Working machinery

Abstract

The present invention provides a work machine that allows an operator to intuitively control the gripping action of the attachment on the workpiece and the increase in that force with one hand. [Solution] The present invention is a work machine comprising an attachment 5 capable of gripping a work object and an operating unit 10 for an operator to operate the attachment 5. The operating unit 10 includes a closing switch 18 that causes the attachment 5 to grip a work object and a force boosting switch 20 that increases the force with which the attachment 5 grips the work object. The closing switch 18 and the force boosting switch 20 are positioned so that an operator can operate them simultaneously with one hand.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a working machine.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 below proposes a working machine including an attachment capable of sandwiching a work object.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, the operation of the above-described attachment for sandwiching a work object is performed by an operator pressing a switch corresponding to this operation (hereinafter referred to as a "closed switch"). Further, in the above-described working machine, there may be a case where the clamping force of the attachment is further increased from the state where the attachment sandwiches the work object.

[0005] However, most of the conventional working machines cannot perform control to boost the hydraulic system when opening and closing the attachment, and thus cannot meet the above requirements.

[0006] Also, although there are some working machines capable of increasing the clamping force of the attachment, in this working machine, the closed switch is arranged as a pedal operated by foot, and the switch for increasing the clamping force of the attachment is arranged on the grip portion of the operation lever. In such a mode, the operator needs to cooperate hands and feet to operate the attachment, which has hindered the intuitive operation of the attachment.

[0007] This invention was devised in view of the above-described circumstances, and its main objective is to provide a work machine that allows an operator to intuitively control the gripping action of the attachment on the workpiece and the increase in that force with one hand. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a work machine comprising an attachment capable of gripping a work object and an operating unit for an operator to operate the attachment, wherein the operating unit includes a closing switch that causes the attachment to grip the work object and a force boosting switch that increases the force with which the attachment grips the work object, and the closing switch and the force boosting switch are positioned so that the operator can operate them simultaneously with one hand.

[0009] In the work machine of the present invention, the operating section is preferably arranged on both the left and right sides of the driver's seat and includes a pair of operating levers, each having a grip portion at the top, and the closing switch and the power boosting switch are preferably provided on the grip portion of either of the pair of operating levers.

[0010] In the work machine of the present invention, it is preferable that the closing switch is provided on the upper surface of the grip portion, and the power boosting switch is provided on the front surface of the grip portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] By adopting the above-mentioned features, the work machine of the present invention allows the operator to intuitively control the gripping action of the attachment on the workpiece and the increase in that force with one hand. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the work machine of this embodiment. [Figure 2] (a) is a magnified view of the tip attachment of the work machine in Figure 1, and (b) is a magnified view of the tip attachment of another embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the driver's seat of the work machine. [Figure 4] This is a magnified perspective view of the control lever. [Figure 5] This is a magnified view of the operating lever in Figure 4 when it is being operated. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged perspective view of the operating lever in another embodiment when it is being operated. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings contain the features of the present invention, but may include exaggerations or representations that differ from the actual structural dimensional ratios in order to aid in understanding the invention. Furthermore, the same or common elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout each embodiment, and redundant explanations are omitted. In addition, well-known configurations may be appropriately adopted for configurations not described herein.

[0014] Figure 1 is a side view of the work machine 1 of this embodiment. In some of the drawings in this specification, directions are indicated by arrows. In Figure 1 and Figure 5 described later, the front Fw, rear Rr, upper Up, and lower Dw of the work machine 1 are indicated by various arrows. In addition, in Figures 3, 4, and 6 described later, the right Rh and left Lf of the work machine 1 are also indicated by arrows.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the work machine 1 of this embodiment includes, for example, a lower traveling body 2 that generates driving force and an upper rotating body 3 that is rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body 2. The lower traveling body 2 of this embodiment is of the crawler type, but is not limited to this, and may, for example, generate driving force using multiple tires.

[0016] The working machine 1 includes an attachment 5 that can sandwich the work object. The attachment 5 includes a boom 6 attached to the upper revolving body 3, an arm 7 attached to this boom 6, and a tip attachment 8 attached to the arm 7. The boom 6 is attached to the upper revolving body 3 so as to be able to rise and fall. The arm 7 is attached to the boom 6 so as to be rotatable. In another embodiment, another insert boom may be attached between the arm 7 and the boom 6 (not shown). The attachment 5 of the present embodiment can sandwich the work object by the tip attachment 8 attached to the arm 7.

[0017] (a) of FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the tip attachment 8 of the present embodiment. As shown in (a) of FIG. 2, the tip attachment 8 of the present embodiment performs an opening and closing operation (hereinafter, the operation of the tip attachment 8 sandwiching the work object is called a closing operation, and the operation of releasing it is called an opening operation) by a hydraulic actuator. Also, by boosting the hydraulic pressure of the actuator, the force when the tip attachment sandwiches the work object can be increased.

