Transportation method
The method addresses the challenge of conveying objects with fork pockets by using a base with fork pockets and existing holes for fixation, ensuring efficient transport without size increase or content exposure.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for conveying objects using fork pockets risk exposing contents or increasing the object's size, posing challenges in efficient transportation without size augmentation.
A base with horizontally penetrating fork pockets is fixed to the object's bottom surface, allowing forklift insertion and transport, then fixed to the destination using existing holes, eliminating the need for additional processing.
Enables efficient transport without size increase and content exposure, utilizing existing holes for fixation.
Smart Images
Figure 2026092548000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a conveying method.
Background Art
[0002] There is a demand for efficiently conveying an object to be conveyed without increasing its size. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a fork pocket for inserting the forks of a forklift into the object to be conveyed is provided.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] When a fork pocket for inserting the forks of a forklift into the object to be conveyed is provided, there is a possibility that the contents such as cables may be exposed from the fork pocket. On the other hand, when a fork pocket is provided in an area of the object to be conveyed other than the area where the contents are accommodated, there is a problem that the size of the object to be conveyed increases.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a conveying method capable of efficiently conveying an object to be conveyed without increasing its size.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The transport method according to this disclosure comprises the steps of: fixing a base having at least one pair of horizontally penetrating fork pockets to the bottom surface of a housing to be transported by a fixing member; inserting the forks of a forklift into the fork pockets and transporting the housing to be transported by the forklift; removing the base from the housing at the destination; and fixing the housing to be transported to the installation surface at the destination by connecting a fixing member mounting portion provided on the bottom surface of the housing from which the base has been removed with a fixing member mounting portion provided on the installation surface at the destination using the fixing member. The transport method according to this disclosure allows for efficient transport of the housing to be transported without increasing its size by fixing the base having fork pockets to the bottom surface of the housing to be transported by a fixing member. In addition, since the fixing member mounting portion (through hole for bolts, etc.) used when fixing the housing to the installation surface at the destination is used to fix the housing to the housing to be transported by the fixing member, it is not necessary to perform any special processing on the housing to be transported in order to fix the housing to the base with the fixing member. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] This disclosure provides a transport method that enables efficient transport of the transported object without increasing its size. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing the object to be transported and the base attached to the object to be transported by the transport method described herein. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating a method for attaching a base to an object being transported by the transport method described herein. [Figure 3] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating how to attach an object to be transported by the transport method described herein to a mounting base at the destination. [Figure 4] This is a schematic top view of the base. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] The following describes specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied, with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.
[0010] <Embodiment 1> Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an object to be transported by the transport method according to Embodiment 1, and a base attached to the object to be transported. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the method for attaching the base to the object to be transported by the transport method according to Embodiment 1.
[0011] The transported object 1 is, for example, a current collection unit that collects electricity stored by multiple energy storage devices and supplies it to a power converter. However, the transported object 1 is not limited to a current collection unit; it may be other devices such as energy storage devices, or a control unit that controls the power supply to the current collection unit. In this disclosure, the case in which the transported object 1 is a current collection unit will be explained as an example.
[0012] The current collection unit 1 comprises a rectangular prism-shaped housing 101 and an internal storage unit 102 provided within the housing 101. The internal storage unit 102 includes, for example, multiple sets of current collection cables, a set of busbars, a set of power supply cables, and so on.
[0013] For example, electricity stored by multiple energy storage devices (not shown) located outside the current collection unit 1 propagates through multiple sets of current collection cables. A set of busbars is made of metal and formed in a plate shape, electrically connected to multiple sets of current collection cables and also electrically connected to a set of power supply cables. The set of busbars collects electricity supplied to them from each of the multiple sets of current collection cables and supplies it to an externally located power converter (not shown) via the set of power supply cables.
[0014] In this case, if a fork pocket is provided in the housing 101 of the current collection unit 1 for inserting the forks of a forklift in order to transport the current collection unit 1, there is a possibility that the contents 102, such as the current collection cable and power supply cable, will be exposed from the fork pocket. On the other hand, if the fork pocket is provided in a region of the current collection unit 1 separate from the region in which the contents 102 are housed, the size of the current collection unit 1 will increase.
[0015] Therefore, in the transport of the current collection unit 1 according to this embodiment, a base 2 having a set of fork pockets P1 is attached to the bottom surface of the housing 101 of the current collection unit 1 by a fixing member 3. As a result, the transport method according to this embodiment can efficiently transport the current collection unit 1 without increasing its size and without exposing the contents 102.
[0016] Specifically, the base 2 is configured to support the rectangular parallelepiped current collection unit 1. For example, the top surface (support surface) of the base 2 is rectangular in shape, corresponding to the rectangular bottom surface of the housing 101 of the current collection unit 1. The base 2 also has a pair of fork pockets P1 that penetrate horizontally from one side of the base 2 to the other side opposite to that side. Furthermore, multiple holes (through holes) H2 are formed on the top surface (support surface) of the base 2. In the example in Figure 2, four holes H2 are formed in each of the four corners of the rectangular top surface of the base 2. Also, multiple holes (through holes) H1 are formed on the bottom surface of the housing 101 of the current collection unit 1. In the example in Figure 2, four holes H1 are formed in each of the four corners of the rectangular bottom surface of the housing 101. When the current collection unit 1 is placed on the top surface (support surface) of the base 2, the four holes H1 and the four holes H2 face each other.
