Storage device

Abstract

To provide a storage device for easily securing the space of a mounting place.SOLUTION: In a storage device, a movement guide mechanism 3 includes: forward / backward movement guide parts 4 for guiding the movement of a movement storage body 2 in a forward / backward direction with respect to a mounting base body 1; and a downward movement guide part 5 provided in a connection state to a front end part of the forward / backward guide parts 4 to guide the downward movement of the movement storage body 2 reaching the front end part of the forward / backward movement guide parts 4 downward. The downward movement guide part 5 is formed in a circular arc-shaped guide curved downward, and configured to descend such that a front side gradually descends to be inclined while the downward guide part 5 moves the movement storage body 2 forward, and descends forward and downward to a lowering position P2 of a front side lower part of the mounting base body 1 while avoiding the front end part of the storage body A, so as to be arranged in an inclined state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage device capable of taking in and out stored items by pulling out a movable storage body downward to the front side from a storage body such as a hanging cabinet or a display shelf.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in a hanging cabinet or a display shelf in a kitchen, there are various storage devices equipped with lifting devices that make it easy to take in and out stored items, such as those that lower the shelf part downward from the bottom opening to take out and place back the stored items by lifting them, or those that pull out the shelf part forward to facilitate taking in and out.

[0003] Specifically, it includes a storage shelf (such as a hanging cabinet or a display shelf) provided at a high position, a storage body that can be stored in the storage shelf, and a pair of lifting guide means provided between the left and right sides of the storage shelf and the storage body. The storage body is configured to be able to move up and down by the pair of lifting guide means over the storage position in the storage shelf and the downward position (use position) diagonally downward in front of the storage shelf. Also, the pair of lifting guide means each includes a front link member and a rear link member, and a parallel link mechanism is formed by the front link member and the rear link member. The storage body is configured to be able to move up and down while maintaining a horizontal posture while protruding forward so as not to collide with the front end of the storage shelf when moving from the storage position to the downward position (see Patent Document 1 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described in Patent Document 1 above, in cases where a parallel link mechanism is used for the lifting mechanism of a storage unit, the storage unit in the storage position is configured to move upward once via this parallel link mechanism, and then descend downward on the front side of the storage shelf while tracing an arc-shaped trajectory. This allows the storage unit to move up and down while avoiding the front end of the storage shelf, so it was necessary to secure enough space on the storage shelf for the storage unit to move upward from its storage position (if such space for the upward movement of the storage unit could not be secured, it was necessary to employ a complex mechanism in which, in addition to the parallel link mechanism, a sliding mechanism was used to slide the storage unit forward along with the parallel link mechanism from the storage shelf, so that the storage unit would slide forward via the sliding mechanism and then descend via the parallel link mechanism).

[0006] Furthermore, when using a parallel link mechanism, the storage unit protrudes significantly forward as it descends to the aforementioned lowering position, so it was also necessary to secure space in front of the storage shelf.

[0007] In this regard, the present invention provides a storage device that can be pulled out from the storage position to the lowered position without the storage body rising, and that can be designed to minimize the forward protrusion of the storage body when lowering. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.

[0009] It consists of a mounting base 1 that is attached to the storage body A, a movable storage body 2 that stores the items to be stored, and a movement guide mechanism 3 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 relative to the storage body A. The movement guide mechanism 3 includes a front-rear movement guide section 4 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 in the front-rear direction relative to the mounting base 1, allowing the movable storage body 2 to move forward from the storage position P1 in which it is stored in the storage body A, and a downward movement guide section 5 that is provided in connection with the front end of the front-rear movement guide section 4 and guides the downward downward movement of the movable storage body 2 relative to the mounting base 1 when it has reached the forward movement limit position of the front-rear movement guide section 4, allowing the movable storage body 2 to move to a downward position P2 in front of and below the mounting base 1. This lowering movement guide section 5 is formed in the shape of a curved arc that curves downward, and the lowering movement guide section 5 causes the movable storage body 2 to move forward while gradually sloping downwards at the front, so that it is positioned in a downward sloping state at the lowering position P2 below the front of the mounting base 1, while avoiding the front end of the storage body A. And, The movable storage unit 2 is provided with a support arm 7 that protrudes to the rear of the movable storage unit 2. This support arm 7 is connected to a movable base 8 that is movably mounted on the mounting base 1 via the movable guide mechanism 3, and is configured such that when the movable base 8 moves forward along the front and rear movable guide section 4, the movable storage body 2 is positioned in front of the mounting base 1, The support arm 7 is pivotally connected to a pivot portion 9 provided on the movable base 8 so as to be able to move up and down, and when the support arm 7 or the movable base 8 reaches the front end of the front-rear movable guide portion 4, the support arm 7 rotates downward with the pivot portion 9 as a fulcrum, thereby positioning the movable storage body 2 in a downward-sloping state towards the lowered position P2. The mounting base 1 is provided with arc-shaped rack teeth 11 along the lowering movement guide section 5, and a gear 12 that meshes with these rack teeth 11 is provided on the support arm 7. The gear 12 rotates relative to the rack teeth 11 as the movable storage body 2, guided by the lowering movement guide section 5, moves up and down, and the gear 12 is provided with rotational resistance by a damper mechanism 13. The rotational movement of the support arm 7 is slowed down as the gear 12 with rotational resistance moves relative to the rack teeth 11. This relates to a storage device characterized by having the following features.

