JPS6366751B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a container connecting device that interposes between upper and lower containers and connects both containers when the containers are stacked one above the other.

(Prior Art) As a conventional container coupling device, the container coupling device is placed on the lower container, the upper container is stacked on top of the container coupling device, and the engaging portion of the container coupling device is inserted into the engagement hole of the upper and lower containers. Some devices have a structure in which the engaging portion is rotated to engage after being inserted. Then, to rotate the engaging portion,
An arm rod is made to protrude outward from the engaging portion, and the arm rod is rotated by being strongly struck sideways.

Furthermore, as a container coupling device, the applicant has filed an application for a container coupling device according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 1983-48432. This container connecting device has a diagonal groove formed in the shaft rod, a ring inserted between the inner surface of the main body and the shaft rod, and a protrusion inwardly and a locking rod outwardly from this ring. protrude and engage the protrusion with the diagonal groove,
Automatic engagement is achieved by engaging the locking rod with the peripheral edge of the engagement hole of the container.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the former case, each arm rod must be tapped one by one in order to engage the engaging portions, which is laborious and time consuming. There was a loss both physically and financially.

In addition, in the latter case, the arm rod and locking rod protrude, so there are many protruding parts.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art and aims to provide another means that can be automatically engaged. An upper fitting part is formed on the lower surface of the main body to position the main body by fitting into the engagement hole of the lower container. , a main shaft rod passing through both fitting parts is rotatably provided on the main body, an upper engaging part is provided at the upper end of the main shaft rod, a lower engaging part is provided at the lower end, and the main shaft rod is in the first rotational position or When in the third rotational position, the lower engaging part is aligned with the lower fitting part and can be freely inserted into and removed from the engagement hole of the lower container, and when the main shaft rod is in the second rotational position, the lower The engaging part faces in a direction intersecting the lower fitting part and engages with the engaging hole of the lower container, and the lower engaging part engages the container with the main shaft lever in the second rotation position. It has a shape that is forcibly rotated to the third rotation position when inserted into the hole and pressed.
A drive shaft rod having a rotation transmission means between the main shaft rod and the main shaft rod is provided perpendicularly to the main shaft rod, and an operating lever is provided at one end of the drive shaft rod that protrudes to the outside of the main body, and the operating lever is in a release position and an engaged position. When the operating lever is in the release position, the main shaft lever is in the first rotational position, and when the operating lever is rotated to the engaged position, the main shaft lever is rotated to the second rotational position, and the operating lever is rotated to the second rotational position. When the lever is stopped in the engaged position, the main shaft rod is freely rotatable relative to the drive shaft rod, and a resilient body is provided in the main body, and the resilient body moves the main shaft from the third rotational position to the second rotational position. It is characterized by resiliently biasing in the direction of the rotational position.

(Function) Since the present invention operates as described above, when the drive shaft lever is rotated using the operating lever and the upper engaging portion is placed in the intermediate rotation position, the upper engaging portion can be freely inserted into and removed from the engaging hole of the upper container. In this state, insert it into the engagement hole of the upper container and rotate the operating lever to the engagement position. When the operating lever is rotated to the engaged position,
The main shaft lever is in the second rotational position, and the upper engagement portion engages with the engagement hole of the upper container. Further, although the main shaft rod can rotate relative to the drive shaft rod, it remains at the second rotational position due to the elastic force of the elastic body. In this state, lift the upper container and place it on the lower container. Since the main shaft rod is in the second rotational position, the lower engagement part intersects with the engagement hole of the lower container, but when the weight of the upper container is added, the lower engagement part moves from the second rotational position to the third rotational position. It is forcibly rotated to the rotated position and inserted into the engagement hole of the lower container. At this time, the projectile is being elastically deformed, so
When it is inserted and completely fitted, the main shaft rod is rotated back from the third rotation position to the second rotation position by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body, and the lower engagement part is inserted into the engagement hole of the lower container. engage with.

