Transport cart

Abstract

The present invention provides a transport trolley into which a robot arm can be inserted without removing the first or second frame section. [Solution] The transport trolley comprises a chassis, a first end portion positioned on the chassis, and a first frame portion erected on the first end portion, with the first frame portion being positioned to be tiltable relative to the chassis.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a transport cart having two pairs of four wheels on the bottom surfaces of the first end and the second end of the transport cart, respectively, and one or two intermediate wheels between them.

Background Art

[0002] A transport cart used for transporting or storing goods in the distribution industry requires straight-ahead movement during use. On the other hand, when moving the transport cart, which is called a nesting state, to a storage location or from a storage location to a use location, turning ability is required. As a means to solve this, a transport cart having two pairs of four wheels on the bottom surfaces of the first end and the second end of the vehicle body, respectively, and one or two intermediate wheels between them is well known.

[0003] However, the current labor shortage is becoming serious, and the distribution industry is no exception. Therefore, even in such a distribution industry, there is a growing momentum to promote labor-saving in order to compensate for the labor shortage.

[0004] As a means to eliminate the labor shortage, it is conceivable to use a robot arm to load the transport cart with goods. However, since conventional carts do not assume the use of a robot arm, they cannot respond. That is, it is necessary to insert a robot arm and load and move the transport cart with goods, but there is a risk of interference between the robot arm and the first frame part and the second frame part of the transport cart.

[0005] Therefore, it is also possible to create a transport cart with a clearance pre-emptied between the first frame part or the second frame part and the base plate part so that the first frame part or the second frame part of the transport cart does not interfere. However, that clearance becomes a dead space, and the space of that clearance is wasted when a plurality of such transport carts are assembled and loaded onto a truck or the like.

[0006] Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-179846, in order to move the transport trolley having a first frame and a second frame using a robot arm, it is necessary to avoid interference with the first or second frame. However, in this transport trolley, the panel that serves as a door is removable, and the panel that serves as a door remains positioned on the back. If this is applied to the first or second frame, and the first or second frame is made removable, then interference with the robot arm can be avoided.

[0007] However, if the first or second frame section is removed, it must be reattached before use, requiring a reattachment process, which makes it difficult to contribute to process savings through automation using a robotic arm. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-179846 [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its objective is to provide a transport trolley that allows a robot arm to be inserted without removing the first frame or the second frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the aforementioned problems, the transport trolley of the first viewpoint comprises a chassis, a first end portion positioned on the chassis, and a first frame portion erected on the first end portion, wherein the first frame portion is positioned to be tiltable relative to the chassis.

[0011] Furthermore, the transport trolley from the second perspective has a chassis, a first end portion positioned on the chassis, and a first frame portion erected on the first end portion, the first frame portion having a support column portion, and the first end portion having a cylindrical support column arrangement portion, the support column portion being positioned on the support column arrangement portion and being positioned so as to be tiltable relative to the chassis portion.

[0012] Furthermore, the transport trolley from the third perspective has a chassis, a first end portion positioned on the chassis, and a first frame portion erected on the first end portion, the first frame portion has a support column portion, the first end portion has a cylindrical support column arrangement portion, the support column portion has a rod-shaped shaft portion, the support column arrangement portion has a bearing portion that rotatably supports the shaft portion, the support column portion is positioned on the support column arrangement portion and the shaft portion is positioned on the bearing portion, and the first frame portion is positioned so as to be tiltable relative to the chassis.

[0013] Furthermore, the transport trolley of the fourth perspective has a chassis, a first end portion positioned on the chassis, and a first frame portion erected on the first end portion, the first frame portion has a support column portion, the first end portion has a support column arrangement portion having a cylindrical first side portion, the support column portion has a rod-shaped shaft portion, the support column arrangement portion has a bearing portion that rotatably supports the shaft portion, the support column portion is positioned on the support column arrangement portion and the shaft portion is positioned on the bearing portion, and the first frame portion abuts against the first side portion when tilted relative to the chassis.

[0014] Furthermore, the transport trolley of the fifth viewpoint is such that, in the second or fourth viewpoint, the first frame section has a stopper and, the column arrangement section has a recess and, when the stopper engages with the recess, the first frame section is substantially upright. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As the present invention is configured and operates as described above, it is possible to provide a transport trolley that allows a robot arm to be inserted without removing the first frame or the second frame. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] A is a front view of the transport cart. B is a plan view of the transport cart. [Figure 2] A is a left side view of the transport cart. B is a right side view of the transport cart. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged front view of the transport cart. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged left side view of the transport cart. [Figure 5] A is a side view of the first frame part. B is a front view of the first frame part. C is a bottom view of the first frame part. [Figure 6] A is a front view of the support arrangement part. B is a side view of the support arrangement part. C is a plan view of the support arrangement part. [Figure 7] A is a conceptual side view of the support part. B is a conceptual front view of the support part. C is a conceptual plan view of the support part. D is a conceptual bottom view of the support part. [Figure 8] It is a conceptual perspective view of the transport cart showing the state where the first frame part is upright. [Figure 9] It is a conceptual perspective view of the transport cart showing the state where the first frame part is inclined.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the transport cart 10 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments. The transport cart 10 has a chassis part 20 that functions as a frame of the transport cart 10. The chassis part 20 has a rod shape and is composed of members having a hollow structure with a square cross-sectional shape. Further, the chassis part 20 has a first end part 30. Note that the first end part 30 can also be provided in the front F direction of the chassis part 20. Further, the chassis part 20 has a second end part 40. Note that the second end part 40 can also be provided in the rear R direction of the chassis part 20. Further, the chassis part 20 has an intermediate chassis part 50 between the first end part 30 and the second end part 40.

