Transfer assist device

Abstract

To provide a transfer assist device for assisting work of loading / unloading a cargo by hand to transfer it between a work table and a carriage.SOLUTION: When a container B1 filled with a cargo placed on a work table C is transferred to a carriage A by almost lateral movement, the carriage is lowered and then a placement surface for a following container B2 and a top surface of the work table C become almost uniform in height. In this state, the container B2 placed on the work table C can be placed over the carriage A by almost lateral movement. Since the placement surface on the carriage A side is lowered every time when the container B is transferred, the container B can be always transferred by the lateral movement. On the other hand, when the containers B1, B2 are transferred to the work table C from the carriage A, the placement surface on the carriage A side is raised every time when the container B is transferred. Accordingly, an operator can perform the transfer work without bending down.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer assist device that assists in the manual loading and unloading of a load between a work platform and a cart. [Background technology]

[0002] Manual loading and unloading operations include the manual loading and unloading of cargo between a work platform and a transport cart. This transfer work involves bending over to lift loads from a transport cart and manually place them on a work bench, or conversely, bending over to manually lower loads taken from the work bench onto the transport cart. This puts strain on the lower back, and many workers complain of lower back pain. Therefore, there is a need to prevent lower back pain in order to improve the working environment.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a container transfer device, which uses a lifter to raise a cart carrying multiple containers stacked in multiple layers to the same height as a work platform, and then uses a pusher to move the multiple containers horizontally, allowing them to be smoothly transferred from the cart to the work platform. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-28262 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, this requires that multiple containers be stacked in multiple layers on a cart, and if manual labor is required, workers will have to bend down and stack the containers by hand.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a transfer assist device that assists in the manual loading and unloading of loads between a work platform and a cart. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention [1] is a transfer assist device characterized by performing an assist operation comprising a cart setting unit on which a cart is set, a lifting mechanism of the cart setting unit, a notification means for notifying the position of the topmost object to be transferred among the objects to be transferred stacked on the cart, and an assist operation means for operating the lifting mechanism based on the notification from the notification means to bring the objects to a position where they can be transferred one by one by horizontal movement between the work platform and the cart, and when an object to be transferred is transferred from the work platform to the cart, the cart setting unit descends after the preceding object has been transferred, and when an object to be transferred is transferred from the cart to the work platform, the cart setting unit rises after the preceding object has been transferred.

[0008] The invention [2] is a transfer assist device characterized in that, in the transfer assist device described in [1], the notification means is configured to notify whether or not an object to be transferred is present at a specified position.

[0009] The invention [3] is a transfer assisting device according to the invention [2], characterized in that the predetermined position of the informing means is changeable.

[0010] The invention of [4] is a transfer assist device according to any one of [1] to [3], characterized in that it is equipped with casters on the bottom surface and is portable.

[0011] The invention [5] is a transfer assist device described in any one of [1] to [4], characterized in that it is provided with an alarm means for notifying that a cart has been set in the cart setting section, and when the cart is set, it starts an assist operation based on the alarm from the alarm means.

[0012] The invention [6] is a transfer assist device described in any one of [1] to [5], characterized in that upper and lower limit positions for lifting and lowering by the assisting operation of the trolley set unit are set, and when the trolley set unit reaches the upper limit position, it starts to lower, and when it reaches the lower limit position, it starts to raise, and by stopping and restarting the operation, the trolley is brought to a position where the objects to be transferred can be transferred one by one by horizontal movement between the workbench and the trolley. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the transfer assist device of the present invention, when manually loading and unloading a load between a work platform and a cart, the work can be done without bending over. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a transfer assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage setting unit of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2A and 2B are a front view, a top view, and a side view of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the transfer assist device of FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer assist device of FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A transfer assisting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this transfer assistance device 1, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, two base frames 3, 3 are arranged side by side horizontally with their ends aligned, and a connecting frame 5 (Figure 4) is interposed perpendicularly between the axial ends of the two base frames 3, 3, connecting them together to form a single unit. The reference numeral 7 denotes the housing. This housing 7 is a vertically long, flat rectangular parallelepiped overall, but there is a slope about three-fifths of the way down from the top, and the area below that is thicker than the area above. This large rectangular surface of the housing 7 is the front surface 7a. The housing 7 is attached and fixed so that its lower end covers one axial end of the two base frames 3, 3 and the connecting frame 5. A pair of through holes 7b, 7b are formed on the lower end of the front portion 7a, and the base frames 3, 3 protrude from the through holes 7b, 7b at approximately right angles.

