Towing auxiliary device for sheet pallet and sheet pallet with towing auxiliary device

Abstract

To provide a sheet pallet traction supporting device capable of ensuring execution of sheet pallet traction work and reducing cost.SOLUTION: A sheet pallet traction supporting device 11 comprises: a fixing tool 74 U-shaped in section and having a recess 76 which accommodates an end 22 of a sheet pallet 20; a pressing member 12 that is disposed in the recess 76 of the fixing tool 74 and that comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the recess 76 and the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20; a screw member (fixing bolt 74C) that penetrates the fixing tool 74 and presses the pressing member 12 to hold the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 between the pressing member 12 and the inner wall surface of the recess 76; and a traction member 16 provided to the fixing tool 74 or the pressing member 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a towing assist device for a seat pallet and a seat pallet with a towing assist device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, for example, inside a container transported by sea, cargo to be transported is often placed on a sheet pallet laid on the floor. The cargo can be unloaded from the container by towing the sheet pallet.

[0003] Here, sheet pallets are usually made of a relatively soft material such as polypropylene (PP) and are therefore easily damaged. For this reason, when towing a sheet pallet on which cargo is placed from a container to unload the cargo, the sheet pallet needs to be securely gripped and towed so that the sheet pallet does not break and fall out, and it is known to use a push-pull forklift as cited in Patent Document 1.

[0004] A push-pull forklift is configured by attaching an optional device called a push-pull attachment to the fork of a normal forklift. The push-pull attachment includes, for example, a plate-shaped platen placed on the fork, a traction gripper that slides freely forward and backward along both the horizontal and vertical directions, and other components such as a propulsion face plate. In this configuration, the gripper grips the end of the sheet pallet at a position forward of the tip of the platen placed on the fork, and then slides horizontally toward the base of the platen, whereby the load is taken in together with the sheet pallet onto the upper surface of the platen.

[0005] For the gripping and sliding actions of the gripper, the push-pull attachment requires a driving member such as a hydraulic device in addition to the platen and gripper, etc., and has a large number of members and a relatively complicated structure. For this reason, the push-pull attachment is very expensive, and for small-scale cargo handling companies, the initial cost is high, which is a heavy burden, and there is a problem that it is difficult for them to become widespread.

[0006] In addition, while push-pull attachments are convenient because they have the function of both pulling in and pushing out a sheet pallet loaded with cargo, the distance the sheet pallet can be moved is limited by the extension limit of the face plate during the pushing operation, and sheet pallets that are farther away than this movable distance must be moved within the range of this movable distance by some means, resulting in double effort.

[0007] On the other hand, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 provides a means of solving the drawbacks of the push-pull attachment, such as the need for expensive equipment such as a hydraulic device, and the drawbacks of the short travel distance, but it is premised on the use of a forklift, which is also an expensive device, and although it proposes a manual toggle clamp device without using an expensive hydraulic device, the inclusion of a toggle mechanism etc. requires a structure that is still complex and expensive, although not as complex as a hydraulic device.

[0008] The method of gripping the sheet pallet also follows the push-pull attachment method in which the gripper presses the sheet pallet against the substrate from above perpendicular to the pulling direction to grip it. In this way, in the method of gripping the sheet pallet by pressing it from above perpendicular to the pulling direction with the gripper, the static friction force generated by the gripper's pressing force between the gripper tip and the upper surface of the sheet pallet and between the lower surface of the sheet pallet and the substrate must be greater than the traction force that pulls the sheet pallet against the friction force generated between the lower surface of the sheet pallet and the floor surface due to the load of the goods placed on the sheet pallet. Therefore, the heavier the goods, the greater the traction force must be, and the greater the gripper's pressing force must be in accordance with the increase in traction force. However, the manual toggle clamp device has a problem that it is limited in the pressing force that can be applied compared to a hydraulic device and is not suitable for pulling heavy goods. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-173296 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Although there have been requests and attempts to develop effective and inexpensive devices other than the conventional push-pull attachments described above, the reality is that no practical and inexpensive device that can solve the above problems and reliably tow a sheet pallet without damaging it has yet been provided. Therefore, there is a demand for a new technology that can reliably tow a sheet pallet while reducing costs.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a seat pallet towing auxiliary device and a seat pallet with a towing auxiliary device that can reliably perform the towing operation of a seat pallet and reduce costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] According to the first aspect of the present invention The sheet pallet towing auxiliary device comprises a fixing device with a U-shaped cross-section having a recess into which the end of the sheet pallet fits, a pressing member placed in the recess of the fixing device and contacting the inner wall surface of the recess and the end of the sheet pallet, a screw member that penetrates the fixing device and presses the pressing member to clamp the end of the sheet pallet between the pressing member and the inner wall surface of the recess, and a towing member provided on the fixing device or the pressing member.

[0013] the above In the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device, the end of the sheet pallet is clamped by two members consisting of a pressing member and a fixing device, and by the fastening force of a screw member. Therefore, when towing, the end of the sheet pallet does not fall out between the pressing member and the fixing device, and moves together with the towing member. In addition, heavy loads can be moved without using a push-pull attachment that requires a gripper to hydraulically clamp the end of the sheet pallet. Therefore, the sheet pallet towing operation can be performed reliably, and costs can be reduced.

[0014] Furthermore, when a wire or the like is attached to a towing member attached to the pressing member or fixing device and pulled with a traction power device such as a winch, the end of the sheet pallet can move together with the towing member without falling off due to the clamping force applied by the screw member between the pressing member and the fixing device.

[0015] By clamping the sheet pallet in this manner, it is possible to move heavy loads without the need for a separate device for applying a gripping force, such as a hydraulic device or toggle clamp device, to grip the sheet pallet as in the prior art. Note that in the configuration of the present invention, clamps or other fastening devices can be used in combination as an auxiliary means to increase the clamping force that fastens the pressing member and the fixing device.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the present invention The sheet pallet traction auxiliary device further includes an additional pressing member that is disposed inside the recess of the fixture and clamps the end of the sheet pallet between the pressing member and the additional pressing member. the above According to this, the clamping force can be further improved by the additional pressing member.

[0017] According to the third aspect of the present invention In the sheet pallet traction auxiliary device, the additional pressing member is a tubular member. the above According to the above, since the additional pressing member is hollow and tubular, it is possible to improve the strength of the traction auxiliary device while reducing its weight.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention In the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device, a handle is provided on the head of the screw member. the above According to this, an operator can easily rotate the screw member by holding the handle, which facilitates the work of attaching and detaching the fastener to and from the presser tool.

[0019] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention The sheet pallet towing auxiliary device has a plate-shaped first holder arranged on the back surface of the end of the sheet pallet, a plate-shaped second holder arranged on the front surface of the end of the sheet pallet so as to overlap the first holder, fasteners attached to the first holder and the second holder and clamping the end of the sheet pallet between the first holder and the second holder, and a towing member provided on the first holder or the second holder. Note that the front surface of the sheet pallet refers to the top surface on which cargo is placed, and the back surface refers to the bottom surface that contacts the floor.

[0020] the above In the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device, the end of the sheet pallet is clamped by two members consisting of a first clamp and a second clamp, and by the fastening force of the screw member. Therefore, when towing, the end of the sheet pallet does not fall out from between the first clamp and the second clamp, and moves together with the towing member. In addition, heavy loads can be moved without using a push-pull attachment that requires a gripper to hydraulically clamp the end of the sheet pallet. Therefore, the sheet pallet towing operation can be performed reliably, and costs can be reduced.

[0021] According to the sixth aspect of the present inventionIn the sheet pallet traction auxiliary device, the fastener is a screw member that passes through the first clamp, the end of the sheet pallet, and the second clamp and clamps the end of the sheet pallet between the first clamp and the second clamp. the above According to this, the first retainer 12, the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the second retainer 74 can be firmly integrated with each other by the screw member.

[0022] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention In the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device, a recess is formed on the clamping surface of the first clamp, and a protrusion with which the recess can be engaged is formed on the clamping surface of the second clamp. the above According to the invention, the recessed and protruding portions are slip-resistant and increase the clamping area to improve the clamping force.

[0023] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention In the sheet pallet traction assist device, the recess is a long groove, and the protrusion is a rib formed along the long groove. the above According to the above, the sheet pallet can be clamped by the long grooves and the ribs without causing wrinkles in the edge of the clamped sheet pallet.

[0024] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention The sheet pallet with towing assistance device comprises a sheet pallet made of a rollable flexible material, a plate-shaped first clamp arranged on the back surface of the end of the sheet pallet, a plate-shaped second clamp arranged on the front surface of the end of the sheet pallet so as to overlap the first clamp, fasteners attached to the first clamp and the second clamp and clamping the end of the sheet pallet between the first clamp and the second clamp, and a towing member provided on the first clamp or the second clamp.

[0025] the above According to the seat pallet with the towing auxiliary device, the towing auxiliary device can be wrapped around the seat pallet and stored or transported together, which increases convenience. Effect of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a seat pallet towing auxiliary device and a seat pallet with a towing auxiliary device, which can reliably perform the towing operation of a seat pallet and reduce costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the seat pallet traction auxiliary device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a sheet pallet traction auxiliary device according to a first embodiment, taken along a vertical cross-section at the position of a fixing bolt. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a seat pallet traction auxiliary device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a seat pallet traction auxiliary device according to another example of the second embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a seat pallet traction auxiliary device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet pallet traction auxiliary device according to the third embodiment taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a side view (part 1) illustrating, with a portion in section, a method for towing a sheet pallet according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] 13 is a cross-sectional view (part 2) illustrating a method for towing a sheet pallet according to the third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a side view (part 3) illustrating, with a portion in section, a method for towing a sheet pallet according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a side view (part 4) illustrating, with a portion in section, the method for towing a sheet pallet according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a traction auxiliary device according to a first modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a traction auxiliary device according to a second modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a traction auxiliary device according to a third modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a traction auxiliary device according to a fourth modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 17] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the towing auxiliary device taken along a vertical plane at the position of line 8-8 in FIG. 7 to explain another example of how to wind a sheet pallet. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to a fifth modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 19] 8 is a diagram illustrating a seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to a sixth modified example of the third embodiment, taken along a vertical cross section taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to a seventh modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to a seventh modified example of the third embodiment, taken along a vertical plane at the position of a fixing bolt. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration of a seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to a seventh modified example when a reinforcing plate and a connector are provided. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a seat pallet towing auxiliary device according to a seventh modified example in which a protective member is provided, taken in section along a vertical plane at the position of a fixing bolt. [Figure 24] 10 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating a state in which an end portion of a sheet pallet is pulled up in a sheet pallet towing method. FIG. [Diagram 25] 11 is a side view, partly in section, illustrating a state in which the support member is raised in the sheet pallet towing method. FIG. [Figure 26] 11 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating a state in which an end portion of the sheet pallet is drooping. FIG. [Figure 27]Figure 27(A) is a front view explaining the configuration of a stopper used in a sheet pallet towing method, Figure 27(B) is a plan view explaining the configuration of the stopper, and Figure 27(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 27C-27C in Figure 27(B). [Figure 28] 13 is a side view, partly in section, explaining how to use the stopper. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are given the same or similar symbols. However, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, the thickness ratio of each device and each member, etc. are different from the actual ones. Therefore, the specific thickness and dimensions should be determined by taking into consideration the following description. In addition, there are parts in which the dimensional relationships and ratios differ between the drawings.

[0029] -First embodiment- <Structure of auxiliary traction device> As shown in Fig. 1, the sheet pallet traction auxiliary device 11 according to the first embodiment (hereinafter also simply referred to as "traction auxiliary device 11") has a pressing member 12, a fixing device 74, and a traction member 16. The pressing member 12 and the fixing device 74 are overlapped with each other with the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 therebetween.

[0030] (Sheet Pallet) The sheet pallet 20 is made of, for example, PP, and has a thickness of, for example, about 0.6 mm to about 3.0 mm. The sheet pallet 20 is rectangular in plan view with an area larger than the bottom surface of the cargo 40 placed on it. For example, when the bottom surface of the cargo 40 is about 1000 mm x about 1000 mm, the dimensions of the rectangle of the sheet pallet 20 on which the cargo 40 is placed can be set to about 1500 mm x about 1500 mm, about 1500 mm x about 2000 mm, etc.

[0031] The material of the sheet pallet is not limited to a resin material such as PP. The sheet pallet may be made of paper such as cardboard, or may be made of carbon. The material of the sheet pallet may be made of any suitable combination of resin, paper, carbon, and other various materials. Alternatively, a relatively thin sheet pallet made of wood or steel may be used.

[0032] In other words, the material of the sheet pallet is not limited to those exemplified in this specification, and can be changed as appropriate, so long as it is possible to overlap the pressing member of the traction auxiliary device and the second pressing tool at the end.

[0033] In addition, when the sheet pallet is made of wood or steel, as will be described later with reference to Fig. 8, in the towing auxiliary device 11, a relatively large force is required when drilling holes in the sheet pallet with the tip of the towing member 16 in a state in which the presser member 12 and the fixing device 74 are overlapped. For this reason, if holes are previously provided in the sheet pallet using a predetermined tool or the like in the area where the tip of the towing member 16 is expected to come into contact before the towing operation begins, the burden of drilling holes with the tip of the towing member 16 after the towing operation begins can be reduced.

[0034] Furthermore, the material of the sheet pallet may be a flexible material that has flexibility and can be rolled up. Specifically, for example, a relatively soft rubber sheet, a tent sheet made of resin such as polyvinyl chloride or a natural material such as canvas, etc. can be adopted. By using a flexible material, the sheet pallet can be rolled up or folded into a small size.

