JP2008012169A - Working support device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the workloads by providing the easy posture and comfortable working environment for a worker working on a work table. <P>SOLUTION: A support 201 for supporting the body 302 of the worker, leaning on the work table such as a checkout counter 101, with a vertical plane 201a is attached to the checkout counter 101. By supporting the thigh region 303, the most comfortable position for the worker 301, with the support 201, the body 302 leaning on the checkout counter 101 can be supported without being pressed. Furthermore, by warming the thigh region 303, the position near the abdomen of the worker 301, which is considered as the effective position for facilitating the blood circulation, with the heat of a heater 401, the swelling of feet can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a work support device that provides a comfortable posture to a worker who works on a work table such as a checkout counter.

  When working on a work table such as a checkout counter, an operator may unconsciously seek an easy posture and take a posture leaning on the work table. This is because the worker knows from experience that it is easier to lean on the workbench when scanning the product code.

  Patent Document 1 describes a commodity data reading apparatus that consciously creates a posture leaning on a work table. That is, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a support portion that supports the vicinity of the worker's abdomen is provided on the casing of the barcode reader. Therefore, according to Patent Document 1, the worker leans on the support portion and deposits his / her body so that he / she can withstand long hours of work while resting his / her body (the upper left column of page 4). 1st to 8th line).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 02-91782

  When leaning on the workbench, the body is inevitably supported by the corners of the workbench, and the body is pressed. In the case of the support part as described in Patent Document 1, the support part is formed of a soft material having heat insulating properties, and a curved surface is formed in a contact part with the body (page 3, upper left column, first row to the third page). (3rd line, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), but it cannot be denied that it still gives the body a feeling of pressure. Moreover, since the support part described in Patent Document 1 supports the vicinity of the abdomen (second page, lower right column, line 18 to page 3, upper left column, first line), the body was deposited in the support part. In some cases, it is expected that the abdomen will feel a pressure, and it remains doubtful how easy it is to provide the operator with a comfortable posture. If the support part cannot provide the worker with a comfortable posture, after all, the work load cannot be reduced.

  In addition, when working on a work table such as a checkout counter, the work is standing, so that the operator's feet become unpleasant over time. Such swelling of the feet makes the work even more severe. The support described in Patent Document 1 does not provide any solution for such swelling of the foot.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable posture and a comfortable working environment to a worker who works on a work table, and to reduce the work load.

  The work support device of the present invention includes a workbench, a support attached to the workbench and supporting a thigh portion of the body leaning against the workbench with a flexible vertical surface, and the support And a heater for heating the vertical surface.

  According to the present invention, since the body leaning on the work table is supported by a flexible vertical surface, the body leaning on the work table is supported without pressing, and an easy posture is provided to the worker who works on the work table. In addition, since the thigh region in the vicinity of the worker's abdomen can be warmed by the heater, blood circulation of the worker's body can be promoted and swelling of the foot can be relieved.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing an application example to a checkout counter as an embodiment of the work support apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, a checkout counter 101 is provided as a work table. The checkout counter 101 here is installed in a store such as a supermarket, and is used for a checkout operation of a store clerk who is the worker 301. For this reason, the checkout counter 101 is provided with a stationary barcode scanner 102 in front of it. The bar code scanner 102 is arranged at a position approximately at the center in the longitudinal direction of the checkout counter 101 having a substantially rectangular planar shape and closer to one side in the lateral direction. The upper surface of the checkout counter 101 is a product mounting table 103. FIG. 1 is a front view seen from an operator 301 (see FIG. 2) who operates the barcode scanner 102. In FIG. 1, the mounting table 103 on the right side of the barcode scanner 102 is a product introduction unit 103a, and the left side. The mounting table 103 is a product providing unit 103b.

