JP6601349B2 - Transport assist device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance auxiliary device that assists conveyance of a conveyance object.

  As a conventional conveyance auxiliary device, for example, a bed conveyance auxiliary device and a bed disclosed in Patent Document 1 are known. The bed conveyance auxiliary device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an operating device mounted on one end portion in the longitudinal direction (straight forward direction) of the bed and a traveling carriage mounted on the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the bed. The operating device is operated by a nurse or the like to transmit an operation signal, and the traveling carriage receives the operation signal and travels based on the operation signal.

Japanese Patent No. 5206896

  By the way, in the bed conveyance auxiliary | assistance apparatus disclosed by patent document 1, the switch which operates the drive source provided in the traveling cart may be provided in the traveling cart. When a switch is provided on the traveling carriage, there is a possibility that a plurality of people may simultaneously operate the operating device and switch the traveling carriage. If the operation of the operating device and the switch operation of the traveling carriage are performed at the same time, there is a possibility that the movement of the bed unintended by the operating person may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance auxiliary device that can prevent simultaneous operation of an operation unit and a drive unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention relates to a transport object, a drive unit that is provided in the transport object and has an operation unit that operates transport of the transport object, and the transport object. In the conveyance auxiliary device, which is detachable and capable of operating the conveyance of the conveyance object and capable of communicating with the drive unit, the operation unit can be integrated with the drive unit. And the drive unit disables operation by the operation unit based on a detection unit that detects integration with the operation unit and detection that indicates integration of the drive unit and the operation unit. And a control unit that enables the operation by the operation unit.

  According to the present invention, when the detection unit detects the integration of the operation unit and the drive unit, the control unit disables the operation by the operation unit and enables the operation by the operation unit of the drive unit. For this reason, simultaneous operation of the operation unit and the drive unit can be prevented. As a result, the conveyance object does not perform an unintended operation due to simultaneous operation of the operation unit and the drive unit.

Further, in the conveyance assisting device, the detection unit is a limit switch, and the drive unit includes a movable member that turns on the limit switch when the operation unit is integrated with the drive unit. It is good.
In this case, when the operation unit is integrated with the drive unit, the movable member is displaced and the limit switch is turned on, and the integration of the operation unit and the drive unit is detected. Integration of the operation unit and the drive unit can be detected by physical contact between the movable member and the limit switch.

In the conveyance auxiliary device, the drive unit includes a unit cover, and the movable member is provided on the movable member main body, the movable member main body displaceable with respect to the unit cover, and It is good also as a structure provided with the latching | locking part stopped.
In this case, when the operation unit is integrated with the drive unit, even if the movable member is inclined with respect to the unit cover, the movable member is inclined by the locking portion of the movable member being locked to the unit cover. It is suppressed. For this reason, excessive inclination of the movable member is prevented, and the limit switch can be turned on by the movable member when the operation unit is integrated with the drive unit.

Further, in the conveyance auxiliary device described above, the control unit may be configured to disable the operation by the operation unit and the drive unit when the operation unit and the drive unit are detached from the conveyance object. .
In this case, when the operation unit and the drive unit are removed from the conveyance target, the drive unit is not driven even if the operation unit and the drive unit are operated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drive unit from being removed from the conveyance object.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the conveyance assistance apparatus which can prevent simultaneous operation of an operation unit and a drive unit can be provided.

It is a perspective view of the bed and bed conveyance auxiliary device concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the operation unit of a bed conveyance auxiliary device. It is a block block diagram of a bed conveyance auxiliary device. It is a front view of the principal part of the drive unit of a bed conveyance auxiliary device. It is a front view which fractures | ruptures and shows a part of drive unit. (A) It is a front view which shows the state in which the operation unit was integrated with the drive unit, (b) is a front view which shows the state in which the movable member inclined.

  Hereinafter, the conveyance auxiliary device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The conveyance auxiliary device of the present embodiment is a bed conveyance auxiliary device that assists in conveying a bed as a conveyance object.

  A bed 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a bed for transporting a patient in a hospital or the like, for example. The bed 10 includes a bed body 11 and a frame body 12 that supports the bed body 11. A mattress 13 is placed on the bed body 11. The frame body 12 has four casters 14. The casters 14 are respectively arranged at the four corners of the frame body 12. The caster 14 can freely rotate around a vertical axis with respect to the frame body 12. A headboard 15 is erected at one end of the bed main body 11, and a footboard 16 is erected at the other end opposite to the one end of the bed main body 11. The bed 10 can be moved by the operation of one nurse N.