Next, when removing, rotate the operating lever to the release position, the main shaft rod will be rotated to the first rotation position, the lower engaging part and the lower fitting part will match, and the lower container will be engaged. It can be inserted into and removed from the matching hole.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a container coupling device 3 is interposed between an upper container 1 and a lower container 2, and the structure of the container coupling device 3 is shown in FIG. 2 and subsequent figures.

The container coupling device 3 is configured by rotatably combining a main body 4 and a main shaft 7 having an upper engagement portion 5 and a lower engagement portion 6 above and below.

The main body 4 has a flat upper surface 4a and a lower surface 4b, and is provided with an upper fitting part 8 and a lower fitting part 9, respectively. The upper fitting part 8 fits into the engagement hole 10 of the upper container 1 to position the main body 4 with respect to the upper container 1, while the lower fitting part 9 fits into the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 2. They fit together to perform a positioning action with respect to the lower container 2 of the main body 4, and each engages with the engaging hole 1.
It has a planar shape and height corresponding to 0 and 11. A through hole 12 is provided in the main body 4 so as to pass vertically through the center portions of the fitting portions 8 and 9, and a main shaft rod 7 is rotatably provided in the through hole 12. The main body 4 has a divided structure that can be divided into left and right parts at the left and right center 14, and both divided parts 13a, 13
b is integrally fixed by a fastener 40 such as a bolt. Note that the main body 4 may be integrated and the main shaft 7 may be divided.

The upper engaging portion 5 engages with the engaging hole 10 of the upper container 1 and has a planar shape corresponding to the upper fitting portion 8, and as the main shaft rod 7 rotates, the upper surface 8a of the upper fitting portion 8 It is designed to slide and rotate. The upper engaging portion 5 is configured so that the main shaft 7 is in the first rotational position A (the position shown in FIG. 8) and the second rotational position B (the 10th rotational position).
When it is in the intermediate rotational position C (the position shown in Figure 9) of the position shown in the figure, it is not engaged with the engagement hole 10 of the upper container 1 in a freely insertable and removable manner, while it is in the first rotational position A or the second rotational position B. When it is in the position, it is adapted to engage with the engagement hole 10.

The lower engagement part 6 engages with the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 2, and has a planar shape corresponding to the lower engagement part 9, and as the main shaft rod 7 rotates, the lower engagement part 6 engages with the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 2. It is provided so as to slide and rotate on the lower surface 9a of the portion 9. The lower engaging portion 6 engages the lower engaging portion 9 when the main shaft rod 7 is in the first rotational position A (the position shown in FIG. 8) or the third rotational position D (the position shown in FIG. 11).
, the main shaft rod 7 is in the second rotational position B (the first
0 position), it is adapted to engage with the engagement hole 11.

Further, the cone portion 6a at the tip of the lower fitting portion 6 is formed in a shape that allows for smooth insertion and forcibly rotates the main shaft rod 7 when it is inserted into the engagement hole 11. . That is, the cone portion 6a of the lower engaging portion 6 has a tapered slope 61 whose front and rear (longitudinal direction) surfaces taper from the base end to the tip, with the front side in FIG. 4 being the front and the rear being the rear. , 62, and a right downward sloping surface 65 that slopes from the left side proximal end 63 to the right side tip 64 is formed in the rear approximately half part, and the front approximately half part is formed with
Conversely, a left downward slope 68 is formed that slopes from the right side base end 66 to the left side tip 67, and the cone portion 6a has an axially symmetrical shape.

Then, when the lower engaging part 6 is inserted into the engaging hole 11 from above and pressed while the main shaft rod 7 is in the second rotational position B, the cone part 6a at the tip of the lower engaging part 6 engages. It is guided by the matching hole 11, rotates in the direction of arrow X (see FIG. 10), and rotates to a third rotation position D. The third rotational position D is the first
It is located at a position rotated by 180° with respect to rotational position A.

