Dolly

Abstract

To provide a trolley that can reduce load shifting when transporting goods. [Solution] A trolley for transporting articles by placing them on an article-placing surface comprises a platform, casters, and a plurality of protruding members attached to the platform. The platform is formed so that the protruding members can be attached to a plurality of locations in the central region of the platform that defines the article-placing surface. Each protruding member comprises a base attached to the platform, a movable protrusion formed so that its protruding end moves up and down and protrudes upward from the base, and a coil spring that biases the protruding end upward. The movable protrusion is formed to be able to transition between a protruding state in which the protruding end is biased upward by the coil spring and protrudes above the article-placing surface, and a non-protruding state in which the protruding end is positioned so as not to protrude above the article-placing surface because it is pressed downward by the load of the article placed on the protruding end.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cart for placing and transporting articles on an article placement surface. More specifically, it relates to a cart capable of effectively suppressing the displacement of an article placed in the central region of the article placement surface during transportation.

Background Art

[0002] Carts are widely used, for example, to transport parts, semi-finished products, or finished products within a factory or between factories during the manufacturing process of articles, or to load, transfer, or carry various articles in the logistics process.

[0003] Conventionally, in a cart, the article placement surface defined by the loading platform is configured without protrusions protruding upward from the article placement surface so that articles of various dimensional shapes can be placed and the loading and unloading of articles can be easily performed. Usually, the upper surface of the loading platform directly defines the article placement surface. However, among carts for placing and transporting heavy articles, for example, to facilitate the operation of moving an article lifted by a crane and lowered onto the loading platform to an appropriate position on the loading platform, or pushing / pulling an article transported by a logistics conveyor onto the loading platform and moving it to an appropriate position on the loading platform, some carts have a roller conveyor attached to the loading platform. In such a cart with a roller conveyor, the contact plane that contacts the uppermost part of the outer peripheral surfaces of a plurality of rollers of the roller conveyor attached to the loading platform defines the article placement surface.

[0004] In a cart configured without protrusions on the article placement surface, when the cart is moved to transport an article, there is a concern that the article may move unintentionally on the article placement surface, causing displacement or collapse of the load. In particular, in a cart equipped with a roller conveyor on the loading platform, the article moves easily on the article placement surface. When a load collapse or the like occurs when stacking and transporting heavy articles, there is a risk that the article may be damaged or a dangerous situation may occur for the surrounding workers.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a trolley 10 in which a pair of anti-tip members 17 are provided on the left and right edges of the front end of the upper surface of an article mounting plate 15 that defines the mounting surface. The anti-tip members 17 are configured to be movable between a first position P1 that protrudes vertically upward and a second position P2 that is housed below the upper surface. The trolley 10 also has handles 15 and 16 of a certain height that are vertically and independently provided on the left and right edges of the rear end of the article mounting plate 15. This trolley 10 is configured to be able to transport articles with a large base area by pushing the anti-tip members 17 down to the second position P2, while when transporting long articles, the article is brought into contact with the anti-tip members 17 protruding to the first position P1 and the bases of the handles 15 and 16 to suppress the article from shifting. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-247041 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, in the trolley 10 of Patent Document 1, load displacement can only be effectively suppressed when the load is shifting in the direction that it comes into contact with the anti-tip member 17 and the handles 15 and 16. Both the anti-tip member 17 and the handles 15 and 16 are provided on the left and right edges of the trolley 10, and for example, long items may shift in directions that do not come into contact with the anti-tip member 17 and the handles 15 and 16, i.e., towards the center of the item placement plate 15 or in the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, it is generally estimated that the most frequent scenario is when an item smaller than the left-to-right dimension of the trolley 10 is placed in the central part of the item placement surface. In such cases, the anti-tip member 17 and the handles 15 and 16 provided on the left and right edges of the loading platform alone cannot effectively suppress load displacement of the item placed in the central part.

[0008] The technology disclosed herein solves the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a trolley that can effectively suppress load shifting when transporting goods placed in the central area of ​​the goods-placing surface. This technology is also applicable to trolleys equipped with roller conveyors on the loading platform and can be suitably used when transporting heavy goods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the trolley according to the present disclosure for transporting articles placed on an article-placing surface comprises a platform defining the article-placing surface, a means for moving the platform to transport the articles, and a plurality of protruding members attached to the platform, wherein the platform is formed so that the plurality of protruding members can be attached to a plurality of locations in the central region of the article-placing surface, and each of the protruding members comprises a base attached to the platform, a movable protruding portion having a vertically moving protruding end and formed to protrude upward from the base, and a biasing means for biasing the protruding end upward, wherein the movable protruding portion is configured to transition between a protruding state in which the protruding end is positioned above the article-placing surface by being biased upward by the biasing means when the base is attached to the platform, and a non-protruding state in which the protruding end is positioned not to protrude from the article-placing surface by being pressed downward by the load of the article placed on the protruding end.