  The bed conveyance auxiliary device 20 includes an operation unit 21 that is detachably attached to the headboard 15 via an attachment (not shown), and a drive unit 22 that is detachably attached to the other end of the bed 10. Have. The bed transport assisting device 20 can freely transport the bed 10 by a simple operation with a slight force by the operation of the drive unit 22, and reduces the burden of transporting the bed 10 by the nurse N. It is. In FIG. 1, the nurse N operates the bed conveyance assisting device 20 with the drive unit 22 side in the bed 10 being the front and the operation unit 21 side in the bed 10 being the rear.

  The operation unit 21 can operate the conveyance of the bed 10 by the drive unit 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 21 includes an operation unit main body 23 and a mounting mechanism 24 that allows the operation unit main body 23 to be attached to and detached from the head board 15. The operation unit main body 23 includes a long member 25 and grips 26 and 27 supported near both ends of the long member 25. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the operation unit 21 is mounted on the head board 15, the grip 26 is gripped by one hand (right) of the nurse N, and the grip 27 is the other hand of the nurse N. It is gripped by the hand (left hand).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 21 is provided with strain sensors 28 and 29 such as strain gauges corresponding to the grips 26 and 27, respectively. The strain sensor 28 detects the amount of strain generated in the grip 26, and the strain sensor 29 detects the amount of strain generated in the grip 27. The operation unit 21 includes a communication unit 30 for communicating with the drive unit 22 by radio. Therefore, the operation unit 21 can communicate with the drive unit 22. The communication unit 30 is electrically connected to the strain sensors 28 and 29. The strain sensors 28 and 29 transmit detection signals corresponding to the direction and magnitude corresponding to the force applied to the grips 26 and 27.

  The mounting mechanism 24 is provided near both ends of the long member 25. The mounting mechanism 24 has a plate member 31. The plate member 31 is a bent metal plate and can be locked to the upper end portion of the head board 15 of the bed 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 21 includes a mounting sensor 32 that detects that the plate member 31 is locked to the head board 15. The wearing sensor 32 is connected to the communication unit 30. Due to the locking of the plate member 31 to the head board 15, the mounting sensor 32 detects that the operation unit 21 is mounted on the bed 10 and transmits a signal.

  Next, the drive unit 22 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the drive unit 22 includes a unit cover 33. A steerable drive wheel 34 is provided at the lower end of the drive unit 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the drive unit 22 includes a drive motor 35 that drives the drive wheels 34 and a steering motor 36 that steers the drive wheels 34. The drive unit 22 includes a plurality of casters 37 that roll freely in addition to the drive wheels 34. In FIG. 1, one caster 37 among the plurality of casters 37 is illustrated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drive unit 22 includes a control unit 38 that controls the drive motor 35 and the steering motor 36, and a communication unit 39 that performs wireless communication with the operation unit 21. The drive unit 22 includes a steering angle sensor 40 that detects the steering angle of the drive wheel 34, and an operation unit 41 for operating the drive unit 22 without using the operation unit 21. The control unit 38 is electrically connected to the drive motor 35, the steering motor 36, the communication unit 39, the steering angle sensor 40, and the operation unit 41.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the operation unit 41 of the present embodiment is provided near the upper portion of the drive unit 22. The operation unit 41 includes a power button 42 for switching power on and off in the drive unit 22, movement buttons 43, 44, 45, 46 for moving the drive unit 22 in the front-rear direction and the width direction of the bed 10, and the bed body Elevating buttons 47 and 48 for elevating 11 with respect to the frame body 12 are provided. The movement buttons 43 and 44 are buttons for moving the drive unit 22 in the front-rear direction of the bed 10, and the movement buttons 45 and 46 are buttons for moving the drive unit 22 in the left-right direction of the bed 10.

  In the present embodiment, the upper surface portion 49 of the unit cover 33 is a surface on which the operation unit 21 is placed as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface portion 49 is provided with an opening 50. The shape of the opening 50 in plan view is substantially rectangular. The opening 50 is provided with a movable member 51 that is displaced downward when the operation unit 21 is placed on the upper surface 49. That is, the movable member 51 can be displaced up and down with respect to the unit cover 33. The movable member 51 includes a plate-shaped movable member main body 52, a protrusion 53 protruding downward on the back surface of the movable member main body 52, and a latch that is locked to the unit cover 33 even when the movable member 51 is inclined. Part 54. The shape of the movable member main body 52 in plan view is a substantially rectangular shape following the outline of the opening 50. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 can be integrated by placing the operation unit 21 on the upper surface portion 49. By integrating the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22, the nurse N can easily move the bed conveyance assisting device 20 (the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22).

