KR101024850B1 - Device for controlling a castor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a caster control device capable of switching the operation mode of casters mounted on a moving body at one time. The caster control device of the present invention includes a link rotatably coupled to a plurality of levers for switching the operation mode of the caster, the link having a first engagement element, and a second engagement element engaged with the first engagement element. It may include a rotating body rotatable in the direction of movement of.

Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device, Medical Imaging Equipment, Cart, Caster, Pedal, Mobile Bed

Description

Caster Control Unit {DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A CASTOR}

The present invention relates to a caster control device, and more particularly, to a caster control device that can switch the operation mode of the casters coupled to a moving object such as medical equipment or a mobile bed at a time.

In general, casters or castors are wheels coupled to the base to easily move various equipment or cargo to a desired location. Types of casters can be divided into fixed type wheel arms with wheels mounted on the base, and movable type wheel wheels with rotatable wheels to determine the direction of movement. The caster having such a movable wheel arm can change the direction of the caster if the driver exerts a force in a desired direction.

The four casters may be mounted on the equipment or the cart for the movement of various equipment or cargo, and the two casters are configured not to change direction and the two casters are configured to change direction. In addition, in order to fix the position of the equipment and the like at a specific position, each caster may be provided with a control unit that can limit the rotation of the wheel and the direction of the caster. Typically, one operation unit is provided in the caster to limit the rotation of the wheel or to change the direction of the caster in accordance with the operation direction of the operation unit. In addition, a plurality of operation units may be provided in the casters to limit the rotation of the wheels or limit the direction of the casters by operating the corresponding operation unit according to the user's selection.

Medical equipment or movable beds, which are mainly used in hospitals, are frequently moved within the hospital for the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and should be stably positioned as necessary. For example, in the case of a mobile bed, it is necessary to fix the mobile bed in order to determine the patient's condition during the patient's transportation. In addition, the medical equipment can move and change the direction of the caster in general during the transfer, but the special medical equipment may only need to go straight if necessary. Therefore, the above-described casters may be mounted on the medical equipment or the movable bed for moving and fixing the medical equipment or the movable bed.

However, in the related art, in order to fix or move the position of the medical equipment or the mobile bed, there is a need to operate an operation unit provided in each caster. In particular, when an emergency occurs, there is a problem in that the delay of time due to such a hassle may worsen the symptoms of the patient. In addition, when the operation unit of each operation mode is provided separately, there is a problem that the user may cause a malfunction by confusing each operation unit.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a caster control device that can switch the operation mode of the casters coupled to the moving body at one time.

The caster control device of the present invention includes a link rotatably coupled to a plurality of levers for switching the operation mode of the caster, the link having a first engagement element, and a second engagement element engaged with the first engagement element. It may include a rotating body rotatable in the direction of movement of.

The rotating body includes a gear that rotates about the axis of rotation of the rotating body and a pedal that is coupled to the gear and rotates about the axis of rotation, wherein the second engagement element is a tooth of the gear and the first engagement element is a pin that engages it. It may be absent.

The pedal may be semiconical in shape and have at least one recess in the major surface, and the recess may have a slope that narrows inwardly of the semiconical shape.

According to the caster control device of the present invention, since the operation mode of the plurality of casters can be switched at once by rotating one pedal in one direction, the user can conveniently use and shorten the time required for the switching. In addition, by operating one pedal to switch the operation mode of the plurality of casters has the advantage that can be prevented from erroneous operation due to the confusion of the operation mode. By forming a recess in the pedal, the user can easily rotate the pedal. In addition, by constructing the recess wall surface of the pedal with a slope, the user can push and rotate the slope of the pedal.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the caster control apparatus of this invention is demonstrated in detail.

1 is a plan view of the caster control device of the present invention in a first mode. Referring to FIG. 1, the caster control device 100 of the present invention is rotatably coupled to a plurality of levers 111 for switching the operation mode of the caster 110 and has a link 120 having a first engagement element. And a rotating body having a second engagement element engaged with the first engagement element and rotatable in the direction of movement of the link 120. In this embodiment, the rotating body includes a gear 130 that rotates about the rotating shaft 143 of the rotating body and a pedal 140 coupled to the gear 130 and rotating about the rotating shaft 143, The second engagement element is the teeth 131a, 131b, teeth (hereinafter referred to as “gear”) of the gear 130 and the first engagement element is the pin member 121.

2 is a perspective view of the caster of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the caster 110 includes a lever 111 for controlling an operation mode, a bracket 112 for mounting on a medical device or a mobile bed, and a rotatable wheel 113. In addition, the caster 110 may be configured to enable the rotation of the wheel 113 and the direction of the caster 110. As the lever 111 rotates by a predetermined angle, the operation mode of the caster 110 is switched. Here, the initial position of the lever 111 and the operation mode of the caster 110 are determined at the time of manufacture of the caster 110, and the initial position and the operation mode may be variously modified. In the present application, the operation mode of the caster 110 is the first mode (see FIG. 1), which enables the rotation of the wheel 113 and the direction of the caster 110, and the caster 110, although the rotation of the wheel 113 is possible. It may include a second mode (see FIG. 6) is limited to the redirection of the direction, and a third mode (see FIG. 7) is limited to both the rotation of the wheel 113 and the direction of the caster 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, the link 120 is rotatably coupled to the levers 111 of both casters 110 by fastening means 122a and 122b. The pin member 121 protrudes upward or downward in the center of the longitudinal direction of the link 120. The pin member 121 may be integrally formed with the link 120, and the pin member 121 may be coupled to the link 120. Preferably, the first engagement element may be in the shape of a rack gear, not a pin shape.