[0010] In the above, the phrase "the loading platform defines the surface on which the goods are placed" includes not only cases where the loading platform directly defines the surface on which the goods are placed by its upper surface, etc., but also cases where components attached to the loading platform (e.g., rollers) indirectly define the surface on which the goods are placed.

[0011] Furthermore, the "central region of the article placement surface" refers to a broad area located in the central part of the article placement surface, surrounded by the edge region of the article placement surface. Here, the edge region refers to the area generally recognized as being near the outer edge of the article placement surface. Depending on the overall area and dimensions of the article placement surface, for example, the edge region may be considered to be an area within approximately 10 cm, at least approximately 5 cm, or approximately 3 cm from the outer edge of the article placement surface, or an area within approximately 1 / 8 or approximately 1 / 10 of the dimensions in each direction, both longitudinally and transversely, from the outer edge of the article placement surface.

[0012] Furthermore, the statement that the loading platform is "formed to allow the attachment of a protruding member" in the central region of the article-placing surface means that the loading platform is formed in such a way that a protruding member can be attached to the central region of the article-placing surface when viewed from above, by some method such as engagement by a grooved structure, fastening with fasteners such as screws or bolts, or clamping. The attachment method and means are not particularly limited, and known methods can be applied. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a trolley that can effectively suppress load shifting during transport of goods placed in the central area of ​​the goods-placing surface. The technology according to this disclosure is also applicable to trolleys equipped with roller conveyors on the loading platform and can be suitably used when transporting heavy goods. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the trolley according to the first embodiment, and a partially enlarged perspective view showing the attachment state of the protruding member to the loading platform of the trolley. An item is placed in the central area of ​​the trolley. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the trolley according to the second embodiment. The first loading platform frame and the second loading platform frame are located in close proximity to each other. [Figure 4]Figure 4 is a top view of the trolley shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a protruding member attached to the YY line in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the YY line in Figure 4, and a partially enlarged view showing the area near one of the protruding members. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 6 of the trolley according to the second embodiment, in which the first and second loading platform frames are located far apart from each other, and a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of a protruding member. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the displacement mechanism of the trolley according to the second embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view along the ZZ line in Figure 6. In Figure 8(A), the first and second loading platform frames are in close proximity to each other, while in Figure 8(B), the first and second loading platform frames are in separated positions, far apart from each other. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments of the trolley described herein will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, the perspective of the person pushing the trolley will be used as the basis. That is, in Figures 1 and 3, the front left side of the page is the front (the back right side of the page is the rear), the back left side of the page is the left (the front right side of the page is the right), and the top side is the top (the bottom side is the bottom). Direction lines are included in each drawing for your reference. Note that the relative dimensions and arrangement of the components in each drawing are not necessarily accurate, and the scale of some components has been changed for the sake of explanation. In addition, for multiple equivalent components, only some components may be labeled with reference numerals, while others may be omitted.

[0016] <First Embodiment> The trolley 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cart 1 is based on a general foldable handcart, and includes a rectangular loading platform 30 whose longitudinal direction in top view is the front-rear direction. The article placement surface P for placing the article G is defined by the upper surface of the loading platform 30. The cart 1 also includes four casters 50 attached to the four corners of the lower surface of the loading platform 30 as a moving means for moving the loading platform 30. The cart 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a handle 70 attached along the rear edge of the loading platform 30. The handle 70 according to the present embodiment is rotatably attached so that it stands upright in the vertical direction from the loading platform 30 during use of the cart 1 and can be folded forward and stored along the upper surface of the loading platform 30 during storage. Since the casters 50 and the handle 70 are well-known configurations and known ones can be used without particular restrictions, they will not be described in detail in this specification.

[0017] The loading platform 30 is formed on its upper surface, that is, the article placement surface P, so that the protruding member 90 can be attached. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a locking recess 31 is formed to open on the article placement surface P, and the base 91 of the protruding member 90 described later can be fitted and locked into this locking recess 31. Although the shape of the locking recess 31 and the mounting mode of the protruding member 90 to the locking recess 31 will be described later, the mounting structure described in this specification is only an example, and known mounting structures can be applied without particular restrictions.

[0018] The locking recesses 31 are formed in large numbers across the entire surface of the article placement surface P. Specifically, the locking recesses 31 are formed at least at four locations, preferably eight locations, even in only the central region excluding the edge region of the article placement surface P. By forming the locking recesses 31 at at least four locations in the central region and attaching the protruding members 90 to each of them, the protruding members 90 can be made to protrude as described later in the front, rear, left, and right directions of the article G placed on the central region of the article placement surface P, and the displacement of the article G in four directions can be suppressed. Depending on the size of the locking recesses 31, the protruding members 90 attached to the locking recesses 31, and the article placement surface P, the locking recesses 31 may be formed at 10 to 100 or more locations within the central region. The locking recesses 31 can be formed on the article placement surface P of the loading platform 30, for example, at regular intervals and / or along a certain pattern. The protruding members 90 may be attached by selecting the locking recesses 31 located at positions corresponding to the dimensional shape of the bottom surface of the article G to be placed from among the large number of locking recesses 31. By doing so, the movable protruding portions 93 described later can be arranged along the side surface of the article G, and the displacement of the article G can be more effectively suppressed. Further, it is preferable that the locking recesses 31 are formed not only in the central region but also in the edge region. By attaching the protruding members 90 to the locking recesses 31 in the edge region, the falling off of the article G from the loading platform 30 can be suppressed.