[0035] It is preferable that the sheet pallet has flexibility to the extent that it can be unfolded into a sheet when in use and can be changed into a cylindrical or folded shape when stored. By rolling the sheet pallet into a cylindrical shape or folding it small, the sheet pallet can be stored compactly without taking up too much space when in a state other than towing operation, such as during storage. Tent sheets made of resins such as polyvinyl chloride are relatively durable, and are therefore advantageous in sheet pallet applications where cargo is repeatedly transferred on the surface.

[0036] The end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is an excess portion on which no cargo 40 exists, and is folded upward during towing to have a rising portion 22A and a base portion 22B. The rising portion 22A and the base portion 22B are adjacent to each other across a folding line at the end 22 of the folded sheet pallet 20. The end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped between the pressing member 12 and the fixing device 74 of the towing auxiliary device 11, and the sheet pallet 20 is towed in the towing direction (conveying direction D) by an external towing power device 30 (see FIG. 11) via the towing auxiliary device 11. The towing auxiliary device 11 will be specifically described below.

[0037] (Pressing member) The pressing member 12 is a flat plate-like member in a side view or cross-sectional view, and is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum. Note that the material of the pressing member may be other metal materials such as steel, or a non-metallic material having an appropriate strength.

[0038] However, if the pressing member 12 is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum, the pressing member 12 can be made lighter than when made of steel material, and the weight of the entire towing auxiliary device 11 can also be reduced. The width measured along the longitudinal direction of the pressing member 12 (direction from the upper left side to the lower right side in FIG. 1) is approximately the same as the longitudinal width of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and is, for example, approximately 1500 mm. The longitudinal width of the pressing member 12 may be longer or shorter than the width of the sheet pallet 20 and can be changed as appropriate.

[0039] The pressing member 12 extends so as to be substantially perpendicular to the pulling direction (conveying direction D) in a plan view. That is, the longitudinal direction of the pressing member 12 is perpendicular to the pulling direction. The thickness of the flat plate of the pressing member 12 measured along the pulling direction is, for example, about 10 mm, and the height of the pressing member 12 is, for example, about 50 mm. The thickness and height of the pressing member 12 can be changed as appropriate.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, a rising receiving surface 12A1 which is an inner wall surface of the pressing member 12 receives the back surface of the rising portion 22A of the end portion 22 of the folded sheet pallet 20 (the left surface of the rising portion 22A in FIG. 2).

[0041] In the present invention, the shape of the pressing member is not particularly limited. To reduce the overall weight, it may be a hollow member, or it may be a resin plate having a certain pressing area incorporating a core material that suppresses distortion in the longitudinal direction. The material and shape of the pressing member can be appropriately selected depending on the intended use, such as the expected weight of the luggage.

[0042] (Fixing fixture) The fixing device 74 is U-shaped with a certain length in the longitudinal direction, has a recess 76, and has an inner wall surface as a holding surface 74A1. The number of fixing devices 74 may be one or more. The dimensions of the fixing device 74 can be changed as appropriate. A female screw hole 74B1 is provided in the side wall of the fixing device 74 on the traction member 16 side, and a fixing bolt 74C is inserted into the female screw hole 74B1. The female screw hole 74B1 of the fixing device 74 and the male screw portion of the fixing bolt 74C are screwed together.

[0043] In addition, in Figure 2, the inner wall surface of the recess 76 away from the towing member 16 is used as the vertical pressing surface 74A1, but in the present invention, the inner wall surface of the recess 76 closer to the towing member 16 can also be used as the vertical pressing surface, in which case a female threaded hole is provided in the side wall of the fixing device 74 opposite the towing member 16, and the raised portion 22A of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped between the pressing member 12 and the vertical pressing surface 74A1 by a fixing bolt 74C that screws into the female threaded hole.

[0044] The fixture 74 is made of, for example, metal. However, the material of the fixture 74 is not limited to metal, and may be made of other materials such as resin. The fixture 74 may also be composed of a member in which a metal core material is coated with resin. The fixture 74 in the center in FIG. 1 is provided with a screw hole into which the male screw portion of the traction member 16 can be detachably screwed.

[0045] There is no particular limitation on the shape of the recess 76 of the fastener 74. The depth, width and lateral width of the recess 76 can be appropriately selected according to the intended use, such as the expected weight of luggage.

[0046] (Traction member) The towing member 16 is made of a metal such as steel, and has a male thread formed on the circumferential surface of one end of the rod-like member, and a ring portion provided on the other end. Specifically, the towing member 16 may be, for example, a commercially available eye bolt.

[0047] Since the male screw portion of the towing member 16 is screwed into the screw hole of the fixture 74, the towing member 16 can be attached to and detached from the fixture 74 by tightening or loosening the screw. Therefore, when the towing auxiliary device 11 is stored or otherwise not being used for towing, the towing member 16 can be removed from the fixture 74 to reduce the portion protruding outward from the fixture 74. As a result, the storage space can be reduced, and the operator can be prevented from getting his / her fingers caught or tripping on the portion protruding outward from the fixture 74, causing trouble. The towing member 16 can also be attached to the fixture 74 by providing a through hole in the fixture, passing the towing member 16 through the through hole, and screwing and tightening a nut on the tip of the towing member.

[0048] In particular, when the sheet pallet 20 is, for example, a tent sheet or the like and can be rolled up or folded up small when stored, by removing the long protruding towing member 16, the sheet pallet 20 can be stored more compactly even with the towing auxiliary device attached. Also, the sheet pallet 20 may be rolled up so that the towing auxiliary device 11 is wrapped inside the sheet pallet 20 while the towing auxiliary device 11 is attached to the sheet pallet 20. Furthermore, the towing auxiliary device 11 and the sheet pallet 20 may be carried together while the towing auxiliary device 11 is wrapped inside the sheet pallet 20. The sheet pallet 20 with the towing auxiliary device 11 attached constitutes the sheet pallet with towing auxiliary device of the present invention.

[0049] The ring portion of the towing member 16 is provided on the other end side (left side in FIG. 2) of the towing member 16, and a hook 18 connected to an external traction power unit 30 (see FIG. 11) is inserted into the opening of the ring portion. Note that the structure for connecting the towing member 16 to the traction power unit 30 is not limited to the combination of the ring portion and the hook 18. For example, a hook-shaped portion may be provided on the towing member 16 side instead of the ring portion, and a ring-shaped member corresponding to the hook-shaped portion may be provided on the traction power unit 30 side.

[0050] Also, a recess may be provided on the towing member 16 side of the towing auxiliary device 11 into which the hook 18 on the towing power unit 30 side is inserted. Also, the connection structure that is detachable from the fixing device 74 may be other than the combination of a ring portion and hook 18, and for example, a member on the towing member 16 side and a member on the towing power unit 30 side may be connected by fitting with each other. The towing member 16 is detachable from the towing power unit 30.

[0051] 2, the towing member 16 is attached to the side of the recess 76 of the fixing device 74 on the towing member 16 side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the towing member 16 may be attached to the top part of the fixing device 74 (the upper part in FIG. 2). In this case, since the fixing device 74 is laid down sideways during towing, it is preferable that the fastening bolt 74C for tightening is attached to the fixing device 74 so that the head is located on the surface side of the upper sheet pallet 20, in order to reduce contact with the floor surface G, and in this case, the positional relationship between the pressing member 12 and the rising part 22A of the sheet pallet 20 in FIG. 2 is also reversed.

[0052] (holding sheet pallets) In the first embodiment, when the tip of the fixing bolt 74C attached to the fixture 74 advances from the towing member 16 side toward the pressing member 12 side by rotation of the fixing bolt 74C, the tip presses the pressing member 12. The pressing brings the pressing member 12 and the rising portion 22A of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 into close contact with each other.

[0053] Therefore, the pressing surface 74A1 of the fixture 74 presses the surface of the rising portion 22A of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 arranged between the pressing member 12 and the fixture 74 is firmly clamped by the traction auxiliary device 11. The clamping force of the sheet pallet 20 can be adjusted by the fixing bolt 74C.

[0054] (Action and effect) In the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 11 according to the first embodiment, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped by two members, the pressing member 12 and the fixing device 74, and by the fastening force of the screw member. Therefore, during towing, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 moves together with the towing member 16 without slipping out from between the pressing member 12 and the fixing device 74.

[0055] In addition, heavy loads 40 can be moved without using a push-pull attachment that requires a gripper to hydraulically clamp the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. This ensures that the sheet pallet 20 can be towed reliably, and costs can be reduced compared to existing devices such as push-pull attachments, which are generally expensive, require advanced operating skills, and require maintenance work and costs due to their complex mechanisms and moving parts.

[0056] Furthermore, since the pressing member 12 does not include the placement portion 12B as in the third embodiment described later, the weight of the sheet pallet traction auxiliary device 11 can be reduced.

[0057] In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 20, the pressing portion 74A, which is a hollow tubular member, can be used as an additional pressing member. The additional pressing member is disposed inside the recess 76 of the fixing device 74, and sandwiches the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 between the pressing member 12 and the pressing portion 74A. The sandwiching force can be further improved by the pressing portion 74A. Also, since the additional pressing member is a hollow tubular member, it is possible to simultaneously improve the strength of the towing auxiliary device 11 and reduce its weight. The pressing portion 74A as an additional pressing member will be specifically described later in the third embodiment.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the handle 74C1 shown in Fig. 20 can be provided on the head of the fixing bolt 74C and used. By holding the handle 74C1, the worker can easily rotate the fixing bolt 74C as a screw member, and this makes it easier to bundle and press the pressing member 12, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the pressing portion 74A arranged inside the recess 76 of the fixing device 74 inside the recess 76 of the fixing device 74 to fix or release the fixing. The handle 74C1 will be specifically described later in the third embodiment.

[0059] In the first embodiment, a sheet pallet towing method using the towing auxiliary device 11 can be configured in the same manner as the sheet pallet in the third embodiment described later. The effects of the sheet pallet towing method according to the first embodiment are similar to those of the sheet pallet towing method according to the third embodiment. The sheet pallet towing method will be described in the third embodiment.

[0060] -Second embodiment- Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 11 according to the second embodiment is similar in that a first pressing tool 12 having a configuration similar to that of the pressing member 12 in the first embodiment is used. Here, in the first embodiment, the fixing tool 74 combined with the pressing member 12 to clamp the sheet pallet 20 was U-shaped. However, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the second pressing tool 74 combined with the first pressing tool 12 is not U-shaped but flat, which is different from the towing auxiliary device 11 according to the first embodiment. Below, the parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0061] The sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 11 according to the second embodiment has a first pressing tool 12, a second pressing tool 74, a fixing bolt 74C as a fastening tool, and a towing member 16.

[0062] (First clamp) The first pressing tool 12 is a flat member similar to the pressing member 12 of the first embodiment, and is disposed on the back surface (the underside in FIG. 4) of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the first pressing tool 12 is provided with four female screw holes along the longitudinal direction, and a fixing bolt 74C is inserted into each female screw hole. The number of female screw holes of the first pressing tool 12 can be changed as appropriate. Other configurations of the first pressing tool 12 are similar to those of the pressing member 12 of the first embodiment, and therefore repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0063] (Second clamp) The second pressing tool 74 is a flat member similar to the first pressing tool 12, and is arranged on the surface of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 (the upper surface in FIG. 4) overlapping with the first pressing tool 12. Note that in the present invention, the second pressing tool 74 may be arranged on the back surface of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the first pressing tool 12 may be arranged on the surface of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. The second pressing tool 74 is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum, but may also be made of steel, and the material is not limited in the present invention. The length in the longitudinal direction is approximately the same as that of the first pressing tool 12, but can be changed as appropriate in the present invention.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 3, the second presser 74 has four female screw holes along the longitudinal direction, similar to the first presser 12, and a fixing bolt 74C is inserted into each female screw hole. The number of female screw holes in the second presser 74 can be changed as appropriate, similar to the female screw holes in the first presser 12. In addition, a female screw hole is also provided separately on the left side surface of the second presser 74 in Fig. 3, and the traction member 16 is inserted into the female screw hole on the side surface. For example, the thickness of the second presser 74 in Fig. 4 is about 15 mm to 20 mm, and the diameter (thickness) of the male screw portion of the traction member 16 is about 5 mm.

[0065] (Fastening tool) The fastener is a fixing bolt 74C that is attached across both the first holder 12 and the second holder 74. In the second embodiment, the fixing bolt 74C is a screw member, and in Fig. 4, it passes through a female threaded hole provided in the first holder 12, passes through the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and is screwed into a non-through female threaded hole provided in the second holder 74. Note that the fixing bolt 74C may be attached from the first holder side by passing through a female threaded hole provided in the second holder 74 in Fig. 4.

[0066] Alternatively, the first and second clamps may have through holes, and the fixing bolt 74C may be passed through the holes and protruded to the opposite side. A nut may be screwed onto the male thread at the tip of the protruding fixing bolt 74C to fasten the first and second clamps and the sheet pallet end 22 sandwiched therebetween. As the fixing bolt 74C, a hexagonal bolt or the like may be appropriately used, as in the fixing bolt 74C of the first embodiment. In the present invention, the fastener is not limited to a screw member, and the first and second clamps 12 and 74 may be fastened together by other fasteners such as a vice. FIG. 4 illustrates a state in which the left end of the towing auxiliary device 11 on the towing member 16 side is positioned higher than the right end, and the head of the fixing bolt 74C attached below the first clamp 12 is separated from the floor surface G during towing.