[0016] Casters 9 are attached to the tip side of the portion protruding from the front part 7a of each base frame 3, i.e., the other axial end side, and further, as shown in Fig. 3 etc., casters 9 are attached to the underside of the housing 7. On the housing 7 side, casters 9 are attached to the underside of one axial end side of the base frame 3. In other words, casters 9, 9, ... are attached to each of the quadrangular corners of the bottom surface of the transfer assistance device 1, making the transfer assistance device 1 movable.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 7 houses an elevating mechanism that utilizes a ball screw feed mechanism 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes a motor, which is fixed to the connecting frame 5 and has a shaft screw 11a connected to its rotation shaft. The axial direction of the shaft screw 11a is the vertical direction and extends upward. Inside the housing 7, a horizontal frame 7c is installed on the upper side, and a shaft screw bearing 7d is provided on this horizontal frame 7c. The upper end of the shaft screw 11a is supported by the shaft screw bearing 7d so as to be rotatable around its axis. A screw 11b is threadedly engaged with the shaft screw 11a.

[0018] The reference numeral 15 denotes the lifting unit. The main body of this lifting unit 15 is a rectangular frame 15a, which is erected so that the frame surface faces horizontally. A pair of upper and lower bearings 15b, 15b are attached to the outer surfaces of the vertical frames on both the left and right sides. Guide grooves 7e, 7e are provided on both the left and right sides inside the housing 7. Each guide groove 7e extends vertically with an inward opening, and a pair of upper and lower bearings 15b, 15b are fitted into these grooves so that they can slide vertically. Therefore, the lifting unit 15 can move vertically inside the housing 7. The rear side of the lower frame of the frame body 15a of this lifting / lowering unit 15 is connected to the screw 11b via a connecting piece 15c, and the lifting / lowering unit 15 side and the screw 11b of the ball screw feed mechanism 11 are integrated.

[0019] Reference numeral 17 denotes a bogie set unit. This bogie set unit 17 is composed of a frame and is L-shaped when viewed from the left and right. A pair of horizontal frames 17a, 17a are arranged in parallel with a gap between them with their ends aligned, and two connecting frames 17b, 17b are installed with a gap between them. The ends of a pair of vertical frames 17c, 17c are connected to one end of the horizontal frames 17a, 17a in an orthogonal direction. Therefore, this pair of vertical frames 17c, 17c are arranged in parallel with a gap between them with their ends aligned, extending in the vertical direction, and a connecting frame 17d is installed at the upper end of the frames.

[0020] The upper surfaces of the horizontal frames 17a, 17a are the surfaces on which the dolly is placed. The distance between the outer surfaces of the horizontal frames 17a, 17a is smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the base frames 3, 3 protruding from the housing 7, and a distance is provided between the horizontal frames 17a and base frames 3 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction.

[0021] Two mounting frames 17e, 17e are fixed to the rear surface of each vertical frame 17c at an interval above and below, and each mounting frame 17e protrudes toward the rear surface. A pair of communication holes 7f, 7f are formed in the front portion 7a of the housing 7. Each communication hole 7f is a long, narrow rectangular hole extending in the vertical direction. The communication holes 7f, 7f are arranged side by side with a gap between them, and the heights of both ends in the vertical direction are aligned. The mounting frames 17e, 17e of each vertical frame 17c are passed through the communication holes 7f so as to be movable in the vertical direction and enter the inside of the housing 7, with the vertical frames 17c, 17c facing the communication holes 7f, 7f.

[0022] Mounting frames 17e, 17e, . . . that are inserted into the housing 7 are attached and fixed to the front side of the frame 15a of the lifting section 15. Since the screw 11b, connecting piece 15c, frame body 15a, mounting frame 17e, and vertical frame 17c of the trolley set section 17 are integrated, when the motor 13 is driven, the shaft screw 11a rotates forward and backward, causing the screw 11b to move up and down, and the trolley set section 17 rises and falls while maintaining its L-shaped posture.