[0019] The protruding member 90 includes a base portion 91 that is locked within the locking recess 31. In the present embodiment, the base portion 91 is formed in a disk shape having a certain thickness with a hollow interior. Further, the protruding member 90 has a movable protruding portion 93 formed so as to be able to protrude upward from the base portion 91. The movable protruding portion 93 has a cylindrical shape with the upper end being the protruding end 93U, and is configured to be able to protrude / retract through an opening formed at the center of the upper surface of the base portion 91. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, inside the base portion 91, a coil spring 95 is provided that abuts against the lower surface of the movable protruding portion 93 and biases the protruding end 93U upward.

[0020] As shown in the partially enlarged view of Figure 1, the locking recess 31 according to this embodiment is formed in the shape of a so-called keyhole, with a slit extending from a part of a circle having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the base 91 of the projection member 90, and having a space below the slit that is slightly larger in width than the outer shape of the base 91. The base 91 of the projection member 90 is pushed in through the circular portion of the opening of the locking recess 31, and the slit portion is slid with the protruding end 93U of the movable projection 93 protruding upward from the article placement surface P, thereby locking the projection member 90 into the locking recess 31 with the protruding end 93U protruding at the extended end of the slit portion. After that, for example, a rubber cap 33 of a shape that matches the opening of the locking recess 31 may be fitted into the opening of the locking recess 31 to complete the attachment of the projection member 90 to the loading platform 30. In this way, the rubber cap 33 can prevent unintended movement of the protruding member 90 within the locking recess 31, and also prevent foreign matter from entering the locking recess 31.

[0021] In the projection member 90 attached to the cargo bed 30, in its natural state, as shown for example at the left end in Figure 2, the coil spring 95 located inside pushes the lower end of the movable projection 93 upward, and the projection end 93U of the movable projection 93 is positioned above the article placement surface P (the movable projection 93 is in a protruding state). For example, as shown in the projection member 90 second from the left in Figure 2, when an article G is placed on the projection member 90 and the load of the article G presses the projection end 93U downward, the coil spring 95 is compressed and the movable projection 93 is pushed into the base 91, causing the projection end 93U to descend to approximately the same height as the article placement surface P of the base 91 (the movable projection 93 is in a non-protruding state). Furthermore, if the weight range of the item G placed on the item placement surface P can be predicted in advance, the biasing force of the coil spring 95 should be adjusted accordingly to match this weight range.

[0022] As more clearly shown in Figure 2, when an item G is placed on the item placement surface P of the loading platform 30, which has projection members 90 attached to almost its entire surface, the movable projections 93 that protrude from the item placement surface P around the item G are maintained in a protruding state with their protruding ends 93U protruding from the item placement surface P. On the other hand, the movable projections 93 located below the bottom surface of the item G are pushed into the base 91 by the load of the item G, causing their protruding ends 93U to descend and transition to a non-protruding state. As a result, some of the movable projections 93 protrude from the item placement surface P on the front, back, left, and right sides of the item G. In this state, when the trolley 1 is moved to transport the item G, even if forces act that would move the item G on the item placement surface P and cause it to shift due to the left and right swaying of the trolley 1 or sudden acceleration / deceleration, the movable projections 93 protruding on the front, back, left, and right sides of the item G will contact the sides of the item G, thereby suppressing significant shifting of the item G. Furthermore, in the case of the protruding member 90 located below the item G, the frictional force acting between the movable protrusion 93, which transitions to a non-protruding state due to the load of the item G despite being biased upward by the coil spring 95, and the bottom surface of the item G is greater than the frictional force acting between a conventional flat loading platform without protrusions and the item G. Therefore, compared to conventional trolleys, load shifting is less likely to occur.

[0023] The protruding members 90 may be attached in appropriate numbers to all or some of the numerous locking recesses 31 formed at regular intervals across the entire surface of the article placement surface P. If the dimensions and shape of the article G to be placed can be predicted in advance, it is preferable to select appropriate positions to attach the protruding members 90 according to those dimensions and shape. For example, if the article G is placed and transported so that the movable protrusions 93 abut against all four sides (front, back, left, and right), the shifting of the article G can be effectively suppressed. Note that the protruding members 90 do not need to be attached to all of the locking recesses 31; they may be attached only to the necessary positions according to the dimensions and shape of the article G to be placed.

