Transport cart

Abstract

The present invention provides a transport cart in which corner rollers can roll and make contact with obstacles upon collision. [Solution] A trolley body 3, which is rectangular in plan view, is formed by connecting two parallel vertical frame members 11 and two parallel horizontal frame members 12 with four corner members 13. Caster wheels 7 are attached to the corners on both sides of at least one side of this trolley body 3. The corner member 13 has a cylindrical portion 13A formed on its inner circumference, which has an insertion hole a into which the lower end of the handle support E can be inserted. A fastener 15 that holds the lower end of the handle support E passes through the lower part of this cylindrical portion 13A. Below the corner member 13, a corner roller 10 is positioned, which has an outer peripheral surface 10a that protrudes from the outer surface of the corner member 13. This corner roller 10 is rotatably supported by a mounting device that fits into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A for horizontal positioning and through which the fastener 15 passes for vertical positioning.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport carriage for placing and transporting luggage.

Background Art

[0002] In the transport carriage disclosed in Patent Document 1, two parallel vertical frame members and two parallel horizontal frame members are connected by four corner members into which handle posts can be inserted to form a rectangular underframe in plan view, a placing member capable of placing luggage is attached to this underframe, a bottom member is attached to the lower part of the underframe to form a carriage body, caster wheels are arranged at four corners of the carriage body, and a buffer body having a buffer outer surface protruding from the outer surface of the underframe is provided on the outer surface of the corner member.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-mentioned prior art, the buffer body can prevent the corner member from colliding with obstacles such as walls and wheel stops while the carriage is moving. However, since the buffer body is fixed to the corner member, the collision results in frictional contact, which may damage the buffer body itself. If no buffer body is provided, the corner member will be damaged.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a transport carriage that can solve such problems of the prior art.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a transport carriage in which a corner roller is provided below a corner member, so that the corner roller can make rolling contact upon collision with an obstacle.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] A specific means for solving the problems in the present invention is a transport trolley in which a rectangular trolley body 3 is formed in plan view by connecting two parallel vertical frame members 11 and two parallel horizontal frame members 12 with four corner members 13, caster wheels 7 are attached to the corners on both sides of at least one side of the trolley body 3, the corner member 13 has a cylindrical portion 13A formed on its inner circumference which has an insertion hole a into which the lower end of the handle support column E can be inserted, and a fastener 15 that holds the lower end of the handle support column E is passed through the lower part of the cylindrical portion 13A, and a corner roller 10 having an outer peripheral surface 10a that protrudes from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13 is arranged below the corner member 13, the corner roller 10 is rotatably supported by a mounting device 16 which is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A to be positioned horizontally and through which the fastener 15 is passed to be positioned vertically. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, by arranging a corner roller having an outer peripheral surface that protrudes from the outer surface of the corner member below the corner member, collisions with obstacles can be converted into rolling contact. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] The same plane diagram. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the same object. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the same object. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged plan view of a corner of the bogie body. [Figure 6] This is an exploded perspective view of a corner section of the bogie body. [Figure 7] This is a disassembled perspective view of the corner roller. [Figure 8] This is a side view of a corner of a transport cart showing a second embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a plan view of the same corner. [Figure 10] This is an exploded perspective view of the corner roller at the same corner. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory side view of a corner portion of the transport cart showing the third embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a plan view of the same corner portion. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory side view of a corner portion of the transport cart showing the fourth embodiment. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0011] Figures 1 to 7 show the transport cart 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The transport cart 1 forms a cart body 3 by attaching a loading material 5 to the upper surface of a rectangular (oblong, quadrilateral) underframe 4 and attaching a bottom material 6 to the lower part of the quadrilateral frame, and caster wheels 7 with stoppers N are attached to the lower surface of the bottom material 6 at the corner portions at both ends of at least one side of the cart body 3 (in the embodiment, 6 locations including 4 corners and the center of the long sides).

[0012] The transport cart 1 has a rectangular shape elongated in the transport movement direction. The longitudinal direction is defined as the vertical direction, a frame member elongated in the longitudinal direction is referred to as a vertical frame member 11, the direction orthogonal thereto is defined as the lateral direction, and a frame member elongated in the lateral direction is referred to as a lateral frame member 12. However, the vertical and lateral directions of the underframe 4 may be reversed, such that the vertical frame member may be referred to as a lateral frame member and the lateral frame member may be referred to as a vertical frame member.