  Therefore, at the time of commercial transaction, the customer places the basket 104 containing the product to be purchased on the product introduction unit 103a. The worker 301 who is a store clerk takes out the products put in the basket 104 one by one, reads the barcode attached to the products with the barcode scanner 102, and successively puts on the basket 104 placed on the product providing unit 103b. And put it in. After the payment at a payment terminal (not shown) (for example, a POS terminal), the customer takes away the basket 104 containing the settled product placed in the product providing unit 103b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a support 201 is attached to the checkout counter 101. The arrangement position of the support 201 is a side of the checkout counter 101 opposite to the side where the barcode scanner 102 is arranged. The support 201 is freely movable up and down as shown in FIG. The lifting mechanism 202 enables the support 201 to be lifted and lowered. The lifting mechanism 202 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the checkout counter 101 showing a state in which the worker 301 is performing a barcode scanning operation. Referring to FIG. 2, the usage of the support 201 can be understood. That is, the worker 301 takes out the products put in the basket 104 one by one, reads the barcode attached to the products by the barcode scanner 102, and successively puts the products on the basket 104 placed on the product providing unit 103b. The body 302 is deposited on the support 201 when performing the work to enter. That is, it leans on the support 201. It is the thigh region 303 that leans on.

  The positional relationship between the support 201 and the body 302 of the worker 301 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the support 201 is configured to support a thigh region 303 of the body 302 of the worker 301 in a posture leaning against the checkout counter 101 with a vertical surface 201 a. In this case, the vertical surface 201a that supports the portion 303 is formed to be wide to some extent, and it is desirable to ensure 120 mm or more in the vertical direction. Further, the support 201 has a curved shape in which an upper end portion facing the body 302 is curved toward the checkout counter 101. Thereby, the support tool 201 forms the curved part 201b in the curved part, and the operator 301 leaning against the support tool 201 is weakened in particular the pressure on the abdomen.

  When the operator 301 performs a barcode scanning operation, a step 251 may be provided in the vicinity of the checkout counter 101 as shown in FIG. The step 251 has a mountain shape with a raised central portion, and a front slope 252 gently descending from the central portion toward the checkout counter 101 and gently from the central portion toward the opposite side of the checkout counter 101. And a slope 253 after descending.

  The front slope 252 naturally tilts the posture of the worker 301 when the worker 301 gets on, and naturally maintains the posture leaning on the support 201. As another role, the front slope 252 naturally tilts the posture of the worker 301 forward when the worker 301 gets on, and psychologically invites the worker 301 to use the support 201. In other words, it is another role of the front slope 252 to naturally cause the worker 301 in the forward leaning posture to naturally approach the supporter 201.

  The rear slope 253 prevents the step 251 from being stepped off when the worker 301 on the step 251 moves backward. That is, the worker 301 on the step 251 may move back in a direction away from the checkout counter 101 intentionally or unintentionally. In such a case, if the worker 301 who has been on the step 251 removes the step 251 along with the backward movement, it is expected that he or she will hit his feet or, in the worst case, will fall over. The rear slope 253 smoothly guides the backward movement of the worker 301 and plays a role of avoiding such inconvenience.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing the lifting structure of the support 201. The support 201 is mainly composed of a gas spring 203. That is, a housing 204 for the lifting mechanism 202 is provided, and a gas spring 203 is provided vertically in the housing 204. The gas spring 203 has a structure in which oil and high-pressure gas are sealed in the cylinder tube 205 and the piston rod 206 protruding from one end is extended and compressed. The extension speed and compression speed of the piston rod 206 depend on the diameter and number of orifices formed in a piston body (not shown) connected to the piston rod 206 and provided inside the cylinder tube 205. Such a gas spring 203 generates a load by pushing the piston rod 206. In this embodiment, the push spring type is used as the gas spring 203. The push lock type gas spring 203 has a valve for controlling the opening and closing of the orifice described above in a piston body (not shown) provided in the cylinder tube 205, and the piston rod 206 is moved to an arbitrary position by opening and closing the valve. Can be stopped. Such opening and closing of the valve is performed by rotating an operation lever 207 (see FIG. 1) provided in the housing 204 in the vertical direction. As an example, the valve is configured to open the orifice according to the upward rotation of the operation lever 207, and the valve is closed according to the downward rotation of the operation lever 207.