[0024] The configuration and effects of the trolley 1 according to this embodiment will be explained again. The trolley 1 according to this embodiment is a trolley 1 for transporting an article G placed on an article placement surface P, comprising a loading platform 30 defining the article placement surface P, casters 50 (moving means) for moving the loading platform 30 to transport the article G, and a plurality of protruding members 90 attached to the loading platform 30, wherein the loading platform 30 is formed so that a plurality of protruding members 90 can be attached to a plurality of locations in the central region of the article placement surface P (a locking recess 31 is formed), and each of the protruding members 90 has a base 91 attached to the loading platform 30 and The device comprises a movable projection 93 having a vertically moving projection end 93U and formed to project upward from the base 91, and a coil spring 95 (biasing means) that biases the projection end 93U upward, wherein the movable projection 93 is configured to transition between a projected state in which the projection end 93U is positioned above the article placement surface P due to being biased upward by the coil spring 95, and a non-projected state in which the projection end 93U is positioned not to project above the article placement surface P due to being pressed downward by the load of the article G placed on the projection end 93U.

[0025] According to the configuration of the above embodiment, when transporting an item G placed on the central region of the item placement surface P, movable protrusions 93 that protrude from the front, back, left, and right sides of the item G can be positioned to effectively suppress the shifting of the item G.

[0026] <Variation> As in the first embodiment, in a general trolley in which the upper surface of a plate-shaped loading platform defines the surface P on which articles are placed, a plurality of grooves having a certain cross-sectional shape and extending in the longitudinal and transverse directions may be provided on the upper surface of the loading platform, and a projection member may be configured to be attachable at any position in these grooves. Alternatively, a plurality of crossbar members having a certain cross-sectional shape and extending in the longitudinal and transverse directions may be embedded in the upper surface of the loading platform, and a projection member may be configured to be attachable at any position in these crossbar members. Attachment can be performed by any known method, such as interlocking grooves, clamping, or fastening with screws. It is preferable to apply a method that allows attachment / detachment / position adjustment without requiring special tools.

[0027] In such a trolley, the loading platform is provided with a plurality of grooves or bars in at least the central region of the article placement surface P, and the protruding members are attached to and detachable from the plurality of grooves or bars at positions corresponding to the dimensions and shape of the article placed on the article placement surface P.

[0028] According to the above modified configuration, the protruding members can be positioned to match the expected dimensions and shape of the item G. As a result, when the trolley moves, for example, by making the movable protrusions extend along the side of the item G, the shifting of the item G during transport can be suppressed more effectively.

[0029] <Second Embodiment> The trolley 101 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the trolley 101 is equipped with a loading platform 130 that has a rectangular shape when viewed from above, with the front-to-rear direction as its longitudinal direction. The loading platform 130 includes a first loading platform frame 131 and a second loading platform frame 133 that is superimposed on the lower side of the first loading platform frame 131.

[0030] In the usage configuration shown in this embodiment, a plurality of roller conveyors 180 are attached and fixed to the upper surface of the first loading platform frame 131. Each roller conveyor 180 includes a plurality of rollers 181, all of which have a diameter of R. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, guide panels 140 are provided on the upper surface of the first loading platform frame 131 along the rear and front edges of the first loading platform frame 131, and function as guides for lowering articles G, which have been lifted by a crane or the like, onto the article placement surface P, to an appropriate range.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the trolley 101 is equipped with four casters 150 attached to the four corners of the underside of the first loading platform frame 131 as means of moving the loading platform 130. In addition, two handles 170 are erected at the rear of the first loading platform frame 131. The roller conveyor 180, guide panel 140, casters 150, and handles 170 can be of known configuration without particular constraints and are therefore not described in detail herein.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the first loading platform frame 131 includes a rectangular first outer frame 131A, a longitudinal first crossbar member 131B spanning in the front-to-back direction within the first outer frame 131A, and a short-to-shoulder first crossbar member 131C spanning in the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the longitudinal first crossbar member 131B connects the front and rear frames of the first outer frame 131A, and the short-to-shoulder first crossbar member 131C connects the left and right frames of the first outer frame 131A, or the left or right frame of the first outer frame 131A to the longitudinal first crossbar member 131B. The roller conveyor 180 is mounted and fixed so as to span across the left and right frames of the first outer frame 131A and the left and right longitudinal first crossbar members 131B.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the second cargo bed frame 133 includes a rectangular frame-shaped second outer frame 133A, a longitudinal second crossbar member 133B spanning in the front-to-back direction within the second outer frame 133A, and a short-to-shoulder second crossbar member 133C spanning in the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the second outer frame 133A is formed such that its left-to-right dimensions are approximately the same as the first outer frame 131A, and its front-to-back dimensions are smaller than those of the first outer frame 131A. Furthermore, the longitudinal second crossbar member 133B connects the front-to-rear frame members at the left-to-right center of the second outer frame 133A, and the short-to-shoulder second crossbar member 133C connects the left-to-right frame members of the second outer frame 133A via the longitudinal second crossbar member.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first cargo bed frame 131 and the second cargo bed frame 133 are formed from elongated metal members with a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The width of all the elongated members forming the first cargo bed frame 131 and the second cargo bed frame 133 is the same, but the thickness of the second longitudinal support member 133B and the second transverse support member 133C of the second cargo bed frame 133 is thinner than the others (see Figure 5).