[0017] The fixing member 3 is constituted by, for example, a set of a bolt 301 and a nut 302. In the example of FIG. 2, the current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2 are coupled by four sets of bolts 301 and nuts 302 at each of the four sets of holes H1, H2 (fixing member attachment portions). Note that the fixing member 3 is not limited to being constituted by a set of a bolt 301 and a nut 302, and it is sufficient that the current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2 are configured to be coupled at the fixing member attachment portion.
[0018] In the method for transporting the current collecting unit 1 according to the present embodiment, first, the pedestal 2 is attached to the bottom surface of the current collecting unit 1 by the fixing member 3. Then, a forklift inserts a fork into the fork pocket P1 of the pedestal 2, lifts the current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2, and transports them to the transport destination. Then, the pedestal 2 is removed from the bottom surface of the current collecting unit 1. Then, the current collecting unit 1 is installed (fixed) on an installation table 4 provided in the transport destination area.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the installation table 4 is fixed to the ground or the like and is configured to support the current collecting unit 1. The upper surface (support surface) of the installation table 4 is formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the rectangular bottom surface of the housing 101 of the current collecting unit 1. Further, a plurality of holes (through holes) H4 are formed in the upper surface (support surface) of the installation table 4. In the example of FIG. 3, four holes H4 are formed in each of the four corner regions of the rectangular upper surface of the installation table 4. When the current collecting unit 1 is placed on the upper surface (support surface) of the installation table 4, the four holes H1 and the four holes H4 face each other. In the example of FIG. 3, the current collecting unit 1 and the installation table 4 are coupled by four sets of bolts 301 and nuts 302 at each of the four sets of holes H1, H4 (fixing member attachment portions).
[0020] Thus, in the conveying method according to this embodiment, a pedestal 2 having a pair of fork pockets P1 is attached to the bottom surface of the housing 101 of the current collecting unit 1 by a fixing member 3. Thereby, the conveying method according to this embodiment can efficiently convey the current collecting unit 1 without increasing its size and without exposing the contained items. In addition, for the fixing of the current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2 by the fixing member 3, the hole H1 used for fixing the current collecting unit 1 and the installation base 4 is used. Therefore, no special processing needs to be performed on the current collecting unit 1 for the fixing of the current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2 by the fixing member 3. For example, no additional holes need to be provided on the bottom surface of the housing 101 of the current collecting unit 1.
[0021] Since the current collecting unit 1 is configured to have a small installation area for the purpose of space saving, it is likely to fall during conveyance if not fixed. Also, it is not preferable for the contained items to lay the current collecting unit 1 on its side for conveyance. The conveying method according to this embodiment can fix and convey such a current collecting unit 1 without increasing its size and without exposing the contained items.
[0022] In addition to a forklift, a conveyance vehicle 50 such as a truck may be used for the conveyance of the current collecting unit 1. In that case, the forklift inserts a fork into the fork pocket P1 of the pedestal 2, lifts the current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2, and places them on the loading platform of the conveyance vehicle 50. The current collecting unit 1 and the pedestal 2 placed on the loading platform of the conveyance vehicle 50 are fixed to the conveyance vehicle 50 by, for example, tying a band B1 passed through the fork pocket P1 of the pedestal 2 to the conveyance vehicle 50 (see FIG. 4). Thereafter, the current collecting unit 1 conveyed to the destination by the conveyance vehicle 50 is unloaded from the loading platform of the conveyance vehicle 50 by, for example, a forklift. Thereafter, the pedestal 2 is removed from the bottom surface of the current collecting unit 1. Thereafter, the current collecting unit 1 is installed (fixed) on the installation base 4 provided in the destination area.
[0023] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure can be made as can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0024] 1. Current collection unit (to be transported) 2 bases 3 Fixing member 4 Installation stand 50 transport vehicles 101 cabinets 102 Containment 301 volts 302 Nut B1 Band H1 Hole (for mounting the fixing member) H2 hole (for mounting the fixing member) H4 hole (for mounting the fixing member) P1 Fork Pocket
Claims
[Claim 1] A step of fixing a base having at least one pair of fork pockets that penetrate horizontally to the bottom surface of the housing to be transported by a fixing member, The steps include inserting the forks of a forklift into the fork pocket and transporting the object to be transported by the forklift, The steps include removing the base from the housing at the destination, The step of fixing the object to be transported to the installation surface of the destination by connecting the fixing member mounting portion provided on the bottom surface of the housing to be transported from which the base has been removed, and the fixing member mounting portion provided on the installation surface of the destination using the fixing member, A transport method equipped with [a specific feature / equipment].