In this embodiment, the upper engaging part 5 and the lower engaging part 6 are in a twisted relationship, and when the main shaft rod 7 is at the first rotational position A, the upper engaging part 5 is in the engaging hole. 10, and the lower engaging part 6 is in a position where it can be freely inserted into and removed from the engagement hole 11. As another example, the upper engaging part 5 and the lower engaging part 6 are formed in a parallel state, so that the upper engaging part 5 and the lower engaging part 6 are removed from the engaging holes 10 and 11 at the same time. It's okay. At this time, when the upper container 1 is lifted by setting the operating lever 20 (described later) to the release position E, the container coupling device 3 does not follow the upper container 1 and remains on the lower container 2.

Further, inside the main body 4, as shown in FIG. It has a sliding portion 17 formed therein.

A drive shaft rod 18 for driving the main shaft rod 7 is provided in the insertion hole 16 perpendicularly to the main shaft rod 7.
8 has a proximal end 18a rotatably supported by a bearing 19, a distal end 18b protruding to the outside of the main body 4, and an operating lever 20 is provided on this. The operating lever 20 is rotatable between a release position E and an engagement position F, as shown in FIG. In addition, these position restrictions are performed by the stopper pin 28 provided on the main body 4 and the locking pin 27 of the main shaft lever 7.
(described later).

A rotation transmission means 21 is provided between the main shaft rod 7 and the drive shaft rod 18. The rotation transmission means 21 consists of a drive gear 22 provided between the drive shafts 18 and a driven gear 23 provided on the main shaft rod 7, and these gears 22 and 23 are helical gears. There is. The drive gear 22 has a toothless portion 22a in part, and meshes with the driven gear 23 while the operation lever 20 is turned from the release position E to the engagement position F, but when the operation lever 20 is in the engagement position F. does not mesh with the driven gear 23 so that the main shaft lever 7 can rotate freely. In addition, the toothless portion 22a
A locking protrusion 24 is provided at the end of the driven gear 23, while a toothless portion 23a corresponding to the locking protrusion 24 is provided in a part of the driven gear 23, thereby limiting the range in which the main shaft rod 7 can rotate freely. is regulated. That is, when the main shaft rod 7 is in the second rotational position B, one end 25 of the toothless portion 23a engages with the locking protrusion 24, so that it cannot freely rotate any further in the direction of arrow Y. . Note that by rotating the operating lever 20 from the release position E to the engagement position F, the main shaft 7 moves from the first rotation position A to the second rotation position B.
rotated until.

A compression spring 26 is slidably provided on the sliding portion 17 as an elastic body, and the compression spring 26
The base end 26a of 6 is supported in contact with the drive shaft rod 18, while the tip 26b is locked to the locking pin 27 of the main shaft rod 7, and the main shaft rod 7 is rotated from the third rotation position D to the second rotation. It is designed to be resiliently biased in the direction of position B, that is, in the direction of arrow Y. The locking pin 27 is provided so as to abut and lock on the drive shaft rod 18 when the main shaft rod 7 is in the first rotational position A.

Next, the operating procedure for connecting the containers 1 and 2 using the container connecting device 3 will be explained.

The operating lever 20 of the container coupling device 3 is moved to an intermediate position G between the release position E and the engagement position F (see FIG. 4), and the main shaft lever 7 is brought to an intermediate rotational position C (see FIG. 9). At this time, the upper engaging part 5 overlaps with the upper fitting part 8.

In this state, connect the upper engaging part 5 to the upper container 1.
into the engagement hole 10 of
Rotate until. Then, while the driving gear 22 and the driven gear 23 are meshing, the main shaft 7 is moved to the second position.
It is rotated to rotational position B, and the upper engaging portion 5 engages with the engaging hole 10 (see FIG. 10). At this time,
The driven gear 23 is the toothless portion 2 of the drive gear 22.
2a, and can freely rotate in the direction of arrow X.

Upper container 1 is placed on lower container 2. Then, the lower engaging part 6 is inserted into the engaging hole 11 of the lower container 2 due to the weight of the container 1, and at this time, the cone part 6a of the lower engaging part 6
is guided into the engagement hole 11, and the main shaft rod 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow X (see FIG. 10) while compressing the compression spring 26 against the elastic force of the compression spring 26.

