FR3057190A1 - EFFORT COMPENSATION DEVICE FOR AN ARM OF AN OPERATOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2) for force compensation for an arm (B1, B2) of an operator. According to the invention, this force compensation device (2) comprises an elastic return member (3) extending vertically or substantially vertically, which elastic return member (3) has a lower end (31) and an end upper (32), said lower end (31) being provided with a support structure (4) for said arm (B1, B2) of an operator, and said upper end (32) being integral with suspension means (5) adapted to allow its movement in a plane (R) horizontal or substantially horizontal.

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates generally to the field of devices intended to improve the working conditions of operators working manually on a fixed station.

It relates more particularly to a force compensating device for an operator's arm.

Technological background

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) correspond to a significant proportion of occupational diseases and their number is increasing steadily.

These pathologies affect companies in a large number of activity sectors, in which operators are called upon to perform repetitive gestures.

For example, stationary operators may have to work with their arms forward to carry out a task that is repeated over time In this case, the cantilevering of their arms over time can lead to pathologies TMS type in the joints, especially the wrist, elbow and / or shoulders.

This is the kind of problem that is encountered in particular among certain operators placed on a sorting station, in a sitting or standing position, in front of an endless conveyor on which objects to be sorted are arranged.

Object of the invention

The present invention provides a simple and effective solution for improving the working conditions of operators installed in this type of position.

More particularly, according to the invention, a force compensation device is proposed for an operator's arm:

which device comprises an elastic return member extending vertically or substantially vertically, and which elastic return member comprises a lower end and an upper end, said lower end being provided with a support structure for said operator arm, and said upper end being secured to suspension means adapted to allow its displacement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the suspension means comprise:

a pivoting arm extending in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane, which pivoting arm has a free end and one end mounted on a support so as to pivot around a vertical or substantially vertical axis, and

- A circulating member, on which is fixed said upper end of said elastic return member, which circulating member is able to move over at least part of the length of said pivoting arm.

According to a first possibility, said circulating member consists of a sliding ring provided with a central orifice in which the pivoting arm is threaded.

According to an alternative embodiment, said circulating member consists of a rolling roller mounted on the pivoting arm, which rolling roller is carried in free rotation by the upper ends of two lateral flanges which frame said pivoting arm, and whose lower ends comprise means for fixing the upper end of said elastic return member.

Still according to another variant, the pivoting arm can be in the form of a hollow pivoting arm provided with a lower longitudinal opening, forming a kind of rail, associated with a circulating member in the form of a mobile carriage which moves inside said pivoting arm.

Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of the device according to the invention, taken individually or in any technically possible combination, are the following:

- the pivoting arm comprises two abutment structures defining between them the possible displacement stroke of the circulating member.

- the elastic return member comprises length adjustment means for adjusting its length between its lower and upper ends.

- Said length adjusting means consist of an adjustable length loop formed between said lower and upper ends, associated with a removable locking member.

- the elastic return member consists of an elastic cable.

- The support structure for an operator's arm consists of an open hoop, with a C section, provided with a lateral opening for the passage of said arm.

The invention also provides a force compensation installation for the two arms of an operator, which installation comprises two force compensation devices as described above, arranged close to one another to equip each one of the arms of said operator.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 is a general schematic view in perspective of a force compensation installation according to the invention, comprising two identical force compensation devices, each intended to equip one of the arms of an operator ;

- Figure 2 is a partial perspective view showing schematically an alternative embodiment of the circulating member of the force compensating devices illustrated in Figure 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the force compensation installation 1 comprises two force compensation devices 2, 2 ′ intended to equip one with the left arm B1, and the other with the right arm B2, d '' an operator working seated or standing on a fixed post, for example above a worktop P (fixed or mobile).

The two force compensating devices 2, 2 ’are identical.

Each of them comprises an elastic return member 3 which extends vertically or substantially vertically, the lower end 31 of which is provided with a support structure 4 for an arm B1, B2 of the operator, and the upper end 32 is secured to suspension means 5.