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second outer frame 133A of the second cargo bed frame 133 is positioned so as to overlap the first cargo bed frame 131 when viewed from above. On the other hand, the longitudinal second support member 133B and the short second support member 133C are positioned so that most of them do not overlap with the first cargo bed frame 131. The projection member 190 is attached to the longitudinal second support member 133B and the short second support member 133C at positions that do not overlap with the first cargo bed frame 131.

[0036] As shown in Figure 5, etc., the projection member 190 includes a base portion 191 that is attached to the longitudinal second support member 133B or the short-axis second support member 133C of the second cargo bed frame 133. The base portion 191 according to this embodiment includes a square cylindrical hollow portion 191A that is generally closed at the top and bottom of a square pipe of a predetermined length, and a mounting plate portion 191B that is fixed to the lower end of the hollow portion 191A and extends in the peripheral direction, and is attached to the second cargo bed frame 133 at the mounting plate portion 191B.

[0037] The method for attaching the projection member 190 to the second cargo bed frame 133 will not be described in detail as known methods can be applied without particular restrictions, but it is preferable that attachment / detachment / position adjustment can be easily performed without the use of special tools. For example, screw holes may be formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal second rail member 133B and the short-axis second rail member 133C, and the extended portion of the mounting plate 191B may be screwed to the desired position. Alternatively, a plate-shaped gripping member, shaped to follow both sides from the lower surface of the longitudinal second rail member 133B and the short-axis second rail member 133C, may be applied from below, and the longitudinal second rail member 133B or the short-axis second rail member 133C may be sandwiched between the mounting plate 191B and the plate-shaped gripping member to be fastened.

[0038] The projection member 190 also includes a movable projection 193. In this embodiment, the movable projection 193 has an upper portion made of a polished round bar of a constant diameter and a larger diameter portion at its lower end. An opening is formed in the center of the upper surface of the hollow portion 191A of the base 191, having a diameter slightly larger than the upper portion of the movable projection 193 and smaller than the larger diameter portion, allowing the upper portion of the movable projection 193 to be pushed out / pushed in through this opening.

[0039] The projection member 190 also includes a coil spring 195 that biases the movable projection 193 upward. The coil spring 195 is positioned inside the hollow portion 191A of the base 191 so as to be in contact with the lower end of the movable projection 193.

[0040] The inner circumferential surface of the hollow portion 191A is provided with a protrusion that restricts the upward movement of the large-diameter portion of the movable projection 193. In its natural state, as shown in Figure 5, the coil spring 195 pushes upward the lower end of the movable projection 193, so that the projection end 193U, which is the upper end of the movable projection 193, is positioned L1 above the upper end surface 191U of the base portion 191.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the trolley 101 is equipped with a displacement mechanism 160 that allows the distance between the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 to be reversibly changed. Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the trolley 101 in a close position where the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are close together, and Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the trolley 101 in a separated position where the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are far apart.

[0042] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the displacement mechanism 160, and shows a cross-section along the ZZ line in Figure 6. The displacement mechanism 160 comprises a lifting lever 161, a main transmission member 163, a pair of left and right sub-transmission members 165, and a pair of left and right frame support members 167. The lifting lever 161 is erected at the center in the left-right direction at the front end of the trolley 101 (see Figure 3, etc.), and its lower end is rotatably connected to the main rotation base point 162, and its lower end is connected to the main transmission member 163. The main transmission member 163 is a longitudinal plate-shaped member extending in the left-right direction, and is slidable in the left-right direction as the lifting lever 161 rotates, and the sub-transmission members 165 are rotatably connected to the left and right ends of the main transmission member 163. The lower end of each sub-transmission member 165 is rotatably connected to the sub-rotation base point 164, and the frame support member 167 is connected to its upper end. For example, as can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, members having an L-shaped cross-section may be fixed downwards to the inner surfaces of the front and rear frames of the second outer frame 133A, and the frame support member 167 may be configured to contact these members from below in a slidable manner in the left-right direction, thereby supporting the second cargo bed frame 133 from below. In this way, the displacement mechanism 160 can be configured such that the lifting lever 161 is rotatable around the main rotation base point 162, the sub-transmission member 165 is rotatable around the sub-rotation base point 164, and the main transmission member 163 and the frame support member 167 are slidable in the left-right direction.