By the above operation, the lower engaging part 6 is connected to the engaging hole 11.
When inserted, the main shaft rod 7 rotates to the third rotational position D (see FIG. 11), and when it is further inserted and completely inserted, the lower engaging portion 6 engages with the engaging hole 11.
The guided state is released and the state becomes freely rotatable. In other words, the main shaft 7 is at the third rotational position D.
After being rotated up to this point, it will be rotated in the opposite direction Y by the restoring force of the compression spring 26, and will return to the second rotational position B, where the lower engagement portion 6 will engage with the engagement hole 11. .

To release the locked state, the operating lever 20 is rotated from the engagement position F to the release position E using an operating rod (not shown).

When the operating lever 20 is rotated toward the release position E, the drive gear 22 meshes with the driven gear 23, and the main shaft lever 7 rotates in the direction of arrow Y and returns to the first rotation position A. At this time, the lower engaging portion 6
can be freely inserted into and removed from the engagement hole 11 of the lower container 2. In addition, in the embodiment, since the upper engaging portion 5 engages with the engaging hole 10 of the upper container 1 at this time,
When the upper container 1 is lifted up, the coupling device 3 is lifted together, and after the container 1 is lowered onto land, the upper engagement portion 5 is removed and the coupling device 3 is removed.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, the engaging operation of the engaging portion with the engaging hole of the container can be automatically performed by placing the upper container on the lower container while the container connecting device is engaged with the upper container. , the only protruding part is the operating lever.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the state of use of an embodiment of the coupling device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the coupling device seen from below, Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the same, FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the same, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 8 to 11 are sectional views of the same essential parts for explaining the operation. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2... Container, 3... Container coupling device, 4... Main body, 5... Upper engaging part, 6... Lower engaging part, 7... Main shaft lever, 8... Upper fitting part, 9...
...Lower fitting part, 10, 11...Engagement hole, 17...
Sliding part, 18... Drive shaft lever, 20... Operation lever, 21... Rotation transmission means, 26... Elastic body (compression spring), A... First rotation position, B... Second rotation position , D...Third rotation position, E...Release position, F...Engagement position.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container connecting device for connecting an upper container and a lower container each having engaging holes at opposite positions, the device comprising: a container connecting device that connects an upper container and a lower container, each having an engaging hole in the upper container on the upper surface of the main body; An upper fitting part is formed to position the main body, a lower fitting part is formed on the lower surface of the main body to fit into the engagement hole of the lower container to position the main body, and a main shaft passes through both fitting parts. A rod is rotatably provided in the main body, an upper engaging part is provided at the upper end of the main shaft rod, and a lower engaging part is provided at the lower end of the main shaft rod, and when the main shaft rod is in the first rotation position or the third rotation position, the lower The side engaging part matches the lower fitting part and can be freely inserted into and removed from the engaging hole of the lower container, and when the main shaft rod is in the second rotation position, the lower engaging part matches the lower fitting part. The lower engaging part is inserted into the engaging hole of the container and pressed while the main shaft lever is in the second rotation position. It has a shape that is forcibly rotated to the rotation position, and a drive shaft rod having a rotation transmission means between the main shaft rod and the main shaft rod is installed perpendicularly to the main shaft rod, and an operating lever is attached to one end of the drive shaft rod that protrudes to the outside of the main body. is provided, the operating lever is rotatable between a released position and an engaged position, and when the operating lever is in the released position, the main shaft is in the first position.
When the control lever is in the rotation position and the operating lever is rotated to the engaged position, the main shaft rod rotates to the second rotation position, and when the operating lever is stopped in the engaged position, the main shaft rod can freely rotate relative to the drive shaft rod. A container coupling device, characterized in that an elastic body is provided in the main body, and the elastic body elastically biases the main shaft rod from the third rotation position toward the second rotation position.