[0010] Also ,before The pivot portion 9 is characterized by being provided with at least a biasing means 10 that biases the movable storage body 2 to rotate upward. 1st article This relates to a storage device for mounted items.

[0011] Furthermore, the movement guide mechanism 3 is equipped with an extended front-rear movement guide section 6 that guides the movement of the movable storage unit 2 in the front-rear direction relative to the support arm 7, and is configured such that when the movable storage unit 2 moves forward along the extended front-rear movement guide section 6, and the support arm 7 and the movable base 8 move forward along the front-rear movement guide section 4, the movable storage unit 2 is positioned in front of the mounting base 1. 1 This relates to the storage device described. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As the present invention is configured as described above, the mounting base is attached to the storage body, and the movable storage unit installed in the storage body moves forward from the storage position via the front and rear movement guide section of the movement guide mechanism, and then moves forward via the downward movement guide section of the movement guide mechanism, with the front side gradually sloping downwards. This ensures that the movable storage unit is positioned in a downward sloping state at the lower front position of the mounting base while reliably avoiding the front end of the storage body, and stored items can be easily put in and taken out of the movable storage unit at this lower position. Moreover, unlike the case in which a parallel link mechanism is used, the movement guide mechanism of the present invention does not cause the movable storage unit in the storage position to descend while moving upwards or to move significantly. Since it does not have a configuration that extends forward while descending, there is no need to secure space to account for this upward movement or forward extension, and it can be designed to be used even for storage bodies where there is not much space above or in front of the mounting location. Furthermore, the movement guide mechanism of the present invention has a configuration that only requires a front-to-back movement guide section that guides the movement of the movable storage body in the front-to-back direction relative to the mounting base, and a downward movement guide section that is provided in a connected state to the front end of the front-to-back movement guide section and guides the downward movement of the movable storage body that has reached the front end of the front-to-back movement guide section. Therefore, it is a storage device that is extremely practical as it can be designed and implemented with a simpler configuration compared to conventional storage devices that require a parallel link mechanism.

[0013] Also , book In this invention, the movable storage unit is attached to the movable guide mechanism via a support arm, and when the support arm moves forward along the front-rear movable guide section, the movable storage unit is positioned in front of the mounting base. As a result, the guide length of the front-rear movable guide section can be shortened by the presence of the support arm, and therefore, it becomes easy to design the movable guide mechanism, including the front-rear movable guide, to fit neatly into the storage unit, resulting in a storage device with even greater practicality.

[0014] Furthermore, in this invention, it is easy to design the movable guide mechanism to fit neatly into the storage body, and moreover, both a configuration in which the movable storage body moves up and down relative to the mounting base, and a configuration in which the movable storage body moves relative to the mounting base via the movable guide mechanism, can be easily designed and implemented, resulting in a storage device with even greater practicality.

[0015] Furthermore, in this invention, since the upward and downward movement of the movable storage unit via the downward movement guide is slowed down by the damper mechanism, when a movable storage unit containing heavy items is moved to the lowered position, it does not descend with force, but rather the downward movement is carried out at a safe speed. In addition, even if a biasing means is provided to bias the movable storage unit in the upward movement direction, when raising the movable storage unit, it does not rise with force, but rather the upward movement is carried out at a safe speed, resulting in a storage device with an even more practical configuration.

[0016] Also, in the invention described in claim 2 Since the moving storage body is upwardly biased by the biasing means, when moving the moving storage body in which the stored object is stored to the lowering position, the moving storage body will move downward at a safe speed. Also, when moving the moving storage body in the lowering position upward, even if a heavy stored object is stored, it can be moved upward with a light force. Thus, the storage device has a more excellent practical configuration. , attached 勢手段により移動収納体が上昇付勢されていることで、収納物が収納されている移動収納体を降下位置へ移動させる際には、安全な速度で移動収納体が降下移動することになると共に、降下位置にある移動収納体を上昇移動させる際には、重い収納物が収納されていても軽い力で上昇移動させることができるなど、一層実用性に優れた構成の収納装置となる。

