CONTAINER BINDING DEVICE
20210188152 · 2021-06-24
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A container binding device enables a locking or unlocking operation to be smoothly performed when loading or unloading a container so as to reduce inconvenience of a driver, improve work efficiency, and secure reliability. The container binding device comprises: at least four locking assemblies arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction on an upper frame of a trailer and fastened or unfastened to a binder of the container; a guide assembly connected to the locking assemblies arranged in two rows along the longitudinal direction on an upper frame or a trailer and fastened unfastened to a binder of the container; a guide assembly connected to the locking assemblies in an interlocking manner, and guiding a fastening or unfastening operation of the locking assemblies; and a driving assembly arranged at the central portion of the width of the upper frame so as to drive the guide assembly.
Claims
1. A container-binding device, comprising: at least four locking assemblies arranged in two rows in a length direction on an upper frame of a trailer and fastened to or unfastened from a binder of a container; a guide assembly connected to the locking assemblies in an interlocking manner to induce fastening or unfastening operation of the locking assemblies; and a drive assembly disposed between the locking assemblies arranged in two rows in order to drive the guide assembly.
2. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein each of the locking assemblies includes: a cylindrical body moving up and down; a head member formed at an upper end of the body and fastened to or unfastened from a binder formed in a vertical direction of the container along a rotation angle; and a first locking unit protruding from one side of a lower end of the body to be grippable and having a rotary lever to adjust the rotation angle of the head member.
3. The biding device according to claim 2, wherein the locking assembly further includes: a pin type fastening member fastened to or unfastened from a through-hole formed in a corner casting of the container; and a second locking unit having a support block to slidingly and movably support the fastening member
4. The binding device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary lever is provided with a binding pin at an end thereof, which is inserted into and released from a binding hole formed at one end of the guide assembly, wherein the binding hole is extended in a length direction to facilitate insertion of the binding pin.
5. The binding device according to claim 4, wherein the first locking unit further includes: a horizontal anti-pushing block surrounding a portion of the body while being spaced at a predetermined interval; at least one anti-rotation protrusion at an adjacent portion of the body and the head member; and an anti-rotation groove to be inserted into the corresponding anti-rotation protrusion on an upper portion of the horizontal anti-pushing block.
6. The binding device according to claim 3, wherein the drive assembly includes: a drive wire disposed on the upper frame in a width direction, one end of which is bound to the guide assembly; and a drive member hinge-coupled to rotate while penetrating through a thickness portion of the upper frame, wherein a lower end is connected to the drive wire and an upper end protrudes to the upper portion of the upper frame.
7. The binding device according to claim 6, wherein the drive member drives the locking assembly in a state in which the drive member is spaced in the width direction of the upper frame at a distance equal to a length of a link member, wherein the drive member and the locking assembly are spaced and arranged such that a distance therebetween becomes at least ½ of a width of the upper frame.
8. The binding device according to claim 3, wherein the drive assembly includes: a pair of semi-automatic wires disposed in the width direction of the upper frame, one end of which is bound to the guide assembly; a drive member hinge-coupled while penetrating through the thickness portion of the upper frame, wherein a lower end is connected to the other end of the semi-automatic wire and an upper end protrudes to the upper portion of the upper frame; and a semi-automatic control roller provided to rotate in the center of the width of the upper frame, which includes a pair of wire fixing means disposed at both opposite positions around the periphery of the roller in order to fix the pair of semi-automatic wires, respectively.
9. The binding device according to claim 8, wherein the semi-automatic wire disposed between the drive member and the semi-automatic control roller consists of a first semi-automatic wire and a second semi-automatic wire, and a length-variable tension control means is connected between the first semi-automatic wire and the second semi-automatic wire.
10. The binding device according to claim 8, wherein the guide assembly further includes a first guide roller installed between the guide assembly and the semi-automatic control roller to guide and support the semi-automatic wire, wherein the first guide roller leads a direction of pulling and releasing the semi-automatic wire in the width direction of the upper frame.