[0067] In the second embodiment, by tightening the fixing bolt 74C, the first retainer 12 and the back surface of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the second retainer 74 and the front surface of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 are tightly attached to each other. Therefore, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 arranged between the first retainer 12 and the second retainer 74 is firmly clamped by the traction auxiliary device 11. In addition, by adjusting the tightening torque of the fixing bolt 74C, the clamping force of the sheet pallet 20 by the traction auxiliary device 11 can be adjusted.

[0068] Although not shown in the figures, a recess is formed on the clamping surface of the first clamping tool 12, and a protrusion is formed on the clamping surface of the second clamping tool 74 with which the recess of the second clamping tool 74 can engage. The recess of the first clamping tool 12 is, for example, a long groove, and the protrusion of the second clamping tool 74 is, for example, a rib formed along the long groove of the recess. A protrusion may be formed on the second clamping tool 74 and a recess may be formed on the first clamping tool 12, or each may have a protrusion and a recess.

[0069] (Action and effect) In the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 11 according to the second embodiment, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped by two members, the first retainer 12 and the second retainer 74, and by the fastening force of the screw member. Therefore, during towing, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 moves together with the towing member 16 without slipping out from between the first retainer 12 and the second retainer 74.

[0070] In addition, heavy loads 40 can be moved without using a push-pull attachment that requires a gripper to hydraulically clamp the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. This ensures that the sheet pallet 20 can be towed reliably, and costs can be reduced compared to existing devices such as push-pull attachments, which are generally expensive, require advanced operating skills, and require maintenance work and costs due to their complex mechanisms and moving parts.

[0071] In the second embodiment, the fastener is a screw member that bundles and presses the first presser 12, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the second presser 74, and clamps the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 between the first presser 12 and the second presser 74. Therefore, the first presser 12, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the second presser 74 can be firmly integrated by the screw member.

[0072] In the second embodiment, a recess is formed on the clamping surface of the first clamping tool 12, and a protrusion is formed on the clamping surface of the second clamping tool 74 with which the recess of the first clamping tool 12 can engage. The recess and protrusion are non-slip, and increase the clamping area to improve the clamping force. The recess is a long groove and the protrusion is a rib, and the long groove and rib allow the sheet pallet 20 to be clamped without creating wrinkles in the end 22 of the clamped sheet pallet 20.

[0073] 4 is set to a thickness that allows the pulling member 16 to be inserted, and the pulling member 16 is directly inserted into the second holding tool 74. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pulling member 16 may be indirectly provided on the second holding tool 74 via another member (connecting medium member).

[0074] For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the pulling member 16 may be inserted into a block 27, and this block 27 may be joined to the first presser 12. In the second embodiment, the block 27 is made of steel and is a rectangular columnar member. Note that in the present invention, the other member into which the pulling member 16 is inserted is not limited to this, and the material, shape, and dimensions may be changed as appropriate. The other member may be, for example, a plate-like member. The block 27 can reduce the thickness of the first presser 12, thereby making it lighter.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 5, the block 27 and the first presser 12 may be joined by screwing with bolts 29A and nuts 29B, or by welding. In the present invention, a pulling member can be attached to the first presser 12 side, as in the case of the pulling member 16 in Fig. 6. Also, without using the block 27, only the central portion of the first presser 12 or the second presser 74 where the pulling member 16 is attached may be locally thickened, and the pulling member 16 may be attached to the thick portion.

[0076] In the second embodiment, similarly to the case of the sheet pallet in the third embodiment described later, a sheet pallet towing method can be configured using the towing auxiliary device 11. The action and effect of the sheet pallet towing method according to the second embodiment are similar to those of the sheet pallet towing method according to the third embodiment.

[0077] -Third embodiment- Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, the pressing member of the first embodiment and the first pressing tool of the second embodiment that abut against the back surface of the sheet pallet end 22 are both flat. However, the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device of the third embodiment differs from the towing auxiliary devices of the first and second embodiments in that the first pressing tool that abuts against the back surface of the sheet pallet end 22 is L-shaped with a side wall portion and a placement portion.

[0078] <Structure of auxiliary traction device> As shown in Fig. 7, a sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 10 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "towing auxiliary device 10") according to the third embodiment has a first hold-down tool 12, a second hold-down tool 14, and a towing member 16. The first hold-down tool 12 and the second hold-down tool 14 are overlapped with each other with an end portion 22 of a sheet pallet 20 between them.

[0079] A first anti-slip sheet 13 is disposed between the first retainer 12 and the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and a second anti-slip sheet 15 is disposed between the second retainer 14 and the sheet pallet 20. Note that even if only one of the first anti-slip sheet 13 and the second anti-slip sheet 15 is disposed, the traction assist device can be realized.

[0080] (First clamp) The first clamp 12 is an L-shaped member in a side view or a cross-sectional view, and is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum. The material of the first clamp may be other metal materials such as steel, or non-metal materials having appropriate strength. However, if the first clamp 12 is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum, the first clamp 12 can be made lighter than steel materials, and the entire towing auxiliary device 10 can be made lighter. The width of the first clamp 12 measured along its longitudinal direction (from the upper left side to the lower right side in FIG. 7) is approximately the same as the longitudinal width of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and is, for example, about 1500 mm. The longitudinal width of the first clamp 12 may be longer or shorter than the width of the sheet pallet 20, and can be changed as appropriate.

[0081] The first presser 12 includes a side wall 12A and a placement portion 12B. The side wall 12A and the placement portion 12B are both flat and substantially perpendicular to each other, forming an L-shape of the first presser 12. The placement portion 12B is disposed on a floor surface G, and the side wall 12A stands vertically upward from the placement portion 12B. At a connecting portion between the side wall 12A and the placement portion 12B, which corresponds to a corner of the L-shape, it is desirable that the lower portion of the outer surface of the connecting portion be curved in the direction from the right side to the left side in FIG. 8 (the conveying direction D) so that the gap between the connecting portion and the floor surface G widens, but the degree of curvature can be appropriately selected, including a case where there is no curvature at all.

[0082] The side wall portion 12A and the placement portion 12B extend substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction D in a plan view. That is, the longitudinal direction of the first presser 12 is perpendicular to the conveying direction D. The length of the placement portion 12B measured along the conveying direction D is, for example, about 100 mm, and the height of the side wall portion 12A is, for example, about 50 mm. The length of the placement portion 12B and the height of the side wall portion 12A can be changed as appropriate.

[0083] The initial angle between the side wall portion 12A and the placement portion 12B and the conveying direction D can be changed as appropriate when it is necessary to turn the sheet pallet with the cargo placed on it in order to change its orientation. The first and second pressers 12 and 14 grip one end of the sheet pallet 20 parallel to the edge, so that the traction force acts evenly on the entire surface of the sheet pallet 20. In other words, the traction auxiliary device 10 according to the third embodiment is configured to realize a positional or angular relationship that prevents the sheet pallet 20 from tearing due to localized force.

[0084] In the initial stage when the sheet pallet 20 is set by being clamped by the towing auxiliary device 10 in order to tow it, a slight deviation from the vertical may occur. However, once towing begins, the deviation naturally becomes vertical as the operation proceeds, so the deviation in the angle at the time of setting can be almost ignored. Also, if it is desired to orient the sheet pallet 20 in a different direction at the location where it is initially placed, when towing it to a different direction, it is possible to hold the end of a different side of the sheet pallet 20, rather than the front, and tow it. In this case, the sheet pallet 20 is pulled around at the beginning of the towing, and after the orientation of the sheet pallet 20 is changed by the pulling, it transitions to normal linear towing.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 8, the rising receiving surface 12A1, which is the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 12A, receives the back surface of the rising portion 22A of the end portion 22 of the folded sheet pallet 20 (the left surface of the rising portion 22A in Fig. 8) with the first anti-slip sheet 13 interposed therebetween. The lower receiving surface 12B1, which is the upper surface of the placement portion 12B, extends from the rising receiving surface 12A1 under the back surface of the base portion 22B of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 (the lower surface of the base portion 22B in Fig. 8). The lower receiving surface 12B1 receives and supports the back surface of the base portion 22B with the first anti-slip sheet 13 interposed therebetween.

[0086] A circular through hole 12C is provided at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction of the side wall portion 12A and at approximately the center height in the vertical direction. The diameter of the through hole 12C is larger than the diameter of the shaft of one end of the traction member 16 inserted into the through hole 12C. Note that, although the number of the through hole 12C is one in the third embodiment, two or more may be provided.

[0087] (First anti-slip sheet) The first anti-slip sheet 13 is, for example, a member made of a rubber material with a large static friction coefficient, and is bonded to the first presser 12 with an adhesive or the like. In the third embodiment, the first anti-slip sheet 13 is arranged so as to extend over the entire longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the placement portion 12B on the sheet pallet 20 side (upper side in FIG. 8) and on the wall surface of the side wall portion 12A on the sheet pallet 20 side (right side in FIG. 8). The material of the first anti-slip sheet 13 is not limited to a rubber material, and can be changed as appropriate as long as it has a large static friction coefficient, such as urethane. The thickness of the first anti-slip sheet can also be changed as appropriate.

[0088] The arrangement of the first anti-slip sheet 13 is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate as long as it contacts the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. For example, the first anti-slip sheet 13 may be partially arranged on each of the rising receiving surface 12A1 and the lower receiving surface 12B1. At a position corresponding to the through hole 12C of the first anti-slip sheet 13, a through hole 13C (see FIG. 10) is provided.

[0089] Many materials can be used as the material for the first anti-slip sheet 13, and for example, in addition to rubber, cloth, particularly coarsely woven cloth, nonwoven fabric, coarse wallpaper, Japanese paper, etc. can also be used. The friction coefficient of the material for the first anti-slip sheet 13 should be at least greater than the friction coefficient when the surface of the first presser 12 and the surface of the sheet pallet 20 are in direct contact with each other. In addition, if an anti-slip agent such as rosin or rosin is attached to or impregnated into the various materials described above, the anti-slip effect will be further increased.

[0090] Also, for example, a non-slip material can be prepared by attaching a thin wire net to one side of double-sided tape, and the adhesive side of the double-sided tape can be attached and fixed to the first presser 12 side, and the other side to which the wire net is attached can be abutted against the sheet pallet. Since the sheet pallet is made of elastic plastic, when pressure is applied to the first presser 12 and the sheet pallet, the wire will dig into the surface of the sheet pallet to a certain extent, significantly reducing slipping. In this way, various materials and shapes can be used as anti-slip sheets.

[0091] (Second clamp) As shown in FIG. 7, the second presser 14 is a rectangular parallelepiped with a square bottom, and is made of a lightweight metal material such as aluminum. The second presser 14 may be made of other metal materials such as steel, or nonmetallic materials having appropriate strength. The second presser 14 may also be a composite material made by combining a plurality of materials, for example, a material having a plastic material around it and a metal core inside it. The second presser 14 extends substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction D in a plan view, and is disposed inside the L-shape of the first presser 12. The width of the second presser 14 measured along the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as that of the first presser 12. That is, the longitudinal lengths of the first presser 12 and the second presser 14 are both substantially the same as the length along the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. The initial angle that the second presser 14 makes with the conveying direction D can be appropriately changed when it is necessary to pull the sheet pallet on which the load is placed to change its orientation.

[0092] The length of the second presser 14 measured along the conveying direction D is, for example, about 40 mm, and the height in the vertical direction is, for example, about 40 mm. The dimensions of the second presser 14 can be changed as appropriate. The shape of the second presser 14 is not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped, and can be changed as appropriate to other geometric shapes such as a cylindrical shape.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 8, the second pressing tool 14 has a vertical pressing surface 14A and a bottom pressing surface 14B. The vertical pressing surface 14A presses the surface of the rising portion 22A of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 (the surface on the right side of the rising portion 22A in FIG. 8) with the second anti-slip sheet 15 in between. The bottom pressing surface 14B presses the surface of the base portion 22B of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 (the upper surface of the base portion 22B in FIG. 8) with the second anti-slip sheet 15 in between. The bottom pressing surface 14B of the second pressing tool may be in contact with the surface of the base portion 22B of the sheet pallet 20 in a planar, linear or dotted state. In addition, when a means for holding the vertical pressing surface 14A of the second pressing tool at a position where it contacts the surface of the rising portion 22A of the sheet pallet 20 is separately provided, it is not necessarily required that the bottom pressing surface 14B of the second pressing tool be in contact with the surface of the base portion 22B of the sheet pallet 20.

[0094] The second presser 14 has a female screw portion 14C, into which the male screw portion 16A of the traction member 16 screws, formed at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction of the second presser 14 and at approximately the center height in the up-down direction. The female screw portion 14C is provided at a position approximately concentric with the through hole 12C of the first presser 12.

[0095] (Second anti-slip sheet) The second anti-slip sheet 15, like the first anti-slip sheet 13, is a member made of, for example, a rubber material with a large static friction coefficient, and is joined to the second pressing tool 14 by an adhesive or the like. In the third embodiment, the second anti-slip sheet 15 is disposed on the underside of the second pressing tool 14 and on the left side surface of the second pressing tool 14 in Fig. 8 so as to extend over the entire longitudinal direction.

[0096] However, the arrangement of the second anti-slip sheet 15 is not limited to this. It can be changed as appropriate as long as it contacts the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. For example, the second anti-slip sheet 15 may be partially arranged on the lower surface and left side surface of the second retainer 14. The second anti-slip sheet 15 has through holes 15C (see FIG. 10) at positions corresponding to the through holes 12C of the first retainer 12 and the through holes 13C of the first anti-slip sheet 13.

