JP2012051464A - Caster device for cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict rotation of a wheel and rotation around the rotation shaft of a caster with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A lock member 14 includes: a housing 31; an extension section 33 extended from the end section of the housing 31; a plate member 34 extended from the extension section 33; a brake member 35 attached so as to be substantially opposed to the wheel of the caster 18 at the bottom face of the plate member 34; a plurality of springs 38; and a pedal 16 which is attached to one end of the rotation shaft 36, and is rotated between a first position and a second position. A position control member including a cam 37 which is attached to the rotation shaft 36, locates the housing 31 so that the brake member 35 can be separated from the wheel 42 according to biasing force of the springs 38, when the pedal 16 is at the first position. When the pedal 16 is at the second position, the housing 31 is moved downward against the biasing force of the spring 38, so that the brake member 35 presses the wheel 42.

Description

  The present invention relates to a caster device for a cabinet in which a cabinet is mounted on the upper side, the cabinet is moved by rotating a wheel of the caster, and the cabinet is fixed at the position by locking the caster.

  Conventionally, casters are attached to the lower four corners of the cabinet, and the cabinet can be moved by rotating the wheels of the caster. Each of the casters has one or two wheels, the wheels can rotate, and the wheels can rotate around the rotation axis of the casters positioned in a direction perpendicular to the wheel axis.

  Each of the casters described above is conventionally provided with a lock device that allows the wheel to rotate or prevents the wheel from rotating. However, since the lock device is attached to each caster, in order to fix the cabinet in a predetermined position, the lock device is operated by operating the lock devices of at least two, preferably all four casters. There is a need.

  In addition, since the lock device locks only the rotation of the wheel, there is a problem in that the rotation around the rotation axis of the caster cannot be regulated. For example, when a force is applied to one corner of the cabinet to tilt the cabinet and the cabinet is supported by a small number of casters, such as one, the casters rotate around the rotation axis of the casters, It is also possible that the will fall.

JP 2008-279874 A

  In Patent Document 1, when the pedal is depressed, the brake members are brought close to each caster wheel in the vertical direction via the link mechanism, and the brake members come into contact with each other while pressing the side surfaces of the caster wheels. Thus, a lock mechanism for locking the wheel is disclosed.

  Since the lock mechanism uses various mechanisms such as a link mechanism and a ratchet to remotely control the brake of the wheel, there are problems that the number of parts is very large and the structure is complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a caster device for a cabinet that has a simple structure and includes a lock member that restricts rotation of a wheel and a rotation around a rotation axis of the caster.

An object of the present invention is a caster device for locking a plurality of casters each having a wheel,
Each of the plurality of casters is rotatably supported via an axle portion, and an upper frame on which a cabinet can be attached.
A locking member attached to the lower part of the upper frame,
The locking member is
A housing;
An extension extending substantially parallel to the upper frame from the side wall of the end of the housing;
A plate member further extending from the extension, the plate member being inclined slightly downward toward the end; and
A brake member attached to a lower surface of the plate member, the brake member attached at a position substantially opposite to a wheel of a caster rotating via the axle portion;
A plurality of springs biasing the housing of the lock member upward;
A pedal attached to one end of a rotating shaft passing through the housing and rotatable between a predetermined first position and a second position;
When the pedal is in the first position, the housing is disposed at a predetermined first position so that the brake member is separated from the wheel according to the urging force of the spring. When the pedal is in the second position, the housing is moved downward against the biasing force of the spring so that the brake member presses the wheel so that the brake member presses the wheel. This is achieved by a caster device having a position control member disposed at a position.

In a preferred embodiment, the position control member is
A cam disposed on the other end of the shaft and in contact with the lower surface of the upper frame and the upper surface of the housing;
When the pedal is in the first position, the housing is pulled up by an upward biasing force of a spring, the upper surface of the extension portion and the lower surface of the upper frame are in contact with each other, and the cam The flat surface and the lower surface of the upper frame are in contact,
When the pedal is at the second position, the cam is configured such that a protrusion that maximizes the distance from the rotation shaft contacts the lower surface of the upper frame.

  In another preferred embodiment, the plate member has elasticity, and when the pedal is in the second position, the brake member attached to the lower side contacts the top surface of the wheel. In such a state, it is further pushed downward to bend, function as a spring, and press the brake member against the top surface of the wheel.