11. The binding device according to claim 3, wherein the drive assembly includes: an automatic wire disposed in the width direction of the upper frame, one end of which is bound to the guide assembly; a drive link disposed in the center of the width of the upper frame in order to be orthogonal to the automatic wire and provided with a wire fixing means to fix the center of the automatic wire; and a drive motor that reciprocates the drive link in a length direction of the upper frame, thereby pulling and releasing the automatic wire.
12. The binding device according to claim 11, wherein the guide assembly further includes: a second guide roller installed between the guide assembly and the drive link to guide and support the automatic wire, wherein the second guide roller leads a direction of pulling and releasing the automatic wire in the width direction of the upper frame.
13. The binding device according to claim 6, wherein the guide assembly includes: an actuator that is bound to the rotary lever of the first locking unit at one end and is connected to the wire at the other end (hereinafter, the “wire” is any one of the drive wire, the semi-automatic wire or the automatic wire, and the “wire” mentioned later is also interpreted in the same way); a fixing member fixed to the upper frame to be spaced apart from the actuator at a predetermined interval, and having a sliding hole, through which the other end of the actuator or the wire penetrates; and an elastic member interposed between the actuator and the fixing member to elastically support the actuator.
14. The binding device according to claim 6, wherein the guide assembly includes: a rotating member that is bound to the rotary lever of the first locking unit at one end and is connected to the wire at the other end; a rotary shaft member for supporting one side of the rotating member in order to be rotatable at a predetermined radius in accordance with movement of the wire; a fixing member fixed to the upper frame to be spaced apart from the rotary shaft member at a predetermined interval, and having a sliding hole, through which the wire penetrates; and an elastic member interposed between the other end of the rotating member and the fixing member to elastically support the rotating member.
15. The binding device according to claim 6, wherein the guide assembly includes: a pressing member that is bound for pressing or releasing a fastening member of the second locking unit at one end and is connected to the wire at the other end; a rotary shaft member for supporting one side of the pressing member in order to be rotatable at a predetermined radius in accordance with movement of the wire; and an elastic member interposed between the fastening member and the support block to elastically support the fastening member.
16. The binding device according to claim 15, wherein the pressing member is provided with a manual lever extending in the outward direction of the upper frame at the other end, wherein a gripping handle is provided at the end of the manual lever in order to manually rotate the pressing member.
17. The binding device according to claim 16, wherein one side of the wire close to the manual lever is connected or separated by a manual switching unit, and the pressing member is characterized in that manual rotation is possible when the wire is separated by the manual switching unit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0062] C: Container [0063] 10: Upper frame [0064] 100: Locking assembly [0065] 120: First locking unit [0066] 122: Body [0067] 124: Head member [0068] 124a: Anti-rotation protrusion [0069] 125: Bolt [0070] 126: Rotary lever [0071] 127: Binding pin [0072] 128: Horizontal anti-pushing block [0073] 128a: Anti-rotation groove [0074] 140: Second locking unit [0075] 142: Fastening member [0076] 144: Support block [0077] 150: Connection member [0078] 190: Buffer unit [0079] 192: Support member [0080] 194: High compression spring [0081] 196: Coupling member [0082] 300, 300a, 300b, 300c: Guide assembly [0083] 310: Actuator [0084] 312: Binding hole [0085] 320: Rotating member [0086] 330: Pressing member [0087] 332: Sliding groove [0088] 340: Manual lever [0089] 342: Handle [0090] 350a, 350b: Fixing member [0091] 360b, 360c: Rotary shaft member [0092] 370a, 370b, 370c: Elastic member [0093] 400: Manual switching unit [0094] 420: Second connector [0095] 440, 450: Bolt nut member [0096] 460: First connector [0097] 500a, 500b, 500c: Drive assembly [0098] 510: Guide direction switching roller [0099] 520: Automatic wire [0100] 530: Second guide roller [0101] 535: First guide roller [0102] 540: Drive link [0103] 545: Semi-automatic control roller [0104] 550: Support bracket [0105] 555: Tension control means [0106] 560: Drive motor [0107] 570: Return member [0108] 580: Drive wire [0109] 585: Semi-automatic wire [0110] 585a: First semi-automatic wire [0111] 585b: Second semi-automatic wire [0112] 590, 595: Drive member
BEST MODE
[0113] Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for accomplishing the same will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but will be implemented in various forms. Further, the embodiments are provided only for complete disclosure of the present invention and for completely explaining the full scope of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. In addition, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular forms also include the plural forms unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrases.
