FR3062804B1 - ASSISTANCE INSTALLATION FOR A MANUAL WORKSTATION SUPPORTING THE OPERATOR'S ELBOW - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assistance installation for a workstation receiving an operator (8) to work with an elbow or a raised arm, this installation comprising a bracket (2) having an end intended to come above the operator (8), a holding system (32) for receiving a bend of the operator (8), and an elastic cable (30) supporting the holding system (32) from the end of the gallows (2).

Description

ASSISTANCE INSTALLATION FOR A MANUAL WORKSTATION SUPPORTING THE OPERATOR'S ELBOW

The present invention relates to an assistance facility for a manual workstation, particularly for a workstation in the field of leather goods or footwear.

Some manual workstations, including posts equipped with sewing machines, require the operator to work with elbowed elbows to manipulate the parts produced or to control the machine. In particular the elbow can be spread to the side, or the arm leaning forward.

To perform certain sewing operations, it is necessary for example to hold the object with both hands, and with the right hand to control the sewing machine. Objects formed with relatively rigid materials, such as handbags or binders, have a large volume that must be supported with the left hand in various positions to perform sewing operations on these items.

The right hand can intervene on controls arranged at different heights of the machine, also requiring to lift the other elbow. In general, this type of operation requiring to take off the elbows from the trunk may concern different workstations, such as for example a sewing station with a sewing machine, a sizing station or a staining station slices of the leather. Work at these positions can be done standing or sitting.

For a series work on this type of objects for quite long times, it generates a significant fatigue of the operator, especially arms, elbows, shoulders and backbones, which increases the hardness of work, and can cause muscle pain resulting in work stoppages. Moreover the operator can carry with his arm an object of several kilograms, which accentuates the problems.

It is then necessary to provide break times for rehabilitation, which slows the work.

The present invention is intended to avoid these disadvantages of the prior art.

It proposes for this purpose an assistance facility for a manual workstation receiving an operator to work with an elbow or a raised arm, this installation being remarkable in that it comprises a bracket having an end intended to come over the operator, a holding system provided to receive an elbow of the operator, and an elastic cable supporting the holding system from the end of the bracket.

An advantage of this assistance installation is that with a bracket that can be bent to come over the operator without hindering the workstation, we obtain a simple and economical way assistance to maintain the elbow or arm of the operator raised greatly reducing the effort that this operator must deliver.

The work of the operator becomes more comfortable, the risks of nuisance are reduced, and the productivity can be improved. The assistance facility according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

In particular, the assistance installation may comprise two elastic cables provided to support the two elbows of the operator.

In this case, the assistance installation advantageously comprises a crossbar attached to the end of the bracket, supporting on each side of this bracket an elastic cable supporting a gutter.

Advantageously, the cross member is fixed to the end of the bracket by a pivot. The crossbar can thus align freely on the line of the shoulders of the operator.

Advantageously, each elastic cable follows a path along the stem through guiding pulleys. The pulleys provide a low friction on the movements of the elastic cables.

In this case, for each elastic cable the opposite portion of the elbow support system advantageously descends along the stem to come to the ground, then back. This forms a loop that allows a long cable length giving a low stiffness.

Advantageously, the end opposite the elbow holding system of each elastic cable comprises a fixing system which moves to adjust the tension of this cable. An adjustable tension of the cable is obtained.

In this case, the fastening system may comprise a clamp on a vertical tube of the bracket.

Advantageously, the assistance facility comprises two plates connected to the gallows, provided to tighten the plate of a table in order to fix this stem. In this way, it is easy to adapt to different types of table.

Advantageously, the elbow holding system comprises a holding element placed on each side of the elbow of the operator.