[0043] As shown in Figure 8(A), etc., in the trolley 101 according to this embodiment, when the lifting lever 161 is upright in the vertical direction, the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are close to each other, and the second outer frame 133A of the second loading platform frame 133 is positioned in a "proximity position" where it is in contact with the first loading platform frame 131.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8(B), when the lifting lever 161 is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from the rear of the trolley 101, the main transmission member 163 slides and the sub-transmission member 165 rotates, causing the frame support member 167 to slide downward. As a result, the second loading platform frame 133, supported by the frame support member 167, descends, and the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are positioned at a "separated position" where they are far apart from each other.

[0045] By rotating the lifting lever 161 in the reverse direction from the lowered position of the second cargo bed frame 133, the second cargo bed frame 133 can be raised, bringing the first cargo bed frame 131 and the second cargo bed frame 133 closer together and returning them to the close position. As shown in Figure 8(B), let M be the difference between the distance between the first cargo bed frame 131 and the second cargo bed frame 133 in the separated position and the same distance in the close position.

[0046] Figure 8 shows the displacement mechanism 160 located at the front of the bogie 101, but a similar mechanism is also provided at the rear of the bogie 101. Furthermore, a front-to-rear transmission member 169 (see Figures 6 and 7) is positioned below the second loading platform frame 133, connecting the main pivot point 162 at the front and the main pivot point at the rear. This transmits the rotation of the lifting lever 161 to the rear, causing the rear displacement mechanism 160 to operate in conjunction with the front. As a result, the second loading platform frame 133, supported at its front and rear edges by a total of four frame support members 167, moves downward / upward approximately horizontally.

[0047] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the appearance of the protruding member 190 when the first cargo bed frame 131 and the second cargo bed frame 133 are in close proximity and separated positions will be described.

[0048] In this embodiment, the article placement surface P for placing the article G is defined by a tangent plane that contacts the uppermost outer surface of the roller 181 of the roller conveyor 180, which is attached to the upper surface of the first loading platform frame 131. That is, the article placement surface P is located above the upper surface of the first loading platform frame 131 by the diameter R of the roller 181.

[0049] As previously described in Figure 5 and shown in the enlarged section of Figure 6, the length of the protrusion of the protruding end 193U of the movable protrusion 193 in its natural state from the upper end surface 191U of the base 191 is defined as L1. Furthermore, the length of the protrusion of the upper end surface 191U of the base 191 attached to the adjacent second cargo bed frame 133 from the upper surface of the first cargo bed frame 131 is defined as L2 (see also Figure 5).

[0050] As shown in Figure 6, at the close-proximity position, the upper end surface 191U protrudes above the article placement surface P. The movable projection 193 moves up and down, allowing the upper end surface 191U to move to the same height as the article placement surface P or downwards. That is, it is configured such that L2 ≤ R < (L1 + L2).

[0051] As shown in Figure 7, when the second loading platform frame 133 is lowered by M from the proximity position to the distance position, the movable projection 193 does not protrude from the article placement surface P even in its natural state, and the upper end surface 191U is positioned at the same height as the article placement surface P or below the article placement surface P. That is, it is configured such that (L1 + L2 - M) ≤ R.

[0052] An example of how to use the trolley 101 configured as described above will be explained. For example, first, on the trolley 101, the lifting lever 161 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in Figure 8 to lower the second loading platform frame 133, positioning the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 at the distances shown in Figure 7. Next, the item G, which has been lifted by a crane or the like, is lowered onto the roller 181 of the trolley 101, i.e., onto the item placement surface P, using the guide panel 140 as a guide. The item G placed on the item placement surface P is then moved as needed using the roller 181 to position it appropriately.

[0053] During this time, the movable protrusion 193 does not protrude from the item placement surface P even in its natural state, so it does not get in the way when placing the item G on the trolley 101 or damage the item G. In addition, since the item G is placed on the roller 181, even if the item G is heavy, it can be moved relatively easily on the item placement surface P using the roller 181 and positioned appropriately.

[0054] Next, the lifting lever 161 is rotated clockwise as shown in Figure 8 to raise the second loading platform frame 133, positioning the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 in close proximity as shown in Figure 6. Then, the trolley 101 is moved using the casters 150 by pushing the handle 170 or the like, and the item G is transported to the desired location.

[0055] During this time, the movable projection 193 positioned directly beneath the bottom surface of the item G is pressed by the load of the item G and therefore does not protrude from the item placement surface P. On the other hand, the movable projection 193 positioned away from the bottom surface of the item G protrudes from the item placement surface P around the item G. The movable projection 193 protruding around the item G then contacts the side surface of the item G, effectively suppressing load shifting during transport. Furthermore, when the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are in close proximity, if the upper end surface 191U of the base 191 of the projection member 190 is almost flush with the item placement surface P (L2=R), then during transport, the bottom surface of the item G will be supported more stably by contacting not only the roller 181 but also the upper end surface 191U, thereby reducing load shifting and damage.

[0056] Once the desired location is reached, the lifting lever 161 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in Figure 8 to lower the second loading platform frame 133, and the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are again positioned at the distance shown in Figure 7. Next, for example, the items G placed on the item placement surface P are moved as appropriate using the rollers 181 and lowered from the loading platform 130.

