13 that restrains the outer surface of the LPG cylinder 3 is attached to the first mounting surface 11. The first mounting surface 11 and the second mounting surface 12 are connected to each other at their respective edges. Furthermore, the first mounting surface 11 and the second mounting surface 12 are perpendicular to each other.

[0015] The mounting base 10 is provided so as to be able to swing in a first direction CCL, from an upright position to a sideways position, and in the opposite second direction CL. For example, the mounting base 10 includes legs 14 attached to the first mounting surface 11. The legs 14 extend for a predetermined length in the direction normal to the first mounting surface 11. This predetermined length is set so that when the first mounting surface 11 is tilted sideways, the position for operations on the LPG cylinder 3, such as gripping operations by the winch unit 30, is within the operator's strike zone. The legs 14 also have an end portion 14a that is pivotally supported at the pivot center of the mounting base 10. The end portion 14a is pivotally supported on a shaft 4 that extends parallel to the stage 5 of the container attitude control device 1.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the leg portion 14 connects to the first mounting surface 11 on the side closer to the second mounting surface 12 than to the center of the first mounting surface 11. Therefore, when the LPG cylinder 3 is placed on the first mounting surface 11, the overall center of gravity of the mounting base 10 and the LPG cylinder 3 is located to the left of the leg portion 14 in Figure 2. In addition, a support portion 6 is provided on the left side of the leg portion 14, that is, on the side closer to the tensioning device 20 than the leg portion 14. The support portion 6 extends upward from the stage 5 and supports the horizontally positioned first mounting surface 11 from below.

[0017] The mounting table 10 has a handle 15 that an operator can grip. The handle 15 is located near the position where the first mounting surface 11 and the wire 21 are connected, or near the upper part of the LPG cylinder 3 placed on the first mounting surface 11, and is connected to the first mounting surface 11. Therefore, the handle 15 is located on the left side of the swing center of the mounting table 10 in the state where the first mounting surface 11 is laid down, and is also located on the left side of the overall center of gravity of the mounting table 10 and the LPG cylinder 3. Also, the handle 15 is provided at a position that is within the striker zone of the operator even when the mounting table 10 swings.

[0018] The tension applying device 20 includes, for example, a wire (cable) 21 that is connected to the front part of the mounting table 10 in the first direction CCL. The wire 21 is connected to a weight 23 via a plurality of pulleys 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the weight 23 is suspended by the wire 21 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. As a result, the tension applying device 20 applies a predetermined tension corresponding to the weight of the weight 23 to the wire 21. This tension may be constantly applied to the wire 21. However, this tension is set to be less than the value that causes the upright first mounting surface 11 without the LPG cylinder 3 placed thereon to be laid down. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the empty mounting table 10 rotating naturally in the first direction CCL and causing an obstacle to the replacement work of the LPG cylinder 3.

[0019] The container attitude control device 1 may include a winch unit 30 shown in FIG. 2. The winch unit 30 is configured to be able to grip the LPG cylinder 3. For example, the winch unit 30 includes a winch 31 that is a winding device, and a gripping portion 32 that grips the upper part (head) and the lower part of the LPG cylinder 3. Also, the winch unit 30 includes a hook 33 that pulls the wire 21. The winch unit 30 is used, for example, when transporting the used LPG cylinder 3 from a forklift 50 (see FIG. 1) to the container attitude control device 1, and when tipping the fuel-filled and upright LPG cylinder 3 together with the mounting table 10 in the first direction CCL.

[0020] Figure 2 shows the used LPG cylinder 3 removed from the forklift 50 and placed on the mounting table 10. The LPG cylinder 3 is placed in a horizontal position on the first mounting surface 11 and is held on the first mounting surface 11 by the band 13. At this time, the first mounting surface 11 is laid down. Therefore, the weight 23 connected to the first mounting surface 11 via the wire 21 is located at the lowest position within the vertically movable range. Also, due to the setting of the length of the leg portion 14, the LPG cylinder 3 is located within the striker zone of the operator.

[0021] The LPG cylinder 3 shown in Figure 2 is a used cylinder. Therefore, the LPG cylinder 3 needs to be stored in a vertical position. The operator uses the handle 15 to rotate the mounting table 10 in the second direction CL to upright the first mounting surface 11 and the LPG cylinder 3. Figure 3 shows the state in which the first mounting surface 11 and the LPG cylinder 3 are upright due to the rotation of the mounting table 10 in the second direction CL.