[0018] Also, wheel portions 61, 61 which are wheels capable of freely changing direction in all 360-degree directions are attached to the bottom surface of the first end portion 30. Wheel portions 62, 62 which are also wheels capable of freely changing direction in all 360-degree directions are attached to the bottom surface of the second end portion 40. Further, intermediate wheel portions 63, 63 which are wheels with a fixed traveling direction are attached to the intermediate base portion 50. In this way, the transport cart 10 of the first embodiment may be called a so-called six-wheel cart having the two pairs of four wheel portions 61, 61, 62, 62 disposed on the bottom surfaces of the first end portion 30 and the second end portion 40 and the intermediate wheel portions 63, 63, but it is not limited to these six wheels.

[0019] The first end portion 30 has a column arrangement portion 31 having a cylindrical shape, and a first frame portion 100 described later is disposed on the column arrangement portion 31. The second end portion 40 has a second column portion receiving portion 41 having a cylindrical shape, and a second frame portion 200 described later is disposed on the second column portion receiving portion 41. The column arrangement portion 31 will be described later.

[0020] The transport cart 10 of this embodiment has, in this way, a cart body portion 20, a first end portion 30 disposed in the front F direction of the cart body portion 20, and a first frame portion 100 erected on the first end portion 30, and the first frame portion 100 can be disposed to be tiltable with respect to the cart body portion 20. By applying the configurations of the first end portion 30 and the first frame portion 100 described later to the second end portion 40 and the second frame portion 200, the second frame portion 200 erected on the second end portion 40 can be disposed to be tiltable with respect to the cart body portion 20. Also, the front F direction and the rear R direction in the transport cart 10 can be arbitrarily determined. Therefore, the significance of the first end portion 30 and the first frame portion 100 is not limited to being disposed in the front F direction, and the first end portion 30 and the first frame portion 100 can also be disposed in the rear R direction. <​The transport trolley 10 has a base plate 300 that is rotatably attached to the chassis 20 for placing objects on. The base plate 300 can be positioned almost upright against the chassis 20 when nesting, and can be positioned parallel to the chassis 20 when in use (see Figure 1).

[0022] The first frame section 100 is inserted into and erected in the cylindrical support column arrangement section 31. The first frame section 100 has a rod-shaped shaft section 130, which is rotatably and substantially horizontally supported by bearing sections 37, 37 in the support column arrangement section 31, as described later. As described above, the first frame section 100 is positioned so as to be tiltable relative to the chassis section 20.

[0023] The support column arrangement section 31 has an upper end portion 32 that opens up as it goes upward when viewed from the front. The first side portion 33, which is positioned in the forward direction F of the support column arrangement section 31, is plate-shaped and, when the first frame portion 100 is tilted, it comes into contact with the support column portion 101, thereby limiting the tilt. The first side portion 33 is tilted at an angle of 20 degrees when viewed from the front (see, for example, Figures 1A, 3, and 6A), and the angle at which the first frame portion 100 can tilt is limited by the angle of the first side portion 33. This will be explained later.

[0024] The upper end portion 32 of the support column arrangement section 31 has a concave recess 32a, which is connected to an inclined section 35 that slopes downward when viewed from the front. A stopper 150, which will be described later, falls into and locks into this recess 32a, thereby preventing the first frame section 100 from tilting and maintaining the first frame section 100 in a substantially upright position. This will be described later. The stopper 150 can also slide on the inclined section 35. The lower section 36, which is located below the support column arrangement section 31, has bearing portions 37, 37 that receive the rod-shaped shaft portion 130. The lower section 36 is positioned to be embedded in the first end portion 30, and the portion other than the lower section 36 is exposed on the first end portion 30.

[0025] The first frame section 100 has a support column section 101, which has the aforementioned shaft section 130. The first frame section 100 also has a U-shaped outer frame 103 and a plurality of horizontal bars 104 connected to the outer frame 103, and these are connected. The support column section 101 is positioned to be inserted into the cylindrical support column arrangement section 31 as described above, and the aforementioned shaft section 130 is positioned near the lower end 102a of the support column section 101. The shaft section 130 is positioned in the first frame section 100, and the first frame section 100 can be tilted relative to the support column arrangement section 31 with respect to the shaft section 130 as its center.

