JPH06255302A - Caster system provided with caster for steering - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a caster system provided with a caster for steering of a bed or the like, the operability of which for movement is improved. CONSTITUTION:Casters 3 are provided on both end parts of the longitudinal side frame 2L of a base frame 2 in a carriage 1, and the casters 3 opposed to one another in the direction of the shorter side of the base frame 2, are connected together by a lock operation interlocking rod 4, to support an interlocking tube 5 along the longitudinal center shaft of the base frame 2 so that the tube 5 can be rotated. A caster 6 for steering is mounted on the intermediate point of the interlocking tube 5, while the rotational operation means 7 of the caster 6 for steering are mounted on both end parts of the interlocking tube 5. The interlocking tube 5 and the lock operation interlocking rod 4 are connected together by an interlocking link 9, to interlock and rotate the lock operation interlocking rod 4 along with the movement of the interlocking tube 5. Since a locked condition, a straight running condition, or direction change can thus be achieved without increasing the number of operations, the operability and the handiness can be drastically achieved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a caster system equipped with a caster for steering which is applicable to a bed or an article transport cart.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a locker is provided on a caster of a cart of an article transporting cart such as a bed. When the cart is transported to a desired location, the locker is actuated to lock the caster, and the bed or the like. Is fixed so that it will not move. It is desirable that the caster lock mechanism in such a dolly be configured so that all the lock mechanisms can be locked by a single operation because the operation is easy.

[0003]

However, when a caregiver, especially a nurse alone, moves the bed or the like to a desired location, there is a serious problem. It is an operation to change the moving direction of the bed. This is because first of all, the so-called swinging motion of the casters is restrained, the straightness is secured and the bed or the like is pushed, and when changing the direction of the bed, only one wheel is locked and the one wheel is changed in direction. This is because the remaining casters are rotated as the center of rotation at that time to change the direction. In this case, the end of the bed is grabbed and moved, but since the caster on the fixed side is the center of rotation and the distance from the caster on the fixed side to the end of the bed to be operated is the turning radius, the direction change force Can be small, but the carrier must make a large turn (see FIG. 7). On the contrary, when trying to move the caster on the fixed side, a large force is required (see FIG. 8). Therefore, the applicant of the present invention can perform the direction changing operation without providing a radius of rotation and a force for changing the direction by providing a center of rotation (center of gravity) at the center of the bed (center of gravity). We came to the point of view (see Figure 9). At that time, all the casters for movement can be locked / unlocked by a single operation means without increasing the number of operations.
The problem was to make the mechanism act as a center of rotation as needed. The present invention is based on such a problem, in the central portion of the trolley such as a bed, by providing a caster for changing the direction of grounding as necessary, without reducing the labor at the time of changing the direction and increasing the number of operating steps, It was proposed for the purpose of facilitating the operation of moving a bed or the like by one nurse alone.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a bogie having a base frame and casters provided with a locking mechanism, in which casters are arranged at both longitudinal end portions of the base frame. At the same time, the casters that face each other in the lateral direction of the base frame are linked by a lock operation interlocking rod to enable the lock mechanism of the casters to interlock, and the interlocking pipe can be rotated along the longitudinal center axis of the base frame. Supported by a steering caster at an intermediate point of the interlocking pipe, and rotating operation means for rotating the interlocking pipe are provided at both ends of the interlocking pipe to drive the locking operation interlocking rod and the interlocking pipe. The casters for steering are rotated by rotating the interlocking pipe while locking / unlocking the caster via the interlocking pipe and the lock operation interlocking rod by operating the rotary operation means. Or it is grounded on the surface, characterized by being configured to disengage from the floor.

[0005]

When the bed or the like having the carriage according to the present invention is placed at the storage position, the interlocking pipe is rotated by the operation of the rotating operation means, and the caster is kept in the locked state through the locking operation interlocking rod. Next, when the bed or the like is moved to the target location, the rotating operation means is operated to interlock the interlocking pipe and the lock operation interlocking rod to unlock the casters.
At this time, the steering casters are separated from the floor surface, and the bed or the like can be freely moved. At that time, if the caster is in a state in which the swinging motion is blocked,
The straightness of the bed is secured and it is easy to transport. When it becomes necessary to change the traveling direction while the bed or the like is being conveyed, the rotating operation means is operated to interlock the interlocking pipe, and the steering caster is grounded on the floor. To do. At this time, since the casters are unlocked and in a free state, the carrier rotates around the steering casters with the distance from the steering casters to the end of the bed or the like as the radius of rotation to change the direction. It can be done easily.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a caster system equipped with a caster for steering according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a carriage 1 such as a bed. This trolley 1 has a base frame 2 and casters 3 incorporating a lock mechanism (described later). The casters 3 are arranged at both ends of the longitudinal frame 2L of the base frame 2, and the casters 3 facing each other in the lateral direction of the base frame 2 are connected by a lock operation interlocking rod 4.
The lock mechanism of the caster 3 is configured to be interlockable.