[0057] During this time, the movable protrusion 193 does not protrude from the article placement surface P even in its natural state, so it does not get in the way or damage the article G when moving and lowering it. Furthermore, even heavy articles G can be moved and lowered relatively easily on the article placement surface P using the roller 181.

[0058] The configuration and effects of the trolley 101 according to this embodiment will be explained again. In the trolley 101 according to this embodiment, the loading platform 130 comprises a first loading platform frame 131 defining the surface P on which articles are placed, comprising a first outer frame 131A and a plurality of first cross members 131B, 131C spanning within the first outer frame 131A, and a second loading platform frame 133 positioned below the first loading platform frame 131, comprising a second outer frame 133A and a plurality of second cross members 133B, 133C spanning within the second outer frame 133A, wherein the base 191 of a projection member 190 is formed to be attachable to the plurality of second cross members 133B, 133C at positions that do not overlap with the first loading platform frame 131 when viewed from above. The trolley 101 further includes a displacement mechanism 160 that displaces the first loading platform frame 131 and / or the second loading platform frame 133 to change the distance between the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133, and the displacement mechanism 160 allows the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 to move relatively between a close position in which they are close to each other, and a separated position in which they are far apart, and in the separated position in which the protruding end 193U does not protrude from the article placement surface P even when biased upward by a coil spring 195 (biasing means).

[0059] According to the above configuration, by changing the distance between the two loading platform frames 131 and 133 using the displacement mechanism 160, when loading or unloading goods G onto the loading platform 130, the two loading platform frames 131 and 133 are in a separated position so that the protruding end 193U of the projection member 190 does not protrude from the goods placement surface P. When moving the trolley 101, the two loading platform frames 131 and 133 are in a close position so that the protruding end 193U can protrude from the goods placement surface P. Therefore, when loading or unloading goods G, work can be performed without being hindered by the movable projection 193, and during transportation, the movable projection 193 can be projected around the goods G to effectively suppress load displacement.

[0060] Furthermore, in the trolley 101 described above, a roller conveyor 180 equipped with multiple rollers 181 of the same diameter is fixed to the first loading platform frame 131, and the tangent planes that contact the uppermost outer surfaces of the multiple rollers 181 define the article placement surface P.

[0061] According to the above configuration, by utilizing the rollers 181 of the roller conveyor 180, loading and unloading of goods G, and adjusting the position of goods G within the goods placement surface P can be easily performed. Here, in a close proximity position where the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are close together, the movable projection 193 is capable of transitioning between a protruding state in which the protruding end 193U is positioned above the goods placement surface P (i.e., the uppermost tangent plane of the roller 181) and a non-protruding state in which the protruding end 193U does not protrude from the goods placement surface P. On the other hand, in a separated position where the first loading platform frame 131 and the second loading platform frame 133 are far apart, even if the movable projection 193 is biased upward by the coil spring 195, the protruding end 193U is set so that it is not positioned above the goods placement surface P. Therefore, when loading and unloading goods G, the two loading platform frames 131 and 133 can be positioned at a distance from each other, and the work can be easily carried out using the roller conveyor 180. During transport, the two loading platform frames 131 and 133 can be positioned close together, and the movable protrusions 193 can be projected around the goods G, effectively suppressing shifting of the load even while the goods G remain on the rollers 181.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned trolley 101, the displacement mechanism 160 is a lever-type displacement mechanism that raises and / or lowers the second loading platform frame 133 and / or the first loading platform frame 131 by rotating a lifting lever 161 (lever) attached to the loading platform 130.

[0063] According to the above configuration, the cargo bed frame can be reliably raised and lowered with a very simple mechanism without requiring any special parts. In this embodiment, the distance between the two cargo bed frames 131 and 133 can be adjusted relatively easily by lowering / raising the second cargo bed frame 133 instead of the first cargo bed frame 131 on which the load of the goods G is applied.

[0064] <Other Embodiments> The technologies disclosed herein are not limited to the embodiments described above, but also include, for example, the following:

[0065] (1) The above embodiment describes a trolley equipped with a handle that is moved by pushing / pulling by human power, but it is not limited to this. The trolley does not have to be equipped with a handle, and may be moved by a motor equipped with a battery, etc., move on rails while being powered, or move by optical automatic driving, etc.

[0066] (2) In the above embodiment, a projection member equipped with a coil spring as a biasing means has been described, but the invention is not limited thereto. It may also be a leaf spring or the like that biases the projection end upward by elastic stress, or the projection end may be biased by air pressure, hydraulic pressure, or electromagnetic force.

[0067] (3) It is preferable that the protruding members can be easily attached to and removed from the loading platform, and that their mounting position can be changed or adjusted. It is preferable, but not limited to, that these operations can be performed without special tools. For example, in a trolley in which the top surface of the loading platform defines the surface on which goods are placed, screw holes may be provided at regular intervals across the entire area of ​​the top surface of the loading platform, and the protruding members may be screwed to appropriately selected screw holes.