[0017] Also, in the invention described in claim 3 Since it is provided with an extended front-back movement guide portion for guiding the movement of the moving storage body in the front-back direction with respect to the support arm, the moving storage body moves forward along this extended front-back movement guide portion, and when the support arm and the moving base move forward along the front-back movement guide portion, the moving storage body is configured to be disposed forward of the mounting base. Therefore, due to the structure that the moving storage body moves forward with respect to the support arm and is disposed forward of the mounting base, the front-back length of the moving storage body can be shortened. Thus, it is also easily possible to design the moving storage body to fit well in the storage main body in a presentable manner at the storage position. etc., the storage device has a more excellent practical configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a schematic explanatory perspective view of a state in which the moving storage body is in the storage position showing this embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a side view of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic explanatory perspective view showing a state in which the moving storage body is slid forward with respect to the support arm from the states of FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] It is a side view of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a schematic explanatory perspective view showing a state in which the support arm and the moving base are slid forward together with the moving storage body from the states of FIGS. 3 and 4. [Figure 6] It is a side view of FIG. 5. [Figure 7]Figures 5 and 6 show a schematic perspective view illustrating the state in which the movable storage unit is lowered downwards along with the support arm (moving the movable storage unit to the lowered position), and the upward movement is locked in this lowered position. [Figure 8] This is a side view of Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a schematic side view illustrating the state after the movable storage unit has been pulled forward and the upward movement lock released, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. [Figure 10] Following Figure 9, the following is a schematic side view showing the state after the movable storage unit has been raised and then slid backward, and an enlarged side view showing the operation of the drawer locking mechanism (locked state) in this state. [Figure 11] Figure 10 is followed by a schematic side view showing the movable storage unit slid further to the rear, and an enlarged side view showing the operation of the drawer locking mechanism in this state (just before unlocking). [Figure 12] Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the drawer locking mechanism. [Figure 13] Figures 11 and 12 show the movable storage unit slid further to the rear, and this is an enlarged side view illustrating the operation of the drawer locking mechanism (unlocked state) in this state. [Figure 14] Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the drawer locking mechanism. [Figure 15] Figures 13 and 14 are followed by an enlarged side view illustrating the state in which the movable storage unit has been slid further backward, as well as the operation of the storage locking mechanism in this state (the state just before locking). [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a continuation of Figure 15, showing the movable storage unit slid further to the rear, and an enlarged side view illustrating the operation of the storage locking mechanism (locked state) in this state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] An optimal embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described based on the drawings, illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[0020] When the mounting base 1 is attached to the storage body A, the movable storage unit 2 for storing the contents is positioned on the storage body A via the movable guide mechanism 3.

[0021] Furthermore, this movable storage unit 2 is freely movable relative to the mounting base 1 (storage body A) via the movable guide mechanism 3.

[0022] Specifically, the movement guide mechanism 3 includes a front-rear movement guide section 4 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 in the front-rear direction relative to the mounting base 1, enabling the movable storage body 2 to move forward from the storage position P1 in which it is stored in the storage body A, and a downward movement guide section 5 that is connected to the front end of the front-rear movement guide section 4 and guides the downward downward movement of the movable storage body 2 relative to the mounting base 1 when it has reached the forward movement limit position of the front-rear movement guide section 4, enabling the movable storage body 2 to move to a downward position P2 in front of and below the mounting base 1.

[0023] Therefore, when the movable storage unit 2 in the storage position P1 is moved forward, the movable storage unit 2 is pulled forward via the movement guide mechanism 3 and then moves downward.

[0024] Furthermore, the lowering movement guide section 5 is formed as a guide in the shape of a curved arc that curves downward, and the movable storage body 2 moves forward as guided by this lowering movement guide section 5, and as the front side gradually slopes downward, it is positioned in a downward-sloping state at the lowering position P2 below the front of the mounting base 1, while avoiding the front end of the storage body A.

[0025] Therefore, according to the present invention, compared to conventional storage devices that require a parallel link mechanism, the movable storage body 2 in the storage position does not move upward, nor does it descend while maintaining a horizontal posture with parallel movement and extending significantly forward. As a result, there is no need to secure space considering this upward movement or forward extension, and it can be designed to be installed and used even on storage bodies A where there is not much space above or in front of the installation location.

[0026] Furthermore, the movement guide mechanism 3 of the present invention consists only of a front-rear movement guide section 4 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 in the front-rear direction relative to the mounting base 1, and a downward movement guide section 5 that is provided in a connected state to the front end of the front-rear movement guide section 4 and guides the downward movement of the movable storage body 2 when it reaches the forward movement limit position of the front-rear movement guide section 4. Therefore, it has a simpler configuration and can be easily designed and implemented compared to conventional storage devices that require a parallel link mechanism. [Examples]

[0027] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0028] The storage device of this embodiment consists of a mounting base 1 attached to the storage body A, a movable storage body 2 for storing items, and a movement guide mechanism 3 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 relative to the storage body A.