[0114] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. On the other hand, the illustration and the detailed description of configurations easily understood by those skilled in the art and functional effects achieved by the same will be briefly summarized or omitted, instead, the detailed description will be given with respect to parts relevant to the present invention.
[0115] A container binding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
[0116] First, the locking assembly 100 may be provided on an upper frame of a trailer to be fastened to or unfastened from a binder of a container. At least four locking assemblies are arranged in two rows in a length direction of the upper frame of the trailer, while the guide assembly 300 and the drive assemblies 500a, 500b and 500c are separately or simultaneously driven to perform locking or unlocking operation.
[0117] Herein, each locking assembly 100 may include a first locking unit 120 vertically bound to the container and a second locking unit 140 horizontally bound to the container.
[0118] The first locking unit 120, as shown in
[0119] At this time, the body 122, the head member 124 and the rotary lever 126 to configure the first locking unit 120 may be accommodated in an enclosure, as shown in
[0120] The enclosure may be provided with a buffer unit 190 for buffering and supporting the container C so as to smoothly maintain left and right balance when the container C is loaded or unloaded. That is, left and right balance is maintained during loading or unloading of the container C, so that interference due to rotation of the head member 124 of the first locking unit 120 can be prevented.
[0121] As shown in
[0122] Further, the second locking unit 140, as shown in
[0123] The second locking unit 140 may include: a pin type fastening member 142 fastened or unfastened through a through-hole formed at a corner casting side of the container C; and a support block 144 for supporting the fastening member 142 to be slidingly movable, wherein the container C is fastened and fixed when an end of the fastening member 142 is inserted inside the through-hole of the corner casting, while the container C is unfastened when the end of the fastening member 142 is released out of the through-hole of the corner casting.
[0124] Next, the guide assembly 300 may be connected to be interlocked with the locking assembly 100 so as to induce locking or unlocking operation of the locking assembly 100, and a detailed description thereof will be given after introduction of the drive assemblies 500a, 500b and 500c.
[0125] Then, the drive assemblies 500a, 500b and 500c may drive the guide assembly 300, thereby fastening or releasing the locking assembly 100 with respect to the container.
[0126] As shown in
[0127] Herein, the drive member 590 is preferably hinge-coupled to the upper frame 10 in a state being supported by a bearing, wherein a shaft portion is firmly supported by the bearing while easily conducting axial rotation.
[0128] As can be seen in
[0129] Meanwhile, according to the embodiment shown in
[0130] Further, a binding hole 312 is formed and extended in a length direction at one end of the actuator 310 so that a binding pin 127 formed at the end of the rotary lever 126 can be easily inserted. In this case, the binding hole 312 is preferably formed such that a surface facing the binding pin 127 is tapered. Therefore, when the binding pin 127 removed from the binding hole 312 is again bound thereto, the binding pin 127 may slide through the tapered slope surface to thus be easily inserted into the binding hole 312 even if an inserting position is not exactly fitted to the hole.
[0131] In addition, as shown in
[0132] For example, if the unused first locking unit 120 is pressed by the container, the binding pin 127 of the rotary lever 126 described above is removed from the binding hole 312. At this time, when the head member 124 and the body 122 of the first locking unit 120 rotate due to horizontal load acting on the container C, the rotary lever 126 may also rotate, hence causing position shift between the binding pin 127 and the binding hole 312. Due to this, there is a problem that the binding pin 127 in a separate state is hard to reinsert into the binding hole 312.
[0133] In other words, the horizontal anti-pushing block 128 may prevent the head member 124 and the body 122 from rotating or being pushed due to horizontal load in a state in which the first locking unit 120 is pressed by the container, thereby preventing position shift between the binding pin 127 and the binding hole 312.