  The support 201 has a base 208 made of a hard member, and a flexible cushion 209 is fixed to the base 208. As a material of the base 208, for example, metal, resin, wood, or the like can be used. The cushion 209 is a flexible member formed using a resin foaming technique, and is fixed to the base 208 by being molded together with the base 208 as an example. As will be described in detail later, a heater 401 and an air bag 501 are embedded in a cushion 209 fixed to the base 208. The embedded position is such that the heater 401 is on the surface layer side of the support 201 and the air bag 501 is on the back side of the heater 401. The support 201 having such a structure may be covered with a cover (not shown) as necessary.

  The base portion 208 has a flange portion 210 communicating with the back surface at the center lower portion, and a mounting hole 211 is vertically formed in the flange portion 210. The support 201 is fixed to the lifting mechanism 202 by press-fitting the piston rod 206 of the gas spring 203 constituting the lifting mechanism 202 into the mounting hole 211. The turning portion 210 is formed in a shape and size so that the base 208 does not interfere with the components of the lifting mechanism 202 when the support 201 is lifted or lowered.

  In the support 201 as described above, the base 208 of the lifting mechanism 202 is attached to the front panel 105 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the checkout counter 101 via the connection fixing portion 212. However, the checkout counter 101 includes a strong frame structure (not shown) on the back side of the front panel 105, and the support fixture 201 is attached to the checkout counter 101 by fixing the connection fixing portion 212 to the frame structure. It is attached.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heater 401. As the heater 401, a silicon heater which is thin and flat and has flexibility is used. A lead wire 402 for energization is drawn out from one edge of the heater 401.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the heater 401. A heater 401 having a silicon heater structure is configured such that a heat wire 404 serving as a heating resistor is embedded in a silicon sheet 403 made of silicon rubber formed thin and flat, and further coated with a glass cloth 405. The hot wire 404 is connected to the lead wire 402 drawn from the heater 401. Therefore, when the heat wire 404 is energized through the lead wire 402, the heat wire 404 generates heat, and the heat is transferred to the silicon sheet 403 and the glass cloth 405, so that the entire surface of the heater 401 generates heat.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an air bag 501 constituting the pressure detection unit. The work support apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a pressure detection unit 502 that detects a pressure fluctuation generated in the support 201. The pressure detection unit 502 includes a pressure sensor 504 (see FIG. 9) hermetically connected to the air bag 501 embedded in the cushion 209 of the support 201 via a connection pipe 503, and the pressure sensor 504 outputs the pressure sensor 504. A pressure fluctuation applied to the support 201 is detected. The detection circuit 505 constituting the pressure detection unit 502 detects the pressure fluctuation applied to the support 201 by the output of the pressure sensor 504. Due to such a structure, the air bag 501 includes air inside without leakage. When the worker 301 is pressed by leaning on the support 201, the pressure sensor diaphragm (not shown) connected through the connecting pipe 503 is pressed. As a result, in the pressure sensor, output fluctuation occurs in a pressure sensitive element (not shown) such as a semiconductor strain gauge formed on the surface of the diaphragm, and the pressure fluctuation applied to the support 201 is detected by the detection circuit 505 detecting this. It is detected.

  FIG. 7 is a rear view of the support 201. As described above, the base 208 of the support 201 includes the turning portion 210 for preventing interference with the gas spring 203 constituting the lifting mechanism 202. The turning portion 210 extends to the left side in FIG. 7 when the base portion 208 is viewed from the back side, and a circuit portion 601 including the detection circuit 505 and the like is accommodated and held in the extended region. A power supply line 602 is drawn from the circuit portion 601 and is supplied with power from a commercial power supply 603 (see FIG. 9).