  The protrusion 53 is a part for operating a limit switch 55 described below. The locking portion 54 is formed downward from the back surface in the vicinity of the short side of the movable member main body 52. The locking part 54 has a locking surface 54A. When the movable member 51 is inclined for some reason and the short side of the movable member main body 52 is likely to jump out of the opening 50, the locking surface 54A is locked to the inner wall of the unit cover 33. Therefore, even if the movable member main body 52 is inclined for some reason, the locking portion 54 is locked to the inner wall of the unit cover 33 and restricts the inclination of the movable member main body 52. Further, the locking portion 54 is displaced downward by placing the operation unit 21 even when the movable member 51 remains in an inclined state, thereby ensuring the operation of the limit switch 55.

  A limit switch 55 is provided below the movable member 51 in the unit cover 33. The limit switch 55 corresponds to a detection unit and is supported by a bracket (not shown). A movable body 57 that moves up and down is provided on the upper surface of the switch case 56 of the limit switch 55. The movable body 57 faces the protrusion 53 of the movable member 51. The movable body 57 is displaced downward by the pushing of the protruding portion 53, but is biased upward so as to return to the original position when the pushing of the protruding portion 53 is released. When the protrusion 53 is pushed in, the limit switch is turned on and an on signal is transmitted, and when the protrusion 53 is released, the limit switch is turned off and an off signal is transmitted. A cylindrical guide member 58 surrounding the movable body 57 and the protrusion 53 is attached to the switch case 56. The guide member 58 mainly functions as a guide for the protrusion 53 and the movable body 57 and also has a function of protecting the protrusion 53 and the movable body 57.

  Next, the operation of the bed conveyance auxiliary device 20 of this embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, a state in which the operation unit 21 is appropriately mounted on the headboard 15 and the drive unit 22 is fixed to the footboard 16 side of the bed 10 via an attachment will be described. When the operation unit 21 is properly mounted on the headboard 15, the control unit 38 of the drive unit 22 receives a signal for detecting mounting from the mounting sensor 32. In this state, the control unit 38 performs control to enable operation of the operation unit 21 and disable operation of the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22. Specifically, the functions of the buttons 42 to 48 in the operation unit 41 are stopped. Even if two nurses N exist and try to operate each of the operation unit 41 and the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22 simultaneously, the operation unit 41 cannot operate the bed conveyance assisting device 20.

  The conveyance assistance with respect to the bed 10 of the bed conveyance auxiliary device 20 is performed, for example, when the nurse N operates the operation unit 21. Regarding the operation of the operation unit 21, when the nurse N pushes both grips 26 and 27 forward, the bed 10 moves forward. When the grip 26 held by the right hand of the nurse N is pushed forward and the left hand grip 27 is not pushed forward, the drive unit 22 moves to the left as seen from the nurse N. Conversely, when the grip 27 is pushed forward and the grip 26 is not pushed forward, the drive unit 22 moves to the right when the bed 10 is viewed from the nurse N.

  Next, a state where the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 are integrated will be described. When the operation unit 21 removed from the headboard 15 by the nurse N is placed on the upper surface 49 of the drive unit 22 from the state of FIG. 4, the movable member 51 is displaced downward along the guide member 58. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the movable member 51 is displaced downward, the movable body 57 is pushed by the protrusion 53. When the movable body 57 is pushed, the limit switch 55 is turned on, and an on signal is transmitted.

  When the control unit 38 receives the ON signal of the limit switch 55, the control unit 38 controls the operation unit 21 so that the operation unit 21 cannot be operated. Specifically, the functions of the strain sensors 28 and 29 of the operation unit 21 are stopped. The control unit 38 receives the ON signal of the limit switch 55 and performs control that enables operation by the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22. Therefore, the conveyance assistance with respect to the bed 10 of the bed conveyance auxiliary device 20 is performed, for example, when the nurse N operates the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22. Specifically, the nurse N pushes the movement buttons 43 and 44 to move the bed 10 in the front-rear direction, or pushes the movement buttons 45 and 46 to move in the left-right direction. Even if two nurses N exist and try to operate each of the operation unit 21 and the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22 simultaneously, the operation unit 21 cannot operate the bed conveyance assisting device 20.