[0097] <How to tow a sheet pallet> Next, a sheet pallet towing method using the towing auxiliary device 10 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 9 to 12. In the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, a case will be described in which cargo is unloaded from an opening 24A of a container 24 transported by sea in a container yard Y. A first cargo 40A, a second cargo 40B, a third cargo 40C, and a fourth cargo 40D are placed on a floor surface G of the container 24 via the corresponding sheet pallets 20A to 20D, respectively.

[0098] The first load 40A is placed on the first sheet pallet 20A, the second load 40B on the second sheet pallet 20B, the third load 40C on the third sheet pallet 20C, and the fourth load 40D on the fourth sheet pallet 20D. The first sheet pallet 20A, the second sheet pallet 20B, the third sheet pallet 20C, and the fourth sheet pallet 20D are equivalent to the sheet pallet 20 described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8.

[0099] (Installation steps) First, as shown in FIG. 10, the towing auxiliary device 10 is placed inside the container 24 with the first clamp 12 and the second clamp 14 overlapping each other with the end 22 of the first sheet pallet 20A carrying the first baggage 40A therebetween. Then, the towing member 16 (see FIG. 2) is inserted through the through hole 12C of the first clamp 12 and connected to the second clamp 14. When inserting, a hole is made in the end 22 of the first sheet pallet 20A by the sharp tip of the male screw portion 16A (see FIG. 2) of the towing member 16. This attachment step can be performed by the operator 26 of the forklift 28 (see FIG. 11) himself after getting off the forklift 28.

[0100] (Concatenation step) Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the operator 26 gets on the forklift 28 and operates the forklift 28 to bring the forklift pallet 32 ​​inserted into the forks 28A close to the opening 24A of the container 24. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the forklift pallet will also be simply referred to as "pallet". Then, the operator 26 aligns the height of the upper surface of the pallet 32 ​​with the height of the floor surface G of the container 24. In the third embodiment, the traction power unit 30 is disposed on the forks 28A. Note that the disposition position of the traction power unit 30 is not limited thereto, and can be changed as appropriate, for example, on the roof of the operation room of the forklift 28. In addition, a spacer 34 made of wood or the like is provided on the upper surface of the base side (left side in FIG. 11) of the forks 28A.

[0101] Next, the operator 26 gets off the forklift 28, approaches the towing auxiliary device 10 again, and inserts the hook 18 on the towing power unit 30 side into the ring portion 16B (see FIG. 2) of the towing member 16. The hook 18 is connected to one end of the wire rope 36, and the other end of the wire rope 36 is connected to the towing power unit 30 such as a winch.

[0102] (Towing Step) Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the operator 26 again gets on the forklift 28 and operates the towing power unit 30 to tow the first sheet pallet 20A via the attached towing auxiliary device 10. During towing, in the towing auxiliary device 10, the lower support surface 12B1 of the first presser 12 extending to the back surface of the end portion 22 of the first sheet pallet 20A supports the back surface of the end portion 22. In addition, the rising support surface 12A1 receives and supports the back surface of the rising portion of the end portion 22 of the folded first sheet pallet 20A. In addition, the lower presser surface 14B of the second presser 14 presses the surface of the end portion 22 of the first sheet pallet 20A, and the rising presser surface 14A presses the surface of the rising portion of the end portion 22 (see FIG. 2).

[0103] As the towing progresses, the vertical pressing surface 14A of the second pressing tool 14 presses the rising portion of the end 22 of the folded first sheet pallet 20A against the rising receiving surface 12A1 of the first pressing tool 12. Therefore, the end 22 of the first sheet pallet 20A does not fall out from between the first pressing tool 12 and the second pressing tool 14. Then, while the end 22 is kept sandwiched between the first pressing tool 12 and the second pressing tool 14, the first sheet pallet 20 moves together with the towing member 16 toward the towing power unit 30. Then, the first cargo 40A is pulled onto the pallet 32 ​​together with the first sheet pallet 20A, and is removed from the container 24.

[0104] In addition, since the spacer 34 ensures a certain length of gap between the first load 40A and the traction power unit 30, the towing auxiliary device 10 is prevented from colliding with the traction power unit 30 during the pulling operation. On the other hand, if the length of the spacer 34 (the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 12) is ensured to be a certain length, the length of the fork 28A to be inserted into the pallet 32 ​​may become relatively short. If the length of the fork 28A becomes short, the pallet 32 ​​cannot be sufficiently supported, and there is a concern that the fork 28A will sink toward the tip side and bend due to the weight of the first load 40A on the upper side. From the viewpoint of preventing the fork 28A from bending, a longer fork can be used or an extension cover can be attached to the tip of the fork 28A.

[0105] (Removal steps) Next, the operator 26 gets off the forklift 28, removes the hook 18 from the ring portion 16B of the towing member 16, and removes the towing member 16 from the first hold-down tool 12 and the second hold-down tool 14, thereby removing the towing auxiliary device 10 from the first sheet pallet 20A. The removed towing auxiliary device 10 may be temporarily placed on the floor surface G of the container 24, for example. Then, the operator 26 operates the forklift 28 to transport the first cargo 40A together with the first sheet pallet 20A to a predetermined location. In the third embodiment, the first sheet pallet 20A is used, so that the cargo 40B together with the first sheet pallet 20A can be easily moved to a desired location.

[0106] Next, the operator 26 operates the forklift 28 to return to the container 24. Then, the temporarily placed towing assist device 10 is attached to the end portion 22 of the second sheet pallet 20B carrying the second cargo 40B inside the container 24, in the same manner as in the attachment step described with reference to FIG. 10. Then, the operator 26 performs the coupling step and towing step in the same manner as in the case of the first sheet pallet 20A, thereby towing the second sheet pallet 20B via the towing assist device 10 and lowering the second cargo 40B to the outside of the container 24.

[0107] Then, the operator 26 performs the removal step on the second sheet pallet 20B in the same manner as the first sheet pallet 20A. Then, the operator 26 performs a series of operations including the attachment step, the coupling step, the towing step, and the removal step on the third sheet pallet 20C on which the third load 40C is placed. Furthermore, the operator 26 performs a series of operations on the fourth sheet pallet 20D on which the fourth load 40D is placed.

[0108] As described above, by sequentially performing the series of operations of the attachment step, coupling step, towing step, and removal step, the operator 26 alone can unload all of the cargo 40A-40D inside the container 24. Since no workers other than the operator 26 are required, the personnel costs for the work can be reduced. Note that the sheet pallet towing method according to the third embodiment can also be performed by dividing the work into two parts, such that the attachment, coupling, and removal work of the towing auxiliary device 10 is performed by another worker, and the operator 26 performs other work including operating the forklift 28.

[0109] (Action and effect) In the towing auxiliary device 10 for a sheet pallet 20 according to the third embodiment, during towing, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 moves integrally with the towing member 16 without slipping out from between the first hold-down tool 12 and the second hold-down tool 14. Therefore, it is possible to move a heavy load 40 without using a push-pull attachment that requires a gripper to hydraulically clamp the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20. Therefore, the towing operation of the sheet pallet 20 can be performed reliably, and costs can be reduced.

[0110] In the third embodiment, the towing member 16 is detachable from the towing power unit 30 and from the second clamp 14. After the baggage 40 is moved to a predetermined location, the towing member 16 is detached from the towing power unit 30 and the second clamp 14, so that the first clamp 12, the second clamp 14, and the towing member 16 can be carried to the next loading and unloading work location. This allows the towing auxiliary device 10 to be reused, and the running cost of the towing work can be reduced. In addition, if the towing member 16 is relatively small compared to the second clamp 14, the towing member 16 is easily lost when the towing member 16 and the second clamp 14 are disassembled. Therefore, when the towing auxiliary device 10 is moved, if the towing member 16 and the second clamp 14 are moved in an assembled state, the towing member 16 can be prevented from being lost.

[0111] In the third embodiment, the second presser 14 is formed with a female threaded portion 14C into which the male threaded portion 16A of the towing member 16 is screwed. The towing member 16 can be connected to the second presser 14 by screwing the male threaded portion 16A of the towing member 16, which has penetrated the through hole 12C of the first presser 12, into the female threaded portion 14C of the second presser 14. Then, for example, by hanging a hook 18 attached to a wire on a ring of the towing member 16, preparation for the towing operation can be smoothly performed.

[0112] In the third embodiment, a first anti-slip sheet 13 is disposed between the first retainer 12 and the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and a second anti-slip sheet 15 is disposed between the second retainer 14 and the sheet pallet 20. By sandwiching the first anti-slip sheet 13 and the second anti-slip sheet 15 therebetween, the sheet pallet 20 is further prevented from falling off.

[0113] Moreover, according to the sheet pallet towing method of the third embodiment, after the first load 40A is unloaded, the towing auxiliary device 10 is removed from the first sheet pallet 20A. This makes it possible to reuse the towing auxiliary device 10 for unloading the next second load 40B, thereby reducing the running costs of the towing operation. Furthermore, the sheet pallet towing method of the third embodiment can be performed by the operator 26 alone, which is advantageous in terms of reducing personnel and further reducing running costs.

[0114] Also, consider a case where an obstacle protruding upward, such as the protrusion G1 illustrated on the floor surface G in Fig. 8, exists in the middle of the towing path (conveying path). Although not shown, the obstacle is not limited to the protrusion G1 on the floor surface G, and may have other forms, such as a convex portion with a height of about 1 mm formed on the upper surface of the pallet 32 ​​(see Fig. 11). Due to the protrusion G1 or the convex portion, a step is formed on the surface with which the lower surface of the first presser 12 comes into contact when the towing auxiliary device 10 moves along the conveying direction D.

[0115] When the towing auxiliary device 10 climbs over the protrusion G1 on the floor surface G or the convex portion on the upper surface of the pallet 32, the outer surface of the first presser 12 collides with the protrusion G1 or the convex portion, and the first presser 12 receives a reaction force from the protrusion G1 or the convex portion that impedes its progress. Here, in the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 10 according to the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the lower part of the outer surface of the connecting portion between the side wall portion 12A and the placement portion 12B of the first presser 12 is curved so that the gap between the outer surface and the floor surface G widens along the conveying direction D.

[0116] Therefore, according to the third embodiment, compared to a case where the connecting portion is not curved but angular, the reaction force received when the first presser 12 collides with the protrusion G1 or a convex portion causes the first presser 12 to bend upward along the curved slope and overcome the protrusion G1 or the convex portion. As a result, the traction auxiliary device 10 can continue moving without stopping due to a collision.

[0117] In order to reduce the reaction force received by the first hold-down tool 12, it is possible to arrange the traction power unit 30, for example, on the upper side of the mast of the forklift 28 or on the roof of the cabin, and increase the height difference between the traction power unit 30 and the towing auxiliary device 10, as in Patent Document 1. Increasing the height difference makes it possible to increase the inclination angle of the wire rope 36 with respect to the horizontal plane, thereby forming a large gap between the lower part of the first hold-down tool 12 and the floor surface G or the upper surface of the pallet 32, and thus making it possible to avoid collision with obstacles such as protrusions on the floor surface G or the upper surface of the pallet 32 ​​to some extent.

[0118] However, if the traction power unit 30 is disposed at a high position, a larger force is required to pull the traction auxiliary device 10 upward, which increases power consumption and the burden on the traction power unit 30. In other words, it becomes difficult to efficiently transmit the traction force to the traction auxiliary device 10. In addition, if the traction power unit 30 is disposed at the upper side of the mast of the forklift 28, there is a concern that the mast may tilt forward. In addition, if the traction power unit 30 is disposed on the roof of the cabin, a pulley or other member for adjusting the position of the wire rope 36 is required to prevent the wire rope 36 from interfering with the mast, as disclosed in JP 2002-173296 A, and the overall configuration becomes complicated.

[0119] In the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 11, the height difference between the traction power unit 30 and the traction auxiliary device 10 is suppressed to such an extent that the traction power unit 30 and the traction auxiliary device 10 can be regarded as being at approximately the same height. This allows the traction force to be efficiently transmitted to the traction auxiliary device 10, and also prevents the mast from tilting forward and the overall structure from becoming complicated. In addition, since the lower part of the outer surface of the first hold-down tool 12 is curved, the traction auxiliary device 10 can overcome the protrusion G1 and convex parts even if the output of the traction power unit 30 is relatively small, so that the traction power unit 30 can also be made smaller in size.

[0120] <First Modification> As shown in Fig. 13, the traction auxiliary device 10A may be provided with a screw member 50 such as a bolt. The cross-sectional view of Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the traction auxiliary device 10A at a position different from that of Fig. 2 in the longitudinal direction of the traction auxiliary device 10A.

[0121] In the first modified example, the first presser 12 has a through hole 12D into which the screw member 50 is inserted, at a position different from the through hole 12C into which the traction member 16 is inserted. The through hole 12D is inclined so as to extend from the lower side toward the upper side from the outer wall surface on the left side of the side wall portion 12A in FIG. 13 toward the rising receiving surface 12A1, which is the inner wall surface.

[0122] Further, the first anti-slip sheet 13 and the second anti-slip sheet 15 are each provided with a through hole (reference numeral omitted) at a position corresponding to the through hole 12D of the first pressing tool 12. Further, the second pressing tool 14 is provided with a female screw portion 14D at a position concentric with the through hole 12D of the first pressing tool 12. The hole of the female screw portion 14D is inclined upward from the left side to the right side of the second pressing tool 14 in FIG.