[0013] The underframe 4 is formed into a rectangular shape (oblong shape) in plan view by connecting two parallel vertical frame members 11 (frame members elongated in the vertical direction in Figure 2) and two parallel lateral frame members 12 via four corner members 13. At least two vertical rail members 14 having both ends connected to the lateral frame members 12 are provided between the two lateral frame members 12, and the loading material 5 is fixed to the vertical frame members 11, the lateral frame members 12 and the vertical rail members 14.

[0014] The vertical frame members 11, the lateral frame members 12 and the vertical rail members 14 are formed into a square pipe shape from an aluminum alloy or the like, the corner members 13 are also extrusion-molded from an aluminum alloy, and an insertion hole a penetrating in the vertical direction into which a handle post E can be inserted is formed.

[0015] The corner member 13 is formed to be elongated vertically with a cylindrical cylinder portion 13A having an inner circumference into which the lower end of the handle support post E can be inserted, a pair of vertical connecting pieces 13B that connect by sandwiching the vertical frame member 11 therebetween, and a pair of horizontal connecting pieces 13C that connect by sandwiching the horizontal frame member 12 therebetween.

[0016] In the corner member 13, a stopper 15 that crosses through the insertion hole a penetrates the lower portion of the cylinder portion 13A, and receives the lower end of the handle support post E inserted into the insertion hole a. The stopper 15 is composed of a bolt and a nut.

[0017] Further, the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13 is covered with a shock absorber 9 formed of synthetic resin that alleviates impact when coming into contact with obstacles such as walls or vehicle stops. This shock absorber 9 covers the entire vertical width of the outer surface 13a of the cylinder portion 13A.

[0018] The outer surface 9a of the shock absorber 9 has an outer surface 9a facing in the front-rear direction and an outer surface 9a facing in the left-right direction. The outer surface 9a of the shock absorber 9 facing in the front-rear direction is located outward of the horizontal connecting piece 13C of the corner member 13, and protrudes from the outer surface of the horizontal frame member 12 by a dimension α. Further, the outer surface 9a of the shock absorber 9 facing in the left-right direction is located outward of the vertical frame member 11 of the corner member 13, and protrudes from the outer surface of the vertical frame member 11 by the dimension α.

[0019] On the lower surfaces of the vertical frame member 11, the horizontal frame member 12 and the vertical crosspiece member 14, three pairs of parallel mounting bodies 21 that form the bottom member 6 between the two horizontal frame members 12 are bridged. Two mounting bodies 21 of each pair are arranged in mirror symmetry.

[0020] For the pair of mounting bodies 21, both longitudinal ends of the flat plate portion are fixed to the lower surfaces of the vertical frame member 11 and the vertical crosspiece member 14. To the pair of mounting bodies 21, the mounting base plate 31 of the caster wheel 7 is fixed to the lower surface thereof at positions corresponding to the six locations including the four corners of the truck main body 3 and the center of the long side, via a fastener such as a bolt.

[0021] The pair of mounting bodies 21 are interconnected by fixing the mounting base plate 31, and the position of the trolley body 3 relative to the horizontal frame member 12 is also determined, and a gap S is formed between the side of the horizontal frame member 12 and the mounting body 21 on the horizontal frame member 12 side.

[0022] The mounting material 5 on the upper surface of the frame 4 is made of a flat aluminum plate, with its upper surface serving as the loading surface for cargo. The mounting material 5 is notched in six places to form recessed spaces P on the upper surface of the frame 4, exposing the fixing parts of the mounting plate 31 of the lower mounting body 21. These six recessed spaces P provide space for the six wheels 7a of the upper transport cart 1 when another transport cart 1 is placed on top of the transport cart 1.

[0023] The recessed space P of the mounting material 5 extends to the horizontal frame material 12, leaving an upward gap S between it and the mounting body 21 on the side of the horizontal frame material 12. In other words, the recessed space P and the gap S pass vertically between the horizontal frame material 12 and the mounting body 21, and above the caster wheel 7 with stopper N, so that a part of the wheel 7a of the caster wheel 7 can be seen from above.