[0018] The tip attachment 8 of the present embodiment is configured as, for example, a crusher that can also cut work objects such as concrete blocks and reinforcing bars with claws 8a. However, the present invention is not limited to such a mode. The tip attachment 8 may be configured as a so-called grapple that can sandwich the work object with three or more claws 8a, for example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the work machine 1 of this embodiment has a driver's seat 9 in which the operator sits. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the driver's seat 9. As shown in Figure 3, the driver's seat 9 is equipped with levers, pedals, and switches for operating various parts of the work machine 1. The driver's seat 9 of this embodiment is also equipped with an operating section 10 for the operator to operate the attachment 5. The operating section 10 of this embodiment includes a pair of operating levers 12 arranged on both the left and right sides of the driver's seat, and the boom 6 and arm 7 can be operated by these operating levers 12. In this invention, the operating pattern of the operating levers 12 (the correspondence between the direction of operation of the operating levers 12 and the direction of movement of the arm 7 and boom 6) is not particularly limited. ISO patterns or operating patterns from various manufacturers of work machines can be appropriately adopted for the operating levers 12 of this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the operating lever 12 of the operating unit 10 in this embodiment. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the operating lever 12 in Figure 4 when it is being operated. The operating lever 12 shown in these figures is located on the right side Rh of the driver's seat 9, but is not limited to this configuration. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the operating unit 10 includes a closing switch 18 that causes the attachment 5 to grip a workpiece, and a force boosting switch 20 that increases the force with which the attachment 5 grips the workpiece. The increase in force is achieved, for example, by increasing (boosting) the relief setting pressure in the hydraulic system that operates the attachment 5. However, the method of increasing the force in the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, the closed switch 18 of the present embodiment is included in the slide switch 15 that operates by moving the slide member 15a in the left - right direction. When the slide member 15a is moved to the left side Lf, it acts as the closed switch 18, and the tip attachment 8 performs a closing operation. Also, when the slide member 15a is moved to the right side Rh, it acts as the open switch 19, and the tip attachment 8 performs an opening operation. However, the correspondence between the direction of movement of the slide member 15a and the opening - closing operation is not limited to such a mode. Note that this slide switch 15 acts only while the operator is moving the slide member 15a to either side. When the operator stops this operation, the closing or opening operation of the attachment 5 stops, and the slide member 15a automatically returns to the neutral position. The force - increasing switch 20 is configured as a push - button switch, and the force can be increased only while this button is being pressed.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, in the present invention, the closed switch 18 and the force - increasing switch 20 are provided at positions where the operator can operate them simultaneously with one hand. Thereby, the operator can intuitively operate the operation of the attachment 5 clamping the work object and the increase in its force with one hand, and excellent workability can be exhibited.

[0023] Note that the above - mentioned feature is intended to enable the operator to operate these switches simultaneously with one hand in a state where the operator's hand is placed at the position during the attachment operation (hereinafter referred to as the "operator standard state"). In the mode where the closed switch 18 and the force - increasing switch 20 are arranged on the operation lever 12 as in the present embodiment, the operator standard state is a state where the operator grasps the operation lever 12.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pair of operating levers 12 in this embodiment each include a grip portion 25 at the top. The close switch 18 and the power boost switch 20 are provided on the grip portion 25 of either of the pair of operating levers 12, and in this embodiment, they are provided on the grip portion 25 of the operating lever 12 located on the right side Rh of the driver's seat. The operator can operate the operating lever 12 by gripping this grip portion 25 and operate the close switch 18 and the power boost switch 20 with one hand.

[0025] As shown in Figure 4, the grip portion 25 is configured with a continuous curved outer surface, for example, to make it easy for the operator to grip. As a result, the grip portion 25 is configured in a circular, elliptical, or rectangular shape with rounded corners in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the operating lever 12. The grip portion 25 includes, for example, a front surface 26 (shown in Figure 5) facing forward Fw and an upper surface 27 facing upward Up. In this embodiment, the close switch 18 is provided on the upper surface 27 of the grip portion 25. The power boost switch 20 is provided on the front surface 26 of the grip portion 25. Note that "the close switch 18 is provided on the upper surface 27 of the grip portion 25" means that at least a part of the close switch 18 can be seen when the grip portion 25 is observed from above Up. Similarly, "the power boosting switch 20 is provided on the front surface 26 of the grip portion 25" means that at least a part of the power boosting switch 20 can be observed when the grip portion 25 is viewed from the front side Fw.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the closing switch 18 is operated by the operator's thumb F1, and the power boosting switch 20 is operated by the operator's index finger F2. This switch arrangement allows the operator to operate the work machine 1 more intuitively.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, by pressing the force boosting switch 20 and moving the sliding member 15a to the right Rh (i.e., activating the open switch 19), the attachment 5 can be opened with a stronger force than usual. Such a function is useful, for example, when the claw 8a (shown in Figure 2) of the tip attachment 8 bites into the workpiece (for example, a relatively soft iron material such as reinforcing bars), in order to remove the claw 8a from the workpiece.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, multiple other switches 30 may be provided on the upper surface 27 of the grip portion 25. These switches 30 are provided for various purposes, such as releasing the operational restrictions of the attachment 5.

[0029] The grip portion 25 of the present invention is not limited to those shown in Figures 4 and 5, and various shapes can be adopted. Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the operating lever 12 of another embodiment when it is being operated. As shown in Figure 6, the operating lever 12 of this embodiment includes a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped grip portion 25. Since such a grip portion 25 has a flat outer surface, the operator can easily tilt the operating lever 12 in various directions. Therefore, such a grip portion 25 can exhibit excellent operability even when the operator is wearing thick gloves, for example.

[0030] Although particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms. [Industrial applicability]

[0031] As described above, the present invention is useful as a work machine. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1. Working Machinery 5 Attachments 10 Control section 18. Close switch 20 Power-boosting switches

Claims

1. A work machine comprising an attachment capable of gripping an object to be worked on, and an operating unit for an operator to operate the attachment, The operating unit includes a closing switch that causes the attachment to grip the workpiece, and a force-boosting switch that increases the force with which the attachment grips the workpiece. The closing switch and the power boosting switch are positioned so that the operator can operate them simultaneously with one hand. A type of machinery used for industrial work.

2. The aforementioned operating section includes a pair of operating levers, each positioned on either side of the driver's seat and having a grip portion at the top. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the closing switch and the power boosting switch are provided on the grip portion of either of the pair of operating levers.

3. The closing switch is provided on the upper surface of the grip portion, The power boosting switch is provided on the front surface of the grip portion, as described in claim 2.

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