The elastic return member 3 here consists of an elastic cable whose length and elasticity characteristics are adapted to compensate for at least part of the weight, and preferably all of the weight, of each of the arms B1 and B2 of l operator, when these arms are in a usual position for working or waiting for work.

The elastic return member 3 comprises means 7 making it possible to adjust its length, that is to say the distance between its lower end 31 and its upper end 32.

These length adjusting means 7 consist of all means.

It may for example be a loop 3a of adjustable length formed in the length of the elastic return member 3, associated with a removable locking member 7a (for example a locking / unlocking system by ratchet) allowing 'Increase or decrease the length of loop 3a (and therefore, to decrease or increase the length of the elastic return member 3 between its two ends 31 and 32).

The support structure 4 for the operator's arm B1, B2 consists of any system making it possible to removably secure this arm B1, B2 with the lower end 31 of the elastic return member 3.

The aforementioned notion of “arm” is general, the support member 4 being able to equip the wrist part, the forearm part, the elbow part, or even the actual arm part of the operator. (located between the elbow and the shoulder).

Any type of support structure 4 can be envisaged.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support structure 4 may consist of an open hoop, with a C section, provided with a lateral opening 4a for the passage of the operator's arm B1, B2, intended to equip his wrist or his forearm.

The open hoop 4 can be made of plastic and its opening 4a can be elastically retractable to slightly tighten the part equipped with the arm B1, B2, so as to ensure effective support while preserving optimal comfort.

The lower end 31 of the elastic return member 3 is fixed to the support structure 4 by any suitable means.

Alternatively, the support structure 4 may be in the form of a rigid or elastic loop; or a strip of material, the ends of which include repositionable fastening means (for example a section of self-gripping strip of the "velcro" type (registered trademark)).

The suspension means 5 to which the upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3 is hung are adapted to allow the displacement of this upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3 in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane R.

These suspension means 5 allow in particular this upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3 to move in the horizontal or substantially horizontal plane R according to a result / combination of a translational movement and a rotational movement .

For this, the suspension means 5 include:

a pivoting arm 51 which extends in the horizontal or substantially horizontal plane R, comprising a free end 51a and one end 51b mounted on a support 8 so as to pivot about a vertical or substantially vertical axis 9, and

- A circulating member 52, on which is fixed the upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3, and which is able to move over at least part of the length of the pivoting arm 51 (as illustrated by the arrow d 'orientation A).

The arm 51 here has a circular section.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the circulating member 52 can consist of a sliding ring, provided with a central opening 52a in which the pivoting arm 51 is threaded.

The two ends 51a and 51b of the pivoting arm 51 include abutment structures 51c and 51d, adapted to block the movement of the circulating member 52 and which define between them the possible movement stroke of this circulating member 52.

At its end 51b, the pivoting arm 51 is mounted on a support structure 8 in the form of a bearing which allows it to pivot around the vertical axis 9 and its rotational movement according to the orientation arrow C (in the horizontal plane R).

The bearing 8 in the form of a bearing can be fixed to any support structure such as a wall, a ceiling, or even a gantry 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a possible alternative embodiment of the circulating member 52.

In this variant embodiment, the circulating member 52 consists of a rolling roller 52b mounted on the pivoting arm 51. This rolling roller 52 is carried in free rotation by two lateral flanges 52c which surround the pivoting arm 51 and which include a means 52d fixing the upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3.

The roller 52b has a curved profile adapted to the circular section of the pivoting arm 51.

It is carried in free rotation by the upper ends 52c1 of the two lateral flanges 52c; and the lower ends 52c2 of the two lateral flanges 52c are connected, under the pivoting arm 51, by a connecting plate 52e which has an orifice constituting the aforementioned fixing means 52d of the upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3 .