[0134] Further, the horizontal anti-pushing block 128 may surround the body 122 of the first locking unit 120 while being spaced from the same in a fixed state on the enclosure, so as to mitigate impact applied directly by the container C. Therefore, it is possible to improve durability and minimize functional disorder by simply implementing a coupling structure.
[0135] In addition, as can be seen with reference to the embodiment of
[0136] Herein, the structure for manual switching of the first locking unit 120 is not particularly limited but may of course be altered into another structure having the same purpose and effects. For example, the binding pin 127 mounted on the rotary lever 126 may be formed in a bolt shape to be coupled to or separated from an end of the rotary lever 126.
[0137] The drive member 590 may drive the locking assembly 100 in a state in which the drive member is spaced in the width direction of the upper frame 10 at a predetermined distance equal to a length of the drive wire 580.
[0138] At this time, as can be seen with reference to
[0139] When the container is loaded, the container is inclined by centrifugal force when the corner is rotated. At this time, the outer portion facing the width direction of the upper frame 10 is lifted with a small gap.
[0140] Accordingly, if the drive member 590 is adjacent to the locking assembly 100 with which the drive member 590 is interlocked, the container is lifted and the pressed drive member 590 pressed may rotate in an unlocking direction. Accordingly, the locking assembly 100 interlocked with the drive member may also be released.
[0141] Therefore, by spacing the interlocked drive member 590 and locking assembly 100 at a predetermined distance in opposite directions to each other, it is possible to prevent the locking assembly 10 from being released even if one side of the container is lifted by centrifugal force.
[0142] Further, as shown in
[0143] According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
[0144] With regard to the drive assembly 500b according to the above embodiment, as shown in
[0145] That is, with regard to the drive assembly 500b according to the embodiment of
[0146] However, when the drive member 595 is free of pressing while unloading the container, simultaneously, the semi-automatic control roller 545 is rotated to its original position and, at the same time, the paired semi-automatic wires 585 are switched to the original position, thereby normally releasing the locking assembly 100.
[0147] On the other hand, the semi-automatic wire 585 positioned between the drive member 595 and the semi-automatic control roller 545 may consist of a first semi-automatic wire 585a and a second semi-automatic wire 585b, separately, as well as a length-variable tension control means 555 connected between the first semi-automatic wire 585a and the second semi-automatic wire 585b. Accordingly, locking and unlocking operation of the locking assembly 100 may be exactly implemented by controlling operation timing or the like, which are organically connected between the drive member 595, the semi-automatic wires 585 and the semi-automatic controller 545, through the tension control means 555.
[0148] In this case, the tension control means 555 may be a turnbuckle which is one of typical fastening mechanisms. The turnbuckle has a threaded rod on the left and right, and the threaded portion is connected by a common nut, wherein one male screw is right hand threaded and the other male screw is left hand threaded. Therefore, these two male screws can come close to each other by rotating the common nut while being distanced from each other by rotating the common nut backward.
[0149] In addition, a first guide roller 535, which is installed between the guide assembly 300 and the semi-automatic control roller 545 in order to guide and support the semi-automatic wire 585, may further be included. The first guide roller 535 may guide a direction of pulling and releasing the semi-automatic wire 585 toward the width direction of the upper frame.
[0150] According to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
[0151] With regard to the drive assembly 500c having the above-described configuration, a plurality of automatic wires 520 is simultaneously operated in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the single drive link 540 so that the guide assembly 300 connected to the automatic wires 520 can be driven entirely.
[0152] The drive link 540 is illustrated in the form of a metal bar in
[0153] Since the drive motor 560 may be electrically controlled through a control module (not shown), a drive assembly 500c to be automatically driven can be implemented. In this case, an operation panel (not shown) for operating the control module may be installed outside or inside a trailer.
[0154] Although not shown in the embodiment of the present invention, a sensor, a control module, a warning lamp, and the like, which electrically detect and interlock with the driving of the above-described components may further be added.
[0155] For example, a sensor may be provided at a position adjacent to the drive motor 560 of the above-described drive assembly 500c in order to detect whether to operate or not, thereby indicating the state of operation. Further, another sensor may be provided at a position adjacent to the locking assembly 100 to detect a locked or unlocked state.