[0023] An upper limit switch 19 and a lower limit switch 21 are provided inside the housing 7, and these limit switches 19, 21 are turned ON when the frame body 15a of the lifting unit 15 comes into contact with them. A carriage set limit switch 23 is provided at an L-shaped corner of the carriage set section 17. A receiving piece 25 is rotatably attached to the connecting frame 17b on the housing 7 side via a hinge 25a, and this receiving piece 25 covers the carriage set limit switch 23 from above. Therefore, when the receiving piece 25 is pressed down by a load, this limit switch 23 turns ON.

[0024] Reference numeral 27 denotes a support shaft, which is attached near the end of the front portion 7a of the housing 7. A reflective photoelectric sensor 29 is fixed to a screw-type clamper 31, which is slidably attached to the support shaft 27. The photoelectric sensor 29 can be installed at a predetermined height within the range of the vertical length of the support shaft 27. The light irradiation direction of the photoelectric sensor 29 is perpendicular to the vertical movement path of the cart setting unit 17, and detects whether or not a load is present at the height where the light is irradiated. The photoelectric sensor 29 is located in a position that does not interfere with the raising and lowering of the carriage setting section 17 or the carriage placed thereon.

[0025] An operation box 33 is connected to the side of the housing 7 on which the support shaft 27 is attached, and various lamp buttons for operation are arranged on the front side of the operation box 33. A control unit is housed inside this operation box 33. This control unit is made up of a microcomputer, and is connected by wiring (not shown) to the motor 13, limit switches 19, 21, 23, and photoelectric sensor 29, and controls the lifting and lowering operations.

[0026] When the power button is pressed and the frame body 15a comes into contact with the lower limit switch 21 and turns it ON, the cart is set and the cart set limit switch 23 turns ON, and when the start button is pressed, the cart set unit 17 starts to move up and down to assist. The carriage setting unit 17 moves upward from the starting position, and when it reaches the upper limit switch 19 and turns ON, it moves downward from that position, and when it reaches the lower limit switch 21 and turns ON, it moves upward from that position in the same manner as above. In this way, contact with the lower limit switch 21 triggers the start of an upward movement, and contact with the upper limit switch 19 triggers the start of a downward movement. During continuous movement, contact with the lower limit switch 21 automatically reverses from a downward movement to an upward movement, and contact with the upper limit switch 19 automatically reverses from an upward movement to a downward movement. The timing for stopping and restarting the ascending or descending operation is determined based on a notification from the photoelectric sensor 29.

[0027] That is, during the ascent operation, the control unit causes the photoelectric sensor 29 to ascend when it does not detect a container, stops the operation when it detects a container, and resumes the ascent when it no longer detects the container.During the descent operation, the control unit causes the photoelectric sensor 29 to descend when it detects a container, stops the operation when it no longer detects the container, and resumes the descent when it detects the container again.

[0028] The transfer assist device 1 is configured as described above, and when used to transfer a container B between a transport cart A and a work platform C by manual loading and unloading, it operates as follows. First, the case where a (packed) container B placed on a work platform C is transferred to a cart A (work platform → cart) will be described with reference to FIG. Press the power button. The position where the frame body 15a contacts the lower limit switch 21 is the standby position of the cart setting unit 17. If the cart setting unit 17 is not in this position, press the setting position button to lower the cart setting unit 17 to this position.

[0029] With respect to the cart setting unit 17 in the standby position, the cart A is moved and pushed toward the housing 7 in such a manner that the horizontal frames 17a, 17a of the cart setting unit 17 are sandwiched between the casters on the cart A side. It is not necessary to lift the cart A, but it is sufficient to simply move it. As a result, the cart A is set, the support piece 25 is pushed down, the cart set limit switch 23 is turned ON, and when the start button is pressed, the cart starts to rise. The cart set section 17 rises, and when the upper limit switch 19 is turned ON, it stops at that position. At that height, the height of the surface on which the cart A is placed and the top surface of the work platform C are almost the same.

[0030] In this state, container B1 that was on work platform C can be transferred to cart A with a nearly horizontal movement. When container B1 is transferred, the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that a container is present, and the control unit drives motor 13 to lower the cart. When the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that a container is absent as a result of the descent, the descent stops. At this height, the height of the loading surface for the following container B2, which is formed by the upper end surface of container B1, is nearly aligned with the top surface of work platform C. In this state, container B2 that was on work platform C can be transferred to cart A with a nearly horizontal movement. In this way, the loading surface on cart A's side is lowered every time a container B is transferred, so container B can always be transferred with a horizontal movement.