This upper end 32 of the elastic return member 3 can then be fixed to the connecting plate 52e by means of a knot, or the like, after passing through the orifice 52d.

Due to its rolling capacity, the roller 52b can move very easily over the length of the pivoting arm 51, between its two end stops 51c and 51d.

As a variant, it will be noted that the elastic cable 3 can be replaced by a spiral spring or any other equivalent system.

As a variant, the circulating member may consist of a mobile carriage which moves inside the pivoting arm, in this case hollow, provided with a lower longitudinal opening, constituting a kind of rail.

The work plan P can consist of a fixed plate or a motorized endless conveyor belt. Depending on the applications, the force compensation device or installation 1, 2 can also equip a work station without such a work plan.

The force compensating device 2 makes it possible to maintain the arms B1, B2 and to relieve their weight, without thereby significantly hampering the operator's movement capacities, thanks to its suspension system and its support in the movements.

The elasticity characteristics of the elastic return member 3 allow the operator to move his hands, and more generally his arms, forwards, backwards, on the sides and from bottom to top. In addition, the particular suspension system 5, described above, which allows the upper end 32 to move in the horizontal or substantially horizontal plane R, allows the elastic return member 3 to be permanently maintained as vertically as possible, to ensure its effort-compensating effect optimally.

If necessary, the mobility plane R can be provided with a slight inclination, in one direction or another, in particular as a function of the usual or expected movements of the operator, again to optimize the force compensating effect.

The present invention thus provides a simple and original solution for improving the working conditions of operators working manually on a fixed station.

Claims (10)

1. Force compensation device for an arm (B1, B2) of an operator, characterized in that it comprises an elastic return member (3) extending vertically or substantially vertically, which elastic return member ( 3) has a lower end (31) and an upper end (32), said lower end (31) being provided with a support structure (4) for said operator's arm (B1, B2), and said upper end (32) being secured to suspension means (5) adapted to allow its movement in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane (R). 2. Force compensation device according to claim 1, characterized in that said suspension means (5) comprise: - a pivoting arm (51) extending in said horizontal or substantially horizontal plane (R), which pivoting arm (51) has a free end (51a) and one end (51b) mounted on a support (8) pivotally around a vertical or substantially vertical axis (9), and - a circulating member (52), on which is fixed said upper end (32) of said elastic return member (3), which circulating member (52) is capable of moving over at least part of the length of said pivoting arm ( 51). 3. Force compensation device according to claim 2, characterized in that said circulating member (52) consists of a sliding ring provided with a central orifice (52a) in which is threaded said pivoting arm (51). 4. force compensation device according to claim 2, characterized in that said circulating member (52) consists of a roller (52b) mounted on said pivoting arm (51), which roller (52b) is rotated free by the upper ends (52c1) of two lateral flanges (52c) which frame said pivoting arm (51), and whose lower ends (52c2) include means (52d, 52e) for fixing the upper end (32) of said elastic return member (3). 5. force compensation device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said pivoting arm (51) comprises two abutment structures (51c, 51 d) defining between them the possible displacement travel of said member circulating (52). 6. force compensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said elastic return member (3) comprises length adjusting means (7) for adjusting its length between 5 its lower (31) and upper (32) ends. 7. force compensation device according to claim 6, characterized in that said length adjusting means (7) consist of a loop (3a) of adjustable length formed between said lower (31) and upper (32) ends associated to a removable locking member (7a). 10 8. force compensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said elastic return member (3) consists of an elastic cable. 9. force compensation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said support structure (4) for a 15 arm (B1, B2) of an operator consists of an open hoop, with C section, provided with a lateral opening (4a) for the passage of said arm (B1, B2) of an operator. 10. Force compensation installation for the two arms (B1, B2) of an operator, characterized in that it comprises two force compensation devices (2, 2 ') according to any one of claims 1 to 9, arranged to 20 close to one another to equip each of one of the arms (B1, B2) of said operator. 1/1