[0029] Furthermore, the illustrated storage unit A represents a storage shelf A (hereinafter, in this embodiment, the storage unit A will be referred to as storage shelf A), and the illustration shows the storage device (mounting base 1) of this embodiment mounted on the top shelf of this storage shelf A. However, the storage device of this embodiment is not limited to this example, and may be mounted on a shelf in the middle of the storage shelf A.

[0030] The mounting base 1 in this embodiment consists of a pair of left and right base plates 14 and a plurality of connecting bars 15 that are installed and fixed between the left and right base plates 14.

[0031] Furthermore, the base plate portion 14 is configured as a rectangular plate-like body having length in the front-to-back direction as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 5. These base plate portions 14 are positioned opposite each other with a gap between them when the base plate portion 14 is upright. The connecting crossbars 15 are installed and fixed at three locations: between the lower front ends of the left and right base plate portions 14, and between the upper and lower rear ends. This forms the mounting base 1, which is a rectangular frame-like body in plan view. In addition, the lower ends of the left and right base plate portions 14 are bent at right angles toward the opposite inward sides, and these bent lower end pieces are configured as mounting legs 16 that are attached and fixed in contact with the shelf board (upper surface) of the storage shelf A.

[0032] The movable storage body 2 of this embodiment is configured to be housed within the mounting base 1, that is, it has a front-to-back width slightly smaller than the front-to-back width of the left and right base plates 14, and a left-to-right width slightly narrower than the distance between the left and right base plates 14, and is a mesh cage-like body with a rectangular shape in plan view and an open top. Furthermore, a handle 17 is provided protruding from the lower front end of the movable storage body 2, which extends forward from the mounting base 1 when the movable storage body 2 is housed within the mounting base 1 (storage position P1), allowing the movable storage body 2 to be moved.

[0033] The movement guide mechanism 3 of this embodiment includes a front-rear movement guide section 4 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 in the front-rear direction relative to the mounting base 1, and a downward movement guide section 5 (upward / downward movement guide section 5) that is provided in a manner connected to the front end of the front-rear movement guide section 4 and guides the downward movement of the movable storage body 2 that has reached the front end of the front-rear movement guide section 4 and the upward movement of the lowered movable storage body 2.

[0034] Specifically, a first guide rail 18 and a second guide rail 19, both having a horizontal straight shape with length in the front-to-back direction, are attached to the upper and lower sides of the opposing inner surfaces of the left and right base plates 14 of the mounting base 1. These first guide rails 18 and second guide rails 19 constitute the front-to-back movement guide section 4 (front-to-back movement guide sections 4 are provided on both the left and right sides of the mounting base 1), and a movable base 8 is provided on each of these left and right front-to-back movement guide sections 4 so as to be slidable in the front-to-back direction.

[0035] To describe the left and right movable bases 8, both are made of plate material that is roughly triangular in side view. A total of three running rollers 20 are provided on the opposing outer surfaces of the movable base 8: one at the top (apex corner) and two at the front and rear (bottom corners) of the lower part. The upper running roller 20 is mounted on the first guide rail 18 so as to be able to move, and the lower (two locations) running rollers 20 are mounted on the second guide rail 19 so as to be able to move, thereby allowing the movable base 8 to slide freely in the front and rear direction relative to the base plate 14 (mounting base 1) via the running rollers 20.

[0036] Furthermore, support arms 7 are provided on both the left and right sides of the movable storage body 2, having a length in the front-to-back direction and protruding to the rear of the movable storage body 2. These support arms 7 are connected to the movable base 8, and when the movable base 8 moves forward along the front-to-back movement guide section 4, the movable storage body 2 is positioned in front of the mounting base 1 together with the support arms 7.

[0037] Furthermore, the support arm 7 is made of a plate material that is roughly S-shaped in side view, with the rear plate portion 23 positioned above the front plate portion 22 via a strip-shaped inclined intermediate plate portion 21. More specifically, the front plate portion 22 is formed in the shape of a horizontal strip plate and is connected to the left and right sides of the movable storage body 2, while the rear plate portion 23 is formed in the shape of a plate whose vertical width increases towards the rear, and the lower rear end of the rear plate portion 23 is connected to the movable base 8.

[0038] Furthermore, the left and right support arms 7 are connected and integrated at the upper rear ends of the rear plate portions 23 by a connecting rod 24, and the left and right support arms 7 (left and right movable bases 8) are configured to move back and forth in conjunction with the mounting base 1. Additionally, a running roller 25 is provided on the upper middle portion of the opposing outer surfaces of the rear plate portions 23 of the left and right support arms 7, and this running roller 25 is mounted on the first guide rail 18 so as to be able to move. The left and right support arms 7 are also configured to move back and forth along the first guide rail 18 in conjunction with the movable bases 8 (the back and forth movement of the left and right support arms 7 is also configured to be guided by the first guide rail 18 of the back and forth movement guide portion 4).