In this case, the holding element of the forearm may be a gutter, or a loop formed by a strap. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, with reference to the following appended figures: FIG. 1 is a general view of an equipped workstation; of an assistance installation according to the invention, supporting the two elbows of the operator r - Figure 2 is a diagram in plan view of a workstation according to a variant, equipped with an assistance facility according to the invention; - Figure 3 is a detailed view of the attachment of the bracket of this support facility on the worktable; - Figure 4 is a detail view of a gutter supporting the elbow of the operator; and FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the system for adjusting the holding voltage.

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are marked with identical reference signs throughout the figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a workstation for making up a working table 4 supporting a sewing machine 6, receiving on the front side an operator 8 sitting on a seat 10.

A bracket 2 of a support installation comprises a vertical mast fixed to the rear of the table 4, and after a 90 ° curvature a horizontal portion whose end comes above the operator 8. L ' end of the bracket 2 receives a crossbar 20 fixed at its center, arranged in the transverse direction to come above the shoulders of the operator 8. Each side of the crossbar 20 symmetrically supports a first pulley 28 arranged substantially beyond above one shoulder of the operator 8, guiding an elastic cable 30 whose end is fixed to a system for holding the elbow 32 forming loops supporting the arm of the operator on each side of his elbow.

The crossbar 20 and the bracket 2 made of metal tube of circular section, are fixed together by a connection 22 pivoting along a vertical axis, containing two clamps connected by a pivot, each clamped by a clamping handle on the tube of the crossbar or the gallows. The pivot connection 22 allows the cross member 20 to orient freely around the pivot, according to the movements of the operator 8 below to remain aligned on the transverse axis of this operator.

Figure 3 shows the base of the bracket 2 having at the table 4 two substantially parallel plates 40, 42 each disposed on one side of the plate of this table. The two plates 40, 42 are connected on either side of the bracket 2 by a threaded rod 44 passing through these plates. Each threaded rod 44 has under the lower plate 42 a nut blocked by a locknut, and on the upper plate 40 a nut with fins to easily adjust the spacing between these two plates.

Each plate 40, 42 is connected to the bracket 2 by a plate connection 48 comprising a clamping collar on the tube of this bracket.

The top plate 40 comprises forwards two spaced screws 46 traversing this plate, having a wheel above, and below a pad bearing on the table top 4.

The attachment of the bracket 2 on the table 4 is as follows. The spacing between the two plates 40, 42 is adjusted by the wing nut of each threaded rod 44, to adjust it to the thickness of the plate of this table. The plate connections 48 are then tightened on the bracket 2, in order to obtain from the rear side a strong attachment of the trays 40, 42 on this bracket.

Then we tighten the two knobs of the screws 46 to press the lower skid of these screws on the top of the table top 4, in order to pinch this plate between the two plates 40, 42. One obtains a simple and fast mounting allowing s adapt easily to the thickness of the table top 4, as well as to the height of this plate by moving the plate connections 48.

Figure 4 details the elbow support system 32 comprising a chute 52 supporting the forearm of the operator 8, and a strap 50, in particular leather, forming a loop disposed before the bend. A ring 58 fixed to the end of the elastic cable 30 directly supports the loop 50, and via a rigid plate 54 the chute 52.

The strap 50 holds the forearm in the chute 52, particularly when the operator raises his hand. In addition one can install a self-adhesive tape of the type "velcro" coming above the chute 52, in order to simply and quickly fix the forearm inside this chute.

Alternatively the chute 52 may be replaced by a second strap forming a loop, the two strips being each fixed on one side of the bend. It can also have only the chute 52 on the forearm, without thong forming a loop.

Advantageously, the chute 52 is made of a thermoformed plastic material, making it easy to adapt to the size of the arm that fits into it.

Figures 1, 3 and 5 detail the path of the elastic cable 30.

Starting from the channel 32, each elastic cable 30 rises to pass into the first pulley 28 fixed by a yoke and a ring 26 to a first clamp 24 on the tube of the crossbar 20.

Each elastic cable 30 then leaves substantially horizontally to pass into a second pulley 60 fixed at the top of the curvature of the bracket 2 by a second common clamp 62 for the two cables.