[0068] (4) The shape of the movable projection and base of the projection member is not particularly limited. A cylindrical shape for the movable projection is preferable because it reduces the likelihood of damaging the side surface of the article G when it comes into contact with it. A prismatic shape allows the projection member to be positioned so that one side of the movable projection fits snugly against the side surface of the article G, making it easier to securely hold the article G in place.

[0069] (5) In the above embodiment, a displacement mechanism for lowering / raising the second cargo bed frame 133, which is positioned below the first cargo bed frame 131, has been described, but the invention is not limited thereto. The height of the second cargo bed frame may be kept constant, and the first cargo bed frame may be raised / lowered relative to it, or both the first and second cargo bed frames may be displaced. The cargo bed frames may be displaced based on various principles, for example, by pneumatics or hydraulics, or by a motor or electromagnetics.

[0070] The above describes preferred embodiments of the trolley according to this disclosure, but these are illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments can be carried out in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 1,101... Trolley 30,130...cargo bed 31… Locking recess 33... Rubber cap 50,150... Caster 70,170... Handle 90,190…Protruding member 91,191...Base 191U…Top end surface 93,193...Movable protrusion 93U,193U…Protruding end 95,195... Coil springs 131...First cargo bed frame 131A...First outer gate 131B...First longitudinal crossbar member 131C...First crossbar member in the short direction 133...Second cargo bed frame 133A...2nd outer gate 133B...Second longitudinal crossbar member 133C...Second crossbar member in the short direction 140... Guide Panel 160...Displacement mechanism 161... Lifting lever 162... Main rotation base point 163... Main transmission member 164... Sub-rotation pivot point 165... Sub-transmission member 167... Frame support member 169…Front and rear transmission members 180... Roller conveyor 181...Laura 191A…Hollow part 191B...Mounting plate section G…Goods P... Surface where items are placed. R... (Roller diameter) L1...Protrusion length of the protruding end 193U from the upper end surface 191U. L2…Protrusion length of the upper end surface 191U from the top surface of the first cargo bed frame 131 M... The difference between the distance between the first cargo bed frame 131 and the second cargo bed frame 133 at a distanced position and the same distance at a close position (displacement of the second cargo bed frame 133).

Claims

1. A trolley for transporting goods by placing them on a surface to be placed on, A loading platform defining the surface on which the article is placed, A means of moving the aforementioned cargo bed to transport the aforementioned articles, Multiple protruding members attached to the cargo bed, Equipped with, The aforementioned cargo bed is Multiple protruding members are formed to be attachable at multiple locations in the central region of the article placement surface. Each of the aforementioned protruding members is The base attached to the cargo bed, A movable projection having a vertically moving end and formed to project upward from the base, A biasing means for biasing the aforementioned protruding end upward, Equipped with, The movable projection, when the base is attached to the cargo bed, The protruding end is positioned above the article mounting surface by being biased upward by the biasing means, A non-protruding state in which the protruding end is positioned so as not to protrude from the surface on which the article is placed, due to being pressed downward by the load of the article placed on the protruding end, It is configured to allow transitions between them. Dolly.

2. The aforementioned loading platform is provided with a plurality of grooves or bars in at least the central region of the surface on which the articles are placed. The aforementioned protruding members are designed to be attachable to and detachable from the plurality of grooves or struts in accordance with the dimensions and shape of the article placed on the article placement surface. The trolley according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned cargo bed is A first loading platform frame defining the surface on which the article is placed, comprising a first outer frame and a plurality of first crossbar members spanning within the first outer frame, A second cargo bed frame disposed below the first cargo bed frame, comprising a second outer frame and a plurality of second cross members spanning within the second outer frame, wherein the bases of the plurality of protruding members are formed to be attachable to the plurality of second cross members at positions that do not overlap with the first cargo bed frame when viewed from above, Equipped with, The trolley further includes a displacement mechanism that displaces the first loading platform frame and / or the second loading platform frame to change the distance between the first loading platform frame and the second loading platform frame, The displacement mechanism causes the first cargo bed frame and the second cargo bed frame to move A close proximity position in which the movable protrusion can transition between the protruding state and the non-protruding state, A separated position where the protruding end does not protrude from the article mounting surface even when biased upward by the biasing means, It is possible to move between them. The trolley according to claim 1.

4. The trolley according to claim 3, wherein a roller conveyor equipped with a plurality of rollers of the same diameter is fixed to the first loading platform frame, and the tangent plane in contact with the uppermost outer surface of the plurality of rollers defines the surface on which the article is placed.

5. The trolley according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the displacement mechanism is a lever-type displacement mechanism that raises and / or lowers the second loading platform frame and / or the first loading platform frame by rotating a lever attached to the loading platform.

6. The aforementioned means of movement is a caster, The trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a handle for pushing and / or pulling the trolley.

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