[0039] Furthermore, the length of the support arm 7 in the front-to-back direction is set to be slightly shorter than the front-to-back length of the base plate portion 14 of the mounting base 1. When the support arm 7 slides along the first guide rail 18 together with the movable base 8 and is positioned at the rearmost position of the mounting base 1, the support arm 7 is configured to fit without protruding from the front or rear of the mounting base 1.

[0040] Furthermore, the lower rear end of the side plate portion 23 of the support arm 7 is pivotally connected to a pivot shaft portion 9 (pivot portion 9) located near the center of the movable base 8 so as to be able to move up and down. The pivot portion 9 is also provided with a biasing means 10 employing a spiral spring 10, and this biasing means 10 is configured to constantly bias the support arm 7 (and the movable storage body 2) upward and rotate.

[0041] Furthermore, the first guide rail 18 has an arc-shaped guide rail attached to its front end that curves downward and then curves forward in a convex shape. This arc-shaped guide rail section is configured as the lowering movement guide section 5. The running roller 25 of the support arm 7 moves forward and reaches this lowering movement guide section 5. Subsequently, as the running roller 25 travels along this lowering movement guide section 5, the movable storage unit 2 (support arm 7), which was previously in a horizontal position, moves forward and descends with the pivot point 9 as the fulcrum, so that its front side gradually slopes downward. This is configured so that it is positioned in a downward sloping state at the lowered position P2 on the front side of the mounting base 1, while avoiding the front end of the shelf board of the storage shelf A.

[0042] Furthermore, the sliding movement of the support arm 7 and the moving base 8 relative to the mounting base 1 by the front-rear moving guide section 4 and the lowering moving guide section 5 is configured such that the point where the traveling roller 20 reaches the rear ends of the first guide rail 18 and the second guide rail 19 of the front-rear moving guide section 4 becomes the limit position for sliding to the rear, the point where the traveling roller 20 reaches the front ends of the first guide rail 18 and the second guide rail 19 becomes the limit position for sliding to the front, and the point where the traveling roller 25 reaches the front end (lower end) of the lowering moving guide section 5 becomes the limit position for sliding to the lower.

[0043] Furthermore, the lowering guide section 5 (the arc-shaped guide rail section on the front end side of the first guide rail 18) is formed in such a shape that its front lower end extends slightly toward the rear, and this rearward-extending guide section is configured as a lowering lock section 26, and when the traveling roller 25 of the support arm 7 reaches the foremost (lower) end of the lowering guide section 5 and the movable storage unit 2 is in the lowered position P2, the movable storage unit 2 is pushed backward to position the traveling roller 25 of the support arm 7 in contact with the lowering lock section 26, or when the movable storage unit 2 is in the lowered position P2, When the running roller 25 of the support arm 7 is positioned in the lowering lock section 26 due to its own weight, the upward rotation of the movable storage unit 2 by the biasing means 10 or manual operation is prevented, and it is configured to be locked in the lowered position P2. To unlock it, the movable storage unit 2 in the locked state is pulled forward, which disengages the running roller 25 of the support arm 7 from the lowering lock section 26 and positions it at the foremost (lower) end of the lowering movement guide section 5, at which point the movable storage unit 2 can be rotated upward along the lowering movement guide section 5. Reference numeral 40 in the figure indicates a gear housing section into which the gear 12, described later, is stored and guided when the running roller 25 is positioned in the lowering lock section 26.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, arc-shaped rack teeth 11 are provided on the front side of the left and right base plates 14 of the mounting base 1, along the lowering movement guide 5, and synchronized with the shape of the lowering movement guide 5. A gear 12 that meshes with these rack teeth 11 is provided on the upper front side of the rear plate portion 23 of the support arm 7. The gear 12 rotates and moves relative to the rack teeth 11 as the movable storage body 2 (support arm 7), which is guided by the lowering movement guide 5, moves up and down.

[0045] Furthermore, the gear 12 is equipped with a damper mechanism 13 (rotary damper) that provides rotational resistance to the gear 12. The rotational resistance of the gear 12 provided by this damper mechanism 13 slows down the upward and downward movement of the support arm 7, so that the upward and downward movement of the movable storage body 2 is performed at a safe speed.

[0046] Furthermore, the front-to-back movement guide section 4 of this embodiment includes an extended front-to-back movement guide section 6 that guides the movement of the movable storage body 2 in the front-to-back direction relative to the support arm 7.

[0047] Specifically, third guide rails 27 having length in the horizontal front-to-back direction are attached to both the left and right sides of the movable storage body 2, and these third guide rails 27 constitute the extended front-to-back movement guide section 6.