Each elastic cable 30 then descends obliquely to pass into a third pulley 64 fixed at the bottom of the curvature of the bracket 2 by a third clamp 66 common for the two cables.

Advantageously all the clamps on the tube of the bracket 2, comprise a clamping lever for blocking by hand.

Each elastic cable 30 then descends vertically to pass into a lower pulley 68 attached to the bottom of the bracket 2, then back to pass in a pulley fixed at the third pulleys 64, and finally down. This produces a loop giving a great length to the elastic cable 30

FIG. 5 shows the end of each elastic cable 30 fixed to a ring, which is connected to an individual adjustment clamping collar 70 engaged on the bracket 2.

The individual clamping collar 70 comprising a clamping lever makes it possible to easily adjust the height on the bracket 2, which makes it possible to apply a different pre-tension on each elastic cable 30 according to the mass that it supports. In particular down each individual clamp 70, increases the tension of its elastic cable 30, and the restoring force of the corresponding gutter 32.

Alternatively the tension adjustment system of each elastic cable 30 may comprise a pin inserted into holes made at different heights along the bracket 2, to fix the end of this cable according to predefined heights.

In a variant, it is also possible to use an electric winch displacing the point of attachment of the elastic cable 30, for example with a numerical adjustment, which makes it possible in particular to keep in memory several positions corresponding to types of work or different operators.

A ruler fixed on the bracket 2 allows to identify the adjustment of the tension force applied by the elastic cables 30 on each arm of the operator.

The various loops of the elastic cables 30 comprising along the vertical part of the bracket 2 a descent, a rise and then a descent, gives a great length to these cables, which makes it possible to obtain a low stiffness of these cables, and a very constant elastic return of the force lifting the gutters 32 regardless of their height positioning. In this way, a great comfort of use of the workstation is obtained.

In addition the path of the loops of the elastic cables 30 along the mast of the bracket 2, does not take up space in the workshop.

It will be noted that the various pulleys 28, 60, 64 can be mounted on a ball bearing which gives them a low friction, which increases the efficiency of operation of the elastic cables 30.

Alternatively the workstation can receive an operator remaining standing, in the same way perform operations by raising the elbow. The operator can also move slightly to the workstation, for example one step to the side. In these cases it is necessary to provide a bracket 2 large enough to arrange the first pulleys 28 at a sufficient height to limit the inclination of the elastic cables 30 down these pulleys.

Claims (11)

1. Assistance installation for a manual workstation receiving an operator (8) to work with an elbow or a raised arm, characterized in that it comprises a bracket (2) having an end intended to come on top of the operator (8), a holding system (32) for receiving a bend of the operator (8), and an elastic cable (30) supporting the holding system (32) from the end of the gallows (2). 2. Assist device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two elastic cables (30) provided to support the two elbows of the operator (8). 3. Assist device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a crossbar (20) fixed to the end of the bracket (2), supporting on each side of this bracket an elastic cable (30) supporting a gutter (32). 4. Assist device according to claim 3, characterized in that the crossbar (20) is fixed to the end of the bracket (2) by a pivot (24). 5. Assist device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each elastic cable (30) follows a path along the bracket (2) passing through guide pulleys (28, 60, 64) . 6. Assist device according to claim 5, characterized in that for each elastic cable (30) the portion opposite the elbow holding system (32) descends along the bracket (2) to the ground, then go back up. 7. Assist device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end opposite the elbow holding system (32) of each elastic cable (30) comprises a fixing system (70) which moves to adjust the voltage of this cable. 8. Assist device according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening system (70) comprises a clamping collar on a vertical tube of the bracket (2). 9. Assistance installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two plates (40, 42) connected to the bracket (2), provided for clamping the plate of a table (4) to to fix this gallows. 10. Assist device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elbow support system (32) comprises a holding member placed on each side of the elbow of the operator (8). 11. Assist device according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding element of the forearm is a gutter (52), or a loop formed by a strap.