  In a preferred embodiment, the brake member is shaped so as to face the top of the wheel of the caster when the caster rotates around the axle and is in an arbitrary position.

In still another preferred embodiment, the upper frame is formed with an opening having a long side in the direction of the rotation axis along the rotation axis, and a side other than the one long side is cut in the opening. Is bent downward along the one long side, and the portion bent downward constitutes a reinforcing guide member,
The outer surface of the reinforcing guide member and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing are substantially in contact, and the housing is guided by the reinforcing guide member when the housing moves in the vertical direction.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a caster device for a cabinet that has a simple structure and includes a lock member that restricts rotation of a wheel and a rotation around a rotation axis of the caster.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cabinet caster device that movably supports a cabinet according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the cabinet caster apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of the cabinet caster apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a back view of the cabinet caster apparatus according to the present embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cabinet caster device that movably supports a cabinet according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views of the cabinet caster device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the caster is unlocked and the apparatus can be moved, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the caster is locked and the rotation of the caster is stopped, so that the apparatus cannot move. FIG. 4 is a back view of the cabinet caster apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the cabinet caster device 10 according to the present embodiment includes an upper frame 12, a lock member 14, a pedal 16, and four casters 18 arranged at four corners. A cabinet (not shown) is placed on the upper surface 13 of the upper frame 12 and is attached by an attachment member such as a screw. The upper frame 12 is formed with reinforcing portions 21 that are bent downward on the front side and the back side, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper frame 12 has four rectangular openings 22 each extending along the rotation shaft 36 with the direction of the rotation shaft 36 connected to a pedal 16 described later as a long side. Is formed. The opening 22 is formed by cutting the rectangular shape along the shape of the opening 22 in the upper frame 12 except for the long side on the outer end side, and bending the inner side along the long side on the outer end side. . A portion bent inward serves as a reinforcing guide portion 23 extending along the rotation shaft 36. In the present embodiment, the two reinforcing portions 21 and the four reinforcing guide portions 23 are formed orthogonally. Therefore, the deformation of the upper frame 12 against the force applied in both directions in the direction of the rotation axis 36 and in the vertical direction thereof (mainly the gravity of the cabinet mounted and mounted on the upper surface 13 and the stress when the cabinet is moved). Can be prevented.

  The lock member 14 includes a housing 31 and houses a mechanism (position control member) for locking the wheel 42 inside the housing 31. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state where the caster is unlocked and the apparatus can move, and corresponds to the state of the front view of FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state where the caster is locked and the apparatus cannot move, and corresponds to the state of the front view of FIG.

  Side walls 32 extending in a substantially vertical direction are formed at both ends of the housing 13 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front. The inner surface of the side wall 32 is substantially in contact with the outer surface of the reinforcing guide portion 12 of the upper frame 12. As a result, as will be described later, when the lock member 14 (housing 13) moves in the vertical direction (vertical direction), the lock member 14 is guided by the reinforcing guide portion 12, and the lock member 14 is relatively viewed from the plane with respect to the upper frame 12. The position is not changed, and appropriate vertical movement can be realized.

  Further, extension portions 33 extending substantially parallel to the upper frame 12 are formed at both upper ends of the side wall 32. A lock plate 34 that extends in the left-right direction as viewed from the front is further attached to each of the extension portions 33. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the locking plate 34 is arranged so as to be located slightly downward toward the end. This is to enhance the locking effect of the wheels 42 of the casters 18 as will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an opening 45 is provided at the center of the lower surface of the housing 31. By providing the opening 45 in the housing 31, the weight of the caster device 10 is reduced. In the housing 31, a rotating shaft 36 connected to the pedal 16 extends over the housing 31. One end of the rotating shaft 36 is connected to the pedal 16 as described above. The other end of the rotating shaft 36 is connected to a cam (plate cam) 37 as shown in FIGS. As will be described later, when the operator depresses the pedal 16, the rotation shaft 36 rotates, and the cam 37 rotates accordingly.