[0048] On the other hand, running rollers 28 are provided at the front and rear ends of the opposing inner surfaces of the front plate portions 22 of the left and right support arms 7, and these front and rear running rollers 28 are fitted and mounted on the third guide rail 27 so as to be able to move freely. As a result, the movable storage body 2 is provided in a horizontal position relative to the support arm 7 (front plate portion 22), and is also provided so as to be able to move in the front and rear direction while maintaining a horizontal position relative to the support arm 7 (front plate portion 22).

[0049] In other words, the front-to-back movement guide section 4 of this embodiment employs a two-stage front-to-back sliding movement structure, which consists of front-to-back sliding movement via the first guide rail 18 and the second guide rail 19, and front-to-back sliding movement via the third guide rail 27. This ensures that the amount of front-to-back sliding movement of the movable storage body 2 while maintaining a horizontal posture can be secured without using long guide rails, thus making the front-to-back movement guide section 4 more compact and enabling the easy design and realization of a compact storage device that fits inside the storage shelf A when installed.

[0050] Furthermore, the sliding movement of the movable storage body 2 relative to the support arm 7 by the extended front-to-back movement guide section 6 is configured such that the point where the rear running roller 28 reaches the rear end of the third guide rail 27 of the extended front-to-back movement guide section 6 becomes the limit of forward sliding. The movable storage body 2 and the support arm 7 are also provided with an unlockable pull-out lock mechanism 29 that locks the movable storage body 2 in this forward sliding limit position, preventing it from sliding in this state.

[0051] In other words, when the movable storage unit 2 located in the lowered position P2 is moved upward and rotated to be pushed into the storage position P1, the pull-out lock mechanism 29 prevents the movable storage unit 2 from sliding backward relative to the support arm 7. Instead, the support arm 7 (and the movable base 8) slides backward along the front-to-back movement guide section 5 while the movable storage unit 2 remains in the forward-to-back slide limit position.

[0052] To describe the drawer lock mechanism 29, side view L-shaped locking pieces 30, with their rear ends formed in a hook shape, are provided on the lower rear portions of both the left and right sides of the movable storage body 2. Stopper blocks 32, which can be locked against the hook-shaped portion 31 at the rear end of the locking piece 30, are vertically attached downward from the rear ends of the front plate portions 22 of each of the left and right support arms 7. When attempting to slide the movable storage body 2, which is in the forward slide limit position, backward relative to the support arms 7, the hook-shaped portion 31 abuts against the front side surface of the stopper block 32 and locks, thereby preventing the movable storage body 2 from sliding backward relative to the support arms 7.

[0053] Furthermore, the left and right stopper blocks 32 are mounted on mounting plates 41 that are suspended from the rear ends of the front plate portions 22 of the left and right support arms 7 (the connecting portion between the front plate portion 22 and the inclined intermediate plate portion 21), so as to be able to slide vertically. In normal conditions, the stopper blocks 32 are positioned at the lower limit of their slide due to their own weight. When the stopper blocks 32 move upward, the hook-shaped portion 31 of the locking piece 30 abuts against the front side surface of the stopper block 32, preventing it from being locked, thus allowing the movable storage body 2 to slide backward relative to the support arm 7.

[0054] Furthermore, the stopper block 32 is formed such that the lower part of its outer side (the side adjacent to the substrate portion 14) extends downward and hangs down compared to the inner side, and the lower surface of this outer hanging portion is formed as a sliding inclined surface 33 that slopes higher towards the rear.

[0055] On the other hand, release guide blocks 34 are attached to the middle of the upper surface of each mounting leg portion 16 of the left and right base portions 14 of the mounting base 1, and these release guide blocks 34 are formed as guide inclined surfaces 35 that are inclined so that the upper surface becomes higher towards the rear.

[0056] Furthermore, the release guide block 34 is positioned so as to overlap with the movement trajectory of at least the sliding inclined surface 33 of the stopper block 32, which moves back and forth in conjunction with the forward and backward sliding movement of the support arm 7. The guide inclined surface 35 is configured to have a height dimension that allows it to come into contact with the sliding inclined surface 33 of the stopper block 32, which is positioned at the lower limit of the slide. When the movable storage body 2, which is locked to slide backward at the forward slide limit position, is pushed in and slid backward, the support arm 7 and the movable base 8 slide backward along the forward and backward movement guide section 4. Eventually, when the stopper block 32 of the support arm 7 reaches the release guide block 34, the sliding inclined surface 33 of the stopper block 32 comes into contact with the guide inclined surface 35 of the release guide block 34 (see Figure 10).

[0057] Then, as the movable storage unit 2 continues to slide backward after the sliding inclined surface 33 and the guiding inclined surface 35 have come into contact, the sliding inclined surface 33 slides against the guiding inclined surface 35, causing the stopper block 32 to move upward to avoid the release guiding block 34 (see Figures 11 and 12). As a result, the hook-shaped portion 31 of the locking piece 30 can no longer abut against the front side surface of the stopper block 32 (releasing the state in which the drawer lock mechanism 29 prevents the movable storage unit 2 from sliding backward relative to the support arm 7), and the locking piece 30 passes under the inner lower surface of the stopper block 32 (see Figures 13 and 14). Consequently, the movable storage unit 2 can slide backward relative to the support arm 7 and be positioned in the storage position P1 where the movable storage unit 2 is housed within the mounting base 1.