[0031] When the trolley set section 17 contacts the lower limit switch 21, it will not descend any further, so that if more containers B are to be stacked, they will have to be lifted, but at least there is no need to bend over. After a predetermined number of containers B have been stacked, the carriage A is pulled out from the carriage setting section 17, thereby completing the transfer work.

[0032] Next, a case where (empty) containers B stacked in multiple layers on a cart A are transferred to a work platform C (cart → work platform) will be described with reference to FIG. Press the power button. The position where the frame body 15a contacts the lower limit switch 21 is the standby position of the cart setting unit 17. If the cart setting unit 17 is not in this position, press the setting position button to lower the cart setting unit 17 to this position.

[0033] With respect to the cart setting unit 17 in the standby position, the cart A is moved and pushed toward the housing 7 in such a manner that the horizontal frames 17a, 17a of the cart setting unit 17 are sandwiched between the casters on the cart A side. It is not necessary to lift the cart A, but it is sufficient to simply move it. As a result, the cart A is set, the receiving piece 25 is pushed down, and the cart set limit switch 23 is turned ON. When the start button is pressed, the cart A rises to a position where the height of the loading surface of the top container B1 of the containers B1, B2, ... stacked on the cart A is approximately aligned with the top surface of the work platform C, and stops at that position. If the loading surface of the top container B1 is higher than the top surface of the work platform C, the cart will remain stopped. In this state, the container B1 that was on the cart A can be transferred to the work platform C by manually lowering it or by moving it sideways.

[0034] When container B1 is transferred and removed, the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that there is no container, so the control unit drives the motor 13 to lift the platform. As the platform rises, the photoelectric sensor 29 reports that there is a container, so the lifting stops. At this height, the height of the loading surface of the following container B2 and the top surface of the work platform C are almost the same, so container B2 that was on the platform A can be transferred to the work platform C by moving it almost sideways. In this way, the loading surface on the platform A side rises every time a container B is removed, so container B can always be transferred by moving it sideways.

[0035] Since the container B placed on the lowest level of the carriage setting section 17 can be transferred by moving sideways, there is no need to bend over. After all the containers B have been removed, the carriage A is pulled out from the carriage setting section 17, thereby completing the transfer operation.

[0036] The photoelectric sensor 29 and the control unit cooperate as described above to realize a notification means, which notifies the position of the topmost container B among the containers B1, B2, ... stacked on the cart A based on whether the topmost container B is at the detection height position. Also, the motor 13 cooperates as described above to realize an assist operation means, which rises or falls to a position that allows the next container B to move laterally.

[0037] The transfer assist device 1 assists in the transfer, eliminating the need for the worker to bend over, thereby reducing the burden on the worker's body. It is designed to be able to accommodate actual work, and although the height of the workbench C differs for standing and sitting work, by changing the height of the clamp position of the photoelectric sensor 29, it can always accommodate the height of the workbench C. There is a hole in the side of container B, but by changing the orientation of the photoelectric sensor 29, it can be adjusted so that it hits container B. Furthermore, since the photoelectric sensor 29 is constantly sensing, it can also handle mixed cargo with containers B of varying sizes and weights after being packed. It has 9 casters, so you can move it anywhere you like, and there are no restrictions on where you can assist. This transfer assist device 1 is standardly designed for 100V power supply, but it can also be equipped with a battery, so it can be used in places without power supply. Furthermore, this transfer assist device 1 can be made to order, and the distance between the base frames 3, 3 can be adjusted to fit the actual cart being used, making it possible to adapt it to the current work situation.