[0123] The screw member 50 is inserted into the through hole 12D of the first retainer 12, the through hole of the first anti-slip sheet 13, and the through hole of the second anti-slip sheet 15. The screw member 50 also partially penetrates the sheet pallet 20. The screw member 50 is also inserted into the female threaded portion 14D and screwed together. That is, the screw member 50 is fastened from the first retainer 12 to the second retainer 14.

[0124] The screw member 50 attracts a corner formed by the upright holding surface 14A and the lower holding surface 14B of the second holding tool 14 to a corner formed by the upright receiving surface 12A1 and the lower receiving surface 12B1 of the first holding tool 12. Other configurations of the towing auxiliary device 10A for the sheet pallet 20 according to the first modified example are equivalent to the members with the same names in the towing auxiliary device 10 shown in Figures 7 to 12, so duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0125] In the first modified example, the corners of the second presser 14 bite into the corners of the first presser 12 to press down the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, making it difficult for the sheet pallet 20 to shift. Other effects of the towing auxiliary device 10A for a sheet pallet 20 according to the first modified example are similar to those of the towing auxiliary device 10 for a sheet pallet 20 shown in Figures 7 to 12.

[0126] <Second Modification> As shown in Fig. 14, the towing auxiliary device 10B according to the second modification has side walls 52 provided at both ends of the first hold-down tool 12, and support members 54 provided on the side walls 52 and supporting both ends of the second hold-down tool 14 so that the second hold-down tool 14 can be moved toward and away from the first hold-down tool 12. The first and second anti-slip sheets and the sheet pallet are not shown for ease of viewing. The longitudinal lengths of the first and second hold-down tools 12 and 14 are both approximately the same as the length along the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20.

[0127] The side wall 52 is provided with a long through hole 56 extending in the vertical direction, and a support member 54 such as a bolt can be inserted into the through hole 56. The tip of the shaft of the support member 54 is inserted into a fixing hole 58 provided in the second presser 14. The fixing hole 58 is provided with a female screw portion, and the female screw portion is coupled with the male screw portion of the support member 54.

[0128] In Fig. 14, only the front ends of the first hold-down tool 12 and the second hold-down tool 14 are shown, and the rear ends are omitted, but the rear side also has a side wall 52, a support member 54, a through hole 56, and a fixing hole 58, just like the front side. The side wall 52, the support member 54, the through hole 56, and the fixing hole 58 may be provided only on one of both ends in the longitudinal direction. Other configurations of the towing auxiliary device 10B for the sheet pallet 20 according to the second modified example are equivalent to the members with the same names in the towing auxiliary devices 10 and 10A shown in Figs. 7 to 13, so duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0129] In the second modified example, side walls 52, support members 54, through holes 56, and fixing holes 58 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the first hold-down tool 12 and the second hold-down tool 14, thereby improving the integrity of the first hold-down tool 12 and the second hold-down tool 14. This makes it difficult to lose the towing auxiliary device 10B. Other effects of the towing auxiliary device 10B for the sheet pallet 20 according to the second modified example are similar to those of the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A shown in Figs. 7 to 13.

[0130] <Third Modification> As shown in Fig. 15, the rising receiving surface 12A2 of the first pressing tool 12 and the rising pressing surface 14A1 of the second pressing tool 14 may be configured using a concave-convex shape so as to fit together. In a traction auxiliary device 10C according to a third modification, the rising receiving surface 12A2 is recessed toward the traction power unit side (left side in Fig. 15), and the rising pressing surface 14A1 bulges toward the traction power unit side (left side in Fig. 15) in response to the recess of the rising receiving surface 12A2.

[0131] In the third modified example, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is sandwiched between the rising receiving surface 12A2 and the vertical pressing surface 14A1, which fit together. The uneven shapes of the rising receiving surface 12A2 and the vertical pressing surface 14A1, which correspond to each other for fitting together, are not limited to those exemplified in Fig. 15, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the rising receiving surface 12A2 may bulge toward the sheet pallet 20 side opposite the traction power unit 30 (the right side in Fig. 15), and the vertical pressing surface 14A1 may be recessed toward the opposite side to the rising receiving surface 12A2 (the right side in Fig. 15).

[0132] In addition, although Fig. 15 illustrates an example in which there is one uneven shape, two or more uneven shapes may be provided. In addition, although the uneven shape is formed by a curved surface in Fig. 15, this is not limited thereto, and it is not excluded that the uneven shape may include an inclined surface. Other configurations of the towing auxiliary device 10C of the sheet pallet 20 according to the third modified example are equivalent to the members of the same names in the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A, and 10B illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14, and therefore redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0133] In the third modified example, the rising receiving surface 12A2 and the rising pressing surface 14A1 are fitted together using a concave-convex shape, so that the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 can be more firmly clamped. Other effects of the towing auxiliary device 10C according to the third modified example are similar to those of the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A, and 10B shown in Figs. 7 to 14.

[0134] <Fourth Modification> As shown in Fig. 16, the first presser 12 may have a plate-shaped ceiling portion 12E and may be U-shaped in side view or cross-sectional view. The second presser 64 may have a plate-shaped side wall portion 64A, a plate-shaped mounting portion 64B, and a plate-shaped ceiling portion 64D and may be U-shaped similar to the first presser 12. The left wall surface of the side wall portion 64A in Fig. 16 is a vertical pressing surface 64A1, and the lower surface of the mounting portion 64B is a lower pressing surface 64B1. When the presser is made U-shaped in this way, there is an advantage that it is stronger and less likely to bend than an L-shaped presser.

[0135] The male screw portion 16A at one end of the towing member 16 is inserted into the female screw portion of the nut member 62 and screwed together. In the towing auxiliary device 10D according to the fourth modification, the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped between the first presser 12 and the second presser 64 not only between the opposing side wall portions 12A, 64A and between the placement portions 12B, 64B, but also between the ceiling portions 12E, 64D. In the fourth modification, the end portion 12B2 of the placement portion 12B that contacts the floor surface G of the first presser 12 has a curved lower portion so that the gap between the end surface of the end portion 12B2 and the floor surface G widens along the direction from the right side to the left side in FIG. 16 (the conveying direction D). The other components of the towing auxiliary device 10D according to the fourth modification are equivalent to the members of the same names in the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10C shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 15, and therefore will not be described again.

[0136] In the fourth modification, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped between the opposing side walls 12A, 64A, between the placement parts 12B, 64B, and between the ceiling parts 12E, 64D, so that the clamping force can be further increased compared to the case of the traction auxiliary device 10 illustrated in FIG. 7. In addition, the lower part of the end face of the end 12B2 of the placement part 12B is curved so that the gap between the end face of the end 12B2 of the placement part 12B and the floor surface G is widened. Therefore, when the traction auxiliary device 10D climbs over the protrusion G1 on the floor surface G or the convex part on the upper surface of the pallet 32, the reaction force received when the end 12B2 located on the rear side in the conveying direction D collides with the protrusion G1 or the convex part can be reduced. As a result, the traction auxiliary device 10D can move more smoothly. Other effects of the traction auxiliary device 10D according to the fourth modification are the same as those of the traction auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10C illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 15.

[0137] Note that ceiling portion 12E and mounting portion 12B constituting first pressing tool 12 do not necessarily need to be parallel, and may be, for example, wedge-shaped with the distance narrowing toward side wall portion 12A. Also, in a second pressing tool (which may or may not be U-shaped) that fits into the U-shape of the first pressing tool, the upper surface of the second pressing tool that faces the inner surface of the ceiling portion of the first pressing tool and the lower surface of the second pressing tool that faces the mounting portion of the first pressing tool do not necessarily need to be parallel, and may be, for example, a wedge shape with the same inclination as the wedge shape of the first pressing tool.

[0138] In this way, when the U-shape of the first presser is made into a wedge shape, as the second presser is fitted into the U-shape of the first presser with the sheet pallet sandwiched between them and pulled in, the corner of the tip surface of the second presser contacts the inner surface of the U-shape of the first presser, tightly clamping and firmly holding the sheet pallet. Also, when the first presser and the second presser are made into wedge shapes with the same inclination, as the second presser is fitted into the first presser with the sheet pallet sandwiched between them and pulled in, the sheet pallet can be tightly clamped and held by the inner surface of the ceiling part of the first presser and the upper surface of the second presser, and the mounting part of the first presser and the lower surface of the second presser.

[0139] <Other embodiments> The present invention has been described by the above disclosed embodiments, but the descriptions and drawings forming a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present invention. For example, the seat pallet with the towing auxiliary device according to the present invention can be realized by arbitrarily combining the seat pallet 20 described in the first to third embodiments with each of the towing auxiliary devices 10 and 11 according to the first to third embodiments.

[0140] Also, if the towing auxiliary devices 10, 11 are attached to the sheet pallet 20 in advance and stored, the work burden is reduced since no additional installation work is required during towing work. Furthermore, if the sheet pallet 20 is made of a flexible material such as tent fabric, the towing auxiliary devices 10, 11 can be wrapped around the sheet pallet 20 and stored or transported together, which further increases convenience.

[0141] In the third embodiment, the sheet pallet 20 is wrapped around the second retainer 14 from the bottom to the top, but as shown in Fig. 17, the sheet pallet 20 may be wrapped around the second retainer 14 from the top to the bottom. Fig. 17 also shows an example in which the second anti-slip sheet 15A is arranged to cover the entire top surface of the second retainer 14 in correspondence with the sheet pallet 20 wrapped around from the top to the bottom. This increases the contact area between the second anti-slip sheet 15A and the sheet pallet 20.

[0142] By wrapping the sheet pallet 20 from the top to the bottom of the traction auxiliary device 10, a larger gap S can be secured between the placement portion 12B of the first presser 12 and the sheet pallet 20, compared to the case of the sheet pallet 20 illustrated in Fig. 8. Therefore, when the traction auxiliary device 10 moves along the conveyance direction D and the first presser 12 climbs over the protrusion G1 on the floor surface G or the convex portion on the upper surface of the pallet 32, the force with which the placement portion 12B is pushed downward via the sheet pallet 20 can be reduced. As a result, the first presser 12 can easily climb over the protrusion G1 or the convex portion, and the traction auxiliary device 10 can move more smoothly.

[0143] <Fifth Modification> 18, in the present invention, a notch 12F may be provided in the side wall portion 12A of the first presser 12 at a position corresponding to the male screw portion 16A of the traction member 16. That is, in the traction auxiliary device 10E according to the fifth modification, a notch 12F is provided instead of the through hole 12C provided in the side wall portion 12A of the first presser 12 of the traction auxiliary device 10 shown in FIG 7. The male screw portion 16A is inserted from above into the notch 12F.

[0144] Also, the first anti-slip sheet 13 and the second anti-slip sheet 15 are each provided with a notch (reference numeral omitted) at a position corresponding to the pulling member 16. Also, a notch 23 is formed in the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 by a cutting tool such as scissors or a utility knife, and the pulling member 16 is inserted inside the notch 23. In the fifth modified example, the notch 12F of the first hold-down tool 12 and the notch 23 in the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 allow the pulling member 16 to be inserted into and removed from the second hold-down tool 14. Therefore, the pulling member 16 is configured to be detachable from the second hold-down tool 14.

[0145] In addition, reinforcing plates 17 are joined by welding or the like to the left and right of the notch 12F on the outer surface of the side wall 12A of the first pressing tool 12 in FIG. 18. Here, when the notch 12F is formed in the first pressing tool 12, the volume of the member is reduced, and the strength of the side wall 12A is reduced, and the first pressing tool 12 may warp around the towing member 16 during towing. However, the reinforcing plates 17 can reinforce the reduced strength of the side wall 12A caused by the notch 12F. Other configurations of the towing auxiliary device 10E according to the fifth modified example are equivalent to the members of the same names in the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10D shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 17, so that repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0146] When towing a load 40 using the towing auxiliary device 10E according to the fifth modified example, the operator 26 of the forklift 28 first uses a cutting tool such as scissors or a utility knife to cut the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 to form the notch 23. Then, as described with reference to Figs. 10 to 12, the sheet pallet 20 and the towing auxiliary device 10E are integrated, and the towing member 16 is inserted into the notch 23 and connected to the towing auxiliary device 10E. Then, the wire rope 36 is connected to the towing member 16 via the hook 18, and the load 40 can be towed.

[0147] In the fifth modified example, it is not essential to screw the male thread portion 16A of the towing member 16 to the female thread portion of the second hold-down tool 14, and for example, the end portion of the towing member 16 on the second hold-down tool 14 side may be permanently fixed to the second hold-down tool 14 by welding or the like. The towing auxiliary device 10E according to the fifth modified example also makes it possible to reliably perform the towing operation of the sheet pallet 20 and reduce costs.

[0148] In the fifth modified example, the first and second pressers 12 and 14 can be integrated simply by inserting the male screw portion 16A of the pulling member 16 fixed to the second presser 14 into the notch 12F from above, making the work easy. Although the notch 12F in the fifth modified example opens to the upper side, the opening position of the notch is not limited to this and may open to the lower side. Furthermore, two or more pulling members 16 may be provided on the first presser 12, and the warping of the first presser 12 around the pulling member 16 can be suppressed more than in the case of one pulling member. Furthermore, the shape of the notch 12F in the fifth modified example was U-shaped, but is not limited to this and can be appropriately changed, for example, to V-shaped.