[0024] In Figures 1-4, the caster wheel 7 with stopper N has a bifurcated support yoke 33 that rotatably supports the wheel 7a via a pivot shaft, with the upper part of the yoke 33 supported by the mounting body 21 via a pivot shaft. The swivel area W on the outer circumference of the wheel 7a furthest from the pivot shaft in the radially outward direction is shown as a dashed circle in Figure 2.

[0025] The caster wheels 7 at the four corners of the transport trolley 1 are positioned such that the distance L1 from the vertical frame members 11 is shorter than the distance L2 from the horizontal frame members 12, thereby maximizing the distance (span) M between the left and right caster wheels 7. Increasing the distance M between the wheels improves the stability of the transport trolley 1's movement. However, there are also models where the distance L1 from the vertical frame members 11 and the distance L2 from the horizontal frame members 12 are the same.

[0026] A corner roller 10 made of synthetic resin is positioned below the corner member 13. The outer peripheral surface 10a of this corner roller 10 protrudes outward from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13, and further outward from the outer surface 9a of the buffer body 9 that covers the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13.

[0027] The corner roller 10 is rotatably supported by a mounting device 16, which is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A for horizontal positioning, and the fastener 15 passes through it for vertical positioning.

[0028] In Figures 1 to 7, the mounting device 16 of the first embodiment includes a positioning member 17 that is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A to position it horizontally, and a support member 18 that is inserted between the positioning member 17 and the corner roller 10 to position the corner roller 10 vertically.

[0029] The support member 18 is a headed male screw (bolt) that passes through the axial hole 17a of the positioning member 17 and through the center of the corner roller 10, with a nut 23 screwed onto its lower part. A through hole 18a is formed in the upper head of the support member 18, and by passing the fastener 15 through this through hole 18a, the mounting device 16 is fixed to the cylindrical portion 13A, and the corner roller 10 is properly positioned below the cylindrical portion 13A so that it can rotate freely.

[0030] The positioning member 17 is formed as a disc concentric with the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A, but the axial hole 17a that penetrates the support member 18 vertically is located directly below the axis 15y of the fastener 15 and is offset from the center 17x of the positioning member 17 to a position closer to the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13.

[0031] As a result, the axis of the corner roller 10 is offset outward from the center of the insertion hole a in the cylindrical portion 13A, allowing the outer circumferential surface 10a of the corner roller 10 to protrude more significantly from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13. Alternatively, even if the distance L1 of the caster wheel 7 from the vertical frame member 11 is shorter than the distance L2 from the horizontal frame member 12, the turning range W of the caster wheel 7 and the corner roller 10 will not interfere with each other. Furthermore, the diameter of the corner roller 10 can be reduced while ensuring the required amount of protrusion from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13.

[0032] The diameter of the corner roller 10 is preferably 80 to 120 mm. When the diameter of the outer surface 10a is 100 mm, the protrusion of the outer surface 10a of the corner roller 10 is preferably 15 to 30 mm from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13 and 10 to 25 mm from the outer surface 9a of the buffer body 9.

[0033] Figures 8 to 10 show the mounting device 16 of the second embodiment, which includes a positioning member 17 that is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A to position it horizontally, and a support member 18 that is inserted between the positioning member 17 and the corner roller 10 to position the corner roller 10 vertically.

[0034] The positioning member 17 is formed of a disc concentric with the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A, as in the first embodiment. However, the axial hole 17a that penetrates the support member 18 vertically is formed at the center 17x of the positioning member 17, directly below the axis 15y of the fastener 15.

[0035] As a result, the axes of the positioning member 17, the support member 18, and the corner roller 10 are located concentrically with the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0036] Even with this configuration, it is possible to ensure that the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corner roller 10 protrudes 15 to 30 mm from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13 and 10 to 25 mm from the outer surface 9a of the buffer body 9.

[0037] Figures 11-12 show the mounting device 16 of the third embodiment, which is formed of a shaft-shaped member 19. This shaft-shaped member 19 has a shaft portion 19a that penetrates the corner roller 10 and is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A for horizontal positioning, and a flange portion 19b that receives the corner roller 10 at the lower end of the shaft portion 19a.

[0038] The shaft-shaped member 19 has a through hole 18a formed in the upper part of the shaft portion 19a, and the fastener 15 passes through it, thereby fixing the mounting device 16 to the corner member 13. The shaft-shaped member 19 is located concentrically with the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A and is perpendicular to the through hole 18a and the axis 15y of the fastener 15.