Along the central axis of the base frame 2 in the longitudinal direction, the interlocking tube 5 is provided with a short side frame 2S of the base frame 2.
It is rotatably supported by. A steering caster 6 is attached to an intermediate point of the interlocking pipe 5. Further, rotation operation means 7 for rotating the interlocking pipe 5 to ground or retract the steering caster 6 is provided at both ends of the interlocking pipe 5. The rotating operation means 7 has a linear operation arm 8 whose middle portion is connected to the interlocking pipe 5 at a right angle, and the stepping step 8 is performed at both ends.
a and 8b are provided. Further, the interlocking tube 5 and the locking operation interlocking rod 4 intersect at a position where the interlocking tube 5 crosses.
And the lock operation interlocking rod 4 are connected by an interlocking link 9, and the interlocking pipe 5 is turned by the operation of the turning operation means 7, and the lock operation interlocking rod 4 is interlocked and turned around the axis.

Next, the structure of the caster 3 and the lock mechanism will be described with an example shown in FIG. Caster 3
Fixes a wheel support frame 11 supporting a wheel 10 so as to be pivotable under a support shaft 12, and a brake piece 13 whose tip is brought into contact with the wheel support frame 11 can be contacted and disengaged from the wheel 10. And the brake piece 13 is attached to the lower end of an operating rod 14 which is mounted on the support shaft 12 and is vertically movable.
The lock member 15 is provided to press the upper side of the. Also,
The actuating rod 14 is always urged upward by a spring 16, and a cam 17 for contacting the actuating rod 14 and pushing it downward against the elastic force of the spring 16 is arranged on the top of the support shaft 12. The cam 17 performs a turning operation about a turning shaft 18 that is coaxial with the lock operation interlocking rod 4 that connects the support shafts 12 of the casters 3. With such a configuration, the caster 3 rotates the cam 17 via the rotation shaft 18 by the rotation of the locking operation interlocking rod 4, pushes the operating rod 14 downward, and causes the lock member 15 to move the brake piece 13 to the wheel 10.
Having a function of pressing the wheel 10 to lock the wheel 10, a function of fixing turning of the wheel 10 with respect to the support shaft 12, a rotation of the wheel 10 itself, and a function of enabling turning of the wheel 10 with respect to the support shaft 12 as well. Is.

The steering caster 6 is a base frame 2
Midpoint of the interlocking tube 5 along the longitudinal central axis of
The support frame 19 is fixed at the center of gravity, and the spring members 20 in the support frame 19 elastically support the wheels 21 (see FIG. 5).

Here, the operation arm 8 of the rotating operation means 7
The relationship between the operating state of the lock mechanism of the caster 3 and the holding position of the steering caster 6 will be described. When the operating arm 8 is in the horizontal state, the caster 3 releases the lock mechanism and the wheels 10 rotate. And the support shaft 12 of the wheel 10
The turning of the steering caster 6 is fixed, while the steering caster 6 is in a position lifted from the floor surface. That is, when the operation arm 8 is in the horizontal state, the behavior of the carriage 1 is in a state where it can move straight (see FIGS. 1 and 6). When the operation arm 8 is depressed by depressing the stepping step 8a to rotate the operation arm 8 counterclockwise in the drawing, the lock mechanism of the caster 3 is actuated to be in the locked state, and the steering caster 6 is operated.
Is in a raised state in a horizontal position. That is,
When the operation arm 8 is rotationally displaced counterclockwise and tilted, the carriage 1 is in the locked state (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Further, depress the stepping step 8b of the operating arm 8 to
When the operating arm 8 is rotationally displaced in the clockwise direction in the drawing, the steering caster 6 is in a state of being grounded on the floor surface, and the caster 3
Is in a free state in which rotation of the wheel 10 itself and turning of the wheel 10 with respect to the support shaft 12 are possible. That is, when the operation arm 8 is rotationally displaced clockwise and is tilted, the trolley 1 is in a state in which the direction change operation can be performed around the steering caster 6 (see FIGS. 4 and 7).

The caster system including the casters for steering according to the present invention is constructed as described above.
Next, the operation will be described. When the bed including the trolley 1 having the above-mentioned caster system is placed in the storage position, the stepping step 8a of the operating arm 8 is stepped on, the operating arm 8 is rotationally displaced counterclockwise and tilted, and the caster is rotated. 3 is locked (see FIGS. 3 and 5).
By depressing step 8a, the interlocking pipe 5
Rotates to pull the interlocking link 9 downward, rotate the lock operation interlocking rod 4 to rotate the cam 17 via the rotating shaft 18, push the actuation rod 14 downward, and lock the brake piece 13 by the lock member 15. The wheel 10 can be locked by pressing it against the wheel 10.