[0149] <Sixth Modification> In the case of the traction auxiliary device 10 illustrated in FIG. 7, the shape of the second presser 14 as viewed from the side or the cross-sectional shape of the second presser 14 is square, and the lengths of each side of the square are almost the same. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the second presser 14 can be changed as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, in the case of the traction auxiliary device 10F according to the sixth modified example, the shape of the second presser 14 as viewed from the side or the cross-sectional shape is curved so that the radius of curvature of the lower corner part on the first presser 12 side (left side in FIG. 19) is larger than the radius of curvature of the other corner parts. In addition, in the sixth modified example, the connecting part between the side wall part 12A and the placement part 12B of the first presser 12 is also curved greatly in accordance with the curved shape of the second presser 14. Regarding the inner curvature of the corner of the first clamp 12 and the outer curvature of the corner of the second clamp 14, if the two clamps are not geometrically close to each other, a gap will form when the sheet pallet 20 is clamped and towed, which is undesirable, so it is desirable to match the surface curvature at the opposing parts of the two clamps.

[0150] The unity between the first and second clamps 12 and 14 is improved by increasing the radius of curvature of the connecting portion between the side wall portion 12A and the placement portion 12B of the first clamp 12 and the lower corner portion of the second clamp 14 on the first clamp 12 side. In particular, if the unity during towing is improved, when a very heavy load, such as a load of several tons, is towed using the towing auxiliary device 10F, warping in the longitudinal direction of the second clamp 14 due to the weight of the load can be suppressed. In other words, by improving the unity during towing, it is possible to achieve both weight reduction and suppression of warping of the second clamp 14 by adopting a second clamp 14 made of a lightweight material such as aluminum.

[0151] Furthermore, means for clamping (holding) the sheet pallet other than that described in the third embodiment can be appropriately adopted. For example, if the sheet pallet is made of a plastic material and has elasticity, the surface of one or both of the first and second clamps may be provided with a large number of small protrusions or continuous rib protrusions that do not tear the sheet pallet even if they bite into the sheet pallet. For example, if the clamp is made of a plastic material around the periphery and has a metal core inside, the surrounding portion can be made by injection molding, so that the shape of the small protrusions, rib protrusions, etc. can be freely formed compared to when the clamp is made entirely of metal.

[0152] Although the pressing force between the clamps holding the sheet pallet does not need to be very large, if a certain amount of pressing force is applied, the small protrusions or rib protrusions will bite into the surface of the sheet pallet. This bite can significantly prevent the sheet pallet from slipping off the clamps. In addition, an anti-slip sheet is no longer necessary. In other words, slippage is prevented not only by the frictional force of the first and second clamps, but also by the mechanical force of protrusions such as the small protrusions or rib protrusions.

[0153] Regarding the mechanical force, the traction auxiliary device 10C in Fig. 15 and the traction auxiliary device 10F in Fig. 19 have been described as examples in which convex and concave portions are formed on the mutually opposing surfaces of the first and second pressers. The shapes of the convex and concave portions, the shapes of the edges of the concave portions, and the number of convex and concave portions can be changed as appropriate. In addition, the effect of suppressing slippage can be adjusted as appropriate by combining the respective shapes and numbers.

[0154] Here, when the above-mentioned protrusions are dug into the pallet sheet, the life of the pallet sheet is likely to be shortened by the repeated dug-in of the small protrusions or rib protrusions. On the other hand, when slippage is suppressed by gentle convex and concave portions compared to small protrusions or rib protrusions, the impact on the life of the pallet sheet can be reduced.

[0155] Also, the first and second pressers may be clamped using a presser pressing means connected via a spring like a clothespin. When clamping the sheet pallet between the first and second pressers, the spring is stretched by hand to separate the first and second pressers. Also, by simply releasing the hands while the sheet pallet is clamped, the presser is pressed against the sheet pallet by the force of the spring, and the protrusion as described above bites into the sheet pallet. The pressing force is maintained by the presser pressing means, and the clamped sheet pallet does not fall off even during towing. Also, the first and second pressers are integrated, making them easy to handle and preventing them from being separated and lost.

[0156] As another pressing tool pressing means, a magnet may be attached to one of the first and second pressing tools, and a magnetic material such as iron that is attracted to the magnet may be attached to the other pressing tool. Alternatively, a pressing tool pressing means in which magnets of opposite polarity are attached to both pressing tools may be used. When the gripping part of the sheet pallet is in contact with one pressing tool and the other pressing tool is brought close to it, both pressing tools are automatically pressed together by the magnetic force, and the protrusions bite into the sheet pallet, maintaining the pressing force, and the sandwiched sheet pallet does not fall off even during towing. Also, if the first pressing tool and the second pressing tool are attracted to each other by magnetic force when not in use, they can be integrated for easy handling and prevented from being separated and lost.

[0157] In addition, in the pressing means using magnets, it is also possible to use electromagnets instead of permanent magnets. By connecting the necessary power source, it becomes possible to switch on and off the magnetic force by turning on and off the switch. Therefore, the worker does not need to position the presser in the correct position against the magnetic force, but can simply turn on the switch after positioning the presser in the correct position, improving workability.

[0158] In both the spring and magnet types, the second clamp used as a clamp does not necessarily have to be continuous across the entire width of the end of the sheet pallet to be pulled, and may be divided as appropriate. By dividing it, the spring force provided for each divided piece can be reduced, improving workability and making it easier to procure spring and magnet materials. However, in order to avoid the risk of the sheet pallet being torn by localized force, it is preferable to design the shape so that there is not an excessive gap.

[0159] In both the spring type and the magnet type, the first clamp with the traction part is what directly receives the traction force from the traction power unit, so if there are multiple traction ropes, the first clamp can be divided. Also, the first clamp can be branched into multiple parts, like a dinner fork. A structure can also be adopted in which each area of ​​the second clamp, which is divided correspondingly, is attached to each tip of the branch with a spring or attracted with a magnet.

[0160] <Seventh Modification> As a method of simply fastening the device with screws instead of springs or magnets, a second presser 74 having a U-shaped fixture 74B with a certain length in the longitudinal direction can be used as shown in Fig. 20. As shown in Fig. 21, the second presser 74 of the traction auxiliary device 10G according to the seventh modification is provided with a presser portion 74A disposed inside the U-shape of the fixture 74B and a fixing bolt 74C inserted into a female screw hole 74B1 provided in the side wall of the fixture 74B on the traction member 16 side. The fixing bolt 74C is provided with a handle 74C1.

[0161] The pressing portion 74A is, for example, a square tube made of metal and having a rectangular cross section. A square tube is advantageous in terms of achieving both strength and light weight. The cross-sectional shape of the pressing portion is not limited to a rectangular shape, and other polygonal shapes may be adopted. Furthermore, the pressing portion is not limited to a square tube, and may be a plate-like member.

[0162] The fixture 74B is made of, for example, metal, and although the reference numeral is omitted, the fixture 74B is provided with a through hole into which the towing member 16 is detachably inserted. The fixture 74B of the second presser 74 in the center of FIG. 20 is provided with a through hole 12C, and the towing member 16 is connected to the through hole 12C. The pressing portion 74A and the fixture 74B are described as separate members, but may be made integrally. The material of the pressing portion 74A and the fixture 74B is not limited to metal, and may be made of other materials such as resin. The pressing portion 74A and the fixture 74B may be made of a member in which a resin coating is applied to a metal core material.

[0163] The female screw hole 74B1 of the fixing tool 74B and the male screw of the fixing bolt 74C are screwed together. When the tip of the fixing bolt 74C advances from the towing member 16 side toward the first pressing tool 12 side by rotating the fixing bolt 74C, the tip presses the side wall 12A of the first pressing tool 12. By pressing, the gap between the side wall 12A of the first pressing tool 12 and the pressing part 74A of the second pressing tool 74 disappears, and the side wall 12A of the first pressing tool 12 and the pressing part 74A of the second pressing tool 74 are closely attached to each other. Therefore, the standing pressing surface 74A1 of the second pressing tool 74 presses the surface of the rising part 22A of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 arranged between the side wall 12A and the pressing part 74A is firmly clamped by the towing auxiliary device 10G. That is, the clamping force of the sheet pallet 20 can be adjusted by the fixing bolt 74C.

[0164] Furthermore, in the seventh modified example, because the fixing bolt 74C is provided with a handle 74C1, the worker can easily rotate the fixing bolt 74C by gripping the handle 74C1, easing the burden of the work of attaching and detaching the fastener 74B to the first presser 12. Note that the handle 74C1 is not essential, and bolts of other shapes, such as cap bolts, can also be used as the fixing bolt 74C as appropriate.

[0165] In addition, since the holding portion 74A is relatively light, when the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 is clamped by the towing auxiliary device 10G, for example, the worker can easily hold the first holding tool 12, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the holding part 74A together with one hand. Then, the worker uses the other hand to cover the first holding tool 12 from above with the fixing tool 74B in a state in which the fixing bolt 74C is inserted into the female screw hole 74B1, so that the recess on the inside of the U-shape of the fixing tool 74B fits into the first holding tool 12, the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the holding part 74A. Then, with the first holding tool 12 and the second holding tool 74 still fitted together, the worker can rotate the fixing bolt 74C with the other hand. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, it is easy to realize a state in which the upper end of the end 22 is aligned with the upper end of the first holding tool 12 over the entire longitudinal direction.

[0166] The method of fastening only with screws is not limited to the seventh modified example, and one or more screws may penetrate and fasten the side surface of the first presser 12 on the towing member 16 side (left side in FIG. 21) and the side surface of the second presser 74 on the luggage side (right side in FIG. 21). The U-shaped presser is configured so that the distance between both sides can be freely changed with the screws, and with the sheet pallet clamped between the first presser and the second presser, the U-shaped presser is placed over the first presser and the second presser, and the screws are tightened to narrow the distance between the both sides. The sheet pallet can be firmly clamped (gripped) between the first presser and the second presser by the U-shaped presser tightened with the screws.

[0167] When using the U-shaped presser, the work can be made easier by covering the device from above. However, covering the device from below is not excluded. The width and number of U-shaped pressers are optional, but from the viewpoint of stability, it is preferable to prepare three U-shaped pressers and fasten them at three points, the center and both sides of the traction auxiliary device, as in the case of the fixing device 74B in FIG. 20. The traction member may be attached to the U-shaped presser located in the center to perform traction, or may be attached to the first presser to perform traction.

[0168] 20 shows an example in which a screw is cut into the side of the U-shaped retainer (fixing tool 74B) on the first retainer 12 side (left side) and the first retainer 12 is tightened toward the second retainer 74. However, even if a screw is cut into the side of the U-shaped retainer (fixing tool 74B) on the second retainer 74 side (right side) and the second retainer 74 is tightened toward the first retainer 12, it is possible to grip the sheet pallet in the same way.

[0169] 20, the fixing tool 74B, which is a U-shaped pressing tool, is described as an independent member separate from the first pressing tool 12 and the second pressing tool 74, but the present invention is not limited to this. Although not shown in the drawings, a U-shaped protrusion may be fixedly provided as an integral part on either the first pressing tool 12 or the second pressing tool 72, or on both.

[0170] For example, if a U-shaped protrusion is fixedly provided on the first retainer 12, a thread is cut on the side of the U-shaped protrusion away from the main body of the first retainer 12, and the second retainer 74 is tightened from the threaded side toward the first retainer 12. Conversely, if a U-shaped protrusion is fixedly provided on the second retainer 74, a thread is cut on the side of the U-shaped protrusion away from the main body of the second retainer 74, and the first retainer 12 is tightened from the threaded side toward the second retainer 74.

[0171] However, if the fixing tool 74B is an independent member separate from the first holding tool 12 and the second holding tool 74, the attachment position of the fixing tool 74B can be changed as appropriate. Also, by preparing several types of fixing tool 74B with different widths in advance, it is possible to freely select the fixing tool 74B according to the purpose. In other words, the versatility of the traction auxiliary device 10G can be increased.

[0172] 21, nothing is placed above the sheet pallet 20 placed on the lower support surface 12B1 of the first hold-down tool 12. In other words, the placement portion 12B of the first hold-down tool 12 is not essential for the towing operation.

[0173] In addition, in the present invention, the sheet pallet 20 can be sandwiched using only the fixture 74B of the U-shaped holder without using the holder 74A in FIG. 21. That is, the second holder 74A is not essential for the towing operation. For example, the side wall 12A of the first holder 12 may be disposed inside the U-shape of the holder 74B, and the sheet pallet 20 may be sandwiched between the right side surface of the side wall 12A in FIG. 21 and the left side surface of the right side wall of the holder 74B without the second holder 74A. The length of the inside of the U-shape of the holder 74B measured along the conveying direction D can be shorter than the length of the inside of the U-shape of the holder 74B illustrated in FIG. 21 by the amount that the second holder 74A is not interposed. However, when the weight of the load is relatively large, the second pressing portion 74A is advantageously provided, since the entire width of the rising portion 22A of the end portion 22 of the sheet pallet 20 can be clamped almost evenly.

[0174] 20 shows an example in which the pulling member 16 is attached to the fixture 74B of the second presser 74, but in the present invention, the attachment position of the pulling member 16 does not necessarily have to be the fixture 74B of the second presser 74. For example, the pulling member 16 may be attached to another position, such as the first presser 12.

[0175] (Reinforcing plate material) As shown in Fig. 22, in the traction auxiliary device 10G, a reinforcing plate 17A may be provided on the outer surface of the first presser 12. Fig. 22 illustrates an example in which four reinforcing plates 17A are arranged on the outer surface of the first presser 12 at positions that do not overlap with three fasteners 74B. The reinforcing plate 17A is made of, for example, a steel plate, and is an angle material that is L-shaped in side view. The material and shape of the reinforcing plate can be appropriately changed, similar to the reinforcing plate 17 illustrated in Fig. 18.