[0156] A signal sensed by the sensor is transmitted to the control module so as to be utilized for extended signal processing. Furthermore, the control module may further include a warning lamp electrically connected to the control module. The warning lamp may blink a color indicating a caution when the driving motor is operated, wherein different colors indicating whether the locking assembly 100 is locked or unlocked are displayed. Therefore, a driver or the worker can easily confirm the operating state of the locking assembly 100 as well as a fixed state of the container, enabling safe operation. In addition, a warning speaker for generating a warning sound when the drive motor is operating may be electrically connected to the control module.
[0157] The drive assembly 500c may further include a support bracket 550 installed on the upper frame such that the drive link 540 penetrates the support bracket; and a return member 570 provided between one end of the drive link 540 and the support bracket 550 to elastically support the drive link 540. Owing to this configuration, the drive link 540 is restricted from being drastically moved by the drive motor 500, thereby being moved more flexibly.
[0158] Further, when the drive link 540 having moved in a direction opposite to the elastic direction of the return member 570 moves back to the original position, the drive link can return to the original position without a driving power of the drive motor 560, thereby saving electric power. Further, the drive link 540 can be returned more accurately without leaving the original position by the support bracket 550.
[0159] Meanwhile, a second guide roller 530 installed between the guide assembly 300 and the drive link 540 to be arranged on the same line as the automatic wire 520, thereby guiding and supporting the automatic wire 520, may further be included. The second guide roller 530 may guide a direction in which the automatic wire is pulled and released to the width direction of the upper frame.
[0160] According to the first embodiment shown in
[0161] Referring to
[0162] As shown in
[0163] The guide assembly 300b according to the second embodiment can be understood with reference to
[0164] As shown in
[0165] The guide assembly 300c according to the third embodiment can be understood with reference to
[0166] In this case, in order to connect the pressing member 330 and the fastening member 142, a connection member 150 may protrude from the head of the fastening member 142 by a predetermined length. Such a connection member 150 may prevent the pressing member 330 from being separated from the fastening member 142.
[0167] As shown in an enlarged state in
[0168] On the other hand, the elastic member 370c illustrated in
[0169] In addition, according to an example that may be further added in the third embodiment, a manual lever 340 extending in the outward direction of the upper frame may be provided at the other end of the pressing member 330. At the end of the manual lever 340, a grippable handle 342 may be provided to manually rotate the pressing member 330.
[0170] At this time, one side of the wire 520a or 520b in close proximity to the manual lever 340 may be connected or separated by a manual switching unit 400, and the pressing member 330 may be manually rotatable when the wires 520a and 520b are separated by the manual switching unit 400.
[0171] In other words, since the wires 520a and 520b are separated by the manual switching unit 400, the pressing member 330 can be operated completely independently from the drive assembly 500c, and may also be manually operated by operation of the manual lever 340.
[0172] As shown in
[0173] According to the embodiments of the present invention described above, the following effects will be expected.
[0174] First, a plurality of locking assemblies installed on the upper frame of a trailer is automatically locked and unlocked, thereby enabling simple and rapid loading and unloading operation of a container.
[0175] Second, since the locking assembly is locked and unlocked in an automatic manner, a driver may conveniently operate and a time for binding the container to the upper frame may be reduced, thereby enhancing productivity.
[0176] Third, the manual locking assembly pre-installed on the upper frame of the existing trailer may be recycled so as to easily implement automation according to the embodiment of the present invention, thereby enabling easy replacement and greatly reducing costs for replacement.
[0177] Fourth, even if the locking assembly becomes inoperable due to failure or damage, the assembly is easily switched to the manual mode so as to prevent operational loss due to not working (‘down time’).
[0178] Fifth, not only the first locking unit bound in the vertical direction but also the second locking unit bound in the horizontal direction may successfully undergo automation, so as to firmly secure the container to the upper frame and prevent accidents.
[0179] The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the appended claims of the invention can be better understood. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is specified by the following claims rather than the above description, and all changes or modifications derived from the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the invention.