  The movable body 57 returns to the original position when the operation unit 21 is removed from the upper surface portion 49 and the projection 53 is released. As the movable body 57 returns to the original position, the limit switch 55 is turned off and an off signal is transmitted. The control unit 38 receives the off signal and recognizes that the integration of the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 has been released. The control unit 38 disables the operation by the operation unit 21 until the operation unit 21 is mounted on the headboard 15 of the bed 10 and enables the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22 to be operated. That is, the operation by the operation unit 21 is not possible until it is properly mounted on the bed 10 and the mounting sensor 32 transmits a detection signal.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, even if the movable member 51 is inclined for some reason, the movable member 54 is brought into contact with the inner wall of the unit cover 33 by the locking surface 54 </ b> A of the locking portion 54. The inclination of 51 is suppressed. Since excessive tilting of the movable member 51 is prevented, when the operation unit 21 is placed on the upper surface portion 49 of the drive unit 22, the tilted movable member 51 is reliably displaced downward, and the limit switch 55 is turned on. Note that when the drive unit 22 is detached from the bed 10, the control unit 38 performs control so that neither the operation unit 21 nor the drive unit 22 can be operated.

(1) When the limit switch 55 as the detection unit detects that the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 are integrated, the control unit 38 makes the operation by the operation unit 21 impossible and the operation unit 41 of the drive unit 22. The operation by is enabled. For this reason, simultaneous operation of the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 can be prevented. As a result, the bed 10 that is the conveyance object does not perform an unintended operation due to the simultaneous operation of the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22.

(2) When the operation unit 21 is integrated with the drive unit 22, the movable member 51 is displaced and the limit switch 55 is turned on, and the integration of the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 is detected. Integration of the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 can be detected by physical contact between the movable member 51 and the limit switch 55.

(3) When the operation unit 21 is integrated with the drive unit 22, the locking portion 54 of the movable member 51 is locked to the unit cover 33 even if the movable member 51 is inclined with respect to the unit cover 33. Thus, the inclination of the movable member 51 is suppressed. For this reason, the excessive inclination of the movable member 51 is prevented, and the limit switch 55 can be turned on by the movable member 51 when the operation unit 21 is integrated with the drive unit 22.

(4) When the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 are removed from the bed 10, even if the operation unit 21 and the drive unit 22 are operated, the drive unit 22 is not driven. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the drive unit 22 from being removed from the bed 10.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, the following modifications may be made.

In the above embodiment, an example of a bed as a transport object has been described, but the transport object is not limited to a bed. The transport object may be, for example, a transport cart for cargo transport, and the transport assist device of the present invention can be applied to this type of transport cart.
○ In the above embodiment, the operation unit and the drive unit are integrated by placing the operation unit on the upper surface of the drive unit. However, the operation unit and the drive unit are integrated. It is not limited to placing the unit on the upper surface of the drive unit. For example, the operation unit and the drive unit may be integrated by hanging the operation unit from the drive unit or inserting the operation unit into the drive unit.
In the above embodiment, the detection unit is a limit switch, but the detection unit is not limited to a limit switch. The detection unit may be a piezoelectric switch, or may be a capacitance switch or an optical non-contact sensor.
In the above embodiment, the movable member is provided on the unit cover of the drive unit. The movable member only needs to be configured to at least turn on the limit switch by integrating the operation unit and the drive unit, and the shape of the movable member and the position where the movable member is provided are not particularly limited.
In the above embodiment, the operation unit is mounted on the headboard and the drive unit is fixed on the footboard side. However, the operation unit may be mounted on the footboard and the drive unit may be fixed on the headboard side. In addition, although the nurse operates the conveyance assist device, this is not restrictive, and it does not prevent anyone other than the nurse from operating the conveyance assist device.

10 Bed 20 Bed transport assist device 21 Operation unit 22 Drive unit 33 Unit cover 34 Steering wheel 35 Drive motor 36 Steering motor 38 Control unit 41 Operation unit 42 Power button 43, 44, 45, 46 Move button 47, 48 Lift button 49 Upper surface Part 50 opening 51 movable member 52 movable member main body 53 projection part 54 locking part 55 limit switch 57 movable body

Claims (4)

The object to be transported;
A drive unit that is provided in the transport object and has an operation unit that operates transport of the transport object;
In the conveyance auxiliary device comprising the operation unit that is detachable with respect to the conveyance object, is operable to convey the conveyance object, and can communicate with the drive unit.
The operation unit can be integrated with the drive unit,
The drive unit includes a detection unit that detects integration with the operation unit;
And a control unit that disables the operation by the operation unit and enables the operation by the operation unit based on the detection indicating the integration of the drive unit and the operation unit. A conveyance auxiliary device. The detection unit is a limit switch,
The conveyance auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes a movable member that turns on the limit switch when the operation unit is integrated with the drive unit. The drive unit includes a unit cover,
The movable member includes a movable member main body that is displaceable with respect to the unit cover, and an engaging portion that is provided on the movable member main body and is engaged with the unit cover. The conveyance auxiliary device as described.   4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit disables the operation by the operation unit and the drive unit when the operation unit and the drive unit are detached from the transport target. The conveyance auxiliary device according to one item.

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