Next, when the bed is moved to the target location, the step 8b of depressing the operation arm 8 is depressed to return the operation arm 8 to the horizontal state. Since the interlocking tube 5 rotates and pushes the interlocking link 9 upward, the locking operation interlocking rod 4 rotates, and the cam 17 rotates via the rotating shaft 18, so that the operating rod 1
4 can be released and the elastic force of the spring 16 can return the actuating rod 14 upward to disengage it from the lock member 15, release the brake piece 13 from the wheel 10, and unlock the wheel 10. At this time, in the caster 3, the wheels 10 themselves can rotate, and the turning of the wheels 10 with respect to the support shaft 12 can be fixed. Further, since the steering casters 6 are separated from the floor surface, the bed can be moved while ensuring straightness (see FIGS. 1 and 6).

When it becomes necessary to change the traveling direction in the passage while the bed or the like is being conveyed, the stepping step 8b of the operation arm 8 is depressed (FIG. 4).
reference). Since the operating arm 8 is rotationally displaced clockwise to rotate the interlocking pipe 5 and push the interlocking link 9 upward, the locking operation interlocking rod 4 is interlockedly rotated, and the steering caster 6 is in a state of being grounded on the floor surface. Become. At this time, even if the floor surface is uneven, the wheels 21 of the steering casters 6 can be grounded by the spring member 20 following the floor surface (see FIG. 7).
In addition, the caster 3 rotates the wheel 10 itself and the wheel 10
Since the carrier is in a free state in which it can be swung with respect to the support shaft 12, the carrier rotates the bed around the steering caster 6 with the distance from the steering caster 6 to the bed end as the radius of rotation to change the direction. It can be done easily.

As described above, the operation arm 8 of the rotating operation means 7
By depressing left and right, the lock mechanisms of all the casters 3 are interlocked, and the wheels 21 of the steering casters 6 are also combined.
Can be grounded or disconnected,
The mechanism can be simply constructed without increasing the number of operations, and there is no problem in terms of operability and usability.

When the bed or the like is carried into the target location, the carrier depresses the stepping step 8a of the operating arm 8 to rotationally displace and tilt the operating arm 8 counterclockwise to bring the caster 3 into the locked state. To do.

[0016]

As described above, according to the cart having the caster system having the casters for steering which can be applied to the bed, the article transport cart, etc., without increasing the number of operation steps,
Locked and straight ahead, and the steering caster in the center allows for direction change operation without much turning radius and force for changing direction, so operability and usability There are great advantages in terms.

[0017]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a trolley to which a caster system including casters for steering according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an example of the casters shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of relevant parts showing a caster of the trolley shown in FIG. 1 in a locked state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining a main part of the trolley shown in FIG.

5 is a dolly shown in FIG. 3, viewed from line BB,
It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a rotation operation means and a caster for steering.

6 is a dolly shown in FIG. 1, viewed from line AA,
It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a rotation operation means and a caster for steering.

7 is a dolly shown in FIG. 4, viewed from the line C-C;
It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of a rotation operation means and a caster for steering.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of changing the direction of the bed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of changing the direction of the bed.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the concept of changing the direction of the bed according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 trolley 2 base frame 2L long side frame 2S short side frame 3 caster 4 lock operation interlocking rod 5 interlocking pipe 6 steering caster 7 turning operation means 8 operating arms 8a, 8b stepping step 9 interlocking link 10 wheel 11 wheel support frame 12 Support Shaft 13 Brake Piece 14 Actuating Rod 15 Lock Member 16 Spring 17 Cam 18 Rotating Shaft 19 Support Frame 20 Spring Member 21 Wheel

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A trolley having a base frame and casters provided with a lock mechanism, wherein casters are arranged at both ends of a longitudinal frame of the base frame, and casters facing each other in the lateral direction of the base frame, By connecting with a lock operation interlocking rod, the lock mechanism of the caster can be interlocked, the interlocking pipe is rotatably supported along the central axis of the base frame in the longitudinal direction, and the steering caster is attached to the intermediate point of the interlocking pipe. Rotating operation means for rotating the interlocking tube is provided at both ends of the interlocking tube, and the locking operation interlocking rod and the interlocking tube are dynamically connected to each other, and the interlocking tube and the lock are operated by the operation of the rotating operation means. While the casters are locked / unlocked via the operation interlocking rod, the interlocking pipe is rotated to ground the steering casters on the floor or to release it from the floor. A caster system with casters for steering.