[0176] The reinforcing plate 17A can be fixed to the first presser 12 by, for example, welding or the like, but the fixing method is not limited thereto, and fixing using an adhesive or fixing by bolting or the like can also be adopted. The reinforcing plate 17A reinforces the strength of the towing auxiliary device 10G, and can suppress bending and deformation of the towing auxiliary device 10G caused by the towing load during towing.

[0177] Here, if the first clamp 12 and the second clamp 72 are made of steel plates and are relatively thick, the overall weight will be heavy, and the burden on the worker in handling the towing auxiliary device 10G is likely to be heavy. On the other hand, in the case of the reinforcing plate 17A of an angle bar illustrated in Fig. 22, although a gap is formed between the reinforcing plate 17A and the first clamp 12, the reinforcing plate 17A is joined in the longitudinal direction at two points, the upper end of the first clamp 12 and the lower end of the first clamp 12. Therefore, it is possible to preferably achieve both suppression of an increase in the weight of the entire towing auxiliary device 10G and reinforcement of the strength.

[0178] (Connector) In addition, in the present invention, connectors 19A, 19B such as wires may be provided as in the towing auxiliary device 10G illustrated in Fig. 22. Of the four connectors 19A, 19B in Fig. 22, the connector 19A located at the rightmost position connects the rightmost reinforcing plate 17A of the four reinforcing plates 17A to the rectangular tubular holding portion 74A. In addition, since the reinforcing plate 17A is joined to the first holding member 12, the first holding member 12 and the holding portion 74A are connected via the reinforcing plate 17A and the connector 19A.

[0179] A female screw hole (not shown) is provided in the reinforcing plate 17A on the far right side in Fig. 22, and a bolt 73 having a male screw corresponding to the female screw of the female screw hole is inserted into the female screw hole. A female screw hole (not shown) is also provided in the upper part of the pressing part 74A in Fig. 22, and a bolt 73 having a male screw corresponding to the female screw of the female screw hole is inserted into the female screw hole.

[0180] Also, at one end on the left side of the wire of the connector 19A in Fig. 22, the end is folded back and fixed to the center of the wire to form a ring portion. The formed ring portion is hooked around the underneck of the bolt 73 inserted into the reinforcing plate 17A and fixed to the bolt 73 by welding or the like. Similarly, at the other end on the right side of the wire of the connector 19A in Fig. 22, a ring portion is formed, and the formed ring portion is hooked around the underneck of the bolt 73 inserted into the holding portion 74A and fixed to the bolt 73 by welding or the like.

[0181] Since the first clamp 12 and the clamping portion 74A are connected by the connector 19A, for example, when the disassembled towing auxiliary device 10G is carried or stored while not towing, the first clamp 12 and the clamping portion 74A can be prevented from being lost even if they are separated from each other. Also, when towing, the first clamp 12 or the clamping portion 74A can be pulled in via the connector 19A, so the towing auxiliary device 10G can be easily assembled.

[0182] Also, a connector 19B is attached to each of the three U-shaped fixing devices 74B on the left side of the connector 19A in Fig. 22. A ring portion is provided on both ends of each of the three connectors 19B, similar to the connector 19A that connects the first presser 12 and the pressing portion 74A. Also, a female screw hole (not shown) and a bolt 73 are provided on the outer surface of the fixing device 74B, similar to the reinforcing plate 17A.

[0183] A ring portion formed on one end of the connector 19B is hooked onto the under-neck of the bolt 73 inserted into the fixing device 74B, and is fixed to the bolt 73 by welding or the like. A ring portion formed on the other end of the connector 19B is hooked onto the under-neck of a fixing bolt 74C that passes through the fixing device 74B to press the first holding tool 12 against the holding part 74A, and is fixed to the fixing bolt 74C by welding or the like. As in the case of the connector 19A that connects the first holding tool 12 and the holding part 74A, the connector 19B can prevent the fixing tool 74B and the fixing bolt 74C from being lost, and can easily assemble the towing auxiliary device 10G when towing.

[0184] The connectors 19A and 19B are not limited to wires, and may be string-like members such as ropes, chains, etc. The combination of members connected by the connectors 19A and 19B is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 22, and may be any combination, such as the first presser 12 and the presser portion 74A, or the presser portion 74A and the fixing device 74B.

[0185] In addition, in FIG. 22, a case where two members are connected by the connector 19B, such as the fixing member 74B and the fixing bolt 74C, is illustrated, but the number of members to be connected may be three or more. In addition, in FIG. 22, a case where one end of the connector 19A is connected to the outer surface of the reinforcing plate 17A is illustrated, but the number of members to be connected may be three or more. In addition, in FIG. 22, a case where one end of the connector 19A is connected to the outer surface of the reinforcing plate 17A is illustrated, but the number of members to be connected may be three or more. In addition, in FIG. 22, a case where one end of the connector 19A is connected to the outer surface of the reinforcing plate 17A is illustrated, but the number of members to be connected may be three or more. In addition, in FIG. 22, a case where one end of the connector 19A is connected to the inner ...

[0186] (Protective material) 23, the traction auxiliary device 10G may have a protective member 75 provided on the inside of the fixing device 74B on the outer surface of the first presser 12. When the fixing bolt 74C is screwed in to press the first presser 12 against the presser portion 74A, the tip of the fixing bolt 74C comes into contact with the outer surface of the first presser 12, and there is a concern that the contacted area may be damaged by the tip of the fixing bolt 74C. Furthermore, when the traction auxiliary device 10G is used repeatedly, the degree of damage to the outer surface of the first presser 12 increases.

[0187] Protective member 75 in Fig. 23 is disposed on the outer surface of first presser 12 so as to overlap the position where the tip of fixing bolt 74C comes into contact, and protects the outer surface of first presser 12. Protective member 75 illustrated in Fig. 23 is a relatively hard steel plate known as hardened ribbon steel, and is joined to first presser 12 by welding or the like. Protective member 75 can prevent damage to the outer surface of first presser 12.

[0188] The shape of the protective member can be set arbitrarily, such as a plate shape, a disk shape, a rectangle shape, etc., when viewed from the front of the outer surface of the first presser 12 from the traction power unit side along the conveying direction D. The protective member 75 may be a steel plate that has not been subjected to surface treatment such as hardening. The material of the protective member is not limited to a steel plate, and may be other metal materials such as aluminum or copper plate.

[0189] Furthermore, materials other than metal, such as resin, paper, leather, etc., can be appropriately used as the material of the protective member 75. That is, the hardness value of the protective member is not limited. Also, the method of joining the protective member 75 and the first presser 12 is not limited to welding, and for example, adhesion using an adhesive or double-sided tape may be used. Also, the use of an adhesive material itself, such as double-sided tape, as the protective member is not excluded.

[0190] (Arrangement of U-shaped fixtures) For example, consider the case where one U-shaped fixture 74B is disposed in the center of the first presser 12 in the longitudinal direction, and the pressing portion 74A is clamped between the first presser 12 and fixture 74B using a fixing bolt 74C (see Figs. 20 and 22). Also consider the case where the longitudinal length of fixture 74B is relatively short, for example, less than one-tenth the length of the first presser 12 and pressing portion 74A.

[0191] Even if the length of the fixing tool 74B is relatively short, the sheet pallet 20 can be clamped in a tight contact state between the first pressing tool 12 and the pressing part 74A in the longitudinal center part of the towing auxiliary device 10G where the pressing force of the fixing tool 74B acts directly. On the other hand, when a sheet pallet carrying a load is towed using the towing auxiliary device, a pulling force acts in the opposite direction to the towing direction over the entire length of the pressing part 74A due to the sliding resistance of the sheet pallet. As a result, on both sides of the fixing tool 74B in the pressing part 74A, particularly at both ends, where the pressing action of the fixing tool 74B does not act directly, the first pressing tool 12 and the second pressing tool 74 may be warped so as to move away from each other with the central part fixed by the fixing tool 74B as a fulcrum. Then, a gap is formed between the first pressing tool 12 and the pressing part 74A, and the sheet pallet 20 does not come into close contact with the first pressing tool 12 and the pressing part 74A, which may weaken the gripping force.

[0192] If the sheet pallet 20 does not adhere closely to the first retainer 12 and the retaining portion 74A, the sheet pallet 20 is likely to fall off the towing auxiliary device 10G, increasing the possibility of causing problems during towing. For this reason, it is preferable to use three or more fasteners 74B in the longitudinal direction of the first retainer 12, so that the U-shaped fasteners 74B are located at the center and both ends.

[0193] Furthermore, it is preferable that the fasteners 74B are arranged so that the outer end faces in the longitudinal direction of the fasteners 74B are positioned at the same position as or outside the outer end face of the first fastener 12 or the outer end face of the fastener portion 74A, whichever is located inside in the longitudinal direction. By adjusting the position of the fasteners 74B at both longitudinal ends, warping of the first fastener 12 and the fastener portion 74A is suppressed, and the formation of a gap between the first fastener 12 and the second fastener 74 can be prevented.

[0194] (Suspended transportation of towing auxiliary equipment) Although not shown, the towing auxiliary device 10G may be transported by hanging it from the forks 28A of the forklift 28. Specifically, for example, one or more holes are formed in the fixing device 74B, and one end of a string-like member such as a rope or chain is fixed to the formed holes. Also, the first holding tool 12, the holding part 74A, and the fixing device 74B are integrated in advance using a fixing bolt 74C, and one end of the string-like member is connected to the hole of the fixing device 74B.

[0195] The other end of the string-like member opposite to the end to which the hole is connected may be connected to the tip of fork 28A of forklift 28 (the right side in FIG. 11). Two or more string-like members may be used. Also, holes may be provided in a member other than fixing device 74B, or a member such as a bolt having a hole may be attached to any of the members included in towing auxiliary device 10G, such as fixing device 74B.

[0196] Also, for example, a U-shaped (C-shaped) connecting member can be prepared separately and placed on the upper surfaces of the two forks 28A so that the part corresponding to the bottom of the U is bridged almost horizontally and the part corresponding to the side wall of the U extends downward from the height of the bottom. Forks 28A and fixing device 74B may be connected by connecting one end of a string-like member connected to fixing device 74B to the other end of both ends of the placed connecting member. The U-shaped connecting member can be made by bending a steel plate material, a resin plate material, or the like.

[0197] By suspending the towing auxiliary device 10G from the forks 28A, during towing work, the towing auxiliary device 10G can be transported by using the forklift 28 to the vicinity of the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20 without using human power. After the towing auxiliary device 10G arrives, the towing auxiliary device 10G is removed from the forks 28A and attached to the end 22 of the sheet pallet 20, and the sheet pallet 20 can be towed by carrying out each step described in the above <Method of towing a sheet pallet>. By suspending the towing auxiliary device 10G from the forks 28A, the effort of transporting the towing auxiliary device 10G by the operator 26 or the like can be eliminated, reducing the workload and improving workability.

[0198] On the other hand, when towing work is not performed, the towing auxiliary device 10G can be placed, for example, in an empty space on the upper surface of the fork 28A at the base side of the fork 28A (for example, on the left side of the fork 28A in FIG. 11). By utilizing the empty space, there is no need to take the trouble of separately preparing a storage location for the towing auxiliary device 10G. In addition, the area at the base side of the fork 28A where the towing auxiliary device 10G is placed is relatively close to the driver's seat of the operator 26, so that the operator 26 can easily access it when starting towing work.

[0199] (Temporary lifting means for towing auxiliary device) Fig. 24 illustrates an example in which cargo 40A placed on the right pallet 32A placed on floor surface G is towed and pulled onto pallet 32B into which the forks 28A of the forklift 28 are inserted, and then transferred. Also, in Fig. 24, the end of the sheet pallet 20 to which the towing auxiliary device 10G is attached does not fit completely within the upper surface of the pallet 32A, and protrudes to the left outside of the pallet 32A in Fig. 24, and will hang down from the pallet 32A if left as is.

[0200] 24, the sheet pallet end portion to which the towing auxiliary device 10G is attached and which is positioned protruding from the outside of the pallet 32A can be temporarily lifted up to a position higher than the upper surface of the pallet 32A. Specifically, the support member 80 is, for example, a steel plate-like member or a rod-like member. One end of the support member 80 is detachably attached to the mast side of the forklift 28, for example, by bolting.

[0201] The support member 80 extends almost horizontally toward the cargo 40A, and the other end on the cargo 40A side is disposed at almost the same position as the right end of the pallet 32B into which the fork 28A is inserted in FIG. 24. The other end of the support member 80 on the cargo 40A side cannot be prevented from being positioned back toward the base of the fork 28A. In addition, in the case where contact with the cargo 40A can be avoided by, for example, lifting the end of the sheet pallet to which the towing auxiliary device 10G is attached upward by a necessary height, the other end of the support member 80 on the cargo 40A side can also be prevented from protruding toward the cargo 40A side beyond the right end of the pallet 32B.

[0202] In the support member 80 in Fig. 24, a rotating part 80A is provided between the base of the left mast and the pallet 32B. The rotating part 80A is, for example, a hinge, and the other end side of the support member 80 can rotate upward by the rotating part 80A (see Fig. 25). Note that the rotating part 80A is not essential as long as the support member 80 does not interfere with the cargo 40A. Specifically, for example, by attaching one end of the support member 80 to the mast above the position illustrated in Fig. 24, the transfer operation may be performed with the support member 80 extended horizontally.

[0203] A lifting member 82 is provided at the other end of the support member 80. The lifting member 82 can be preferably a string-like member such as a wire or a rope. However, the shape of the lifting member 82 is not limited to a string-like shape as long as it is attached to the support member 80 and can lift up the end of the sheet pallet to which the towing auxiliary device 10G is attached. Similarly, the material of the lifting member 82 is not limited.