[0058] Furthermore, the sliding movement of the movable storage body 2 relative to the support arm 7 by the extended front-to-back movement guide section 6 is configured such that when the front running roller 28 reaches near the front end of the third guide rail 27 of the extended front-to-back movement guide section 6, the movable storage body 2 is stored within the mounting base 1 and in the storage position P1. The system also includes a storage lock mechanism 36 that can be released to prevent the sliding movement of the support arm 7 (and the movable base 8) forward of the mounting base 1 while the movable storage body 2 is in the storage position P1.

[0059] The storage locking mechanism 36 is described below. Locking blocks 37 are provided near the rear of the upper part of the mounting legs 16 of the left and right base plates 14 of the mounting base 1. A locking projection 38 is provided on the upper surface of the locking block 37. This locking projection 38 is formed from a cut-out piece cut from the upper surface of the locking block 37, and the elasticity of this cut-out piece allows the locking projection 38 to retract downwards and return to its original position (upwards).

[0060] Furthermore, the locking block 37 is positioned such that the locking projection 38 on its upper surface coincides with the movement trajectory of the locking piece 30, which moves back and forth in conjunction with the forward and backward sliding movement of the movable storage body 2. In side view, it is shaped like a mountain, with the middle peak positioned higher than the hook-shaped portion 31 of the locking piece 30. When the movable storage body 2 slides backward after the drawer lock mechanism 29 is released, the hook-shaped portion 31 eventually reaches the locking block 37 and the locking projection 38 The locking projection 38 rides up onto the front inclined surface (see Figure 15), and as this front inclined surface is pressed against the lower end of the receding hook-shaped portion 31, the locking projection 38 retracts downward. When the hook-shaped portion 31 overcomes the top of the locking projection 38 and reaches the rear inclined surface, the locking projection 38 elastically returns to its original upward position and protrudes, preventing the hook-shaped portion 31 from easily returning (moving forward). This state becomes the storage position P1 of the movable storage body 2, and the configuration is such that the movable storage body 2 remains in this storage position P1.

[0061] Furthermore, a movement-blocking block 39 is attached to the lower part of the opposing inner surfaces of the left and right movable bases 8. This block prevents the movable storage unit 2 from sliding backward when the hook-shaped portion 31 overcomes the top of the locking projection 38 and reaches the rearward inclined surface. The configuration is such that the state in which the hook-shaped portion 31 abuts against the front surface of the movement-blocking block 39 is the limit position for the movable storage unit 2 to slide backward relative to the mounting base 1, and is also the storage position P1 of the movable storage unit 2.

[0062] The operation of the storage device of this embodiment, which is configured as described above, will now be explained.

[0063] When moving the movable storage unit 2 (see Figures 1 and 2) located in the storage position P1 of storage shelf A to the lowered position P2, the user grasps the handle 17 and pulls it towards them. The locking piece 30 provided on the movable storage unit 2 also moves forward. At this time, the hook-shaped part 31 pushes the locking projection 38 (rear inclined surface) of the locking block 37 downward. When the hook-shaped part 31 moves over the top of the locking projection 38, the storage lock mechanism 36 is released, and the movable storage unit 2 slides forward relative to the support arm 7 and the movable base 8 via the extended front-to-back movement guide part 6.

[0064] When the movable storage unit 2 reaches the limit of its forward sliding movement relative to the support arm 7 (see Figures 3 and 4), the hook-shaped portion 31 of the locking piece 30 is positioned in front of the stopper block 32 (the pull-out lock mechanism 29 functions), preventing the movable storage unit 2 from sliding backward relative to the support arm 7. At the same time, the support arm 7 and the movable base 8 slide forward together with the movable storage unit 2 via the front-to-back movement guide section 4, which is composed of the first guide rail 18 and the second guide rail 19, and are pulled out further forward (see Figures 5 and 6).

[0065] Next, by pulling the movable storage unit 2 towards the front, the travel roller 25 of the support arm 7 reaches the lowering movement guide section 5. As the travel roller 25 travels along this lowering movement guide section 5, the movable storage unit 2 moves forward and descends with the pivot point 9 as the fulcrum, with the front side gradually sloping downwards (see dashed line in Figure 6). This position avoids the front end of the shelf board of the storage shelf A and is positioned in a downward-sloping state at the lowered position P2 on the front side of the mounting base 1.