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of the support 201. As can be seen by referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 8, the heater 401 and the air bladder 501 have substantially the same shape and size, and are placed inside the cushion 209 constituting the support 201. It occupies many areas and is buried. Thereby, the heat generated by the heater 401 is transmitted to the vertical surface 201a of the support 201, and the vertical surface 201a can be heated. In addition, a communication hole 213 that allows the arrangement space of the circuit unit 601 to communicate with the cushion 209 side is formed in the turn part 210 formed in the base part 208 of the supporter 201. The communication hole 213 has a role of passing a lead wire 402 extending from the heater 401 and connecting to the circuit unit 601 and a connection pipe 503 for communicating the air bag 501 and the pressure sensor 504.

  FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the circuit unit 601. The circuit unit 601 includes a power supply circuit 604. The power circuit 604 is fed from a commercial power source 603, and includes a DC circuit that converts AC to DC, a high-voltage circuit that steps down the voltage, and the like (none of which are shown). The above-described detection circuit 505 constituting the pressure detection unit 502 is supplied with power from the power supply circuit 604 and detects an output fluctuation of the pressure sensor 504. The circuit unit 601 includes a switching circuit 605 that controls energization of the heater 401. The switching circuit 605 includes a switching element (not shown) such as a switching transistor that is turned on / off in response to a detection signal from the detection circuit 505, and controls a power supply line from the power supply circuit 604 to the heater 401 by turning on / off the switching element. . More specifically, when the air bag 501 is pressurized and the pressure sensor 504 detects an increase in pressure and outputs an output signal associated therewith to the detection circuit 505, the detection circuit 505 turns on the switching elements that constitute the switching circuit 605. The signal to be output is output to the switching circuit 605. In response to this, the power supply line from the power supply circuit 604 to the heater 401 is closed, and power is supplied to the heater 401. That is, when the worker 301 leans against the support 201, the heater 401 is energized, the heater 401 generates heat, and the vertical surface 201a of the support 201 is warmed.

  In such a configuration, the worker 301 who intends to use the checkout counter 101 can raise and lower the support 201 to adjust the position to the optimum position for his / her body 302. In order to raise and lower the support 201, an operation lever 207 provided in the lifting mechanism 202 is rotated upward. Thereby, the orifice provided in the piston body provided in the cylinder tube 205 in the gas spring 203 of the lifting mechanism 202 is opened, and the piston rod 206 can be lifted and lowered. Therefore, the worker 301 adjusts the position of the support 201 to the optimum position for his / her body 302, and then rotates the operation lever 207 downward. Thereby, the orifice provided in the piston body is closed, the piston rod 206 is held at that position, and the vertical position of the support 201 is set. At this time, in order to adjust the position of the support 201 to the optimum position for the body 302, the center position of the vertical surface 201a of the support 201 is set to the thigh region 303 (here, the thigh center) of the body 302. You just have to match. This state is a state in which an easy posture can be provided to the worker 301 who performs the work with the checkout counter 101, and the work burden on the worker 301 can be reduced.

  As described above, when the worker 301 leans against the support 201, the air bag 501 is pressurized and the pressure sensor 504 detects an increase in pressure and outputs an output signal associated therewith to the detection circuit 505. Then, the detection circuit 505 outputs a signal for turning on the switching elements constituting the switching circuit 605 to the switching circuit 605, and accordingly, the power supply line from the power supply circuit 604 to the heater 401 is closed to supply power to the heater 401. . Thereby, the heater 401 generates heat and the vertical surface 201a of the support 201 is warmed. At this time, the worker 301 is in a state where the center position of the vertical surface 201 a of the support 201 is aligned with the thigh region 303 of his / her body 302. As a result, the thigh region 303 and the surrounding region in the body 302 of the worker 301 are warmed. As a result, the thigh region 303 and the abdomen extremely close to the surrounding region are also warmed, and blood circulation is most effectively promoted. This is because generally the blood circulation is most effectively promoted by warming the abdomen. As a result, it is possible to relieve the swelling of the feet in the body 302 of the worker 301 that tends to occur as the work time becomes longer.