3 is a plan view of the gear of FIG. 1. 5 is a perspective view of the pedal of FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the pedal of FIG. 1.

The gear 130 and the pedal 140 may be integrated, but may be separately manufactured and combined for the convenience of repair or replacement. Herein, a case in which the gear 130 and the pedal 140 are configured separately will be described. Referring to FIG. 3, the gear 130 is formed so that the gear teeth 131a and 131b engaged with the pin member 121, the through hole 132 through which the rotation shaft 143 passes, and the pedal 140 are coupled to each other. And an arm 133 having a fastening hole 134 formed therein. The gear 130 and the pedal 140 are rotatable about the rotation shaft 143, and the rotation shaft 143 is fixedly mounted to the moving body. When switching from the first mode to the second mode or the third mode, the gear teeth 131a and 131b mesh with the pin member 121 to move the link 120 in one direction.

4 and 5, the pedal 140 includes a fastening groove 141 coupled to the arm 133 of the gear 130, and a through hole 144 through which the rotation shaft 143 passes. Preferably, the pedal 140 is semi-conical and has at least one recess 142 in its major surface. However, the present invention is not limited to the semicone, and pedals such as cylindrical, triangular pyramid, and square pyramid may be applied. By forming the recess 142 in the pedal 140, the user can easily rotate the pedal 140 using the foot. More preferably, the recess 142 has a slope 145 narrowing inwardly of a semiconical shape. As the recess 142 has an inclined surface 145, the user can rotate the pedal 140 by diagonally rotating it.

6 is a plan view of the caster control device of the present invention in the second mode, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of the caster control device of the present invention in the third mode. Referring to Figures 1, 6 and 7, the operation of the caster control device of the present invention will be described.

In the first mode of FIG. 1, when the pedal 140 rotates counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 143, the gear tooth 131b coupled with the pedal 140 meshes with the pin member 121 to link 120. Move it. The lever 111 coupled with the link 120 rotates clockwise by a predetermined angle to become the second mode shown in FIG. 6. In this state, rotation of the wheel 113 is possible, but the turning of the caster 110 is limited.

In the second mode of FIG. 6, when the pedal 140 rotates clockwise about the rotation shaft 143, the gear tooth 131a coupled with the pedal 140 meshes with the pin member 121 to link 120. Move). The lever 111 coupled with the link 120 may be rotated by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction to be the first mode shown in FIG. 1. In this state, the wheel 113 can be rotated but the direction of the caster 110 can be changed.

In the first mode of FIG. 1, when the pedal 140 rotates clockwise about the rotation shaft 143, the gear tooth 131a coupled with the pedal 140 meshes with the pin member 121 to connect the link 120. Move it. The lever 111 coupled to the link 120 may be rotated by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction to be the third mode shown in FIG. 7. In this state, both the rotation of the wheel 113 and the turning of the caster 110 are limited.

In the third mode of FIG. 7, when the pedal 140 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 143, the gear tooth 131a coupled with the pedal 140 meshes with the pin member 121 to link 120. Move). The lever 111 coupled to the link 120 may be rotated by a predetermined angle clockwise to become the first mode illustrated in FIG. 1.

In addition, the caster control device 100 of the present invention can be temporarily switched from the second mode to the third mode or from the third mode to the second mode. For example, when the pedal 140 rotates clockwise around the rotation shaft 143 in the second mode, the gear tooth 131a coupled with the pedal 140 meshes with the pin member 121 to link 120. Move it. The lever 111 coupled with the link 120 may rotate counterclockwise to become the third mode shown in FIG. 7.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary knowledge.

1 is a plan view of a caster control device of the present invention according to a first mode of operation.

2 is a perspective view of the caster of FIG. 1.

3 is a plan view of the gear of FIG. 1.

4 is a plan view of the pedal of FIG. 1.

5 is a perspective view of the pedal of FIG. 1.

6 is a plan view of the caster control device of the present invention according to the second mode of operation.

7 is a plan view of the caster control device of the present invention according to the third mode of operation.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: caster control device

110: caster

120: link

130: gear

140: pedal

Claims (4)

A link rotatably coupled to a plurality of levers for switching the operation mode of the caster and having a first engagement element; A rotating body having a second engagement element engaged with the first engagement element and rotatable in a direction of movement of the link, The rotating body includes a gear that rotates about the axis of rotation of the rotating body and a pedal coupled to the gear and rotates around the axis of rotation, The second engagement element is a tooth of the gear and the first engagement element is a pin member engaged with the tooth, And the pedal is semi-conical and has at least one recess in its major surface. delete delete The caster control device according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a slope narrowing inwardly of the semiconical shape.

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