[0022] While rotating the mounting table 10 in the second direction CL, the weight 23 is lifted upward via the wire 21. Therefore, the mounting table 10 receives the tension from the wire 21 generated by the weight 23 via the first mounting surface 11. This tension acts as a force to rotate the mounting table 10 in the first direction CCL opposite to the second direction CL, and relaxes the acceleration of the rotation of the mounting table 10 in the second direction CL. Therefore, the rotation speed of the mounting table 10 in the second direction CL becomes gentle, and the impact when the LPG cylinder 3 becomes upright is alleviated. As a result, unnecessary movements of the LPG cylinder 3 such as bouncing due to the impact at the time of uprighting are restricted, and the burden of the replacement work of the LPG cylinder 3 on the operator can be reduced.

[0023] When changing the used LPG cylinder 3 from a vertical position to a horizontal position, the mounting table 10 is rotated in the first direction CCL using the winch unit 30. Figure 4 shows the state in which the lower part of the LPG cylinder 3 is placed on the second mounting surface 12. At this time, the first mounting surface 11 is upright, and the outer periphery of the LPG cylinder 3 is held on the first mounting surface 11 by the band 13.

[0024] Next, the hook 33 of the winch unit 30 is hooked onto the ring 24 attached to the middle of the wire 21. The winch unit 30 then pulls the wire 21 upward. As a result, the first mounting surface 11 is pulled to the left by the wire 21, and the mounting base 10 rotates in the first direction CCL. This rotation causes the overall center of gravity of the mounting base 10 and the LPG cylinder 3 to shift from the right to the left relative to its pivot point. Finally, as illustrated in Figure 5, the first mounting surface 11 comes into contact with the support 6, and the mounting base 10 remains in a sideways position. After that, for example, the gripping part 32 of the winch unit 30 grips the LPG cylinder 3, the band 13 is released, and the LPG cylinder 3 is placed on the counterweight 51 of the forklift 50 (see Figure 1). In this way, in this embodiment, both the positioning of the LPG cylinder 3 and the movement to the forklift 50 can be handled by a single winch unit 30. Furthermore, the tension in the wire 21 generated by the weight 23 contributes to the force that rotates the mounting platform 10 in the first direction CCL. Therefore, the maximum output required of the winch 31 can be reduced, and the winch 31 can be made smaller.

[0025] (1) The container attitude control device 1 according to the embodiment includes a mounting surface (first mounting surface) 11 on which the container 2 is placed, and a mounting base 10 that is provided so as to be able to swing in a first direction from an upright position to a sideways position and in a second direction opposite thereto, and a tension applying device 20 that includes a wire 21 connected to the front of the mounting base 10 in the first direction and applies a predetermined tension to the wire 21. As a result, the impact when the container 2 is upright is mitigated, and unnecessary movements of the container 2, such as bouncing due to the impact when upright, are restricted. Accordingly, the burden on the worker in the container replacement work can be reduced.

[0026] (2) The mounting base 10 may extend to a predetermined length and include legs 14 having ends 14a that are pivotally supported at the pivot center of the mounting base 10. This ensures that even when the mounting base 10 is tipped over and the container 2 is placed horizontally, the container 2 remains within the worker's strike zone, reducing the burden of various tasks on the container 2.

[0027] (3) The tension-applying device 20 may include a weight 23 connected to the wire 21 that applies tension to the wire 21. This makes it possible to mitigate the above-mentioned shock without using complex equipment such as electric devices. In other words, shock mitigation can be achieved with a simple configuration.

[0028] (4) The system includes a winch unit 30 that is configured to grip the container 2 and includes a hook 33 for pulling the wire 21. This allows the positioning of the container 2 and its movement to the work vehicle to be handled by a single winch unit 30.

[0029] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative examples provided to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the embodiments described above, but also includes various modifications, changes, and alternative technologies that can be easily derived therefrom. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 1. Container posture control device 2 containers 3 LPG cylinders 10 Mounting platform 11. Mounting surface (first mounting surface) 12 Second mounting surface 14 Legs 14a End 20 Tension-applying device 21 Wires (Cables) 23 weights 30 Winch section 32 Gripping part 33 hooks

Claims

1. A mounting platform is provided that includes a mounting surface on which a container is placed, and is swingable in a first direction from an upright position to a sideways position and in a second direction from the opposite direction, The device includes a wire connected to the aforementioned mounting base in the first direction, and a tension-applying device that applies a predetermined tension to the wire, Container attitude control device.

2. The mounting platform extends to a predetermined length and includes legs having ends that are pivotally supported at the pivot center of the mounting platform. The container attitude control device according to claim 1.

3. The tension-applying device includes a weight connected to the wire and for applying the tension to the wire. The container attitude control device according to claim 2.

4. The container is configured to be able to be gripped and includes a winch section with a hook for pulling the wire, A container attitude control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images