[0204] One end of the lifting member 82 is attached to the other end (tip) of the support member 80, and the other end of the lifting member 82 is connected to the pulling member 16 of the traction auxiliary device 10G. The other end of the lifting member 82 may be connected to a portion other than the traction member 16 of the traction auxiliary device 10G.

[0205] During towing work, first, one end of the lifting member 82 is attached to the tip of the support member 80, and the forklift 28 is brought close to the tip of the pallet 32B and the tip of the opposing pallet 32A, and stopped. At this time, the opposing sides of the pallets 32A and 32B are made to face each other, and the distance between the two sides is set to at least a degree that allows the sheet pallet end equipped with the towing auxiliary device 10G to pass through easily. Next, the towing auxiliary device 10G is connected to the other end of the lifting member 82, and the pallet 32A is lifted up to a position slightly above the upper surface of the pallet. The length of the support member 80 and the length of the lifting member 82 are set to the length required for lifting. In addition, after the towing auxiliary device 10G is connected, the length of the support member 80 or the length of the lifting member 82 may be adjustable.

[0206] Next, with the towing auxiliary device 10G still in the raised position, the forklift 28 is operated to bring the pallet 32B into which the forks 28A have been inserted even closer to the right-hand pallet 32A on the floor surface G in FIG. 25. The opposing sides of the pallets 32A and 32B are then brought into contact with each other, bringing them adjacent to each other. When they are brought together, the end of the sheet pallet to which the towing auxiliary device 10G is attached is lifted above the top surface of the pallet 32A, so that the towing auxiliary device 10G does not collide with the tip side of the pallet 32B on the fork 28A side. 。

[0207] Next, the connection between the lifting member 82 and the towing auxiliary device 10G is released. Also, the other end of the support member 80 is rotated upward around the rotating part 80A, and raised almost vertically. Next, the towing power unit 30 is driven to tow the sheet pallet 20 carrying the cargo 40A via the towing auxiliary device 10G, and the cargo 40A together with the sheet pallet is pulled toward the pallet 32B into which the forks 28A of the forklift 28 are inserted, and then transferred.

[0208] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 26, when the support member 80 and the lifting member 82 are not used, the traction auxiliary device 10G protrudes outside the pallet 32A and remains hanging down. Here, since the material of the sheet pallet 20 is relatively soft, when the traction auxiliary device 10G is attached to the end of the sheet pallet 20, the end of the sheet pallet 20 hangs down due to the weight of the traction auxiliary device 10G. Therefore, the traction auxiliary device 10G is located below the upper surface of the pallet 32A. As a result, even if the forklift 28 is brought close to the pallet 32A, there is a concern that the two pallets 32A and 32B cannot be arranged adjacent to each other to a position where the cargo 40A can be transferred.

[0209] According to the support member 80 and the lifting member 82 illustrated in Figs. 24 and 25, the towing auxiliary device 10G can be lifted above the upper surface of the pallet 32A, so that the towing operation can be carried out more smoothly.

[0210] (stopper) In the transfer operation of cargo 40A illustrated in Fig. 24, the position of pallet 32B was fixed by spacer 34 arranged on the base side so that the transferred pallet 32B would not be pushed into pallet 32A before transfer by the pulling force and move to the base of fork 28A and collide with the base and be damaged. However, the method of fixing the position of pallet 32B on fork 28A is not limited to this.

[0211] For example, the position of the pallet 32B can be fixed by attaching a stopper 90 illustrated in Fig. 27 to the fork 28A. As shown in Fig. 27(A) and Fig. 27(B), the stopper 90 includes a main body 92, a connecting rod 94 inserted into a through hole 92A provided in the main body 92, and a connecting plate 96 attached to the connecting rod 94.

[0212] The main body 92 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped made of steel, and has two through holes 92A spaced apart from each other, penetrating in the vertical direction in Fig. 27(A). As shown in Fig. 27(C), a step is provided on the inside of the through hole 92A, and the inner diameter of the upper side of the step is wider than the inner diameter of the lower side of the step.

[0213] The connecting rod 94 is, for example, a bolt having a hexagonal hole at its head, and a male screw is formed at the tip of its shaft (the lower end in FIG. 27(C)). The connecting plate 96 is, for example, made of steel, and has a female screw hole at a position corresponding to the tip of the shaft of the connecting rod 94. The female screw hole corresponds to the male screw of the connecting rod 94, and the connecting rod 94 and the connecting plate 96 are screwed together.

[0214] The axial length of the region in which the male thread is formed in the connecting rod 94 is longer than the depth of the female screw hole in the connecting plate 96. In addition, the head of the connecting rod 94 is rotatable while being supported by a step inside the through-hole 92A. For this reason, it is possible to change the position (height) of the screw connection between the connecting rod 94 and the connecting plate 96 by rotating the connecting rod 94 using a tool such as a hexagonal wrench. Changing the position of the screw connection changes the distance between the main body 92 and the connecting plate 96.

[0215] 27(C), a gap S is formed between the main body 92 and the connecting plate 96 and between the two connecting plates 96. The height of the gap S can be changed according to the distance between the main body 92 and the connecting plate 96. Note that the shapes and dimensions of the main body 92, the connecting rod 94, and the connecting plate 96 in the stopper 90 are not limited to those exemplified in FIG. 27 and can be changed as appropriate.

[0216] As shown in FIG. 28, during towing work, the stopper 90 can be attached to the center of the fork of the forklift 28. The fork of the forklift 28 illustrated in FIG. 28 is covered with an extension claw 98. The extension claw 98 is inserted into the gap S of the stopper 90, and is firmly clamped by a screw connection between a connecting rod 94 of the stopper 90 and a connecting plate 96. Therefore, the position of the pallet 32B (second pallet) on the fork 28A is fixed, and even if the pallet 32B is pushed inward by the outer pallet 32A (first pallet), the pallet 32B is prevented from moving toward the base side of the fork 28A. As a result, the load 40A can be smoothly transferred.

[0217] The stopper 90 can be relatively small because it only needs to have an area with a length, width, and height sufficient to hold the fork 28A. The specific external dimensions depend on the strength of the material, but can be realized by, for example, extending a few centimeters above and below the fork 28A, a few centimeters to the side, and a few centimeters in the depth direction (the direction in which the fork extends). That is, the length from the base side of the fork 28A to the pallet 32B, as in the spacer 34 (see FIG. 24), is not necessary, so the burden of handling is reduced. The stopper 90 can be manufactured using the main body 92, the connecting rod 94, and the connecting plate 96, all of which have relatively simple structures, and is therefore advantageous in that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0218] (Transformer) Furthermore, forklifts 28 used for loading and unloading operations are broadly divided into those powered by electricity and those powered by fuels such as gasoline or diesel, but in recent years, with growing environmental awareness, the number of those powered by electricity is increasing. Here, if the power source of the traction power unit 30 used for towing operations is the same electricity as that of the forklift 28, then a single power source will be sufficient if the traction power unit 30 can be connected to the power source of the forklift 28.

[0219] However, there are cases where the rated voltage of the traction power unit 30 is different from the rated voltage of the forklift 28, for example, when the voltage of the forklift 28 is 100V and the voltage of the traction power unit 30 is 48V. For this reason, the power supply of the traction power unit 30 cannot be directly connected to the power supply of the forklift 28, resulting in the trouble of having to prepare two types of power supplies.

[0220] In the present invention, for example, a transformer (converter) can be mounted on the forklift, and the power source of the forklift 28 can be connected to the traction power unit 30 via the mounted transformer. The transformer may be disposed near the battery of the forklift 28, or may be disposed by utilizing other available space, such as near the operator's seat.

[0221] The device to which a power source is connected via a transformer to the power source of the forklift 28 is not limited to the traction power unit 30. For example, other external devices having a reduction mechanism or a speed change mechanism and used in unloading operations may also be connected to a power source via a transformer. Regarding the power source, for example, if there is no power source with the required rated voltage near the device, it is possible to obtain a power source with the required rated voltage by combining an AC or DC transformer with a power source present in the vicinity.

[0222] In the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, the container 24 is exemplified as the means for transporting the sheet pallet, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, not only a container but also a pallet or a truck bed can be arbitrarily adopted as the means for transporting the sheet pallet.

[0223] In addition, in the present invention, the length of the placement portion 12B of the first presser 12 in the conveying direction D of the towing auxiliary device 10 in FIG. 8 and the towing auxiliary device 10G in FIG. 21, that is, the length of the lower part of the L-shape of the first presser 12, may be shortened. Even if the length of the placement portion 12B is short, the end of the sheet pallet can be attached to the towing auxiliary device. In addition, by shortening the length of the placement portion 12B, the weight of the sheet pallet towing auxiliary device 10, 10A to 10G can be reduced, making it easier to handle. In addition, even if the length of the placement portion 12B is short, the corner portion of the L-shape between the side wall portion 12A and the placement portion 12B may be curved or angular.

[0224] In particular, a configuration in which the length of the mounting portion 12B is short, or a configuration in which the first pressure holder 12 does not have a mounting portion 12B as in the first and second embodiments, is advantageous when, for example, the bottom surface of the luggage placed on the sheet pallet is relatively large and the width of the end of the sheet pallet that can be secured for towing is short.

[0225] In addition, when the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10G are used inside a conveying means such as a container 24 as illustrated in FIG. 11, the width of the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10G can be set to be approximately the same as the width of the conveying means. In the third embodiment, the width of the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10G and the width of the container 24 are in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction D on a horizontal plane. For example, in a typical container 24, when the width direction is approximately 2200 mm, luggage having a width of approximately 1000 mm is often arranged in two rows in the width direction. Since the width of the towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A to 10G is approximately the same as the width of the conveying means, multiple luggage arranged separately in the width direction can be carried out from the inside of the conveying means in a single towing operation.

[0226] 8 shows an example in which the shape of the rising receiving surface 12A1 of the first pressing tool 12 is flat, but the shape of the rising receiving surface 12A1 can be appropriately changed to include one or more curved or bent portions. Similarly, the shape of the vertical pressing surface 14A of the second pressing tool 14 corresponding to the rising receiving surface 12A1 of the first pressing tool 12 can be appropriately changed. By including one or more curved or bent portions in the shape of the rising receiving surface 12A1 and the shape of the vertical pressing surface 14A, the clamping force of the sheet pallet can be increased.

[0227] 8, even if the sheet pallet 20 has a hole at the end 22 due to the penetration of the towing member 16, a new hole can be drilled at a position other than the position of the hole already drilled, and the towing auxiliary device 10 can be inserted. In other words, in towing work using the towing auxiliary device according to the present invention, the sheet pallet 20 can be reused repeatedly.

[0228] The present invention may also be configured by partially combining the configurations included in the sheet pallet towing auxiliary devices 10, 10A-10G, 11 shown in Figs. 1-28. For example, among the configurations included in the various towing auxiliary devices described as modifications of the third embodiment, the portions other than the configuration related to the placement section can also be applied to the towing auxiliary device according to the first or second embodiment. The present invention includes various embodiments not described above, and the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention-specifying matters in the claims that are appropriate from the above description. [Explanation of symbols]

[0229] 10,10A~10G Traction assist device 11 Traction aids 12 First clamp (clamp member) 12A1, 12A2 Rising support surface 12B1 Lower support surface 12C through hole 13 First Anti-Slip Sheet 14 Second clamp 14A, 14A1 Vertical clamping surface 14B Lower presser surface 14C Female thread 15,15A Second anti-slip sheet 16 Traction member 16A Male thread 16B Ring section 17 Blocks 20,20A~20D Sheet Pallet 22 End 22A Start-up section 22B base 24 Container 40,40A~40D Luggage 50 Screw material 52 Side wall 54 Support member 64A1 Vertical clamping surface 64B1 Lower presser surface 74 Second clamp (fixing device) 74A Clamping part (additional clamping part) 74A1 Vertical clamping surface 74C Fixing bolt (fastener) 74C1 Handle 76 Recess

Claims

1. A plate-shaped first pressing tool is arranged on the back surface of the end portion of the sheet pallet; A plate-shaped second pressing tool that is a separate member from the first pressing tool and is arranged on the surface of the end of the sheet pallet so as to overlap the first pressing tool; a fastener attached to the first and second fasteners and clamping an end of the sheet pallet between the first and second fasteners, the fastener being a screw member that passes through the first fastener, the end of the sheet pallet, and the second fastener to clamp the end of the sheet pallet between the first and second fasteners; A pulling member provided on the first pressing tool or the second pressing tool; A sheet pallet towing auxiliary device having a seat pallet.

2. 2. The sheet pallet towing auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed on the clamping surface of said first clamping tool, and a protrusion is formed on the clamping surface of said second clamping tool with which said recess can be engaged.

3. 3. The sheet pallet traction auxiliary device according to claim 2, wherein the recess is a long groove, and the protrusion is a rib formed along the long groove.

4. A rollable flexible sheet pallet and A plate-shaped first pressing tool is arranged on the back surface of the end portion of the sheet pallet; A plate-shaped second pressing tool that is a separate member from the first pressing tool and is arranged on the surface of the end of the sheet pallet so as to overlap the first pressing tool; a fastener attached to the first and second fasteners and clamping an end of the sheet pallet between the first and second fasteners, the fastener being a screw member that passes through the first fastener, the end of the sheet pallet, and the second fastener to clamp the end of the sheet pallet between the first and second fasteners; A pulling member provided on the first pressing tool or the second pressing tool; A seat pallet with a traction aid.

Images