  In addition, springs 38 are attached to the four corners of the housing 31. The spring 38 is desirably disposed on a line connecting the axle portions 41 of the two casters 18 disposed along the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The upper end of the spring 38 is attached to the lower surface of the upper frame 12. The lower end of the spring 38 is attached to the upper surface of the housing 31. The spring 38 urges the lock member 14 including the housing 31 to approach the upper frame 12, that is, urges the lock member 14 (housing 31) upward.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, casters 18 are arranged at four corners on the back surface of the caster device 10 via axle portions 41, respectively. The wheel 42 of the caster 18 can rotate around an axis (not shown) of the wheel, and the caster 18 as a whole can rotate around the axle portion 41. The wheel 42 is made of rubber, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a brake member 35 is attached to the lower surface of the locking plate 34 at a position aligned with the caster 18. As described above, the caster 18 can rotate around the axle portion 41. Therefore, the brake member 35 has such a shape and size that the top of the wheel 42 and the brake member 35 face each other when the caster 18 rotates around the axle portion 41 and is in any position. . For example, the brake member 35 is circular with the axle portion 41 as the center. As will be described later, the brake member 35 comes into contact with the top surface of the wheel 42 of the caster 18 and restricts rotation around the axis of the wheel 42, so that the brake member 35 is formed of a resin or the like that can sufficiently ensure friction with the rubber wheel. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper frame 12 includes an axle holding member 24 that rotatably holds an axle portion 41 of the caster 18. In the present embodiment, a cabinet mounting screw hole 25 for fixing the cabinet placed on the upper surface 13 of the caster device 10 and the upper frame 12 is provided adjacent to the axle holding member 24. ing.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the lock member 14 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the pedal 16 has a first position (open position) inclined by a predetermined amount to the lower left when viewed from the front, as shown in FIG. 2, and a predetermined lower right, as viewed from the front, as shown in FIG. It is possible to rotate between the tilted second position (lock position). In the lock member 14, a restricting member (not shown) that restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 36 is disposed on the rotation shaft 36, and the pedal 16 can rotate only between the first position and the second position. I am doing so.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the pedal 16 is in the first position, the flat surface 40 of the cam 37 is in contact with the lower surface of the upper frame 12. More specifically, the housing 31 of the lock member 14 is pulled up by the upward biasing force of the spring 38, and the upper surface of the extension 33 and the lower surface of the upper frame 12 are in contact with each other. In this state, the flat surface 40 of the cam 37 contacts the lower surface of the upper frame 12.

  When the front right side of the pedal 16 is depressed by the operator's foot or the like, the pedal 16 and the rotating shaft 36 are rotated clockwise (see arrow A in FIG. 3), and the cam 37 is also rotated clockwise. It is rotated. As the cam 37 is rotated clockwise from the first position, the distance between the rotation shaft 36 that is the rotation center and the end of the cam 37 is increased. Therefore, as the pedal 16 is depressed and rotates clockwise, the housing 31 of the lock member 14 moves downward against the urging force of the spring 38. The inner surface of the side wall 32 of the housing 31 is substantially in contact with the outer surface of the reinforcing guide portion 12 of the upper frame 12. Therefore, the housing 31 is guided by the reinforcing guide portion 12 and moves downward along the reinforcing guide portion 12 in the vertical direction. Further, the extension portion 33 and the locking plate 34 extending in the vertical direction from the side wall 32 also move downward as the housing 31 moves.

  When the locking plate 34 moves downward by a predetermined distance, the brake member 35 attached to the lower surface of the locking plate 34 contacts the top surface of the wheel 42 of the caster 18. Further, when the pedal 16 is depressed and the rotating shaft 36 and the cam 37 rotate in the clockwise direction, the housing 31, the extension 33, and the locking plate 34 are further moved downward. Here, the locking plate 34 is made of, for example, a thin metal plate and has elasticity. The locking plate 34 bends and functions as a spring because the lower brake member 35 is pressed downward with the top surface of the wheel 42 being in contact with the top surface of the wheel 42. Press on. Thereby, the lock | rock of the wheel 42 by the brake member 35 can be strengthened more.