[0066] Then, by pushing the movable storage unit 2, which is in the lowered position P2, backward, for example, the running roller 25 of the support arm 7 is positioned in the lowered locking section 26, the upward rotation of the movable storage unit 2 by the biasing means 10 or manual operation is prevented, and it is locked in the lowered position P2 (see Figures 7 and 8). Items can then be easily put in and taken out of the movable storage unit 2, which is locked to move upward in the lowered position P2.

[0067] To move the movable storage unit 2, which is locked in the lowered position P2, back to the storage position P1, the user grasps the handle 17 and pulls the movable storage unit 2 forward, disengaging the travel roller 25 of the support arm 7 from the lowered locking part 26. This causes the travel roller 25 to be positioned at the foremost (lower) end of the lowered movement guide part 5, allowing the movable storage unit 2 to be rotated upward along this lowered movement guide part 5 (see Figure 9).

[0068] Then, when the movable storage unit 2 reaches the upper rotation limit position (returns to a horizontal position), pushing the movable storage unit 2 backward causes the support arm 7 (and movable base 8) to slide backward along the first guide rail section 18 and the second guide rail section 19 of the front-rear movement guide section 5, excluding the lower movement guide section 5, while the movable storage unit 2 remains in the forward slide limit position due to the pull-out lock mechanism 29 (see Figure 10). When the stopper block 32 of the support arm 7 reaches the release guide block 34, the stopper block 32 moves upward to avoid the release guide block 34, thereby releasing the state in which the pull-out lock mechanism 29 prevents the movable storage unit 2 from sliding backward relative to the support arm 7, the locking piece 30 passes under the inner lower surface of the stopper block 32, and the movable storage unit 2 slides backward relative to the support arm 7 (see Figures 11 to 14).

[0069] Even after the drawer lock mechanism 29 is released, the movable storage unit 2 continues to slide backward until the hook-shaped portion 31 reaches the locking block 37 and the hook-shaped portion 31 overcomes the top of the locking projection 38, at which point the movable storage unit 2 is positioned at the storage position P1, and this state is maintained by the storage lock mechanism 36 (see Figures 15 and 16).

[0070] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the specific configuration of each constituent element can be designed as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 1. Mounting base 2. Mobile storage unit 3. Movement guide mechanism 4. Front and rear movement guide section 5. Descent and movement guide section 6. Extended Front and Rear Movement Guide Section 7. Support Arm 8 Mobile Base 9 Pivot joint 10. Biasing means 11 rack teeth 12 gears 13. Damper mechanism A Storage Unit P1 Storage location P2 lowering position

Claims

1. It consists of a mounting base that attaches to the storage body, a movable storage unit for storing items, and a movement guide mechanism that guides the movement of the movable storage unit relative to the storage body. The movement guide mechanism includes a front-rear movement guide section that guides the movement of the movable storage unit in the front-rear direction relative to the mounting base, enabling the movable storage unit to move forward from the storage position in the storage body, and a downward movement guide section that is provided in connection with the front end of the front-rear movement guide section and guides the downward movement of the movable storage unit relative to the mounting base when it has reached the forward movement limit position of the front-rear movement guide section, enabling the movable storage unit to move to a downward position in front of the mounting base. This lowering movement guide section is formed in the shape of a curved arc that curves downward, and the moving storage unit moves forward as this lowering movement guide section descends so that its front side gradually slopes downward, and is positioned in a downward-sloping state at the lowered position below the front of the mounting base, while avoiding the front end of the storage body. The aforementioned movable storage unit is provided with a support arm that protrudes to the rear of the movable storage unit. This support arm is connected to a movable base that is movably mounted on the mounting base via the movable guide mechanism, and is configured such that when the movable base moves forward along the front-rear movable guide section, the movable housing is positioned in front of the mounting base, The support arm is pivotally connected to a pivot point provided on the movable base so as to be able to move up and down, and when the support arm or the movable base reaches the front end of the front-rear movable guide section, the support arm rotates downward with the pivot point as a fulcrum, so that the movable storage unit is positioned in a downward-sloping state towards the lowered position. A storage device characterized in that the mounting base is provided with arc-shaped rack teeth along the lowering movement guide portion, a gear that meshes with these rack teeth is provided on the support arm, the gear rotates relative to the rack teeth as the movable storage body guided by the lowering movement guide portion moves up and down, and rotational resistance is provided to this gear by a damper mechanism, and the upward and downward movement of the support arm is slowed down as this gear with rotational resistance rotates relative to the rack teeth.

2. The storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot portion is provided with a biasing means for biasing the movable storage body to rotate upward.

3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the movement guide mechanism includes an extended front-rear movement guide section that guides the movement of the movable storage body in the front-rear direction relative to the support arm, and is configured such that when the movable storage body moves forward along the extended front-rear movement guide section, and the support arm and the movable base move forward along the front-rear movement guide section, the movable storage body is positioned in front of the mounting base.

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