  In particular, at the sales floor handling fresh foods such as meat, vegetables and fish, the room temperature is set low in order to maintain the freshness of these foods. In addition, not only sales floors that handle such fresh foods, but in the summer, there are many cases of excessive cooling for customers who visit the store. Such work in the sales floor is very severe for the cold worker 301. On the other hand, according to the work support apparatus of the present embodiment, the body 302 can be warmed directly by the heater 401, so the body 302 of the worker 301 can be eased. Moreover, since only the worker 301 is heated by the heater 401, the inside of the store is not heated.

  As described above, according to the work support apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a comfortable posture and a comfortable work environment to a worker who performs work with the checkout counter 101, and to reduce the work load.

  Next, another embodiment of the work support apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The same parts as those of the work support apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is also omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a longitudinal side view of the support 201. In the present embodiment, the support 201 is not provided with an electrical heating structure such as the heater 401. Instead, the cushion 209 in the support 201 has a two-layer structure of a harder deep cushion 209a and a softer surface cushion 209b, and a pocket 701 is formed between the deep cushion 209a and the surface cushion 209b. . The pocket 701 has an opening 702 on one side of the support 201 and is configured such that a warmer (not shown) can be taken in and out of the pocket 701 from the opening 702.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view of the support 201. As can be seen by referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the pocket 701 occupies a large area between the deep cushion 209a and the surface cushion 209b constituting the support 201 and embeds warmers. It has been made possible. Thereby, the heat generated by the warmers is transmitted to the vertical surface 201a of the support 201, and the vertical surface 201a can be heated.

  In such a configuration, the vertical surface 201a of the support 201 is warmed by inserting a warmer into the pocket 701. As a result, similar to the work support apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, blood circulation near the abdomen of the worker 301 is promoted, and the swelling of the legs in the body 302 of the worker 301 that is likely to occur as the work time increases is increased. Can be tempered.

It is a front view which shows the example applied to a checkout counter as one Embodiment of the work assistance apparatus of this invention. It is a side view of the checkout counter which shows the state in which the operator is scanning barcode. It is a side view which shows the raising / lowering structure of a support tool. It is a perspective view of a heater. It is sectional drawing of a heater. It is a perspective view of the air bag which comprises a pressure detection part. It is a rear view of a support tool. It is a cross-sectional plan view of a support. It is a circuit diagram of a circuit part. It is a vertical side view of the support which shows another one Embodiment of the work assistance apparatus of this invention. It is a cross-sectional plan view of a support.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Checkout counter (work bench), 102 ... Bar code scanner, 201 ... Supporting tool, 201a ... Vertical surface, 202 ... Elevating mechanism, 302 ... Body, 303 ... Thigh part, 401 ... Heater, 502 ... Pressure detection part 504 ... Pressure sensor 605 ... Switching circuit 701 ... Pocket

Claims (7)

A workbench,
A support that is attached to the work table and supports a thigh portion of the body in a posture leaning against the work table with a flexible vertical surface;
A heater provided on the support for heating the vertical surface;
A work support apparatus comprising:   The work support device according to claim 1, wherein a surface for supporting the body of the support member is secured in a vertical direction of 120 mm or more. A pressure detection unit that detects a pressure variation applied to the support by an output of a pressure sensor;
A switching circuit for energizing the heater when the pressure detection unit detects a pressure increase with respect to the support;
The work support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A workbench,
A support that is attached to the work table and supports a thigh portion of the body in a posture leaning against the work table with a flexible vertical surface;
A pocket formed in the support and capable of storing a warmer so that the vertical surface can be heated;
A work support apparatus comprising:   The work support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elevating mechanism that allows the support to be raised and lowered with respect to the work table.   The work support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the work table is a checkout counter. The work support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the checkout counter has a bar code scanner on a side opposite to the support.

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