  When the pedal 16 is further depressed and finally reaches the second position, the clockwise rotation of the pedal 16 is restricted. When the pedal 16 is in the second position, a protrusion 39 on the cam 37 that makes the maximum distance from the rotary shaft 36 contacts the lower surface of the upper frame 12. The pedal 16 reaches the second position and is further restricted from rotating in the clockwise direction, and the protrusion 39 comes into contact with the lower surface of the upper frame 12 so that the position of the pedal 16 is stabilized. In the second position, the distance between the rotating shaft 36 and the end (projecting portion 39) of the cam 37 is the maximum. Therefore, the pressing force to the wheel 42 by the locking plate 34 and the brake member 35 is also maximized, and the rotation of the wheel 42 around the axis and the rotation of the caster 18 around the axle portion 41 can be appropriately suppressed. That is, the caster 18 is locked by the lock member 14.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the locking plate 34 and the brake member 35 press the wheels 42 of the casters 18 located at the four corners to rotate around the axis of the wheel 42 and around the axle part 41. The rotation of the caster 18 is suppressed. Therefore, the casters 18 located at the four corners are in contact with the floor surface due to the lock by the lock member 14 (for example, one or two casters 18 out of the four casters 18 are lifted from the floor surface), and the caster device. 10 does not rattle. Further, the caster does not rotate around the axle portion 41.

  In order to release the lock by the lock member 14, the operator may depress the left side of the pedal 16 in the front direction and rotate the rotary shaft 36 counterclockwise. As a result, the cam 37 also rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the housing 31 moves upward by the biasing force of the spring 38. When the pedal 16 reaches the first position, the flat surface 40 of the cam 37 comes into contact with the lower surface of the upper frame 12, and the upward movement of the housing 31 is stopped.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pedal 16 can be rotated clockwise from the first position to the second position when viewed from the front, and the wheels of the casters 18 can be rotated by the lock member 14 at the second position. Is configured to be locked. The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. For example, the pedal 16 can be rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle from the first position to the predetermined third position when viewed from the front, and the third position is the same as the second position. The wheels of the casters 18 may be locked by the lock member 14.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cabinet caster device 12 Upper frame 14 Lock member 16 Pedal 18 Caster 21 Reinforcement part 22 Opening 23 Reinforcement guide part 24 Axle holding member 25 Cabinet mounting screw hole 31 Housing 32 Side wall 33 Extension part 34 Lock plate 35 Brake member 36 Rotation Shaft 37 Cam 38 Spring 39 Protruding part 40 Flat part 41 Axle part 42 Wheel 45 Opening

Claims (5)

A caster device for locking a plurality of casters each having a wheel,
Each of the plurality of casters is rotatably supported via an axle portion, and an upper frame on which a cabinet can be attached.
A locking member attached to the lower part of the upper frame,
The locking member is
A housing;
An extension extending substantially parallel to the upper frame from the side wall of the end of the housing;
A plate member further extending from the extension, the plate member being inclined slightly downward toward the end; and
A brake member attached to a lower surface of the plate member, the brake member attached at a position substantially opposite to a wheel of a caster rotating via the axle portion;
A plurality of springs biasing the housing of the lock member upward;
A pedal attached to one end of a rotating shaft passing through the housing and rotatable between a predetermined first position and a second position;
When the pedal is in the first position, the housing is disposed at a predetermined first position so that the brake member is separated from the wheel according to the urging force of the spring. When the pedal is in the second position, the housing is moved downward against the biasing force of the spring so that the brake member presses the wheel so that the brake member presses the wheel. And a position control member arranged at a position. The position control member is
A cam disposed on the other end of the shaft and in contact with the lower surface of the upper frame and the upper surface of the housing;
When the pedal is in the first position, the housing is pulled up by an upward biasing force of a spring, the upper surface of the extension portion and the lower surface of the upper frame are in contact with each other, and the cam The flat surface and the lower surface of the upper frame are in contact,
When the pedal is in the second position, the cam is configured such that a protrusion that maximizes the distance from the rotation shaft contacts the lower surface of the upper frame. The caster device according to claim 1.   When the plate member has elasticity and the pedal is in the second position, the brake member attached to the lower side is further pressed and bent while being in contact with the top surface of the wheel. The caster device according to claim 1, wherein the caster device functions as a spring and is configured to press the brake member against a top surface of the wheel.   2. The brake member according to claim 1, wherein when the caster rotates around the axle portion and is at an arbitrary position, the brake member is positioned to face the top of the wheel of the caster. The caster apparatus as described in any one of thru | or 3. In the upper frame, an opening having a long side in the direction of the rotation axis is formed along the rotation axis. In the opening, sides other than the one long side are cut, and along the one long side. Are bent downward, and the portion bent downward constitutes a reinforcing guide member,
The outer surface of the reinforcing guide member and the inner surface of the side wall of the housing are substantially in contact with each other, and the housing is guided by the reinforcing guide member when the housing moves in the vertical direction. The caster device according to any one of 1 to 4.

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