[0039] Figure 13 shows the mounting device 16 of the fourth embodiment, which is formed of a shaft-shaped member 19. This shaft-shaped member 19 has a shaft portion 19a that penetrates the corner roller 10 and is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A for horizontal positioning, and a flange portion 19b that receives the corner roller 10 at the lower end of the shaft portion 19a.

[0040] This shaft-shaped member 19 has a hollow cavity 19c formed from the top to near the bottom, giving it a bottomed cylindrical shaft shape, and a through hole 18a is formed in the upper part of the shaft portion 19a through which the fastener 15 passes. The corner roller 10 is made of synthetic resin and is shaped like an abacus bead. In other words, the fourth embodiment is a modification of the third embodiment in which the mounting device 16 and corner roller 10 are made lighter.

[0041] In the first to fourth embodiments, Figures 11 to 13 do not show the buffer 9 attached to the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13, but the buffer 9 may be attached as in Figures 1 to 10. Also, although a bolt is used for the fastener 15, a long, slender wedge with a horizontal upper edge may also be used.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, a trolley body 3 with a rectangular shape in plan view is formed by connecting two parallel vertical frame members 11 and two parallel horizontal frame members 12 with four corner members 13, and caster wheels 7 are attached to the corners on both sides of at least one side of the trolley body 3. The corner member 13 has a cylindrical portion 13A formed on its inner circumference which has an insertion hole a into which the lower end of the handle support column E can be inserted, and a fastener 15 that holds the lower end of the handle support column E passes through the lower part of the cylindrical portion 13A. Below the corner member 13, a corner roller 10 is arranged which has an outer peripheral surface 10a that protrudes from the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13, and the corner roller 10 is rotatably supported by a mounting device 16 which is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A for horizontal positioning and through which the fastener 15 passes for vertical positioning.

[0043] This configuration allows the corner members 13 of the trolley body 3 to avoid colliding with obstacles through rolling contact with the corner rollers 10.

[0044] In the embodiment described above, the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13 is covered with a buffer 9, and the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corner roller 10 protrudes outward from the buffer 9.

[0045] With this configuration, the buffer 9 on the corner member 13 of the trolley body 3 can avoid colliding with obstacles through rolling contact with the corner roller 10, and if there is an obstacle above the corner roller 10, the buffer 9 can protect the corner member 13.

[0046] In the embodiment described above, the mounting device 16 is provided with a positioning member 17 that is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A to position it horizontally, and a support member 18 that is inserted between the positioning member 17 and the corner roller 10 to position the corner roller 10 vertically, and a through hole 18a is formed in the upper part of the support member 18 through which the fastener 15 passes.

[0047] This configuration allows the corner roller 10 and mounting device 16 to be easily and simply mounted in the correct positions in the horizontal and vertical directions by utilizing the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A and the fastener 15.

[0048] In the embodiment described above, the positioning member 17 is formed as a disc concentric with the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A, and an axial hole 17a is formed at the center 17x of the positioning member 17, directly below the axis 15y of the fastener 15 and passing through the support member 18 vertically.

[0049] This configuration allows the attachment device 16 to be constructed simply and easily.

[0050] In the embodiment described above, the positioning member 17 is formed as a disc concentric with the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A, and an axial hole 17a is formed in the positioning member 17 that is directly below the axis 15y of the fastener 15 and penetrates the support member 18 vertically, and the axial hole 17a is offset from the center 17x of the positioning member 17 to a position closer to the outer surface 13a of the corner member 13.

[0051] This configuration allows the support member 18 that supports the corner roller 10 to be offset outward from the center of the insertion hole a, thereby avoiding interference with the turning area W of the caster wheel 7, reducing the diameter of the corner roller 10, or allowing the outer circumferential surface 10a of the corner roller 10 to protrude significantly from the cylindrical portion 13A.

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the mounting device 16 is formed of a shaft-shaped member 19 having a shaft portion 19a that passes through the corner roller 10 and is fitted into the insertion hole a of the cylindrical portion 13A for horizontal positioning, and a flange portion 19b that receives the corner roller 10 at the lower end of the shaft portion 19a, and a through hole 18a is formed in the upper part of the shaft-shaped member 19 through which the fastener 15 passes.

[0053] This configuration allows the attachment device 16 to be constructed simply and easily.