[0038] When transferring an empty container B from a cart A onto a work platform C, filling it with cargo, and then transferring it to another cart A', by installing two transfer assistance devices 1, the series of operations can be repeated continuously while switching carts, as shown in Figure 7. At the same time as empty containers B3, B2, and B1 are transferred from cart A to work platform C in sequence, containers B3, B2, and B1 are loaded onto work platform C and then transferred to cart A', which is waiting to be loaded with container B. Once containers B3, B2, and B1 have been transferred onto cart A', cart A' is pulled out along with containers B3, B2, and B1, and another cart A" is set in place. The start button is pressed, and work can be continued. In other words, while empty containers B3', B2', and B1' are transferred one after another from cart A" to work platform C, containers B3', B2', and B1' are loaded onto work platform C and filled, and then transferred one after another to cart A, which is waiting to be loaded with container B.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the invention also includes design changes within the scope of the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in an environment where there is ample space and dust or the like is likely to adhere to the lens, it may be possible to use a transmission type instead of the reflection type photoelectric sensor 29. Depending on the shape of the cargo, it may be necessary to stack the cargo directly on the cart A in multiple layers without using the container B, and this can of course also be accommodated. In other words, the object to be transferred may be the cargo itself or a container into which the cargo will be packed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...Transfer assist device 3...Base frame 5...Connecting frame 7...Casing 7a...Front section 7b...Through hole 7c...Horizontal frame 7d... Shaft screw bearing 7e... Guide groove 7f... Through hole 9... Caster 11... Ball screw feed mechanism 11a... Shaft screw 11b...screw 13...motor 15...lifting unit 15a...frame body 15b... bearing 15c... connecting piece 17... bogie set part 17a... horizontal frame 17b...Connecting frame 17c...Vertical frame 17d...Connecting frame 17e...Mounting frame 19...Upper limit switch 21...Lower limit switch 23...Cart set limit switch 25... receiving piece 25a... hinge 27... support shaft 29... photoelectric sensor 31...Screw-type clamper 33...Operation box A...Cart B...Container C...Workbench

Claims

1. a carriage setting section on which a carriage is set; a notification means for notifying that the carriage has been set in the carriage setting section; a lifting mechanism for the carriage setting section; a notification means for notifying the position of the topmost object among the objects to be transferred among the objects to be transferred, and an assist operation means for operating the lifting mechanism to bring the objects to a position where they can be transferred one by one by horizontal movement between the work table and the carriage based on a notification from the notification means for notifying the position of the topmost object among the objects to be transferred among the objects to be transferred, and a connecting frame is connected and integrated between one axial end side of each of two parallel base frames, and a bottom section is formed by casters on both axial end sides of each of the base frames, making the device movable in the axial direction of the base frames; The carriage set unit includes a pair of horizontal frames arranged in parallel in the same direction as the base frame, the distance between the outer surfaces of the parallel horizontal frames is smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the parallel base frames, and the parallel horizontal frames are positioned between the parallel base frames when viewed from above, with a distance between adjacent horizontal frames and base frames; The notification means for notifying that the bogie has been set in the bogie setting section is composed of a bogie set limit switch provided in the bogie setting section and a receiving piece rotatably attached to the connecting frame of the bogie setting section and covering the bogie set limit switch from above, and notifies that the bogie has been set when the receiving piece is pressed down by a load, You can move to the assist location, When the carriage setting unit is set to the lowest standby position and the carriage is driven to push in from the other axial end side of the base frame so that the casters on the carriage side sandwich the parallel horizontal frames, the carriage is set so as to be able to be pulled out, and the upper surfaces of the parallel horizontal frames become the loading surfaces for the set carriage, When the carriage is set, an assist operation is started based on a notification from a notification means that notifies that the carriage has been set; A transfer assist device characterized by performing an assisting operation in which, when transferring an object from the work platform to the cart, the cart set unit descends after the preceding object has been transferred, and, when transferring an object from the cart to the work platform, the cart set unit rises after the preceding object has been transferred.

2. 2. The transfer assist device according to claim 1, A transfer assist device characterized in that the informing means is configured to notify whether or not an object to be transferred is present at a predetermined position.

3. 3. The transfer assist device according to claim 2, A transfer assist device characterized in that the predetermined position of the informing means is changeable.

4. 4. The transfer assist device according to claim 1, This transfer assist device is characterized in that upper and lower limit positions for the lifting and lowering caused by the assisting operation of the trolley setting unit are set, and when the trolley setting unit reaches the upper limit position, it starts to lower, and when it reaches the lower limit position, it starts to raise, and by stopping and restarting the operation, it brings the trolley to a position where the objects to be transferred can be transferred one by one by lateral movement between the workbench and the trolley.

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