[0026] The first frame portion 100 has a stopper 150 that can maintain the first frame portion 100 in a nearly vertical position. The stopper 150 has a stopper engaging portion 151, a rod-shaped vertical shaft portion 152 connected to the stopper engaging portion 151, a spring 155 that is wound around the vertical shaft portion 152 and biases the stopper engaging portion 151 downward, and a contact portion 157 that positions the end of the spring 155. The vertical shaft portion 152, the spring 155, and the contact portion 157 that contacts the end of the spring 155 and positions the spring 155 are built into the support column portion 101. Furthermore, a portion of the rod-shaped stopper engaging portion 151 is configured to protrude from the vertically elongated elongated hole 101a in the support column portion 101, and by engaging with the recess 32a in the support column arrangement portion 31, the first frame portion 100 can be maintained in a position where it is erected substantially vertically, as described above.

[0027] The upper end 33a of the first side portion 33 is positioned to drop down from the inclined portion 35 when viewed from the front. Furthermore, the first side portion 33 is inclined at an angle of 20 degrees (70 degrees when the horizontal direction is considered 0 degrees) with respect to the second side portion 34 which is erected vertically (90 degrees) (see, for example, Figure 6A). Therefore, the first frame portion 100 can tilt up to this angle by contacting the first side portion 33 which is inclined at an angle of 20 degrees.

[0028] Furthermore, the second frame section 200 is supported at the second end section 40. That is, the second frame section 200 is inserted into and erected in a cylindrical second support column arrangement section 41 located at the second end section 40. In this way, the second frame section 200 is erected at the second end section 40.

[0029] The second frame section 200 has a second support section 201, a J-shaped second outer frame 203, and side sections 205 connected to the second outer frame 203, and these are connected to a plurality of second horizontal bars 204.

[0030] Furthermore, the transport trolley 10 has a brake device 500. The brake device 500 has a brake pedal 501, a connecting rod 502, and a locking part 503. When the brake pedal 501 is pressed, the connecting rod 502 is activated and the locking part 503 locks the rotation of the intermediate wheels 63, 63. This brake device 500 is publicly known.

[0031] In the transport trolley 10 described above, in order to tilt the first frame portion 100, the stopper engaging portion 151 of the stopper 150, which is engaged with the recess 32a, is lifted against the spring 155. When the stopper engaging portion 151 disengages from the recess 32a, the first frame portion 100 rotates around the shaft portion 130 and tilts forward in the direction F. At that time, the support column portion 101 of the first frame portion 100 comes into contact with the first side portion 33 of the support column arrangement portion 31, and it stops tilting further.

[0032] When the first frame section 100 is inclined, a robot arm (not shown, see Figure 1) can be inserted into the gap S.

[0033] Next, the first frame section 100 of the transport trolley 10 is made upright. The stopper engaging section 151 slides from the inclined section 35 of the support column arrangement section 31 to the upper end section 32, and engages the stopper engaging section 151 of the stopper 150 with the recess 32a, thereby making the first frame section 100 upright relative to the chassis section 20.

[0034] Thus, when a robot arm (not shown) is not used, the transport cart 10 has its first frame 100 in an upright position, and objects (not shown) can be placed on the base plate 300 placed on the chassis 20 without creating a gap S between the first frame 100 and the chassis 20. Furthermore, when an object (not shown) is placed on the transport cart 10 or when the transport cart 10 is moved by a robot arm (not shown), the first frame 100 tilts, creating a gap S between the first frame 100 and the chassis 20, thus avoiding interference between the robot arm and the first frame 100. The same applies to the second frame 200. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Transport platform 20 Chassis 30 First end 31 Pillar placement part 32 Upper end 32a Recess 33 First side 37 Bearing section 40 Second end 50 Intermediate platform 100 Section 1 130 Shaft section 150 Stopper S Gap

Claims

1. The chassis and, The first end portion is positioned on the chassis portion, It has a first frame portion erected at the first end, The first frame is a transport trolley positioned to be tiltable relative to the chassis.

2. The chassis and, The first end portion is positioned on the chassis portion, It has a first frame portion erected at the first end, The first frame portion includes a support column portion, The first end has a cylindrical support column arrangement portion, The support column is positioned in the support column arrangement section, and the support column is positioned so as to be tiltable relative to the chassis section of the transport trolley.

3. The chassis and, The first end portion is positioned on the chassis portion, It has a first frame portion erected at the first end, The first frame portion includes a support column portion, The first end has a cylindrical support column arrangement portion, The aforementioned support column has a rod-shaped shaft portion, The support column arrangement section includes a bearing section that rotatably supports the shaft section, A transport trolley in which the support column is positioned in the support column arrangement section, the shaft is positioned in the bearing section, and the first frame is positioned so as to be tiltable relative to the chassis section.

4. The chassis and, The first end portion is positioned on the chassis portion, It has a first frame portion erected at the first end, The first frame portion includes a support column portion, The first end has a support column arrangement portion which has a cylindrical first side portion, The aforementioned support column has a rod-shaped shaft portion, The support column arrangement section includes a bearing section that rotatably supports the shaft section, The support column is positioned in the support column arrangement section, and the shaft is positioned in the bearing section, and the first frame is a transport trolley that abuts against the first side when tilted relative to the chassis section.

5. The first frame portion includes a stopper, The aforementioned support column arrangement section has a recess, The transport trolley according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first frame portion is substantially upright when the stopper engages with the recess.

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