[0054] In the embodiment described above, the shaft portion 19a of the shaft-shaped member 19 is formed in a closed-bottom cylindrical shape by forming a cavity 19c from the top to near the bottom.

[0055] This configuration allows the attachment device 16 to be lightweight and simple in design.

[0056] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the shape, configuration, and combination of the components can also be changed.

[0057] For example, if the trolley body 3 is rectangular and has caster wheels at six locations, it is also acceptable to use caster wheels 7 with stoppers only at the corners on both sides of one side of the trolley body 3.

[0058] The caster wheel 7 with a stopper may be of a type in which the stopper is supported on the mounting base plate 31 side and does not rotate integrally with the wheel. In this case, the foot-operated portion of the stopper may protrude from the outer surface of the horizontal frame member 12 of the trolley body 3, within the range of the amount of protrusion of the outer peripheral surface 10a of the corner roller 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Transport cart 3. Bogie body 4-unit frame 5. Mounting material 6 Bottom material 7 Caster wheels 7a wheels 9 Buffer 9a External surface 10 Corner Roller 10a Outer surface 11 Vertical frame material 12 Horizontal frame material 13 Corner member 13A Cylinder part 13B Longitudinal connecting piece 13C Horizontal connection piece 13a Exterior 13c Horizontal connection piece 14 Vertical support members 15 Fasteners 15y axis center 16. Fittings 17 Positioning material 17a Shaft hole 17x center 18 Support Member 18a Through hole 19 Axial-shaped member 19a Shaft 19b Flange section 19c cavity 21 Mounting body 23 nuts 31 Mounting base plate 33 Support yoke α dimension E Handle support L1 distance L2 distance N Stopper P Space recess S Gap W turning area a. Insertion hole

Claims

1. A trolley body (3) is formed by connecting two parallel vertical frame members (11) and two parallel horizontal frame members (12) with four corner members (13), and caster wheels (7) are attached to the corners on both sides of at least one side of this trolley body (3). The corner members (13) have a cylindrical portion (13A) formed on their inner circumference, which has an insertion hole (a) into which the lower end of a handle support (E) can be inserted, and a fastener (15) that holds the lower end of the handle support (E) is passed through the lower part of this cylindrical portion (13A). A transport trolley characterized in that a corner roller (10) having an outer peripheral surface (10a) protruding from the outer surface (13a) of the corner member (13) is positioned below the corner member (13), and the corner roller (10) is rotatably supported by a mounting device (16) through which the fastener (15) passes, allowing for horizontal positioning and vertical positioning.

2. The outer surface (13a) of the corner member (13) is covered with a buffer (9). The transport trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer circumferential surface (10a) of the corner roller (10) protrudes outward from the buffer (9).

3. The transport trolley according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting device (16) is provided with a positioning member (17) that is fitted into an insertion hole (a) of the cylindrical portion (13A) to position it horizontally, and a support member (18) that is inserted between the positioning member (17) and the corner roller (10) to position the corner roller (10) vertically, and a through hole (18a) is formed in the upper part of the support member (18) through which a fastener (15) passes.

4. The transport trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that the positioning member (17) is formed of a disc concentric with the insertion hole (a) of the cylindrical portion (13A), and an axial hole (17a) is formed at the center (17x) of the positioning member (17) directly below the axis (15y) of the fastener (15) and passing through the support member (18) vertically.

5. The transport trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that the positioning member (17) is formed of a disc concentric with the insertion hole (a) of the cylindrical portion (13A), and an axial hole (17a) is formed in the positioning member (17) directly below the axis (15y) of the fastener (15) and passing through the support member (18) vertically, and the axial hole (17a) is offset to a position closer to the outer surface (13a) of the corner member (13) from the center (17x) of the positioning member (17).

6. The transport trolley according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting device (16) is formed of a shaft-shaped member (19) having a shaft portion (19a) that penetrates the corner roller (10) and is fitted into an insertion hole (a) of the cylindrical portion (13A) for horizontal positioning, and a flange portion (19b) that receives the corner roller (10) at the lower end of the shaft portion (19a), and a through hole (18a) is formed in the upper part of the shaft-shaped member (19) through which a fastener (15) passes.

7. The transport trolley according to claim 6, characterized in that the shaft portion (19a) of the shaft-shaped member (19) is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shaft shape by having a cavity (19c) formed from the upper part to near the lower part.

Images